Mountain Democrat, Wednesday, November 16, 2022

County fire district fired up about insurance rates

Noel Stack Managing editor

Hard work reaps rewards but in the case of the El Dorado County Fire Protection District, effort put into achieving a lower Insurance Services Office public protection classification service rating couldn’t stop the district’s fire insurance costs from nearly doubling.

Last year the district spent about $88,000 to insure its properties and equipment. This year, according to Fire Chief Tim Cordero, the bill came in at more than $157,000.

Veterans saluted

Eric Jaramishian Staff writer

New additions to the Veterans Monument in Placerville were added this Veterans Day, Nov. 11 — bronze plaques for El Dorado County

heroes.

In an event full of patriotic music, riflevolley solutes, a parade of flags and a color guard ceremony, Capt. Richard Buchanan, 1st Lt. Andrew LePeilbet, Lt. Col. Greg Etzel, along with the late Master Sgt. William Cathcart and late S. Sgt. Sky Mote were honored for their heroic acts and the military recognition they received for going above and beyond.

The bronze plaques celebrating them now grace a marble slab at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville.

Veterans and supporters of those who serve and have served the cause for freedom witnessed as the county heroes were celebrated. When their names were

called, those present stood in recognition.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kurt Raffeto presented honors to Etzel, Command Sgt. Maj. Leonard McAdams presented LePeilbet’s and Cathcart’s award and U.S. Marine Corp. Capt. Jack Babbitt presented Mote’s and Buchanan’s award.

The late Cathart, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during the Korean War, was posthumously honored for saving men from another unit, along with his own, while under heavy fire.

As an Air Force captain, Etzel flew

Murder suspect commits suicide

Noel Stack Managing editor

A murder suspect on the run reportedly shot himself on Ice House Road Sunday afternoon after he was confronted by law enforcement.

Alfonso Hernandez Jr., 56, of Sacramento was wanted in connection with the murder of a woman, believed to be his wife, at Canyon Creek Resort located at the 22000 block of Highway 128 in a rural area of Winters, according to Yolo County sheriff’s officials. The victim, who has yet to be positively identified by the coroner, suffered a fatal gunshot wound. She was found dead in an RV by officers responding to a requested welfare check after the reporting party told law enforcement his friend (Hernandez) confessed to killing his wife and said he was going to kill himself.

“A be on the lookout bulletin was issued to law enforcement agencies along the (Highway) 50 corridor where Alfonso was believed to be traveling in his vehicle,” Yolo County sheriff’s officials state in a Facebook post.

At approximately 1 p.m. El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies, with the assistance of air support from the California Highway Patrol, located Hernandez in his vehicle on Ice House Road near White Hall.

“EDSO approached the suspect vehicle at which point the suspect shot himself and was later pronounced deceased,” El Dorado County sheriff’s officials announced Monday morning.

The firearm believed to be used in the homicide was recovered, Yolo officials note, adding, “The motive is still being investigated and it appears to be an isolated incident with no further danger to the public.”

Sierra-at-Tahoe nears reopening

Mountain Democrat staff

Much work has been under way in the year following Caldor Fire destruction at Sierraat-Tahoe and come Dec. 3, the ski resort’s management expects to be spinning lifts once again.

Five chairlift haul ropes damaged by Caldor’s flames were replaced, 15 million board feet of charred timber removed and 700 acres of hazardous trees mitigated, according to Sierraat-Tahoe officials. Work to rebuild a maintenance shop hit pretty hard by the forest fire is in progress.

“We have essentially built a ski resort in a year,” states a Nov. 13 announcement of Sierra-atTahoe’s opening date.

Resort staff invites skiers and boarders to explore “all new terrain.” A new trail map is soon to be released.

“Sierra is back with a new landscape to discover,” reports resort management, noting all

“We’re able to pay the bill but that equates to other areas of the budget being trimmed,” the fire chief told the Mountain

Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian

Civil Air Patrol cadets retire the colors to conclude Veterans Day ceremonies at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument Friday. Five local veterans were honored with their names added to the monument in bronze.

1st Lt. Andrew LePeilbet salutes as he

is

named an Medal of Valor honoree.

“If it doubles again next year … we’re going to have more serious conversations.”

— Tim Cordero, chief of El Dorado County Fire Protection District

Joseph Gilbert Valdez II Jan. 7, 1957 – Nov. 7, 2022

Joe 65, of El Dorado passed away at his family residence Nov. 7. He was preceded in death by his fathers Arthur Earl Verbeck and Joseph Valdez Sr. Joe is survived by his mother Ramona Tripp-Verbeck, siblings Christina Buford, Annette Faircloth, Anthony Valdez, Joseph Valdez Jr. and Candace Kowalla as well as nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Joe had many friends and acquaintances and a large Native American family and was a fan of Elvis Presley, his favorite saying was “What’s a shaken”! Joe enjoyed outdoor activities like gold panning and dredging and was a shade tree mechanic and didn’t mind taking on a project that he could use his tools and knowledge with. He also had a big heart for his feline companions Charlie, Pinto & BJ.

The service will be a private Native American ceremony with family and close friends on Nov. 18, 2022.

Donald Sidney Edwards

Mar. 9, 1928 – Oct. 29, 2022

Donald Sidney Edwards, passed away in Cameron Park on Oct. 29, at 94, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. The family is grateful for the loving care he received at the end of his illness from King of Hearts Eldercare and Suncrest Hospice.

Born on March 9, 1928, in Milbank, South Dakota, Mr. Edwards was the second youngest of five children born to Theodore and Nola (Smith) Edwards. After his father’s death, his mother married Sidney Rynerson.

He served as a PO1 in the USN during WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946.

In 1949, Mr. Edwards married the love of his life, Mary Ann Astroth, in Iowa as the couple drove across the U.S. to their new home in Calif. Her grandfather, Justice of the Peace A.H. Astroth, performed the ceremony.

Mr. Edwards was a mechanic and supervisor in manufacturing for 47 years.

He and his wife were avid antique and coin collectors; and enjoyed playing cards and bingo. He also loved working on old cars.

Mr. Edwards was a member of the American Legion Post #119, and a lifetime member of Schiller Lodge No. 335, Illinois. He lived in Castroville, Calif. for 43 years before moving to El Dorado County in 2018, to be closer to family.

Mr. Edwards will be remembered as a loving and beloved husband, brother, uncle and friend to many. He is survived by his sister-in-law Sara Edwards, nephews Donald Edwards (Darla), Brett Edwards (Kim) and Michael Morrison (Brenda) nieces Laurie Edwards, Barbara Newsom (Jerry), Cheryl Welty (Curt), Nea Nelson, and numerous great and great-great nephews and nieces. Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Mary Ann, parents, stepfather, brother Robert Edwards, sisters Virginia Morrison, Eve van Etten, Joy Batchelor, half-sister Rhonda Rynerson, nephews Patrick Morrisson and Butch Batchelor, and niece Ann Banduhn.

At his request, no services will be held.

Gail Marie Hagan Brandt

May 3, 1940 – Oct. 31, 2022

After a lengthy illness, our beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend went with to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Oct. 31, surrounded by her family.

Gail Brandt was born to Kenneth and Audrey Hagan on May 3, 1940 in Havre, Mont. She and her twin brother Gary graduated high school in Big Sandy, Mont., in 1958.

She attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Montana, where she graduated with a BA in Elementary Education. It was here that she met her husband, Jared Brandt, and they married on Sept. 1, 1961; A marriage that lasted 61 years.

Gail taught 2nd grade for a few years then returned to school to receive her Master’s Degree in Education from DePaul University in Chicago, while she worked with children with ADHD for over 10 years. She wrote her Master’s thesis on nutrition and its e ects on children with hyperactivity. It was during that time that she became interested in nutrition.

She left teaching and started her small business of selling nutritional products with Neo-Life and ran a successful business for over 30 years. Gail was very good at teaching and sharing her knowledge of the importance of healthy living with all who met her.

Throughout her life she volunteered at Vacation Bible School and facilitated bible studies which allowed her to use her gifts of teaching and serving people to know Jesus Christ. She was a member of the Bayside Church of Placerville, Calif. for over 20 years.

