Village Life, Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Matthias’ quick thinking saves ‘Gaga’

Sel Richard Staff writer

The El Dorado Hills Fire Department on Dec. 15 honored 6-year-old Matthias Gross with a civilian life-saving award and his own personalized set of re ghter turnouts for a life-saving act of courage.

Around 8 p.m. Aug. 23, 2022, little Matthias snuggled on the couch next to his grandmother blissfully oblivious that within minutes he was to become someone’s hero.

“I was gasping for air and it comes on really quick for me, no warning, no nothing,” recounts Becky

Lee, Matthias’ grandmother or “Gaga” as he a ectionately calls her. Lee, who was su ering an asthma attack, was able to croak out a plea for Matthias to get his mother, napping in the next room. “I said, ‘I need help; I can’t breathe.’ I thought I was going to die.”

Instead of getting his mother, Matthias went straight to the phone. “I called 911,” he said. “My Gaga wasn’t breathing so I ran and called 911.”

As she was losing consciousness, Lee remembers Matthias shouting to the dispatcher, “Come help my Gaga! My Gaga’s not breathing!”

Teens’ trailblazing idea nets an award

Staff writer

As

Courtesy photo

Ryan Oselinsky, Alex Minnie and Rhys Thomas hold their CREATE competition award. The trio came up with the idea to set ups special Trail Boxes along El Dorado Hills trails to help trail users.

Village Life photo by Sel Richard

El Dorado Hills firefighter/paramedic Brad Willock, Engineer Todd Bichel, Matthias Gross, Capt. Matt Belleci and Capt. Ryan Bennett, front row left to right, celebrate Matthias’ heroic act with the kindergartener’s proud parents Lisa Gross and Michael Gross and his grateful “Gaga” Becky Lee, back row left to right.

Sel Richard

ak Ridge High School seniors Rhys Thomas, Ryan Oselinsky and Alex Minnie nabbed the Best Presentation award at the Dec. 6 CREATE competition at California State University, Sacramento in which they vied against 24 teams from 17 schools across Northern California.

the smallest team in the competition, the three faced schools elding anywhere from ve to more than 60 students. “The workload was much more

What’s happening

Now

Elf on the Boulevard

Scavenger Hunt runs through Dec. 24. Pick up a passport at any participating El Dorado Hills Town Center business and go looking for Elves hiding around. Once all the Elves have been located, return the passport to Face in a Book to be entered into a drawing to receive a Town Center gift card stocking. The winner of the grand prize will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 28. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

Visit the beautiful Drive-thru Nativity at Freedom Church, 4414 Commodity Way in Cameron Park, 5-9 p.m. through Dec. 26 (closed Christmas Eve). There are nine lighted scenes that tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Event is free.

Dec. 22

El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts the community menorah lighting to celebrate Hanukkah, 6:30-8 p.m.

Emery Entertainment Presents Rocky Mountain High Experience: John Denver Christmas at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net/events.

Dec. 23

Sacramento Master Singers present A Master Singers Christmas at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake

What would you like Santa to put in your stocking?

Demi smayra

than what I thought I was getting into,” confessed Alex.

The CREATE mentoring program is a 10-week project in which students work with mentors from the engineering, architecture and construction industries to simulate the process of planning, designing and building a structure. This year competitors presented an idea that meets a community’s needs by using two or three shipping containers and a $1 million budget.

Several ideas were considered, including a disaster shelter and an entertainment amphitheater. Ultimately, they decided on a Trail Box, which was in reaction to the El Dorado Hills Community Services

“I learned a lot about project management, not only how it’s done in the field, but how we do it here in our project ...”

District’s master plan and supporting research showing that trails and trail amenities are a high priority for area residents. In addition, the team liked that it was a project that could serve its duty year round.

Their proposed Trail Box houses a bike repair station with tools, shade, water for people and pets, snacks, an emergency phone, a first aid kit, trail education as well as a bathroom. “The idea was to make it easier to use the trails,” explained Rhys. “Anything you’d

need.”

