Mountain Democrat, Friday, December 16, 2022

City warmly welcomes shelter

Odin Rasco Staff writer

The temporary inclement weather shelter in Scout Hall at Placerville’s Benham Park received praise from locals and the support of the Placerville City Council despite concerns from some Placerville residents regarding the shelter’s location.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting council members unanimously ratified a memorandum of understanding between the city and Housing El Dorado for use of Scout Hall as an overnight warming center.

Though some Placerville residents may have concerns regarding the location of the shelter, City Manager Cleve

Morris was confident in saying it would largely be a non-issue due to the purpose of the shelter.

“Because this shelter is only open during inclement weather, it only opens when it is cold and rainy,” Morris said during the meeting. “From my view, we very rarely have people going to our

Mosquito Fire Debris removal estimated at $5M

Eric Jaramishian Staff writer

El Dorado County is starting its bidding process to find a company to remove debris left in the Mosquito Fire’s path. The forest fire in September burned more than a dozen homes in the Volcanoville area. All said and done, debris removal is expected to total $5 million.

Environmental Management Director Jeffrey Warren told the Board of Supervisors Dec. 6 the county has six months from the time California’s governor declared a state of emergency due to the Mosquito Fire to finish county-led debris removal. That declaration came Sept. 8. Recent storm patterns are also prompting county staff to make haste contracting with potential debris-removal groups.

Changing guard

of the

Placerville leaders reflect as new council members are ushered in

Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer

On Tuesday Mayor Kara Taylor, Councilman Dennis Thomas and Councilwoman Patty Borelli ended their Placerville City Council terms. At the same time, the city welcomed incoming council members John Clerici, Nicole Gotberg and David Yarbrough.

Placerville residents arrived at Town Hall to find a reception celebrating outgoing and incoming city leaders. Friends, family and colleagues came together to witness this changing of the guard and thank outgoing public servants for their dedication to the city.

Once the meeting was called to order Taylor gave the State of the City address and each exiting council member was recognized by city staff and constituents.

First up was Taylor, who chose not to run for reelection.

Vice Mayor Michael Saragosa thanked her for “digging deep into the issues, for asking the right questions and for trying to forge common ground.”

Councilwoman Borelli pointed out an especially pertinent part of Taylor’s four-year stint with the council.

“Time is of the essence, that is why we are making the requests from the Chief Administrative Office to be able to execute that to avoid coming back to the board and delay the time,” Warren said.

Unlike with the Caldor Fire, the county will lead the program, which will begin its second phase — removal of ash, debris and compromised concrete foundations — once the county accepts a bid for the work.

Contaminated soil testing and erosion control will also take place and county staff will hire a team of consultants to assist in completing debris removal.

The CAO is taking bids for the hazardous materials removal of no more than $3 million.

“What is different from last year to this year is that we will be receiving technical assistance from (the California Office of Emergency Services), so we still have Cole Glenwright and Johnathan Bell to help us out, the ones who have been with us through the Caldor Fire,” Warren said.

Officials reported they have not heard if the county will receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s California Disaster Assistance Act via a presidential declaration but will move forward with paying for

Mosquito

Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt New Placerville City Council members John Clerici, David Yarbrough and Nicole Gotberg are sworn in prior to assuming their seats on the dais at the Placerville City Council meeting Tuesday.

Joseph Martin Keating

June 8, 1937 – Dec. 2, 2022

Joseph Martin Keating, age 85, passed away peacefully in his home, on Dec. 2. Joe was a man of faith and we are grateful for his long and lucky life. Joe was born on June 8, 1937 in Canton, China. He was the fourth child of Thomas and Johanna Perme Keating.

Joe grew up in San Diego and graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1961. He reveled in being an engineer and continued to work and consult all of his life. The tunnel on the walking trail in Placerville is one of his early projects. He loved his o ce in the Old Stone House on Pacific Street in Placerville. He was a proud member the US Marine Corp Reserves for many years, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Joe and his family moved to Placerville in 1968. Joe designed and built a passive solar home on Mosquito Road in 1979. It was always his favorite place on Earth. With neighbors, he supervised construction of a small dam and pond on shared acreage. Today it continues to be a place of beauty which draws together family, friends, neighbors and wildlife.

Joe loved this small foothill town and was grateful to live here. He felt blessed by a community of friends who enriched his life. Joe’s greatest joy was his family and friends, and he loved connecting with and mentoring young people. Joe was genuinely interested in their endeavors and dedicated endless energy toward his desire to help and inspire the next generation.

Joe is predeceased by his parents and by his siblings, Jean and Bobby. He is survived by his brother Tom. He is also survived by his wife, Mary, and by his sons and daughters-in-law Brian and Elena and Stephen and Elizabeth. Also surviving him are his six grandchildren, whom he loved beyond words, Katrina, Travis, Welles, Anna, Joseph (JW) and Charlotte.

There will be a Funeral Mass for Joe at Saint Patricks Church, 3109 Sacramento Street, Placerville, on Monday, Dec. 19 at 11:00 A.M. The family welcomes everyone who would like to join them there to help celebrate Joe’s life. The parish women will provide a lunch for all to enjoy after the Mass. Joe supported the Mother Teresa Home in Placerville. If anyone would like to contribute to that endeavor here is the link.

https:motherteresamaternityhome.com/volunteer/ donations

Cameron Park resident guilty of possession of child porn

Odin Rasco Staff writer

A Cameron Park resident and former gymnastics coach was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for knowingly possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, according to press release from the U.S. Attorney’s O ce for the Eastern District of California.

Keith Willette, 59, was a gymnastics coach to young girls in multiple states for decades and has lived in El Dorado County since the late 1990s, note prosecutors.

Investigators found Willette

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

Dec. 5

1:04 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 23-year-old man suspected of evading officers with wanton disregard for public safety on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody as of press time.

10:17 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Raccoon Trail in Pollock Pines.

11:26 a.m. Vandalism was reported at a grocery store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

4:31 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 20-year-old man suspected of receiving stolen property on Headington Road in Placerville. He was later released.

7:12 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 56-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

7:35 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 56-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. He was later released.

7:55 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 40-year-old man suspected of possession of narcotics for sale on Forni Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $155,000 bail.

9:32 p.m. Deputies arrested a suspect after responding to a reported assault with a deadly weapon on Tegra Road in Cool.

10:22 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.

11:59 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 30-year-old woman suspected of possession of a controlled substance on Placerville Drive. She was released on $20,000 bail.

Dec. 6

12:28 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 39-year-old man suspected of DUI on Highway 50 (location not specified). He was later released.

3 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 54-year-old man suspected of grand theft on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was later released.

11:42 a.m. Vandalism was reported

spent extended amounts of time with a young girl under the auspices of gymnastics training while living in Washington in the mid-1980s. During that time Willette sexually abused the girl continually starting at a young age and used her to produce child pornography.