Gail enjoyed many things including cooking, singing, hosting dinner parties and since her husband was a senior airline Captain, they took full advantage of traveling. She traveled the world from South Africa to Nome, Amsterdam to Australia and her most favorite places were probably Rome and Egypt. She enjoyed cruising on the major rivers of Europe, US and China. Every morning she would be heard singing and was seen quite often reading her bible.

Gail is survived by her husband JC Brandt of Cameron Park, Calif., her daughter Carla (Troy) Fenner, Brandt (grandson) and Daughter Jaril Faith Gallup, Sarah (granddaughter), Gary (Linda) Hagan, Curtis Hagan, and Roger Hagan.

A celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 at 10:30 A.M at the Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery in Rescue, Calif. Flowers, cards, notes and letters of condolence for the Brandt family may be sent in care of Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery, 3004 Alexandrite Drive, Rescue Calif. 95672.

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office records:

Nov. 5

8:11 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old man suspected of impersonation, possession of a controlled substance, driving without a license and receiving stolen property on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody in lieu of $20,000 bail as of press time.

Nov. 6

12:49 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 26-year-old man suspected of DUI on Deer Valley Road in Placerville. He was later released on $3,500 bail.

3:09 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 25-year-old man suspected of DUI on Charter Way in El Dorado Hills. He was later released.

7:20 a.m. A vehicle burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Valley View Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

9:13 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 61-year-old woman suspected of trespassing and resisting arrest on Malaga Court in Cameron Park.

12:50 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 34-year-old woman suspected of DUI on Highway 50 at Latrobe Road in El Dorado Hills. She was later released.

1:46 p.m. Battery was reported at a business on Francisco Drive in El Dorado Hills.

5:01 p.m. Battery was reported on 2nd Street in Camino.

9:07 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 61-year-old man suspected of DUI on El Dorado Hills Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. He was listed in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail as of press time.

11:34 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 46-year-old woman suspected of possession of a controlled substance for sale on Forni Road in Placerville. She was listed in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail as of press time.

Nov. 7

8:13 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Muir Woods Drive in El Dorado Hills.

9:33 a.m. Burglary was reported on North Canyon Road in Camino.

LAKE LEVELS

Stumpy Meadows Reservoir as of Nov. 9

Water storage 16,260 acre-feet

Percent full 77%

Inflow 8.37 cfs

Outflow 5.63 cfs

Folsom Reservoir as of Nov. 10

Water storage 273,401 acre-feet

Percent full 28% Inflow 988 cfs Outflow 1,286 cfs

Union Valley as of Nov. 10

Water storage 171,144 acre-feet

Percent full 64% Inflow 0 cfs Outflow 0 cfs

Loon Lake as of Nov. 10

Water storage 43,875 acre-feet

Percent full 63% Inflow 0 cfs Outflow 0 cfs

Ice House as of Nov. 10

Water storage 29,490 acre-feet

Percent full 68% Inflow 25 cfs Outflow 0 cfs

In

9:37 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Hensley Circle in El Dorado Hills.

11:04 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Hanson Hollow Road in Georgetown.

12:05 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Royal Troon Place in El Dorado Hills.

3:14 p.m. Burglary was reported on North Canyon Road in Camino.

4 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Royal Troon Place in El Dorado Hills.

6:07 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old man suspected of driving on a suspended license and resisting arrest on Cimmarron Road in Cameron Park.

7:34 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 30-year-old man suspected of DUI on Greenstone Road in Placerville.

8:33 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 49-year-old man suspected of DUI on Forni Road in Placerville.

9:29 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.

11:52 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 21-year-old man suspected of DUI on Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills. He was later released.

Nov.

8

1:30 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 50-year-old man suspected of possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance, displaying false vehicle registration and driving on a suspended license on North Street in El Dorado.

7:10 a.m. Burglary was reported on Grizzly Flat Road in Grizzly Flat. 8:54 a.m. Burglary was reported on Salmon Falls Road in Pilot Hill. 10:32 a.m. Burglary was reported on Green Valley Road in Placerville.

10:36 a.m. Burglary was reported at a business on Green Valley Road in Cameron Park.

1:31 p.m. A 55-year-old man was arrested on Highway 49 in Cool on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, manufacturing/ sales of a leaded cane, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and domestic violence. He is held at the county jail on $75,000 bail.

Lake Aloha as of Nov. 10

Water storage 145 acre-feet

Percent full 3%

Inflow 2.50 cfs Outflow 2.50 cfs

Caples Lake as of Nov. 10

Water storage 13,908 acre-feet

Percent full 62%

Inflow 1.03 cfs Outflow 7.10 cfs

Echo Lake as of Nov. 10

Water storage 0 acre-feet

Percent full 0%

Inflow 9.85 cfs

Outflow 8.07 cfs

Silver Lake as of Nov. 10

Water storage 3,351 acre-feet

Percent full 39%

Inflow 4.83 cfs

Outflow 5.66 cfs

Sly Park as of Nov. 10

Water storage 24,173 acre-feet Percent Full 58.9% Inflow 14.60 cfs Outflow 18.00 cfs

American River as of Nov. 10 Flow 110.90 cfs

Water tanks to help fight fires in Omo

Press release

The Omo Ranch Fire Safe Council recently purchased four, 5,000-gallon water storage tanks using $10,000 gifted from the Sierra Pacific Foundation. The tanks were placed on Sierra Pacific Industries property at the intersection of Omo Ranch Road and Mill Road/Indian Diggins Road in south county.

“Thanks to this generous donation from Sierra Pacific Foundation, Omo Ranch, whose greatest challenge in the 2021 Caldor Fire was the lack of accessible water, will now have the ability to quickly fill and refill fire engines 40 times over, giving our community not only the ability to better protect our neighborhood,

but our surrounding communities,” said Julie Wynia, chairperson of the Omo Ranch Fire Safe Council and volunteer firefighter.

The Sierra Pacific Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sierra Pacific

Industries

The donation puts the local Pioneer Fire Protection District and Cal Fire in a better position to mitigate and fight wildfires.

The water tanks and plumbing to a

Partnering to install water tanks in Omo Ranch, from left, are Pioneer Fire Protection District Capt. Mike Stutts, Sierra Pacific Industries’ Craig Ostergaard, Omo Ranch Fire Safe Council member and volunteer firefighter Paul Schaffer, ORFSC member Christopher Carr, ORFSC member Cameron McColl, ORFSC member and volunteer firefighter Julie Wynia and Pioneer Fire’s Ryan Carlson. The four water tanks are seen in the background.

Courtesy photo

hydrant that is accessible to fire apparatus have been installed, and the tanks have been filled with water. The project was completed in early September 2022.

1 dead, 2 injured in Hope Valley solo crash

Tahoe Daily Tribune

A Fair Oaks woman lost her life Monday morning in a single vehicle collision near South Lake Tahoe and her two injured juvenile passengers were airlifted to an area hospital.

The California Highway Patrol received a report of a solo vehicle collision at about 4:25 a.m. near Pickett’s Junction.

According to CHP o cials, units arrived on scene to find a white 2019

Hyundai Elantra sedan that had collided with a small boulder.

CHP said the driver, Noelle Elizabeth Rivera, 33, of Fair Oaks, was traveling southbound on State Route 89, approaching State Route 88 at Pickett’s Junction in Hope Valley, when for unknown reasons she failed to navigate the roadway, went straight o the pavement and hit a boulder.

Rivera su ered fatal injuries and the two juvenile passengers, ages 7 and 9, also from Fair Oaks, received

Insurance Continued from A1

District property was made “as fire resilient as possible,” Cordero said.

The fire district gets insurance through an association that shops for dozens of Northern California fire districts. The problem? Last year’s carrier dropped out of the California market.

“They really scrambled to find insurance for the fire districts,” Cordero said. “Everybody’s has gone up.”

Cordero still considers the El Dorado County Fire Protection District lucky in that the increase could be absorbed in the district’s approximately $14 million budget; however, he noted, some of the smaller fire districts are now putting 20-25% of their budgets toward paying for insurance. If rates go higher, struggling districts could be forced to cut hours and/or close stations, which would a ect every fire department around them.