Three locations were suggested, including the CSD Community Center, the abandoned executive golf course and along the Poppy Trail on the hills of Serrano. Each box would be equipped with solar panels and a Tesla power wall to power lights and other equipment.

“We wanted the Trail Boxes to be in separate locations,” explained Alex, a feature that proved distinctive among a host of ideas that grouped multiple containers into a single facility. “It brought a unique aspect to it.”

In addition, Rhys pointed out their design addresses ideas of flexibility and expandability. “You don’t have to redesign each one for a different location because they’re all standardized,” he said. “You can just build another one and put it out there.”

The Trail Box design sports an open layout allowing users to access vending machines and other amenities without going inside the structure. Doors that swing upward to provide shade and weather protection led the team to consult structural engineers regarding a lifting mechanism that could accommodate the 465 pound panels. The team was thrilled that electrical engineers and solar professionals all offered enthusiastic feedback that such an idea would be welcome in their own communities.

Rhys’ parents both suggested the competition as well as mentored his

team. Rhys’ father Simon, director of planning for Taylor Design, provided design assistance and Rhys’ mother, Glynns of Glynns Thomas Photography, helped with project management. Robin Haller of Arcadis offered advice and Kaylee Gathard of CAPCON, in particular, provided invaluable aid with the cost estimate.

The team also received feedback from EDHCSD staff, who were interested enough in the project that the teens have been invited to present to the EDHCSD Board of Directors.

The experience did evolve with its share of growing pains. “Our timing was really bad,” admitted Ryan. “We were really slow doing everything. We put a lot of thought into it.”

“It was a good lesson in not procrastinating,” Rhys agreed. “We had to learn about collaborating with each other and keeping up on all of the tasks that we had.”

Despite these challenges, all three have emerged more interested than ever in constructionrelated fields.

“It was really cool to see how broad the industry is,” insisted Rhys, who has applied as a mechanical engineering major at several colleges. “I learned a lot about project management, not only how it’s done in the field, but how we do it here in our project — how we split up the roles, how you communicate with everyone to finish the project on time and put it all into

Continued from A1

a presentation.”

Alex is considering a similar major, but also has an interest in technical design for theater, having worked on multiple El Dorado Musical Theatre shows. One of his major roles for the CREATE project was recording and editing the video for the presentation. “I made a funny version too and honestly that was the most fun I had,” he shared.

Ryan, on the other hand, is more enamored by design and architecture. “I liked learning about how construction isn’t just about physical labor. A lot of it is planning, designing, finishing touches — so many different areas.”

While their senior year wraps up, the three young men won’t take much of a breather. Alex, who works at Sky Sushi, just clocked in four shifts in a row. Ryan works at In-N-Out Burger and recently bought his own 2017 Ford Fusion after saving paychecks for six months. And Rhys spends his down time tinkering with an old 1996 Mazda Miata when he’s not taking pilot lessons. All unanimously profess Minecraft to be their alltime favorite video game. As to whether they would be interested in pursuing their project to fruition after earning degrees? “I would do that,” Rhys said. “I would come back and do this.”

peOpLe taLK Photos and question by Sel Richard

El Dorado Hills

“Candy canes, lifesaver gummies and a little alpaca toy.”

evelyn petersen

El Dorado Hills

“All the candy in the world. And Rainbow High dolls, Shadow High dolls and Monster High dolls.”

Jacob Chancellor

El Dorado Hills

“A Cars Mack truck.”

elli slivinskiy El Dorado Hills

“Candy.

Some kind of chocolate.”

Francesca Mason El Dorado Hills “LOL dolls.”

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Photo by Stephanie Tornberg

El Dorado Hills residents have decked the halls, the lawns, the roofs and more this Christmas season, creating spectacular displays worth the drive around town. Above, a home on Timberline Ridge dazzles with colorful lights and fun characters.

Photo by Deb Dean Santa

Dorado Hills’ Waterford neighborhood.

Photo by Kresta Moore

Beautiful white lights and reindeer surround Santa Claus and an Angry Bird at this Esatto Place home in the Bel Tierra neighborhood.

