Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer
New
City Council
Gotberg tallied 1,599 votes, Clerici 1,424 and Yarbrough 1,294.
In a statement to the Mountain Democrat, Gotberg shares that she is looking forward to working with fellow council members. She has some things on her mind as she enters her term.
“I hope to bring broadband internet and more workforce housing to Placerville,” Gotberg
Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
How to fund a public safety facility that would house Placerville Police Department and El Dorado County Fire Protection District personnel came into question Nov. 29 at a special meeting of the Placerville City Council. The need for a new facility is driven by inadequate and dated infrastructure currently used by the two departments, and filling that need is estimated to $43 million to $66 million on the high end. The council gave direction to staff to explore funding options.
The police and fire departments now operate out of two downtown Placerville locations — police headquarters are located on upper Main Street and the fire department’s Station 25 sits on Sacramento Street.
Presenting a space needs assessment and feasibility study to the council, City Engineer Rebecca Neves identified avenues of
funding, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Department Grant and Loan Program, which funded the El Dorado County sheriff’s public safety facility at 200 Industrial Drive completed in 2019. At the time it was considered the largest capital project in El Dorado County’s history, costing $60 million to build out the 108,000-square-foot facility.
Councilmember Dennis Thomas noted the buildings both departments are currently occupying are too small and the proposed facility is much needed for first responders.
“If you look at the sheriff, he really created a building for the next 50 years,” Thomas said. “Now, here we are starting this journey as well. I think this is a much-needed thing as a community and for our first responders as well. The (first responders) have been really underappreciated in occupying those
states.
Clerici and Yarbrough were unable to be reached as of press time.
A swearing-in ceremony is slated for the Dec. 13 City Council meeting.
Incumbent and local business owner Dennis Thomas will not return to the council, losing his
Rain on the parade was the talk of the town as preparations for the 44th Hangtown Christmas parade pushed on, rain or shine. The storm broke for crowds to see magical snow rather than rain falling over the parade route. Pictured above is Grand Marshal Albert Fausel reading to children “A Christmas Carol” that, like the parade, had a storybook ending. Fausel is the third-generation owner of Placerville Hardware but insists he’s just a community-minded, small business owner and a family man. The Flying Arrows Equestrian Drill Team, right, rides in style.
James Thomas Tremblay, Jimmy to his friends and family passed away suddenly on Nov 29, 2022 in Camino, Calif., at the age of 43. Jimmy grew up in Camino, Calif., where he made many lifelong friends and had many adventures. He proudly followed his grandfather in working for the local sawmill as a millwright in order to provide for his family. He also enjoyed spending time at the Placerville Speedway where he raced his pro stock #14 and later worked as crew chief for his cousin Aaron Rupley.
Jimmy was well known throughout the county (sometimes not always in a good way) and was always willing to help anyone out and never expected anything in return.
Jimmy will greatly be missed. Jimmy is survived by his parents Adele and Gary Tremblay, three children, Bryan, Delaney, and Benjamin, one grandchild, brother Del, niece Chastity, nephew Kevin, a great nephew and many close friends. A Celebration of life with close family and friends will be held at a future date.
Apr. 3, 1948 – Nov. 22, 2022
Rodney Bland of Coloma died Nov. 22 in Sacramento following a long illness.
He attended local elementary schools and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1966. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Forester as a cook during the Vietnam war. After his service he worked as a logger, sawmill worker and sales clerk. But, the joy of his life was his work as a volunteer Docent in Marshall State Park as a gold panning instructor. Over ten years he taught many youngsters and tourists to pan for gold. His work and personality brought unsuspected fame. He starred in several movies, television commercials and had articles in newspapers and magazines locally and internationally. He was also a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Rod was preceded in death by his father, Robert. He is survived by his mother, Jeanne, his sister Diane Finegan, brothers Greg (Janet) and Martin. He also had numerous nieces and nephews.
Rodney was a very unique and special person who loved people, the outdoors and creatures of all sizes. His kindness, generosity and sweet nature will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of Rod’s life will be held in Coloma in the Spring of 2023.
Dec. 27, 1948 – Nov. 9, 2022
David “Dave” Macculloch Johnson passed away at age 73 on November 9 after fighting leukemia for almost a year. He was born on December 27, 1948 to Willard Barron Johnson and Marjorie Winter Johnson in Summit South, New Jersey and grew up in Palo Alto, California. After graduating with a business degree from Lewis & Clark College, David moved back to The Bay and Northern California working as a food salesman, real estate agent and then a Real Estate/Personal Injury attorney for the rest of his life alongside his paralegal (and wife), Pamela Johnson.
He served as president of the El Dorado County Bar Association and was a local politician in Cameron Park serving as President of the Board of Directors for many years. He was devoted to making Cameron Park a special place to live. Projects that he worked on or orchestrated include Christa McAuliffe Park where the community lights their holiday tree every year and the new Community Services District Center. During his free time, Dave was a competitive cribbage player winning many boards and awards during his tournament days. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Susan Lanning, as well as brother, Willard Johnson and he is survived by his wife of 42 years, Pamela Johnson who lives in Cameron Park and their 41 year old son, David William Johnson who resides in Las Vegas. A Celebration of Life will be announced later. Any donations are asked to be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation, Inc.
On Saturday, November 26, 2022, Dan Radon of Merlin, Oregon passed away, at age 81.
Dan was born in Placerville, Calif., and lived there until he joined the Air Force. When he finished his military tour, he moved to the Northwest, finally settling in Oregon. There he and wife Martha raised two sons, Michael and Kevin.
Dan is survived by his two sons, brother Larry Radon, and sister Charlotte Crosby.
Dan will be laid to rest next to his late wife, Martha, in Oregon. Plans for a memorial will be announced later.
Martha Skye Martin gracefully passed to next world on Oc.t 18, 2022, due to a sudden bout of Multiple Sclerosis via the insidious Wilson’s disease. She lived a spritely beautiful life for 65 years. Martha graduated as a top student from Ponderosa High school in 1975. She had joined Bethel chapter 46 of Job’s Daughters and was their honored queen in 1974.
Martha continued at the University of California, Davis. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University in Horticulture.
Wilson’s disease, is a rare inherited condition in which a person’s body is unable to eliminate copper.
Martha’s amazing resilience allowed her to become an active member of the Tall Club of Placerville, Calif. She was strong in her faith. Her saying was “Hope is God’s love”. She was able to ride her beloved horse, Breezy, on desert ranch trails. One year she rode in the Placerville Parade. Martha’s exuberance and enthusiasm for life gained her many friends among the various Care Centers. From her wheelchair, Martha planted tiny gardens, made jewelry with beads, surprised her friends with gallant art.
For each bout of illness, Martha Skye recovered to cheerfully work on her projects and to help others. After all the tears and disappointments, she chose to see beyond the hard times and count her blessings. At the time of her passing Martha Skye had written the first five chapters of a novel.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 6000 Manganite Rd., El Dorado, Calif., Dec. 10, 1:004:00 P.M.
Apr. 18, 1925 – Nov. 16, 2022
Lida Mae Cate was born left handed on April 18, 1925 in Youngstown, Ohio. She passed away peacefully on Nov. 16, in El Dorado Hills, Calif. She was 97 years young and until a recent illness lived in her own home that she loved. She is survived by her son David (Nancy) and her daughter Gayl (Steve), her “favorite” sister Ruth, as well as 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Lida moved to Albany, Calif. when she was in High School. She found her passion in field hockey, the drum and bugle corps and a sorority of women whom she stayed friends with for all of their lives. After high school, during World War 2 she attended Cal Berkley and was very proud of her accomplishment of finishing in 3 years, majoring in French and Math. Go Bears!
She moved to Brentwood to become a PE and math teacher. She met her husband Art at Liberty High School and they were married for 60 years up until his passing in 2014. They moved to Sacramento, then to Williams, and landed in Placerville in 1971, keeping all of their friends along the way. After retiring, together they traveled the world and met interesting people who became lifelong friends.