The El Dorado County Fire Protection District serves an area that spans Salmon Falls to Twin Bridges and includes the communities of Camino, Coloma, Cool, Kyburz, Lotus, Pilot Hill, Placerville, Pleasant Valley, Pollock Pines, Shingle Springs, Silver Fork and Strawberry with a population of approximately 74,000 residents in 281 square miles. It has five county fire sta ed stations as well as a Cal Fire sta ed fire station in Camino plus seven unsta ed firehouses; 72 uniformed personnel protect more than $6.2 billion in assessed valuation districtwide. It partners with more than a dozen other fire districts, providing mutual aid to cover all of El Dorado County.

In August of this year the El Dorado County Fire Protection District celebrated an ISO rating of 3 — the result of improvements in emergency communications, engine sta ng, training, public fire safety education and community risk reduction. Only 16% of fire districts nationwide have earned this rating.

“And then our insurance doubles,” he added, noting the irony.

The district had about a month to shop around between the time it was notified its old carrier would no longer provide insurance and that policy’s end date.

“One month to shop is a lot of work … and so many companies are not writing in California now,” Cordero said, explaining that this time the district had little choice but to accept the new, more expensive policy. “I can’t send fire engines down the road without insurance.”

It’s a nerve-wracking scenario shared by countless El Dorado County residents, who in recent years have seen homeowners insurance policies canceled or rates skyrocket after catastrophic wildfires burned millions of acres in the state — two of the largest in the last two years struck here. Earlier this year California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ordered insurance companies to preserve residential insurance coverage for policyholders within the Mosquito Fire perimeter, which includes parts of northern El Dorado County. It prohibits

companies from canceling policies for one year from Sept. 8, 2022. A similar cancellation moratorium was put in place after 2021’s Caldor Fire, which scorched the county’s southern side. This year county o cials created the O ce of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience to lead the e ort in creating a countywide wildfire protection strategy and coordinate the planning and implementation of wildfire mitigation activities across jurisdictions and land ownerships. Actions could help property owners get/retain insurance as county leaders continue to lobby at the state and federal levels for assistance.

El Dorado County Chief Administrative O cer Don Ashton told the Mountain Democrat, “The county continues to lobby for changes at every opportunity we have, specifically with the insurance commissioner as well as with our local legislative representatives.

Unfortunately, it is up to the state to change the legislation but the county would be willing to support any changes that lessen the negative impacts this problem is having in our communities.”

Dr. Little’s Dental News

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Nev. CHP o cials said the crash is under investigation.

Dr. Little provides quality family and cosmetic dentistry.

Did you known that it is pos sible to use too much pressure while brushing your teeth? Brush ing too hard can permanently damage the gums, and surgery may be needed to correct the condition. One telltale sign that you might be brushing too hard is receding gums. Because there is no enamel on your teeth below the gumline, the tooth surface along the gumline may be darker when this area is exposed due to receding gums. Use a toothbrush with extra soft bristles to achieve the correct pressure while brush ing. Hold it with three fingers in your non-dominant hand to apply less pressure. You might also choose an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor that is designed to protect your teeth.

California Matters

2022 California campaigns were irrelevant and vapid

C

Did you hear any of those issues debated — or even mentioned — to any noticeable degree during the campaigns leading up to today’s election? No, which is why this is the most dismally irrelevant election in recent California history.

Upwards of a billion dollars has been spent on persuading voters to vote for and against candidates and mostly special interest ballot measures, half of it on two sports wagering measures that seem destined to fail. Virtually none of the countless television, radio and online ads even mentioned any of those real world issues.

Instead, we heard a lot of noise about crime from Republicans in their mostly unsuccessful e orts to regain relevance in California. We heard even more noise from Democrats about abortion, including a ballot measure to enshrine in the state constitution rights that are already protected by law and state Supreme Court decisions.

This year’s political campaigns in California have hit a low mark for relevance and a high mark for vapidity — with one exception.

The measure, placed on the ballot by the Legislature after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Rose v. Wade decision, is clearly aimed at getting more Democrats to vote and thereby helping the party win the state’s very few true partisan contests.

Most of those contests are in a handful of congressional districts and their outcome theoretically could — but probably won’t — determine which party controls the House of Representatives.

With the exception of those few congressional seats, the overall outcome of the election is largely preordained. Democrats who hold statewide o ce, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Alex Padilla, will win new terms. With their victories assured, neither has made more than token e orts at campaigning and Newsom spends most of his time these days building a national image.

The only possible exception to a Democratic sweep of state o ces was a very, very outside chance that a Republican could become state controller as the o ce is vacated due to term limits.

Democrats will continue to have overwhelming majorities in the state’s congressional delegation and both houses of the Legislature. Most of the expensive legislative duels pit Democrats against

Guest

There is a line

EDITOR:

I

It is why when someone tells me that they voted for Bernie Sanders because they want to eliminate the free market system, capitalism and the Constitution and replace it with socialism, I say you have a right to say and think whatever you want but there is a line that can't be crossed when you demand that I change my life for the sake of your belief set.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

A cog in a giant, progressive wheel

EDITOR:

S

Transportation for America is just another clever, progressive group that doesn’t want transportation at all — one of its strategic goals is to systematically dismantle freeways and interstates it deems unnecessary. Let that point sink in. Imagine the future that SACOG is promoting in more explicit terms rather than metaphoric visions. You, the resident of El Dorado County, will not need a car because Highway 50 will be converted to a restricted public transportation corridor that only permits the use of state-run buses. If you think that is preposterous, then check out one of SACOG’s partners — Tahoe Regional Planning Association — which is proposing revising roads around Lake Tahoe to reduce the impact of individual cars and trucks.

Of course, SACOG’s goal isn’t merely just to abolish freeways and interstates. It wants to ensure our homes are “equitable” by somehow redistributing or rebalancing the population between the far western end of the county and rural areas? Translated into clear, unprogressive terms it means curtailing or even halting rural living to ensure everyone can enjoy the same type of compact, sterile, urban environment you would find in Mountain View, Emeryville and now emerging in

Sacramento.

believe everyone has a constitutional right to say and think whatever they want. I don't believe anyone has a right to mandate what others can say or think. That is the foundation that makes the United States di erent from any other country.Does Mr. Corless truly believe that these policies will better our community and improve our standard of living? Of course not. He is merely promoting the current agenda of our governor and Legislature that insists projects like SACOG’s Active Transportation e ort are deemed useful. The Active Transportation project is cleverly named since it promotes skateboarding and bicycling instead of driving. Cool idea — let’s convert Highway 50 westbound between Schnell School Road and downtown Placerville into a skateboard ramp.

I urge each reader to review SACOG’s agenda at sacog.org to get a complete perspective on its projects and strategies for our future in El Dorado County. Personally, I would feel more confidence and trust in our leadership to call out the real agenda of SACOG rather than listen and participate like a passive cog in a great big wheel of the progressive machine.

MATT SILVEIRA Placerville

acramento Area Council of Governments James Corless proposes a future world that is equitable and free from the tra c, cars and housing problems now present in El Dorado County. His agency’s presentations and observations of the problems are duplicative and derivative of the same failed strategies of the agencies he decamped — like the Transportation for America group.COVID hoax

EDITOR:

A

hen I lived in Massachusetts and would drive down to Brooklyn to visit my mother, I’d pass by the old movie theater on west 7th where as a child I went to matinées every Saturday. Several years back it was sold to an Evangelical Church and it was always a jolt to see the old marquis that used to tell us that “House of Wax” or “The Thief of Bagdad” was playing now inform that “Jesus Saves” and that ”Bingo is played every Tuesday.”on west 4th Street. But even after the other Ellen died, she continued to be Ellen from upstairs, as if it were an ancestral title.

CAROLE BRAVERMAN

It was convenient for my mother, though, because she loved bingo. She’d go with her friend Ellen from upstairs. We called her Ellen from upstairs to distinguish her from my mother’s other friend Ellen who lived

They would always leave early to ensure “getting a good seat,” take their lunch and play partners, each monitoring about 12 cards between them and sharing the winnings.

My mother was always trying to entice me to go with her when I visited, explaining how modern the game was now.

