Exquisite SINGLE LEVEL residence located in Serrano CC. Enter the courtyard w/stacked stone entry wall into the spacious home featuring Sierra Pacific windows, LED lighting & hardwood flooring w/ an indoor/ outdoor flow for entertaining. The great room w/striking tile surround fireplace & built-in custom cabinetry opens to the covered Serrano room. Chef’s kitchen boasts granite island and separate bar seating, Thermador appliances, double ovens & dishwashers and formal/family dining opening to the covered patio. Remote guest quarters w/ private patio.
Listing Agents:
Pat Seide & Nicolette Wichert
Custom upgrades abound in this Serrano CC home. The foyer boasts imported Italian tiles which continue throughout the main floor living areas, all walls and ceilings have additional insulation, and plantation shutters have been added. GORGEOUS completely enclosed Serrano room, adding 384 sq ft of additional living space, w/ programmable Swedish soapstone fireplace and stackable glass doors that welcome the outdoors into the home regardless of the season. Extensive furniture grade cabinetry is featured in the stylish butler’s pantry with wine storage and magnificent updated chef’s kitchen w/ walk-in pantry, center island with sink, bar seating, and pendant lighting, freshly painted cabinetry, new stacked stone backsplash and individual under counter lighting.
serranoeldorado.com sacmag.com
Serrano Living the Good Life in El Dorado Hills magazine is a publication of the Serrano community in El Dorado Hills. It is written and produced three times a year for Serrano Associates by Sacramento Media LLC. The magazine is distributed under the authority of Parker Development Company to all Serrano residents, property owners and country club members. Additionally, copies are distributed to businesses and outlets throughout El Dorado Hills and neighboring communities from Folsom to Placerville. Copies are available at the Serrano Visitors Center, at Serrano builders’ model home complexes and at select local businesses.
Serrano is being developed by Parker Development Company, a longtime Sacramento-area creator of high-quality and award-winning master-planned communities.
CONTACT: marketing@serranoeldorado.com or call (916) 939-3333
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We hope the holidays were good for you and your families and you are looking forward to warmer weather and springtime.
We’re excited to share some fascinating and diverse stories in this issue. One of my favorites is Bill Romanelli’s story on page xx that shares how one man’s passion for the environment launched a full-scale diving effort that removed 12 tons of trash from Lake Tahoe. And what did he do with all that trash? He, along with the Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Blue Vodka, an art production company and others, turned that litter into a beautiful public art project that will soon be on display in South Lake Tahoe.
Speaking of spring, Jolaine Collins’ story on page xx will entice you to head east to Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. There you will tour exquisite gardens and learn more about El Dorado County’s Master Gardener program. Whether you are interested in the program or you are there simply to enjoy the warm spring air as you meander around the gardens, there is so much beauty to enjoy.
For our history enthusiasts, especially those of you with children, check out Miners on Main on your way back down the hill. KK Roberts’ story on page xx shares how the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Leadership Class created a project that led to the development of a Gold Rush-themed scavenger hunt for medallions throughout the streets of Placerville.
And fi nally, there are several milestones to celebrate in this issue. Parker Development Company honored two employees on their 25th anniversary, and Serrano turned 25 this year as well!
Enjoy!
Kristin ConnerSerrano is being developed by Parker Development Company, creator of high-quality, awardwinning master-planned communities since 1956, including Greenhaven and Riverlake in the Pocket area of Sacramento, and The Parkway in Folsom.
Serrano’s amenities include miles of hiking and biking trails and more than 1,000 acres of open space. Numerous neighborhood parks are located within the gated villages. El Dorado County’s K–12 schools o er an exceptional level of education, with test scores that have ranked among the highest in California.
The private, member-owned Serrano Country Club o ers elegant and casual dining as well as tennis, swimming and exercise facilities. Serrano’s 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. For information about Serrano Country Club, call (916) 933-5005 or visit online: serranocountryclub.org.
For more than 25 years, Renaissance Fine Consignment has been a lavish women’s shopping destination, offering accessible highend designer labels at affordable prices. Discover the richness Sacramento has to offer at Renaissance Fine Consignment next to Ettore’s Bakery in Rio Del Oro Plaza.
This year marks the 17th anniversary of El Dorado Hills’ favorite medical practice for treatments to slow the appearance of aging on the face, neck and body.
Dignity Medical Aesthetics (DMA) was established in 2006 by Missey McCallum, RN, and Sherellen Gerhart, MD.
Dignity Medical Aesthetics has been the premier medical aesthetic practice in El Dorado Hills since 2006. They offer services such as laser and IPL treatments for permanent hair reduction, removing brown spots and redness, as well as treating lines, scars and laxity to help provide younger, smoother looking skin. They offer non-invasive treatments for lifting the neck or brow and skin tightening. They have options for Body Contouring, Radio Frequency Microneedling and Vaginal Rejuvenation. Plus Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are offered to naturally help with hair loss and skin rejuvenation. They are national leaders in injections of Botox and fillers for relaxing lines, adding volume, and for lifting facial areas to lessen the appearance of sagginess and jowls.