She was active in the Federated Church and tutored young people until she was 90. She loved to teach! She was also a lifelong learner and loved crossword puzzles, numbers, and Jeopardy. Her favorite time was when the family got together at her house. She enjoyed these gatherings and always wanted to know “When does the party start?” She loved to tell jokes, was an amazing cook, loved to shop, do crafts, and play cards and games. She marveled at the deer visiting her windows, the weather, the trees, and the sky that could be magical on her front lawn. Oh yes, she was a poet, always a poet..
A service will be held Dec. 10 at the Federated Church in Placerville at 2 P.M. Reception following.
In lieu of flowers, please “pay it forward” with a random act of kindness.
The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office records:
Nov. 19
5:51 p.m. Vandalism was reported at a store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.
10:26 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 32-year-old man suspected of possession of narcotics and DUI on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. He was listed in custody in lieu of $15,000 bail.
Nov. 20
12:15 a.m. Burglary was reported on Patterson Way in El Dorado Hills.
3:55 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 25-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. He was later released.
8:21 a.m. Burglary was reported on Maryetta Court in Cameron Park.
8:34 a.m. Vandalism was reported on the American River Trail in Cool.
1:09 p.m. Battery was reported on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.
3:05 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old man suspected of grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime on Poohs Path in Garden Valley. He was listed in custody in lieu of $160,000 bail.
3:58 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 38-year-old woman suspected of grand theft, soliciting, conspiracy to commit a crime and probation violations on Poohs Path in Garden Valley. She was listed in custody in lieu of $60,000 bail.
5:01 p.m. Battery was reported on Wildrose Drive in Grizzly Flat.
10:20 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 22-year-old man suspected of felony battery and causing injury to an elder/dependent adult on Fall Trail Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $125,000 bail.
8:01 a.m. Burglary was reported on Nevis Place in El Dorado Hills.
8:12 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Golden Foothill Parkway in El Dorado Hills.
12:01 p.m. Burglary was reported on Old Depot Road in Placerville.
2:20 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 61-year-old man suspected of felony assault, trespassing and giving false identification to officers on Ice House Road at Highway 50. He was listed in custody in lieu of $150,000 bail as of press time.
7:02 p.m. Battery was reported on
Magpie Court in Placerville.
7:58 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 34-year-old man suspected of forging vehicle registration, possession of a controlled substance, shoplifting, being a felon in possession of a firearm and probation violations on Post Street in El Dorado Hills. He was listed in custody in lieu of $55,000 bail as of press time.
10:11 p.m. Burglary was reported at a business on Main Street in Georgetown.
10:52 p.m. Battery was reported on Daunting Drive in El Dorado Hills.
1:43 a.m. Deputies made an arrest after responding to a suspicious circumstances report on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.
7:20 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 27-year-old man suspected of receiving stolen property, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia and a post-release community supervision violation on Mira Loma Drive in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody as of press time.
9:11 a.m. Burglary was reported on Grazing Hill Road in Shingle Springs.
3:02 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.
6:40 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a business on Truck Street in Placerville.
7:32 a.m. Vandalism was reported at the golf course on Clubhouse Drive in Placerville.
9:39 a.m. Burglary was reported at a church on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville.
10:02 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 32-year-old man suspected of DUI on Green Valley Road in Placerville. He was later released.
1:38 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Kensington Drive in El Dorado Hills.
3:06 p.m. Illegal entry was reported at a fast food restaurant on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.
11:14 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old woman suspected of possession of narcotics on Zeller Court in Diamond Springs. She was released on $1,500 bail.
11:40 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 22-year-old woman suspected of receiving stolen property on Zeller Court in Diamond Springs. She was released on $5,000 bail.
facilities.”
Other funding sources include the California Community Development Block Grant and the Federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program.
Councilmember Jackie Neau questioned whether funding opportunities would apply to the joint facility, as opposed to two separate projects for the police and firefighters, adding she would prefer to consider two different buildings.
“This assessment shows a great place where we need to put our firefighters and that is great, but I’m not so sure moving the police department out of the heart of Placerville is the direction we want to take yet,” Neau said. “When I look at the costs it looks like we can build half as much with where we already have the property and planned $8 million for, as opposed to $27 million and $38 million now proposed. There are big gaps in those numbers and prices.”
Neves responded that the prior needs assessment only incorporated half the square footage now proposed.
“This report was a long time coming,” Neves said. “The blessing in that is we were able to identify operational and future growth opportunities not previously mentioned in the last report … we would not have provided an adequate station for our police department.”
Neves also mentioned that
certain commonalities and redundancies in separating the two facilities would ultimately make the city lose money.
“The other thing to consider is if we have two separate (emergency operations centers), the two departments would be competing for the same USDA grant,” Neves added.
“The biggest advocate for scoring high for a grant application — collaboration. They love it when they see agencies working together.”
The new facility will help accommodate expansion of services and the ability to operate more efficiently, say first responders.
Councilmember Patty Borelli asked how the building would be split
to operate after it is constructed.
Conceptual plans for the facility have the police department occupying 59% of the space while the fire district takes 41%, according to Neves. Costs could be divided between those spacial percentages.
Neves noted there could be a slew of reasons why the project would be approved for grant funding, including wildfire protection and land preservation, reasons the sheriff’s building was awarded monies.
A conceptual graphic shows the public safety facility with a bay for fire engines, a hose tower, public parking and parking for personnel on duty.
Presented by Jeffery Little, D.D.S.
Sudden extreme tooth pain may have several causes, but it is most often caused by a cavity or cracked tooth. Both expose the sensitive, inner layers of the tooth that are normally protected by enamel. As a cavity forms, you may experience sudden pain when eating or drinking. A cavity or crack can allow bacteria into the pulp of the tooth, where it can become infected and lead to an abscess or other problems. An old or loose filling can also expose nerves and cause tooth pain. Other causes may be erod ing enamel and receding gums, the latter of which is often caused by gum disease. Both uncover the vulnerable layers of the inner tooth and can cause sudden pain.
Sudden tooth pain is your body sending a message that something is wrong and needs attention. Ignoring the pain means you also ignore the underlying problem, and treat ment becomes a more serious undertaking. Be smart! For excel lence in dental care from a caring staff committed to your comfort, well-being, and sunny smile, call us for an appointment. Emer gencies are also welcome at our full-service, state-of-the-art dental office.
P.S. A visit to the dentist for a cleaning, filling, or whitening treatment can sometimes make teeth more sensitive for a couple of weeks.
The
The
F
“Big oil is ripping people o at the pump and they’re making more in profi ts o of Californians than in any other state — that’s why we need a price gouging penalty to hold them accountable and get these profi ts into your pockets,” Newsom said on Oct. 27 as he summarized what he said were huge increases in third quarter profi ts.
“These record profi ts came as Californians saw price hikes at the pump despite the cost of crude oil going down and no change in state taxes or fees,” Newsom continued. “Instead, the cost of gasoline skyrocketed purely because refi neries wanted to put more in their own pockets.”
The state Energy Commision, an arm of Newsom’s administration, staged a hearing last week that delved into the ups and downs of California’s gasoline prices, particularly their di erences with those in other states.
The state’s refi ners refused to participate in the hearing. Paul Davis of PBF Energy wrote the commission in a letter, “The politicization of this issue by Gov. Newsom, heightened by the misleading information he released and commented on relating to our (2022 third-quarter) earnings, precludes us from participating in this hearing.”
Davis specifi cally objected to Newsom’s characterization of refi ners’ gross operating margins as profi ts, saying it is “intentionally misleading to consumers and infl ates purported ‘profi ts’ by purposefully excluding California’s highest-in-the-nation operating and regulatory costs that signifi cantly lower actual profi ts.”
Despite the industry boycott, presentations by the commission’s sta largely bolstered industry assertions that global and in-state factors largely beyond their control, rather than arbitrary price-gouging, caused the sharp spike in pump prices.
They include declining refi nery capacity due to high operating costs, periodic maintenance
Letters to the Editor
I
Meaning we are all the same race. Look it up. Progressives have pushed this myth to divide our society, pitting one against the other based on the melatonin one has in their body.
There is a dramatic di erence in culture however. Culture: the customs, arts, social institutions and achievements of a particular nation, people or other social group.
