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VOL. 31 ■ ISSUE NO. 9 ■ MAY 2, 2024

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Fire station’s future up for discussion Malachi Parker Staff writer As leadership within the Cameron Park Community Service District prepares the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, they’re also preparing once again to discuss the future of fire service and possibly closing Fire Station 88.

“We are anticipating completion of the Triton Report on fire services later this month,” CPCSD General Manager Alan Gardner notes in his staff report released as part of the April 17 CPCSD Board of Directors meeting agenda. “Staff and the ■ See FIRE STATION, page A9

Village Life photos by Noel Stack

Excited children help cut the ribbon, officially opening Saratoga Park in El Dorado Hills. The park is located at the corner of Saratoga Way and Wilson Boulevard and includes play areas for kids of all ages.

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hildren’s laughter and sizzling hotdogs marked the grand opening of Saratoga Park in El Dorado Hills April 17.

“We’re pretty darn excited and so is the community,” El Dorado Hills Community Services District General Manager Mark Hornstra said. “It’s a great park.”

Saratoga Park covers 2.1 acres at the corner of Saratoga Way and Wilson Boulevard. Elliott Homes, developer of Saratoga Estates, funded the approxi-

Managing Editor El Dorado County could have to write a significant number of checks on behalf of itself as well as the El Dorado Hills Community Services District and the El Dorado Hills Fire Department as a judge has ruled against the agencies in a court case that could put millions of dollars back into fee payers’ pockets.

In 2015 El Dorado Hills residents Thomas and

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MAY 2, 2024

WHAT’S HAPPENING

STUDENT OF THE YEAR Village Life photo by Noel Stack

The Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills and local educators recently celebrate Addison Johnson as the Jackson Elementary School Student of the Year. The fifthgrader has only attended her school for a year but left quite a positive impression with school staff. “I’ve really seen her take charge of her grades,” said teacher Debbie Faleschini. “She really has done an incredible job.” It’s not easy to start at a new school, Rescue Union School District Superintendent Jim Shoekmake pointed out at the April 10 breakfast meeting. That didn’t stop Addison, he shared, explaining she has not only put herself out their by being an active student in the classroom, she’s also enjoying extracurricular activities like volleyball and theater. Addison received a plaque, illustrated dictionary and $50 from the Rotary Club. She’s seen here, holding plaque, surrounded by EDH Rotary President Scott Draper, mom Jennifer Johnson, teacher Debbie Faleschini, dad Seth Johnson, little sister Savannah, and RUSD Superintendent Jim Shoemake, left to right.

Now Registration is now open for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra Golf for Kids Sake tournament and fundraiser at the Serrano Country Club on May 20. To register call (530) 626-1222, ext. 104, or visit bbbsns.org/events/ golf-event.

Registration is now open for the Bist Sandigo Golf Tournament at the Cameron Park Country Club June 10. For more information and to register call (916) 798-4746 or visit purelyhope.org.

Imagination Theater presents “Winnie the Pooh” through May 12 at the theater on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org/winniethe-pooh.

Sutter Street Theatre presents “Anything Goes” through May 12 and “The Sleeping Beauty” through May 19. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

The Gallery at 48 Natoma presents Things with Wings, artwork with birds, bugs and butterflies, through June 20. In the adjacent Community Art Gallery, art from the El Dorado Hills Arts Association is on display through June 6. For more information call call (916) 461-6601 or visit folsom. ca.us.

Cars and Coffee invites car people to meet up and hang out Saturdays, 7-9:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the right-side parking lot of the Regal movie theater in El Dorado Hills Town Center.

■ See EVENTS, page A8

Lasers cut through Folsom Lake in 57th Camellia Cup Folsom Lake Yacht Club News release

Photo by Laura-Ann Charlot

San Francisco sailor Elliot Drake rounds mark No. 2 of the 2024 Camellia Cup Regatta course on Folsom Lake April 20. Competing in the Laser Class, Drake was the fastest sailor of the day and will have his name engraved on the Centerboard Perpetual Trophy and Camellia Cup.

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Lasers streaked across Folsom Lake during the Folsom Lake Yacht Club’s 57th Camellia Cup Regatta Saturday. Winning the cup was San Francisco’s Elliot Drake, who sailed in the nine-boat Laser Class. It was the second occasion in the venerable cup’s history a Laser skipper was declared regatta champion.

A member of the Crissy Field Yacht Club, Drake posted two firsts in moderate to light breezes, then finished third in the final race before winds died.

Despite sailing in conditions that varied from 10 knots to nothing, the Laser fleet was true to its reputation of being full of skilled sailors. They battled aggressively across the lake in a Laser light show of masterful sailing.

At the starting line in the first race, the Laser fleet forced Santa Rosa sailor Courtney Clamp of the Richmond Yacht Club over early, but she recovered and came back to take third. Hanging tight with Drake throughout the regatta was San Jose’s Toshinari Takayanagi of RYC, who was second in the first two races and nipped Drake for first in the final of three ■ See CAMELLIA CUP, page A9

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Teen dances her way to the Big Apple News release

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l Dorado County dancer Ameliah Wanta has been accepted at top-ranking ballet schools in New York City. Ameliah (Milly), 13, has been a student of Gina Illingworth, director of the Camino Classical Ballet, since she was 8 years old. She currently attends Camerado Springs Middle School.

“Milly has always been a focused and dedicated student. Much is also to be said about her supportive and nurturing family,” Illingworth said.

Two years ago, Milly received a scholarship to the San Francisco Ballet School’s summer dance program. Last year she danced at the American Ballet Theater School in Los Angeles. Acceptance into these prestigious programs is difficult and auditions take place all over the country and often internationally.

Milly auditioned for the School of American Ballet, the feeder school for the esteemed New York City Ballet founded

by George Balanchine.

She received her acceptance letter a week later inviting her to study in New York for four weeks in July.

Courtesy photo

Ameliah Wanta takes her talents to New York’s School of American Ballet this summer. A dance performance to help fund her trip is scheduled on May 18.

Milly also auditioned for the Ellison Ballet School in New York.

The Ellison school is a small specialized professional training program that and only accepts a handful of serious students.

Her mom and younger n See BALLET, page A8

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EDHCSD gets a jump on bike park projects Noel Stack Managing Editor

Courtesy rendering

Bertelsen Park’s reconstruction design includes a fire department themed splash pad.

Bertelsen Park rebuild moves forward Noel Stack Managing Editor Nearly three years after fire destroyed the pavilion and other amenities at Bertelsen Park, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors has taken a major step to rebuild.

Directors unanimously approved a nearly $1.93 million construction contract with KYA Services.

Last summer directors chose the park’s new design, which includes a picnic pavilion housing eight tables next to a 1,048-square-foot spray pad with a rinse station. Other features are a two-stall restroom, open-air seating and more picnic tables, two barbecues and an ADA drinking foundation with a jug filler and dog bowl.

Bertelsen Park is named after El Dorado Hills Fire Lt. Peter Bertelsen, who in 1965 lost his life in the line of duty. The nearly 11-acre park on Redwood Lane is one of the EDHCSD’s oldest, established in

1962.

Prior to the board’s approval of the construction contract at the April 11 meeting, EDH Fire Board Director Tim White asked EDHCSD General Manager Mark Hornsta to reach out to Fire Chief Maurice Johnson “to make sure that when the park is rebuilt, that the plaques honoring Lt. Bertelsen are preserved or perhaps better protected than they have been in the past.”

A large portion of the project will be funded through insurance reimbursement to the district, according to CSD documents. “The exact amount of reimbursement is dependent upon the actual cost to the district to replace the lost amenities; many items will be reimbursed at 100% and some supplemental items will be reimbursed at lesser percentage,” the information notes.

Construction is expected to start this fall once all permits have been acquired. KYA Services estimates the project will take 70 days to complete, with opening scheduled for February 2025.

Not keen to hit the brakes on two highly anticipated projects, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors awarded professional services contracts for the Powerline Park Bike Trails and Silver Dove Bike Park.

Directors approved a $73,255 contract with HELIX Environmental Planning for environmental analysis related to the Powerline trails and pursuing a conditional use permit from El Dorado County to start construction. The board also agreed to a contract with Stantec for construction drawings to supplement the Silver Dove Bike Park design being provided by Hilride. The combined total of Hilride and Stantec’s proposals is $391,780, according to a CSD staff report.

