Mountain Democrat, Friday, July 11, 2025 by mcnaughtonmedia

El Dorado blaze burns grassland

Mountain Democrat sta

A foothill ﬁre near a residential neighborhood scorched 9.2 acres on Kingvale Road in El Dorado on Tuesday, July 8.

Fire crews responded just after noon and in less than an hour had the ﬂames doused thanks to strong coordination that made for a fast and e ective response, according to a Cal Fire social media post. Responding agencies were Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit, the El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce, Rescue Fire Department and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Tribal Fire.

The cause of the ﬁre is under investigation.

Gripes and gaggles

Wrights Lake residents battle growing goose population

Chris Woodard

Sta writer

A surge in Canada geese at Wrights Lake is prompting alarm among cabin owners.

Cabin owners say the problem has escalated over the past ﬁve years and they are concerned the geese — as many as 70 around the lake at any given time — could damage the ecosystem surrounding the lake.

Wrights Lake, just above Kyburz, is a 40-acre basin surrounded by federally managed land and supports about 80 seasonal cabins and dozens of campsites.

“The geese come right up to us. They’re not afraid,” said Larry Buck, a fourth-generation cabin owner. “We’ve tried pinwheels, laser lights, everything. Nothing works.”

Kevin Ringelman, assistant professor of wildlife ecology at UC Davis who researches waterfowl science, said the impact can be signiﬁcant ... especially when nature calls.

“Canada geese can defecate up to 90 times a day, leaving behind

3 pounds of feces,” Ringelman said. “That inﬂux of nutrients into the lake can inﬂuence things like algae blooms and other harmful aquatic events. There have been instances where public parks and beaches were closed because of water quality concerns stemming from too many geese.”

Resident goose populations have grown in many parts of the U.S. where mild weather and open access to water make for ideal

conditions, he added.

“This is not an uncommon problem.

Most Canada geese in the U.S. were migratory, but over the last century those populations have become resident,” Ringelman explained. “Geese are really hard to get rid of because the only thing they need is water and vegetation.”

At Wrights Lake, residents say the consequences are already visible.

“By October, the lake is so bad with goose

feces, it’s brown and blackish,” Buck said.

Leann Agee, a former president of the Wrights Lake Summer Home Association for 14 years, said the beaches and swimming areas have been a ected.

“They come onto the beaches and eat all the tall grass. Then they leave massive piles of poop. The rocks we used to swim to are now covered in it,” she said.

“We’ve asked the Forest

Check it out! State Parks Library Pass offers adventure

Shelly Thorene

Sta writer

Feel like taking a trip?

Have a library card?

The El Dorado County Library can help via the California State Library Parks Pass.

Introduced by Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom in 2021, the program is part of California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative, which works to support access to parks in underserved communities. Through this initiative, 5,000 state park passes became available to library card holders for more than 200 participating state parks.

PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE

The initiative also includes the California State Adventures pass, which provides free entry for fourth graders and their families at 54 select state parks throughout the state and the Golden Bear Pass which provides free vehicle day-use access to many parks for CalWORKs recipients, SSI recipients, Tribal TANF recipients and individuals 62 years or older whose income falls under a certain threshold.

Since the beginning of the California State Library Parks Pass program, 33,000 passes have been distributed to more than 1,100 public libraries throughout the state. In 2023, the California State Parks Foundation published data pertaining to the program: 63% surveyed cited cost as the primary barrier to

visiting, 90% said they now plan to visit parks more than seven times a year, nearly 70% reported household incomes below $60,000 and more than 63% identiﬁed as Black, Indigenous or people of color. These statistics helped save the program that has beneﬁted thousands. In January, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget included $6.75 million to continue the California State Library Parks Pass; however, months later, the Legislature

stripped that funding in its joint budget plan. In response, the nonproﬁt California State Parks Foundation launched a public petition and reached out to key legislative o ces with documented evidence of the program’s success. Funding was restored in the ﬁnal budget package signed June 27 and the program is extended through Dec. 31, 2026. El Dorado County Director of Library Services Bryce Lovell said the park pass “is very popular,” adding, “We make it easy for

people.” He said he is pleased to have more passes for patrons; there are now 500 passes available at El Dorado County libraries. Library card holders can go online or walk in to see if a pass is available at their local branch. They can place a hold on either a pass or a backpack. The backpack contains a pass, binoculars, California Trees and Wildﬂowers Guide, California Wildlife Guide, Gold Country and Lake Tahoe trail guides, trekking poles

A pass to over 200 participating state parks is available for check out to library card holders at 1,100 libraries in the state of California.

passes for patrons.

and carabiner compasspocket microscope-mini ﬂashlight combo. The check out period is three weeks, the same as for other library materials. The pass can also be renewed for an additional three weeks if there are no holds. Failure to return the pass on time suspends the patron’s library account until the pass is returned. Placerville branch Library Circulation Supervisor Krystal Owens said some

Photo courtesy of Larry Buck

A rock in Wrights Lake that residents used to love swimming to and jumping off — which they called turtle rock — has a new name thanks to the geese that use it as one of their many potty spots. The now vacant rock has earned the title of “turdle rock.”

Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene

El Dorado County Director of Library Services Bryce Lovell checks out the library’s website where information regarding the California State Library Parks Pass is shared.

The El Dorado County Library has 500

ESSENTIALS

Francis Piceno

July 27, 1925 – June 5, 2025

Francis Piceno was born on the 27th of July, 1925, in Grand Junction, Colorado. He passed away on June 5th, 2025 at the age of 99. He was raised on a large dairy farm in Riverbank, California. The Great Depression and the misery had a profound impression on him. He was relieved of some of his chores with this advice from his father — “always have two jobs simultaneously and every legitimate job is honorable and has value — be loyal, respectful, and be dutiful.” His first manly job was as a revamper on a truck at the age of 12 for 20 cents per hour. From then on for the next 20 years he looked forward to every summer with eagerness — what next? He laboured in field crops, fruit orchards, vineyards, and fruit drying sheds. He also ran a dairy farm during his senior year in high school, worked at canneries, was a street paper boy, a labor arbitrator and worked in grocery stores. He laboured 2 summers building the Folsom Lake dam, then locally for PG&E and building the Silver Fork school. He moonlighted for 37 years as a haberdasher. For 40 years he translated legal documents and was an on-call court interpreter. He attended Oakdale High School where he lettered in football, baseball and tennis. He decided to go to college after graduating high school and pay his way. He attended Modesto Jr. College where he was active in the student council and drama club. He was also coached in tennis by a Davis Cup coach. At 18, it was here that started his teaching career by teaching English to foreign born immigrants. He later attended University of the Pacific where he majored in Foreign Languages and was active in drama as well as his fraternity Rho Lambda Phi. He started his full time teaching at Folsom High School teaching Spanish, History, Civics, P.E. and assisted as a football coach where he won his first two tennis championships. He also volunteered teaching inmates at Folsom Prison. Frank met Patricia Lowney, his wife of 67 years, at a local dance in Folsom. “I had to marry her. And she was forever happy!” In 1954, they moved to Placerville, California, where he taught Spanish, History, P.E. and he continued to play tennis in his leisure time. As a tennis coach, he accumulated over 400 coaching win records. He also assistant coached a Championship Jr. Varsity football team. He was a World War II Veteran who served as a news broadcaster and USAFI register and personnel management instructor. In the Korean conflict, he repeated as instructor in personnel management in Military Law, Army Finance and Insurance. Frank was a charter member of the Folsom Rotary. He also was a Committee Chairman of the Elks Youth activities and a Scholarship Chairman and judge of the Elks at the local, district, and state level for over 50 years. He was a Little League o cer, and served on the El Dorado County Republican Central Committee after Watergate. He was active in many political campaigns from local to state, a Grand Juror and a library volunteer for over 35 years. Pat and Frank spent long summers at their summer cabin at Lake Tahoe where he was a docent at the Tahoe Historical Site, and an avid tennis player/coach which he enjoyed until he was 88 years old. He is survived by his daughter Robyn of Galt, his son Randy and his grandchildren Lucas, Francesca, and Dominic all from New Zealand.

Tish Langston

March 6, 1949 – June 26, 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Tish Langston, who peacefully passed away at her home surrounded by family on June 26, 2025, at the age of 76.

Born and raised in Burbank, California, Tish moved to Placerville in 1976 with her husband, Lanny Langston. Together, they created a life that was rich in community and service. Tish attended UC Santa Barbara, where she met Lanny, and they shared nearly ﬁve decades of marriage and love.

Tish was the founding force behind P.R.I.D.E and Joy, a non-proﬁt organization that she started nearly 50 years ago. P.R.I.D.E and Joy was the ﬁrst early intervention program in El Dorado County, providing essential services to children with disabilities and their families. Tish’s commitment to this cause was unwavering, and many will remember her work in organizing the annual Diaper Bail fundraiser, which supported the organization’s mission.

