Mountain Democrat, Friday, September 29, 2023

Supervisors burdened by hate speech

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer

Antisemitic comments engulfed the public forum segment of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday as individuals expressed their disapproval of the board’s action to rescind its proclamation recognizing July as American Christian Heritage Month.

The board listened as commenters, all through Zoom, barraged the county leaders, stating the Holocaust was a “hoax,” calling Jewish people “vile” and “leeches” and saying “f-ck Jews.”

The derogatory comments went on for about half an hour, but did not go without remarks from Board Chair Wendy Thomas, who asked County Counsel David Livingston nearly half way

Program grants amnesty to some building code cases

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer

El Dorado County leaders greenlit a newly implemented code enforcement amnesty program Tuesday in their effort to strike penalties or fees for current or future property owners unaware of unpermitted work previously done. Staff will have about a year before returning to the Board of Supervisors to give an update on implementation of the amnesty program, which helps prevent penalty of parties subject to an open code case due to unpermitted work that took place without their knowledge.

The program acts as a courtesy to those potentially impacted by unpermitted work. Specifically, county staff will conduct pre-site inspections to determine the conditions of the property in question. If the site is found to be safe from any health and safety concerns, code enforcement staff will issue a “certificate of compliance.”

That certificate will not only allow the unpermitted work to remain but potential sellers will still be able to conduct real estate transactions.

Those types of code cases would become a “low priority” for code enforcement staff and no additional enforcement action will occur even though those particular code cases would remain open.

The pre-site inspections will include a $107 fee.

Chris Perry, assistant director of the Planning and Building Department, told the board numerous local code cases involve property owners who are unaware they purchased property with work unrecorded by the county.

“The only way we break that chain in the future is if the future buyer knows there is an issue with the property, then we won’t have this issue anymore,” Perry said.

According to Perry, county staff met with members the El Dorado County Association of Realtors and the South Tahoe Association of Realtors to work out details on how the amnesty program would best keep real estate transactions moving forward.

Part of the amnesty program includes county staff working with future buyers and sellers during these transactions to negotiate outcomes to not hold up the sale of a property, even if the property has certain “clouds” on it.

A “cloud” is a claim

through the public forum if there were rules on such language being used during board meetings.

“That’s just not acceptable,” Thomas said, before Livingston noted that while the comments made were offensive, the county has no rules of conduct regarding hate speech.

“I suspect at the end of this discussion you’ll be directing me and other staff members

to consider some policy regarding hate speech at board meetings,” Livingston said.

The comments didn’t let up after that dialogue.

One commenter out of nearly 10, who claimed to be an El Dorado County resident by the name of Ryan, stated Jewish people were “dirty kikes,” exclaiming “f-ck these kikes that run our government” and ending with

the phrase “white power.”

Kim Dawson, clerk of the board, addressed the man as Ryan Messano, who bears the same name as a Solano County man who other media outlets have reported to have made derogatory remarks during a Sacramento City Council meeting in May.

Others made offensive comments such as “seig heil,”

Great Gourds

Richard Hansen

May 26, 1933 - Sept. 16, 2023

After a lengthy battle with Alzeimer’s Disease, Richard Juel Hansen passed away on September 16th, 2023. Dick was born on May 26th, 1933, in Ballard, Washington, to Oscar and Adelle Hansen. After a lively childhood filled with many (mis)adventures, Dick joined the Marines during the Korean War, achieving the rank of corporal, specializing in heavy arms combat. After completing his time with the Marines, Dick earned a B.S. from the University of Washington and a Masters in Fisheries Science from CSU, Humboldt. During this time, Dick worked as a field biologist in Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, and the Marquesas Islands.

In 1961, Dick was set up on an “ambush” blind date/dinner party by family friends, George and Frances Brackett, the parents of his roommate, Glenn Brackett. Dick was seated next to the lovely Nancy English, and even though she had a boyfriend at the time, they hit it o . To the surprise of everyone, they were engaged in less than a month. They married in April of 1962 and were married for 59 years before Nancy’s death in 2021.

After working for several years as a water quality biologist for California Fish and Game in Redding, California, Dick became the Laboratory Director of the Fish and Game Water Pollution Control Laboratory in Rancho Cordova. He worked at the lab from 1972 until 1996, when he retired. His children loved feeding the fish in the enormous tanks at the lab and raiding their dad’s “secret” candy drawer in his desk.

Dick and Nancy moved to Diamond Springs in 1972. Daughter Julie was born in 1968 and son Kris in 1971. Once retired, Dick and Nancy traveled the world, visiting Iceland, Norway, Costa Rica, Russia, and Antarctica. Dick’s passion in retirement was Toys for Tots. Dick and Nancy worked hard to run El Dorado County’s annual toy drive, and in 2008, Dick was the Grand Marshall of the Placerville Christmas Parade. When Dick was not with his fellow Marines playing poker, or hunting and fishing with his friends, he was working in his garden and orchard, and being “Papa” to his three grandchildren.

Dick is survived by his children, daughter, Julie Carruth (Rich) of Cameron Park, CA, and son, Kris Hansen (Kimberly) of Littleton, CO. He will also be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Tyler Hansen of Littleton, CO, Kate Carruth of Oakland, CA, and Ryan Carruth of Cameron Park, CA. Dick is also survived by his brother, Doug Hansen (Carol), his sister-in-law, Jan Hansen, and five nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Hansen, and his brother, Ronald Hansen.

Our family wishes to thank the incredible care our father received at Oakmont of El Dorado Hills in the Traditions unit, and Snowline Hospice. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Snowline Hospice or Toys for Tots. In memory of Dick, we ask that you spend some time in nature, tell a beloved family story, and raise a glass of whiskey to him.

Walter Borror

Febr. 16, 1943 – Sept. 3, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our Buddy. Born Walter L Borror on February 16, 1943, in Washington, DC to Walter and Andra Borror. He had a silly sense of humor and never knew a hamburger or chocolate chip cookie he didn’t like. We will miss him forever and cherish the memories. He leaves behind to mourn him his wife of 49 yrs, Jill; his son Scotty Borror (Debbie;) his 3 daughters, Jennifer Stonesifer (Scott,) Julie Fagan (Jef,) and Cari Vella (Jacob;) his sister Christy Jones; and tons of nieces, nephews and beloved in-laws! The memories of such a fun grandpa will live on in his 11 grandchildren, Megan, Jesse, Stephen, Blake, Andi, Brendan, Conor, Erin, Aidan, Zane, and Knox, and 2 great grandchildren. Godspeed, Buddy.

“A life that touches others goes on forever.”

Pipeline leak to be studied

Jessie Saich

El Dorado Irrigation District

The Marina Village No. 1 sewer force main in El Dorado Hills experienced a significant leak Sept. 8, leading to damage on Green Valley Road. El Dorado Irrigation District resources were mobilized to mitigate the spill and control the wastewater flow.

EID contracted with Doug Veerkamp General Engineering, Inc. to manage the excavation and pipeline repair. At its Sept. 25 meeting, the EID board ratified an emergency contract with Doug Veerkamp Engineering for a not-to-exceed amount of $135,000. This contract also covers the restoration of the asphalt on Green Valley Road.