Funding for all contracts comes from the district’s Park Impact Fees.

Powerline Park Bike Trails cover 1.46 miles of bike and multi-use trails and trail improvements on the utility transmission corridor adjacent to El Dorado Hills Boulevard. The project includes a rotary connection to four bike trails, which includes three flow trails with cross-over connections (beginning, intermediate and advanced) and a cross country trail (with optional skills features) that connects to a pump track to the east and a loop trail to the west, viewing areas and necessary signage, according to the CSD’s project description.

The district has scheduled a community clean-up event at the trail site, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11. Volunteers 12 and older are welcome. Sign up at edhcsd.volunteerhub.com/vv2.

Silver Dove Bike Park is proposed on Bass Lake Road adjacent to El Dorado Hills Fire Station. No. 86. The proposal includes approximately 3 acres of freeride area, 1 acre of pump track, 1 acre of community area, 2.3 acres of nature trails with a community orchard, and a .25-mile firefighter fitness loop across 9.79 acres of the project area. The park’s entrance road would lead to parking areas for approximately 80 vehicles and hook-ups for food vendors. A restroom and shade canopies are also included in the design.

“I’ve heard from number of (people in the bike community) on a regular basis,” Director Mike Martinelli shared. “They’re all excited and happy that it to see that it’s progressing and advancing and moving forward.”

Both contracts were unanimously approved.

Bigs of the Year make a big difference in the lives of local youth News release

I

n recognition of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra celebrated the 2023 Bigs of the Year, as well as Volunteer of the Year and Corporate Sponsor of the Year, at the annual Appreciation Dinner April 9.

“We are so grateful to our Big Brothers and Sisters who share their life experiences with the children in our community, the volunteers who offer their time and talents and, of course, the corporate sponsors, without whom we simply would not exist,” said BBBSNS Chief Executive Officer Brenda Frachiseur.

“The appreciation dinner is our opportunity to thank those who give so generously throughout the year.”

Big Sis Big Sister Michelle Petro of El Dorado Hills and Angel have been matched for the last eight years. They meet weekly or biweekly, and while they will occasionally go on grand adventures, most of the time, good company is enough.

When talking with Petro, it is evident how much support and love there is for Angel.

She said she sees Angel for who she is wholeheartedly and accepts her in a way that any person would be lucky to have.

Petro has also grown close to her Little’s family over the years and is always available for

Courtesy photos

BBBSNS Chief Executive Officer Brenda Frachiseur, left photo, joins Big Sister of the Year Michelle Petro for a picture. Above right, Big Brother of the Year Michael Flynn has been a steadfast mentor and friend to his Little Brother, Joshua, for the last nine years.

Angel’s grandmother to lean on whenever she needs help — as she is doing her best to raise Angel and her sister.

Petro recounted how she had once received a call from Lisa in the middle of the night, asking her if she could help pick up Angel from sleep away camp. Petro didn’t bat an eyelash; she hopped out of bed, picked up Lisa and the two drove off into the night to go

get their girl. Lisa knew she could count on Petro no matter what, and she was right.

Petro volunteers for BBBSNS in a variety of different ways and is a constant reminder: “We make time for what is important.”

Upon asking Petro about her relationship with her Little, she related, “Angel and I were matched as she entered second grade eight years ago.

Recently, she is now 15 and in her sophomore year of high school. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her blossom into a beautiful young lady.

“I love that when she’s with me, she has permission to be a kid; we still nurture the little girl in her that still has some growing to do. There’s no outside pressure to do, or be, anything in particular— just freedom to be who she is and

explore her interests,” she continued. “I love exposing her to new things whether that be new adventures in dining (the little girl who only ate chicken nuggets now requests Tom kha gai soup at Thai restaurants!), roller skating, skiing, kayaking, hiking in nature, interacting with animals, artistic pursuits, anything musical (symphony, n See BIGS, page A8

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CRIB NOTES by Julie Samrick

Total eclipse of arts?

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n 1978 a science teacher in upstate New York first made a date to host a solar eclipse watch party for his high school students on, get this, April 8, 2024.

Now retired, Patrick Moriarty, 68, made good on his invitation, telling various news outlets last month, “I thought it would be a nice little core of people who were totally into eclipses, and maybe they’d share the experience with me.”

In all, about 100 of Moriarty’s former students and their families traveled from all over the United States for the big event in his driveway.

What made this particular solar eclipse so rare is that millions of people could view its path of totality from a diagonal of locations across North America, stretching from Mazatlan to Maine. As amazing as this all is, the fact that mathematicians can determine eclipses centuries in advance is the most awe-inspiring of all.

I was thinking about all the budding astronomists and astrophysicists the day of this eclipse, which led me to think about how young people have been flocking toward STEM-related fields and majors for the past two decades.

The number of students seeking fouryear degrees in computer science and information technology shot up 41% between spring 2018 and spring 2023, while the number of humanities majors have plummeted.

At Columbia University, the share of English majors, which I proudly call myself one, fell 50% between 2002 and 2020. The reasons are many, but chief among them is that we are reading less books. The drop-off started with the advent of smartphone technology.

When we began consuming entertainment on smartphones and tablets, books started to collect dust, and less young people every year are choosing not to go into the arts and humanities.

Dream Catchers EDH has a wonderful day program where our participants who have aged out of their programs or just want to come to us instead of their other program work on reallife skills both in the classroom and in public.

We are now witnesses to Artificial Intelligence creating a Jetsons-like reality. The people who used to solve the hard math and science puzzles, like when the next eclipse would be, are increasingly being replaced by machines. Meanwhile we have never been more divided or less empathetic as a society.

In a New York Times article published on Valentine’s Day this year, “When Your Technical Skills Are Eclipsed, Your Humanity Will Matter More Than Ever,” it’s argued “our abilities to effectively communicate, develop empathy and think critically have allowed humans to collaborate, innovate and adapt for millenniums. Those skills are ones we all possess and can improve, yet they have never been properly valued in our economy or prioritized in our education and training. That needs to change.”

The pandemic eroded our societal soft skills even more. Young people need practice with face-to-face communication and team work more than ever as a result. Those are the skills AI won’t be able to replicate, but we have it all backward. LinkedIn researchers published a report about AI in the workplace, finding that an estimated 96% of a software engineer’s current skills — mainly proficiency in programming languages — can eventually be replicated by AI. It’s time for a shift, and one leader has it right. Speaking about young people pursuing careers, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik recently said, “In the past, jobs were about muscles. Now they’re about brains. But in the future, they’ll be about the heart.”

Julie Samrick is an El Dorado Hills mother, teacher and writer. She is the author of “Murphy’s Miracle: One Dog’s Wild Journey” and “How People Get Their Politics.”

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Your baby, your birth center.

Holding your baby for the first time—it’s a moment you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. And Mercy Hospital of Folsom’s Family Birth Center is here to help make your experience as special as your new bundle of joy—from our private rooms, to warm tubs that comfort laboring mothers, to complimentary doula support throughout the process. And for babies who might need some extra TLC on arrival, the advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at our sister hospital Mercy San Juan Medical Center is just a short ride away.

Take a virtual tour of our Family Birth Center by scanning here:

A7

A8

MAY 2, 2024

Eskaton property in Cameron Park is Cal Fire’s new digs Village Life staff

Courtesy photo

The Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit’s Ponderosa Hand Crew and support staff moved into the former Eskaton property in Cameron Park last month.

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EL DORADOPARK HILLS• •4060 3963Cameron Park DrivePark • 916-933-3002 CAMERON • 4060 Cameron Park DriveDrive • 530-677-1601 CAMERON Drive • 677-1601 EL PARK DORADO HILLS • 3963 Park • 933-3002 FOLSOM• •300 300E.E.Bidwell Bidwell Street Street •• 916-983-3600 SACRAMENTO• 4701 • 4768 J Street •Ave. 916-454-4800 FOLSOM 983-3600 CARMICHAEL Manzanita • 481-0664 SACRAMENTO Blvd.