Photo by Wendy Hauteman Red

Francisco Oaks community sparkle.

Meeting challenges and future planning

As I near the end of my term as president of El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors, I am proud of the ongoing work this agency does to provide its services, especially considering the challenges it has faced.

EID has a clear mission: Deliver safe and reliable services to its customers across 220 square miles of the service area. Day in and day out, teams of dedicated workers operate and maintain an intricately integrated system of infrastructure worth more than $1 billion in historical costs.

As we enter 2023, I am mindful of the challenges we continue to tackle — i.e. the emergency reconstruction of water conveyance infrastructure damaged in the Caldor Fire and the ongoing reinvestments in our infrastructure identied in the district’s capital improvement program. Much of our infrastructure is more than 50 years old and, in some cases, 100-plus years old. This is especially challenging as in ationary pressures are increasing the costs of maintaining the system we all rely on.

EID updates a rolling ve-year CIP,

essentially a schedule for replacing or reconstructing its diverse infrastructure. From failing pipes in the ground, treatment plant work, water tank re-coating and replacement to umes and canals maintenance/replacement, the projects identi ed in the CIP are necessary to keep the system running and avoid service disruptions. Sometimes the projects are also required to meet regulatory requirements, like the Forebay Dam rehabilitation and the upcoming Silver Lake Dam replacement.

Despite facing these ongoing challenges, in the past year EID has completed multiple large projects and has many more in progress. One such recently completed project is the Folsom Lake intake in El Dorado Hills. The new facility provides El Dorado Hills with a dependable method of accessing EID’s water supplies in Folsom Lake for generations to come.

CRIB NOTES

The Folsom Lake intake supplies raw water from Folsom Lake to the El Dorado Hills Water Treatment Plant, where it is treated and then delivered to meet a portion of the needs of our customers in El Dorado Hills (the balance is delivered from Pollock Pines a er treatment). The water supplied through this system is critical to provide reliable potable water, especially during the warmer months when water demands increase dramatically and transmission pipelines from Pollock Pines do not have su cient capacity to meet peak demands.

In addition, the new facility allows selective withdrawal of water based on the temperature in order to preserve the cold-water pool in Folsom Lake to help enhance the downstream habitat for sh species. This ability was a require-

by Julie Samrick

Smoke and mirrors

Depression doesn’t always look like darkness. It can mask itself in jokes and smiles, in song and in dance. It can be rich and good-looking on the outside, dripping in the best clothes and jewelry. It isn’t always isolated either; it can be anked by a loving family and adoring friends.

The shocking news of Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ suicide has been a stunning reminder that we don’t know what is really going on in people’s lives. The popular “Ellen” show DJ originally found fame as a dancer. A er “Ellen” ended last spring, tWitch continued to post seemingly joyful dance videos online, o en co-starring with his wife with appearances by their three kids, too.

TWitch had 4 million Instagram followers. Online social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter are monstrous in 2022. There are more than one billion active TikTok users and 2.5 billion Facebook users globally. They are society’s new way to communicate, our bridge to connect with others. Fi een years in we are invested in them because social media is the new town square. The previous largest way to connect — television ” was one-sided. To be on TV, let alone create your own story, is something most people never have the opportunity to do. Social media is for everyone. Online social platforms are even the most common way for people to meet

romantic partners today, pushing bars out of that top position. We can also now stay in touch with people living across the country or even the world — people, had it been 25 years ago, who would have been relegated to pen pal status. There are no barriers to take part in social media either. Anyone 13 or older can post and many kids even younger consume it.

I remember when we used to take pictures with lm cameras. It was always fun to see how the developed pictures would turn out. Would it be a bust, with money spent to get pictures of mainly sideways, red-eyed, blurry faces or would there be six accidental shots in a row of the ceiling? It was exciting to open the envelope and see more than a few decent shots. Perfection was rarely, if ever, achieved. Today all we see are perfect shots and young people don’t even know how di erent that is because they’ve never known any di erent. Perfect shots are inspiring if we’re looking at the Taj Mahal or some other Wonder of the World, but when it comes to human beings, a perfect shot is just a façade. Our online lives are one-dimensional, smoke and mirrors. Until we hang out with a person in the esh we are only seeing a planned, produced distortion of reality.

