Village Life/Cameron Park Life, Thursday, April 6, 2023

Half-sisters make their lives whole

“Iknew I had a sibling out there,” said El Dorado Hills resident Sherie Tobin. “Alora didn’t. She thought the man who raised her was her father.” Alora Rothafel Steele is Tobin’s half-sister and now, more than 50 years later, they have just discovered each other.

As a child of hippie parents, Tobin grew up knowing her father had had another child. “My father and I talked over the years about this sibling that we thought was a boy,” she said.

Tobin spent her childhood on a New Mexico commune with her brother and parents, but when Tobin was 5, her mom and dad separated. “My father left and went to California with my brother and my father asked my mother to drop some money off with Alora’s mother,” said Tobin. “My mom and I went and brought $29 to this woman. I have a memory of this baby sitting in a high chair. She would have been about 8 months old.”

Little did she know that the baby was her half-sister and it would be a lifetime later before

Board making some changes at CP Lake

Jana Rossi

Staff writer

A very full Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors meeting adjourned after nearly four hours with the board establishing changes that will impact activities at Cameron Park Lake. A record number of Cameron Park residents attended the March 28 meeting, with the intention of making themselves heard on two controversial topics.

Pickelball racket

Leading off the meeting, General Manager André Pichley read the posted agenda transmittal that outlined agenda item No. 1 — pickleball play at Cameron Park Lake.

At issue is the noise level and sound that property owner Liz Gates, whose property backs to the courts, has been dealing with since the CSD modified the area in 2017, turning tennis courts into pickleball courts.

Gates described her living situation as “unacceptable” and said she reached out to the board three years ago. In 2022 CSD staff visited the property to

Sel Richard Staff writer

What’s happening

Now

The Gilmore Senior Center in El Dorado Hills is seeking volunteer art teachers to teach seniors two-day art lessons. The lesson can be in any art medium and will take place between May 1 and Sept. 30. Duration can be as long as needed: a week, month or quarterly. The center is open all week days and the lesson time slot is 2-4 p.m. For more information or to volunteer contact Chelsie Harrison at (916) 292-193 or charrison@edhcsd.org.

The annual Folsom Lake College Student Art Show is on display at the Harris Center for the Arts in the Bank of America Gallery through Sunday, May 7. A diverse mix of media from drawing and painting to printmaking, ceramic, sculpture, photography and digital arts is exhibited.

April

6

The Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber of Commerce hosts a mixer and ribbon cutting, 5:30 p.m. at Geneva Financial, 3300 Coach Lane, Suite E6, Cameron Park. No RSVP required.

April 7

Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom hosts the El Dorado Hills Arts Association annual Studio Tour preview, April 7 to June 13 and the Playful Pieces exhibit, April 14 to June 15, with a reception 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 14. For more information call (916) 461-6601.

taLK

What’s a great April Fool’s Day prank you’ve done?

taylor hotsko

El Dorado Hills

“Something silly that my kids like to do is make me put a balloon in my shirt and tell my husband I’m pregnant.”

Jared s aldate

El Dorado

“I’m telling my husband that we’re going to have to move again. We’ve moved five times in the past three years.”

stuDents Of the year

“Once I made a caramel apple for my niece but I made it with an onion instead.”

penley Danforth

El Dorado Hills

“I put a tripwire down and a big bucket filled with ice cold water on top. When my dad opened the door it splattered over him.”

evan Marker Folsom

“I put a fake tarantula on my grandpa’s hat and he screamed and jumped up on the couch and threw his book.”

peOpLe

Photos and question by Sel Richard

Diana Douglas Rescue

Lake Park renovations afoot

Sel Richard Staff writer

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will fund renovations at Jackson Elementary School. Jackson Elementary recently made significant strides toward funding the improvement of its playground and surrounding furnishings, a project anticipated to cost approximately $509,000.

Principal Michele Williamson reported the PTO has committed $150,000 with the expectation of a further $50,000 for amenities in ensuing years. Rescue Union School District has committed 14 new accessible-designed benches/ lunch tables, shade, $50,000 toward the playground and pledged $88,000 next year for additional playground shading.

With funding for the project still falling short by $250,000, the El Dorado County Office of Education entered into discussions with the CSD seeking to supply the remaining amount equally. “This playground is available to the public and is not closed off after hours,” said CSD General Manager Kevin Loewen, indicating potentially wide community appeal of the new equipment.

“We house the multiple abilities program for EDCOE so we have nine children in wheelchairs at Jackson Elementary,” explained Williamson. “At this point they basically wheel down to the edge of the playground and watch the other children play. It’s a bark playground so they don’t have access to the

Sisters

they would meet again.

equipment.”

“This does allow us to get something within our community pretty quickly,” urged Lisa Donaldson, RUSD Assistant Supervisor of Business Services. Donaldson hopes groundbreaking for the new playground will begin in June and be completed in time for the 2023-24 school year.

Loewen suggested the CSD fund its $125,000 portion via the Opportunity Fund, currently untapped at $100,000. “We allocate funds into the Opportunity Fund annually for projects that would not otherwise happen unless there’s some sort of matching support for community benefit.”

The remaining $25,000 would be carved out of capital reserve funds.

“This is a prime example of what our community is really about,” said board President Noelle Mattock. “It’s about inclusivity — meeting the needs of everybody within the community.”

Past projects funded by the Opportunity Fund include terracing at Jeff Mitchell ball field and $50,000 of this year’s capital was intended toward a Comcast expansion project. Should the Comcast expansion project costs come due prior to the fiscal year-end, the fund would expend more than budgeted.

The $125,000 for Jackson Elementary’s new inclusive playground via the Opportunity Fund was unanimously approved by the board, contingent upon an equivalent or greater matching amount from EDCOE.

Steele’s mother went by her hippie name Quanu, her father by the name of Zol. Quanu and Zol had agreed to raise the girl. “So my father kind of went about his business,” said Tobin. Tobin’s father, Daniel Baginski Allen, subsequently had two more marriages, each with two more children. Tobin has kept in touch with her four other halfsiblings along with her full brother over the years, but the mystery of the seventh child remained obscured.