“We don’t use the chips anymore,” she bragged, "We use highlighters.” She’d go on about those highlighters as if they were a technological marvel on a par with the moon landing. I did go with them sometimes and remember now with a kind of

The Mountain Democrat welcomes letters up to 300 words. Letters may be edited. We reserve the right to edit submissions. Include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes.

n article titled “A Closer Look at the COVID Mortality Rate” published Oct. 23, 2022, by the Brownstone Institute cites a study done and circulated in a health publication called medRxiv. It notes that the infection fatality rate for COVID-19 among those not vaccinated or who had previously been infected was far, far lower than what we were led to believe by the government and the media.According to the analysis: Ages 60-69, the fatality rate was 0.501%, survival rate 99.499%; Ages 50-59, the fatality rate was 0.129%, survival rate 99.871%; Ages 40-49, the fatality rate was 0.035% survival rate 99.965%; Ages 30-39, the fatality rate was 0.011%, survival rate 99.989%; Ages 20-29, the fatality rate was 0.003%, survival rate 99.997%; Ages 0-19, the fatality rate was 0.0003%, survival rate 99.9997%.

In other words, COVID-19 was never that big a threat, especially to children; there was never any need to shut down businesses and quarantine everyone; there was never any justification for firing people who didn’t take the vaccine and there was never any need for masks or distancing or for any of the other absurd precautions that were taken.

All the COVID hysteria was cooked up to give the government more power, enrich the pharmaceutical companies and their shareholders and scare a compliant and gullible public. The United Nations

lacerating tenderness watching the two of them hunched over their cards, highlighters at the ready, as focused and intent as if about to perform heart surgery.

I’d never known either of them to miss a Tuesday game, not even the week following the big robbery when some other women in the neighborhood had been scared away. The bingo hall had been held up by three bandits; the hundreds of mostly elderly players forced at gunpoint to throw their wallets into a pile.

“They were very homely looking, the gunmen,” my mother told the police when they interviewed her as a witness, “with big noses and mustaches and very bushy eyebrows.

Snail Mail: Letters to the Editor P. O. Box 1088, Placerville 95667

Their eyeglasses were terrible, very old-fashioned ones.”

As it turned out, they were all wearing Groucho Marx masks. But even then she didn't miss the next week.

“They have security guards now,” she told me.

After my mother’s death, Ellen from upstairs continued to go without her, but her heart wasn't in it.

"It's not the same" she told me. "I never let anyone sit in her chair next to me. Never."

And as far as I know, until Ellen herself died and stopped going, she always kept that seat open.

Carole Braverman is a resident of El Dorado Hills.

2889

■ See WALTERS, page A5

SUMMARY

■ See LETTERS, page A5

Sierra-at-Tahoe

Continued from A1

trails will be open with a few gladed areas still closed. Due to snowfall, repair crews weren’t able to get to those areas, which include Avalanche Bowl and o -trail routes between Lower Main and Chute, Tahoe King and Preacher’s Passion and Castle and Preacher’s Passion. Work will resume when the snow melts in spring 2023.

2022-23 will be Sierra-at-Tahoe’s 75th season of operation, which it would have celebrated in style

last season had it not been for the 221,835-acre Caldor Fire.

Helping Sierra-at-Tahoe in its Caldor Fire recovery progress were Atlas Tree & Landscape, the El Dorado and Georgetown Divide resource conservation districts and the U.S. Forest Service, to name a few.

November snowstorms delivered and Heavenly and Kirkwood mountain resorts and Northstar California all opened Nov. 12.

WaltersContinued from A4 each other, reflecting some slight ideological di erences and a sharp personal duel between two Democrats over who will be speaker of the Assembly.

The paucity of real contests for statewide, legislative and congressional o ces means that today’s most important California election was for mayor of Los Angeles. It’s not only the state’s largest city, but one of its most troubled with immense amounts of poverty and homelessness, rising crime, political corruption, a lackluster economy and racial conflict.

The current mayor, Eric Garcetti, is virtually absent without leave. His 2020 presidential bid went nowhere and while conditions in his city deteriorated he’s spent the last

16 months trying, probably in vain, to win Senate confirmation as ambassador to India.

Democratic Congresswoman Karen Bass has all of the usual endorsements to succeed Garcetti and should have been a shoo-in. However, Rick Caruso, a very wealthy real estate developer and philanthropist, spent millions of his own dollars and tapped into voter discontent with the status quo to make it a real contest.

The two rivals have gone toe-to-toe over how they would handle

Letters

the squalor of homeless encampments that clog the city’s sidewalks and other issues that make the City of Angels a highly concentrated microcosm of the entire state’s ills.

The intensity and relevance of the BassCaruso duel underscore just how vapid the other campaigns have been. Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Continued from A4

World Health Organization was particularly complicit in all this along with the Centers for Disease Control.

MARIAN FIELDCREST Diamond Springs

Fentanyl EDITOR:

Iremember the day when some lady’s father had died due to COVID-19. The ad shouted it’s Trump’s fault because he listened to Trump and didn’t take it seriously.

Now, to any one who has lost someone to COVID I give my sympathies. That being said, I am placing the blame of all those fentanyl deaths at Biden’s feet. Had the Democrats did even the the smallest amount of border security instead of opening the country up just to get votes (and make no mistake, it was done to get votes) these people would still be alive.

I must admit my saying this leaves a terrible taste in my mouth for I am stooping to the truly disgusting tactics the Democratic Party has gone to in attacking its political opponents. Now, to those Democrats who actually possess some sort of decency, you should also be deeply troubled by these tactics. That goes for everybody. In every group of people there are a few bad apples in the bunch. Time to throw out the trash.

ERIC KRAUSS Cameron Park

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 the Moni Gilmore Sr Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Ready for real change?

CELEBRATE RECOVERY meets Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at Bayside Church of Placerville, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing and recovery from our hurts, habits, and hangups. Email elebratercovery@ baysideplacerville. com. Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ CRBaysidePlacerville.

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 9am-11am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $35/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING of El Dorado County is seeking volunteer counselors. Do you possess such qualities as warmth, empathy and nonjudgement, as well as having varied life experiences, and being over the age of 55? If you do and would like to help and listen to fellow seniors who are dealing with age related issues such as loneliness, isolation, health and grief, we would love to talk to you. Counselors receive training and are supervised by a professional in the field. SPC Clinical

Supervisor Jayann Askin, MFT, shares “We are looking for volunteers who are interested in psychology, counseling, and mental health and would like to be a part of a supportive group of ongoing learners in this field.” For more information on this greatly rewarding volunteer opportunity, please call 530-621-6304

Sierra-at-Tahoe will look a bit different this winter. Some 15 million board feet of timber charred by the Caldor Fire has been removed.

Photo courtesy of Sierra-at-Tahoe

TAURUS

GEMINI (May 21-June

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Even though the demands on you are not difficult, they are still abundant. You have to draw the line somewhere. You’re clear about why you’re making efforts. Rule out what goes against your “why” and you’ll be left with the best answers.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll get another chance at a project that didn’t quite work out the first time around. Your creativity is flowing. Don’t worry about how much sense a thing makes. It’s the impractical ventures that lead to exciting and lucrative developments.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You notice and speak to what you observe in others. Your kind words set you apart. Compliments like the ones you give are rare. They might catch people off guard, but you can be sure that later they’ll think about what you’ve said.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Sometimes an act of conformity is the polite thing to do, but if you have to ignore your intuition in the process, it won’t be worth it. You value politeness, but there are many more important virtues that will come to bear on today’s situation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Though the broad strokes my seem to be lining up just fine, it’s what you pick up in the small details — your nearly subliminal understanding of things — that will have the biggest effect on your energy. You can trust your sense of things.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You don’t believe that anyone’s time is more or less valuable than yours, and you prove this point by being punctual. It will take special planning to pull this off with today’s challenges.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When being around people is draining, you find energy in other kinds of connections. For instance, through your special connection with ani mals, you appreciate nature and praise its beauty.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your good taste will be called on as you host or assist a friend in hosting. It is not lost on you that the one who controls details like music and lighting is also controlling the mood, which you’ll manage to do to excellent effect.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Environments matter. It’s easier to study in a clean room or sing in a quiet room. You don’t always have the correct space to do the activities you most enjoy, but you will make moves to remedy this and build a life more to your liking.

Trojans corral Herd, advance to semifinals

Mike Bush Mountain Democrat contributor

One offensive play set the tone for the Oak Ridge High School football team in its Sac-Joaquin Section Division I quarterfinal win Nov. 11.

