■ Newly discovered descendants of first Japanese colony visit
Wakamatsu Farm
American River Conservancy News release
Two special visitors toured historical Wakamatsu Farm, site of the first Japanese Colony in North America, this summer.
Andrea Lashley and her son Jayson Lashley are newly discovered fifth- and sixthgeneration descendants of Wakamatsu colonist Kuninosuke Masumizu.
Also known as “Kuni,” Masumizu was among the first 22 Japanese immigrants in America, who arrived at the farm in June of 1869.
The group from Aizu Wakamatsu sought a new life during the turbulent transition between Japan’s Edo
Making their way home
Builders on the hook for increased EID fees
Dawn Hodson
Mountain Democrat correspondent
Despite objections from builders, at the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors unanimously approved an increase in fees to hook up to the water agency.
This Sept. 23 action followed last month’s presentation by project manager Sanjay Gaur, whose firm Water Resources Economics was hired to conduct a study of EID’s facility connection charges fees in conjunction with EID sta . This month Gaur was back to recommend the board adopt the study findings.
FCCs are one-time connection fees paid by new water, wastewater and/or recycled water customers. FCCs are also assessed to existing
customers requiring increased system capacity. The revenue from this charge is used to finance the development of growth-related or capacityrelated water, wastewater and recycled water facilities.
According to Gaur, the purpose of FCCs is to “equitably recover capital costs incurred to provide system capacity to new users” and “ensure that existing users are not unfairly burdened by costs incurred to accommodate new users (i.e., ‘growth pays for growth’.)”
There to object to the updated fees were representatives from Lennar Homes of California and the North State Building Industry Association. They argued that raising FCC rates
A man who spent his entire life in public
Osborne worked for 41 years with the
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as a career firefighter. Growing up in
Photo by Melissa Lobach
Andrea Lashley and Jayson Lashley hold up photos of their ancestor Masumizu during a visit to Wakamatsu Farm north of Placerville.
ESSENTIALS
OBITUARIES
Robert Crowder
1933 – 2024
Robert Crowder went to his eternal home on August 26, 2024, private services were held on September 5, 2024 in Placerville and September 6, 2024 in San Jose. A celebration of life at grave side with family and Air Force present. Robert was a Captain in the San Jose Fire Department. Robert leaves behind his beloved wife, Evelyn, 3 daughters, Laurie, Kathie & Shelly. 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren & 1 great great grandchild.
Nancy K Kelly
March 31, 1944 – Sept. 13, 2024
Nancy Kathryn Kelly was born at Camp Stoneman, California to parents Lydia M and Edward F. Kelly. She lived in Antioch, California for many years where she worked as a manager at the Credit Union. She was active in the Antioch Garden Club, served as Neighborhood Watch Captain as well as volunteering for numerous city and social activities. Additionally she became close friends with many people whom she remained friends with until her passing. Nancy moved to Placerville approximately 10 years ago where she bought her beloved home. Here as well she had many good friends and acquaintances. She was a committed and dedicated Marshall Hospital volunteer and was very active in the local Democrat Party and the Placerville Library. Nancy loved entertaining and often invited groups of friends for an afternoon party to enjoy her beautiful garden and home. Nancy loved gardening, cats, good wine, laughing and creating beautiful crafted items. She is survived by a sister, 2 brothers, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Nancy will be remembered as a generous, creative, independent, strong woman and friend. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Candy Adams (Marilyn Outwater)
Aug. 12, 1944 – Sept. 12, 2024
Candy Adams (Marilyn Outwater) was born in Inglewood, California on August 12th 1944. Candy passed away peacefully on September 12th, 2024, at her home with her family by her side. Candy spent many years as a youth in Topanga Canyon. After her marriage, she and her husband relocated to South Lake Tahoe. Candy loved living in South Lake Tahoe where she frequently visited Pope beach with her children, hiked in Desolation Wilderness and camped in Hope Valley. She and her husband ran a lucrative auto business and were well known and loved by the community. Candy was the daughter of Olney and Hazel Outwater. She was the beloved wife of Michael Adams, her husband of 61 years. Candy is survived by her three children, Robert Adams, Julie Grange (Adams), Eric Adams (his wife Dawn Adams), and four grandchildren, Callie Adams, Matthew Adams, Adam Grange and Jerome Grange. Candy was an incredible mother who cherished her children and supported them through all aspects of their lives. Candy adored her grandchildren and was always creating lasting memories with them by creating many craft projects and taking them on outdoor activities.
Private services will be held by her loved ones.
Ashley “Joe” Keith Young Jr.
Jan. 12, 1949 – July 9, 2024
Ashley “Joe” Keith Young Jr. passed away on July 9, 2024, at the age of 75, in Roseville, CA.
Joe was born on January 12, 1949, and is survived by his loving wife, Susan Young of 55 years; children Joe and Karen Young, James and Lisa Young, Jeremy and Rachel Young; five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ashley Keith Sr. and Mammie Young. Joe served with distinction in the United States Marine Corp, active duty in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970. His military service remained a proud and significant part of his life. He was an active member of the Veteran’s Hall Marine Corp League 697, VFW 10165, and Fleet Reserve 275, reflecting his deep commitment to his fellow veterans. Professionally, Joe dedicated many years to the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) from 1972 to 1980, Save Tow on Nights and Weekends from 1974 to 1980 and the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) from 1980 until his retirement in 2012. Known for his surgeon-like precision as a backhoe operator and an elephant-like memory, Joe’s work ethic was nothing short of outstanding. Beyond his professional and military achievements, Joe was a man of deep faith and respect for God, though he did not attend any specific church. His unwavering love extended to all of his family, friends, and anyone in need. His ability to strike a conversation with anyone exemplified his inclusive and warm nature. Joe’s hobbies included coaching his sons and grandkids through Little League, a testament to his dedication to family and community. He cherished the time spent with his children and grandchildren above all. A memorial service followed by a Celebration of Life will be held at the Veteran’s Hall located at 130 Placerville Dr, Placerville, CA 95667, on September 28, 2024, at 2:30 pm. In remembrance of Joe, the family requests that you thank a Veteran, honoring his memory and lifelong values.
EDSO CRIME LOG
The following information was taken from El Dorado County Sheri ’s reports:
Aug. 21
12:50 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 50-year-old woman on suspicion of possession and transportation of a controlled substance on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. She was released on $75,000 bail.
8:04 a.m. Burglary reported on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.
12:50 p.m. California Highway Patrol o cers booked into jail a 64-yearold woman on suspicion of DUI at an unknown location. She was later released.
3:39 p.m. Grand theft reported on North Circle Drive in Diamond Springs.
3:40 p.m. Grand theft reported on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.
3:42 p.m. Vandalism reported on Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines.
4:23 p.m. Trespassing reported on Springer Road in Placerville.
7:46 p.m Battery reported on Kenworth Drive in Shingle Springs.
Aug. 22
12:29 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old man on suspicion of robbery on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park. He was released on $10,000 bail.
6:14 a.m. Grand theft reported on Cherry Acres Road in Cool.
6:47 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 45-year-old man on suspicion of trespassing and disorderly conduct on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was later released.
7:45 a.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 40-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.
8:44 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park. She was later released.
9:59 a.m. Battery reported on Golden Center Drive in Placerville.
10:14 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 59-year-old man on suspicion of three counts of possession of a controlled substance on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was released on $5,000 bail.
10:18 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 43-year-old man on suspicion of possession of unlawful paraphernalia on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was later released.
10:23 a.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 47-year-old woman on suspicion of three counts of possession on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. She was later released.
12:22 p.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 45-year-old man on suspicion of burglary on El Dorado Hills Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $80,000 bail.
12:23 p.m. Battery reported on Covello Circle in Cameron Park.
1:48 p.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 42-year-old man on suspicion of littering and unlawful camping on Steely Ridge Road in Somerset. He was released on $3,000 bail.
1:49 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 40-year-old woman on suspicion of littering and unlawful camping on Steely Ridge Road in Somerset. She was later released.
2:46 p.m. Vandalism reported on Carson Road in Placerville.
4:31 p.m. Grand theft reported on Green Valley Road in Placerville.
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF AUGUST 24, 1912
AS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1933, JULY 2, 1946, AND JUNE 11, 1990 (74 STAT .204) SHOWING THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION OF THE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT AND PLACERVILLE TIMES
1-8. Mountain Democrat, 2889 Ray Lawyer Drive, PO Box 1088, Placerville, California 95667. Publication Number 594760. Published three times a week in Placerville, California from October 1, 2023 through September 20, 2024. 152 issues published annually. Annual subscription price - $110/year + tax . 9. The name and address of the publisher is Richard Esposito; Noel Stack, Editor; all at 2889 Ray Lawyer Drive, PO Box 1088, Placerville, California 95667. 10. Owners are Foy McNaughton, PO Box 47, Fair eld, CA 94533; R.B. McNaughton, PO Box 1470, Davis, CA 95617. 11. The known bondholders, mortgages and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages, or
6:52 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 48-year-old man on suspicion of hit and run on White Rock Road in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $5,000 bail.
Aug. 23
7:39 a.m. Burglary reported on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.
8:25 a.m. Grand theft reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.
8:57 a.m. Burglary reported on Sweeney Road in Somerset.
3:52 p.m. Battery reported on Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs.
6:00 p.m. Deputies booked into jail of 58-year-old man on suspicion of assault with deadly weapon on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. He was listed in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.
8:39 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 48-year-old man on suspicion of vandalism on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Aug. 24
1:01 a.m. California Highway Patrol o cers booked into jail a 53-year-old woman on suspicion of DUI and driving with suspended license on Sliger Mine Road in Greenwood. She was released on $5,000 bail.
1:59 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 19-year-old woman on suspicion of battery, trespassing and obstruction on Knollwood Drive in Cameron Park. She was released on $45,500 bail.
9:04 a.m. Burglary reported on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.
1:44 p.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 42-year-old woman on suspicion of obstruction and driving with suspended license on Conrad Street in Placerville. She was released on $3,000 bail.
3:56 p.m. Vandalism reported on Vista Mar Drive in El Dorado Hills.
5:05 p.m. Burglary reported on Park Creed Road in Pollock Pines.
