Mountain Democrat, Friday, March 21, 2025

Kiley talks forest management, fire safety at forum

Thorene

Congressman

and Environment, said he was tremendously grateful for the work of the forum as far as “education, sharing best practices, the scholarships

Not just a road — The Mother Road

Visitors walk on a piece of transcontinental history

Noel Stack Editor

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District has joined the latest e ort to make

EDH a city. At the March 13 EDHCSD Board of Directors meeting, directors unanimously supported El Dorado Hills Citizens for Cityhood’s e orts and directed sta to come back to the board with a draft resolution and application, which, when approved, will be submitted to the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission to o cially start the incorporation process. Once an application is submitted, a comprehensive fiscal analysis and environmental review will begin with the EDHCSD and EDHCC splitting the estimated $300,000$600,000 cost. The community group has

Shelly Thorene Sta writer

Community members took a trip to the past and got a glimpse into a possible future during the Celebrating the Mother Road event March 15 presented by Save the Graves.

The event held at Mohanna Ranch in El Dorado Hills featured a historical presentation on the Lincoln Highway as well as a public meeting with developer Moe Mohanna on his proposal for the Town and Country Village project.

The presentation on the first transcontinental highway created in 1913 was a collaboration between the El Dorado County Historical Society and Save the Graves. Local historian and El Dorado County Museum board member Don Ulemen gave a fascinating and well-researched slide show presentation and lecture, which included period photographs of the historical road and current photos and locations where the public can view intact sections located in El Dorado County. Ulemen’s personal anecdotes added a unique flavor to the event where a packed house was eager to learn more about this piece of history.

Shelly

Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene

Save the Graves President Mike Roberts, right, stands on Mormon Hill in a presentation on the longest preserved section of the historic Lincoln Highway in El Dorado County. Members of the Hangtown A’s car club and others traveled with Roberts along portions of the road which connects to the Clarksville Cemetery and the Mormon Tavern Monument.

Local historian Don Uelmen, above, gives a slide presentation on the history of the El Dorado County portion of the Lincoln Highway to a crowd of about 100 people at the Mohanna Ranch in El Dorado Hills on Saturday. The longest preserved section of the historical Lincoln Highway in El Dorado County, designated by a red, white and blue marker, below, connects Bass Lake Road to Tong Road. The gated road is open and accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Arthur “Ray” Baumgardner II

Feb. 24, 1956 – March 9, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Arthur Ray Baumgardner II. Ray was a great guy... funny, caring, generous, always willing to help anyone in need.

Ray was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He grew up in various parts of the United States, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington State, Chicago and California. He started 9th and 10th grades at Del Campo in Sacramento and spent his senior year at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale.

He worked as a mechanic at Mo ett Field in Mountain View, California for 15 years. Then at Toyota of Sunnyvale until 1999. He then began working at Folsom Lake Toyota. Around 2004 he moved on to Goodyear Tire in Placerville for Jim McIntire, later Cathy McIntire, before switching careers to become a real estate appraiser.

Ray married Letty Bejarano in 1994, and they moved to Somerset in 1999. They divorced in 2018, but remained good friends until his passing. Ray loved anything outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing.

He loved his dogs, CC, Max, Pepper, Rusty and Diva. May they all greet him at the rainbow bridge!

He was very proud that he had taught Letty how to hunt and shoot Trap. He would often joke about how she outshot him in Trap.....

Ray leaves behind, Letty Bejarano-Carvajal, brother, John Baumgardner, sister, Brenda (Gary) Mattson, Cousin Christy Paulsell, nieces Heather Lynn Baumgardner, PJ Paulsell, and many more cousins, nieces and nephews. His dear friends Gordon & Sandra Prow, Sue & Bart Woolsey, and so many more. You will be missed more than you ever know!

Rest easy Ray, you are finally by the lake with a fishing pole in the water!

Services to be held at a later date. Contact Letty Bejarano-Carvajal @ lettyb2009@gmail.com.

Elinor Elizabeth Gibson

Nov. 25, 1931 – March 2, 2025

Elinor Elizabeth Gibson, a loved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother left her family on earth to join her beloved husband Mel on March 2, 2025. She was born on November 25, 1931 in San Mateo to Eric and Alma Oelze. Elinor was the oldest of three children, along with her sister Jane and brother Eric aka “Butch.” Her family moved to Placerville from San Mateo when she was a young girl, and she stayed here her whole life. Her father had a small ranch where he grew pears and raised hogs. When Elinor was only 27, her mother su ered a stroke and passed away. When she turned 19 she graduated high school and married the love of her life, Mel Gibson in the same year! After Mel finished his service in the United States Navy, he and Elinor bought a grocery store in El Dorado, and built a house on land purchased from her father right next door. After they sold the grocery store, they started a pressure washing business and Elinor kept the books in shape. Once they sold the business, Mel and Elinor were o cially retired. She used her newfound free time to delve into the world of genealogy, tracing most every member of her family back to their roots. In addition to that, she maintained the books for Steven’s motorcycle shop for years just to keep busy. For certain, the constants in Elinor’s life were her unending love for family and friends, unwavering pride in her country, and steadfast passion for history and genealogy. She loved to help out whenever she could, being an active member for years of the 20/30 club, and keeping life long relationships that started in grade school. She is preceded in death by her mother Alma Oelze, father Eric Oelze, sister Jane Henning, and husband Mel Gibson. She is survived by her son Steve Gibson, daughter Lynn Larson, brother Eric Oelze Jr., grandchildren Daneve (Shawn) Stover, Hayle (John) Stillwell, Jordan (Taylor) Larson, Justice Larson, Cassie (Eric) Elliot, Lane (Taylor) Larson, and great grandchildren Jesse and Jace Brown, Alden Stover, Hannah, Cash, Chloe, and Promiss Larson, Daniel, David, Spurgon, Jasper, and Abby Elliot. Elinor’s bright smile and loving personality will be sorely missed, but her love will continue on through all that she left. In lieu of flowers the family wishes any donations be made to Snowline Hospice of Placerville.

Wayne Paul Silva Sr.

Oct. 28, 1936 – March 8, 2025

Wayne Paul Silva Sr., a beloved father, grandfather, and dedicated union ironworker, passed away peacefully in Carmichael, California, on March 8, 2025, at the age of 88. Born in Oakland, California, Wayne graduated from Castlemont High School and spent over six decades as a proud member of the Union Ironworkers Local 378 in Oakland. His passion for his craft began after watching the construction of the San Rafael Bridge, which inspired him to pursue a career as an ironworker. Over the years, Wayne’s skilled hands helped build many structures, including homes for his family and countless others. Wayne lived in Somerset, California, for more than 40 years. He found joy in the simple moments, often relaxing on his balcony with a beer in hand, overlooking the serene canyon below. He is survived by daughters Lori Miller, Terry Schley, and Brenda Knight and his son, Wayne Silva Jr., and daughter-in-law Olga Silva. He was also the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren and great-grandfather to many. Wayne’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. His generosity, work ethic, and unwavering love for his family left an indelible mark on those fortunate enough to be part of of his life. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Penelope (Penny) Ann Hocking

March 22, 1953 – March 8, 2025

Penny was born in Modesto, CA to Phylis Swift Fox and Jack Burton Williams. She passed away peacefully in Bozeman, MT after many years of suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Penny grew up on her family’s cattle ranch in Shingle Springs, CA. and was the fourth generation in El Dorado County after her great grandparents arrived in 1912. She was a member of 4H and FFA and won many awards showing her steers and heifers in local fairs, CA State Fair, and the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Penny attended Buckeye Elementary School, Ponderosa High School, and Sacramento State College. She married her high school sweetheart Rex and they had just celebrated their 54th year of marriage. Penny was a teacher in the Rescue School District where she taught for 26 years, most of them at the Lake Forest School. She was a dedicated teacher and was sometimes known as “Queen Picky” to her 4th grade students. Penny played soccer in a women’s league into her 50s. She loved to spend her summer time at the family property in the Crystal Basin area of El Dorado Co. Penny also loved to get together with her beloved twin sister Paula whenever the chance arose for a fun day of shopping, cooking, or just hanging out. She hosted many large family dinners at her home in Shingle Springs. Penny spent almost 60 years in Shingle Springs before moving to Ennis, MT 11 years ago to enjoy her retirement surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. She was predeceased by her son Jeff. She is survived by her loving husband Rex, daughter Carrie Foster (Kevin), grandchildren Kendra, Jackson, and Madisyn, sister Paula Hustead, and brother Gary Williams. Penny was a very special person and will be missed dearly as she was taken way too soon. No services are planned and Penny’s ashes will be spread in the Crystal Basin overlooking the area where her family summer ranged their cattle herds and she spent so many enjoyable summers. Her family would like to give special thanks to Highgate at Bozeman Memory Care and Stillwater Hospice of Bozeman.

Virginia “Ginny” Lynn Bays

Sept. 26, 1951 – Jan. 24, 2025

With heavy hearts, we share the news that Virginia Lynn Bays (Ginny Pillow) left us on January 24, 2025, at the age of 73. She was born on September 26, 1951, in Placerville, California. Virginia is survived by her mom, Charlotte Pillow, children Craig and Stephanie, siblings Annette (John), Dean (Sherry) and Janelle. Virginia Bays had a unique way of making everyone feel important and loved. Family and friends fondly remember Ginny’s angelic presence, sweetness, kindness, and witty sense of humor. She was an inspiration to everyone around her and a source of happiness and comfort. Virginia’s love of her children, Craig, Stephanie and grandchildren, Blake, Gia, Ella, and Baylinn were her life’s priority. When asked what did you do? She proudly replied, “I am a mother to my children.”