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The maximum APR that apply APR any time duringayour HELOC during your HELOC 10%. A qualifying transactionperiod consists of the following conditions: (1) can the initial assumes maximum is 15%. Aofqualifying transaction consists of the following conditions: theincluding initial APRthe assumes a maximum HELOC of $200,000, HELOC $100,000, and a total maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) of(1) 70% new HELOC and any existing 1st Deedand of aTrust totalloan maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) of 70% including the new HELOC and any existing 1st Deed of Trust loan on your residence; (2) on your residence; (2) your residence securing the HELOC must be a single-family home that you occupy as your your residence securing the HELOC must be a single-family home that you occupy as your primary residence; (3) if the 1st Deed of primary residence; (3) if the 1st Deed of Trust loan is with a lender other than El Dorado Savings Bank, that loan may not Trust loan is with and a lender otherbethan El Dorado Savings Bank, that loan may not exceed $300,000, have a total exceed $200,000 may not a revolving line of credit.

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Official Location

Continued from A3 lets and more, takes place at 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 18, at the El Dorado High School Carl Borelli Amphitheater 561 Canal St. in Placerville. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door.

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The Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit has opened the Ponderosa Fire Center on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park, formerly the home of Eskaton Cameron Park. Cal Fire spokeswoman Wendy Oaks reports the newly renovated facility will serve as the home base for seven firefighter hand crews.

Partnering with Eskaton, a senior living provider, Cal Fire AEU finalized a lease for the facility, with crews moving into the new facility last month.

The Ponderosa Fire Center has more than 150 personnel, including firefighters and support staff. Up to three crews will reside onsite each day, ensuring continuous and efficient responses to emergencies.

“Finding a place that could support our needs and that our crews could call home has been a challenge for us,” said Mike Blankenheim, unit chief of Cal Fire AEU. “I’m proud to have been able to work with Eskaton on finding this home for our crews and further establishing our presence in Cameron

Park. The opening of the Ponderosa Fire Center marks a significant milestone in wildfire response capabilities for the community and the surrounding areas.”

Cal Fire officials say a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house is in the works to introduce the public to the new facility.

Cal Fire hand crews are highly trained firefighters who specialize in wildland fire operations and all hazard incident operations. Their primary responsibility while assigned to a wildland fire is constructing handline with chainsaws and hand tools. These crews are also used to defend structures during a fire.

Oaks explains that while hand crews are utilized primarily for wildland fire operations, they can also assist in efforts to contain and mitigate any of California’s major disasters, including floods, earthquakes, heavy snow and search and rescue operations. When not assigned to a wildland fire or emergency incident, these crews focus on fuel reduction and vegetation management project work in communities.

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Big Bro For the past nine years, Michael Flynn of Folsom has been a steadfast mentor and friend to his Little Brother, Joshua. His unwavering dedication and support have made a profound impact on Joshua’s life, embodying the very essence of what we value at BBBS. From the moment Flynn was matched with Joshua, then 8, he committed himself to be a consistent presence in Joshua’s life, a guiding light through both joyous moments and challenging times, including a family tragedy. Flynn’s commitment to being there for Joshua, week in and week out, is a testament to his remarkable character.

While their meetings often involved activities like playing pool, Flynn’s mentoring extended far beyond mere pastimes. As Joshua transitioned into his teenage years, Flynn took on the role of a mentor, helping him plan for a successful future. He engaged Joshua in discussions about trades and post-high school life, providing invaluable guidance during this critical phase of his development.

One shining example of Flynn’s dedication is his instrumental role in helping Joshua obtain his driver’s license.

Flynn oversaw Joshua’s driver’s education classes, coached him through the learner permit exam and celebrated

Continued from A4 with him when he passed his driving tests.

Even as Joshua approaches his 18th birthday, Flynn continues to meet with him regularly, demonstrating his intention to maintain their relationship well into the future. Furthermore, Flynn has expressed a desire to become a Big Brother for another youth once his current match concludes, further highlighting his remarkable commitment to mentoring.

Last August, Flynn’s exceptional volunteer service was recognized by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, making him the inaugural recipient of a prestigious honor.

Ready to help?

While BBBSNS loves sharing positive stories of champion defenders of potential, the work is never done. The agency’s waitlist continues to grow with children who need more volunteers like Petro and Flynn. Currently, there are 64 kids waiting to be matched.

If you know of anyone who would be a good Big Brother or Big Sister, encourage them to check out the BBBSNS website or have them call the agency’s enrollment manager for more information (530) 626-1222. It takes only a few hours a week to change a child’s life for the better.

BBBSNS has served the youth of El Dorado, Nevada and Placer Counties since 1977. For more information visit bbbsns.org.

Events Everyone and every type of vehicle is welcome.

The motto is “If it rolls, it goes.”

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

May 2 Folsom Lake College Dance Department presents Evening of Dance: Journeys at the Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

May 4 The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a Community Clean-Up Day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hills Church, 800 White Rock Road. For more information visit eldoradhillscsd.org.

The Murer House Foundation is celebrating its 11th Annual Italy on Wheels festival, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1125 Joe Murer Court in Historic Folsom. A variety of new as well as classic and vintage Italian cars, motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles will be on exhibit.

Amani Spring Fest 24 at The Amani Center in Cameron Park features 30 craft vendors, bounce house and kids play zone as well as live music, face painting and cotton candy sales for the kiddos plus Wani’s Taco food booth to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Don’t miss the free photo booth with Star Wars characters/props to celebrate “May The 4th Be With You.” The festival runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2558 Greenwood Lane.

2BGlass, 4191 Business Drive in Cameron Park, hosts a Mother’s Day event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring live glassblowing demonstrations, flower bouquet building and shopping in the beautiful showroom.

The Pops Chorale and Orchestra presents American Pops May 4 & 5 at Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Continued from A2

May 7 The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts an LLAD Community Discussion, 6-8 p.m. at the Norm Rowett Pavilion, 1021 Harvard Way.

May 9 The third annual Shakespeare production under the stars at David Girard Vineyards takes place May 9-12. This year’s show is “Much Ado About Nothing” presented by Folsom Lake College and Falcon’s Eye Theater. The performance will be accompanied by live music from Jillian Secor and her ensemble. Boxed dinners from Allez! are available with ticket purchase. Limited quantity. For tickets and more information visit falconseyetheatre.com/much-ado.

May 10 The Sierra Renaissance Society presents El Dorado County Planning Manager Report by Bret Sampson 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission free for members; public invited to attend two meetings for free. For more information visit srsedc.org.

Marina Village Middle School in El Dorado Hills hosts a STEM Fair, 5-7 p.m. The public is invited to explore the projects of local middle and high school students.

May 12 El Dorado Western Railroad offers excursion rides with trains running on the hour, 10 a.m. through 1 p.m., weather permitting, at the Shingle Springs Station. For more information visit facebook.com/ElDoradoWesternRailroad.

May 14 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.

Send information for publication in What’s Happening at least two weeks in advance to editor@villagelife.com.

A9

MAY 2, 2024

Camellia Cup

Continued from A2

races sailed by the Lasers.

Takayanagi’s heroics were too little and too late to prevent Drake from getting his name engraved on the Centerboard Perpetual Trophy and Camellia Cup. The Keelboat champion was FLYC’s Gary Preston of Sacramento, whose Hunter 270 crew noticed a late change of course shortly before the start of the second race and sailed a reaching course in a fresh breeze to the southwest, while then-Keelboat leader FLYC’s Phil Hodgson from Rescue, on a Wavelength 24, missed the course change and charged in brisk breezes toward the wrong mark. By the time Hodgson noticed his error it was too late, as the shifting winds had weakened and he was too far the wrong way to get back and overtake Preston.

The Multihull champion was Granite Bay’s Jon Kim, sailing his Corsair F24 with no competition.

Winner of the four-boat, Open Keel blue fleet was Gold Country Yacht Club’s Don Hare on a Catalina 22 from Roseville.

The Open Centerboard Class winner was Granite Bay’s Douglas McWilliams, sailing a Flying Dutchman and representing the Lake Washington Sailing Club.

Finishing atop the five-boat Banshee Class was El Dorado Hills’ Kerry Johnson of FLYC, who traded races with Folsom’s Jeff Nelson of FLYC who was leading in the third race and only 30 yards from the finish line when the race’s two-hour time limit expired.

Soon after the start of the third race “the wind shut off like a switch,” said FLYC race officer Mark Werder. He held the other fleets were “hoping for wind that never came,” then watched the Banshees struggle back toward the finish line in a drifter where winds “never returned.”