Willette brought the sexually explicit videos and photographs with him when he moved to El Dorado County and kept them until sometime around May 2004.

In the early 2000s, Willette became the gymnastics coach for another girl, who was a talented 15-year-old athlete at the time, according to the news release.

on Sand Ridge Road in Placerville.

1:18 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a grocery store on Francisco Drive in El Dorado Hills.

2:13 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 42-year-old man suspected of reckless driving and evading officers on Highway 50 at Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

He was listed in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail as of press time.

5:21 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 34-year-old man suspected of grand theft on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was later released.

8:30 p.m. Battery was reported on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.

8:56 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old woman suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia on French Creek Road in Shingle Springs.

She was released on $30,000 bail.

10:19 p.m. Battery was reported at a hotel on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

Dec. 7

7:32 a.m. Deputies cited a person suspected of trespassing on Highway 49 at Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.

9:29 a.m. Battery was reported at a business on Mother Lode Drive in Shingle Springs.

4:16 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia, identity theft, forgery, swindling, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a stun gun and driving on a suspended license on Gregory Lane in Placerville. He was released on $122,500 bail.

5:03 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and a post-release violation on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody as of press time.

7:10 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 21-year-old man suspected of possession of narcotics for sale and transporting narcotics for sale on Flying C Road in Cameron Park. He was released on $475,000 bail.

9:11 p.m. Deputies booked into

When the girl was 16 or 17 years old Willette began taking sexually explicit photographs of her, which he continued to knowingly possess until about April 2004.

A hearing to determine how much restitution Willette owes both victims will be held Feb. 28, 2023. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. attorneys Rosanne L. Rust and Christina McCall and trial attorneys Alicia Bove and Jessica L. Urban with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, prosecuted the case.

jail a 62-year-old man suspected of trespassing on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was later released.

9:56 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 27-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance, giving false information to a peace officer and burglary on Durock Road in Shingle Springs. He was later released.

11:14 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 34-year-old man suspected of loitering on Golden Center Drive in Placerville. He was later released.

Dec. 8

12:30 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Mt. Shasta Circle in Placerville.

2:37 p.m. Battery was reported on Linda Drive in El Dorado.

3:50 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 19-year-old man suspected of battery on Fairhaven Lane in Placerville. He was released on $5,000 bail.

5:13 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 34-year-old woman suspected of shoplifting, theft of personal property and being a restricted driver operating a vehicle without at interlock devise on Highway 50 (location not specified). She was listed in custody in lieu of $301,000 bail as of press time.

5:37 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Andler Road in Placerville.

9:45 p.m. Residential burglary was reported on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.

11:19 p.m. Residential burglary was reported on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.

Dec. 9

3:18 a.m. California Highway

Patrol Officers booked into jail a 69-year-old man suspected of DUI on Forni Road in Placerville. He was later released.

Dec. 10

1:36 a.m. California Highway Patrol Officers booked into jail a 55-year-old man suspected of DUI on Lotus Road (town not specified). He was later released.

7 a.m. Vandalism was reported on City Lights Drive in El Dorado Hills.

2:08 p.m. Vehicle burglary at a gym was reported on Enterprise Drive in Diamond Springs.

9:09 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 56-year-old man suspected of DUI and driving with a suspended licensed on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $37,000 bail as of press time.

Dec. 11

3:22 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Richard Avenue in Placerville.

5:12 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 67-year-old man suspected of illegally carrying a concealed dagger/dirk on Mt. Aukum Road in Mt. Aukum. He was later released.

11:56 a.m. Burglary was reported on Richard Avenue in Placerville.

3:37 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Union Ridge Road in Placerville.

6:10 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 49-year-old man suspected of illegally carrying a switchblade and a concealed dagger/dirk on Forni Road in Placerville. He was later released.

7:48 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 26-year-old man suspected of vandalism and making criminal threats on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $27,00 bail.

Water supplies up

Michael Raffety Mountain Democrat correspondent

While work continues on a small but challenging flume section of the 22-mile El Dorado Canal, rain and snow have improved potential water supplies.

El Dorado Irrigation District Operations Manager Dan Corcoran told water agency directors Dec. 12, “The snowpack looks really good.”

Meanwhile the California State Water Resources Control Board has lifted all water curtailments and plenty of water is available now for Outingdale through its rebuilt diversion dam, new pump and fairly new water tank.

El Dorado Hills is being served with water from Jenkinson Lake. Water flowing into Jenkinson Lake, resulting in “end of year carryover continues to trend higher,” Corcoran reported. When the fall outage for canal maintenance finishes later this month water will be released from Caples and Silver lakes with some diverted into Jenkinson Lake via the Hazel

Creek Tunnel.

“The district will be well positioned to meet 2023 customer demands,” Corcoran wrote.

Corcoran noted Jenkinson Lake is now about 26,000 acre-feet with 1,000-1,500 acre-feet flowing in daily because of recent storms. Folsom Lake also gained another 1/10th elevation gain, Corcoran said. Folsom gained 20,000 acre-feet in a week.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation report for Dec. 12 put Folsom Lake at 270,621 acre-feet out of a total capacity of 977,000 — 27% of capacity. Shasta Lake had 1.4 million acre-feet out of a total of 4.5 million — 31% of capacity.

Director George Osborne, who lives in Audubon Woods area of Camino, recorded 10 inches of rain during the recent storm. In the Placerville area 7.20 inches have been totaled in December.

Though there were only 3 inches of rain in November, total district demand was 19% less than November 2020 and 25% less than November 2013, according to Corcoran.

Byron-Cooper named interim HHSA director

El Dorado County Director of Public Health Olivia Byron-Cooper will step into the role of interim Health and Human Services Agency director, taking the place of recently dismissed Evelyn Schaeffer.

Byron-Cooper will hold the post until the county hires a new director. Her pay is set at $91.61 per hour.

Without giving reason, county supervisors voted unanimously to

remove Schaeffer as HHSA director during closed session at the Dec. 6 board meeting, less than three months after her Sept. 24 start.

Schaeffer is the county’s second HHSA director of 2022, with Don Semon resigning April 19.

Supervisors unanimously approved appointing Byron-Cooper as interim director.

“This is a big role and we are here to support you as much as we can,” said District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl to Byron-Cooper.

CHP officers to conduct sobriety checkpoint

frequencies of intoxicated drivers.

The California Highway Patrol will conduct a sobriety checkpoint Saturday in unincorporated El Dorado County, according to a press release from the Placerville area CHP office.

The checkpoint is intended to aid CHP officers in ensuring safe travel for motorists during the holiday season by targeting areas with high

“Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” states Commander Lt. Rick Hatfield in the release. “Our objective is to send a clear message to those individuals who consider driving and mixing alcohol or drugs — you will be caught and your vehicle will be towed away.”

People spoke positively of the shelter during public comment, including Placerville resident Sue Rodman.