All new patients receive a complimentary 45 minute consultation to carefully review their medical history followed by a general overview of treatment options that can best meet their personal needs for enhancing their appearance.
New patients receiving Botox or filler for the first time are strongly encouraged to return for a courtesy follow-up appointment.
They are known for excellent service with competitive pricing All medical providers at Dignity Medical Aesthetics are thoroughly trained.
DMA realizes that natural looking results are a huge priority for their patients and achieves that through their procedures.
By looking at their website (www.dignitymed.com), you can see examples of most of their treatments and services. Check out their amazing reviews on line too.
Summer Internship and Committee Opportunities are available for middle- and high school-aged youth interested in learning valuable skills and receiving mentorship. To learn more, please visit hands4hopeyouth.org.
AND THE LAST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER ELEMENT 79 DIVINING
This unique experience is an immersive tastwill take you on a culinary food and wine journey. You will join the estate chef and winery owner as they guide you through a selection of wines and paired epicurean delights. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Element 79 Vineyards, 7350 Fairplay Road in Somerset. For tickets and additional information, please visit element79vineyards. com or call (530) 497-075 0.
CALLING ALL WALKERS & HIKERS!
Serrano is hosting a Nature Trail Walk for beginners and intermediate explorers on the Serrano trails. This group hike will be led by Serrano residents, David and Sana Haddad, who will share information about the local flora and fauna and how to be a good stewards to the open space and Serrano trails. Email HOA@SerranoHOA.org if you’d like to join the walk and for more information.
THE EL DORADO HILLS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT (CSD) LIFEGUARD TRAINING ACADEMY AT THE COMMUNITY POOL & PAVILION
Lifeguarding is a great first job for youth ages 15 and up. The academy runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sign up today to become a certified lifeguard. Cost is $230, with an option of reimbursement for lifeguards who work a full season at the CSD. Visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624 for more information and to register.
ADVENTURE ZONE SPRING BREAK CAMP (K–5TH GRADES)
Join your friends at the El Dorado Hills CSD for a fun-filled week of games, crafts, science, technology, engineering and math activities and more. Camp is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. $210 per child. 1021 Harvard Way. To register, visit edhcsd. org or call (916) 933-6 624.
April 8
SERRANO’S ANNUAL SPRING EGG HUNT
Serrano residents are invited to attend Serrano’s Annual Spring Egg Hunt at 9:30 a.m. at the Visitors Center. The Spring Bunny will hop over for pictures and a spring story time. Delicious continental morning snacks and refreshments will be provided.
April 8
EASTER EGG HUNT AT PROMONTORY PARK
Bring your family to a free Easter egg hunt at Promontory Park, located at 2700 Alexandra Drive in El Dorado Hills. The hunt starts at 9 a.m., so come on out and hunt for thousands of candy-filled eggs and other prizes. Children ages 0–12 are welcome Bring your own basket. For more details, please visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624.
April 8
PICTURES WITH THE EASTER BUNNY AT PROMONTORY PARK
Come take some free pictures with the Easter Bunny. Be sure to bring your camera. The park is located at 2700 Alexandra Drive in El Dorado Hills. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more details, visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624.
April 8
AQUA EGG HUNT
The Aqua Egg Hunt is fun for ages 2–12. Pre-registration is required and all regular pool rules apply. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the EDH CSD’s community pool located at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. Children under 6 years old must always be within an arm’s reach of an adult, including in the water. For more details, please call (916) 933-6624 or visit edhcsd.org. $15 per child.
April 9
AND THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER
BRUNCH IN THE VINES
This special brunch provides a delectable meal featuring multiple pairings of Element 79’s awardwinning wines. Seatings are at 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. at Element 79 Vineyards located at 7350 Fairplay Road in Somerset. For tickets and more information, please visit element79vineyards.com or call the tasting room at (530) 497-0750.
April 21
AND THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER
DINE IN THE VINES
Join Element 79 winery owners for an exquisite five-course meal with each course featuring an expertly paired estate wine. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Element 79 Vineyards located at 7350 Fairplay Road in Somerset. For tickets and more information, please visit element79vineyards. com or call the tasting room at (530) 497-0750.
ed at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. Aquatics sta will be available from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to answer questions about summer programs, and registration will be available onsite. For more details, please visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624.
May 4
BIG DAY OF GIVING—10TH ANNIVERSARY
Mark your calendars for the Big Day of Giving. Join this annual day-long celebration of local philanthropy! Since 2013, more than 50,000 donors have raised more than $78 million for local nonprofits that serve El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. Visit bigdayofgiving.org to find out how you can support your favorite local nonprofits.
