The Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors voted last week to exercise the 30-day termination without cause clause in General Manager Alan Gardner’s contract.
A special meeting was scheduled Feb. 3 at which the directors were expected to discuss the appointment of former El Dorado Hills Fire Chief Maurice Johnson as the interim general manager.
“The board of directors certi ed that the appointment of Maurice Johnson as interim general manager is critically necessary to maintain organizational leadership, continuity of operations, re serve annexation, pending employment challenges and operational readiness,” the agenda item reads.
Johnson retired from the EDH Fire Department in December 2024 a er serving as chief since March 2019. He told Village Life prior to the CPCSD meeting he wants to help where he’s needed but hadn’t committed to accepting the job.
“We’ll have a discussion and see where it takes us,” he said. Visit VillageLife.com for an update a er directors report out of closed session following the Monday night meeting.
The possible addition of Johnson to the CPCSD sta comes at a time when the EDH Fire Department is considering annexing the Cameron Park Fire Department into its service area. Conversations began last summer and o cials with both districts have commented over the last serval months that negotiations are moving forward.
Board members had been at odds with now former ■ See CPCSD page A7
Valley View drives away with art contest win
school’s gate to allow an El Dorado Transit bus onto campus. For the second time in as many years a
“Two years in a row!” Valley View Charter Montessori Principal Paul Stewart could hardly contain his excitement as he opened the El Dorado Hills
Noel Stack Editor
Mold has forced the temporary closure of El Dorado Hills Fire Station 86 on Bass Lake Road. Crews with Engine 86 and Medic 86 are currently operating out of a rented home nearby while damage is assessed and repairs are made.
“We want to get them back at the station as quickly as possible,” EDH interim Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal said, with the caveat that the mold is remediated and the station is safe for re ghters and the public.
The chief stressed there is no impact to public safety or response times.
The 24-year-old re station has a long history of water leaks, according to a sta report provided to the EDH Fire Board earlier this month. Recent leaks around the building’s roof and windows resulted in visible mold and more was discovered when the vinyl wallpaper was pulled away from the walls, the
report states. Late last year a company was hired to remove mold initially found in November 2024.
“A er the remediation by Green Bee Restoration, the mold test company came back on Dec. 27, 2024, for a retest. The mold retest report identied additional mold in the station,” the report explains. “On Jan. 8, Green Bee Restoration arrived back at Station 86 and found multiple di erent locations of mold in the station around the doors, windows, ceiling tiles and in the attic areas. The re station was deemed unsafe due to the mold with the exception of the apparatus oor areas.” Fire department o cials have developed a three-step plan to solve the problem.
Phase 1: Tear out all wallpaper and remediate any mold located behind wallpaper. Remove all ceiling tiles and ■ See FIRE STATION, page A7
Village Life photo by Noel Stack
Valley View Charter Montessori Principal Paul Stewart, right, takes a photo of winning artist Savannah Mathew, 13, center, who is posing in front of her bus art with art teacher Melody McCahon.
Noel Stack Editor
Noel Stack Editor
Now
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays” through Feb. 16. For tickets and more details call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.
El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts a Mom Walk on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Meet at the amphitheater.
Imagination Theater at the El Dorado Fairgrounds presents “Stuart Little, The Musical” through March 2. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.
EDH Cars and Co ee invites car people to meet up and hang out Saturdays, 7-9:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the right-side parking lot of the Regal movie theater in El Dorado Hills Town Center. Everyone and every type of vehicle is welcome. The motto is “If it rolls, it goes.”
El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts a year-round farmers market Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. behind Nibblers.
Feb. 8
A free House of Worship Security symposium with law enforcement takes place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hills Church, 800 White Rock Road in El Dorado Hills. For more information email Sgt. Steve Scho eld at scho es@edso.org.
Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts a storytime hour with JaNay Brown-Wood, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Her new book, “On Our Way! What a Day!” is a joyful tribute to music, creativity and grandmothers. For more information call (916) 941-9401.
Rescue Community Center hosts its annual Crab Feed Fundraiser. Enjoy all-you-can-eat crab. For tickets and more information visit rescuecommunitycenter.com.
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host a Mommy and Me Dance at the CSD gym. Pre registration is required. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org. Cameron Park Community Services District will host Ties and Tiaras from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Cameron Park CSD Assembly Hall. For more information visit cameronpark.org.
Feb. 9
Atrium Artists Gallery EDH at the El Dorado Hills Town Center will host a closing reception for Life is Our Canvas, 1-4 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
Feb. 10
Snowline Health Dementia Connection hosts Addressing Dementia Challenging Symptoms of Supporting Mood and Sexuality Complications at Foothills Church, 2380 Merrychase Drive, Cameron Park, 1:30-3 p.m. For more information call (530) 621-7820 or email dementia@snowlinehealth.org.
Feb. 11
Snowline Health Dementia Connection hosts free Caregiver Support and Activity Enrichment groups at Foothills Church, 2380 Merrychase Drive, Cameron Park, 1-2:30 p.m. For more information call (530) 621-7820 or email dementia@snowlinehealth.org.
The El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society will host a Zoom meeting at 6 p.m. to hear Melinda Kashuba present A Strategy For Locating Regional, Neighborhood and Site-Speci c Map Resources in searching for family ancestors. Contact Pat Kriz at patkriz@earthlink.net if you wish to join the presentation.
Feb. 13
The El Dorado Hills Chamber will host a ribbon cutting for the new Marshall Foundation for Community Health O ce at 3581 Palmer Drive, Suite 101, Cameron Park from 5-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host a Valentines Day Luncheon for seniors. Registration ends when the event is full or Feb. 11, whichever comes rst. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
The Atrium Artists Gallery in the El Dorado Hills Town Center will host an opening reception of the upcoming exhibit, Hidden Kiss with featured artist Lin Fei Fei. The event takes place from 4-8 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com. El Dorado Hills Town Center will host Valentine’s Day Carriage Rides with Top Hill Ranch from 4-8 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
Soroptimist International of Placerville will host A Chocolate A air Reimagined, An Evening in Paris at the Shingle Springs Community Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information visit givebutter.com/c/zYiSGj.
Feb. 20
Join the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce for its annual Installation & Business Awards Dinner at the Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills. For more information or to register visit eldoradohillschamber.org.
Air Force Auxiliary prepares ambitious local teen for military academies
News release
The U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron 85 has been a successful springboard for scores of local youth who are dedicated to qualifying for appointment to a military academy. Since 1980, the squadron has been educating and training area youths in aerospace, leadership, emergency services, military customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies and physical tness. Many local cadets have received appointments to West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy and the South Carolina Military Academy (The Citadel). In 2023, cadet Meth Ranaweera began attending the Citadel and in 2024 cadet Lucas Roth began attending the Air Force Academy.
This year, high school senior and past Cadet Commander Brock Buak used a combination of academics, athletics and community service to achieve something extremely rare — appointments to four military academies. West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy all sent formal appointments to this young man. He also received a full scholarship to Army ROTC should he choose that route.
Brock attends Union Mine High School where he is on the football, baseball, and wrestling teams. He has served as president of his school’s
National Honor Society, as a two-term president of the Key Club and as executive o cer of the California Cadet Corps. By the end of his junior year, he had earned two associate degrees from Sierra College in Rocklin.
Outside of school, sports and Civil Air Patrol, Brock works on his family’s farm in
Shingle Springs by raising pigs, sheep, chickens and rabbits. Brock is weighing his academy options but plans to make his nal decision by April. His career goal is to serve his country as a military o cer in either civil engineering or military intelligence. His squadron wishes him success. Founded in 1941 and established as the o -
as a nonpro t organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education and to promote general aviation. For more information visit about the local cadet squadron visit the website at wedgehunters.cap.gov.
cial civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress
Photo by Cadet Capt. Hudson Musial
Pictured from left to right: Capt. Richard Barb, Cadet Maj. Brock Buak and Capt. Steve Anderly hold up the many appointments Brock received.
FIREFIGHTERS FUEL THE FLAMES
Noel Stack Editor
The call came in Jan. 23 for a structure fire in El Dorado Hills with victims possibly trapped in a burning home. El Dorado Hills and Folsom firefighters jumped into action, ready to save the day ... after setting the scenario themselves.
The event was part of a three-day exercise at the El Dorado Hills Fire Department Training Center where first responders honed their skills in a controlled environment so they will be ready when a real emergency is broadcast over the radio.
“This allows us to practice in a real, live fire environment,” EDH Fire Training Capt. Mark Ali explained. “We put all that training together so we can become better.
“(The training) heightens our awareness so we understand what it’s like with the smoke, the fire,” he continued. “We understand how to use our equipment like the thermal imaging cameras.”
Smoke poured out the front door as firefighters breached the entrance of one of the mock houses built at the site in the EDH Business Park. Teams arrived and followed the direction of Incident Commander Matt Eckhardt, who assigned crews to find the source of the fire and put it out while others searched for the victims.
“We have just minutes and every second counts to find victims inside,” Ali said, explaining that training like this is vital to saving real people in danger. With every minute that passes, the likelihood of finding people alive drastically diminishes.
