Mountain Democrat, Friday, May 2, 2025

NERVES OF STEEL

Pedestrain overcrossing in place on Missouri Flat Road

Jo Carrerow

Shelly Thorene Sta writer

Spectators enjoyed an engineering feat Wednesday night as crews installed a grade-separated overcrossing where the El Dorado Trail intersects Missouri Flat Road. This overcrossing will allow trail users to safely cross Missouri Flat Road, which averages nearly 30,000 vehicles per day, according to county Senior Civil Engineer Dustin Harrington.

The El Dorado County Department of Transportation applied for a grant in 2014 to begin planning studies and design work for this project. Once the design was completed, and after several rounds of additional grant applications, the county was fortunate to finally receive construction funding in 2023, Harrington added.

“We were competing with other areas in the state and getting these funds will be more difficult in the future as less money is available,” he shared Harrington said Missouri Flat Road will

El Dorado County Senior Cay Care program rates will more than double over the next three years and the program will move out of El Dorado Hills, consolidating all services in Placerville. That decision came late last month after several discussions this year between the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, sta and the public.

Senior day care rates have not changed since 2016. Enrollment application fees will go from $50 to $144 in year one, $245 in year two and $343 in year three. The senior day care daily rate will go from the $58 per day to $80 per day in year one, $104 per day in year two and $126 per day in year three. Extended hours, 30 minutes will go from $10 to $37 then $66 and finally $94. Late fees will jump from $2 per minute to $5 per minute over the three-year period. The client shower assistance fee will remain the same at $25.

The new rates are the result of a fee study and direction of board policy to pursue full cost recovery, Chief Administrative O cer Sue Hennike explained to the board at the April 22

■ See BRIDGE, page A8

Chris Woodard Sta writer

Federal lawsuit pursued against EDCOE, bus driver

An attorney representing one of the alleged victims of former El Dorado County O ce of Education bus driver Tarik Manasrah has filed a federal lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against the accused, EDCOE and several unnamed employees.

The federal complaint follows numerous cases brought against EDCOE and Manasrah, who was arrested in 2023. The EDCOE driver who transported students with disabilities stands accused of sexually abusing multiple developmentally disabled passengers. Charges filed by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s O ce include eight felony sex charges and one misdemeanor charge, including oral copulation, penetration, sodomy and sexual battery by force with a person incapable of giving consent.

The federal complaint was filed in March by the Los Angeles-based law group Qureshi Law, which currently has ongoing civil cases against EDCOE in El Dorado County Superior Court. The civil trial is

Fee snafu prompts unplanned revision

Noel Stack Editor

The major update to El Dorado County’s Tra c Impact Fees approved in December 2024 after more than 18 months of work will get another overhaul after a computation error was discovered, county o cials have confirmed.

The El Dorado Count Board of Supervisors approved the new fee schedule at its Dec. 3 meeting, during which many public speakers asked for a delay as they didn’t have enough time to review all the information released with the agenda item. Over protest, supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of the major update and the new schedule went into e ect Feb. 1; however, the following month, county Department of Transportation sta discovered the error.

“Recently, while reviewing the latest building permit date and during preparation of the annual update to the TIF program. DOT sta identified a discrepancy between the permit data and the baseline growth analysis prepared by the county’s

Mountain Democrat

photo by Noel Stack

The county has been providing senior day care services at the Gilmore Senior Center in El Dorado Hills since 2014 but a recent decision by the Board of Supervisors

Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene

new 180-foot-long pedestrian overcrossing as a 300-ton hydraulic crane hoists it into place between 10 and 11 p.m. on Missouri Flat Road Wednesday night. Clearance under the middle of the span is 17.5 feet and the weathered steel structure will feature recessed lighting.

ESSENTIALS

Larry Norman Schultz

June 18, 1944 – March 1, 2025

Beloved husband of Patsy Schultz. Devoted son of Helen Schroeder (Simunich). Loving father of daughter, Jessica Schultz and son, Brandon Schultz. Cherished grandfather of Tianna, Jersey, Izabel and Isaiah. Adored great-grandfather to Xavier and Layla. Dear step-brother to George Beers. Celebration of life will be held at the American Legion Hall, 4561 Greenstone Road, Placerville, CA 95667 May 10 from 1-5 pm.

Stanley Valentine Drayus

April 30, 1933 – March 26, 2025

Stanley Valentine Drayus was born in Chicago, Illinois to Lillian and Stanislaw Drayus on April 30, 1933. At age six his father died and Lillian sent him to live on a farm where he attended a one room school house and worked to earn his keep. He often reflected in his later years on this time period of milking cows, baling hay and driving a tractor as being some of his favourite times.

Later he moved back to live with his mom in Chicago to start high school. He figured there’d be a lot more girls there than the one room school house he’d been going to. His favourite classes were woodshop, metal shop and auto shop. Also he got a job working for a Jewish catering company. He’d rigged up his Schwinn bicycle with a Whizzer motor and used that to make deliveries all around Chicago.

Shortly after high school he was drafted into the Army. Stationed in Germany not long after the Korean War ended, his experience in woodshop landed him the position of Company Carpenter. He would spend his free time in the nearby town of Heidelberg, where he enjoyed ice skating and dancing with the local Frauleins.

After the army he went to college to study electronics, and upon graduating he and two buddies decided to head out to California to look for work. The three of them had one suit between them for interviews and they all got jobs.

Stan’s first job was with AMPEX in the Bay Area. It was here where a pretty red-head named Diane first caught his eye. Turns out she was attracted to him as well and in a few months they were engaged. Stan and Diane were married in October 1959.

He began working for Hewlett-Packard in the early 60s doing sales, recruiting, and maintaining computer equipment that took up the entire basement of a building. He used to joke that he’d seen the basements of the best European capitals, and remained nostalgic for the days of catching a plane at the last minute and flying first class on the company card with a martini in his hand.

In 1978 Stan left the Bay Area and moved his family to Placerville. He and Diane started Drayus and Associates and worked together quite happily for the next 25 years. As well Stan joined Kiwanis where he enjoyed being an active member for 40 years.

One thing he loved in his free time was sailing his Hobie Cat up at Clearlake. He and Diane had a lakeside cabin up there that was the site of many happy gatherings of family and friends. He also loved playing pool and listening to Frank Sinatra music, especially the song, “Chicago”! In his later years he’d sing along any time that song came on.

It would be difficult to say here what a terrific guy he was. Stan loved life and loved people and was a true and genuine source of joy and humour for most anyone around him. He passed peacefully away on March 26, 2025, and leaves behind a loving wife, son, daughter, grandson, and many friends, cousins, nephews and nieces who will miss him dearly.

Patricia Jean (Tricia) Vogt Sept. 15, 1951 – April 11, 2025

Patricia Jean (Tricia) Vogt, aged 73, passed away peacefully at home in Camino, CA on April 11, 2025 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Upland, CA to Adelle and Bill Menzie, she later resided in San Diego and Hawaii before settling in Camino. Tricia raised four beautiful children in San Diego where she met her husband George Vogt in 1991. He came with his own son and they officially blended families together in 1993. Her highest priority was family. A cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Tricia touched many lives with her love, compassion, and kindness. Tricia was an accomplished professional photographer who truly enjoyed her work while remaining highly respected in her field. An avid lover of the outdoors, she was always up for an adventure. She especially loved the beach, birds, and going for walks with family and friends. Tricia is survived by her devoted, loving husband George, her sister Linda MacFarlane, her children Neil, Ryan, Katie, Elliot, Sean, her grandchildren Camila, Liam, Zane, Demi, Hank, Juniper and Delilah. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Earl Edward Kennedy Jr.

Oct. 21, 1937 – April 8, 2025

Earl Edward Kennedy Jr. passed on April 8, 2025 at the age of 88 at his home in Sacramento after a short illness. He was born in Sacramento on October 21, 1937 to Earl (Sr.) and Mildred Kennedy. He leaves his daughter Kellye of Folsom, CA and son Michael of Sacramento, grandson Dr. Eric Lee of Sacramento and granddaughter Mikala Kennedy of San Antonio, TX. He also leaves siblings, Janet Flannery and Nancy Kennedy both of Placerville, and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, former wife Barbara, and long time companions Karen Schaub and Doris Condos.

Earl graduated from El Dorado High School in Placerville where he excelled in baseball as a lefty pitcher. He attended American River College and Sacramento State studying engineering. He went to work for his father-in-law in the painting and drywall business and stayed in the construction field until his retirement.

Earl was an avid golfer for many years and played with Carmichael Elks Golf Club and other groups. He enjoyed weekly tournaments and golf vacations, but injuries in his later years kept him off the links. He was a fisherman since a boy when his grandparents took him out to various delta and Sacramento River locations. He carried this forward through his life and spent many happy times fishing and camping in the Sierra and foothills, and hooked a trophy sail fish in Mexico, which was mounted and proudly displayed in his home. He was an active member of the Jolly Hookers Fishing Club for many years and member of the Carmichael Elks. For a number of years he was a regular at the Cordova Senior Center senior’s exercise class where he made many friends and also attended Cordova Neighborhood Church. Private interment will be at Westwood Hills Memorial Park

Robert “Eddy” Garrett

Dec. 28, 1937 – April 4, 2025

Robert “Eddy” Garrett, loving husband for 65 years and 9 months to Barbara Coan Garrett; father of Kevan, Shari and pre-deceased Christopher and grandfather of three, passed away April 4th after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Ed graduated from EDHS in 1956. Memorial service will be May 4th at 1pm at the El Dorado Post 119, American Legion Hall, 4561 Greenstone Road, Placerville. In lieu of flowers please donate to Snowline Hospice.

Charles Roger Fallon

July 4, 1948 – Dec. 10, 2024

Family man, adventurer, metrologist, world traveler, avid sailor and gardener, Charles Fallon passed away in December 2024 from complications of cancer.

The following information was taken from EDSO reports:

NOTE: Due to changes made by the El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce to its online records, the reported age and gender of arrested people is no longer available.

April 10

6:24 p.m. Grand theft was reported at the post o ce on Post Street in El Dorado Hills.

