Mountain Democrat, Friday, March 29, 2024

Easter pleaser

Vietnamese people and U.S. military soldiers during the Vietnam War, did not meet the criteria to have a memorial plaque placed on the monument’s Honor Wall.

The Board of Supervisors disagreed and directed the alliance to look into creating a new policy.

Richard Buchanan, a founder of the Veterans Monument, argued Jacobs was not a recipient of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or an Air Force Cross. Another point of contention was that the Navy captain did not engage in combat or face enemy actions during his humanitarian act.

Veterans Alliance board member John Poimiroo hopes the rewritten policy will make

■ See POLICY, page A9

Odin Rasco

Sta writer

Amidst pending litigation from the California Department of Public Health against the city and El Dorado County, the Placerville City Council on Tuesday approved a set of actions for sta to mitigate concerns related to the operation of needle exchange programs in the area.

More than half a year after filing a letter with the CDPH requesting the agency not renew Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition’s license to operate a local needle exchange program, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted in December to enact a ban that barred such programs from operating within unincorporated areas of the county. Though the CDPH did renew SHRC’s license, it was limited to operating within Placerville city limits, a decision that rankled city leaders.

“It would be something if we didn’t have opportunities to exchange needles in town,” Councilmember John Clerici said during the

■ See NEEDLES, page A6

Photos by Tom Paniagua

Zyramae and Buan, above, don Easter Bunny ears for the festivities. It was looking like nap time after egg hunting for this little Easter princess, Sydney Gilmour, right.

Vivian Margaret

Carpender

March 2, 1930 – Feb. 27, 2024

Vivian Margaret Carpender passed away in Placerville, California on February 27 at the age of 93.

Vivian was born on March 2, 1930 in Modesto, California to Everett William Dexter Capwell

Fox and Bertha Beatrice (Sweet) Fox. She was the fourth of nine children. She married Thomas Elwyn Carpender on June 9, 1951 and they celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary before Tom’s death in September of 2021. Vivian and Tom raised 5 children. Surviving children are Tommee Briggs of Wickenberg, AZ, Janie Carpender of Placerville, Sally Moore of Shingle Springs, and James Roberson of Placerville. Vivian is also survived by her sisters Sally Carr of Placerville and Carole Goold of Shingle Springs. She has 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Vivian moved from Modesto to El Dorado County when she was 7 and spent most of the rest of her life here. She attended El Dorado High School (where she met her husband, Tom), attended Modesto Junior College, San Jose State College, and graduated from Sacramento State University in 1958. She taught mainly for the Mother Lode School District and the Gold Trail School District for a total of 37 years before her retirement in 1989. She taught Kindergarten for the majority of those years and was beloved by her students and their families. She was a charter member of the local People-to-People Chapter and was a founding member of the local Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter. Vivian was a 4-H All Star in high school and was a 4-H leader as a parent. She was a Girl Scout leader, a volunteer in the SHARE food closet program for 12 years, served on the Juvenile Service Council for more than 20 years, was active in the Federated Church for over 65 years, and was the Golden Rose of El Dorado County in 2010. Her kindness and involvement in service organizations impacted the lives of students, community members, and individuals worldwide. She will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Federated Church in Placerville at 1 PM. If you wish to make donations in Memory of Vivian they may be made to either Snowline Hospice or the Federated Church.

Pauline Lucile Gunn

Feb. 16, 1924 – Mar. 16, 2024

Pauline Lucile Gunn, age 100, of Shingle Springs, California passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024. She was born on February 16, 1924 in Republic, Kansas to Simon and Bertha Van Nortwick. She married her Republic High School sweetheart Merrill L. Gunn in 1943.

Merrill and Pauline farmed in the Republic area for eight years before moving to California where they made their home first in Camarillo and then in Placerville.

Pauline is preceded in death by her husband and her daughter Peggy Boedecker. She is survived by her daughters Julie Lonsdale of Shingle Springs, California and Susan (Michael) Davis of Austin, Texas and by her five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. At Pauline’s request there will be no services.

Ted Peart

May 28, 1942 - Feb 10, 2024

Ted Peart passed away peacefully on Feb 10, 2024. He is survived by wife Marilyn Peart, sons Ted, Je , and Ray, and their children.

Ted was a remarkable individual who touched many lives. His smile and unwavering commitment to family and friends will be remembered. Rest in peace, you will be deeply missed.

Richard Bettencourt

April 10, 1943 – March 21, 2024

Richard Bettencourt died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Kaiser hospital of complications from congestive heart failure. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. He was 80 years old.

Rich was a native of the Delta region and a graduate of Galt High School and Fresno State. He served in the Army and taught auto shop, which he left to start his own cabinet shop in his garage. Over many years, he built his custom cabinet shop into a thriving business. Rich and Mike’s Cabinets is still going strong under his longtime business partner and dear friend, Mike.

He was generous with his wisdom and advice and was a mentor to many. He was a builder of everything, from race cars to sand cars for his kids and grandkids, from playhouses to furniture. He built his first car from the ground up, a Model A, as a teenager and loved everything about cars, from building and racing them to driving them. He was a careful craftsman and a thoughtful planner and problem solver. He had a loud, hearty laugh and a wealth of funny sayings. He loved his family, his friends, nature, his dog and cars.

Rich is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, LeAnn, his two daughters Lisa and Laura, 4 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and his two sisters, Janice and Judy. He is also survived by his Mustang and his Pinto, various cars, trucks, campers, and a boat. His service will be at the Church of Our Savior in Placerville on April 2 at 11am.

Orland Darwane Pevehouse

Age 84, of Placerville, California passed away Friday March 15th, 2024.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life to honor him.

Family and friends will gather in Orland’s memory from 10am to 2pm Friday, April 12th, 2024.

Placerville Grange Hall 4765 Pleasant Valley Grange Road Placerville CA 95667.

Originally from Los Angeles, Orland was a lifelong builder and craftsman. He helped open the Home Depot in Placerville, working in the lumber department. He always had a laugh and a smile for everyone.

He is survived by his son Matthew Pevehouse of St. Louis, Missouri, daughter Suzanne PevehouseReyes of Temecula, California, sister Debbie Sirna of Sacramento, wife Janet Pevehouse of Placerville, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by all.

The following information was taken from Placerville Police reports:

March 16

11:04 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 45-year-old woman suspected of DUI on Canal Street. She was later released.

March 17

1:52 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 35-year-old woman suspected of trespassing and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia on Schnell School Road. She was released on $10,000 bail.

4:04 a.m. Battery was reported on Turner Street.

9:12 a.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Broadway.

12:54 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 45-year-old man suspected of vandalism on Broadway. He was later released.

4:27 p.m. Battery was reported at a school on Canal Street.

6:36 p.m. Vandalism was reported at an apartment complex on Ray Lawyer Drive.

March 18

1:06 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 24-year-old man suspected of DUI on Main Street. He was later released.

11:16 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 55-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct, contempt of court and obstruction on Main Street. He was released on $10,000 bail.

March 19

12:14 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 66-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and failure to register as a sex o ender on Main Street. He was listed in custody in lieu of $370,000 bail.

11:48 a.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Placerville Drive.

3:29 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 39-year-old man suspected of

possession of a controlled substance and a parole violation on Placerville Drive. He was listed in custody.

March 20

3:19 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Placerville Drive.

March 21

7:22 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 37-year-old man suspected of motor vehicle theft, trespassing, possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and obstruction on Broadway. He was listed in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.

12:39 p.m. Vandalism was reported at a resident on Coloma Street.

3:17 p.m. Robbery was reported at a store on Placerville Drive.

6:02 p.m. Petty theft was reported at business on Broadway.

8:23 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 32-year-old man suspected of battery and

March 22

11:35

9:41

March 23

3:29 a.m. Burglary was reported at an apartment complex on

ISLANDS IN THE STREET

Abundant opportunities await hunters as spring turkey season arrives

California Department of Fish and Wildlife News release

residences in the Cameron Oaks apartment complex, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release. Items stolen during the break-ins include 15-20 pairs of underwear, a bedsheet and a child’s backpack.