Judy Diane Eilders

April 23, 1958 – Nov. 29, 2024

In loving memory, and with profound sadness, we announce the passing of Judy Diane Eilders, 66, of South Lake Tahoe, California. We rejoice that she is with Jesus, and we will see her again in paradise!

She died in Sacramento, California, on November 29, 2024, after a brief illness. Judy was born on April 23, 1958, in Des Moines, Iowa, to John and Darlene Eilders. Her family moved to California in 1960 when her father accepted a position with Aerojet. Judy grew up in Cameron Park and graduated from Ponderosa High School a year early in 1974. She attended college on and o while dabbling in many career pursuits such as British Airways, dental hygienist, nursing and a ski instructor at Sierra At Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe had her heart, and she lived there for over 30 years while working as a renowned blackjack dealer. Judy had a magnetic personality and a beautiful smile. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends at her place in Tahoe, as well as golfing, hiking, biking, sewing, macramé, cooking and was an avid skier, even traveling to Europe for vacation and skiing in Switzerland. Judy was a loving mother to her son, Gavin, whom she adored. He was the light of her life. They loved to travel, skiing in di erent states, golfing at Edgewood, biking around Lake Tahoe and going to di erent beaches along the coast of California. Judy loved being pampered, getting manicures and pedicures was one of her favorite relaxations. She cherished her family and friends, enjoying family gatherings, and always remembering to send birthday cards and notes to everyone. She was always full of life, with Jesus Christ as her savior, sharing her faith with those she met in her path. Judy is dearly missed by all of us. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, passing away just five weeks after her mom, and is survived by her beloved son, Gavin, her siblings Nancy, Johnny (Penny), Susan (Chris) and Sandra (Brian), and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held on April 6th, at 2:00 p.m. at Judy’s home church, Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3100 Rodeo Road, Cameron Park, California, with a meal to follow.

Mary Ann Dunne

Nov. 7, 1952 – March 2, 2025

Mary Ann Dunne, 72, beloved mother to 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on March 2, 2025, leaving a hole in her family’s hearts. She was born in Oakland, California in 1952 to Jack and Edith Dunne. Her love of rock n’ roll came alive when The Beatles came to America. She was a devoted Beatles fan all of her life. Mary attended St. Alphonsus Catholic school in San Leandro and Castro Valley High School. Later in life she attended Sacramento State and received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a minor in psychology. Mary was a devoted mother to LTC Jimmy W. Smith, Jackie Tintinger, Robert Turner IV, her greatest accomplishments. She was a mother to many children through the years she took in several friends of her children and her sisters’ children. She never turned anyone away who was in need of her love and support. Her favorite quote and song was “All you need is love.” If you were lucky enough to be a friend or relative you would always receive a birthday or anniversary card from her with a package. She never missed a milestone. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, baking cookies, and cakes. She would literally give her last dime to you if you were in need. She was the most caring, amazing woman. Mary is survived by her spouse Michael Martin of 41 years, and survived by her sons LTC Jimmy W. Smith, Robert Turner IV, her daughter Jackie Tintinger, her grandchildren Christopher Lyon, Cody Smith, Casey Smith, Ashley Tetlow, Alyson Tetlow, her great-grandchildren Charlotte Lyon, Leia Smith, William Lyon. She will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts. A Catholic Mass at St. Patricks Church in Placerville was held in her honor and a celebration of life followed. We celebrated with “The Beatles” songs, her favorite band.

“All things great and small” could have been Ginny’s motto. She marveled in the beauty of sunsets as the geese returned to the pond. Ginny was in awe of the aroma of her roses. She said ahh at every tiny living thing. Ginny had the uncanny ability to know what you might need before you did. When you least expected it, Ginny would call at the perfect time. To honor Virginia Bays’ legacy of generosity, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Parkinson Research. A future date will be set to celebrate Virginia Bays’ life. We take comfort in the wonderful memories we share and the love she gave so freely. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.

afternoon.

Electrical fire damages

Latrobe

property

Noel Stack Editor

Firefighters saved a Latrobe home after dousing a fire found in a crawl space underneath the structure Wednesday afternoon.

At 3:24 p.m. on March 19 firefighters with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and surrounding agencies responded to the residential structure fire near Dragon Point Road.

“Firefighters used chainsaws to cut through the exterior of the home to access the fire,” EDH Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal shared with The Mountain Democrat. “The fire was extinguished quickly once access was accomplished.”

The home sustained approximately $10,000 in damage and the cause of the fire was determined to be electrical, he added.

A GRAND JURY DISPLAY

The Civil Grand Jury Association – El Dorado Chapter invites residents to stop by and see the new display case detailing the El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury. The display is located outside the Board of Supervisors meeting room in Building A of the El Dorado County Government Center on Fair Lane in Placerville. Of special historical significance, the display includes the first grand jury report published in the Placerville Mountain Democrat in 1854. The display also shares a lot of detail about the EDC Civil Grand Jury. Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-26 term. For more information visit eldoradocounty.ca.gov/ grandjury. Mary Chan and Gina Posey show off the El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury display case showcasing the Grand Jury report from 1854.

EDSO CRIME LOG

The following information was taken from EDSO reports: Feb.

n Management key to conserving old-growth forests in seasonally dry west

Kat Kerlin

University of California, Davis

species.

Yet despite its high conservation value and proximity to severely burned forests, the Emerald Point stand has not been managed to reduce its risk to drought or catastrophic wildfire. The fire-adapted forest has also not experienced fire for at least 120 years. This has led to massive increases in forest density, fuels, and insect- and drought-driven mortality.

A fire modeling study conducted by the University of California, Davis,

On the shores of Lake Tahoe at Emerald Bay State Park grows what some consider to be the most iconic old-growth forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Giant ponderosa pines — some of the last remaining in the area — share space with at least 13 other tree

Time to trot to the woods Spring turkey season opens in California

California Department of Fish and Wildlife News release

With wild turkey populations flourishing in many parts of California, spring turkey season continues to be one of the most anticipated hunting opportunities of the year.

California’s general spring turkey season opens statewide March 29 and runs through May 4.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a variety of special turkey hunts throughout the spring turkey hunting season. The season kicks off statewide

with an exclusive junior weekend March 22-23 followed by the general hunt season that begins the following weekend on March 29. An additional junior season aligns with the archery-only season, trailing the general season from May 5-18.

Dozens of CDFW-managed wildlife areas will be open to wild turkey hunting on a walk-in basis throughout the season. Visit the CDFW Lands web page for a list of participating wildlife areas and the recreational opportunities available at each location.

For those new to hunting or trying n See TURKEY SEASON, page A5

Photo courtesy of Hugh Safford, UC Davis

Photo by Travis VanZant / CDFW

Turkey season begins with an exclusive junior weekend March 22-23 followed by the general hunt season beginning March 29.

turkey hunting for the first time, check out Advanced Hunter Education webinars on: Turkey Hunting 101, Turkey Calling and Turkey Talk, Turkey Hunting with A Junior or New Hunter and Archery Turkey Hunting.

Shooting hours for spring turkeys are from one half-hour before sunrise to 5 p.m. Both a hunting license and Upland Game Bird Validation are required to hunt wild turkeys. An Upland Game Bird Validation is not required for junior hunting license holders.

Hunters are limited to one bearded turkey per day with a spring season limit of three birds. Nonlead shot is required when hunting with a firearm anywhere in the state. Crossbows may be used for the general turkey season but not during archery season without a Disabled Archer Permit. For more information on regulations visit the CDFW Hunting Regulations web page.

Public land turkey hunters are advised to check with the local management of the individual property they are planning to hunt for specific entry procedures, details and other information. Regulations regarding turkey season can be found on the Upland Game Bird Hunting web page.

Need to purchase a 2024-25 California Hunting License and Upland Game Bird Validation to go turkey hunting this spring? Head over to CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services web page to purchase online, find a license agent near you to buy in person or download the CDFW License App to purchase and display your licenses and validations on a mobile phone.

and the University of Nevada, Reno, found that forest thinning followed by a prescribed burn could greatly improve the stand’s resistance to catastrophic fire. The study, published in the journal Fire, indicates that such treatments could also help other seasonally dry, mature, old-growth forests in North America.

“I know it sounds cliché, but we need to fight fire with fire,” said lead author JonahMaria Weeks, a recent Ph.D. graduate from the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy. “When it comes to the conservation of old-growth stands like the one at Emerald Point, prescribed fire is an essential management tool in reducing the risk of complete loss due to catastrophic wildfire.”

Big, dense and dry

The Emerald Point stand supports the largest remaining ponderosa pines in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Some trees are more than 200 centimeters, or 6.5 feet, in diameter. Other sizable residents of the stand include Jeffrey pines and California incense cedar.

Old forests like this used to dominate California’s mountain landscapes. Frequent, low severity fire was critical to their long-term persistence in the Sierra Nevada. It removed fuels, knocked back competitive but fire-intolerant tree species, and drove evolutionary selection of traits that protected the pines from most fire damage. But the arrival of Euro-American and other settlers in the late 19th century brought with it a fear of fire and more than a century of fire exclusion.