Initially, Tobin was merely interested in her Lithuanian grandparents who had immigrated to the United States around 1910. She uploaded her DNA information to Ancestry.com in 2019. Two years later Tobin received a message from Ancestry alerting her of a close match. “At first it said first cousin and eventually it said half-sister, which I thought was weird because I thought I had a brother out there somewhere,” said Tobin. Nevertheless, she sent several messages through Ancestry.com, which at first went unanswered.

On the other end, Alora Steele was doing her own research but had no idea

Richard B. Esposito (530) 344-5055 resposito@mtdemocrat.net

hear firsthand the sound Gates experiences on a daily basis. A task force was formed to address the issue, intended to come up with mitigation ideas and estimated costs, but then later decided that a better course of action would be to hire an acoustical engineer to take sound measurements. Certified noise engineer Steve Pettyjohn with the Acoustics Vibration Group Inc. addressed the board, highlighting his findings and offering a solution — build two barrier walls, a 12-foot wall close to Gates’ property line and a shorter, 10-foot wall to be built mid court. Pettyjohn said this would drop the noise to an acceptable 65 decibel level, which would then bring it in compliance with county standards. The estimated cost for two walls is $300,000.

Gates spoke in favor of pickleball as a sport, just not one played in her backyard. While some residents maintained the courts should remain at the lake, many stood in solidarity with Gates and made recommendations to move them to a less private property-bordering park like Christa McAuliffe Park, which is located on Merrychase Drive and backs to the freeway.

Resident Eve Lowry came prepared with a plan in hand created by a local court builder with estimates for up to 10 courts for that location. Currently Christa McAuliffe Park has a soccer field used by the Prospector soccer team. According to Lowry’s estimated costs, for not much more than the two proposed walls at least eight courts could be built at that park, which would also keep its soccer field.

Since January the CSD has offered three indoor open pickleball courts and officials said they regularly see up to 20 people using them on a daily basis. Other short-term ideas were thrown around meant to address the noise issue, including reducing days and hours for game play at the courts and using of softer balls.

she had any half-siblings, much less six of them. “I had the same notification that I had some close relatives and I thought, ‘Oh this is just wrong; they must have used a dirty swab when they were testing my DNA,’” Steele laughed.

“I just thought it was a mistake.”

However, upon speaking with her brother about her findings, he revealed their father had previously admitted to the possibility that he was not her biological father. Steele’s mother then told her that she was also uncertain as to who her biological father was. Because of the lack of DNA testing at the time, it was impossible to prove which of two men fathered Steele.

Steele returned to her Ancestry page.

“Maybe it’s not wrong,” she thought. As she reviewed the results and specifics about Tobin’s life that Tobin had posted, some details began to add up. She decided to contact Tobin through Facebook.

“My first question was what was your mother’s name,” Tobin recounted, and discovered that it was Quanu. “That’s when I realized that she was the sibling that I had been looking for. I’ll never

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forget that day. I still wasn’t sure if it was real.”

Steele, who lives in Arlington, Wash., hopped on a plane down to El Dorado Hills and met Tobin for the first time in mid-January this year, getting to know her sister over breakfast at Milestone Restaurant. “It was great,” Tobin said, tears welling up with the memory. “I wanted to keep her right there and study every inch of her face.”

Some of Tobin’s siblings aren’t ready to meet Steele, but other siblings as well as Tobin’s uncle and sons are looking forward to meeting their new family member.

“I wish my dad had lived to meet Alora,” said Tobin of their father who passed away in 2020. “He wasn’t the most responsible parent but he did love all of his children very much. He always told us what wonderful people we were and just lifted me up.”

For Steele, the discovery of not only a whole new family but the truth about her father is complicated. “My dad hadn’t really been involved in my life. I had a lot of abandonment issues,” she admitted. “But when I heard Sherie’s

Board member Tim Israel expressed support for the reduced days and hours but was not in favor of having the two walls built at such an expense, especially if other courts could possibly be built down the road. The topic ended with the understanding that an immediate, short-term solution, such as reduced hours and days for court use, will be implemented and give the board time to work on long-term solutions.

Splash pad sunk

The second agenda item was whether to move forward on what has become a controversial splash pad proposed in place of the swimming lagoon. Construction cost has swelled to $1.6 million, double the original projected amount when the splash pad was approved in 2020. Projected annual operations costs budgeted are at least $16,000 plus $1,000 in annual repairs. The plan was to use Proposition 68 funds totaling $128,182 plus park impact fees to cover the balance.

So far, $105,000 of non-refundable money has been spent on landscaping and many residents asked the board to cut its losses and use the remaining dollars on other lake projects, such as adding a launch pad to allow paddle boats and kayaks back into the lake.

A few residents spoke out in favor of moving forward with the project, stating it was good for the next generation of lake users, but most were against spending the large sum of money on an item they said will not be used by the majority of Cameron Park residents. Other factors brought up against the project included the lack of parking at the lake and the maintenance the pad will need from all of the geese plus the short seasonal use of the splash pad, April through October.

The board voted 3-2 in favor of directing Pichley to write up a letter for the April meeting rescinding the splash pad project.

Continued from A1

life story I knew if she could forgive and let the past go, I surely could. And what I got out of it? I got six brothers and sisters and one of the neatest people I’ve ever met.”

For others researching their ancestry, Steele pointed out her biggest challenge was navigating name changes. To this, Tobin chuckled. Their father had changed his name from Baginski to Allen when she was a baby. “Growing up he told me he changed his name because he wanted to dabble in politics,” she said. “It wasn’t until my aunt told me that it was because it was cheaper to change his name than it was to pay his parking tickets.”

Tobin and Steele are already planning more visits in the coming months. “I just want to get to know my sister more and just be sisters,” said Tobin. “But I wonder what life would have been like, going through that craziness together.”

“She’s got such a great heart. Even though we just met, she is someone who understands me very deeply. What makes me, me, I feel like Sherie gets that,” said Steele. “Maybe this was just the way it was supposed to happen.”

A dentistry that aims to be a home away from home

Jessica Cyphers

Staff writer

For patients of Dale Stanec, Jr., DDS, going to the dentist feels a little like going home.