Other reports from Cameron Oaks residents allege the suspect was peering into bedroom windows at night and recording videos of children around the apartment complex.

Detectives say they identified Gunter while reviewing video surveillance and came to the conclusion the break-ins and child porn distribution were cases revolving around the same person, the press release explains. A search warrant was served

California’s spring turkey season opens statewide March 30 and runs through May 5. With growing populations of wild turkeys in many parts of the state, spring turkey season has become one of the more anticipated opportunities on the hunting calendar.

This spring season kicked off with an

Mountain Democrat photo by

Courtesy photo

Wild turkey populations in

are growing.

Guest Column

Remember ‘15 days to slow the spread?’

Four years ago, government officials told us, “Stay home!”

We have “15 days to slow the spread.”

Days turned into months and then years, while officials chipped away at our freedoms.

I have long been wary of politicians, but even I was surprised at how authoritarian many were eager to be.

Some demanded police to go after people surfing. They took down the rims of basketball hoops. Children’s playgrounds were taped up like crime scenes. They told people in rural Utah and Wyoming to stay in their homes.

In the name of safety, politicians did many things that diminished our lives without making us safer.

They complied with teachers unions’ demand to keep schools closed. Kids’ learning has been set back by years.

Politicians destroyed jobs by closing businesses. Some shutdown orders were ridiculous. Landscaping businesses and private campgrounds were forced to shut down.

Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden sharply increased government spending.

Trump’s $2.2 trillion “stimulus” package, followed by Biden’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” led to so much money-printing that inflation doubled and then tripled.

Last week, the fourth-year anniversary of “15 days to stop the spread,” we look back at politicians’ incompetence.

First, government probably killed people with its endless red tape.

At least the Trump administration broke FDA rules to speed vaccine approvals.

But FDA rules kept perfectly good American COVID test kits off the market because they hadn’t gone through its multiyear approval process.

Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer banned “public and private gatherings of any size.” Residents were told they could not see friends or relatives.

Many of her rules seemed random. She banned motorboats and jet skis, but allowed kayaks and

Letters to the Editor

Overwhelming support

EDITOR:

On behalf of the 500 kids who attend our five clubhouses daily in Placerville, Pollock Pines, Georgetown, Cool and Camino, I wanted to say thank you to all who helped us have our most successful Heroes Night event ever.

Over 700 packed the Forni Building on March 16 and the philanthropic generosity of this community was on full display. The club continues to be humbled by the support of our mission and it is because of this support, because of this community, that we are able to do good work for kids across our county.

A special highlight of the night was the unveiling of the new Gordon Vicini & Jim Carter Boys & Girls Club Alumni Scholarship. Beginning in the spring of 2025, three club alumni will receive a $2,500 scholarship to assist them in their continuing education at a four-year college or a trade school. We are thrilled to honor Gordon & Jim in this way and look forward to supporting our former club kids as they take the next step in their education.

The club also announced that it will enter into negotiations with the county and take the lead on the construction and subsequent operations of the Diamond Springs Community Park & Teen Center. The 40-acre sports complex will include baseball, softball and soccer fields, a full gymnasium, walking trails, pickle ball, full kitchen and snack bar and a teen center for kids age 12-18. The teen center will be built in the center of the property and serve as a safe and positive place for our teens. Additionally, the teen center will offer job training classes with the opportunity for trained teens to gain employment at the park assisting with park operations and events.

The club is thrilled to be partnering with the El Dorado Community Foundation on this project. The EDCF will house all monies raised for the complex and act as our fiscal agent throughout the entirety of the construction process. The projected total cost of $20,000,000 will be raised

in stages and we will begin a phased construction as soon as possible. We believe there will be tremendous enthusiasm for the park and teen center and we can’t wait to start the work. It will take the entire community coming together and because of this community, this park will get done, teens will have a place to go and our residents of all ages will have a place to play. When we build it, they will come.

Thanks again for supporting the Boys & Girls Club and thank you for supporting this wonderful community.

SEAN McCARTNEY CEO, Boys & Girls Club El Dorado County Western Slope

Over and over

EDITOR:

In Scott Taylor’s most recent rant he sounds like a parrot that only knows one word. It’s like hearing that bird go, “Dictator, dictator, wraaaaak. Dictator, dictator, wraaaaaaaaaak!”

Actually, Trump would have no more power than Biden does and, unlike Biden, he wouldn’t be using it to open us up to a foreign invasion on our southern border, allowing Venezuela and many others to empty their prisons into America.

But, in a sense, one has to sympathize with poor Mr. Taylor. With high inflation, high fuel prices, high grocery prices, high interest rates caused by that inflation and a cross border invasion of millions, what else can Mr. Taylor do besides scream “dictator”? He certainly can’t bring up Laken Riley.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

Exploring the science of scents and our sensibilities

There’s a TV channel, or maybe it’s an app, called Atmosphere that plays continuously on one of the television sets at the SNAP Fitness gym on Broadway in Placerville. I watch it while treading away on a treadmill there several times a week. More often I watch a news channel, but sometimes I can see two sets at once. Atmosphere is a business service commonly found in bars, restaurants, gyms and health clubs and various kinds of waiting rooms. It features sound or no sound programming. (I had to do a good deal of Googling to learn this stuff, so you wouldn’t have to.)

of muscle action by impossibly fit people. Science trivia and health quizzes are pretty common also. For example, the Sanskrit word Yoga means “union,” according to Atmosphere. I’ve done a bit of yoga over the years and I always kind of thought it meant something like “breath” or related to breathing or “practice.” In its original, the word derives from a word similar to “yoke” which meant to “control,” per Wikipedia.

Coffee, bacon, peanut butter and strawberries are often cited as at or near the top of Americans’ most recognizable if not beloved aromas. They all work for me that way.

of our emotions don’t come from what we see or hear. Research shows that nearly 75% of our daily emotions are evoked by scent. The sense of smell is linked to the parts of the limbic system of our brains that process emotion and learning.”

Another article noted, “Scents have been used in therapy for nearly 6,000 years … and have the ability to positively impact mood, as well as stress and hormone levels.”

Much of what typically plays on that Atmosphere channel is what I would call extreme sports action — water ski tricks or daredevil snowboard and skateboard maneuvers. People diving from great heights into rivers, lakes, oceans or swimming pools, making impossible soccer kicks or netting impossibly complicated basketball shots are standard fare. And there’s plenty

So, one day a week or so ago I glimpsed the Atmosphere program at the gym and saw a 20-something woman sniffing her armpits. A commercial for deodorant, I guessed. But no. It was about newish research being done on the science and/or physiology of scent as it impacts mood or emotion. There was no sound on the TV, so I had to speedread the subtitles. The gist of the report was that, indeed, scent may have a mighty influence in reducing anxiety. And other emotions as well.

My search found a number of interesting results, such as, “… most

What therapists used 6,000 years ago was not specified. Surely herbs and flowers, meat roasted on an open fire and some kind of fruit would have been in the shaman’s mammoth-skin medicine bag.

Coffee, bacon, peanut butter and strawberries are often cited as at or near the top of Americans’ most recognizable if not beloved aromas. They all work for me that way.

Now, you might want to finish your Cocoa Pops before reading the next part.

Practically speaking, we’re all more than familiar with scents and aromas produced by the animal

and especially the human-animal body. And I would venture to state unequivocally that some of those aromas would not reduce my anxiety, unless I passed out or got asphyxiated. Nor would they help quell my depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder. That takes sunlight, not burnt badger spleen, in my modest experience.

Forgetting the burnt badger spleen for a moment or forever, I can unequivocally state that sunlight goes a long way toward improving my mood and emotions. Sharing and appreciating aromas from or with a loved one, a child, a spouse, sibling, best friend, a longtime or a new lover, maybe even a pet can bring a nice dose of sunlight into a heart or a soul in pain.