Firefighters got to see how flames move through a structure and how to navigate smoke-filled rooms and tight spaces. At one point the blaze poured into the stairwell, creating a column of fire that crews had to tackle. Fire hoses did their jobs well in knocking down the flames — not to mention misting the media documenting the exercise from a safe distance. By the end of the week, all three shifts at EDH Fire had completed the training. After each event, participants, led by Ty Dennis, sat down to discuss what went right, problems encountered and how to get even better next time.
EDH Fire Community Emergency Response Team members assisted firefighters before and after each event, making sure participants had full air tanks and plenty of water, among other tasks.
Ali said he was grateful EDH Fire has such a great training facility where they can work together and get better at their jobs.
Photo courtesy of Capt. Mark Ali
Firefighters watch the way flames move after the fire takes off in a burn room at
Village Life photos by Noel Stack
EDH Fire Capt. Brenton Warren performs CPR on a “victim” pulled from the burning building during last month’s training exercise. below Incident Commander Matt Eckhardt calls out orders over the radio at the start of the training event.
EDH Fire Training Capt. Mark Ali holds one of the infrared cameras firefighters use to locate fires and victims inside smoke-filled buildings and homes.
Find out how much your home is really worth in today’s market!
Traffic problems plague people in proximity of Ponderosa
Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
Nearly every morning — more speci cally, every morning when Ponderosa High School is in session — residents living o Minesha Lane in Shingle Springs say they have to contend with a parade of cars speeding by and ignoring posted tra c signs on their way to the school.
The issue has been ongoing for more than a decade, when PHS recon gured its parking lot layout in the early 2010s. The recon guration created an access route that was a straight shot across Ponderosa Road onto Minesha Lane, a small, residential road. Some drivers quickly shi ed their routes, using Minesha as an uno cial shortcut to shave a minute or two o their trip to school by avoiding the tra c backup along Ponderosa.
Resident Frank Kopita has been trying to advocate for improved tra c safety along Minesha Lane and neighboring Elf Wood Lane since at least 2013, when the Mountain Democrat published a story about tra c woes in the area. Kopita has lived in the area since building a home on Minesha Lane — the second one, when
the lane was still just a dirt road — in 1984; he later moved a few houses over to Elf Wood Lane in 2002.
“Back in 2013, I went to the school, I went to the county and I went to the California Highway Patrol to try and get something done about kids speeding, or parents just waiting on the lane in their cars for pickup time,” Kopita explained. “Eventually, they did
change the entryway to the parking lot, putting up no access signs and changing the ow so drivers don’t cut across from Minesha . But, the problem is, people now are just driving through anyway, illegally.”
Kopita made sure he gathered facts to back his claims up and his numbers are less than encouraging. He reported that during multiple days in January, 108-115 cars
William Nick Kanellis
June 26, 1940 – October 15, 2024
William Nick Kanellis, affectionately known as “Bill,” passed away on October 15, 2024, in El Dorado Hills, California at the age of 84. Born in Athens, Greece on June 26, 1940. Bill’s life was a testament to hard work, passion, and a deep love for his Greek heritage. After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force, Bill embarked on a remarkable career spanning over fifty years in automobile sales management. His expertise, dedication, and charisma left an indelible mark on colleagues and customers alike.
Bill was renowned for his vibrant Greek Easter celebrations and his pride in sharing the traditions of his homeland. A gifted storyteller with a love of history, he chronicled his journey to America in his book, “Bill The Greek.”
An avid socializer and entertainer, Bill found joy in bringing people together. He had a wide array of hobbies that reflected his zest for life: West Coast swing dancing, cooking, barbecuing, fly fishing, painting, gardening, decorating, and playing cards - especially pinochle.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Terri; his son Billy; daughter Sheila; granddaughter Amy; stepdaughters Katie and Diana; stepson Peter; step-grandsons Jason and Riley; and three step great-grandsons: Jayden, Jayce and Jaylen. He is preceded by his parents Nick Canelis and Helen Kotsakis.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring to honor Bill’s memory and the joy he brought to those who knew him. Details will be posted on legacy.com when determined.
May Bill’s legacy of love, laughter, and tradition continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to share in his remarkable journey. His life was enriched by the deep bonds he shared with his family and friends, who found in him a constant source of strength and inspiration. His generous spirit and vibrant personality will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
drove along Elf Wood and Minesha lanes to get to Ponderosa Road (multiple times more cars than there are even residents on the two lanes); of those 100-plus vehicles, around 43 swerved past the plastic bollards intended to block cars from entering the high school’s parking area from Minesha Lane. Of
special note, Kopita said he spotted one car that swerved past the barrier, then came to a stop while still adjacent to the intersection as the passenger, a student, hopped out and pretended to push the vehicle forward.
“I’ve got to say, that’s a rst,” Kopita remarked.
One of the problems
Minesha and Elf Wood lane residents face is the lack of posted speed limit signs; according to Kopita, a resident put up an uno cial speed limit sign they had personally purchased, but it was later taken down by county o cials. Kopita explained he is concerned about safety because multiple residents in the area have young grandchildren who may be walking nearby.
“We cannot install speed limit signs because that stretch of the road doesn’t meet the Caltrans criteria,” explained county spokesperson Carla Hass. “The county is aware of the concerns at this location and has taken steps to reduce students crossing Minesha Lane, such as striping and installing some form of barriers.”
The local California Highway Patrol o ce has been made aware of the
issues. O cer Andrew Brown indicated patrols would be briefed, with the goal of increasing a presence in the area during peak tra c times. If those solutions prove ine ective, however, the last option open to the local residents has a he y price tag attached.
“I’ve been to the county to see what it would take to have the road vacated; it’ll take $50,000,” Kopita said. “If we could do it at an actually reasonable price, we would, but that’s too much.” If the lanes were to be vacated (meaning they would no longer be county-maintained) the neighborhood would have to get approval from the Tra c Advisory Committee, form a homeowner’s association, receive approval from the Planning Commission and, nally, receive approval from the Board of Supervisors. The estimated timeline for the process would take around a year, according to Hass. The costs for the vacation include $5,000 for sta time, $300 per year per resident for maintenance of the road and around $45,000 to install gates to stop motorists.
El Dorado County Grand Jury looking for new members
News release
The annual opportunity for citizens to take part in the El Dorado County Grand Jury process is here.
The grand jury is an excellent vehicle for committed persons to keep the government accountable to all the county’s residents. Applicants must be United States citizens, at least 18 years of age, cannot currently hold an elected o ce and have resided in the county for at least one year at the time of the swearing-in date.
The swearing in will commence in June 2025. The judges of the El Dorado Superior Court shall review all applications and select names from those submitted to be put into the jury pool. This pool will also consist of currently seated grand jurors who have been chosen to be held over from the prior year. Nineteen jurors as well as alternates are then selected in a random drawing from this pool.
The random drawing will be held in June 2025. Jurors are expected to be present for the “draw.” Jurors serve for a period of one year, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. A mandatory two-day training session, provided by the California Grand Juror’s Association and the county of El Dorado, will take place on June 26 & 27.
The El Dorado County Grand Jury is an investigative body (established in the
California State Constitution and Penal Code for all counties) to bene t county residents by providing oversight relative to the proper and legal operation of public entities. It is an arm of the superior court and a representative of the public but operates independently of direct court supervision.
The grand jury is a watchdog of governmental action. It is not a branch of the county, nor does the grand jury answer to the district attorney. The grand jury’s goal is to ensure that county, special district, and city governments are being e ectively run. The grand jury is not a jury for criminal trials. Typically, the grand jury looks at systems and processes. Although the jury has no enforcement authority, it does make recommendations through publication of a public nal report, usually published in June each year. These reports usually receive e ective press coverage. Each complaint the Jury accepts for investigation must be investigated thoroughly, seeking out and analyzing the facts prior to writing a report for publication.The grand jury cannot normally resolve or solve emergency situations. This is a time- consuming process and usually takes many months to complete.
For a complete description of the grand jury’s duties, as well as past grand
New NorCal area code is here
News release
The California Public Utilities Commission reminds Californians that the new 837 area code has been added as an overlay to the 530 area code region.
In June 2023, the CPUC approved the implementation of an area code overlay, which adds a second area code to the same geographic region served by the existing 530 area code. The 530 area code serves most of northeastern California, covering all or portions of Alpine, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba counties. It serves communities such as Chico, Davis, El Dorado Hills, Oroville, Paradise, Placerville, Red Blu , Redding, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Woodland and Yuba City, as well as unincorporated areas.
Starting on Jan. 31 customers in the 530 area code region may be assigned a number in the new 837 area code when they request new service or an additional line. Customers receiving an 837 area code will be required to dial 1 + the area code and phone number for all local calls, just as customers with telephone numbers from the 530 area code do today.
Facts about the 530/837 area code overlay
• Telephone numbers, including the current area code, will not change.
• The overlay does not a ect the price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call.
• Customers in the overlay region will continue to dial 1+10 digits for local calls within and between the overlay area codes, and 1+10 digits for longdistance calls.
• Customers still can dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 if those are available in their community.
How to prepare
• Customers should continue to identify their telephone number as a 10-digit number (3-digit area code + 7-digit telephone number) and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and others.
• Customers should ensure their websites, personal and business stationery, printed checks, advertising materials, contact information and personal or pet ID tags include the area code.
• Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 837 area code as a valid area code and should continue to store or program telephone numbers as 10-digit numbers. Some examples include but are not limited to: stored telephone numbers in contact lists in wireless or cordless phones, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, medical alert devices, safety alarm security systems and gates, ankle monitors and/or other similar equipment. For more information contact your telephone service provider or visit the CPUC’s website at cpuc.ca.gov.
Village Life photo by Odin Rasco
Although the county installed signs and plastic barriers to adjust the entry to the Ponderosa High School parking lot in the 2010s, a slew of drivers continue to ignore tra c rules and speed though nearby Mineshaft Lane as a shortcut to class.
The Gift of Kids, Inc.
Jennifer Tommasini
5130 Golden Foothill Parkway AND NEW SECOND LOCATION: 5041 Robert J. Mathews Pkwy., Suite 200 El Dorado Hills 916-521-1835 • www.thegiftofkids.net
I would like to thank everyone for their vote for #1 Favorite Daycare and continuing to trust us with your precious children. I love being part of this community and helping children learn and grow. With 4 children of my own (now 27, 24, 14 and 13), my own journey began in the daycare preschool eld because I was unhappy with the care and education I was receiving.
I have been blessed to have a large facility in El Dorado Hills where I employ 45 loving teachers and care for 200 children, and we are now expanding! We offer education and care for babies, Preschoolers, Pre-K, private Kindergarten, and school-agers, where we transport to 9 local schools. Don’t be fooled by our large size, our teachers make each classroom homey and warm. The kids have lots of outdoor space to play, we are on over an acre and have 7 large playgrounds, a soccer eld, and a an organic garden. The Gift of Kids outdoor area gives the kids space to explore, garden, and play on age appropriate playgrounds.
The teachers at The Gift of Kids Daycare and Preschool include talent that brings us music, yoga, and even Spanish on a daily basis. We have been working with soccer shots for over 10 years and
have a very creative curriculum! Teachers here are all educated in child development, CPR and First Aid certi ed, and make it a priority to continue their education.
The Gift of Kids Inc. is celebrating 25 years in business, with 15 years in our original location, Business Park 1, and I just purchased my new building at 5041 Robert J. Mathews Pkwy. We could not have done it without the many wonderful families here in the community that I have called home for 20+ years! Again... Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me live out my dream in a business that I love and families that continue to bless us with their children.
Daycare and Presch l Where Learning and Love go Hand in Hand!
Ages: 5 - 10 Years
Registration fee: $250
$8 Per Hour for Child Care School What We Offer:
Business Spotlight
Are your kids ready to tumble? take them over to Tumble Time in Cameron Park, a place where little ones can run and jump and climb to their hearts’ content.
Owners Jennifer Peters and Haylee Brown have created a fun environment at not one, but two large buildings where adventurous youngsters — crawling to shaving — can play. Tumble Time also offers some adult classes.
The pair purchased the business in 2021, having both worked there for many years. They also have years of experience in the gymnastics industry. Tumble Time originally opened its doors in 1998.
The facility offers recreational gymnastics, tumbling and cirque courses for youth as well as men’s and women’s competitive gymnastics for NGA levels 1-10. Tumble Time’s program has produced some state and national champions. Other programs focus on toddler and preschool age students and coming soon are courses for kids up to age 17.
“We’re really excited about that,” Peters shared.
The duo works behind the scenes, making sure the facility is safe, staff and instructors have everything they need and, of course, that the kids are having fun.
“I love seeing all the different personalities that come through here,” Brown said. “Watching the kids grow and evolve is really exciting.”
They pointed out that Tumble Time isn’t just for tumblers. The agility skills taught at the facility can be used in many sports and also help youngsters develop confidence so they’re ready for life’s challenges.
“We also do birthday parties,” Peters noted, adding that Tumble Time welcomes kids over spring break too — just in case parents were wondering how to work off some of that no-school energy. n 2668 Meadow Lane, Cameron Park (530) 677-3893 tumbletime.net
GM Gardner over some of his decisions during his year on the job, as was evident on Jan. 22 when his cost-recovery plan to charge a $10 parking fee at Cameron Park Lake once a new gate is installed prompted a bylaws change approved by directors.
Pushback on the parking fee, which many called excessive during conversations over the last several months, led to discussions about the general manager’s
of mold at this point. EDH Fire will then work with contractors to evaluate the roof and windows. The drill tower will also be evaluated for water intrusion, dry rot and possible mold. Repair or replacement determinations can be made with their updated assessment. This will drive the project timeline and a lot of the cost.
Phase 3: Texture and paint all walls, professionally clean the station and relocate Engine and Medic 86 back into the station. After the fire department moves out of the rented home, the property’s
ability to set fees/rates without seeking board approval. As outlined in the CPCSD bylaws, the general manager had that authority but directors wanted more input when setting fees. They unanimously approved a bylaw revision that requires the general manager to bring the fee-rate schedule to the board for final approval.
Gardner was hired in December 2023.
driveway will likely need repairs due to the weight of the fire engine.
“It’s going to be very expensive,” Lilienthal said of the entire project, adding that insurance might cover some of the costs. Thus far, the department has spent nearly $25,000 on mold remediation and rentals.
“The total project timeline is hard to estimate due to the uniqueness of the mold mitigation process,” the staff report notes. “Staff believes that this project has the likely potential to extend multiple months.”
A plan is also in the works to support staff who have been exposed to mold.
Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber off to a great start
Mimi Escabar Special Sections Editor
The Shingle Springs/ Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce membership is looking forward to a fabulous 2025 and got the year off to a successful start with its Business Awards and Installation of the Board of Directors luncheon.
Colette Thiel, 2024 and 2025 president, welcomed members and guests to the celebration at Red Hawk Casino’s Koto Buffet.
El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf dutifully handled the honor of installing the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2025: Colette Thiel, Thiel Real Estate, president; Amber Jaurequi, Geneva Financial, vice-president; Todd White, field representative for Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, secretary; Leanne Stoddard, Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber, treasurer; Angela Honoroff, Mary Kay Cosmetics, director; Bev Dierks, Blissful Gardens, director; Amanda Erskine, event coordinator, director; Paul Burke, Burke Insurance, director; and David Spencer, Greenway Home Services, director.
The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of
special awards. The Food Bank of El Dorado County was recognized with the Public Service Award presented by Joe Patterson, California State Assembly, 5th District. Mike Sproull accepted the award
couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm as students came outside for the unveiling and loudly cheered when Savannah Mathew’s name was announced at the Jan. 31 unveiling. The 13-year-old was surprised by the announcement, as well as the appearance of her parents and brother after her name had been called. She thanked El Dorado Transit and art teacher Melody McCahon while standing in front of the bus that features her hand-drawn picture of an El Dorado Transit bus. After weeks of deliberations and votes from staff, board members and the El Dorado County Office of Education employees, Savannah’s work was selected out of more than 100 submitted. The Design a Bus Wrap Contest was open to junior high school and high school students in El Dorado County. This year marks El Dorado Transit’s 50th anniversary and the theme of the contest was, “Then and Now: 50 Years and Beyond for El Dorado Transit.”
and thanked the community and the chamber for all the support given to the food bank. Todd White also presented a certificate to the food bank from California State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil. Thiel took the podium to
“We are excited to have Savannah’s winning artwork on one of our local buses,” said Erik Bergren, planning and marketing manager for El Dorado Transit. “Our buses typically travel 45,000 miles annually while transporting local riders, so Savannah’s design will be seen all over El Dorado County.”
Last year’s winning artwork completed by Nevaeh Smith, then of Valley View, continues to travel around the county. Stewart said he still gets pictures from staff, students and community members who spot the bus and can’t help but take a photo or a selfie. He credits his students’ success in the contest to teacher McCahon. “She takes art up a whole different notch,” Stewart said.
McCahon said she’s proud of Savannah’s effort and loves being a teacher at Valley View, where the administration and the district staff support art programs for all students.
announce the winner of the Larry Cameron Award — Fred Ott. This award is given for unselfish community service and continued support. One of the early organizers of the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber, Ott, now
jury reports and report responses, visit edcgov.us/GrandJury.
Jurors are regularly called upon to confer with government officials and other citizens to gain information and insight concerning matters under investigation. While being a grand juror is not a full-time job, it does require a substantial time commitment. This commitment includes attendance at full jury and committee meetings, investigating and preparing written reports. While each year the El Dorado County Grand Jury sets its own meeting schedule, jurors can typically expect to serve between eight and up to 30 hours per week, spread over two or three days. Investigative committee chairs and the Foreperson often serve more hours per week. Jurors can certainly take vacations during the session, but periods of absence exceeding two or three weeks, especially during the second half of the 12-month session, should be held to a minimum.
retired, still offers guidance and assists with many community endeavors.
Chamber Ambassador of the Year was Bev Dierks.
DNA Golf Academy earned the Start-up Business of the Year award.
For doing just about everything that needs to be done, Leanna Stoddard was named Chamber MVP.
Business of the Year went to James White Insurance. For her outstanding leadership and her commitment to the chamber, Thiel was presented with a special Leadership Award and a rose from Ott.
Thiel thanked everyone for making “the community a better place.” She invited all members to get involved and attend chamber events. To learn more email President@ sscpchamber.org.
