Mountain Democrat, Monday, June 19, 2023

budget

Eric Jaramishian Staff writer

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors

unanimously approved the Chief Administrative Office’s recommended fiscal year 2023-24 budget Tuesday, which includes a $1 billion spending plan.

The budget exceeds the board’s policy goal of contributing $5 million of discretionary revenues to road maintenance by $4.4 million through the board-directed use of local tribal funding, CAO staff reported.

District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl praised the amount of funding allocated for road maintenance but also cautioned about overspending without identifying other sources of funding.

RestoRing hope landing community center for Grizzly Flat

Driving through the forested community of Grizzly Flat, one is faced with a disheartening reality — the community has a long way to go before it completely rebuilds in the shadow of the 2021 Caldor

Fire. As talks continue to help the south El Dorado County town in that effort, one possibility seems to have gained traction. County officials are currently in discussion to secure a piece of U.S. Forest Service-owned land

off String Canyon Road to build a community center that could provide the community a beacon of hope while it recovers and rebuilds.

“The biggest thing is this community needs something

Four things California can do as some home insurers retreat

Grace Gedye

Calmatters

After State Farm declared in late May that it wouldn’t sell any new home insurance policies in California, people shopping around for new insurance had one fewer option. When days later it was revealed that AllState had quietly made the same decision last year,

PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE

Californians are now left wondering: How bad is this? And how should the state respond?

The “crisis” in California’s insurance market was caused by “a laser focus only on affordability,” said Nancy Watkins, a principal at Milliman, an actuarial firm, at a legislative hearing June 14. The companies are operating with “very crude tools” at the expense of availability and reliability, she said.

She said the current regulatory system is too rigid. “It’s like you’ve got your steering wheel locked straight ahead, you’ve got your speed set on cruise control, and now you find yourself on the Pacific Coast Highway,” she said. “What insurance company would agree to that?”

Home insurance premiums in California are a little cheaper than the national average — and much lower than premiums

in other disaster-prone states like Florida and Louisiana. That’s without accounting for the fact that California has some of the most expensive housing in the country. California still has about 115 companies offering home insurance, said Michael Soller, a deputy commissioner for the state’s insurance department. As for whether more companies are likely to follow State Farm and AllState, “we don’t think that will happen,” he said.

Consumer and insurance industry groups and other experts have ideas for what they’d like to see California do in the wake of the news — few of which they agree upon. Here’s the debate over four of those ideas.

Require State Farm to keep issuing new policies

There’s disagreement whether this idea, backed

by the group Consumer Watchdog, is legal. The idea hinges on how insurance prices are regulated in California. Under current laws, insurance companies can’t just charge whatever they want: They have to submit their proposed rates to the insurance department, which they back up by explaining their projected costs, losses, revenue and more. State regulators can approve a company’s proposed rates, or deny them, if they think, for example, the rates are unjustifiably high, or so low that they could put the company’s finances at risk.

Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, said if a company suddenly says that it’s not going to take the same number of customers that it had projected when it got the department’s approval,

“In the years past we weren’t able to put in as much money for road maintenance but I think we have stepped way up from where we previously were as a board and we are at the level where we need to stay at, but not increase it substantially until we identify some new funding opportunities,” Hidahl said. “We are able to do more now than we have in the past but at some point you have to go back to balancing and not just continue to put money into the things we know the public really wants but also fund other things that the public does not see.”

Property tax revenue is expected to grow by 4% this fiscal year and sales and use tax revenue is expected to grow half a percent. The county hit its General Fund contingency goal and will use $4.25 in excess funds to address economic uncertainties and potential disaster responses.

CAO analyst Emma Owens told supervisors the county could start to experience slowing discretionary revenue growth in property and sales and use taxes, a prospect CAO staff has warned the board about since the start of the pandemic in 2020. In the fiscal year prior, property tax revenue grew by 7% and sales and use tax grew 3.8%.

“This is the first time in a few years we are seeing these discretionary revenues slow,” Owens said. “Maybe it won’t happen but that is what all the indicators are showing.”

The board approved putting $13 million in excess General Fund contingency after receiving unanticipated fund balances during the pandemic, $5 million of which was used for Mosquito Fire debris removal.

“If the board had not made that strategic investment in putting the funding in excess contingency and putting it elsewhere, we would have had some problems balancing the budget or meeting the needs of the Mosquito Fire during the last two years,” Owens said. “We are hoping to continue by carrying over that 4.25 million of excess contingency in this budget.”

An estimated $247 million is needed for county buildings in need of replacement in the next 10-20 years, with investments of $10-$21 million a year in building maintenance. Increases in funding for planned capital projects are anticipated, however no additional funds have been identified.

Addressing this, Hidahl noted working with the California State Association of Counties to identify grants and loans to help offset potential future deficits. CSAC has a service that have people help write grants and help lobby to get those grants assigned.

“Because I’m hearing about all of this money that is out there from the federal and state government … I don’t know if we are getting our fair share,” Hidahl said. “I can’t measure that but there seems to be an opportunity there. Unless

n See budget, page A5

Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian

Obituaries on this page are written and paid for by the families or funeral homes. They are edited minimally by the Mountain Democrat. To submit an obituary, call (530) 622-1255, e-mail obits@mtdemocrat.net, fax (530) 344-5092, or visit mtdemocrat.com under “Submission Forms” at the bottom of the website. Include contact information with all submissions.

Starr Lynn Palumbo (Gaschler)

Jan. 31, 1953 - May 30, 2023

Starr Lynn Palumbo (Gaschler), 70, arrived at her heavenly home in the early morning hours on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. Although Starr’s body is gone, her spirit of adventure, fearlessness and friendship lives on through her family, friends and students.

Born in 1953 to a large German family in Downey California, Starr was an intelligent and motivated woman who was influenced by her parents to have an incredible work ethic and forgiving nature. In her 30’s, Starr fulfilled a lifetime dream of going to college, getting her degree, and earning her teaching credentials. She taught for more than 25 years until retirement. Her students meant the world to her and the reason for her passion for teaching.

Starr always looked at adversity in the face and dared it to defeat her. She was always willing to help others with gardening, cleaning, teaching and was always willing to share stories of her many travel adventures with her husband Jim, friends, family or by herself, so we could all live vicariously through her experiences. Starr was a faithful Christian who created strong friendships within her church and community. Even in the face of her own trials, Starr remained a steadfast, optimistic friend to everyone she knew, many of whom lined up to visit her in her last few months.

Starr will be missed by her husband Jim Palumbo; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Tracey McPeters, Robb and Tonde McPeters, Emiliano and Therese Palumbo; daughter Donielle Go net and Dave Watson. Along with all her grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and her many, many friends.

Starr especially loved being a grandmother to Michael III., Alexie, Hailey, Natalee, Gri n, Ella Starr, Andrew and Ryan, often taking them with her on her travels and giving them many memories to carry her with them through the years.

Starr is preceded in death by her father and mother, brothers Lee and Barry and many, many aunts, uncles, and cousins. We know that God is pleased to have one of His beautiful, generous and kind daughter’s back in his arms, but she will be sorely missed by those on earth. We are sure she is now working amongst the heavenly gardens with her precious mother and picking flowers with her beloved niece Evalee.

There will not be a service, but at Starr’s request, in lieu of flowers or gifts, please donate to your favorite charity.

Darla Jean Estey

Reddin Hernandez

April 21, 1938 - June 1, 2023

Darla was born in Placerville, CA. April 21, 1938, and passed away peacefully in her home with family by her side on June

1. She lived her life to the fullest, 85 wonderful years!!!

Darla had a spit- fire spirit and a beautiful smile that would warm your heart. She loved Placerville and was a very active member in the community, Beta Sigma Phi, Shakespeare Club and was the 2018 El Dorado County Rose. Heaven received a special angel. We love you Darla. Fly Butterfly.

Larry Swafford

Nov. 23, 1940 - May 26, 2023

The Swa ord Family is saddened to announce the passing of Larry Swa ord on May 26, 2023 after a protracted battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born and raised in Placerville, CA, Larry attended El Dorado High School where he was a proud member of the football team. Following his graduation, Larry held a variety of jobs including building rockets at Aerojet and working as a lineman for the telephone company, but his greatest joy and achievement was his time as a Firefighter and Captain at the Fire Department.