“I live right in the neighborhood of Benham Park and I am so glad to see us doing this,” said Rodman. “I applaud you … It’s the best thing to be done with Scout Hall during the wintertime; it’s a facility that can be used, so let’s use it.”

Morris worked with Housing El Dorado and The Upper Room to open the shelter, which has been in use this month due to weather conditions.

Since Dec. 1, the shelter has been open 11 times, with most nights seeing between 11 and 15 guests, according to Nicole Payne, a representative of Housing El Dorado overseeing shelter operations.

“We have had no issues and had no need to call the police to the shelter,” Payne said. “We try to not make any waves in the community and leave the places where we have shelters better than when we found them.”

“Well, there is that leak in the roof (at Scout Hall) then,” joked one of the council members in response.

Payne noted the shelter is intentionally unobtrusive and most would not even notice its presence, similar to the shelter on Main Street last year.

The temporary warming center at Scout Hall was implemented as a stopgap solution to aid homeless people in the area while El Dorado County proceeds with establishing the temporary homeless shelter/ navigation center at the former juvenile detention facility in Placerville.

The shelter is expected to operate 17 total days before the navigation center is open, which Morris said is on track to open around Jan. 15. Morris did add the caveat that the projected number of days the Scout Hall shelter will have to operate may change depending on the weather and if the navigation center’s opening date is delayed.

Shelter Continued from A1

Courtesy photo

Since Dec. 1, the shelter has been open 11 times, with most nights seeing between 11 and 15 guests.

Odin Rasco Staff writer

Eric Jaramishian Staff writer

California Matters

Is Newsom’s gas profits penalty really another tax?

W

At the time, gas prices had soared to more than $6 a gallon in some locales, a couple of dollars higher than those in other states, and Californians’ pain at the pump symbolized the soaring inflation ravaging household budgets.

Letters to the Editor

Not enough

EDITOR:

about how Twitter operated by blacklisting the conservative ideology.

Originally,

However, when Newsom finally outlined his proposal last week, the tax approach had been abandoned and, instead, he said he wants petroleum companies to be docked civil penalties by the state Energy Commission if they exceed designated profit margins.

“California’s price gouging penalty is simple — either Big Oil reins in the profits and prices or they’ll pay a penalty,” Newsom said in a statement.

“Big Oil has been lying and gouging Californians to line their own pockets long enough. I look forward to the work ahead with our partners in the Legislature to get this done.”

Later, he told reporters, “I believe in free enterprise; I just don’t believe in greed. These

I

The big shots who made that dumb rule should spend one night outside sleeping in the freezing cold. Then the big shots would really understand what cold is.

Why wait until (the homeless) get hypothermia and go to the hospital? It does not make sense.

CONNIE ROSEN Pollock Pines

Don’t bother waking up, America

EDITOR:

H

am writing this letter about the winter warming center that opened at Benham Park. What I don’t understand is the warming center will open if the temperatures are below 35 degrees when dry or below 45 degrees when it’s raining — so I guess if it’s 46 degrees the warming center will not be open?But that’s not the real story. What Musk has done is shown the world the federal government has corrupted our institutions. The Federal Bureau of Investigations worked hand in hand with a private company to block factual information released during a political campaign for the benefit of one political party.

But even the Hunter Biden situation isn’t what makes me want to hide under the covers. Every major news outlet told the American public it was fake news using the exact words — Russian disinformation, fake news, not a news story.

Musk, for the low, low price of $44 billion, let us all see how all the media outlets coordinate with the Democratic Party and all federal intelligence agencies to feed the American public their disinformation.

ave you ever woken up and it’s storming outside and you decide to stay under the covers? The Twitter situation makes me feel the same way. Musk is leaking informationWhy I don’t want to deal with this today is because this isn’t a “cat is out of the bag” situation. It’s a “cow’s out of the barn” scenario. Our big government has taken over every aspect of our lives and all I want to do is go back to sleep.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

at mtdemocrat.com, click on “Submissions” and then click on “Letter to the Editor” to submit your letter.

Meeting challenges and planning for the future

Silver Lake Dam replacement.

LORI ANZINI

EID has a clear mission: Deliver safe and reliable services to its customers across 220 square miles of the service area. Day in and day out, teams of dedicated workers operate and maintain an intricately integrated system of infrastructure worth more than $1 billion in historical costs.

As we enter 2023, I am mindful of the challenges we continue to tackle — i.e. the emergency reconstruction of water conveyance infrastructure damaged in the Caldor Fire and the ongoing reinvestments in our infrastructure identified in the district’s capital improvement program. Much of our infrastructure is more than 50 years old and, in some cases, 100-plus years old. This is especially challenging as inflationary pressures are increasing the costs of maintaining the system we all rely on.

EID updates a rolling five-year CIP, essentially a schedule for replacing or reconstructing its diverse infrastructure. From failing pipes in the ground, treatment plant work, water tank re-coating and replacement to flumes and canals maintenance/replacement, the projects identified in the CIP are necessary to keep the system running and avoid service disruptions. Sometimes the projects are also required to meet regulatory requirements, like the Forebay Dam rehabilitation and the upcoming

s I near the end of my term as president of El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors, I am proud of the ongoing work this agency does to provide its services, especially considering the challenges it has faced.Despite facing these ongoing challenges, in the past year EID has completed multiple large projects and has many more in progress. One such recently completed project is the Folsom Lake intake in El Dorado Hills. The new facility provides El Dorado Hills with a dependable method of accessing EID’s water supplies in Folsom Lake for generations to come.

The Folsom Lake intake supplies raw water from Folsom Lake to the El Dorado Hills Water Treatment Plant, where it is treated and then delivered to meet a portion of the needs of our customers in El Dorado Hills (the balance is delivered from Pollock Pines after treatment). The water supplied through this system is critical to provide reliable potable water, especially during the warmer months when water demands increase dramatically and transmission pipelines from Pollock Pines do not have su cient capacity to meet peak demands.

In addition, the new facility allows selective withdrawal of water based on the temperature in order to preserve the cold-water pool in Folsom Lake to help enhance the downstream habitat for fish species. This ability was a requirement of EID’s contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to allow EID to access the full allotment of its water rights accessed from Folsom Lake.

The pumps at the Folsom Lake intake are the only means EID has of accessing its water supplies from the lake and account for a third of EID’s total water supply. This highvalue project was funded partially

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through a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation via federal legislation with the balance paid through lowcost bond financing.

Another valuable project completed in 2022 is the Upper Main Ditch piping project. This project replaced a 3-mile section of unlined earthen water supply ditch in Pollock Pines with a buried pipeline. The ditch conveys up to 15,080 acre-feet of raw water each year from Forebay Reservoir to EID’s Reservoir 1 Water Treatment Plant.

The water that travels through this important facility serves our customers in Pollock Pines, Camino, Placerville, Shingle Springs, Cameron Park and parts of El Dorado Hills. Water sold to the city of Placerville also travels through this new pipeline.

