EDC budget a go; more obstacles are anticipated
Jo Carrerow Mountain Democrat correspondent
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved the 2025-26 recommended budget June 10 — but not without regret.
“Our actions aren’t always aligning with our words,” lamented District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine. “We talk about tourism. We talk about ag. And yet, in our policies I continually see that we’re our own obstacles to all of that.”
At the Feb. 11 board meeting supervisors cut $868,567 in discretionary funding to outside agencies for tourism and economic development — e ectively gutting El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce programs — as part of the task to slash $2 million from the General Fund budget before the entire budget’s adoption this week.
The now-adopted budget also includes a reduction of 39.2 employees from the county’s sta of 2,000plus with 11 of whose positions filled and the others vacant, according to assistant chief administrative o cer Sue Hennike.
■ See BUDGET, page A8
City spending those canna-funds
Andrew Vonderschmitt
Features editor
At the May 27 Placerville City Council meeting the Cannabis Community Benefits Committee proposed four projects to fund with the committee’s kitty — Placerville Fire Safe Council, Adopt-A-Trail program equipment, disc golf course upgrades at Lions Park and Meridian area denial barriers.
The committee’s work
Before committee Chair Annie Aubrey delivered the proposed project list for the council’s consideration she o ered a little background.
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
From the 1% of retail sales collected from cannabis shops the committee has an average of $80,000 a year to spend. Each year the committee has a wealth of options to utilize those funds.
From nonprofit organizations to city projects and multiple points in between, the committee has no shortage of hats in hand.
A shift of focus
Aubrey attempted to clarify a shift of focus relating to the committee’s funded projects.
“All these (cannabis) sales have been made by adults in our community for products only adults have access to,” she said. Aubrey went on to say the committee had been o ered opportunities
■ See FUNDS, page A9
Get moovin’ to the fair
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
The El Dorado County Fair has begun. This year fairgoers will get Moovin’ and Groovin’ through Father’s Day June 15. There’s something for everyone on the fairgrounds in Placerville, from thrilling rides and great exhibits to foot-stomping music and mouth-watering food. Above, brothers Vann, 11, right, and Louis, 8, enjoy a go-round on the Super Streak in the midway. The ride takes passengers up and down rolling hills, forward and backward. Below left, Brian Stabler of Placerville enjoys a sweet treat along with his daughters, Trinity, 9, left and Sera, 6. Stabler was on hand on VIP night June 11 to help set up the 20/30 Club’s very popular taco stand. Below right, Olivia Jarred, 10, stands in the holding area with her Hampshire Cross sheep named Clover with other members of the intermediate division of Marshall Grange 451. The Livestock Auction will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14. For a complete list of events, activities and more visit eldoradocountyfair.org.
EID board welcomes new GM, talks water quality
Jack Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent
A new general manager and clean drinking water were the main topics of discussion at the June 9 meeting of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors.
Pravani Vandeyar was selected in a 5-0 vote after a nationwide search that included 99 candidates for the job, according to board President Pat Dwyer, who joked, “I just hope I can learn to pronounce your name correctly.”
“Pretty close,” Vandeyar replied.
Born in South Africa, Vandeyar began her career with the city of Sacramento as a supervising water quality chemist and later became the Sacramento’s drinking water division manager, where she oversaw water production, water maintenance, water distribution, water quality and research and development.
She succeeds Jim Abercrombie, who served as the district general manager
Mountain Democrat le photo by Shelly Thorene Jenkinson Lake, at the center of Sly Park Recreation Area, provides nearly one half of the EID main system’s water supply, which is treated at the Reservoir A water treatment plant in
ESSENTIALS
OBITUARIES
Patricia Ruth McErlane
Feb 21, 1928 – Jan 14, 2025
Patricia (Pat) Ruth McErlane passed peacefully on the eve of January 14. She was born in Alameda, California to Reuben and Ruth Lund. Pat graduated from Alameda High School in June 1945. Pat was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, James (Jim) Edward McErlane in 2021, her parents, her younger brother Jack (who died at the age of 3), her step-mother Alice Lund, and infant granddaughter Riley Jocoy.
When recently asked of her greatest achievement, she simply stated, “Being a mother.” Pat is survived by her 5 children. Suzanne Pronk (John), Michael Jocoy, Scott Jocoy, Daniel Jocoy (Wendi), and Mark Jocoy. She also has a total of 10 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandchild. She is also survived by (ex) daughters-in-law Catherine Casso and Poravy Lim and step-daughter Laura McErlane and step-son Matthew McErlane (Angela) (and daughter Loren). Pat also left behind her wonderful half-sister Martha Patton (Douglas) and their 5 children (plus spouses) and 10 great nieces and nephews. Her very first trip as an infant was to visit her maternal grandparents Zach and Nellie Moorman in Placerville. Due to Pat’s love of Placerville, she finally moved here in 1975 after spending 10 years in Pacifica, California. Prior to that she spent almost 15 years in San Diego County. Most of her earlier work years were spent in the insurance industry until 1984 when she joined the El Dorado County Sheri ’s Department as a clerk until retiring in 1993.
She had a very active social life until about 2021. She loved birthdays and holidays especially when with family. She loved her Bridge (card) gatherings, going to Placerville Newcomers Club, the Sierra Club, Volunteering with The Center (for Nonviolent Relationships) just to name a few. She had a soft spot in her heart for her Golden Retrievers she raised over the years. Her love of walking and gardening kept her in good physical health and her mental health was strong until the end. She loved all her family and friends. She was a strong, slightly tough, supportive, loving mother. She was well loved by many.
“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die,” Thomas Campbell (1777-1844)
Pat and Jim’s final resting place will be in the Rowlands family plot at the Union Cemetery in Placerville.
Verna Jean Sly
Feb 2, 1938 – April 18, 2025
Verna Jean Sly died peacefully on April 18, 2025 in Paso Robles, California surrounded by loved ones. She was born on February 2, 1938 to Walter and Charline Le el in Inkster, Michigan and spent most of her youth in Wayne, Michigan.
Upon graduating from Wayne Memorial High School in 1956, she was awarded the Detroit Edison Scholarship and attended Olivet College. In 1958 she married her high school classmate and friend, Donald Sly, and they enjoyed 53 years of wonderful marriage before he preceded her in death in 2011.
Verna devoted her life to caring for her family. They moved to Placerville, California in the early 1960s where she raised her three children and was a devoted grandmother. She loved music, was a talented pianist and singer, and taught piano lessons for many years. She served Calvary Bible Church in many capacities: librarian, Sunday School teacher, played the organ and the piano for church services and oversaw the youth group musical programs. Later in life she was a Sunday School teacher and Awana leader at Pollock Pines Community Church. Verna was an avid reader and loved baking and tending to her flower garden. Her generosity, sense of humor, and kind and loving spirit will be remembered by her family and friends. Verna is survived by her three children: Je ery Sly and wife Ann, Gregory Sly and wife Michelle, Holly Phillips and husband Chris; her seven grandchildren: Brittney Amoruso and husband Anthony, Breanna Perez, Kimberley Sly and wife Kayla, Joshua Perez, Blake Sly, Ashley Perez, Derek Hamlin; and her two great-grandchildren: Aiden Amoruso and Ava Amoruso. Verna is also survived by her sister Linda Montgomery and partner Jerry, her brother Neal Le el and wife Delores, her sister Patti Burns, and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces, and great-nephews.
At Verna’s request there will be no public memorial service. In memory of her life, the family asks that gifts be made to Pollock Pines Community Church, P.O. Box 59, Pollock Pines, CA 95726. Arrangements entrusted to Kuehl-Nicolay Funeral Home in Paso Robles, California. Friends may sign a guestbook and leave condolences at https://www. dignitymemorial.com
Kathleen Hale Sorensen
Nov. 2, 1942 – June 24, 2024
Kathleen Hale Sorensen (AKA Kathleen Ryugin Sorensen Sensei) was born on 2 November 1942 in San Francisco CA to Viola and Glenn Hale as the first of 3 other children: Glenda, Barbara, and Douglas. The family moved to Mill Valley (Alto) CA in the early 1950s, where she graduated from Tamalpais High School. She attended the College of Marin, getting a AS degree in Biology, and where she met and was married to David Rentz from 1963 to 1972.
and pollination biology, which she loved to do. She claimed to know the kids often better than the teachers because each teacher spent only a single grade with the students, while Kathi followed them through their entire school experience.
She served as a summer intern at the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC in 1963. In 1970, she was a volunteer museum assistant at the Philadelphia Academy of Science as well as the Membership Secretary for The American Entomological Society hosted there. Kathi worked as a Museum sta member at both the California Academy of Science (3 yrs), and the University of California, Berkeley (20 yrs) where she curated collections, did field work, and served as research support for faculty members and researchers in their research, particularly on bees, beetles, katydids, aphids and pollination. She is gratefully acknowledged in numerous scientific research papers in various scientific journals, and has published herself in them, as well as having new insect species named after her.
Kathi met her second husband, John Sorensen, a Ph.D. Student, in 1974 at UC Berkeley, and they were married in 1975. The couple had a son, Kirk, in 1984, and moved to El Dorado county in 1987, after John finished and was earlier hired as a Diagnostician for the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Plant Pest Diagnostic Center in Sacramento, where Kathi frequently helped in the collections as a volunteer while being a devoted mother.
When their son started school, Kathi started work for the Buckeye School District as a school playground monitor, initially at Brooks School for 2 years and later at Silva Valley school for many years, where she supervised the students at recess and lunch. She worked for Buckeye District from the late 1980s until she retired in 2013, and was acknowledged in preventing several serious injuries and getting medical paramedics to the site on multiple occasions. Kathi often was asked by the teachers to give talks to the students on insects
John (Jack) Robert
Krahn Sr.
April 12, 1941 – May 16, 2025
Kathi was also very active in the Boy Scouts, and served as a Den Leader for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos for EDH Pack 454. When her son bridged to Boy Scouts, Kathi served as Advancement Chair for EDH BSA Troop 645 for 10 years, often serving as liaison for the Troop to the Rio Del Oro BSA District. As Advancement Chair she oversaw and encouraged the development of 27 Eagle Scouts (including Kirk) for which that troop made her an Honorary Eagle Scout for her service. She also completed the BSA Wood Badge, an adult training program, and attended most scouting camping sessions.
In the mid 1990s, Kathi served on the El Dorado Hills Area Plan Advisory Committee’s Serrano Development Subcommittee, during that development’s inception. She was instrumental in suggesting the Green & Green Arts and Crafts motif and architectural style to Parker Development that was chosen for the look of Serrano’s corporate buildings and the El Dorado Hills library on their campus, and thus left a mark on the community.
In the early 1990s, when the family began martial arts training, John and Kirk started Gosoku Ryu Karate in EDH, while Kathi enrolled at the Placerville campus of Los Rios Community College to take classes in their athletic department’s Kodenkan Jujitsu program. She obtained the highest intermediate (pre-brown belt) level in Kodenkan before she ran out of eligibility. She then started Karate in Roseville in a Funakosi Shotokan Karate Association a liate with the Roseville Parks and Recreation District. Her husband later transferred to that style and dojo so they could train together there. Kathi retired from karate at 69, after obtaining the first level pre-shodan rank (post-12 Kyu brown belt) in Shotokan, because her physical endurance was waning.