The Mohanna Ranch is adjacent to the longest section of preserved highway, which is also part of Old Bass Lake Road. It is located about 1 mile east of present day Bass Lake Road and segments of the highway are also located across Highway 50 near Marble Mountain Road.

After Uelmen’s slide show, Save the Graves President Mike Roberts led the group down to the section of the Lincoln Highway off Old Bass Lake Road. Members of the Hangtown A’s Model A car club and others walked or drove to the area and parked along the narrow pavement. Roberts described the road’s construction as “concrete mixed with large and small stones” which was later widened at the edges with the application of asphalt. He brought to the crowd’s attention an old wagon trail along Carson Creek adjacent to the paved roadway which was used in the early days for hauling freight.

According to Roberts, the trail was the main means of transportation during the 1860s when the Comstock Lode was being mined in Virginia City, Nev. At that time, he added, the wagon trail was so busy that if one had an issue with one’s wagon and had to pull to the side, it could take hours to get back in line again.

HAWKS TAKE FLIGHT

Most large ponderosa pines at Lake Tahoe were logged in the 1800s to support silver mining. Although the Emerald Point stand was spared, a lack of low-severity fire has made the stand far more dense, as historical photos and accounts indicate. Surface fuels and tree death also have increased, the latter driven by water stress and insect outbreaks linked to the forest stand’s high density.

Modeling fire behavior

Several severe wildfires have burned in the southern Lake Tahoe Basin over the past two decades. The 2018 Emerald Fire burned just 1.25 miles south of the study site, and the 2021 Caldor Fire damaged or destroyed numerous old-growth forest stands.

To explore wildfire risk to the Emerald Point stand, the authors modeled potential fire behavior under severe fire weather conditions using plot data collected at the site. They simulated four fuels management scenarios to test the efficiency of each in reducing fire risk:

• The most conservative scenario included no thinning or fuel removal.

• The most intensive scenario used historical, pre1850s forest conditions as a target. It removed most trees between 8 to 32 inches diameter at breast height followed by a fall prescribed fire.

• A third scenario included hand thinning followed by pile burning.

• The final scenario was a spring prescribed fire treatment without thinning.

Two scenarios — no management and the spring

prescribed fire — suffered complete stand mortality from the simulated wildfire. The hand thinning plus pile burning scenario and the historically based thinning plus prescribed fire scenario suffered only minimal losses.

The authors determined that the management scenario based on historical conditions was most likely to help old trees at Emerald Point persist. The paper poignantly acknowledges the loss of the Beaver Creek Pinery old-growth forest on the Lassen National Forest to the 2024 Park Fire. Plans to reduce fuels in that stand had been discussed for years but were never implemented.

Conservation alone won’t protect forests

“The conservation of old growth in dry conifer forests of the American West is impossible without due consideration and mitigation of wildfire risk,” said senior author Hugh Safford, research faculty in the UC Davis Environmental Science and Policy Department. “After 100-plus years of fire suppression and loss of most of the old trees on our landscapes, it is reckless and short-sighted to think that mere protection of old growth in fire-prone landscapes will conserve it.”

Instead, Safford said conserving old-growth forest at Lake Tahoe and other fire-dependent ecosystems means actively managing the forest in ways that replicate the essential ecological roles of fire.

Additional co-authors include Bryant Nagelson and Sarah Bisbing with the University of Nevada, Reno. The study was funded by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and CalFire.

into disuse, Roberts shared. A retaining wall alongside the grass covered wagon trail near a stream is still intact. The paved portion nearby is popular with area bicyclists but the old wagon trail is on private property. For more information about the Lincoln Highway visit lincolnhighwayassoc.

org.

Robert’s said he became interested in the historical road in 2007-08 when he accompanied members of the Lincoln Road Association on a tour of the bits and pieces of the road that still exist.

interest in local history.

“It’s pretty unusual in a developer,” Roberts said, adding, “He probably knows more about the history than I do.”

Later, the arrival of the Transcontinental Railway and the Central Pacific Railway in Placer County made it cheaper to transport goods to Reno and Virginia City and the trail fell

The Town and Country Village project proposes two 150-room hotels, 112 residential cottages, retail uses, restaurants, an event center/ museum, recreational amenities and parking lots. The developer wants to incorporate the historical section of road into a bike trail, eventually with a link to Folsom. For information regarding the proposed bike trail and surrounding development proposal visit engageeldorado. us.engagementhq.com/ town-and-countryvillage. Highway Continued from A1

He said he’s pleased with Mohanna’s efforts to preserve the space for the public, noting the developer’s keen

Courtesy photo

The Hawks were victorious in their quest to avenge the loss to the Rebels from earlier in the season, recently winning the City of Placerville 7th/8th grade division championship 53-42. Andre DeVille scored 30 points to lead the Hawks. Although the Rebels made seven three pointers, the Hawks 2-3 zone defense made it hard for the Rebels to score. Clancy Burks pitched in 13 points for the Hawks and Gio McPartland led the Rebels with 13 points. The season ended with a hard fought game between two talented teams, according to coach Jon DeVille. Hawks celebrate their big win. Pictured left to right, top row: Coach Jon DeVille, Deegan Padovan, Andre DeVille, Clancy Burks. Bottom row: Korben Duff, Daniel Grant, Frank Fuller, Isaac Abbott and Augustus Pascucci.

Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

Model A owner Jen Roger of Placerville relaxes on the fender of her 1931 Model A while listening to a presentation on the historical Lincoln Highway by Save the Graves President Mike Roberts.

OPINION

California Commentary

State Assembly slams the door on dissenters

The attitude of Democrats in the Legislature seems to be that, if it’s bad news, we don’t want to hear it. And if it’s really bad news, we’ll try to suppress it.

What else can explain the e ort to limit the participation of Republicans in the Legislative process who dare to ask such dangerous questions, such as “Where is all the taxpayer money going?”

Last Friday, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas made several changes to the makeup of more than a dozen policy and budget committees. What was unusual about the move is that the Legislature had yet to hear a single bill in committee, a normal prerequisite before making wholesale changes to who serves on those committees. Republican leadership rightfully characterized the speaker’s power play as “retaliation” for being increasingly outspoken over Democrats’ far left policies and failure to account for billions of dollars in spending. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Chico, wrote on X, “They don’t like us calling them out.”

Letters to the Editor

Televised youth sports

EDITOR:

Iwas in Grants Pass, Ore., and while channel surfing, I came across their high school sports channel where I watched a wrestling dual and a basketball game.

I noticed that the matches repeated themselves and I watched some swimming.

Excuse my ignorance, but do we have anything like this for our schools? What a great idea for parents who work or grandparents who can’t make a game to be able to watch their children or favorite team.

Musk must go

EDITOR:

AThe only “sin” of the Republicans who have been removed from their committees is that the party has stepped up its ability to communicate e ectively …

In response to criticism over the controversial move, the best the Democrat majority could cough up was a typical mealy mouthed response from the speaker’s spokesman to the Sacramento Bee: “The speaker routinely addresses committee needs throughout the year, and his goal is always to ensure members are in optimal roles to collaborate e ectively and deliver for Californians.”

Two of the targets of the “Rivas Rage,” were Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, removed from the Assembly Budget Committee, and Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Corona, thrown o the Assembly’s Elections Committee.

DeMaio founded Reform California, which seeks several changes in California law to make the state more responsive and accountable. He has allied with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association on several occasions, including helping with the signature gathering e ort to qualify the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act. Although TPA qualified for the November election, it was stripped from the ballot by the California Supreme Court, leading the Wall Street Journal to publish an editorial headlined, “Democracy Dies in California.”

For Essayli, being thrown o a committee is not a new experience as his proclivity to ask tough

■ See COUPAL, page A7

The Balancing Act

Technology has changed so much since my children were in school. I now can watch every St. Mary’s basketball game on ESPN+ and every Menlo wrestling match on Fkowrestling. But I can’t watch any Pondo sports, and, believe me, I would.

I have two questions: 1. Do our high schools currently provide this service? 2. Why not?

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

fter 30 years in federal service (three years in the Army, 27 years in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit), I have watched in horror the actions of Elon Musk unfold the past few weeks, largely unfettered by government leadership. During my career, I was dedicated to finding ways to improve e ectiveness and e ciency almost every day. I honed the skills for this ethic in my work after going to a Forest Service conference almost 30 years ago, dedicated to the importance of this task. The bottom line is, government agencies do operate under a continuous improvement model, similar to the private sector, to provide the benefits the American people and many other parts of the world depend upon. My job was actually part of a eduction in force when I retired from the USFS seven years ago. During my last three years, I filled vacancies

Ten year anniversary of MFA violations ... and still no checks

Iam writing this column on the exact 10-year anniversary of my first column on El Dorado County’s failure to comply with the California Mitigation Fee Act, which allows local jurisdictions to extract from builders and developers enormous fees to allegedly pay for the impact of their developments of homes and business buildings on infrastructure such as roads, schools, parks, fire and public safety. In that column I explained the rather simple requirements for MFA compliance, an annual financial report as defined by Government Code Section 66006 and five-year “nexus” studies as set forth in Section 66001(d)(1)a-d. At that time in 2015 it was clear that there had been no five-year nexus studies done for six years for the El Dorado Hills Community Service District, El Dorado Hills Fire Department, for

EDC Tra c Impact Fees and for about 10 local districts such as the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire District.