To put a pin on it. When someone calls me a racist, I understand that they are the people who are ignorant.
After all, if the term race is known to be used as a wedge to divide us, shouldn’t we all have an honest discussion of why the word is being misused?
KEN STEERS Cameron Park
Respect for county staffM
Here are the facts:
The Diamond Springs/El Dorado Community Coalition invited me to one of their monthly meetings. I recognize and share our community’s strong concerns about the impact of the Dorado Oaks project and I was happy to be there. There has been a lot of misinformation swirling about this project, so I asked county sta to be present.
The sta who came are on salary and they stayed late into the night after a long day. They did not get paid extra so they did donate their time in order to provide factual information and answer questions about our roads and tra c, which are major concerns.
’m going to say something that will trigger every progressive who reads this — there is no scientifi c basis to race for humans.Dorado Community Advisory Committee, the o cial advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors. The purpose of that meeting was for the developers of Dorado Oaks to hear the community’s concerns fi rsthand before they fi nalized their response to comments made on the draft EIR. Once again, county sta was on-hand to answer questions about the process.
Thirdly, Mr. DeBerry, your outlandish conspiracy accused county DOT of making improvements in the Diamond Springs area to “remove the road issue problems” prior to Dorado Oaks coming before the Planning Commission and the BOS. Nothing could be further from the truth as the road improvements you noted have been on our capital improvement list for years.
Finally, it is important to recognize that county sta work to facilitate the implementation of the General Plan; they do not advocate for projects, nor do they work against them. To do so would be dishonest and unethical. Would you actually want county employees to put their thumb on the scale and pick winners and losers in terms of the projects that work their way through the process in El Dorado County? Is it the role of our county sta to facilitate your version of the General Plan? I think not. Our employees work to implement policy, not set it. Whether a project fi nally makes it through the pipeline is ultimately up to the Planning Commission and to the Board of Supervisors, not county sta , and your fear mongering is not useful in helping this community have a meaningful conversation about this issue.
r. DeBerry, on Nov. 25 you wrote a caustic letter accusing county sta of “selling” the Dorado Oaks subdivision at two community meetings. While it seems your calling card is name-calling and criticisms that confuse opinion with fact, our sta does not deserve to have misinformation twisted against them; it also does our community a great disservice.In today’s work environment, it is incredibly hard to attract and retain quality employees and I am grateful for our county’s workforce that is working incredibly hard to serve everyone in our county. They deserve our respect, not uncharitable and false accusations based on blatant misinformation.
WENDY THOMAS EDC supervisor, District 3
SHARE YOUR OPINION IN THE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT ■ See WALTERS page A5
Secondly, the meeting in board chambers was a meeting of the Diamond Springs/El
the holiday season, it’s something that has value all year.
Invariably, the inquiries concern material gifts.
Purchasing a gift can certainly be thoughtful and a wonderful gesture, especially when it’s backed up by your actions.
However, the most valuable presents are those that aren’t sold in stores. When you give your love, your time, help someone in need, aid another in solving a problem or overcoming an obstacle ... you give something priceless.
The true spirit of the holidays is giving. When you give, you receive. You can get anything in life you want by helping others get what they want. But only if you give without expecting anything in return. The impact of giving isn’t limited to just
The power of giving is often underestimated. When you give unconditionally, you don’t just impact the recipient; you start a chain reaction. By brightening the life of one person you also a ect all those who they then touch.
No gesture of giving or kindness is too small. Holding the door open at a store, helping someone carry groceries to their car, letting another car in front of you, saying please and thank you and saying hello to a stranger you pass on the sidewalk are some of the many things you can do daily.
For family and friends, your time is one of the most precious gifts you can o er. Are you there for others when they need you? Do you o er a hand without being asked? Do you help out when asked?
Too often, people get caught up in their own desires, thus losing sight
The Mountain Democrat welcomes letters up to 300 words. Letters may be edited. We reserve the right to edit submissions. Include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes.
of the needs of others. A person who tries to get through life by looking out for himself or herself first is invariably frustrated. Often this person views life as a competition to determine who can accumulate more.
On the other hand, those who are concerned for the wellbeing of others are happier, more content and more satisfied. By giving without expecting, they in turn receive the things they need.
Giving is a simple concept that works every time it is applied. There will be people who don’t appreciate what you do, but it doesn’t matter. You are giving without anticipating anything in return. Besides, there will be many more who are thankful for your e orts.
If you don’t treat others well, buying a gift won’t compensate for your behavior. The recipient might like what you give them but it won’t make up for your actions. You can’t
Snail Mail: Letters to the Editor P. O. Box 1088, Placerville 95667
bribe someone to forgive the way you treat them with a present.
The best gift you can receive is the joy of making someone else happy. Being unselfish is a wonderful way to live. When you give with no ulterior motives, your actions are seen as genuine. Should you expect something in return, your behavior is always suspect. We all know people who do nice things only when they want something in return.
Make giving a daily routine. Don’t start and end with the holiday season. Every day is a good day to do something nice. When people feel good due to your actions, you can’t help but feel happy yourself. And that is priceless. The most significant action you can take is having a positive impact on the lives of others.
DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com.
2889
Visit our website at mtdemocrat.com, click on “Submissions” and then click on “Letter to the Editor” to submit your letter.
seat by 73 votes.
“Those that live in our city are incredibly blessed to have such a dedicated sta working every day to make Placerville the best town on the Golden Chain Highway,” comments Thomas in a statement to the Mountain Democrat. “It has been an honor to work with these highly professional individuals in shepherding the city through the challenges of the pandemic and, at the same time, complete a record number of meaningful projects that keep our city so vibrant.”
Thomas states he respects the election process and sees it as a fundamental part of what makes this country so great.
Thomas continues to assert the Republican Central Committee made the campaign personal with Congressman Tom McClintock’s financial backing of flyers sent to city residents encouraging them to “say no to Dennis Thomas.”
“They came after me, one of their own, and used sleazy Washington, D.C., tactics and money in Placerville politics to attack my character with lies and deceit,” he said. “I am beyond disappointed that they sank to such a low and did not have the moral courage to engage in a meaningful debate on the real issues that face our city. Our city deserves more from the Republican Central Committee and our U.S. Congressman.”
McClintock on election night told the Mountain Democrat he got involved in the City Council election because Thomas did not support naming the U.S. Post O ce in Placerville for fallen El Dorado County
deputy Brian Ishmael.
In other races, here’s how the numbers added up: The U.S. Representative 3rd District race shows Kevin Kiley with a clear margin.
In El Dorado County Kiley won 13,433 votes to contender Kermit Jones’ 12,562. Districtwide Kiley has 180,291 votes over Jones’ 155,767, according to information published on the California Secretary of State O ce’s website. State results were updated Dec. 5 and are expected to be certified by Dec. 16.
U.S. Representative 5th District totals in El Dorado County have Republican Tom McClintock garnering 37,797 votes while Democratic contender Michael J. Barkley brought in 23,978.
Districtwide results count 173,396 votes in favor of incumbent McClintock to beat Barkley’s 109,431.
The El Dorado County District 5 supervisor seat goes to Brooke Laine. She received 7,346 votes while challenger Kenny Curztwiler saw 5,180.
For the governing board of the El Dorado Union High School District, Brooke Van Komen received 32,406 votes, Jessica Rodgers 30,547 and Timothy Cary 27,744 votes — all earning seats.
In the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors race to fill three positions, Heidi Hannaman is the top vote-getter with 10,893 ballots in her favor. Steve Ferry tallied 9,203 votes and Michael Martinelli 7,671.
Final ballot totals for three Georgetown Divide Public Utility District posts show Michael Saunders with 2,894 votes, Robert Stovall 2,845 and Donna Seaman 2,803.
outages in the few remaining refi neries, an uptick in gasoline imports whose prices are a ected by the global oil market and transport costs and a gradual decrease in California’s gasoline demand. So where does that leave the excess profi ts tax that Newsom is demanding, but so far has not laid out in detail?