Of course, commercial aroma therapy is not new. One site I checked noted that the five most common choices are orange, grapefruit, rose, eucalyptus and lavender. Grapefruit was a bit of

CHRIS DALEY

JOHN STOSSEL

Stossel Continued from A4

canoes. She closed small businesses, but exempted big-box stores if they blocked off aisles offering plant nurseries and paint. Why?

Even the CDC’s “6-foot rule” under Trump was arbitrary, says former FDA commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb. COVID travels in aerosols that flow much farther than 6 feet.

When some Americans became fed up and protested, they were vilified for “threatening the public.” Some were fined. A few were arrested.

It’s clear now that restrictive rules were not the best way to protect people.

Sweden took a near opposite approach. They mostly left people alone.

Swedish officials encouraged the elderly and other at-risk people to stay home.

But beyond that, they let life carry on as normal. Sweden didn’t impose lockdowns, school closures or mask mandates.

They followed standard pre-COVID wisdom that the best protection is what epidemiologists call “herd” or “collective” immunity. Once a critical mass of people are infected and recover, collective immunity will reduce the total number of infections.

Arrogant American politicians and media “experts” sneered at Sweden’s approach.

NBC “reported” on what it called, “Sweden’s

failed experiment. How their dangerous COVID gamble went wrong.”

CBS confidently stated, “Sweden becomes an example of how not to handle COVID.”

Time Magazine headlined: “Swedish COVID-19 Response Is a Disaster.”

But the media’s experts were just wrong. Swedish health officials were right.

Yes, at the beginning of the pandemic, Sweden suffered high numbers of COVID deaths but, as predicted, over time, herd immunity protected people. Sweden’s excess death rate was the lowest in Europe.

Sweden’s economy got through the pandemic much healthier than other countries. Because Swedish schools never closed, Swedish students didn’t suffer the learning losses that American kids did.

Four years later, have media blowhards who were wrong apologized? Corrected their stories? No.

Have American politicians apologized and begged forgiveness for their arrogance, for destroying jobs, restricting our freedom and needlessly pushing us around? No.

Let’s not give politicians power like that again.

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom.

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For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550

For Release Friday, March 29, 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024

Edited by Will Shortz No. 0223

Tahoe stewardship council brings in new director

Odin Rasco Staff writer

The Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council is advancing its vision of the way people, communities and the environment benefit from thriving tourism and the outdoor recreation economy with the recent onboarding of new leaders.

The council announced last week it had hired its first managing director, Nettie Pardue, and that action teams focused on strategic pillars of the council’s plan had formed. Pardue is tasked with convening more than 30 partners from across the region to implement the plan’s priorities.

A Meyers resident, Pardue brings local knowledge and a vested interest in Tahoe to the managing director role. With an extensive background as a nonprofit executive, most recently for Outward Bound California, Pardue has worked n See PARDUE, page A9

Daley

Continued from A4

a surprise, but I’m sure most of us would agree that the others are well established and might be reasonably effective.

Crossword

Online

I don’t doubt it for a second and appreciate learning more of the research data. However, I don’t recommend sniffing random a 20-something’s armpits without permission. That could get you some unwanted grief, a black eye and maybe a fat lip to match.

Chris Daley is a biweekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat.

Announcements

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

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

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

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

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

LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE

Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-7684452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at Moni Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information.

GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS

CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. For more information, call (530) 622-1180.

Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728

our free counseling can help you.

Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and have a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18, 2024 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING

Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.

TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY

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

Local soccer standout signs pro contract

Special to Mountain Democrat

When you ask any young child, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”, you normally get one of two or three responses.

Almost without fail, any child that plays sports says they want to grow up to be a professional athlete.

However, with less than a 1% chance to make it to a professional level, these dreams very rarely become a reality.

But that’s not the case for local El Dorado Hills Soccer Club standout Tag Chalmers, who defied the odds by signing a professional soccer contract with USL League 1 team Fuego FC at just 17

years old. Coached by former U.S. Men’s National Team player Jermaine Jones, Fuego FC provides Chalmers with invaluable coaching and mentorship. Chalmers, a defensive midfielder like coach Jones, has the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the sport.

“As a young player, having a living legend like coach Jones guide me is an incredible privilege,” said Chalmers. “His insight into the game is better than almost anyone I’ve known who coaches or plays soccer.” Chalmers’ dedication and work ethic have been key to his success.

At a young age, not many parents, let alone children, understand the level of dedication and commitment needed to make it to a professional level. According to one of Chalmers’ private coaches, Ty Downes, “Tag has an unparalleled work ethic. He has dedicated many hours a day toward improving his skills, speed, awareness and general tactics.”

Chalmers’ family has also been instrumental in his journey, providing unwavering support and dedication. Their support, along with Chalmers’ natural talent and hard work, has propelled him to this exciting opportunity.

“I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my training, but more importantly without the love and

support of my family. They have supported me on a daily basis,” Chalmers shared. “My dad coached me for many years and he and my mom were my biggest cheerleaders, advocates, and mentors. They never missed a game and have supported me in every way possible to achieve my dreams. They are a major part of what helped me get to where I am today.” Chalmers is excited to be a part of Fuego FC’s First Team and made his professional debut in the game against Monterrey FC on Feb. 10. Fuego FC competes in the USL Pro League 1 and its season kicked

o against the South Georgia Tormenta FC in Georgia on March 9. For more information on Fuego FC visit fuegofc. com. The United Soccer League launched USL League One in Spring 2019, targeting U.S. communities ranging in population from 150,000 to one million, representing more than 75 million people without access to a local professional soccer club. The league focuses on launching new clubs in markets with strong local ownership groups, diverse populations, vibrant millennial and strong family bases, established corporate support and suitable

Needles Continued from A1

Responding to the CDPH decision, City Council approved an urgency ordinance that enacted a 45-day temporary ban on the operation of needle exchange programs with exceptions for Marshall Hospital and El Dorado County Public Health. Shortly after Placerville’s ban went into e ect, the CDPH filed a lawsuit to have the city and county bans lifted, claiming the city and county ordinances were illegal, as they overstepped the state’s authority.

State law requires the council to adopt actions to alleviate concerns with the syringe exchange program at least 10 days prior to considering extensions on a temporary ban. Working to remain compliant with the rules, City Manager Cleve Morris presented four actions for sta to pursue:

• Training and requiring employees (primarily police, public works, code enforcement and parks employees) to document any instance of observing illegally discarded syringes

• Provide a city liaison to Marshall Hospital’s harm reduction program to increase education on illegal drug use

• Work with county sta to use the city’s portion of opioid settlement funds to investigate and review programs/resources to discourage the use of syringes for illegal drug use

• Review potential syringe program regulations the city could adopt, if it is determined that such a program should be allowed to operate in the area

The council approved the new actions unanimously. Previously critical of the city’s decision to approve the exchange ban, Councilmember Nicole Gotberg spoke in support of the actions voted into e ect by the council Tuesday.

“While I voted against the moratorium, I think all of the four actions proposed here are positive things,” she remarked.

The city’s ban is set to expire April 12; the council will have the option to approve an extension during its April 9 meeting.

Courtesy photos

Tag Chalmers, 17, who has played soccer nearly all his life, signed a professional soccer contract with USL League 1 team Fuego FC.

Fuego FC head coach Jermaine Jones, left, and assistant coach Edison Gonzalez pose with their new player, EDHSC defensive midfielder Tag Chalmers.

Sprint car tour set to open at Placerville Speedway

Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway

Placerville Speedway will be the destination for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour Saturday, March 30, as the always competitive winged 360 series opens its 2024 campaign.

The annual Spring Fever Frenzy kicks-off a 17-race season for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. It marks the first of three appearances at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds venue.