An active member of Federated Church in Placerville, Tish served in numerous capacities, including as a Deacon, Health Minister, and grief counselor. Her compassion and dedication to helping others were evident in everything she did. Tish is survived by her loving daughters, Amy Bennett and Kathryn Orindgre and their husbands, Cameron Bennett and Tim Orindgre , and her ﬁve grandchildren: Aidan, Charlie, Drew, Finley, and Evie. She leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and kindness that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held in her honor on July 19, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Federated Church in Placerville. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations can be made to Imagination Theater or Federated Church in memory of Tish’s lifelong dedication to her community.

Rosalind “Rosie” Eileen Blomsterberg

April 15, 1954 – July 02, 2025

Rosalind “Rosie” Eileen Blomsterberg (McCutcheon) passed away on July 2, 2025, in Cameron Park, California, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Born on April 15, 1954, in Tucson, Arizona, to Dorothy and Wilfred McCutcheon, Rosie was the eighth of ten children in a large Catholic family. Her early years were spent in Arizona before relocating to Southern California, where she graduated from Fountain Valley High School in 1972. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach, and began her career as a juvenile probation o cer. In 1978, Rosie moved to Incline Village, Nevada, transitioning into real estate. Her passion for helping others ultimately led her back to school to earn a Master’s in Education from Chapman University. After settling in Cameron Park, she devoted herself to teaching in El Dorado County until her retirement in the early 2000’s, when she dedicated her time to philanthropic volunteer work. Rosie met Kenneth Nels Blomsterberg while working at La Fuente restaurant in Cypress, California. They married on September 17, 1977, at Saint Irenaeus Catholic Church. Together they raised four children: Michael, David, Michele, and Kristin. Rosie was a devoted grandmother to Ti any, Trevor, Brittany, Destiny, Zachary, Katharina, Katherine, Nathalia, and Liliah; and great-grandmother to Madison, Hunter, and Delilah.

She found joy in travel, nature hikes, national parks, and cheering for the LA Dodgers. A lifelong athlete and music lover, Rosie approached every endeavor with enthusiasm and heart. Rosie is also remembered for her deep compassion for animals and the underserved. She led countless e orts supporting the homeless and underprivileged families through local and international outreach.

A viewing will be held Thursday, July 17 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Green Valley Mortuary in Rescue, CA with a rosary at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Friday, July 18 at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in El Dorado Hills.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations may be made in Rosie’s name to Animal Outreach of the Motherlode, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Tunnel to Tower, the Child Abuse Prevention Center (Sacramento), Wounded Warriors, the Shriner’s Hospital, and The Big Brothers and Big Sisters (Reno). The family would be grateful for donations in Rosie’s name to any of these honorable organizations.

Anne (Schipper) Shackelford

Jan. 24, 1941 – June 2, 2025

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Anne (Schipper) Shackelford, who left this world peacefully in her sleep on June 2, 2025 in Placerville, California, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on January 24, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA, and lived a life full of love, kindness, and devotion to her family.

Anne was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold Shackelford, son Daniel Newby, son Neil Shackelford, and foster son Robert Wade. She was also preceded in death by her dear brother, Richard Schipper. While these losses left a profound mark on her heart, Anne’s resilience and strength were unparalleled.

Anne is survived by her children: Steve (Juliann) Shackelford, Virginia (Oliver) Brelsford, and Sharon (Donnie) O’Neal, 13 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild and brother Clyde (Judy) Schipper. Her enduring love for her family will continue to guide and inspire them, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Anne had a quiet strength, a spirit of nurturing care, and an unyielding commitment to her family. Her legacy of warmth, generosity, and compassion will never be forgotten.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those who o ered love, prayers, and support during this di cult time. A private family service will be held in Anne’s honor at the home of Sharon O’Neal in Placerville, California. Rest in peace, Anne. You will always be missed, but never forgotten.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — El Dorado Sheri ’s O ce Search and Rescue was dispatched to assist two backcountry hikers who became stranded on the island at Eagle Lake o of the Eagle Falls Trail, on Monday, June 30.

A man and his 16-year-old son swam across to the island and began to experience general body weakness due to the cold water temperatures in alpine lakes, according to an EDSO social media post

“The decision not to attempt to swim back was right and they summoned assistance. Both were stable and not in any distress but required assistance in getting back to the main shoreline,” the Facebook post continues.

EDSO SAR was dispatched and California State Parks o ered its lifeguards to assist in the rescue. Working cooperatively and together, State Park lifeguards swam across to the island and provided a safe passage back to the main shore.

As this incident was occurring, a secondary incident developed on the Eagle Falls Trail where a hiker sustained injuries to her ankles and could not hike o the trail without assistance. EDSO SAR, in partnership with California State Parks, used a litter basket to transport the hiker o the trail.

The injuries did not require any immediate medical attention and the hiker was planning to seek further medical attention on her own.

“It is in times like these we provide total care and work with our partners in achieving this goal. EDSO thanks California State Parks in providing mutual aid to these incidents,” the post states.

• Research achievements:

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science is proud to be celebrating its 15th anniversary celebration and the launch of 15 special sponsorship opportunities for individuals, businesses and organizations committed to environmental education and conservation in the Tahoe region.

Since its founding in 2010, TINS has evolved into a true force in connecting people with Tahoe’s natural world through science, education and a multitude of community programs, guided walks and events. Despite a staggering breadth of program areas, and an emphasis on excellence, quality and providing the most up-todate information possible, TINS also focuses on community and accessibility of their programs. Toward that goal, TINS seeks to remove barriers to experiencing nature whenever possible by partnering with other organizations to expand their audience reach and by always keeping program fees low and securing grant funding to make many o erings completely free to participants.

“Reaching this 15-year milestone gives us an opportunity not only to acknowledge our accomplishments

LAKE LEVELS

to date, but also to take a strategic look forward, chart a path towards our ambitious goals ahead, and strengthen our programs for the future,” said Dr. Will Richardson, co-founder and executive director of TINS. “The support of our community has been essential to our growth, and we hope that these 15th anniversary sponsorship opportunities will help build community relationships to ensure our work continues for decades to come.”

15 years of impact

Over the past decade and a half, TINS has established itself as an essential resource for environmental education and natural history information in the Tahoe Basin. TINS has proudly achieved the following milestones:

• Education excellence: Connected over 75,000 students with nature through innovative programs; oftentimes parents don’t realize that it’s TINS behind the cool lesson that students come home and report that they learned about “bats” that day for instance

• Community engagement: Hosted nearly 800 guided outings, nature walks and natural history presentations, beneﬁting more than 17,000 participants

Conducted extensive wildlife monitoring including banding over 7,000 birds across six research sites

• Citizen science leadership: Coordinated annual wildlife counts and monitoring projects, like the annual Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Count, and maintaining the Tahoe Birding and Tahoe Wildﬂowers Facebook groups, boasting approximately 3,000 and 1,500 followers (and growing), respectively

• Publication impact: Created dozens of research reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed journal publications and widelydistributed nature activity books and educational materials that have reached thousands of local students and their families

• Conservation collaboration: Partnered with land managers across the region to inform critical conservation decisions

Sponsorship opportunities

In celebration of 15 years dedicated to environmental education, scientiﬁc research, and community engagement in the Tahoe region, TINS is o ering 15 opportunities to support various impactful programs. A range of sponsorship levels and partial sponsorship contributions provide many chances to directly fund vital

programs and research. Visit tinsweb. org/15-year-anniversary for more details.

“The partnerships we form during our 15th anniversary year will have such a positive impact in shaping our next chapter,” said TINS Board Member Kristine Mitchell. “As we work toward our vision of a worldclass nature center in the Tahoe region, we are excited about the growing community support that provides crucial momentum.”

15th anniversary commemoration

TINS will mark its 15th anniversary with a special event in November 2025, with details to be announced. This milestone event will bring together supporters, partners, and community members to reﬂect on 15 successful years of important conservation work and environmental education in the Tahoe region.

For those interested in getting involved, there are many programs to check out, including nature camps for kids and many wildﬂower outings all summer long as part of the 2025 Tahoe Wildﬂower Big Year. Visit tinsweb.org/15-year-anniversary to review the current sponsorship opportunities or contact TINS directly at info@tinsweb.org or (775) 298-0060.

BOMUSD preps for leadership change

Crystal Miller President, BOMUSD Board of Trustees

On the evening of June 30 the Black Oak Mine Uniﬁed School District Board of Trustees approved a leadership transition related to the superintendent position. Dr. Gabe Simon will be transitioning to a new role with the Marysville Joint Uniﬁed School District e ective Aug. 1. To ensure a smooth transition, the

board has appointed Carrie Arnett as interim superintendent. Arnett will begin working alongside Simon this month to support a seamless hando . She brings more than 20 years of dedicated service to the district and currently serves as the director of Educational Options and Services.