Twenty-six sailboats competed in six classes in the 57th Camellia Cup, the longest-running sailboat regatta in the Sacramento Valley.

A smaller version of Camellia Cup is run by the Sacramento Model Yacht Club, competing with 8.5-foot-long replicas of America’s Cup J-Class yachts of the 1930s.

This year’s Model Yacht CamCup was moved to Bridgeway Lakes in West Sacramento due to high water on Folsom Lake. Winning the fifth running of the model yacht version of the CamCup, during 10 races held, was Paul Brown of Elk Grove.

57th Camellia Cup results Laser E. Drake, CFYC - 5 pts T. Takayanagi, RYC, Voyager - 5 pts C. Clamp, RYC - 14 pts

Park

C. Simenstad, RYC - 15 pts R. O’Brien, CAF - 15 pts I. Schillebeeckx, RYC, Nico - 17 pts T. Burden, RYC, Seven of Nine - 20 pts M. Sloane, SSC, Humble Pie - 20 pts S. Aguilar, LWSC, Single With Baggage - 27 pts Banshee K. Johnson, FLYC, Blue Light Special - 3 pts J. Nelson, FLYC, Herkimer - 3 pts R. Cram, FLYC, Yahoo! - 6 pts J. Gouveia, FLYC, Nauti Buoy - 9 pts O. Biondi, FLYC, Blue’s Clews - 9 pts Open Centerboard D. McWilliams, LWYC, Flying Dutchman, Longshot - 3 pts R. Craig, RYC, Lido 14, Glory - 3 pts Open Keel - Blue D. Hare, GCYC, C22, No Cat Hare - 3 pts M. Rayfuse, FLYC, C22, Sirius - 3 pts

Continued from A1

mately $2.5 million park, which was constructed by Olympic Land Construction. This is the EDHCSD’s 29th park, Hornstra noted.

The park features three main play areas — a 2- to 5-year-old playground, 5- to 12-year-old playground with inclusive play elements and an adventure play area between the two playgrounds. Other amenities include three shade structures over picnic tables and two benches, sprawling lawn near playgrounds, lighted parking lot and a twostall restroom plus a recreation trail.

“We’ve gotten really good feedback from the community,” Hornstra said as children lined up for their turn on the gravity rail. Since the CSD opened the gate to the park earlier in April, the GM said it has drawn a crowd.

Fire station

District officials broke ground on the project in spring 2022 and the Saratoga Trailhead connecting to the Promontory Trail, which extends from Saratoga Way to Alexandra Drive (approximately 3 miles), opened in summer 2022. Trailhead amenities include a small parking lot, shade structure and bike fix-it station.

Several weather delays pushed park construction back almost a year.

Judging by the number of children climbing, spinning, swinging, laughing and jumping, it was worth the wait.

Dozens of kids helped EDHCSD Board President Noelle Mattock cut the grand opening ribbon. “We’re looking forward to a fun summer of activities at Saratoga Park,” Mattock said.

Continued from A1

ad hoc committee recognize that the process has been longer than intended and have been diligent in trying to keep the report on schedule through our consultant and calls and video meetings. We will hold a workshop to provide and discuss the report.”

The next Fire Annexation Ad Hoc Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, where the committee plans to look at the numbers and determine if keeping the station open is financially feasible. The CPCSD board would make the final decision and could do so at its May 15 regular meeting.

Last summer residents and fire officials from neighboring fire districts lined up at board meetings to oppose closing Station 88, arguing it would increase response times and put extra burdens on other fire agencies. To save some money in the interim, approximately $180,000, the board dropped

Photo by Laura-Ann Charlot

Camellia Cup skippers were challenged by winds that varied from 10 knots to nothing.

ambulance service in the community.

The El Dorado Hills Fire Department took over operation of Medic 89, now called Medic 86, and runs it out of Station 86 on Bass Lake Road.

Also on the agenda, the board discussed and approved a cleansing project for Cameron Park Lake.

The aeration system includes 12 bubblers that sit on the bottom of the lake and pump out oxygen into the water. The oxygen pumped is designed to make the lake cooler year round and will reduce a lot of algae and aquatic weed growth, creating a better environment for all the local wildlife.

The $35,000 project was approved April 17 with installation scheduled in June.

“We did our homework on the kilowatt hours,” Parks and Facilities Superintendent Mike Grassle said.

“The bubblers will cost about $2 a month per bubbler to operate.”

D. Hewitt, FLYC, C22, Shark Bait - 6 pts M. Shaw, FLYC, Vagabond 17, Slipaway - 9 pts Open Keel - Red G. Preston, FLYC, Hunter 270, Charmed Life - 3 pts (Keelboat Champion) B. Curran, FLYC, Catalina 250, Malahat - 6 pts P. Hodgson, FLYC, WL24, Te Natura - 7 pts M. Fitzgerald, FLYC, Capri 22, Layla - 7 pts S. Young, FLYC, Hunter 23.5, PuraVida - 8 pts Multihull J. Kim, FLYC, Corsair F24, After You - 2 pts (Multihull Champion) J Class (Model Yachts) P. Brown, SMYC, Svea - 11 pts (Model Yacht Champion) D. Robinson, SMYC, Svea - 19 pts J. Hancock, SMYC, Svea- 29 pts G. Novak, SMYC, Svea - 31 pts B. Eger, Svea - 52 pts

Lawsuit

Continued from A1

Helen Austin sued the county and special districts, arguing they violated the California Mitigation Fee Act and shouldn’t have collected certain permit fees paid by home builders in the county. The act requires agencies to provide updated nexus studies every five years that justify the fees collected and outline how the money will be spent to benefit the public and offset impacts resulting from new development; however, the agencies named in the lawsuit had failed to submit their nexus studies as required at the time the Austins and many others paid the fees.

In his April 15 ruling, Presiding Judge Gary Slossberg notes, “Defendants have failed to substantially comply with the five-year findings requirement.”

The ruling also states that not only were studies not completed within the MFA’s timeframe, “The most glaring omission from the record is any finding that ‘demonstrate(s) a reasonable relationship between the fee and the purpose for which it is charged,’ as required by government code …”

“As such … a refund is mandated, the amount to be determined in the next phase of trial,” the ruling’s disposition reads.

El Dorado County AuditorController Joe Harn informed the Board of Supervisors in writing in 2013, 2014 and 2015 of violations of the MFA in the levying of these permit fees but the county continued to collect on behalf of itself and the other agencies. All studies were eventually updated and approved by the Board of Supervisors with procedures put into place to ensure a lapse wouldn’t happen again but the financial implications of that lapse could hit all the agencies hard.

“I was expecting that the ruling was going to cost the CSD about $5 million, EDH Fire about $4 million and the county road capacity enhancement

plan about $13 million based on a oneyear statute of limitations,” Harn told Village Life after he said he took a quick look at the accounts.

“Judge Gary Slossberg’s ruling, which I agree with, states that the unexpended fees, regardless of when they were collected, are subject to refund,” the auditor continued. “Based on his ruling, the numbers could go much higher.”

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Communications Director Carla Hass didn’t put a number in her response to Village Life’s request for comment. “The matter is still pending and the amount of fees subject to refund will not be determined until the third phase of trial, which has not yet been scheduled,” her email states.

Harn said it’s unfortunate past county leaders chose to listen to “unqualified, unethical carpetbaggers that the Board Supervisors appointed to a number of key positions.”

“On the bright side, maybe the CSD, EDH Fire and the county will now stop spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on out-of-town lawyers who are fighting to prevent El Dorado County residents from getting refunds that are required by state law,” he added.

“Maybe now these property owners will get the refunds they were due over 10 years ago.”

The county has spent nearly $700,000 on attorneys defending the Austin case, Harn shared, and that figure doesn’t include staff time.

EDHCSD General Manager Mark Hornstra said CSD staff is reviewing Slossberg’s decision “to determine the potential impact and next steps.”

“As that review by our legal team is completed, we may have more information to share with the public,” Hornstra continued.

EDH Fire Chief Maurice Johnson told Village Life since the case is still open he has no comment at this time.

A dentistry that aims to be a home away from home

Jessica Cyphers Staff writer

F

or 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.

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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.

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This EDH home is an ideal retreat

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his gorgeous, twostory home in the exclusive Kalithea gated community offers the best in luxury living and entertaining.