The next Shingle Springs/ Cameron Park Chamber lunch is Feb. 27, 11:45 a.m. at Red Hawk Casino’s Koto Buffet, featuring guest speaker Amy Poole, executive director of the El Dorado Community Foundation. There is a Bags and Beans Cornhole event March 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Serene Ranch, 5601 Gold Hill Road in Placerville. For more information about competing or attending call (530) 677-8000 or go to sscpchamber.org.
This civic service is essentially volunteer, although jury meetings are compensated at the rate of $15 per day, and mileage is compensated at the existing IRS rate (currently $0.70/mile) for miles actually and necessarily traveled for purposes of grand jury sessions or committee work. Qualified citizens who have an interest in this unique and rewarding community service are encouraged to download the application at edcgov. us/GrandJury or pick up an application from Court Administration, 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 110, Placerville. The last date to apply this year is May 4. Submit applications online, in person or by mail to the El Dorado County Superior Court, 495 Main St., Placerville, CA 95667, Attn: Cindy Denton, Administrative Assistant. If you have any questions regarding the application process call or email Denton at (530) 621-6495 or cdenton@ eldoradocourt.org.
A dentistry that aims to be a home away from home
Jessica Cyphers Staff writer
For patients of Dale Stanec, Jr., DDS, going to the dentist feels a little like going home.
“We know all of our patients. They’re our friends,” said Dr. Stanec, who works alongside his wife and office manager, Elena, in his Cameron Park office. “The experience in our office is very personal. We’re very small and greet each patient by name when they walk in. It’s a comfortable, homey place to have dental work done, and we like it that way.”
Dr. Stanec has been in dentistry in the Cameron Park area since 2002. As a kid, he was “always into science and math” and loved the idea of owning his own business. “I ran a lawn-mowing business as a kid — always had some kind of business going — so becoming a dentist and owning my own practice just made sense,” said Dr. Stanec. Dr. Stanec did his undergraduate work at Cal Poly,
San Luis Obispo and then attended dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern in 2001 and says that, although he was born and raised in San Jose, it was a natural draw to open his practice in the foothills. “Elena and I love this area. We had a lot of family and friends here and thought it would be a great place to raise our kids.”
In his office, Dr. Stanec offers a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging from porcelain veneers and dental implants to crowns and bridges and more. Unlike many other dentists, Dr. Stanec doesn’t employ dental hygienists or other technicians but does all of his dental work himself.
“I spend a lot of one-on-one time with my patients. It’s fun for me to do the work myself because I get to spend more time with my patients and hang out with them and really get to know them. It makes it fun to do what I do,” said Dr. Stanec.
Another advantage of keeping his practice small is that, because he sees every patient one at a time, Dr. Stanec can be very thorough and immediately answer any questions that come up. He is also able to really respect his patients’ time. “I am almost always early or on time,” said Dr. Stanec. “My patients know that, so they’re usually early or on time for their appointments, too. It’s a win win for everyone.”
Dr. Stanec is located at 3955 Cameron Park Drive — in Cameron Park. His office is right near the Goldorado Shopping Center, directly across from the new Walgreens on Palmer Drive, and is very conveniently located for all of his patients. The move is just one more way Dr. Stanec shows his commitment to providing the best possible care for his patients.
“I look forward to going to work and getting to see who’s on the schedule every day,” said Dr. Stanec.
Village Life photos by Andrew Vonderschmitt
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2025, above left, pose for a photo. Left to right, Todd White, David Spencer, Angela Honoroff, Amanda Erskine, Bev Dierks, Amber Jaurequi, Leanne Stoddard and Colette Thiel take the oath of office at the installation luncheon last month. Above right, Assemblyman Joe Patterson, left, presents Mike Sproull of the Food Bank of El Dorado County with the Public Service Award.
Colette Thiel, Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber president, awards Fred Ott with the Larry Cameron Award for community service.
Continued
Grand jury
e spacious Independent Living apartments at Ponté Palmero mean you can continue your independent lifestyle with room to entertain friends and access to all the life-enriching community services and amenities we o er.
Floor plans up to 1,482 square feet | Private, attached garage | Full kitchen | In-suite laundry
You can continue to cook and entertain in your own home, or enjoy our chef-prepared meals in the community dining room with friends. We take away the worry of housekeeping and home maintenance, and provide social opportunities all month long. You can relax and spend your days with friends and family, and doing the things you enjoy most.
INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES FEATURES
• Kitchen with full-size appliances and granite counters
• Private patio
• Attached garage
• In-home washer and dryer
• High ceilings
• Housekeeping, laundry, and trash service
• Basic cable and utilities included — stay warm this winter!
• Pets welcome
COMMUNITY SERVICES & AMENITIES
• Restaurant-style dining
• Swimming pool, hot tub, and outdoor grills
• Clubhouse and tness center
• Library and full-service beauty salon
• Activities, clubs, outings, and celebrations
• Transportation services
• 24-hour emergency maintenance
• Gated electronic entrance
We also o er Assisted Living Villas & Memory Care apartments for a full continuum of care.
V illage H OMES
Lisa Paragary
CalBRE #01196924 (916) 247-1303
lisa@paragarymillerteam.com.
7547 Sangiovese Drive, El Dorado Hills
4,024 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
0.61-acre property
Listed at $2,395,000 MLS #225008832
Luxury living with stunning views
Discover this exceptional home with breathtaking hillside views and abundant natural light in the gated Serrano Country Club community.
Designed for elegance and comfort, this two-story home features 14-foot ceilings, new hardwood ooring and designer lighting.
Two attached garages ank the glass front door that opens into the expansive great room that ties together the living room, dining room and kitchen. Cozy up by the re on cold days. This living room focal point is surrounded by lovely brick and built-in shelving with bottom cabinets.
A modern chandelier lights the formal dining area, which features an accent wall with classic paneling.
The superb chef’s kitchen boasts granite slab countertops, a built-in Miele espresso machine, brand-new Wolf and Sub Zero appliances, pot ller, wine refrigerator and walk-in pantry.
Enjoy more casual meals in the kitchen’s dining space or take your plates out onto the balcony, which has its own built-in barbecue. The space is perfect for alfresco dining
and soaking in the view.
The home has four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. The main-level primary suite o ers balcony access, serene views plus a spa-like bathroom with a soaking sub and walk-in shower.
The lower level includes two bedrooms, a home o ce with a kitchenette and a ex room leading to the exquisite backyard. This outdoor oasis o ers the best for entertaining and relaxation with a modern pool, built-in spa, new outdoor kitchen and new landscaping plus ample seating space for large gatherings. Plans for a pool house are available.
Backing to a greenbelt with 17 miles of connected biking and hiking trails, this energy-e cient home includes an owned solar power system and custom automatic blackout shades. Other Serrano amenities are the award-winning golf course and country club. The gated community is close to shopping, restaurants, great schools and Highway 50.
Interested in this beautiful Sangiovese Drive property in El Dorado Hills? Contact Lisa Paragary at (916) 247-1303 or lisa@paragarymillerteam.com.
EDC Office of Education
Smade up of students from all academic levels — honors, scholastic, and varsity — who, throughout the season, demonstrated their expertise across seven rigorous objective tests, an essay, and speech and interview.
aturday, Jan. 25, culminated the El Dorado County Academic Decathlon, which showcased the talent of local high school students in various disciplines. Oak Ridge High School emerged as the victor, securing a spot in the upcoming state competition scheduled for March.
The regional competition featured intense showdowns between El Dorado, Ponderosa, Union Mine, and Oak Ridge high schools. Decathlon teams are
The following organizations helped to recruit volunteers: the Rotary Club of Placerville, Hands4Hope, El Dorado Union High School District Board of Trustees, El Dorado County Office of Education, Ag in the Classroom, Kiwanis Club of Placerville, Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil’s
Office, Thompsons Auto Group, and the California Retired Teachers Association El Dorado Div. 73. Dr. Ed Manansala, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools, expressed gratitude, stating, “We are privileged to be part of a community dedicated to the well-being and success of our students. Countless individuals have volunteered their time and effort to make this possible. I sincerely appreciate the EDCOE, EDUHSD team members, coaches, and many volunteers. These students recognize the power of education, and hard work and dedication drive them toward their hopes and dreams.” Amid the heated competition, Oak Ridge High School’s team, led by coach Jeff Hassian, claimed victory in the overall school standings and the Super Quiz Relay.
“In the 24 years of coaching the Academic Decathlon, I have never had a team as large and as deep as this one. My two team captains will be incredibly missed. Ethan Pham and Sophia Sumimoto worked so well together and lead the team by example. Our underclassmen have a bright future as they gained valuable insight into the Academic Decathlon process. Lastly, a big shout out to the El Dorado County Office of Education for recognizing the importance of Academic Decathlon and supporting our students in their
Courtesy
Local teens share the love with sick children
News release
Two high school students have found a way to give back to young patients and their families at Shriners Hospital this Valentine’s Day.
Norcal Gift From the Heart Foundation’s second annual Valentine’s Day Drive is under way and preparing to shower patients and their families with handmade Valentines and hundreds of toys and teen items on February 14.