Inspired by their years of martial arts training and associated meditation in the dojo, Kathi and her husband, began studying to be Zen Buddhist priests in the Order of
John was born in San Francisco on April 12 1941 to Anita Babb and John A. Krahn. After graduation from San Mateo High School in 1959, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in South Korea near the DMZ. In a letter John sent home he asked that in lieu of Christmas gifts for him that family and friends send clothing to the orphans he was seeing near the camp. As a result of this letter, over 4 tons of clothing was sent by his hometown community, The first 15 boxes arrived on Christmas Eve. Upon returning home, John married his High School sweetheart, Ann King. They were blessed with three children. Kathleen, John Jr. (Rob) and Scott. After John and Ann divorced, John met and eventually married Joyan Schwarting Howe. They were married 54 years until his death. John worked many years as a truck driver and then as a Deputy Sheri in San Mateo County, John & Joy moved to El Dorado County in 1996 to enjoy a much simpler retirement. Among Johns many interests were Military History and Miniatures, HO Model Railroading and Classic Cars. John was proud to a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the American Legion Post 119 in Placerville. John was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Anita Anderson and Michael Krahn and his daughter Kathlern Carreiro.
A special thank you goes to his wonderful caregiver, Patty. He enjoyed your company, You were an asset to our family. John died peacefully in his sleep.
A military service will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on June 17, 2025. The family asks, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.
Clear Mind Zen, headquartered in Las Cruces, NM. They became Unsui (novice Zen priests) under Daiho Hilbert Roshi, of the Matsuoka lineage of Soto Zen. Both Kathi and her husband ultimately became transmitted Zen Priests under Daiho Roshi. They were tasked with starting and leading the Golden FootHills Zen Sangha in EDH, as Clear Mind Zen West, (www. cleannindzenwest.com) and the Gyoa-ji Zen temple, where they provided Zen priest training to 11 other Zen practitioners from across the U.S. and in Mexico. The couple also provided 6 years of Zen training in meditation and mindfulness to the black belts of their former FSKA karate dojo in Roseville. CMZW, through CMZ, is a liated with the Zen Peacemakers organization. CMZW’s priests include hospital chaplains, academicians, and therapists, and several are now teachers in White Plum Zen lineage a liates.
Kathi also graduated from a Chaplaincy training program at the SATI Center for Buddhist Studies, Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. She served as a volunteer Zen Prison Chaplain providing Zen Dharma services and coordinating and facilitating Buddhist services at the Folsom Prison complex locally in the Folsom Prison’s Women’s Facility, as well as providing Dhanna services occasionally at Sacramento State Prison’s (“new Folsom”) B and C yards, and at San Quentin Prison in San Rafael.
Kathi was a member of the Sacramento Ikebana Society and the American Sewing Guild. And she enjoyed cooking, and meditating in the couple’s Japanese Garden at their home, Hanashobu-an.
Kathi died on 24 June 2024 after battling Lewy Body Dementia, a variant of Parkinson’s Disease, for about 7 years. She is survived by her husband John (76) of 48 years, her son Kirk (40) and his wife Lindsey, her sister Glenda [Nordmeyer] (Bermuda Dunes, CA) and brother Douglas (Sequim, WA), as well as several nieces and a nephew (in CA, WA, IA, and TN), and several grand nieces and nephews. Her sister Barbara [Spicer] (South English, IA) preceded her in death.
Kathi had a full and meaningful life, and one of community service at several levels. She inspired leadership and devotion to those she worked with, and she touched the lives of many people, helping and teaching wherever she could. She’s missed and appreciated by many.
Joyce Ella Smith (Seavers)
June 25, 1930 – May 23, 2025
Joyce was the beloved child of Chris & Mabel Seavers. She graduated from San Jose HS in 1948. When she met Marnell Smith they began a marriage that lasted almost 70 years. They were devoted to one other. They made their happy home in San Jose to raise children, Sue Moore, Peggy Fitzgerald (Michael), Dane Smith (Darlene), Darryl Smith (Donna), There are 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. The Smith house was always filled with good food and laughter. Joy was a kind and loving person of faith. She volunteered as a room mother, Cub Scout leader, played the piano for the children’s choir, and was always ready to help others. Her home was warm and welcoming. As a mom, she was the best. After retiring from work as a school secretary she volunteered at a hospital and later at Snowline Hospice. After retiring, Joy & Marnell traveled for 2 years all over the U.S. before building a home in Pollock Pines. They later moved to Diamond Springs. Joy’s name was reflected in the joy she had for life.
Improved water yields predicted after forest thinning
■ Runoff increases by 8% to 14% from thinned forests during drought years when
University of Nevada, Reno News release
RENO, Nev. —
Thinning of forests, generally undertaken to reduce dangers from wildfire and restore the forest to a more natural state, also can create more mountain runo to mitigate drought e ects in the central Sierra Nevada region that relies on snowpack, according to recent research.
Researchers from the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources at the University of Nevada, Reno found that the quantity of additional water produced by thinned forests can be so significant that it might provide further incentive for forest managers to undertake prescribed burning or tree-removal using heavy equipment and hand crews with chainsaws.
Water yields from thinned forests can be increased by 8% to 14% during drought years, found the study undertaken by Adrian Harpold, an associate professor in the Department of
Natural Resources & Environmental Science, and Elijah Boardman, a doctoral student in the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences. Harpold, who also conducts research as part of the College’s Experiment Station, is principal investigator of the study funded by the U.S. Forest Service and recently published in Water Resources Research.
That increased water would be particularly valuable, especially in drought years, to
farmers and cities in central California and northern Nevada who rely on Sierra snowpack for much of their water supply. The new research doesn’t delve into financial considerations but focuses exclusively on the amounts of water generated by thinned forests.
Complex factors affect water yield
When forests are thinned, either through prescribed burning or
Georgetown Fire welcomes a new ambulance in May
mechanical removal, less rain and snow is intercepted and lost in the tree canopy, and more reaches the ground, Boardman said. Snow and rain captured by the tree canopy is likely to evaporate, while snow and rain that reaches the ground is more likely to feed water to streams. At the same time, removal of some large trees reduces the demand for water. Fewer trees, after all, require less water and thus runo increases.
While forest managers long have viewed increased water yields as a side benefit of forestthinning operations that have focused on reducing forest fire risk, the computer models applied by Harpold and Boardman present a nuanced look at the complexities involved.
For instance, Boardman noted that even though removal of trees reduces some of the demand for water, plants in the forest understory (bushes, grasses and other small plants) often thrive when larger competitors are removed. The understory, in turn, requires more water after thinning operations, although not as much as the amount required by large trees. Thus, not all the snow and rain that reaches the ground when larger trees are removed will necessarily translate into more runo .
At the same time, the research found that large-scale flooding risks don’t increase significantly even when thinned forests yield more water. Some small infrastructure such as road culverts might be a ected by greater localized runo , but the large reservoirs such as the Oroville Dam that nearly failed from flooding in 2017 show low sensitivity to the forest restoration e orts.
The origins of the research project go back to Harpold’s involvement in the Tahoe West Project with the U.S. Forest Service, which eventually led to the opportunity to expand to a regional scale.
Harpold approached Mark Wigmosta at the Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory about collaborating around his hydrological simulation model.
The project led to hiring Boardman who, Harpold said, ultimately “did all the work.” For example, to sort through the millions of simulations needed to make predictions in di erent scenarios for large river basins — the Truckee, American, Bear and Yuba — into the next 100 years of changing climate, Boardman took advantage of the Pronghorn High-Performance Computer Cluster in the University’s O ce of Information Technology. Despite the technical challenges, Boardman said he is using the analytical tools used for this research in other watersheds worldwide and continuing to collaborate with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Funding source for thinning?
The new study dovetails with the work of the Tahoe Central Sierra Initiative, a science-based effort by private, federal and state partners to restore the resilience of 2.4 million acres of forested wildland in the Sierra Nevada. As part of that initiative, the U.S. Forest Service is assessing the potential markets for water supply, wood products and carbon storage that could financially support forest-thinning
“We are committed to providing high quality ambulance service to our community and replacing a unit with almost 300,000 miles on it, only makes that easier,” stated Georgetown Fire Chief Glenn Brown. “I thank all of our personnel that had a hand in getting the new Medic 61 in service. We have great people at Georgetown Fire.”
Fire put its new ambulance in service on the morning of May 30. Since 1981 Georgetown Fire has been providing paramedic ambulance services to the Divide and El Dorado County as a part of the Western Slope – El Dorado County Service Area 7 Ambulance Joint Powers Authority. The JPA operates eight ambulances on this side of the county, most of them with backup units staged in the county at all times.
Courtesy photo
The new ambulance for the Georgetown Fire Department is on the job.
Courtesy photo
A recent
Deed crimes on the rise
Shelly Thorene Staff writer
a day and put in their legal name as it is listed on their property and the website will show everything that has ever been in your name.”
Horne and her assistant Catrina Christensen support bill SB 255 in the state Legislature which, if passed, would require county clerk recorders to send notifications of all documents, including deeds of trust, liens and quitclaim deeds to property owners.
An increase in real estate fraud cases involving vacant land in South Lake Tahoe, Georgetown, Placerville and Grizzly Flat, as well as cases involving single family homes in the county and in one instance the IP address of the perpetrator was traced to Panama, have prompted El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk Janelle Horne and District Attorney Vern Pierson to raise awareness on this issue.
The duo is sending information to local real estate and title and escrow companies and out to the public with goal of safeguarding local property owners.
Seven cases have been reported to the Recorder Clerk’s Office in the last 45 days and Horne told the Mountain Democrat she thinks there may be more as only around 10% of deed crimes get reported. Properties most likely to be targeted are ones without encumbrances such as deeds of trust, mortgages or liens.
“El Dorado County property owners can go on our website 24 hours a day and put in their legal name as it is listed on their property and the website will show everything that has ever been in your name.”
—Recorder-Clerk Janelle Horne
A scam artist will pose as a property owner and often contact a Realtor in neighboring county to list a property. Horne said the Recorder’s Office is obligated to record documents they receive but suspicious documents are forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office.
Imposters are using artificial intelligence to create false IDs and AI-generated photos and videos.
Horne showed the Mountain Democrat two driver’s licenses from Nevada and a video purportedly of a homeowner “to show proof of life” that were recently used to commit fraud.
“Once a title is changed the scammer will apply for a mortgage for 80% of the value of the property,” Horne said.
She and the DA recommend that neighbors look out for each other.
“If you see a for sale sign on a property, inquire about it with the homeowner,” Horne advised.
The recorder-clerk recently gave a presentation to the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce where she urged real estate agents to “ask as many questions as you can about the property and go see with your own eyes to verify.”
“Our local title companies are really good,” Horne added. “If they feel it is fraudulent, something isn’t right, they’ll send out a letter to the property owner of record basically saying, ‘You’ve opened an escrow. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.’”
The Recorder-Clerk’s Office has already implemented a “Do Not Sell” list in which a property owner registers the parcel number and information on how owners are listed on the title, their phone number and their e-mail address. This list is available to Realtors as well as title and escrow companies, Realtors check it when a client contacts them to list a property. Realtors need to sign up with the office and verify their license before they can access the list. This information allows them to match the phone numbers and email address of the owner with the caller wanting to list the property. Title transfers aren’t the only way a property owner can be defrauded. Horne referenced a recent scam involving people who lost their homes in Grizzly Flat but were offered $500 to $5,000 by a Florida-based real estate company MV Realty to be their “future real estate agent.” The document was a covenant restriction that ran with the land for 40 years. Horne said that if the property owner signed up for this but later decided to cancel, they would be hit with a cancellation fee equivalent to a real estate agent’s commission. Horne said there were 12 property owners in Grizzly Flat who were defrauded and 1,500 total cases in California. Last September California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a preliminary injunction against MV Realty regarding this practice.
