Fall 2022

FEATURES:

· Jennie Wimmer and her Tale of Lye(s)

· Fun Fall Field Trips: Weekday OR Weekend!

· Beat the Heat! Drought Resistant Plants

· El Dorado County Historical Cemeteries

· Staycations: B & B Style

GRASSROOTS DOWN TO EARTH COMMUNITY

This picture was taken at Lough Eske Castle near Donegal, Ireland, while Jodi and Van were on a 10-day Castle trip around the Emerald Isle. They felt it was a very welcoming country!

“Most interesting to us is how close to the surface the memories are regarding Bloody Sunday, and how hard both sides are trying to overcome that tragic bit of history.”

— Jodi and Van Dossey

We look forward to seeing your photo here and learning about the place you visited! Email your photo and information to sara@AroundHereMagazine.com

Be sure to show Around Here Magazine prominently when your high-resolution photo is taken.

Our Chamber of Commerce features many benefits for businesses to thrive.

• Chamber website listing & cross-promotion

• Business workshops

• Business networking

• Referrals to your business

• Monthly networking breakfasts & mixers

• Ribbon-cutting ceremonies

• Sponsorship opportunities

• Cross-promotion of your business events via social media

• Membership e-blasts of your events

• And much more..... For more information: 530.677.8000 sscpchamber.org

PO Box 641, El Dorado, CA 95623 Phone: 530-303-8980

Web: aroundheremagazine.com

Publisher Around Here Magazine

Editor Sara Pagano

Writers:

Distribution per quarterly issue: 12,000+ in the Foothills of El Dorado County, Northern California, USA.

A copy of the current issue is available to individuals at no charge from the libraries, our advertisers and other hightraffic businesses. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

Submissions: Calendar events, news releases of upcoming events and articles of local interest with photos are welcomed. If it’s timely material, call for deadline. Publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. To be returned to sender, an SASE must accompany material submitted to Around Here Magazine.

Nonprofits: To submit a community event, note the events listed in the calendar in this issue. The order of the information must be: Date first, Title of event, Activities, etc., with Contact for the Public at the very end. Email to sara@ aroundheremagazine.com. Follow up to make sure it was received.

The information published in Around Here Magazine is believed to be accurate and authoritative but is not intended to substitute for legal, accounting, medical or other professional advice. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Around Here Magazine.

The use of Around Here’s artwork, design, articles or information is prohibited without prior written consent of the publisher. Contents copyright © 2022 by Around Here Magazine, published by Around Here Magazine.

☼ Light Side ☼

Why did the yogurt go to the art exhibition?

Because it was cultured.

What’s the best thing about Switzerland?

I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus!

Forrest Lockhart, Lisa Sco Traylor, Sheri Arnsten-Miller, Keith Atwater, Summer Brausel, Nivi Sudhir Kumar, Herb Tanimoto

Cover Art Corner

Meet the Photographer:

Beatriz “Bee Cooler” Koehler

Our Cover Artist for the Fall 2022 issue of Around Here Magazine is Beatriz Koehler. Beatriz is originally from Brazil and grew up in Canada, but now calls El Dorado County home, and has been living with her family here for the last 7 years. She is a self-taught photographer and photoshopper, and uses the artist name of “Bee Cooler” to produce her work, which has won several awards at the El Dorado County Fair in 2017, 2019, and 2022 respectively.

Beatriz likes many genres of photography, including country photography, astrophotography, animals, and one of her favorites,

Titled “Ice House Milky Way”, this photo was taken on a beautiful summer night. “My neighbor came with me because I couldn’t find courage to take more than 10 steps away from the car on that dark moonless night alone!”

her 127 year old piano. She also enjoys using photoshop to create unique and creative visuals. Many of her photos have been purchased as prints, but Beatriz also enjoys turning them into coasters for others. What a unique way to enjoy her photos!

Beatriz’s piano and other work can be seen on Instagram at

Cameron Park Automotive Advanced Technology, Improved Safety

Cameron Park Automotive is excited to announce that they offer calibration services for modern vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Many newer model cars use ADAS technology to keep drivers and passengers safe. ADAS improves a driver’s ability to react to dangers on the road by using computers and sensors that provide early warnings. Examples include: Back-up cameras, side view mirror sensors and, even in some cars, the ability to parallel park for the driver. These sensors are sensitive to physical impacts, new replacement parts, and any incident that may compromise the ADAS systems ability to monitor a vehicles surroundings. When these sensors aren’t working properly, neither are the safety features.

The next time you experience a physical impact or install a replacement part, save yourself the cost of a trip down the hill and make an appointment locally, with Cameron Park Automotive. Their ADAS computer will recalibrate your vehicle’s advanced technology for improved safety and peace of mind.

Cameron Park Automotive is located at 3321 Durock Rd next to Big O Tires in Cameron Park. Give them a call at 530-677-1576.

From The Editor

Living Life Local

Choosing a photo for the “From The Editor” section of Around Here Magazine found me scrolling endlessly through the hundreds of photos I’ve taken over the last several years, looking for that perfect picture that would accurately sum me up. However, what it turned into was a nostalgic tour of memory lane, and ended with a serene, content smile settled onto my face. If you were to peek, you’d see a lot of photos of my family, the outdoors in varying landscapes and activities, historic landmarks, museums, and cemeteries. Learning, being active, and sharing quality time with my family brings me so much joy. But as much as I love to travel, I love coming home.

When the opportunity arose to purchase Around Here Magazine, self-doubt, excitement and big dreams followed. It’s a wonderful publication that gives insight into our local history, informs us about local places and events, and advertises for our local businesses. My goal is to share the things I love: history, activities, and events, with the community I love. Around Here Magazine will continue to highlight our amazing region, history, events, nonprofits and businesses. The look and style may change a bit, but the content will remain the same. Here’s to living life local.

Whispers In The Dark

by Forrest Lockhart

Autumn starts my favorite time of the year. The searing heat is on the wane, and winter’s chill breath is on the horizon. Be it around a campfire or simply sitting with friends in the yard, gazing at the sky this time of year has a certain calm fascination.

Stargazers have always been awed by the seemingly unchanging enormity of the stellar tapestry. Back when I was a callow youth, scientists had not yet fully grasped the dynamics of the universe, and astronomy classes tended to paint deep space with a rather static brush. But the truth was far more complex.

Since early times, the possibility of planets akin to ours orbiting distant stars intrigued philosophers and theologians alike, and the question of possible life out there was hotly disputed. Some believers took refuge in Christ’s pronouncement in the Book of John, 14.2 (King James Version) — “In my Father’s house there are many mansions: … I go to prepare a place for you” — as theological affirmation of other earthlike abodes in the cosmos. Others, however, detected a whiff

of heresy in this interpretation, sometimes with violent consequences. In the sixteenth century, Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno postulated that the stars are all similar

We practice honesty and exceptional craftsmanship. We have a knowledgeable staff and use eco-friendly materials. We offer you top-quality customer service and peace of mind!

to our Sun, and each have a retinue of planets. He was rewarded for these and other radical non-theological views by being burned at the stake in the year 1600. Fortunately, we rarely do that anymore.

However, the question of exoplanets and the possibility of life out there never went away. As modern-day boffins of science and religion no longer felt the threat of a public bonfire, the question became more mainstream, and technology was employed to find an answer. In 1995, the first exoplanet was discovered orbiting the star 51 Pegasi, about 50 light years away. Since then the search has uncovered thousands of exoplanets orbiting other suns similar to ours, the nearest only 4 light years away. About 500 stars similar to the Sun reside within 100 light years of Earth, many with planets. Scientists estimate that there are hundreds of rocky, earth-like planets within only 30 light years of us. “So, what does this have to do with me and mine,” you might say. Read on, and consider this.

continued on page 7

continued from page 6

In 1960, the first concerted effort to detect signals from other stars was initiated at Cornell University. While this simplistic search came up empty, the search was on, and detection equipment has been improving ever since, with some knowledgeable scientists predicting success in our lifetime. In an echo from the past, controversy now simmers over whether we should make our presence here on Earth a matter of universal knowledge, or keep our collective heads down in an unknown, possibly hostile stellar neighborhood. One side contemplates the flood of information that could flow after ‘First Contact,’ and the impact it might have on our civilization, while others visualize a multi-tentacled exogourmet chef somewhere out there writing a cookbook titled, ‘How to Serve (up) the Human Race.’

Unfortunately, if anyone or anything, has been listening in on the galactic party line, the beans have already been spilled. You might say that we’ve been a rather noisy stellar neighbor lately.

In 1901, Marconi made the first transatlantic radio message. Weak as the signal was, that message trickled out into space. Then in the mid-1930s, the first crude television signals were broadcast in England, followed in short order by Herr Hitler’s 1936 broadcast of the Munich Olympic Games. The noisy parade continued with such cultural highlights as Howdy Doody, I Love Lucy, Fred Flintstone, various wars, and gigantic mushroom clouds. Those signals are still flowing outward through space at the speed of light some 70 years later, painting a rather interesting picture of Earth to any civilized exo-culture within a 140 lightyear sphere that is able to intercept and decipher the basic code.

Whispers In The Dark

I suppose I should worry more about all of this. Harkening back to the old Sci-Fi movie, ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’,

I should be pondering how humanity might be judged from the disparate signals we’ve been inadvertently sending.

I should, but maybe later. Tonight, the air is pleasantly cool, the lights are extinguished, and I’m sitting in a lawn chair with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea and good friends. I hear someone whisper “Is that a beautiful sky, or what?” I reply, “That it is, my friend, that it is.”

Forrest Lockhart has been passionate about the stars and planets of the universe since he was a boy who was ecstatic to get his first telescope.

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Wakamatsu Farm

941 Cold Springs Rd, Placerville

Wakamatsu Farm is located just outside of Placerville near Coloma. It offers field trips, private tours, farm tours, and open farm days. Wakamatsu is also hosting Homeschool Fridays. With a focus on nature, conservation, and local Japanese history, any of their many events, ranging from beginner to more advanced, are a fun way to get outside and explore! Whether you’re there for science, history, or just a walk and some Vitamin D, Wakamatsu has something for everyone. Wakamatsu also provides a great setting for participating in the Family Nature Bowl. For more information on events and field trips, visit arconservancy.org

Marshall State Park

310 Back Sreet, Coloma

Eureka! Visit the location of the start of the Gold Rush in California. Marshall State Park offers a variety of activities throughout the week including the museum, gold panning, docent led tours, blacksmith shop, hiking trails, and the Marshall Monument. Visit on your own or schedule a group visit. Be sure to check out the Junior Ranger Program to keep the kiddos engaged and moving, as well as the State Park field trip options! Marshall Park offers Living History Days every 2nd Saturday during the year, with the annual Coloma Gold Rush Live! - scheduled for October 7-9. You don’t want to miss it! There are multiple hiking trails for your enjoyment that can be found on AllTrails, including their new Gam Saan Trail. State Park parking is $10, or you can purchase a Poppy Pass for annual entry to many local State Parks. For more information and to plan your trip, visit www.parks.ca.gov/marshallgold and www.marshallgold.com.