The MFA law further states unequivocally and statutorily that these five-year findings must be timely made, requiring each of these districts to demonstrate a continuing need for the unexpended funds still held in various segregated accounts in which these collected fees were deposited. The remedy for failure to do so is as stated in code section 66001 (2) notes, “If the findings are not made as required by this subdivision, the local agency SHALL refund the moneys in the account or fund...”

In this case, El Dorado County is the agency that holds the money in respective, segregated accounts. This refund requirement is statutorily required.

On Aug. 28, 2015, six months after the first column was written, the landmark case of Walker v. San

What your county has done borders on criminal (certainly grand theft) and the “buck” stops with the members of the Board of Supervisors.

Clemente, which has become the law in California and further supported by the recent case of Hamilton and High v. City of Palo Alto (2023), which followed “on all fours,” states unequivocally that a failure to make MFA five-year findings as required by the statute requires the refund of all unexpended MFA funds in the account, “whether committed or uncommitted.” The Walker language is so clear that it literally states, “A statute’s clear and unambiguous language controls and therefore we need not resort to extrinsic sources or rules of statutory interpretation to determine the statute’s meaning.”

In other words, the failure to make and file five-year findings absolutely requires the unilateral refund of all unexpended fees remaining in the MFA accounts at the time of the failure.

At the Nov. 17, 2015, Board of Supervisors meeting, county leaders

from the Chief Administrative and County Counsel o ces admitted the county had not timely filed any of the statutorily required five-year findings for any MFA funds and for any of the special districts, but they “were working on them.”

Two weeks later (Dec. 2, 2015) a lawsuit was filed against the county for the refund to the homeowners who paid them for three districts holding MFA funds, all county Tra c Impact Fees, all impact fees held for the EDHCSD and all impact fees held for EDH Fire. The funds on account at that time amounted to more than $40 million. The county, knowing it was in complete violation of the MFA, refused to refund the money rightfully claimed by the thousands of county residents owning homes upon which the fees were paid.

Since that lawsuit, the county

JON COUPAL

LARRY WEITZMAN

questions in committee previously got him tossed from the Judiciary Committee.

It should be noted that none of the Republicans who were removed from committees or demoted engaged in any behavior designed to be disruptive of the legislative process. Democrats in Congress such as Al Green, D-Texas, should take note. (Green was just censured by the House of Representatives for repeatedly heckling President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress.)

The only “sin” of the Republicans who have been removed from their committees is that the party has stepped up its ability to communicate effectively, whether as individual members or

Letters Continued from A6 through temporary leadership assignments both on the LTBMU and our regional office, as the duties of my position scaled down. I understood why my position was no longer needed and was lucky I could retire instead of having to be permanently reassigned to somewhere else where my skill set as a supervisory hydrologist was still needed. What Musk is doing is not that. His actions are ridiculous and stupidly performative. They are destroying peoples lives now and will continue to do so, even if he stopped tomorrow. Fixing the damage he has already done will be costly in ways we don’t even know about yet and the longer he is allowed to be involved, the worse it will get.

as a caucus. Committee hearings that in earlier years were inaccessible to the public are now all broadcast and recorded thanks to Proposition 34 (2016). DeMaio in particular has been reported to have his YouTube postings of the committee hearings receive hundreds of thousands of views. Not only that, but Republican leaders are increasingly appearing on YouTube and podcasts. While alternative media have become more important in exposing legislative malfeasance, there has also been increasing scrutiny of the majority party by mainstream media. Even the reliably progressive Sacramento Bee was highly critical of the speaker’s move. In response to the non-response from Rivas’ spokesman, the Bee

The degree to which every single employee in the USFS, including the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, has been affected is heartbreaking. Although most still have a job for now, they cannot do their job. They have been purposefully paralyzed.

The reasons why government spending becomes out of control has nothing to do with lazy employees or useless agencies. It has to do with the motivations and expertise operating at the top levels of government. And in that regard, we have never been in a more dangerous position than now.

Writing emails and calling our congressional representatives seems like such a futile act, but in

said, “That doesn’t say anything. It represents Rivas as one of those Sacramento politicians who skirts accountability by hiding behind obsequious handlers peddling smarmy non-statements. His actions are undemocratic and unacceptable.” Ouch. The sad part of Rivas’ actions is that he is denying his own party the opportunity to hear and respond to different perspectives on how to solve California’s countless problems as well as the expertise held by several Republican members. Instead of engaging with Republicans, they slam the door, which reinforces California’s standing as a decidedly anti-democratic state.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

times like these one has to believe in the power of collective resistance.

Please make a call or send an email to Congressman Kevin Kiley. Afterward take yourself (and your dog if you have one) for a walk, ride, ski or paddle somewhere lovely in the National Forest.

SUSAN NORMAN South Lake Tahoe

has spent perhaps over a million dollars of your taxpayer money to avoid the legally and morally required refund of these MFA funds to rightful homeowners. These funds are not the county’s money; they are the property owners’ money. On April 15, 2024, a Superior Court judge finally ruled unequivocally that the county must refund the MFA fees as determined by the court to the current homeowners of record upon which property MFA fees were exacted. That refund will total almost $30 million. Yet the county still refuses to issue refunds. In the ten years’ time, those refunds have significantly depreciated because of inflation.

The approximately $30 million taken from the homeowners between 2014-16 is now worth less than $20 million since 2015 as inflation has risen by at least 36%. Sure, the funds accumulated some interest while held by the county, which amounted to a total of a measly 8%, a far cry to the 36% lost to inflation.

What your county has done borders on criminal (certainly grand theft) and the “buck” stops with the members of the Board of Supervisors. They will have cost constituents nearly 10 million “bucks” when the refunds are finally made, never mind the taxpayer money spent defending their illegal actions which probably amounts to more than $1 million — even more when you consider county employee time wasted on the facetious defense.

Larry Weitzman is a former El Dorado County resident.

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com

AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org

CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS

CLUB meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 at the Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3100 Rodeo Rd., CP, 95682. New and current local community members are welcome for fun and games throughout the month. For further information contact Jill Butler at 530-295-7448.

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

PLAY CRIBBAGE Join the Gold Country Cribbers 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452. We Play - We Teach - We Have Fun. Wednesdays 4:00 PM. Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the

month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information. GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530)

activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Monica 530-306-7066.

MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and have a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held at 11:30AM on May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18,2024 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information. SENIOR PEER COUNSELING Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.

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

PUZZLE BY SARAH SINCLAIR

Forum Continued from A1 you are awarding.”

“I think that this is exactly the thing we need to be doing in communities across California,” the congressman shared.

“We’ve seen this much-needed paradigm shift in recent years in California where for far too long we’ve let our forests just get out of control and we’ve got 20 million overgrown acres and we saw the devastating consequences,” Kiled continued.

“In our area with these devastating wildfires … destroyed communities.”

The shift, Kiley noted, includes getting more resources, and changing some of the policies that interfere with effective forest management.

“On top of that we’re starting to see more groups like yours that are figuring out how we can make better use of the resources we have, how we can adopt best practices, how we can incorporate technology, how we can bring together different groups, different coalitions, people from different fields to make this work more effectively,” he continued. “I have the privilege to represent the district in California that has the largest number of National Forests, so when I took office it was at the beginning of 2023 I spent a lot of time out in the forests to see where I could be of help and assistance at the federal level. We’re starting to see mitigation work now at a level that has never been done before.”

Still, Kiley acknowledged, there’s a lot more to do. He talked about a bill he sponsored and which recently passed in the House with bipartisan support called the Fix Our Forests Act. The act, Kiley explained, reduces frivolous lawsuits and simplifies and expedites environmental reviews to reduce costs for forest management projects. Other aims of the legislation are to make communities more resilient to wildfire by connecting them with existing grant programs and promoting collaboration at the state, local, private and federal level, he continued. The act gives agencies new tools to restore watersheds, protect communities with an urban interface

EDHCSD Continued from A1

and prevent forest conversion while, Kiley noted, utilizing state-of-the art science to prioritize programs in forests that are the highest risk for wildfire, an ongoing effort.

“They just launched a project using Google satellites for early detection,” Kiley said. “I’ve seen some of the tools … AI systems that are here on Earth to provide early detection.”

He spoke of pending legislation to increase firefighter pay, making more funding available for fuel management and helping wildfire victims.

“We’re still fighting for Grizzly Flat,” Kiley declared. “I’m advocating for individual assistance. It’s been an ongoing and difficult challenge and we’re still working on making that happen.”

Questions from guests included a few jabs at the Department of Government Efficiency. Zoe Orlova of Pollock Pines said, “We’re less safe since you entered office,” referencing the funding freezes and recent firings of U.S. Forest Service workers. “Are you willing to withhold your vote from (the) party of DOGE until our forest funding is in place?”

Kiley answered by saying that he would continue to support agencies and share her concerns with decisionmakers while reassuring that the resources would be available.