Larry enjoyed hunting with his dogs, fishing, scuba diving, tennis, golf and endurance horseback riding. Above all, Larry was loving and devoted to his family. He is survived by his former wife, Gale, wife, Georgiana, and his children Tracy (Jim), Teresa, Travis (Danielle), and his sister, Sharon. He was a proud grandfather and uncle to his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Larry will be remembered at a celebration of his life on July 8 from 1:00-4:00 pm in Sierra Room at 471 Maidu Drive, Auburn, CA 95603.

Brenda June Crain

Jan. 4, 1944 - May 4, 2023

Brenda was born on January 19, 1944 in San Luis Obispo, California. She went to Heaven on May 4, 2023 from Placerville, California.

She was the loving wife of her surviving husband, Ron, of thirty five years. Brenda and Ron met in Dallas, Texas in 1980 and immediately fell in love. They worked together, played together and instantly became one.

Brenda is also survived by her niece, LeeAnne Mila, and her great nephews Colin and Nathan Mila.

Brenda graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a degree in Journalism. She worked as a training manager for over twenty years at Pacific Bell in San Francisco and The Southland Corporation in Dallas. Upon retiring in 1987, Ron and Brenda got married and moved to Placerville where Brenda bought and owned a feed and grain, ranch supply, and pet grooming business until she sold it in 2005.

Brenda loved nice clothes and jewelry. Everywhere she went she was always dressed to the hilt. She also loved gardening, at one time becoming a beekeeper. But her real passion was animals. She took in strays others had abandoned and provided medical help for people who were not able to take their pets to a vet. She spent a lot of time and took wonderful care of all her pets, from horses to cats, dogs, sheep, ducks and more. She donated unselfishly to wildlife organizations including ASPCA, The Audubon Society, Sierra Wildlife and others.

Brenda’s friends and family will remember her as kind, loving, generous, vibrant and fun loving. We will all miss you.

A memorial service will be held for Brenda on June, 24th at 1:00 at the Green Valley Mortuary, 3004 Alexandrite Drive, Rescue, CA 95672. (530) 677-7171

You are all invited to attend a Celebration of Life immediately following the service at our home: 4680 Holm Rd, Placerville, CA.

Jon Anthony Rodgers

April 30, 1968 – May 13, 2023

Jon Anthony Rodgers, age 55, of Placerville, CA, passed away on May 13, 2023, at Rock Creek Care Center in Auburn, CA, with his family by his side. Jon was born on April 30, 1968, in Turlock, CA to parents Bill and Clara Rodgers, the second of five children. In 1970, the family moved to Placerville, CA.

Jon was involved in the Hangtown Country Cousins 4-H Club when he was a young boy, and worked at Beno’s Department Store and Zollars Chevron on Broadway in his high school years. He was a 1986 graduate of El Dorado High School, and began a career in construction with Dwight Stoddard Construction. He joined the United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve in 1987, and was later activated and served in Operation Desert Shield/ Storm in Kuwait and Iraq with the 2nd Marine Division from December 1990 to June 1991. Upon returning from the war, he married his wartime penpal, Cathy McIntire. He also began Rodgers Construction, Inc. and had a successful business.

In 1992, he welcomed his beautiful daughter Caitlyn to his world. He had the most pride in her growing family, with her husband Cory and his beloved grandchildren, Wyatt and Wynter. They always brought him so much joy. He also enjoyed playing cards with Caitlyn’s grandma, Doris. Jon had many hobbies including rides on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, boating, 4-wheeling in his old Willys Jeep, traveling to Oregon to visit family, and working the holiday seasons at his Aunt Ernie and Uncle Ken’s Christmas tree farm in Georgetown, CA.

Jon will always be remembered for his generosity, loyalty, and love towards his family and friends, his sense of humor, and that hint of fun mischief that always kept us on our toes. We all miss him dearly.

Jon is survived by his daughter Caitlyn, her husband Cory and grandchildren Wyatt and Wynter, parents Bill and Clara, brother Bill (and Katie, Carson, Makena), sister Kristi (and Jakob, Kianna), sister Rachelle (and Tom, Kate, Austin, Trevor), and sister Sara (and Scott, Addison, Alexis) along with aunts, uncles, and cousins. A celebration of life will be held on July 15, 2023, with family and close friends. Please email the Rodgers family at jonrodgersmemorial@gmail. com for time and location of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the El Dorado County Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund at eldoradocountyveterans.org/. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ placerville-ca/jon-rodgers-11289327

Stuart Allen Samson

Aug. 6, 1929 - May 12, 2023

Stuart Allen (Al) Samson, 93, of Placerville CA. left for heaven May 12, 2023 after having had Parkinson’s disease for 20 years.

Al was born August 6, 1929 to Stuart and Gladys Samson in Hermosa Beach, California. In 1940, Stuart moved his family to McArthur, CA. In McArthur, Al attended grade school through high school. He graduated as Salutatorian of his class of 20 from Fall River High School in 1948. He went on to study Business as University of California Berkeley. While attending CAL, he joined the CAL rowing team. His varsity 8 man team went all the way to the Olympic trails in 1952 where they were beaten by the Navy team by only 18 inches.

In 1952 Al enlisted in the Army where he was a Corporal E-4. He was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1960. He received an Army Occupation of Germany medal.

In 1956 Al met Suzanne (Sue) on a fixed up blind date in Berkeley. They were married in 1957. In 1966 they purchases their first home in Pinole, CA. where they lived for 20 years. Al and Sue have 4 children, Kimberly, Karen, Gregory, and Je rey.

In 1965, with a degree in Business, Al became a financial planner and eventually started his own business, Financial Planning Associates, being in the industry for more than 40 years.

Al enjoyed camping with his family. His goal was to drive to and visit as many national parks as they could. They visited a lot in their VW van. Al and Sue were also blessed to be able to have adventures traveling around the world. After retirement, Al and Sue enjoyed taking their 7 grandchildren (Jessica, Je rey, Melanie, Andrew, Sarah, Ryan, and Christopher) to CAL Camp Oski, a summer family camp. Al always enjoyed being active in service clubs such as the Kiwanis Club and the Placerville Rotary Club.

In 1998, Al and Sue purchased property in Placerville where they had their dream retirement home built. It checked o everything on their list. As a bonus, there’s always something happening in the Wild Kingdom that surrounds their house.

Al was predeceased by his parents Stuart and Gladys, and siblings Mary and David. He is survived by his wife Sue, children Kimberly,, Karen, Gregory and Je rey and grandchildren Jessica, Je rey, Melanie, Andres, Sarah, Ryam and Christopher.

A memorial service celebrating Al’s life will be held at Green Valley Community Church 3500 Missouri Flat Rd. Placerville on Thursday July 27, 2023 t 1:00 p.m.. There will be a military ceremony with a flag and bugle. He will be interred in Dixons Veterans Cemetery.

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.

Virginia “Elaine”

Gilton Daughtry

July 14, 2023 – May 15, 2023

Virginia “Elaine” Gilton Daughtry at 85 years old, went to be with her heavenly Father on May, 15, 2023.

Elaine was born on July 14, 1937 in Oklahoma to William Hurshel Gilton and Lennie Rowe Gilton, she was the oldest of five siblings, sister Charlotte Gilton Gunderman and brother Brad Gilton preceded her in death. Remaining siblings, Neil Gilton and Luella Ashford, will miss her everyday.

Elaine is survived by 5 children, Frankie Golden McDermott (Mark), Melinda Golden (Lorrie), Tanya Moran, Sherry Jorgensen and Candy Colmenero (Joe) along with 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy was to have all of her family together laughing, telling stories and watching the little ones play and run around.

Elaine lived and worked in San Jose, for several tech companies, making many lifelong friends. After she retired she moved to Placerville and made her dream come true by opening a flower shop, The Flower Garden. When she retired from that, she became an avid volunteer for Partners In Care thrift store and Marshall Foundation for Community Health until her 80th birthday. She never knew a stranger, everyone was a friend in the making that she was ready to help in any way she could. She will be remembered for her laugh which was big and her smile that would light up any room.