The leak, which originated from a halfinch hole in the force main, was the second failure of this pipeline in six weeks. A third leak occurred a week later Sept. 17. Cleanup e orts

CRIME LOG

The following was taken from El Dorado County

Sheriff’s Office logs:

Sept. 9

11:52 a.m. Battery was reported on Highway 49 in Lotus.

8:20 p.m. A person was cited for alleged petty theft at a store on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

8:37 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 54-year-old man suspected of DUI and driving on a suspended license on Pleasant Valley Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $4,500 bail.

Sept. 10

12:33 a.m. A prowler was reported on Birchtree Circle in El Dorado Hills.

11:25 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Jim Valley Road in Placerville.

3:40 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a grocery store on Francisco

weather

ensured all spills were entirely retrieved from the a ected waterways. The district intends to conduct a comprehensive analysis of these recurring failures to prevent future issues. The overall estimated cost for the emergency repair and other related expenses totals $215,855, set to be funded from the 2023 wastewater annual operations budget.

Drive in El Dorado Hills.

5:12 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Bottle Hill Road in Georgetown.

Sept. 11

7:42 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Highway 193 in Placerville.

12:36 p.m. Deputies arrested a person suspected of grand theft at a business on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park.

1:40 p.m. Grand theft was reported at Muratura Way in El Dorado Hills.

1:48 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a school on Golden Eagle Lane in El Dorado Hills.

1:49 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Meyers Road in Meyers.

1:49 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Highway 50 in Twin Bridges.

2:19 p.m. Battery was reported at a school on Koki Lane in El

Dorado.

2:39 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Avelin Place in El Dorado Hills.

9:01 p.m. Deputies booked into jail

a 58-year-old man suspected of kidnapping, false imprisonment, battery and making criminal threats on Rim Street in Pollock Pines. He was listed in custody in lieu of $360,000 bail.

9:45 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 56-year-old man suspected of multiple probation violations on Crystal Boulevard in El Dorado. He was listed in custody.

Sept. 12

7:42 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Silent Path Road in Somerset.

10:13 a.m. Battery was reported at a school on Green Valley Road in Placerville.

11:45 a.m. Burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.

2:16 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Wentworth Springs Road in Georgetown.

11:07 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 22-year-old man suspected of battery causing serious injury on Amber Trail in Pollock Pines. He was released on $50,000 bail.

Sept. 13

2:23 p.m. Deputies arrested a suspect accused of assault with a deadly weapon on Ranch Creek Road in Cool.

3:42 p.m. Battery was reported at a school on Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs.

Sept. 14

8:01 a.m. Assault with a deadly weapon was reported on Kanaka Valley Road in Rescue.

3:22 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Amber Fields Drive in Shingle Springs.

■ See CRIME LOG, page A6

Earlier this month workers had to dig through thick asphalt on Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills to reach a leaking pipe.

The repaired pipe beneath Green Valley Road west of Francisco Drive.

What you need to knoW

Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis?

Ben Christopher Cal Matters

After negotiations to rescue California’s floundering home insurance market stalled out in the Legislature, the state’s top insurance regulator put out his own rescue plan that effectively amounts to a trade for the state’s major insurers.

Under proposed regulations

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara last week announced that major insurers will be required to cover a certain share of homeowners in the state’s most wildfire-prone areas. In exchange, the Department of Insurance will allow companies to charge more to cover the rising costs of doing business in a fire-ravaged state.

Lara called the package of new proposed regulations “the largest insurance reform” since 1988, the year California voters passed a proposition requiring insurance companies to get prior approval before raising premiums.

The plan is meant to reverse what has amounted to a slow-motion exodus of private home insurers from the state. In the last year and a half, seven of the top 12 property insurers operating in California have either placed new restrictions on where they do business or stopped selling new policies here entirely.

The biggest player of all, State Farm, announced a freeze on new policies in May, kicking off a fresh round of panic among homeowners scrambling to find affordable insurance policies and lawmakers eager to tackle the crisis.

For years, insurance companies have complained that current rates and the existing regulatory process don’t allow them to recoup the cost of doing business in the state’s most at-risk regions. By easing some of those restrictions, while requiring the companies to expand their coverage, “it’s the department calling the bluff of insurers,” said Rex Frazier, president of Personal Insurance Federation of California, a trade group.

In principle, that’s a trade-off

Yellow cress surveys under way at Lake Tahoe

News release

In early September the Tahoe Yellow Cress Adaptive Management Working Group began its annual lakewide monitoring surveys of Tahoe yellow cress in the Lake Tahoe Basin. These surveys continued throughout September across numerous land ownerships and on every beach where this rare plant is known to occur.

Success of the monitoring program depends on a partnership between California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy, Nevada Division of Natural Heritage, Tahoe Lakefront Owners Association, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and private landowners.

“Protecting rare plant species like the Tahoe Yellow Cress requires effective collaboration by Tahoe partners,” said Jason Vasques, executive director for the California Tahoe Conservancy. “Only by working together have we been able to bring this special part of the lakeshore ecosystem back from the brink of being lost forever.”

The Lake Tahoe Basin is a remarkable ecosystem where unique vegetation, such as TYC, can be found. TYC (Rorippa subumbellata) is a

small native plant that grows on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe and nowhere else in the world. It belongs to the mustard family and is exclusive to the sandy shores of Lake Tahoe and along creeks and streams that flow into the lake. TYC grows low to the ground and has pinnate leaves and small yellow flowers.

Two decades ago this distinct species was in danger of extinction. TYC had vanished from beaches in Nevada and could only be found at a few sites on the California side of the lake. Because of this critical situation, TYC was listed as endangered by the state of California and critically endangered in Nevada. In 1999 TYC was identified as a candidate for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Over the years TYC numbers have increased thanks to the collaborative effort of numerous partners and implementation of the TYC Conservation Strategy. Since 2002 this strategy helped identify and reduce threats to TYC through scientific research, community outreach and protective measures.

In October 2015, the USFWS removed TYC as a candidate for federal listing under the ESA, referencing the success of the TYC Conservation Strategy and the long-term, proactive, conservation demonstrated by the partners to

Property tax relief available

News release

K. E. Coleman, El Dorado County Treasurer-Tax Collector, shares news from the state Controller’s Office that applications to postpone payment of 2023-24 property taxes are now available.

The Property Tax Postponement Program, administered by the Controller’s Office, allows eligible homeowners to postpone payment of property taxes on their primary residence. To be eligible you must be at least 62, blind or have a disability; own and occupy the home; had a total household income in 2022 of $51,762 or less; have at least 40% equity in the home; and meet other requirements.

Repayment under the PTP Program becomes due when the homeowner

moves, sells, transfers title, defaults, refinances, dies or obtains a reverse mortgage.

Funding for the program is limited. Applications are accepted from Oct. 1 to Feb. 12 and are processed in the order received.

Coleman advises, “This is a popular program. If you are interested and feel that you may qualify, do not delay. Contact the state controller’s team by phone at (800) 952-5661 or by email to postponement@sco. ca.gov.”