The board thanks Simon for his leadership and welcomes Arnett as she steps into this important role.

Tahoe Bike Month sets records, showcasing commitment to sustainable transportation

Thea Schwartz

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

LAKE TAHOE — The 20th annual Tahoe Bike Month broke records this June, highlighting the region’s growing commitment to healthier, more sustainable transportation.

Organized by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, the month-long celebration brought together 511 Tahoe residents and visitors who collectively logged 10,880 bike trips covering 80,982 miles and nearly 5.6 million vertical feet.

Participation increased by 18% over last year, marking the highest engagement in the event’s two-decade history.

With nearly 30 bike-friendly events, including bike path cleanups, “bike kitchen” repair pop-ups and the annual Pride Ride, the event continues to shift Tahoe’s transportation culture away from car dependency and toward cleaner alternatives that benefit Tahoe’s environment and connect the communities.

1,167 miles.

Participants tracked their rides on TahoeBikeMonth. org, competing for prizes donated by local businesses. Notable achievements included: • Top team:

“Bike Month brings our community together, encouraging new riders and celebrating everyday commuters, while adding some friendly competition along the way,” said Rebecca Cremeen, senior transportation planner at TRPA. “Each year, we see more people choosing to bike, not just for recreation, but for trips to school, work and running errands. That shift makes a meaningful difference in quality of life here in Tahoe.”

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Competitive Commuters earned 162 points.

• Most rides: Druin Roberts completed 161 trips.

• Elevation leader: Bob Larsen climbed 94,134 feet.

• Distance champion: Joshua Hutchens logged

• Biggest ride: Druin Roberts tackled a 288mile ride with 16,955 feet of climbing.

• Daily riders: 34 participants biked every day in June. “This year’s recordbreaking participation

reflects a growing commitment to biking as a way of life in Tahoe,” said Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition President Nick Speal. “Every mile ridden helps demonstrate the need for continued investments in safer, more connected bike routes — advancing our mission, alongside TRPA, to make it easier and more enjoyable to get around Tahoe on two wheels.” Tahoe Bike Month would not be possible without the support of generous local sponsors, including Gear Lab, PT Revolution, Clearly Tahoe, BioSpirit Spa, Beach Hut Deli, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Summit to Shore Chiropractic, South Shore Bikes, Blue Granite Climbing Gym, Anderson’s Bike Rental, Stio, Shoreline Tahoe, Westside Coffee and Chai, Visit Lake Tahoe, Crazy Good Bakery and Cafe, Elevate Wellness, Tahoe Gear Exchange, Tahoe Brewfest and Tahoe Sports Ltd. As summer continues, organizers encourage the community to keep the momentum going by biking, walking or riding public transit. Learn more about sustainable travel in Tahoe at LinkingTahoe. com and explore the interactive bike map at map.tahoebike.org. Tahoe Bike Month will return in June 2026.

Scammers are targeting PG&E customers at an alarming rate

Paul Moreno PG&E

AUBURN — Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate during 2025, with Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers reporting more than $190,000 in losses to scammers. To stop this trend, PG&E is committed to helping customers recognize the signs of a scam and avoid falling victim.

A typical sign of a scam targeting a utility customer includes a caller claiming to be from PG&E and threatening disconnection if immediate payment is not made via a pre-paid debit card, digital payment mobile application or other methods of money transfer. As a reminder, PG&E will never send a single notification to a customer within one hour of a service interruption and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency or instant mobile payment applications, like Zelle or Venmo.

“Scammers seek to create a sense of panic, threatening disconnection of utility services if immediate payment is not made. If a phone call, visit to your home, or email doesn’t feel right, don’t fall for it. Hang up, shut the door and do not respond to the email,” said PG&E Cybersecurity Risk Manager Amy Lucido. “Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email, nor will we request payment via pre-paid debit cards or other methods of money transfer, including mobile applications.”

So far this year, PG&E has received over 10,000 reports of scams targeting residential and business customers with customers reporting losses of over $190,000. The average scam victim lost over $900 and over 200 customers have reported falling victim. This number is likely just the tip of the iceberg however, as many scams go unreported.

Scams reported to PG&E by county in 2025: Butte 62; El Dorado 8; Glenn 3; Nevada 18; Placer 75; Sacramento 270; San Joaquin 130; Shasta 32; Sutter 40; Tehama 6; Yuba 43.

Business customers are also not immune from scam attempts. In fact, PG&E has received 250 reports of scams targeting small and mediumsized businesses this year, and these attempts frequently occur during busy business hours when scammers hope to catch unsuspecting victims while they are distracted or stressed.

Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also aim their scams at small business owners during busy customer service hours. However, with the right information customers can learn to detect and report these predatory scams by visiting pge.com/scams or by calling 1-833-500-SCAM.

Signs of a potential scam

• Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill. Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to purchase a prepaid card, then call them back supposedly to make a bill payment.

• Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the scammer instant access to the card’s funds.

• Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate, and ask you for your personal financial information.

• Scammers impersonating trusted phone numbers: Scammers are now able to create authenticlooking 800 numbers which appear on your phone display. The numbers don’t lead back to PG&E if called back, however, so if you have doubts, hang up and either log into your account at pge.com to confirm your bill details or call PG&E at 1-833500-SCAM. If customers ever feel that they are in physical danger, they should call 911. n See SCAMMERS, page A5

Photo courtesy of TRPA

Volunteers gather at a Bike to Wherever refreshments tent in South Lake Tahoe. The 20th annual Tahoe Bike Month, a collaboration of Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, broke records this June, highlighting the region’s growing commitment to healthier, more sustainable transportation.

Geese Continued from A1

Service for solutions. They are willing to help, but they are mightily slow in coming up with something.”

Both Agee and Buck said they’ve seen the geese strip entire stretches of shoreline of grass before moving to other locations. Agee also raised concerns about potential health risks.

“We heard (the feces) can be toxic and can be toxic to children or dogs. There’s hardly been anybody at the beach,” Agee said.

Ringelman noted that vegetation loss can have environmental impacts as well.

“Any vegetation around the water body serves some sort of filtration purpose,” Ringelman said. “To the extent they are damaging that vegetation, it could certainly influence water runoff into the lake.”

Buck said the Forest Service’s only official response so far is to install signs that ask guests not to feed the geese. Officials have said they will gather data and monitoring the situation. As of the time of publication, no “do not feed geese” signs had been installed.

Buck said he and other concerned cabin owners contacted multiple state and federal agencies about the problem, including the USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Everybody passes the buck. USDA told me to call Fish and Game. They told me to call California Fish and Game. They told me it’s Forest Service land. The Forest Service told me to call Fish and Game,” he said.

Some residents are now exploring

the possibility of obtaining a depredation permit, which would allow for the legal removal or reduction of the goose population. But Buck said that would place the burden squarely on the community.

“That doesn’t feel like a solution. That feels like a last resort,” he said. “What I’d like is for the Forest Service to recognize how devastating this is to the environment. We pay them every year. They should hire someone to fix this before it’s too late.”

Ringelman said that meaningful action will likely require government intervention.

“Not feeding them is an important first step; after that, it gets a bit challenging. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” Ringelman said. “Eliminating them requires both federal and state permits, so these sorts of management actions need to be undertaken by agencies.”

The U.S. Forest Service did not respond to the Mountain Democrat’s request for comment.

Cabin owners say they are trying to follow legal pathways but are growing frustrated by the lack of urgency from agencies that are supposed to help.

“My family’s lived here for over 100 years. We’ve always coexisted with the ducks, chipmunks and deer,” Buck said. “But this is the first time we’ve encountered a pest of this magnitude.”

Agee agreed and said waiting any longer would be a mistake.

“We don’t have time to wait years,” Agee said. “The issue needs attention now.”

Park pass Continued from A1

patrons found out about the program even before library staff became aware of it and were “super excited.”

She said one patron said they appreciated the book selection in the backpack. There are 20 backpacks

Scammers Continued from A4

How customers can protect themselves

• Customers should never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill, including accepting payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person.

• If a scammer threatens immediate disconnection or shutoff of service without prior notification, customers should hang up the phone, delete the email or shut the door. Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail and included with their regular monthly bill.

available for checkout at the Placerville branch and Owens said if a state park pass is not available at one branch, a patron could put a hold on one at another branch and it would be sent to the patron’s home library.

• Signing up for an online account at pge.com is another safeguard. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, they can also sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing and helpful alerts. Customers can also call PG&E Customer Service at 800-743-5000 to confirm their bill details and current amount due.

• Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or who feel threatened during contact with one of these scammers, should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission’s website is also a good source of information about how to protect personal information.

For more information about scams visit pge.com/scams or consumer.ftc. gov/scams.

Photo by Greg Stewart

Many geese call Wrights Lake home but cabin owners say they are ruining the environment.

Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

A backpack containing trekking poles, nature guides, binoculars and a magnifier can be checked out along with a state park pass at any participating library in El Dorado County.

OPINION

California Commentary

Assembly Bill 84 is an assault on taxpayers and students

California taxpayers and parents should be alarmed.

A deeply ﬂawed bill, Assembly Bill 84, is moving through the Legislature — expanding bureaucracy, draining public resources and punishing public charter schools that are o ering families educational alternatives they want and need.

While Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi insists that this bill is about “accountability” and “transparency,” in reality, it’s a dangerous power grab wrapped in feel-good language.

At the heart of AB 84 is the creation of a new O ce of the Inspector General, a state-level oversight agency with sweeping authority to audit and investigate California’s charter schools. This o ce, appointed by the governor and operating outside of existing accountability systems, would wield unprecedented power over schools that are already subject to layers of ﬁnancial review, academic reporting and independent audits. What’s more, there are no checks in place to prevent this o ce from targeting schools for political or ideological reasons.

The bill’s proponents claim this new bureaucracy is necessary to prevent fraud, citing a few isolated scandals — such as the A3 charter case from 2019. But that’s a ruse to cover the author’s real motivation on behalf of the most powerful labor organization in California. Besides, the state already has robust systems to detect and punish fraud and those bad actors have been prosecuted.

AB 84 would continue oversight fees that authorizers can charge charter schools. That’s money directly pulled from classrooms, teachers and student programs.

The state’s own Legislative Analyst’s O ce and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team o ered focused, practical oversight reforms. AB 84 goes far beyond those, creating a bloated enforcement regime without any evidence of need.

The real victims of this bill are California students, families and taxpayers. Take, for example, a school like Learn4Life Learning Center, a nonclassroom-based public charter school that helps thousands of students each year, many of whom are at risk of dropping out. Learn4Life specializes in personalized, ﬂexible learning for students who don’t thrive in traditional school settings, including foster youth, teen parents and those needing credit recovery. These students receive one-on-one support, career readiness programs and a second chance at success. Learn4Life’s model works precisely because it is nimble, responsive and able to redirect limited public funding where students

Message from EID

Letters to the Editor

Don’t trust pseudoscience

EDITOR:

We all care about our children, so it is especially di cult to see them ill. I remember when my children were growing up and how I always felt so helpless when they became sick. Fever, aches, pain, lethargy all set in. Luckily I had an excellent local doctor, one whom I trusted and provided fact-based care. My sons grew up to be healthy men.

So I can’t quite understand why anyone would want a disease like measles in their community. Measles is a highly contagious disease spread by coughs and sneezes. Common symptoms include high fever, sore, red and watery eyes, a runny nose and coughing and sneezing. Usually a blotchy red or brown rash appears after a few days. It usually clears up in about a week. However, it can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures. In rare cases it can cause death.

Here’s the thing: The MMR vaccine, which immunizes people against measles, mumps and rubella, is 97% e ective in ﬁghting o the dangerous virus so there’s no reason for anyone to su er from this disease. In fact, it was considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. My sons were

vaccinated and never experienced the disease.

But progress in vaccinating children against a variety of life-threatening diseases has stalled throughout the world in the past two decades-and even gone backward in some countries. One BBC story reads: “Child health experts warn that cuts to international aid budgets that fund vaccination programmes, combined with vaccine scepticism, are creating a ‘perfect storm.’

“Study author Dr Jonathan Mosser, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, in the United States, says large numbers of children remain undervaccinated and un-vaccinated.

“Routine childhood vaccinations are among the most powerful and cost-e ective public health interventions available, but persistent global inequalities, challenges from the COVID pandemic, and the growth of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy have all contributed to faltering immunisation progress,” he said.

“Dr. Mosser said there was now an increased risk of outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria.”

EID navigates laws, challenges and an enduring legacy

As we continue to mark our centennial year, I’m reminded that longevity is never an accident; it’s built on a foundation of strong principles, thoughtful decisions and the ability to face challenges head-on. For the El Dorado Irrigation District, our ﬁrst 100 years have been shaped not just by engineering and infrastructure, but by the legal and policy frameworks that guide our work and the resilience we’ve shown when tested.

Legal groundwork for service

In July, we highlight the legal and policy milestones that have allowed EID to serve communities for a century. At ﬁrst glance, laws and regulations may seem like

dry technicalities; they are anything but. They deﬁne our authority to provide water and wastewater services, generate hydroelectric power, share recreational opportunities and protect the environment we all depend on.

In 1925, the California Legislature enacted the Irrigation District Law, which gave rural communities like ours the ability to form public agencies dedicated to water management. This allowed EID to take over the failing systems of the past and begin building a more reliable future. Over time, additional legal milestones have expanded and reﬁned our mission. We obtained legal rights to some of the purest water in the Sierra. We adapted to new environmental laws, like the

And today, we face new challenges, including the spread of invasive golden mussels that threaten California’s waterways and the critical infrastructure used for water storage, conveyance and treatment.

California Environmental Quality Act and the Clean Water Act, ensuring that our operations meet high standards for public health and ecological protection. And we worked within complex regulatory systems — local, state and federal — to secure permits, funding and long-term stability for our services.

Policy isn’t just paperwork; it’s the rulebook we use to serve you. Every pipeline, every treatment plant and every gallon of water delivered is backed by legal structures that ensure fairness, safety and accountability.

Adversity as a catalyst for growth

But laws alone don’t guarantee success. Every organization faces

moments of crisis — times when the unexpected forces us to adapt, innovate and grow stronger. In August, we reflect on the many challenges EID has faced over the decades and how those trials have forged the agency we are today. The Caldor Fire of 2021 threatened our water sources, destroyed four raw water conveyance flumes and tested our emergency response like never before. Yet through collaboration with local, state and federal emergency response partners and our dedicated sta , we were able to protect critical assets and keep water flowing while expediting the replacement of destroyed infrastructure for the

JIM ABERCROMBIE

JON COUPAL

need it most. AB 84 threatens to choke this model with red tape and overhead, making it harder for schools like Learn4Life to fulﬁll their mission.

That’s not all. AB 84 would continue oversight fees that authorizers can charge charter schools. That’s money directly pulled from classrooms, teachers and student programs. At a time when schools are already

struggling to retain sta and meet student needs, this bill ensures that even more resources are rerouted from education to bureaucracy. And for taxpayers? The bill is a blank check. Establishing and sta ng the O ce of the Inspector General could cost tens of millions of dollars. There is no plan to cap expenses, measure e ectiveness or prevent waste. If Muratsuchi’s goal is to

Abercrombie Continued from A6

benefit of all our customers. The lessons learned from that fire continue to inform our approach to wildfire preparedness and system hardening. And today, we face new challenges, including the spread of invasive golden mussels that threaten California’s waterways and the critical infrastructure used for water storage, conveyance and treatment. In response, EID has taken proactive steps to protect our reservoirs, including implementing boat launching restrictions at Sly Park. These decisions are not always easy, but are necessary to safeguard the resources we all rely on.

A resilient future

As we reﬂect on these themes — legal and policy milestones and overcoming adversity — I want to

“protect taxpayer dollars,” why is he proposing to spend millions more on duplicative bureaucracy?

The truth is this: AB 84 isn’t about fighting fraud — it’s about fighting school choice. Charter schools are successful precisely because they operate with flexibility, innovation, and community engagement. This bill erodes that autonomy and punishes the very schools that are giving families better options. Lawmakers who care about fiscal responsibility and educational freedom should vote no. California taxpayers deserve transparency, especially when it comes to wasteful, unaccountable expansions of government like AB 84. Jon Coupal is the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

emphasize one unifying idea: resilience. Resilience in the face of legal complexity. Resilience in the face of natural disasters. Resilience in the face of evolving challenges that require us to remain vigilant, adaptive and committed.

Our centennial year is not just about looking back; it’s about looking forward. The next 100 years will no doubt bring new hurdles, but I have full conﬁdence in EID’s ability to meet them with the same strength and resolve that has carried us this far.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, through law, through challenge and through resilience, we continue to serve — stronger than ever.

Jim Abercrombie is EID’s outgoing EID general manager.

Letters Continued from A6

I have to ask, who beneﬁts when proven preventions are falsely attacked? Who proﬁts from pushing pseudoscience?

I don’t want any child to catch a preventable disease because misinformation has led parents to mistrust scholarship. We deserve real choices, rooted in science and free from spin. A ordable, easy to ﬁnd vaccines are available. I suggest that all parents should do the research, talk to your doctor and decide what is best for you and your family.

MARY ELLIOTT-KLEMM

Somerset

Support Bruin wrestlers

EDITOR:

When I conduct an AI Google search for Ponderosa High School section championships in the school’s history, the number 42 appears. I ﬁnd that strange, considering the boys wrestling program has 35 section titles by itself. In Ponderosa wrestling’s 54 years of existence, it has won 35 section titles. No other high school sports program in the Sacramento area has more section championships.