You can express condolences at this link to our mother’s page: https:// www.dignitymemorial.com/ obituaries/placerville-ca/virginia-daughtry-11291588. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to Marshall Foundation for Community Health, PO Box 1996, Placerville CA 95667, or the charity of your choice in her memory.

Anthony “Tony” Kassman

Nov. 18, 1967 – June 7, 2023

Anthony “Tony” Kassman, age 55, of Placerville, CA, passed away June 7, 2023.

Anthony was born November 18, 1967 in Sacramento, CA. He was born to Larry Kassman and Lupe Henderson. Anthony moved to El Dorado, CA. in 1979. He graduated from Ponderosa High School then attended ITT Tech. He was great at anything he set his sights on. He was the most generous person we have ever known and he always tried his best to make people happy and if he could help with

Anthony “Tony” Henry Patti

April 19, 1954 – April, 23, 2023

Anthony “Tony” Patti was born

April 19, 1954 to his parents

Samuel and Veronica Patti in Baltimore, Maryland. As a child he loved playing soccer and this passion led into his High School years. As a young man he trained horses for the Vanderbuilt family and during this time trained the o spring of the Secretariat, the famous champion racehorse. In the late 1980’s he moved to California to be near his brother. During this time one of his biggest hobbies came from

Lydia Barrette Sloan

July 23, 1928 - June 8, 2023

Lydia Barrette Sloan, age 94, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of June 8, 2023, at Ponte Palmero in Cameron Park. She was preceded in in death by her parents, Lydia Barrette Sinclair and William Sinclair, and her husband of 63 years, Charles Austin Sloan Jr.

Lydia was born in Hawaii where she had an adventurous childhood. Her favorite childhood memory was sitting in the yard at Lanikai playing cards under a tent in the rain. She attended Punahou School until relocating to the mainland with her family in 1941, a few months before the bombing at Pearl Harbor. After briefly trying out a farming lifestyle in Washington State, the novelty of milking cows and farming soon wore o and the family moved to Palo Alto, where Lydia lived for most of her life. Lydia attended Palo Alto High School and Stanford University, (as did her husband Charles) graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1951 with a degree in Political Science. After graduating, she worked at the State Department in Washington D.C. before marrying and raising her family.

Education was important to Lydia’s family, and it was important to her. She read widely, deeply, and

Karin

Jane Mai

Oct. 14, 1939 – June 3, 2023

Karin Mai passed away peacefully at her home in El Dorado Hills, CA on June 3, 2023 at the age of 83 after living courageously with cancer for 13 years and spending the last month of her life surrounded by friends and family. Karin was born in Sacramento, CA and was raised primarily in Oakland, CA by her adoptive parents, Amy (Wickland) & Lloyd Welty. After graduating from Oakland High School in January 1957, she attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS for two years and graduated from the University of California in San Francisco. In 1960, Karin married Donald Fredric Mai, who she met while at school in Kansas. Together, they have three children, Jody (Devin) Bader, Stephen (Debbie) Mai and Darin (Kristin) Mai, seven grandchildren, Amy (Nick) Bader, Jadin Bader, Jakin (Hannah) Mai, Jordan (Courtney) Mai, Kelsea Mai, Layla Mai and Olivia Mai, and four great grandchildren, Lydia Mai, Ainsley Mai, Piper Mai and Davie Mai. Spending much of their lives in Piedmont, CA, Karin & Don also lived in Claremont, CA and moved to El Dorado Hills, CA in 2017. In addition to working for more than 40 years as a Dental Hygienist, Karin was an active volunteer for every school and activity her children attended (swim team, Camp Fire Girls, band and theater, to name a few). With a heart for social justice, Karin was very involved with her church communities of St. Paul Evangelical

anything he would. His humor was amazing and his laugh will not be forgotten. He loved his Corvettes and one of the last things he did was be a part of a Corvette run. He enjoyed life to the fullest. He will be greatly missed by everyone.

Anthony is survived by his son Brittin Kassman, his mother Lupe Henderson and his sister Julie Stroup (Denis, Lexi and Derek) and many family members.

A service will be held at Lake Oaks Senior Community Park, 4280 Patterson Drive, Diamond Springs. CA. 95619, on June 19, 2023 with family and close friends.

his love for NASCAR and racing. This led him into many years of amateur racing at Sears Point. He was also a member of the American Mustang Club along with his sons. In his later years he began working for EDCOE as a special needs driver. He was dearly loved by his students who loved their Mr. Tony. He is survived by his devoted wife Anita; sons Chris (Kiersten) and Kyle (Rachel), 8 grandchildren, his brother Joe, and numerous brother and sister-in laws. A celebration of Tony’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, June 25 at Indian Rock Tree Farm.

often. She was current on politics and events around the world and was sympathetic to the perspectives and su ering of others. While other mothers cleaned house; she read the American Scholar and later added The Economist. She was mentally sharp and intellectually engaged. She possessed an outstanding memory and was telling stories about things few others could remember until the final few days of her life. She led a healthy and active lifestyle with hiking, biking, and gardening.

She is survived by her sister Louisa Cooper (Honolulu), daughters Blue (Phil) Tierney and Catherine Dickson (Steve) Schwarzbach of Placerville, her son David Sloan of Hollister, her grandchildren Laurel Lydia Schwarzbach of Oakland, Kirk (Carl Baloney) Schwarzbach of Washington D.C., Will (Erika Lundgrin) Tierney of Cleveland, and Charlie (Haley Godwin) Tierney of Sacramento. Her greatest joy at the end of her life was seeing her great grandchildren Ansel and Barrette Tierney and Aristide and Lydia SchwarzbachBaloney. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and felt fortunate to be surrounded by their love.

Lutheran in Oakland, CA, Good Shepherd Lutheran in Claremont, CA and St. Stephen’s Lutheran in El Dorado Hills, CA, in addition to Lutheran Church Women (LCW) and other organizations through the Lutheran Church (ELCA). Karin served as President of the Piedmont Chapter of the League of Women Voters and worked tirelessly with Oakland’s Rebuilding Together and various soup kitchens. She also lovingly kept track of her HS classmates from January 1957 and helped to organize their reunions for many years. After retirement, Don and Karin travelled the world with Global Volunteers, serving wherever there was a need in places like Tanzania, Vietnam, India, China, Russia, Peru, Mexico, Canada and Australia. Karin will be remembered by many friends and family around the world for her big heart, her welcoming smile, her generosity and her unending acts of service. A memorial for Karin was held at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in El Dorado Hills, CA on Tuesday, June 13. A second will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, CA on Saturday, August 19 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, Karin’s family asks that contributions be directed to one of the following organizations: U.C. Davis Breast Cancer Research (https://give.ucdavis.edu/donate/ yourgift/cc48376), The Plaster House (https://www. theplasterhouse.org), or Women’s Cancer Research Center (https:// mageewomens.org/support).

Woman reported missing

Isaac Streeter Staff writer Georgetown resident Sarah Liddicoat (née Greene) was o cially reported missing by family members June 10.

Liddicoat was last seen June 5 by the owner of the property she lived on o Breedlove Road in Georgetown, Liddicoat’s family told the Mountain Democrat.

Liddicoat, 40, is described as white, 5-foot, 8-inches tall and weighing 150-160 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She has two tattoos, a butterfly on her right ankle and a scarab beetle on her back surrounded by a

No transit Monday

El Dorado Transit

El Dorado Transit’s business o ce and dispatch center will be closed and the following services will not operate Monday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday:

• Local bus routes

•Commuter bus routes

•Dial-A-Ride services

The Sacramento/South Lake Tahoe connecting bus will operate on a normal schedule June 19. For more information or to reserve a ride on the South Lake Tahoe Connector visit eldoradotransit.com. All services will resume as normal June 20.

SARAH LIDDICOAT

moon, palm trees and Egyptian characters, according to a missing person poster shared to Facebook.

Liddicoat’s aunt Terry Thompkins and cousin Monique Grant-Hughes, said that Liddicoat’s phone, cigarettes, purse and wallet were all left behind in her cabin

when she went missing. Liddicoat’s wallet was described by Thompkins as having $700 dollars in it before and $100 dollars in it after she had gone missing.

Grant-Hughes said close family and friends assisted in an unsuccessful foot search June 13 on the property where Liddicoat was last seen. Grant-Hughes noted the search was performed without El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce involvement. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Liddicoat should contact the Sheri ’s O ce at (530) 621-6200, referencing case No. 23-4497.