Requirements are subject to change without notice if the law is revised. Additional information and eligibility requirements can be found on the California controller’s website at sco.ca.gov/ardtax_prop_tax_ postponement.html.

insurers are willing to make, he added, though it will ultimately depend on how the specific regulations are crafted in the coming months.

Amy Bach, executive director of the consumer group United Policyholders, struck a similar note.

Lara “did not sell out to the industry here, in my opinion, he struck a deal,” she said. “Whether it’s going to manifest positively overall … the proof will be in the premiums.”

But Consumer Watchdog — an

advocacy group that Lara all but called out by name during his presentation as “bombastic” and a group “materially benefiting” from the current regulatory system — came away with a difficult conclusion.

“He’s basically capitulated to the industry,” Jamie Court, the group’s president, said of Lara. “There’s not really much coming back for the consumer in here.”

Picking up where legislators left off

Our unbreakable connection to God, infinite Love. gives us permanent worth and purpose. It lifts us from dark times to healing and progress.

JAMes

Christian Science Practitioner

first Church of Christ scientist, Placerville 530-622-3290 csplacerville.com

first Church of Christ scientist, folsom 619-985-4006 csfolsom.com

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n Seniors, persons with disabilities may qualify

California Matters

Compromise settles dispute in state’s fast food industry

In some ways, the most interesting — and perhaps most significant — event of the 2023 legislative session’s closing days was a compromise agreement on state oversight of the fast food industry.

DAN

Last year, unions pushed through legislation that would have created a new state commission to set wages and working conditions in the industry.

Inferentially, the legislation set aside the industry’s franchise system and treated local outlets as merely branches of their corporate franchisors.

While the wage increases that would have resulted garnered most of the media attention, erosion of the franchise model was most worrisome aspect to the fast food corporations and their franchisees.

Immediately, big guns in the industry pledged tens of millions of dollars for a campaign to challenge the legislation via a referendum that qualified to go before voters in 2024.

The Legislature’s response was entertaining another bill that would have doubled down on attacking the franchise model by making corporate franchisors legally responsible for labor law violations in their franchisees’ fast food outlets.

With the outcome of the referendum election in doubt, the long-warring factions began

The Not So Weekly Daley

Joe Biden is too old to be president again.

Donald Trump is too old to be president again. I’m too old to be president. But then, I don’t want to be president. Never have. Never will.

Letters to the Editor

Dealing with Planning and Building

EDITOR:

We elect representatives to protect our rights as per the Constitution. It is time our elected representatives stop allowing El Dorado County Planning/Building to “stall and delay.” There are too many people (not elected) trying to create new rules, codes and regulations behind closed doors.

Our elected representatives need to have open and documented meetings, especially when property rights are concerned.

ELLEN DAY Diamond Springs

Is an EV for me?

EDITOR:

Imagine parking your car in the garage but forgetting there is a bike attached to the rack on top. Smash! The bike is destroyed as is the bike rack, top of the car and stucco on the wall above the garage door. That would happen to me and is why I have a rack on the back of the car.

What does this have to do with purchasing an EV? Recently, a friend mentioned he was selling his 2015 Tesla Model S. I took it for a spin and was hooked. What a fine car. Then I started doing my homework and things looked even better. The car was reasonably priced. It had all the options I might want. The battery was in decent shape.

Hours spent researching and I was ready to make the purchase … until the epiphany I had yesterday. While driving my Subaru to an appointment the gas gauge yelled, “10 miles until empty.” Next exit and five minutes later the car was full.

While I was standing holding the gas nozzle I thought, “What would have happened with an EV?” According to Google, the closest charging station was 15 miles away so you might have seen me on the side of the road. If I made it to a charging station it would have taken 30 minutes to charge. No way would I have made my appointment.

I couldn’t even remember to remove my bike from the ceiling rack before parking so I knew that having charging problems would happen to me — and more than once. Until there is a wellestablished charging network on the grid I am probably sticking with my 25 mpg Subaru.

I have to admit the environmental aspect appears attractive. However, that battery pack weighs more than 1,000 pounds — 1,000 pounds of lithium, cobalt and copper extracted from some open pit mine halfway across the world. Then the batteries are charged on a grid that relies on carbon-emitting sources to produce the energy. It does not feel that environmentally friendly to me.

The Tesla was a beautiful car but there are still some flaws in the system. True to form you may see me standing on the side of the road with my Tesla Model S just because I loved the car.

RICHARD REID Placerville

Maybe ‘age is just a number’ ... it really depends

WALTERS I

I don’t question the ability of either leading candidate to do the job at a minimum, given enough good and capable people to aid them. However, I do question their ability to do the job competently over four grueling years. I mean as competently as the country needs and deserves.

Age itself shouldn’t be the ultimate determiner of competence, judgment or capability, obviously. It’s a squishy issue just as term limits is kind of a squishy issue. It depends. Like so much else in life and our responses to life, it just freakin’ depends.

My mom and my father-in-law were both reasonably competent into their early 90s. They didn’t hold the fate of the nation or of the world in their hands in their day-to-day doings, of course. More than 99.99% of the rest of us don’t either, because we don’t have to. They just had to get

LEGISLATORS’ ADDRESSES

PLACERVILLE CITY COUNCIL

City Hall 3101 Center St.

Placerville 95667

530-621-2489

Patty Borelli, 530-622-5253

Wendy Thomas, 530-391-1985

Mark Acuna, 530-622-8922

Trisha Wilkins, 530-303-8882

Mayor John Clerici 530-626-8692

DISTRICT 1 SUPERVISOR

John Hidahl Office, 530-621-5650

DISTRICT 2 SUPERVISOR

along as best they could with a little help, and they did.

I suspect many of us already know what we can expect from the two top prospects. More of the same from Biden. OK. More of the same from Trump. No. But that’s my opinion, and it isn’t based on age.

Why is there a minimum age to become president but no maximum?

I imagine the Founding Fathers would have been aghast to think of an 80-year-old taking the Oval O ce or its equivalent in the 18th or 19th

century. Likewise a 77-year-old. That was pretty much way over the hill in those days. These days, it may not be quite “over” but it’s close.

Looking ahead to next year, as best we know at this point either the current or the former president is likely to be re-elected to a second term. We can’t know that to a certainty yet, but we should know by the first week of November 2024. If all goes as it’s supposed to go.

Chris Daley is a biweekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat.