By piping an unlined ditch, the district adds an average of 1,800 acre-feet of usable water supply each year that would otherwise be lost to seepage and evaporation. The pipe also protects water quality and helps save money on maintenance and treatment processes.

These and other projects are the types of investments EID makes into our community infrastructure across its wide service area. From degrading wooden flumes (some built just after World War II) to corroding water mains and storage tanks to dams that EID must rebuild to meet current safety standards, the work continues every year.

One large, multi-year, ongoing program contained in the CIP is re-coating and rehabilitating steel water storage tanks. With more than three dozen tanks, EID’s tanks need

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

to be recoated approximately every 15 years to prevent degradation of the steel. We are behind in this important and costly undertaking, but there is a solid plan going forward. The most recent CIP that I and other members of the board unanimously approved in late November includes this work and other important projects.

The big projects I have mentioned were financed using low-interest bonds. EID will again have to go out for bond financing to pay for some of the future large projects. There is no more e cient way to pay for such high-cost projects. EID will continue to seek grants to reduce the costs of these investments, such as the $10 million recently received from the Department of Water Resources to replace the Sly Park intertie water transmission main, but long-term debt o ers a stable e cient method to pay for facilities that generations of customers will use.

We can also access non-rate revenue to pay for important investments through targeted temporary water sales, like the small portion of water EID sold that it did not need in 2022 to add non-rate revenue to pay for important projects or lower debt.

Many ask me how we can sell water in a drought. The answer is simple: EID maintains a large portfolio of water rights. EID personnel work hard to ensure there is ample supply in reservoirs to rely on even during dry winters. The water we transferred could not be used in any way for our customers given the state’s requirement for water conservation

2889 Ray Lawyer

Visit our website

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a tax on excess profits on gasoline sales, but now terms it a penalty, which would make it easier to win legislative approval. ■ See ANZINI, page A5

RUSD post to be filled by provisional appointment

News release

Rescue Union School District leaders on Tuesday voted to make a provisional appointment to fill a vacancy on the district’s board of trustees, according to a news release from RUSD officials.

The vacancy comes after appointed trustee Michelle Bebout was elected to a four-year term Nov. 8, which required her to formally resign from her two-year appointment.

Walters Continued from A4

The RUSD Board of Trustees has used the provisional appointment process in the past to fill vacancies rather than calling for a special midterm election which could cost more than $100,000. The provisional appointee would need to be elected in November 2024 to retain the seat.

Applicants must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age and a registered voter residing within the boundaries of the Rescue Union School District. RUSD boundaries can

guys have been gaming the system for decades. They’ve been taking advantage of you for decades. And it’s got to end.”

Why the change from taxes to civil penalties?

It has to do with the state constitution, which requires any tax to be passed by two-thirds majorities in both houses of the Legislature. Newsom is betting that the civil penalties he proposes would be exempt from that requirement and thus need only simple legislative vote majorities to become law.

In other words, he’s not certain that despite overwhelming Democratic legislative majorities he could muster a two-thirds vote for a profits tax, due

be viewed online at schoolworksgis. com/Rescue/schoollocator.html.

Interested parties are encouraged to review the qualification requirements and request a provisional appointment packet by contacting Christina Mason, RUSD administrative assistant to the superintendent, by email at cmason@ rescueusd.org or by phone (530) 6774810.

All candidate applications must be received by 3 p.m. Jan. 9. Interviews

to a general reluctance among politicians to impose new taxes and the oil industry’s vigorous courting of support aided by its influential unions.

The industry had already signaled it would vigorously oppose a profits tax by characterizing it as something that would raise pump prices even higher. But what about civil penalties?

The industry immediately characterized them as taxes in sheep’s clothing.

“A fee imposed on the industry as a commodity going to the government, that is going to look and act like a tax,” said Kevin Slagle, spokesperson for the Western States Petroleum Association. “We know windfall taxes have been tried nationally and

will be conducted in open session at a Jan. 24 special meeting of the board of trustees. Selected applicants will be notified of interview times.

From Jan. 9-13 trustees will screen applicants for eligibility and identify candidates to interview. Interviews will occur in the Rescue Union School District board room at 2390 Bass Lake Road in Rescue.

It is anticipated the provisional appointee will attend the next regular board meeting Feb. 7 to be sworn in.

don’t work. What we need to do is focus on better public policy.”

So we know how the political battleground is being staked out, but what’s the underlying legal situation?

When Gov. Newsom’s proposal was formally introduced as Senate Bill 2X, the Legislature’s legal counsel marked it as a non-tax measure requiring only simple majority votes. Ultimately, however, whether the proposed civil penalties qualify for that designation depends on the interpretation of an exemption allowed in the constitution’s Article XIII A, Section 3.

It states, “A fine, penalty, or other monetary charge imposed by the judicial branch of government or the state, as a result of a violation of law” is not a tax. In other words, Newsom would put gasoline profit penalties in the same exempt category as traffic tickets for speeding.

We don’t know as yet what Newsom’s legislation would set as a profit speed limit or what the penalties would be for exceeding it. SB 2X leaves those numbers blank, to be filled in later as the measure makes its way through the legislative process next year.

Were it to become law, however, we would most likely see a prolonged legal battle over whether, indeed, excess profit penalties are not taxes.

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

Anzini

Continued from A4 and would have otherwise spilled downstream this winter providing no benefit to the district.

Going forward water transfers will continue to be a lever that EID can pull to add non-rate revenue after ensuring our customers’ needs — this year and next — are always met. Please know, water sales will always be subordinate to our customers’ needs and this obligation is reinforced in every agreement approved by the board.

EID has challenges ahead, but I am confident those challenges will be met with ingenuity and dedication.

Lori Anzini is the 2022 president of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors.

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

• 3505

• 3909

Ct - $735,000

Dr - $675,000

• 1600 Ridgewood Dr - $635,000

• 6161 Puerta Del Sol - $600,000

• 5418

Rd - $560,000

• 4961 Cedar Dr - $541,000

• 4500 Superior Dr - $469,000

• 8363

Oaks Way - $382,500

Mayor Taylor looks back on ‘wild ride’

Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer

Outgoing Mayor Kara Taylor delivered a State of the City address prior to stepping down officially from City Council Tuesday night.

“It’s been a wild ride, these past four years,” she began

In 2018, her first year as a council member, Taylor saw Placerville’s first PG&E public safety power shutoff.

“I remember thinking at the time that was going to be the most important thing that we dealt with this term,” she recalled. “I was wrong about that.”

In 2020 “All hell broke loose.”

The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic sent the city into turbulent times.

“We braced for economic disaster,” she said.

Staff was cut, maintenance deferred and equipment purchases stalled.

Learning how to run public meetings on Zoom became a new norm.

Protests took to the

streets locally and nationwide after the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Unrest led well into 2021.