“We know all of our patients. They’re our friends,” said Dr. Stanec, who works alongside his wife and office manager, Elena, in his Cameron Park office. “The experience in our office is very personal. We’re very small and greet each patient by name when they walk in. It’s a comfortable, homey place to have dental work done, and we like it that way.”

Dr. Stanec has been in dentistry in the Cameron Park area since 2002. As a kid, he was “always into science and math” and loved the idea of owning his own business. “I ran a lawn-mowing business as a kid — always had some kind of business going — so becoming a dentist and owning my own practice just made sense,” said Dr. Stanec. Dr. Stanec did his undergraduate work at Cal Poly,

San Luis Obispo and then attended dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern in 2001 and says that, although he was born and raised in San Jose, it was a natural draw to open his practice in the foothills. “Elena and I love this area. We had a lot of family and friends here and thought it would be a great place to raise our kids.”

In his office, Dr. Stanec offers a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging from porcelain veneers and dental implants to crowns and bridges and more. Unlike many other dentists, Dr. Stanec doesn’t employ dental hygienists or other technicians but does all of his dental work himself.

“I spend a lot of one-on-one time with my patients. It’s fun for me to do the work myself because I get to spend more time with my patients and hang out with them and really get to know them. It makes it fun to do what I do,” said Dr. Stanec.

Another advantage of keeping his practice small is that, because he sees every patient one at a time, Dr. Stanec can be very thorough and immediately answer any questions that come up. He is also able to really respect his patients’ time. “I am almost always early or on time,” said Dr. Stanec. “My patients know that, so they’re usually early or on time for their appointments, too. It’s a win win for everyone.”

Dr. Stanec is located at 3955 Cameron Park Drive — in Cameron Park. His office is right near the Goldorado Shopping Center, directly across from the new Walgreens on Palmer Drive, and is very conveniently located for all of his patients. The move is just one more way Dr. Stanec shows his commitment to providing the best possible care for his patients.

“I look forward to going to work and getting to see who’s on the schedule every day,” said Dr. Stanec.

Elena, Luis, Dale and Dr Stanec.

“I love the work that I do and am proud to do really quality work. Originally I’d planned to be a little bigger, but then I realized I liked it this way. I really enjoy my patients and

this way I can get to know them well.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stanec, visit drstanec.com or call 530-676-6500.

Events

April 8

Cars and Coffee invites car people to meet up and hang out the first and second Saturday mornings of each month, 7-9:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the right-side parking lot of the Regal movie theater in El Dorado Hills Town Center. Everyone and every type of vehicle is welcome. The motto is ”If it rolls, it goes.” Check out the cars and enjoy free coffee and doughnuts, while they last.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts the free Community Easter Egg Hunt for youth ages 0-12, 9 a.m. at Promontory Park. Fill a basket and get a photo with the Easter Bunny.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts the Aqua Egg Hunt, 2-4 p.m. at the EDH Community Pool. Register online at eldoradohillscsd.org.

April 11

Check out the Senior Resource Fair, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gilmore Senior Center in El Dorado Hills. The event is free with no registration required. Learn about resources to help and engage seniors while enjoying snacks, raffles and more.

The California Grand Jurors Association – El Dorado County Chapter hosts civil grand jury informational meetings that will cover many topics related to the civil grand jury process. Presentations are scheduled at 6 p.m. April 11 at the Cameron Park Library; 6 p.m. April 12 and the Placerville Library; and 1:30 p.m. April 13 at the El Dorado Hills Library. For more information email EDCchapter.CGJA@ gmail.com.

April 12

The Sons in Retirement – Gold Country branch meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Cameron Park Country Club. Check out the club and be a guest for a complimentary lunch. Contact Branch 95’s membership chairman at SIRBranch95@ gmail.com for more details.

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosts a mixer, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Window Screen Solutions and more, 330 Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills. To RSVP visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

April 13

Bring the family to the Cameron Park Library’s Spring Fling, 5-6:30 p.m. Activities include face painting, games and more.

April 14

Ponderosa High School Foundation hosts the Green & Gray Gathering, 6-9 p.m. at Saureel

Vineyards in Placerville. This much-loved tradition includes a Chef John Sanders buffet dinner paired with for purchase wines by Ponderosa alum Scott Harvey other local vintners and brewers and a raffle. Ponderosa instrumental and vocal jazz programs will entertain the crowd. For tickets and more information visit pondofoundation.com/ events.

Falcon’s Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College presents “Antigone,” April 14-30 at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit HarrisCenter.net.

April 15

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a Nature Walk at Bass Lake, 9-11 a.m. Meet at the Sellwood Field parking lot. The walk is free and all ages welcome. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes.

April 16

Brickyard Counter and Bar hosts cornhole tournaments, 1-4 p.m. in the El Dorado Hills Town Center Steven Young Amphitheater. Bring a team and test your skill or just watch the competition along the waterfront. Future tournament dates are May 21, June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20.

The Great Composers Chamber Music Series presents Beethoven Beyond Borders, 2 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 6086888 or visit HarrisCenter.net.

April 19

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce hosts business luncheon with Assemblyman Joe Patterson, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cameron Park Country Club. Register online at business.eldoradocounty. org/events.

April 21

The Sierra Renaissance Society presents Book Bans and Other Library Issues by a panel from our local library, 1-3 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission is free for members; public invited to attend two meetings each year free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning. For more information visit srsedc.org.

The Shingle Springs Community Center, 4400 South Shingle Road, hosts a Bunko Fundraiser beginning at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, dessert and Bunko. Buy tickets online at shinglespringscommunitycenter.org or call (530) 672-7442.

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Energetic Folsom Lake Symphony offers ‘The Rite of Spring’ concert

Finding the best words to describe the Folsom Lake Symphony can be a challenge.

Local? Yes. The members of the symphony are our neighbors in the tricounty area. Talented? Yes. These folks could easily be performing in San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia or New York. Yet, they choose to live in our communities because of family and other ties.

Hard-working?

