
5 minute read
They’re not to be missed
IN THE KNOW
Dec. 30
Vitalant will hold an El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX Theater blood drive, noon to 4 p.m. at 2101 Vine St. El Dorado Hills. The Bloodmobile will be parked near the movie theater on the north side. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM486 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.
Dive into the Cameron Park Community Center’s heated pool, 2502 Country Club Drive, during Santa Swim, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Attend the Green Tie Ball
with Golden Cadillacs
Dec. 31
Ring in 2023 at the Red
Dirt Ruckus East Coast New Year’s Eve Party
The Neon Moon Band
performs at Roosters Bar and Grille in Mt. Aukum, 8 p.m. to midnight. Slingshots, 3300 Coach Lane, Suite B1, Cameron Park, hosts a New Year’s celebration with Xstadic performing classic rock-nroll. Music starts at 8 p.m. and hors d’oeuvres will be served the fi rst hour. For more information call (530) 676-9915. David Verdugo Trio will perform 8:45-11:45 p.m. at the Coloma Club in Coloma.
Jan. 1
Soulful Sunday Sound Healing and Intention
Setting takes place 3-6 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets, tables and livestream access visit tickets. clubgreenroom.com.
Carol Tuttle & the Jazz
Trio perform at 5 p.m. every Sunday at Smith Flat House in Placerville. For more information call (530) 621-1003 or visit smithfl athouse.com/ events.
Jan. 3
Homebrew and
microbrew masters are invited to enter upcoming El Dorado County Fair competitions, Jan. 3-23. For rules, deadlines and more information visit eldoradocountyfair.org/
■ See KNOW, page B6
File photo by Laurie Edwards
Geshe Jampa Lobsang, left, and Gelong Tenzin Lekshey, right, watch Geshe Jampa Wangchuk add blessed sand from India into the mandala sand pile during last year’s visit to El Dorado County. Each year the monks create a beautiful mandala and then sweep it away, giving the blessed sand to guests.
‘Amituofo’ Monks coming back to Placerville
Placerville Friends of Tibet
The Sacred Arts Tour of Gaden Shartse Norling Monastery returns to Placerville, Jan. 2-14.
Placerville Friends of Tibet has hosted this arts and culture tour since 2003 and will usher in 2023 with a 20th year commemoration. Along with the monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery located (in exile) in Southern India, who know and love the Sierra Foothills and surrounding communities, the tour is deeply grateful to the founders, organizers, community and partners that have made this possible over the years.
During the tour the monks will share their arts and culture and Tibetan perspectives on the Buddha’s teachings as well as o er empowerments, astrology readings, healings and blessings for individuals, families, businesses, pets and the community at large.
The opening ceremony and Dharma talk explaining this sand mandala will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, at the historical Federated Church, 1031 Thompson Way in Placerville. Buddhist monks will create the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols mandala representing the creation of positive potentials. This mandala can be used externally to help in successfully benefi ting others in auspicious ways. The symbols are the umbrella, yellow fi sh, vase, lotus, white conch shell, glorious peu, banner and Dharma chakra.
The public can view the daily progress of the mandala from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The sand mandala creation culminates with a closing mandala dissolution ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.
This tour helps support Gaden Shartse Monastic College, which is situated in the remote countryside of southern India. It was founded in 1969 as an e ort to re -establish one of the great monastic traditions of Tibet — the Gelug tradition followed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. A small group of elder monks and 15 young boys, all of whom had managed to escape the destruction in Tibet, settled
■ See MONKS, page B4
Jan. 3
• Blessing at MORE, 399 Placerville Drive in Placerville, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 4
• Senior Series talk (aging with grace and joy) at Federated Church, 10:3011:30 a.m.
• Dharma talk (4 Noble Truths) at Federated Church, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5
• Senior Series talk (how to gently navigate grief) at Federated Church, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Healing Ritual (special prayers for the deceased) at Federated Church, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6
• Blessing at Mercy Hospital in Folsom, 10-11:30 a.m. • Tibetan Cultural Night (a day in the life of a monk – debate demonstration chanting), 6-7:30 p.m.



Jan. 7
• Pet blessing at Federated Church, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Meditation workshop (learn the foundations of Tibetan Buddhist meditation to help you start a new practice or enrich your existing practice) at Federated Church, 3-4:30 p.m. • Empowerment (long life) at Federated Church, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8
• Butter sculpture & calligraphy workshops at Federated Church, 1-3 p.m. • Interfaith dialog at Federated Church, 3:30-5 p.m. • Healing Ritual (Vajravidarin – Buddha of purifi cation) at Federated Church, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10
• Afternoon blessing at Federated Church, 1-3 p.m. • Dharma talk (dependent arising – emptiness and the lack of inherent existence) at Federated Church, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11
• Afternoon blessing at Federated Church, 1-3 p.m. • Dharma talk (patience: the antidote to anger) at Federated Church, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12
• Children’s story time with the monks ■ See SCHEDULE, page B4


Fresh Food & Local Eats






Placerville’s Favorite Sandwich Shop & Tap House
Outside Deck Open Take Out ~ Order Online ~ Call In 11am – 4pm Daily







Mountain Democrat Mountain Democrat