Oak Ridge High School junior Aislynne Hartman and Ponderosa High School sophomore Sophia Alonso created their nonprofit, the Norcal Gift From the Heart Foundation, in 2024 with the mission of encouraging philanthropy among students in their community
n See VALENTINES, page B8
Cameron Park youth tackle hunger
News release
While the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to clash in Super Bowl 59, Cameron Park youth hope to make a big impact right before game day. Faith Episcopal Church’s youth group will hold a food drive for the Food Bank of El Dorado County, 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 9, helping sack hunger in El Dorado County.
“This is a Super Bowl tradition for Faith Church as we let our youth take charge and organize one of the largest food drives in the region,” said Rev. Tom Gartin, rector of Faith Episcopal Church. “Our congregation just wrapped up a month of collecting socks for those in the community who find it hard to stay warm this time of year and now we turn to the big day — when we usually stuff ourselves with food while cheering for our favorite team. Before all the fun begins,
we want to do our part to make sure everyone has access to healthy food.”
According to the California Association of Food Banks, the state produces nearly half the nation’s fruits and vegetables, yet one in eight Californians currently does not know where their next meal will come from.
The FEC youth group food drive is one of the largest single-day donations supporting the food bank, which supports 25 other organizations in the county that supply food to residents weekly. The food bank estimates it is feeding between 8,000 and 10,000 people each week.
Parishioners and community members can drop off food in the parking lot of the church. Youth will accept canned and non-perishable food donations. The food bank needs boxed cereals and pastas, canned soups, fruits, vegetables and meats. The church is located at 2200 Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.
Photo by Kellie Hartman
Best friends Aislynne Hartman, left, and Sophia Alonso hold up some of the donations ready for delivery to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
RUSD launches solar lease project to power the future
News release
Rescue Union School
District is excited to announce the launch of its districtwide Solar Lease Project, marking a significant milestone in sustainability and fiscal stewardship.
Construction has officially begun at Pleasant Grove Middle School, with completion targeted for spring 2025. The project involves the installation of freestanding solar structures across all seven district school sites.
The Solar Lease Project construction comes at no cost to the district’s general fund and is expected to provide significant districtwide savings over the next 25 years. These savings, guaranteed through the lease structure, will be reinvested in deferred maintenance and critical facility improvement projects at all seven schools. This strategic reinvestment ensures long-term enhancements that will directly benefit students, staff, and the RUSD community. The district used a competitive bid process in 2023 to select local solar com-
Enjoy
pany Excite Energy.
“Our partnership with Excite Energy, an El Dorado Hills-based contractor and proud Jackson Elementary family business, has been
a charitable
instrumental in getting this project under way,” said Superintendent Jim Shoemake. “Thanks to Excite Energy’s commitment and expertise, we’re taking a major step
‘evening in Paris’ this Valentine’s Day
Cindy Steiner
Soroptimist International of Placerville
Enjoy lovely French cuisine on Valentine’s Day with loved ones while at the same time making a nonprofit donation to an international philanthropic organization that benefits El Dorado County residents.
Join Soroptimist International of Placerville on Feb. 14 for An Evening in Paris at the Shingle Springs Community Center, 4440 S. Shingle Road.
Soroptimist International of Placerville is celebrating 86 years of service to the community and after a four-year hiatus, members have decided to reinvent its annual fundraiser, The Chocolate Affair, into a more intimate event. An Evening in Paris features a sit-down dinner, French cuisine and music, a live auction, wine pull and more. Bring loved one and enjoy a special Valentine’s
Pete r Vlautin
Day evening while supporting the community at the same time. Purchase tickets online at Chocolate-Affair. com.
Soroptimist International of Placerville’s mission provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. The nonprofit achieves this through several programs:
• Dream It, Be it provides career mentoring for high school girls.
• Live Your Dream gives grants to female heads of households who are continuing their education.
• Helping Hands, the signature service program of the Placerville club, provides $500 emergency grants to women for rent, electric bills, car repairs, etc.
• High school scholarships are given each year to high school senior girls — six scholarships for a total of $8,000 each year. For more visit siplacerville.org.
has over 45 years of Litigation Experience and a Masters (LL.M.) Degree in Taxation.
Member of California, Nevada, and U. S. Supreme Court Bar Associations
• Estates
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Peter P. Vlautin, III, J.D. LL.M.
1020 Suncast Lane #101, El Dorado Hills (916) 365-9734 • petervlautin.com
California State Bar #54733
Nevada State Bar #1475
toward a more sustainable and cost-efficient future for our district.”
While work has commenced at Pleasant Grove Middle School, the timelines for the remain-
ing six schools remain somewhat fluid, with the district anticipating the majority of installations will be completed by the end of 2025. Throughout this process, RUSD is
committed to transparency and will keep stakeholders informed through updates from our site principals and a dedicated section on our website, featuring detailed project updates, schematics and anticipated timelines for each site.
This solar initiative aligns with RUSD’s mission to provide highquality educational environments and reflects the district’s ongoing efforts to meet its board focus goals, particularly those related to fiscal accountability, facility improvement, and sustainability.
“We are incredibly grateful to our community for their overwhelming support for this project that was reflected in our community survey results,” added Shoemake. “This project not only positions us as a leader in environmental stewardship but also ensures that we are better positioned to address many of the deferred maintenance needs across all of our sites for years to come.”
For more information visit rescueusd.org or contact the district office at (530) 677-4461.
CDFW introduces angler app
News release
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announces the launch of a webbased platform called the California Inland Recreational Angler Survey, or CIRAS, that will provide the public with helpful fishing information driven by data submitted by anglers. The platform can be found at CIRAS.wildlife. ca.gov.
more than 200 metal angler survey boxes located throughout the state where anglers can record their fishing experiences on paper survey slips. While the ASB system is typically used to evaluate trout fisheries, the modern CIRAS platform will provide anglers with an opportunity to submit and interact with information about any sport fish from any fishable inland or anadromous water in the state. This means data on additional locations and fish species will be more accessible to the public than ever before. Historic data from ASBs will also be uploaded into CIRAS providing immediate utility for those fisheries while anglers begin to populate new locations and species data.
ter manage the lakes and streams and improve fishing opportunities.”
CDFW uses fishing survey data submitted by anglers to inform management actions to protect fisheries and improve angling opportunities. These surveys collect data directly from anglers about the fish they catch (or don’t catch). Data collected from angler surveys can include the species of fish caught, general fishing location and overall angling experience from a single fishing trip. This information can also serve as an alert for CDFW scientists when more robust surveys are necessary. CIRAS will complement, rather than replace, more intensive assessments conducted by trained staff.
CIRAS is powered by anglers for anglers. It allows anglers to submit data regarding their fishing trips and provides immediate access to aggregated sport fishing data through an interactive “Ready to Fish” dashboard. As a crowdsourcing platform, CIRAS requires a high level of participation among the full spectrum of California inland anglers’ fishing interests to drive the quality of fishing information it provides.
CIRAS exponentially expands the reach of CDFW’s Angler Survey Boxes, a network of
The web platform debuts its first phase for waters within CDFW’s North Central Region and will later be expanded statewide. While the new survey can be accessed using mobile devices, the platform currently requires internet connectivity to submit angling data. However, CDFW plans to incorporate off-line functionality in future phases.
“The CIRAS project represents a new opportunity for CDFW to better understand angler preferences and performance of fisheries, while also allowing anglers to access information to plan their next fishing trip,” said CDFW Fisheries Branch Chief Jay Rowan.
“By giving access to information that other anglers have entered into CIRAS, people will be able to see what species are present, catch rates, size distributions, and the time of year others are out catching fish.
CIRAS also provides an opportunity for anglers to contribute directly to scientific work at CDFW, which will help us bet-
CDFW encourages anglers fishing in CDFW’s North Central Region to contribute their catch information using this new platform. CDFW’s North Central Region encompasses all or parts of 17 counties, including Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento (east of Interstate 5), San Joaquin, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo (north of Interstate 80) and Yuba. Helpful resources about CIRAS are available on the CIRAS website under “Resources.”
It is the policy of CDFW to limit the collection and safeguard the privacy of personal information. CDFW is committed to promoting and protecting the privacy rights of individuals, as enumerated in Article 1 of the California Constitution, the Information Practices Act of 1977, and other state and federal laws.
Questions and comments regarding CIRAS can be submitted to CIRAS@wildlife.ca.gov.
Courtesy photo
Pleasant Grove Middle School is the first of seven Rescue Union School District sites to get solar panels installed.
Courtesy photo
CDFW will use fishing survey data submitted by anglers via CIRAS to inform management actions to protect fisheries and improve angling opportunities.
GROW FOR IT!
Your garden in the moonlight
Have you ever thought about creating a garden that would glow in the moonlight?
Wander around your yard some night and consider a place where you could enjoy a peaceful, quiet getaway in the evening and dark.
Kit
Smith UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County
To make it so, think about seating, nighttime garden art, subdued lighting for safety and subtle emphasis, interesting groupings and a wide and thoughtful assortment of plants in a cluster of pots or in the ground, either fragrant or unscented.
Based on the location and view, consider assorted forms, sizes, growth patterns and specifically the plants themselves, whether they are shrubs, vines, trees, bulbs, ground covers, herbs or flowers.