Susan Laird The Arts

Affirmative. Everyone there is dedicated to the craft. Each person gives 110% at performances. Maestro Peter Jaffe is often drenched after conducting an FLS concert.

If there was one word to describe this remarkable team of musicians, board members and volunteers is could be: Focused. And the focus of each member of FLS is EXCELLENCE.

Small wonder that some of the most talented soloists in the nation (dare I say, in the world?) do not hesitate to appear on stage with them. This month’s concert at the Harris Center in Folsom is no exception.

Concert pianist Alon Goldstein returns to perform with the FLS for “The Rite of Spring” concert Saturday, April 22. He will perform the Piano Concerto No. 2 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).

This will be Goldstein’s second appearance with the FLS. His first performance, in 2015, was of Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No. 1.” That performance met with delighted reviews

from the audience for his musical intelligence and exhilarating performance. Goldstein is one of the most original and sensitive artists of his generation, admired for his musical intelligence and dynamic personality. His artistic vision and innovative programming have made him a favorite with audiences and critics alike throughout the United States, Europe and Israel.

He made his orchestral debut at the age of 18 with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta and returned with Herbert Blomstedt. In recent seasons Goldstein performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Philadelphia Orchestra; the San Francisco, Baltimore, St. Louis, Houston and Vancouver symphonies; and orchestras on tour in Paris, Mexico, Russia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Piano Concerto No. 2

At the time the Piano Concerto No. 2 was written (1881), there were two schools of thought in Germany about the future of music: the Romantic view (held by Liszt, Chopin, Wagner) and the Classicist view (held by Brahms, Beethoven, Bach). Brahm’s concerto is one of his happiest. Today’s composers see the arguments of both schools of thought and do not believe one need be in conflict with the other. So we benefit from both worlds today.

n See Laird page A8

The world is full of stunning gardens like this public garden in Lyons, France. When traveling, it’s worth the time to check out gardens the area has to offer.

Grow for it!

Visiting botanical gardens abroad

Botanical gardens in many of the world’s cities hold wonders that can create a different and relaxing perspective after hours in museums or amusement parks. Many gardens feature unusual collections of plants from around the world, often in historical greenhouses. In exterior gardens you can enjoy plants that showcase the local climate.

Visiting botanical gardens, which focus on research, study and preservation, will enhance your experience as you explore other countries. Plan ahead by checking for botanical gardens where you plan to travel. Sometimes the grounds of an old castle are kept with traditional knot gardens, so called because of their square patterns and intertwined hedges, or herbariums that display dried herb collections. The gardens may be extensive, as at Versailles, a day trip from Paris. Some gardens may be arranged to show a particular type of flower, as in the Adelaide International Rose Gardens of South Australia. Some locations create a specific mood or emotion, like Japanese gardens in Kyoto, where water and stone create serenity and tea houses and statues are tucked in amongst the greenscaping.

In Basel, Switzerland, a beautiful garden is maintained by the University of Basel. Founded in 1589, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Western world. It boasts a beautiful California Giant Sequoia at its entrance. There are lily ponds and five greenhouses displaying plants from around the world. The cacti are fantastic, and the blooms in the cold house are maintained for out-ofseason beauty. Entry is free.

In Lyon, France, the Tete d’Or has multiple gardens that are worth wandering through, from the arboretum to the historic International Rose Garden and the Mexican Garden. Don’t miss the Collection Greenhouses containing carnivorous plants, Madagascar natives, and flora from across the globe, including camellias that are over 100 years old. There is also a zoo in the park and a seed repository in the Herbarium.

Featuring the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, and home to 1500 temperate species, the Kew Gardens in south-

east London is a World Heritage Site. The 330 acres are filled with plants from all climates and in Sussex, the Wakehurst Botanical Garden has 500 acres of collections of plants in specific ecosystems.

If you are lucky enough to visit Victoria Island in British Columbia, the Butchart Gardens are a must see. Built on the site of an old limestone quarry, the 55 acres boast over 900 varieties of incredible specimens, flowering much of the year, creating a vibrant collage in all colors. You can wander for hours in the specialty areas in the Japanese, Mediterranean, Rose, and Sunken Gardens. At night, the lighting is spectacular, and well worth the price of admission.

Including a tour of a botanical garden will enhance your travels. The beauty of these gardens will remind you that our lives are intertwined with our gardens and may inspire you to start growing memorable plants at home.

Don’t miss the annual plant sales on April 15 for edible plants and April 29 for everything except edible. Shop for trees, shrubs, native plants, succulents and perennial plants for sale, all benefitting upkeep and programs at the UC Master Gardener Sherwood Demonstration Garden. Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open every Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Master Gardeners will offer tours, answer questions or guests can just enjoy the garden during weekly open garden days on Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for further information about the Sherwood Demonstration Garden at ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/Demonstration_ Garden.

Master Gardener classes are offered monthly throughout the county. Find the class schedule at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/Public_Education_ Classes/?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/Public_Education/

Classes.

Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on the website, mgeldorado.ucanr.edu, or leave a message on the office telephone at (530) 621-5512. To sign up for notices and newsletters visit ucanr.edu/master_gardener_enews. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Photo by Rich Stewart

Kitty Stewart

UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County

Lovers of Beethoven will recognize Brahms’ focus on the classic approach in this concerto. This is also one of his most demanding works, filled with moments of grace and friction. Some believe it is Brahms’ statement on honest human struggle and happiness. Goldstein is the perfect artist to bring these expressions to light on the ebony and ivory-colored keys of the Harris Center Steinway.

‘The Rite of Spring’

The evening closes out with a performance of “Le Sacre du printemps” also known as “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky (18821971). This 1913 work is a direct contrast to the composer’s “Firebird” (1910). In fact, the composer’s focus was altogether unexpected.

Instead of the sweet, graceful “Firebird” music audiences anticipated, Stravinsky offered up a fantasy work. In the fantasy Stravinsky envisioned music describing a violent, ruthless pagan ritual.

“In my imagination,” he wrote, “I saw a solemn pagan rite: wise elders, seated in a circle, watching a young girl dance herself to death whom they are offering as a sacrifice to the god of spring in order to gain his benevolence.”