The house built on a rare level lot in a quiet El Dorado Hills cul-de-sac has a fantastic floor plan, gleaming hardwood floors and stunning views.

Step into the newly remodeled kitchen with timeless appeal that will keep resident chefs very happy.

Features include new SubZero refrigerator/freezer towers, double ovens, new quartz countertops and the oversized Hale Navy Blue island with a new range and hood. There’s ample cabinet space throughout as well as a wine refrigerator, butler’s pantry, dining nook and built-in microwave.

This home is truly an entertainer’s dream with both a spacious living and dining room, as well as an outdoor dining space directly off the kitchen for dining al fresco.

Get cozy in the living room next to the fireplace surrounded by custom cabinetry. Large windows offer great views of the beautiful backyard.

The main level includes a large junior primary suite with private access as well as another bedroom with outdoor

access that could make a fantastic home office or gym.

More storage is found in the main floor laundry room, which also has a sink and plenty of space for sorting and folding.

Upstairs, take time to relax in the primary suite with a double-sided fireplace and views that will take your breath away. The suite’s spa-inspired bathroom has a double sink, large glass shower and a deep soaking tub where you can soak in the view.

Additionally, there are four more bedroom suites upstairs and a huge bonus room that makes a perfect retreat.

The backyard is an outdoor paradise complete with a sparkling pool/spa, cozy firepit with built-in seating, an outdoor fireplace with a pergola, raised garden beds, a huge lawn area plus a basketball sport court with a handy drinking fountain. Lush greenery surrounds the outdoor living space, offering beauty and privacy.

Other property amenities include the home’s four-car drive-through garage and Tesla solar panels.

Interested in this lovely Thalassa Court property in El Dorado Hills? Contact Lisa Paragary at (916) 247-1303 or lisa@paragarymillerteam.com.

B2

MAY 2, 2024

Local artists open their studios News release

T

he El Dorado Hills Arts Association presents the 2024 Spring Studio Tour, May 4 & 5.

The studio tour has been an annual tradition in the El Dorado Hills area for 20 years. The two-day event will be held in artists’ private studios in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Shingle Springs and Rescue.

This year attendees will view artwork in many disciplines, including oil, acrylic and pastel painting, photography, watercolor, sculpture, ceramics, wood, jewelry and mixed media.

The Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom hosts the EDHAA members show as part of the Spring Studio Tour.

“The annual studio tour is a rare opportunity for the community to meet local artists in their

See beautiful works like “Monet’s Garden,” oil on canvas, by Lori Anderson on the EDHAA Studio Tour. personal space, to see their art and to learn their techniques and what inspires them,” said Judy Arrigotti, EDHAA president. “It’s a great way to spend a weekend with family and friends.”

The tour runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Download the studio tour map at

eldoradohillsarts.com.

The El Dorado Hills Arts Association is a nonprofit organization with the exclusive purpose to provide education, promotion, exhibitions, networking settings, volunteer opportunities and public events for local artists, and serve the local community.

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MAY 2, 2024

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Kenny Metcalf will perform as Elton John at the first Rockin’ the BLVD Mother’s Day Charity Concert.

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News release

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l Dorado Hills Town Center is thrilled to announce a brandnew event, Rockin’ the BLVD Mother’s Day Charity Concert on May 12.

Commemorate this special occasion with the unforgettable performance of Kenny Metcalf as Elton John, 4-6 p.m.

This remarkable event is not only a fantastic way to honor our mothers, but also an opportunity to support a worthy cause.

Member of California, Nevada, and U. S. Supreme Court Bar Associations • • • • •

Elton tribute to rock the boulevard and raise funds

Estates Trusts Probate Conservatorships Financial Elder Abuse

Admission to this concert is completely free and all are welcome to attend. Donations are encouraged at the event to benefit the Women’s Fund El Dorado. Contributions will directly support the invaluable work of this organization, funding programs in El Dorado County for basic human needs, poverty, women, children and more.

Get ready to be swept away by Metcalf’s incredible portrayal of Elton John, performing his timeless classics.

It’s sure to be an evening filled with joy, music and heartfelt celebration.

Peter P. Vlautin, III, J.D. LL.M. 1020 Suncast Lane #101, El Dorado Hills (916) 365-9734 • petervlautin.com 20 23

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Comprehensive Coverage of LOCAL NEWS for El Dorado Hills and El Dorado County GO TO: www.mtdemocrat.com SELECT: “Log In” from the menu on the left CLICK: “Subscribe Now’ on the right side (Under “Not A Subscriber”) Fill out the information to start your subscription OR CALL our office Monday-Friday ~ 8am to 5pm TOLL FREE

888-622-1255

Let us help you pay tribute to a loved one.

When you experience the loss of a loved one, our Village Life team can help you convey information in several ways!

Obituary ~ You may write the tribute in your own words or if needed we can provide assistance. Obituaries will publish on the day requested, subject to publication deadline.

Anniversary Remembrances ~ You may place an ad in memory of a deceased loved one on the anniversary of a significant date such as a birthday, wedding anniversary, or the anniversary of their death.

Call Elizabeth Hansen for more information 530-344-5028

Photos by Meredith Mashburn Photography

Catherine Ariale as Lady, Morgan Scott as Star, Ella Perez as Babe perform with the rest of the cast of “The Cher Show,” coming to Folsom May 9-12.

‘Cher Show’ turns back time to celebrate a fabulous singer Ed Sengstack Harris Center for the Arts

F

OLSOM — Harris Center for The Arts presents “The Cher Show,” performing five times, May 9-12.

Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, one unstoppable force has dominated popular culture — breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. “The Cher Show” is the Tony Awardwinning musical depiction of her story and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the bright-eyed kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon.

As Cher says, “All of us invent ourselves.

Some of us have more imagination than others.”

“The Cher Show” features 35 smash hits including “If I Could Turn Back Time,” “I Got You Babe,” “The Shoop Shoop Song” and “Believe.” Throw in six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy, an Oscar, an Emmy, and enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all culminating in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will

Ella Perez as Babe and Lorenzo Pugliese as Sonny perform Cher’s early hits. have audiences dancing in the aisles!

Get ready to “Turn Back Time” in the musical hailed by Rolling Stone as “an explosion of fabulous excess.” The New York Times raves, “The Cher Show gets me, babe. Inspiration can arise from seeing how a famous American came defiantly into their power.”

Debuting on Broadway in 2018, “The Cher Show” was nominated for two Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards. Written

by Tony Award-winning

Rick Elice, Big League Productions Inc.’s sparkling brand-new production is directed

by Casey Hushion, with choreography by Antoinette DiPietropolo and costume design by Bob Mackie.

Performances are scheduled May 9-12 with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday plus 2 p.m. matinées Saturday and Sunday at Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit HarrisCenter.net.

B5

MAY 2, 2024

© 2016 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 32, No. 30

Look closely. Only two of these suns are exactly alike. How quickly can you find them? Have a friend try.

The Olympics encourage people around the world to be friends. And there is always something special about getting a postcard from a friend who lives in another place.

Kid Scoop just got some postcards, but the senders forgot to say which country they were writing from. Can you use the geography clues to find out which country each card is from?

Standards Link: Social Science: Use map and globe skills to find the absolute location of places; use the Internet or encyclopedia to research.

The names of the four countries where these postcards came from are hidden in the letters that form the border at left and right. To find out the names, circle every third letter–starting with the starred one in each row of letters.

“Czesc” (chests)

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Understand simple written directions.

Follow the maze to find out how to say hello in each country.

Look through the newspaper for names of 10 different cities. Arrange these words in alphabetical order.

“Sopa Sopa”

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions; Physical Education: Develop eye-hand coordination.

(soh-puh soh-puh)

“Chao” (chow)

Standards Link: Spelling: Arrange letters in alphabetical order.

“Ni hao”

(Nee-how)

“Marhaba”

Activities on today’s page were adapted from the National Geographic Society’s educational materials.

(Mar-ha-ba)

hat do dogs “say”? In English we imitate them by saying, “Bow wow!” People in other countries have their own ways to copy the sound a dog makes.

Can you find each of the dog F G A V G A V O sounds in the word puzzle?

O W A N W A N O HINT: one of them is spelled around a corner.

V O F F V O F F O W O W W O W W W G H O W B N A G W O V W O V N W O V G N A W G O W O H W O H O B O W W O W O B

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.