The buck passing never stops in California

President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that read “The Buck Stops Here.”

In an interview with legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow, he explained, as president, he was responsible for all the decisions of his administration and wouldn’t “pass the buck” to someone else.

In California, political leaders have elevated “buck passing” to an art form and are adept at making excuses for their litany of failures.

For example, progressive state and local leaders decry rising crime rates but they are the ones responsible for e ectively hamstringing law enforcement to such an extent that most crimes in California go either unreported or unpunished.

Even worse, as videos of gangs raiding stores appear daily, progressive legislators have introduced a bill, Senate Bill 553, which prohibits store employees from interfering with criminals in the act of shoplifting. (The California Retailers Association mocks the bill as an open invitation for thieves “to come in and steal.”)

Another example involves illegal immigration. Gov. Gavin Newsom railed against Florida o cials for sending a few dozen undocumented migrants to California and even went so far as to suggest Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis be arrested for kidnapping. Even left-leaning law professors thought this was foolish. But it was Gov. Newsom himself who noted that California, as a sanctuary state, would welcome undocumented migrants. So what was he expecting?

When it comes to the crisis with homelessness in California, our political leaders need to gaze in the mirror. The governor blames local governments for not building more housing units and issues threats — mostly to conservative cities — with ever increasingly draconian mandates. But he doesn’t make the same threats to localities where he is popular, like Marin County.

True to form, progressive politicians rarely accept responsibility for homelessness, which is driven in large part by rampant drug addiction and associated mental illness. Indeed, the problem is compounded by pushing decriminalization of drug dealing, not just drug use. Progressives just shot down proposed legislation imposing stricter penalties for selling fentanyl.

But the gold star winner in “passing the buck” could be seen in recent testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce. The hearing was ostensibly about the U.S. Department of Labor’s budget, but the elephant in the room was the $32 billion in fraudulent spending by California’s Employment Development Department which, at the time, was overseen by the person testifying, Julie Su.

Su is also President Biden’s designee to be the U.S. Secretary of Labor, but her nomination is floundering both for her progressive views on labor policy — she does little but parrot union talking points — and for her failure in addressing

■ See COUPAL, page A5

Letters to the Editor

A failed system

EDITOR:

In 1996 I was a systems engineer employed by MCI State Government systems based in Sacramento and assigned to the newly awarded California Department of Justice automated, paperless gun background check system (DROS). The system requirements were to complete multiple background checks of U.S. federal and state of California databases to determine whether or not the purchaser of a handgun or firearm could legally possess a firearm. The system was designed to: 1. Query each database (such as the Justice Department’s Consolidated Firearms Information System). 2. Wait for a response. 3. Release the gun if no response was issued to the gun dealer.

When I asked the state of California contract representative about the logic, and explained that between step 2 and step 3 there could be a computer error that prevented a response that denied the gun transaction, I was bluntly told to follow the requirements as they were and not design for a “positive” or “negative” a rmation from each database system because that would take too long and be too complex. I was much younger then and more naïve, but nonetheless

Belltower

outraged. Why would a system with a known logic flaw in the program, allowing it to fail, silently go into production for something as crucial as determining if a felon was attempting a gun purchase? I later realized the rationale was to simply allow government bureaucrats and politicians to claim victory without doing anything meaningful.

As the years have passed, I’ve often asked gun dealers I’ve visited in Auburn, Sacramento, Placerville, Rancho Cordova and nearby areas if they have had this “fail silent” issue impact their store. In every instance the dealer acknowledged that they have received a late notice or message indicating that the gun was sold to a criminal and to notify law enforcement to go and retrieve it. That is a failure in the most fundamental way. A simple, inexpensive two-stage process would alleviate the issue entirely. Imagine the benefits to our society. See for yourself at bit.ly/3qR1GBV.

June 1944 was significant both in Europe and the Pacific

After dinner June 7 at the American Legion Post 119, I was chatting with Mac, whose full name I keep forgetting even though he is commander of the VFW Post by the fairgrounds. He is also a retired sergeant major in the Army. I know that Mac stands for MacAdams.

He is usually organizing the flag bearers and arranging for veterans to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

He was not going to be there for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial by the county government center. So, he designated me to do that.

When I turned my four names in to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, Capt. Jack Babbit remarked that my writing was a bad as his. I didn’t tell him that took years as a reporter to perfect that bad script.

Mac was explaining to me the reason he missed the Memorial Day ceremony was that he was on the QE II sailing across the Atlantic to England with his wife. The most interesting part of the voyage was the World War II veterans who were going on to Normandy for the 79th anniversary of the D-Day June 6 storming of the Normandy

beaches. Each night they held the passengers spellbound with their stories.

It wasn’t until July 25, 1944, that the Allied forces broke out of the Normandy beachhead and headed for Paris.

By Aug. 15 they had reached Nice in Southern France and advanced toward the Rhine River. Not until Aug. 20 did Allied troops reach Paris.

An earlier June battle took place June 4-7, 1942, in the Pacific. The Battle of Midway eventually resulted in sinking four Japanese carriers, losing 228 Japanese aircraft and 3,000 Japanese sailors.

June 15, 1944, began the battle for Saipan. By June 18 the Marines had captured the airfield and Seabees made it ready for American aircraft. The Marines took the highest point on the island on June 27. On the night of July 6-7, 3,000-4,000 Japanese troop staged a Bonzai attack but were wiped out.

The next month Guam was retaken and Tinian Island, allowing B-29s to reach Japan and start a bombing campaign.

Michael Ra ety is retired editor of the Mountain Democrat and a resident of the Placerville area.

PLACERVILLE CITY COUNCIL City Hall

Mayor Michael Saragosa msaragosa@cityofplacerville.org

Vice Mayor Jackie Neau jneau@cityofplacerville.org

John Clerici jclerici@cityofplacerville.org

Nicole Gotberg ngotberg@cityofplacerville.org

David Yarbrough dyarbrough@cityofplacerville.org

ElL

True to form, progressive politicians rarely accept responsibility for homelessness, which is driven in large part by rampant drug addiction and associated mental illness.

we really address it, how are we going to make up for these funding stream deficits?”

While the county has done well in increasing reserves and designations, in a CAO press release Schmid notes funds are not sufficient to meet all demands related to deferred maintenance and replacement costs of county buildings, road maintenance, CalPERS liabilities and employee compensation to hire and keep employees.

Based on current inflation trends, Schmid noted the board should anticipate most estimated costs for capital replacement, deferred maintenance and road maintenance will continue to see substantial increases.

By the numbers

The total recommended budget is set at $1.2 billion, a 2% increase ($25.4 million) from the previous year’s adopted budget. The sum of the budget includes $1 billion in government funds, which excludes special fund revenues of $420.2 million for the General Fund and $193.4 million in net county costs.

The breakdown includes $283.3 million in salaries and benefits, $292 million in services, supplies and other expenses, $77 million in fixed assets, $195.2 million in transfers, $161.2 million in contingencies and $3.8 million in reserves and designations. Owens noted the low estimate for reserves is not unusual as designations as more designations are seen during the adoption of the official budget.

Priorities for the budget include allocating $55.5 million to the accumulative capital outlay work plan for facility improvements.

Various budget allocations include $3.2 million for the Sheriff’s helicopter operation, which includes $800,000 in operational costs. Funding for the chopper will come from Transient Occupancy Tax revenue and the General Fund.

The TOT program, or hotel and lodging tax, is charged to travelers when renting hotels or other lodging. Those funds are used to help offset tourism impacts.

Some $7 million will go to various park projects, including the Diamond Springs Community Park and Chili Bar Park, $1 million of TOT monies will be designated to local fire districts and $4.25 million will be set aside to address future and unknown cost increases related to inflation and economic uncertainty as well as disaster response costs.

The budget also allocates $28.42 million in federal revenue to continue the construction of the Mosquito Bridge and $20 million in state and federal revenue to be used to help address and prevent homelessness in El Dorado County.