7 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Cold Harbor Way in Cameron Park.

7:07 p.m. Grand theft was reported at the jail on Forni Road in Placerville.

7:08 p.m. Burglary was reported on Slug Gulch Road in Somerset.

April 11

10:22 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a pharmacy on Saratoga Way in El Dorado Hills.

10:49 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a grocery store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. An arrest was made.

11:07 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Silver Dove Way in El Dorado Hills.

1:26 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Canyon Valley Road in Diamond Springs.

2:03 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane/Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.

4:23 p.m. Burglary was reported on Deer Valley Road in Rescue.

4:51 p.m. Trespassing was reported at Meder Road/Carousel Lane in Shingle Springs.

8:50 p.m. Vandalism was reported at the jail on Forni Road in Placerville.

11:17 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

April 12

12:10 a.m. O cers booked into jail a person suspected of shoplifting and violating community supervision on Forni Road in Placerville. They were listed in custody.

12:27 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a motel on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.

12:37 p.m. O cers booked into jail a person suspected of possessing illegal substances, shoplifting and violating probation on Kaweah Court in Cameron Park. They were listed in custody.

12:55 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a restaurant on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

1:32 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Mojave Court in Cameron Park.

Charly was born in Philadelphia, but his traveling adventures began at the early age of four, when his family moved to Saudi Arabia where his father took a job as an oil driller with Aramco, the Arabian American Oil Company. Charly grew up climbing on oil rigs and exploring the Arabian desert. He went to Aramco-provided schools in Saudi Arabia and then to Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida, where he learned to sail.

In 10th grade, he went to boarding school in Leysin, Switzerland, where he met his future wife, Carol, and many other lifelong friends. After high school, at the height of the Vietnam war, Charly joined the Air Force and was sent to work on fighter jets in England. After eight years in the Air Force, during which he became a metrologist, married his first wife and started a family including his son, Christopher and daughter, Caroline, he moved back to Saudi Arabia to work for Northrop Grumman and then Aramco. In 1985, he moved to California, where he worked as Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s metrologist, running SMUD’s calibration lab at Rancho Seco for more than twenty years.

In 1997, Charly and Carol reunited at a high school reunion and were married in 1999. They owned a small farm in Apple Hill where they raised fruit, vegetables and nuts, accompanied by a menagerie of numerous dogs, Amelia the cat, several 4-H steers and Sparky the pig.

They traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, including barge trips in France and sailing adventures in Tahiti, the Marquesas, Tonga, Thailand, Belize, along the Mexican coast and San Francisco Bay.

After retiring from SMUD, Charly went to work for Agilent Technologies for several years, then retired for the second time. In 2014, Charly and Carol moved to Virginia to be near children and grandchildren and Charly took the final job of his career as the metrologist at Dahlgren Naval Base in King George, Virginia, where the couple enjoyed living on the Potomac River and sailing their 24-foot sailboat, Fairwinds.

Charly is survived by his wife, Carol, his children, Caroline and Christopher, his step-children, Leanna and Laurel, his grandchildren, Eli and Stella, and his sons-in-law, John and Jamie. Donations in his honor can be made to Streetdog Foundation in Memphis, TN.

8:14 p.m. Battery was reported on Chipmunk Trail in Georgetown.

8:43 p.m. O cers booked into jail a person suspected of possessing controlled substances, shoplifting, burglary and obstructing/resisting a peace o cer on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. They were listed in custody in lieu of $14,000 bail.

9:03 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Camerosa Circle in Cameron Park.

11:10 p.m.

April

3:04 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a store on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

4:14 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

7:13 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a thrift store on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.

8:20 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a store on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

April 13

1:14 a.m. A person allegedly drunk in public was reported at a hotel on Main Street in Georgetown.

3:37 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a car dealership on Mercedes Lane in El Dorado Hills.

7:36 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Elmer Street in Camino.

1:08 p.m. Battery was reported at a church on Lassen Lane in El Dorado Hills.

7:08 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a grocery store on Francisco Drive in El Dorado Hills.

Sister City visitors explore El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene Visitors from El Dorado County’s sister city, Warabi, Japan, came to El Dorado County this week to celebrate 50 years of friendship between the two communities. The eight visitors took part in activities in Placerville, Lake Tahoe and Folsom. A Sayonara Party is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Town Hall on Main Street in downtown Placerville. Top left, Japanese visitor Masaru Takamizara listens as American River Conservancy Development Director Melissa Lobach, left, tells Okei-san’s story near her gravesite at Wakamatsu Farm, the original site of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony established June 8, 1869, north of Placerville. Takamizawa served as the group’s interpreter in the weeklong cultural event. Top right, Masaro Kizawa places a carnation on Okei’s grave on April 28 when visitors from Warabi toured Wakamatsu Farm. Guests made the trek to Okie’s gravesite followed by a pizza party at the farmhouse. Above left, Japanese visitors and friends examine artwork at Gold Country Artists Gallery during a scavenger hunt in downtown Placerville. Left to right are People to People Chapter President Janet Sambucetti of Grass Valley, Tomio Miyano of Japan, Sid Bazett of Cameron Park, Masaro Kizawa of Japan and Shiva Frentzen of Cameron Park. Above right, the group gathers at Placerville’s Bellower to partake in the scavenger hunt designed by local high school students. Other events scheduled that day included stops along a beer trail, a visit to gardens at the Folsom Lake College – El Dorado Center and shopping in downtown Placerville.

other visitors

Residential burn permits required

Cal Fire News release

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Amador-El Dorado Unit has announced that residential burn permits are required effective May 1. Burn permits must be obtained online at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.

To acquire a permit, visit the website, watch a short educational video and apply. The process provides the necessary information needed to conduct the burn safely, while minimizing the chance for fire escape. Permits must be in possession either by printed copy or digitally. Permits are valid beginning May 1 of each year and require annual renewal. Permits are issued free of charge and allow for the burning of dry landscape vegetation (not household trash) that originates from the landowner’s property. Hazard reduction guidelines are listed on the permit and must be followed at all times. For burn permit

Tomio Miyano, above left, takes a photo of a hummingbird on the cover of a book in the window of The Bookery during the scavenger hunt he and

seven

from Warabi, Japan participated in on April 30. Above, right Yoko Takamizawa, right, looks over items listed in the scavenger hunt as her husband Masaru, left, looks on.

Homeless population aging up at center

Jo Carrerow Mountain Democrat correspondent

Homelessness in El Dorado County has shifted predominantly to an older age group, noted a presentation on the Navigation Center’s progression by Timalynn Jaynes, assistant director of the Health and Human Services Agency.

Caldor Fire victims became another topic during the presentation at the April 29 Board of Supervisors meeting, with District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo, saying there is finally relief in sight.

Jaynes said data has shown older client numbers have increased at the Navigation Center from year one to year two.

While client demographics have remained consistent with 67% male, 33% female and the average age of 50 from 2022-24, numbers rose from 47 to 57 homeless persons in the 55-64 age range and from 21 to 25 persons in the 65-plus group. By comparison, numbers decreased from 39 to 31 people in the 45-54 age group, and the younger age groups remained the same with eight from the 18-24 age group, 21 from the 25-34 age group and 41 who were ages 35-44.

“So it’s consistently an older population that’s in the Navigation Center,” Jaynes said.

“Why do you think that is?” Turnboo asked. “Is it because of senior housing? There’s not enough?”

“Yeah,” Jaynes answered.

Turnboo asked if small home communities for seniors had ever been considered.

“Is there anything we can do to help these seniors and look into that? Because other states are doing it,” he said.

Jaynes said she knows of a few senior housing projects in the works. HHSA partners with Planning and Building and its housing task force, meeting at least once monthly to coordinate and help people fill out housing applications, she added.

“In my opinion, and excuse me if

I get a little emotional, nobody over 65 should be homeless,” said Pollock Pines resident Leo Bennett Koshan during public comment. “When you’re homeless, there’s like a fourfold increase in mortality, and when you’re older it’s more like 16.”

In 2022, 511 persons in El Dorado County were experiencing homelessness, with 73 of them sheltered and 483 unsheltered.

In 2024 those figures were 284 persons in the county experienced homelessness with 149 experiencing sheltered homelessness and 135 experiencing unsheltered homelessness, according to the staff report.

Jaynes said her department is required to do a count of homeless persons the last two weeks of January.

“This year we chose to do the count on both slopes on the same day. So we had teams across the slopes,” Jaynes said.

Teams visit homeless encampments and places where homeless people are known to hang out. Once counting has concluded, numbers are verified and approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I know I see it’s reduced. Is that, a lot of it, because of the Caldor Fire victims?” Supervisor Turnboo asked, regarding victims of the 2021 fire when two-thirds of the community of Grizzly Flat had been destroyed.

Jaynes said she didn’t immediately know the answer.

Placerville resident Mandi Rodriguez reminded the board that Caldor Fire victims are still living in RVs. “It’s pretty sad, it’s pretty grim out there,” she said.

“Title 25 is moving forward.

(Planning and Building Director) Karen Garner signed a lot of people up. We’re going to have the groundbreaking on the first home. It’ll be on Memorial Day weekend,” Turnboo responded.

The Title 25 Limited Density Owner-Built Rural Dwellings Unit Plan helps the uninsured or underinsured folks who lost their

homes in the 2021 Caldor Fire build new homes.

“It’s a great thing that’s moving forward, especially with the people in Grizzly Flat who are living in RVs, and especially when they’re living it on a fixed income,” Turnboo added.

“We have all the engineered plans,” he continued. “You know, they don’t have to pay for anything, all the permit fees are waived.”

From October 2024 through Jan. 31, 2025, data tracking within the county’s Navigation Center recorded 210 visits with participants that regarded income maximization, 156 referrals to behavioral health, 411 meetings regarding document readiness, 89 needing benefit assistance, 42 regarding an employment plan, 65 for a housing plan, 316 for general case management and 84 for life skills classes. From February 2023 to February 2024, there were 21 clients inside the Navigation Center who were employed.