5:53 p.m. Vandalism reported on Mosquito Road in Placerville.
7:48 p.m. California Highway Patrol
o cers booked into jail a 33-year-old man on suspicion of DUI on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. He was later released.
8:33 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old woman on suspicion of two counts of contempt of court on Awesome View in Placerville. She was released on $15,000 bail.
Aug. 25
9:16 a.m. Burglary reported on Valley View Parkway in El Dorado Hills.
7:56 p.m. Battery reported on Forni Road in Placerville.
8:09 p.m. Trespassing reported on Larsen Drive in Camino.
10:15 p.m. Battery reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.
Aug. 26
6:18 a.m. Grand theft reported on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.
9:12 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 29-year-old man on suspicion of fugitive from justice at unknown location.
4:07 p.m. Grand theft reported on Industrial Drive in Placerville.
4:27 p.m. Grand theft reported on Rock Barn Road in Shingle Springs.
none; 15(e) Total Free Distribution, none; (f) Total Distribution 3,920; (g) Copies not distributed 370; (h) Total 4,290; (i) Percent Paid Circulation 100.00%. 16. Electronic Copy CirculationAverage No. copies each issue during preceding 12 months (a) Total number of electronic copies, 92; (b) Total Paid Print + Electronic Copies, 3,758; Total Print + Paid Distribution Copies, 3,758; Percent Paid (Print + Electronic Copies), 100.00%. Single issue nearest to ling date (September 20, 2024); (a) Total number of electronic copies, 85; (b) Total Paid Print + Electronic Copies, 4,005; Total Print + Paid Distribution Copies, 4,005; Percent Paid (Print + Electronic Copies), 100.00%. I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price. I certify that the statements made by me are correct and complete. RICHARD ESPOSITO, Publisher 9/27 13735 ■ See CRIME LOG, page A8
be in the courtyard. Invite your friends and neighbors to bring their well-behaved pets. You can also bring pictures! All furred, feathered, or scaled pets are invited! Episcopal Church of Our Saviour 2979 Coloma Street Placerville, California Call 530-622-2441
LEGISLATORS’ ADDRESSES
Michael Saragosa msaragosa@cityofplacerville.org Vice Mayor Jackie Neau jneau@cityofplacerville.org John Clerici jclerici@cityofplacerville.org
Nicole Gotberg ngotberg@cityofplacerville.org
David Yarbrough dyarbrough@cityofplacerville. org ElL DORADO
District
Congress supports Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
LAKE TAHOE — On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Congress passed legislation to extend the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for 10 more years, making millions of dollars available to protect and preserve the lake.
The original Lake Tahoe Restoration Act was passed in 2000 and pledged $300 million to restore the lake through various efforts. In 2016, the act was reauthorized and allotted $415 million. The most recent reauthorization aimed to extend the time on the Congressional clock, as only 29% of the funds had been appropriated.
To extend the LTRA, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA) introduced bipartisan
legislation in March 2023. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) was an original cosponsor, having supported the original LTRA in 2000. The companion legislation in the House was supported by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Susie Lee (D-NV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), John Duarte (D-CA), Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Kevin Kiley (R-CA).
It was Kiley who primarily urged for the bill’s adoption. In his statement, Kiley notes, “The LTRA has been crucial in enabling the small communities in the Basin to protect the lake for all Americans and for generations to come. This bipartisan legislation has become a national model for collaboration in the name of conservation.”
Kiley also pointed to the efforts of
n See ACT, page A9
Boating and Waterways announces grant awards
SACRAMENTO — California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways recently announced the 2024-25 awards for three grant programs totaling $5.8 million in funding. DBW’s Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment, Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange and Floating Restroom grant programs awarded funding to 51 California state and local agencies for projects that include removing and disposing of abandoned recreational vessels, floating restrooms to prevent sewage entering waterways and search and rescue equipment.
DBW’s 2024-25 grant programs:
• Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grants: $1.3 million was awarded to 17 local law enforcement and fire district agencies that demonstrated a need for patrol boats, engines, personal watercraft, search and rescue equipment and diving equipment. These grants augment existing local resources to support recreational boating safety in their waterways. The U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety program provides funding for this grant program, which has awarded
approximately $34 million since 1996.
• Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Grants: $2.75 million was awarded to 29 public agencies throughout the state to remove and dispose of abandoned recreational vessels from both coastal and inland public waterways, and to accept and dispose of surrendered recreational vessels. Funding for this grant program, which has awarded approximately $32 million since 1999, comes from the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund.
• Floating Restroom Grants: $1.8 million was used to manufacture eight accessible floating restroom units awarded to five public agencies for lakes and reservoirs throughout the state (Laka Shasta, Lake Oroville, San Vicente Reservoir, Pyramid Lake and Folsom Lake).
Floating restrooms help prevent boater sewage from entering our waterways and contribute to DBW’s commitment for providing safe, clean and enjoyable recreational boating in California. The program has awarded approximately $20 million since 1978, with funding from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service through the Clean Vessel Act grant program combined with 25% matching funds from the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
Eli Ramos Tahoe Daily Tribune
LWV of El Dorado County to host candidate forums
The League of Women Voters of El Dorado County invites
in advance of the California General Election on Nov. 5. These forums are an essential opportunity for voters to engage directly with candidates and gain insights into
their platforms and positions. The forums are scheduled as follows, all beginning at 7 p.m.:
• Oct. 2: Placerville City Council forum at Placerville Town Hall with candidates Michael Nash Saragosa, Jackie Neau and Ryan Carter.
• Oct. 9: Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors forum at the Cameron Park
Community Center with candidates Sidney Bazett, Tracy Doyle, J.R. Hichborn, Katie Gilchrest, Liz Gates and Barbara J. Rogers. • Oct. 30, 2024: El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors forum at the Norm Rowett Pavilion with candidates Steven Gutierrez, Chuck King and Noelle Mattock. Questions from the public will be
encouraged during each forum. The League reserves the right to review and combine similar questions, ensuring that a broad range of voter concerns is addressed.
President Elizabeth Leslie-Gassaway emphasizes the significance of these forums in fostering an informed electorate,
explaining, “Answering voters’ questions is a cornerstone of our democratic process. Engaging with candidates helps ensure that every voice is heard and every issue is considered. We urge the community to participate and make their voices count.”
For those unable to attend in person, each forum will be recorded
and available for viewing on the League’s YouTube channel: League of Women Voters of El Dorado County YouTube. Stay informed and involved by following the League on Facebook at facebook. com/LWVEDC. For additional nonpartisan election information visit the League’s online voter guide at Vote411.org.
EID reviews projects completed, in the works
Dawn Hodson Mountain Democrat correspondent
Capital improvements and paying for them took center stage at the Sept. 23 meeting of the El Dorado Irrigation District’s Board of Directors.
Staff noted that almost a year ago the board adopted an updated five-year capital improvement plan. Since then the district has completed a number of projects in the plan and advanced others.
Projects that are finished or substantially complete include the Echo Conduit emergency replacement, Kyburz Diversion Dam facility upgrades, stabilization of the Sly Park day use area, replacement of the Reservoir A water treatment plant filter valves, Forebay Road and Drop Off Road water line replacements, the El Dorado Hills Water Treatment Plant clarifier rehabilitation and clearwell pump replacement, water treatment plant condition assessments, the Water and Recycled Water Master Plan, the Motherlode force main replacement, the Marina Village emergency culvert repairs, rehabilitation of EDH Wastewater Treatment Plant filters 5 and 6, EDHWWTP secondary effluent pump station modifications and replacement of the headquarters roof.
Projects still under construction include replacing Flume 47A, work on the Silver Lake East campground water system, Sly Park Intertie improvements, replacing the Reservoir 1 water treatment plant generator, water and wastewater facility backup generators, recoating and structural rehabilitation of the Bass Lake water
storage tanks and Collection System Programmable Logic Controller upgrades.
Ongoing projects and initiatives include the Flume 45 Section 3 replacement, Flume 48 replacement design, Silver Lake Dam design, Powerhouse fiber communication improvements, Sly Park outlet control facility improvements, the rehab of Reservoir 4 and 7A, the Bridlewood Tank rehab, Reservoir 1 and Pollock Pines reservoir replacement design, Water Right Permit 21112 change petition, Strolling Hills pipeline improvements, Collection system pipeline rehab, the vehicle replacement program, the Hansen conversion, and the Placerville Drive Hangtown Creek Bridge water line replacement.
The 2025-2029 CIP includes a long list of planned projects in seven different areas: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenserelated, water,
wastewater, recycled water, hydroelectric, recreation and general district related.
FERC related projects include implementing a water quality monitoring program, fish and amphibian monitoring programs and a Transportation System Management Plan.
Water related projects include the Sly Park Intertie improvements, re-coating various reservoirs, and replacing old, inaccurate or broken meters and adding automated meter reading capability to existing meters.
Wastewater improvements include upgrades to the Indian Creek Lift Station, the EDHWWTP headworks and screening as well as improvements to the Strolling Hills pipeline. Recycled water projects include the Bridlewood Tank Recoating and Recycled Storage Tank Replacement &
One
Courtesy photos
EID officials plan to spend $6.5 million over the next several years to replace aging waterlines.
Sacramento FBI Teen Academy to educate next generation
News release
SACRAMENTO — The Federal Bureau of Investigation Sacramento Field Office encourages all high school juniors within the office’s 34-county area of responsibility to apply to attend the Fall 2024 FBI Teen Academy held at the field office’s headquarters in Roseville. All high school juniors — to include those enrolled in public, private, charter or home school — who are curious about the FBI are eligible to apply to be considered for the program.
Students selected to attend the academy spend an informative, interactive day learning about the FBI’s investigative priorities; participating in unique, interactive experiences; connecting with FBI personnel representing diverse professional backgrounds; and gaining knowledge that can be shared with their peers and community. Students who attend the program gain greater awareness of the threats their communities face, the challenges presented by the online environment and the personal choices that can
affect their future careers. This knowledge better prepares students to mentor their peers. Ideal candidates are engaged with their respective communities and each student must obtain signatures from their school administration endorsing their participation.