“People near and far, from both sides of the political spectrum, were up in arms about a minor change we were considering making to our logo,” she said, referring to removing the noose from city branding.

A recall effort of four of the five sitting council members failed.

“The Placerville voters

shut that down,” she said.

Taylor became mayor in 2022 with two modest goals: “To keep Placerville out of the regional and national news or anything controversial and to wisely put to use the pandemic relief fund or American Rescue Plan Act funds in a way that we bring the most noticeable benefit to residents.

“I think we did a pretty good job on these two fronts.”

Taylor noted the city

during her term here she also had a baby,” Borelli said. “I think that was a feat all on its own and she didn’t miss a meeting.”

Placerville Police Chief Joseph Wren presented Taylor and each outgoing council member with a special recognition.

“A tradition in police service, when a member honorably serves their commitment and leaves the organization they’re presented with a flag that we fly over the police department,” he said from the podium. “We’d like to do that for you tonight.”

Residents lauded Taylor for her dedication to the city. Mentions of her willingness to engage with residents, whether they agreed with her or not, and her tenacity in educating herself on the issues from all perspectives came from several speakers.

Wendy Thomas, District 3 supervisor and former council member, also commented.

“You’ve done an amazing job articulating the needs of our community and working through really difficult issues through one of the most contentious times that we have gone through in modern history,” she said. Next to be recognized was Dennis Thomas.

Councilwoman Jackie Neau said, “The thing I most appreciate about you is how you always show up for our community. A lot of times it’s the behind-the-scenes things that people don’t see you doing, but they see the results.”

Taylor extolled Dennis’ leadership.

“It is a loss for Placerville that you are not going to be sitting up here on this dais,” she said. “The attention that you gave to how issues were presented and how meetings were organized, and you were so thoughtful about everything.”

Borelli added that she knew Dennis would continue serving the public whether as a councilman or as a resident.

“You’ve done a great job and you should not have any regrets,” she said. “I think you’ve been a great leader and I know you’re not going to stop.”

Wendy, who is also Dennis’ wife, said

he is dedicated to the community.

“I know the hours and hours you spend thinking critically through issues, wrestling with ideas, elevating your thoughts, to have an educated perspective,” she noted.

Wendy listed some of Dennis’ accomplishments, including being part of the original revitalization efforts on Main Street and the Main Street flower baskets, serving on the Parking Committee and Festival of Lights Committee and working on messaging for the Measure L campaign to repair or replace aging city infrastructure.

While Kara Taylor and Dennis Thomas walk away from their post after four years, Patty Borelli is leaving City Council after four terms.

“I absolutely have loved every minute of my 16 years serving Placerville,” said Borelli as her turn to be honored came.

“I just want to say thank you. I want to say thank you to all our wonderful, wonderful staff, and all the people who have supported me through all these years.”

Neau reflected on her first interactions with Borelli.

“I have to say, I think the first time we met I was probably yelling at you,” she said. “That’s when I really started getting involved in things and can really appreciate all the work that you’ve done and how much you know.

“I’m going to miss all of the history lessons on everything,” Neau added.

Taylor described Borelli as a “Placerville legend” with Dennis adding, “You have done an amazing job of serving, protecting, honoring and making this town a better place.”

Once again, Wendy took to the podium. This time in an official capacity presenting a proclamation from the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors praising Borelli’s life of service to the community.

“Patty considers these past 16 years as the best years of her life,” Thomas cited from the proclamation. “While she has mixed feelings about retiring from public service, her legacy and deep love for this community means she will be staying active and participating in city business from the sidelines.”

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ve been in those positions where it was important to look busy, but you much prefer to actually be busy instead. Doing nothing is a good look for you too. If you need an excuse, tell everyone you’re pausing for perspective.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It may happen that a friend’s well-meant but terrible advice leaves you wondering why you bother to share. That same friend has been known to come through for you though... so don’t so don’t put too much importance on any one act.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Fun and productivity sometimes go hand-in-hand, but not always. The thing is to focus. You could laugh and have a good time while making sure that everyone has a common goal that everyone keeps it in mind.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). What is actionable? Where are the points of leverage? Instead of shying away from it you should be chasing it. Follow the beams to see where they lead. You have nothing to fear now: your aim is true.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Every decision has consequences. And though the effects of a choice may be slight indeed, you’re paying attention today and you’ll pick up on the little things that could add up to a big difference in the end.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You trust humanity and believe better angels will prevail. Even if you get burned walking on the sunny side, you’d rather be an optimistic fool than an accurate cynic any day of the week.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Much of your time is spent making sure everything runs smoothly for those around you. Take a step back and ask yourself where you fit in. Assess how you feel and how happy you are with everything that is going on.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll sync up to those around you, physically matching their pacing and movements. They relax and open up to you. You’ll also be a key part of some amazing teamwork.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You like to have company, but only when you’re in control of the schedule and flow. Stretches of solitude will let you concentrate on what you need to accomplish. Your solo work will be satisfying and lucrative.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). This is no time to deflect attention out of modesty or spread around the credit that rightly belongs to you. Show that you’re confident now because if you don’t you might receive less opportunity and money than you deserve.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some habits are so much a part of daily life that you don’t even think of them as behaviors; rather, they are just “you doing you.” But you’re changing. You might decide that a certain habit is unnecessary and do away with it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If you can’t communicate with others, working and/or creating with them will be a joyless process. So, you commit to learning about the various people in your mix so you can build a rapport and thrive together.

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

n TODAy

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis

City Council Continued from A1

Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt Councilman Dennis Thomas is recognized for his service on City Council by Michael Saragosa, Placerville’s next mayor.

Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt Mayor Kara Taylor is honored by Placerville Police Chief Joseph Wren, who presented flags flown over the Placerville Police Department to the outgoing council members.

n See STATE Of THE CiTy, page A9

Pause & recognize stress.

Take a moment to check in with yourself both physically and emotionally. Where might you be feeling the burden of this virus – tightness of shoulders, headaches, stomach pain, fatigue?

Know the warning signs.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) cites 10 common signs that you may be su ering from increased emotional stress, such as intense worries or fears, changes in school performance, not eating, significant weight loss or gain, severe risk-taking behavior, temper tantrums, or extreme di culty concentrating or staying still.

Adopt healthy practices.

These include mindfulness practices, healthy nutrition, quality sleep, physical activity, mental health care, and supportive relationships. Find the playbook at osg.ca.gov/resources.

Mosquito Fire

debris removal. Monies will come from the General Fund.

An alternative debris removal program is an option for fire victims who wish not to participate in the county-led program, in which property owners must hire a qualified contractor and environmental consultants at their own expense and adhere to the state’s standards. Clean-up must be reviewed by the Environmental Management Department.

“Tetra Tech’s response has been reviewed and found to be adequately meeting the county’s needs,” Warren said, noting the firm is recommended by the state for a fire the size of the Mosquito Fire.