According to Interim CAO Tiffany Schmid, the budget will fully fund the General Fund Contingency ($11.5 million) and general reserves ($11.5 million). Other board action County staff was asked to determine and present recommended funding sources and expansion plans for community hubs no later than an April 2024 budget direction presentation. Staff will also look into funding the Coloma/Lotus Business Council’s request for $25,000 in the adopted budget.

Still in consideration following an April budget

presentation is hiring two new code enforcement officers for night and weekend response to vacation home rental violations, one for Tahoe and one for the West Slope, to be paid for by Transient Occupancy Tax funds. There is also a request to fund the Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce for $37,500.

City of Placerville officials have asked for more than $110,000 to help with maintenance costs for the Placerville Aquatic Center. County staff will also consider using $29,000 from the adopted budget in TOT funds for the Clean Tahoe Program that aims to mitigate tourism impacts in the Tahoe area. The board will officially adopt the budget in September.

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 334-2970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot. comt

AmericAN AssOc. Of UNiversity WOmeN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 417-7138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net el DOrADO cOUNty AmAteUr rADiO cLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

LeArN & PLAy criBBAGe Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-768-4452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at Steve’s Pizza, 3941 Park Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Ready for real change?

ceLeBrAte recOvery meets Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at Bayside Church of Placerville, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing and recovery from our hurts, habits, and hangups. Email elebratercovery@ baysideplacerville. com. Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ CRBaysidePlacerville.

Struggling with life? ceLeBrAte recOvery is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at

6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@ greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/

DemOcrAts – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems. org for more information.

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

Hangtown Women’s teNNis club. Join fun-loving women Wednesdays 8am-10am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $50/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

mArsHALL HOsPitAL

AUxiLiAry is looking for volunteers. It is a rewarding opportunity to do something for the community. We will be holding interviews on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Please contact Linda Grimoldi at 530-6202240 or call the Auxiliary Office at 530-626-2643.

seNiOr Peer cOUNseLiNG

Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)6216304 to leave a message and get started.

tAxPAyers AssOciAtiON Of eL DOrADO cOUNty

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

Coupal Continued from A4

California’s historic bungling of EDD.

California’s own Congressman Kevin Kiley pressed Su on whether she accepted any responsibility for the unemployment fraud, but Su deflected and offered nothing more than a word salad of non-responses.

Although Su pointed to a state audit report that recognized both the unanticipated volume of claims and the lack of usual controls associated with the federal relief program, the same report was more damning to Su in assigning responsibility: “Despite repeated warnings, EDD did not bolster its fraud detection efforts until months into the pandemic.”

The report also said EDD’s response to the fraud was “massive missteps and inaction.”

Citizens of both California and the nation at large are entitled to accountability and less “buck passing” from politicians. But we also shouldn’t forget that, ultimately, the buck stops with us, the voters. Californians won’t get the accountability we want until we start electing people who aren’t afraid to accept the responsibility — good or bad — for their actions.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Since 1984! New & Refurbished Computers Sales and Service

Community center Continued from A1 since they lost everything,” said District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo. “This center would give them hope because it would unite the community as they rebuild.”

Caldor blazed through Grizzly Flat overnight Aug. 16-17, 2021. Hundreds of structures including many homes, a post office from the 1850s, a fire station, the Grizzly Flat Community Church and Walt Tyler Elementary School were all destroyed and many residents became displaced as a result.

Turnboo, along with District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin, representatives from the Forest Service, the South County Alliance and field representatives from Congressman Kevin Kiley and Assemblywoman Megan Dahle’s offices all gathered Thursday on the proposed 5 acres of Forest Service land to discuss logistics and possibilities. While no official agreement has come just yet, Turnboo is hopeful the community will get the acreage needed to build the facility.

“We had a meeting with the Forest Service that Parlin and I attended, along with county staff, to work through all the details. They want to bring something back to the community and were sincere in willing to do this,” Turnboo said.

A meeting with state’s Secretary of

COMiCS

Agriculture Karen Ross’ staff also has made the idea more of a possibility, according to Turnboo.

The property in question sits adjacent to where Walt Tyler Elementary School used to be near Tyler Drive. John Taylor, who chairs the South County Alliance dedicated to rebuilding Grizzly Flat in conjunction with the El Dorado Community Alliance, said the community center could be used for a variety of functions including having meetings, child daycare, senior meals or hosting a Boys and Girls Club.

“We saw this as the first big step to bring the community back together, for them to have a meeting place where they can host functions and come together,” Taylor explained.

El Dorado National Forest Supervisor Joe Stout said the Forest Service is considering leasing the property, starting a conveyance for the land or having the county use the land through a special use permit.

“We are going to try to do what we can to make something happen. That is our commitment,” Stout told the Mountain Democrat. He, along with Eldorado National Forest Engineer Rocio Espionza, agreed to go to the property last week to get a better sense of the layout and what the county is looking for.

Insurance Continued from A1

then it has changed the assumptions on which the approval was based.

“They granted themselves a de facto rate increase by reducing the risk” in a state where that’s illegal, said Rosenfield. The department could issue a notice to State Farm, he said, and tell the company it needs to keep selling new home insurance policies until it submits new rates and those rates are approved.

The insurance department disputes that it has the power to do this. “Their claims are not supported by law,” said Soller, the deputy commissioner. “There’s a reason why it hasn’t been done by any insurance commissioner before.”

Let insurance companies use forward-looking catastrophe models

The kinds of data and statistical models insurance companies can use to set prices may sound like a nighttime sleep aid, but it’s a matter of lively discussion in insurance circles.

When a company tries to justify rate changes, it is required to rely on past losses to project future losses. It can’t use factors like the locations of new homes it is covering — whether they’re in downtown San Francisco or rural wine country — or the increased risk of wildfires due to climate change.

“We do it in a very old-fashioned way, and it needs to be updated,” said Rex Frazier, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, an insurance industry group that counts State Farm as a member. He supports the use of forward-looking models, which are generally provided by other private companies. California already permits insurers to use models for earthquake insurance.

If a company is trying to figure out how much it should charge for earthquake coverage, it would look at proximity to fault lines, Frazier said, but for wildfire insurance, California doesn’t do that.

“For wildfire it just says ‘Well, looking backward, what have you paid over the last 20 years for wildfire clients?’” he said.

Consumer groups generally oppose letting insurance companies use models, fearing that companies will use them to justify extreme price hikes, and that complex math will make scrutiny a challenge.

“They’re just very sophisticated crystal balls,” said Amy Bach, executive director for United Policyholders, a consumer group. Modeling companies generally see their models as intellectual property, which can pose a challenge for transparency. “Our fear is that they overstate risk,” said Bach.

About a week and a half after State Farm’s announcement, the insurance department said it would host a public workshop on use of models in insurance pricing, ahead of considering regulations. The workshop will take place July 13.

Last week the Assembly’s insurance committee held a hearing on models. When asked by a legislator whether the department was moving toward incorporating catastrophe models, a department representative confirmed that it was.

“Historic losses do not fully account for growing wildfire risks, or risk mitigation measures taken by communities,” said Michael Peterson, a deputy commissioner at the insurance department, during the hearing.

Address the increasing cost of insurance — for insurance companies

Insurance companies buy insurance and when they do it’s called “reinsurance.”

The cost of reinsurance has risen dramatically, and State Farm cited “a challenging reinsurance market” as one of the reasons it decided to stop selling new home insurance policies in California.

When insurance companies explain their costs to the insurance department as part of the process for justifying their prices, they aren’t allowed to include the cost of reinsurance. The department hasn’t historically permitted it, Soller said, because it doesn’t regulate reinsurance.

“What are insurers supposed to do when, on the one hand, the Department of Insurance is telling them ‘maintain your solvency’ and then, on the other hand, when their costs go up, you can’t charge for it,” said Frazier.

Insurance industry groups say it would help if they could incorporate the cost of reinsurance into their prices. But consumer groups say that the move would cause premiums to spike.

“Californians would see immediate massive rate hikes — both as soon as that went into effect and ongoing,” said Carmen Balber executive director of Consumer Watchdog. A reinsurance provider regulated by California would address problems she sees with the reinsurance market, Balber said, but that doesn’t exist currently.

Reduce the risk of disasters

The underlying problem is that disasters happen in California. They’re in the middle of the woods or surrounded by flammable grasslands or on the edge of bluffs that are expected to erode. Making homes less likely to burn, flood or collapse would be good for homeowners and would also make California feel less risky to insurers.