The outward image a person presents is not a true re ection of what’s

Paradise

Asian Food: Thai

ment of EID’s contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to allow EID to access the full allotment of its water rights accessed from Folsom Lake.

The pumps at the Folsom Lake intake are the only means EID has of accessing its water supplies from the lake and account for a third of EID’s total water supply. This high-value project was funded partially through a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation via federal legislation with the balance paid through low-cost bond nancing.

Another valuable project completed in 2022 is the Upper Main Ditch piping project. This project replaced a 3-mile section of unlined earthen water supply ditch in Pollock Pines with a buried pipeline. The ditch conveys up to 15,080 acre-feet of raw water each year from Forebay Reservoir to EID’s Reservoir 1 Water Treatment Plant.

The water that travels through this important facility serves our customers in Pollock Pines, Camino,

Continued from A4

going on in the inside. We need to have authentic discussions with people we care about and who care about us. If we can connect with someone in person versus online, choose in person. And keep checking in on people; it matters. If you or someone you know is considering suicide contact the Suicide and Crisis Hotline by dialing 988.

Julie Samrick is an El Dorado Hills mother, teacher and writer.

Placerville, Shingle Springs, Cameron Park and parts of El Dorado Hills. Water sold to the city of Placerville also travels through this new pipeline.

By piping an unlined ditch, the district adds an average of 1,800 acre-feet of usable water supply each year that would otherwise be lost to seepage and evaporation. The pipe also protects water quality and helps save money on maintenance and treatment processes.

These and other projects are the types of investments EID makes into our community infrastructure across its wide service area. From degrading wooden umes (some built just a er World War II) to corroding water mains and storage tanks to dams that EID must rebuild to meet current safety standards, the work continues every year.

One large, multi-year, ongoing program contained in the CIP is re-coating and rehabilitating steel water storage tanks. With more than three dozen tanks, EID’s tanks need to be recoated approximately every 15 years to prevent degradation of the steel. We are behind in this important and costly undertaking, but there is a solid plan going forward. The most recent CIP that I and other members of the board unanimously approved in late November includes this work and other important projects.

The big projects I have mentioned were nanced using low-interest bonds. EID will again have to go out for bond nancing to pay for some of the future large projects. There is no more e cient way to pay for such high-cost projects. EID will continue to seek grants to reduce the costs of these investments,

Hero

Matthias then dropped the phone and went to wake his mother, Lisa Gross. “I got out of bed and my rst thought was that maybe he made a mistake,” she said, but was shocked to nd her mother doubled over with the phone lying next to her. The re department soon came through the door.

Matthias, who is diagnosed with moderate to severe autism, became distressed when he saw his Gaga being taken away by paramedics and began spinning in circles, apping his arms and sobbing. Lisa credits re ghter Ryan Bennett with saving her son from a potentially traumatic event.

“Ryan came over and spoke to Matthias. He stood in front of him so he couldn’t see where my mom was going and started saying stu like, ‘You did a great job; you’re a hero. I hope that someday if my children need to call 911, they do it,’ and (he) gave him stickers,” she said. “He took that moment that could have been engraved as a horrible memory and just turned it into ‘Wow, I was a hero. I did something good.’ He took his anxiety and his fear completely away.”

Lee was transported to Mercy Folsom — later told she was taken there because they were unsure she could have made it to Kaiser. “They said that in another 30 minutes, I would have gone into a diabetic coma. The doctors said that if he didn’t call…” Lee trailed o , unable to continue and choked with emotion. She was later moved to Kaiser Roseville, spending ve days there, three of which were in ICU.

such as the $10 million recently received from the Department of Water Resources to replace the Sly Park intertie water transmission main, but long-term debt o ers a stable e cient method to pay for facilities that generations of customers will use.