“Since we are such a high fire area, do you have any plans of helping El

independently raised about $200,000 to cover its half. More local control of land use and planning as well as the ability to put more tax revenue into public safety, parks and roads are the main reasons cityhood advocates have come together to restart this effort. Voters rejected a cityhood measure on the 2008 ballot. At the time, EDH had a population of nearly 40,000. The community currently has a population of nearly 51,000, the largest in El Dorado County and, according to cityhood proponents, the largest unincorporated community in the state only served by a CSD.

“The current model of county and CSD government no longer meets our local needs and it will become more mismatched as we continue to grow in the future,” said EDHCC member/presenter Joe Chinn, an EDH resident since 1992.

EDH provides the county the largest percentage of property tax revenue and “a disproportionate amount of sales tax per capita,” Chinn noted during the presentation. “At the same time, we use less services than the average county user does.”

If EDH incorporates, Chinn added, “We keep more of our existing taxes in El Dorado Hills under our local control which will help us provide a higher level service with more resources.”

The new city leadership — a five-member council of all EDH residents — would have control of law

on Coach Lane 2025 DATES COMING SOON!

SATURDAY MARKET Placerville Drive - Cinema Lot

DATES COMING SOON!

Congressman Kevin Kiley, on screen, listens to questions posed during the March 19 event at the Pollock Pines Community Center.

Dorado County residents with the house insurance?” Laura St. Denis asked with loud applause from the audience.

“I’ve been calling on the governor and the state Legislature to take action on this for a long time,” Kiley responded. “They finally have started to do something in the last several months. Hopefully that will happen.

“When I was in the Legislature, I wanted to get a tax credit but that didn’t happen so now I have proposed at the federal level … something called the Safe Homes Act that gives you tax relief based on expenses you as a homeowner incurred in hardening your own home,” he continued. “If you spend your own money to remove vegetation or upgrade materials in your home to make it more fireresistant, you should get a tax credit for that. You’re helping to make your own home more fire resistant and helping your own neighbors as well.

“I know this is an enormous hardship for many people,” Kiley added. “At the end of the day, the best way to address the insurance crisis is to address the crisis of catastrophic wildfires.”

He said he would continue to advocate for reforms of current policies and regulations at the state level to cut bureaucratic requirements that delay projects.

Other Pollock Pines residents

enforcement, zoning, planning, building, roads as well as parks and recreation. The EDH Fire Department, Buckeye and Rescue union school districts and El Dorado Irrigation District would continue to serve the community and the county would continue to provide its regional services (public health, veterans services, etc.).

“The incorporation effort will not move forward unless (there are no) new taxes,” Chinn added, referring to the fiscal analysis yet to be done. “If any taxes are needed for incorporation, the effort would be dropped. It would never get to the ballot.”

EDHCC presenter Chris Nicholson followed with the message that EDH residents and leaders need to be more proactive, especially regarding how and where the community will grow.

“Things are great. It’s a wonderful community. We’re blessed and privileged to have that,” Nicholson said. “But we’ve got to get in the driver’s seat. We can’t be a passenger. We can’t be a passive observer on the side of the road. Things come down the line. We need to be prepared to handle them the next time there’s an Amazon open space rezone …. We want them to be coming to us to ask for permission and working out a deal that’s beneficial to our community, not just overall beneficial for the county.”

The goal, should all studies come back confirming that EDH would be a viable city, is to have the cityhood question on the November 2026 ballot.

Speakers at last week’s meeting overwhelmingly supported the idea, while also acknowledging that many questions must be answered — what would the city’s affordable housing allocation look like, how does incorporation affect the relationship with the county, etc. — before a ballot measure goes out to voters.

Looking at it from a parks and recreation perspective, Wayne Lowery implored the EDHCSD directors to get involved as, he said, increased revenue and local oversight and planning from a city council could dramatically improve the

questioned the Congressman on the Republican Party’s longstanding position on denying climate change, saying that the intensity of forest fires support the evidence. Kiley responded by saying the bigger problems and contributors to pollution are the fires themselves — a response met with booing from some in attendance at the Pollock Pines Community Center.

Another registered professional forester and firefighter asked, “Given your sponsored bill, Fix Our Forests Act, which recognizes the need to increase and improve forest management, and given that much of the surrounding forests that threaten our communities and need to be addressed are federally owned, how do you square that the Trump administration’s efforts to gut the USFS and what specific actions are you taking to counter that? Policies don’t fix this problem without qualified people to implement them.”

Another question was posed regarding bio-energy, taking small fuels from the area and recycling them into products. The consensus was that material harvested locally in fuel reduction programs should be processed locally. Several guests suggested bringing back the mill in Camino to make use of the timber. Another audience member asked about cuts to programs that support local fuel mitigation programs.

Kiley responded by saying there needed to be significant reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act that currently make reopening the mill quite difficult.

Jim Davies of Placerville stood up to thank Congressman Kiley for his efforts.

About a dozen guests were able to ask their questions and at the end of the forum the remaining cards with questions were gathered to be mailed to the congressman.

Forum Secretary Diane Dealey Neill said the Amador-El Dorado Forest Forum has been around since 1941, serving as a venue for learning and for discussion of ideas. Visit forestforum. org for more information.

recreational facilities in EDH.

“With local control of normal city services, vision and hard work, El Dorado Hills can grow from a great place to raise a family to a fabulous place,” added Lowery, who has lived in EDH since the mid-1980s and previously served as the EDHCSD general manager and a board member.

Serrano Fire Safe Council Chair Bill Osgood noted cityhood could have a positive impact on the community’s wildfire preparedness and prevention, noting city leaders could develop ordinances to “address the most serious wildfire vulnerabilities in El Dorado Hills.”

“I strongly believe that cityhood offers a more effective path to significantly reducing wildfire risk and expanding access to affordable insurance … for all El Dorado Hills residents,” Osgood added.

EDH Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Debbie Manning encouraged the EDHCSD to initiate the process and said incorporation will have a positive impact on economic growth and the community’s future.

“Given the county of El Dorado has experienced budget cuts over the years that have adversely affected El Dorado Hills, now is the time to explore cityhood,” Manning maintained. “El Dorado Hills should be developing its own residential community and lead its own economic development programs as the county’s largest economic region. We need to have a stronger and more defined voice.”

Eileen Hidahl, widow of former District 1

Supervisor John Hidahl, who was a longtime cityhood advocate, also asked the EDHCSD board to take the lead, sharing, “I think that the residents here of El Dorado Hills deserve a look at what the feasibility is of this going forth.”

Director Michael Martinelli made the motion to have staff prepare the draft resolution and application and, on the advice of EDHCC, asked that a public meeting take place to review those documents before the April 10 EDHCSD board meeting at which they could be adopted. His motion, should all necessary documents be approved, also included submitting the LAFCO application along with an initial $10,000 deposit. Board President Stephen Ferry seconded the motion, which also received yes votes from Directors Noelle Mattock and Heidi Hannaman.

Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

Local skiers, snowboarders find success at regionals

Special to the Mountain Democrat

The top ski racers from the California Nevada Interscholastic Ski and Snowboard Federation traveled to Wyoming to participate against the best high school racers west of the Mississippi in the Western Regionals.

Coach Doug Thompson of Oak Ridge High School, along with his assistants Connie Moyer of Mammoth and Cali Griffin of Loyalton, gathered 24 of CNISSF racers — 12 men and 12 women — and competed at Grand Targhee Ski resort late week.

There were eight other states represented — Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada River (Reno), Nevada Lake (Lake Tahoe), Oregon, Wisconsin and Wyoming — during the great ski races in mostly snowy conditions.

The CNISSF women led the way for California with an overall 4th place and were very close to taking 3rd overall. In the women’s races

Madeline Lu (Central 2), Addison Koenig (South 2), Greta Aronowitz (South 1), Logan Malee (North), Nora Hinson (South 2), Aspen Wight (South 2), Sophie McMahon (South 2) Marlie Garner (South 1) and HazelJean Personius (Central 2) all scored for team CNISSF.

Overall, the men took 6th place in the competition. In the men’s races

Thomas Lackey (South 2), Tanner Knott (South 2), Dylan McLeod (South 1), Sutter Stroup (Central 1), Bo Tanner (South 2), Andrew Hill (North), Beau Templet (South 1) and Alec Jolly (South 1) all scored for team CNISSF. In the combined women and men, CNISSF took 6th place.

at the Placerville

Tribute to Al Hinds ‘take 2’ is on

Gary Thomas

Speedway

Coming off a rainout last weekend Placerville Speedway is now ready to open its 60th anniversary season with the 22nd annual Tribute to Al Hinds tackling the red clay on Saturday, March 22.

Divisions set to kick-off the Berco Redwood/ Hoosier Tires championship season will include the Thompsons Family of Dealerships Winged Sprint Cars, the Red Hawk Resort + Casino Pure Stocks, the Mountain Democrat Mini Trucks and the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour.

Please note the grandstands open at 4 p.m. this season, one hour later than previous years. Live music and Coors Light/ Coors Banquet Happy Hour

will continue to be held 4-6 p.m.

The Tribute to Al Hinds began in 2004 following the passing of early track promoter and mentor Al Hinds, a longtime Placerville resident and true race fan who touched the lives of many. Hinds was the second promoter of Placerville Speedway. He took operation of the track with business partner Richard Hirst from its founder, Bruno Romani, in 1968, three years after it first opened when the facility was built around an existing community football field.