Community Observatory

6699 Campus Drive, Placerville

Located in Placerville behind the Folsom Lake College El Dorado Center, the Observatory is open Friday and Saturday nights from 9p-11p, weather permitting, with docents available. See the stars through the 17-inch or 14-inch reflecting telescopes on a clear night. Free admission. The Observatory also offers special events throughout the year. For more information and to check times and events, go to www.communityobservatory.com

El Dorado County Historical Museum

104 Placerville Drive, Placerville

With a rotating array of displays, the El Dorado County Historical Museum never gets old! It just has old artifacts. Take a tour or walk-through to see what life was like throughout El Dorado County history, not just for the miners, but also the natives, loggers, farmers, and more. The museum is currently open Wednesday - Sunday from 12p - 4p, with tours on the hour. There are also several virtual exhibits available on the website. Visit www.museum.edcgov.edu for small group tours, virtual exhibits, and for more informtion.

El Dorado Hiking

How does the moon cut its hair?

Eclipse it.

What did the ocean say to the beach?

Nothing, it just waved!

Helvetica and Times New Roman walk into a bar. “Get out of here!” shouts the bartender. “We don’t serve your type.”

CALL 530-906-6704

continued on page 24

So many trails, so little time! Grab some water and sunscreen, and whether you’re looking for a long or short hike, easy or intermediate, get outside with the AllTrails app or at Alltrails.com

Poet Laureate Begins Literary Tour of El Dorado County

After a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Laureate Trail has returned to El Dorado County. The El Dorado County Library and Arts and Culture El Dorado have collabotated in bringing the Laureate Trail to all six libraries in the county. Featuring Lara Gularte, El Dorado County’s poet laureate, she will visit the libraries during the Trail’s special library events offering free poetry readings, workshops, open mics, and more. Lara will be joined on the Trail by Poets Laureate past and future, as well as special guests, including the winner of the 2023 El Dorado County Poetry Out Loud competition.

“The Laureate Trail is an especially visible example of how the Poet Laureate engages with the community and enriches the literary arts in El Dorado County. These free events are open to anyone who wants to meet the Poet Laureate, learn more about the literary arts, or enjoy some great poetry,” said Jordan Hyatt-Miller, development and program associate at Arts and Culture El Dorado. “As a collaboration with the El Dorado County Library, these events are a terrific way to promote literacy, build community, uncover connections, and start conversations throughout the county. We’re so excited to be back on the Trail with Lara Gularte.”

The Laureate Trail began in South Lake Tahoe, in June, with a special reading, open mic, and book signing. Gularte will be joined by Suzanne Roberts, who served as Poet Laureate from 2018 to 2020. The final stop on the Trail will be at the Placerville library on April 29, 2023, where Gularte again will be joined by special guests, including the 2023 Poetry Out Loud champion and the next Poet Laureate.

Laureate Trail

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

5:30 - 8 pm

Pollock Pines Library

6210 Pony Express Trail

Pollock Pines, CA

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

5:30 - 8 pm

Cameron Park Library

2500 Country Club Drive

Cameron Park, CA

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

5:30 - 8 pm

El Dorado Hills Library

7455 Silva Valley Parkway

El Dorado Hills, CA

Saturday, April 29, 2023 4 - 7 pm

Placerville Library

345 Fair Lane

Placerville, CA

Jennie Wimmer and Her Tale of Lye(s)

“My eye was caught with the glimpse of something shining in the bottom of the ditch…it made my heart thump, for I was certain that it was gold.”

These famous words, uttered by James Marshall upon finding the nugget which kicked off the 1849 Gold Rush, were printed in every California fourth-grade history book for years. Interestingly enough, in one such textbook from 1971, the author also makes brief mention of the lone woman who lived among the workers of the now famous lumber mill on the South Fork of the American River in Coloma. It simply states that “one of the soldiers had his wife and children with him. The wife cooked for the workers.” This woman was Elizabeth Jane Cloud Wimmer, and her significance in history was far more than camp cook. In fact, Jennie identified the nugget Marshall had found as gold.

As a child, Jennie’s family moved in 1838 to the north Georgia

by Lisa Scott Traylor

mountains when her father, a prosperous tobacco farmer in Virginia, fell on hard times. The family settled in the town of Auraria where the Chestatee and Etowah Rivers were attracting gold searchers from all over the nation. While her father searched for gold, Jennie and her mother ran a restaurant and boarding house for

miners. In her spare time, Jennie could be found in the gullies and hills panning for gold and soon became famous in North Georgia for her prospecting instincts.

Eventually, having not found sufficient gold to provide for the future, Jennie’s father moved the family - including Jennie and her new husband Obadiah Baiz – to Missouri. Unfortunately, Obadiah died of a fever in 1843, leaving Jennie with two babies to care for. She eventually found love again and married Peter Wimmer, a neighbor with five children, whose wife Polly had also died during the fever outbreak.

When the Hastings’ Emigrants’

Guide to Oregon and California began circulating in 1845, it stimulated a desire in pioneers to move westward. Peter Wimmer was intrigued. So, in the spring of 1846, the Wimmers and their seven children joined the Harlan Band leaving out of Independence, Missouri, bound for California. They made the trek in extra sized “prairie schooners” that also doubled as boats at river crossings. Attached to each wagon was a butter churn into which they poured the surplus of milk; it was said that the rough roads across the country churned the milk into the finest butter. The party arrived at Sutter’s Fort on November 15, 1846, just ahead of the famed Donner Party which had become stranded behind them in deep snowdrifts in the Sierra Nevada.

Upon arrival, Peter soon found work as an assistant foreman in charge of the Native Americans working on the new sawmill on the North Fork of the American River under the direction of James Marshall. Jennie went with him and was designated as the camp cook. In her free time, Jennie wandered the banks of the American River, so like the Etowah River in North Georgia. Her trained eye soon spotted shiny nuggets in the clear water, and she instinctively knew that they were gold. But nobody paid her any mind – after all, what would a camp cook know of such things?

continued on page 13

The Etowah River in Northern Georgia where Jennie Wimmer first learned to pan for gold.

Jennie Wimmer

continued from page 10

In January of 1848, the frame for the mill was complete. Unfortunately, the foundation was set too low, and the channel beneath it needed to be deepened. To remedy the situation, water was diverted during the day while the millrace was dug deeper; at night, the river was released to wash out the sediment. It was one morning after the water flushed out the millrace that Marshall picked up the now famous gold nugget.

And here is where the story takes a twist.

According to sworn deposition, Peter Wimmer and his son Martin were with Marshall when he picked up the nugget – which was the approximate size and shape of a lima bean. Unsure of what he had found, Wimmer convinced Marshall to have his son bring the specimen to his wife Jennie who had seen gold in its natural state in the mining camps in Georgia.

Jennie happened to be making lye soap that day. When her son presented her with the nugget, she immediately identified it as gold and, to prove it, she utilized a traditional folk method. She placed the nugget in the bottom of the lye kettle and let it sit overnight, knowing that pure gold would not be affected by the saleratus water. When she removed it after several hours, the nugget was gleaming and unharmed. Her

instincts were correct. The nugget in her pot was gold.

Marshall brought the specimen to Sutter who also confirmed the discovery by consulting a volume of Encyclopedia Americana. Meanwhile, Jennie wrote letters to miners back in Lumpkin County, and Georgia gold seekers became some of the first to arrive in the Mother Lode bringing their mining expertise with them.

The California Gold Rush had begun.

The Wimmers left El Dorado County soon after the gold discovery, eventually settling in

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Southern California. Jennie died in 1885 at the age of 62 and is buried in San Diego County.

While the story of Jennie Wimmer appeared in many California newspapers in the late 1800s and was memorialized in books such as “The California Gold Book: Its Discovery and Discoverers” (1893), her story all but disappeared from the 20th century history books. Perhaps with the growing interest in women’s history, her story may be added to 21st century texts.

Lisa Traylor Scott is a freelance writer who, when not writing, is fishing, tending her garden, or at any local estate sale.

Saturday & Sunday

October 15 & 16

10am - 5pm

Fairgrounds in Placerville 100 Placerville Dr. Placerville, Ca

Exciting Demonstrations & Dealers’ Offerings

Minerals, Specimens, Fossils

Petrified Wood, Crystals, Beads Fluorescents, Geodes, Slabs

Replica of Sutter’s Mill in Coloma where gold was discovered by Marshall and tested by Jennie. Photo courtesy of Gold Discovery Park Association.

Staycations B&B Style

Solo Rejuvenation Couples Reconnection

Explore, Escape, Enjoy

Instead of spending money to get out of town, only to end up in a cheap hotel, why not stay in town and treat yourself to upgraded accommodations with the money you’d save on gas!

Prices: Weekdays - $210 - $225 Weekend - $240 - $255

On-Site Activities: Upstairs game room with billiard table, card table, board games and dart board, all season/all hours access to indoor hot tub, private “you-pick” apple orchard on-site, wrap around porch with beautiful view and ample seating for porch sittin’, and unique rooms (one even allows well-behaved pups!). Great location to stay on-site or venture out!

Nearby: Located where Placerville and Apple Hill meet, you’ll have the choice to explore local farms or our historic town. Within a 10-minute drive you could be golfing, wine-tasting, dining, visiting shops, learning about local history at Gold Bug Mine or Fountain & Tallman Museum, or seeing a live band. You deserve it!

A Southwestern style villa offers rejuvenation through nature, art and music

Prices: $295 - $394 (includes private tequila tasting!) with 2-night minimum

On-Site Activities: Complimentary tequila tasting in the Agave Bar, 2-mile trail with views and wildlife, multiple conversation areas to unwind and relax, optional massage and yoga packages. Owners are working on sustainably growing their own agave. Great location to start or end your daily (or nightly) adventures!

Nearby: Just minutes from the Lotus/Coloma area, you won’t be short on fun outdoor activities. Marshall State Park with museum and trails, whitewater rafting, live music venue, four wineries and a brewery, and several amazing restaurants are all within less than a 10-minute drive. Give yourself some R & R!

A short, scenic drive into the heart of Camino will lead you to this quiet retreat

Prices: Midweek - $199 - $269 Weekend $220 - $295

On-Site Activities: Hosts offer a wine-tasting happy hour around 5p each evening, beautiful gazebo/fire pit for the adventurous, wide selection of board games and books to borrow. Beautiful location to unplug and rest up!

Nearby: Camino is home to many beautiful farms, wineries, and breweries. Walking distance to Delfino Farm and Jack Russell Brewery. Besides all the nearby farms with activities, it’s less than a 10-minute drive to the Forester Restaurant, Apple Mountain Golf Course, and Highway 50 Brewery & Nello Winery, which often offer live music. Sometimes all you need is to slow down in the peace and quiet.