We can also access non-rate revenue to pay for important investments through targeted temporary water sales, like the small portion of water EID sold that it did not need in 2022 to add non-rate revenue to pay for important projects or lower debt. Many ask me how we can sell water in a drought. The answer is simple: EID maintains a large portfolio of water rights. EID personnel work hard to ensure there is ample supply in reservoirs to rely on even during dry winters. The water we transferred could not be used in any way for our customers given the state’s requirement for water conservation and would have otherwise spilled downstream this winter providing no bene t to the district.

Going forward water transfers will continue to be a lever that EID can pull to add non-rate revenue a er ensuring our customers’ needs — this year and next — are always met. Please know, water sales will always be subordinate to our customers’ needs and this obligation is reinforced in every agreement approved by the board.

EID has challenges ahead, but I am con dent those challenges will be met with ingenuity and dedication.

Lori Anzini is the 2022 president of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors.

Continued from A1

Lisa admitted she has no idea where he learned to call 911. “Nobody taught me. I just knew it,” Matthias said matter-of-factly. “You just do one 9 and two 1s.”

Now a kindergartener at Oak Meadow Elementary School, he said his favorite activity is playing with his Minecra Legos. To treat his autism, Matthias, who was non-verbal until the age of 3, has undergone Applied Behavior Analysis therapy with Positive Behavior Support Corporation’s early intervention program for the last three years.

Somewhat of a miracle himself, Lisa said that it took her seven years to become pregnant with Matthias due to di culties from her own ght with Graves’ disease. Matthias has a special bond with his Gaga, which began when he spent his rst month with her while Lisa was in the hospital recovering from a complicated birth. Lisa and Matthias have lived with Lee for the last three years and the bond is stronger than ever.

“Matthias has demonstrated that we can all make a di erence, no matter our age or situation,” said EDHFD Deputy Chief Dustin Hall before presenting Matthias with his award and new uniform. “Matthias’ loving spirit, his desire to help and the actions he took are an example for us all and a testament to his spirit.”

Matthias is glad his Gaga is home again, and if you ask him who his hero is, “Ryan,” he answers immediately. If you ask him who is Gaga’s hero, “Matthias,” he replies with a shy smile.

“He took that moment that could have been engraved as a horrible memory and just turned it into ‘Wow, I was a hero. I did something good.’”

— Lisa Gross, thanking Capt. Ryan Bennett for keeping Matthias calm

This majestic, Mediterraneanstyled estate in Shingle Springs overlooks a gorgeous working vineyard and o ers sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada mountains and Mt. Diablo.

No expense was spared in creating this architectural masterpiece built on 20 exceptional acres where ne cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel grapes grow. Situated between Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe, this gated estate provides a sense of European wine country living yet is only minutes away from Highway 50 and El Dorado Hills.

A long, paved driveway leads to the stunning, two-story home. Ample parking space ensures room for plenty of guests. Greet them in the front courtyard and enjoy an evening aperitif next to the cozy replace.

The welcoming entry showcases the home’s beautiful, custom staircase railing and wood ooring. The front sitting room is a stylish space from which residents and guests can enjoy vineyard views while staying comfortable next to a crackling re in the hand-carved marble replace. On the other side of the entry, an arched doorway opens into the formal dining room, which also has a vineyard view plus French doors that open into the courtyard.

Another room o the entry o ers more privacy and could easily be an o ce or library.

The home’s great room, encompassing the family room,

kitchen and dining nook, enjoys the warmth of sunshine coming in through large windows. The family room has a high ceiling and built-in cabinetry. It’s tied via a wide archway to the chef’s kitchen, where home cooks will love preparing meals. Features include custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, stone countertops, a pantry closet and butler’s pantry.

Down a short hallway next to the kitchen is an exercise/ ex room.

The home has six bedrooms and ve full bathrooms. The owners’ suite boasts a private balcony overlooking the backyard and gorgeous landscape plus a unique bathroom with dual sinks, a marble soaking tub and separate shower.