The inaugural Tribute to Al Hinds was captured by Roger Crockett, while last season saw Shane Golobic snag his initial triumph in the event. For more information on the Placerville Speedway log onto placervillespeedway.com

Trojans’ track and field season launched

Special to the Mountain Democrat

Oak Ridge High School track and field athletes gave their all at Sierra Foothill League meet No. 2 at Whitney High School on March 19.

“Many Oak Ridge athletes obtained personal records, which is a very good sign since it is still early in the season,” shared coach Rob Fairley. “The competition was outstanding at the meet. Whitney, Rocklin, Jesuit and St. Francis have strong track and field teams.”

Varsity & junior varsity placers

COMICS

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Belonging isn’t always a matter of location or company; it’s a feeling, a sudden alignment. In a moment, you will recognize that you belong — that things are in the right place for that instant — and the joy floods in.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Who you are in any moment is the result of countless interactions woven together into something that feels continuous but is, in truth, always in motion and ever-changing. So, without agonizing, take the action that represents you right now.

Shelby Johnston in varsity girls discus with a throw of 100 feet, 0.5 inches.

Ian Spero in varsity boys discus with a throw of 137 feet, 0 inches.

Ryan Breit in JV boys long jump with a jump of 17 feet, 10.5 inches.

Ryan Breit in JV boys triple jump with a jump of 36 feet, 4 inches.

Reid Howard in JV girls pole vault with a vault of 6 feet, 0 inches.

Roxane Labau in JV girls pole vault with a vault of 6 feet, 0 inches.

Americo Powers in JV boys shot put with a throw of 43 feet, 8.5 inches.

Hannah Heinlein in varsity girls 100 meters in 12.69 and 200 meters in 26.10. Allie Anastacio in varsity girls triple jump with a jump of 35 feet, 8 inches.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re playful and imaginative, and you have a sense of control over your own emotional state. It’s a benefit that blossomed out of your effort to keep following curiosity, trying new things and keeping life fresh. Your mental habits cultivate flexibility of mind.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Know your weaknesses, but don’t let them take up too much of your time. You don’t have to be great at everything; focus on what energizes you, what comes alive in your hands. Lean into your strengths, and let the rest be.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Because your aim is to shape your contribution around what truly helps others, you’re paying close attention to what’s missing, what’s needed, what sparks joy. Offer what’s uniquely yours — skills, insight, effort — without forcing a fit.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Make even one person’s life easier today and you’ve won. Ease moves through the world like a ripple — one kindness setting off another. The smallest relief you offer might shift an entire course. Keep sending waves. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are not defined by your patterns, rather it’s your essence that gets that job. What you value, what you strive for and how you rise after you falter will say more about you. Patterns shape experience, but the meaning you give life runs deeper than any habit.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Realistically, no one among us is inexhaustibly enchanting. Even the most captivating among us can become wearisome. Love thrives not in endless fascination but in the mutual acceptance of our imperfections.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Relationships evolve. Growing apart doesn’t mean you dislike a person or wish them ill, but dynamics shift, and keeping connections can be tricky. You don’t have to maintain the same level of closeness if it’s not bringing you joy or peace.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). In centuries past, it wasn’t at all uncommon for a person never to travel beyond their own village. But now, you would be hard-pressed to find an excuse not to venture, especially given the mind- and lifeexpanding benefits to doing so. When’s your next adventure?

AQUARIUS (Jan.

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Courtesy photo

Team California represented well at the Western Regionals alpine races last week.

Photo by Tim Holland Racing action is back (finally)

Speedway.

Placerville

PROSPECTING

Section B ■ mtdemocrat.com

IN THE KNOW

March 21

The Empower event will take place at the Cameron Park Community Center from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in coordination with El Dorado County Youth Commission. The event will include keynote speaker Rochelle Whellams, school presentations from Golden Sierra Peer Advocacy and Union Mine Friday Night Live and words from El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools, Ed Manansala.

Breakout sessions will take place in the afternoon with topics including substance abuse, personal mental health and how to run a peer advocacy program.

Imagination Theatre at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds presents Storytellers and Scripts: “2 Across” by Jerry Mayer through March 30. For tickets and more information, go to itplacerville.org.

Kirk Basquez will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

El Dorado Musical Theatre presents “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” at 7 p.m. at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. The show runs through March 30. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Broadway At Music Circus presents “Footloose” at 7 p.m. at the UC Davis Health pavilion in Sacramento. The show runs through March 27. For tickets and more information call (916) 557-1999 or visit broadwaysacramento.com.

Music in the Mountains presents A Classical Cabaret with Jesse Barrett and Friends at 7 p.m. at the Grass Valley Center for the Arts. For tickets and more information visit musicinthemountains. org.

March 22

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host a Community Shred Event at EDHCSD, 1021 Harvard Way. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

Local favorite Colton Mountain Band brings traditional county music sound with some

Friday, March 21, 2025

‘It’s showtime’

BEETLEJUICE COMES TO PONDEROSA HIGH SCHOOL

Odin Rasco Mountain Democrat correspondent

It’s hard to think of a more relatable premise: who hasn’t been a recently deceased ghost haunting their own home who contracts the services of a mischievous spirit to scare away the house’s new (and mostly obnoxious) occupants?

That story — as familiar as an average trip to the grocery store — has rocked both screen and stage in di erent incarnations and is now headed to Ponderosa High School at the end of this month as the theater department’s school-year-ending spectacular “Beetlejuice Jr.”

Before you get too scared by the idea of a little B — (you almost thought it would be said a third time, didn’t you?) — running around with his devilish daddy, the “Jr.” in the title just means the Broadway show based on the hit film has been toned down for a wider audience.

“This version cut out a lot of the swear words,” joked senior David Seeley, who plays the titular troublemaker.

Seeley has been involved with Pondo’s drama department since his freshman year, though he didn’t expect it to become the passion it is now when he first started.

“I was doing football my freshman year, but later that year I was part of the crew for ‘Wizard of Oz’ we used my dog for Toto, so I was in charge of that,” Seeley recalled. “I got pulled in to do crew for ‘Mama Mia’ later, and that’s when I thought, ‘hey, acting looks pretty fun.’ Since then, I’ve been acting, and this is my fifth show. I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, a

lot more than I did in football, and I’m happy to have had the chance to learn and get better at it.”

When tackling established characters (ones well-known for a specific actors’ portrayal) anyone taking on the role afterwards has the challenge of threading the needle by making their performance feel familiar while still bringing their own interpretations to life. Ponderosa’s actors face this challenge twofold, as the primary characters in the story have well-known screen and stage interpretations. The kids have taken that challenge in stride, though, with leads Seeley and Dylan Neves (who plays Lydia Deetz) both working to find a synthesis of the established interpretations.

“Obviously, Winona Ryder is such an icon for the role of Lydia; she is incredible,” Neves, who is a junior, said. “So, I wanted to take a lot of personality from her and stu - the way that lines get delivered, the way she stands, the way she poses, I wanted to take a lot from her. But Sophia Anne Caruso, who is the original Lydia on Broadway, has just this iconic voice. It's just so incredible and I absolutely wanted to put my own spin on that as best as I possibly could. So, I wanted to try and do as best of a blend of the two as I could.”

For many of the kids involved, the show is a bittersweet occasion, marking the end of their time at Ponderosa and as part of the drama class. Though there’s excitement, as there often is for seniors on their way to the world beyond high school, a persistent theme in what the kids said about the show was how they were sad to be leaving a supportive community behind.

“Maybe it's just this group of seniors, but we're really close knit and it's like a family, totally,” said Senior Sidney Klick, assistant director for the musical. “We just do everything together. We're each other's best friends and we do stu outside of school. It's really awesome to be so close with people who have the same mindset as

you because even in the modern day, there's still judgment for theater kids, or queer kids or whatever, and being in a place like this theater, you get to just be who you are. And we really feel that at Pondo.”

Klick is another example of a student who unexpectedly fell in love with drama; she shared an anecdote about how she’d initially planned to drop the course her freshman year when she discovered she wasn’t in the same class as a close friend. She stuck with it, though, and in the following years has gotten involved with acting and directing.

Last year, Klick directed a one-act play at the Lenea High School Theatre Festival, and is now bringing that experience to bear as she helps direct the spring musical.

“You put in so much blood, sweat and tears, and it always pays o ,” Klick explained. “The actors take it and they create the vision and it's an amazing feeling, watching what you had in your head be performed live, seeing it actually in front of you. And it's amazing to work with actors like David and Dylan.”

The camaraderie

displayed by Ponderosa’s students translates directly to the work they bring to the show. Led through the production process by drama teacher Renee Fritz, the students in parts both big and small are diligent in bringing their best to the play, both on and o the stage.

“There has obviously been, as with any show, so much hard work put into it,” Neves said. “Often what gets highlighted is the lead actors and stu , and we do put a ton of work into it, but I think a lot of people forget to acknowledge the ensemble. I think that everyone just needs to pay a little bit more attention to how incredible our ensemble is. They're working so hard. And our tech and our crew members, they're awesome - our whole group is awesome. It's just so important to acknowledge how great these people are and how well they're doing.”

“Beetlejuice Jr.” — oh no, his name’s been said a third time! — opens March 27 and runs through April 5, with showtimes at 7 p.m., and matinées at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. For tickets go to pondodrama.com.