Gas prices spiked at more than $6 a gallon earlier in the year, but lately have been declining. Last week regular gas was selling in Sacramento for less than $4.50 a gallon and by the time the Legislature would take up Newsom’s profi ts tax, several months hence, prices could be below $4. A new tax would require two-thirds legislative votes and while Democrats have more than those numbers in both legislative houses, the oil industry has been active in the campaign arena and will contend that any tax will eventually be passed on to consumers in higher pump prices. The highly unionized industry can also count on support from union leaders.
All of that aside, there are some odd aspects to Newsom crusade against the industry, beginning with the fact that his personal wealth was founded on oil money.
The seed money for Newsom’s PlumpJack chain of wineries, hotels and restaurants came from the trust of Gordon Getty, an heir of oil industry pioneer J. Paul Getty. The Getty trust was managed by Newsom’s late father, William Newsom, who had been a long-time advisor to the elder Getty.
It also seems strange that Newsom should be railing against high gasoline prices when his declared goal is to banish gas-powered cars from the roads and shut down the industry that fuels them. High prices encourage Californians to drive less and shift to the battery-powered cars Newsom wants them to buy.
Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofi t, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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 the Moni Gilmore Sr Center, 990 Lassen Lane, 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 9am-11am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $35/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.
SENIOR PEER COUNSELING of El Dorado County is seeking volunteer counselors. Do you possess such qualities as warmth, empathy and nonjudgement, as well as having varied life experiences, and being over the age of 55? If you do and would like to help and listen to fellow seniors who are dealing with age related issues such as loneliness, isolation, health and grief, we would love to talk to you. Counselors receive training and are supervised by a professional in the field. SPC Clinical
Supervisor Jayann Askin, MFT, shares “We are looking for volunteers who are interested in psychology, counseling, and mental health and would like to be a part of a supportive group of ongoing learners in this field.” For more information on this greatly rewarding volunteer opportunity, please call 530-621-6304
GEMINI
limited time to mentally put them behind you and get back to applying your mind to only what you want.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Some people have a person ality and some people are a personality. Today, you’re in the latter category, free to be uniquely yourself. You’ll enjoy complete acceptance, possibly because you give it so generously.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Incurious people are tiresome, though they can also help you figure out the triggers and enhancements that will make your work appeal to a wider audience. If you can win the incurious, you can win anyone.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Do you have a strategy for grocery shopping? How about for getting along with a dif ficult family member? You’ll be lucky today as you apply, hone and share your strategies with the world.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The passive approach would
work if you were on a raft floating down a river, but instead you are standing on the path that splits into dif ferent directions. Don’t stress the decision. Follow your instinct and walk.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Some beliefs are more helpful than true. Is there harm in adopting an improbably opti mistic way of thinking that keeps you calm and on track? You will find that what soothes your mind is also good for your productivity.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You want to get to the good part, but this real-life story you’re living today is filled with exposition and logistics. Luckily, the value of the entire adventure is not diminished by what you have to do to pull it off.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll rearrange your domestic scene to make it more comfortable and liv able. This could have to do with better lighting, different furniture placement or a plan to invite your favorite people around more often.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your awareness of energy and how it flows through people and environments will be helpful today. You’ll be attuned to subtle cues and body language. You’ll correctly assess what others are thinking.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re all heart. Feeling so acutely is a gift that sometimes feels like a curse, but move through whatever emotions come. They will richly inform your moments. Ultimately, it’s a blessing to be so vividly alive.
The California Interscholastic Federation State Cross Country Championship 5-kilometer course at Woodward Park in Fresno is meant to be a challenge for runners, containing many rolling hills on mostly dirt terrain.
El Dorado County high school cross country varsity athletes took the challenge with bravado Nov. 26, closing out the year and showing the fastest in the state what the SacJoaquin Section’s top harriers can do.
In a speedy performance by the Oak Ridge High School Trojans, the girls team finished second overall in the Division 1 race, outran only by Buchanan High School of Clovis.
Senior Quinn Walker led the Trojan pack, placing 17th out of 177.
“You never really expect this to happen,” Walker said. “You just go out there, do your best and when the results come, it feels amazing.”
Walker will compete for the University of Texas in the fall.
“I’m glad I was able to come back my senior year and end on a good note. I didn’t have any major personal bests but I had some good times last year and this year was just about having fun and giving 100% of what I had,” Walker continued. “We shocked everyone getting third place my junior year and we’re back again with second place my senior year, so that was definitely a good progression and it was really exciting to be a part of.”
Seniors Brooke Butler and Walker are the only runners out of the sevenathlete team to leave next year, which has freshman Adriana Ingargiola looking to the future of the program.
Also expected to return next season are sophomores Fiona Gordon, Addison Clinton, Madelynn Burns and Nola Boucher.
“I think our team will have so much potential,” Ingargiola said. “I’m excited to for what’s to come next year for our cross country team.”
The freshman was the second Trojan to cross the finish line, cementing herself as the 29th fastest Division 1 runner in the state.
For Walker, there is little time to n
lament on the end of her high school cross country career as attention is now onto another sport.
“I’m trying not to get too sad about leaving the team yet because we still have track season together,” Walker said.
The Trojan boys team left Fresno with bragging rights as well. Senior Troy Esparza completed his season placing 27th with a 15:43.9 time, not only a personal record but one of the fastest times ran in school history by a male athlete on the Woodward course.
“I’m amazed that I was able to take this all the way through high school,” Esparza said. “I’m very happy to be able to hit the time that I wanted since there was a year that was kind of rough and I wasn’t sure if I was going to get to the place that I wanted to be this year, but I did.”
Esparza has not committed to any schools yet but intends to run at the collegiate level.
Ponderosa High School junior Joshua Chu led the Bruins boys team to place 12th overall. His 15:24 course time earned him sixth place in the Division 3 race. He ran the fastest time of anyone from El Dorado County that day.
“Even making it to state was a really big accomplishment for us because we haven’t taken a team (to the state championship) in a really long time and even our last league championship was in the ’90s, so to make it to state was really amazing,” Chu said.
Chu shared that his goal is to break 15 minutes on the Woodward course next year.
“It’s going be hard but I’ve been looking at statistics and I totally think it’s possible,” Chu said.
The Bruin girls team also qualified to compete at the state level, making it the first time in the school’s history to send both boys and girls teams to the prestigious championship.
“We all wanted this. It was a common goal for everyone and everybody said ‘We’re doing this. This is what we are doing this year,’ and we achieved it,” said senior Addie Payne. “I’m super proud of our guys because they all did super amazing and the rest of my girls all worked together through so many hard workouts and we made it …”
The race was Payne’s first appearance at state, who led her team to 10th place. Payne was 48th best out of 212 runners in the Division 3 race.
Senior and Bruins head captain Jules Sadang, placing 106th in the race, shared the some of same sentiments as Payne.
“We all make sure to maintain a
Girls – Second place overall
out of 21 teams
Quinn Walker, 17th, 18:18
Adriana Ingargiola, 29th, 18:36
Brooke Butler, 30th, 18:40
Fiona Gordon, 37th, 18:55
Addison Clinton, 93th, 19:56
Madelyyn Burns, 104th, 20:08
Nola Boucher, 112th, 20:16
Total runners – 177
Boys
Troy Esparza, 27th, 15:43
Total runners – 180
Girls – 10th out of 25 teams
Addie Payne, 48th, 19:24
Samantha Scholz, 64th, 19:42
Loralye Clements, 87th, 20:04
Jules Sadang, 106th, 20:22
Olivia McMahon, 123rd, 20:47
close friendship outside of the sport and I think it really helped how we trained and moved on as a team,” Sadang said. “Everyone’s mindset was set on making it state together. There was no ‘I want to make it to state’ it was always ‘We will make it to state together.’”
Sadang, Payne and Loralye Clements will graduate in the spring but the Bruins are confident both the boys and girls teams will repeat their success next year.
“Besides us three, it was all juniors and sophomores and they are only going to get faster,” Sadang said.
El Dorado High School sent junior Braidon Campora and the entirety of its girls team to the state championship.
Competing in Division 3, Campora placed 60th out of 212 runners with a time of 16:32 and at the head of the pack for the girls was Alejandra Magana-Ramirez, who placed 63rd and set a personal best of 19:40.