Moonlight glows on tree leaves with reflective surfaces such as the Pacific madrone, Arbutus menziesii, whose leaves are silver on top and reflective on the undersides. The olive tree, Olea spp., with its gray leaves and the gnarled appearance of the bark as they age, are beautiful when gently lit. Other plants with gray or silver leaves are the bushy shrub dusty miller, low to the ground and fuzzy lamb’s ear, Stachys byzantina, thyme and hosta. Some varieties of hosta shoot up petite white flowers. Moonlight is most iridescent on white and pastel blooms.
Some examples of plants that flower in the night are the aptly named white moonflower, Ipomoea alba. The Four O’clock, Mirabilis jalapa, opens at 4 p.m. The evening primrose, Oenothera speciosa, too, opens in the evening and closes in the morning. The taller night phlox ‘Midnight Candy,’ Zaluzianskya capensis, has purple buds that open to reveal glowing white centers. The daylily ‘Night Beacon,’ Hemerocallis citrina, boasts fragrant blooms in light yellow. The Oriental lily, Lilium ‘Casa Blanca,’ is magnificent in beauty and fragrance. The 3-inch-wide cup of narcissus ‘Night Cap’ is a stunning yellow, edged in coral. Night-blooming jasmine can be grown as a vine, shrub or groundcover and smells divine day
and night; it blooms around June. White daffodils, Narcissus ‘Obdam,’ Ice Follies,’ and ‘Thalia,’ radiate light in the late evening and early morning.
Think about planting fragrant flowering bulbs like hyacinth, freesia, iris and tuberose in the fall. Also, the gardenia shrub, with its beautiful fragrance blooms in summertime. Spring blooming Clematis armandii ‘Snowdrift’ vine helps round out the year to promote blooming plants in three seasons.
Other summer blooming, white flowering vines are white angel’s trumpet, Brugmansia candida, virgin’s bower, Clematisvirginiana, and white mandevilla, an exotic white vine. Some lower growing white flowering plants for consideration are the groundcover beach morning glory, Ipomoea imperati, and perennials such as azalea and petunia.
Taller white flowering plants include Shasta daisy, chrysanthemum, tobacco plant, white oleander, camellia, white sage, the white with yellow center Matilija poppy and the always popular rose.
As for trees, keep in mind Dogwood, Cornus kousa, and Magnolia grandiflora feature beautiful white flowers.
When the next moon illuminates the night sky, bundle up and take a stroll around your yard with an eye to where you might create your moonlight garden and imagine the look and fragrance that are possible for your peaceful enjoyment.
Master Gardener classes are offered monthly throughout the county. You can find a schedule at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/Calendar/ and recorded classes on many gardening topics here: mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/Public_Education/Classes.
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open, weather permitting, on the first Saturday of the month, through February, 9 a.m. to noon. First Saturday tour starts promptly at 9 a.m. Please check the website for further information about activities at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden at ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/Demonstration_ Garden.
Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the Ask a Master Gardener option on mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/
Five students from Ponderosa High School participated in the 2024 El Dorado Forestry Challenge, one group of a total of 139 high school students from 17 schools from Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada foothills. The event was held Oct. 23-26 at Leoni Meadows Camp near Grizzly Flat.
One of the highlights for the students this year was the opportunity collect data at the American River Conservancy’s Wells Preserve near Somerset to assess its health and recommend actions to restore its ecological
function to contribute to the health of the Cosumnes River watershed. During the challenge, teams of students also completed a field test to assess their technical forestry knowledge and data collecting skills.
“This is truly one of the best handson and industry-based events for students to participate in. I look forward to students working with forestry professionals and learning how to manage our natural resources,” said Ponderosa High School teacher Bret Harnden.
PHS sophomore Liam Jenkins added, “I learned a lot about general forestry practices through many different teambuilding exercises.”
Ask_a_Master_Gardener or leave a message at (530) 621-5512. For more information on the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado
County visit mgeldorado.ucanr.edu. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Photo by Master Gardener Pauline Atkins
Courtesy photo
The PHS Forestry Challenge team, from left: Uriel Huerta-Morales, Kacie Harnden, Alex Chavez, Liam Jenkins, Fox Crane and Bret Harnden.
Shingle Springs Cameron Park
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SHINGLE SPRINGS~CAMERON PARK Chamber of Commerce
President’s Corner
Colette Thiel
We’ve started the New Year o with a bang! Our Chamber has been very busy welcoming new businesses and planning some great events. On January 23rd, we had our Annual Business Awards and Installation of the Board of Directors luncheon. It was such a wonderful event with Sheri Leikauf doing the honors for the installation.
3. Todd White, Field Representative for Senator Alvardo-Gil - Secretary
4. Leanne Stoddard, SS/CP Chamber - Treasurer
5. Angela Honoro , Mary Kay Cosmetics - Director
6. Bev Dierks, Blissful Gardens - Director
7. Amanda Erskine, Event Coordinator – Director
8. Paul Burke, Burke Insurance – Director
9. David Spencer, Greenway Home Services - Director
Here are the Chamber Award Winners voted by Chamber Members: Public Service Award – Food Bank of El Dorado County Start-Up Business of the Year – DNA Golf Academy Business of the Year – James White Insurance Ambassador of the Year – Bev Dierks, Blissful Garden
Larry Cameron Award – Fred Ott Chamber MVP – Leanne Stoddard
Keep a watch on our event calendar! We have several Ribbon Cuttings, Mixers and Fundraising events coming up!
I’d like to remind everyone that our Chamber maintains an open-door policy and encourages all members to get involved. Did you know you don’t need to own a business to become a member? We also o er individual membership for community members looking to contribute and support the Chamber’s mission. Additionally, we are always seeking new ambassadors to join our team and help make a positive impact. Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber and our community. Together, let’s make 2025 a year to remember!
Sincerely,
Cole e Thiel, President Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce
The SS/CP Chamber Needs Volunteers!
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce needs volunteers to spend a few hours a month helping the chamber with its events and management. The payback is helping your local business advocates support the community in which
FEBRUARY
Events
they live and serve, while striving to make Shingle Springs and Cameron Park wonderful places in which to live! We have several key positions opening right now. Get involved today! Please contact Colette Thiel@ ThielHomes.com for more information.
February (Fridays to Sundays) –CP Rotary Club Observatory
From 8:30pm to 10:30 pm, weather permitting, the observatory is open to the public on weekend evenings. Trained docents show the many celestial wonders of the universe through two 14inch telescopes. Folsom Lake College, El Dorado Center, Campus Drive (continue through the back parking lots to the left of the observatory gate). For info and closure updates, call (530) 642-5621, Ext. 9.
February - Support Small Businesses and Keep It Local Shop locally by visiting the various shops and restaurants in El Dorado County!
February 8 –
February 9 –
Farmers Market (Now Year ‘Round)
Sundays between 10am and 1pm, come shop our region’s most popular market with more produce and commodities than ever before. Choose from fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade honey and jams, cheeses, and other household favorites. For more information, contact Jim Coalwell at (530) 622-1900 or email jim@redshack.com.
February 11 – Senior Social
Come drop in at our Senior Social between 10am and 10pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays for games, coffee, and socializing! This program is free and presents a great opportunity to connect with others. Location is the Social Room at the Cameron Park CSD Community Center. Call (530) 677-2231 or visit cameronpark.org for more information.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day & President’s Day
Cars & Coffee (Now Year ‘Round)
Every month at the right side of the Regal Cinema parkikng lot in Town Center, the 1st and 2nd Saturday from 7am to 9:30 am, rain or shine, meet up and hang out on Saturday mornings! Cars and Coffee started in 2014 as a way for car people to join up, and it has grown over the last 9 years into a very respected family and communitybased event where everyone and every type of vehicle is welcome. Their motto is, “If it rolls, it goes!”
Twith their beautiful horse-drawn carriages. Sponsored by Young Life. Register at https:// eldoradocounty.younglife.org/events/
February 15 –Placerville Third Saturday Art Walk Free! Enjoy the Art Walk on Placerville’s Main Street between 5-8pm. Artist demos, music at the Bell Tower, wine and drink specials, and more!
It will be a memorable winter weekend along Carson Road with wine tasting and bites at eight boutique wineries, with a fun treasure hunt to win fabulous prizes is included! Sip and stroll your way through the beautiful foothills, make new friends, and discover bright avors. Tickets are $25 per person. Visit carsonroadwineries.com for more information and for ticket purchases.
February 14 – Valentine’s Day Carriage Rides at Town Center
Take your sweetie on a romantic carriage ride through the scenic El Dorado Hills Town Center. Top Hand Ranch brings the magic from 4-8pm
Join the Chamber
February 27 –
SS/CP Chamber Networking Luncheon
Please join us at Koto Buffet in the Red Hawk Casino from 11:45am to 1:00pm for our monthly networking luncheon! All you can eat! Contact the Chamber for more details at (530) 677-8000.
he Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, originally formed as the Shingle Springs Business and Professional Association, Inc. in December 1967. It works to promote the area, encouraging business and industrial investment to provide the foundation for a solid community.
The Chamber’s mission statement re ects this premise: “To advocate, promote and preserve the quality of life in our Chamber Community, by means of a strong, healthy and diverse business community.”