“To the nearly 1,500 California homeowners who were tricked into entering into the unlawful listing agreements with MV Realty, today is a good day,” Bonta states in a news release issued last year. “The court found that we are likely to prevail on our claim that those homeowners were intentionally misled by MV Realty. The court also found that MV Realty’s conduct imposed ‘imminent irreparable harm’ to homeowners. As a result, the company is being ordered to stop violating state law, once again allowing homeowners the freedom to do with their property what they wish. While our legal battle is not yet over, we will continue fighting to hold MV Realty accountable.”
The preliminary injunction required MV Realty to:
This tactic has been able to stop some scams from going through. “I believe that listing agreements have to have some type of ID requirement like ID.me, a list of questions whose answers only you would know — what we do for our vital records,” she added. “I think the law should be changed to include ID verification for property listings.”
Currently there is a flaw in real estate contracts, she maintained, as proof of identity is only required at escrow.
Some property owners have asked the Recorder Clerk’s office if they should purchase title lock protection. Horne explained that a title lock company purchases the county’s images and index on a monthly basis for its database and is then notified if a transaction takes place.
“It’s not a preventative measure and I think it is being misrepresented,” she said. “El Dorado County property owners can go on our website 24 hours
• Remove the liens it has recorded statewide within 30 days of the court’s order, or within five days of notification from a California homeowner, or his or her agent, who needs the termination to be able to move forward with a transaction related to the homeowner’s property.
• Stop recording new liens.
• Not enforce, during the pendency of the litigation, the “Homeowner Benefit Agreements” it signed with California homeowners.
Horne’s office is also looking into practices implemented in Platte County, Missouri in which biometrics are used to record a document. She said her office is working on creating a new type of document that gives property owners the option to record themselves and it may offer the option of using facial recognition.
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk Janelle Horne talks about ways to prevent deed crimes, referring to a presentation she prepared.
PG&E Foundation offers grants for environmental stewardship
Paul Moreno
OAKLAND — The PG&E Corporation Foundation is accepting applications for its Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant program. The program will provide $500,000 in grants for initiatives dedicated to environmental stewardship.
Five $100,000 regional grants — $500,000 in total — will be awarded. The grants are for projects focused on air quality, land and water stewardship. Eligible applicants are government organizations, educational institutions and nonprofits.
Grant proposals must be in PG&E’s service area. One grant will be awarded in each of PG&E’s five regions. These regions are North Valley and Sierra, North Coast, Bay Area, South Bay and Central Coast and Central Valley.
The grants are part of a commitment to fund environmental stewardship projects in communities PG&E serves. The program helps communities mobilize around and invest in solutions addressing challenges facing the natural environment. It does so by supporting innovative and resilient solutions. Funding for the grant program comes from PG&E shareholders, not customers.
“There’s no doubt that climate change is affecting our communities. Local
Placerville.
2:50 p.m. Burglary was reported on Cambridge Road in Rescue.
10:53 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a person suspected of possessing a stolen vehicle on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. They were listed in custody in lieu of $125,000 bail.
May 20
1:38 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a person suspected of assault with a deadly weapon on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park. They were listed in custody in lieu of a $3,000 bail.
11:37 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Highway 49 in Diamond Springs.
12:21 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Golden Street in Pollock Pines.
2:46 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Ascella Drive in Diamond Springs.
6:32 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Stagecoach Road in Placerville.
6:35 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Creek Park Ranch Road in Garden Valley.
7:21 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Rasmussen Pond in Carousel Lane in Cameron Park.
9:29 p.m. Battery was reported on Camino in Camino.
collaboration and creative ideas help to meet these climate challenges. We value our community partners who bring about innovative solutions. We look forward to supporting them with our Nature Positive Innovations grants. Together, we are making a difference,” said Carla Peterman, executive vice president, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer for PG&E Corporation and chair of the Board of The PG&E
Corporation Foundation.
Last year’s grant recipients included Kitchen Table Advisors. The nonprofit is using its grant to help smallscale regenerative farmers in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties build climate resilience. The El Dorado Fire Safe Council is using a 2024 grant award from last year to help seniors and vulnerable populations make their homes more resilient to wildfires.
Better Together Nature
Positive Innovation proposals may cover any stage of an environmental stewardship project. This includes but is not limited to planning, construction, design, education, and coordination. Projects that address the needs of disadvantaged and/ or vulnerable communities are given grant priority. Strategies and solutions resulting from the grants will be shared publicly. The goal is to help all communities build more sustainable
habitats. The hope is to also encourage local and regional partnerships. The overall intent is to share solutions for building more sustainable habitats and communities. To be eligible, applicants must be a government organization (including tribal governments), educational institution, or 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The deadline to apply for both grant programs is July 18.
Pioneer Community energy supporting area nonprofits
News release
ROCKLIN — Pioneer Community Energy — a locally owned not-for-profit electricity provider — is now accepting applications for its first-ever Community Benefits Grant. In partnership with Calpine Community Energy, this funding opportunity supports local nonprofit organizations in the Placer County, El Dorado County, Grass Valley and Nevada City communities.
Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be awarded. The deadline to submit applications is July 15, with recipients being notified by December 2025.
“As a local, not-for-profit energy provider, community reinvestment is very important to Pioneer,” said
11:40 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Highway 49 in Pilot Hill.
May 21
6:42 a.m. Battery was reported on El Dorado Street in Diamond Springs.
8:13 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Center View Drive in Pollock Pines.
9:10 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Gold Leaf Lane in Placerville.
2:30 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Treasure Rock Lane in Placerville.
4:51 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a grocery store on Francisco Drive in El Dorado Hills.
5:44 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a pond on Carousel Lane in Cameron Park.
5:48 p.m. Vandalism was reported on California Mine Lane in Placerville.
6:59 p.m. Burglary was reported on Wintergarden Road in Placerville.
8:12 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Beatty Drive/Powers Drive in El Dorado Hills.
8:42 p.m. Petty theft was reported on Highway 193 in Placerville.
10:39 p.m. Battery was reported on Strebor Lane in Somerset.
May 22
1 p.m. Trespassing was reported on
since 2009.
Test results
The board received a presentation on the Triennial Public Health Goal Report for Drinking Water in the Main Water System. The report, done every three years, is a summary of the results of ongoing testing for contaminants in drinking water and designed to inform customers of the quality of drinking water.
Each year, the State Water Resources Control Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency require EID to compile and distribute a report to all water customers. The report includes a comparison of the district’s water quality to state and federal standards.
Ryan Rothwell with EID’s Engineering Division told the board that of the 4,600 samples tested from the main drinking water system only four tested for traces of coliform, a kind of bacteria.
“These are great results,” Rothwell told the board.
Board President Pat Dwyer asked if there was a chance any of the tests could register a “false positive.”
“That’s virtually impossible, because how the bacteria grows. It’s pretty evident,” Rothwell said.
As for how the drinking water is treated, Rothwell said it was a combination of filtration and very small amounts of chlorine.
“We also use the pressure of the flow
Pioneer Board Chair and Auburn City Councilmember Alice Dowdin Calvillo. “In addition to ensuring that we are providing competitive rates and saving customers money, we value partners like Calpine Community Energy that bring additional funding opportunities to meet the unique needs of the communities we serve.”
The Community Benefits Grant is open to organizations and projects focused on: 1) research and/ or planning for wildfire mitigation, 2) education related to energy or biomass, 3) support for economically disadvantaged groups or individuals, and 4) workforce development.
“Year after year, the Community Benefits Grant program continues to develop
Kanaka Valley Road in Rescue.
2:03 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a store on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.
May 23
3:01 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Alder Drive in Camino.
7:12 a.m. Grand theft was reported at a park on Redwood Lane in El Dorado Hills.
9:07 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Boles Road in Shingle Springs.
12:30 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Pleasant Valley Road in El Dorado.
1:14 p.m. Vandalism was reported at Slalom Lane/Manx Road in Pollock Pines.
2:59 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Reservation Road in Placerville.
4:02 p.m. Burglary to vehicle was reported on Highway 50 in Twin Bridges.
4:56 p.m. Trespassing was reported at an apartment complex on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.
5:39 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.
6:05 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Purple Martin Road in El Dorado Hills.
9:21 p.m. Deputies booked into jail
to keep the water system clear,” he said.
The report was adopted in a 5-0 vote.
Also on the agenda
The board renewed an agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $102,775 for existing software support and maintenance for the district’s utility operations technology infrastructure software for one year beginning June 30.
The board approved a contract change order with Mozingo Construction Inc. in the not-to-exceed amount of $127,039.86 for replacing piping at the Ice House valve structure at Reservoir A for Sly Park.
The board awarded contracts in the not-to-exceed amounts of $618,671 to Univar Solutions USA Inc. for purchase of liquid sodium hydroxide and $923,093 to Pioneer Americas for purchase of sodium hypochlorite for as-needed chemical quantities for water and wastewater treatment for a period of one year beginning July 1.
The board approved the annual funding agreement with the Sacramento Water Forum and authorized payments of $66,634 for the Water Forum Successor Effort Cost-Sharing and $61,817 for the Habitat Management Element CostSharing for a total funding request of $128,451.
The next meeting of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors is scheduled for June 23 at 9 a.m.
long-term partnerships with community-based organizations doing amazing work,” said Josh Brock, vice president of Commercial Operations for Calpine Community Energy. “We’re honored to not only support our CCA partners like Pioneer Community Energy, but also the communities they serve by sponsoring this program.”
Webinar
Pioneer will host a webinar to share grant details and answer questions for interested nonprofits 1:30-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. Register for the webinar through the events page on the Pioneer website or through this link: us06web.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_
a person suspected of obstructing a police officers, impersonation and probation violation on Placerville Drive in Placerville. They were listed in custody.
May 24
12:28 a.m. Battery was reported at a gas station on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.
Information & application
Additional information and the Community Benefit Grant Application can be found on the Pioneer website: Pioneer Community Energy | Community Benefit Grant Program. Pioneer reinvests in the communities it serves through a variety of programs that provide customers with access to cost-saving rebates and incentives. Since its beginning in 2018, Pioneer has saved customers more than $108 million, with an additional $31 million in savings for 2025. Additional information can be found at pioneercommunityenergy. org.
12:48
3:19
8:41
OPINION
California Commentary
The capital gains tax — another hit to homeowners
Just when you think things couldn’t get worse for California’s beleaguered taxpayers, a new problem is beginning to emerge that will surprise many homeowners when they sell their primary residences. The problem is the result of both rapidly rising home values and the failure of our political leaders to enact inflation adjustments to the capital gains exclusion on the sale of homes.
Let’s start with inflation.
Inflation under the Biden presidency inflicted a great deal of pain to most Americans. During that four year period, the cost of food (especially eggs), energy and housing went up over 20%. As this column has argued previously, inflation is the cruelest tax of all.
As punishing as inflation was nationally, California felt even greater pain.
According to National Business Capital, “The most impacted states, however, were California and New York, which su ered from a potent combination of decreasing wages (when adjusted for inflation) and large price increases from 2021 to 2022.”
For homeowners who are planning to sell their primary residence in the near future, there is a growing concern that the proceeds from the sale could be sharply reduced …
The rapid rise in housing costs was particularly acute. In the last four years, the U.S. housing market has experienced a 47% increase in prices according to Business Insider (May 10, 2024). But, as one can expect, California is much worse than the national average in housing costs.
For existing homeowners, particularly those who are locked into lower interest loans, the rapid increase in housing costs has been mostly beneficial. Home equity, nationally, has increased 80% since 2020 due to rapid increases in home values. This approximately $19 trillion in new wealth adds to the personal balance sheets of Americans lucky enough to own homes. As of 2024, this rate of increase was about twice the rise in financial wealth from other investments including stocks and bonds.