The home has an attached, four-car garage that connects the main home to a second living area with a wine tasting room, wine cellar, theater room, garage and apartment.

The backyard boasts a sparkling in nity pool and spa with water features surrounded by open patio space and manicured shrubs. Several covered seating areas, one with another custom replace, and an impressive outdoor kitchen make entertaining a breeze no matter the weather.

Interested in a private tour of this stunning Shultz Vineyard Road estate in Shingle Springs? Contact Realtor Pat Seide at (916) 712-1617 or patricia.seide@cbnorcal.com or Realtor Associate Michael Buchner at (916) 850-9554 or michael.buchner@cbrealty.com.

’Tis the season for fudge T

he most wonderful time of the year will be even more spectacular when you add delicious fudge to the holiday table. Try this recipe contributed by El Dorado Hills resident Dale Race.

White Chocolate Fudge with Pistachios & Cranberries

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter (slightly melted)

14 ounces white chocolate (finely chopped) *don’t use white chocolate chips

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Dash of salt

1/2 cup toasted pistachios

1/2-3/4 cup dried cranberries

Optional: 1/4-1/2 cup candied orange peel (chopped very fine)

Directions

Brush a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with butter and line the pan with approximately 8-inch by 14-inch parchment paper (so that the parchment hangs 1 to 2 inches over each side of the wide edges of the pan).

In a medium/large saucepan combine white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and salt over medium-low heat and stir constantly until the mixture is very smooth. Remove the saucepan from stove and add pistachios, cranberries (and citrus peel if using).

Mix until well combined, then pour into the prepared loaf pan and refrigerate overnight.

To remove from the pan, use a knife to gently loosen the white fudge from the two short ends of the pan. Use the overhanging parchment paper to lift the white fudge out of the pan.

Slice (as desired) on a wooden cutting board and enjoy.

EDH Fire Department plan reviews go digital

Sel Richard Staff writer

Fires aren’t the only dangers fought by the El Dorado Hills Fire Department. The process of decreasing other hazards for the community has been lately streamlined, as was detailed by Fire Marshal Chrishana Fields’ presentation at a recent Area Planning Advisory Committee meeting.

Fields explained that the Community Risk Reduction program was introduced approximately 10 years ago. “There started to be a shift from just fire prevention to community risk

reduction,” she said, citing fall prevention, cardiac arrest and sidewalk CPR training among others. “We’re identifying the risks in our community that we serve, prioritizing those risks and looking at ways to mitigate the impact of those risks in our communities.”

One aspect of the program recently rolled out is Geo Civix, a convenient digital system that allows communication between new construction plan review applicants and the fire department through notifications of status, checklists and information on plan completeness. Live as of November, the system lets applicants invite other project

disciplines, access a portal to applicant and company projects and record all communication. “We’re really excited about this program,” said Fields.

“You can’t understand how important this project is to us,” insisted EDH Fire Chief Maurice Johnson, who considers the drop in phone calls alone as a major improvement. “This system forces the applicant to read the checklist and actually submit everything that is required. I think it’s training people to submit better applications.”

Residents and developers alike have access to standards that outline details down to how wide a driveway needs to be if a turnaround is required. “It’s been phenomenal,” Johnson said, pointing out the system has enabled a faster completion rate and reduction in backlog. “Talk about a time saver.”

Commercial construction plan reviews and inspections cover everything from fire access, fire hydrants and fire equipment to construction, exits, fire rated construction, fire sprinklers, fire alarm systems, kitchen hoods and fire safe plans.

Residential construction plan reviews and inspections can include tentative maps, new buildings, setback compliance, fire sprinkler systems, water supply and draft hydrants and propane tanks if needed. Geo Civix tracks required documents such as the fire safe exemption request, fire safe setback restriction covenant, water use agreement and the essential fire flow letter, which indicates available water for a particular area.

In addition to new construction plan reviews, fire department inspections are conducted annually for state-mandated occupancies like educational and care facilities, apartments and hotels.