The program’s practice facility only has room for one mat. That room has to accommodate 70 boys, 15 girls and more than 100 younger children every season. To say they are at the breaking point is an understatement.

The team was promised Measure Q funds would be used to enlarge the practice facility, but that did not happen. The school district provided the football ﬁeld with a state-of-the-art scoreboard this year at a cost of over $270,000. But the most successful athletic program in El Dorado County’s history is left to languish.

I implore the school district, the Ponderosa Boosters and the Ponderosa alumni to work together and provide what is needed to a fantastic institution: the Ponderosa wrestling program.

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com

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) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the rst Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org

CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS

CLUB meets the rst Wednesday of each month at 10:30 at the Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3100 Rodeo Rd., CP, 95682. New and current local community members are welcome for fun and games throughout the month. For further information contact Jill Butler at 530-295-7448.

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 Sheri ’s o ce, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

PLAY CRIBBAGE

Join the Gold Country Cribbers 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452. We Play - We Teach - We Have Fun. Wednesdays 4:00 PM. Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA 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 four-part 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. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Monica 530-306-7066. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet rst and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and enjoy a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses.The meetings are held at 11:30 AM on May 19, July 21, September 15 and November 17, 2025 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.

TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that a ect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

SPORTS Determined young rider takes on EPIC CHALLENGE

Special to the Mountain Democrat

ight-year-old

EWill Benzer, a resident of Cool, recently completed a huge challenge for even the most accomplished athlete. He recently raced the Mother Lode Epic mountain biking race and completed as the youngest ﬁnisher ever.

“This is a huge event for most adults, but it was amazing to see such a young athlete train for and accomplish such a big goal,” proud dad Brett Benzer said.

“The event was 40 miles starting at Magnolia Ranch and ending in Old Town Folsom.”

Dad Brett, mom Kristy and kids Olivia, 11, and Will have always been an active, trail-loving family. The family lives on a small farm in Cool with horses, goats, pigs, chickens and access to some of the best trails.

Brett has competed in many of the local ultra trail-running races and endurance horse races. Through these e orts, Will learned ﬁrst-hand that, with consistent training, good nutrition, and joy for the journey, anything is possible.

“It was longer than I expected and the heat that day made it even harder. But, I was determined to ﬁnish,” Will shared.

When asked about what he enjoyed most, the young rider noted, “The boat ride was my favorite part. Riding with so many other

riders gave me energy and motivation to keep up the pace.”

When asked about being the youngest ﬁnisher, he added, “I am excited to be able to say that I did it. Most people didn’t think it was possible.”

Will has been riding bikes since he could walk. He was always trying to keep up with the older kids and asked to join in on any ride his dad was going on. He found the Clipped In For Life – Folsom Grom series and this sparked a drive and motivation to discover there was a whole world of racing and riding bikes with

other kids.

He heard about the Mother Lode Epic from some of the older kids who had done it in years

past with their moms and dads as a team (split e ort). But he wanted to do the whole thing! When Will learned the

race happened to start at Magnolia Ranch and Cronan Ranch with local trails that his family rides two to three

days per week, he was immediately interested. Although this was an “adults race,” it was on trails he knew well and it sparked a goal to do the unexpected.

“This was such a well organized event — well marked trail, lots of volunteers and encouragement,” Brett said. “I was signed up to race as well so we were able to ride the whole thing together and share the experience and make memories.

“It was surprisingly smooth,” he continued. “Nutrition was solid, luckily no mechanicals, steady pace and physically solid. You never really know what to expect but the heat was the biggest factor and luckily we had packed ice bandanas that we refreshed at each feed zone and I was able to keep them cool most of the day with frozen water bottles.

“Mentally, Will seemed to thrive just knowing the distance to the next feed zone and with each check point brought a fresh wave of energy to get to the next one,” Brett added. “The low came around mile 24. This was the hottest section of the day and he was eager to get to the boats. But we had never ridden this section and mentally we didn’t really know how to pace it. There were a few punchy sections where the fatigue was setting in, water bottles were getting pretty warm and

Memorial fund to aid EDHS ski and snowboard team

Jeﬀ French Special to the Mountain Democrat

Agroup of his long-time mountain friends wish to continue a legacy of generosity and love for the outdoors. They have established the Ron Vardanega Memorial Fund, which will help El Dorado High School ski and snowboard racers with expenses like equipment and ski pass purchases.

The El Dorado Community Foundation is the steward of these funds that will provide a yearly contribution to the El Dorado Alpine Race Team in Vardanega’s honor and memory. For those interested in providing a contribution the link is bit.ly/Vardanega.

Vardanega was born and raised in El Dorado county, graduating from El Dorado High School in 1977 and returning to Placerville following his education at University of California, Berkeley. He joined his father’s Placerville optometry practice in 1985.

Vardanega took advantage of the mountain assets as an avid rock climber and skier, and along with his wife Lesley passed on his love of the outdoors to his children Kristen, Andrew and Laura. He volunteered as a coach and assistant for many youth sports teams over the years, most notably as a coach of the El Dorado High School Ski and Snowboard Team. He gave up many weekends and holidays helping with training and races throughout the state. During those years Vardanega quietly helped many ski and snowboard kids who couldn’t a ord expenses like ski equipment and season passes.

His long-time skiing and climbing partners say there were countless state, national and international trips Vardanega was unable to join given his coaching obligations and community service. He selﬂessly and without fanfare continued with these ■ See FUND, page A9

Photo courtesy of Jason James Rimmer / Seabright Photography

Will Benzer of Cool charges forward in the Mother Lode Epic with his dad Brett behind him. Below, Will, Olivia, Brett and Kristy Benzer, from left, spend a lot of time enjoying the outdoors. Olivia and Kristy were Will’s cheerleaders during the race.

Photo courtesy of the Benzer family

■ See RIDER, page A9

Courtesy photo

Ron Vardanega had a passion for snow sports and passed that on to many El Dorado High School students. A memorial fund has been set up in his honor to help local youth participate in ski and snowboard activities.

Kids Bike Night next up for Placerville Speedway

Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway

The El Dorado County Fairgrounds based Placerville Speedway is excited to host John Padjen Kids Bike Night presented by the Pizza Factory this Saturday, July 12.

All kids 11 and younger receive free admission in the stands on Saturday. As is tradition, children in attendance are invited to race their bikes on the track following heat race competition. Those competing in the races must wear a helmet. MTFX Graphics will also be hosting hot wheels races for the kids from 4-6 p.m. behind the turn four bleachers.

“This is always a tremendous show for the families to come out and enjoy a night of racing at,” commented track Promoter Scott Russell. “Kids Bike Night has been one of the longstanding events here and we’re happy to allow those 11 and under into the races for free on Saturday. When it comes to the future of our sport the younger generation is extremely important, so we hope everyone can bring their kids and maybe even some of their friends this weekend.”

This Saturday is also our way to remember former track promoter John Padjen, who died in December 2021. It was Padjen’s idea that brought about Kids Bike Night, which continues to be a mainstay at Placerville Speedway.

“John always had Kids Bike Night at West Capital Raceway, so he decided to bring that over to Placerville and Chico when he started running both venues,” said past Placerville Speedway Promoter Alan Padjen. “The bike nights have always been a hit with the families. It’s great that Placerville Speedway continues that tradition and it’s a perfect event to remember my dad at.”

In the early 1980s, John Padjen came aboard Placerville Speedway to help rescue the community icon that was beginning to struggle in the way of management efforts. Already a successful motorsports promoter in Sacramento, Dixon and Chico, Padjen moved in and helped mold the foothill race facility into the successful, competitive track it is today. Padjen established a consistent Saturday night program to improve safety and visibility for both drivers

and fans.

Tackling the high banked quarter mile this Saturday will be the Thompson’s Family of Dealerships Winged 360 Sprint Cars, the Kings Meats Ltd. Late Models, the Red Hawk Resort + Casino Pure Stocks and the Nor-Cal Dwarf Car Association.

Thanks to the El Dorado County Fair Association parking is free during the month of July, including this Saturday for John Padjen Kids Bike Night presented by Pizza Factory.

Tickets and details

Grandstand seating during John Padjen Kids Bike Night will be general admission on Saturday, July 12, except for the reserved seats allocated to season ticket holders that are marked.

Adult tickets cost $18, while seniors 62-plus, military and juniors 12-17 will be $16. Kids 11 and younger get in free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online via eventsprout.com/ event/psr071225.