The Future of Okei’s Gravestone

by Herb Tanimoto

Every immigrant group coming to American shores faced tremendous obstacles in achieving their dreams of success.

The Japanese immigrant story is no exception. Many began coming after the labor shortage caused by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Soon Japanese immigrants found prejudice extended to them with the passage of alien land laws and the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924, which were not rescinded until the 1950s. Then after WWII, a dark chapter in American history played out when approximately 120,000 innocent Japanese American citizens lost

their homes, possessions and much more, in internment camps. With hard work, especially in agriculture, the Japanese were nonetheless able to rebuild and thrive within American society.

In their quest to find cultural identity in America, many early Japanese immigrants were astounded to learn of the discovery of the grave of a Japanese girl. The grave was hidden in a thicket of brush and trees in the Sierra foothills and they learned her name: Okei. Amazingly, she had preceded most of them by 30 to 40 years! But who was she? What hardships did the young girl face as one of the first Japanese immigrants?

The discovery of her gravestone revealed a previously unknown story about the first group of Japanese settlers in America who started a tea and silk farm in the gold fields near Coloma. Back in 1869, they were refugees from a civil war. Their dreams of success ultimately vanished when arid summer conditions killed their thousands of tea plants, the lifeblood of their farm. Their Prussian honorary samurai leader, John Henry Schnell, abandoned them as the colony disbanded

within two years.

Of the original 22 colonists, few remained in America. Among them were Okei and her friend, Matsunosuke Sakurai. They became part of the neighboring Veerkamp farming family who subsequently purchased the former Colony site. Perhaps Okei longed to return to Japan, but it was unlikely she had the funds to return home. By 1871, she had contracted a deadly fever. At the age of only nineteen, her untimely death made her the first Japanese woman and immigrant who died and became buried on American soil.

The Veerkamps arranged her burial on the knoll where she often sat and gazed longingly in the direction of her homeland. In an act of tremendous kindness, Matsunosuke saved funds for some 15 years to purchase a lasting marble marker for her grave. It was carefully placed so the Japanese lettering faced west toward Aizu Wakamatsu, Okei’s homeland; and the English lettering faced inland America, the country where she still rests in peace today.

continued on page 16

The Future of Okei’s Gravestone

Okei’s gravestone stood for more than 100 years before it was severely damaged, occurring sometime after the Japanese American centennial celebration at the Farm in 1969. At some point, the crack was repaired. By the time American River Conservancy (ARC) bought the property from the Veerkamps in 2010, the stone could no longer safely remain exposed to the elements. ARC arranged for an exact replica, and the original was moved to a secure location. Another replica of the headstone exists atop Mount Seaburi at a memorial site in Aizu Wakamatsu, Japan.

Okei’s life story is symbolic of the many thousands of Japanese who have followed in her footsteps, arriving in a foreign land with little more than hopes and dreams. Ultimately, Japanese-Americans have made immense contributions to the American economy and culture. Meanwhile, Okei’s grave has become a pilgrimage site for generations of Japanese Americans and Japanese people touched by her story of perseverance and sacrifice in the face of an unknown fate. Her original gravestone is not only the testament of her life. It is the very reason why the Wakamatsu Colony story remains alive today. Her gravestone is also a symbol of the importance of honor and duty, the samurai values of Matsunosuke’s world. That he would honor his friend so beautifully by giving her this lasting memorial is touching beyond words.

A unique artifact of such significance deserves a place of prominence and protection. Returning it to the outdoor elements would expedite its demise. A world-class museum is not within scope of the Conservancy’s long-term plans for Wakamatsu Farm. As a land trust with over 33 years in environmental conservation and stewardship, artifact preservation is beyond the Conservancy’s core mission. The place where the stone is now modestly displayed at the Farm is not readily accessible to the public and particularly non-accessible to disabled visitors. Perhaps gifting the artifact to a museum or other qualified artifact repository is the

most prudent choice for posterity. Public display in a place where more people will discover the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony story would likely result in many positive outcomes, not only for Wakamatsu Farm, but also for the preservation and telling of American history. Yet, moving the stone from its place of origin is no simple choice.

At this time, American River Conservancy is at a decision point about the fate of the gravestone. In the spirit of a community dialog, the Conservancy is reaching out to interested individuals and organizations to determine what course of action will best

continued on page 21

Ladies Valley Landback: Returning Native Lands to Native Hands

American River Conservancy is raising funds to accompany a substantial land transfer to the local Native American community.

Two local land trusts invite the public to participate in this community experience. American River Conservancy (ARC), which has protected lands in the upper American River and upper Cosumnes River watersheds since 1989, will give both real estate and “seed money” to the Native American land trust, Cosumnes Culture and Waterways (CCAWW). To support the effort, ARC will host a fundraiser to accompany the return of the 320-acre property currently known as Ladies Valley to the care of CCAWW in perpetuity. With this gift of land and funds to the indigenous people of the region, ARC is participating in the international “landback” movement. By returning ancestral lands to the descendants of tribes who were historically displaced and unjustly treated, it is felt that this is a fair and equitable way to support the revival of culture for native communities all over the world.

Anyone can join in support of this peaceful and collaborative landback process.

The Ladies Valley Landback fundraiser aims to raise at least $25,000 to jump-start a living, cultural heritage site in a place originally known as Coso Village

The fundraising event will be hosted on Saturday, October 22, at Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. Whether or not you join the live event, you can donate online to this fundraiser at the event link: https://app.donorview.com/X416J.

Family Nature Bowl

Back by popular demand, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Nature Bowl 2022: Family Challenge is underway and ready for Californians to enjoy.

and inhabited by the Miwok people for centuries. On this land, local tribes will bring their families to build a village of traditional bark houses so they may once again gather, dance, and propagate plants for food, medicine, and craft

Along with ARC’s gift of Placerville land, the gift of funds will support the initial stewardship of the property’s landscape. Communities will benefit from a place to learn traditional knowledge from the living descendants of original people. With the completion of this land and funding transfer, the site will belong to the local indigenous community in perpetuity.

The North Central Region of CDFW initiated this statewide, family-friendly competition during the COVID-19 pandemic as a delightful and educational way for families to explore nature close to home – in their backyards, neighborhoods and local wild areas – while having some outside fun and working together to complete some nature-related activities.

Last year, families from across the state participated in the challenge. This year, we hope your family does too.

The 2022 challenge includes two scavenger hunts: one provided by CDFW and the other to be created by your family. There is also an extra credit element of cataloging your found items – just like a scientist.

continued on page 24

How to Reduce Your Homeownership Costs

by Sheri Arntsen-Miller

From taxes and insurance to maintenance and repairs, homeownership comes with a variety of costs.

But don’t worry. These expenses don’t have to break the bank. With a strategy (and maybe a few key home updates), you can reduce your costs in the long run. You may even make your home safer and less prone to damage.

Want to cut the costs of homeownership? Try these five approaches:

· Homeowners Insurance: Want to reduce your insurance premiums? You could bundle your home and auto policies, upgrade older systems in your home, or add

Wine Tas ng ~ Sales ~ Distribu on

Vittorio

di PortWinery& Bar

Camino ~ El Dorado County

Wine& Port Tasting Wine& Port Tasting

diVittorio Winery is a boutique winery in the Sierra Foothills. We have used a traditional wine making process since the diVittorio Family emigrated to America about 1904. The commercial winery opened in 2001.

El Dorado County fruits are used to produce fine red wines, fruit wines and port wines. Enjoy table wines and spirits that reflect traditional taste and quality, enhanced by innovation and creative thought.

Winemakers: Albert & Sally diVittorio Tasting Room is Open Friday - Sunday, 11-5pm or by appointment

Camino Wine Plaza

~ 3500 Carson Rd, Camino, CA ~ divi oriowinery.com ~ 530.621.2166

safety devices (like burglar alarms and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors).

· Utilities: To reduce your monthly utility bills, invest in Energy Starcertified appliances, and consider getting a smart thermostat. Other things that may help include seasonal weatherproofing, updating your windows, adding more insulation and installing LED lighting.

· Taxes: If your property taxes increase, you can challenge them with your local appraisal board. You might also be able to file for a  homestead exemption  for a primary residence, which puts a cap on how much your taxes can increase each year.

· Repairs: Contractor costs and building material prices are still rising. Shop around for the parts you need, and consider doing any projects you’re qualified for on your own rather than outsourcing. You can also shop secondhand for lower-cost supplies.

· Mortgage: Refinancing for a lower rate could lower your monthly mortgage payment and help your financial situation overall. Even if you refinance to a shorter term (raising your monthly payments), you can typically reduce your long-term interest costs.

Sheri Arntsen-Miller is a sales associate with RE/MAX Gold in Placerville.

The Widowed Persons Club provides a support group for widowed men and women of all ages, and provide a wide range of social activities through which they have an opportunity to make new friends and find a new direction in their lives.

General meeting lunches for members and guests are held at the Cold Springs Country Club in Placerville on the 4th Friday of each month at 11:30 am. A social time precedes each meeting. The cost is $16.00 and reservations are required. Weekly breakfasts are held Tuesday mornings at 8:30 am at Denny’s in Placerville, and 8:30 am every Wednesday morning at both the Diamond Springs Hotel & Restaurant in Diamond Springs and the Denny’s in Cameron Park to make it fun and convenient for those living closer to each respective area! For those interested in joining or to make reservations, contact Glenda at 530-2958374 or Nancy at 530-919-8276.

Beat the Heat!

by Summer Brausel

Hotter summers and less rain make us rethink the plants we want in our gardens.

Heat tolerant, water-wise plants are just as charming and beautiful as our water-loving plants. Consider native California plants. Due to our Mediterranean climate, most native plants fit the heat resistant, drought tolerant requirement. So which should you choose for your yard?

There are a few flowering plants to consider that are sun lovers, like the California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum). It has bright red flowers that bloom all summer, and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Sulphur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) displays long lasting bright yellow flowers that bring a colorful pop to the garden. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is also a heat lover, coming in all shades of red, pink, yellow, and white. Salvias, both broad leaf and small leaf, love the heat, bloom all summer, and come in all colors of red, white, blue, and pink. So many beautiful flowering plants to choose from.

purple, pink and white flowers for fragrance and cooking. Plant a Mediterranean bay tree (Laurus nobilis), for its aromatic leaves and stately appearance. A pomegranate tree (Punica granatum) offers unusual edible fruit and colorful flowers. Heat loving vegetables like okra, with its big showy blossoms, and ornamental peppers that explode in a riot of color are also edible, and eggplant for its showy dark purple orbs are perfect companions in a Mediterranean garden.

River Clean Ups • Hikes

CA Naturalist Certification • Field Trips

Wakamatsu Open Farm Days

Ikebana • Poetry • Trail Building

Water Quality Monitoring

Fishing • Birdwatching • Public Programs

Nature Camp • Wakamatsu Work Days

Bluebird Monitoring • Orienteering

Land Stewardship • Homeschool Fridays

Private Historic Tours • And More!