The class is offered at no charge. Families do not incur any fees for the class, meals and refreshments offered during FBI Teen Academy instruction. Transportation to and from the class is not provided. If travel is necessary to attend the class, families must arrange for transportation and cover any expenses incurred to facilitate attendance.
Students interested in attending the free class must download the Fall 2024 FBI Teen Academy application from the FBI Sacramento Field Office’s Community Outreach web page, complete and obtain signatures on all forms, and complete an essay as directed in the application instructions without the assistance of artificial intelligence. Completed application packages must arrive at FBI Sacramento Field Office
Teen hurt in school zone wreck
Mountain Democrat staff
A teenage boy suffered minor injuries in a solo-vehicle crash near Silva Valley Elementary School in El Dorado Hills mid-morning on Sept. 24, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At approximately 10:53 a.m. officers responded to an overturned 2004 Toyota 4Runner behind the school.
“Fortunately, no children were present in the area at the time,” notes a CHP
social media post. “The driver, a 16-yearold from El Dorado Hills, sustained minor injuries and was the only occupant of the vehicle.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation; however, CHP officials took the opportunity to remind drivers to slow down and be mindful of school zone speed limits, which are 25 mph or slower.
“These limits are strictly enforced to ensure the safety of children, pedestrians and drivers alike,” the post reads. “Stay
technology upgrades and new security systems for different facilities.
The board also voted 5-0 to undertake a certificate of participation of up to $75 million to fund some of the district’s larger projects, including the Sly Park Intertie and EDHWTP improvements design, both of which were previously approved.
A COP is a type of financing where an investor purchases a share of the lease revenues of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues.
The two other sources used to fund the CIP will be rate revenue and FCCs collected from new development hookups.
Headquarters by 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11. Late applications may be rejected.
The FBI Sacramento Field Office serves the following 34 California’s counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno,
Should the state return to a part-time Legislature?
In the waning days of every Legislative session, principles of good governance get tossed aside amid the rush of bills that must be passed by the stroke of midnight on the last day.
Last day chaos is now so commonplace that capitol watchers are typically unfazed by all the hijinks that transpire. Circumventing the process is, unfortunately, just part of the process. But this year set a low water mark for the swamp.
Despite having more than 100 bills to act on before their constitutionally mandated deadline, the Assembly decided to convene at the leisurely hour of 2 p.m. on Aug. 31, a Saturday, the last day of the session. To make matters worse, they didn’t even show up on time and, when they did, took time out of their busy schedule for group photos.
As the night wore on, it became obvious that legislative leadership would su er the consequences from their lack of urgency. Rather than look inward, the Democratic supermajority, which controls every step of the process, decided that this was not a result of their own actions but, rather, the need for deliberation and debate. Forgive us, but we were taught that deliberation and debate was an important part of the legislative process.
California’s current full-time legislature has not lived up to the promises that “experts” told us would accompany the change. Because we have one-party supermajority rule, apparently there is no need for deliberation.
Assembly leaders moved to limit debate on bills to just 30 seconds per speaker. When Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli objected, he was told that he was “using dilatory tactics” and would not be allowed to speak on any bill. When he objected further, arguing that silencing him and the nearly half a million Californians he represents was undemocratic, his microphone was cut.
In the end, several high-profile pieces of legislation were left unaddressed because they ran out of time, which was obviously a self-inflicted problem.
The Not So Weekly Daley
Letters to the Editor
Election worries
EDITOR:
As someone who lived through World War II and who spent over 30 years in defense of this beautiful country, I can honestly say I’ve never feared the outcome of a presidential election until this year. There are dark forces behind one of the candidates who have stated we fought on the wrong side in that war. There are repeated assertions from the candidate that he admires a number of the leaders of the most repressive regimes in the world today.
My father gave his life as a POW in the war that saved democracy. So did millions of others. What we have is too precious to vote away as if it were “just another election.”
ROB PURDIE Cameron Park
We don’t want illegal immigrants
EDITOR:
We have a potential major problem appearing on the horizon. Since Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, et al, are designated sanctuaries they have been overrun with illegal immigrants.
As a result of their decisions, they are now looking for alternatives to solve the problems they created. They have spent millions of dollars to solve their problems without success. Now they want to move these problems out of their areas by moving them elsewhere.
Where is elsewhere? It is in the foothills. They want us to house the people they let in illegally.
Has anyone heard of Springfied, Ohio? We have El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Diamond Springs, Georgetown, Placerville and other areas that could become similar to Springfield.
By changing the new housing laws to mandate new construction of low-cost housing, “little houses” would be a magnet to bring in illegal immigrants to our communities.
The solution to the problem is to stop the border invasion. Deport illegal immigrants.
Arrest the cartels and similar individuals and not release them. The solution is not to distribute them to El Dorado County and spend our resources to take care of them.
We are not Springfield.
Jealous God
EDITOR:
SBOB
cripture says that our God is a jealous God. But we typically fail to ask whether He is jealous of or jealous for.
If God created the universe, it is silly to think He might be jealous of anything. After all, He created it.
But it seems reasonable to believe He is jealous fo us because He created us and loves us. God is love. What is love and what does it mean? Love is not just an emotion. It is an action verb. Love in action means “willing the good of another.”
Jesus says we are to visit those who are sick or in jail and that we should be generous to the poor. He says that whenever we actively care for other people, we are caring for Him.
So, God expects us to demonstrate our love for Him by showing love to others. We are to “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” God is love and He intends His love to flow through us. We claim to love Jesus, but do we share His love by caring for others?
Remember, God is a jealous god. But He is jealous for His entire creation and He expects us to reflect His loving character by showing love to others.
CECIL RINGGENBERG Placerville
Speak up for animals
EDITOR:
Factory farms are destroying the environment and harming animals on a massive scale. Their waste pollutes our water, harms sea life and creates awful conditions
Why did you say that?! A lesson about our phrases
If you’ve ever sat in the “Catbird Seat,” you must surely know what that means. I have rarely, if ever, sat in that august location, as far as I can remember. And, in fact, I’ve never been quite sure of just what or where it is.
Monday afternoon, while sitting in my regular seat waiting for the scheduled furnace and AC tech to show up between 1 and 5 p.m., I glanced down under the end table where I haven’t cleaned lately. There lay a book I forgot I even had.
CHRIS DALEY
“Why You Say It,” by Webb Garrison. Subtitled, “The Fascinating Stories Behind Over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases,” Copyright 1992. It hasn’t been under that table since then but in several places in di erent houses.
“Tall tales” popular in the South praise the “catbird as being the smartest of all wild feathered creatures.” James Thurber mainstreamed the term with his 1942 short story, “The Catbird Seat.”
Fans of Americana in general might enjoy digging deeper into this area of literature.
However, in a word, the legend tells us that “power” or “control” emanates from the one in the catbird’s seat.
“Bite,” as the act of falling for a scam or believing a tall tale, may go all the way back to 1644 and Isaak Walton’s “The Compleat Angler,” Garrison explains. After fi ve more editions and increased knowledge of angling over the next 100 years, “practical jokers saw an analogy between catching fi sh and hooking humans.” Hence “bite,” as we know it and hope to avoid it.
“Old timers made fun of a person considered stupid by saying his head was so full of bone that there was little room for brains.” Thus a bonehead and anyone, male and female, committing “a glaring mistake came to be called a boner.” A bit surprising but makes sense.
We of a certain age probably remember, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday (for a hamburger today.)”
“Old timers made fun of a person considered stupid by saying his head was so full of bone that there was little room for brains.” Thus a bonehead …
That was Wimpy from Popeye cartoons, the epitome of a “piker,” a leech for whom Tuesday never comes. If I were a piker, I’d gladly tell you Tuesday. But I’m not.
In America’s early days, roads were often built and owned with private capital catering to the carriage class. They were called turnpikes. Walkers generally were allowed free passage and came to be known under the shortened term “piker.” Not in a bad way, but over time “the turnpike often carried a stream of vagrants … (and) such a freeloading traveler came to be known as a “piker.” Never play poker with a piker named “Doc,” to turn a phrase mercilessly. Everyone knows that anything “jerry built” is not going to last, but why “jerry built?” It started as a seafaring term for the repair of a broken mast, thus an “injury mast.”
As language does, the term got abbreviated to “jury mast” which eventually became “jerry mast” and fi nally our “jerry rigged (built).”
Artemis Ward, née Charles F. Brown, wrote for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in the mid-19th century. “In lieu of stilted prose, he used language that prim readers condemned as coarse or incomprehensible … he adapted a Dutch barnyard term for soft dung” and then described “the hot air spouted by aspirants for o ce as nothing more than poppycock.”
“Bunk” also relates to political “hot air” and referred to that expelled by Revolutionary general Felix Walker (quite the talker) who represented Buncombe County, North Carolina in Congress. “Speaking for Buncombe” caused the county’s name to be used as a label for foolish chatter.” Which I shall now put to “bunk.”
PS: If a guy who claims the catbird seat tells you to bite on the notion of a jerry-rigged election, don’t! You will get a mouthful of “nothing more than poppycock.”
Chris Daley is a biweekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat.
RUTTER Fair Play
JON COUPAL
The process is clearly broken and needs reform and, for that reason, we should return California to a part-time legislature. This isn’t as crazy as it may sound. Before the passage of Proposition 1A in 1966, California had a part-time legislature. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, “The Legislature met in general session (at which all subjects could be considered) in odd-numbered years and in budget session (at which only state budget matters were considered) in evennumbered years.”
Plus, most states do not have full-time legislatures. In fact, only 10 states do: California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The rest of the states meet part-time and some states (like Montana, Nevada, Texas and North Dakota) only meet in odd-numbered years. Ironically, the argument for a full-time legislature is that they have more time to deliberate, make better informed decisions and that their higher compensation allows them to focus solely on the job of governing. But six of those (California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan) are among the seven states that lost congressional seats in the 2020 Census. If those states truly governed more
effectively, people would flock to them. Instead, they are fleeing.
California’s current full-time legislature has not lived up to the promises that “experts” told us would accompany the change. Because we have one-party supermajority rule, apparently there is no need for deliberation. Whether a bill lives or dies is decided in closed door caucus meetings, not in legislative hearings.
They do not make informed decisions. In the supermajority, you vote as you are told — or else. They routinely pass bills they have not read with fiscal impacts they do not know.