The pit gate will open at noon, with the front gate opening at 4 p.m. Hirst Home Team Happy Hour is offered until 6 p.m in the grandstands featuring live music with discounted Coors Light and Coors Original at the beer booth. The pit meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. with cars on track at 5:15. Hot laps, ADCO Driveline qualifying and racing will follow. For those who can’t make it to the track, CaliDirt.TV will provide live flag-to-flag coverage of every Placerville Speedway point race this season. The live streaming service also includes each event with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour.

The Placerville Speedway is located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For more information visit placervillespeedway.com.

Upcoming events

Saturday, July 19: Gold Pan Rampage WST Speedweek Night Two ($5,000-to-win/$500-to-start) featuring the Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour and Mini Trucks Saturday, Aug. 2: Carnett Clash presented by Fords Only featuring Winged 360 Sprint Cars, Pure Stocks, Ltd. Late Models and Mini Trucks

Rider Continued from A8

it was hard to move quickly to get out of the sun. But this honestly made the experience of reaching the boats the highlight of the ride. The high of coming back from being so thirsty truly felt like the finish line. After the lake crossing, spirits were high as we have ridden the Folsom Granite Bay side many times and he knew we were on the home stretch. There were so many inspiring life lessons to take away. It will be fun to see how he

Fund Continued from A8

community efforts until more recently when his own health began to decline. Akio Joy, one of his ski kids, relayed that Vardanega introduced him to the outdoor experience. This included rock climbing, backcountry skiing and backpacking. Today Joy and his wife own and operate an outdoor guide business.

Throughout his years of practice Vardanega was also involved with several initiatives to provide optometry care for those in the community who didn’t have the

COMICS

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

draws on them later in life.”

Will is not finished yet. He plans to participate in the Folsom Grom races that start up again in the fall. Brett said, “Until then I am doing some summer racing in the NorCal Crusher Cup Race Series at Lake Sonoma and the CA Dirt Series in Nevada City.”

For those who would like to view some of the event visit clippedinforlife.org/our-races/motherlode-epic.

financial resources for exams and prescription glasses. Irosema Beas took her daughter Citlali to a health fair at Saint Patrick Church. Vardanega diagnosed her and provided prescription glasses at no charge. He loved giving back to his community and was always humble and generous with his contributions. He would have shared that what he gained from his service and leadership far outweighed any personal financial expenses in helping the youth of El Dorado County.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re turning the canvas upside down, tilting the frame, examining the dynamics from every angle. What looks “fine” will become extraordinary with a few bold changes.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Tracing your own line through history will open your eyes to other people’s journeys, too. You’ll find yourself struck with new empathy, new questions and a deeper respect for everyone’s origin story.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There’s a choice between pushing harder and softening into trust. Try the second one. Something wants to come together without force. If you let it move together and take form in its own time, you won’t have to get your hands dirty.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You walk into a room and something shifts. You don’t mean to dazzle — but you do. People lean in. They pay attention. They’re responding to the glow you forgot you were carrying.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll remember how good it feels to be generous with your attention. A stranger, a neighbor, a friend on the fringe — they’ll appreciate that you took the time to interact and acknowledge the moment you share.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Waiting to be in the mood is for amateurs. Not you. You act first and let moods catch up with you. That’s what sets you apart. Energy follows commitment. Start small if you must, but start, and momentum

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Even on the hard days, you don’t abandon yourself. You’re willing to feel it all. You’re being brave just by staying with the rhythm of your experience and being present to the beat of your own heart.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are many things deserving of your attention and you can’t help it that you just happen to be able to juggle quite a bit. You’re not scattered; you’re abundant. You’re not “all over the place”; you’re multidimensional.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You have a gift for fine-tuning. What others overlook, you refine into something that not only works better but feels better, too. Efficiency with style — that’s your signature today.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Leave space. Better yet, make space. Today favors subtraction over addition. What you remove — an old habit, a tired phrase, a cluttered plan — makes the whole system sing and lets the essential part rise to the surface.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There’s no toggle switch for intuition. It’s more like a voice you have to remember how to hear. Ask out loud. Be willing to listen. You already know the answer that is

Photo courtesy of the Benzer family

Will Benzer has been riding mountain bikes for years and recently took on a personal challenge that saw him cross the Mother Lode Epic finish line as the youngest finisher ever.

PROSPECTING

Section B ■ mtdemocrat.com

IN THE KNOW

July 11

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the HWY 50 Corridor Power Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.

org.

The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series presents Cody Jinks from 7:30-10 p.m. For more information visit tinyurl. com/yfvbt3xz.

Broadway At Music Circus presents “West Side Story” at the UC Davis Health pavilion in Sacramento at 7:30 p.m. and continuing through July 17. For tickets and more information call (916) 557-1999 or visit broadwaysacramento.com.

Never A Dull Moment — a tribute to Rod Stewart will perform at 8 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek.

state-fair.

July 12

Ed Wilson will play at The Vine in El Dorado Hills 6-8 p.m.

July 13 The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host Fitness in the Park at 9 a.m. at Blackstone Park. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

July 15

Join the El Dorado Community Foundation for its Amplify Good; Brown Bag Lunch and Learn event from noon to 1 p.m. at the EDCF conference room in Placerville. For more information visit eldoradocf. org. Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday on the rst and third Tuesdays of the month from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 6261091.

The Cameron Park Community Services District will host Cannonball Cinemas featuring “Moana 2” at the Cameron Park CSD pool, 7-10 p.m. For more information visit cameronpark.org.

The Valhalla Tahoe boathouse theatre and outdoor lawn presents Jackie Venson from 7:30-10 p.m. For more information

July 17

SuperBad

My interview with Jessica Carew Kraft, a local artist, journalist, author and California naturalist, took place outdoors, in nature. Her words mingled with the babble of Weber Creek as she sat framed by a wall of greenery, much like the one gracing the cover of her 2023 book, “Why We Need to Be Wild: One Woman’s Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st Century Problems” (Sourcebooks, 2023). This place by the creek is a 10-minute hike from her home, which sits on a 20-acre homestead near Camino. On the trail to the creek, Kraft often stopped to admire ﬂora and fauna, pointing out the grape leaves she uses for chicken fodder, a pair of dragonﬂies, fragrant mountain misery.

Jessica was raised in the midwest, where she developed a passion and an aptitude for art, before going on to study anthropology at Swarthmore College and Yale University. In her 20s, as she made a living through permutations of academia, journalism and art, a “quest for meaning” took her to New York, Boston, Israel, London and eventually back to her family roots in Judaism — and a new form of artistic expression.

“I wanted to ﬁnd a kind of art that was meaningful, that wasn’t just a $300,000 object that increases someone’s status,” Jessica recalled.

She began making ketubahs, artistically rendered Jewish wedding documents; for a time, one of her designs was the bestselling ketubah in the world.

In her adult life, she was living out the same impulse she had once recorded (and recently rediscovered) in her journal at age 16.

“I’ve always been very countercultural and interested in di erent ways of living and convinced that the suburban, American, consumer way of life has been taking us down the wrong path,” Jessica explained. “That has always been a throughline of my life.”

This throughline soon led to another revolution in her artistic practice and her way of life. In 2015 she was living in San Francisco and working in the tech industry. She was also beginning to suspect that she was in the wrong place, doing the wrong kind of work.

“I started having a physical reaction to my surroundings … I saw how domesticated we all were,” said Kraft. “I wanted to be stronger and selfsu cient and study the tech of original humans, not the tech of 21st-century humans.”

In the concept of human rewilding, an ethos that puts modern humans in touch with their ancestral roots, she saw a di erent way forward for herself and her two daughters. Personal rewilding also tied together the many threads of her life, from

Photos by Je rey Freeman

Hands4Hope Youth volunteers earn recognitions

News release

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference has earned a local reputation as a meaningful way for youth to earn service hours while developing their collaborative and leadership skills. At the 14th annual Hands4Hope Youth Recognition Event, held in late June, the organization announced that the 202425 program year had been a record-setting success.

Through the Hands4Hope Education and Community Engagement Programs, Hands4Hope youth participants logged a total of 14,841 hours served. These hours resulted in positive change for a record 12,700 people and animals in need.

“As someone who started in this organization as a shy middle schooler, Hands4Hope has given me countless opportunities to grow, and it has really changed my life,” said Lily Hinkle, incoming senior at Ponderosa High School and the Hands4Hope Youth Board president. “Each new experience and opportunity I have had has given me new skills I will take with me throughout my life, like how to be a better communicator and manage time effectively. Everyone I have met through Hands4Hope pushes me to be the best version of myself and I can happily say I have formed friendships and relationships that will last me for years to come.”

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference operates as a certified organization to qualify youth to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national program led by AmeriCorps to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. Hands4Hope youth

participants qualify for the award by achieving the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period. Although this program was put on pause by AmeriCorps as of May 27, 2025, Hands4Hope still celebrated the 50 youth who qualified for this prestigious award.