For information, visit ARConservancy.org/events/ 530-621-1224

Add some height to your garden with sword-leafed Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria), and make some room for the impressive Black Elder (Sambucus nigra) for its reddish stems, dark leaves, and long-lasting clusters of pink blooms.

You can even intersperse some edibles throughout your garden. Perhaps a trio of rosemary bushes (Salvia rosmarinus) with

Don’t forget ornamental grasses such as Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) that look like clouds of pink or white, or the very wellbehaved grasses such as Blue fescue Festuca glauca. Grasses also bring some nice texture to a garden.

A great resource for native plants is Calscape.org, developed by the California Native Plant Society. Explore their website for planting guides, plant selection and garden planning.

Another great resource is the UC Davis Arboretum website: arboretum.ucdavis.edu . Explore this website and find a Sustainable Garden Toolkit and plant lists, continued on page 20

EL DORADO COUNTY WIDOWED PERSONS CLUB

Beat the Heat!

continued from page 19

including one of our favorites that specializes in drought tolerant plants - the Arboretum All-Star plant list.

A local resource is our Sherwood Demonstration Garden. The Garden features 16 themed gardens, several specifically designed for our climate. On our website, each garden has its own webpage with a plant list that can be downloaded and printed. The All-Star Garden, the Mediterranean Garden, and the Native Garden all specialize in plants that do well in our Mediterranean climate. Bring these plant lists with you when you visit Sherwood. Wander the gardens, and take notes of the plants that you like. The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open every Friday and Saturday from 9 to 12 noon. Also, on the first Saturday of each month there is a free garden tour. The tour starts at 9a sharp, so do not be late! The docent may be able to answer your questions as you go. The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is located at 6699 Campus Dr, Placerville, behind the Folsom Lake College/El Dorado Center.

For more information about the demonstration gardens and monthly classes, hours, to sign up for newsletters, to print plant lists,or even to ask a gardening question, visit the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County website found at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu.

Summer Brausel is a UCCE El Dorado Master Gardener.

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

Annual Toiletries Drive Focuses on Caldor Fire Relief

by Nivi Sudhir Kumar

The 12th Annual Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Toiletries Drive benefited those who lost their homes in the Caldor Fire, as well as those in our community struggling to make ends meet. Seven local elementary schools collected over 6,900 items during the two-week drive held mid-February 2022.

The Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Community Engagement Interns from Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Placerville contacted elementary schools in their geographic areas of focus to encourage them to host toiletries drives. Each school advertised their drive through posters and flyers that included information about the items to collect such as dental supplies, body wash, sunscreen, kleenex and lotion. In addition, Datwyler Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills hosted a collection. All the donated toiletries were picked up from the participating schools and sorted and counted by the youth volunteers at after-school events.

The toiletries will be donated to various agencies throughout El Dorado and Sacramento counties including Loaves & Fishes and Green Valley Community Church, as well as distributed to people directly affected by the Caldor Fire. The toiletries were well received by families benefiting from the Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Emergency Food Pantry in Placerville.

The Traveling Trophy is given to the school that collects the most toiletries

continued on page 21

We offer high-quality early education programs for families with children birth to 5 years old. The Center Base Preschool programs are located throughout El Dorado County.

Register NOW for the 2022-2023 School Year!

Register online by scanning here Register by Phone 530-295-2270

PROGRAMAS de PREESCOLAR GRATIS

Ofrecemos

de educación temprana de alta calidad para familias con niños recién nacidos a 5 años de edad. Progrmas Preescolares de Base Central están ubicados dentro de todo el Condado de El Dorado.

‘ Dr. John ’ John F. Adams,

Okei’s Gravestone

Continued from page 20

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

continued from page 16

preserve the gravestone. With the goal of building stronger ties to Wakamatsu Farm, American River Conservancy remains committed to sharing the story of Okei, Matsunosuke, the pioneers of the Wakamatsu Colony, and the enduring legacy of Japanese American immigrants through shared connections to the land where it all began.

Herb Tanimoto is a local author and historian.

What happens now to Okei’s gravestone remains to be determined. To make these decisions, ARC’s board approved the formation of a special committee. The committee will represent members of the Japanese-American community and invite consultation from historians, curators, and spiritual leaders, among others. To inquire, volunteer, or make recommendations or view the community dialog documentation and survey, please contact wakamatsu@ARConservancy.org or call 530-621-1224.

in each geographical area. The 2022 winners of the Traveling Trophy were Jackson Elementary, Gold Ridge Elementary, and California Montessori Project! A huge thank you to Natoma Station Elementary, Oak Meadow Elementary, Country Day Montessori, and Gold Trail Elementary for giving the winners a tough challenge. Thank you to Datwyler Orthodontics for their tremendous support in contributing to the total items.

Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is a nonprofit, youth-driven organization with the mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service. The nonprofit offers hands-on education and community engagement opportunities to youth from kindergarten through 12th grades through school-based and after-school programs in Sacramento and El Dorado counties. For more information, call (916) 2947426 or visit hands4hopeyouth.org

~ Nivi Sudhir Kumar is a Vista del Lago Senior and Hands4Hope Folsom Community Engagement Intern.

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‘Brothers’ Sewing & Vacuum

Old Hickory Sheds

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Historic Cemeteries in the Foothills

by Keith Atwater

Many people are probably unaware that El Dorado County is home to literally hundreds of public and private cemeteries, many dating back to the Gold Rush era. Some cemeteries are designated as “active” or “open,” and future burials can be arranged on the grounds. “Closed” cemeteries, where much Gold Rush era history and old families can be found, do not allow additional burials.

There are also many common yet fascinating symbols that can be found in virtually all old cemeteries. These include the Independent Order of Odd Fellows symbol, the Freemason symbol, a weeping willow, an Egyptian obelisk, and a handshake. These examples of the 19th Century Romantic era often overshadow traditional Christian and biblical inscriptions.

Historians estimate that over 10,000 people died in this area between 1850 and 1900, many in unmarked, undiscovered graves. The plethora of graves of babies, youths, and women of child-bearing years reminds us of sad times past when medical procedures and vaccines were not yet widely available.

While many are small family plots on private property, many more are open to the public and easily accessible. Here are a few found “around here:”

Uniontown / Lotus Cemetery was established in 1852 and served the gold mining town of Marshall. Residents expressed their political views by changing the original town name of Marshall to Uniontown in 1855, and later to Lotus in 1861, when the first post office was established. The American River waters can be heard in this shady, one-acre cemetery that has 352 recorded plots. It’s been used continuously by local families for the past 170 years. Several prominent residents and ranchers are buried here, including Ray Lawyer and the Bacchi, Bassi, Grother, Mainwaring and Lohry families. There are some family plots, but only surviving members may be buried here in the future.

5211 Bassi Road, Lotus

Mud Springs / El Dorado Cemetery sits just a block away from the iconic Poor Red’s BBQ and tavern. Strolling among the several hundred graves, one

finds veteran’s graves; the older ones indicate what company the soldier was in, and often what war he fought in. The oldest such gravestone honors a soldier born in 1799. Located at the Corner of Church and Cemetery Streets

Clarksville / Mormon Tavern Cemetery can be seen clearly just on the south side of Highway 50 east of the Mercedes-Benz dealer (don’t blink!). This small cemetery, surrounded as most are by an iron fence with an accessible gate, stood alongside the first road to the gold mining camps and beyond.

Originally a stage stop, it was called Mormon Tavern. The bar, restaurant, and lodging house was operated by Mormons who returned from the Mexican War. It was also briefly a pony express remount stop. About 140 Clarksville folks are buried here, including Joerger and several marked “unknown man.”

Other notables found here include Luther Brown Clark and Samuel Kyburz. Clark was one of the brothers for whom Clarksville was named, and the town of Kyburz, east of Placerville, was named for Samuel Kyburz. The Kyburz’ group was part of the Donner Party, but left the group at Salt Lake City, Utah and went a different route, arriving before the snows.

“Clarksville Days,” usually the first weekend of May, celebrates the history of this colorful ghost town.

continued on page 23

Before the modern highway 50 was constructed, Clarksville perched on the edge of the original, first transcontinental highway known as the “Lincoln Highway.”

Joerger Cutoff Road, El Dorado Hills

“Upper” or “Old City” Cemetery commands a close-up view of bustling Main Street, the historic Carey House, post office, and Main Street Tap House. Dr. B.F. Keene, first president of the California Medical Society, was buried here in 1856 at the age of 43. His gravestone, like many, is decorated with the Freemason symbol of the geometric compass.

3041 Rector Street, Placerville

Pioneer Hebrew / Jewish Cemetery hides unseen in a quiet neighborhood one block from El Dorado High School. The 33 known graves are maintained by the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks in the West. The earliest burial was Marcus Abraham in 1856.

His grave marker is inscribed in Hebrew. Another notable Placerville area Jewish family, the Snows, is the source of the name for a Camino Heights Road off Highway 50, Snow’s Road.

This community’s original synagogues are no longer extant. One was destroyed in a storm in 1877; the other was sold and demolished in the early 1900s. Myrtle Street, Placerville

Many cemeteries in our area show the ravages of time, weather, vandalism, and neglect. And people interested in preserving our history took note. In 1996, a small group of local citizens founded and chartered the El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission (EDCPCC) to research and study the history of the cemeteries to learn and document what has occurred and is occurring to these valuable and irreplaceable historic and cultural resources.

Historic cemeteries offer much for those who seek them out: a peaceful quiet walk among oak trees, a visual reminder of the many immigrants who came from many places in search of gold and other opportunities. Indeed, many markers read “native of Ireland,” “native of New York,” and other states and countries.

A visit also allows reflection on the loss of loved ones known and unknown, then and now. Many markers state how many years, months, and days the individual lived on this earth. They resonate with life in the past and present here in El Dorado County.