In short, Stravinsky said that his intention was “to send them all to hell.” The work caused a revolution. No one had heard anything like this before in 1913. Audiences screamed. Police were called. Camille Saint-Säens ran from the theater in fury.

Some felt that the entire tonal system of Western music was at risk.

Yet, “The Rite of Spring” is an important work. It marks the birth of what we now call Contemporary Music. Aaron Copland considered “The Rite of Spring” to be “the foremost orchestral achievement of the 20th century.”

Where focus goes, energy flows. “The Rite of Spring” is certainly energetic. Stravinsky strove to create a new genre, and he succeeded.

“The Rite of Spring” concert is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Harris Center in Folsom. Tickets are still available. Visit folsomlakesymphony.org for more information.

Italian wheels

And now for something completely different. Do you have an Italian car, motorcycle, motor scooter and/or bicycle? Would you be interested in displaying one or more at an upcoming event?

The Murer House Foundation in Historic Folsom is hosting a fun Italian wheels event on May 6. Contact Ron Lingren at ronlingren@gmail. com to learn how to participate in this fun event. You can also visit murerhousefoundation.org to learn about tours of the Murer House, courses in Italian cooking and language and more. Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@handywriting.com.

Courtesy photo

Renowned concert pianist Alon Goldstein will perform Piano Concerto No. 2 by Johannes Brahms with the Folsom Lake Symphony April 22.

Teen essay writers win big

News release

Democrats of El Dorado County celebrated the Fred Winn Democratic Party Essay Contest winners at a special luncheon Saturday, April 1.

Students were asked to submit an essay addressing: Schools have formal rules against bullying, yet it persists. Describe accounts of bullying you may have experienced or witnessed and suggest ideas to reduce bullying in your school.

The annual contest was open to all junior and senior students from all pub-

lic high schools in El Dorado County.

Contest winners

First Place: Anandita Gupta, a junior at Oak Ridge High School, winning $1,500

Second Place: Cory Coker, a senior at Ponderosa High School, winning $750

Third Place: Anna Standeven, a senior at Union Mine High School, winning $500

Honorable Mentions: Natalie Salter, a senior at Ponderosa High School, and Emma McDonough, a senior at Ponderosa High School

Pet and Farm Sitting

Whether you are going away for the weekend, an extended vacation, or it’s just another day at the of ce, Bark to Barn Pet & Farm Sitting will be there to feed, walk, play and scratch on your pets - both the inside kids & the barn critters! The bonus for you is the absolute peace of mind knowing that your pet family is receiving plenty of love, care & attention while you’re away.

SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE! WONDERFUL UPDATES, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND KNOWLEDGE OF MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES MAKE THIS SERVICE SECOND TO NONE. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

VERY PROFESSIONAL AND ATTENTIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT DOGS, COMMUNICATIVE; WE GOT DAILY UPDATES AND PICTURES; WE COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR MORE. WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE SOMEONE TO TRUST YOUR PETS AND HOME WITH.

WE’LL BE BACK!

KELLEY IS A GENUINELY KIND AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON, AND WE SLEEP WELL KNOWING THAT SOMEONE OF HIGH INTEGRITY IS IN OUR HOME.

FINDING SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST WHO’LL HAVE YOUR ANIMALS’ BEST INTEREST IN MIND IS HARD, BUT KELLEY WAS VERY ORGANIZED, KEPT ME UPDATED, AND I HAD FULL CONFIDENCE ALL OF MY ANIMALS WERE WELL LOOKED AFTER.

Village Life photo by Mimi Escabar

Fred Winn Democratic Party Essay Contest first-place winner Anandita Gupta, second from right, is all smiles with her family: Amit, Anant and Smita Gupta. The young writer attends Oak Ridge High School.

V illage H omes

3001 Bird Haven Loop, Cool

2,852 square feet

3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms

5.66-acre property

Listed at $1,049,000 MLS #223025604

This Cool property is a rural delight

Find two homes on 5-plus quiet acres in Cool — a wooded retreat away from the big city.

The 2,800-square-foot main home showcases a spacious floor plan featuring vaulted ceilings, crown moulding, Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, a gas log fireplace, skylights and a sun room.

Stepping into the foyer, guests are greeted by the gorgeous staircase and an inviting living room with built-in shelving and cabinets as well as panoramic windows and a large glass patio door that opens onto the wraparound deck. A corner fireplace makes the room especially cozy.

Through a wide doorway with a glass accent is the formal dining area with an elegant chandelier and a sliding glass door leading to the deck. A pass-through window from the kitchen makes serving guests easy.

The light and bright chef's kitchen features tile counters, a butler's pantry, wet bar, an island with a gas cooktop, dual oven, second pantry and a breakfast nook with a glass door leading out to the deck.

Near the kitchen is a half bath and the delightful sun

room. Head upstairs and retire to the primary suite that has a private balcony and walk-in closet. The suite's bathroom boasts dual sinks, a stall  shower and a clawfoot tub. Take advantage of having two spacious, secondary bedrooms. Also upstairs are a great home office, the laundry room and another full bathroom.

While relaxing on the deck or wandering the property enjoy the tranquil sound of the year-round stream and the breeze rustling the leaves on the many trees.

Other amenities on the property include a tandem garage, shed, plenty of room for horses and farm animals and RV parking.

The 1,100-square-foot second home has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchenette, living area, laundry room, front porch, balcony and a spacious, unfinished basement. This charming house could be used as a rental property, Airbnb, home office — the possibilities are endless. Interested in a tour of this lovely Bird Haven Loop property in Cool? Contact Realtor Marilyn Goff at (530) 672-4530 or visit marilyngoff.com.

VH V illage H omes

3,353 square feet

Bright, inviting home in Sacramento

This unique and modern home with amazing natural light throughout plus an artist's studio is situated behind the gates of Tuscan Lane in Sacramento.

The front door opens into a bright space with tile flooring, a cozy living room and formal dining area. A sliding glass door and large windows showcase the resort-like backyard.