May 6
SPRING COMMUNITY YARD SALE
Spring cleaning is upon us! Serrano residents will once again have the opportunity to join the Spring Community Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information will be available as the date approaches.
April 22
APRIL POOLS DAY AT THE COMMUNITY POOL
Jump-start the aquatics season with free recreation swimming at the CSD community pool locat-
May 6
HIT & RUN AT PROMONTORY PARK
Enjoy this free event that will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Promontory Park, located at 2700 Alexandra Drive in El Dorado Hills. For more details, please visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933- 6624.
Don’t miss this annual event, held every year in the El Dorado Hills Town Center in honor of mothers everywhere!
Unlimited tasting kits include beer/wine for 21+ (must show ID), wristband, and a commemorative event glass. Attend one or both days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with beer and wine tasting from noon to 4:30 p.m. Admittance is free and tasting glasses/wristbands can be purchased for $35 in advance or $45 at the gate. Visit eldoradohillsartfestival.org or call (916)933-1335 for tickets, to check daily event times and for more information.
The derby will be held at the beautiful pond located at 4655 Serrano Parkway in El Dorado Hills from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Pre-registration is required. For more details, please visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624.
This fundraiser benefits the All-Abilities Pollock Pines Playground Fund and will be held at the Apple Mountain Golf Course located at 3455 Carson Road in Camino. Registration starts at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. tee time. The tournament is a four-person team scramble format. The cost is $125, per player and includes green fees, a golf cart, warm up balls, scorekeeping and a barbecue lunch. Golfers also can participate in a putting and longest drive contest with the opportunity to win a prize for a hole in one on a designated hole. Ra e prizes will be up for grabs. For more information or for a registration form please contact Laura Hutchinson at (707) 3 49-2171 or lauradelh@prodigy.net.
The Robotic Joint Center at The Stone Clinic is an international destination for biologic and roboticassisted surgery for athletic total and partial knee replacement.
We have patients running triathlons and (ultra) marathons, climbing mountains, skiing a hundred days a year on the replaced parts inside their knees.
Groundbreaking innovations in
“I ran 3200 miles across the country with no knee issues whatsoever. I doubt very much that anybody has ever run across the USA on two partial knee replacements.” Richard Donovan, Age 56 World Marathon Race Director and Ultra Runner
biologic & robotic surgery are redefining what is possible after knee replacement.Photo: Charlene Taylor
June 3–4
GARDENS OF THE HILLS TOUR 2023 FUNDRAISER— ASSISTANCE LEAGUE SIERRA FOOTHILLS
Tour sensational private resident gardens at this popular annual event. Enjoy wine tasting, a signature ra e, an online auction and shop the popup boutiques. Tickets will be available online and at designated outlets. Please visit assistance league.org/sierra-foothills for more information and updates.
June 23
FREE SUMMER CONCERT AT THE EL DORADO HILLS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT’S COMMUNITY PARK
Bring your family and friends out for this fun night of food, music, and dancing. The park is located at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. The concert will run from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more details, visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624.
June 28
PARK PARTY AT LAKE FOREST PARK
Enjoy free food, music, and family-oriented activities and games at Lake Forest Park in El Dorado Hills. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For details, please visit edhcsd.org or call (916) 933-6624.
The Folsom Lake Symphony’s annual “Evening Under the Stars” gala was held last fall. A capacity crowd of supporters raised funds to support the symphony’s community enrichment programs and fund top tier guest artists. The gala experience at board member Marie Mitchell’s lush Italianate estate in El Dorado Hills made it a successful fundraiser and a memorable evening for all.
2022 FOLSOM LAKE SYMPHONY GALA
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It’s located in an inconspicuous storefront location, tucked next to the sheriff’s office under a big yellow canopy in the bustling El Dorado Hills Town Center. ere’s no sign above, just a banner near the sidewalk, so it might be easy to miss on a first pass.
Almighty Bistro is a boutique eatery with eight tables in the dining room, six seats at the bar, and a few more on the sidewalk that are perfect spots in good weather. But there’s nothing ordinary about the restaurant. After all, it’s not called “Almighty” for nothing.
Nick Dedier and Alexa Hazelton
Owner Nick Dedier, a longtime restaurateur who worked for decades in Napa, San Francisco and elsewhere, also has a fl agship restaurant, Milestone, also located in Town Center. He took a chance on creating something different in Almighty.
“I always wanted to have a small bistro,” he says. “ is was a new concept; a roll of the dice.”
Almighty opened in August 2022. And no, it’s not merely another “farm-to-fork” vegan/vegetarian eatery. It’s got vegetarian/vegan dishes on the menu and everything is organic, locally sourced or otherwise produced with no genetically modified crops. But there’s beef, chicken, pork, and fi sh on the menu, too. e twist is that everything—including focaccia, sandwich buns, moon pies and even some of the beer—is completely gluten-free.