As for being a full-time legislator, recall the observation of William F. Buckley about preferring to be governed by the 2,000 names in the Boston telephone directory than by the 2,000 faculty members of Harvard University.
Citizens with real jobs, who have skin in the game and will share in the consequences of their actions, are preferable to professional politicians. Or, as the argument against Proposition 1A ends, “[p]rescribing laws which other people are to be forced to obey can never be a primary occupation for any man who loves liberty.”
Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
for people living nearby. And now, these big U.S. meat companies are moving their operations to developing countries, which will hurt local farmers, food supplies and the environment there, too. It’s like “meat colonialism,” and it’s not OK. We have to care. This impacts global resources and the lives of people and animals everywhere. On Oct. 2, people across the world will be speaking up for animals on World Day for Farmed Animals. Join in. Learn more at dayforanimals.org. I am volunteering this year to hand out vegan food samples.
There are options in every restaurant and grocery store to replace animal products with plant-based foods.
We can all do our part to make a difference.
PERCY MAILLOT Placerville
Edited by Joel Fagliano No.
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 first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org
El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net
PLAY CRIBBAGE Join the Gold Country Cribbers 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452. We Play - We Teach - We Have Fun. Wednesdays 4:00 PM. Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA 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 first 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 affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.
COMICS
■ SHOE by Jeff MacNelly
Visit Continued from A1
and Meiji periods.
Recognized as the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony, the site is California Registered Historic Landmark No. 815 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property is now permanently protected and managed by the nonprofit, American River Conservancy.
Andrea, 42, recently moved to California and planned her son’s visit to coincide with their first tour of Wakamatsu Farm. She was born and raised on the East Coast as a Guyanese American with roots in the West Indies and a mix of East Indian and Scottish lineage. Their family history changed when Jayson asked his mother to learn more about his roots for his 16th birthday in 2019. Unknown to them, Jayson’s request coincided with an auspicious year in Japanese American history. As the sesquicentennial year, 2019 marked the 150th anniversary of the Wakamatsu colonists’ arrival at the farm on June 8, 1869.
believed to be Masumizu’s last known kin.
Along with more newly discovered Masumizu descendants, Andrea has another son, daughter and grandchildren to carry on the family legacy. “My biological father had other children,” Andrea explained. “I plan to share this journey with my siblings while honoring their experiences and perspectives. I want to ensure that everyone feels included in this unfolding story.”
”I’m grateful this legacy will move on to people after me, such as my grandchildren, and I can share that with them. Thank you.”
— Andrea Lashley
“It just doesn’t get any better than finding more colony descendants,” shared ARC Development Director Melissa Lobach. “What ARC is preserving here at Wakamatsu Farm is a special kind of living history. It’s very important to protect historical places like this so people can keep connecting all the dots in our amazing American history. We hope this exciting discovery will inspire new connections and more support for ARC’s work to protect precious places like this landmark farm.”
■ SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
Within a year, Andrea received help from Search Angels, a nonprofit organization that assists people in discovering their biological heritage. Andrea is related to Masumizu through her biological father, who is deceased.
Andrea then learned of her grandmother, Beatrice Claire Herriford, a great-granddaughter of Masumizu, who married Carrie Wilson, a woman known to have mixed Native American and African heritage. Andrea visited Herriford for the first time in 2022 and learned about her great-grandfather Harry Charles Elebeck, who was Masumizu’s grandson. Herriford told Andrea that Elebeck took her to Wakamatsu Farm when she was young and talked about Masumizu. Andrea also learned of her aunt, Barbara Gibson, and cousins, Penny and Aaron Gibson. Among other colony descendants, dignitaries and visitors associated with the Wakamatsu Farm story, the Gibson family was honored during ARC’s 2019 sesquicentennial festival hosted at Wakamatsu Farm in June 2019. At that time, the Gibson family were
Crime Log
Aug. 27
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Asking a direct question doesn’t always get you a direct answer. Though many times the root of a problem is an incorrect assumption, today you’ll be lucky when you follow your instinct and make an educated guess instead of pursuing a direct line into what might be sensitive territory.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll be faced with wrong information and the people who stand behind it. There is no sense in correcting anyone. Instead, politely sidestep the trouble, do your own research and carry out your plans where others are unlikely to interrupt them.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Con dence isn’t always powerful, winning or wise. Any fool can be con dent, and many are -- and the brightest minds can be riddled with doubt. Listen to all sides with equal interest and aim to correct information whatever form it may come in.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You have a strong point of view but will not be inclined to argue it. After all, it’s not that important to you that others think you’re right or do it your way. What’s important to you is nding a way to work together.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). One thing that makes events special is that they happen very infrequently. And items are more precious when they are in limited supply. You’ll up the value of your o ering by being strategic about when and to whom you make it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There is no reason to question the intent of another. It is also unnecessary to de ne a relationship, especially a new one. Evaluate each moment as it comes, tak-
ing things at face value.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You have the talent. You have the goods. You’re ready. Bonus: The thing you want will be a stellar t for your life. All that’s left is to fortify your belief and dive in wholeheartedly.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Comparison can help you understand what’s possible, or it can demotivate you to nd out. If you must compare something, at least compare it with what’s rooted in reality and truth.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Expect a clash of values, a disparity in priorities or two di erent sets of rules for a relationship. You’d be wise to observe the situation from a detached, almost scienti c vantage rather than to talk it out prematurely.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People will do good things to compensate for the bad they’ve done. Since the rules of moral licensing are concocted in the minds of o ending individuals and do not abide by any real-world logic, don’t waste your time trying to reason with its perpetrators.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Infatuation fades, and something more substantial takes over.
Continued from A2
8:22 a.m. Burglary reported on Seneca Circle in El Dorado Hills.
8:31 a.m. Grand theft reported on Sciaroni Road in Grizzly Flat.
9:54 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old man on suspicion of being a prohibited person possessing ammunition on Alexandrite Drive in Rescue. He was later released.
1:45 p.m. Vandalism reported on Boeing Road in Cameron Park.
8:11 p.m. Vandalism reported on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.
Aug. 28
5:19 a.m. Vandalism reported on Verano Way in Cameron Park.
9:39 a.m. Battery reported on Solstice Circle in Diamond Springs.
1:53 p.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 52-year-old man on suspicion of contempt of court on Highland Circle in Placerville. He was released on $2,000 bail.
1:55 p.m. Petty theft reported on Green Valley Road in Cameron Park.
9:19 p.m. Battery reported on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.
Aug. 29
1:24 a.m. Grand theft reported on Cimmarron Road in Cameron Park.
2:17 a.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 34-year-old woman on suspicion of trespassing and possession of a controlled substance on Mount Aukum Road in Somerset. She was listed in custody in lieu of $4,000 bail.
2:58 a.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 43-year-old man on suspicion of trespassing and stalking on Mount Aukum Road in Somerset. He was later released.
9:02 a.m. Battery reported on Cameo Drive in Cameron Park.
12:09 p.m. Battery reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.
3:07 p.m. Prowler reported on Countryside Drive in Placerville.
1:29 p.m. Deputies booked into jail
a 28-year-old man on suspicion of driving with suspended license and DUI on El Dorado Hills Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $10,500 bail.
Led by Lobach and Wakamatsu Farm docent, Herb Tanimoto, the Lashleys’ first visit to Wakamatsu Farm ended at the gravesite of Okei, the most well-known Wakamatsu colonist. Okei died in 1871 when she became the first Japanese woman and immigrant buried on American soil. Since ARC purchased the property in 2010, her gravesite has been a pilgrimage destination and place of rumination for countless visitors from around the world. At Okei’s gravesite, the visitors reflected on their visit, feeling overwhelmed. Andrea jokingly mentioned her son’s lifelong interest in Japanese culture, including eating with chopsticks as a 3-year-old. “Basically, he came just at the right time to share this experience,” Andrea said. “It’s way more than I imagined. I can’t wait to bring my daughter and grandchildren just to see this, whenever that is. It’s just beautiful. I’m grateful this legacy will move on to people after me, such as my grandchildren, and I can share that with them. Thank you.”
“It feels like a place of being and welcoming,” Jayson added. They both agreed, “We feel like we belong.”
2:38 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 47-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance on Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs. He was released on $25,000 bail.
5:08 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 48-year-old woman on suspicion of exhibiting a deadly weapon on Cimmarron Road in Cameron Park. She was released on $10,000 bail.
Aug. 30
6:37 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old woman on suspicion of battery on Winterhaven Drive in Cameron Park. She was released on $7,500 bail.
10:30 p.m. California Highway Patrol o cers booked into jail a 40-yearold woman on suspicion of DUI on Highway 49 and Lilyama Road in Pilot Hill. She was later released.
Aug. 31
12:17 a.m. California Highway Patrol O cers booked into jail a 40-year-old man on suspicion of DUI on Buckeye Road in Shingle Springs. He was later released.
8:31 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 55-year-old male on suspicion of battery on Forni Road in Placerville.
■ TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
■ RUBES by Leigh Rubin
Fees Continued from A1
would price even more buyers out of a home. Instead they maintained fees should be based on square footage with reduced potable and wastewater fees for age-restricted communities. Lawyers representing Lennar also argued the increased fees would violate the California Mitigation Fee Act. In response, EID sta disagreed that FCCs are subject to the act, asserting these fees relate to the capacity of the meter and argued there is no evidence to suggest that age-restricted homes use less water and there is considerable variation in water use depending on landscaping, occupancy and variations in climate due to elevation. Director Brian Veerkamp also noted building fire codes require a minimum flow so EID has to put in a certain capacity regardless of home usage.
As adopted by the board, the new water FCC will be $33,809 per equivalent dwelling unit, which is an $8,631 increase from the current water FCC. The increase is primarily attributable to the costs of future CIP projects necessary to expand the capacity of the water system.
The new wastewater FCC will be
Osborne Continued from A1
the ghettos of Oakland, he early on landed a job as a firefighter and rose up the ranks while being transferred from one location to another and one assignment to another. At one point he was recruited on a “temporary basis” to be the business manager for five years for half the state of California — handling personnel, budgets, accounting, construction, law enforcement, fire prevention and whatever else they threw at him.