Community Car Show Fundraisers

August 28

Hometown Pride Car Show

Union Mine High School

10a - 3p

Supporting Union Mine FFA

September 5

Automotive Excellence Car Show

Automotive Excellence Auto Shop

9a - 3p

Supporting Foothill Dog Rescue

September 17

Park Community Music Festival and Car Show

Park Community Church

10a - 3p

Supporting New Beginnings

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PLACERVILLE

Fun Fall Field Trips

continued from page 8

Gold Bug Mine

2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville

Just off Highway 50 near Main Street Placerville, Gold Bug Mine is a step into the past. Admission is free to visit the Mining Museum, Stamp Mill and Blacksmith demonstrations, and mineral displays. The Liberty picnic pavilion and hiking trails are also on site. Tours of the Gold Bug Mine include a hard hat to wear into the mine and access to their audio tour. The website not only provides information about the park, but also has a virtual tour option with study materials. Gold Bug Mine is open daily from 10a - 4p, $12/adults, $10/seniors & military, $6/kids 6-17, and kids 5 and under are free. More information is available at www.goldbugpark.org

Walking Tour of Main Street, Placerville

A great place to start your walking tour is at the Fountain & Tallman Historical Museum, located in a historic building at 524 Main Street and open Wednesday - Sunday from 12p - 4p. Supported by the El Dorado County Historical Society, they have two floors of rotating displays, gift shop, and a free walking guide of Main Street. The walking tour will take you along both sides of Main Street, divulging stories and secrets of the buildings as they now stand, as well as information about what was there before their time. Plaques along the way add to the commemoration of Placerville’s history. Free 2-hour parking is available, as well as many shops and eateries to take breaks along the way. (Ice cream, anyone!?) www.eldoradohistoricalsociety.org

Sherwood Demonstration Garden

6699 Campus Dr, Placerville

Learn about sustainable horticulture and pest control from Master Gardeners! With 16 individual gardens, you can learn about a variety of plants and environments. Open Fri & Sat 9a - 12p, garden tours the 1st Sat of the month, and group tours available. Their website includes videos and handouts about various topics relating to gardening, irrigation, native plants, trees, growing your food and even caring for backyard chickens. For more information, visit mgeldoradoucanr.edu

Apple Hill

Camino

Apple Hill has plenty of opportunities for fall fun, from “U-Pick” goodies and nature trails, to farm animals and mazes. There’s always something fun to do in Apple Hill, especially during the week! (And a great recipe for how to use some of your “you-pick” apples is on page 37!)

Take a look at the different activities available by farm @ applehill.com/fun-4-kids/

Family Nature Bowl

continued from page 21

The challenge is open to all California families. Deadline to enter is Aug. 31, 2022.

To sign up, please email Genelle.Treaster@wildlife.ca.gov.

The Family Challenge packet along with additional information is available at CDFW’s Nature Bowl webpage: wildlife.ca.gov/

Where do fruits go on vacation?

Pear-is!

I got carded at a liquor store the other day, and my Blockbuster card fell out. The cashier said never mind.

A PARENT FINDS HOPE

by a long time, very grateful, member of Al-Anon

I first came to Al-Anon at the suggestion of my therapist! I was searching for a magic cure for my son’s drug and alcohol addiction and behavioral problems. I knew I needed to learn how to set better boundaries with him, but I was unaware of how my perspective and behavior was contributing to making my life totally unmanageable. I am a smart, responsible woman who is a good problem solver. Why couldn’t I figure out the solution to these problems?

I had been in a support group for families with mental illness, but a counselor suggested that I go to AlAnon as well. I went to my first AlAnon meeting alone. I was nervous meeting new people and sat in the back of the room. I thought that the people would only focus on negativity and the problems in their lives and was astonished when I saw that an Al-Anon meeting could be funny and uplifting. I was so surprised when people at the meeting were laughing, commenting on the positive moments in their lives and telling stories about their own mistakes and flaws. I started to relate to these people.

Much of what I heard was about progress, overcoming hardships and reexamining their perspective and expectations. I also heard a number of short slogans that I

was able to use during the next weeks. All this gave me hope that my life could be improved if I kept coming back and learning about the Al-Anon steps, traditions, and principles.

Over the next months, I learned to accept that my son’s sobriety is literally “One Day at a Time.” I’ve come to understand that I need to let go when he’s sober and detach when he’s not. Today is one of those in between days that I need to manage differently. He’s struggling in his sobriety and mental illness, and I want to reach out to help. In the past “helping” looked like asking how he was doing emotionally or trying to distract him with activities. “Helping” makes it sound like I’m doing something good for him and that I’m not trying to control his behavior. But Al-Anon has taught me that this has been my way to “guide” him in a direction that addresses my fears and worries.

The last time he relapsed, he called his AA sponsor. Watching the beauty of how alcoholics take care of alcoholics is a reminder to me that I am not the one to help. Now is a perfect time for me to practice “hands off.” I can attend to our relationship, but not overdo it to satisfy my fear. I can let him share the information he is ready to give me and not make our conversations an inquisition. I need to just listen in a non-judgmental way, so he discovers his own answers.

Watching someone struggle is never easy. But struggling along with them is not the answer for me today. I can find peace in trusting there are greater powers than me that can aid him along this path. My job is to be a loving and compassionate witness to his life, and to focus on the life that I’ve been given and my own behavior. Dealing with my own feelings and motivations helps me to “Live and Let Live.”

If you are wondering whether Al-Anon could help you, consider these questions.

Do you worry about how much someone drinks?

Do you feel if the drinker loved you, he or she would stop drinking to please you?

Do you tell lies to cover up for someone else’s drinking?

Are you afraid to upset someone for fear it will set off a drinking bout?

Have you been hurt or embarrassed by a drinker’s behavior?

Do you search for hidden alcohol?

If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, Al-Anon may be able to help.

For meeting information call 916-334-2970 or visit Al-Anon.org

“My job is to... focus on the life that I’ve been given and my own behavior.”

August 2022

Every Sunday

Live Music & Wine Slushies * 2:30p5:30p - Live Music & Wine Slushies @ Batia Vineyards, 459 Main St, Placerville Live Music with Local Artists every Sunday and delicious wine slushies.

1st & 3rd Sundays

Train Rides * 10a, 11a, 12p, 1p

The El Dorado Western Railroad 2022 excursion train rides continue w/ round trips from the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St, El Dorado. Rides are on historic gang cars. Buy tickets onsite, $3-$8; they go fast so buy starting at 9:30 for any ride. More info: 530-663-3581 (Sunday) or museum (railroad sponsor, for general information), 530-621-5865.

Every Wednesday

Farmer’s Market * 8a - 12p

Cameron Park Farmer’s Market at Burke Junction on the corner of Coach Lane and Strolling Hills Rd.

Farmer’s Market * 4p - dusk

Placerville Farmer’s Market at 401 Main Street, Placerville, around the Bell Tower

All farmers happily accept EBT and MarketMatch.

This market specializes in local fruits and vegetables, sustainable agriculture, and community. Enjoy live music, fresh produce, local vendors and fun for everyone. Call 530-919-5696 or check out the latest info on their Facebook page.

Every Thursday

Music in the Courtyard * 6p - 8p

Smith Flat House “Pickin’ on the Patio” Thursday night’s music in the courtyard from 6-8pm!! Come join us on our patio! Reservations recommended.

Before you head to an Event

EVENTS

Every Friday

Farmer’s Market * 9a - 12p

Marshall Hospital Farmer’s Market 1100 Marshall Way, Placerville

Mark your Calendars for this Wonderful Farmer’s Market near Marshall Hospital with local Artisan Vendors. Come out and enjoy your morning and support your local Farmers.

Cider Sunsets * 4p - 7p

Cider Sunset Fridays @ Hidden Star Camino are a great way to wind down from the week! Grab a cider, something tasty from the bakery and relax into the weekend. No reservations required. We will stay open until after the sun sets. See you soon!

Enchanted Friday Evenings @ Boeger

Winery * 5:30p - 8:30p

Enjoy the sunset over our vineyards as music drifts through the summer breezes. Band Line-ups, pricing, food trucks and details can be found at boegerwinery.com/ events/. Please note that groups are limited to a maximum of six guests including children, designated drivers and non-drinkers, and multiple groups cannot be combined. You may bring your own food, but please, leave the outside alcohol at home. This includes beer, liquor, and any non-Boeger wine…those beverages could cost us our alcohol license!

1st, 2nd, 3rd Fridays

Line Dancing * 6p - 9p

Line Dancing @ Smith Flat House: Instructed by Sara Schindler. $10 at the door. Food and drinks available for purchase.

August 5

Friday Night Out * 5p - 8p

Friday Night Out @ Rescue Community Center: Join us for live music, great food, beer, wine and shopping.

August 6

Blackberry Jam Making Class * 9a - 2p

Harris Family Farm: Join us and learn how to make your own blackberry jam with our berries that you will pick! Reservations required. For details, call 530-644-2194 or visit harrisfamilyfarm.com

Fundraiser Dinner * 4p - 10p

All About Equine’s Annual Boots and Bling - AAE is holding its ninth annual Boots and Bling fundraising event. The public is invited to participate in festivities, including a catered BBQ dinner, live/silent auctions, DJ entertainment, and dancing. Tickets are $55 per person. Sponsorships, including tables, are still available. This year’s event will be held at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, Forni Building, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville. Doors open at 4p. This is a fun and exciting evening you don’t want to miss. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.allaboutequine.org/events

Sangria Weekend * 12p - 4p

Enjoy some refreshing Sangria @ Fenton Herriot Vineyards made with our wines! More details to follow or call the winery for info at 530-642-2021.

Country Dance * 5:15p - 9p

Hosted @ Veteran’s Memorial Hall: Lesson from 5:15 - 6, Line Dancing 6 - 6:30, Open Dance 6:30 - 9. $10 entry includes lesson. Proceeds benefit veterans.

Races * 6p - 10p

Points Race #14: Coors Light Big Trophy Night - 360 Sprint Cars, Ltd. Late Models, Pure Stocks, NCDCA Dwarf Cars. Races take place at the Placerville Fairgrounds. Gates open at 3p. For information or to purchase tickets, please visit placervillespeedway.com

August 7

Sangria Weekend * 12p - 4p

Enjoy some refreshing Sangria @ Fenton Herriot Vineyards made with our wines! More details to follow or call the winery for info at 530-642-2021.

August 12

Family Fun * 6p - 10p

Cameron Park Family Festival @ Rasmussen Park will kick off with live music from Dick Larson, and food trucks! There will be a movie in the park at 8:15p. This event is free to the public, but we do accept donations as it is a fundraiser for the Recreation Participant Scholarship Fund. Info at www.cameronpark.org

continued on page 27

continued from page 26

August 13

Live Music * 5p - 8p

Endless Summer Nights Concert Series

@ Wakamatsu Farm: Hither & Yon is a folk/old-time string band from El Dorado County. Their sound is a reflection of traditional American and Celtic folkways and their shared love of wild nature and the poetry of dark ballads. Beer and Wine available for purchase. Bring your own cup or purchase a Klean Kanteen cup for $10. No outside alcohol permitted. Cost: $10/ person. Children under 12 free. ARConservancy.org

Fundraiser Dinner * 6p - 10p

Apple Hill Growers Association presents their Farm to Fork event at Delfino Farms. Our 50 farms are excited to come together yet again for an authentic Farm to Fork experience featuring many of our farms. www.applehill.com/events

EVENTS

August 14

Blackberry Jam Making Class* 9a - 2p

@ Harris Family Farm: Join us and learn how to make your own blackberry jam from start to finish with our berries that you will pick! Reservations required. For information, visit harrisfamilyfarm.com or call 530-644-2194.