Operating funds were sourced from state and federal grants amounting to more than $6.6 million. Two of the grants awarded during COVID that equal nearly $3.8 million have been spent, as well as portions of the other three grants. The grants went toward operations, construction and other homeless services.

“And then there’s also a General Fund cost of $16,000 of negative interest and then $113,160 that is for utilities,” Jaynes added.

Volunteers of America provides staffing, including a director, intake supervisor, four case managers, lead support staff and support staff. Upper Room Dining Hall provides meals — continental breakfast, bagged lunch and hot dinner — which are prepared off-site and delivered each day.

The average monthly operating cost for the shelter is $188,717, which is approximately $3,145 per client per month or $105 per day.

That includes VOA, Upper Room and the HHSA staff.

“Just to confirm, roughly $140,000 in General Fund contribution, but the majority of that’s utilities?”

District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp asked.

“Correct,” Jaynes answered.

“We’re also expending money on camera systems that we didn’t have before, on security officers that we didn’t have to before,” District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin said.

Jaynes said annual expenses are $200,000-$250,000 for the security guards the patrol the El Dorado County Government Center. She didn’t have information on the cost for security cameras or grounds maintenance staff, which is also funded by the county.

“I don’t want that to be forgotten in the conversation,” Parlin added.

“But I think it’s the right thing to do. We needed to do it.”

Navigation Center opportunities El Dorado Opportunity Knocks, the Continuum of Care in El Dorado County, developed a 2022 strategic plan with four goals: stop homelessness before it begins; increase access to housing for all El Dorado County residents; increase access to homeless emergency response services; partner across El Dorado County to build collective solutions.

“So the opening of the Navigation Center in 2023 does meet the goal No. 3 to increase access to homeless emergency response services,” Jaynes said.

Case managers at the Navigation Center work through VOA.

“They work with all participants upon entry to develop an individual service plan,” she explained. Other services provided include assistance with a housing assessment, benefit enrollment, transportation, employment plans, referrals to behavioral health and income maximization.

Income maximization is applying for entitlement programs that they may be eligible for such as retirement, Social Security retirement, SSI and General Assistance.

Classes are offered in life skills development which include Motivation for Recovery, Relapse Prevention Series, Self Care, Paying Bills, Identity Theft, Housing: Renting vs. Leasing, and Ready to Rent Series.

Residents are only allowed five nights out, with a 9 p.m. curfew, unless they have good reasons such as working or needing to be with a family member. But this would have to be approved ahead of time, Jaynes said.

Behavioral health interventions are available through County Behavioral Health staff and Substance Use Disorder Services treatment options, Community Health Behavioral Health, weekly church services at the Navigation Center and NAMI Clubhouse.

Weekly support groups are available, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, bible study and a visiting Marshall Hospital nurse. Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held monthly.

From 2024-25, there were 224 referrals to the Navigation Center, including 188 law enforcement referrals and 36 Continuum of Care referrals. Of these, 183 were unduplicated. There are 56 beds dedicated to law enforcement referrals and there are six beds dedicated to CoC referrals, Jaynes said.

Of those admitted into the center, there were 166 from the west slope and 17 from South Lake Tahoe. After referral to HHSA, the agency organizes admittance into the Navigation Center, including putting the homeless person on a wait list if the beds are full.

“Nobody can walk into the center and say, ‘I want to be admitted,’” Jaynes said. “It has to go through HHSA workers.”

“What do you do after you’ve got the social worker meeting the client and we can’t get them in? Do you place them in a hotel or return them to an illegal encampment?”

Diamond Springs resident Kris Payne asked.

Jaynes said one option would be placement in a hotel.

Entry typically takes two or three hours in which the person is given a clean set of clothing, with clothing they’re wearing sent to be cleaned. Two tubs of personal property are allowed, which is also cleaned and sorted. The case manager meets with the person, going over the housing assessment to develop the individual service plan.

Throughout the process, positive reinforcement is key, according to Jaynes.

“Motivational interviewing inspires clients to take advantage of the service and better their lives,” she said.

Residents then meet weekly to review their individual service plan and complete activities by specific due dates.

Clients receive a non-engagement n See HOMELESS, page A8

executive director of the West Slope Foundation; Nick Busse, veteran public speaker advocating for veterans; Tenessa Audette, Redding city council member and former mayor; Tamara Wallace, mayor of South Lake Tahoe; Angela Webb, CEO of Arrive Alive California Inc.; Denise Sweeney, El Dorado County

Council; and Nicolle Young, Moms for

set to begin in December.

The federal and local complaints maintain Manasrah violated victims’ 14th Amendment right to bodily integrity, that EDCOE is liable for maintaining a policy of inadequate supervision, that supervisory employees failed to monitor Manasrah and that EDCOE and employees violated Title lX.

“(EDCOE) It knew that Jane Doe was vulnerable to sexual abuse because of her disability. And it recognized in its own written policies that failing to install surveillance systems such as video recording and global positioning monitoring (GPS) in its vans would undermine students’ safety,” the newest complaint reads. “Despite knowing these risks, EDCOE completely failed to surveil or monitor Manasrah’s one-on-one, off-campus drives with Jane Doe.”

The Jane Doe in the federal case is described as a “22-year-old intellectually disabled woman (at the time of the alleged assault) with the cognitive functioning of a 10- to 12-year-old child.” She lived in a rural area of El Dorado County and was the last person Manasrah dropped off, the complaint notes.

The alleged rape occurred on or about Nov. 28, 2022.

“Manasrah dropped her off at her home an hour later than scheduled. He knew that EDCOE would not notice because they were not monitoring him,” the complaint reads. “Jane Doe did not immediately report the rape because he threatened her to stay quiet, and she did not fully understand the wrongfulness of what had happened to her due to her

Program Continued from A1

board meeting.

These moves will bring the county to a 97% cost recovery in a program that has been costing the county $170 per day per participant.

The General Fund cost of the program has increased 60% since fiscal year 2019-20, with a budgeted net county cost of $830,000 in the current year, Hennike said.

Approximately 71% of current members who responded to a staff survey said that they would continue to participate if the rate increase was spread over three years. Hennike said the three-year cost is comparable to private agencies, but some public agencies in Sacramento are closer to the year one rates.

“We have kind of surveyed some other programs that provide similar services, for instance a private program that is very similar to ours that would be operating in the region is about the same as the year three cost currently, if someone goes every day,” Hennike said.

Staff will return to the board soon to adopt the new fees.

Hennike’s second recommendation was to combine the El Dorado Hills and Placerville senior day care sites, which she said won’t lower current capacity.

“We hope to get the Placerville facility up to 35 participants up there, which is more than we’re currently serving at both sites,” she said.

An average of 7.5 participants per day attend senior day care in El Dorado Hills. Pre-pandemic the count was 25 per day. The program has cited difficulty hiring and keeping staff, compared to the Placerville location.

Ceasing operations at the El Dorado Hills facility and combining with the Placerville facility, along with the increase in rates, will result in a General Fund cost savings of $440,864. Placerville offers a better configuration for day care use, Hennike explained, plus it’s centrally located and, with established staff, there are plans to increase membership to 35 per day, with a capacity of up to 60.

“So if these two recommendations are adopted, it would be saving almost half a million dollars in General Fund next year without really reducing capacity at all,” she concluded.

Only a portion of the Gilmore Senior Center in El Dorado Hills site is used for senior day care; removing the program there would not affect other activities at the facility, Hennike added.

Services that will remain in El Dorado Hills include: El Dorado Hills Community Service District operations and activities; Health

disability.”

Parties are awaiting discovery in the federal case, said Qureshi Law firm lawyer Will Horowitz.

The DA’s criminal case against Manasrah, People v. Tarik Manasrah, was originally scheduled for trial in March, but the date was vacated. Trial setting hearings are ongoing to determine a new date for those proceedings. Manasrah remains in custody at the El Dorado County Jail.

The Mountain Democrat reached out to EDCOE for comment but did not get a response as of press time. After charges were initially filed against Manasrah, an EDCOE representative shared the following statement:

“The El Dorado County Office of Education is deeply saddened by the serious and disturbing allegations,” an EDCOE representative states. “The safety and well-being of our students are paramount priorities for EDCOE. Any allegations of misconduct are taken extremely seriously. It is imperative to clarify that EDCOE was not made aware of the allegations until an arrest was made by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 4, 2023. Since the time of the arrest, EDCOE has cooperated fully with the investigation.

“While we must respect the ongoing legal process and refrain from commenting on specific details of the case, we want to assure our community that we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and providing support to those affected. We will continue to offer our full cooperation with law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted.”

DENTAL Insurance

and Human Services Agency Senior Nutrition congregate dining site; and Family Caregiver Support Program caregiver series.

Transportation will be available to the Placerville site through El Dorado Transit, Principal Management Analyst Emma Owens said.

“We really have worked to figure out all the details of arranging this plan,” she told supervisors, explaining transportation will be done through bus coordination or the My Ride Program.

“(With) the My Ride Program … neighbors or friends or other people transport the seniors and it helps pay for transportation services,” Owens explained.

The My Ride Program is a reimbursement program available through El Dorado Transit which helps seniors older than 60, veterans or disabled persons of El Dorado County (excluding the Tahoe Basin) reimburse drivers for mileage, with riders traveling for free, according to eldoradotransit.com.

Speaking at the April 22 meeting, El Dorado Hills resident Tara McCann said she felt like they were pitting El Dorado Hills against other districts.

“No wonder the groundswell for cityhood is so strong,” McCann said. “This is just not sustainable.”

She claimed there is not enough outreach to El Dorado Hills, adding, “The board is constantly take take take from El Dorado Hills, and push all the development in here.”

Debbie Manning, President and CEO of El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce, also worried about the elimination of services in EDH. “We know there’s a waiting list. Is there a waiting list in Placerville?” Manning asked. “Once something is gone … once again El Dorado Hills will get the short end of the stick.”

“It’s a shame to have to close EDH senior day care. The waitlist was really the problem,” added Placerville resident Kathi Lishman. “(There) should have been more effort to hire qualified employees.”

District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin suggested an endowment for senior services program costs.

“There might be some folks that have greatly appreciated the services and would want to contribute to that,” she said.