Yes, gluten-free is in part a trendy, “greenwashed” term (gluten-free water, milk, coffee ), but there are reasons behind Dedier’s commitment to what is not only a healthy way of eating, but a necessary one for some.
“A growing plurality of people are requesting food that is gluten-free,” Dedier says. “We’re in the space of building foundational guests who understand what we’re trying to do.”
Gluten is a protein found not just in wheat, rye and barley, but in many other foods, including soy sauce and beer. People with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, can die from it, while
those who are gluten-sensitive can experience serious digestive distress. In today’s healthy eating environment, even those who can eat anything without issues–including Didier and head chef Joshua Kihm–say they largely avoid it because they just feel healthier that way.
How does gluten-free translate to a restaurant? Well, considering there’s no wheat flour in the ingredient mix, there’s no pasta on the menu. (Dedier refuses to make a gluten-free substitute.) ere’s no refi ned sugar, either (Almighty uses turbinado sugar, made from the fi rst pressing of sugar cane), but there are all kinds of other temptations, including gluten-free breads, muffi ns and pastries made by Flourless Bakery in Placerville. Most produce and animal products are raised by Sonny’s Farm in Cameron Park, which utilizes regenerative and sustainable agriculture methods.
Menu staples include Sterling Caviar from Elverta, (it’s expensive, so save it for special occasions!), Brassica (charred cauliflower with almond chimichurri), baked brie, seared ahi and okonomiyaki (a savory Japanese pancake incorporating cabbage). Seasonal treats include steamed clams, winter risotto and blackened salmon.
ere’s brunch on weekends (don’t miss the cinnamon rolls
or “Very Good Berkshire Bacon”), happy hour on weekdays and always a daily plate lunch that includes egg-fried rice, dressed greens and a choice of entrees. (You’ll have to ask about the grassfed loco moco.)
As for desserts: When is the last time you had a moon pie? It’s a concoction made from frozen graham cookies and marshmallows, polished in chocolate, and it comes in different fl avors, depending on the season.
Chef Kihm, an El Dorado Hill native who trained in French cuisine and left to work for more than a decade in San Diego restaurants before returning to his hometown, is a “saucier” whose skills play a vital role in the kitchen. One of his favorite dishes: cassoulet, a casserole-type dish made from duck or chicken confit and duck fat, incorporates a medley of white beans, bacon and breadcrumbs. “It’s a nice cozy dish for a nice cozy restaurant,” he says.
Almighty’s menu changes monthly, with everything fresh and seasonal. Of note: ere are at least two gluten-free beers on the menu, Porchlight and Flatland.
Almighty Bistro
4355 Town Center Blvd.; El Dorado Hills (916) 510-1204
almightybistro.com
by BILL ROMANELLI photography by CHARLENE TAYLOR / CHARM PHOTOGRAPHY
We introduce two people who have been keeping the Serrano community going for a quarter century.
For the past 25 years, anyone driving in or out of the Serrano community has seen the fruits of David Sanders’ labors.
As the maintenance manager for the Serrano El Dorado Owners’ Association (HOA), he has the responsibility” to keep millions of square feet of yards, landscaping and open space looking pristine, while overseeing all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps water flowing, equipment working and residents happy.
“A lot of my job is really preventing little problems from becoming big ones, and implementing little changes that make a big difference,” Sanders says. “It’s a job I really enjoy, but I couldn’t do it without the support I get from my managers and long-tenured team, the community, the HOA board and the folks at Parker Development.”
Ask Bill Parker about Sanders, and you’ll see the feelings are quite mutual.
“What David does is absolutely amazing; I never seen anything like it,” he says. “He’s responsible for taking care of 4,000 front yards, plus all the public landscaping, and maintaining 6 million square feet of open space areas. e fact that he’s still here after 25 years speaks gospel to the great job he does, and how much he loves it.”
Sanders’ experience with landscaping and maintenance began when he was very young. He grew up in a family of seven boys and two girls, and his grandfather owned an apartment complex in the Bay Area. Every weekend, Grandpa would come by the house, pick up two of the kids, and they’d spend the day helping at the apartments. at piqued Sanders’ interest, but it was his studies in a plant identification course at American River College that turned landscaping into a career.
“I could do my homework walking to school and naming the plants and flowers along the way,” he says. “ at’s when I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he began the career path that ultimately led him to a private landscape contracting fi rm that had just won the account for Serrano, and he knew it was something special. He worked hard and helped win Serrano an award for the best-maintained HOA property in Northern California. en one day on a drive around the property with the HOA’s general manager, he learned the HOA was looking for a staff person to manage landscaping and maintenance. A few months later, Sanders had the job.
“It was obviously a good move for me,” he says. “It was the right thing for my family, and it provided the structure, demand for high quality and the freedom to be creative that I was looking for.”
Fast forward 25 years, and Sanders’ responsibilities may have expanded, but his purpose has not.