As a team the Cougars girls were ranked 23rd.
Union Mine High School’s girls team headed down to the Central Valley as well, the first time since 2008.
The Diamondbacks were led by juniors Delaney Palmer, who placed 93rd out of 201 runners in the Division 4 race, and Ramona Reed, who placed 95th.
The Diamondbacks placed 20th overall as a team.
“It was a pretty surreal moment,” Palmer said. “Hitting any personal best on any day is great but getting to hit it at state and say that I ran my best 5k ever on the state course … it is pretty nice to be able to claim that.”
A young team, the Diamondbacks are already eyeing next year’s championships.
“We have a lot of freshmen and only three juniors, which is really great because they are already doing amazing,” Ramona said. “It’s really promising for the next couple of years to have a strong core group of runners.”
Golden Sierra High School senior Landon York and sophomore Zofia Bradford competed in the Division 5 race. York ended his high school cross country career placing 110th out of 204 runners with a time of 17:49. Bradford placed 68th out of 198 runners, recording a personal best time of 20:29.
Elena Grohs, 134th, 20:56
Isabelle Flager, 189th, 22:53
Total runners – 212
Boys – 12th out of 25 teams
Joshua Chu, 6th, 15:24
Hayden Brooks, 29th, 16:11
Jack Hinsz, 127th, 17:22
Porter Rice, 134th, 17:25
Colton Stanbridge, 143rd, 17:31
Alexander Brown, 165th, 17:51
Kaden Nelson, 171st, 17:54
Total runners – 214
El Dorado Cougars
Boys
Braidon Campora, 60th, 16:32
Total runners – 214 Girls – 23 out of 25 teams
Alejandra Magana-Ramirez, 63rd, 19:40
Lily Johnson, 75th, 19:54
Ella Johnson, 178th, 22:13
Taylor Malicote, 191st, 23:04
Sydney Davenport, 195th, 23:18
Aimee Foxworthy, 200th, 23:41
Total runners – 200
Girls – 20th out of 24 teams
Delaney Palmer, 93rd, 20:33
Ramona Reed, 95th, 20:35
Audrey Klein, 114th, 20:59
Lylia Zmerzlikar, 167th, 22:42
Eliza Hodnett, 177th, 23:01
Sydnee Jones, 184th, 23:33
Elizabeth Scott, 187th, 23:44
Total Runners – 201
Golden Sierra Grizzlies
Boys
Landon York, 110th, 17:49
Total runners – 204 Girls
Zofia Bradford, 68th, 20:29
Total runners – 198
Dec. 7
Author Mark Parsons, who has written young adult novel “The 9:09 Project” about a young man who finds solace after his mother’s death by immersing himself in a photography project, comes to Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center, 5-6 p.m. For more information call (916) 941-9401 or visit getyourfaceinabook.com.
Enjoy A Christmas Experience, a benefit concert featuring the Heritage Singers for Hands4Hope – Youth Making a Difference, beginning at 6 p.m. at Experience center, 6825 Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. For more information visit hands4hopeyouth.org/ placerville.
The Placerville Area Chess Club meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Denny’s in Cameron Park, 3446 Coach Lane. For more information call Neville Arroues at (530) 642-9043.
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts the Senior Christmas Luncheon, 10:30 a.m. in the EDHCSD gym, 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. Registration required. Visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Narrow Gate Vineyards in the Pleasant Valley area hosts Christmas in the Cellar, a library wines and hors d’oeuvres tasting, Dec. 9 & 10. To make a reservation call (530) 644-6201 or visit narrowgatevineyards.com.
The Amani Center, 2558 Greenwood Drive in Cameron Park, hosts its Holiday Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa arrives for photos at noon. Enjoy vendors, kids’ crafts, treats and more.
Rescue Community Center, 4180 Green Valley Road, host its third annual Holiday Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop beautiful creations from local vendors. Entry is free and guests receive a free raffle ticket along with free coffee and hot chocolate.
Christmas in Coloma at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 & 11, features old-fashioned Christmas fun — live music, warming fires, crafts and games for the
Despite the difficult environment of COVID during the last two years, Rescue’s Boy Scout Troop No. 700, chartered under the Rescue Volunteer Fire Association, kept up its amazing Eagle Scout streak with seven Scouts earning their Eagle. This brings the troop’s total to 105 since its formation 29 years ago.
Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its inception in 1911, only 4% of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process.
Requirements include earning seven rank advancements and at least 21 merit badges, including 14 specific badges intended to create a well-rounded Scout who demonstrates the Scout Spirit, an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership.
Earning Eagle rank also includes the completion of an extensive service project that the Scout
plans, organizes, leads and manages.
Those recently earning this notable achievement are:
Eathan and William Craghead, sons of Jason and Nicole Craghead of
Ryder
Jana Rossi Staff writer
This year fans of Lucy, Linus and, of course, Charlie Brown have the opportunity to enjoy two very special Christmas shows in El Dorado Hills. Director Jonathan Reis from Dream Catchers EDH and his talented cast will present “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “A Christmas Miracle” Dec. 9 at the Holiday Inn Express in Town Center.
This is a free event, but donations are welcome.
Earlier this year, the cast performed “The Greatest Showman” in Town Center’s outdoor amphitheater. The show was a huge success, raising much-needed funds that help keep this amazing program going. They are hoping their holiday showcases will raise even more funds which all go right back into their nonprofit organization.
Dream Catchers opened its doors in 2018 with a mission to “empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDS), to live their
best lives.” Program leaders accomplish this by offering opportunities to individuals that will help them learn ways
to become more independent; the theater program is one important aspect. Not only does performing in the
theater boost confidence, but important life skills are also developed such as reading and memorizing, proper enunciation, and how to stay focused.
In addition to the theater program, Dream Catchers also offers a day program where individuals can work on other basic day-to-day skills such as shopping, cooking, budgeting, interviewing, résumé writing and more that will help clients one day lead a life of more independence. The nonprofit’s future hope is to one day offer housing to individuals with IDDS.
Tammy Stein Sandbo’s 24-year-old daughter Raeana was one of the first to join the Dream Catchers theater program when it began in 2018. Tammy recalled how the program almost didn’t happen; when she went to sign Raeana up she was told they didn’t have enough participants.
Undeterred, Tammy asked Reis to give her a few days to get the word out and she was able to bring in more than enough
Everywhere I go around this great country of ours, I am seeing events with huge turnouts.
Americans are ready to turn the page on pandemics and are celebrating in droves at craft fairs, concerts and the like.
Attendance is way, way up, according to what events coordinators tell me. People want to get out and about. It is a true season of celebration.
This month holds some wonderful opportunities to enjoy the blessings of family and friends. Here are just a few:
The Heritage Singers perform a Home for Christmas concert on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Experience Center in Placerville, 6825 Mother Lode Drive. Proceeds benefit Hands4Hope – Youth Making a Difference. Doors open at 6 p.m. for hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a silent auction. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Suggested donation is $25.
The Sierra Symphony hosts its annual Christmas concert at the Cameron Park Community Center Gym, 2502 Country Club Drive, 4 p.m. Dec. 10. “Christmas Around the World” is a fun family concert event. Tickets are $10 at the door. Food and beverages available for cash purchase. Visit sierrasymphony.org to learn more.
The Folsom Lake Symphony hosts its Season Celebration concert This Folsom tradition features a variety of music ranging from traditional favorites such as “O Holy Night,” “Ave Maria” and “The Christmas Song,” to excerpts from “The Nutcracker” and “Frozen.” Additional treats include Alan Menken’s “There’s a Place Called Home” from “A Christmas Carol,” Maestro Peter Jaffe’s “SymphHanukkah,” John Finnegan’s Christmas Singalong and more.
Featured are performances by internationally renowned soprano Teri Bibb, as well as the Northern California Children’s Chorus and
members of the Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet.
The concerts are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. Both concerts are at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. See folsomlakesymphony.com for tickets.
Cantare Chorale of the Sierra Foothills performs music of the season at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6831 Mother Lode Drive. Tickets are available online at cantarechorale.com, by phone at (530) 957-4600 or in cash at the door prior to the concert.