Supervisor Brian Veerkamp agreed, suggesting the county print out informational sheets for potential donors.

Parlin and Veerkamp joined Supervisors Brook Laine, Greg Ferrero and George Turnboo in supporting staff’s proposal to increase fees and combine the senior day care sites.

OPINION

California Commentary

Sales tax increases slam middle class

From the perspective of taxpayers, last month was most notable for the April 15 deadline for filing state and local income tax returns.

But just two weeks earlier, many California consumers also had the privilege of paying higher sales taxes.

Although Californians pay sales taxes daily on their retail purchases, it can get a little complicated. For example, it can be imposed on purchases from out-of-state companies as anyone who shops on Amazon is aware. Also, some essential goods are exempt such as most groceries and prescription drugs.

Forty-five states impose some sort of sales tax. Nationally, they make up 32% of state tax collections and 13% of local tax collections. From an economic perspective, sales taxes are considered more pro-growth than income taxes. But they are also viewed as regressive because low- and middleincome taxpayers spend a higher proportion of their income on taxable goods.

At 7.25%, California has the highest state sales tax rate in America. But that is just the beginning. Local governments are permitted to levy additional sales taxes and, in theory, the combined rate of the additional local taxes should not exceed 2%. However, some local governments have been allowed to go even higher via special “tax authorization” legislation.

The multitude of higher sales taxes imposed throughout California on April 1 were the result of local ballot measures on last November’s ballot. Of the 115 sales tax increase measures, 90 passed and 25 failed.

Under Proposition 13, special taxes (taxes imposed for a specific purpose) require a two-thirds vote. Of those special local sales taxes, six passed and eight failed.

Local sales taxes for general, not special, purposes made up most of the proposals last November; 80 of those passed and 16 were rejected, failing to clear 50%.

There was also one special tax proposal which, as noted above, should have required a two-thirds vote. Instead, proponents attempted to exploit the infamous Upland loophole which weakened Prop. 13’s requirement. Under that theory, the two-thirds vote requirement would not apply to a special tax placed on the ballot by a “citizen’s initiative.” But, in a bit of poetic justice, the tax failed to get even a majority vote.

With California’s across-the-board high tax rates, it may seem surprising that so many sales tax proposals passed. There may be a few reasons for this.

First, while state-wide tax hikes rarely pass, voters may have more trust in their local governments. But the high rate of passage is also due to how the ballot process is manipulated. Local governments bend over backward to keep tax hike proposals obscured until the last moment hoping that opposition won’t have time to coalesce. General tax increase proposals will often highlight “essential government services” like police

■ See COUPAL, page A7

Letters to the Editor

Support Goldie’s Act

EDITOR:

Iam writing in hopes to share information with our community about Goldie’s Act.

Goldie’s Act, named after a golden retriever who was left to su er and die at a USDA licensed puppy mill in Iowa, would require the USDA to conduct more frequent and meaningful inspections, provide lifesaving intervention for su ering animals, issue penalties for violations and communicate with local law enforcement to address cruelty and neglect.

Goldie’s Act is critical legislation that would ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture is doing its job to protect animals in federally regulated animal businesses, like cruel puppy mills. The USDA provides licenses to people and entities who breed or house dogs, cats and other animals for commercial use, and the USDA is supposed to protect the animals kept in these facilities. Far too often, the agency turns a blind eye to blatant cruelty and su ering.

To ensure that this is corrected, Congress must pass Goldie’s Act. Goldie’s Act is the lifeline that

animals in commercial facilities need. I hope you will co-sponsor and support Goldie’s Act.

Who are you calling Bozo?

EDITOR:

Ifor one am sick of the endless ranting and nonsensical clap trap Larry Weitzman writes in his articles. In the Aril 16 issue he goes on and on, railing against the Democratic candidates because he apparently feels they are disrespectful of Trump’s total disregard for the democracy he was elected to defend, protect and serve.

To blame Tim Walz or any person other than Donald J. Trump for the mess Tesla finds itself in is ridiculous. It was Trump who initiated the tari war and it was Musk who has been ri ing through government agencies and firing people without the minimum knowledge of their functions. Their irresponsible actions have caused

El Dorado County borrowing from Peter to pay Paul

If your family took a break from paying into retirement, used up federal relief and scraped together spare change from the couch just to pay monthly bills — would you call that stable? That’s what El Dorado County is doing with its soon-to-beadopted budget, and it’s not sustainable. To close the gap in a structurally unbalanced budget, the county is relying on $12.6 million in one-time funds. This patchwork includes:

• A retiree health rate holiday that suspends contributions to retiree health benefits for six months of FY 2023–24 and all of FY 2024–25.

• Use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for short-term community

investments, such as park improvements and a navigation center.

• Other temporary financial sources with no long-term replacement. While these maneuvers free up money now, they also defer obligations to future budgets. These are not savings; they’re IOUs. And with core revenues like property tax growth slowing, the road ahead only gets bumpier. In the case of the retiree health rate holiday, departments are not required to repay the suspended contributions. The county is instead drawing from the Retiree Health Fund balance to cover the costs. While this avoids creating a new repayment obligation, it also drains reserves set aside for

El Dorado County can’t a ord to wait until the IOUs come due. A sustainable budget isn’t built on skipping obligations; it’s built on discipline and

future retiree healthcare needs. That may mean higher costs down the road to keep the program solvent. At the same time, costs keep rising, especially from obligations created by County Charter Section 504. Section 504 was originally passed by voters in 1995 to ensure deputy sheri s received competitive salaries. Over time, however, it expanded to include other high-ranking positions — such as the chief administrative o cer, county counsel and public defender — resulting in automatic salary increases tied to external agency averages, regardless of the county’s financial condition. What began as a policy to attract and retain law enforcement o cers

has become a runaway cost escalator. These increases are locked in by ordinance and can’t be stopped without voter action. And it’s not just salaries. County sta have acknowledged that rising costs in insurance premiums, retirement contributions, utilities and other operating expenses are also driving the budget higher. These pressures are real — but so are the questions taxpayers deserve to have answered. Have alternative benefit providers been explored? Have health insurance and liability coverage plans been competitively shopped to ensure taxpayers are getting the best value?

KAREN SAMBOY El Dorado Hills

JON COUPAL

Letters Continued from A6 endless su ering for millions of people. These two despicable, would-be despots have no respect for the people of this nation who have put these institutions in place to safeguard our government and our rights. They have destroyed countless lives and caused fear and anxiety in the poor and vulnerable members of our society. Their actions are indefensible and irresponsible.

The Bozo in this article appears to be its author. GRETA ANDERSSON Placerville

Clearing up a few

things

EDITOR:

George Lloyd’s recent so-called free speech letter can be broken down to three parts. First the masked girl getting arrested — I don’t know how one can oppose her arrest without having a clue as to the charges.

The second part of Mr. Lloyd’s letter refers to the arrest as prep for deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a promoter of Jewish hatred from Syria. He is not a citizen and he is here on an educational guest visa. As a guest he can be deported at will. And stirring up anti Jewish hate as we have seen on campus after campus is a good way for a guest to be invited to leave.

The third and by far the most important deception of Mr. Lloyd’s letter is acting like the Palestinians in Gaza and Hamas are two di erent entities. In reality they are one and the same as Hamas is the democratically elected leader of the

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

Palestinians in Gaza. Many people also talk of Palestinians being able to stay or return home. The problem there is that there never was a Palestinian state.

Before Israel, Palestinians were disbursed between Egypt and Jordan neither one of which wanted them. Before that the area where Palestinians lived was part of the Ottoman Empire. So to those who scream that Israel was created, so was the idea of a Palestinian state, which had never before existed.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

Religious freedom EDITOR:

We are all so lucky to live in a country that honors the freedom to worship as we choose: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and so on. This religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution gives each of us a safety net to be who we are and helps to prevent violence and hate. It also generates a feeling of patriotism and love for our great country that guarantees this freedom.

However, recently the Department of Veterans A airs established a task force to investigate employee reports of alleged anti-Christian bias. This is wrong. Religion should stay out of the workplace.

The existence of such a task force creates many questions, such as: will it also be investigating,

anti-Muslim bias or anti-Jewish bias? Will co-workers be pressured to “snitch” on each other, will people be reprimanded for private comments? Is the administration trying to say that only Christianity counts in America?

Freedom of religion is not a Republican, Democrat, Independent nor any other political party thing; it belongs to all of us. This e ort is an attempt to further divide us and create confusion as well as threaten employees. If you disagree with the existence of this task force call or write to your congressmen. We need to stand up for the freedoms given to us in the Constitution.

JEANNETTE WILSON Placerville

Coupal

Continued from A6

and fire protection. But the fine print reveals that the revenue can be used “for any lawful purpose” including administrative costs, pensions and travel. Often, proponents of sales tax hikes are deliberately bad at math. If an additional half cent sales tax is added to an 8% sales tax, that’s an increase of over 6%, not a half percent.

California taxpayers may be justifiably focused on California’s burdensome income taxes and, notwithstanding Prop. 13, California is still a high property tax state. But it would be a mistake to acquiesce to higher sales taxes without a great deal of scrutiny.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Tannenbaum Continued from A6

Are departmental budgets being reviewed for outdated or redundant expenditures?

This strategy may balance a spreadsheet today, but it sets the stage for a deeper hole tomorrow. It’s classic “kicking the can down the road” —delaying hard choices while fiscal risks grow.

The El Dorado County Taxpayers Association believes residents deserve better. That starts with a public, five-year fiscal recovery plan — a real roadmap to reduce dependency on one-time fixes and rebuild long-term sustainability. This should include cost containment, smarter labor policy and a realistic view of service levels.

El Dorado County can’t a ord to wait until the IOUs come due. A sustainable budget isn’t built on skipping obligations; it’s built on discipline and forward-thinking leadership.

Let’s stop borrowing from tomorrow to pay for today. It’s time to plan ahead.

Lee Tannenbaum is president of the El Dorado County Taxpayers Association.