“I’m really empowered to deliver exceptional service and solutions that enrich the quality of life for every member of this community, by preserving and enhancing the natural and planned outdoor beauty of the area.” he says. “When folks drive into this development, I want them to love what they see, so much so that they want to live here and be a part of it.”
Most of Lisa Truelsen’s day is spent on the phone, telling people she wants to give them money.
“Most people are extremely responsive to that,” says Truelsen, who’s celebrating 25 years as the accounts payable clerk for Parker Development Company (PDC). In that time, she’s earned the admiration of her colleagues, and her boss, for being a team player, a steady hand and a fun co-worker.
“Lisa has been reliable through several office location moves and constant changes in workload,” says Ellen Glass, PDC’s controller. “She’s always willing to help, and she can always be counted on for a funny story.”
One story Truelsen likes to share comes from when she started at PDC and met Bill Parker for the first time.
“He said, ‘I don’t normally like the person who pays my bills, because you’re spending my money, but for you, I’ll make an exception,’” Truelsen says. “He was smiling when he said it, and it put a smile on my face that’s never left.”
Bill Parker has nothing but praise for Truelsen and her diligence.
“She drives everyone here crazy, including me,” Parker says with a laugh. “You cannot get a check out of this office without going to her, and she’s a stickler on procedure. Even I can’t get a check cut without filling out a couple forms, and it’s my name on the check.”
Truelsen’s commitment to 25 years on the job speaks highly to the kind of culture Bill Parker and his team have created. Employees at all levels have been with the company for a decade or more, and they all praise the leadership for their integrity, the way they value their people, and for just being smart at running a business. Truelsen is no exception.
“The team here is incredible,” she says. “If you need help, they are here for you, and I’ve built great relationships with all our vendors over the years. This job is so much more than just cutting checks; it’s talking to people, and I really love that.”
“ e team here is incredible,” she says. “If you need help, they are here for you, and I’ve built great relationships with all our vendors over the years. is job is so much more than just cutting checks; it’s talking to people, and I really love that.”
Ask Truelsen what she’s learned from her years of experience, and her answer comes instantly: keep a positive attitude.
“Keep a smile on your face, even when it’s a bad day,” she says. “If you’re always in a happy mood, people respond to that, and it can help lift them up too. It even works over the phone; if you’re smiling and happy, it comes through.”
When the work and time with her colleagues isn’t enough to keep that smile on, Truelsen thinks about her bird at home, which she adores. It’s a 4-year-old conure (a small parrot) she named “Baby” because she doesn’t know if it’s a boy or a girl. She also likes to sew, spend time with her husband and family, and help her parents by paying their bills, just like she does at work.
“I’ve just got a knack for it” she says. “When you’re good at what you do, you never stop doing it.”
EXPLORING WHAT GROWS LOCALLY AND BEAUTIFULLY
Spring has a way of providing a new sense of purpose for digging in the garden. But before grabbing the trowel, it helps to know the types of plants that thrive in El Dorado County’s climate and soil. Two options for inspiration include strolling through a local demonstration garden and attending classes taught by local Master Gardeners.
Garden for the first time, I’m struck by the largeness of the landscaped grounds and the diversity of the well-tended theme gardens.
I’m greeted by Tracy Celio, program coordinator of El Dorado County’s Master Gardener program. She hands me a map and offers a tour of the one-acre site.
We meander through the various gardens, enjoying colors, textures and seasonal fragrances as our sensory walk takes us from drought-tolerant succulents to a natural wetland, through a soil-rich vegetable plot, and then to an orchard planted with stone fruits and citrus trees that exhibit pruning and growing methods.
Opened to the public in 2015, the Sherwood Demonstration Garden offers visitors a chance to explore sustainable gardening practices and learn what grows best in a variety of environments on the El Dorado County western slope.
“If you have a question, you’ll fi nd Master Gardeners at the front kiosk and in the gardens who can point you in the right direction and provide answers,” Celio says. She’s worked for the university system since 2012, helping develop the demonstration garden and its volunteer workforce from the roots up.
Each of the 16 theme gardens is an example of best practices developed by the University of California and showcases plants chosen for their ability to thrive in the local region’s zone and climate. Look for signage that indicates water usage, deer resistance and other environmental tips.
ere’s a shade garden planted beneath towering native oaks, an ornamental grass garden with colors and textures that evolve with each season, and a native plant garden featuring low-water varieties that are proven survivors in El Dorado County.
Another low-maintenance, water-wise garden contains plants that look perfectly at home growing among the pebbly soil and rocks common to El Dorado Hills.
“ e gardens are intended to be both beautiful and educational for the community,” says Celio. “ ere’s a variety of practical, sustainable plant choices, and we offer pointers for people looking for new ideas and inspiration.”
For those who love flowers, there’s a
“The gardens are intended to be both beautiful and educational for the community,” says Tracy Celio. “There’s a variety of practical, sustainable plant choices, and we o er pointers for people looking for new ideas and inspiration.”
perennial garden highlighted by rare and unusual varieties, and a classic rose garden that showcases climbing roses, hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas surrounding a gazebo.