“Then they asked me to go up to Camino a few days a week until they got a permanent replacement. I kiddingly say they sent me up here and forgot to tell me to go home,” he joked.
Rising to the position of Amador-El Dorado-Alpine Unit chief, a position that focused on the management of fire and emergency service operations (he is also a Peace Officers Standards and Training certified peace officer), in 2001 Osborne retired from Cal Fire based on his doctor’s recommendation.
But it wasn’t long before three members of his Rotary Club — Gael Barsotti, Ed Mathews and Jim Webb — recruited him to run for the EID board.
“I said I don’t know anything about water, or sewers or hydroelectric power,” Osborne recalled. “They said,” ‘We have doers; we need administrators.’ “So that’s how I ended up running for the EID board.”
Asked about the most important things he and other board members accomplished during his tenure, the first to come to mind was acquiring Jenkinson Lake (aka Sly Park) along with its water rights from the Bureau of Reclamation. “The rumor was that they wanted $20 million for it, which included the water treatment plant. We settled for $11.5 million,” he said, crediting Congressman John Doolittle for helping EID through the process.
Another accomplishment was improving EID’s bond rating. “When I got here, our bond rating was C+. Now, depending on the agency, it is either double A or A-, which represents millions of dollars in interest saved over the life of those bonds,” he said. “I was told by some finance people that given the size of the organization, that’s the highest rating we could get.”
An accomplishment Osborne lauded that actually occurred before he joined the board was Project 184. In 1998 EID acquired it from PG&E, which paid EID $15 million to take it off its hands. Located on the South Fork of the American River, the acquisition included ownership of a 21-megawatt powerhouse and the transfer of 15,080 acre-feet of water rights from the South Fork of the American River and from four high-Sierra lakes and reservoirs — Caples, Silver, Echo and Aloha. Together they make up one-third of EID’s water supply. Project 184 also offers recreation opportunities at Silver and Caples Lakes and at Forebay Reservoir in Pollock Pines.
“Acquiring the water rights was particularly important because now they belong to the citizens of El Dorado County instead of the federal government,” noted Osborne. “We have also acquired other water
$13,794, which is a $4,140 decrease from the current FCC. The decrease is based on a projected annual growth rate of .62%.
With the increase in the water FCC combined with a decrease in the wastewater FCC, a typical new single-family connection will see a potable water and wastewater FCC of $47,603.
The recycled water FCC will be $3,115, which is a $1,131 reduction primarily due to a lower recycled water system valuation and lack of capacity projects compared to the 2013 update. A duel-plumbed FCC will go to $23,288 which is a $2,381 increase.
The Agricultural Meter Irrigation FCC, which sta said had not been updated since at least 2008 or earlier, will be $10,416, an increase of $9,293.
EID currently charges Private Fire FCCs for dedicated fire protection connections that are 8 inches or larger. After surveying six neighboring water agencies, none of which have separate connection fees for private fire connections, the board decided to discontinue FCCs for all new private fire connections.
rights, but smaller amounts of them.”
Other organizational improvements
Osborne said he was a party to involved downsizing EID’s sta .
“When I first got here I looked at the organization chart and it kept getting bigger. In 2007 we had over 300 employees and now we’re down to 231 and that represents a huge amount of money saved for ratepayers in salaries. Technology has also played into that.”
Osborne also pushed to invest in EID’s infrastructure.
“When I first got on the board, EID didn’t have a long-range plan for repairing and replacing the infrastructure,” he said. “For example, two years ago between Christmas and New Year’s an El Dorado Main broke. That was 77 feet of pipe costing $990,000 plus all the emergency overtime.
“I told them we needed a strategic plan and not do everything ad hoc. Some of our infrastructure is 60-70 years old and services an area 220 square miles in size.”
As a result of all these changes and acquisitions over the years, EID is now more complex than many water districts because it has five divisions: water, sewer, hydroelectric power and solar, recycled water and a recreation department.
“There are a lot of water districts and a lot of sewer districts but we do it all,” he chuckled, noting that the district, which was formed in 1925, will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year.
“We have a great staff and I have really enjoyed my time on the board. There have been a few stressful days wondering what to do next … but there’s a point when you say it’s time for new blood,” he told the Mountain Democrat. Osborne confessed he considered not running before but he enjoys being on the board and others discouraged him citing his institutional knowledge. “It’s been an enjoyable time and I’ve learned a lot.”
As for future plans, Osborne said he and his wife of 61 years want to take some cruises and travel around the country. But he’s still in Rotary and he and his wife both are involved in other organizations.
“I’ve had a pretty fulfilling life,” he said. “I have a great wife, had a great career and my second career on EID was very rewarding. I have two very successful daughters and four great grandsons — one of whom is an engineer with Cal Fire.”
Remarking on Osborne’s contributions to the agency, EID General Manager Jim Abercrombie shared, “George’s leadership on the board has been instrumental in shaping EID into a multifaceted professional agency. His deep understanding of public service and emergency management brought a strategic perspective that helped guide key projects and decisions. Whether it was securing vital water resources or navigating emergencies like the Caldor Fire, George’s wisdom and steady governance provided a foundation that will benefit the district for years to come. He always focused on what was best for the community, helping EID grow while maintaining integrity and transparency.”
the LTRA in curbing the Caldor Fire in 2021 and “saving the city of South Lake Tahoe.”
Julie Regan, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s executive director, testified in front of Congress at the Natural Resources Hearing last week. She echoed Kiley’s statements at the annual Lake Tahoe Summit in August, saying, “We can get past the political divides by implementing projects of common importance at the local level. Tahoe is the perfect example, spanning two states, multiple overlapping jurisdictions, and red and blue counties. Yet we can all agree on the goal of protecting something that is larger than us.” Congress clearly agreed. Now the EIP will be able to continue its work by leveraging the funds available to them.
From the TRPA press release, Rosalie Herrera, Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, states, “These federal funds will continue to allow work with states, local governments, and other public and private entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, watershed restoration and invasive plant projects on federal and non-federal lands in the Lake
Tahoe Basin.”
“I was thrilled to pass the reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through the Senate this summer, and today’s vote means this critical legislation is o cially on its way to becoming law,” adds Sen. Cortez Masto in a press release. “I’m proud of our bipartisan work to deliver funding for vital programs that keep the lake clean, support local jobs and support our tourism economy. It is an honor to help lead Team Tahoe and fight for the resources the basin needs to thrive.”
Kiley’s statement after the approval states, “I’d like to thank our Senate partners, especially Sen. Cortez Masto, and all those in the Tahoe community who worked side by side to make this day possible. Together, we will keep Tahoe clean, blue, and accessible for future generations.”
For the 2025 fiscal year, the EIP and its partners requests for the LTRA programs total $72 million. Their priorities by cost are forest health, watershed restoration, water infrastructure to fight fire, managing aquatic invasive species, building back the Lahontan cutthroat trout population and accountability measures.
Thunder Mountain
Summer quietly turned over seasonal duties to autumn on Sept. 22, the Autumnal Equinox. Day and night are about equal on this day. From now till winter takes over, the days will grow progressively shorter, the nights longer.
time you go out. You want to get back to the trailhead while it’s still north side of a slope, the sun will blink out even
it. Adjust the layers you wear. Shed a layer to cool down; put a layer on to stay warm. Remember to have some kind of rain gear with you. Thunder Mountain is a wonderful hike with great views. It’s o of Highway 88 just west of the Carson Spur. If you’ve ever been to Silver Lake, you’ve seen a rather incredible wall of lava at the east side of the lake. It’s spectacular. The top of that is Thunder Mountain at 9,410 feet in elevation.
It’s a pretty stunning chunk of lava.
The trailhead is on the south side of SR 88, at about 8,000 feet in elevation. It’s well marked in a large clearing. This is an easily accessible spot, rarely crowded. There are no fees for parking and no permits are required. The information board there outlines the route, which is well marked. The forest will cover you quite well as you start out. Enjoy it. Most of the hike is out in
the open. There is no water up here so pack plenty of it and drink it regularly. Stay hydrated, even if it is cool.
You’ll pass great large rocks that just beg to be photographed not far from the start. You will also pass those snow barriers that you see while driving up from Kirkwood, those things that look like big tilted tables on the top of the ridge above the highway.
The trail starts o easy for a bit, then starts to climb. Once you gain a few feet in altitude and break out into the open you’ll find that you are on the ridge above Kirkwood. Look to the east and you are looking down over the ski runs that make Kirkwood such a stunning ski resort in the winter.
Remember to look behind you frequently as the way back does look di erent than the way up.
Looking south across this ridge, some rather large lava formations come into view. The trail starts to get steep as you continue. As you continue there’s more lava, uneven ground and loose rocks.
Continuing to the summit requires hiking up a pretty steep part of the trail, through the lava that you see from Silver Lake. This is the di cult part of
the hike. The pay o for making it to the summit is worth it. To the west is Silver Lake and it is a view that is quite amazing.
The summit is a good place to sit for a bit and have lunch, or rip into the snacks you brought. It is a stunner up there. Take your time and enjoy it.
Hiking back down to the trailhead demands that you pay close attention to what you’re doing. The downhills are always more di cult than the uphills. The trail is a 7-miler out and back. Pack plenty of water. Slather on the sunscreen, as you will be in the open most of the way. A good hat that provides relief from the sun and sturdy boots for the rocky and uneven parts of the trail are best.
Always take a map, a compass, first aid kit and more food than you think you’ll need, especially the chocolate covered peanut M&M’s. Take your phone, but understand that cell service is i y around there. If there are thunderstorms predicted, stay o this trail. There’s nowhere to hide up there.
Hike now, as once the snow flies it’s over till next year. Plan accordingly. Leave no trace. Get outside!
Photo by J. Ferris
Thunder Mountain stands tall above Silver Lake. The hike to the top is 7 miles up and back.
PROSPECTING
Section B ■ mtdemocrat.com
IN THE KNOW
Now
Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “The Beauty of Queen Leenane” through Sept. 28. For tickets and more information visit bigideatheatre.org.
Imagination Theatre at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds presents “The 39 Steps” through Sept. 29. For tickets and more information go to itplacerville.org.