August 19

Monthly Presentation * 1p - 3p

The Sierra Renaissance Society offers a look into presented by Dr. Hobbs. Free to members; non-members may attend two presentations/year at no charge. Held at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missourri Flat Rd. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to Life Long Learning. For more information, please visit srsedc.org

Friday Night Out * 5p - 8p

Bring your whole family and enjoy an evening of live music, great food, beer, wine and shopping! 4180 Green Valley Rd, Rescue. For more information, visit www. rescuecommunitycenter.com

August 20

Blackberry Jam Making Class * 9a - 2p

@ Harris Family Farm: Join us and learn how to make your own blackberry jam from start to finish with our berries that you will pick! Reservations required. For information, visit harrisfamilyfarm.com

Art Walk * 4p - 8p

The Placerville Art Walk takes place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The Galleries stay open late and often have special events like music, preforming arts, and artists’ reception. For more info and events happening on the Art Walk, check out facebook.com/placervilleartwalk

Luau * 5p - 9p

Pig Roast Luau: Tropical drinks, out of this world food, family, friends, and community will make that happen. Bar opens at 5p, dinner served at 6p. Music, stories, entertainment, great food and drinks will be had by all. Hosted by the El Dorado Community Hall.

On Stage in El Dorado County

Now - Aug 7

Imagination Theater presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”. With charm, wit, and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the Peanuts gang. Based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic. Guaranteed to please audiences of all ages! www.itplacerville.org for tickets

Now - August 28

Olde Coloma Theatre presents “The Watered-Down Saloon” or “A Trip Out West” Runs Fiedays, Saturdays and Sundays and is suitable for all ages to enjoy. For tickets and info: oldecolomatheatre.com

September 9 - October 2

The Stage at Burke Junction presents “Good People”. Tickets at www.stageatburke.com

September 23 - October 15

Imagination Theater presents “Inherit the Wind”: The dramatized account of the 1925 Scopes

“Monkey” Trial resulted in John T. Scopes’ conviction for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law. www.itplacerville.org for tickets

September 23 - October 30

Olde Coloma Theatre presents “Mrs. Waldecott Vs. the Spider Witch” or “Creepies, Crawlies, & Halloween Follies:” for show and ticket information, visit oldecolomatheatre.com

continued on page 28

In framed photo is Marlene Ruth, wearing the same 1953 gown she made that’s shown on mannequin, above right.

Country Dance * 5:15p - 9p

Hosted @ Veteran’s Memorial Hall: Lesson

5:15 - 6, Line Dancing 6 - 6:30, Open Dance 6:30 - 9. $10 includes lesson.

August 24

Learn to Square Dance * 7 - 8:30p

Learn to square dance @ Shingle Springs Community Center. Great folks, fun times, get your steps in. $80/person for a 16 week program hosted by Apple Jacks and Jills. applejacksjills@gmail.com

August 25

Zen & Qigong Meditation * 6:30p - 8p

Join mindfulness instructor Berry Crawford for a peaceful and relaxing event at the Wakamatsu farm. This event will include sessions of Qigong, mindfulness meditation and walking meditation. Responsible/quiet 12-year-olds+ welcome. $5/members, $10/non-members. ARConservancy.org

EVENTS

August 27

Ikebana : No Kenzan Arrangements * 9a - 12p - Using a Moribana to create a composition that stands by itself without the use of a Kenzan (pin frog). How to fix the branches is the crucial issue. Instructor Yasmin is a “Sensei“ (teacher) in the Sogetsu School of Japanese flower arranging. Adults and children 8 and older are welcome, as long as accompanied by a paying adult. Meeting location @ Wakamatsu Farm, Placerville/Gold Hill area. Individual classes $35/members, $40/ non-members. arconservancy.org for details.

Blackberry Jam Making Class * 9a - 2p @ Harris Family Farm: Join us and learn how to make your own blackberry jam from start to finish with our berries that you will pick! Reservations required. For information visit harrisfamilyfarm.com or call 530-644-2194.

Hawaiian Luau * 6p - 9p @ Fenton

By Debbie

Herriott Vineyards: Help us celebrate late summer and upcoming harvest Hawaiian style! Come join us after you’ve spent a wonderful day of wine tasting for a relaxing Hawaiian Luau Dinner. Enjoy a 5 course meal paired perfectly with Fenton Herriott wines while Aloha Dancers perform traditional Hawaiian dances. $55/ members, $65/non-members. For more info, visit fentonherriott.com/luau or call 530-642-2021.

Tour of the Wakamatsu Night Sky * 8p - 11p - The late summer dusk will reveal the splendors of the night sky. Learn about constellations and their mythologies, the embedded landmark stars, and planets in view. Participate in the tour from the comfort of your chairs, cots, or hammocks. Herb Tanimoto will lead this unique sky tour. There will be no telescopes. Responsible teens+ welcome. Smoke/cloudy skies cancels. Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/non-members. For event details, visit arconservancy.com.

August 27 - 28

Backpacking Trip * 8a, 8/27 - 5p, 8/28

ARC volunteer Tom Dodson leads this exploration of the Granite Chief Wilderness Area from the Grayhorse Valley Trailhead. Start off the day with a hike to the end of the Grayhorse Valley to the saddle. From the east you will see the Granite Chief Wilderness. We will hike down to Whisky Creek for the evening. Sunday morning is a short hike to Five Lakes for a swim. After lunch will be hiking back up along the backside of Picayune Valley. This is an overnight trip, so bring your own pack with supplies and food. Hike difficulty, intermediate with 1000ft. elevation gains at the beginning and end of the hike, total of 14 miles round trip. Age minimum: 14 years-old with backpacking experience. Meeting location Foresthill area. This is not a beginner’s backpacking trip. $40/ members, $55/non-members (High clearance vehicles & drivers needed. Indicate desire when signing up @ arconservancy. com/events

August 28

Hometown Pride Car Show * 10a - 3p

Union Mine FFA hosts Cars, Trucks, Tractors, Bikes & More. Family FUN Event & Fundraiser! Join us at UMHS for a fun filled day of Car Shows, Raffles, Contests, Vendor Booths, Delicious Food, Bounce House, Tractor Rides, Awards & so much more! This event is a fundraiser to help raise funds for our UMHS FFA program for the 2022/2023 school year!

Wine + Yoga = WOGA! * 8:30a - 10a Don’t miss the irresistible experience of basking in the sun as you listen to birds chirp while perfecting your down dog. These classes are slow-flowing vinyasa style and fun for all levels. Robin Lenzi of Living Fit Yoga and our tasting room team member Julia Johnsen of Joyful Yoga Breath will alternate teaching classes. Enjoy light snacks and a complimentary glass of wine afterward! $25/member, $30/ non-member. www.boegerwinery.com

continued on page 31

continued from page 28

August 30

Latin Dancing * 6p - 9p - Smith Flat House presents Latin Dance Night, hosted by Joel & Ariel Beall. One and a half hour class followed by a dance social. $10 entrance fee. www.smithflathouse.com/events

September 2022 Events

1st & 3rd Sundays

Train Rides * 10a, 11a, 12p, 1p

The El Dorado Western Railroad 2022 excursion train rides continue w/ round trips from the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St, El Dorado. Rides are on historic gang cars. Buy tickets onsite, $3-$8; they go fast so buy starting at 9:30 for any ride. More info: 530-663-3581 (Sunday) or museum (railroad sponsor, for general information), 530-621-5865.

Every Wednesday

Farmer’s Market * 8a - 12p

Cameron Park Farmer’s Market at Burke Junction on the corner of Coach Lane and Strolling Hills Rd.

Farmer’s Market * 4p - dusk

Placerville Farmer’s Market at 401 Main Street, Placerville, around the Bell Tower All farmers happily accept EBT and MarketMatch.

This market specializes in local fruits and vegetables, sustainable agriculture, and community. Enjoy live music, fresh produce, local vendors and fun for everyone. Call 530-919-5696 or check out the latest info on their Facebook page.

Every Thursday

Music in the Courtyard * 6p - 8p

Smith Flat House “Pickin’ on the Patio” Thursday night’s music in the courtyard from 6-8pm! Come join us on our patio! Reservations recommended.

EVENTS

1st, 2nd, 3rd Fridays

Line Dancing * 6p - 9p

Line Dancing @ Smith Flat House: Instructed by Sara Schindler. $10 at the door. Food and drinks available for purchase.

Every Friday

Farmer’s Market * 9a - 12p

Marshall Hospital Farmer’s Market

1100 Marshall Way, Placerville

Mark your Calendars for this Wonderful Farmer’s Market near Marshall Hospital with local Artisan Vendors. Come out and enjoy your morning and support your local Farmers.

Cider Sunsets * 4p - 7p

Cider Sunset Fridays @ Hidden Star Camino are a great way to wind down from the week! Grab a cider, something tasty from the bakery and relax into the weekend. No reservations required. We will stay open until after the sun sets. www.hiddenstarcamino.com

September 3

Grand Opening * 10a - 2p

Join American River Conservancy’s grand opening ribbon-cutting celebration for the new outdoor Education Center at Wakamatsu Farm. Open Farm Day starts at 10:00 when guests are welcome to arrive. Festivities will begin at 11:00 until at least 11:30. In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, enjoy live entertainment and poetry readings. Bring a picnic lunch to the farm and enjoy the peaceful shade of large oak as your eyes travel the open landscape.

September 2

Friday Night Out * 5p - 8p

Bring your whole family and enjoy an evening of live music, great food, beer, wine and shopping! 4180 Green Valley Rd, Rescue. For more information, visit www. rescuecommunitycenter.com

September 5

Car Show * 9a - 3p

Automotive Excellence Annual Car Show: This year we will be partnering and raising funds for Foothill Dog Rescue! There will be Custom & Classic vehicles, Live DJ music, vendors, a raffle with awesome prizes, a cakewalk and games, and great food! Bring your friends and family for a great day! 4600 Misourri Flat Rd #14 Free admission for the public.

September 9

Community Event * 4p - 8p Business Showcase & I Love Film Event @ Fairgrounds: This unique opportunity to talk one on one with more than 90 of the county’s best businesses in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Many of these businesses offer show specials or sales. There will be complimentary food, wine, and beer tastings, and free drawings. This event attracts film lovers and industry specialists which gives this event a fastpaced high-energy feel that you will only find at the El Dorado County Business Showcase. If you are interested in learning about the local film industry, this is a once-a-year event! Admission is free.

September 13

Golf Tournament * 8a - 12p

JOB, Inc. 2nd Annual Golf Tournament @ Apple Mountain Golf Resort. Proceeds support our JOB Dog program that pairs rehabilitated men with dogs needing rehabilitation and training. $125 golfer fee includes 18 holes, cart, balls & BBQ lunch.