Don’t miss the cottage garden, planted with annuals and perennials that reach colorful peaks in spring and summer. Celio points to a bench in the cottage garden. It is one of several spots where visitors stop to enjoy this restful haven, sometimes sharing a cup of coffee or tea with a friend.
In the spring and summer, birds, bees and butterflies are attracted to the butterfly garden with its milkweed, nectar sources and sheltering plants. e environment serves as a waystation for the threatened Monarch butterfly in all stages of its lifecycle.
“All of these gardens have their own show-stopping season, as well as times that they rest. I recommend visiting each season to experience all the stages,” says Celio.
Gardeners seeking inspiration and tranquility will appreciate the path leading to a traditional wooden bridge in the Japanese garden. Designed and created by the late Bob Sherwood, one of El Dorado County’s most inspired Master Gardeners, the bridge is a driving force behind the county’s demonstration garden. A copper-trimmed Japanese tea house overlooks a small pond surrounded by stones, while a variety of flowering azaleas, grasses, maple, pine and dogwood trees offer peaceful vignettes in all directions.
On a more playful note, the children’s garden features interactive experiences, including a potting bench built by local Scouts. ere are kid-friendly sunflowers and topiaries, fuzzy lamb’s ear plants to touch, colorful vegetables to taste, and dwarf trees with fruit that’s within reach for little hands.
e Sherwood Demonstration Garden is managed by 160 Master Gardeners who volunteer thousands of hours each year to care for individual gardens, build garden structures and manage the composting program. ey’ve completed eight weeks of research-based training and a one-year internship at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden before becoming volunteers. e next Master Gardener training program begins in January 2024.
“Our gardens are 100 percent built and maintained by the time, talent and sweat of our volunteers,” says Celio.
One of those volunteers is garden coordinator Sheri Burke, who’s turning the soil in an annual garden plot on the day I visited. She’s worked at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden since its inception, transforming pastureland and thorny blackberry bushes into thriving garden plots. She calls herself a “plant addict” who enjoys sharing what she’s learned as a Master Gardener, including plant propagation, sustainable gardening and healthy soil maintenance.
“Gardening feeds the soul,” Burke says. “I’d rather dig a hole than sit in an office.”
For those who’d like to get deeper into gardening but don’t have the time to become a Master Gardener, the Sherwood Demonstration Garden offers free classes taught by Master Gardeners, a spring plant sale and monthly garden tours—all with plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
“ ere’s something here for everyone,” says Celio as we say goodbye at the garden gate.
● Sherwood Demonstration Garden: 6699 Campus Drive, Placerville; mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/demonstra tion_garden
● Park in the Folsom Lake College lot.
● Entry is free. Dogs are not allowed.
● Open Fridays and Saturdays, March through November, 9 a.m. to noon, and subject to rain and high temperatures.
● First Saturday garden tours begin at 9 a.m. Look for beekeeping tips by the El Dorado Beekeepers using hives kept on the prop erty, and planetary exploration at the adjacent Community Obser vatory. There are free, year-round classes led by UC Master Gardeners at Sherwood Demonstration Garden and at local community centers. Topics range from composting to growing tomatoes. See website for details. The spring plant sale at the demonstration garden on April 15 and April 29 features shrubs, trees, ornamental grasses, fruit trees and vegetables. Proceeds help fund the garden’s ongoing operations.
“Our gardens are 100 percent built and maintained by the time, talent and sweat of our volunteers,”
says Tracy Celio.
by WRITER NAME
photography by ??
It’s hard to imagine anyone leaving a life of traveling and filming documentaries about the world’s wine regions, but Colin West wanted something more. “I was traveling in Belize, saw the litter issues there, and got inspired to make a more meaningful contribution to the world,” West says.
“So I literally dove right in.”
He came home to Northern California and started scuba diving in Lake Tahoe, with a mission to clean up the garbage he found underwater. On his first dive, he collected 50 pounds of garbage, and he knew he was onto something.
He created a nonprofit, now doing business as Clean Up the Lake, and set an ambitious goal: to clean up all the litter from 0 to 30 feet deep around Lake Tahoe, an area encompassing 72 miles of shoreline. His secondary goal was to keep as much of the garbage as possible out of landfills and use it to send a compelling message about litter and the environment.
At the time he had no money, no job, no crew— and no intention of letting any of that stop him.
“Colin came to us in 2020 with his plan and, honestly, we weren’t sure he could do it,” says Amy Berry, chief executive officer with e Tahoe Fund. “So, he started with a 6-mile pilot project (funded by the Nevada Division of State Lands’ (NDSL) Lake Tahoe License Plate Grant), and he really impressed us with his approach to the job, and how quickly he did it. So we laid out a plan to help him fund the entire 72-mile cleanup.”
e Tahoe Fund established a goal to raise $200,000, which Tahoe Blue Vodka, upon hearing about the project, agreed to match dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.