Announcements

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

AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

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

CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS

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

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheri ’s o ce, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

PLAY CRIBBAGE Join the Gold Country Cribbers 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452. We Play - We Teach - We Have Fun. Wednesdays 4:00 PM. Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the

month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information. GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513

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

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

warning if they haven’t checked in for three weeks or are not completing activities. Activities could be something like obtaining a driver’s license.

Assignments are reassigned, but if they continue non-engagement, clients are exited from the program. If they exit on good terms, VOA will help with transportation depending on where they would like to go, Jaynes said.

VOA sends out emails every morning to various agencies involved containing information on how many have been exited, but do not give identifying information.

“If they consent to working with law enforcement, then we can tell law enforcement this is who was exited,” Jaynes said, adding that if the person is determined to be harmful to themselves or others, the authorities are called.

Veerkamp asked, “But if they are a felon or have a criminal record, can that be shared with SO or PD?”

“Well, not specifically shared,” Jaynes said. “But the majority of the referrals are coming from law enforcement. So they’ve had encounters.”

Officers are at the shelter daily, too, she added.

Staff work with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and Placerville Police Department to determine where encampments are and outreach that needs to be done.

There has been a rise in bed use at the center, with 84% utilization from 2023-24 and 93% from 2024-

Permits

Continued from A3 questions, call (530) 644-2345 for assistance.

Property owners conducting residential debris burns must contact the local Air Quality Management District to determine what permit requirements or burning restrictions apply in their area and must always call to ensure burn day status. For El Dorado County call (530) 621-5897. As a reminder, the use of a burn barrel is illegal in all counties. For alternatives to burning the piles check out the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council website at edcfiresafe.org for

25. Average length of stay is down 30% over the prior year, there’s been a 55% increase in exits to permanent housing and exits due to behavior violations were down 10% over last year, according to the presentation.

Of the 176 exits in the last year, 57 (32%) were exited due to behavior violations, five (3%) were exited to substance abuse treatment and 73 (41%) were exited due to excessive nights out.

A total of 62 (35%) have been exited into permanent housing situations.

“The state average exit to permanent housing is 26% for all programs, so I think we’re doing pretty good,” Jaynes said.

One success story Jaynes cited was when a person lost their housing due to the person they rented a room from being arrested. It only took a month for the Navigation Center team to find them housing.

“It was a senior with moderate stable income, but it’s low income,” Jaynes said.

“I don’t think we can dispute the good work that’s going on and the help that those that want to be helped are receiving,” Veerkamp said. “I know we can do more, but you can’t help those who don’t want to help themselves.”

Homeless residents within El Dorado County can dial 211, a 24/7 hotline offering support and resources. Additionally, the El Dorado County Housing Authority can be contacted at edcha@edcgov. us for housing services.

details on available programs.

All burn piles must have a minimum 10-foot clearance to bare mineral soil in every direction. Piles should be no larger than 4 feet in diameter and a shovel and an adequate water source must be on hand. An adult must always be present during burning. Failure to follow these basic safety precautions may result in a citation and fines.

For tips and information on residential landscape debris burning safety visit readyforwildfire.org/ permits/burn-permit-information.

MEET

Dr. Randy Davey, D.D.S.

Dr. Davey and the team at Cameron Park Dental Care are thrilled to welcome you. We want you to feel comfortable and confident in your 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

close again next week as around 50 yards of concrete will be pumped on top of the deck surface. A ribbon cutting is planned on May 31 to officially open the overcrossing.

The project features almost 600 feet of a mechanically stabilized

1:34

Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

1:42 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Campbell Circle in Rescue.

2:16 p.m. Battery was reported on Sly Park Road in Placerville.

earth retaining wall section, two precast concrete girder spans totaling 185 feet and a steel truss bridge center span of 180 feet over the roadway. Work was competed by Westcon Construction Corp. of Newcastle.

2:45 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a school on Pine Street in Pollock Pines.

3:13 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Chatee Lane/Cherokee Road in Rescue.

4:17 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Center View Drive in Pollock Pines.

5:01 p.m. Battery was reported at a restaurant on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.

5:31 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a smoke shop on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.

• Preventative Care

• Delta Dental Providers

There is no time like the present!

Your beautiful smiles starts today!

Call or visit

consultants for the major update,” DOT Director Rafael Martinez wrote in a memo to county supervisors.

The error resulted in a lower housing baseline being used in the update’s nexus study, which is used to calculate the fees.

“This had an effect on the number of housing units available in the El Dorado Hills Community Region and resulted in the nexus study allocating a larger number of additional housing units to adjacent community regions further up the hill,” Martinez explains in his letter. “Staff believes that, had this error not occurred, the nexus study would have likely concluded that more capacity exists in El Dorado Hills than what was the major update considered in its subsequent analyses. The end result is that the total cost for the required improvement projects in the TIF program was spread amongst fewer new housing units, which resulted in higher fees across all zones.”

The county has continued to collect the Traffic Impact Fees as is, Martinez told the Mountain Democrat, so as not to hold up and projects. Once the new fees are calculated, county staff will reach out to those who paid “and let them know if they have to pay more ... or if they will get a refund.”

So far, about 20 applicants have moved forward with projects and paid the fees since Feb. 1, Martinez shared. A notice in Building C advises applicants that there could be changes. The revised fees will go into effect Aug. 9, at the earliest, he added, so in the meantime all applicants will pay using the current schedule.

Consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates prepared the analysis for the county and confirmed the discrepancy. Consultant and county staff are now reanalyzing baseline numbers for residential and nonresidential uses to reallocate development in the community regions. That data will then be used in a revised nexus study needed to produce an updated fee schedule, according to Martinez.

DOT staff plans to bring the matter back to the Board of Supervisors on May 20 to make revisions to the major update based on new numbers and on June 10 they will have the opportunity to adopt the revised fee schedule, which takes effect 60 days

after adoption.

“Staff anticipates that fees in Zone C will come down from their current levels and that fees in Zones A and B may see a slight adjustment,” the DOT director notes in his memo.

Zone C covers El Dorado Hills. Zone B follows the Highway 50 corridor from Cameron Park to Placerville and Zone A encompasses the rest of El Dorado County’s western slope.

News of the error, sparked some harsh responses from county officials and the public.

Auditor-Controller Joe Harn, in correspondence shared with the Mountain Democrat, calls the fees “not legally defendable” and worried the county was inviting another lawsuit. He also suggested the high fees as presented could scare away economic opportunities.

“Anyone thinking of starting a business who goes to the website will see the higher, unlawful fee,” the auditor states. “The county maybe scaring away potential employers and tax generators. This is a self-inflicted wound to the county’s economic development goals and should be corrected immediately.”

Kevin Nagle, El Dorado Hills resident and president of The Nagle Company, which owns EDH Town Center, said the county has got to do a better job at sharing information with the public. “Transparency is a hallmark of sound governance,” he said. “Errors occur at times but delaying or avoiding and not restating the actual facts is a slap in the face to our taxpayers and to those of us who are trying to expand our business community in order to compete with surrounding regions. It is totally unacceptable.”

Martinez said he understands the frustrations. The error, he noted came about due to one error in a 50-pluspage spreadsheet.

“One cell has a plus instead of a minus,” he told the Mountain a mistake.”

He said the consultant is “doing good by the county” — admitting to the error and working to provide the correct information at no additional cost. Steps to prevent a mistake like this moving forward include additional contract language setting up meetings between DOT staff and the consultant to review data earlier in the update process.

Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

Workers prepare to attach the structure to the base of the El Dorado Trail overcrossing on Missouri Flat Road.

apartment complex on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

p.m. Burglary to a vehicle was reported at an apartment complex on Valley View

Placerville Speedway hosts two big nights of racing

Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway

One of the most anticipated double headers of the Placerville Speedway season converges this Friday and Saturday, when Berco Redwood presents the $8,000-to-win Nor*Cal Posse Shootout/ Legends Weekend.

The upcoming event is the first of two multi-night weekends for winged sprint cars during the month of May at Placerville Speedway.

The Nor*Cal Posse Shootout has featured no shortage of excitement over the last several years. The Winged 360 Sprint Car portion this Friday, May 2, will hand out $5,000-to-win, while Saturday’s finale on May 3 dishes out a solid $8,000-to-win.

Sharing the stage each night will be the USCS Non-Winged Sprint Cars, as they make their Placerville Speedway debut. It marks rounds five and six on the season for the Ultimate Sprint Cars, which features both 410s and 360s.

Main event winners so far this season with USCS have included Jake Andreotti, Tanner Carrick, Ricky Lewis and most recently Brody Fuson. The series also returns in July as part of the Triple Crown event on Independence Day Weekend.

“The Nor*Cal Posse Shootout presented by Berco Redwood is an event that we continue to try and build each season,” commented Placerville Speedway Promoter Scott Russell. “I know that we’d like to see it become one of the must attend shows in California and hopefully this new May date will help in that regard. Winged Sprint Cars and the USCS Non-Winged Sprinters should give fans an outstanding show.”

The Nor*Cal Posse Shootout presented by Berco Redwood is entering its seventh edition at the high-banked quarter mile. Previous winners include Cory Eliason, Sean Becker, Rico Abreu, Shane Golobic, Tanner Carrick and Australian Jock Goodyer, who snagged the victory last year.

The double header also showcases the rich history of Placerville Speedway like everyone has come to love during Legends Weekend. Several names from the days gone by

will be in attendance with numerous vintage cars on display. The restored machines will also take some laps on the red clay for old times’ sake.

Tickets and details

Grandstand seating is General Admission at the Nor*Cal Posse Shootout/ Legends Weekend presented by Berco Redwood, except for the reserved seats allocated to season ticket holders that are marked. Tickets can be bought at the gate on race day or online.

Tickets for Friday, May 2, can be purchased at eventsprout.com/ event/psr050225.

Tickets for Saturday, May 3, can be purchased at eventsprout.com/ event/psr050325.

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

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

UPCOMING EVENT

Saturday, May 10: Anrak Night at the Races feasturing Thompson’s Dealerships Winged 360 Sprint Cars, Red Hawk Resort + Casino Pure Stocks, Kings Meats Ltd. Late Models and BCRA Lightning Sprints.