But as a recent Wall Street Journal article pointed out, there are downsides to rapid increases in home values, including higher property taxes. (Fortunately, that is much less of a problem in California which limits annual increases in assessed value to 2%.)
For homeowners who are planning to sell their primary residence in the near future, there is a growing concern that the proceeds from the sale could be sharply reduced by state and federal taxes on capital gains. Although there is a general
Message from McClintock
Letters to the Editor
Susie did a great job
EDITOR:
Iwould like to give Susie Davies, who is retiring as the top administrator of the MORE program, a big hip, hip, hooray for all of her decades-long work to help people in our community, who might otherwise be marginalized, lead productive and satisfying lives. Thank you, Susie, for your compassionate, diligent career.
SALLY DAVIS Placerville
Nonpro ts at risk
EDITOR:
Running a local nonprofit means constantly juggling limited resources, complex rules and the growing needs of our community. What we shouldn’t have to worry about is being shut down because someone in Washington doesn’t like how we do our work.
But that’s exactly the risk we’re facing if Congress moves forward with certain bills now under consideration. These proposals claim to be about stopping bad actors or foreign influence, but they cast such a wide net that they could entangle local food banks, shelters, mentoring programs
and more.
A single donation from the wrong ZIP code could trigger a government investigation. A public statement on an important issue could risk our tax status. That’s not oversight; it’s intimidation. We exist to serve. We feed the hungry, help job seekers, support single parents. We shouldn’t be forced to choose between speaking out for the people we serve and protecting our organization from retaliation.
Lawmakers need to think long and hard about the real-world impact of these bills. If the goal is to shut down illegal or hostile actors, write a bill that does that. Don’t punish local charities just trying to help their neighbors.
SUSANNA FONG Rescue
Act is not the answer
EDITOR:
In response to the draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan, I would like to commend the El Dorado County O ce of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience and the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council for drafting this very
Exploring the Yosemite Valley with no reservations
The limited reservations requirement for Yosemite National Park announced by the Interior Department is a step in the right direction — away from the heavy restrictions that suppressed visitation and harmed the gateway communities that depend on tourism for their economic survival. I’m grateful to Secretary Doug Burgum for listening to our concerns and acting on them.
The compromise limits the reservations to certain weekends and arrivals between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. between June 15 and Aug. 15. That cuts the restricted days by about a quarter and allows visitors without a reservation to enter the park at
their convenience by early morning or midafternoon.
The Yosemite Grant Act of 1864 pledged this natural masterpiece would be set aside for “public use, resort and recreation.” As John Muir wrote, “The valley is filled with people, yet they do not annoy me.”
Yet they annoy the green left, and it has tried for many years to reduce visitor amenities and restrict access. Infuriating delays at the entrances and congestion during peak periods are real problems, to be sure, but limiting public access with heavy handed restrictions is a lousy answer.
In April 2024 Yosemite began a reservation system on holidays and weekends, and one columnist noted that visits to the park went up that season. But if he had done a deeper
dive into the data, he would have found that when the reservation system was extended to every day in the summer months, visitation declined from the prior year. In July it was down nominally but in August visits declined 7.7% from the prior August — when they should have been rising.
The 4.1 million visits to Yosemite in 2024 may have exceeded attendance in 2023, but scored well below prior years — indeed, about 228,000 visits below the pre-COVID five-year average. Because of the reservation system, locals report that an average of 700 cars were turned away every day while parking lots in the valley were often only half full.
The impact was even more pronounced in the gateway communities. Between May and October, stops at the Mariposa Visitor Center dropped more than 10% from the prior year.
For gateway businesses, the
reservations system discourages spontaneous visits from local and regional visitors who are most likely to stop in the gateway communities. Booking a hotel room outside the park is useless to a visitor if they are turned away at the entrance because they lacked a reservation.
Overcrowding in the valley and intolerable waits at the entrances are a serious problem that gateway businesses have been unsuccessfully urging park management to address for years.
To de-congest entrances, community leaders have recommended expedited electronic entry, adapting additional lanes for entering the park during periods of high in-bound tra c and locating information centers inside the park gates so that anyone with questions at the entrance can be immediately directed to them without holding up tra c.
awareness of a capital gains exclusion, the value of the exclusion has been severely eroded due to inflation. The assumption that the sale of a primary residence won’t result in capital gains tax liability might prove to be more myth than reality. That’s because the rapid increase in home equity has created more instances where the maximum home sale gain exclusion amounts under the Internal Revenue Code may be surpassed and result in taxable gains. Currently, under Sec. 121(b), the exclusion is up to $250,000, or if married filing jointly, $500,000. (California tax law conforms to the federal standard).
Importantly, these exclusion amounts have not
Letters Continued from A6
thorough and detailed plan to help protect our community from wildfire. The plan is focused on mitigation measures aimed at increasing defensible space around homes and home hardening strategies to decrease the risk of burning.
These efforts have proven to be more successful in protecting communities than logging and thinning our forests, as proposed in the Fix Our Forests Act currently moving through Congress. The Fix Our Forests Act is not the solution. Instead, protect our forests and support real community safety by directing money and resources toward public education, home hardening and defensible space.
JANE ANDREW El Dorado
been indexed for inflation and have remained at $250,000/$500,000 since 1997. Here are the details of the current exclusion. The IRS Code allows a taxpayer to exclude from gross income a limited amount of gain on the sale or exchange of property that, during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange, has been owned (ownership test) and used (use test) by the taxpayer as the taxpayer’s principal residence for periods aggregating to two years or longer (Sec. 121(a)). In addition, the exclusion generally can be claimed only once every two years (the lookback requirement) (Sec. 121(b)(3)).
It’s important to keep good records of
Ignoring the rules EDITOR:
NBC reported that ICE raided a restaurant in San Diego and arrested five illegal aliens. NBC interviewed patrons who said the folks arrested were upstanding community members. The owner was in tears, saying the people detained were like family members.
If ICE raided my company and arrested five of my employees because they are illegal, I’d cry too because I know that I would be fined around $25,000 and face jail time.
As a patron of that restaurant, I would have to question what other corners the owner is cutting. Is
improvements to the property, because the money spent on remodeling and other changes may add to the cost basis, reducing the capital gains and the taxes owed when the property is sold.
Homeowners are advised to consult their tax professionals prior to selling their primary residence as well as deciding how much to spend on their replacement residence. In the meantime, pressure needs to be applied to both Congress and the California Legislature to increase the exclusion as well as include an inflation factor moving forward.
Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
the restaurant clean? Is the food safe? Why would anyone trust a restaurant that hires illegal aliens? Then, one has to ask if the restaurant owners took advantage of these illegal aliens and paid them less than legal employees. How many legal residents weren’t hired by that restaurant because illegals were doing the job for less money?
I think that our society is ignoring the rule of law. The system fails if some ignore the laws for financial gain. I would like to see that business owners serve time for ignoring the laws as they have an unfair advantage against businesses that do follow the law.
To de-congest the valley, they have recommended promoting and encouraging visitors to frequent other parts of the park that aren’t as crowded as the valley, like Tuolumne Meadows, Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point and Tenaya Lake and re-design the valley’s inefficient traffic patterns.
Prior to the 1997 flood, Yosemite offered roughly twice the rooms, campsites and parking as it does today. The park’s capacity was never replaced despite Congress appropriating funds for this purpose and repeated pleas from the gateway communities.
The 750,000-acre national park can welcome many more visitors than it does today without restricting access. All that is missing is a visitorfriendly attitude by Yosemite Park management and a willingness to be a good neighbor to the gateway communities and businesses that depend on tourism. With the new administration and a search for a new park superintendent, perhaps that hour can finally come.
Congressman Tom McClintock represents California’s 5th Congressional District.
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
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Saturday, June 14, 2025
AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org
CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS
CLUB meets the first 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 Sheriff’s office, 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 first 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 affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.
KEN STEERS
Cameron Park
McClintock
Sac Metro Air District launches new air alert notification system
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, in collaboration with the air districts of the Sacramento region, has launched a new air alert system for the Sacramento Region’s Spare the Air program. Sacramento region residents are strongly urged to subscribe or resubscribe to the new air alert to maintain access to important air quality information aimed at safeguarding their health and
Also to meet the $2 million mark, county departments were asked to make cutbacks. They were able to reduce service and supplies costs and other charges 8% as well as acquisition of fixed assets 22%.
“That reflects departments really scrubbing and making a lot of conscious decisions about … replacement purchases they can maybe defer a year or two,” Hennike said, telling the board it has been a challenging couple of years.
“Typically there’s one meeting that’s required to adopt a county budget,” Hennike said. “Typically we have about four in a year. For this budget we have had 12 public meetings.”
With budget cuts in almost every department, Hennike said challenges have included state and federal budget reductions, unfunded and underfunded state mandates, general liability insurance, workers’ compensation, health insurance premiums, pension costs, inflation, utility costs, construction costs and facility replacements exceeding available funding. Since 2022-23 the county has seen slowing discretionary revenue growth. This budget notes Transient Occupancy Tax revenue is expected to decrease by 23%, there’s no projected growth in sales and use tax and property tax growth is also down, slowing from 4.69% to an expected 3.5%.
“You have a combination of high housing prices, high mortgage interest rates and high homeowner’s insurance,” Hennike said. “So that is causing real estate activity to really slow down and we really rely on the sale and the turnover of existing homes.”
It is difficult for people to maintain their quality of life due to rising costs in necessities like gasoline and insurance, District 3 Supervisor Brian
the environment. Prior air alert subscriptions will not transfer to the new system, so resubscribing is essential. Spare the Air, which runs annually from May 1 through Oct. 31, encourages residents and businesses to take action to help reduce air pollution in the Sacramento region. When the forecasted Air Quality Index for ground-level ozone pollution (smog) is expected to reach or exceed 126, the program will issue a Spare the Air alert. Subscribers can opt in to one or both of the
Veerkamp said. “I think that the mass exodus is going to continue to other states because people can’t afford to live here and can’t get insurance to insure their properties,” he added. “I myself have been relinquished to the Fair Plan, and we’ve had two inspections to get that Fair Plan hopefully approved.”
Veerkamp said he’s trying to remain optimistic that Economic Development staff will come up with ways to fund some of the now-eliminated programs. “Leave no stone unturned,” he encouraged. “Spend a dollar and get three back or … something of that magnitude, because we have got to capitalize on one of our only revenue sources — and that’s the county.”
Veerkamp said not capitalizing on tourism, “probably the biggest revenue generator,” will have repercussions. “But in a county that doesn’t have a lot of growth potential, and that’s OK to a degree, this is going to make it very difficult for us to work our way out of this.”
Although the reserves are currently looking good, county leaders will probably have to tap those for “facility issues moving forward that are very very in dire need of enhancement,” he continued.
Chairman George Turnboo, who is on the Budget Ad Hoc Committee with Veerkamp, added, “We’re looking at new ideas and new technology that we could bring to El Dorado County.”
Ideas include building a mill and a biomass facility, according to Turnboo.
“We’re pushing our congressman to be able to bring something back here,” he said. “We used to bring in $15 million-$20 million for our roads when we had logging here in El Dorado County. Plus it helped our rural schools.”
The District 2 supervisor also pointed out the high cost of leasing
choice of dentist. Our friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated staff provides the highest quality of care, utilizing the latest technology in a warm and inviting environment. Your well being is our priority, and we look forward to seeing you. New patients welcome!