Shiva Frentzen Office, 530-621-5651

DISTRICT 3 SUPERVISOR

Brian Veerkamp 530-621-5652

DISTRICT 4 SUPERVISOR

Mike Ranalli 530-621-6513

DISTRICT 5 SUPERVISOR

Sue Novasel Office, 530-621-6577

So. Tahoe office, 530-621-6577

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

Jerry Brown State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814

Fax: 916-558-3160 U.S. SENATE Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-3841 No. 1 Post St., Suite 2450 San Francisco 94104 415-393-0707 Kamala Harris 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3553 Fax: 202-224-2200 Sacramento Office 501 I Street, Suite 7-600 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-448-2787 Fax: 202-228-3865 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Tom McClintock 2200 A Douglas Blvd., Suite 240 Roseville, CA 95661 Phone: 916-786-5560 Fax: 916-786-6364 1ST SENATE DISTRICT Ted Gaines State Capitol Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-651-4001 Fax: 916-651-4901 El Dorado Hills Constituent Service Center 4359 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 112 El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 Phone: 916-933-7213 Fax: 916-933-7234 5TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Frank Bigelow State Capitol, Room 4116 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-319-2005 Fax: 916-319-2105 2441 Headington Rd. Placerville, CA 95667 Phone: 530-295-5505 Fax: 530-295-1905 33 C Broadway Jackson 95642 209-223-9140 6TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Kevin Kiley State Capitol, Room 4153 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-319-2006 Fax: 916-319-2106 Granite Bay District Office 8799 Auburn-Folsom Road, Suite A Granite Bay, CA 95746 Phone: 916-774-4430 Fax: 916-774-4433 EL DORADO IRRIGATION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2890 Mosquito Road, Placerville, 95667 Phone: 530-622-4513 Division 1: George Osborne, 530647-0350 Division 2: Greg Prada, 530-642-4055 Division 3: Michael Raffety, 530642-4055 Division 4: Dale Coco, 916-508-0357 Division 5: Alan Day, 916-235-3295

LAKE LEVELS

Walters Continued from A4 negotiating and a bargain was recently struck.

The 2022 legislation would be repealed, the 2023 legislation would be scuttled and a substitute for both would retain the fast food council, but alter its membership slightly, limit its authority to set wages and working conditions, provide a new $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food workers, prohibit local e orts to a ect wages and remove threats to the franchise model.

Like all legislative compromises, this one, written into Assembly Bill 1228, had something for everyone but didn’t give every stakeholder everything it wanted.

“For the last decade, fast-food cooks, cashiers and baristas in California have been sounding the alarm on the poverty pay and unsafe working conditions plaguing our industry,” Ingrid Vilorio, a fast food union leader, said in a statement. “We have always known that to solve these problems, we need a seat at the table with our employers and the power to help shape better rules across our industry.”

“It provides meaningful wage increases for workers, while at the same time eliminates more significant — and potentially existential — threats, costs, and regulatory burdens targeting local restaurants in California,” International Franchise Association CEO Matt Haller said in a statement.

Haller’s statement hints that on balance, it appears that given the circumstances, the fast food industry’s big players, such as McDonald’s, came out ahead, although their franchisees will feel

Edited

Will Shortz No. 0825

Crossword

whatever financial pinch ensues.

The $20 minimum wage is only slightly over what, on average, fast food workers are being paid now, the industry having boosted wages sharply in the last few years in an e ort to fully sta the outlets. Current California fast food wages average $19 an hour.

More significantly, the agreement protects the franchise system’s assumption that the operators of fast food outlets are independent businesspersons who invest their money and are fundamentally responsible for hiring, training, paying and sometimes firing their workers.

Had state regulation of fast food wages and working conditions survived as originally proposed, with franchisees indirectly considered to be merely branch managers rather than entrepreneurs, it could have undermined franchising in other consumer industries.

Union leaders much prefer to deal with large scale sectors rather than individual employers in both organizing workers and negotiating contracts. The recently ratified labor contract a ecting every West Coast port is an example of sector-wide negotiations, as is the current stando over a new auto industry contract.

Cracking the fast food franchise system would have been a big step in that direction.

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

Announcements

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

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

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

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

LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE

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

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

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE

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

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

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

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

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

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.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING

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

TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY

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

Civil Grand Jury asking community members to submit their concerns

El Dorado Civil Grand Jury El Dorado County Superior Court

A new Civil Grand Jury for El Dorado County has been impaneled as of July 1 for a 12-month term, to provide public oversight to operations at all levels of local government. This year’s Grand Jury is now soliciting public input and complaints through its website at edcgov.us/GrandJury or via email at contact@civilgrandjury.com.

The primary function of the Grand Jury is to act as the public’s watchdog by investigating complaints and to recommend ways local governments can be more efficient, effective, transparent and accountable.

Grand Jury complaints may include but are not limited to allegations of misconduct by public officials or employees and inefficiencies in local government. Complaints and investigations are treated as highly confidential, allowing a complainant to come forward without fear of

intimidation.

The Grand Jury is authorized by law to:

Inquire into the condition and management of public prisons within the county

Investigate and report on operations, accounts and records of city and county offices, departments and their functions

Inquire into allegations of willful or corrupt misconduct of public officials and employees

Investigate into the activities of special districts within the county

Submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the presiding judge of the court Grand Jury service is a volunteer position with modest monthly compensation for meetings and round-trip mileage. Members receive a wealth of experience and provide a vital service to the citizens of their community. For more information on the Grand Jury visit edcgov.us/

5:02 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

6:37 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park.

11:14 p.m. Grand theft was reported at an apartment complex on La Crescenta Drive in Cameron Park.

Sept. 15

3:49 a.m. A residential burglary was reported on Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines.

8:44 a.m. Battery was reported at a school on Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

8:54 a.m. Battery was reported at the library on Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

3:15 p.m. Battery was reported at the skatepark on Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills.

3:50 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 29-year-old man suspected of possession of metal knuckles and a controlled substance and passing a fictitious check on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was released on $50,000 bail.

5:20 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old woman suspected of shoplifting, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a controlled substance and failure to appear on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. She was listed in custody in lieu of $164,250 bail.

6:12 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 34-year-old man suspected of identity theft on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was released on $25,000 bail.

7:30 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 72-year-old man suspected of assault with a firearm on Stope Court in Swansboro. He was listed in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.

8:24 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old woman suspected of Grand theft, shoplifting, possession of a controlled substance and burglary tools, receiving stolen property and driving on a suspended license on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park. She was listed in custody in lieu of $110,000 bail.

9:21 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old woman suspected of unlawful use of a tear gas weapon and probation violations on Red Robin Lane in Pollock Pines. She’s also accused of smuggling a controlled substance into the jail. She was listed in custody in lieu of $81,000 bail.

11:04 p.m. Battery was reported on Greenstone Court in Placerville.

Sept. 16

12:13 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 29-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled

substance and illegal drug paraphernalia on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. He was later released.

3:53 a.m. California Highway Patrol Officers booked into jail a 44-year-old woman suspected of DUI on Highway 50 (town not listed). She was later released.

5:33 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 22-year-old man suspected of battery, disorderly conduct and a probation violation on La Crescenta Drive in Cameron Park. He was released on $5,000 bail.

6:45 a.m. Burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Wilson Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

7:10 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 19-year-old woman suspected of disorderly conduct on La Crescenta Drive in Cameron Park. She was later released.

7:57 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 20-year-old woman suspected of disorderly conduct on La Crescenta Drive in Cameron Park. She was later released.

8:55 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 20-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on La Crescenta Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

10:26 a.m. Grand theft was reported at an apartment complex on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

10:36 p.m. Vehicle burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Wilson Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

10:55 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on South Fork Road in Placerville. He was later released.