Capital Stage in Sacramento presents “Fairview” through Sept. 29 as it kicks o its 20th anniversary season. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.
Arts and Culture El Dorado, in collaboration with the El Dorado County Historical Museum and Placerville News Company, hosts Specters on Glass: Studio Portraiture in Early 20th Century Placerville at the Switchboard Gallery through Oct. 6. The collection is a broad sampling of local citizenry captured on glass dry plate negatives, and sits rmly at the intersection of histories of place and histories of technology. The Center has opened registration for the Adopt A Family program. This is an opportunity to step in and help provide joy, relief and lasting memories for local families in need. Registration runs through Oct. 15. For more information call (530) 626-1450.
■ See KNOW, page B5
■ Creativity is not for the faint of heart
Sylvia Coleman Placerville Arts Association
Working, working, working means the members of the Placerville Arts Association will be ready and waiting for a stream of visitors who “love art for art’s sake” and visitors who are ready to be saturated with art fineness. The artist members of PAA have been preparing for months for just a time as this — The PAA 2024 Artist Studio Tour. The public is cordially invited to this free event Sept. 27-29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The Studios are situated from Camino to Shingle Springs. Visit the Tour website, paastudiotour.com, to locate your first
Placerville Arts Association
studio visit. While at your first studio pick up a tour brochure with all the information you will need to spend a perfect day arting. There will also be many road-signs along your way to help you reach each studio. Brochures can also be picked up at Gold Country Artists Gallery on Main Street in Placerville.
There will be a broad range of exceptional 2D and 3D artworks to enjoy including ceramics, woodwork, artisan jewelry, oil, acrylic, watercolor, inks, mixed media, collage, fabrics, quilts, sculptures and fine art photography.
Placerville Arts Association is one of the earliest nonprofits established in El Dorado County. The first tour was in 1998 with 30 participating artists. Over the years, the number of participating studios and artists
TAKE3 kicks off ‘back by popular demand’ concerts
Jeannette Maynard
El Dorado County Community Concert Association
El Dorado County Community Concert Association is excited to kick o its 2024-25 season with TAKE3 at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, at Union Mine High School Theatre at the Mine.
TAKE3: Where ROCK meets BACH — With a flair for the wild and unexpected, genre defying TAKE3 brings the refinement of a rigorous classical music background and infuses it with rock star charisma. Trained at the world’s top conservatories, TAKE3 has expanded their repertoire from Bach and Beethoven to Bieber and The Beach Boys. The Nevada Sagebrush notes, “This group gave us a tremendous night of undisputed talent from some of the most passionate musicians around.”
Known for infectious and down to earth onstage personalities, TAKE3 leaves its indelible mark on captivated crowds around the country performing their arrangements of top pop hits, Americana and signature classical mashups.
TAKE3’s interactive lighting shows and comedic stories of their journey from scales in conservatory practice rooms to pop music in packed stadiums, come together
in unforgettable experiences that have fired up concert goers all over the nation. In addition to extensive touring, the group has earned accolades for its outreach programs for children of all ages, delivering a message of hope, inspiration and the importance of following dreams with vigorous tenacity. TAKE3 was created by violinist/vocalist Lindsay Deutsch, Yanni’s featured violin soloist, with whom she has toured.
Deutsch began her career as a classical soloist, performing concerts with symphony orchestras around the country. Her
performance of Astor Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra conducted by Je rey Kahane was selected for NPR’s Symphony Cast Program.
Deutsch has become an ambassador for the Violins of Hope project, performing on violins saved in the Holocaust in venues around the country, including the Soraya center in Los Angeles and with the Livermore Symphony in San Francisco. She can be heard throughout Netflix’s popular show “The Witcher” and the Hulu series “All About
Artworks clockwise: “Caldor Fire Glow,” oil painting by Phil Lachapelle; “Peering Skyward,” acrylic-ink on paper by Matt Harline; and “Bell Tower, Placerville,” watercolor by David Danz.
■ See TOUR, page B5
Courtesy photo
Performing everything from Bach to The Beach Boys, TAKE3 knows how to entertain a crowd. See the group on Oct. 4 at Union Mine High School.
Dine, dance, swing and sway at church concert
News release
Swingmasters bring their big band sound to Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, 2979 Coloma St. in Placerville, on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Swingmasters, under the expert direction of Dr. German Gonzalez, is an 18-piece ensemble performing big band music from the 1930s to the present, memorializing the legacies of great band leaders like Glenn Miller and Count Basie and iconic vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. The 18 members range in age from their early 20s to their early 90s,
with a wide range of musical expertise and background. Many of the members are or have been musical
educators throughout their lives. Some are doctors, engineers and business owners. Each member brings a unique
voice to the collective group, creating an experience second to none in the Sacramento area. Each member is a
in Peirce Hall and dancing under the twinkling lights of the courtyard follow.
Popular instructors and members of Our Saviour Dan and Sheryl Trainor will be on hand to teach some swing steps. Cost is $40 per person for adults and children younger than 12 get in free. Reservations can be made at (530) 3914588. Tickets will be available by reservation or at the door if space is available.
volunteer, giving freely of his or her time for the love of big band music.
The evening begins with a delicious lasagna (meat or vegetarian) dinner in the Parish Hall at 5 p.m. Music
All proceeds will be used for the church buildings — preservation, maintenance and updating to current codes. Our Saviour is a historical church which in 2025 will celebrate 160 years of serving the Placerville community.
Time. Time has a job to do. To give what was once a forest back to the earth.
Ellen Osborn is proud to be a fourth generation Californian. This is her first poem. It was written in response to the destruction left by the Caldor Fire. Ellen has volunteered at the El Dorado County Historical Museum. She and her husband are also active with the Oregon California Trails Association researching and marking the emigrant trails into California. This activity dovetails nicely with her research into the life of her great, great, grandfather, John Calhoun Johnson, as the emigrant trail that became Highway 50 was originally pioneered by him. A member of Placerville Shakespeare Club, Ellen helped research and write the well-received original presentation “El Dorado’s True Gold Notable Women’s Stories.” In 2015, her book about early El Dorado County history, “A Lovely And Comfortable Heritage Lost,” was published. In addition, Ellen has published several magazine articles on local history.
Still time to get poetry and prose
in ‘Slope & Basin’
Arts and Culture El Dorado has extended the deadline for submissions to “Slope & Basin,” a new literary journal publishing poetry and prose from writers based in El Dorado County, to Tuesday, Oct. 15.
“Slope & Basin” is named for the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin, reflecting Arts and Culture’s goal of creating cultural connectivity across the Sierra and representing its commitment to writers and readers throughout El Dorado County.
“The interest and enthusiasm about this opportunity has been extraordinarily high, so we want to make sure that as many people as possible have a chance to submit their work,” said program manager Jordan Hyatt-Miller. “As a professional, paying publication, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our local writers.”
Submissions for the inaugural issue of Slope & Basin must be received by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15. Contributors of poems selected for publication will receive $50; contributors of longer-form prose pieces will receive $75.
Submission guidelines
• To submit, email your work to submissions@ artsandcultureeldorado.org.
• You may submit up to three pieces (poems, prose fiction and non-fiction, or both) for consideration.
■ See SUBMISSIONS, page
It has been three days since I attended the screening for Francis Ford Coppola’s long in-development passion project “Megalopolis” and, honestly, I still don’t know what to think of it. Some will like it. Some will hate it. I heard both as I walked out of the theater, though the comments leaned more toward the latter. The film is a fever-dream mish-mash of ideas and styles. Not in an effort by the legendary filmmaker to see what will stick to the wall but rather Mr. Coppola is using this opportunity to say absolutely everything he wants to say about life, art, love and the future of society and government in two hours and 18 minutes, melting pot of tone and style be damned! The central story, for what there is, finds the city of New Rome in conflict with Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a brilliant artist, in favor of a utopian future facing the greedy mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito). Between them is Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), her loyalty divided between her father and her beloved. My first impression of these characters was that I didn’t particularly care about any of them. Driver is good as always. Hell, the whole cast is filled with legendy A-list talent from the last 50 years of film history and they all buy into
the work. My issue is that none of the characters are really likable. Driver’s Cesar is an eccentric who uses substances to dumb down the pain he feels from the recent loss of his wife. Driver is one of the best actors working today but in the ADHD world of this film we never get enough quiet moments where we feel like we truly empathize with him.
Emmanuel’s Julia fares a tad better but her character motivation seems stuck in the past for such a forward-thinking movie. The chemistry between her and Driver is good but I couldn’t shake the feeling that what we have here is a movie about the tug-of-war between several detestable men in this world. Emmanuel’s Julia Cicero and Aubrey Plaza’s Wow Platinum are two of the more intriguing characters. It would have been more interesting to watch them play the politics even more and wrestle power away from the older entities who seem to have run the society of the film into the ground.
In regards to the script, first written more than 40 years ago by Mr. Coppola, the filmmaker makes no bones about this being “a fable,” even using dialog that has more in common with Shakespeare and iambic pentameter than modern English. The performers are all game but the dialogue feels rather forced and clunky because of it.
The film makes a point to highlight a Russian satellite hurling toward Earth. A relic of the Cold War that will enter the atmosphere and crash somewhere on the planet at some point. The movie shows its progress a couple of times, only to have a character declare that it will crash into “New Rome” that very day. We see shots of the broken up fireball of satellite pieces heading toward the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks. These shots are the ones featured in the trailer and
County artists earn awards in PBS KVIE Art Auction
n Art auction broadcasts
Sept. 27-29
News release
SACRAMENTO — Returning for its 43rd year, the PBS KVIE Art Auction is again spotlighting the creative talents of artists across Northern California in its annual arts showcase, competition and auction, including three artists from El Dorado County:
• John Schaff, “Collide-A-Scope,” first place in the Contemporary category
• Douglas Parks, “Balance,” curator award in the Photography category
• Michael Smith, “Test Subject,” juror award in the Sculpture category
Their artworks will be up for bid in the live, three-day auction event. Broadcast by KVIE Channel 6, this year’s Art Auction airs on Friday, Sept. 27, from 7-10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The auction will also be livestreamed online at kvie.org/artauction. During
the live event, viewers can bid on their favorite artworks by telephone.