Ed Sengstack Harris Center for the Arts
OLSOM — Leapin’
Flizards! Broadway’s favorite orphan is back. Harris Center for The Arts presents the Tony Award-Winning musical “Annie,” performing six times, Feb. 14-16, with three evening performances at 6:30 p.m. and three matinées at 1:30 p.m. This multi-week tour is produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and Crossroads Live North America. Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in this new production — just as you remember it and just when we need it most. This celebration of family, optimism and the American spirit remains the ultimate cure for all the hard knocks life throws your way.
“Annie” is directed by Jenn Thompson, who at the age of 10 stepped into the role of “Pepper” in the original Broadway production, choreographed by Patricia Wilcox (Motown, A Night with Janis Joplin) and with orchestrations by Dan DeLange. The tour music supervisor is Matthew Smedal. Talitha Fehr is the music coordinator and Andrew David Sotomayor is the music director.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. concert celebrates the great music of Aretha Franklin
Ed Sengstack Harris Center for the Arts
F
OLSOM — Harris Center for The Arts, together with producers Right Angle Entertainment and Maple Tree Entertainment, presents an electrifying tribute to the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin performs for one night only, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tenn. She began her career singing gospel at her father’s church in Detroit, Mich. Franklin’s powerful, emotive voice and extraordinary musical talent quickly propelled her to fame. Her breakthrough came in 1967 with the release of “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” followed by iconic hits like “Respect,” “Chain of Fools” and “Natural Woman.” These songs not only showcased her vocal prowess but also became anthems of the Civil Rights and feminist movements.
Throughout her career, Franklin amassed 18 Grammy Awards and, in 1987, was the first
woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her music transcended genres, blending soul, R&B, gospel and pop, and her influence extended far beyond the music industry. She was a symbol of empowerment and resilience, using her platform to advocate for racial and gender equality.
Franklin’s legacy continues to inspire artists and fans worldwide. Her music remains a staple in American culture, celebrated for its emotional depth and cultural significance.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin takes audiences on a journey of love, tragedy, courage and triumph. This concert will feature performances of her greatest hits by supreme vocalists and an electrifying live band, set against the backdrop of video screen graphics highlighting the imagery and photos of the time. This celebration of Aretha Franklin’s life and legacy will feature all your favorite hits in one evening, including “Natural Woman,” “Think,” “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me,” “Chain of Fools,” “Respect” and many more.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. is directed by Dean
Elliott, known for his work on The Simon & Garfunkel Story, The Life and Music of George Michael, and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. The performance features lead vocalist, Cristina Raé (“America’s Got Talent,” “The Wiz”). Individual tickets for R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin are on sale now at the Harris Center box office at (916) 608-6888 or online at HarrisCenter.net. Box office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and one hour before showtime. Harris Center for the Arts is located at 10 College Parkway, Folsom.
“This show, with its iconic title character, continues to delight generations of theatrelovers old and new by joyfully singing directly into the face of great adversity with perseverance, guts and guile,”
said Thompson. “For decades, ‘Annie’ has continued to shine brightly, not only as an appeal to our better angels, but also as an example of the thrill of hope, hardwon: promising a better ‘Tomorrow’ not only for Annie herself, but for all who need her message now more than ever.”
In the title role of Annie is Hazel Vogel, a 12-year-old from Towson, M.D., most recently seen in the North American tour of “Les Misérables.”
Returning principal cast includes Stefanie Londino as Miss Hannigan, Christopher Swan as Oliver Warbucks, Julia Nicole Hunter as Grace and Mark Woodard as FDR. Also starring in the tour are Rhett Guter as Rooster and Isabella De Souza Moore as Lily St. Regis. Kevin, a 7-yearold labradoodle from
Georgia, stars as Sandy. The orphans are Aria Valentina Aldea, Eva Lizette Carreon, Anna Dillon, Kylie Noelle Patterson, Olive RossKline and Nora West. The featured ensemble includes Nick Abbott, Anthony DaSilva, Savannah Fisher, Alloria Frayser, Brooke Olivia Gatto, Matt Gibson, Caroline Glazier, Danny Lindgren, Ryan Mulvaney, Melinda Parrett, Drew Tanabe and Stephanie Wahl. The design team includes scenic design by Wilson Chin (“Pass Over”), costume design by Alejo Vietti (“Jersey Boys”), based on lighting design by Philip Rosenberg, sound design by Ken Travis (Disney’s “Aladdin”), hair & wig design by Ashley Rae Callahan and casting by Paul Hardt Casting, LLC.
Photos by Matthew Murphy / MurphyMade
Hazel Vogel as Annie and the Orphans in the 2024-25 National Tour of “Annie,” coming to Folsom this month.
See ANNIE page B8
Christopher Swan as Oliver Warbucks and Hazel Vogel as Annie dance across the stage.
while focusing on the specific support of children’s charities.
“It all started with the simple idea of collecting handmade Valentines with loving messages for teens.” Aislynne shared. “The first year it was just the two of us, and we asked our own schools to help us make Valentines, but this year more than 12 schools in four counties have agreed to either make Valentines or collect toys for Shriners.”
While their first year was largely
Annie
focused on all the paperwork necessary for starting a nonprofit and getting their IRS tax-exempt status, the teens shared that this year has been dedicated to spreading the word and encouraging other schools to help them reach their goal of collecting 1,200 Valentines. To accomplish this, Aislynne and Sophia partnered with student ambassadors, recruiting students from area high schools and providing them with the tools and public speaking points to launch the program
The “Annie” tour stage management team is led by production stage manager Brigham Johnson, stage manager Tara Tolar-Payne and assistant stage manager Olivia Gordon. The company management team is led by company manager Royce Matthews with assistant company manager Angela Strohbeck. Individual tickets for “Annie” are on sale now at the Harris Center box office at (916) 608-6888 or online at HarrisCenter.net. Box office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and one hour before showtime. Harris Center for the Arts is located at 10 College Parkway, Folsom.
Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as, “one of the best family musicals ever penned!” “Annie” features the book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977 Tony Awards for their work. By permission of Tribune Content Agency, LLC,
Decathlon
academic journey,” shared Hassian, expressing his pride in the team’s accomplishments.
The theme of this year’s Academic Decathlon, “Our Changing Climate,” has been a focal point of study for decathletes since the summer. Coaches, including David Conrad for El Dorado, Joseph Beatty for Ponderosa, Stephanie Luther for Union Mine and Hassian for Oak Ridge, navigated the challenge of preparing students alongside their regular teaching duties.
On the competition day, the community came together, with many volunteers, presenters, and school leaders in attendance. This competition is administered annually by the El Dorado County Office of Education and promotes academic excellence and socialemotional benefits to team members.
The Kiwanis Club of Placerville provided a hearty lunch, and all attendees were left impressed by the dedication and knowledge displayed by the decathletes.
Overall scores
Individual
Third – Andrew Ni, ORHS
Second – Erin Levinson, EDHS
First – Ethan Pham, ORHS
Team Super Quiz – Oak Ridge High School
El Dorado County Academic Decathlon winners
2nd – Ponderosa High School
1st – Oak Ridge High School
Social Science
Varsity
Bronze – Chase Tobey, PHS Silver – Charles Henderson, ORHS
“Our foundation supplies pre-made Valentine kits for all the schools that want to participate. The kits include things like stickers, card-making materials and sample messages,” shared co-founder Sophia. “This year we also created a special QR code to link our Amazon Gift List to our website and social media so donors could ship a toy or teen item directly to the foundation.”
Both girls agreed their favorite part
“Annie” is based on Harold Gray’s popular comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” which premiered in the 1920s in the New York Daily News and became one of the most widely read strips in the ’30s and ’40s. Lyricist-director Charnin bought a coffee table book called “The Life and Hard Times of Little Orphan Annie” as a Christmas gift for a friend in 1970. The clerk at the bookstore was too busy to wrap the book, so Charnin took the book home to wrap it. Instead, he read it and fell in love with the strip and set out to secure the rights. The friend never got the book.
The original production of “Annie” had its world premiere on Aug 10, 1976, at the Goodspeed Opera House (Michael J. Price, executive director) and opened on Broadway on April 21, 1977, at the Alvin Theatre (Neil Simon theatre). It went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best
Gold – Andrew Ni, ORHS
Science
Varsity
Bronze – Christian Szabo, EDHS
Silver – Tyler Buszkiewicz, EDHS
Silver – Chase Tobey, PHS
Gold – Aubrey Bass, EDHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Keith Tacata, ORHS
Silver – Lyssa Hartley, UMHS
Silver – Zachary Gunn, UMHS
Silver – Sage Kerr, EDHS
Gold – Adrian Cisneros, ORHS
Gold – Amit Jaikumar, ORHS
Honors
Bronze – Jacob Wylie, PHS
Silver – Crystal Chen, ORHS
Gold – Erin Levinson, EDHS
Mathematics
Varsity
Bronze – Keira Rutz, ORHS
Bronze – Natalie Stephens-Butler, PHS
Silver – Amirali Hajjarian, ORHS
Gold – Charles Henderson, ORHS
Gold – Ashlynn Gill, ORHS
Gold – Emery Smith, UMHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Cheyenne Hughes, UMHS
Bronze – Reyna Molina, PHS
Bronze – Joaquin Diaz de Rivera, ORHS
Silver – Adrian Cisneros, ORHS
Silver – Zachary Gunn, UMHS
Gold – Keith Tacata, ORHS
Honors
Bronze – Sudeep Mazumder, ORHS
Silver – Ethan Pham, ORHS
Gold – Andrew Ni, ORHS
Music
Varsity
Bronze – Natalie Stephens-Butler, PHS
Bronze – Chase Tobey, PHS
Silver – Christian Szabo, EDHS
Gold – Ashlynn Gill, ORHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Amit Jaikumar, ORHS
Bronze – Natalie Chen, ORHS
Bronze – Lyssa Hartley, UMHS
Silver – Dagny Fenton, ORHS
Silver – Adrian Cisneros, ORHS
Silver – Joaquin Diaz de Rivera, ORHS
of the drive is reading the sincere personal messages and seeing how much effort kids put into making their cards. “We hope the kids and teens at Shriners really feel all of our love this Valentine’s Day,” Aislynne Hartman added. For more information, or to get involved, go to Norcalgiftfromtheheart.org or look for Norcal Gift From the Heart on Facebook and Instagram. The foundation accepts donations all year.