On the other side of a partial wall is the family room that seamlessly flows into the beautiful kitchen with a large island that has bar seating, dual dishwashers and a sink. Other kitchen features include lighted, open-display cabinets above a second sink, double ovens, a walk-in pantry, a built-in microwave next to the coffee bar and a dining area that has access to the outdoor kitchen. An office and half bath are also downstairs.

Upstairs, the primary retreat boasts a sitting area with a two-sided fireplace, an additional office/room (within the suite) and a spacious bathroom with dual sinks, a jetted tub, walk-in shower and a separate vanity area.

Also on the second level are two additional ensuite bedrooms and the laundry room with cabinetry and a sink.

The backyard offers California living at its finest with an outdoor kitchen, built-in fire pit plus a sparkling pool with a water feature and an attached spa. Greenery in the backyard and on the other side of the property wall offer privacy and a sense of calm.

The front yard boasts a gorgeous lawn with well-kept plants and trees surrounding the gated courtyard, which has more greenery, a seating area and paved paths leading to the double front door and the artist's studio. A wide driveway leads to the home's double-door, attached garage.

The corner property is located in a quaint, gated community within walking distance to both Jesuit and Rio Americano high schools and near the river.

Interested in a private tour of this Tuscan Lane home in Sacramento? Contact Lisa Paragary at (916) 247-1303 or lisa@paragarymillerteam.com or Steve Miller at (916) 7997547 or steve@paragarymillerteam.com.

Suzy O’Neal Financial columnist

Financial Focus

What goes into a retirement ‘paycheck’?

During your working years, you generally know how much money you’re

bringing in so you can budget accordingly. But once you’re retired, it’s a different story. However, with some diligence, you can put together a “paycheck” that can help you meet your income needs. Where will this paycheck come from? Social

Security benefits should replace about 40% of one’s pre-retirement earnings, according to the Social Security Administration, but this figure varies widely based on an individual’s circumstances. Typically, the higher your income

Cafeteria Assistant

If you enjoy the beautiful outdoors and working with children, we currently have an amazing opportunity as a Cafeteria Assistant at our Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center near Pollock Pines.

Starting Hourly Rate: $17.23

Click here to apply today: http://www.edjo.in/1746010

Maintenance Custodian

If you have experience performing custodial and general maintenance services and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, we currently have an amazing opportunity as a Maintenance Custodian at our Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center near Pollock Pines.

Starting Hourly Rate: $20.47

Click here to apply today: http://www.edjo.in/1745652

Seasonal Groundskeeper/Park Aide

per hour

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for open positions as Seasonal Grounds Keeper/Park Aides in the Parks and Recreation Department.

This position will require weekends, holidays and possible overtime.

El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking:

Assistant Hydrographer/ Hydrographer

Salary: $39.26-$47.71; $43.40-$52.75 per hour

FFD: Open until filled. First review of applications on March 13, 2023.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Assistant Hydrographer/Hydrographer in the Operations Department, Hydro/Watershed Management Division. This position will be filled at the level commensurate with work experience and education.

For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking:

El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking:

Development Services Technician I/II

Salary: I: $30.02–$36.49; II: $33.17–$40.32

FFD: Open until filled.

First review of applications on April 6, 2023.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of a Development Services Technician I/II for an eligibility list to fill current and future positions in Engineering.

For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking:

Limited Term Information Technology Technician I

Salary: $32.22 per hour

FFD: Open until filled. First review of applications on March 20, 2023.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Limited Term Information Technology Technician I. This is a limited term position; incumbent is employed for a period not-expected-to-exceed twelve months from date of appointment.

For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

Limited Term Utility Worker- Drinking Water

Salary: $25.10 per hour

FFD: Open until filled.

First review of applications on March 27, 2023.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Limited Term Utility Worker for an eligibility list to fill current and future positions in the Drinking Water Division of Operations. These are limited term positions; incumbents are temporary employees and are employed for a period not-to-exceed eighteen months from date of appointment.

For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking:

Construction & Maintenance Worker I/IIDrinking Water (Vegetation Management)

Salary: I: $28.29-$34.39/hr.; II: $31.26-$37.99/hr.

FFD: Open until filled. First review of applications on April 6, 2023.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Construction & Maintenance Worker I/II in the Right-of-Way Reinforcement Program to fill one open position in the Drinking Water Division of Operations. This position will work with a team in increasing vegetation management efforts within District rights-of-way and District-owned properties throughout the District’s 220 square mile service area. Construction & Maintenance Workers conduct physical control and removal of vegetation through the use of mechanized equipment and hand tools on a daily basis. The ideal candidate will possess one or more years of similar experience in the use of chippers, masticators, and/or chainsaws on vegetation similar to western El Dorado County (oak woodland, chaparral, and mixed pine coniferous forest).

For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

before you retire, the lower the percentage will be replaced by Social Security. Private pensions have become much rarer in recent decades though you might receive one if you worked for a government agency or a large company. But in any case, to fill out your retirement paycheck you may need to draw heavily on your investment portfolio.

Your portfolio can provide you with income in these ways:

• Dividends —When you were working, and you didn’t have to depend on your portfolio for income to the extent you will when you’re retired, you may have reinvested the dividends you received from stocks and stock-based mutual funds, increasing the number of shares you own in these investments. And that was a good move because increased share ownership is a great way to help build wealth. But once you’re retired you may need to start

accepting the dividends to boost your cash flow.

•Interest payments

— The interest payments from bonds and other fixed-income investments, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), can also add to your retirement income. In the years immediately preceding their retirement some investors increase the presence of these interestpaying investments in their portfolio. (But even during retirement, you’ll need some growth potential in your investments to help keep you ahead of inflation.)

•Proceeds from selling investments

— While you will likely need to begin selling investments once you’re retired, you’ll need to be careful not to liquidate your portfolio too quickly. How much can you sell each year? The answer depends on several factors — your age, the size of your portfolio, the amount of income

n See o’neal page B7

Council seeks new members

News release

The El Dorado County Community Action Council has several member vacancies, including those within the Low-Income and Community Sector Membership categories.

The Community Action Council is seeking to fill the member vacancies with individuals who can represent the interests and concerns of people and families with low incomes living in El Dorado County, with a special focus on housing, nutrition and low-income program needs. Priority will be given to individuals or representatives of community organizations that demonstrate a commitment to advancing the purposes and activities of the Council.