The famous Placerville Speedway

Peeper Continued from A1

Friday at Gunter’s residence, where several electronics and other items were taken from his home. A search of the electronics reportedly found pornographic images and videos of children believed to be younger than 12 years old. In addition to the porn, detectives say they found chats between Gunter and minors online and “other extremely graphic and disturbing content.”

The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office formally charged Gunter Monday with multiple counts of possession and distribution of child porn, solicitation of a minor for production of child porn and

Easter Bunny will also make an appearance for photos with the kids.

With the Shop Kyle Larson Bonus Award automatically factored in, Saturday’s 35-lap feature will award $3,000 to win and $400 to start. The tour will again hand out $10,000 to its champion at season’s end.

Last season saw the Sprint Car Challenge Tour have its closest championship battle in series history, with the top three in points separated n See SPEEDWAY, page A8

two counts of first degree burglary. He is currently being held without bail at the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected to be added, according to an EDSO representative.

Anyone who believes they are a victim or who has information that could assist investigators is asked to contact Det. Aaron Cuddeback of the High Tech Crimes Unit at (530) 642-4724 or Det. Lyndell Scarr of the Property Crimes Unit at (530) 6424729. You can also email hightech@ edso.org.

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

you’re having fun, you won’t feel shy about showing it, which makes the people around you want to find their joy, too.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Something that baffles the others will be, to you, a piece of cake. Even so, it may be your instinct to hesitate for effect so as not to best anyone too quickly. It’s not a bad idea to protect people’s feelings.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll fix a problem, or at least stop it from getting worse. You will be very much in line with partners on matters of finance, specifically the level of risk you’re willing to take.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Kindness is your aim, though the complex world takes plenty of energy to navigate; being the least bit tired, distracted or irritated can trigger other responses. Keep correcting toward spiritual generosity and you’ll be good.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your empathic heart is a sanctuary for those seeking solace in uncertainty. Let them find you. Don’t go out of your way because they will come at the perfect moment when their needs will intersect the gifts you’ll bestow in abundance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You want an excellent experience for as many people as possible. Don’t jump to conclusions about what others need. Your keen powers of observation will show you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). While you don’t lack conviction, you wouldn’t dream of imposing your own code. On the road to peace, extremes of good and evil, or law and chaos can be unhelpful prejudices. A respectful neutrality will serve you well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have an excellent sense of humor, though you still take your responsibilities very seriously — much more seriously than you take yourself. This is how you stay happy, healthy and wise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your reality is a progression of assumptions you make at various levels of consciousness. Those assumptions can and will be steered. The question is, who is at the wheel?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re keenly aware that what is true today might not be true tomorrow. Because of this you savor or ignore certain circumstances. You dance with or opt out of various arrangements. You choose your company carefully.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You don’t mind getting grubby for the right reasons — in fact the dirt will be a source of pride. “Never wear your best trousers when you go off to fight for freedom and truth.”— Henrik Ibsen

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Even when you accomplish a feat in your own home with no one else around, you can almost hear cheers of encouragement, as though you’d made a wave in some form of collective perception. Yes, the world is proud of you, they just don’t know it yet.

Photo by Tim Holland

After rains canceled the Placerville Speedway point season debut, wet weather is again on the forecast for Saturday but may let up to allow the red clay quarter-mile to come alive with the

Car Challenge Tour hitting the

SLT leaders review budget with cautious optimism

Katelyn Welsh

Tahoe Daily Tribune

City of South Lake Tahoe staff reported at the March 12 City Council meeting a positive outlook for the 2023-24 fiscal year, but certain projections caused some to voice caution moving forward.

Mayor Pro Tem John Friedrich pointed out, “We should celebrate that we’re in this strong fiscal position at a time when California has a $68 billion projected deficit.”

The cause for celebration is a surplus of more than $11 million from the 2022-23 fiscal year. After a carry-forward and other appropriations, that left about $7 million to spend, per City Council’s discretion.

Staff provided a recommended list of critical operating and capital needs to spend the surplus on, including positions for the new recreation center, temporary and seasonal staffing, police and fire department needs, public works needs and parks equipment, to name a few. Council allocated about half of the $7-million surplus during the meeting but will be seeking public input in the future on where to spend the remainder.

Councilmembers, including Tamara

Speedway Continued from A7

by just 11 markers following the Stockton finale.

Wallace and Scott Robbins, shared concerns about putting surplus funds toward ongoing expenses.

Five-year projections estimate revenues will flatline in the next several years, while expenses increase. Major city revenues, property tax, transient occupancy tax and sales tax, are expected to only grow between 1-3%.

That’s while a majority of personnel and operating expenditures could increase between 2-3% annually, according to the staff report. When Wallace asked Director of Finance Olga Tikhomirova the overall increase in expenses due to the state of the economy, Tikhomirova estimated between 10-20%, at least.

In addition, Tikhomirova said funds from Measure P were down in the first three months of the fiscal year. If the decline continues and the city is not able to collect $3.4 million to pay the bond for the recreation center, the city may have to supplement it from its General Fund. Measure P funds come from a 2% Transient Occupancy Tax increase measure specifically earmarking funds for the recreation center.

For these reasons, Wallace said, “I think we need to be really really careful increasing any expenditures.”

Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox ultimately fended off Templeton’s Kaleb Montgomery by four slim points to secure his first SCCT title. Cox, who piloted the No. 42x machine, became the fourth driver to claim a SCCT championship, joining Andy Forsberg, Ryan Robinson and Kyle Hirst.

Despite coming up just short, both Montgomery and Oakley’s Dylan Bloomfield made it a close fight right down to the end. Suisun City youngster Chance Grasty locked up the Garth Moore Insurance Rookie of the Year Award and finished fourth in the standings, while Clovis’ Dominic Gorden completed the top five.

Dale Miller Racing also captured its first SCCT owner championship last season in dominating fashion. Aromas wheelman Justin Sanders piloted the car for much of the year and bookended the campaign by winning the opener in Placerville, along with the finale at Stockton. Sanders has struck gold at the Spring Fever Frenzy each of the last two seasons.

Former Spring Fever Frenzy winners Forsberg of Auburn and Tanner Carrick of Lincoln will be favorites Saturday. Forsberg has claimed nine

Turkey season

career Placerville Speedway titles and earned career victory No. 200 at the Tribute to Al Hinds this past season. Carrick was a winner on the red clay in July of last year and has shown the propensity to get around Placerville as well as anybody.

Additional drivers looking to punch their ticket to victory lane at the Spring Fever Frenzy include Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Hanford’s Michael Faccinto, Modesto’s Tony Gomes, Roseville’s Colby Copeland and Sean Becker, Placerville’s Shane Hopkins; Glendale, Arizona’s Ashton Torgerson and more. Grandstand seating for the Spring Fever Frenzy will be reserved Saturday.

The pit gate will open at 12 p.m., with the front gate opening at 3 p.m. The pit meeting will be held at 4:45 p.m. with cars on track at 5:15 p.m. Hot laps, qualifying and racing will follow.

Live music will be performed by the band Mix Up from 4-6p.m to coincide with happy hour.

For more information on Placerville Speedway log onto placervillespeedway.com. Buy tickets online at eventsprout.com/event/psr033024 or at the gate on race day.

Continued from A3

exclusive weekend March 23-24 for hunters younger than 16, followed by the general season beginning this weekend. An additional junior season aligns with the archery-only season, which trails the general season from May 6-19.

Wild turkeys are resilient and have expanded their populations throughout California. Although drought and wildfire have caused their populations to fluctuate over the past decade, responsible hunting and conservation practices have helped ensure turkeys and their habitats are sustained. Managed hunting prevents overpopulation, supports habitat conservation and contributes funding toward broader wildlife management goals.

Dozens of CDFW-managed wildlife areas will be open to wild turkey hunting on a walk-in basis throughout the season. Visit wildlife.ca.gov/lands for a listing of wildlife areas and recreational opportunities available at each.