For the first time since Hands4Hope was founded in 2008, every on-campus high school Hands4Hope Club leadership team qualified for a group-level President’s Volunteer Service Award. These are awarded to groups who attain a certain number of hours together. The leadership teams and the awards recognized were: Union Mine High School Hands4Hope Club — Bronze Award (340 hours), Ponderosa High School Hands4Hope Club — Silver Award (528 hours), El Dorado High School Hands4Hope Club — Silver Award (572 hours), Folsom High School Hands4Hope Club — Silver Award (589 hours), Vista Del Lago High School Hands4Hope Club — Silver Award (658 hours), Oak Ridge High School Hands4Hope Empower Club — Silver Award (736 hours) and the Oak Ridge High School Hands4Hope Inspire Club — Gold Award (1,036 hours). The Hands4Hope Youth Board Executive Committee also qualified for a Gold Award with 1,499 hours served.

“One of the best parts about Hands4Hope is building relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds in our community,” said Jillian Mao, 2025-26 Hands4Hope Youth Board vice president, and an incoming senior at Oak Ridge High School, in her address to the audience at the recognition event. “I truly feel that these experiences

have allowed me to grow as a person and helped me find my place in the world.”

The recognition event was hosted by the Placerville Gathering Place, with balloon and centerpiece decorations generously donated by Foothill Events.

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is a nonprofit youth driven organization with the mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service.

Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference offers hands-on education and community engagement opportunities to youth from K-12 grades through on-campus and after-school programs in Sacramento and El Dorado counties.

Courtesy photos

Hands4Hope youth participants were honored for a combined 14,841 volunteer hours at a recognition event in June.

Carolyn Wonderland celebrates new album with a live performance

News release

Texas’ awardwinning, guitar-slinging, soul singing, Carolyn Wonderland will celebrate the release of her new Alligator Records album, “Truth Is” with a live performance at the Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek on Friday, July 25. With her dynamic guitar playing, sublime songwriting and pure Texas vocals, Wonderland has more than earned her reputation as a fiercely independent artist. She has been performing professionally since the age of 15 and has been on the road her entire career. She has played with icons from Townes Van Zandt to Levon Helm, from Buddy Guy to Hubert Sumlin, from Bob Dylan to John Mayall (as the first female guitarist in the iconic Blues Breakers), all while writing her own story.

On “Truth Is,” Wonderland, with her vividly detailed, instantly memorable songs, reflects on the world with honesty and righteous conviction. Wonderland’s bold and insightful songs tell common-sense truths that, in her words, “need to be told.” They are driven by her sometimes savage and other times gently melodic guitar fingerpicking, along with her full-throated yet still vulnerable vocals.

“There’s always hope and we’re still here for each other, but at some point, you have to sing about the elephant in the room,” said Wonderland about the album’s brutally honest subject matter.

“Truth Is” was produced by legendary guitarist and songwriter Dave Alvin (producer of Wonderland’s Alligator debut, “Tempting Fate”), who also co-wrote four songs, three of which he plays on.

“I’ve never had my ass handed to me so thoughtfully in the studio. I came in with songs and Dave took the arrangements I wasn’t married to and put on his ‘mad rearranger’ hat to get to the heart

Know

of the songs, always looking for and finding something that tells the story better,” said Wonderland. “Dave is amazing. He has an incredible literary mind and is one of the best guitar bashers I’ve ever met.”

“Truth Is” is a timeless album for these times. Over the course of the album’s 12 songs — including 10 Wonderland originals and co-writes — Wonderland and her band create lasting musical magic. From the blistering, earopening “Sooner Or Later” to the riff-heavy battle cry “I Ain’t Going Back” to the emotional gut-punch of the title track, this is music that commands attention. The poignant, profound and heartbreaking “Let’s Play A Game,” to the swaggeringly bluesy “Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard Again” (“that’s a day in the life of me and my friends,” said Wonderland), to the cathartic closer, “Blues For Gene” (a tribute to her late friend, piano giant Gene Taylor, with Wonderland and album

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calexpostatefair.com/homestate-fair.

July 18

Join the Sierra Renaissance Society for its annual Ice Cream Social, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road in Diamond Springs. Admission is free for members; the public is invited to attend two meetings for free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc.org.

The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series presents Jon Pardi from 7-9 p.m. and at the same time on July 19. For more information visit tinyurl.com/yfvbt3xz.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host a Free Concert in the Park with Pop Fiction, 7-9:30 p.m. at Community Park. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom presents an evening with ukulele marvel Jake Shimabukuro at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Petty and the Heartshakers — a tribute to Tom Petty will perform at 8 p.m. at Sutter

producer Alvin shedding tears as they were recording the track), the songs tell real and relatable stories while running the full gamut of emotions. Wonderland elegantly sings her Texas heart out, wringing every bit of emotion from her friend Greg Wood’s potent and reflective lyrics. Her version of The Band’s “Orange Juice Blues” shares the same ramshackle, going-for-broke carnival vibe of the Basement Tapes original, with Wonderland and her crew turning it all up a notch. Like every song she touches, she makes it her very own.

Industry maven Bill Bentley, writing in Americana Highways, said, “Wonderland’s an astounding songwriter … and her ability to totally pull other songs into her own world is the mark of an all-timer.

There are no limits to what she can do [with her] powerful vocals and whip-ass guitar playing. It’s clear she isn’t fooling around.”

Along with bassist Naj Conklin and drummer Giovanni “Nooch” Carnuccio, Wonderland is joined on “Truth Is” by guests including Alligator Records labelmate Marcia Ball and friends Shelley King, Ruthie Foster, Cindy Cashdollar, Red Young, Bukka Allen, Kevin Lance, Henri Herbert and Stuart Sullivan. The album was recorded and mixed by Sullivan at Wire Recording in Austin, Texas. The show will take place at Sutter Creek Theatre on Friday July 25 at 8 p.m. Visit suttercreektheater.com.

Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.

July 19

Join American River Conservancy for a Sayles Canyon hike from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to register visit arconservancy.org/event.

West Coast Performing Arts Concerts presents The Alley Cats Live In Concert at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom 3 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

July 20

Ed Wilson will play at Solid Ground Brewing in Diamond Springs from 1-4 p.m.

The Sofia in Sacramento will host the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus presenting Everybody Say Love — A 40th Season Celebration at 7 p.m. The show continues through June 22. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

July 21

Vitalant will host an El Dorado Hills community blood drive from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the n See KNOW, page B4

Photo by Mary Bruton

Carolyn Wonderland will celebrate her new release at Suter Creek theatre on July 25.

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District Church at 7000 Rossmore Lane. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFR481 or call (877) 258-4825. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

July 23

The Valhalla Tahoe historical boathouse theater and outdoor lawn presents Dennis Johnson & The Revelators, 7:30-10 p.m. For more information visit valhallatahoe.com.

July 24

Join the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce for its

River Fest and Mixer on the South Fork of the American River. Rafting begins at 12:30 p.m. and the mixer starts at 5:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.

Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars Tribute will perform at the Live on the Boulevard Summer

Concert Series at the El Dorado Hills Town Center from 7-9 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

July 25

The Olde Coloma Theatre presents The Best Little Tea House in the West” ... Or ... “When a

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Deed is Done!” through Aug. 24. For tickets and more information go to oldecolomatheatre.com.

Showroom entertainment at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe presents “Piff the Magic Dragon” at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit tinyurl. com/9c3db54t.

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Join Capital Stage’s Apprentice Company for its Apprentice Showcase performance of “Thank You For Your Order” by Jessica Moss playing through July 13. For more information visit capstage.org.

El Dorado Musical Theatre presents “Willy Wonka” through July 13 at Harris Center Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Sacramento Shakespeare Festival presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” through July 27. For tickets and more information visit sacramentoshakespeare.net.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents “Twelfth Night” through Aug. 23 and “Peter and the Starcatcher” through Aug. 24. tickets and more information visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents Marvin Lipofsky Blows Glass through Aug. 17; Black & Gold – Traditional and Contemporary Japanese and Chinese Ceramics through Dec. 31, 2025; and Pueblo Pottery – Native American Pottery and Sculpture through Dec. 31, 2030. For more information visit crockerart.org.

The Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series presents live music on the main stage every Friday and Saturday (plus additional weekdays) evenings from 5:45-9:15 p.m. through Labor Day. For more information visit tinyurl.com/3h88rmpb.

The Master Gardener public office is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon at 311 Fair Lane, Placerville. Have a gardening question or problem? Come in and chat, bring a cutting or insect in a baggie or a picture. Can’t come in person? Call (530) 6215512 and leave a voicemail or email mgeldorado@ucanr.edu.

National Alliance on Mental Illness El Dorado County offers free, in-person family support groups 6-7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month in Placerville. For more information visit namieldoradocounty.org.

Monday Club Bridge seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10 a.m. For more information call (530) 622-1180.