“I founded this company with a mission to draw attention to the impact we’re having on our planet and the need to protect it,” says Matt Levitt, founder, and chief executive officer of Tahoe Blue Vodka. “ is project has honestly been the coolest thing we’ve ever done, and it shows how a team of motivated individuals can really make a diff erence.”
e combined effort raised more than $250,000, with support from Vail Resorts, Tahoe Fund Donors, the NDSL license plate program, Martis Fund, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, the American Century Championship and other grant-making organizations. e cleanup began in 2021
and took one year to complete. Collectively, West and his crew of staff and volunteers pulled 25,000 pounds of garbage—more than 12 tons—from the lake bottom. at, however, was only the beginning. “Fighting back against pollution also means viewing landfills as a last resort and finding ways to re-use the litter in some way,” West says. “I am not above keeping a good pair of sunglasses I find underwater, but we had 25,000 pounds of trash that needed to go somewhere.”
e Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation and Boatworks Mall in Tahoe City stored the trash for free, but they couldn’t hold onto it forever. at’s where West and the Tahoe Fund collaborated on an idea for a public art project.
“We’d seen several projects turning ocean plastic into beautiful art, and we shared Colin’s desire to call attention to the issue of garbage in the lake,” Berry says. “One of our donors put us in touch with Building 180 and Joel and Yustina.”
the cleanup began in 2021 and took one year to complete. Collectively, West and his crew of sta and volunteers pulled 25,000 pounds of garbage—more than 12 tons— from the lake bottom.
Building 180 is a San Francisco art production and consulting company known for doing large-scale art installations around the world.
“When the Tahoe Fund first contacted us, they were thinking about several smaller sculptures, but when I showed them the works of Joel Dean Stockdill and Yustina Salnikova, we all saw a vision for something bigger,” says Meredith Winner, Building 180’s co-founder.
Stockdill and Salnikova have been creating recycled trash art for more than a decade. One of their most recognizable works was the life-sized “Blue Whale” at San Francisco’s Crissy Field, made entirely out of ocean-scavenged plastic. ey’re also well known for their “WildLife” sculptures—26 larger-than-life works on four continents—made entirely of recovered local trash.
e Tahoe Fund commissioned Stockdill and Salnikova on a large sculpture that the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority agreed to install at the new South Lake Tahoe Event Center (recently christened the “Tahoe Blue Center” after Tahoe Blue Vodka became the naming rights partner). e only question left was what they would build.
“We wanted something impressive, beautiful and representative of endangered species in the area, to help emphasize the impact pollution has on our wildlife and environment,” Berry says. “We narrowed it down to three options and asked the community to pick the final design.”
ey presented the options—a Sierra Nevada Red Fox, a Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and a Bald Eagle (clutching a Lahontan Cutthroat Trout) —and asked the community to vote on its favorite. More than 1,200 people voted, with the Bald Eagle/Cutthroat Trout emerging as the clear winner.
e sculpture, titled “Surfaced,” is currently in progress, with completion expected in Spring 2023. In finished form, it will stand at 10 feet high and 5 feet wide.
West and his team are excited to see the finished art, but none of them has been sitting idly by since the 72-mile cleanup was finished last year. ey’re diving in other nearby lakes and finding plenty of litter there too so much, in fact, that plans are in development to create a second sculpture (likely to also be created by Stockdill and Salnikova) for placement near Donner Lake in Truckee.
“We’ve found all kinds of stuff, mostly beverage containers and plastic, but also jewelry, guns and even an original Model-T Ford,” West says. “I’m glad to know this stuff is being removed and turned into art. My true hope, however, is these sculptures serve their real purpose: to be powerful and beautiful reminders of the impact humans are having on the planet, and they compel us to be better stewards.”
by K K ROBERTS
photography by CHARLENE TAYLOR / CHARM PHOTOGRAPHY
Denizens of Northern California are no doubt aware of the rich history of Sacramento, and more specifically Placerville, as ground zero during the 19th century Gold Rush. Paying tribute to this storied legacy, Miners on Main in downtown Placerville is the brainchild of Leadership El Dorado Class 14. A Gold Rush-themed scavenger hunt, Miners features medallions strategically hidden at various locations on Main Street that showcase some of the more notorious and legendary miners from that era.
Sponsored by the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, the leadership class is a yearlong program that invites local business and community members, along with elected officials to study leadership and civic responsibility, culminating in the creation of a class project to help
serve the community. “Our class actually lasted two years (meeting once a month),” says Gordon Helm, alumni and project leader of Class 14. “ e pandemic really affected our timeline.”
According to its mission statement, Leadership El Dorado “intends to send a diverse group of highly skilled leaders back into the community—better skilled, further motivated, with a stronger vision—to lead those around them toward an improved region and healthier community.”