Photos by Odin Rasco

Lydia Deetz (Dylan Neves) is none to thrilled with Beetlejuice’s (David Seeley) high jinks.

BETWEEN THE COVERS

‘Stay, Girl’ is a heart-warming story

Mimi Escabar

Special Sections Editor

Shingle Springs author Angelica R. Jackson’s latest book “Stay, Girl” is a charming tale of a young girl and dog. Both have trust issues and have suffered abuse and neglect. They travel different roads but end up in a caring situation that fosters a bright future.

This positive tale takes place in California’s Central Valley in 1953 and references some familiar places for El Dorado County readers.

Bet Carter, the central figure, deals with a dying mother and the wrath

of a stepfather who is a conman with a history of violence. He has plans for 13-year-old Bet to enter his line of work but the death of her mother sends the young girl on a desperate escape plan. As Bet’s mother lies dying she tells her about an uncle who lives in the small town of Amberfields. After her mother’s last breath Bet immediately runs from the horrible fate the stepfather has in her future. Her plan is to stop at her uncles and then head to Oregon to meet up with a friend and work in a logging camp.

At Uncle Earl’s she is welcomed by not only her

uncle but many of the residents of Amberfields. One special resident, a foster dog named Penny, plays a prominent role in shaping her future. She also factors into Penny’s future.

See how Bet and Penny mend each other’s vulnerable spirits in “Stay, Girl,” which is a reference to an obedience command.

Meet author Angelica R. Jackson at Face in a Book, 4359 Town Center Blvd. in El Dorado Hills, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 23 to celebrate her new novel. Joining Jackson will be representatives of NorCal Freedom for Paws, an organization

dedicated to finding “furever” homes for surrendered pets. NorCal Freedom for Paws will be bringing some of its eager adoptables. Both Face in a Book and Jackson will be donating from the proceeds. Jackson is hoping some matches are made for dogs and families at the event.

For more information call (916) 941-9401.

Besides writing Jackson is an artist and avid naturalist. She is currently owned by a feisty miniature Pinscher/Nibblonian mix named Finn. She is the author of the awardwinning Faerie Crossed series.

New acquisitions celebrate women artists across centuries

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

News release

AN FRANCISCO

S— The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are pleased to announce the acquisition of five works of art by noteworthy women artists Angelica Kauffman, Grace Fletcher, Claude Raguet Hirst, and Bisa Butler. Spanning the Fine Arts Museums’ collection of European paintings, American art, and costume and textile arts, these works highlight significant women artists working across a span of centuries and a range of techniques, media and subject matter.

“This remarkable group of acquisitions speaks to the Fine Arts Museums’ commitment to deepening our audiences’ understanding of women artists’ vital contributions to art history,” said Thomas P. Campbell, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. “We

are proud to make Kauffmann, Fletcher, Hirst and Butler’s work accessible to audiences.”

Angelica Kauffman was among the most famous artists of her time, celebrated in England, Italy, and across continental Europe. A financially successful portraitist, pioneering figure in the traditionally male field of history painting, and co-founder of the Royal Academy of Arts, she played a key role in the emergence of Neoclassicism.

“Celadon and Amelia (Summer)” and “Palemon and Lavinia (Autumn)” are intimate, jewel-like paintings on copper, each illustrating a section from “The Seasons,” a then-wellknown pastoral poem published between 1726 and 1737 by the Scottish poet James Thomson. In the first scene, derived from the “Summer” section of Thomson’s poem, the maiden Amelia is struck by lightning, crumpling, lifeless, to the ground, as her lover, Celadon, looks on in anguish, wringing

his hands and searching the heavens in vain for help. In the second scene, taken from the “Autumn” section of the poem, Lavinia, a maiden of noble birth fallen on hard times and earning her living as a humble gleaner, attracts the admiration of Palemon, a wealthy landowner, who, drawn by her beauty, proposes marriage.

“These intimate paintings demonstrate Kauffman’s technical skill at its very sharpest, combining graceful modeling and skillfully drawn figures with extraordinarily fluid, watercolor-like, handling of oil paint,” stated Emily A. Beeny, chief curator of the Legion of Honor and Barbara A. Wolfe, curator in charge of European Paintings.

“They predict the innovations of Romantic painters of the next generation as Eugene Delacroix.”

“Celadon and Amelia (Summer)” and “Palemon and Lavinia (Autumn)” will be on view at the Legion of Honor this fall as part of the refreshed installation of European Art featuring newly acquired works celebrating the Legion of Honor 100, a yearlong celebration of the museum’s centennial.

Fletcher, who worked for trading companies throughout East Asia and specialized in importing silk fabrics.

San Francisco artist Grace Fletcher was a member of the National Association of Women Artists, founded in 1889 to support women artists in the maledominated art world. In 1881 she married businessman Horace

“Cherry Blossoms in a Vase” depicts a Japanese vase, folding screen, and silk textile, exemplifying Japonisme, the vogue for Japanese art and decorative arts that flourished after the United States forced the opening of Japan’s ports to foreign trade in 1854, much of it passing through San Francisco. The yellow vase is decorated with a flock of cranes — traditional symbols of good fortune, loyalty and longevity. The abundant cherry blossom branches, with falling flower petals captured in mid-air, highlight the short-lived nature of the delicate spring blossoms and by extension of life itself.

“Fletcher’s still life exemplifies the ideals of the European and American Aesthetic Movement, which embraced ‘art for art’s sake’ and celebrated beauty in all aspects of life,” said Timothy Anglin Burgard, distinguished senior curator and Ednah Root, curator in charge of American Art. “The painting’s Japanese influences reflect San Francisco’s long history as a gateway city, where Japanese art and ideas have shaped the cultural landscape.”

“Cherry Blossoms in a Vase” is now on view in the galleries of American art at the de Young museum.

Claude Raguet Hirst was the only American woman to achieve critical and commercial success as a painter of trompe l’oeil (“fool the eye”) still lifes in the late 19th century. Her paintings introduced new perspectives to the masculine “bachelor still-life” tradition by

reflecting her personal experiences, which she incorporated into intimate compositions that subtly disrupted the gendered norms of her subjects and era.

Many of Hirst’s best works celebrate the love of reading, and New York Evening Sun stands out for featuring both a book and a newspaper. Her works were painted at a time when, in many social spheres, books were often coded as symbols of intellectual pursuits grounded within male-dominated spaces. Hirst’s interest in painting reading materials was unconventional and subversive, challenging societal expectations of women’s roles.

“The painting New

York Evening Sun features objects tied to men’s leisure — a newspaper, pipe, and book — while the Evening Sun newspaper itself was noteworthy for its deliberate attempts to appeal to all readers regardless of gender,” said Lauren Palmor, Associate Curator of American Art. “Hirst’s decision to paint such ‘bachelor stilllifes’ with a distinctly feminine perspective distinguished her in a genre dominated by men artists.” “New York Evening Sun” is now on view in the galleries of American art at the de Young museum.

Artist Bisa Butler creates vibrant quilted

Art courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Above, “Celadon and Amelia (Summer),” left and “Palemon and Lavinia (Autumn),” right, are painting on copper illustrating a section from “The Seasons” a pastoral poem published between 1726 and 1737 by Scottish poet James Thomson. Below, “Cherrry Blossoms in a Vase” exemplifies the vogue for Japanese art that flourished after the U.S. forced the opening of Japan’s ports to trade in 1854.

RENO, Nev. — Late-Nite Productions & One

Entertainment present a Tribute to Red Hot Chili Peppers featuring Red NOT Chili Peppers on Friday, March 28 at Cypress in Midtown Reno. Red NOT Chili Peppers pay tribute to the ultimate funk rock quartet: a band who has developed one of the largest die-hard followings in the world by transcending four decades of chart-topping success. Combining nostalgic hits, full throttle energy and

thanks to the generous

virtuosic performances, the Red Nots channel the raging party that has given the Chili Peppers international acclaim.

Formed in 2009, the Red NOT Chili Peppers quickly rose to become the nation’s most active Chili Pepper tribute as well as spanning the globe through Dubai, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. With world-class musicians on the roster, the Red Nots have stopped at nothing to develop the most accurate re-creation of the distinctive alternative funk rock sound pioneered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. For tickets and more information visit LateNiteProductions.com.

made possible by the J. Burgess and Elizabeth Jamieson Endowment Fund. The acquisitions of “Celadon and Amelia (Summer)” and “Palemon and Lavinia (Autumn)” were made possible by the Grover

Art courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“All the Power to the People (after Man with Afro, San Francisco, California, by Leon Borensztein, 1984)” by Bisa Butler draws from an archival photo by Bay Area photographer Leon Borensztein.

Rick Estrin to celebrate guitarist, Little Charlie Baty

SEstrin & The Nightcats will celebrate the life and legacy of late guitarist Little Charlie Baty, the titular leader of Estrin’s previous band, Little Charlie & The Nightcats. The 4th annual celebration concert will take place at Harlow’s in Sacramento on March 27 at 7 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the celebration will be donated to the Sacramento Blues Society’s Little Charlie Baty Memorial Music Scholarship. Famously, master guitarist Little Charlie Baty never played the same song the same way twice. Guitar World said, “Baty’s straight blues playing is eye-popping ... inspired and manic blues guitar. He can sting like Buddy Guy and swing like Tiny Grimes.” Baty fronted jazz trio Little Charlie & Organ Grinder Swing and played regularly with his blues colleagues Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson and Anson Funderburgh. The show takes place on Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at Harlow’s in Sacramento. For more information visit harlows.com.