10:57 a.m. Vehicle burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Wilson Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

4:52 p.m. A person allegedly drunk in public was reported on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.

5:30 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 27-year-old man suspected of DUI on Green Valley Road in Rescue. He was later released.

7:23 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old man suspected of shoplifting, giving false identification to officers and a post-release violation on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $15,000 bail.

8:16 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia, impersonation and post-release violations on Highway 50 at Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was listed in custody.

Amnesty Continued from A1

that affects ownership of a property that can discourage future buyers from a purchase.

“The county has no interest in holding up any real estate transaction. We just need to make sure the county is covered from our perspective since we know there is a code case, but we also want to facilitate that transaction,” Perry told the board.

Planning and Building Director Karen Garner will have discretionary authority to make decisions related to the amnesty program.

Kim Beale said during the board meeting county Realtors would be trained in the implementation of the program and added it would benefit sellers should they look into the county’s TRAKiT system to see what permits have or have not been issued on the property in question.

“It would be far better for the seller to learn that before they are in escrow,” Beale noted. “It is also going to be for agents who work with existing property owners to see if there is going to be a problem, then you can have all the time you need to get it resolved.”

TRAKiT is the county’s software tool that automates management of project development, which includes permitting and code compliance. Perry noted those who purchase property knowing it has unpermitted projects wouldn’t be penalized as long as an agreement is made that they address it in a timely manner and keep communication open on the status of getting unpermitted work resolved.

As part of the amnesty program neither Code Enforcement nor Building Services staff would require property owners to open up their walls for inspection, but all construction must meet nonstructural code requirements, including electricity, plumbing and fire sprinkler systems.

“If there is no exposed wiring or any obvious concerns about the structure when we go in there, a certificate of compliance (will be put) in place if (they) cannot clear the code case, if (they) cannot afford to take care of the code case at this time,” Perry said.

The amnesty program also requires structural portions of the property to meet building code requirements in effect at the time of construction. Per previous discussion, the amnesty program requires Planning and Building staff to share information with the county’s Assessor’s Office, which can capture up to four years of escaped assessments on unpermitted structures.

The board voted unanimously to implement the amnesty program and all its provisions.

COMICS

■ SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

Oak Ridge alumn throws gas at Triple-A

Isaac Streeter

Staff writer

Oak Ridge High School alumn

Robert Gasser won the Nashville Sounds Pitcher of the Year Award for the 2023 season.

Gasser was a second-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2021 from the University of Houston. He was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers in July 2022 in a trade that sent all-star reliever Josh Hader to San Diego.

The 24-year-old southpaw has spent the entire 2023 season with Milwaukee’s Triple-A a liate, the Nashville Sounds of the International

■ TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

League.

With the Sounds, Gasser has started 25 games and thrown 135.1 innings. He’s accumulated a 9-1 record with a 3.79 ERA. His 166 strikeouts on the year are good for the sixth most at all levels of Minor League Baseball this season.

As the Sounds’ 2023 campaign came to a close Sunday, seemingly so does Gasser’s. Despite being ranked as the No. 2 pitching prospect and No. 5 overall prospect in the Brewers farm system, Gasser is not a member of the 40-man roster and it is unlikely he will make his Major League Baseball debut this season.

Insurance Continued from A3

Despite mounting public angst and calls for action from top lawmakers, the politics of addressing the problem in the Legislature proved too thorny this year.

In the fi nal weeks of the legislative session that ended a week ago, lawmakers scrambled to bridge the demands of insurers — who called for higher premiums to cover more of their costs and for a more fl exible rate-setting process — and those of consumer groups, who resisted calls to add to the fi nancial burdens of homeowners. After negotiations fl oundered, Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted that his administration and Lara’s Department of Insurance might be willing to act on their own.

In a statement, Sen. Bill Dodd, a Napa Democrat involved in the unsuccessful negotiations, cheered Lara’s announcement. “Given that the Legislature is not in session right now, utilizing the commissioner’s regulatory authority makes good sense,” he said. “I know there is work that still needs to be done and I’ll be supporting these e orts any way I can.”

Insurance companies have pointed to three main reasons that doing business in California is increasingly a losing proposition: Escalating wildfi re risk, ever-rising construction costs and the global price of reinsurance — insurance policies that insurance companies, themselves, take out.

While costs have increased, the amount the companies are allowed to charge homeowners is tightly capped and closely regulated in California, making home insurance policies relatively cheap by national standards. In order to raise rates, major insurers need a sign-o from the Department of Insurance.

Currently, insurance companies are not allowed to factor in the cost of reinsurance into those applications. They are also prohibited from using forward-looking models to predict future costs — something insurers say they desperately need as a warming climate and residential development encroaching into fi re-prone areas results in fi re seasons that are longer and more catastrophic than they have been in the past.

Lara proposed giving companies both of those tools, though companies will apparently only be allowed to itemize the cost of reinsurance as it pertains to California. It’s unclear how this calculation will be made.

■ RUBES by Leigh Rubin

Bach with United Policyholders said allowing companies to use predictive models isn’t inherently a bad idea — “Are these models nefarious tools of Satan? No,” she said — but hopes there will be transparency about which models are used and how they work.

In exchange for these new tools, companies will be required to cover homeowners in wildfi re-prone parts of the state at 85% of their statewide coverage. For example, if a company provides 10% of the homeowner policies across California, they would be required to provide 8.5% of the coverage in areas deemed “at-risk.” Court, with Consumer Watchdog, said 85% is 15% too little. “It’s a really sh—y deal,” he said.

California homeowners currently unable to get insurance on the private market can currently turn to the FAIR Plan, a last resort issuer of fi re coverage funded through a levy on regulated insurers. Between 2018 and 2022, the number of homeowners covered by the FAIR Plan more than doubled to roughly 3% of all homeowners.

But the FAIR Plan policies are expensive and limited. And if the FAIR Plan runs out of money, it’s legally required to refi ll its co ers by levying a surcharge on major insurers. The prospect of the FAIR Plan running out of cash and slapping the industry with the bill has also encouraged insurance companies to scale back their coverage.

Consumer Watchdog regularly challenges the applications for higher premiums that insurance companies submit to the state, an intervention allowed for under the 1988 ballot measure. Lara also said he wants to make it easier for the public to see who intervenes and how much they are compensated for doing so.

“One entity is involved in nearly 75% of all interventions for rate approvals, materially benefi ting from a process that is meant for a broader public participation,” he said, referring to the nonprofi t. Lara also said that “throwing bombs is easy and putting out bombastic statements from entrenched interest groups doesn’t benefi t anyone.”

Court said his organization would continue to fi ght back as the department drafts the detailed regulations. “We’ll be battling over this stu for many months to come,” he said.

■ SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You want to make a memory for someone dear, and you’ll achieve this. Note that for an event to be a memory, it helps if it is different from anything that comes before or after it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). A mystery lingers. Logic will only take you so far. Art will get your mind going in the right direction to glue together the pieces and either solve the mystery or come to terms with its perplexity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are so used to taking care of the others around you that you may lose track of your own needs. What do you do when you’re anxious? Let that clue lead you to better understand and care for yourself.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You slip into solving mode. Group problems are the complex ones with many varying opinions about what’s best for all. You’ll compromise to satisfy, and it’s worth it because it allows you to move on.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s not your responsibility to give everyone the sense of completion they want, but if you can do it, you will. It could be through closure, letting go, starting new or all of the above. You’ll put your whole heart into it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The value of gold is measured in pounds, while the value of words is measured in the emotional weight they deliver. Pause to think about how your expression might be received, especially if you’re going to put it in writing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your gratitude practice is bringing blessings to your door. Focus as wide as you can. There may be some distortion around the edges, but your broader view of the possibilities is more important than accuracy today.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Some people’s serious drive to win turns every game into war. You want to win by lifting and loving. You turn every game into an opportunity to learn and play with others.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The world was built by people who were not so different from you -people who contributed their ideas and added to the ideas of others. People who kept putting resources behind the thought. Take heart and continue.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It will play out just how you prefer, the mood upbeat, the activities offbeat. The direction things take is a trajectory of the sunshine you are beaming from your heart. Friends bask in it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Don’t overthink your place or your plans. Consider that maybe nothing about you needs to change at all. Just by doing the next right thing, you’ll favorably impact the world.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Someone feels free to be themselves around you, so you’ll know a wider range of the good and the bad, including hidden qualities, habits and behaviors others would hide from the less astute.

Mountain Democrat file photo by Krysten Kellum

Robert Gasser is pictured in 2017 on the mound pitching for Oak Ridge High School.

Yellow cress Continued from A3 significantly reduce threats to TYC.

While the recovery of TYC is promising, the factors leading to the near extinction of TYC still exist today, emphasizing a continued need for monitoring and protection. Current threats include high water levels, lake-front development and heavy public beach use.

Visitors to the shores of Lake Tahoe, may notice fences surrounding some areas of sandy beach. These areas are prime TYC habitat, and the fences help protect these delicate plants from being trampled. By staying out of these enclosures, avoiding vegetated areas on beaches especially near the mouths of streams and creeks,

maintaining control of pets and launching and beaching watercraft away from TYC, beachgoers can help ensure its survival.

The recovery of TYC was made possible by cooperation between land management agencies, conservation groups, private landowners, and the public. If we all continue to work together to protect this unique Tahoe species, TYC will thrive and be present at Lake Tahoe for future generations to enjoy.

For more information on TYC visit Tahoeyellowcress.org, the Lake Tahoe Info Monitoring Program and the LTBMU Tahoe Yellow Cress Conservation webpages.

Comments Continued from A1

“Heil Hitler” and “go back to Israel.” While most identified themselves by name, the commenters did not reveal if they lived in the county.

Other callers looking to comment on topics on the board’s agenda felt the need to address the antisemitic sentiments.

Ken Greenwood, a resident of District 5, was going to comment on a cell tower matter but took the time to share his disappointment with the antisemitic commenters.

“I’m ready to throw up,” Greenwood said to the board, noting his father was in Dachau during the Holocaust. “The Holocaust happened.”

Greenwood added, “I’m sad we all had to be subjected to this because that was outrageous.”

El Dorado County GOP secretary Kelley Nalewaja, who was opposed to the board’s action to rescind the proclamation that sparked the antisemitic speech, said she was the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor and was “appalled” by comments made.

“I certainly would have applauded all of you if you had excused yourself,” Nalewaja told the board. “They can talk all they want … I don’t know if you are required to listen, (but) I suggest maybe that is an option to look into.”

With District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin the lone “no” vote, the board voted 4-1 in July to approve of the American Christian Heritage Month proclamation, which was proposed by District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl. The action proved to be controversial among residents of El Dorado County and outside groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation that urged the board to rescind the proclamation. The designation was rescinded Sept. 19 in a unanimous board vote that recognized the need to practice separation of church and state. That action brought on Tuesday’s antisemitic comments, leading to the board meeting going over the 30-minute time limit for public forum.

Dawson informed supervisors some of the individuals were looking to comment again and informed the commenters they were only allowed to speak once.

When public forum ended, Thomas asked the board if they wanted to direct county counsel to look into creating a board policy on hate speech. There was about 10 seconds of silence before Parlin answered.

“I don’t know if I really want to go there,” Parlin said. “We usually get through these things … why make ourselves more of a target?”

Hidahl also was unsure of making such an action.

“I believe our First Amendment rights are the basic, fundamental right of every individual to express themselves,” Hidahl said. “That is what leads to good governance, is hearing the differences of opinion. I just wish that some of the language was cleaned up. I mean, the message is fine, but the derogatory language is hard to take.”

District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine questioned if it is in the board chair’s power to mute those using such language.

Livingston responded by stating it would be a challenge to silence such speech, “Particularly if the conduct does not otherwise rise to the level of disruption or true threat,” he added.

Livingston reassured the board that he and his staff would look into the policy on meeting conduct to see if anything can be done.

No official action was taken.

“What happened during (Tuesday’s) El Dorado County Board of Supervisor’s business meeting is abhorrent and disgusting,” Thomas stated in an email to the Mountain Democrat. “While we strongly support free speech under the First Amendment, the hateful comments made by some of the public during open forum, which had nothing to do with matters within the board’s jurisdiction, directly conflicts with the values and culture of El Dorado County.”

IN THE KNOW

Now Imagination Theater on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville presents “Clue” through Sept. 30. For tickets and more information call (530) 663-6983 or visit itplacerville.org.

Details + Materials: Works by Claudine Granthem are on display at Switchboard Gallery in Placerville through Oct. 1.

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents Estamans de la Raza contemporary screenprints and lithographs by Chicanx and Latinx artists living and working in the United States, through Oct. 1. For tickets and more information visit crocker. org.

Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City” through Oct. 7. For tickets and more information call (916) 960-3036 or visit bigideatheatre.org.

B Street Theatre in Sacramento presents “Jump” through Nov. 5. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Sept. 29

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

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

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

Third Eye Spiral – Tool tribute will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Cynthia Renee Band will perform 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Casino Stage Bar at Red Hawk Casino in Placerville. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Olde Coloma Theatre presents “Hilda’s Haunted Retirement Home” or “Remember the Golden Fool,” Sept. 29 through Oct. 29. For tickets and more information visit oldecolomatheatre.com.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Evil Dead: The Musical,”

Don’t settle for ‘eh’

Sylvia Coleman Placerville Arts Association

A simple thought — but powerfully true. Placerville Arts Association member artists are busy creating wonderful works of art 12 months of the year so that this beautiful nesting place on Earth — Placerville — will never be just “eh.”

Residents are invited to enjoy and erase the “eh” out of life at the PAA Fall Member Show. Oct. 2-6 at the El Dorado County Government Center, 360 Fair Lane, Placerville. The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. There will be a reception at 3 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 6, with awards handed out at 3:30 p.m.

The government center is a beautiful setting to hang this collection of wonderful art, arranged by subject matter. PAA members eagerly wait for these member shows. From talented beginning artists to local and national award winning artists, the show is a delight to the eyes and soul — guaranteed to get rid of the “eh” in life.