REEF CHINA POLAND VIETNAM KENYA LEBANON METRO SALSA HELLO WORLD NILE LEFT CHAO GOT LINKS TRIP

Would you like a pen pal from another part of the world? Visit kidscoop.com/ this-week-in-kidscoop/friendsaround-the-world/ to discover links to web sites that set up international penpal friendships for kids!

Find the words in the puzzle, then in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.

H E L L O J R Y V A

W O I R C S L I E S

Q U T A H F E E R K J E B D I T B J C N

M S K N N O A H C I

T P A A A Y N E K L

F I M L T W O R L D

E R E O S L N I L E

L T G P T A W H T M

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

INTERNATIONAL

The adjective international means relating to two or more nations.

An international group of students came on an exchange program during the summer.

Try to use the word international in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.

Postcards from Home

Sports Stars of the World

Look through the newspaper for names of famous sports stars who come from other countries. Make a collage about your favorite star with newspaper articles, maps and pictures.

ANSWER: Post Office.

Standards Link: Social Science: Recognize the similarities and differences in cultures around the world.

This week’s word:

Write an imaginary postcard telling about the town where you live. Or write a real postcard and send it to a friend or family member.

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Grocery prices at the store are up as much as 70% over the last four years. Many home gardeners are looking to other methods to grow healthy food for their families. A straw bale garden is a virtually weed-free method for growing an edible garden. Gardeners can even use trellises in a SBG to encourage more produce.

Ten years later, straw bale gardening is still fun

I

Shop Local

watering. This also keeps watering times to a minimum. Straw holds water beautifully, so a SBG is drought-tolerant. We water about two minutes a day.

We put the hoses on top of the bale rows prior to planting. Trust me, everything will simply grow right over the top.

Get the hoses in before the plants.

never thought social media would influence how I grow my own food.

But 10 years ago, when I saw posts about a straw bale garden (SBG), the idea was so intriguing I just had to try it.

WE ARE EXPERTS IN

What is a SBG?

Straw bale gardening is the practice of growing vegetables and flowering plants in composted Planting straw bales. This unique The Arts gardening format was Ten years ago I pioneered by horticulstarted out by purchasturalist Joel Karsten in ing “starts” and putting the 1990s. This no-bending, virtually them in the bales after the conditioning weed-free method is fantastic for areas process was complete. This was convewith poor or rocky soil. It has the added nient, but expensive. benefit of being drought tolerant if you After five years of that, I tried another set your garden up correctly.

Karsten method: putting potting mix A detailed description of this garon top of the bales to start seeds. This dening method is in Karsten’s book, proved to be our most successful “Straw Bale Gardens Complete.” Of all method. (Tip: Take a piece of straw to the books I own on this topic, I think mark your space as you plant seeds).

Karsten’s is the best. I recommend it.

Susan Laird

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I source my straw bales at Lees’ Feed in Shingle Springs. I always remember to specify “straw,” because hay contains seeds that I don’t want.

I arrange the bales in neat north-south rows. This allows for maximum sunshine during the spring and summer — important for any vegetable garden.

Each row is bracketed by a t-bar (again, from Lees’ Feed) and an overhead twoby-four.

If you are just experimenting, you could start with a single bale. You can place your bale in your garden or even over concrete.

Once your bales are in place, you will “condition” them for 10 days. This composting process creates a welcoming home for the seeds and plants. You will soak your bales, then top them with fertilizer, watering it in well.

Methods are available online. You can use organic fertilizer if you wish. I use a cup or so of high nitrogen lawn fertilizer every other day and finish off with a nice even 6-6-6 fertilizer to bring up the phosphorus and potassium at the end of the conditioning process.

Irrigation Hand watering is OK. In our case, my husband added a series of soaker hoses to gently water our bales. Ever thoughtful, he added a sprinkler timer so neither one of us need worry about

What to plant?

As a newbie enthusiast, I planted just about everything in the early years: tomatoes, peppers, hot peppers, summer squash, zucchini, peas, kale, beets, lettuce, Swiss chard, potatoes, onions, leeks, garlic, carrots and strawberries.

Straw bale gardening works well for any crop that is an annual.

Because of the high prices in the grocery store, we now focus on the “expensive” veggies. I grow a variety of greens, legumes and squashes.

Garden thru fall My SBG lasts well into December.

The Swiss chard just never gives up.

But by fall, the straw bales are pretty collapsed. And here is where your SBG give you another bonus: mulch!

We clear out our SBG (weather permitting) in January. The fully composted straw is now an excellent mulch around other plants in the garden. This year, my camellias had their best year ever.

Lavender Day The Murer House in Folsom will host a free Lavender Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 1.

Lavender is a perennial in my garden, so I don’t put it in my SBG. However, it attracts pollinators and has many n See LAIRD, page B9

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MAY 2, 2024

202

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The Gift of Kids, Inc. Jennifer Tommasini 5130 Golden Foothill Parkway El Dorado Hills 916-521-1835 www.thegiftofkids.net I would like to thank everyone for their vote for #1 Favorite Daycare and continuing to trust us with your precious children. I love being part of this community and helping children learn and grow. With 4 children of my own (now 25, 22, 13 and 12), my own journey began in the daycare preschool field because I was unhappy with the care and education I was receiving.

The teachers at The Gift of Kids Daycare and Preschool include talent that brings us music, yoga, and even Spanish on a daily basis. We have been working with soccer shots for over 8 years and have a very structured and advanced curriculum! Teachers here are all educated in child development, CPR and First Aid certified, and make it a priority to continue their education.

I have been blessed to have a large facility in El Dorado The Gift of Kids Inc. is Hills where I employ 30 celebrating 24 years in loving teachers and care business, with 14 years in our for 200 children. We offer same location, Business Park education and care for babies, 1. We could not have done it Preschoolers, Pre-K, and private without the many wonderful Kindergarten. Don’t be fooled families here in the community by our large size, our teachers that I have called home for make each classroom homey 20 years! Again...Thank you and warm. The kids have lots from the bottom of my heart of outdoor space to play, we for helping me live out my are on over an acre and have dream in a business that I love 4 large playgrounds, a soccer and families that continue to field, and a an organic garden. bless us with their children.

The Gift of Kids outdoor area We have newly renovated the gives the kids space to explore, inside of our school, so come garden, and play on age by to check it out and say hello appropriate playgrounds. anytime!

B8

MAY 2, 2024

Business Spotlight Noel Stack

was reasonable (the best, actually) and they Managing Editor finished our beautiCourt, Placerville ful roof in two days,” rothers Donnie reads a review from (530) 647-0653 and Sean O’Neal one happy customer. grew up in El mountainroofingsystems.net “Communication from Dorado County and in the business was excelthe roofing business.

Over the decades each lent and friendly. And honed their skills as laborers and leaders we were extremely impressed by the in the industry, leaving behind many work ethic of the crew.” happy customers with beautiful roofs.

“I enjoy the people, the personal Since 2011 the duo and a team of relationships,” Sean shared, quoting his friendly professionals that includes other motto of, “Making friends one roof at family members have worked together. a time.”

Mountain Roofing Systems, owned Employee satisfaction is also a priorby Donnie and his wife Sharon, offers ity for the O’Neal family. “We are all commercial and residential roof repair/ a team,” Sharon said, explaining that replacement, new roofs, gutter systems the staff and crew members enjoy great and more. benefits and incentives. “We take care “Quality is most important,” Sharon of our employees. They want to stay said. “We’re really big on making sure here.” things are done the right way.”

Mountain Roofing Systems serves Mountain Roofing Systems runs Courtesy photo El Dorado County and surrounding three crews each workday and everyone Family owned Mountain Roofing Systems has helped countless clients with their roofing and gutter communities. In addition to providing on the team is highly trained to ensure needs. great customer service, the company standards are met and expectations are gives back by supporting special projexceeded. From start to finish, includects that help neighbors in need. The ing a thorough clean up at the job site, Sean said, quality and customer satisfac- team recently established a partnership with New Morning Youth and Family tion are the priorities.

Services to assist with its Placerville Their efforts have paid off in the form c facility remodel. of many referrals and five-star reviews.

“We love being in the community,” “From start to finish, Mountain Sharon said. “People can count on us.

Roofing was professional, efficient and a pleasure to deal with. Their price We’re not going anywhere.”