The Trojans recorded many scoring plays on the ground and air that played in their favor. That spelled bad news for the Elk Grove squad, as No. 3 Oak Ridge posted a 37-14 win over the No. 7 team.

“We were able to get on them, kind of get going,” said Oak Ridge head coach Casey Taylor. “We weren’t backed up; we had good field position all night.”

The host Trojans had a first-round bye. The Thundering Herd beat No. 11 Johnson of Sacramento 48-12 in a firstround playoff game Nov. 4.

Oak Ridge (9-2) finished in a threeway tie for second place with Del Oro and Rocklin in the Sierra Foothill League. Elk Grove (8-4) is the Delta League champion.

Next for Oak Ridge is hosting the D-I semifinal game against No. 7 Turlock (8-4), a member of the Central California Athletic League, this Friday at 7 p.m. Turlock shocked No. 2 seed St. Mary’s (10-1), the Tri-City Athletic League champion, with a 51-50 win in overtime. The Rams, out of Stockton, also had the first-round bye.

The other semifinal game will be top-seed and Oak Ridge’s rival Folsom (10-1) hosting No. Central Catholic (8-4), out of Modesto, which will also be played this Friday. Folsom won the SFL title and the Raiders captured the Valley Oak League crown.

Oak Ridge wasted no time in scoring after receiving the opening kickoff from Elk Grove. On the second play on offense, Trojan quarterback Maddox Varella hit Kaleb Edwards on a 62-yard touchdown with 11:01 left in the first quarter. Carson Nichols was successful in booting the extra-point for a 7-0 lead.

“We really wanted to get on them,” Taylor said.

Varella completed 17 of 24 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the game.

Trojan running back Jake Hall scored on a 1-yard run with 6:26 left in the quarter. The extra-point was no good, but Oak Ridge held a 13-0 advantage.

“I felt like we had to run on them,” said Taylor, whose Trojans had 150 total rushing yards in the game. “Jake got those yards, moved the chains.”

Elk Grove scored its first touchdown in the game toward the end of the quarter. Running back Wayshawn

Parker exploded 56 yards down his team’s sidelines. Bryan Cervantes’ extra-point kick was good, cutting the Trojans’ lead to 13-7.

“They are a great team, good athletes,” said Taylor of Elk Grove.

But the Trojans dominated the rest of the game.

Nichols trotted onto the field again, this time to boot a 19-yard field goal with 9:14 on the clock in the second quarter. That increased Oak Ridge’s lead to 16-7.

After the Thundering Herd punted, one of many in the game, the Trojans upped their lead to 22-7.

Hall found the end zone again, this time on another 1-yard run but at the south end of the stadium. Nichols added the extra-point kick.

Varella threw another touchdown pass again toward the end of the second quarter. This time wide receiver Tyler Guthmiller was the recipient of a 12-yard pass while on the run to the end zone with 32 seconds remaining on the clock. That gave Oak Ridge a comfortable 30-7 halftime lead.

“I do feel we had to score 30 points to win this game,” Taylor said. “We were able to get that going early on, which helped.”

Varella threw his third touchdown pass of the game in the early minutes of the third quarter, this time to wide receiver Sebastian Sutton, who caught the football with one hand for a 6-yard score with 3:58 on the clock. Nichols’ kick made it 37-7.

The Thundering Herd scored their final touchdown in the fourth quarter. Running back Mason Vazquez also found the end zone on a long run, this time 35-yards. The extra-point kick was good.

Oak Ridge finished with a combined 452 offensive yards.

Hall had 17 carries for 82 yards.

Sutton had six catches for 92 yards. Edwards, only a sophomore, hauled in three receptions for 89 yards.

On defense, Trojan defensive back Kaden Koschik had 12 tackles. Edwards and defensive end Connor Dasmann had seven tackles each.

The Thundering Herd had a combined 237 yards on offense, with 217 rushing.

“Defense, lights out all year,” Taylor said. “Our guys executed.”

Mike Bush is the sports editor at The Davis Enterprise, which is the Mountain Democrat’s sister newspaper. He was a staff writer at the Democrat 2011-2015. Follow him on Twitter: @ MBDavisSports.

Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Photo by Mike Bush

Trojan running back Jake Hall (No. 28) finds room to run in Friday’s playoff home game against Elk Grove. Troy came out on top and will next hit the field Nov. 18.

Hangtown 100 Speedway geared up for 3 days of racing

Speedway

Kofoid became the youngest winner in Placerville Speedway sprint car history in 2016 at the age of 14 and is a favorite to take home the big money at this weekend’s Hangtown 100. The now 20-year-old driver has raced to a total of 10 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victories this season as of press time.

Going into the USAC National Midget event Tuesday in Bakersfield, Kofoid possesses a 194-point lead over fellow California native Justin Grant. San Jose’s Thomas Meseraull ranks third followed by Colby, Kansas

driver Bryant Wiedeman and Raisin City wheelman Mitchell Moles, who rounds out the

The Hangtown 100 Nov. 17-19 marks the third ever appearance by the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series to the Placerville Speedway. Drivers from USAC, the World of Outlaws, the All Star Circuit of Champions and California favorites will all converge at the quarter-mile for the event. The USAC Midgets will be joined each night by Bay Cities Racing Association and Wingless California Lightning Sprints.

To purchase your tickets go to eventsprout.com/event/hangtown-2022 or get them at the gate.

Last season saw Ione’s Justin Grant pick up a big victory in the 100-lap feature, while Sutter’s Logan Seavey captured the overall Hangtown 100 points championship for the three

days. The event will once again utilize a modified Trophy Cup style format, featuring larger than normal inverts. The format has made for tremendous racing the first two years of the show.

Happy hour is offered when the gates open at 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. in

the grandstands featuring live music. Racing is slated to begin around 6 p.m.

The Placerville Speedway is located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For more information log onto placervillespeedway.com.

his chopper “Jolly Green Giant” in Vietnam into heavily defended areas of North Vietnam and rescued an F-105 pilot while under fire. The action earned the Air Force Cross.

LePeilbet earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in Vietnam. While severly injured, he repelled enemy forces to help his fellow wounded soldiers to safety.

A U.S. Marine, Mote served in Afghanistan in 2012 when he was mortally wounded, sacrificing himself to halt an enemy assault at a Marine Tactical Operations Center where he was stationed.

Buchanan, a rifleman serving in Vietnam, demonstrated calm leadership after multiple members of his unit were killed. For his bravery and making a defense to counter enemy forces, eventually silencing hostile fire, he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Buchanan, a founder of the Veterans Monument, said he was glad to be honored with the award given also to fellow veterans.

“This event was well attended and I’m glad to see the tradition of these programs continuing with success,” Buchanan said. “This award came at the right time in my life, and I really appreciate it.”

The Gilmore Hero Foundation was also honored with the Veterans Service and Support Award in recognition of its support to veterans.

Air Force veteran Darren Gilmore and lifelong friend Chris Whitaker, who received the award Friday, had

an objective to honor service when they introduced the Gilmore Hero Foundation to the county’s veterans community in 2021. Since its start, the foundation has given numerous veterans and first responders resources and connections for support when needed, said El Dorado County Veterans Alliance SecretaryTreasurer John Poimiroo during his speech.

“They were there to help a family honor their father’s service on the family headstone to supply food to veterans gatherings, they helped a college student replace worn tires to the veteran could satisfy his promise to visit his son, provide matching grants to veterans fundraisers and to help veterans displaced due to the Caldor and Mosquito fires,” Poimiroo said about the foundation. “Gilmore Hero Foundation set up to help heroes and in truth it has become the hero to many veterans who had nowhere else to turn.”

Whitaker said his prized possession is a picture of his grandfather while serving World War II, a motivation of his to help veterans.

“That’s one of my things that I love to do the most,” Whitaker said. “I’m very proud and very honored to receive this award.”

Although not present at the dedication, Dave Sauvé was announced as the recipient of the 2023 Veteran of the Year award.

Former Marine Staff Sgt. Dennis Kissinger, 92, said the Veterans Day dedications bring back memories of

his 15-year tenure serving his country.

“You get a chance to see other veterans and talk to them, regardless of whether you know them or not. You always say hi to them,” the Placerville resident told the Mountain Democrat. “Being a veteran, you like to associate with other veterans

altogether.”