The Community Action Council acts in an advisory capacity to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency about the needs of the community relating to human services for low-income residents of the county. The council provides for the collaboration of local government, private organizations and residents serving the most vulnerable populations.

Representatives of community agencies that serve El Dorado County’s low-income residents are encouraged to apply. These are volunteer, unpaid positions. Meetings are held in Placerville.

The deadline to submit membership applications is April 19. For an application contact Star Walker at (530) 621-6255 or send an email to star.walker@edcgov.us.

Foundation has grants galore

News release

On April 11 nonprofit organizations are welcome to apply to the following grants so long as:

• The nonprofit is in good standing with the IRS, SOS and DOJ (AG).

• The nonprofit qualifies for the grant cycles (please read grant guidelines carefully).

• The nonprofit directly serves El Dorado County residents in the specific areas that some of the individual grants require. Visit eldoradocf.org/grants-catalog to apply. All applications will be due by 11:59 p.m. Thursday, May 18. Grant recipients will be notified in June. For any questions about any of these grants email Kathy Haven at kathy@eldoradocf.org.

Friends of Seniors Grants

Friends of Seniors, a fund of the El Dorado Community Foundation, will be awarding a total of up to $15,000 in grants to El Dorado County nonprofits that support the wellness, life enrichment, dignity and independence of seniors (60+) residing on the Western Slope of El Dorado County. If your organization received grant funding from Friends of Seniors in 2022, you are not eligible to apply again until 2024.

GIVe Tahoe Grants

GIVE Tahoe supports nonprofits who work for and within the South Lake Tahoe Area. The GIVE Tahoe Grant is open to all nonprofits, agencies and schools serving the residents and communities of South Lake Tahoe. Proposals of up to $5,000 will be considered. This grant does not have a specific focus, allowing the opportunity to respond to South Lake Tahoe’s most important needs.

Veterans TOT Grants

The Veterans Grant program is funded by El Dorado County to support operations, programs or property improvements/repairs that support the veteran community at large. Grants are available in amounts up to $10,000. Applications are reviewed and grants awarded by the El Dorado County Veterans’ Affairs Commission. On

2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

O’Neal

you receive from other sources, your spouse’s income, your retirement lifestyle and so on. A financial professional can help you determine the amount and type of investment sales that are appropriate for your needs while considering the needs of your portfolio over your lifetime.

When tapping into your investments as part of your retirement paycheck, you’ll also want to pay special

attention to the amount of cash in your portfolio. It’s a good idea to have enough cash available to cover a year’s worth of your living expenses, even after accounting for other sources of income, such as Social Security or pensions. In addition, you may want to set aside sufficient cash for emergencies. Not only will these cash cushions help you with the cost of living and unexpected costs, but they might also enable you

to avoid digging deeper into your long-term investments than you might like.

You may be retired for a long time — so take the steps necessary to build a consistent retirement paycheck.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your Edward Jones Financial Advisor Suzy O’Neal, (530) 6765402. Edward Jones, member SIPC.

Shingle Springs Cameron Park

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SHINGLE

SPRINGS~CAMERON PARK Chamber of Commerce

President’s Corner

Colette Thiel

It’s here already! The start of the 2nd quarter of 2023!

This year has brought so much rain & snow into our county, it’s been incredible to watch. Thankfully the majority of our members have not experienced flooding or damage related to the weather. I know that I am looking forward to seeing more sunshine in April.

We start off April with our Monthly Networking Mixer & Ribbon Cutting on April 6th at Geneva Financial in Burke Junction. Amber Jaurequi, Branch Manager, is excited to welcome us to her new company. Join us from 5:30-7:30pm for light appetizers and drinks plus raffle items. It’s sure to be a fun night! So, make a note to join us and bring a raffle prize, valued at $25 or more, to promote your business.

BIG NEWS!! THUNDER IN THE PARK is back in 2023! This classic car show was originally held in June but due to the pandemic was moved to October. We are back with our original weekend. So, mark your calendar for Saturday, June 10th, 8am -3pm at Cameron Park Lake. This is a fun event for the whole family! We have SOLD OUT the past several years and expect the same for 2023.

THANK YOU to our Platinum Sponsor- Kniesels Collision, Gold Sponsor- Geneva Financial, Silver Sponsor – Marshall Hospital and Bronze Sponsor – Solis Collision. Just added to our sponsorship level is Sign Sponsor – For $100 you will receive an 18x24” stake sign with your company logo that will be on display at Thunder in the Park. Registrations

for vehicle entry, vendor & food booths/trucks is now open at https://www. sscpchamber.org/thunder-in-the-park-car-show-2/.

Our Monthly Networking Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 26th, 11:30am at Los Pinos. Our Guest Speaker is El Dorado County Surveyor, Brian Frazier. We invite you to come meet Mr. Frazier and hear what he will tell us about what it entails being a surveyor. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members and space is limited. So, call the Chamber office for your reservation.

March was an incredible month for our Chamber. Our new member count keeps growing and renewals for our Chamber are booming. Our Board of Directors and Ambassadors are our visiting current and potential new members. We have lofty membership goals this year. I look forward to meeting many more business owners in my second year as President. I continue to have an opendoor policy and encourage ALL our members to get involved. And if you know a business that should be a member, we’d love the opportunity to talk with them.

Happy April! Happy Egg Hunting Season!

Colette Thiel, President SSCP Chamber of Commerce

The SS/CP Chamber Needs Volunteers!

The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce needs volunteers to spend a few hours a month helping the chamber with its events and management.  The payback is helping your local business advocates support the community in which

MARCH Events

they live and serve, while striving to make Shingle Springs and Cameron Park wonderful places in which to live!  We have several key positions opening right now.  Get involved today!  Please contact Colette Thiel@ ThielHomes.com for more information.

Shingle Springs Cameron Park

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Celebrating Easter and Spring!