Debris recovery operations crews have focused their initial scope to minimize the time debris ash is exposed to rainstorms. Warren told the board hazard trees will be addressed at another time.

Reach out to a specialist online, by phone or in person.

CalHOPE Connect o ers online chat support and a “warmline” for connection and support that is open 24/7 at 855-845-7415. Connections to counselors are available in multiple languages for all Californians who may need support relating to COVID-19. Visit calhopeconnect.org

The California Department of Aging provides an extensive list of mental health resources for older adults on its website. Among these is the Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line, 1-888-670-1360, which o ers friendly conversation for callers who need emotional support.

Warren also requested the county contract with the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators. With the countyled program, no state liaisons from last year’s fire disaster are helping, according to Warren.

“They have retired directors we would be able to contract to come back and assist the county in running the debris removal operations center team,” he explained.

The environmental health liaisons would work with property owners and the county, taking on such tasks as collecting insurance information. $60,000 in Environmental Management funds will be used to contract for these services.

For monitoring and site assessment, supervisors approved a contract with engineering and consulting firm Tetra Tech Inc. That agreement has a $2-million price tag.

“The hazard trees are a hazard within the first five years to fall on the public right of away or cause some harm but we want to focus on debris removal at this time,” Warren said.

Tree removal will be addressed at another board meeting, according to Warren.

El Dorado County Transportation Department Director Rafael Martinez reported to the board there was no significant damage to countymaintained roads. Board Chair and District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin requested staff look into an inquiry from a Volcanoville resident about a private road in Mosquito damaged by heavy equipment.

The board voted to approve all matters relating to the debris removal in a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Wendy Thomas absent from the meeting.

The Mosquito Fire burned more than 76,700 acres of land between Sept. 6 and Oct. 22.

Continued from A1

Photo courtesy of El Dorado County

Removal of Mosquito Fire debris in Volcanoville could cost as much as $5 million.

State of the City

Continued from A7

turned a corner in 2022. “This year we have experienced the largest budget surplus since at least 2007. Sales tax revenues have continued to exceed our expectations.”

Taylor said Placerville businesses are strong and resilient and noted that community events returned to the region as well. Positions cut during the pandemic have been filled and new ones created and funded. She pointed out the city is still working with a small staff but 2022 had been “relatively calm, stable and prosperous.”

“And though I would love to credit this to my own leadership, I am acutely aware that it was simply my good fortune to be mayor in 2022 and not in 2020 or 2021,” she said, noting mayors who came before her expertly guided the city through difficult times.

Taylor took a moment to highlight some accomplishments over the past four years. This list included the Trip to Green traffic mitigation pilot program, a $13 million grant for the Placerville Drive at Hangtown Creek Bridge replacement project and important early steps toward realization of a new public safety complex to house the Placerville Police Department and El Dorado County Fire Protection District personnel.

Taylor added that Placerville “being a squeaky wheel and urging the county to take action to address the county-wide homelessness crisis which disproportionately impacts the city” led to “a major breakthrough.”

A homeless navigation center is expected to open in January that “will finally allow our police officers to enforce our no camping ordinance,” she said.

Taylor noted Placerville “got serious about vegetation management” in 2022, citing the work of the herd of goats that cleared 40 acres of city-owned property, as well as new equipment to maintain vegetation at safe levels.

She also highlighted work to encourage both economic development and affordable housing so businesses can find employees who are able to live and work in Placerville and current residents, recent grads, young families, teachers, artists and employees can continue to call the city home.

She applauded the building department for several projects expected to break ground by 2023, including the Mackinaw Hotel in Smith Flat, redevelopment of the Carriage Trade Center on Broadway and three affordable housing projects.

ordable walk-in tub!

In the KNOW

Now

Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” with performances scheduled through Dec. 18 at Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom.

For tickets and more information call (916) 6086888 or visit harriscenter. net/events.

Dec. 16

The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad hosts Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure Dec. 16 & 17. Enjoy a scenic trip down to Santa’s Whistlestop at Willow Springs. Spend time with Old St. Nick and enjoy various activities and refreshments before your family returns to the station. For tickets and more information visit psvrr.org/ride/santaswhistlestop-adventure.

The El Dorado Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterdat Saints invites the community to enjoy the free Drive-Thru Live Nativity at 3431 Hacienda Drive in Cameron Park, 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. As attendees drive back in time, they’ll be given a delicious, homemade cookie (gluten-free and dairy-free will also be available) for the road ahead, along with an internet link to listen to pre-recorded narration and music for each timeless scene. Painted backdrops, live animals such as donkeys, sheep and chickens, bales of hay and crackling fires help bring the scenes of Old Bethlehem to life.

Musician Ed Wilson will perform at The Vine in El Dorado Hills, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Countermen, Zach Waters Band and Fonty perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 7 p.m. For tickets, tables and livestream access visit tickets.clubgreenroom. com.

Dec. 17

The Food Bank of El Dorado County will host its annual Holiday Outreach distribution, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the food bank facility in Cameron Park. This annual outreach is open to low-income households who are struggling to make ends meet. For more information visit foodbankedc.org.

Cal Fire Amador El Dorado Unit hosts its annual Christmas Open House at Station 43, 5660 Motherlode Drive in Placerville, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 17 & 18. Attendees are

Artists showcase human & natural history

Gold Country Artists Gallery, an awardwinning gallery in Placerville, presents artwork by its newest artists — wood artist Randy Mitchell and painter Barbara Davies.

Carving out history

Mitchell is the kind of teacher students never forget. His hands-on style of creativity took him on a path that combined his love of history and art in a way that gives students and history lovers the same hands-on experience to make history both personal and exciting.

After winning awards as an artifact kit creator/developer and illustrator for the Oakland Museum of California, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and History Museum of San Jose, he became a consultant on the PBS series “Liberty.” He authored articles for “The Californian” and “Northern California Wheelmen” magazines, and was a gunsmith/historian for the Winchester Mystery House Gun and Tool Museum in San Jose. Much of Mitchell’s art is inspired by things he has done as a living history re-enactor, including as a stunt actor in Wild West shows, docudramas, movies, commercial venues and as a member of the Hangtown Marshals in Placerville.

Inspired by the folk art of yesterday, Mitchell’s Wood’n Things are evocative of a

period in American history where toys were simple and often fashioned from the materials at hand. For example, Mitchell uses recycled wood or what he harvests from his mountain property.

One of his first inspirations was a child’s toy with “Jolly Blacksmiths.” That led to “Big Saw Woodcutters,” a piece with moving parts. A fellow cowboy re-enactor asked him why he wasn’t crafting cowboys, so he created “Gunfighters.” And like a line of dominos tumbling

in sequence, that led to “Bear Hunter,” with its moving parts giving “push/pull” action to a mountain man shooting at a bear. Mitchell’s work is packed with humor and charm and the expressions of “Hungry Bear and Disappointed Fisherman” give the viewer a good chuckle. Mitchell said he hopes his kinetic toys, small dioramas, business card holders and other whimsical art will not only provide people with a sense of history, but will also bring a smile to their faces.