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

Hunters are limited to one bearded turkey per day with a spring season limit of three birds.

Nonlead shot is required when hunting with a firearm anywhere in the state. Crossbows may be used for the general turkey season but not during archery season without a disabled archer permit. For more information on regulations visit bit.ly/ CDFWhuntingregs.

CDFW’s Advanced Hunter Education Program and Recruit, Retain, Reactivate Initiative have video resources for participants interested in beginning their turkey hunting journey. At bit.ly/ CDFWhuntereducation, find AHE webinars on: “Turkey Hunting 101,” “Turkey Calling and Turkey Talk,” “Turkey Hunting with A Junior or New Hunter,” “Archery Turkey Hunting” and at bit.ly/R3huddlehour, the R3 Harvest Huddle Hour dedicated to an “Introduction to Turkey Hunting.”

Regulations regarding turkey season can be found on the Upland Game Bird Hunting web page at bit.ly/ CDFWgamebird. Hunters are also advised to visit CDFW’s Emergency Closures site at wildlife.ca.gov/Closures to stay up to date on information regarding land closures.

Continued from A1

things clear on the process and policy.

“We took the policy, which was previously called criteria, and revised and edited it into a policy that reflected the way the Veterans Monument was being managed and fair to veterans and set standards for review and objections if they occur,” Poimiroo said.

The policy, reviewed by the county Veteran Affairs Commission, was approved by a 4-0 vote.

District 3 representative Peter Wolfe abstained from voting due to his affiliation with the Veterans Alliance. Acting as an endorsement party for the new policy, the VAC’s recommendation will go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval or denial at a

later date.

The current criteria for bronze plaque honoraria is defined as having met the conditions of being a recipient of Medals of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross or anyone who distinguished him/ herself in action though “extraordinary heroism.”

It also states that one must have been engaged in action during a military operation with an enemy of the U.S., with an opposing foreign force or while serving friendly foreign forces in conflict where the U.S. was not a belligerent party. The act must also have been performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk.

The proposed policy

reads similarly. It states a metal plaque installed at the Veterans Monument can be placed anywhere on the Honor Wall but is limited to recipients of a medal of valor or a veteran or unit distinguished by “events, deeds, courage or significance to El Dorado County.”

The policy also spells out protocol for other military honoraria, including bricks, stones, benches and statuary monuments.

The new policy reworks the process of submitting concerns, complaints and objections to a memorial’s placement and removes the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to be the ultimate deciding party on which veterans

Pardue Continued from A5

in outdoor recreation for more than 25 years and is a skilled facilitator and team leader. She has developed international programs in seven countries, showing a deep understanding of collaboration to protect natural resources.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with such engaged partners and give back in such a meaningful way to the community and region I love so much,” Pardue states. “As a parent to the next generation of Tahoe residents, I have a strong connection to what matters to our community, including taking care of our natural resources, providing current and future economic opportunities and improving the Tahoe experience for locals and visitors.”

The LTDSC was established in June 2023 to actively engage with stakeholders, residents and visitors in fostering a collective sense of responsibility toward Lake Tahoe’s sustainability. Under Pardue’s leadership, the council aims to continuously review and adapt its plan to address emerging challenges

and opportunities.

The council and its plan were developed in collaboration with 17 regional organizations and the participation of more than 3,000 residents, visitors and businesses through surveys, interviews and workshops. The plan establishes a shared vision for the region’s recreation and tourism system and identifies 32 actions across four strategic pillars to focus on.

Pardue’s immediate priorities are to support ongoing work to better manage outdoor recreation and tourism and to take the plan from ideas to action. She will be called upon to create metrics that can be used to demonstrate the impact of the council’s work for the community and form action teams made up of staff from partner organizations to advance the council’s priorities. This work has already commenced, with more than 30 partners joining action teams and selecting team leads.

For more information about the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan and to access the full plan document go to stewardshiptahoe.

are memorialized should an objection arise.

Instead, objections would be reviewed by the county’s veteran service officer in consultation with the Veterans Alliance, the objecting party and a member of a federally chartered veteran organization in the county. The veteran service officer would then ask for recommendations from

all veteran organizations in the county if a resolution to the objection is not found. Those recommendations and findings would then go to the Veteran Affairs Commission to render a final decision.

“We added that because the veterans organizations had said they want greater say in the objection process,” Poimiroo added. “Before it goes to the VAC, it

goes to all the veteran organizations and they will have a chance to comment.”

The Veterans Monument is governed by El Dorado County Ordinance 4743, which designates the Veterans Alliance to be the sole organization responsible for planning and conducting ceremonies, approving memorials and recommending Veterans Monument

The

Annual Stand Up For MORE Comedy Night will be in partnership with the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce to o er wonderful entertainment along with a delicious meal catered by John Sanders. Shake o the stress of the week with this hilarious, fundraising showcase.

Our Headliner, the hilarious Dennis Blair, who has been described as a Renaissance man. He is an accomplished screenwriter, award-winning songwriter, and comedic actor. Yet he is probably best known for the caustic observations and musical satires of his live comedy performances. Also featured is the amazingly talented Derrick Leonard, whose laser-sharp humor will have you in stitches!

Admission: $60 per person; $100 per couple

Tickets available at: MORE, 399 Placerville Drive Online at: www.morerehab.org

Courtesy photo

Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council Managing Director Nettie Pardue is pictured on Pyramid Peak near Lake Tahoe. Pardue, a Meyers resident, has been called on to advance the council’s vision of improving how the local economy and ecology can grow hand in hand. Policy

A policy for being honored at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument in Placerville is being rewritten and is set to be approved or denied by county leadership soon.

Mountain Democrat file photo by Eric Jaramishian

Thank you to all of our amazing donors who came out to support our Club! We could not do what we do without your continuous support.

Gold Sponsors

Barsotti Family Juice Company

Carter-Kelly, Inc.

P.K. Willis

Thompsons Auto Group

Event Sponsors

Aborn Powers

Chad & Theresa Downey

Harvey Hopkins

High Sierra Industries

Joe Harn

Mountain F. Enterprises

Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians U.S. Bank

Verne & Chris Sanders

Wells Fargo

Program Sponsors

CAPTRUST

Don & Katy Peek

Dan & Kelly DeWolf

Daryl & Lori Warden

Dave & Cindy Brazelton

El Dorado Savings Bank

Joe Vicini, Inc. SMUD

Club Sponsors

Dawson’s Floor Fashions

Jim Coate

Tom & Jane Meuser

Andy Goode & Francie Heim

Brian & Jane Sonner

Broadridge

Bryan & Amy Pooley

Bryan Wilkinson Design/Build

Carbon Copy

Charlotte & Friends

Cheri & Todd White

Cold Springs Dental

Solar Hut

Tom & Judith Dillon

Table Sponsors

Frank’s Body Shop

Fransisco Family

Gold Country Wood Crafters

Gordon & Renée Vicini

Greg & Kathy Witherow

Hangtown Village Square

Harlow Family

HUB International

Jim & Maureen Carter

Deputy Sheriff’s Association of EDC

DNL Electric

Doug Veerkamp

General Engineering

Earthscapes

Ed & Sandy Matthews

EDCOE

El Dorado Hills CSD

El Dorado Water & Shower

Joe Harn

John Adams Academy

Joseph Gonzales & Viktor Likunov

Kevin & Debbie McCartney

Kings Meats

Les Schwab Tire Center

Marshall Foundation for Community Health

Minuteman Press MLUSD ParaMedical Labels, Inc

Placerville Glass

Placerville Kiwanis

Placerville Police Department

Placerville Rotary PUSD Placerville Veterinary Clinic PPESD R.D. Hill General Contractor

Robert Tonge Serrano

Ski Air Solar Hut

Sons of the American Legion

Statherós Financial Team Lockwood

The Sheriff's Table

takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free. Reserve a spot in advance at eldoradocountyfair.org/swap.

html.