“It’s another great year of luminous choices for our awards jurors to contend with,” said PBS KVIE Art Curator Jill Estroff. “In every category, artists submitted striking work to the PBS KVIE Art Auction and we’re proud to showcase them in the 2024 collection.”
Images and information on each artwork up for bid, as well as a complete list of featured artists, can be found at kvie.org/artauction.
Art Auction proceeds will help support PBS KVIE’s local productions and community outreach services.
Broadcasting from California’s capital since 1959, PBS KVIE inspires viewers to explore the world and connect with their community through engaging experiences in current events, drama, history, nature, science and more. As a member station of PBS, the most trusted media institution in America, PBS KVIE curates the best in educational television programming and online content available. For more information visit kvie.org.
they are beautiful. Unfortunately we fade to black before any kind of impact is made and pick up well after the fact with the city leaders debating what should be done with the section of the city that has been destroyed.
This seemed like a significant and missed opportunity in the story. If Mr. Coppola, in all of his wisdom, chooses to no not show the horror of buildings and structures coming down that can be understood. But some sort of emotional reaction from the characters would have conveyed the severity of their world changing and filled the void between the fade to black and the conversations that followed.
The film certainly looks good. It is photographed by Mihai Malaimare Jr. who shot Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” as well as Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit.” There is an absolutely superbly shot and edited sequence in the film revolving around a hyperactive circus-style show in the “Colosseum” that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the big, operatic sequences Coppola has directed in his illustrious career.
On a music level I entered the screening greeted to material from the soundtrack blaring over the sound system as we took our seats. When I say “blaring” I mean it; it was so loud I had to excuse myself and go back to the lobby a couple of times before the film proper started. I love the idea of setting the mood of the evening to the music featured in the film (a very classic Hollywood trick used back in the days of “Lawrence of Arabia”) but perhaps theaters should check their levels first. Once the film started, however, I don’t recall being overly impressed with the music. Usually the score is a major character in
impacted by
or
For more information about the event visit imagesofhopeeldorado. com/quilts-in-september. To make a bid and see all the quilts available visit givebutter.com/IOHquilts.
Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
The Batik Stepping Stones quilt hangs in the window at Robinsons Pharmacy in Placerville.
“Collide-A-Scope” by John Schaff
Tahoe-based musician celebrates new album with a
Eric T Brandt, aka, EricT, has been playing and writing music since he was a child. He was born into a musical family and started forming bands in middle school. He has played in various bands since. In 2020, when he was 57 years old, Brandt’s personal life was engulfed by a major challenge when after experiencing frightening and dangerous changes in his vision and cognitive functions he was diagnosed with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, an Alzheimer-related disease that affects the brain’s management of sight, spatial awareness and memory. As a result, Brandt has been deemed legally blind and experiences a variety of cognitive impacts and degradation in his daily life. Today, Brandt continues his quest every day as his love of music grows, and his songwriting continues daily. For whatever reason, his condition has only increased his ability to write, remember and play music. To help him transform his new challenges and focus his attention on his passion, Brandt has written six heartfelt and deeply personal yet easily relatable songs in his new EP, “What You Left Behind.” He takes the listener on a journey of what it means to lose, and then rediscover love, joy and purpose. Brandt intends to raise awareness for
Buttered
Continued from B3
PCA and Alzheimer’s as he navigates his health issues while trying to live his best life.
The “What You Left Behind” EP is a hybrid of classic rock with a hint of today’s country and Americana. The songs have an eclectic and unique feel, touching on subjects derived from numerous personal experiences including love, loss, divorce, positivity, life and death. His song styles range from soft acoustic rock to hard
Coppola’s films (see “The Godfather” or “Apocalypse Now”) but the score to “Megalopolis” was somewhat unremarkable.
“Megalopolis” is a creative, bombastic, overstuffed and sometimes cheesy work by a filmmaker who is considered one of the best to ever do it. It’s been a decade since Coppola directed a film and almost 25 years since he directed anything of note and several times that shows in the material and direction. I personally would have gone to see this film regardless of if I was invited to a screening or not. This has the potential to be Francis Ford Coppola’s final film
rocking high-energy adventure and quirky telenovela-style storytelling.
“I am writing and playing music because it is incredibly cathartic for me and because I want to leave a legacy behind that represents who I am,” Brandt said. “What I don’t want is for people to feel sorry for me. I have three wonderful kids, many wonderful friends and a phenomenal girlfriend, and my wish is to have as much quality time with them and to
and this is an auteur that should be celebrated. If I don’t get to see new material from the man on the big screen again I will be happy to have experienced “Megalopolis” on an IMAX screen.
However, I can’t say that general audiences will feel the same way because the film is not only full of issues with the narrative but also the experimental nature of the film makes it feel like a community college play once in a while, even with its ambitious backdrops and A-list talent in front and behind the camera. I was not surprised to see that the last project Coppola directed was a proof-of-concept
continue writing and recording my songs as long as possible.”
The Eric T Brandt EP Release Party and Benefit for Alzheimer’s takes place Saturday, Sept. 28 at Pete ‘n Peters in Tahoe City. Doors open at 6 p.m. with an Alzheimer’s presentation 6:30-7 p.m., live music with the Beer Gardeners 7-9:30 p.m., Brandt’s EP 9:30-10 p.m. and a DJ 10 p.m. to closing. The admission is a suggested donation of $20. Plus, there will be a raffle with a variety of great prizes. Cash or Venmo accepted. Brandt has pledged to donate proceeds from the event and album sales to Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative research.
“This is a homegrown collaboration between musicians about my own real-life experiences and personal journey,” Brandt said of his EP. “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m fired up to put it out there. I hope that these songs will resonate and infuse joy in people’s lives.”
The EP was produced by wellknown and highly respected composer, keyboardist, and producer, Timothy Drury. It was recorded at Brandt’s Tahoe City studio, Round Rock Records, and Drury’s Creekside Studio in Sonoma. The record is available on all major streaming platforms and on CD at select outlets. For more information visit erictbrandt.com.
version of a production that was broadcast to limited audiences from the stage of Oklahoma City Community College almost a decade ago. A worthy production, no doubt, but for the size and scale of this production it felt like a bit of an experimental stage show itself and a bit of a slog in parts. Perhaps, like the filmmaker’s own “One From the Heart” (1981) this will also find its niche, cult following some day.
Joshua B. Porter is an award winning filmmaker. He can be reached at @joshuabporter or joshuabporter@mtdemocrat.net.
Photo by Scott Thompson
Despite living with a debilitating condition, Eric Brandt continues to make and share his music.
Sept. 27
The Placerville Arts Association hosts its Artists Open Studio Tour Sept. 27-29. Meet some of the outstanding and award-winning artists who live and create in the beautiful Sierra foothills. This year 39 artists will participate at 11 locations. For more information visit paastudiotour.com.
Clerical Estate Trio will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.
Sacramento City College’s City Theatre is producing A Local Playwrights Festival: I Think This Place Has Changed, Sept. 27 through Oct. 13 in the Art Court Theatre in the Performing Arts Center on the Sacramento City College campus at 3835 Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento. All details and tickets are available online at CityTheatre. net.
Sutter Street Theatre presents “Evil Dead the Musical” Sept. 27 through Nov. 3. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. on Sundays. There will be a special Halloween showing on Thursday, Oct. 31. For tickets and more information call (916) 3531001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.
The Olde Coloma Theatre presents “A Werewolf’s Tail, Or, Hilda’s Haunted Hilltop” Sept. 27 through Oct. 27. Doors open Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, go to oldecolomatheatre.com.
Sons of Rock will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com. David Francey will perform at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.
Feng E will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
Sept. 28
Check out Placerville Cars and Coffee every Saturday, 7-9 a.m. at Lions Park. Hang out with other car enthusiasts.
EDH Cars and Coffee invites car people to meet up and hang out Saturdays, 7-9:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the right-side parking lot of the Regal movie theater in El Dorado Hills Town Center. Everyone and every type of vehicle is welcome. The motto is “If it rolls, it goes.”
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Shade Gardening 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. Shade Gardens offer cool beauty to your landscape. They add texture, color and flowers to your garden. Join this talented team of Master Gardeners to learn what plants thrive in all kinds of shade — dappled to deep. Register online at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=42845.
Check out vintage aircraft, vehicles and more at Props, Cops & Rodders, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cameron Airpark in Cameron Park. Showcasing classic cars and airplanes, this event has something for everyone, including music, law enforcement and emergency service displays, great food, bounce houses, beekeepers and face painting. Placerville Seventh-day Adventist Church will hold a community blood drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6831 Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and enter blood drive code SMFR645 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be welcome if space allows.
• Poems should be no longer than three pages, single-spaced. Prose works should be no longer than 10 pages, single-spaced.
• Submissions should be formatted as Word documents or as PDFs, with a 12-point font size.
• In your email, please indicate if your submission has been previously published and. if so, where.
• Include your name and mailing address in your email. Your mailing address must be within El Dorado County.
varies. This year there are 11 studios to visit with 39 artists spread amongst them. This year there will be an opportunity for studio visitors to win a work of art (original or print). Guests just need to sign into the studio’s visitor Log (for each studio that they visit). The more studio logs signed the greater the opportunity of winning a piece of art. The drawing is free. Sixteen artworks have been donated by PAA Studio Tour artists for the drawing. Drawings will take place on Oct. 1, after which winners will be notified.
Pam.” Her performances on these Sony soundtracks reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and received millions of streams worldwide.
There’s still time to join EDCCCA — the oldest performing arts organization in El Dorado County — has been bringing world-class entertainment to the greater Placerville area since 1950 and the 2024-25 season is no exception. The association relies on memberships to present the concerts and now is the time to renew membership or join for the very first time. The 2024-25 season’s prices are $80 per adult membership and $20 per student membership for the six-concert series. A family membership option is available for $180, including two adults and two K-12 students. Even if you cannot attend every concert, subscription prices make concert attendance very affordable.
All EDCCCA concerts will be performed at Union Mine High School, Theatre at the Mine, 6530 Koki Lane in El Dorado — a perfect venue for intimate, live performances. The season’s curtain time varies, as EDCCCA is introducing a matinee performance in March 2025.