There’s no shortage of ideas for how to reduce risk, and there’s been action on this front in recent years. The insurance department, for example, has required insurance companies to consider whether homeowners take certain steps to protect their homes — like installing fire-resistant vents and clearing out vegetation under decks — in their prices.

California has set aside $2.7 billion for wildfire resilience over the past three years, according to the insurance department. The department convened a group of environmental advocates, researchers and public policy and insurance experts to make recommendations on how to reduce risks. Among their long list of recommendations:

• Create statewide hazard maps so future risks are more clear to the public

• Increase funding to retrofit homes

• Apply fire-resistant building codes in areas with moderate to higher fire risk.

Alice Hill, chair of the group convened by the department and a senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the world will get warmer even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced so focusing on where and how homes are built remains important.

“That could mean not building in areas that are just becoming too risky,” Hill said.

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Solutions

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ve known for a while what needs to be done, and now it’s time to just do it. There’s something to drop, rearrange, label differently or reassign. Get it done, then open your arms.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Solidarity between people is among your favorite things to bear witness to. Your strong egalitarianism will have you doing what you can to ensure everyone is respected and treated equally.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some enjoy a good argument and regard it as intellectual sparring. These types may even argue against points they agree with just to make it interesting. The mood will be light, your wits sharp, and communication will go well.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though social norms and conventions shape everyone, it’s hard to see exactly how until you get away from what you’re used to. Today offers a break from the usual interactions, and the chance to glimpse your scene from a distance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Since people perceive you through the lens of their individual experiences, there’s no way to totally know or control their view of you. But your knowledge of human nature gets you as close as possible to making a desired impact.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have a skill that many others have, but you put it all together in a way that’s totally unique.

You’ll embody the following definition of entertainment: “the spectacle of someone doing something the beholder could not do.” — Quentin Crisp

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There will be puzzles hiding in plain sight and invitations to muse, laugh and discover. Most people will miss the opportunity because it’s not in their phone. You have to be looking up with curiosity to catch it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You may find yourself investing a lot of energy into looking like the good stuff comes to you easily, naturally and for free. It’s a counterintuitive risk that feels foolish — and a smart ruse that pays off.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Everyone likes the wild card -- a versatile treat you’re happy to get dealt because it plugs into any hand you want to play. You’re the wild card now, and people will be happy to see you walk in the door.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll think forward and prepare for many possible outcomes, but there will still be uncontrollable, unpredictable aspects to the plan. Living with uncertainty is a kind of art form, and you’re the artist that makes it beautiful.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Life is messy. People react differently to the muddle. They become upset or ignore it, complain or accept it, and more. You see the mess and go for your broom. If you can’t fix it, you can at least improve it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Savor what life has to offer. Creativity, reflection and simple pleasure all take time. If forced to happen within strict time limits, they might not. Today, the muses want to stretch. Can you throw out the clock?

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

THE KNOW

June 20

El Dorado Western Railroad partners with Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 3966 Missouri Flat Road in Placerville, for a dineout event. Head to the restaurant, 4-8 p.m. and 30% of sales will be donated back to the living history nonprofit.

Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St. in Placerville, presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.

June 21

Support CASA El Dorado with a bowl of delicious ice cream. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, 1011 E Bidwell St. in Folsom, will donate 20% of total purchases made, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., to the organization helping children in El Dorado County.

Are you nervous about the upcoming fire season?

Have questions about home hardening and creating defensible space?

Do you know what to do if wildfire is headed your way? The Camino Fire Safe Council hosts a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado El Dorado Unit headquarters, 2840 Mt. Danaher Road in Camino.

Capital Stage in Sacramento presents “Predictor,” June 21 through July 23. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.

June 22

Arts and Culture El Dorado honor El Dorado County Superintendent of schools Dr. Ed Manansala with the 2023 Normadene Carpenter Award at 6 p.m. at David Girard Vineyards in Placerville.

For tickets and more information call (530) 295-3496 or visit artsandcultureeldorado. org.

West Coast Performing Arts Presenters presents Motown Mania! The Golden Hits of the Temptations & the Superstars of Motown, 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom.

For tickets and more information call (916) 6086888 or visit harriscenter. net.

June 23

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open again every Friday and Saturday for open garden days, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on site to assist with any gardening questions. Garden may be closed for inclement weather or poor air quality. Check the website before visiting ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

The 40th annual Bob West Drive for Marshall takes place at Cold Springs Golf & Country Club in Placerville. There will be a wide array of quality auction items, as well as contests and drawings with prizes –including a chance to win a 2023 vehicle, donated by Thompsons Auto and Truck Center. For more information and to register visit marshallfound.org.

THE GIFT OF GIVING

Local nonprofits and organizations invest in the future

■ Sons & Daughters of Italy – Gold Country Lodge No. 2705 scholarships

News release

The Gold Country Lodge No. 2705 Order

Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, founded in 1996, recently awarded seven scholarships in El Dorado Hills. The group’s mission is to foster an environment that preserves Italian American traditions creating a legacy of service to the community.

The Gold Country Lodge o ers $500 Italian Heritage Scholarships for students enrolled within the El Dorado Union High School District and Folsom, which represent the membership base of the lodge. Additional scholarships o ered are one $500 Italian Language Scholarship to a student who has participated in the Oak Ridge Italian language classes for four years with exemplary performance and three Bob Matranga Memorial Scholarships for $1,000 each. Matranga had a career in law enforcement for the Sacramento City Police Department for 30 years and was also an instructor at the police academy. His family established this memorial scholarship to honor him.

■ Soroptimist International of Cameron ParkEl Dorado Hills scholarships

Soroptimist International Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills awarded scholarships of $1,000 each to four local seniors. Recipients from Ponderosa High School are Hayden Bebout and Kaia Mount and recipients from Oak Ridge High School are Haley Wong and Alena Tadayeski.

All students have plans to attend college in the fall. Hayden discovered an interest in math and science when she was awarded a scholarship to attend a STEM summer camp. This interest, plus her joy in coaching gymnastics to children, led her toward a desire to become a pediatric nurse. Hayden is described by counselors as wise beyond her years with a natural ability to lead, which she will put to good use when she attends the University of Utah.

Meanwhile, Kaia wants to be the person to find a cure for EhlerdDanlos syndrome. She was born with this disorder, but it wasn’t diagnosed until it became disabling in her sophomore year. In spite of missing months of school, she dedicated herself to making up that year, graduating on time with a straight-A academic record. Her plan is to attend medical school to become a doctor or researcher.

Haley has goals of becoming a nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner. She demonstrated she is up to the challenge by getting A’s or A+’s in all of her classes, especially commendable since they were all AP classes. Furthermore, she juggled her academics with a rigorous athletic schedule. She is an accomplished golfer, teaches golf and has been

■ Assistance League of Sierra Foothills scholarships

News release

A ssistance League Sierra Foothills recognizes El Dorado County residents who exhibit exemplary community service with Community Service Scholarships and those who have overcome significant challenges with Advantage Scholarships. This year four deserving El Dorado County high school seniors were each awarded $2,500.

Community Service Scholarships

Lucas Johnston, El Dorado High School in Placerville, worked with the El Dorado County Youth Commission, a group focused on mental health among youth. Working with wellness

The first Italian Heritage Scholarship recipient is ORHS student Gianna Jean, whose goal is to become an immigration lawyer, fueled by her Noni and Nonna’s experience immigrating to the U.S. from Italy. She has received a number of awards during her high school career and participated in many extracurricular activities. She served as president of the Italian Honor Society and sergeant-at-arms for the National Honor Society and completed community service work with Special Olympics, feeding the homeless, sending care packages to the military and volunteering at the food bank. She founded an international tutorial program during the pandemic teaching English to Italian children and founded a nonprofit called Fancy Frock Project that organized and distributed dresses at a variety of disaster relief events benefiting Caldor Fire victims. Her letters of recommendation point out she is a “conscientious, exceptional student, leader and peer tutor.”