Sierra Wildlife Rescue’s 2024 Baby Shower is here. Volunteers will accept donations 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 777 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs. View the wishlist of items by visiting babylist.com/list/swr2024.

Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts a book signing and story time with Lisa Riddiough, author

at Divide gallery

Quiaoit is an area native and an accomplished artist widely recognized and particularly known for her mermaid paintings. Her work also captures the ocean, women and children, playful animals and flowers in very heartwarming ways.

Quiaoit grew up in a creative home in Garden Valley. Her mother was an artist who inspired her. As a young girl she spent time painting and drawing in the beautiful Georgetown area. Her love for art never ended.

“I paint a lot of mermaids because I love women, the ocean and fantasy,” Quiaoit said. “Our oceans connect all life. The ocean is powerful yet fragile. I think women are like mermaids and the ocean in many ways. They are strong, give life, can be playful and soft while still being a force of nature. I like to capture their playfulness and ability to nurture.”

Quiaoit sells her paintings in galleries and to collectors. To give a little insight into how far reaching her art is collected, she said, “It’s been an honor to

have my artwork published in magazines, books, on CD covers and used on Universal Studios and TLC sets. I have large murals displayed in the California Bay Area. And my mermaid paintings were also on display at the ADEX International show in Singapore, India, China, Indonesia and Egypt promoting plastic free oceans, which is something I feel passionate about.”

Quiaoit currently resides in Northern California with her husband and two sons who support her artistic endeavors. When she’s not painting you will often find her teaching art classes for children and teens.

AODC Gallery is located at 6295 Main St. in historical Georgetown. Follow the gallery on Facebook and visit the website at artonthedivide.com.

“Modern poppy” by Nancy Hayden Quiaoit

“The Ladybug Invasion” by Nancy Hayden Quiaoit

“Girl Reading a Book” by Nancy Hayden Quiaoit

“Mom Son and Daughter” by Nancy Hayden Quiaoit

“Mermaid art coastal” by Nancy Hayden Quiaoit

IRVING PENN RETROSPECTIVE features

News release

Ssignature works, Summer of Love photographs

AN FRANCISCO — Irving Penn is widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s greatest photographers, renowned for his pared-down aesthetic, exemplary printmaking and artistic experimentation. A regular contributor to Vogue magazine for more than six decades, he revolutionized fashion photography in the post-war period, positioning models against neutral backdrops to emphasize gesture and expression.

Although best known for his psychologically penetrating portraits, Penn was a prolific artist whose career spanned 70 years and a wide array of interests.

The major retrospective Irving Penn, now in display at the de Young museum, captures every period of that dynamic career behind the camera, beginning in the late 1930s and continuing into the first decade of the 21st century.

Organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and presented exclusively on the West Coast at the de Young, the exhibition brings together 197 works — including Penn’s portraits of celebrities, cultural luminaries and laborers with the tools of their trades; abstract nudes and early documentary street scenes; compositions of wilting flowers, signage, and street debris; fashion studies and meticulous still lifes — along with a newly enhanced section dedicated solely to Penn’s photographs from the 1967 San Francisco Summer of Love.

“Irving Penn is a giant of 20th-century photography whose portraits and still lifes were transformative for the medium,” remarked Thomas P. Campbell, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. “We are delighted to present the most extensive retrospective of his work to date here in San Francisco, epicenter

of the countercultural movements Penn so masterfully captured in his vibrant photographs from the 1967 Summer of Love. The energy of those images underscores the longstanding impact of Bay Area culture within the United States and, indeed, around the world.”

The exhibition Irving Penn explores the photographer’s profound interest in the ephemerality and complexity of the human condition, evidenced not only in his portraits, but also in the masterful still lifes that bookend his career. Approaching photography as a fine art long before it was widely recognized as such, Penn

paired nuanced composition with an uncanny talent for observing human expression, attitude, and demeanor. He was celebrated as one of Vogue’s top photographers, creating a record of 20th-century cultural history in his images.

The exhibition presents Penn’s photographs of such leading lights of the screen as Marlene Dietrich and Audrey Hepburn, renowned designers Gianni Versace and Yves Saint Laurent and foremost writers Truman Capote and Joan Didion. But Penn’s egalitarian spirit and heightened photographic sensitivity made his portraits of everyday people — tradespeople, street vendors and residents of Cuzco, Peru — equally moving and powerful.

In 1967, commissioned by Look magazine, Penn traveled to San Francisco to record the Summer of Love, photographing Hells Angels, hippie communities, local rock bands the Grateful Dead and Big Brother and the Holding Company and members of the avant-garde San Francisco Dancers’ Workshop. His impetus to “look into the faces of these new San Francisco people through a camera in a daylight studio” would memorialize the defining countercultural movement of the 1960s on film. An eight-page spread, “The Incredibles” was published in the magazine early the following year, and is featured in the exhibition at the de Young in an exclusive, enhanced section devoted to Penn’s San Francisco series. Also on view are his rarely seen, experimental photographs of nude workshop dancers performing American choreographer Anna Halprin’s “The Bath.”

Photographic art events click at area galleries

Traci Rockefeller Cusack News release

SACRAMENTO — Led by Viewpoint Photographic Art Center, a nonprofit organization located in Midtown Sacramento, the sixth annual Photography Month Sacramento begins next week.

First launched in 2018, the monthlong event is highlighted by a variety of diverse events that include special exhibits, receptions, photo shoot popups, workshops, lectures, photo shoot gatherings and more. Photography Month Sacramento creates a shared platform for galleries, museums, educational institutions, libraries, retail establishments, photographers and patrons to celebrate and elevate the art of photography.

Over the years Photography

Month Sacramento has expanded geographically and in terms of the types of activations. In fact, a diverse and eclectic variety of events, gatherings and opportunities are being planned throughout the region, including in Auburn, Davis, Grass Valley, Nevada City and Sacramento. Dozens of special events and activations are expected in 2024, a sampling of which includes:

• “A Celebration of Water” photography exhibit by the Nevada County Camera Club that honors the myriad forms of water and its powerful energy and beautiful motion.

• “Artist Talk by Sarah Sense” at the Gorman Museum of Native American Art in Davis on April 12 where guests can hear from the Chitimacha and

Choctaw artist as she discusses her current projects and provides insight into her artistic practice;

• Children’s Photography Exhibit at For the Love of Art Gallery in Auburn that showcases a collective experience of photography by children 18 and younger, complete with an opening reception on April 5;

• Celebration of Student Photography at the SMUD Museum of Science & Curiosity in Sacramento will be presented in partnership with the photography department at the California State University, Sacramento. Student photographs will be featured in the museum lobby throughout April.

• Of Time and Place is a national Open Call exhibit feature 90 images presented by Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in celebration of Photography Month. The theme of the exhibit is about a time and place that makes it memorable — captured by the photographer and thereby forever remembered in a special way.

• Tattooed & Tenacious: Inked Women in California’s History at the Sacramento History Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront is highlighted by three dozen locally produced photographs and a visually captivating 30-inch by 60-inch photograph that welcomes visitors as they enter the R. Burnett Miller

Gallery.

It is not too late for the community to get involved and participate in Photography Month Sacramento.

Once any photography-related concepts are confirmed by businesses, organizations, museums or individuals, participants are encouraged to post information details about any upcoming events online at photomonthsacramento.org/ events, a community curated calendar that is connected to and supported by Sacramento365.com.

For more information about Photography Month Sacramento 2024 visit photomonthsacramento. org.

Watch and dine at deliciously exciting Napa film festival

News release

NAPA VALLEY — The Napa Valley Film Festival and The Culinary Institute of America announce a special film, food and wine fundraising showcase. Salute to Culinary Cinema! is a four-film line-up and culinary extravaganza curated by Turner Classic Movies’ host Dave Karger and features “The Taste of Things,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” “The HundredFoot Journey” and “Tampopo” at The CIA at Copia, 500 1st St. in Napa, April 5-7.