Non-members may attend for $30 at the door ($10 per student). Only cash and checks are accepted at the door (no credit/debit cards). To learn more about the upcoming season — and how to become a member or a sponsor — call (530) 556-9498 and/or visit ElDoradoCommunityConcerts.com.
Boeger Winery in Placerville hosts Harvest Sip & Stomp, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. featuring a grape stomp, mini crush pad tours, live music and wine tasting. Picnics and folding chairs are welcome at this family friendly event. Charcuterie boards and snacks will be available for purchase. For more information visit boegerwinery.com/events. The Coloma Community Market takes place 1-4 p.m., drizzle or shine, the second and fourth Saturdays at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Find great local products while enjoying live music, food, beverages and more. Parking is free during the market hours. Episcopal Church of Our Saviour hosts a dine and dance event. Start with a lasagna dinner at 5 p.m. Followed by music and dancing with the Swingmasters’ big band sound. Think Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey. The church is located at 2979 Coloma St., Placerville. Cost is $40 per person with children younger than 12 free. Reservations are highly advised; call (530) 391-4588. Tickets will be available at the event if there is space. This fun extravaganza is a benefit for the Building Fund to repair and upgrade the historical church.
All About Equine Animal Rescue hosts its 11th annual Boots and Bling fundraising event in support of the horses. The public is invited to participate in event festivities, which include a catered barbecue dinner, live/silent auctions, DJ entertainment and dancing at the Forni Building on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For more information or to purchase tickets visit allaboutequine.org/events.
The El Dorado Hills fourth annual Try-athlon will be held at the Community Park and Pool. The event begins at 8 a.m. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery in the Pleasant Valley area hosts North Forty, 4:30-8 p.m. For tickets call (530) 622-7221 or visit sierravistawinery.com.
Gwinllan Estate Winery in the Fair Play area hosts Harvest Hog, a celebration of the harvest season, 6-9 p.m. RSVP by Sept. 14 by calling (530) 723-2879 or emailing info@gwinllanestate.com.
Darth Mozart will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.
Check out Trivia Night at the Bumgarner Camino tasting room, beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Special guest Moo N Brew Boba will offer nonalcoholic Boba drinks. Guest will also enjoy wood-fired carnitas nachos from the wood-fired oven and, of course, wine and cider by the glass, flight or bottles.
The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville will host Monthly Metal starting at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Patton Leatha will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Knight Foundry will hold its monthly fourth Saturday selfguided walking tour day where visitors will discover an innovative, interactive video, text, and in-person experience as they explore the foundry complex. Expert docents are on hand to run the magnificent antique machinery and talk with visitors 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information visit knightfoundry.com or call 209-560-6160.
Mick Martin’s Big Blues Band will perform at Sutter Creek Theatre
in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.
Talisk will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
Twilight Safari comes to the Sacramento Zoo from 5:30-9 p.m. Enjoy an evening under the stars at the zoo’s annual gala event. For tickets and more information, go to saczoo.org.
Sept. 29
“Sacred Texts of War,” a film about moral injury, will be shown at the Harris Center for the Arts beginning at 3 p.m. Follow five veterans from Vietnam to Afghanistan as they courageously recount the events that led to their moral injury and how therapy helped them overcome depression and suicidal thoughts. Discover the brain science behind moral injury and how it fundamentally differs from PTSD. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.
DT’s will perform at 3 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.
The Fabulous Liars Band will perform at Poor Red’s in El Dorado, 4-7 p.m.
Jerry’s Middle Finger 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.
Oct. 1
National Alliance on Mental Illness El Dorado County offers free, in-person family support groups monthly: 6-7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month in Placerville and 5:30-7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in South Lake Tahoe. For more information visit namieldoradocounty.org.
The purpose of the Widowed Persons Club is to provide a support group for widowed men and women of all ages and provide a wide range of social activities through which they have an opportunity to make new friends and find a new direction in their lives. Regular breakfasts are held every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at Denny’s in Placerville. For those interested in joining or reservations don’t hesitate to get in touch with Glenda at (530) 295-8374 or Nancy at (530) 919-8276. Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.
Oct. 2
Jeff Freeman will teach East Coast Swing at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 7 p.m.. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Music in the Mountains presents Saint-Georges’ Sword and Bow Oct. 2 & 3. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit musicinthemountains.org.
B Street Theatre in Sacramento presents “What the Constitution Means to Me” at The Sofia in Sacramento Oct. 2 through Nov. 10. For tickets call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
W orship D irectory
Our private practice is looking for
to join our wonderful
Position is for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We offer 401K with a company match. If you are a motivated, energetic individual we would like to hear from you.
DANCING MUSIC AUCTIONS
News release
SACRAMENTO — The legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, with special guest Bobby Rush, will perform at The Crest on Sept. 29.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The National Endowment for the Arts and The Recording Academy/ Grammys with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and winners of six Grammy Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years.
The Blind Boys are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material by songwriters such as Eric Clapton, Prince and Tom Waits. They have appeared on recordings with many artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Ben Harper, Patty Griffin and Taj Mahal.
Blind Boys of Alabama released ‘Echoes Of The South’ on Aug. 25, 2023, which finds the Gospel Music
Hall of Fame inductees coming home to honor those they’ve lost on a bold declaration of how far they still plan to go. The 11-song collection is a portrait of perseverance from a group well-versed in overcoming incredible odds — from singing for pocket change in the Jim Crow South to performing for three different American presidents, soundtracking the Civil Rights movement and helping define modern gospel music as we know it.
Recently, the group’s decades-long mission of spreading light and love has taken on even deeper context as they’ve reckoned with the loss of two of their own, Paul Beasley and Benjamin Moore, both longtime members of the Blind Boys’ tightknit family. “Echoes Of The South” is released in their honor — as well as for the group’s recently-retired leader, Jimmy Carter — and keeps the Blind Boys’ long-held mission statement at its core: “As long as everybody gives all that they have to give and we sing songs that touch the heart, we’ll live on forever.”
The show begins at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. in Sacramento. For tickets and visit crestsacramento.com/events.
Popular band hits the road with new name, new sound
SACRAMENTO — Silverada comes to the The Goldfield Trading Post on Sept. 28.
Evolution. It’s what keeps the best bands afloat — song after song, show after show, record after record.
Mike Harmeier was still in his early 20s when he formed Mike and the Moonpies. From the start, they were the definition of a workingman’s country band, cutting their teeth with five-hour sets on Austin’s dancehall circuit before spreading their music to the rest of America. By the early 2020s, they’d become global ambassadors of homegrown Texas music, flying their flag everywhere from Abbey Road Studios (where they recorded 2019’s “Cheap Silver & Solid Country Gold” with help from the London Symphony Orchestra) to the Grand Ole Opry.
The growth was remarkable, but all that momentum left Harmeier and his four bandmates — drummer Taylor Englert, guitarist Catlin Rutherford, bassist Omar Oyoque and steel guitarist Zachary Moulton — looking for something new.
After all, their music had decidedly changed. Why shouldn’t their name do the same?
Silverada marks a new chapter in
the band’s history. It’s not just the title of the boldest release of the group’s critically-acclaimed career; it’s also the name of the reinvigorated band itself.
“Back in the day, all we wanted to do was play the Broken Spoke,” said Harmeier, nodding to the hometown honky-tonk in Austin, Texas, where Silverada began sowing the seeds for a sound that mixed timeless twang with modern-day dynamics. “We had different aspirations back then. We were still figuring out what kind of band we were gonna be and that took a lot of time and a lot of records.”
A lot of records, indeed. “Silverada” marks the group’s ninth release, and it balances the strengths they’ve accumulated along the way — sharp, detailed songwriting that bounces between autobiographical sketches and character studies; gorgeous swells of pedal steel that drift through the songs like weather; a rhythm section capable of country shuffles, hard-charging rock & roll tempos, and everything in between — with a willingness to break old rules and open new doors.
“Radio Wave” is a roots-rock anthem
Photo by Cole Weber
The Blind Boys of Alabama have helped define modern gospel music as we know it. See the group in downtown Sacramento.
Photo by Eric Cain
Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) has evolved and brings its new sound to Sacramento for a Saturday night concert.
for the highway and the heartland, peppered with Springsteen-worthy hooks and War On Drugs-inspired atmospherics. “Eagle Rare” launches the band into outer space during its explosive middle section, which the band improvised in the recording studio. “Stay By My Side” showcases Silverada’s road-warrior credentials; the band recorded the track live during a tour across the American Southeast, capturing it in a single take at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Ga. While “Wallflower” blends organic with the otherworldly, finding room for harmonized guitar solos, driving disco beats and 808 percussion.
“Going into the studio, everybody in
the band felt inspired to do something bigger than what they’d done before,” Harmeier explained. “We all knew we were at a precipice and we wanted to jump. I brought in some songs that were metaphorical and not always straightforward, and that showed the guys that I wanted to take this music somewhere new ... so they threw their own rulebooks out the window, too.”
Harmeier wrote the bulk of “Silverada” in his backyard studio, surrounded by dozens of books he’d picked up at a local Goodwill. “We’d been on tour for so long, playing the same set for almost two years, and I wanted to write something that was a departure,” he recalled.
Jeff Tweedy’s books on songwriting were a big help, but Harmeier pushed himself to get weird, too, finding inspiration in everything from astronomy texts to sci-fi novels.
“I would read some, work a little bit, read some more, and work a little more,” he said of the creative process. “I spent a full month in that studio, going there every night, making word ladders and highlighting lines and learning to free write.”
Recorded at Yellow Dog Studios with longtime producer/collaborator Adam Odor, “Silverada” propels the band forward without losing sight of their roots. “Stubborn Son” — a loving, unsparing sketch of the
family patriarch who set Harmeier’s creativity in motion — unfolds like a close cousin to the “Steak Night at the Prairie Rose” title track, laced with fiddle solos from longtime George Strait collaborator Gene Elders. “Doing It Right” channels the same throwback, slow-dance ambiance that informed 2019’s “You Look Good in Neon.” “Load Out,” which chronicles the grind of blue-collar jobs both on and off the road, could’ve found a home on 2021’s “One To Grow On.” The show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at The Goldfield Trading Post, 1630 J St. in Sacrament. For tickets and more information visit goldfieldtradingpost.com.