Old and new Davies won

contest in third grade, fueling a lifelong

drawing, painting and sculpting. She grew up in New England, where she spent her free time creating artwork that earned her a summer scholarship to a Boston art school. After visiting and sketching at the Museum of Fine Art and the Gardner Museum, studying the old

“Autumn Aspens” by Barbara Davies

D. Lee Reyes Special to the Mountain Democrat

an art

passion for

“Hungry Bear and Disappointed Fisherman” by Randy Mitchell

celebrate ‘Holiday Joy’ with sMc

News release

GRASS VALLEY

— InConcert

Sierra presents the Sierra Master Chorale’s program, Holiday Joy. Familiar carols with a lively twist and new seasonal favorites, all combine with the spirited sound of brass, percussion and organ, Dec. 17 & 18.

“This holiday season we are grateful for the ability to gather together with family and friends. For many of us, sharing music is

an essential tradition of the holidays. Our 2022 holiday program is full of joy, with high energy, rhythmic arrangements of carols, new and old, to keep your spirits bright,” said Alison Skinner, SMC music director and conductor.

The program includes the jubilant fanfare of Eleanor Daley’s “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” Carl Schalk’s “Before the Marvel of this Night,” a sparkling arrangement of the traditional English carol “I Saw Three Ships,” John

Rutter’s quintessential “Angel’s Carol,” David Willcocks’ lovely English carol “Once in Royal David’s City” and Dov Frimmer’s “Al Hanissim” with traditional Hebrew Chanukah text.

The main course of this musical feast is Daniel Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata,” a dramatic threemovement work.

“This is one of my favorite Christmas works,” Skinner said.

The program also includes the traditional

and beloved audience sing-alongs, celebratory spirituals and carols and a delightful closing arrangement of Jerry Herman’s classic “We Need a Little Christmas” for an exciting send-off for the holiday season. The 60-member SMC is a high-caliber auditioned community choir founded in 2008 and is part of InConcert Sierra, a Nevada County nonprofit presenting classical concerts and

Know

Continued from B1

asked to bring a donation of an unwrapped toy and/ or monetary donations to support two local nonprofit organizations serving El Dorado County at-risk youth: New Morning Youth and Family Services and CASA El Dorado.

Sweet Pairings Bakery hosts a local artisan craft faire with free games, photos with Santa and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 681 Main St. in Placerville.

The rescheduled Christmas in Cool event will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cool shopping center at 2966 Highway 49. Enjoy a parade, Santa visits, live music, a raffle and more. Bring canned food donations for raffle tickets. Rain will cancel the event.

Gwinllan Estate will serve treats in the wine cave noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18. Sample mince pies, sausage rolls and a selection of cheese and crackers. RSVP by calling the winery at (530) 723-2879 or emailing info@gwinllanestate. com.

Enjoy complimentary gift wrapping and hot cocoa, noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 17 & 24 at 516 Main St., Placerville. Bring all your unwrapped packages and admire the fine art photography of Fab while Stephanie Shrum of Intero Real Estates makes your gift sparkle.

Join in the holiday cheer from 4-8 p.m. for the Third Saturday Art Walk in downtown Placerville. Free hot chocolate and doughnuts will be served and the Gold Rush Chorus will be strolling Main Street, 5-6 p.m. Many merchants from Cedar Ravine to Sacramento Street will stay open late that night to help visitors get last-minute shopping done, many of them offering 15% off and other specials.

Camino Classical Ballet presets “The Nutcracker” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at

Valley Visions Photography

holiday spirit with the Sierra Master Chorale, performing this weekend in Grass Valley.

‘Christmas Rocks’ in Amador County

SUTTER CREEK — Internationally acclaimed guitarist/vocalist George Cole and his all-star band are bringing their Christmas Rocks extravaganza to Sutter Creek Theatre Dec. 17.

Cole, the charismatic Bay Area Music Award winner, a triple threat as bandleader, guitarist/ vocalist and composer, will deliver an outstanding evening of entertainment and holiday cheer. Cole and his band perform hits from his Top 20 album “Riverside Drive,” rockin’ favorites of Christmases past and great American songbook classics.

The audience will hear Cole, guitars/vocal; Tony Malfatti, sax; David Rokeach, drums; Greg Sankovich, piano; Kurt Ribak, bass.

Cole spent his early days as an educator teaching and mentoring his students Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt of Green Day for 10 years. As a sideman, he earned his bonafides singing duets with jazz legend Keely Smith and playing guitar in The David Grisman Quintet while garnering multi album deals with Interscope, Acoustic Disc and Atlantic Records along the way.

“George Cole was more than a guitar teacher to me. He was a mentor that talked about great music, great songs, good taste and everything in between. I feel grateful and lucky that he showed me how to express myself with a guitar,” Armstrong shared.

Courtesy photo George Cole performs original music and Christmas classics at Sutter Creek Theatre this Saturday.

“Think of the evergreen songs of George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin heated to a Django Reinhardt swing and you’ve got the infectious gist of the music of George Cole.”

— The Detroit News

Gangstagrass coming to The Center

GRASS VALLEY — The Center for the Arts welcomes Gangstagrass to the Marisa Funk Theater Dec. 17.

Gangstagrass is a collective of musicians who demolish every preconception you have about country and hip-hop music, creating a whole new category greater than the sum of the parts.

Developed as a studio project 15 years ago by Brooklyn-based producer Rench, Gangstagrass grew into a dynamic and spontaneous live band with members from the East Coast and Midwest. The boundaries

disappear as Gangstagrass does things nobody thought would work but when you hear it, you know down in your soul that it does indeed work.

Putting down roots and branching out across never-before-bridged genres, Gangstagrass has delighted crowds and has blown minds across the world, garnering a reputation among fans for dynamism and spontaneity. From SXSW to Grey Fox to the Americana Festival to music festivals abroad, these live performances explode the boundaries between genres generally

Photo by Melodie Yvonne

Gangstagrass

thought to be incompatible.

Taking full advantage of the improvisational aspects and virtues of both hip-hop and bluegrass, including frequent three-part harmonies, MCs Dolio the Sleuth and R-SON the Voice of Reason trade verses and freestyle alongside the unparalleled skills of fellow vocalists Dan Whitener on banjo, B.E. Farrow on fiddle and Rench on guitar and beats.

The band has released six fulllength albums with dozens of

Chorale

Continued from B2

robust music education offerings for all ages since 1946. Skinner has been the music director and conductor of the SMC since January 2019.

“I love the beauty of many voices coming together to produce some-thing wonderful, and the camaraderie that is built with fellow singers through this shared experience.