Proclamations from the state and local level were read recognizing Veterans Day. The Ponderosa High School Choir sang patriotic music for the crowd and a flyover by World War II warbirds was part of the day’s ceremony.

Veterans Continued from A1

Gary Thomas Placerville

Penngrove’s Michael “Buddy” Kofoid will lead the U.S. Auto Club NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series into the third running of the Hangtown 100 at Placerville Speedway, which all kicks off Thursday.

top five in the standings.

In 2016 Michael Kofoid of Penngrove was the youngest winner in Placerville Speedway sprint car history at the age of 14 and will be a favorite at this weekend’s Hangtown 100.

File photo courtesy of Donna Peter

Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian El Dorado County Veterans Alliance Secretary-Treasurer John Poimiroo, left photo, presents the the Veterans Service and Support Award to Chris Whitaker with the Gilmore Hero Foundation. A squadron of World War II warbirds, right photo, fly high over Placerville on Veterans Day.

In the KNOW

Now

The Christmas elves at Indian Rock Tree Farm in Camino are once again collecting names and addresses for the Trees for Troops program. For more information or to give a name contact indianrock@ directcon.net or call (530) 622-4087. Donations to help with the shipping are also appreciated. Checks should be made out to “Indian Rock Trees for Troops.”

It’s that time of year for togetherness, comfort, celebration and peace. Unfortunately, not every family will experience those feelings as some are faced with uncertainty loneliness, and broken hearts for their children. To help, The Center for Violence-free Relationships has the Adopt-A-Family program and the Holiday Shopping Boutique to help local families. To donate and for more information email info@TheCenterNow. org or call (530) 626-1450.

The 2022 Hangtown Christmas Parade — A Charles Dickens Christmas is accepting applications for the Sunday, Dec. 4, parade. The parade takes place on Broadway and Main Street in Placerville starting at 1 p.m. Check in for participants is 11 a.m. Entry fee is an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots.

For an application go to hangtownchristmasparade. com or for more information call (530) 613-7228. Entry deadline is Nov. 18.

The Placerville Arts Association hosts the 56th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition through Nov. 19 at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova. Gallery hours are 3-8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The show can also be viewed by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information visit placervillearts.com/paamother-lode-show.

El Dorado Musical Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol” through Nov. 20 at the Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake College campus. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Nov. 16

Anya Hinkle and Billy Cardine on dobro perform bluegrass and folk music at 7 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club, 251 Main St. in Placerville. For tickets visit tickets.clubgreenroom. com.

Nov. 17

Performances for “Metamorphoses” are scheduled at 7 p.m. Nov. 17-19 at Studio 81 at El Dorado High School in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit studio81arts.com.

The Placerville Area Chess Club meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Denny’s in Cameron Park, 3446 Coach Lane. For more information call Neville Arroues at (530) 642-9043.

Nov. 18

The Sierra Renaissance Society presents the annual business meeting and a presentation by Keith Atwater, 100+ Years of Architecture in El Dorado County, 1-3 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road in Diamond Springs. Admission free for members; the public

Seniors helping seniors New senior peer counselors on the job, ready to listen

Noel Stack Managing editor

Anew class of senior peer counselors recently graduated, ready to provide confidential, one-on-one supportive counseling to seniors 55 years and older throughout the county.

New counselor Susan Fasano has made a career of helping people. The El Dorado Hills resident retired from her counseling career at Kaiser Permanente last year but said she still wanted to use that important skill set. She heard about Senior Peer Counseling of El Dorado County years ago during a Mountainside Center for Spiritual Living retreat in Placerville.

“The course is terrific,” she said.

The Cameron Park resident, a retired nurse who has years of experience working with other adults, said she wanted to give back to the county’s senior population and help them feel seen and heard. “It’s mainly listening to seniors,” Butler said.

The program serves 35-40 clients at a time, said Jayann Askin, Senior Peer Counseling of El Dorado County clinical supervisor. “SPC gets an average of 95% excellent feedback and reviews from clients that the service helped improve the quality of their lives,” Askin shared with the newspaper.

— Counselor Lauren Keith

“I always tucked it away in my mind that I would like to do something like that after I retired,” Fasano shared.

The volunteer counselors, also 55-plus, are trained by and overseen by a licensed therapist.

Graduate Kathy Butler told the Mountain Democrat she learned a lot during the program’s training session — not only information to share with others, but also to guide her during her senior years.

Day hiker

Glen Alpine Trail

The highlight of Glen Alpine Trail are the Glen Alpine Falls (upper and lower) that you will drive to on your way to the trailhead. But look up and look around at the mountains of Desolation Wilderness, including Mount Tallac. In spring this area is a perfect chamber of commerce image of the area found on Highway 89 a few miles north of South Lake Tahoe, at the end of Fallen Leaf Road just to the west of Lake Tahoe.

Three miles off Highway 50 on Highway 89, take Fallen Leaf Road to

lot at the end of the road. Fallen Leaf Road is a beautiful drive with much of the drive along Fallen Leaf Lake. The road narrows. I must have pulled over a dozen

“They will listen without judgement and help the individual to find their own solutions to such age related issues as loneliness, isolation, health and grief,” states program information shared with the paper. “This counseling helps seniors to increase independence, personal growth and enjoyment in life.”

This mission resonated with former business owner and counseling grad Lauren Keith, who said, “I enjoy helping people help themselves.”

The Cameron Park resident spoke highly of the training and

the parking

Mary West Outdoor columnist

Photo by Mary West

Glen Alpine Falls are breathtaking and easy to get to.

Courtesy photo

2020 and 2022 Senior Peer Counseling grads held a ceremony after completing their training. Seated in the first row, left to right, are Lauren Keith, Susan Fasano and Mindy Miller. Standing in the back row, left to right, are Richard Parsons, Susan Zabiegalski, Joni Jones, Marsha Lind, Candy Lupient, Elaine Connor, Jayann Askin (SPC clinical supervisor) and Tony Camuti. The 2020 graduating class was included in the ceremony as grads never got one due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I enjoy helping people help themselves.”

Charter College and Career Prep celebrates fall

■ Fun festival pairs teen and tots

Jessica Trumble-Pitel Charter Alternative Programs community outreach coordinator

The patter of little feet, giggles and even a joyous shriek or two filled the hallways of El Dorado County O ce of Education Charter College and Career Prep campus Oct. 31 during a welcoming of EDCOE’s Child Development Program for CCP’s Fall Festival. The tradition of CCP hosting a fall festival for teens to welcome elementary students and/or preschoolers has been occurring for years. This year has special meaning, though, being the first in-person festival after hosting two virtual events.

“The opportunity for Charter College and Career Prep students to interact and teach younger youth is immensely valuable,” shared CCP teacher and Fall Festival coordinator Sharon Shipley. “A mentorship is created between the varied aged groups of students through the Fall Festival event. Patience, care and maturity are fostered with our teens. While the preschoolers practice communication, good listening and relationship building skills.”

Shared happiness and learning are best in collaborative environments. Through the Fall Festival, CCP teachers had the opportunity to guide students to create an individual classroom activity for the visiting preschoolers. CCP students welcomed visiting preschoolers into each class to participate, allowing for older-younger youth teaching while guided by CCP teachers and sta . Preschoolers had the opportunity to interact with many new faces, earn stamps on their Fall Festival passport card and model their holiday costumes. Teens were able to actively learn about child development, teaching methods, public speaking and community relations for programs in EDCOE. El Dorado County has demonstrated repeatedly the benefits of uniting and working together through the triumphs and challenges. CCP is overjoyed at the opportunity to not only collaboratively teach students, but to be an active participant in partnering to continue to make El Dorado County a better, brighter and caring place for youth.

For more information about CCP visit ccp.edcoe.org.

Community Gift Trees allow residents to give back

News releaase

Community Gift Trees will be set up Nov. 17 through Dec. 9,

The

organizations

To

The trees will be located at El Dorado Hills Raley’s, El Dorado Hills Safeway, El Dorado Hills

Library, Cameron Park Library, Placerville Raley’s, Placerville Library and Pollock Pines Safeway.

The gifts are then wrapped and dropped o at the El Dorado County O ce of Education or Catalyst Community on Dec. 7 & 8.