Each film screening will be followed by a series of multicourse culinary tributes by the CIA to celebrate the food and wine culture evoked in each film. Special guest chefs will also take part in the tribute, including Maître Cuisiniers de France (Master Chefs of France) Roland Passot and Joel Guillon, chef/partner of

the restaurant Press (Napa), Phil Tessier, CIA chef Annie Hongkham and CIA chefs & students.

The event will also include a special book-signing and presentation with Dave Karger highlighting his new book, “50 Oscar Nights.” The presentation will feature exclusive behind the scenes stories of the Academy Awards as top stars and filmmakers discuss Hollywood’s biggest night. The event is on April 6 and is free with book purchase.

“The only thing I love as much as watching a terrific movie is enjoying a wonderful meal,” Karger said. “I’ve loved being at the Napa Valley Film Festival in the past and I’m so looking forward to sharing these films with my fellow cinema-loving foodies.”

“We’re excited to announce that NVFF will be building on its partnership with the CIA at Copia to create an unforgettable weekend showcasing some very entertaining food-focused films and highlighting the talented students, alumni and chefs who have honed their craft at the CIA. We sincerely hope that our friends from area communities will join us in an event that also supports the fundraising efforts of our respective organizations,” said Cinema Napa Valley Chair Rick Garber.

“We look forward to creating a truly unique and fun experience for all,” added Thomas Bensel, managing director for the CIA’s California campuses. “Food and film are both ubiquitous in our daily lives and celebrating them together to support the CIA & the Napa Valley Film Festival is an amazing opportunity. We hope this will be the beginning of a year-long series of events.”

For tickets and more information visit napavalleyfilmfest.org.

Courtesy photos

The Nevada County Camera Club proudly presents its third photography exhibit at The Granucci Gallery in Grass Valley, A Celebration of Water, through April 20 in honor of Photography Month. This exhibit features images that capture the awe-inspiring beauty of water in its many forms.

Know Continued from B1

50-minute historic scenic train ride along the Sacramento River and experience railroading as it was in the early part of the last century.

Rides are offered Saturdays and Sundays. For tickets and more information visit californiarailroad.museum.

March 31

The El Dorado Hills Town Center Farmers Market takes place year round, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday.

Wander behind Nibblers and Trek Bicycle to discover a cornucopia of delights, where local area farms showcase an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Explore stalls brimming with homemade treasures including jams and cheeses, as well many handmade creations.

Myka Estates in Placerville hosts Easter brunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To reserve a seat call (530) 644-3474 or email info@ mykaestates.com.

1850 Cellars in Placerville hosts Easter mimosas, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy a bottle of 1850 Wine Cellars Moscato with three juices and blend your own mimosas. For more information call (530) 317-8084 or email info@1850winecellars.com.

Nello Olivo Winery in Camino hosts Easter festivities — a light lunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and adult Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. For tickets and more information call (530) 303-3617.

Shadow Ranch Vineyard in the Fair Play area hosts the third annual Easter Peepza event. Create a Peeps topped pizza and enjoy other treats. For reservations and more information email info@shadowranch.com.

The Mother Lode Lions Club hosts the

Community Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. sharp at Indian Creek Elementary School’s upper field. Children 12 and younger welcome.

Tiffani Shiro Band will perform at 2 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery. com/live-music.

April 1

Music in the Mountains presents Mondays with the Maestro Richard Strauss: The Last Romantic, 7-9 p.m. For more information visit musicinthemountains.org.

April 2

A series of free classes covering The Reality of our Mortality will be held

10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, April 2, 9, 16 & 23, at the Cameron Park Community Services District. Donations benefit Snowline Hospice. Learn more at yourgracefulexit.com.

The El Dorado Hills Garden Club hosts the presentation Raised Beds 365 Days a Year at 1 p.m. at the EDH Library, 7455 Silva Valley Parkway. All are welcome.

Civil Grand Jurors’ Association of California – El Dorado County Chapter hosts informational meetings about the grand jury process: El Dorado Hills Library, 1:30 p.m. April 2; and Georgetown Library, 1:30 p.m. April 6. For more information email EDCchapter. CGJA@gmail.com or visit edcgov.us/ Grandjury.

National Alliance on Mental Illness El Dorado County offers free, in-person family support groups monthly: 6-7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month in Placerville and 5:30-7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in South Lake Tahoe. For more information visit

namieldoradocounty.org.

The Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael presents Awash with Color, an annual art show featuring the members of Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons, April 2-20. For more information visit sacfinearts.org.

April 3

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosts a business builder buffet with speaker Assemblyman Joe Patterson, 11:30 a.m. at Hills Church, 800 White Rock Road in El Dorado Hills. To RSVP call (916) 933-1335 or visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

April 6

The Democratic Party of El Dorado County celebrates annual essay contest winners at a luncheon at noon at the El Dorado County Office of Education, 6767 Green Valley Road, Placerville, room B-2. Tickets are available online at tinyurl.

com/EssayAwards2024 or by mailing a check to Mel Chapman, 5041 Pathfinder Trail, Placerville CA 95667. For more information call (530) 621-0409.

Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference hosts the annual Empty Bowls dinner, 4-7 p.m. at the Placerville Shakespeare Club. This is a family friendly event that includes live music, vendors, a dinner featuring delicious soups and fresh breads and a keepsake handmade bowl to take home as a reminder of the cause. For tickets and more information visit youthmakingadifference.org/ emptybowls.

The Ponderosa High School Foundation hosts the Green & Gray Gathering 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Cameron Park Country Club. For tickets and more information visit ticketstripe.

com/2024PondoGreenGray.

April 13

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts the edible plant sale 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 13, featuring spring and summer vegetables, fruit and herbs at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville. All other plants, including succulents, shrubs, trees, ornamental and native plants, will be for sale on April 27, same time and location. Check the inventory preview at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu.

April 20

Ponderosa High School hosts the ninth annual Gold Country Jazz Festival, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the campus, 3661 Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs. The purpose of the festival is to encourage the growth of jazz education in area music programs. Purchased tickets in advance at ticketstripe.com/GoldCountry-Jazz-Festival-2024.

The El Dorado Winery Association presents Passport Weekend, April 20 & 21, with more than 20 wineries offering special tastings, pairings and more. For tickets and more information visit eldoradowines.org.

Now

Sutter Street Theatre presents “Cotton Patch Gospel” through March 30. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre. com.

Youth Art Month takes over Switchboard Gallery in downtown Placerville. Check out El Dorado High School student artists’ works through March 31.

Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents

“Twelfth Night” through April 1. For tickets and more information visit bigideatheatre.org.

Sutter Street Theatre presents “The Lightning Thief” through April 7. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre. com.

B Street Theatre presents “Cosmo St. Charles is Dead and Someone in This Room Killed Him” through April 7 at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Capital Stage in Sacramento presents “Fade” through April 14. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.

The Gallery at 48 Natoma presents Abstract Ideas, featuring art by Linda Nunes and Matt Rhoades, through April 18. In the adjacent Community Art Gallery, art from the Children’s Art Classes at the Folsom Art Center is on display through April 11. For more information call call (916) 461-6601 or visit folsom.ca.us.

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents: AI Am I?, artificial intelligence art created by Alexander Reben, through April 28; Drawn to Beauty, a collection of European drawings, through April 28; Black Artists in America through May 19; and Joyce J. Scott: Messages June 23. For tickets and more information visit crockerart.org.

Shiva Ahmadi: Strands of Resilience is an exhibition of 19 paintings at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis, on view through May 6.

Send event information for In The Know to nstcak@mtdemocrat.net.

Ready for virtuoso fiddling with Tom Rigney & Flambeau?

Eileen Mello

NCITY — Known for his fiery fiddling and charismatic stage presence, Tom Rigney and Flambeau has forged a unique sound that specializes in blazing Cajun two-steps, low-down blues, boogie woogie, and funky New Orleans grooves that will get you moving on the dance floor!