September 16

Monthly Presentation * 1p - 3p

Join us at the Mother Lode Lions Club for Skeletons in the Closet: Gold Rush Stories of El Dorado County presented by Mary Cory. Free to members; non-members may attend two presentations/year at no charge. Hosted by the Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County, dedicated to lifelong learning, at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missourri Flat Rd. For more information, please visit: srsedc.org

continued on page 34

Health Begins When We Unpack Our Emotional Suitcase In The Spirit

by Pastor Al Soto

I have had the wonderful opportunity to travel all over the world and the one challenge I have had to overcome is answering the question: “How much do I pack?”

For many of us who have had to pack everything for our trip, there is nothing more exhausting than having to carry too much weight in an airport. Similarly, I have found that I need to investigate my emotional suitcase and explore what issues and possibly toxic things have been accumulating in my

Call first to verify worship times.

Bayside Church of Placerville

Pastor Al Soto

Worship: Sun 10am; Youth: Thurs 6pm 4602 Misourri Flat Road, Placerville info@baysideplacerville.com · baysideplacerville.com 530-626-7288

Bible Baptist Church

Pastor John Labins, conservative, evangelistic, independent Sun: 10am classes for all ages; 11am & 6pm Preaching;

Wed: Bible Study & Prayer 6pm, Bible Club for kids

5391 Mother Lode Drive, Placerville 530-621-0482; www.BetterThanGold.org

Camino Seventh-day Adventist Church

Pastor: Avi Mendoza - Call 1st for updated info. Sat. study session 10:00am; worship 11:00am

3520 Carson Road, Camino 530-644-2236 • elarsen.office@gmail.com www.caminoSDA.org

Church of Christ • Rescue

Phil Rembleski • Sunday worship only during pandemic!

Worship: Sun 10:30am & 5:30pm; 9:30am Sunday School classes all ages; Bible class Wednesdays 7pm 4200 Green Valley Rd, Rescue 530-677-4502 • rescuechurchofchrist.org

Church of the Nazarene

Reverend Dan Hopkins

Worship: Sun 10:30am

6040 Mother Lode Dr, Placerville plaznaz@yahoo.com • www.plaznaz.com 530-622-3217

Discovery Hills Evangelical Free Church

Pastor Christopher Feigles

Worship: Sundays 9am, 10:30, 10:15 online

4270 Shingle Springs Dr., Shingle Springs www.discoveryhills.org • zoe@discoveryhills.org 530-677-1875

heart. As someone who has also been on my own journey to maintaining my emotional and spiritual health, looking into my suitcase frees me to be more proactive versus reactive to what has been stacking up inside.

Here is a simple truth: “WE ALL HAVE STUFF!” Some of our baggage comes from the broken issues of our family of origin and some of it has been gathered from unhealthy habits we’ve accumulated in an attempt to meet our needs. We begin to eat too much, drink too much, shop too much, work too much and our list

could go on as we find ways to avoid peeking into our emotional suticases, because if we did, we might have to face things and change them.

Think about it...

Why do so many Christians make lousy human beings? Why are so many of us judgmental, unaware, and defensive? Part of the answer lies in the failure to biblically integrate emotional health and spiritual maturity. A vast industry exists around emotional intelligence that ignores spirituality. An enormous amount of

continued on page 33

Worship Services Around Here

El Dorado Community ChurchCongregational

Pastor George Turnboo

Sunday Worship 11:00 am

4701 Church Street, El Dorado, racecar56g@yahoo. com, eldoradocommunitychurch.com, 530-622-8868

Federated Church

Pastor Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes

Worship: Sun 10:00am. 1031 Thompson Way, Placerville www.EldoradoFederatedChurch.org

office@eldoradoFederatedChurch.org, 530-622-0273

Freedom Church

Pastor Scott & Pastor Colleen Williams

Worship: Sun 9 & 10:30am. Youth: Tuesdays 6pm.

Men’s Bible Study: Fri 8am. 4414 Commodity Way, Cameron Park, 530-677-7212 www.freedomchurchcp.org / office@freedomchurchcp.org

Holy Trinity Catholic Parish

Fr. Larry Beck

Mass: Sat. Vigil Mass 5:30pm; Sun. Mass 7:30am, 9am, 11am Weekdays, M-F 8:15am. 3111 Tierra de Dios Dr., El Dorado Hills. holytrinity@holytrinity.parish.org • 530-677-3234 www.holytrinityparish.org

Sentinel Ministries, Inc.

Pastor Veronica Parker

Worship 1st Sunday only 1pm, Parish Hall at St.Stephen’s Lutheran Church 1001 Olson Ln, El Dorado Hills. 916-968-7844

St. Patrick Catholic Church

Fr. Hernando Gomez Amaya

English Mass: Sat. 4pm; Sun. 8am, 10am; M-F 8:30am; Spanish Mass: Sun. 12:30pm & Wed. 6:30pm; 3109 Sacramento Street, Placerville 530-622-0373

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church

Pastor Trudy Franzen

Sun. Worship: Zoom Service 8:30; In-Person is 9:30am 1001 Olson Lane (at EDH Blvd), El Dorado Hills 916-933-1441 • st-steph@sslcedh.org, www.sslcedh.org

Churches, To list in Around Here Magazine, call 530-303-8980 or email information below to sara@aroundheremagazine.com.

Cost is $100/year for 4 issues.

continued from page 32

information also exists that defines a “healthy and ature” Christian. Rarely are the two integrated. Furthermore, the truth is it takes courage to look at what we have been cramming into our emotional suitcase. It’s not easy to look at life’s most difficult moments, especially when they revolve around events that we have experienced, such as “betrayal,” “neglect,” or being the recipient of “rejection.” It’s not healthy to deny that these events have happened to us. Instead, we have to make sure that we are asking God to help us navigate through our life issues. This way we do not become the person who perpetuates these unresolved issues onto others. Here are some steps that you can take to begin to unpack the emotional stuff in your suitcase:

1.

Participate in a faith community

The state of mind in hypnosis can influence the immune system’s fight against disease, illness and physical damages.

Much of our accumulated unhealthy baggage comes from unhealthy social relationships, and our healing comes from being involved in a healthy community. Often we divide our lives into “secular” and “sacred” compartments. By being in a healthy community we can begin to anchor our lives in the love of God, which will emancipate us to enjoy communion with Him and with others in all areas of our lives. No one becomes spiritually mature and emotionally healthy in a vacuum. We are created in the image of God to be in relationships with others, and it is in the context of relationships that we begin to open our emotional suitcase and see what feelings, thoughts, and behaviors must be unpacked in order for us to better connect with God and others.

2. Break the power of the past

ways that lead to growth for yourself and others. Don’t let the “committee” in your head whisper that you must be beyond repair because your suitcase is so full. Be encouraged because you are human and part of the “human race.”

These steps are helpful when you know that you are fully loved by God. You can invite Him in as a partner and courageously begin to unpack your emotional suitcase.

In the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 from The Message: ”Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Time to start unpacking that emotional suitcase.

Dignity / Respect / Self-Worth

Ashamed - Beaten down - Cut down - Criticized

Dehumanized – Disrespected - Embarrassed

Humiliated – Inferior Insulted – Invalidated

Labeled - Lectured to – Mocked – Offended

Put down - Resentful – Ridiculed - Stereotyped

Teased – Underestimated – Worthless

Freedom / Control

Bossed around - Controlled - Imposed Upon

Imprisoned - Inhibited - Invaded - Forced

Manipulated - Obligated - Over-Ruled

Powerless - Pressured - Restricted - Suffocated Trapped

I am a recovering alcoholic with 38 years of sobriety. I have been involved in AA and in the past fifteen years, Celebrate Recovery. Being involved in these programs has helped identify how issues from my family of origin (e.g., character flaws, ways of coping with pain), impact my current relationships and decisions. As a result, it helps me to be more reflective and open to feedback from trustworthy sources to minimize the negative impact of my past. This lets me live freely with a lighter suitcase, as God has meant for me.

3. Listen to your anger, sadness, and fear You have to take the necessary time to experience and process “difficult” emotions. Thus, you are able to express anger, hurt, and sadness in

Pastor Al Soto is lead pastor of Bayside Church and professor at EPIC Bible College. He believes that “Real success is helping others to succeed.”

continued from page 31

September 17

Country Dance * 5:15p - 9p

Hosted @ Veteran’s Memorial Hall: Lesson from 5:15 - 6, Line Dancing 6 - 6:30, Open Dance 6:30 - 9. $10 entry includes lesson. Proceeds benefit veterans.

Car Show * 10a - 3p

New Beginnings presents 11th Annual Park Community Music Festival & Car Show at Park Community Church, Shingle Springs. Mark your calendars and join us for a day of Great Music, Hot-Rods, Classic Cars, and More!

www.newbeginningsgoldcountry.org

September 18

Wine + Yoga = WOGA! *

8:30a - 10p - Don’t miss the irresistible experience of basking in the sun as you listen to birds chirp while perfecting your down dog. These classes are slow-flowing vinyasa style and fun for all levels. Robin Lenzi of Living Fit Yoga and our tasting room team member Julia Johnsen of Joyful Yoga Breath will alternate teaching classes. Enjoy light snacks and a complimentary glass of wine afterward! $25/member, $30/ non-member. www.boegerwinery.com

September 21

Poetry Readings * 5:30p - 8p

El Dorado County Poet Laureate, Lara Gularte, will be joined by local poets, Poetry Out Loud winners, and special guests for free poetry readings. Pollock Pines Library

6210 Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines.

September 24

Girls Night Out * 4p - 9p

This year’s Girl’s Night Out is Wild West themed! Come to Historic Downtown Placerville for Live Music, a Fashion Show, Photo Booths, and fun activities in participating shops. Purchase Bling Bags at Ambiance and Robinson’s Pharmacy starting Sept 1. Come dressed in your favorite western wear, it’s going to be a Wild Night! For more information follow us on Facebook and Instagram

@girlsnightoutpville

EVENTS

Kids Ninja Warrior *

Hosted by Active 20-30, it offers two courses, one for older kids and another for the younger kids. You won’t want to miss it! More details available on the website at www.goldrush1034.org

September 30

Latin Dancing * 6p - 9p - Smith Flat House presents Latin Dance Night, hosted by Joel & Ariel Beall. One and a half hour class followed by a dance social. $10 entrance fee.

www.smithflathouse.com/events

October 2022 Events

1st & 3rd Sundays

Train Rides * 10a, 11a, 12p, 1p

The El Dorado Western Railroad 2022 excursion train rides continue w/ round trips from the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St, El Dorado. Rides are on historic gang cars. Buy tickets onsite, $3-$8; they go fast so buy starting at 9:30 for any ride. More info: 530-663-3581 (Sunday) or museum (railroad sponsor, for general information), 530-621-5865

Every Wednesday

Farmer’s Market * 8a - 12p

Cameron Park Farmer’s Market at Burke Junction on the corner of Coach Lane and Strolling Hills Rd.

Farmer’s Market * 4p - dusk

Placerville Farmer’s Market at 401 Main Street, Placerville, around the Bell Tower

All farmers happily accept EBT and MarketMatch.