Tickets available for Hangtown Motocross Classic

News release

No race is like it in California; the 56th annual Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic is back at Prairie City State Recreation Park with the pros racing on Saturday, May 31.

It‘s not just any motocross race, but the oldest and one of the most coveted trophies on the 11-race Pro Motocross Outdoor Championship Series. As host to professional motocross racing since 1968, the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club has developed the Hangtown Classic into the crown jewel of the series, hosting the largest crowds of the season, year in and year out. Practice and time qualifications will be in the morning; opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. and two motos each for

COMICS

the 250cc and 450cc classes — a full action-packed day from sun-up to sun-down.

To celebrate the 56th annual Hangtown Classic, the Pro Pits will be open in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon to everyone for $25. Go online at hangtownmx.com and grab a Pro Pit passes to see all the riders.

To get tickets and full race information about the Hangtown Motocross Classic, go to hangtownmx. com and click on tickets. With many different ticket choices to choose from, and some with limited seating, make the selection online and beat the rush.

The 56th annual Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic will be held at at the Prairie City SVRA Park, 13300 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Life’s unpredictability requires you to establish more flexibility in your routine. You have duties and personal endeavors to accommodate. Utilize tools like planners or digital apps to organize tasks in this period of self-discovery and growth.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Conversation is not just about sharing what you already know but also about discovering what’s going on in your own mind. It’s not just expression; it’s exploration. Thoughts will bubble up from deeper layers of your mind.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). New communities and circles intrigue you. You won’t know from the storefront what this is all about; you have to step inside and feel the energy. A dozen interactions will tell you everything you need to know.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Success is in the approach. If you overthink, you’ll be paralyzed with options, and if you underthink, you could take the wrong action. You’ll find yourself in the Goldilocks zone, inclined to give the perfect amount of attention to the task.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). No one knows you like the insiders, and you’re the number one insider. Honor this by setting boundaries regarding the advice you receive. Communicate your preferences before you get an influx of unsolicited recommendations from the well-meaning outsiders who couldn’t possibly know better than you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Self-reflection has been a valuable tool in your journey, allowing you to navigate challenges and recognize your own strengths. There’s a point at which reflection just becomes a paralyzing overthinking that is not helpful. Self-awareness is crucial to keep pushing things forward.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re a fan favorite, radiating grace and selflessly caring for your friends. Your sweetness and smiles come easily because, right now, you feel lucky and trouble-free. Enjoy this moment of harmony and take in every bit of peaceful energy while you can.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Don’t forget about the SMART goals: Ensure your objectives are Specific, Measurable,

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

e spacious Independent Living townhomes at Ponté Palmero mean you can continue your independent lifestyle with room to entertain friends and access to all the life-enriching community services and amenities we o er.

Floor plans up to 1,482 square feet | Private, attached garage | Full kitchen | In-suite laundry

You can continue to cook and entertain in your own home, or enjoy our chef-prepared meals in the community dining room with friends. We take away the worry of housekeeping and home maintenance, and provide social opportunities all month long. You can relax and spend your days with friends and family, and doing the things you enjoy most.

INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES FEATURES

• Kitchen with full-size appliances and granite counters

• Private patio

• Attached garage

• In-home washer and dryer

• High ceilings

• Housekeeping, laundry, and trash service

• Basic cable and utilities included

• Pets welcome

COMMUNITY SERVICES & AMENITIES

• Restaurant-style dining

• Swimming pool, hot tub, and outdoor grills

• Clubhouse and tness center

• Library and full-service beauty salon

• Activities, clubs, outings, and celebrations

• Transportation services

• 24-hour emergency maintenance

• Gated electronic entrance

We also o er Assisted Living Villas & Memory Care apartments for a full continuum of care.

PROSPECTING

IN THE KNOW

May 2

The Placerville Shakespeare Club will host its Giant Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the clubhouse on 2940 Bedford Ave. New items will be put out daily. For more information visit placervilleshakespeare.com.

The El Dorado County Fairgrounds will host the Placerville Home & Garden Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 2-4. For more information visit placervillehomeshow.com.

The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville will host an All Ages Queer Community Social from 4-7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host a Business Connections Mixer and Anniversary Party from 5-8 p.m. at Alchemy in El Dorado Hills. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

The Rescue Community Center will host Friday Night Out from 5-9 p.m. at the Rescue Community Center. For tickets and more information visit rescuecommunitycenter.com.

The El Dorado High School Medical Arts Program is putting on a Senior Citizen Prom for seniors in the community from 5-7:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room at El Dorado High School. The event is free to anyone over 60 years old. The theme is “Hollywood.” Guests can dress up according to the theme, however, any appropriate attire is ne. Food and drink will be provided, there will also be a DJ, dancing, a photo booth and awards for attendees. Contact teacher, Kevin Potter kmpotter@ eduhsd.k12.ca.us for more information.

The City Theatre at Sacramento City College presents “She Kills Monsters” at 7:30 p.m. The show continues through May 18. For more information visit citytheatre.net.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “The Sunshine Boys” at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 1. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom presents We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered starring Michelle Berting Brett at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter. net or call (916) 608-6888.

May 3

The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 512 will host its famous pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. at the Placerville Airport, 3501 Airport Road. Proceeds go to the Sunny Atkin Scholarship Fund for students of aeronautical related studies.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host the Community Clean Up Day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to EDH residents, $20 a load to non residents. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

The Placerville Shakespeare Club will host a Spring Plant Sale, 8:30-11 a.m. in front of the clubhouse at 2940 Bedford Ave. For more information visit placervilleshakespeare.com.

Don’t wait to see ‘Godot’

Odin Rasco Mountain Democrat correspondent

At first, before the play begins, there is just the tree, a lonely, leafless thing, occupying space in what is otherwise a void; a scene waiting for a story. After the house lights have dimmed and the stage lights up, the story, pulled hither and thither by the conversation of the shabbily-dressed Vladimir and Estragon, begins as the pair await Godot. Though Godot never arrives — spoiler warning, in case you haven’t seen or read or heard about Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece since its 1953 premiere — the play still finds its ending, and now, in the final weeks of rehearsal, what the cast and crew of The Stage at Burke Junction’s production of “Waiting for Godot” truly await is opening day.

Subtitled “a tragicomedy in two acts,” “Godot” is a one-of-a-kind play, with the action (if you choose to call it that) of the story nearly divorced from typical conventions such as clear answers to fundamental questions like “where” and “when”. The impact the play has had since its first staging is hard to overstate; since its debut, the play has led to the spilling of untold lakefuls of ink in the creation of reviews, thought pieces, examinations and ruminations, and its reputation and acclaim has grown to the point that Beckett’s work is now fixed firmly into theatrical canon. Now, the storied play makes its way to El Dorado County, providing many in the region their first opportunity to experience the magic of the work for themselves.

“It feels like filling big shoes, especially the reactions I get when I tell people what I’m directing,” Rona Bernadette “Berney” Arrogancia, who is making her directorial debut, explained. “I know the weight of it, knowing

how the play changed theater and how it’s still relevant. I think there’s a lot of what’s going on in this world that is so relevant and so timeless and relatable to what is happening now. Those thoughts factored into this process, and are reflected in why the play is going on now, and with these actors.”

The play follows a meandering back-andforth dialogue between Estragon and Vladimir, who await the neverseen Godot. While they wait, they encounter a pair of walking contradictions; the near-mute Lucky, who, when he does speak, spouts brilliance and nonsense in equal measure, and Pozzo, a man wholly concerned with himself and yet

Photos by Odin Rasco

Top photo left, Estragon (Matthew Fairall), left of tree, and Vladimir (Andrew Fridae), right of tree, don’t know what to make of the arrival of Lucky (Ryan Mason) being led on a rope by Pozzo (Devin Machado). Top photo right, Estragon, left, and Vladimir, right, cling to one another while waiting for Godot. Above, Estragon relentlessly questions the Boy (Dean Elder), about the whereabouts of the enigmatic Godot.

Check out the Italian charm rolling into Folsom

To travel through Italy is to travel through time, tasting the past in every bite and hearing it in every word. Fortunately for us, we don’t need a passport — just a sunlit morning at the Murer House in Folsom, where a touch of Italy rolls in on wheels and settles gently among us.

Italy on Wheels

On Saturday, May 3, the Murer House Foundation hosts its 12th annual Italy on Wheels. The morning-only event runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Giuseppe Murer’s 1926 Craftsmanstyle home.

In the parking lot, you’ll see Italian vehicles. Some are new. Some are vintage. There are cars, motorcycles, scooters and bicycles. It’s not a big show. It’s charming. You might see a Lamborghini or a Ducati. Each reflects Italy’s design talent. A shiny Vespa might catch your eye. Or maybe a sleek bicycle will. It’s a small but sweet display.

Stroll by these vehicles. Chat with an owner about their ride. Curious about a Vespa’s hum or a bicycle’s frame? They’ll share. Awards honor top displays.

The real draw is the easygoing vibe. Buy pizza slices fresh from the oven. They’re hot and tasty. Sip Italian craft beers or sodas. The beers are cold. The sodas fizz with flavor. Hear bocce balls clatter on the court. Try your

hand at playing this Italian game of skill and strategy. Roll a ball and aim close. It’s fun for all ages.

Historical house Tour the Murer House and its gardens. The house feels old but alive.

Guiseppe Murer came to California from Italy in 1906, drawn like many by the call for craftsmen. Eventually settling in Folsom, he shaped the town’s historical architecture.

The gardens bloom with care, tended by the Folsom Garden Club and numerous volunteers. Step back in time as you walk.

Foundation

A small Italian farming community raised families here, too. The Murer House Foundation preserves this history for all, with an eye to the past, the present and the future.

This work continues all year. The foundation o ers cooking classes to shape pasta by hand, make arancini from scratch and more. You can knead dough like an Italian nonna. Language classes start with “ciao” and grow — beginner to conversational. Learn a few words or chat like a local. There’s a class for everyone.

Italy on Wheels admission is free. Bring a few bucks for pizza, beer or soda. Enjoy the morning. It’s sweet

and unhurried. It’s a chance to taste Italian flavor.