• Dental Implants
• Same Day Crowns • Preventative Care
following notification options:
1. Receive the daily air quality forecast and Spare the Air alerts by email
2. Receive Spare the Air Alerts by SMS text directly to your phone For more information or to sign up for the new Air Alert visit SpareTheAir.com/signup.
Spare The Air is a program of the Sac Metro Air District, El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, Placer County Air Pollution Control District and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District.
buildings is also a drain on the budget. Tunrboo acknowledged tourism is a big contributor to county revenue but added, “We’ve got to think of other things too.”
Laine said she doesn’t agree with a lot of the decisions the board made over the last six months, but admitted it’s difficult since decisions “come in waves” and “out of context.”
She said the board has had some “knee jerk reactions” in its decision making.
“So it makes the decisions that we make along the way seem disjointed. Again I think our actions need to match our words,” Laine continued. “As a board member, I wish there were a better process that would allow us to take into consideration all the different pieces that need to be considered … especially when it comes to outside agencies.”
District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero said he agreed with all three supervisors, especially Laine.
“In our decisions, board decisions, we need to consider the effects to business and revenue generation,” Ferrero said, citing when in February the board was considering outside agencies.
“I think that’s a small price for us to pay to encourage tourism,” he said, admitting he supported the board’s decisions then as a new member. “I think we really need to focus on our assets and tourism and agriculture are right up there for now.”
Veerkamp said he wants to see a cost-benefit analysis when making decisions about what to support.
“We have to know what it’s gonna cost and we have to know what it’s gonna cost in the long term, best we can project that,” he maintained. “And if we’ve got a chance at bringing back some industries that made the county what it was, then great. But we have to see what it costs us to pursue those.”
District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin said she sees the board as not having a “unified vision,” such as regarding promoting tourism.
“Where do we want to take those dollars?” she asked. “Just because we’ve been doing something for 30 years, is that the way to keep doing it?”
She said she thinks the board now has a good opportunity to look at a new vision.
“In our decision making, it’s not all about the mighty dollar,” she added. “We have to keep things balanced.”
The Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County submitted an extensive response to the budget, which Secretary Gina Posey noted at Tuesday’s meeting included a suggestion to re-examine cuts, especially with the film industry, which she said is a “short-sighted strategy … resulting in additional decreases in both sales taxes and transient occupancy taxes.”
“Uncle Fuzzy” Rich Mason objected to cutting the Visitors Authority from the budget.
“You want to generate money. What does this county have to sell?” Mason asked the board. “We have to sell tourism.”
County Auditor Joe Harn told supervisors he sees the future getting worse, specifically with sales tax revenue.
“I hate even to call the feds and the state our partners,” Harn shared. “Unfortunately they are our partners. They have problems with money. The future looks a little bit bleak.
“So this is a very distasteful recommendation,” he added. “But I urge you to implement it because I have a feeling … if you don’t do some distasteful things this morning, it’s gonna be a lot more distasteful in September and a lot more distasteful next June, or maybe we’ll have to do something mid-year.”
Addressing why salaries and benefits expenditures increased from $304.5 million this fiscal year to a projected $314.4 million in 202526, Hennike noted, “The board has made a concerted effort, a conscious decision to compensate our employees fairly. And so the budget does include some of those negotiated salaries and benefits increases. The board has made a decision to take care of its employees.”
Veerkamp moved to approve the item and direct staff in three months
to reduce the budget even further. Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the FY 2025-26 recommended budget and authorize the Chief Administrative Office Facilities Division and the Department of Transportation to proceed with capital projects and road work as identified and approved in the recommended budget, with any amendments as directed by the board, effective July 1.
Supervisors also approved appointing Supervisors Parlin and Veerkamp to the FY 2025-26 Budget Ad Hoc Committee and directed staff to return to the board on Sept. 23 with proposed amendments to the FY 202526 final budget.
Budget details
Projecting out the amount of money left at the end of this fiscal year, total appropriations (all county revenue funds) decreased 6%, from $1.27 billion in the adopted budget for FY 2024-25 to $1.19 billion in the recommended budget for FY 2025-26.
“Now, this is actually a fairly normal reduction that you would see when we’re looking at a recommended budget as compared to the adopted budget that you approve in the fall,” Hennike said.
The actual fund balance will be known in September after the 2024-25 books close with final budget adoption in late September.
Governmental funds in the recommended budget for next year equal $1.04 billion, another decrease of 6%. These funds consist of “our enterprise funds and internal service funds, so like our risk fund and our transport … airports and our county service areas,” Hennike said.
Projected revenue in the general fund is $409.9 million, an 8% decrease from this fiscal year, and net county costs (departmental operating net county costs) come in at $203.8 million, a decrease of 5%.
All governmental funds are split into various categories with 30.4% going to services, supplies and other charges, 7.6% going to fixed assets, 16.4% to transfers (movements between funds), 17.7% to contingencies, 27.8% to salaries and benefits and 0.1% to reserves/designations. All categories have projected reduced funding next year, especially the county reserves/ designations which have decreased 90%.
Hennike explained that the 90% is just a reflection of the difference between what was added to reserves last year ($13.5 million) and what will be added in the coming year ($1.3 million). The actual projected funds in reserves and designations by the end of FY 24-25 is $48.3 million.
“That is more than double the minimum required by our policy,” Hennike said.
Total county appropriations will be down 1% in fiscal year 2025-26, according to Hennike.
Though Hennike earlier noted EDSO had reduced its budget request by $4 million; however, in the law and justice categories there was an uptick in funding, rising 4%.
“This is closely related to Section 504. However, it also includes a couple of positions that have been added to the public defender and alternate public defender, which were completely offset by revenue,” she explained.
Funding to land use and development services-related departments declined by about 9%.
“That really has to do with changes in project schedules and the CIP that fluctuates from year to year,” Hennike said.
Health and human services will see a 2% increase in funding.
“That’s an increase in appropriations and mostly mandated, realigned programs. And mostly offset with revenue,” Hennike explained.
The General Fund saw reductions in general government (-7%) and land use and development services (-46%), with minor increases in law and justice (2%) and in health and human services (5%). The net county operating costs were reduced 5%. Hennike said the big drop in the land use and development category was due to an accounting issue.
in the past to support programs and activities traditionally focused on the youth population such as park upgrades and high school grants, which upset some members of the community.
“It can create a negative view on our (the committee’s) intentions and why we are spending money on kids,” she said. “Grooming is a word that has been used against us.”
Aubrey said after receiving feedback from the community following funding projects like a high school senior grant program — “That was quickly shut down.” — and fixing steps at the community pool, the committee decided to pivot.
Recent projects
“We want to focus more on the community that supports us and funds this program which are the adults in our community,” she said, adding that family-friendly events and projects that benefit the community as a whole remains a focus for the committee.
In recent years the committee has voted to fund upgrades to the downtown Placerville bathrooms at the courthouse parking lot, upgrades to the Belltower on Main Street and the purchase of a school resource o cer vehicle.
The committee recognized a need for funding several projects in the city’s parks; however, Aubrey conceded, the committee was not the appropriate group to fund those projects.
“I only address that because it comes up every year,” Aubrey told the council.
This year’s proposals
Aubrey then outlined the committee’s four proposed projects — a $5,000 grant to the Placerville Fire Safe Council, a new trailer and equipment for the Adopt-A-Trail program coming in at $25,600, improvements to the disc golf course at Lions Park for $12,000 and a sizable allotment of $40,040 to help fund the city’s purchase of new Meridian barriers for use during street closure events. The grand total of this year’s proposed projects came in at $82,640.
Concerns over disc golf
Before moving on to public comment, Mayor pro tem Jackie Neau shared concerns about funding the disc golf course so that the public could comment on it if they chose.
At the top of the meeting Neau had been appointed mayor for the length of the meeting due to the absence of Mayor John Clerici and Vice Mayor Nicole Gotberg.
Neau noted the city had had ongoing problems with the course.
“Two of our holes are on private property,” Neau said, noting the course was built before those parcels were sold to private owners.
“Our first hole actually quite often has a conflict with picnickers,” she added.
Neau voiced concern over the overall lack of funds that the city faces.
“I’m not really sure that this is the best use of funds,” said Neau. “Especially when we’re looking at a year where we have such a tight budget.”
Neau suggested the committee possibly reevaluate,“ and see if that’s really the best community benefit that we have, especially after looking at our budget and what we cannot fund this year.”
The course was built in the 1980s.
Water Continued from A3
operations.
Thinner forests, in turn, are viewed by leaders of the Tahoe Central Sierra Initiative as a key element in the reduction of risks from high-severity wildfires in the many forests that are overgrown today as the result of more than a century of fire-suppression e orts.
Harpold noted that another nonprofit initiative, Sacramentobased Blue Forest, already is using the promise of increased water yields from thinned forests to help support bonds that it sells to finance urgent forestresilience projects. Along with improved supplies for agriculture and municipal water customers, increased water yields from thinner forests can benefit aquatic and riparian ecosystems and potentially improve the operation of hydropower
Neau noted there was no volunteer agreement put in place with the volunteers who asked to build the course at the time, meaning the city is on the hook to maintain the course.
“I think we would benefit from having a volunteer agreement with the group who’s really advocating and working for that,” said Neau. “Because as we move forward and we’re looking at our tight budgets we’re really going to have to have that kind of community support.”
With that Neau opened the item to public comment.
The public’s two cents
Placerville resident and Fire Safe Council member Sue Rodman thanked the committee for the annual funding, noting it was the main source of funding for the FSC’s annual wildfire preparedness event.
Placerville Fire Safe Council president David Zelinsky spoke next, also thanking the committee.
Placerville resident Ruth Carter suggested the council adopt the budget as proposed.
“While I understand we definitely have had holes in our budget and there’s been some belt tightening happening, this money is not designed to fill those holes,” she said.
The committee had already spent time deliberating on the funding, Carter added, and although more work needed to be done on the disc golf course the proposed work would still be a benefit.
Deliberation
Councilmember Ryan Carter thanked the committee for the work put into the recommendations and voiced his support for the proposals on the docket.
Councilmember David Yarbrough asked what would be involved in getting an agreement with the volunteer group in charge of the disc golf course.
“Would that be something that we would need to set as another agenda item to have sta work on?” he asked.
Neau said she didn’t think it needed to be an agenda item but again voiced concern over choosing the course over other possible projects.
“I think we really need to look at all the needs in our community and say is that the one where we should best be spending that $12,000,” she said.
Yarbrough asked Aubrey if the committee had had any contact with the volunteer group connected with the disc golf course.
“This is the first time we’ve heard about this group that maintains the park,” Aubrey said. “To touch on the $12,000, if we don’t approve it, it’ll likely just go into the pot for next year as opposed to re-evaluating everything.”
Yarbrough conceded that if a volunteer agreement were in place and some of the current issues were addressed, it might be a better investment for the committee to fund in the future.
Neau made a motion to approve the proposal excluding the disc golf course investment.
“We ask sta and the committee to go back and re-evaluate that course, all the things that need to be done and look at a volunteer agreement for next year to bring back something that’ll be more whole,” said Neau.
Assistant City Manager Dave Warren clarified that if the motion passed, as stated, that sta would not add that $12,000 to the city budget.
The council voted to approve the motion 3-0 with Clerici and Gotberg absent.
plants, Harpold and Boardman said in their study.
While the costs of large-scale thinning operations across the Central Sierra are daunting — even if water yields and other environmental benefits produce some revenue — Boardman said targeted forest thinning could be cost-e ective. He explained that forest managers could use results such as his to select watersheds with especially dense forests that typically receive high amounts of precipitation (snow and rain).
The soon-to-be-minted Dr. Boardman now is putting the skills he developed as a doctoral student working with Harpold into creation of a new Nevada-based company, Mountain Hydrology LLC, that provides water forecasting and hydrological research.