This market specializes in local fruits and vegetables, sustainable agriculture, and community. Enjoy live music, fresh produce, local vendors and fun for everyone. Call 530-919-5696 or check out the latest info on their Facebook page.

Every Thursday

Music in the Courtyard * 6p - 8p

Smith Flat House “Pickin’ on the Patio” Thursday night’s music in the courtyard from 6-8pm!! Come join us on our patio! Reservations recommended.

Every Friday

Farmer’s Market * 9a - 12p

Marshall Hospital Farmer’s Market 1100 Marshall Way, Placerville

Mark your Calendars for this Wonderful Farmers Market up near Marshall Hospital with local Artisan Vendors. Come out and enjoy your morning and support your local Farmers.

Cider Sunsets * 4p - 7p

Cider Sunset Fridays @ Hidden Star Camino are a great way to wind down from the week! Grab a cider, something tasty from the bakery and relax into the weekend. No reservations required. We will stay open until after the sun sets. See you soon!

1st, 2nd, 3rd Fridays

Line Dancing * 6p - 9p

Line Dancing @ Smith Flat House: Instructed by Sara Schindler. $10 at the door. Food and drinks available for purchase.

October 1

Car Show * 9a - 3p

Come to Cameron Park Lake for Thunder in the Car Park, hosted by Shingle Springs/ Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce. More information at sscpchamber.org

continued on page 35

Before you head to an Event

Check the website or call ahead to make sure it’s still on!

“If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.”

— Abigail Van Buren

Recipe for Well-Adjusted Children:

continued from page 34

October 7-9

Coloma Gold Rush Live! * 10a - 4p Coloma will be full of sights, sounds, scents, and hands-on experiences.Living tent encampment with costumed volunteers recreate a historical mining camp from the 1850s. Merchants hawk their wares, musicians play period instruments and sing songs of the early immigrants, and children play games from the 19th century. For three days, artists make pictures, tools, and clothes. Visitors learn how to pan for gold and make candles and rope, and miners tell tales from the goldfields. Visitors may rub shoulders with adventurers and historical figures, such as James Marshall, who found the nugget that started the California Gold Rush. Parking is $10/car and $5 for event. More information at www.marshallgold.com

October 13

Ribbon Cutting * 5:30p - 7:30p

Join Jovive in celebrating their new location in Cameron Park AND their 1-year anniversary. Food, beverages and tours will be provided. 4062 Flying C Road, Cameron Park.

October 14 & 15

Buried History * 10a - 4p

Learn about local history by strolling the cemetery grounds. You will meet notable historic figures of El Dorado County through living history performances. For more event details, keep an eye on www.buriedhistory.org

EVENTS

October 15 & 16

Rock & Gem Show * 10a - 5p

The El Dorado County Mineral and Gen Society presents exciting demonstrations and offerings by rock and gem dealers at this year’s show. Theme is: “Treasures in the Rough.” See how rough rocks are transformed into finished gems. There will be something for everyone including free rocks and activities for kids. Showcased will be minerals, crystals, petrified wood, fluorescents, geodes, slabs, rough & finished material, gemstones, custom jewelry, unique gifts and more. Place: El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Dr., Placerville. For more information: ElDoradoCountyMineralandGemSociety.org.

October 19

Wine + Yoga = WOGA! * 8:30a - 10pDon’t miss the irresistible experience of basking in the sun as you listen to birds chirp while perfecting your down dog. These classes are slow-flowing vinyasa style and fun for all levels. Robin Lenzi of Living Fit Yoga and our tasting room team member Julia Johnsen of Joyful Yoga Breath will alternate teaching classes. Enjoy light snacks and a complimentary glass of wine afterward! $25/member, $30/ non-member. www.boegerwinery.com

October 21

Monthly Presentation * 1p - 3p

Join us at the Mother Lode Lions Club for a presentation entitled Better Smartphone Photography, presented by Bill Robinson. Free to members; non-members may attend two presentations/year at no charge. Held at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missourri Flat Rd. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to Life Long Learning. For more information, please visit: srsedc.org

Halloween Boo Bash * 5:30p - 8:30p

Join us at our second Halloween Boo Bash at the Cameron Park Community Center. It’s a SPOOK-tacular evening full of Trunk or Treating, carnival games, costume contests and food. Strut your stuff in our Costume Contest for an opportunity to win prizes! Everyone will receive an arm length of carnival tickets for FREE.

October 22

Trail Run * 8:30a - 11a

California Gold Rush Trail Run

5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon

This event is inside the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, set in the beautiful foothills of Coloma along the south fork of the American River. The courses are a mix of very appealing single-track dirt trails and a few paved areas. There are some moderately technical ascents and descents with a lot of switchbacks. There are also some sections of rolling hills and other places where the course is completely flat. With the addition of scenic views and a variety of wildlife, there is plenty to make this run very enjoyable and interesting.

Fundraiser * ARC Ladies Valley Landback Fundraiser: The fundraising event will be hosted at Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. The event will include Native American music, storytelling, a nature-inspired fine art auction, light refreshments, and local wines. Event registration is limited and currently $50 per person. If the event is not sold out by September, the ticket price will increase in support of this worthy cause. During early October, the online auction will kick off with a live art show at the Center Street Gallery located at 3182 Center Street, Placerville. Online bidding will continue during the live event, and all winners will be notified. For more information, www.visit arconservancy.org

continued on page 38

Turkish Chicken Kebabs

15 min prep

2-8 hr marinate

12 min cook time

* 1 cup whole-milk Greek yogurt

* 6 cloves garlic, minced

* 2 tbsn olive oil

* 2 tbsn freshly squeezed lemon juice

* 2 tbsn ketchup

* 1 tbsn Aleppo red pepper flakes

* 1 tbsn kosher salt

* 1 ½ tsp ground cumin

* 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

* 1 tsp paprika

* ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon

* 2 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, halved

* 4 long metal skewers

1. Whisk yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, ketchup, red pepper flakes, salt, cumin, black pepper, paprika, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.

2. Place chicken thigh halves into the yogurt marinade and coat thoroughly on all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 2 to 8 hours.

3. Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.

4. Using 2 skewers for each kebab, thread half of the chicken thighs onto each pair of skewers making a fairly thick “log” shape.

5. Place kebabs on the preheated grill. Do not try to turn them until they begin to unstick from the grill, 3 or 4 minutes. Turn

from the kitchen

kebabs and grill the other side for 3 to 4 minutes. Continue cooking and turning until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 6 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165° F.

Ginger-Orange Mocktail

10-minute prep

16 servings

* 5 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

* 3 cups chilled pineapple juice

* ½ tsp orange bitters

* 3 12-oz bottles chilled ginger beer

Combine orange juice, pineapple juice, (alcohol), and bitters in a pitcher. Top with ginger beer and serve on ice with an orange slice.

This mocktail can also be served as a cocktail with vodka or gin. Mocktail or cocktail, it is simple to make and served in a pitcher, making it an ideal choice for get-togethers. Enjoy!

Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad

10-min prep

10-min cook time

6 servings

* 1 ½ cup rotini pasta

* 3 tbsn pesto, or to taste

* 1 tbsn extra-virgin olive oil

* ¼ tsp salt, or to taste

* ¼ tsp granulated garlic

* ⅛ tsp ground black pepper

* ½ cup halved grape tomatoes

* ½ cup small (pearlini) fresh mozzarella balls

* 2 leaves fresh basil leaves, finely shredded

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.

2. Mix pesto, olive oil, salt, granulated garlic, and black pepper in a bowl; add rotini. Toss to coat. Fold in tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil.

This twist on a classic is great as a hearty side dish or as a quick dinner, just add protein!

Recipes found online at AllRecipes.com and SouthernLiving.com

from the kitchen

Crab Cakes

25-minute prep

4 servings

* 20 saltine crackers, finely crushed

* 1 pound lump crabmeat, jumbo lump crab meat preferred

* 1/2 cup mayonnaise

* 1 large egg

* 1 tbsn Worcestershire sauce

* 1 tbsn baking powder

* 1/2 tsp hot sauce or 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning

* 1 tbsn fresh parsley, optional, minced

* oil, for frying

* fresh dill, optional, for garnish

* lemon wedge, optional, for garnish

* tartar sauce, optional, to taste, for serving

1. In a medium mixing bowl, gently combine the crushed crackers with the crabmeat.

2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, egg, Worcestershire sauce, baking powder, hot sauce, and parsley until smooth.

3. Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture into the crabmeat mixture.

4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook and for up to 1 hour.

5. Divide the crab meat into 8 equal parts.

6. Gently pat each of the

individual parts into 1 - 1/2” thick patties, careful not to overwork the meat.

7. Add cooking oil to a large skillet and place over medium heat.

8. Place the crab cakes in the skillet and cook until heated through and golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes. Do not crowd the skillet, and cook in batches if necessary.

9. Transfer the crab cakes to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

10. Move the cakes to a serving platter. Garnish with dill and lemon wedge, and serve with tartar sauce.

Did You Know?

Experts think that crab cakes were originally a creation of the Native Americans in the Chesapeake Bay region.

However, the first crab cake recipe was introduced by Crosby Gaige in his 1930 cookbook titled New York World’s Fair Cookbook. They were called “Baltimore Crab Cakes” and the name “crab cakes” stuck!

Baked Apples with Oatmeal Filling

45 minutes total 4 servings

* 4 apples

* 1 cup rolled oats

* ¼ cup brown sugar

* 1 tspn ground cinnamon

* ¼ cup butter

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. Core each apple creating a well in the center. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet.

3. Mix oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl; cut in butter until evenly combined. Spoon ¼ of oat mixture into each apple.

4. Bake in preheated oven until apples are warm and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

5. Serve with french vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

This recipe is the perfect quick treat after a trip to Apple Hill! Pick your own apples or swing by the local grocer. Either way, this recipe is sure to please!

“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.”

– Paul Prudhomm

continued from page 35

October 29

Cemetery Tour * 10a - 12:30p

This Cemetery Tour will be led by Keith Atwater, author of this issues “Historic Cemeteries” article. Location and other details are forthcoming on the American River Conservancy website at www.arconservancy.org

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Live

www.therandomstrangers.com

8/27 Tribute to Rock @ Jack Russell Farm, Placerville, 5p-8p

9/3 Sierra Vista Winery, Placerville, 5:30p-8p

10/7 HWY 50 Brewery, Camino, 5p-8p

Live Music w/ Ed Wilson

www.facebook.com/edwilsonmusic

9/17 Smith Flat House, Placerville, 6p-8:30p

10/1 Mraz Brewing Company, El Dorado Hills 5p-8p

I once fell in love with a girl who only knew 4 vowels. She didn’t know I existed.

I was really embarrassed when my wife caught me playing with my son’s train set by myself. In a moment of panic, I threw a bedsheet over it. I think I managed to cover my tracks.

I’ve just written a song about tortillas; actually, it’s more of a rap.