Thanks to our Choral Director Alison Skinner, every cycle brings new learning opportunities and another chance to sing some of the most compelling music and work with some of the best local professional musicians,” said SMC

appearances on the Billboard Top 10 bluegrass chart. Gangstagrass tracks have featured Nitty Scott MC, Dead Prez, Demeanor, Kaia Kater and legendary rap team Smif-N-Wessun. Rench, the Brooklyn-based country and hip-hop producer behind Gangstagrass, crafted the instantlyrecognizable “Long Hard Times to Come” featuring T.O.N.E-z that opened every episode of FX show “Justified” and earned Gangstagrass a 2010 Emmy nomination for Best Theme Song — more proof that

tenor Steve Mendoza.

The audience agrees.

“The choir sounded beautiful and created lovely art in the moment. I enjoyed Alison’s musicality and skill; her preparation and conducting seemed to bring out both technical beauty and freedom in the singers,” said K. Shepherd following a concert.

The performances will be held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley, 12889 Osborne Hill Road. For more information about the concert visit inconcertsierra.org or call (530) 273-3990.

Gangstagrass “paved the old town road.”

The new Gangstagrass album “No Time For Enemies” was released in August 2020 and quickly rose to No.1 on the Billboard bluegrass charts, as the band continues to explore new sonic territory while showing how amazing the sound of America is when it all comes together.

Doors open for Gangstagrass at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. 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.

Cole Continued from B3

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. at the Sutter Creek Theatre, 44 Main St. in Sutter Creek. There is open seating and beer and wine are available for purchase. For tickets and more information visit suttercreektheater.com.

“Our 2022 holiday program is full of joy, with high energy, rhythmic arrangements of carols, new and old, to keep your spirits bright.”

— Alison Skinner, SMC music director and conductor

buttered and salty

B. Porter Democrat correspondent

About two-and-ahalf years ago I had the pleasure of being in a friend's wedding up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. While standing in line for a drink my friend Ross (who did a wonderful job officiating the nuptials) turned the conversation to one of our favorite pastimes: movies. Specifically, James Cameron’s oft-delayed sequel to 2009’s “Avatar.” More specifically, if Cameron could pull another record-breaking miracle out of his hat and direct yet another “Most Successful Film of All Time” after doing it with 1997’s “Titanic” and then breaking his own record with the aforementioned “Avatar.”

Ross emphatically voted yes. Who could blame him? The filmmaker has been flying in the face of doubters since the moment he was allowed to shoot four days of production before being fired on “Piranha II: The Spawning” (1981). Since then, Cameron has been a lightning rod of success and innovation with the likes of “The Terminator,” “Aliens,” “The Abyss,” “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” (the first Cameron film I saw in theaters), “True Lies,” “Titanic” and other film and television endeavors. The list goes on. He’s certainly one of the best ever.

I voted thumbs down on “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which opens nationwide today, making more money than the first film. Not that the film won’t be a behemoth at the box office. It will break records during its opening weekend and go on to earn a boatload of money for the studio (in this case Disney, which purchased 20th Century Fox three years ago). I have a few reasons why the movie won’t make it to the very top of the mountain, but more on that in a moment. We still need to review the film.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is the ultimate escapist entertainment. A fully immersive experience that transports you to another world and wraps its arms around you as you see the impressive landscapes through the eyes of the characters. Like the first film, there’s nothing quite like it. Also like the first film, we are transported to the planet Pandora to see the further adventures of Jake Sully and Neytiri. One more time, like the first film, they have to defend their land against pretty much the same forces that tried to destroy it in the previous entry.

While the visual effects and landscape are breathtaking and completely absorbing, there’s a bit too much retread from the first movie. In this film we are able to witness the underwater areas of the planet, really quite a sight, but a different antagonist and perhaps a whole new world with new inhabitants would have pushed Cameron’s vision further. We like these characters and care about them but there is a general feeling of a road already traveled here. The script does benefit from Cameron willing to bring on co-writers this time in the likes of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (both collaborated on “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “Mulan”). This is a tighter script than the first film for sure, but are there really any new ideas that didn’t spawn from the first one? Still, returning to Pandora was a welcome retreat that brought with it some of the most breathtaking technical wizardry ever performed in Hollywood.

One side note that I have mentioned with 3D movies in the past: wearing 3D glasses tends to make the picture darker because the glasses are filtering light. This has always driven me crazy and I get the feeling most filmmakers or studios don’t adjust the color timing to accommodate for the darker image on the screen. This is one of the reasons — along with most “3D” being a cheap money grab from most studios — I never bought into the 3D fad. Cameron’s 3D is the real deal and, just like the first film, he uses it extremely effectively, but I can’t tell you how many times I lifted the glasses in the hopes of seeing the brighter image the filmmakers intended.

Back to the bet with Ross — as we enjoyed our drink my argument against what was then simply called “Avatar 2” was based on these “scientific facts” of mine: 1. In 2009 streaming was in its infancy. Netflix had just started moving away from its DVD-only model but few households had adjusted to streaming so less people would be apt to wait for a new release to land on Netflix or Disney+ in a few months. 2. The first film became a popcultural event. It was everywhere and everyone had to experience this original (arguably) take on storytelling and technology. That newness and uniqueness has obviously faded in 13 years. 3. COVID. A lot of people who saw the first one probably won’t feel comfortable sitting in a packed theater for almost three-and-half hours (pushing four with trailers), especially now that we are fully in the cold-and-flu season.

If you do take that trip to the theater, which I do recommend, you are in for a treat of the eyes. Watching James Cameron’s 10-year journey to make this sequel and finally have it hit the big screen is quite something, even if there is a bit of a “been there, done that” feeling we didn’t have when the first one landed in 2009. Mr. Cameron is a filmmaking force to be reckoned with and watching him not be tethered to studio directives or notes (like, say, Marvel or DC filmmakers) is quite a sight. It’s a thrill to be alive while he is still making top-shelf entertainment. There are three more “Avatar” films in different stages of pre- or post-production (I know) currently on the schedule. If he can take some risks with the story, which is this film's Achilles heel, then he will justify further entries.

Joshua B. Porter is a writer/director/producer. His most recent project, the feature film “No Evidence OF Man,” recently won Best Original Screenplay of a Feature Film at the 2022 Madrid International Film Festival. He can be reached at @joshuabporter or joshuabporter@mtdemocrat.net.

Camino Elementary School, 3060 Snows Road. Purchase tickets online at caminoballet.weebly.com.

Dec. 18

The Sacramento Guitar Society presents a winter concert and young artist showcase, 3:15 p.m. at The CLARA, 420 N St. Suite 110, Sacramento. For more information visit sacguitarsociety.org.

Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conclude its 17th season with a production of Handel’s “Messiah,” along with seasonal carols that the audience will be most welcome to join in singing, 3 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Ave. in South Lake Tahoe. For tickets and more information visit tickets.tahoesymphony.com.

Dec. 19

Kerry Irish Productions presents An Irish Christmas at 7 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net/events.

Joshua