The second Italian Heritage Scholarship recipient is ORHS student Sydney Gallo, who plans to go to a four-year college to study molecular biology, with a minor in Italian with the thought of becoming a surgeon. She has received an AP Scholar Distinction Award. Sydney played on the Oak Ridge soccer team for two years and has played on a club soccer team throughout high school. She has been part of the Italian Club and Italian National Honor Society, in which she currently holds the position of VP, throughout

Courtesy photo Soroptimist International of Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills scholarship recipients are, left to right, Kaia Mount, Alena Tadayeski and Hayden Bebout. The fourth scholarship went to Haley Wong, who could not attend.

Local soroptimists help women live their dreams

Soroptimist International of Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills, a global organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls, recently awarded $5,000 to three women as part of the Live Your Dream program.

The Live Your Dream award provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with the financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. The award can be used for tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense.

The awards were presented at LUNAFEST, the club’s main fundraiser, at the Cameron Park Community Center. Since that event, one recipient, Taylor Kruezberger has been selected by the Soroptimist International Sierra Nevada Region to receive an additional award of $3000. She will be honored at the regional conference in Reno Nevada in June.

Kreuzberger, mother of one from Diamond Springs, is using the cash award to complete her studies at Folsom Lake College and will attend a nursing school in 2024 with the goal of being a registered nurse. At 16, Taylor

lost her father to alcoholisim and then suffered from drug addiction and alcoholism herself. Fortunately she found a

rehab program that turned her life around.

n See dreams page B5

Courtesy photo Soroptimist International of Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills President Felicity Wood, far right, addresses Live Your Dream award winner Taylor Kreuzberger while other recipients Meryem Kavazovic and Fatemeh Hosseini, as well as Soroptimist Marlyn Pino-Jones, watch while on stage.

Between the covers

60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Sacramento

Author: Jordan Summers

Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press

Rebecca Murphy

Mountain Democrat correspondent

Now that warm weather has arrived, it’s time to get out and take a hike. Many a tome has been written about various hiking and camping areas, but none so complete as this for the surrounding valley, delta and foothill areas. In 2007 Jordan Summers’ “60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Sacramento including Auburn, Folsom and Davis” was first published.

Last year the publication celebrated its third edition with the second published in 2012. It’s obvious Menasha Ridge Press has found itself a good seller if not a “best.”

Author Summers is a seriously seasoned hiker and camper and dedicates his book to his four grandchildren. As a young boy growing up in Virginia, he spent many adventures camping in the woods behind his home. Now he is a veteran hiker of the Pacific Crest Trail hiking roundtrip from the California-Mexico border to north into Canada and has written at least two books on the subject: “Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California” and “Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington,” both published 2021.

“60 Hikes within 60 Miles” elaborates on smaller day hikes at local locations such as Cronan Ranch and Cool’s Olmstead Loop, as well as interesting and historical hikes at places such as River of Skulls along the Calaveras River and the Bridgeport Bridge along Buttermilk Bend Trail along the South Yuba River. Northern California has a plethora of rivers and the Yuba and Calaveras rivers are just two of those that flow west toward the Sacramento Delta. Other rivers, along which hikes are highlighted

Know Continued from B1

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District presents a free concert with the Rachel Steele Band, 7-9:30 p.m. at Community Park. For more information visit edhcsd.org. Forever Goldrush performs 8-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

June 24

The Cameron Park Community Services District hosts the Summer Spectacular at Cameron Park Lake. Enjoy food, live music, fireworks and more. For more information visit cameronpark.org.

Apple Hill Growers are celebrating at this month’s Lavender Blue Harvest Days June 24 & 25 and July 1 & 2. The lavender harvest should be on full display at Bluestone Meadow Farm. And more Apple Hill Growers (wineries, brewery, farm stands, B & B and more) will be sharing the Lavender Blue love at their farms with special activities and products. For more information visit applehill.com/events.

El Dorado Dance Academy presents a summer performance, Metamorphosis, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 6086888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Ponte Palmero Retirement Living in Cameron Park hosts a a Crab & Tri-Tip Feed/Open House, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seating is limited and RSVP is required and due by June 19. Call (530) 677-9100.

Gwinllan Estate in the Fair Play area hosts Paella on the Patio, 6-10 p.m. RSVP by June 21. Call (530) 723-2879 or email info@ gwinllanestate.com.

Oakstone Winery in Fair Play hosts a barrel tasting and futures event, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 24 & 25. For reservations email info@oakstone-winery.com.

Pacific ChamberFest hosts a concert with guest artist Michael Sporove, 2 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

The Neon Moon Band will perform at Lava Cap Winery’s Summer Concert Series in Placerville, 5-8 p.m.

Lantz Lazwell and the Vibe Tribe perform 9 p.m. to midnight at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Fairytale Town presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy. The enchanting event combines the whimsy of Shakespeare’s play and the delight of Crystal Ice Cream, 5:30-9 p.m. at Fairytale Town in Sacramento. For more information visit fairytaletown.org or call (916) 808-7462.

Amador City hosts Dancin’ in the Streets parties, 6-9 p.m, with the following acts scheduled: Doppelgänger (June 24), Route 88 (July 1), Double Take (July 8), On Air (July 15) and The Blowbacks (July 22). For more information visit the website,

in this book, are the north, south and middle forks of the American and Cosumnes rivers. From Davis and Sacramento in the west and north to Galt in the south and our very own foothills in the east, “60 Hikes within 60 Miles” is a treasure-trove of adventures waiting to happen. All one needs is motivation, along with plenty of water for the trip. Most of the 60 hikes in the book are less than 12 miles roundtrip with the exception of the Quarry Trail to American Canyon Falls, which is 14.5 miles

VisitAmacorCity.com.

Shane Dwight takes the stage 7-9 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theater in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheater.com.

Madroña Vineyards in Camino hosts a Wine Club Dinner

Under the Oaks Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy assorted appetizers while listening to Hickory Wine Duo. The dinner will showcase the amazing reds with prime rib and roasted vegetables. For reservations go to Madronavineyards@orderport.net.

A schedule of superstar headliners will perform at the Harveys Outdoor Arena during the Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series. Acts featured: Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers Music Festival with Jimmy Eat World, Yellowcard, Bayside, Plain White T’s, Hawthorn Heights, Anberlin and more, June 24; Old Dominion, June 30 and July 1; Sammy Hagar & The Circle, July 14; Dierks Bentley, Aug. 4; Foo Fighters, Aug. 10; Sam Hunt, Aug. 13; Darius Rucker, Aug. 19; and Kane Brown, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. For tickets and more information visit visitlaketahoe.com.

Music in the Mountains presents a champagne reception and piano recital with Vijay Venkatesh, 7 p.m. at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. For tickets and more information visit musicinthemountains.org.

June 25

Holly’s Hill Vineyards in the Pleasant Valley area hosts live music at 1 p.m.: Hill Country (June 25), Gypsy Standard Time (July 23) and According to Bazooka (Aug. 13). For more information visit hollyshill.com/events.

Bill George, author of “Victory in the Pool: How a Maverick Coach Upended Society and Led a Group of Young Swimmers to Olympic Glory,” comes to Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center, 4 p.m. It’s the ultimate underdog story — that of a swim coach who could not swim, a swim club that accepted minorities when others would not and a group of young swimmers who became Olympic champions. For more information call (916) 941-9401.

The Fabulous Liars Band Dorado, 4-7 p.m.

June 26

Vitalant will host an El Dorado Hills community blood drive, noon to 4:30 p.m. The Bloodmobile will be located in the parking lot near the baseball fields at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District, 1021 Harvard Way. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM019 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

out and back. This is a very popular location with parking along Highway 49 just south of Auburn in the Auburn State Recreation Area. The synopsis of the trail indicates its difficulty and challenge is a result of its distance and elevation change from +878 feet to -639 feet. As in other hiking books published today, GPS coordinates help keep the hiker safe and exactly on target.

The book’s introduction is complete with information on how to use the publication and explanation of the specific trail maps and elevation profiles, nearby activities, how to use the GPS coordinates for each trail; a general guide to Sacramento-area weather with average highs, lows and rainfall; essential equipment, hiking with children, first aid kit necessities, recommendations on gear and clothing, and cautions regarding mountain lions, bears and ticks.

For general safety, always carry food and water, stay on designated trails, be especially careful when crossing streams and at overlooks, be aware of the dangers of standing dead trees and weatherdamaged living trees especially when pitching a tent and know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and hypothermia. Ticks, snakes, poison oak and mosquitoes pose particular problems in the areas the book features, especially during the spring, summer and fall months.