For questions and more information about the Community Gift Trees contact Dana Schmalz at (530) 676-0707, Dschmalz@catalystcomm.org or Patricia Gordon at (530) 295-2305, Pgordon@ edcoe.org.

Find crafts and more in Pollock Pines

News releaase

The Dogwood Garden Club and Pollock PinesCamino Community Center invite everyone to the 2022 Holiday Craft Faire in the Pines. This year shoppers will have an awesome selection of locally crafted, one-of-a-kind a ordable gifts, soups, sandwiches, warm drinks, entertainment and a great ra e. This is a fundraiser benefiting both nonprofit organizations.

The fair takes place 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the community center, 2675 Sanders Drive in Pollock Pines.

For more information email Norma Ray at ray. norma@att.net or Jan Slominski at evdriver@ comcast.net.

Know

Continued from B1

invited to attend two meetings each year free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc.org. The Dogwood Garden Club

Courtesy photo

Preschoolers enjoy activities set up by Charter College and Career Prep students on Halloween.

Courtesy photo

Find great gifts at the 2022 Holiday Craft Faire at the Pollock Pines-Camino Community Center this Friday and Saturday.

allowing the community the opportunity to share the gift of giving.

Community Gift Tree is a collaborative e ort started in 2006 between the El Dorado County O ce of Education Child Development Program, Catalyst Community and other agencies to provide clients with gifts for the winter holiday. These

provide early care and education services to income eligible families on the Western Slope of El Dorado County.

help ensure all children are remembered during the holidays, community members can visit one of the Community Gift Tree locations and select a card for one or more children to purchase a child’s needs and wishes.

GROW FOR IT!

Don’t plant a pest

Pests in the garden are not always creepy crawlers; they can be plants too ... and some are even very attractive. However, attractive does not always mean good and you may be surprised to learn that some plants in your landscape should not be present at all.

The California Invasive Plant Council, or Cal-IPC, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect California’s environment and economy from invasive plants. It was established in 1992 to address environmental threats from invasive plants, which it defines as plants not native to an environment and, once introduced, establish quickly, reproduce freely and spread widely. The Cal IPC website, cal-ipc.org, has a very comprehensive inventory of plants already considered to be invasive or are to be watched because of their potential for being invasive.

I think everyone is aware that Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) are highly invasive plants, as is Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima); but did you also know that English ivy (Hedera helix) and Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) are on Cal-IPC’s list of invasive plants? I frequently see Mexican feather grass in various landscapes, but this is an extremely vigorous plant and will spread quickly out of its designated place in a garden by freely reseeding just about everywhere. English ivy is also still frequently planted, but this vigorous groundcover will grow up walls and trees, ruining building exteriors and choking the life out of trees. It is also a notorious hideout for snakes and rodents. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is another plant to avoid because of its very vigorous growth habit and wind-driven seed dispersal of up to 20 miles from the parent

Know Continued from B2

Holiday Faire in the grand hall takes place Nov. 18-20. Find great gifts and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission is free.

Visit the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville, open to the public, 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays. See the many plants, trees, succulents, natives and more. Wander through the 16 individual gardens at your own pace or ask a docent for help. Garden may be closed for inclement weather; check the website before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

The 29th annual Placer Artists Encore Tour takes Nov. 18-20. Visit PlacerArtistsTour.org for arts directory, events calendar and to preregister for the tour to be eligible to win prizes.

Nov. 19

The Cameron Park Community Services District hosts a Christmas Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the community center, 2502 Country Club Drive in Cameron Park. Admission is free.

Art & Wine returns to Placerville’s Main Street, 5-8 p.m., during the Third Saturday Art Walk, which begins at 4 p.m. El Dorado County

plant.

Another very good resource for learning about invasive plants and noxious weeds can be found at ipm. ucanr.edu/PMG/ PESTNOTES/pn74139. html.

What can an individual do to help decrease invasive plants? First, educate yourself by researching a plant’s characteristics before you decide to put it in your garden. There are good alternatives to invasive plants and some of these can be found at plantright.org.

Then, share information about invasive plants with family, friends and neighbors.

Finally, if you see an invasive plant being o ered at a nursery or other businesses where plants are sold, politely talk to the personnel who do the buying; they may not be aware that a plant is on the invasive list and I bet would welcome the information. We can all do some small part to help decrease the number of these invasive plants.

Master Gardener classes are o ered monthly throughout the county. Find the full class schedule at mgeldorado. ucanr.edu/Public_Education_ Classes/?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/ Public_Education/Classes.

The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, through November. Check the website for details at ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_ Master_Gardeners/Demonstration_ Garden.

Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on mgeldorado.ucanr.edu or leave a message on the o ce telephone at (530) 621-5512. To sign up for notices and newsletters visit ucanr. edu/master gardener e-news. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

wineries will offer complimentary wine tasting (21 and older) inside downtown shops and galleries.

Ryder Thieves perform psychedelic rock-n-roll at 8 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club, 251 Main St. in Placerville. For tickets visit tickets. clubgreenroom.com.

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera perform Mozart’s Magnificent Mass, 8 p.m. at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit sacphilopera.org.

Nov. 24

Golden Leaves, 3625 Omo Ranch Road in Mt. Aukum, is having Thanksgiving Dinner, noon to 7 p.m. Make your reservations for the family style Thanksgiving feast made from scratch. Appetizer, soup, salad, pumpkin with duck and vegan stuffings, roasted spatchcocked turkey, roasted vegetables and pumpkin pie or Basque cheese cake. Vegan/gluten

Pixabay image

Pampas grass has wind-driven seed dispersal of up to 20 miles from the parent plant and should be avoided when designing a new landscape.

Sue McDavid

UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County

Best-selling author Sedaris brings laughs to The Center

GRASS VALLEY — The Center for the Arts welcomes back humorist and best-selling author of “Calypso” and “A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries (2003-2020)” David Sedaris to the Marisa Funk Theater Nov. 17.

Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, he is the author of “Barrel Fever,” “Holidays on Ice,” “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls” and “Calypso,” which was a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. He is also the author of “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary,” a collection of fables with illustrations by Ian Falconer as well as an essay-

length ebook titled “Themes and Variations.” Each of these books was an immediate bestseller. Sedaris also served as editor of “Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories.”

The first volume of his diaries, “Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002),” was a New York Times bestselling book. As a companion piece to the book, Jeffrey Jenkins published and edited an art book of Sedaris’ diary covers, entitled “David Sedaris Diaries: A Visual Compendium.” The second volume of his diaries, “A Carnival of Snackery, Diaries (2003-2020), was also a New York Times best-seller and the audiobook was selected as part of Apple’s Best Audiobooks of the Year for 2021.

Sedaris has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His audio recordings include “David

Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure” and “David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall.” There are more than 16 million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 32 languages.

In his latest book published in May 2022, “Happy-Go-Lucky,” Sedaris once again captures what is most unexpected, hilarious and poignant about these recent upheavals, personal and public, and expresses in precise language both the misanthropy and desire for connection that drive everyone. Living in interesting times, there is no one better to chronicle them than the incomparable Sedaris.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at The Center for the Arts Marisa Funk Theater, 314 West Main St. in Grass Valley. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org or call (530) 274-8384.

Valhalla Tahoe presents the ultimate Christmas show for the South Shore

News release

Well, they say the third time’s a charm. After last year’s big storm, loss of power and COVID canceled both attempts to perform the show, Valhalla Tahoe is yet again going to bring audiences “A Guilty Christmas.”

It was way back in the summer of 2002 when the Boathouse Theatre at Valhalla presented a play by David Hamilton and Mark D. Williams called “Guilty Pleasures.” It was a fast-paced musical comedy written specifically for the Tahoe audience. The play centered on a group of individuals who had been given permission to perform a show as

part of their community service (received for a hilarious variety of minor offenses) by a progressive Tahoe judge. There were hit numbers about living in and visiting Tahoe, such as the “Keep Tahoe Blues,” “Living on Tahoe Time” and the “TRPA” song, with new material added each year as it played the next several years, with the last performances in 2012.