Continued from B7
Musical, the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album and seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). It closed on Broadway after playing 2,377 performances.
“Annie”was revived on Broadway in 1997 and again in 2014. Ithas been made into a film three times (1982, 1999, 2014) and was most recently featured as a live television production on NBC. The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever; it has been performed in 28 languages and has been running somewhere around the world for 37 years. The beloved score for “Annie”includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”
Gold – Emily Pokorny, PHS
Honors
Bronze – Crystal Chen, ORHS
Silver – Ethan Pham, ORHS
Gold – Laura Osorio, ORHS
Economics
Varsity
Bronze – Tyler Buszkiewicz, EDHS
Silver – Charles Henderson, ORHS
Silver – Natalie Stephens-Butler, PHS
Gold – Emery Smith, UMHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Lyssa Hartley, UMHS
Bronze – Reyna Molina, PHS
Silver – Amit Jaikumar, ORHS
Silver – Sage Kerr, EDHS
Gold – Adrian Cisneros, ORHS
Honors
Bronze – Erin Levinson, EDHS
Silver – Andrew Ni, ORHS Gold – Ethan Pham, ORHS
Literature
Varsity
Bronze – Natalie Stephens-Butler, PHS
Silver – Aubrey Bass, EDHS
Gold – Charles Henderson, ORHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Reyna Molina, PHS
Silver – Stella Crane, PHS
Gold – Lyssa Hartley, UMHS
Honors
Bronze – Erin Levinson, EDHS
Silver – Crystal Chen, ORHS
Gold – Ethan Pham, ORHS
Art
Varsity
Bronze – Aubrey Bass, EDHS
Bronze – Tyler Buszkiewicz, EDHS
Silver – Ashlynn Gill, ORHS
Gold – Chase Tobey, PHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Zachary Gunn, UMHS
Bronze – Emil Jose, ORHS
Silver – Adrian Cisneros, ORHS
Gold – Lyssa Hartley, UMHS
Honors
Bronze – Colette Callahan, ORHS
Silver – Erin Levinson, EDHS
Gold – Ethan Pham, ORHS
Interview
Varsity
Bronze – Ashlynn Gill, ORHS
Silver – Sofia Roy, ORHS
Gold – Natalie Stephens-Butler, PHS
Scholastic
Bronze – Amit Jaikumar, ORHS
Silver – Sage Kerr, EDHS
Gold – Keith Tacata, ORHS
Honors
Bronze – Madison Tatum, EDHS
Silver – Paige Kauffman, ORHS Gold – Andrew Ni, ORHS
Speech
Varsity Bronze – Ashlynn Gill, ORHS
Silver – Charles Henderson, ORHS
Silver – Chase Tobey, PHS
Gold – Natalie Stephens-Butler, PHS
Scholastic Bronze – Zachary Gunn, UMHS
Silver – Joaquin Diaz de Rivera, ORHS Gold – Reyna Molina, PHS Honors
Academic Decathlon Team: Aaron Keene, Aaryan Patil, Adrian Cisneros, Althea Garabedian, Amirali Hajjarian, Amit Jaikumar, Analiyah Alejo Tacla, Ananya Maddipatla, Anaya Shah, Andrew Ni, Andrew Zaatra, Ariana Thakur, Arnav Bodas, Ashlynn Gill, Atharva Avi Tomar, Brooklyn Kwan, Charles Henderson, Colette Callahan, Crystal Chen, Dagny Fenton, Elissa Ulrich, Emil Jose, Ethan Pham, Ilayda Koker, Ishaan Bhuteja, Jalene Bui, Jennifer Thomas, Joaquin Diaz de Rivera, Karen Lai, Kaushik Seela, Keira Rutz, Keith Tacata, Laura Osorio, Leo Chang, Lily Tang, Matthew Buu, Natalie Chen, Naureen Hasan, Navin Rasppan, Nithya Ponnada, Onum Kaur, Paige Kauffman, Rehat Saini, Shrika Pidikiti, Shyamak Joshi, Sofia Roy, Sophia Sumimoto, Sudeep Mazumder, Taylor DaPonte, Yuen Zaki Zhang, Yuhan Fritz Yan and Zoha Sajid.
El Dorado High School
Academic Decathlon Team: Alex Garcia, Aubrey Bass, Audrey Carter, Christian Szabo, Elizabeth Frank, Erin Levinson, Graham Brewer, Lucy Nelson, Madeline Cortes-Perez, Madison Tatum, Nina Adams, Sage Kerr, Sam Holt, Tyler Buszkiewicz and Zoe Pullen.
Ponderosa High School Academic Decathlon Team: Britney Huerta Morales, Chase Tobey, Claire Trevino, Cody Tyler, Colt Matter, Craig Soriano, Emily Pokorny, Gabriel Chalfin, Gabrielle Chavez, Ian Lindsay, Jacob Wylie, Kalen Wylie, Kalyssa Alexander, Krishna Malhotra, Kulraj Lotay, Kyle Sing, Landen Cartinella, Natalie Stephens-Butler, Nathan Ong, Owen Wylie, Peyton Oxford, Rachael Kucera, Reyna Molina, Ryan Sun, Stella Crane, Tommy Tran, Uriel Huerta Morales and Yasash (Abhi) Palem.
Union Mine High School
Academic Decathlon Team: Allison Lenoil, Brody Blumberg, Cheyenne Hughes, Clara Ellis, David Warden, Emery Smith, Gretchen Luther, Lyssa Hartley, Raquel Beas-Gonzalez, William Lenoil and Zachary Gunn.
Dream Catchers EDH has a wonderful day program where our participants who have aged out of their programs or just want to come to us instead of their other program work on reallife skills both in the classroom and in public.
OUR MISSION
To empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDS) to live their best lives. We do this by providing opportunities for growth in character, health, social connections, and independence. Everyone who is in our program is in the Self Determination Program (SDP).
We also have an incredible theater program that rehearses every Tuesday evening from 5:30-7. This is not part of the SDP. This program is for ages 13 and up.
For more information contact:
Jonathan Reis, Founder, CEO/Executive Director, at 209-400-1334 or Racquel Hall, SDP Administrator, at 209-443-0316
Or you can email us at jonathanr@dreamcatchersedh.org or racquelh@dreamcatchersedh.org
5041 Robert J Mathews Pkwy Suite 400, El Dorado Hills, CA., 95762 www.dreamcatchersedh.org
In 2014 the sellers found themselves standing on a piece of land in Somerset, a small town with a big heart. e moment they laid eyes on it; they knew this was their place. ey fell in love with the view— wide-open spaces and a sense of peace they had long been searching for.
eir dreams of building a house, a place where they could nally have more space to live and breathe. ey knew they needed somewhere to call home while they worked toward their dream. at’s when they decided to build a barn—a functional, simple structure that could house them while we made plans. At rst, the plan was clear: live in the barn while they focused on building a bigger house. But life had a funny way of surprising them. A er living in the barn for just a short time, they realized that their view was so perfect that they didn’t want to build anywhere else. It was breathtaking, and the barn, though small, felt like home. at’s when they made a decision that would change everything: they would remodel the barn into their dream home. ey were going to create a space that was theirs, tailored to their needs and desires.
ey did not hold back. ey spared no expense, carefully selecting top-of-the-line appliances and nishes, making sure every detail was exactly as they wanted it. e master suite, the heart of the home, took up an entire length of the barn, a space meant for rest and retreat. e kitchen, equally important to them, spanned a third of the opposite side, a gourmet haven for cooking and enjoying time together.
But even with all the remodeling and upgrades, they didn’t forget what mattered most: their home had to be built with them in mind. It wasn’t meant for guests or big parties, though they certainly love entertaining friends and family. It was their sanctuary. A space where they could truly be themselves. e outdoor area was designed with just as much care—complete with a kitchen, a kegerator, and a re pit—perfect for gathering and making memories.
In 2020 their home was completed, and they moved back into the barn-turned-dream-home “Bouse”. As they settled in, they realized that their dream home was perfect. is home was everything they had envisioned and more.
Don’t hesitate to schedule a Private Showing for this One-Of-A-Kind Luxury Home located in the heart of wine county!