The judge for the Fall Show is Barbara Burge. With many

years of volunteer work for many art related events in Placer County to a life of being at the heart of art in that area, Burge comes with a broad professional background in the art world. She is an experienced and certified interior designer, creative arts consultant, arts and culture social media influencer and managing director for the Arts Council of Placer County. While at the Art League, she curated seven art exhibits and juried the Call to Artist applications and exhibit awards. Recently, she juried the 2023 El Dorado County Fair Art Exhibit, which was partially sponsored by PAA.

There will be a wide variety of 2-D and 3-D art in a wide range of media on exhibition, including realism, abstract, experimental and even AI. Those who are art lovers and admire the passion behind it, won’t want to miss this show. Most works, one of a kind and locally created, can be purchased.

PAA members nurture the appreciation of art and promote the education and creation of art in El Dorado County (and beyond). These artists aren’t just satisfied with creating art in their studios. They want to spread the joy and wonder of art around in as many places as possible.

“Starfish” by Lynell Phillips, A.I. generated art

“The Earth without art is ‘eh’.”

“Spanish Dancer” by John Schaff, leather-acrylic

placerville’s newest brewery has grand opening on tap

Isaac Streeter

Staff writer

Circle Geartooth Alewerks on your maps, beer enthusiasts and southern comfort food fans — boy is it the spot for you.

Geartooth is owned and operated by the Ganz family. Brothers James and Justin handle production, sales and man the bar, their father Jay serves as the head brewer and mans the smoker while mother Kit runs their prep kitchen, whipping up sides and sauces. Justin’s wife, Anna Julian, handles the social media.

Geartooth’s Placerville tap room is the realization of a dream that began with a premature drink and a Father’s Day gift.

“Should this be on the record?”

James said laughing, “When I was 19 I had a Sierra Nevada Torpedo, the hop flavor blew my mind.”

The Ganz boys gifted their father a home brewing kit for Father’s Day in 2010 and they were all hooked on the idea of making whatever — and as much of — kind of beer they pleased.

They formed Geartooth in 2016 and began contract brewing in San Jose, a system of essentially renting brewing equipment at a larger brewery’s facility. Despite high costs

and competition for shelf space in the saturated market of the Bay Area, the family members knew they were on the right track.

“As soon as we started doing (the contract brewing) we knew we wanted to open up our own spot,” Jay said.

They made the move from the Bay to El Dorado County and signed the lease on their Placerville building in 2020. After gutting out the pandemic and the project falling behind schedule due to it, they finally opened the doors for their soft launch in June, just about 13 years after they began home brewing.

Geartooth has been open since, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

“It’s growing organically; it has been ramping up over time,” Jay said. The personal highlights of the menu from the Ganz family include James’s brain child, a black ale with notes of grapefruit peel and dark chocolate, as well as an ode to Kit’s childhood with her southern style grits.

“They’re salt, pepper, butter, butter, butter,” she said describing the recipe.

Just like the menu of slow cooked ribs, tri tip and pulled pork, the business is taking it slow and steady. They’ve moved away from attempting to compete for shelf space with other breweries, looking to establish their taproom over a can in a grocery store.

“At this point we’re just trying to get our beer into bars and restaurants in kegs,” James said, “(We hope) they’ll

n See Geartooth, page B7

Adopt A Pet

Mountain Democrat photo by Isaac Streeter Brothers James and Justin Ganz toast the upcoming grand opening of Geartooth Alewerks, now pouring in Placerville.

PAISLEY

Poem of the Month

That Time who ages me, I wish you would

With tyranny oppress all else beside:

Though rain’s elixir greens the ancient wood,

Let tides of fire shame its rooted pride!

Let sciences relapse to witching arts, And raze the edifice of every sage — But draw youth’s essence from stillbeating hearts

SONNET XIV

So I may fill my cup and spite old age …

Or else, be mortal martyrdom my living

If then to all your subjects you would bow;

Then all around might see in everything

What was before, or to be after, now.

A lonely tomb would bear my faded name, Yet it in hearths of ageless minds would flame.

Band offers a down-home good time

News release

SUTTER CREEK — 2014 Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award winner

bassist RW Grigsby comes to the Sutter Creek Theatre with Red’s Blues this Saturday.

Grigsby has been playing since he was 14 years old and began his professional career when still a teenager. He’s toured the U.S., Canada and Europe since the ’80s and currently juggles playing with Red’s Blues, Mark Hummel & the Blues Survivors and The Golden State/Lone Star Blues Revue. He played and recorded with Texas blues stars Gary Primich and Black Top Records’ Mike Morgan and the Crawl in the 1990s. Grigsby is the bassist on the 2014 Grammynominated and BMA-winning CD “Remembering Little Walter.” He was nominated for a Best Bassist Blues Music Award in 2017 and was inducted into the Sacramento Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2018.

Beth Grigsby, thanks to her older brother, grew up listening to Huddie Ledbetter, Muddy Waters and Mississippi John Hurt records and as a kid, learned from and sang songs

Garrett Ramos is a poet, short story writer and aspiring novelist who holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. The rogue Shakespeare scholar presents more works on his substack (an online newsletter platform) called The View from Everywhere, open.substack.com/ pub/garrettramos?r= 1mpzkf&utm_medium=i.

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at home with her mom — “Summertime,” “God Bless the Child” and St. Louis Blues.”

fun. Open tO the public! Hours: M-F 8:30-5pm Sat 9-1pm 4600 Missouri Flat Rd. Placerville • (530) 622-2640

Red’s Blues draw its audiences into a grown-up • Bread • Cupcakes • Pastries • Cookies • Cakes • Pies Pre-orders Welcome!

rehearse and from that learned to love the rhythms, the bass and percussion in particular. She and RW met through the local Santa Barbara blues scene years later in 1977 and have lived in his home state of Georgia and then 681 Main Street, Unit L3, Placerville (in the Marshall Lab building) • M–F 7am–4pm • Sat 9am–4pm sweetpairingsbakery.com • 530-903-3158

Sept. 29 through Nov. 5. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

Enjoy An Evening with Darrell Scott – Music, Spirit, Soul at 8 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheater.com.

City Theatre at Sacramento City College brings acclaimed playwright Sarah Ruhl’s ”Eurydice,” a reimagined take on the classical myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, to the stage Sept. 29 through Oct. 15. For tickets and more

information visit CityTheatre. net.

Sept. 30

Kids with special needs up to age 22 are invited to participate in the Walk with Austin TRY-athlon, an adaptive swim, bike, run event, 8 a.m. to noon at EDH Community Park and the pool. For more information visit edhcsd.org.

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Shade Gardening, 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. Learn what plants thrive in all

kinds of shade — dappled to deep. A $2 parking fee will be enforced.

The 2023 Props, Cops & Rodders event takes place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cameron Airpark in Cameron Park. For more information call (530) 748-2481 or visit propscopsandrodders.com.

The Gold Bug Quilt Show takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the American Legion Hall in Placerville. Admire beautiful quilts and enjoy shopping the country store. There will be raffles and door prizes. Admission is $5.

For more information visit goldbugquilters.org.