Time has gone by, but all the characters remain. Older (though perhaps not wiser) they are ready to get together again and this time they are doing a Christmas show. Yes, after 10 years the team of Hamilton and Williams has created “Guilty Christmas.” a musical comedy about the South Shore of Tahoe in winter. Look for songs about

winter driving, running for city council and, as everyone remembers fondly, quarantine. Plus, the audience members will enjoy a giant finale with a practically every traditional Christmas song ever heard.

Those who remember “Guilty Pleasures” know just what they are in for. Those who don’t, it’s OK — just sit back and laugh with everyone else. It will be fun for the whole family (though probably not for pets).

Performances for “Guilty Christmas” are scheduled at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 16-20, at the Valhalla Boathouse Theatre, 1 Valhalla Road in South Lake Tahoe. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe. showare.com.

hen the Pilgrims arrived at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, they met native peoples who had lived in the area for thousands of years. Their name, Wampanoag, means “People of the First Light.” This name was chosen because they lived on the east coast and they received the light of dawn before anyone to the west.

The arrival of colonists from Europe was seen differently by different groups of people. The Wampanoag were cautious and unsure about these new people. The colonists were relieved to be done with their long voyage, but afraid of what might lie ahead.

Celebrations of thanksgiving in North America did not _______ with the Pilgrims at __________ in 1621. Gratefulness was (and is) a very important part of ________________ life.

The Wampanoag have held ___________ to give thanks since ____________ times. And, not just for a good _____________. The Wampanoag give thanks for the birth of a child and other good fortune. In fact, giving thanks was the __________ reason for Wampanoag celebrations.

Clip at least 10 headlines from today’s newspaper and divide them into their parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.). Create a poem about Thanksgiving using all the words you clipped.

Think About It!

Today’s Kid Scoop provides two different points of view about the coming of the Pilgrims to North America.

Use the newspaper to understand different points of view.

Select one article from today’s newspaper and identify two people or groups of people affected by the news in the article.

Write one or more sentences telling each person or group’s point of view about the news.

Main topic of article:

Person or group #1:

Point of view:

for

Person or group #2:

Point of view:

Standards

This week’s word:

VIEWPOINT

The noun viewpoint means an opinion about something.

The Wampanoag have a different viewpoint about Thanksgiving than some others.

Try to use the word viewpoint in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.

I Am Thankful

Write about something or someone for which or whom you are thankful. What are some of the ways this person or thing makes your life better? How do you show your appreciation?

appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: DECEMBER 9, 2022, 8:30 A.M. DEPT. 9 AT SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF EL DORADO, 3321 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682.

3. A copy of the ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Mountain Democrat. This order has been filed on OCTOBER 21, 2022.

/s/ Michael J. McLaughlin MICHAEL J. MCLAUGHLIN, Judge of the Superior Court 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 11030

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT

FIlE NO. FB2022-1127

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DEITCHMAN & DEITCHMAN, located at 6201 Enterprise Drive, Ste E, Diamond Springs, CA 95619

Registered owner(s):

BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 11032

must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: DECEMBER 2, 2022, 8:30 A.M. DEPT. 9 AT SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF EL DORADO, 3321 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682.

3. A copy of the ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Mountain Democrat. This order has been filed on SEPTEMBER 26, 2022. /s/ Michael J. McLaughlin MICHAEL J. MCLAUGHLIN, Judge of the Superior Court 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 11033

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FIlE NO. FB2022-1116

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DIAMOND SPRINGS MASSAGE, located at 444 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619/Mailing Address: 701 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619

Registered owner(s): Golden Massage LLC, 701 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619

This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company, State of LLC: CA

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 10/18/2022

Signature of Registrant: /s/ Jixiu Huang JIXIU HUANG, CEO I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

(A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).)

This statement filed with the county clerk of El Dorado County on 10/18/2022. NOTICE-IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.

THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 11034

times to allow cars to pass on my way in and again on my way out. This is a busy road and the falls are just o the road, a magnet for visitors. Keep driving all the way to the end for better parking. I went early and had time at the falls and didn’t have to hunt for a parking spot. It fills up fast when the weather is nice so go early or late when possible.

The parking area is just over the bridge over Fallen Leaf Creek. At the end of the parking lot is a message board and a green gate. Behind the gate is a lovely 2-mile trail away from the crowds to Glen Alpine Springs. Upon your return from the out-andback hike check out more of the Glen Alpine Resort where John Muir founded the Sierra Club.

I had a late lunch with Stella, my Australian shepherd/Queensland heeler, next to the creek before the short walk back to the car. Lily Lake and other trails are nearby to extend your adventure.

According to the Recreation. gov website: Visitors must obtain

Counselors

a wilderness permit for overnight camping as well as day visits, yearround. A quota system is in place for the 45 overnight destination zones from the Friday before Memorial Day through Sept. 30 each year. The system disperses visitors throughout the area, providing an opportunity for solitude and reflection. First-served basis on the day of entry. A recreation fee is assessed during the permitting process. Day trips are free of charge. Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (second edition available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 Craft Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the Day Hiker series by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Continued from B1

“caring, dedicated” Senior Peer Counseling team ready to connect with local seniors. “If they need some support it (is) a great program for them.”

Both Keith and Butler read that Senior Peer Counseling sought new volunteers in the Mountain Democrat.

Counseling sessions may be in-person, by phone or online and weekly, biweekly or monthly, depending on the client’s needs. Services are o ered without charge, though if the client is able they may donate $5 or more per session to help defray program costs.

Program funding comes from the Mental Health Services Act, a statewide, voter-approved tax on millionaires for the support of mental health services in California. Taxdeductible donations are welcome as well and SPC is currently looking for

o ce space, Askin said.

“Our needs are in the Placerville and Cameron Park areas. Currently, our budget does not fund o ce space or infrastructure needs,” she explained. “During the pandemic our dedicated o ce space at the senior/ community center was taken away and we are now having to share a small one room o ce with another program, reducing our hours from 40 to 20 per week.

“This greatly limits the ability to provide counseling services to our older adult population and makes it hard on our volunteers to find a safe, welcoming and confidential space to do their counseling work,” Askin continued. “We would be grateful for anyone willing to donate an o ce space to help support Senior Peer Counseling.”

For more information about the program call (530) 621-6304.

T.S. NO. 099894-CA APN: 120-062-002-000 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SAlE IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 7/23/2003. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER On 12/8/2022 at 1:00 PM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 7/31/2003 as Instrument No. 2003-0077502-00 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of El Dorado County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: CURTIS D HALL, AN UNMARRIED MAN WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE EL DORADO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURTHOUSE, PLACERVILLE MAIN STREET BRANCH, 495 MAIN STREET, PLACERVILLE, CA 95667 all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: MORE FULLY DESCRIBED ON SAID DEED OF TRUST The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 3882 ARROWHEAD DR, EL DORADO HILLS, CA 95762 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $142,393.72 If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located.

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware

that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property.

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (800) 280-2832 or visit this Internet Web site WWW.AUCTION.COM, using the file number assigned to this case 099894-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale.

NOTICE TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, you may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code.

If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (855) 313-3319, or visit this internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 099894-CA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. FOR SALES

INFORMATION: (800) 280-2832 CLEAR RECON CORP 4375 Jutland Drive San Diego, California 92117 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 11055 NOTICE

A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE is hereby given that PLACER LENDER SERVICES, as trustee, or successor trustee, or substituted trustee pursuant to the Deed of Trust executed by: STARR ARMSTRONG, AN UNMARRIED WOMAN Recorded 01/15/2021 as Instrument No. 2021-0003110 in book , page of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of El Dorado County, California, and pursuant to the Notice of Default and Election to Sell thereunder recorded 7/19/2022 in Book , Page , as Instrument No. 2022-0030565 of said Official Records, WILL SELL on 11/23/2022 at the Main Street entrance to the County Courthouse at 495 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667 at 10:00AM AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH (payable at the time of sale in lawful money of the United States), all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State hereinafter described: As more fully described on said Deed of Trust. The property address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 2822 HOLLY HILLS LANE,, CAMERON PARK, CA 95682

The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown herein. Total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $329,715.41 In addition to cash, the trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. In the event tender other than cash is accepted the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s Deed until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed, advances thereunder, with interest as provided therein, and the unpaid principal balance of the Note secured by said Deed with interest thereon as provided in said Note, fees, charges and expenses of the trustee and the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the