COMICS
■ SHOE by Jeff MacNelly
■ TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
■ RUBES by Leigh Rubin
■ SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
ARIES (March 21-April 19).Remember when you dodged a bad situation? You saw the cracks and the inevitability of being pulled under, and you went the other way. Now you’re lighter, clearer and free to focus on what ts your vision. So walk forward — no guilt, no second-guessing.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Because you’re aiming high, it’s important to be exible with the timing; big or meaningful things don’t always happen on schedule, and expecting them to unfold exactly when you want can lead to disappointment. Give your vision room to arrive.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Since your enjoyment will count as much as you make it count, you may as well be daring and have what you want. When you’re slightly sel sh today, you’ll end up contributing a lot to the world, laughing and loving in a way that lifts all.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It takes courage to let yourself enjoy something fully, even if no one else joins in. Make no mistake, your delight counts toward the delight of the world. Your happiness moves the needle; it’s valid, it’s real, even if it’s not universal.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Spontaneous emotion is evidence that you’re not fully in control. Today brings moments that feel alive because they weren’t planned. They surge. They connect you to an elemental part of yourself.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The way a cat brings out the most canine traits in a dog, you bring out speci c traits in people — playfulness, protectiveness, ambition, honesty... your presence in uences the room in a way speci c to you. Notice how.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your mind keeps looping to someone from the past because they represent something larger — like a part of yourself you’re trying to outgrow, a dynamic you don’t want to repeat or even a fear about how others see you. The way through this will be action, not thought.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). If you lack enthusiasm for the proposal on the table, it’s only because you know the heavy lifting involved (and you might be the one expected to do it). When the work itself feels worthwhile, you’ll agree, but not until then.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Someone you know can hold a grudge like it’s their profession. That’s dangerous energy to stand near. Move on through, lightly as possible, engaging only where necessary. There’s no need to take o ense. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Jumping to conclusions will only create mix-ups and mistakes. The rst answer that pops to mind could be correct, but don’t assume it is, and certainly don’t act on it until all the evidence is in. Take a “wait and see” attitude. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When
SUDOKU
New Cal Fire site helps job seekers navigate career opportunities
SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has launched a new recruitment website, JoinCALFIRE. com. This website serves as a one-stop destination for individuals eager to build a career in fire and emergency response.
As California contends with rising wildfire risks, increasing demands for emergency services and the need to fast track mitigation and prevention efforts, recruiting mission-driven professionals across all disciplines has never been more critical, according to Cal Fire orrifials. JoinCALFIRE. com empowers prospective applicants
with comprehensive information about the department’s diverse career paths — firefighting and natural resource management, defensible space, aviation, communications, human resources, land use planning, information technology, administrative support and more.
“We’re ramping up our efforts to recruit for Cal Fire to keep our communities safe,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Through support from the governor and Legislature — and as part of the state’s ongoing investment in wildfire resilience and emergency response — Cal Fire has significantly expanded its workforce over the past five years by adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually.
And, over the next four years and beyond, Cal Fire will hire thousands of additional firefighters, natural resource professionals and support personnel to meet the state’s growing demands. Key features of JoinCALFIRE.com include:
• Streamlined application paths for both entry-level and advanced positions
• Detailed job requirements, training information, and career progression insights
• Employee testimonials and recruitment videos showcasing Cal Fire professionals
• A calendar of statewide job fairs and hiring events
• Direct access to applications and recruiter information
“As our state faces unprecedented challenges, we are committed to building a team that not only meets but exceeds the demands of today’s emergencies,” said Cal Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “Whether you’re launching your professional journey or looking to make a transformative career change, JoinCALFIRE.com offers the tools and resources to take that first step.”
With this scale of hiring under way, JoinCALFIRE.com is launching at a pivotal time to streamline recruitment, improve public access to career information and ensure the department attracts the qualified, mission-driven professionals needed to strengthen statewide readiness and response capabilities.
Explore the Tahoe Basin’s wonders on fee-free days
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE —
On June 14 & 19, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will waive standard amenity fees for all visitors to Eagle Falls Trailhead. Saturday, June 14, celebrates National Get Outdoors Day, inviting everyone to connect with the great outdoors for healthy, active lifestyles and Thursday, June 19, celebrates the historic Juneteenth holiday. On these special fee-free days, standard amenity fees are waived for some day use sites — like Eagle Falls Trailhead.
About 95% of national forest lands can be enjoyed fee-free, year-round. Where fees are assessed, at least 80% of these funds are reinvested at the collection site, to provide needed maintenance and services or pay for future improvements. The U.S. Forest Service offers feefree access a few times each year to encourage exploring national forests and grasslands. The remaining fee-free observances for 2025 are National Public Lands Day on Sep. 27 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Forest Service officials encourage everyone to take advantage of these fee-free opportunities to experience the great outdoors. Get outside
and connect with nature to reflect, exercise and make memories.
“We also encourage all visitors to plan ahead and help take care of Tahoe’s lands and waters by following fire restrictions, being bear aware and storing all food and waste appropriately, using transit alternatives and leaving areas cleaner than you found them,” said Public Services Staff Officer Daniel Cressy. “Together, we can advance a culture of caring and preserve the Tahoe experience for all.”
For local happenings, follow the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit on Facebook and X and visit fs.usda.gov/r05/laketahoebasin.
PATRIOT PROFILE
Ephraim Nichols
Born: 8 Dec. 1727 in Booths Hill, Fair eld, Conn. Died: 22 Nov. 1805 in Pawling, Dutchess, New York
Married Ester Peet in Conn. Had 8 children, the eldest was Ephraim a Lt. in the Continental Army, murdered by Tories as he rode home--making newspaper (and later history book stories) in 1777. Ephraim senior, Judy’s patrio, was a farmer and inn owner who had his money stolen by Tories and then his house burned by them, as well as the proven murder of his son. As a Quaker he enlisted as a minuteman against church rules. He did not go to battle, but he served in the Safety Committee and as its leader and served on the grand Jury (a treasonable o ence to the King). His main function was as the leader of the Underground Railroad in NY before the Rev. War, rescuing escaped slaves and conducting them into Canada. e next 3 generations of his family continued this work--never getting caught and never losing a “passenger”. His youngest son Reuben continued this in Sycamore, Ill. His Great grandson John Wesley Nichols was Aide de Camp to General Grant during the Civil War — continuing the family traditions.
Proud Descendant: Judy Muetz
I have degrees from San Jose State University and a graduate degree from UC Davis, I was a Recreation director for the City of Oakland and a teacher and High School Principal in several California communities. I was an o cer of the American Legion Auxiliary for more than ten years and also in the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a District Commander, Ship Master and Instructor for ten years. I am a leader in a Sea Scout Ship in the Bay Area, teaching sailing.
— Judy Muetz
e National Society of e Daughters of the American Revolution is committed to historic preservation, education and patriotism
Your local Daughters of e American Revolution Chapter is excited to be a part of the America250!
America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial.
We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to re ect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation.
You are invited to learn more about your local El Dorado DAR Chapter please contact regent@eldorado.californiadar.org
Photos courtesy of Cal Fire
Courtesy photo
PROSPECTING
Section B n mtdemocrat.com
IN THE KNOW
Stellar students
Congratulations to Mia Barsotti and Kyla Lilienthal of El Dorado Hills, who were named to the University of Alabama’s Dean’s List.
June 13
The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the HWY 50 Corridor Power Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Buckhorn BBQ & Grill. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.
The Bumgarner Camino Tasting Room will host a Friday Night Pizza Night with live music from the Jessica Malone Duo from 5:30-8 p.m. For tickets or more information visit bumgarnerwinery.com.
Audioboxx will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8-10 p.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Britain’s Finest — the complete Beatles experience will perform at 8 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.
June 14
The El Dorado County Certified Farmer’s Market will take place at the Regal Cinema parking lot in Placerville from 8 a.m. to noon. Enjoy a vibrant selection of locally raised meats, farm-fresh produce, fresh-baked goods and handcrafted items from talented local artisans.
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County will be available to answer gardening questions or just chat about gardening at from 8 a.m. to noon.
Mellowood Vineyard in Somerset will host Shauna Lea and Hired Guns Band from 2-6 p.m. Visit mellowoodvineyard.com for more information.
The Heavenly Village Brewfest returns from 1-4 p.m. with beer, kombucha and soda tastings paired with live music. A portion of the proceeds supports Christmas Cheer, a local nonprofit that offers an emergency food pantry for individuals in need. For more information visit tinyurl.com/3chr2pmm.
The Stage at Burke Junction presents “For the Love of Dog” at 1 p.m. and through July 6. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.
Celebrate Father’s Day with a free VIP tasting experience in the Atrium Gallery and explore Pinstripes and Pistons Father’s Day Art Exhibit, a stunning collection of art that celebrates the spirit of Father’s Day at the El Dorado Hills Town Center from 4-8 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
Smith Flat House will host Line Dancing Lessons at 6 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. For more information visit smithflathouse.com.
El Dorado Musical Theatre presents “High VoltageBest of Broadway” at 7 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter. net.
Revolver + Here Come the Bastards will perform 8-11
Learn what your dog is thinking
Andrew Vonderschmitt and Shelly Thorene Mountain Democrat staff
On Saturday June 14 The Stage at Burke Junction will open its original production of “For the Love of Dog” for the second time. The work from the mind of Bill Glasser, owner of Burke Junction, premiered in 2023 to an appreciative audience. According to The Stage the play has been brought back by “pup-ular” demand.
The production asks, and pledges to answer, those age old questions, “How do you really know if your dog likes you? Do you have any idea what they think or feel about you?”
Lecturer and host, Scientist Joe, shares ground-breaking research revealing the real thoughts and opinions of man’s best friend.
Bags, a 169-pound therapy mastiff, goes through three owners while Eva, his best friend, a German shorthaired pointer, dreams of life and freedom beyond her backyard fence. Then there’s Ralphy, a pug mix, who is Bags’ nemesis and arthritic roommate who teaches Bags how to avoid trouble by sleeping and eating. Enter Dr. Lov, a rottweiler mix, whose excellent counseling and prescriptions are a godsend for San Diego’s hardest working therapy dogs.
Glasser penned the play during the pandemic.
“Like everyone else, I spent an inordinate amount of time at home with my dog, Geno, who was a 126-pound French mastiff,” he said. The thought crossed my mind, while I was blabbing away at him, if he understood anything I was saying.”
Glasser said that the idea that humans think that dogs understand them was something he felt hadn’t been explored.
“It seems that everything we think about dogs is pretty much exclusively from a human perspective,” he said. “In fact, what if our dogs didn’t really like us or the living situation they found themselves in?”
From that point he wrote the first scene as a thought experiment.
“Our therapy animals needing a therapist to cope with their needy humans,” he recalled.
“Of course the therapist is also a dog.” He said that the play centered around a real life dog named Baghera, that he had fostered for a few months.
Audience response wasn’t the only reason Glasser chose to
remount the production this year.
“I like the show,” he said. “Especially now, I think we need to come together and laugh about something we can all agree on and love, our dogs.”
He did admit, however, that audience reponse definately played its part in the decision.
“It has been our best seller since we opened the theater in 2019,” he said. “A little financial boost certainly helps.”
Glasser said that the cast is terrific.
“They have jumped in and embodied their characters effortlessly.”
Glasser managed to bring back one of the actors from the original production.
“Nestor Campos is back,” he said. “There is simply no other human being I have met that so embodies the life and times of a 168-pound cane corso mastiff.
Jill Wilson who plays Eva says that she connects with her character and that her owner “loves me too much.”