The Miners Foundry Cultural Center welcomes Tom Rigney and Flambeau on Saturday, March 30. (This show was rescheduled from Feb. 8 due to weather hazards.) Local favorites, Old Soles will provide pre-show entertainment in the bar beginning at 6:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

“The band is sounding better than ever and we’re looking forward to a

great celebration,” said Rigney. Known as one of the premier roots music fiddle players on the planet, Rigney and Flambeau have forged a unique sound that blends American roots styles into something original — deep musicality and spectacular soloing — that will get people moving on the dance floor. Rigney joins musicians Marc Brinitzer and Anthony Paule on electric guitar, boogie queen Caroline Dahl on piano, Sam Rocha on bass and Brent Rapone on drums.

Rigney composes much of the band’s repertoire of original music with a few classics from the Cajun/ New Orleans songbook mixed in. Listen closely for a trace of Rigney’s Irish roots or echoes of Eastern Europe in his rich musical gumbo.

n See RIGNEY, page B10

Courtesy photo

Tom Rigney and Flambeau mix irresistible grooves with deep musicality and spectacular soloing.

Hear them live this Saturday.

Penn Continued from B2

“Penn’s images of West Coast residents capture a moment of electrifying social change, which forever altered the cultural landscape of the Bay Area,” remarked Emma Acker, curator of American Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and organizing curator of the exhibition. “The Fine Arts Museums’ presentation of Irving Penn includes an expanded selection of these portraits, emphasizing our Museums’ location at the epicenter of the countercultural movements of the 1960s, particularly the Summer of Love.”

The de Young museum hosts the exhibit through through July 21. For more information visit famsf. org.

Reporters Wanted

Like writing?

Have journalism experience?

Enjoy photography?

Email resume and writing samples to Krysten Kellum at kkellum@mtdemocrat.net. Freelance

JUST ANNOUNCED

Falcon’s Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College presents

Cabaret

APRIL 5-14, 2024

Falcon's Eye Theatre brings the Broadway smash hit, Cabaret, to Stage One! In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920's draw to a close, a Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. With the Emcee's bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life in Berlin as Germany slowly yields to the emerging threat of the Nazis.

Winner of the 1967 Tony Awards for best Musical and Composer/Lyricist. Immerse yourself in the action by snagging one of the Cabaret table seats (limited numbers). Cabaret contains adult situations. Recommended for audiences 13 and older.

TISRA: Zakir Hussain, Sabir Khan, and Debopriya Chatterjee

APRIL 24, 2024

Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain is proud to present TISRA (three) with two of India’s finest young musicians, Sabir Khan and Debopriya Chatterjee. This unique trio is comprised of tabla, sarangi (a bowed instrument said to possess the sound closest to the human voice), and bansuri (bamboo flute), a combination not often heard on the classical stage.

TISRA showcases the rich folk and classical traditions of the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab. This colorful mix combined with Indian classical music and the rich rhythm repertoire of Punjab makes for a compelling offering that TISRA brings to audiences in the United States.

The Cher Show –A New Musical

MAY 9-12, 2024

Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture – breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story.

THE CHER SHOW is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony Awardwinning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!

Nick Carter –Who I Am World Tour 2024

OCTOBER 19, 2024

Nick Carter quickly became an international pop superstar as the youngest member of the iconic boy band, Backstreet Boys. Since taking the world by storm in 1995, the band has sold over 130 million records.

In 2002, Carter ventured into a solo career with his debut album, Now or Never, marking the beginning of a successful solo journey. Since then, Carter has released two additional solo albums I’m Taking Off in 2012, followed by All American in 2016. His 2023 single “Hurts to Love You” became his most successful track, charting in seven different countries, topping the charts in the United States, and charting number one in Canada.

Comedian Howie Mandel has entertained audiences for decades. See him live

Laugh it up with longtime jokester Howie Mandel

STATELINE, NEV. — Late-Nite Productions presents Howie Mandel for an evening of live stand-up comedy one night only during the infamous Celebrity Gold Week. The show takes place Friday, July 12, at the Bally’s Lake Tahoe Showroom.

Tickets are on sale now.

Mandel has remained a constant force in show business for more than 30 years. He can currently be seen on NBC’s flagship series “America’s Got Talent,” where he has served as a judge for 11 seasons. He recently finished production on his new documentary, “Howie Mandel: But Enough About Me.” Other recent projects include judging NBC’s “America’s Got Talent: The Champions,” CNBC’s “Deal or No Deal,” where he served as executive producer and host, and Nat Geo Wild’s “Animals Doing Things,” where he co-hosted with his son Alex. He also executive produced the Quibi series “Kirby Jenner.” In 2019 he released his first solo special in 20 years, “Howie Mandel Presents Howie Mandel at the Howie Mandel Comedy Club.”

In 2020 Howie teamed up with ePlay Digital Inc. and launched the charity, Breakout the Masks, and mobile game campaign to give back to those involved in the fight against COVID-19. Via Howies’ Games the first challenge is Outbreak where players’ points translate to donations of N95 face masks, portable ventilators, gloves and other personal protective equipment to doctors,

Rigney Continued from B6

Tom Rigney and Flambeau are no stranger to Nevada City. The March 30 show will be a return to The Foundry after the success of last year’s popular Mardi Gras gig. In the 1980s, Rigney also played in the streets of Nevada City for the Mardi Gras parade with his former band, The Sundogs.

“I’ve always liked your town. We did a Mardi Gras show just about a year ago at the Miners Foundry. It was a great party,” said Rigney.

After graduating from Harvard with a fine arts degree, Rigney discovered the violin and his life was knocked in a completely di erent direction. He hasn’t gone back. For almost 50 years he’s been part of the San Francisco Bay Area roots music scene and he and the band is a regular sought-after staple of the Northern California festival circuit.

Rigney first rose to prominence as the leader/ fiddler of the bluegrass/ western swing band Back in the Saddle. He won a Bammie award in 1981 for the band’s debut recording. He also wrote their hit song, “Time and Again.”

nurses and more front-line workers. The second game SwishAR has users looking for Mandel to join in a backyard basketball game to shoot hoops. Both games are available on the Apple App store and Google Play. His additional projects include working as a host, actor, and/or executive producer. Mandel’s versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage. From his work on the Emmy Award-winning “St. Elsewhere” to the international animated children’s series “Bobby’s World,” Mandel has become a mainstay of the American comedy scene.

In 2009, Mandel added author to his résumé when he released his frank, funny and no-holds-barred memoir, “Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me.” The memoir revealed his ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD and how it has shaped his life and career. It made The New York Times bestseller list on its first week and remained on the list for several consecutive weeks.

Mandel has done countless comedy specials both on cable and network television. He has also hosted his own syndicated talk show, “The Howie Mandel Show,” and continues to be a mainstay on the talk show circuit. He also continues to perform as many as 200 stand-up comedy shows each year throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting/calling the Bally’s Box O ce at (775) 588-3515.

Rigney’s love of South Louisiana dance music (Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans second line) first came together after touring the world with Queen Ida’s Bon Temps Zydeco Band in 1983.

“Being out on the road with Ida changed my whole musical focus. Once I became aware of South Louisiana music it really stuck with me,” he recalled. That time influenced his later band, The Sundogs.

“It’s the rhythmic vitality of South Louisiana that appealed to me and clearly audiences love those grooves for dancing and listening,” Rigney added.

After 15 years leading The Sundogs, Tom Rigney and Flambeau came together in 2000. That Southern Louisiana spirit continues to influence today’s music. Their energetic live show features tight ensemble playing, deeply infectious grooves and rich soloing known to connect with audiences and pull them in. This show will have mixed seating with plenty of room to dance.

For tickets and more information visit minersfoundry.org.

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Courtesy photo

at Bally’s Lake Tahoe this summer.