Summers also offers tips on enjoying the trails in the Sacramento region including investigating different areas of the region, taking time along the trails and hiking on weekdays rather than weekends and holidays, if possible.

It’s always fun to have a guide along for a hike and sometimes it’s better in the form of a book that can be carried in a pocket or pack. At any rate, get out and enjoy the great outdoors. “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles” is available at a variety of locations, including Walmart, Target, thriftbooks.com and Better World Books.

Now

The Stage at Burke Junction in Cameron Park presents “The Voice of the Prairie” through June 25. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” through June 25. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Cabaret” through June 25. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

The MACC in Rancho Cordova hosts 20 Years Making Magic –Celebration 20 Years of Cityhood through July 1. The exhibit features an art reception and exhibit, workshops, concerts, artist talks and more. For more information visit rcmacc.org.

Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties” through July 1. For tickets and more information call (916) 960-3036 or visit bigideatheatre.org.

Main Street Theatre Works presents “The Quest for Don Quixote” by Mark Brown and directed by Allen Pontes through July 15, at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson. For tickets and more information visit mstw.org.

Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons issues a call to artists for the 45th annual WASH open exhibit, Go with the Flow. Registration deadline is noon July 21. To enter visit smartentry.com/CallsForEntry.

Arts and Culture El Dorado’s newest show, FIRE/LAND: The Exhibition, runs through Aug. 6. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org/fire-land-the-exhibition.

5.17%

involved with First Tee and U.S. Kids Golf.

Alena demonstrated a student can achieve excellent grades and combine that with numerous extra-curricular activities. She has been active in Girl Scouts for more than 13 years and has participated in swim contests and water polo at the varsity level. Her community service activities include volunteering at Placerville’s Upper Room Dining Hall and the Senior Nutrition Program. She was recently selected to participate in the Shriners Children’s hospital’s summer internship program.

It is clear that all four graduates made the most of their high school experiences; collectively, they were involved in the arts, in service organizations, in volunteering, and in myriad of sports and leadership activities. These four young women have amazing futures ahead and Soroptimist International of Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills is so very proud to help support their dreams.

For additional information about Soroptimist Club of Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills contact Marlyn at pinojones@ yahoo.com or check the club website, sicpedh.org.

high school. Sydney has volunteered with the American Red Cross and with senior citizens and has had a job for a few years while carrying a strong class load with many AP classes, maintaining a very high grade point average. She tutors students in Italian. Sydney’s references note she is a “hard worker, problem solver and has strong academic and interpersonal skills,” adding she is “genuine, passionate and has a zest for learning.”

The third Italian Heritage Scholarship recipient is Folsom High School student Sophia Cordone, who will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study architecture. She received an academic award in 2022 as well as Principal Award (GPA higher than 3.85) in 2021 and 2022. She was in FHS concert band in 2019-20, choir from 2020-22 and this school year served on the Student Advisory Board. Sophia has volunteered at Hands4Hope – Youth Making a Differencw and the Oakmont Living Center and has worked at Safeway and Joann’s. Letters of recommendations highlight Sophia’s problem solving and communication skills, as well as her perseverance, describing her as “helpful, caring, motivated and an all-around amazing person.”

The first Bob Matranga Memorial Scholarship recipient is ORHS student Luciano (Luke) Williams, who plans to go to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and wants to go into

centers to promote accessibility to mental health resources, Lucas developed the idea of Wilderness Wednesdays, which encourage participation in outdoor activities. He will use his scholarship to assist in his pursuit of a degree in biomedical engineering at the University of San Diego.

Haley Wong, Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, served as president of the Interact Club (a high school Rotary equivalent) and worked with Project Linus, a program that donates homemade blankets to foster children. Through collecting bottles and cans from classrooms on campus over a two-year period, enough money was raised to purchase material to make 86 fleece blankets. Haley will use her scholarship in pursuit of a degree in biochemistry at UCLA.

the STEM field. He has received academic awards, to include Principal’s Honor Roll and AP Scholar with Honors, as well as the Jason Clarke Award while playing freshman football. Luke played football and baseball all four years of high school. He has also been an active member of Hands4Hope and the Boys Team Charity, in which he has served as president and hours chairperson. He holds a very high grade point average and has had a job for the past year. His references note Luke is “dependable, motivated, conscientious and thoughtful,” also including he is “actively engaged in the learning process, has a positive attitude and strong work ethic.”

The second Bob Matranga Memorial Scholarship recipient is El Dorado High School Student Jayce Kaldunski, who plans to attend Santa Rosa Community College. His goal is to eventually attend UC Santa Barbara to study theater or biology and get his teaching credential so he can come back to El Dorado High School to teach. Jayce has received many awards throughout high school and served many roles in youth programs and clubs. In his four years of high school, Jayce has completed more than 714 hours of community service. He has had several jobs and even started freelance landscaping and began propagating his own plants to sell at pop-up markets. As it relates to his Italian Heritage, one of his favorite memories is making

Advantage Scholarships

Faith Kramer, Divide High School in Georgetown, graduated early with high marks and “has a career path all planned out past high school.” She will use her scholarship toward her tuition at Paul Mitchell School for Cosmetology in Sacramento.

Kaia Mount, Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, worked as a volunteer at a pediatric therapy center where she was a special role model for the children. She will use her scholarship toward her tuition at the University of Arizona where she will study molecular and cellular biology with an emphasis on genetics.

For more information go to assistanceleague.org/sierra-foothills.

homemade Italian sausage with his family — a tradition started by his Poppop. Jayce’s references state he shows “exemplary leadership, dedication and love for other students. He is dedicated to working with students with disabilities serving as a TA for a special education class, participating in Unified Sports, the inclusion club and planning special events.”

The final Bob Matranga Memorial Scholarship recipient is Sarah Muscarello, a homeschool student through Clarksville Charter who plans to study English at Wheaton College in Illinois. She plans to later go to law school and hopes to use that degree to make a positive impact on the world. Sarah is the published author of “Under a Bright Yellow Sun” and has taught creative writing at a private middle school. She has a gift of knitting and sewing in which she has not only sold items for profit, but has also sewed masks during the pandemic for local workers who needed them. Additionally, Sarah taught sewing to students, has volunteered at her church and has volunteered with other organizations. She single-handedly organized an Italian-themed potluck at her homeschool group for Italian American Heritage month.

The Italian Language Class Scholarship for Academic Achievement goes to Summer Dixon, who was selected by her Italian teacher, Ivana Arostegui. Summer is an ORHS student who took Italian for all four years. Arostegui describes Summer as “an outstanding student who shares their common goal of promoting the Italian language & culture. She is also the current Italian Honor Society co-president. Summer has been an avid supporter of all things Italian from leading cultural holiday meetings and peer tutoring to representing ORHS with the student Bocce team for the Italian Sons and Daughters of Italy community fundraiser. Summer is an amazing Oak Ridge student whose scholastic highlights include captain and gold medal Academic Decathlon winner; Science Olympiad medalist, Class of 2023 Salutatorian, AP scholar of distinction and two-time winner of the campus door decoration contest. Summer enthusiastically shares her love of learning and an interest in the Italian language and culture.”

For more information about the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy email President Jim Silveria at inspectorjim@yahoo.com or contact Genny Arietta at cruiseg@aol.com or (916) 834-1798.

El Dorado Savings Bank has Earned the Highest Rating for 119 Consecutive Quarters. www.bauerfinancial.com

The FINDLEY REPORT El Dorado Savings Bank Awarded the Classification of Premier Performance during the year 2022. www.findley-reports.com

“Quality

We thank our valued customers for your continued support. Come experience superior customer service at any of our 35 convenient branch offices or visit us on-line at:

800-874-9779

Family Law Facilitator/Research Attorney (.5FTE/.5 FTE Full Time Equivalency)

Calaveras County Superior Court Salary Range $103,860.43 - $126,239.32 annually

Job details and application instructions are available at https://www.calaveras.courts.ca.gov

Under General Info, Career Opportunities.

Please submit required documents to hr@calaveras.courts.ca.gov

Final filing deadline date: June 28, 2023