Apple Hill features hot apple doughnuts, mulled hot cider, apple pies and many craftspeople and vendors with unique gifts. Plus, this is a region with family farms that grow Christmas trees. Take your loved ones up for a sparkling day of fun.
Christmas in Coloma returns to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 & 11. Enjoy old-fashioned Christmas fun — live music, warming fires, crafts and games for the whole family, historical house tour, wagon rides and more.
Christmas in Cool will feature a parade (noon), tree lighting (4 p.m.) and raffle, as well as live music, a visit from Santa Claus, an ugly sweater contest and more at the Cool Shopping Center, located at 2966 Highway 49 in Cool.
The Folsom Ice Rink returns in a new location for this year only. In years past the ice rink was around the railroad turntable in the Historic District
Laney Griffo Tahoe Daily Tribune
STATELINE, Nev. — Hell’s Kitchen opened its doors in Harvey’s Lake Tahoe more than two years ago but the pandemic delayed Gordon Ramsey’s grand opening party. Finally, Ramsey visited his restaurant last month to host the long-overdue celebration.
While Ramsey has visited the Tahoe location since it’s opened, this event marked the first time he could interact with guests while they enjoyed one of his world-famous meals.
“Sadly, we opened, then a month later we had to shut down because some bat decided to bite the butt end of a chicken in Wuhan,” Ramsey told the Tribune. “So that brought us all to a halt and I had to cancel that launch party which I was mortified.”
Despite closing shortly after opening, since permanently reopening Hell’s Kitchen Tahoe has enjoyed success, which Ramsey said is a testament to the location and the energy the restaurant brings.
“When we have a kitchen this big and a dining room this small, the expectations are off the charts, so we have maintained a level of consistency so much earlier,” Ramsey said, comparing Tahoe to his Las Vegas location
which seats up to 1,000 people. “Here, it’s a little more intimate and a lot more localized. That’s important.”
Ramsey has a soft-spot in his heart for Lake Tahoe, long before he even had a restaurant there. He was born in Scotland and grew up poor in England, where he still lives. When he was in his early 20s, he went to France for a job.
“My parents never had the money to ski and, so, I learned to ski (while in France). Lake Tahoe reminds me of Isola because it’s this quaint, authentic, beautiful spot,” Ramsey said, fondly reminiscing how he’d ski all day and work all night.
“We draw on something similar here; it’s beautiful,” Ramsey added.
Ramsey has been able to ski at Lake Tahoe.
“I like going off-piste, so that for me … when you’ve got a flask, telephone, tiny little rucksack, couple of mates … I love the movement in and out of those trees,” Ramsey said.
It’s not just skiing that Ramsey loves about Tahoe, he also visited last summer and said he spent a great day on a boat on the lake fishing. When asked if he’s cooked up any of the fish he
When I’m hungry and in a hurry to make dinner or lunch this winter, a hot bowl of soup from a home-canned jar will be my go-to meal. The soup, with its pre-cooked vegetables and meat, is much healthier and less expensive than a fast-food meal. And the best part? It’s delicious!
Like many other people, I had a lot of Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. I spent the weekend pressure canning 18 quarts of turkey broth and six quarts of basic turkey soup without seasonings. I’ll use the broth as a base for any kind of soup I decide to make and each of the quarts of soup (which contains turkey and vegetables) will turn into a di erent meal with minimal prep. To one I’ll add noodles for turkey noodle soup. To another I’ll add leftover rice, for turkey rice soup. (Some of that rice may be wild rice for a nice pop of color contrast.) To another I’ll add diced tomatoes. To another I’ll add orzo and halfand-half for a creamy turkey soup. To another I’ll add leftover barley, quinoa or couscous. And to the last one I’ll add flour, egg noodles and evaporated milk. I’ll add di erent spices so each will have a unique taste.
The options are endless. Did you know pressure canned soup is the one canning recipe that gives you plenty of customization options? The National Center for Home Food Preservation canning section (nchfp.uga.edu) has a generic recipe for canning any type of soup, with some food safety considerations.
• Use a pressure canner. The temperature inside a jar needs to reach 240 degrees Fahrenheit to
destroy any Clostridium botulinum bacteria that could be on or in your food. In a regular canner, no matter how hard the boil, the temperature will never get that high. You need to build pressure to increase the temperature to 240 F. Clostridium botulinum grows in low-acid foods (soup) that have moisture (again, soup), no air (sealed jar) and are stored at room temperature (your pantry/cupboard). This pathogen creates the toxin that gives people botulism. You need to use a pressure canner to ensure canned low-acid foods are safe to eat.
• Only use rehydrated beans. The purpose of canning is to ensure enough heat penetration of the food long enough to destroy all food-borne pathogens. It takes heat longer to penetrate a rockhard dry bean than it does a rehydrated bean. The research-based recipes all use rehydrated beans to guarantee no pathogens, are in your sealed jar.
• Use partially cooked meat; cooked until it is tender. This makes the canning time better match the canning time for vegetables.
• Don’t add thickeners, such as flour or cream, because they will slow down the heat penetration in the jar. Instead, you can add thickeners when you’re serving the soup.
• Don’t add pasta, rice, barley or other grains when canning. Again, add them when you’re serving the soup. In addition to being thickeners, they’ll also dissolve during the long canning process. Yuck.
• When you fill the hot jar use a slotted spoon and fill half of the jar with the solid pieces of the soup. Then fill the rest of the jar with the soup’s liquid. This provides enough liquid for thorough heat penetration and a beautiful solid-to-liquid ratio.
• Pressure can pints for 60 minutes, quarts for 75 minutes, adjusting the pressure for your elevation. Find the full instructions at nchfp.uga.edu/how/ can_04/soups.html.
Using this approach, I’ve converted a lot of regular soup recipes to a canned version, including
Continued from B3
French onion; kale, potato, bean & chorizo; Navy nean & bacon; chipotle chicken; and beef barley, with the barley added when serving.
Leftover meat is a great base for nutritious and filling soups you can enjoy all winter. What kind will you make?
If you have questions about canning soup or any other food safety or
Continued from B1 whole family, historical house tour, wagon rides and more.
Ponte Palmero in Cameron Park hosts a holiday event for residents and the public, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a craft fair, drinks, appetizers and photos with Santa Claus.
The Ugly Sweater Sip & Stroll on Carson Road is scheduled 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Several Carson Road wineries — Crystal Basin, Nello Olivo, Myka Cellars and Findleton Estate Winery — will be participating in the Annual Ugly Sweater contest with prizes for the ugliest. Taste wine, nibble on some festive fair and get special pricing on holiday wine wishes.
The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad hosts Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure Dec. 10 & 11 and Dec. 16 & 17. Enjoy a scenic trip down to Santa’s Whistlestop at Willow Springs. Spend time with Old St. Nick and enjoy various activities and refreshments before your family returns to the station. For tickets and more information visit psvrr.org/ride/santaswhistlestop-adventure.
Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts picture book authors Erin Dealey, Lori Mortensen, Lisa Riddiough and Jocelyn Watkinson, noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy cocoa and cookies while listening to the authors and getting books signed. For more information call (916) 941-9401 or visit getyourfaceinabook. com.
Celebrate International Human Rights Day with speakers, storytellers, music, art, singing and more, 1-4 p.m. at Placerville Town Hall, 549 Main St.
See Sean Nye live at Golden Leaves Vineyard & Winery, 3625 Omo Ranch Road in Somerset, 1-4 p.m. or until the dancing stops. Enjoy the music and post Thanksgiving treats. Food and wine available for purchase. Reserve a table at GoldenLeavesWines.com/events/ or by calling the tasting room at (530) 620-1888.
The Sierra Symphony hosts a Christmas Concert at 4 p.m. at the Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive in Cameron Park. For tickets and more information visit sierrasymphony.org.
The Folsom Lake College FLC Youth Chamber Orchestra will perform a winter concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 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.