More than 300 people come each year. Some have Italian roots. Others just love the culture. You can feel the warmth. The pizza smells good. The vehicles shine in the sun. The bocce court buzzes with laughs. Got an Italian ride to show? Contact Ron Lingren at ronlingren@gmail.com. He’ll find you a spot.

Getting there

This charming spot sits in Historical Folsom, facing Folsom Boulevard, with access via The Bungalows neighborhood from behind. Turn on Forrest Street, take a right past the

Lacy J Dalton to hit the Sutter Creek stage

Lacy J. Dalton will appear at Sutter Creek Theatre on Main Street in Sutter Creek on May 3.

Dalton is a Grammy nominated singer/songwriter from Bloomsburg, Pa. who was inducted into the North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame in 2017. She’s one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music. Dalton’s collaboration with Willie Nelson on his “Half Nelson” CD was a high spot for her. Dalton was the only woman featured on that recording, and was awarded a platinum record for it. She also received a gold record from Hank Williams Jr. in 1985 for her support performances throughout his Five-0 tour.

Dalton’s career includes accomplishments in

music, film and radio. As an independent artist with her own label called Song Dog Records, Lacy has released three albums, “Wild Horse Crossing” in 1999, a tribute to Hank Williams Sr. titled “Here’s To Hank” in 2010 and her first Americana album “The Last Wild Place Anthology” in 2006. In 2019, that CD won the Pete Huttlinger Award for Music Excellence from boards of Strictly Country Magazine and the Spirit Awards. When hearing the signature song “Scarecrow,” her good friend Reverend Barbara Ann Fletcher remarked “that song makes you a whole new you, and it makes me a whole new me.” That’s exactly the response Dalton had hoped for.

The show will take place on Saturday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.

Lakeside Cemetery, then another right on Fong Street. The address is 1125 Joe Murer Court. You will see the gated entry. Park respectfully in the neighborhood and walk in. Visit murerhousefoundation.org for more on the event or the foundation’s o erings.

Cogli l’attimo

Seize the moment. This event is a morning to savor. Whether you are exploring your Italian heritage or simply love all things Italian, you are sure to Vivere, Amare, Ridere. To Live. To Love. To Laugh. Have fun! Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@ handywriting.com.

HipNosis brings free music and a good time to Cold

News release

Join HipNosis for a free concert from 6-9 p.m. at the Cold Springs Golf and Country Club, 6500 Clubhouse Drive in Placerville.

This event is free and open to the public — you do not have to be a member to attend. Bring your lawn chairs. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Fall under its sway and be mesmerized by HipNosis. You’ll experience a wide variety of music performed by a 10-piece horn band playing funk, soul, rock with a bit of gospel and jazz to keep things interesting.

Fronted by a tight, powerful horn section and soaring, soulful vocals, HipNosis delivers a polished

Springs Golf

performance that ranges from funk, jazz and soul through blues and rock with a bit of gospel thrown in for good measure.

This collection of top-tier musicians, driven by an edgy rhythm section laying down irresistible grooves, o ers distinct arrangements of songs that everyone knows, making them uniquely hypnotic.

Influenced by classic horn bands and the great artists of modern music, HipNosis purposefully highlights every player’s talent, featuring soloists and special guests to keep the sound fresh and compelling.

The electrifying vibe of HipNosis, its incredible musicianship and the synchronicity of song choices keeps audiences connected. Visit hipnosis. band to learn more.

Photo by Susan Laird

This Dallara F3 race car with Ferrari livery was on exhibit at Italy on Wheels in 2023.

Susan Laird The Arts

Courtesy photo

Hipnosis boasts a collection of top notch musicians.

Courtesy photo

Lacy J. Dalton will bring her signature “Country Queen” style to the stage at Sutter Creek Theatre May 3.

Gallery is bursting with blooms

Art on the Divide Gallery News release

They say April showers bring May flowers and this month Art On the Divide Gallery will burst with blooms. Artists will share their paintings, drawings, photographs and more depicting the beauty of spring. Visit the gallery and enjoy this month’s featured art, “Blooms.” The show will run from May 2-31. The gallery is located at 6295 Main St. in Georgetown. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information about Art on the Divide’s “Blooms” visit artonthedivide.com.

Learn why the dragon is reluctant

Allen Schmeltz Sutter Street Theatre

FOLSOM — Sutter Street Theatre opens “The Reluctant Dragon” adapted by Mary Hall Surface from the classic story by Kenneth Grahame for a fiveweek run starting May 10. This adaptation of the Kenneth Grahame classic was nationally successful in its original productions. It is a charming tale of an unlikely friendship. The village of Guildermere blames the dragon who lives upon the downs for their dying crops and sour milk. But this

dragon is a peace-loving, poetryspouting fellow who would much prefer a cup of tea to a battle. When Saint George arrives, the dragon and his young friend, Glaston, face quite a challenge indeed. While true to the spirit and language of the charming original, this adaptation embraces the dramatic power of what happens when misunderstanding escalates into prejudice and violence. The show runs May 10 through June 8 with weekend performances at 1 p.m. For more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

“Spring Mix” by Doreen Irby.

“Poppies” by CJ Nelson.

Photo by Allen Schmeltz

Desmond Nelson, Eve Van Winkle and Desi Roach, left to right, will be featured in ‘The Reluctant Dragon’ adapted from the Kenneth Grahame classic.

Saddle up for history

News release

The annual re-ride of the historic Pony Express mail service will be conducted June 10-21 by the National Pony Express Association. The event, celebrating 165 years of “the Pony,” will start in Sacramento and end in St. Joseph, Mo., traveling west to east this year.

Personal letters and Commemorative letters will be carried in a mochila (a leather square that is placed over the saddle, with four locked cantinas to hold the mail) by horse and rider relays from the Sacramento River to the Missouri River. The first rider will depart Old Sacramento on Wednesday, June 11, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time and the last rider is scheduled to arrive at the Patee House in St. Joseph, Mo., on Saturday, June 21, at 7:30 p.m. Central Time.

The route will follow the Pony Express National Historic Trail, a component of the National Trails System. The mail will travel 1,966 miles across California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas to Missouri.

Approximately 600 member riders from NPEA’s eight State Divisions will ride relay-style, 24 hours a day, until the mochila is delivered in St. Joseph. Each rider will take the Pony Express Oath prior to riding with the mochila, just as the riders did in 1860.

History

Riders wanted

Are you interested in participating in the annual re-ride? Get your mount legged up to ride a leg in the annual re-ride. Several states have ride sections available; come experience the thrill of being a Pony Express rider. State officer directory can be seen at nationalponyexpress. org/about/national-directory.

Send a letter

The commemorative letters carried this year will be a vignette of Pony Express history in Nevada. The letters can be purchased by the public for the 1860 price of $5 each. Personal letters are also available for $10 each. All letters will be carried on horseback from Sacramento to St. Joseph. They will be stamped as having been officially carried by Pony Express and then delivered via USPS. The letter application form can be obtained at nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/ send-a-letter.

During the re-ride, updates and information about the progress across the Pony Express trail can be found at facebook.com/expressrider. A GPS device will be carried in the mochila, that transmits real-time location of the mail. The National Parks Service will have an interactive map to follow the transmissions at nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/ follow-the-ride. Status updates will also be posted on the website and photos and videos on the NPEA Facebook page.

The annual re-ride is a 10-day, 24 hours-a-day event honoring the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. The company carried letters and telegrams from April 1860 to November 1861, between St. Joseph and Sacramento, proving the Central Route through Salt Lake City was passable year round. Their intent was to win a federal mail contract, which, unfortunately, never materialized.

The National Pony Express Re-Ride schedule and more information can be found at nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/ current-reride.

Visionary bluesman set to intoxicate

News release

AUCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County will host a free public tour starting at 9 a.m. at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden. May be closed for inclement weather or poor air quality; check before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_ Gardeners/Demonstration_Garden/. Parking permits are required, purchase a $2 permit at any kiosk.

The Cameron Park Community Services District will host Kickin’ It With Mom. Celebrate all the amazing moms out there with fun and laughter from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christa McAuliffe Park, Cameron Park. Advance registration required. For more information visit cameronpark. org.

The El Dorado Hills Arts Association Studio Tour takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3 & 4. For more information visit eldoradohillsarts.com.

Join the American Legion Auxiliary for its Spring Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4561 Greenstone Road, Placerville. Proceeds go directly to support our local veterans, active-duty service members, their families, and the children and youth in the community.

El Dorado High School’s Cougar Band Aides will host the Taste on Main event and fundraiser, noon to 4 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Placerville. For tickets or more details visit edhscougarmusic.org.

The Merchants on Main present a live auction with auctioneer Greg Rezak to benefit Main Street events and the shop local campaign supporting family run businesses. For more information visit placervillemerchants.org. To register for the event visit clubgreenroom.com.

Clubhouse El Dorado presents Masquerade for Mental Health, a benefit concert and dinner in support of Clubhouse El Dorado, a program of NAMI El Dorado County from 5-9 p.m. For tickets and more information visit namieldoradocounty. org.

Join the West Slope Foundation for the Wildfire Protection Summit with Tenessa Audette, Tamara Wallace, Scot Telfer and Nick Busse at 5 p.m. at 3181 Cameron Park Drive, Suite 104, Cameron Park.

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce

presents Feeding the Foothills’ fundraiser, Power of We – Soiree at the Ranch, at the Mohanna family ranch in El Dorado Hills, 5:30-8:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

Imagination Theatre at the El Dorado Fairgrounds presents “The Importance of Being Earnest,” May 3-25. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Storybook Time” at 11 a.m. Admission is free; seating is first come, first served. For more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

The Sacramento Choral Society presents A Lerner & Loewe Celebration at 3 p.m. For more information visit sacramentochoral.org.

The Pops Chorale presents, Highway Home at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Lacy J Dalton with Dale Poune will perform at 7 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.

The Grass Valley Center for the Arts presents Los Hermanos Mendoza at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.