“I relate to Eva in her quest for freedom on a deep level,” said Wilson. This will be Wilson’s third show at The Stage having previously appeared in “Proof” and “Almost Maine.”
Nestor Campos Jr. who plays Bags said that he doesn’t do theater for the love of money, “but for the love of theater.
“As an actor, I am no different from a carpenter,” he said. “But my tools are the triggers for human emotion.”
“This play is like a Ted talk inside the mind of Dr. Lov, the scientist,” Campos added.
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
(Jill Wilson), a
short-haired pointer, right, tells Bags (Nestor Campos Jr.), a cane corso/mastiff mix, left, that she plans
from
in The Stage at Burke Junction’s production of “For the Love of Dog” opening June 14.
It’s Fair to say that art is a winner for Placerville Arts Association
Sylvia Coleman
Placerville Arts Association
So much is happening in the Sierra Foothills as summer gets in full swing. For the last several years, memberartists of Placerville Arts Association have become happy participants in contributing their expertise and time to the Art Exhibition shown in the Organ room at the El Dorado County Fair.
Hundreds of El Dorado County folks from every part of the county enter their art into various categories of art creations from youth to the aged — from beginners to professionals — a ton of fun at the Fair. This year, a new category of Fine Arts for young people has been added.
Come visit the Fair. Visit it all ... go see, from one end of the fairgrounds to the other, all the excellent exhibits with the wide variety of things to learn about and things to take home. Then stop by the Organ room and peruse the art from every part of our great county.
Placerville Arts Association President Lynell Phillips serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair, and the Photography Dept. Head is PAA member Fab Sowa-Dobkowski. Additionally, many PAA members volunteer to help take in and check out art, assist with exhibit displays and man the welcome table during fair open hours Stop and say hi to the PAA artists sitting at the welcome table. Get a ballot and pencil and
cast your vote for the “People’s Choice Award” in the Photography Exhibit. Can you imagine the thrill of you or one of your neighbors winning that?
PAA also awards a Spirit of the Sierra award in the adult fine arts and youth photography, and teen/ tween fine arts and children’s fine arts categories. For more information about the fair visit eldoradocountyfair.org.
Learn to sculpt
Right on the heels of the County Fair, PAA welcomes sculptor Valerie Birkhoff. She will be the presenter and demonstrator at the monthly member meeting on Monday, June 16 from 2:30–4:30 p.m. at the Placerville Senior Center. The public is always welcomed. There will be a break around 2:30 p.m. for refreshments and a time to meet other artists and art-lovers. Birkhoff graduated from Portland State University with a BS in arts and letters. She creates figurative clay sculptures often adding mixed media elements. Her work has been shown in San Francisco, the Sacramento Valley, Grass Valley, Rancho Cordova, Joshua Tree and other Bay Area locations. Her awards include Best of Show at Sacramento Fine Arts Center, for her clay pieces “Sweating Dirt” and “Human Interaction,” and a first place award for 3D work for her clay sculpture “Preasevare” with the Joshua Tree National Park Art Council. Her
sculpture “Clowning Around” was included in the 30th annual Clay Competition in Davis in 2019. “I like to take realistic figurative pieces and push them farther into the abstract,” Birkhoff said. “I go outside the standard of ‘popular beauty’ to accent the attractiveness of everyday looking people with a story. I’ve added nails, wire and beads in an attempt to add more dimension. In addition, I like to play around with matte and glossy
surfaces in my glaze work. The final product is subtle in its depth.”
For Birkhoff’s clay demonstration, prepressed faces and tools will be supplied and after talking about her process attendees will have an opportunity to play with the clay. She will offer some suggestions and answer any questions while everyone is working and will take everyone’s pieces home and fire them and bring the pieces back for next month’s meeting. Summer is here. Jump on the wagon and have fun. To learn about PAA’s upcoming events and shows visit placervillearts.com or follow on Facebook.
Musical Mondays gets ‘em moving
Sydney Joyce
InConcert Sierra
NEVADA CITY — InConcert Sierra and the Nevada County Library present Musical Mondays to bring a joyful noise to the outdoor amphitheater at the Nevada County Madelyn Helling Library starting Monday, June 16 and continuing through Monday, Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to noon. Free to the public, Musical Mondays is a popular, familyfriendly summer series of one-hour morning concerts. The series features talented local and regional musicians performing music geared toward youth, but enjoyable for all audiences. The atmosphere is casual, with attendees bringing their own snacks and lawn chairs or blankets.
On June 16, the popular local ensemble Beaucoup Chapeaux will open the summer series. The four musicians, Maggie McKaig, Luke Wilson, Murray Campbell and Randy McKean, perform World Fusion, bringing all kinds of music into play — folk, country, bluegrass, classical, jazz and traditional dance music from many different cultures. They will get you up and keep you dancing into the start of summer.
Subsequent weeks will present music
from harpist Sage Po, vocalists Micah Cone and Christi Colombo with pianist Ken Hardin, the Mountain Road Ceilidh Band, Oktoberfest favorites Papa Oom-Pah-Pah, Buffalo Gals and River Winds.
Permanent bench seating is limited and lawn chairs or blankets are strongly encouraged. There are some shade coverings over the audience seating area. Guests are kindly requested to park at the Rood Center’s county parking lot to leave spaces near the library open for patrons with mobility challenges and babes in arms.
In the event of inclement weather or extreme heat, the concerts will be presented inside the Madelyn Helling Library.
Musical Mondays is a collaboration between the Nevada County Library and InConcert Sierra to showcase live music experiences at the Marian E. Gallaher, M.D. Amphitheater, adjacent to the Madelyn Helling Library at the Rood Center. The series began in 2017 as part of the Nevada County Library Summer Reading Program and is sponsored by Friends of the Nevada County Libraries.
The series is dedicated to the memory of Jackie Wilson who inspired Musical Mondays. For a complete list of performances check InConcert Sierra’s Facebook page or visit inconcertsierra.org, or nevadacountyca. gov/3455/Library.
“I enjoy watching the youngsters, watching the musicians,” said Musical Mondays enthusiast Kathy Hillis. “The kids are mesmerized with the rhythm and tunes that they hear.” When marking calendars, note that there will not be a concert on July 7 due to the Independence Day weekend.
“Carla” by Valerie Birkhoff
Courtesy photo
Valerie Birkhoff creates unexpected figures with clay and mixed media items.
Courtesy photo
Beaucoup Chapeaux will open the series on June 16.
Lisa Crummett
Images of Hope El Dorado
n June 12
OImages of Hope El Dorado’s Banners on Parade 28 selections were installed along Main Street in Placerville where they will be on display through October.
Artists were invited in February to participate in the 19th annual Banners on Parade with the suggested theme of “Hidden Gems,” which inspired artists to submit drawings that featured their own interpretations of what the theme meant to them. Twenty eight artists were chosen, and the public is invited each year to view their banners on Main Street light poles in Placerville. The organization has been fortunate to continue this project for so many years, with the support of sponsors, a dedicated committee, volunteers and most importantly, the artists.
This exhibit includes five new artists that have not painted a banner before, and over 20 returning artists who have created banners many times in the last 19 years. Artists enjoy this art project for many different reasons.
Most participants say they love to paint something beautiful and feel proud and accomplished to share it with their family, friends and community. Others create banners in memory of a loved one, while other artists like to challenge themselves by creating their art with a new style or medium. But overall, the entire community and its visitors benefit and look forward to this long-standing, beautiful outdoor art exhibit.
The judges
This year, art professionals that assisted in judging the banners were Lynell Phillips and Gloria Vernon. They judged the banners just prior to Images of Hope’s Picnic in the Orchard fundraising event at Rainbow Orchards where the banners premiered. Phillips, president of the Placerville Arts Association, is a seasoned artist with over two decades of experience in photography, abstract painting and AI-generated art. Based in El Dorado County, she exhibits biannually at the El Dorado County Government Center. Her work can also be seen online through the Art Barn Gallery, a prominent destination on the Historic 49 Barn Tour. Vernon, a former art teacher, has explored soft pastels since retiring in 2001. Her work now blends Brusho crystalized watercolor, iridized pigments and bold black marker lines to create expressive, optimistic scenes full of color, shimmer and storytelling.
The judges chose winners for first place, second place, third place and three honorable mentions.
The winners
• First place — “Cubist River Gems,” by Nina Birks
• Second place — “A Mountain of Gems,” by Amy Schulze
• Third place — “Tiny
Treasures,” by Cathie Urquhart
• Honorable mention — “Misty Hideaway,” by Steve Ellenburg
• Honorable mention — “Country Road,” by Deanna Huber
• Honorable mention — “Bee Treasured,” by Sherry Lynn Morris
The banners will be on display from June through October when they will be sold during an online auction. Keepsakes such as magnets, postcards, coffee mugs and bookmarks will be available featuring the artists’ banner images as part of Banners on Parade’s fundraising efforts. Images of Hope’s Banners on Parade would like to thank these sponsors, El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, city of Placerville’s Cannabis Community Benefit Committee, Cuppa Coffee & More, High Sierra Quilters and donors for the Geoff Boyd Memorial Artist awards and Marianne Kalem Legacy award.
This summer, visitors can pick up one of the walking tour brochures in late June at businesses on Main Street or at the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce. The committee suggests starting the tour at the southwest corner of Main Street and Sacramento Street , heading east, then just before Cedar Ravine Road , cross to the other side near the Ivy House parking lot to make the loop back, ending
at the last banners up on Sacramento Street across from the post office.
This community art project is one of the longest-running exhibitions in California with 614 pieces of community art displayed. In the first year of the exhibit in 2005, artist-painted wheelbarrows were displayed; in the second year of the exhibit, 2006, artist-painted wine barrels were displayed. From 2007 through 2025, artistpainted canvas banners have been displayed, for a total of 557 banners.
For more information about Images of Hope, the exhibit and the auction visit imagesofhopeeldorado. com.
“Cubist River Gems” by Nina Birks First place “A Mountain of Gems” by Amy Schulze Second place
“Tiny Treasures” by Cathy Urquhart Third place
“Misty Hideaway” by Steve Ellenburg Honorable mention
“Country Road” by Deanna Huber Honorable mention “Bee Treasured” by Sherry Lynn Morris Honorable mention
Artist uncovers the extraordinary in the everyday
William J. Simmons Gallery at 48 Natoma
The Gallery at 48 Natoma is pleased to present Jyotsna Bhamidipati: The Art of the Personal, a solo exhibition on view from June 24 through Aug. 14. The public is invited to celebrate the exhibition at a public reception on Friday, June 27, from 6-8 p.m. This exhibition marks Bhamidipati’s first solo presentation.
Bhamidipati is a visual storyteller with a love for capturing the beauty of life’s details. She uses photography as a medium to celebrate culture, savor the richness of the food we share and explore the power of travel. Her work is fueled by a passion for uncovering the extraordinary in the everyday — whether it’s the warmth of a smile, the sound of the ocean, the quiet poetry of shared meals or a collaboration across lines of difference. She crafts narratives that shine a light on diverse perspectives and experiences, often through the lens of being a mother. She is drawn to the human emotion that binds us all together as a community.
Bhamidipati is a soughtafter speaker and educator, and she is currently at work on her first monograph. She is a member of Diversify Photo, American Photographic Artists and The LUUPE. As a fine art and editorial photographer her clients include NBC News, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Uber x Anyway Magazine and Travel & Leisure. She has received grants from Adobe and Shutterstock.