April 15

Third Saturday, Placerville Art Walk Historic Downtown Placerville. Main Street galleries and merchants host changing art shows and late night shopping every third Saturday of the month. Demonstrations, refreshments, music and more. Placerville Downtown Association, 376 Main St., Placerville. Read more on EventCrazy.com.

April 21 Bunko Fundraiser

Over 20 wineries will share their innovative spirit by providing incredible food and wine pairings and engaging you in an experience that captures the essence of their unique story. Whether it’s live music, art demonstrations, historical tours, or winemaking insights, your journey to THE GREAT OUT THERE will create treasured memories of wine, food, and fun. Tickets are $45 - $75. Go to eldoradowines.org for more information.

April 26

April (Fridays to Sundays)

CP Rotary Club Observatory

From 8:30pm to 10:30 pm, weather permitting, the observatory is open to the public on weekend evenings. Trained docents show the many celestial wonders of the universe through two 14-inch telescopes. Folsom Lake College, El Dorado Center, Campus Drive (continue through the back parking lots to the left of the observatory gate). For info and closure updates, call (530) 642-5621, Ext. 9.

April

Support Small Businesses To Keep It Local!

Shop locally by visiting the various shops and restaurants in El Dorado County!

April 6 – SS/CP Chamber Mixer

Come mix and mingle at the monthly Chamber Mixer, to be held at Geneva Financial, LLC, 3300 Coach Lane, #E-6, Cameron Park. Time is 5:307:30pm. Contact the Chamber for more information at (530) 677-8000.

Join the Shingle Springs Community Center, 4440 So. Shingle Rd., for a fun Friday night! “Fiesta Meal” offers dinner, dessert, and bunko! Cash Bunko prizes, door prizes, 50/50 Raf e, and BYOB. Buy your $25 tickets online: shinglespringscommunitycenter.org, or call (530) 672-7442.

April 22

38th Annual Kids’ Expo Event Catalyst Community (formerly known as Choices For Children) will be hosting this from 10am to 2pm, the Expo will be held at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Community resources, face painting, bounce house, food vendors, and so much more! Covid safety requirements will be in place. Go to Facebook to register: https://www.facebook. com/events/662765355593692/?acontext=event_ actionhistorymechanismcalendar_ tabeventsurfacebookmark_calendarref_notif_ typenull

April 22

Passport To The Great Out There

Explore the unexpected in wine country! Explore the unrivaled beauty of El Dorado County one sip at a time with a Passport to THE GREAT OUT THERE

The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber

Professional Association, Inc. in December 1967. It works to

investment to provide the foundation for a solid community.

SS/CP Chamber Networking Luncheon

Please join us at Los Pinos, 3420 Palmer Dr., Cameron Park from 11:30am to 1:00pm for our monthly networking luncheon! The guest speaker will be Tom McClintock, US Representative. The event is sponsored by Blissful Gardens. Contact the Chamber for more details at (530) 677-8000.

April 27

Pack & Print Ribbon Cutting

Come help celebrate the ribbon cutting of a brand new business in Cameron Park, Pack & Print! Located at 3300 Green Valley Rd., Suite 14, the event will begin at 5:30pm and go to 7:30pm. Stop by and see what’s new! Mail, ship, print, laser, and gifts.

The Chamber’s mission statement re ects this premise: “To advocate, promote

life

our Chamber Community, by means of a strong, healthy and diverse business community.”

Satisfy your sweet tooth with whimsical springtime cupcakes

Spring has sprung ... finally. Celebrate with this sweet treat suggested by El Dorado Hills resident Dale Race.

Whimsical springtime cupcakes (makes 9-10 cupcakes)

Cupcake ingredients

12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs + 3 tablespoons

water

¾ teaspoon vanilla

extract

¾ teaspoon almond

extract

1 ½ cup all-purpose

flour

½ teaspoon baking

powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup buttermilk

7 ounces sweetened coconut (shredded)

Mini chocolate eggs (optional)

Buttercream frosting

1 pound powdered

sugar ¼ cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

extract

½ teaspoon almond

extract

8 tablespoons (1 stick)

unsalted butter

Directions: Preheat

oven 325F.

Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer for 4-5 minutes (scraping down the sides of bowl). Add eggs, vanilla and almond extracts to mixing bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

With the mixer on low, add half the flour mixture and half the buttermilk alternately, then add the remaining flour mixture

and buttermilk (don’t over mix). Mix in 3 ½ ounces coconut. Scoop batter into a lined muffin/cupcake tin (it’s easiest to use a spring loaded ice cream scoop).

Fill cups to the top and bake 30 minutes until golden brown (check with toothpick).

Cool cupcakes in the pan on a baking rack for a few minutes, then remove from pan to cool

completely.

Frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat all ingredients for 1-2 minutes (scraping down the sides of bowl). Frost the cupcakes and immediately sprinkle remaining 3 ½ ounces coconut on top (gently press coconut into frosting). Press 3-4 mini chocolate eggs into the coconut. Enjoy!

Note: Butter and eggs should be room temperature.

Yellow Button Bakery Yellow Button

, how could you not have a great time at the Dedier family restaurant, The Mimosa House? If you think choosing from more than 100 different varieties of mimosas is hard, try deciding which delicious item to order from the vast menu! Try a delicious breakfast or lunch starter of Toasties (French

JOIN US FOR OUR WINE TASTING EVENT! At Cloud Bar in El Dorado Hills

Come experience a combination of technology, fi ne wine, and delectable pairings that create an unrivaled wine-lovers experience! Guests have the opportunity to learn, sip, and delve deeper into the history of each wine during this time.

Thursday, April 13 - From 4:00-6:00 pm Mingle, Sip, and Enjoy Hors d’oeuvres Limited Seating!

Please RSVP to ( 530 ) 677-9100 by April 11th!

Choose the retirement community that offers Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care. Choose a life without chores but full of friendship and fun!

• Spacious fl oor plans

• Full kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances

• Washer and dryer in your unit

• A robust activity calendar and transportation program

• Attached garages for every apartment and house

• Pet-friendly retirement community with NO pet fees! Dog walker available for additional fee.

Ask about our RENT FREEZE Promotion!

Choose the retirement community that you deserve! Come tour Ponte Palmero!