Mud Springs Arts Assembly

Life Drawing takes place 10 a.m. to noon at the Crocker House Creative Art Center in El Dorado. Text Chase at (916) 597-8410 to register.

A community spaghetti feed to support the Cooney family, which has a member fighting cancer, will be held 5-9 p.m. at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. A drive-thru option is available 4-6 p.m. Tickets are available at communityspaghettifeed. eventbrite.com.

Sierra Wildlife Rescue hosts a Sunset Owl Release at Miraflores Winery in Placerville. Purchase tickets, which include charcuterie and a glass of sparkling wine plus a chance to see the owl, by calling (530) 647-8505 or emailing info@ mirafloreswinery.com.

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

Mastroserio Winery in the Fair Play area hosts Pizza and Jazz with the Ruggero Jazz Improvisation Group, 5:30-8 p.m. To RSVP send a text to (530) 417-4321 or email mastroserio.winery@gmail. com.

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

Thunder Cover will perform 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Casino Stage Bar at Red Hawk Casino in Placerville. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Musician Ed Wilson and

percussionist Dante Montes will perform at Back Bistro in Folsom, 6-9 p.m.

The WorldWaveOne-Act Play competition winners come to life at Valhalla Tahoe’s Boathouse Theater beginning at 7 p.m. The performances are followed by a meet the writers wine and dessert reception in the Grand Hall. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.com.

Connect with art and with each other at the Crocker Art Museum’s Art Connects, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children ages 6 to 10 and the adults who accompany them uncover the connections between four works of art before working together to create their own masterpiece. For more information visit crockerart.

org.

The Sacramento Zoo hosts the Twilight Safari Gala, 5:30-9 p.m. at the zoo. Enjoy drinks, appetizers, a farm-to-fork dinner and live music. For tickets and more information call (916) 808-7443 or visit sac zoo.org/twilightsafari.

The de Young Open returns with 887 artworks by artists from the nine Bay Area counties hung “salon style,” installed nearly edge to edge and floor to ceiling. The show is open through Jan. 7. 2024. For more information visit famsf.org.

Oct. 1

El Dorado Western Railroad offers train rides at the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St., beginning at 10 a.m. the first and third Sundays of each month. Trains leave on the hour 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. Call ahead to ensure trains are running at (530) 663-3581.

The 19th annual Niello Concours at Serrano takes

place on the green at the Serrano Visitors Center in El Dorado Hills. This year the concours celebrates 75 years of Porsche and 60 years of Lamborghini. For tickets and more information visit theconcours.net/ticket-info. html.

Via Romano Vineyards in Camino hosts a Resin Waves Cheeseboard class, 10 a.m. to noon. Create beautiful seascapes of resin on a real wooden cheeseboard, materials and a glass of wine included. For more information visit vdv.vin or call (530) 2699463.

Red’s Blues Band will perform at 3 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.

Achilles Wheel Trio will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 6 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents ABC — 123, Fletcher Benton’s sculptural alphabet, Oct. 1 through March 24, 2024. For tickets and more information visit crocker.org.

Oct. 3

The El Dorado Hills Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. at the EDH Library with Master Gardener Kitty Stewart speaking about succulents. 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.

Myrtle Tree Arts hosts A Downtown Mixer at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 7 p.m. For more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

The Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael hosts Bold Expressions, the annual international open show for Northern California Arts Inc., Oct. 3-28. For more information visit sacfinearts. org.

Oct. 4

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business Builder Buffet with chamber CEO Debbie Manning presenting Where is the Chamber Today? The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at Hills Church in El Dorado Hills. RSVP by calling (916) 933-1335 or visiting eldoradohillschamber. org.

See “Nene” by Carolyn Cunningham, scratchboard, and more great works from Placerville Arts Association artists at the upcoming show at the El Dorado County Government Center in Placerville.

Blues Continued from B3

Texas before heading back to sunny Sacramento in 2006.

Red’s Blues draw its audiences into a grown-up music world — southern music with down-home simmer, dance floor fun and stellar, sophisticated players who know they have no need to blast at earsplitting

volumes to make the biggest impact. Sutter Creek Theatre is located at 44 Main St. in Sutter Creek. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Open seating, beer and wine will be available. For tickets and more information visit suttercreektheater.com.

Geartooth Continued from B2

try one beer and want to see what else we do and come here.”

In the name of taking it slow, Geartooth will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, Sept. 30, about four months after their soft launch. All 14 of the taps will be full for the first time and full pours will be

discounted a dollar off in celebration of the opening. Geartooth Alewerks is located at 7553 Green Valley Road in Placeville. More information regarding the menu and tap list can be found online at geartoothalewerks.com or at the instagram page, @geartoothales.

Member show Continued from B1

One such outreach is PAA’s member art shows. PAA is blessed with members who have a diversity of artistic talents. It is always an adventure walking around enjoying all the artistic delights to the eyes and soul that are hung on the walls. To watch a short video of the PAA

2022 Fall Member Show walkaround with the judge visit youtube. com/watch?v=kAVu3yKPKpc.

For information about PAA visit placervillearts.com. PAA meets the third Monday of each month (except December) and welcomes new members.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Queen Of The Night! Remembering Whitney

OCTOBER 6, 2023

Queen of the Night! Remembering Whitney, starring Trina Johnson Finn is a 90-minute live entertainment show that brings the top selling hits of the late Whitney Houston to the stage and transports the essence and persona of Whitney for a night of exhilarating and gripping performances. Showcasing fan-favorite songs from Whitney Houston’s past albums, along with snappy dialogue providing personal insight behind each song, some of Las Vegas’ hottest musicians, two incredible background vocalists, and four dynamic dancers, this amazing production will be a wonderful treat for all the Whitney Fans around the world!

On Your Feet!

NOVEMBER 2-5, 2023

THEIR MUSIC, THEIR STORY, THEIR PASSION...

On Your Feet! is the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who— through an unwavering dedication to one another and their pursuit of the American dream— showcased their talent, their music, and their heritage to the world in a remarkable rise to global superstardom.

SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC SONGS OF ALL TIME... Featuring music by Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, and Miami Sound Machine, including Grammy Award winning songs “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Anything for You,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” and “Here We Are.” Prepare to be on your feet from start to finish!

Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken - Twenty | The Tour David Sedaris

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken are thrilled to reunite 20 years after captivating audiences during their historic run on the second season of Fox’s American Idol in 2003. Due to overwhelming demand, and on the heels of the first leg of their critically acclaimed Twenty | The Tour, the multi-platinum recording artists are hitting the road again for the second leg of their reunion tour. From Clay’s iconic rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to Ruben’s soulful single “Flying Without Wings,” join America’s favorite odd couple for an unforgettable evening of music and memories, delivered as only these true superstars can.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

One of America’s pre-eminent humor writers with over 16 million copies of his books in print, David Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, he has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. He has been awarded the Terry Southern Prize for Humor, Thurber Prize for American Humor, Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor, Time 2001 Humorist of the Year Award, and the Medal for Spoken Language from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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Photo by David Grenier

Photo: DJ Corey

Photo: DJ Corey