The Gallery at 48 Natoma is managed by the Folsom Parks and Recreation Department and showcases art by regional and national artists. It offers innovative art exhibitions to the community. The gallery is located at 48 Natoma St., next to Folsom City Hall and is free and open to the public. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with additional hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Tours can be arranged by appointment. For more information, contact Curator William J. Simmons at wsimmons@ folsom.ca.us or call (916) 4616687.
June 29, 2025
“Untitled” by Jyotsna Bhamidipati
“Untitled” by Jyotsna Bhamidipati
Courtesy photos
On May 30 the folks at The Pines at Placerville and Western Slope Health Center had a groovy time at its inaugural Senior Woodstock event.
happening boasted
Know Continued from B1
p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Audioboxx will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino. com.
The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series presents Rod Stewart from 8-10 p.m. For more information visit tinyurl.com/ yfvbt3xz.
June 15
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host Yoga in the Park at 9 a.m. at Saratoga Park. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Join Shadow Ranch in Somerset for a Father’s Day celebration at 1 p.m. with live music from West Coast Turnaround and wood fired pizza. For more information visit shadowranch.com.
Clive Carroll will perform, 4-6 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Smith Flat House will host Back Porch Swing at 5 p.m. For more information visit smithflathouse. com.
The Valhalla Tahoe boathouse theatre presents Bread and Butter Band from 7:30-10 p.m. For more information visit valhallatahoe.com.
Join Railtown 1897 for Day of the Dad excursion train rides at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. For tickets and more information visit railtown1897. org.
June 17
Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.
CJ Washington, sponsored by The Mimosa House, will perform at the Theater Plaza at the El Dorado Hills Town Center from 7-9 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter. com.
Smith Flat House will host live music with James Drips at 6 p.m. For more information visit smithflathouse.com.
Paula Fong + Mary Scholz will perform, 7-9 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom. com.
June 19
Join the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce for the Chamber Champions luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Smith Flat House in Placerville. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.
Placerville Family Search Center will host How to Discover your German ancestors — proven steps presented and explained from 1-2 p.m. at 3275 Cedar Ravine, Placerville. The class will give a comprehensive outline, resources, links, books, articles and websites for each step. For more information call (916) 2904395.
Smith Flat House will host live music with Left of Cool at 6 p.m. For more information visit smithflathouse.com.
Twist on Taylor – Tribute to Taylor Swift 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.
AlpenGlow Band + The Human Will will perform, 7-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series jams into its 12th season with free live music, art, local merchants and food vendors, every Thursday night, from 4:30-8:30 p.m. continuing through Aug. 28 at Lakeview Commons, 1.5 miles from the
Nevada state line. Embraced by local residents and visitors alike, the vibe is authentically pure. For more information visit tinyurl. com/432w3esz.
Clive Carroll will perform at the Side Door in Sacramento at 7 p.m. For more information visit thesidedoor.net.
June 20
Join the Marshall Foundation for Community Health for the 40th annual Bob West Drive for Marshall. Tee off “fore” health at 11 a.m. at Cold Springs Golf & Country Club in Placerville. Entry includes the green fee, a golf cart, beverages, lunch and dinner at 5 p.m. For mor information visit marshallfound.org/golf-fora-cause.
The Sierra Renaissance Society presents “Travels to Bhutan, Nepal & India” by Steve and Dickson Schwarzback, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission free for members; public 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 Fabulous Liars Band will play at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino from 5-8 p.m. For more information visit hwy50brewery. com/live-music.
Smith Flat House will host a Sip and Paint event at 6 p.m. For more information visit smithflathouse.com.
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will present a Free Concert in the Park with Ariel Jean from 7-9:30 p.m. at Community Park. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
RxEMEDY will perform, 8-11p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Sterotype will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8-10 p.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Broadway At Music Circus presents “Hello Dolly” at the UC Davis Health pavilion in Sacramento at 7:30 p.m. and continuing through June 26. For tickets and more information call (916) 557-1999 or visit broadwaysacramento.com.
Now
The California Bluegrass Association presents the Father’s Day Bluegrass festival at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing daily through June 15. For tickets and more information visit fathersdayfestival.com.
Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons welcomes all watermedia artists over age 18 to enter its annual open exhibition “Go With the Flow 2025.” Submissions accepted through June 21 at 5 p.m. For more information visit sacramentowatercolor.org.
The Coloma Community Market takes place 1-4 p.m., drizzle or shine, the second and fourth Saturdays at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, June through August. Find great local products while enjoying live music, food, beverages and more. Parking is free during the market hours.
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.
Booth reservations are now available for the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce’s
eldoradocounty.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.
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.”
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD
The Pollock Pines Community Center hosts a Yoga Class Mondays at 10:30 a.m, Bingo Tuesdays at 5 p.m. and Line Dancing Wednesdays, 6:30-9 p.m. Visit pollockpinesca.org.
The Georgetown Library hosts Thursdays at Two Poetry Group every first and third Thursday of the month. Fore more information visit eldoradolibrary.org
The Mom Walk Sip and Stroll meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Amphitheater at the El Dorado Hills Town Center. Marco’s Café in Lotus hosts a family friendly Open Mic Night Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. Visit marcoscafelotus.com.
Glasser said that he is grateful for the community that keeps coming back to the shows.
“The fact that we have built an audience in our little neck of the woods makes me very proud and happy,” he said. “And for all the wonderful artists, our board of directors, and designers and technicians that have made The Stage a cool little spot to watch quality theater.”
Glasser promised a few surprises for this new iteration of the show but said audiences will have to come to a performance to see for themselves.
“Be prepared to be dazzled” he added.
“For the Love of Dog” opens June 14 at 1 p.m. and runs through July 6 with Saturday and Sunday showings at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 947-1010 or visit stageatburke.com.
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Bags (Nestor Campos Jr.), a cane corso/mastiff mix, left, and Ralphie (Giselle Colmenares Vizarra), an old French bulldog/pug with severe arthritis and a bad attitude, right, join The Dancer (Tristan Ogle), center, in a show stopping number.
American River Conservancy News release
merican River
AConservancy presents the first concert of its much-loved Concerts for a Cause series at the historical Wakamatsu Farm on June 21 with Island of Black and White.
This vibrant, familyfriendly outdoor event offers a delightful evening filled with live music, delicious food and community connections, all in support of preserving local rivers and lands for life.
Set beneath the open sky, this concert series
invites guests to enjoy performances by some of the region’s most popular bands, while savoring handcrafted food from Wani’s Tacos and a selection of refreshing beverages. Every ticket purchased supports ARC’s Resilience Reserve, which helps the Conservancy manage, restore and care for the more than 14,000 acres of land that ARC has permanently protected.
“Our Resilience Reserve makes it possible for us to respond quickly to natural disasters and climate challenges,” said ARC’s Executive Director, Elena DeLacy.
“By joining us for an
evening of great music with our community, guests are also helping to safeguard the lands they love for future generations.”
For more information on Resilience Reserve visit arconservancy.org/ arcrr.
The series continues with Achilles Wheel on July 26 and Red Dirt Ruckus on Aug. 16.
The event will take place on June 21 at 5:30 p.m. with the band playing from 6:30-9:30 p.m. For tickets and
JULY 18, 2025, 8:30 A.M. DEPT. 9 AT SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF EL DORADO, 2927 Meder Rd., Cameron Park, CA 95682.
copy of the ORDER TO
CAUSE shall
published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Mountain Democrat. This order has been filed on MAY 19, 2025. /s/ Gary Slossberg GARY SLOSSBERG, Judge of the Superior Court 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13 14622
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EL DORADO COUNTY AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 BUDGET NOTIFICATION Notice is hereby given that the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors will conduct a public hearing to formally adopt the Air District’s recommended fiscal year 2025/26 budget, fees and provide the public with an opportunity to comment on those items.
DATE: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 TIME: 9:00 am LOCATION: Board Chambers, 330 Fair Lane, Placerville (or virtually). Please visit https://eldorado.legistar. com/Calendar.aspx for updated information Beginning May 10, 2025, the proposed 2025/26 budget summary and fee schedule will be available for review in the Air District office at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, during regular business hours, and online at: https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/ Land-Use/Air-Quality-Management 6/13 14630
more information visit bit.ly/ARCc4c2025.
17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20 14637 T.S. NO.: 9672-0132 TSG ORDER NO.: 240407851-CA-VOI A.P.N.: 042-632-007-000 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 08/18/2020. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NBS Default Services, LLC, as the duly appointed Trustee, under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust Recorded 08/26/2020 as Document No.: 2020-0044621-00, of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of El Dorado County, California, executed by: HEATHER ROSE GOODWYN, A MARRIED WOMAN AS HER SOLE AND SEPERATE PROPERTY, as Trustor, WILL SELL
there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 916-9390772 or visit this internet website, www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case T.S.# 9672-0132. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three
immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. NBS Default Services, LLC 14841 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300 Dallas, TX 75254 800-766-7751 For Trustee Sale Information Log On To: www. nationwideposting.com or Call: 916939-0772. NBS Default Services, LLC, James Aranda, Foreclosure Associate This communication is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. However, if you have received a discharge of the debt referenced herein in a bankruptcy proceeding, this is not an attempt to impose personal liability upon you for payment of that debt. In the event you have received a bankruptcy discharge, any action to enforce the debt will be taken against the property only. NPP0474747 To: MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT & PLACERVILLE TIMES 05/30/2025, 06/06/2025, 06/13/2025 5/30, 6/6, 6/13 14639 SUMMONS (PARENTAGE - CUSTODY AND SUPPORT) CASE NO. 25FL0423 NOTICE TO RESPONDENT (Name): Violet Roberts You have been sued. Read the information below and on the next page. Petitioner’s name is: Parker Robert Mills You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-220 or FL-270) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call, or court appearance will not protect you. If
Photo by Melissa Lobach
Couple celebrates 60 years as husband and wife
Special to the Mountain Democrat
Happy 60th anniversary, Stephen and Joanie Jackson!
Stephen and Joanie celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 12. How did they meet? Well, it all started way back in college during the summer of 1963. Joanie was the lifeguard at the college pool and Steve worked for the U.S. Geological Survey, doing stream gaging in Northern California. Steve would come to Sacramento for the weekends and be out in the field during the week.
One Friday afternoon, Steve went to the college pool after work and bumped into Joanie. It was love at first sight! The next week, he decided to ask her out. He thought she might have a date on Saturday, so he asked her to a concert at William Land Park for Sunday afternoon. But here’s the funny part: he didn’t know her last name, address or phone number. So, he wrote a letter to “Joanie, the lifeguard” at Sacramento State College. She got the letter and met Steve again on Friday at the college pool. And that’s how their love story began.
Stephen and Joanie tied the knot after graduating from college in 1965. Steve worked for Contra Costa County as a civil engineer in training and Joanie worked for the Pittsburg Elementary School District as a second-grade teacher.
The Jacksons welcomed their first son, Michael, in 1968, and a year later, they moved to Placerville. Steve worked as the assistant director of Public Works for El Dorado County while Joanie took on
the role of a homemaker. Their family grew to four when their second son was born in 1971.
From a young age, Joanie displayed a passion for art and a keen eye for color and style. As the boys entered their teenage years, she decided to turn her creativity into a business. She founded Winning Impressions, a company that offers personalized color and styling services to clients. Joanie’s warm and friendly approach quickly earned her a loyal clientele and her business flourished through word of mouth. Today, Winning Impressions has expanded its reach beyond Placerville, thanks in large part to the internet.
Steve and Joanie still reside in their charming home in Placerville, where they made their move back in 1969. Joanie continues to run her successful business while Steve provides valuable administrative support.
Courtesy pbotos
Joanie and Stephen tied the knot in 1965 and are going strong 60 years later.