“ is program was inspired by a similar program I saw in Greenville, North Carolina,” says Helm.
“Following the shutdown of the textile industry, Greenville needed to revitalize downtown and came up with Mice on Main, a popular scavenger
hunt for bronze mice based on the children’s book “Goodnight Moon,” in an effort to bring people in and entice them to spend time in the area.” Taking a cue from that endeavor, Leadership Class 14 developed the Miners on Main project that is specific to local history.
A previous leadership project centered on fundraising for Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Union Mine High School to fi nance the construction of a hog barn where students can raise their animals, thus helping the then newly introduced husbandry educational program. Another class spearheaded the construction of the Healing Garden at Marshall Hospital, which provides a peaceful retreat for patients and visitors seeking refuge from medical treatments.
Geared to attract both locals and tourists, the Placerville scavenger medallion hunt also features a scannable QR code that leads to web pages with more detailed information on the respective miners. Shop owners also have handouts for those not technologically inclined, and both mediums offer clues as to the location of the next plaque.
The California Gold Rush was sparked by the discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 and was arguably one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century.”
—History.com
“We want to entertain and educate people, and appeal to the next generation with the hope that they’ll appreciate our area and be less likely to move away,” Helm says. An additional benefit is the increased retail income for merchants on Main Street, with the scavenger hunt route extending from Sacramento Street to Clay Street.
Adaptability is a key feature of this project. “We can change or swap miners,” Helm notes. “We could also change the QR codes for a one-time special event.” is offers flexibility for future iterations.
According to Helm, “Surprising things build a positive relationship between the community and the downtown area.” is project targets that objective. Miners on Main debuted in November 2022 after months of planning. e list of miners was approved by the El Dorado Historical Society and includes some notable figures like John Studebaker, who made wheelbarrows for the miners and, with his brothers founded the Studebaker automotive company, and Charles E. Boles, also known as Black Bart (a miner turned
notorious stagecoach robber/poet). Influencing the choice of selected miners, the Chamber of Commerce website states, “ ese Miners all had an impact on Placerville and El Dorado County during the Gold Rush.”
“It’s more of a summer experience,” says Helm. “It’s a little early to gauge the measure of its success. I really don’t expect it to take off until the weather warms back up again. “ e popularity of Mice on Main has generated a children’s book, a game and other merchandise. Asked if there are any plans in the works to expand on Miners in a similar fashion, Helm responds, “ e leadership class has had discussions about this, among other things (like having actors portray each of the miners and have a video clip on the web page that the QR codes direct participants to), but we decided it was too much to take on in this initial phase. It is something that I think the chamber could spearhead, and it has been discussed.”
If the creative inspiration of Mice on Main is any indicator, the future of Miners on Main may just be a street paved in gold.
An All-Inclusive Playground
by DR. ED MANANSALAEquity i s a lens widely used in education that offers opportunities to all, even beyond the walls of a classroom. A great example of this is the goal to transition the playground at Jackson Elementary School into an all-inclusive environment. e current playground already has wheelchair-accessible entrances; however, the bark prohibits individuals who use mobility devices to access it. With upgraded landscaping and equipment, the playground at Jackson has the potential to provide a wealth of opportunities to children and families of differing abilities. Additionally, the Jackson Elementary School campus is always open. Once school concludes for the day, residents will be able to take advantage of the updated playground.
“ e vision of this project is to bring the community together to support an all-inclusive playground on behalf of all children, so they can socially interact and therefore reduce boundaries between children of varying abilities,” explains Michele Williamson, principal of Jackson Elementary School. Jim Shoemake, superintendent of Rescue Union School District, is pleased to bring an all-abilities playground to Jackson. “Our schools, fields, and playgrounds serve as a hub for bringing people together. Creating a new space that allows our students and community members with disabilities to have fun, further their development, and feel a true sense of belonging is exciting,” he says.
Williamson, along with many local community members and educators, are proud proponents of this project for the opportunities it presents. “Inclusive playgrounds are intentionally designed to promote awareness and acceptance by allowing interaction between students of all abilities. Inclusive spaces have the potential to bring communities together by celebrating diversity and encouraging inclusion and belonging,” says Tamara Clay, executive director of Special Services at the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE).
e El Dorado Hills Community Services District (EDHCSD) is a project partner, and Kevin Loewen, general manager at EDHCSD, explains, “By investing in universally designed playgrounds, we are all advancing the right of people who are not typically developing to play freely. ese inclusive play environments provide a safe, welcoming atmosphere for kids of all ages and abilities to come together, have fun, build genuine relationships, encourage meaningful play, and foster a sense of belonging.”
e playground site is in place, and next steps include design finalization and the gathering of funds. At EDCOE , we are proud to support this project, and we look forward to its completion. Together, as a community, we can support this important resource that offers developmental opportunities to all.