Folsom Lake Symphony presents Season Celebration with soprano Teri Bibb at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 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. 11
El Dorado Western Railroad and the El Dorado Community Hall host Holiday EnterTRAINment — a fun event featuring free train rides, face painting, arts & crafts, carolers, the Hangtown Marshals and more, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community hall and train station, 6139 Pleasant Valley Road in El Dorado. For more information visit facebook.com/ElDoradoWesternRailroad.
Christmas in Cool, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., features a parade at noon, tree lighting at 4 p.m. and raffle, as well as live music, a visit from Santa Claus, ugly sweater contest and more at the Cool shopping center, 2966 Highway 49 in Cool.
Golden Leaves Vineyard and Winery, 3625 Omo Ranch Road in Mt. Aukum, is having a class to make a wreath using wine corks,
preservation questions contact the UC Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County. Leave a message at (530) 6215506 or email edmfp@ucanr.edu. For more information about the program, events and recipes visit ucanr. edu/edmfp. Sign up to receive the eNewsletter at ucanr.org/mfpcsenews. Find UCCE Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County on Facebook, too.
1-4 p.m. If you have corks, ribbons and other decorations to put on your wreath you can bring them. The teacher Lynne de Bie will have corks and decorating items too. If you have a hot glue gun bring that too. Some will be available. The cost is $25. To sign up call (530) 620-1888.
Cantare Chorale of the Sierra Foothills performs holiday music at 3 p.m. at the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6831 Mother Lode Drive. Tickets are available from Cantare members, online at cantarechorale. com, by phone at (530) 957-4600 or in cash at the door prior to the concert.
Smith Flat House in Placerville presents Dejan Tyler and Dustin Wood at the Home Grown Comedy show. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the laughs begin at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit smithflathouse.com or call (530) 621-1103.
The Sacramento Symphonic Winds hosts Holiday Fantasias and Festivals!, a holiday concert, at 2:30 p.m. at the El Camino High School Center for the Arts. For more information visit sacwinds.org.
The Sacramento Blues Society presents the SBS Holiday Gala starring Texas blues queen Angela Strehli with Mighty Mike Schermer, 7-10 p.m. at Harlow’s in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit harlows.com.
Folsom Lake College Vocal & Choral Program hosts a voice recital at 3 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.
Community Gift Trees are set up through Dec. 9 at El Dorado Hills Raley’s, El Dorado Hills Safeway, El Dorado Hills Library, Cameron Park Library, Placerville Raley’s, Placerville Library and Pollock Pines Safeway. For more information contact Dana Schmalz at (530) 676-0707, Dschmalz@catalystcomm.org or Patricia Gordon at (530) 295-2305, Pgordon@ edcoe.org.
The El Dorado Hills Fire Department hosts its annual Santa Run through Dec. 9, bringing cheer to the community while Santa and his elves collect food and toys for the needy. For more information visit edhfire.com.
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 first 100 completed passports will receive a gift. The winner of the grand prize will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 28. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
The history-based scavenger hunt Miners on Main has begun. The game features 10 prominent historical figures of the El Dorado County Gold Rush for participants to discover as they walk a loop along Main Street, Placerville. There are 10 medallions “hidden” between Sacramento and Clay streets. Each medallion will include a unique QR code that participants can scan with their phones to learn about the individual who had some historical significance during the California Gold Rush. A clue will be provided to find the next Miner on Main. Clue sheets for those who want to play without using a smart device will be available at some shops and the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce office, 542 Main St., Placerville. For more information call (530) 621-5885.
Plaza. For this year only the rink is in the area just below the turntable, on Leidesdorff Street. The original donut-shaped ice rink is in the process of an upgrade and will be back next year. But in the meantime, why not check out the features of this new rink? There are fire pits, updated skates, theme nights, better quality ice and more. Afterward, enjoy a hot cocoa at Snook’s Chocolate Factory on Sutter Street. The rink is open now through early January. Visit folsomicerink.com for more.
The Sutter Street Theatre performs the family musical “Holiday in the Hills” through Dec. 23. This musical takes place in the late 1880s Folsom where the residents of the town and surrounding areas have gotten together to celebrate the holidays.
caught, he said he already had dinner plans so he released them all, since he was always taught not to be wasteful.
When asked where his dream location for a restaurant would be, he said Lake Tahoe is hard to beat.
“Flying in today, I was so excited with the view. Lake Tahoe, aesthetically, is going to be hard to beat,” Ramsey said.
The guests at the November event were able to watch Ramsey host a blind taste test challenge, which has been made famous on the “Hell’s Kitchen” TV show on Fox. Ramsey, who was visiting the week before his birthday, was then surprised with a large birthday cake.
Finally the guests were served a predetermined dinner.
First course – Parsnip soup with shaved carrot salad, crispy parsnip and micro watercress
Second course – Pan seared scallops with butternut squash purée, braised bacon and pickled green apples
Third course – Beef Wellington with potato purée, glazed root vegetables and red wine demi-glaze.
Dessert – Sticky toffee pudding with speculoos ice cream
In addition to wine, guests chose between several specialty drinks, including Fallen Leaf Punch, Lady of the Lake and Pony Express.
When asked what Ramsey would use to create the perfect meal to encapsulate the feel of Lake Tahoe, he responded, “I would start off with a wild mushroom risotto.”
He said he loves the taste of the local root vegetables, so he’d use those to make a fondu for the second course.
“For a main course I’d put together a turkey Wellington.”
Nathan Fishman, son of Joel and Jila Fishman of Cameron Park, earned his Eagle March 23, 2022.
Nathan graduated Ponderosa High School in 2022 and is currently attending American River College and is employed at In-N-Out Burger.
Ian Roberts, son of Boyd and Wendi Roberts of Placerville, earned his Eagle June 22, 2022. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 2022 and is currently attending Folsom Lake College and is employed at In-N-Out Burger.
Trace Plamondon, son of Paul and Lori Plamondon of Camino, earned his Eagle Aug. 11, 2022. Trace graduated from El Dorado High School in 2022 and is currently attending the University of Nevada-Reno.
Michael Delany, son of Guy and Brandie Delaney of Rescue, earned his Eagle Sept. 28, 2022, graduated Ponderosa High School in 2022 and is currently employed doing automotive upholstery fabrication and plans to be an upholsterer for Rolls Royce.
Service projects completed during the Scouts’ attainment of their Eagle rank were wide ranging from wood duck nesting boxes at the Cold Springs Golf and Country Club to flag retirement collection boxes at both the Rescue and Bass Lake Road fire stations. Efforts also included constructing and installing lending library boxes at the Rescue Fire Department and the Rescue Community Center plus installing a proper shot-put throwing sector at Pleasant Grove Middle School. While another project benefited the Rescue Community Center, where the troop meets each week, by installing a new sign, paver walkway and stairs leading to the horseshoe pits.
The recent Eagle Scouts of Troop 700 have garnered a lot from their years in Scouting.
William said his favorite memories include “accomplishing large goals with my Scouting friends such as Philmont, a 100-mile backpacking trip in the backcountry of New Mexico for 10 days.”
“The biggest thing I learned from Scouting is how to be an effective leader,” Nathan shared. “Many people my age are entering the world with no leadership experience and I can tell that they are uncomfortable in a leadership position. Thanks to Scouting, I can easily and comfortably step into leadership roles and effectively complete all tasks given to me with minimal stress.”
Troop 700 started in 1993 with seven Scouts and is excited to celebrate 30 years in 2023 and continues to welcome boys ages 11-17. For more information about Troop 700 visit troopwebhost. org/Troop700Rescue/Index.htm or contact Scoutmaster Roger Johnson at (916) 882-2840 or rogerjohnson30@gmail.com.
Available for weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, & one time cleaning. Reliable, honest, and has over 20 years of experience.
A lot of research went into the people and places that were here in the late 1800s, give or take a year or two. Every character was an actual resident or visitor to Folsom at that time of year.
Allen Schmeltz with the theater said, “Come see a show guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit or your money back. This is one of the most enjoyable shows of the year with dynamic characters, dancing, music and skits.”
These are just a few of the delights that await you this month. From my house to yours, may your spirits find renewed faith, hope and joy during this holy time of year.
Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@handywriting.com.
He’d stick with the sticky toffee pudding for dessert with a whiskey sauce.