Although inspections at other businesses are currently complaint driven, Johnson anticipated imminent changes. “We’re going to be looking at all of our occupancies and likely looking at a system by which we inspect these on potential risk,” he said. “So some might be annually; some might be every three years.”

Fields assured that residents and developers can reach out to the fire departn

Men’s Club Cuts another CheCk

Courtesy photo

EDH Librarian Jan Robbins and President of Friends of the Library Teresa Correia receive the 2022 donation of $11,775 from members of the Serrano Men’s Book Club. The funding will enable the library to fully staff and restart the 3D Print Lab impacted during the COVID shutdown. To date, the Serrano Men’s Book Club has donated a total of $94,551 to the EDH Library for a wide variety of needs.

ment prior to submitting a full building package to save on the financial outlay involved in creating multiple floor plans. “If you have a floor plan or a footprint of your building and your parcel, we can tell you if you’ll have an issue with that,” she said.

She mentioned smoke alarm compliance as a surprising issue. “The health and safety code requires you to have functioning and compliant smoke alarms for every permit over $1,000,” Fields noted. “We have had a significant rate of non-operational smoke alarms or non-present ones so we’re definitely seeing that it’s a concern and a risk in our community.”

Smoke alarms are required in every sleeping room, every area leading to each sleeping room and on each floor. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in every area leading to any sleeping rooms.

Fields also discussed various guidelines such as setbacks and sprinkler systems for ADUs — those smaller than 1,200 square feet do not require a sprinkler system if the existing home does not have sprinklers. Regarding setbacks, Fields noted that structures must be at least 30 feet away from the property line.

Other major aspects of the Community Risk Reduction program encompass fire and life safety inspection, vegetation management, public education, fire investigation and the Community Emergency Response Team.

all while having fun. “It’s exciting to be back after two-plus years of COVID restrictions. We are thrilled to partner with (El Dorado Hills Town Center business owners from) Sassy Sapphire Boutique, Face in a Book, Nibblers and South Fork Grille,” said Jennifer Geeting, founder/owner of WIN. Above, the ladies enjoy a stop at Face in a Book. For more information about WIN visit winsacramento.org.

Courtesy photo

Women in Networking’s fourth annual Pump Crawl held earlier this month in El Dorado Hills supported local business owners and raised money for local charities 3 Strands Global Foundation and Faithful Stewards. Getting ready to celebrate its 20th year, WIN has been one of the top resource groups, connecting and promoting women and their businesses in the greater Sacramento area. With a focus on relationships – the group’s motto is “Referring people we love, to people we love!” The idea of the Pump Crawl is twist on the Pub Crawl theme, encouraging attendees to don their most sassy heals or rocking causal kicks, shop and support local businesses, while also raising money for great causes,

JUST FOR ME

Brewery/Pub Casino

Children’s Entertainment

Dance Studio Day Spa

Fitness Center

Golf Course

Massage Music Instruction/Store

Sports Bar

Tanning Salon

Tap House

Winery

Wine Tasting Swimming Lessons Yoga Studio

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Assisted Living Facility

Bank

Barbershop

Charitable Organization Chiropractor Cosmetic Surgery

CPA Day Care

Dentist

Estate Sales

Financial Advisor Firearms Training Hair Salon

Hearing Center Hospital

Housing Development

In-Home Care Services

Insurance Agency Lawyer

Mail & Shipping Services Mortgage Co. Orthodontist

Personnel Services

Physical Therapy Preschool

Private School

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Company

Real Estate Broker, Independant Title Company

Travel Agency

Tutoring Service Vision Center

AUTOMOTIVE

Car Wash

Car Detailing

Tire Dealer

Used Car Dealer

PETS

Doggie Day Care

Pet Friendly Business

Pet Groomer

Pet Sitting

Pet Store

Pet Training

Veterinary Practice

RETAIL STORES

Bicycle Shop

Consignment/Clothing & Other

Event/Party Rentals

Furniture Store

Gift Shop

Grocery Store

Health Food Store

Jewelry Store

Mattresses/Bedding Shopping Center

Toy Store