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The Re:Visions showroom in Cameron Park is filled with quality furniture and home accessories generously donated by community members to support Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Old furniture finds new purpose at Re:Visions Justine Chahal Village Life correspondent Most people who give old items to a thrift store do not consider the impact of their donations.

But those who donate to Re:Visions know exactly what cause their gift will support — and it’s a BIG deal.

Re:Visions, a thrift store in Cameron Park, is operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra.

“We have been so fortunate that we have been able to sustain ourselves and just serve the community in general and support these programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Lisa Rankin, one of the store’s lead volunteers.

Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children ages 6-18 find and build positive relationships with adult mentors through various programs, according to the BBBSNS website.

The money raised from Re:Visions directly supports these programs, said Brenda Frachiseur, BBBSNS chief executive officer. The most well-known program involves a mentor, or “Big,” spending time with a child, referred to as a “Little,” through activities such as hiking or going to the movies, she explained.

Last year Re:Visions raised more than $230,000 for the Northern Sierra chapter, she added.

Re:Visions is staffed exclusively by volunteers, the majority of whom are retired individuals who previously worked in the medical field or at a school district and treat the store as a passion

Re:Visions volunteers Mary Calligan, Lisa Rankin and Liz Ketelle, left to right, donate their time and talents to serve BBBS of Northern Sierra. project, Rankin said.

“We’re crazy friends with the other volunteers because we just have the same type of volunteer ethic,” Rankin said.

“We’re just very passionate about our community and how can we support this community, especially though programs that support our children.”

Volunteers rotate duties between themselves which include pricing and handling merchandise as well as working the register.

When Re:Visions originally opened in 2014, it was under ownership of Katie Cheney, who was involved in her own charity work through the store, Rankin explained.

When Cheney began to face health complications and was about to close the store down, Big Brothers Big Sisters reached out to her and

took over as the new beneficiary in November 2017.

Re:Visions is the only business the Northern Sierra chapter operates.

“I struggle with the idea of trying to duplicate that in another area because how lucky are we to have one with so many volunteers that will manage and maintain the store for us?” Frachiseur said.

Re:Visions also supports events hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters by selling tickets, said Rankin, the next of which will be Golf for Kids’ Sake at Serrano Country Club on May 6.

Rankin said volunteers also try to encourage shoppers to become a Big and mentor a child.

Frachiseur said there is a desperate need for more Bigs to assist the children n See RE:VISIONS, page B9

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MAY 2, 2024

FINANCIAL FOCUS Financial freedom: A gift to your family

H

ere’s a sobering statistic: 72% of retirees say one of their biggest fears is becoming a burden on their families, according to a study by Edward Jones and the consulting firm Age Wave. If you are near retirement, how Financial columnist can you prepare yourself to become financially free, so you won’t have to depend on grown children or other family members?

Here are a few suggestions to consider: • Keep adding to retirement savings. Today, with a greater awareness of healthy lifestyles, many people are spending two, or even three, decades in an active retirement. To help pay for those years, then, you’ll likely need to build your retirement savings

Suzy O’Neal

as much as possible. So, while you’re still working, try to contribute as much as you can afford to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.

If you are in the later stages of your career, possibly close to your peak earning power, you may be able to put in sizable sums every year.

• Choose an appropriate withdrawal rate.

While it’s obviously important to build your retirement savings, it’s just as essential to make the money last. Once you retire, you’ll want to establish an appropriate withdrawal rate — that is, the amount you can take out each year from your 401(k) and other investments without running the risk of outliving your money. The amount you can safely withdraw each year will depend on a variety of factors, including your age, your account balances, Social Security benefits, inflation, income tax rates and spousal income. In any case, selecting a suitable withdrawal rate can help go a long way toward preserving your financial freedom throughout your retirement.

• Think about downsizing. One possible way to boost your savings and add liquidity is to downsize your living arrangements. This may be an attractive option if your children are grown and your current home feels too large. Of course, downsizing is a highly personal decision. If you’ve lived in your

home for many years, have fond memories of raising a family in it and still enjoy the neighborhood, it can certainly be hard to leave. Consequently, you’ll need to weigh these emotional factors against the potential financial benefits of moving into a smaller, less expensive space.

• Prepare for long-term care costs. If you were ever to need some type of long-term care, such as an extended stay in a nursing home, you could face some sizable expenses, most of which may not be covered by Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.

And clearly, you would not want to put your grown children in a position where they might feel the need to step in financially. To help avoid this possibility, you may want to consult with a financial professional about addressing these costs through strategies that may be appropriate for your needs.

These aren’t the only ideas to consider in helping maintain your financial independence and reducing your potential dependence on your family during your retirement years. But taken together, they can give you a good start. Think about putting them to work.

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

Annual handcar derby sure to get racers and guests pumped News release FOLSOM — The 31st running of the Folsom Handcar Derby is back and set to take place May 4 & 5 on the tracks in front of Broadstone Marketplace on East Bidwell Street.

Sunday, May 5, the day starts off at 9 a.m. with the pusher’s contest where anyone wanting to push the 850-pound handcar for distance is welcome to compete. Competitors are separated by various weight classes in each of the men’s and women’s categories.

Competition picks up immediately after with the handcar races as each team of five has one shot to be the best in their division and set the fastest time. A handcar team consists of one pusher to get the handcar started from a dead stop and four pumpers to propel it down the tracks.

Multiple divisions including men, women, co-ed and masters will face off and pump the handcar

down the 800-foot track with times separated electronically by 1/1000th of a second.

The final event is two contestants piloting the world’s only racing quadripede down the course.

This is the 10th year for this event, with the past nine years resulting in a huge success for participants and fans alike. The day ends with the medal awards ceremony for all of the competing divisions.

Saturday, May 4, is a practice day where each team is required to attend a safety orientation and make one full timed run down the course.

Throughout the day there is fun for all that come to watch or race. Admission is free. The location is in the heart of the Folsom shopping and food centers. All proceeds from the event benefit the Folsom, El Dorado, Sacramento Historical Railroad Association. For more information visit HandcarDerby.com or call (916) 985-6001.

Village Life file photo

Handcar derby events include pushing the 850-pound handcar for distance.

Re:Visions

Continued from B8

through the network, who often come from foster care or single-parent homes as well as low-income backgrounds.

“We are so in need of mentors to be those positive role models and friends to these kids that I can guarantee that the mentors will thrive in these relationships” Frachiseur said.

This is the case for Liz Ketelle, a volunteer at Re:Visions. Ketelle’s husband is a Big within the program, acting as a mentor to a 16-year-old boy who refers to her as a step-sister, she said.

“We’re so fond of him and seeing him through life’s challenges and stuff is just so rewarding,” Ketelle said.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the program, of men-

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Continued from B6

toring, especially since we’ve been with him since he was 8 years old and watching the growth.”

Although Re:Visions is owned by Big Brothers Big Sisters, its volunteers are intent on helping those in need, Rankin said.

In the aftermath of the Caldor Fire, Rankin said she and other volunteers would assist some of their regular customers who had lost their homes by asking what they needed and giving them furniture.

Volunteer Lynda Jennrich said whenever she entered Re:Visions prior to working there, she always felt calm and welcomed by the other volunteers, adding that they helped her with her struggles with longterm disability.

This welcoming atmosphere has allowed Re:Visions to receive top quality items from customers who reserve items specifically for them, Rankin said.

“At the end of the day, we just all have so much fun and that is actually something that we hear from the people that come in the store,” Rankin said. “They’ll say everybody here is so happy. It’s just such a nice atmosphere.”

Jennrich said her favorite part of volunteering at Re:Visions is knowing she has an opportunity to make somebody’s day better.

“I think at the end of the day you feel such an accomplishment that yes, we’ve made a donation and we’ve got a great thing for the kiddos,” Jennrich said.

“That’s the most important thing, taking care of those kids that need help, but also taking care of our core family and then our community family.”

Re:Visions is located at 3450-9 Palmer Drive, Cameron Park. For more information call (530) 3508647 or visit the store’s Facebook page.

benefits of its own.

This event features Master Gardeners, a bee keeper, cooking with lavender and much more. Visit murerhousefoundation.org for info.

More SBG benefits There is nothing better than feeding your family with healthy food fresh from the garden. A SBG is quirky and enjoyable. And you can have bragging rights all over social media. Have fun.

Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@handywriting.com.

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MAY 2, 2024

GROW FOR IT! Why and how plants and trees turn in growth

H

ave you ever wondered why and how your plants and trees grow and turn in certain directions?

Environmental factors, Kit Smith whether they be necessary, different or new are UCCE Master Gardener of the source. They initiate El Dorado County the plant’s production of hormones, phytohormones and chemicals to regulate growth that ensures the plant’s survival.

Hormones are transported in tissue fluids through the circulation system, such as sap, to stimulate the division of specific cells into action. The amount of hormone produced depends on plant age and species.

Hormones control everything that grows on a plant: appearance, shape and structure, stem, trunk, flowering time and fruiting, sex, aging of leaves and seed production. Some of the key hormones that plants produce are auxin, gibberellins, ethylene and abscisic.

Tropism is the biological term for a plant’s growth in a particular direction in response to external environmental stimuli such as light and gravity, temperature, chemicals and pollutants.

Plants’ response to color and quality of light is called phototropism. The plant absorbs the red and blue light that help it grow. They also respond to light quality, its intensity and exposure, whether the light is direct, high, medium or low. The plant’s response is the production of the hormone auxin. Auxin promotes cell growth, enlargement, division, stem elongation, development, shoot bending and cambial activity like the widening of the tree crotch angle.

Light stimulates the production of buds. Buds, terminal or apical, are at the tip of the growing points of a plant. Light shining on a bud stimulates hormones to go down to the roots to sink deeper and to grow new roots. Gravitropism and geotropism are the growth of roots and shoots toward or away from the direction of gravity. Auxin is sent back up to the buds to open and grow. Then, the buds produce the growth-inhibiting hormones, ethylene and abscisic acid, that restrain and prevent lateral buds from growing.

The tree seeks apical dominance of the central stems and branches that grow toward the sunlight to capture and absorb even more light. Tree branches grow and turn by auxin in the shade side which causes those cells to grow, elongate, stretch, and bend to the sun.

Sweet cherry and Japanese plum trees have the strongest apical dominance. Auxin can also cause the leaf surfaces to change position by opening or closing to capture or avoid the sun.

Plants responding to heat or changes in the environment’s temperature is thermotropism. Trees move more in response to warm temperatures than to day

length. Excessively high or low temperatures can cause stress, low growth, a spindly appearance and leaf damage or leaf drop. In response to cold, trees produce gibberellic acid which thickens bark to protect water, nutrients and sugar from animals and the tree itself from winter freeze.

Plants and trees also protect themselves from chemicals and pollutants by chemotropism. An example of positive chemotropism is roots growing down towards useful minerals in the soil. Negative chemotropism occurs when roots grow away from harmful acids in the soil.

Although it seems like plants are rooted in one spot, in actuality roots and shoots are quite mobile in seeking optimum growing conditions.

The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdats through the summer. Check the website for additional information about activities at the garden: 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_e-news. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

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MAY 2, 2024

Shingle Springs Cameron Park

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SHINGLE SPRINGS~CAMERON PARK

Chamber of Commerce

President’s Corner Colette Thiel

C

an you believe it's already May? I know it's hard to believe. to the heroes in our community when they buy or sell home Our Chamber has been so busy that the time just flew by. using them as their real estate broker and lender.

In April, we had 2 ribbon-cuttings, a groundbreaking Our networking luncheons continue on the third Thursday of ceremony, a mixer, a luncheon And Co- sponsored the hugely the month at the Koto buffet at Red Hawk Casino. The cost Is successful Springtime in the Junction event. $18 for members and $23 for nonmembers.

We are just weeks away from our Thunder in the Park event at Cameron Park Lake. This annual classic car show is an amazing day that is fun for the whole family. We will have vendor booths, food trucks, and lots of classic cars to view Mark your calendar for June 8, 2024. If you're interested in having a vendor booth or participating in the raffle by donating raffle prizes, please reach out to us.

We have amazing speakers so why not join us?

If you know any business that is looking for a community in which to grow their business or perhaps, they are already successful and want to support the local business community, please let me know. We are growing and are excited for the future of business in our communities. I have an open-door policy and am available to meet to discuss opportunities that We start May with our networking after dark mixer hosted by we have within the Chamber and the Homes for heroes El Dorado County. This mixer will be held on community. Do not hesitate to call!

May 2 at the Geneva Financial office in Burke Junction. Thiel , President Real Estate & Geneva Financial invite you to come by and enjoy food, drinks and raffle prizes. Most importantly learn more SSCP Chamber of Commerce about the Holmes for Heroes program and how it gives $$ back

Colette Thiel

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

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

MAY Events

Celebrating Mother’s Day & Memorial Day more information, contact Jim Coalwell at (530) 622-1900 or email jim@redshack.com.

May 11 Heart Of the Hills Blues Blast

May (Fridays to Sundays) CP Rotary Club Observatory

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

For info and closure updates, call (530) 642-5621, Ext. 9.

May - Support Small Businesses And Keep It Local

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

May 5 Farmers Market (Now Year ‘Round)

Sundays between 1am and 1pm, come shop our region’s most popular market with more produce and commodities than ever before. Choose from fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade honey and jams, cheeses, and other household favorites. For

T

Introducing The Heart of the Hills Blues Blast, a sensational event set to ignite the stage on Saturday, May 11th, from Noon to 6pm at The Overland District, 7000 Rossmore Lane, El Dorado Hills. Nestled near The El Dorado Hills Town Center, this inaugural blues extravaganza promises an unforgettable day of soul-stirring music and electrifying performances.

Prepare to be transported on a musical journey like no other as The Heart of the Hills Blues Blast takes center stage in El Dorado Hills. With a lineup featuring some of the finest blues artists in the industry, this is one event that promises to be nothing short of legendary. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of history at The Heart of the Hills Blues Blast! For tickets, visit: https://www. heartofthehillsmusicfest.org/

May 16 SS/CP Chamber Networking Luncheon

Please join us at Koto Buffet in the Red Hawk Casino from 11:30am to 1:00pm for our monthly networking luncheon! Contact the Chamber for more details at (530) 677-8000.

May 18 Third Saturday, Placerville Art Walk

Saturday from 5-8pm, come have fun in 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.

May 10 – Mother’s Day May 25-27 – Hangtown Kennel Club All-Breed Show

Come out and watch hundreds of breeds show at the Hangtown-Sierra Cluster AKC Conformation/ Obedience/Rally show at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds! Also offered are Barn Hunt Trials, starting at 8am each day. Register at https:// www.barnhunt.com/index.html. Trick dog testing and CGC testing is available Sunday from Noon to 3pm for Novice and Intermediate levels.

Sign up at the Trophy/Education table near the Superintendent’s desk. Cost is $20/per test. Day of event general parking is $10, collected at the gate. Check out the Raffle baskets!

May 27 – Memorial Day June 8 – Golden History Days

Celebrate the arrival of the Wagon Train during Golden History Days at the Belltower at 3pm!

Historic Main Street is closed to traffic for a day of free activities and events, including an Antique Fair, live music, spoken-word history, a multicultural event that celebrat4es many who were here at the time of the Wagon Train’s immigrants’ arrival; Native Americans, Black Americans, Hispanic/Californios, Japanese, Chinese, as well as immigrants themselves.

Join the Chamber

he Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, originally formed as the Shingle Springs Business and Professional Association, Inc. in December 1967. It works to promote the area, encouraging business and industrial investment to provide the foundation for a solid community.

The Chamber’s mission statement reflects this premise: “To advocate, promote and preserve the quality of life in our Chamber Community, by means of a strong, healthy and diverse business community.”

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MAY 2, 2024

YOU DESERVE THE VERY BEST!

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Floor plans up to 1,482 square feet | Private, attached garage | Full kitchen | In-suite laundry You can continue to cook and entertain in your own home, or enjoy our chef-prepared meals in the community dining room with friends. We take away the worry of housekeeping and home maintenance, and provide social opportunities all month long.

You can relax and spend your days with friends and family, and doing the things you enjoy most.

INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES FEATURES • Kitchen with full-size appliances and granite counters • Private patio • Attached garage • In-home washer and dryer • High ceilings • Housekeeping, laundry, and trash service • Utilities and basic cable included • Air conditioning • Pets welcome!

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