ACRAMENTO — Rick

by Will Shortz No. 0217

compositions to the Church of Our Saviour in Placerville at 4 p.m. Reservations can be made at (530) 391-4588. Proceeds will go to the preservation of the historical church.

Katie Fry will perform at 4 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.

Ed Wilson will play at the Placerville Speedway from 4-6 p.m. Steppin Out will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Shadow Ranch Vineyards in Fairplay will host a Blending Party multiple times throughout the day starting at noon. Try your hand at being a winemaker for a day. Visit shadowranch.com.

California Museum in Sacramento presents a film premiere of “Voices, Chinese Women of the Delta” at 1 p.m. For more information visit californiamuseum.org.

Tempest – Celtic Rock will perform at 7 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.

Join the Sunset Safari at the Sacramento Zoo. As the sun sets and dusk settles in many zoo animals become more active. Witness interesting animal behaviors while joining a staff-guided tour throughout the zoo, 4:30-7:30 p.m. and designed for families and groups. For tickets and more information visit saczoo.org/evening-programs.

March 23

Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts author Angelica Jackson, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to celebrate her new novel, “Stay, Girl.” It’s the story of a girl in need who finds healing through her love for a neglected dog. Meet the author along with representatives of NorCal Freedom for Paws, an organization dedicated to finding “furever” homes for surrendered pets. Call (916) 941-9401. Music on the Divide presents Branden and James, classically inspired pop duo. For tickets and more information go to musiconthedivide.org. Red’s Blues Band will perform at 3 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.

March 25

Vitalant will hold an El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX Theater blood drive noon to 3:45 p.m. Donors will receive one in-hand Fandango movie voucher. Donors will also be entered into a Vitalant drawing for a chance to win one of two $5,000 gift cards. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM486 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

March 26

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host a Park Party at Oak Knoll Park from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy food, music, and family friendly activities and games at your local park. Be sure to bring your picnic blanket. This is a free event. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

Buckeye Union School District hosts its 12th Heritage Festival, 5-7 p.m. at Valley View Charter Montessori in El Dorado Hills. More than a dozen booths will showcase different countries, sharing information about their culture. The event will also feature performing groups, including the Aloha Dancers, the Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion program choir and students from the district doing dances to represent their home country.

Folsom Lake College Music Department presents a Student Showcase at 6 p.m. at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more details visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

March 27

Caregiver Support Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane in El Dorado Hills. This is a free caregiver support group to provide caregivers of people with dementia opportunities to share and engage with each other for resources, understanding and support.

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce will host a chamber mixer at Marco’s Café from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.

Know Continued from B1 n See KNOW, page B6

Courtesy photo

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats will play Harlow’s in Sacramento.

Encourage pollinators to visit

Whether someone has a large or small garden, everyone can benefit from learning to create home landscapes that support bees, butterflies and other pollinators. At the March 25 general meeting of the El Dorado County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, by Zoom from 7- 9 pm. attendees will watch a video by famed ecologist and educator Doug Tallamy, Ph.D. on ways to encourage pollinators in the garden. The video will be followed by Q&A and discussion led by local native plant experts and CNPS board members Debra Ayres and Marie (Kit) Veerkamp. Viewers will learn about different pollinators and their host plants, ground covers to plant in place of lawn, examples of invasive plants, appropriate plants for meadows and for wet areas, differences

between specialist and generalist pollinators, native fruit trees, and more.

Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. With a keen interest in the ecological implications of non-native plants on biodiversity, Dr. Tallamy has emerged as a leading voice in the fields of conservation and sustainable gardening. He holds a bachelor’s from Allegheny College, a master’s from Rutgers, and a Ph.D. in

Entomology from the University of Maryland. He has penned several significant books including “Bringing Nature Home,” “The Living Landscape” and “Nature’s Best Hope.”

To register for the Zoom meeting visit tinyurl.com/EDCCNPS-03-25-25-meet.

The El Dorado Chapter of California Native Plant Society is active in educating about as well as identifying and protecting the many endemic plants of the area. To learn more about native plants and CNPS, visit cnps.org or eldoradocnps.org.

Traci RockefellerCusack News release

SACRAMENTO — Sacramento area museums are proud to present a variety of special membership opportunities during Museum Membership Month happening throughout the month of March. The benefits of museum membership extend well beyond financial savings and often include exclusive experiences only available to members.

Plus, there’s something for everyone — art, science, history and culture — as the local museum community offers memberships at virtually every museum and/or destination.

To highlight Museum Membership Month, many local museums are offering special incentives and discounts.

California Museum

Unlock extended benefits at the home of the California Hall

of Fame. New and returning members who sign up between March 1-31 will receive three extra months free. Visit californiamuseum.org/ membership.

Crocker Art Museum

New members receive three free months of membership when they join using promo code 3FREE during March. Visit crockerart.org/ join.

Sacramento Children’s Museum

Apply the code SCM20 during checkout to enjoy a $20 discount on any new or renewed membership. Visit sackids.org.

Sacramento History Museum

New members joining in March receive two additional months of membership. Visit

sachistorymuseum.org.

In addition to these special incentives membership has special privileges (which vary by museum) and can include free museum entrance all year long, special invitations to member-only events and receptions, preview and/or behind-thescenes opportunities for new exhibits and offerings, free guest admission passes, discounts at museum stores and/or advance purchase opportunities on special programs and events, reciprocal admission at museums across the nation and more. For more information about membership month and other museum events visit sacmuseums.org or got to Facebook. com/sacmuseums, Instagram and Twitter: @sacmuseums.

Courtesy photo by Steven Perry

Rosa bridgesii, or pygmy rose or Sierran rose, with bee.

Ponderosa High School Theater presents “Beetlejuice Jr. the Musical” through April 5. For tickets and more information visit pondodrama.com.

Theatre at the Mine at Union Mine High School presents “The Wizard of Oz” through April 5. For tickets and more information visit onthestage.tickets/ union-mine-high-school.

Anthony Arya and Jonny Mojo Duo will perform, 7-10 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Join the Women’s Fund El Dorado for its 2025 Ballot Showcase. Guests can meet one-on-one with each

of the 17 local nonprofits that will be highlighted. This is a free event and registration is requested, visit womensfundeldorado.app.neoncrm. com/np/clients/womensfundeldorado/ eventRegistration.jsp?event=3171&.

Now

Oak Ridge High School Theater presents “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn, with performances through March 22. For tickets and more details visit ortab.org.

Atrium Gallery EDH in El Dorado Hills Town Center presents Hidden Kiss, a solo artist exhibit featuring Lin Fei Fei, through March 22. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom presents Art Movement in Fiber — a juried exhibition of quilts by the members of SAQA Northern California and Northern Nevada Region — through March 27. For more information call (916) 4616601 or visit folsom.ca.us.

The Stage at Burke Junction presents “Lobby Hero” through March 30. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

Miraflores Winery in Placerville, hosts Soup Sunday through March 30.

Receive a complimentary cup of soup when coming to wine taste from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or while supplies last. Call (530) 647-8505 for a tasting reservation

or email info@mirafloreswinery.com.

Sierra Wildlife Rescue hosts classes through April 6 at 777 Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. For more information visit sierrawildliferescue.org or call (530) 621-2650.

Shadow Ranch Vineyards in Fair Play, hosts Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sundays through April 6. Enjoy delicious grilled cheese sandwiches with a side of red pepper and tomato soup. For reservations call (530) 620-2785.

TooGood Winery in Fairplay will host Bottle Your Own Wine events 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through March 30. Visit toogoodwinery.com for information.

California Museum in Sacramento presents Our War Too: Women in Service through May 4. For more details visit californiamuseum.org.

Tickets are on sale now for the Green and Gray Gathering in support of the Ponderosa High School Foundation. Visit pondofoundation.com for details. Register now for the first Ron Mansfield Memorial Scholarship Bowling Tournament on March 22 at Knotty Pine Lanes in Pollock Pines. Help raise funds for local students seeking education in agriculture. The event will include local wines and auctioning great prizes. For more information visit edcf. fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket.

“I’ve noticed some changes, and care about your well-being...”

Knowing When it’s Time to Discuss Assisted Living

e goal is always maintaining independence and a quality lifestyle. The following are signs it could be time to consider Assisted Living.

❏ Di culty with Daily Tasks: Struggling with cooking, cleaning, shopping, or managing household chores.

❏ Safety Concerns: Experiencing frequent falls, accidents, or feeling unsafe at home.

❏ Health & Medication Management: Having trouble keeping track of medications or scheduling doctor appointments.

❏ Declining Physical Abilities: Noticeable decreases in strength, mobility, or endurance that make everyday activities challenging.

❏ Cognitive Changes: Increased forgetfulness, confusion, or di culty making decisions.

❏ Social Isolation: Feeling lonely, isolated, or experiencing a decline in social interactions and engagement.

❏ Family Concerns: Loved ones expressing worry about safety, health, or overall well-being.

❏ Maintenance Challenges: Struggling to keep up with home maintenance, nances, or daily self-care routines.

If you have questions or it’s time to take the next step, Ponté Palmero is here to help.