While it did temporarily shut down his new restaurant, Ramsey said there are silver linings to the pandemic such as people’s changed relationship with food and the dining experience.
“I think the pandemic has realigned the importance of breaking bread … we’ve got this rejuvenated importance of eating and the fun has been reinstalled,” he explained. “I think everyone’s got better because they’ve come back to the restaurants with a lot more knowledge because they’ve had to survive; they’ve had to cook, they’ve made their own started and cooked their own bread to survive.”
actors to get the program up and running. Since then, Tammy along with other parent volunteers, has helped with props and set designs. For Raeana’s solo performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in “A Christmas Miracle,”it will be her mom’s PowerPoint designs displayed in the background.
Tammy shared how much her daughter loves the program. She said Raeana not only enjoys being around friends, but has laso learned about commitment and responsibility. The best part for Tammy, she added, is “seeing the joy from all the kids. I love watching them have this opportunity.”
In these two productions, Reis is working with a cast of 18 and said roles were given to those who sounded the most like the character. He recalled some of the cast asking him, “Do you really think I sound like that?” In the end, Reis shared, they were a perfect fit and have enjoyed practicing their roles.
To find out more about Dream Catchers EDH or to make a donation visit dreamcatchersedh.org.
See “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “A Christmas Miracle” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the Holiday Inn Express in El Dorado Hills. No tickets necessary.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” cast: Sally (Kali); Lucy (Audrey)(Amanda); Charlie Brown (Will) (Connor); Snoopy (Hanah); Linus (Jai); Pig Pen (Isaac); Frieda (Cambry); Little Red Head Girl 1 (Kim); Little Red Head Girl 2 (Rae); Schroeder (Caleb); Shermy (Dennis); Black Hair Girl (Emily); Violet (Savannah); Chorus (Jaquel, Nick, Cruz).
The Georgetown Divide Public Utility District invites applications for the position of: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SALARY RANGE: $28.84 to $36.05 per hour plus benefits, depending on qualifications.
OPENING DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2022
FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. First review date for applications will be held on DECEMBER 23, 2022.
An application can be printed from the District website at www.gd-pud.org or request an application by emailing Stephanie Beck at slbeck@gd-pud.org.
Return a completed application to the District office by mail, or email to: slbeck@gd-pud.org. Georgetown Divide Public Utility District P.O. Box 4240 Georgetown, CA. 95634 For further information call (530) 333-4356 or visit our website at www.gd-pud.org
Crunchy, munchy popcorn snacks make the perfect holiday gift and will keep you on the nice list. If you’re heading to a holiday party, with little effort you can make a festive treat that’s sure to please. Bring both a homemade pop corn snack and a hostess gift basket filled with your snack ingredients for a gift that keeps on giving.
Make a large amount of popcorn the day before and allow it to sit out overnight. Fresh popcorn breaks easily; day-old popcorn is tougher. Make a fresh batch to eat while you make your popcorn garland using the stale popcorn.
Thread a needle with strong thread, waxed cotton thread, or even dental floss. Select a length you want or keep the thread on the spool and cut once you’ve reached the desired length after stringing.
Start stringing one popcorn kernel at a time by inserting the tip of the needle into the center of each piece. Alternate with cranberries if desired.
When finished, cut string, remove needle, and tie large knots at both ends.
Carefully hang the garland on your tree, mantel, or even your outside shrubs for animals to enjoy.
Holiday parties just got better. This sweet confection will bring your holiday festivities to a new level.
Yield: 8 Cups
Ingredients
8 cups popped popcorn
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Candy sprinkles
Spread popcorn in thin layer on serving platter.
Melt chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave. Drizzle over popcorn. Melt white chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave. Drizzle over popcorn. Immediately sprinkle desired amount of sprinkles over warm chocolate-coated popcorn. Allow drizzles to set up until firm. Serve.
published in such county in a newspaper that circulates in the area where the business is conducted (Business & Professions Code 17917).
Any person who executes, files, or publishes any fictitious business name statement, knowing that such
The taste of peppermint and white chocolate make this the perfect holiday popcorn to share or gift!
Yield: 1 pound
Ingredients
5 cups popped popcorn
12 ounces white chocolate baking chips, chopped white chocolate or white candy coating
1 cup crushed hard candy peppermints
Cover a baking pan with foil or wax paper; set aside.
Place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside.
Melt chocolate in a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring until smooth OR melt according to package directions.
Stir in crushed peppermints after chocolate is melted.
Pour chocolate mixture over popcorn mixture and stir to coat.
Spread onto prepared pan; allow to cool completely.
When chocolate is cooled and set, break into chunks for serving.
Store in an air-tight container at room temperature.
White Chocolate Popcorn Crunch: Omit candy peppermints. Mix ½ cup dried sweetened cranberries and ½ cup sliced almonds with the popcorn. Pour chocolate over the mixture after it is melted.
Note: Because the Beneficiary reserves the right to bid less than the total debt owed, it is possible that at the time of the sale the opening bid may be less than the total debt. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse.
The beneficiary of the Deed of Trust
If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on this property.
The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (866)-960-8299 or visit this Internet Web site https:// www.altisource.com/loginpage.aspx using the file number assigned to this case 2022-00837-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to
not to exceed one thousand dollars
Amile north of Sierra City in Sierra County
the Pacific Crest Trail
crosses Highway 49.
This is where I parked my car to begin the search for the elusive Loves Falls. I had followed my GPS in the past and found myself on a lovely drive up Jackson Meadows way, but it was not Loves Falls. I instead turned to the U.S. Forest Service; officials quite plainly stated it was a quarter mile off Highway 49 on the PCT out of Sierra City. I parked on the east side of the road. I could hear water falling as soon as I opened the car door. I looked to the west side of the Highway where another PCT trail sign was posted. I followed my gut, and the North Yuba River, both on the east side.
The trail leads you into the woods
surrounded by tall pines, oaks, dogwoods and plenty of buckeye. Not far along a sign nailed to a tree let me know I had chosen correctly. It’s the PCT so goodies left by trail angels are common.
It wasn’t long before I came out of the woods and the handsome concrete bridge came into view. I walked to the middle of the bridge and took in the sight of the river making its way over boulders and under the bridge.
Below the bridge is the heart shaped rock that gives the falls its name. There isn’t a trail per se to get down. I had to use the roots of a tree like a ladder to get to the rocks below. I cannot advise anyone else to do this. The view is gorgeous from above, but if you want to see the heart rock you need to get down below.
Once I had enjoyed the view, a snack and had taken plenty of pictures, I headed out on the PCT for
a bit. You can make this hike simple from the road to the bridge and back or wander out on the PCT as far as you care to and turn around when you are good and ready.
Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (second edition available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns
where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 Craft Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the Day Hiker series by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
GRASS VALLEY
— The Center for the Arts exhibits fine artist Jude Bischoff’s oil and acrylic paintings in the Granucci Gallery starting Dec. 9 with an opening reception 4-7 p.m.
Bischoff received a formal art degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and since has spent a lifetime blending his love for painting and his love for nature, painting scenes of the Sierra for decades.
Every day is a blessing to Bischoff and he said he believes his responsibility as an artist is to create vitality and delight. When his love and joy for the content and the moment go into a painting, and that work is seen in a gallery or brought into a collector’s home, the same feeling radiates off the wall and creates a pleasurable charge in the whole environment.
The rhythms found in nature are the same rhythms found in music and flow off his brush and onto the canvas.
When Bischoff hears the rushing stream, the song of the birds and the wind against the canvas, he said he feels a direct connection to the driving force of the universe, both seen and unseen. Bischoff paints in the elements and from his heart, with no preliminary drawings or idea sketches. His work only progresses naturally and confidently using the brush to draw the painting.
Painting a landscape
experiences dance across the paintings with purpose and life force, harnessing life’s beautiful wildness with vision and with insight that delivers paintings with a world of joy, rhythm and unbridled aliveness.
Bischoff’s work hangs in collections across the country and now in the Granucci Gallery, 314 West Main St. in Grass Valley. For more information call (530) 274-8384 or visit thecenterforthearts.org.