The Sons in Retirement –Gold Country branch meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Cameron Park Country Club. Check out the club and be a guest for a complimentary lunch. Contact Branch 95’s membership chairman at SIRBranch95@gmail. com for more details.

The Mom Walk Sip and Stroll meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Amphitheater at the El Dorado Hills Town Center. It’s a great way to get active with other local moms.

Marco’s Café in Lotus hosts a family friendly Open Mic Night Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. For more information visit marcoscafelotus.com.

Check out “Our Beautiful Valley: Photographic Remembrances of Coloma and Lotus” by Betty Sederquist at Marco’s Café in Lotus through the end of summer. For more information visit marcoscafelotus.com.

Sherwood Demonstration Garden on the Folsom Lake College – El Dorado Center campus in Placerville is open 9 a.m. every Friday and Saturday

for open garden days. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on site to answer questions. The garden may be closed for inclement weather or poor air quality. Check before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden. Parking permits required; purchase a $2 permit at any kiosk.

Check out Placerville Cars and Coffee every Saturday, 7-9 a.m. at Lions Park. Hang out with other car enthusiasts.

EDH Cars and Coffee invites car people to meet up and hang out Saturdays, 7-9:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the right-side parking lot of the Regal movie theater in El Dorado Hills Town Center. The motto is “If it rolls, it goes.”

Blu Nightclub inside Bally’s Casino will host Free Dance Parties every Saturday night with a rotating array of renowned, West Coast DJs presented by Late-Nite Productions. Free admission (excluding live concerts) every Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. For more information visit lateniteproductions.com.

The Coloma Community Market takes place 5-8 p.m., drizzle or shine, every Thursday through August at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Find great local products while enjoying live music, food, beverages and more. Parking is free during the market hours.

The Pollock Pines Community Center will host a Yoga Class every Monday at 10:30 a.m, Bingo Night every Tuesday at 5 p.m. and a Beginners Line Dancing Throwdown from 6:30-9

to 4 p.m. For more information visit goldbugpark. org.

The El Dorado County Certified Farmers Markets will take place at the American Legion in South Lake Tahoe, Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Burke Junction in Cameron Park, Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, the Regal Cinema parking lot in Placerville Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and the EDH Community Services District in El Dorado Hills, Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy a vibrant selection of locally raised meats, farm-fresh produce, fresh-baked goods and handcrafted items from talented local artisans. With delicious food vendors and a welcoming community atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to support local businesses and enjoy the best of what the region has to offer.

The El Dorado Hills Town Center Farmers Market is

Musical parody comes to Cameron Park for one weekend only

Mountain Democrat sta

The Stage at Burke Junction welcomes guest company First star Productions and local director Neeley Nancy Hebert for its production of the musical parody “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” for one weekend only — July 11-13.

Written by Nick and Matt Lang with music and lyrics by Je Blimis the show is a send up of science ﬁction and musical theater tropes admittedly parodying the 1978 (or 1956) movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” In this lampoon a man

with a strong hatred for musical theater becomes plagued by singing aliens and must put it to a stop.

Everything in Hatchetﬁeld seemed normal until people began singing ... Then, they began dancing ... And now, a musical pandemic is sweeping the entire city. It’s up to Paul (an average guy who doesn’t like musicals) and his friends to stop this musical apocalypse and ﬁght for humanity’s future.

Produced by First star Productions this horror comedy features a cast of 10 and is directed and produced by Hebert.

Herbert has been directing musicals since her sophomore year at Rio Americano High School when she wrote, directed and produced “Hannah Montana: A Parody Musical.” In her junior year she directed the Canadian musical “Ride the Cyclone,” by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell and in her senior year she produced and directed “Alice by Heart,” by Steven Stater, book and lyrics and music by Duncan Sheik.

“I’m having an incredibly fun time working on this project right now,” said Hebert. “Everyone involved is so amazing to work with

Courtesy photo

The cast and crew for “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” have been working hard on the production offsite preparing for its three day run at The Stage at Burke Junction opening July 11 at 7 p.m.

and so brilliant in their own respects and I’m so excited to open this show.”

“The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” opens July 11 at 7 p.m. at The Stage at Burke Junction. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

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anthropology to art.

“Nature is the ultimate inspiration,” she said. “It inspires you to create, and it’s humbling.”

By 2021 she was living on the homestead in Camino, which she hopes will eventually be a model of sustainability.

“I found this property and I felt really called to it. It’s been amazing to walk outdoors and be immersed in wildness,” Kraft said. What she didn’t count on was the human element. “My intention was to come here and find a refuge, but I did not know that rural community is so much more close-knit than anything I’d experienced in urban life. I instantly found affinity with my neighbors. It’s been amazing.”

As Kraft and her daughters have been welcomed into the community, she has begun to give back. While “Why We Need to Be Wild,” a journalistic exploration of personal rewilding, introduces her passion for nature to a national readership, her workshops at Wakamatsu Farm on subjects like wild yoga, herbal remedies

and mullein torches, allow El Dorado County residents to “re-evolve” alongside her, benefiting from the knowledge and skills she is gaining. “I feel the need to share events and cultural creations that can really unite us. I want to contribute to this community,” she said.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, at Wakamatsu Farm, Kraft will present a talk, interactive land art project and a booth using wild materials as part of the RipeArea Native Plants Festival. And, in collaboration with her daughter and her partner, photographer Jeff Freeman, she is currently developing AltDorado, a publication covering culture, health and nature in El Dorado County. For more information about Kraft’s work visit jessicacarewkraft. com.

Creative Currents is a monthly contribution from Arts and Culture El Dorado spotlighting creativity in the community. To learn more visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.

Photos by Jeffrey Freeman

Kraft finds inspiration for her art in nature.

Capital Stage appoints Liz Gray as new managing director

SACRAMENTO — Capital Stage announced the appointment of Liz Gray as its new managing director, effective July 9. Gray will succeed long-time Managing Director Keith Riedell, who will retire at the end of August after 19 years of dedicated service. The company is in the initial planning stages for the transition.

A graduate of New York University and Virginia Tech, Gray holds an MFA in theater, arts leadership and a graduate certificate in nonprofit and nongovernmental organization management. She comes to Capital Stage with experience in arts marketing and communications, project management, donor cultivation, board of directors collaboration and nonprofit leadership. Gray has designed and implemented multi-channel and multi-year fundraising initiatives, facilitated strategic planning for arts organizations and devised programs to sustain and expand cultural institutions across the country. Recently, she worked as a consultant with the Academy Center of the Arts to develop a $6 million capital campaign, collaborating across departments and with board members to create long-range funding strategies. Additionally, she

has worked with organizations on fundraising planning to promote story circles for Indigenous knowledge sharing and to foster the reach of disability arts.

Gray’s recent research focused on studying relational fiscal models between historical nonprofit theaters and city entities, analyzing the impact of executive succession on arts institutions’ contributed revenue and structuring organizational advancement through change management processes. As a strong proponent of accessibility, she looks to promote equitable and transformative experiences through the arts.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Liz to our team — her extensive experience in arts administration, fundraising and marketing make her a perfect fit for Capital Stage,” said Michael Stevenson, artistic director. “She brings a new set of eyes as well as a creative spirit to meet the challenges of running a bold, risk-taking theater and to help lead the company into our third decade.”

“Liz brings a wide range of experience and knowledge to Capital Stage that will serve the organization well as we continue to implement our strategic plan,” said Board President Kathryn Doi. “The board is very excited to welcome Liz as the next managing director of Capital Stage.”

“It is a privilege to step into the role of managing director at Capital Stage, an organization that has long stood at the intersection of artistic connection and creative disruption in Sacramento,” said Gray. “This is a company that challenges perspectives and invites the community into meaningful dialogue through impactful storytelling, and I’m grateful to build on Keith Riedell’s work and the nonprofit’s 20-year legacy. I look forward to collaborating alongside our artists, staff, board and audience to ensure that Capital Stage remains a space where bold ideas are explored and boundaries are pushed; where theater continues to be a catalyst for reflection, empathy and change.”

Outgoing Managing Director Keith Riedell joined Capital Stage in 2007 during the second season, and was appointed general manager in 2014 and managing director in 2021. Under his leadership, Capital Stage strengthened its position as one of the Sacramento region’s most critically acclaimed theater companies and expanded its artistic and educational programming. Among his many accomplishments, Riedell is credited with creating and implementing Capital Stage’s five-year strategic plan in 2023, which will guide the company into the future.

“I am excited for this new chapter for Capital Stage,” said Riedell. “Liz brings a fresh voice and energy to the company. Her expertise in arts leadership, marketing, fundraising and change management will be invaluable to Capital Stage’s recognition as a leader in producing nonprofit professional theatre.”

Capital Stage is a professional nonprofit theater company in Sacramento dedicated to creating transformative, thought-provoking theater experiences that challenge, inspire and connect.

To learn more visit capstage.org.