May 4

Shadow Ranch Vineyards in Fairplay presents West Coast Turnaround from 1-4 p.m. For more information visit shadowranch.com.

Sacramento Symphonic Winds presents The Spring Concert at Capistrano Hall at 2:30 p.m. For more information visit sacwinds.org.

May 6

Broadway At Music Circus presents “Parade” at 7:30 p.m. and running through May 11 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 557-1999 or visit broadwaysacramento.com.

The Grass Valley Center for the Arts presents The Robert Cray Band at 7 p.m. For tickets

ee KNOW, page B5

ward-winning Florida bluesman Selwyn Birchwood will perform live at The Press Club in Sacramento on May 15. Birchwood’s 2023 album, Exorcist, is his fourth Alligator Records release. The young guitarist, lap steel player, songwriter and vocalist sets a course for the future of the blues with his visionary, original music. He calls it “Electric swamp funkin’ blues,” an intoxicating mix of deep blues, blistering, psychedelic-tinged rock, booty-shaking funk and sweet Southern soul, played and sung with fire-and-brimstone fervor. Tastemaker Americana music magazine No Depression says, “Selwyn Birchwood reaches back in the blues tradition to launch something out of this world.”

On “Exorcist,” Birchwood delivers the most far-reaching, musically adventurous album of his career. Recorded in Florida and produced by Grammy Award-winner Tom Hambridge, each of the 13 vividly detailed songs was written and arranged by Birchwood. The soulbaring tracks all hit with lasting rhymes and unexpected rhythms. Each twists its own tale, ranging from the love-gone-wrong “Horns Below Her Halo” to the love-gone-terrifying “Exorcist” to the autobiographical “Underdog.” According to Blues Music Magazine, “Selwyn Birchwood heralds a fresh, exciting new direction in the blues. Toe-tapping, hip-shaking, joyful and inviting — expansive and focused, exploratory and time-honored, but

Godot Continued from B1 concerned always with what others may think.

The show’s small cast — just four men and a boy — bring significant talent to the table, with all of them acknowledging their excitement to be involved in putting on such an adored story.

“To be honest, it’s super exciting,” Ryan Mason, who plays Lucky, remarked. “I just got back into theatre a couple of years ago, and I didn’t think I would be getting to do something so meaningful to me and other people. I’m beyond excited, even though doing this monologue I have might be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

Devin Machado, who takes on the role of Lucky’s tormentor, Pozzo, agreed he was excited to be involved, though the realization of what he had gotten into didn’t initially set in.

“I will admit, I wasn’t fully thinking about what I signed up for at first,” Machado said. “It didn’t dawn on me until midway through the first rehearsal when it was like, ‘oh, right, this is touted as one of the most influential pieces of theatre ever.’ Once I realized that, it made me realize I had a daunting task ahead of me, but that it is an incredible opportunity to have that task.”

The play’s story and themes, though presented in an absurd package, touch on fundamental facets of the human condition, according to the cast and crew.

“A phrase that kept coming up is stripping away,” Arrogancia explained. “There is a lot about this play that is minimalistic, and it came out soon after World War

always original.” Live, Birchwood is a force of nature. His ability to win over an audience is proven night after night on the bandstand. With his warm, magnetic personality, Birchwood is as down-to-earth as his music is thought-provoking and electrifying, with Birchwood’s band featuring the pulsating interplay of his blistering guitar with Regi Oliver’s driving baritone sax. When he sits down to play his lap steel, he takes the crowd to a whole other level, with the music exorcising any bad times and troubles. Birchwood first hit the blues scene in 2011 with the self-released, selfproduced “FL Boy.” After winning the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis (beating 150 other bands), Birchwood found doors swinging open. He took a giant step forward in 2014 with his Alligator Records debut album, “Don’t Call No Ambulance.” Rave reviews ran in publications from Rolling Stone to the Wall Street Journal, from the Chicago Tribune to the San Francisco Chronicle. The album won both the Living Blues Award and the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. He followed in 2016 with fan-favorite “Pick Your Poison” and, in 2021, with the groundbreaking “Living In A Burning House.” He won the coveted BMA Song Of The Year Award for that album’s “I’d Climb Mountains.” The show will take place at The Press Club, 1119 21st St. Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 444-7914 or visit sacblues. org or search Selwyn Birchwood on eventbrite.com.

II. It asks, what happens when you strip away all those things that give us purpose — when the jobs that tell us what and who we are, or our homes are destroyed, or the books we love to read aren’t there and all that is left is you and the people around you, what then? How do we find meaning and create purpose?”

Matthew Fairall and Andrew Fridae, who play Estragon and Vladimir, respectively, reflected on the way the play will likely resonate in its own way with every audience member who goes to see the show.

“I will talk about this play forever; the play is life,” Fairall stated.

“When talking about why we’re doing this show now, I don’t think it changes between each and every day, that’s the point of the play. We come in, we go out, we share, we stay and we see who we spend our time with. Moments don’t change. There’s a comfort, a sadness and a love to that. It resonates with everyone because we all share the same space and the same time.” Fridae agreed, slipping in a joke about the play’s less-than-clear relationship with linear time.

“This is literally a timeless play,” Fridae said. “People will come in and make their own connection to the modern day and their lives on their own. There’s always value in putting a play like this on.”

The Stage at Burke Junction’s presentation of “Waiting for Godot” opens May 10 and closes June 1 with matenée and evening shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $28, with discounts for students and seniors, and can be purchased at thestage.ticketspice.com/waitingfor-godot.

Photo by Marilyn Stringer

Selwyn Birchwood will bring his unique , electric swamp funkin’ blues to The Press Club in Sacramento May 15.

and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.

May 7

Vitalant will hold a Shingle Springs community blood drive, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge, 3821 Quest Court (off Durock Road). Make an appointment at donors.vitalant. org and enter blood drive code

SMFM551 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code.

Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host a Park Party at Overlook Park in El Dorado Hills from 5-7p.m. This is a free event. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

Capital Stage in Sacramento presents “Unseen” at 7p.m. and running through June 8. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage. org.

May 8

Join the Shingle Springs/ Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce for a Ribbon Cutting at the Nifty Nook on Cameron Park Drive at 5:30 p.m. For more information call (530) 677-8000 or visit sscpchamber.org.

Studio 81 at El Dorado High School presents “Hadestown” May 8-17. For tickets and more information visit studio81arts. com.

The Mills Station Arts and Culture Center in Rancho Cordova presents “Collective Concerns: Collage and Assemblage” from 2-7 p.m. and on view through May 24. For more information visit rcmacc.org.

May 9

El Dorado Musical Theatre Presents “Legally Blonde” at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom, May 9-17. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

May 10

Save the Graves will host the Women of Placerville Union Cemetery walking tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free but registration is required. For more information or to register visit savethegraveseldorado.org.

The Camino Fire Safe Council will host a Community Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Camino Community Church, 4205 Carson Road. Camino. Proceeds will support the Camino Fire Safe Council. Email caminofsc@gmail. com for any questions.

The Stage at Burke Junction presents “Waiting for Godot” through June 1. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host Heart of the Hills Blues Blast at 1-6 p.m. at Overland District Church in El Dorado Hills. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “The Reluctant Dragon” at 1 p.m. and running through June 8. For tickets and more information call (916) 3531001 or visit sutterstreettheatre. com.

B Street Theatre in Sacramento presents “The First Adventures of the Hardy Boys” at 1 p.m. and running through May 25 at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

The Grass Valley Center for the Arts presents Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience at 3 p.m. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Old Tyme Radio” at 4 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

The Sacramento Guitar Society presents Guitar Masterpieces with Johnnie Basch at 7 p.m. at The Music Exchange in Sacramento. For more information visit sacguitarsociety. org.

May 11

Join Gwinllan Estates Vineyard for an exquisite Mother’s Day brunch experience at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. For more information visit gwinllanestate. com.

Miraflores Winery will host a Mother’s Day Brunch with two seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To reserve space email info@ mirafloreswinery.com.

Shadow Ranch Vineyards in Fairplay presents Jesse Hendricks playing Spanish Guitar from 1-4 p.m. For more information visit shadowranch. com.

The El Dorado Hills Town Center will host the Mother’s Day Charity Concert & Dance Celebration with the Spazmatics from 4-6 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

Cantare Chorale presents Broadway Lights and Movie Nights at the Placerville Shakespeare Club at 7 p.m. For more information visit cantarechorale.com.

FLC Youth Chamber Orchestra presents its Spring Concert at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Auburn Symphony presents its Mother’s Day season finale “Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2” at 3 p.m. at the Mondavi Center in Davis. For more information visit mondaviarts. org.

May 12

Join Herbert Green Middle School for the unveiling of the Student Run Garden with a ribbon cutting from 5:30-6 p.m. and an open house from 6-7 p.m. The public is invited.

Now The City Theatre at Sacramento City College presents the Storytime Theatre production of “Cinderella” through May 4. Weekend performances at noon. For more information visit citytheatre.net.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Hansel and Gretel” adapted by Laura Luke. The show runs through May 4. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

California Museum in Sacramento presents Our War Too: Women in Service through May 4. For more details visit californiamuseum.org.

R25 Theater Company presents Play It Straight” through May 11 at California Stage in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit r25-theatergroup.square.site.

The Gallery at 48 Natoma invites the public to Moments of Connection: People, Places, and Presence, a solo exhibition by Yen-Ching Chang on view through May 15. Weekday gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. admission is free. Visit folsom. ca.us for more information.

B Street Theatre in Sacramento presents “Nosotros la Gente (We the People)” at The Sofia in Sacramento through May 18. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents Collidoscope – De La Torre Brothers Retrospective through May 4; Frames of Mind – The Ramer Photography Collection through May 4; Selections from the CrockerKingsley through May 4; Marvin Lipofsky — Blows Glass Collection 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 Business

Showcase and I LOVE Film Mixer on June 27. For more information or to register your business visit eldoradocounty. org. Registration is now open for the 42nd Bob West Drive for Marshall Foundation for Community Health. The event is Friday, June 20, at Cold Springs

Golf & Country Club. For more information or to register visit marshallfound.org/golfregistration/?blm_aid=30898.

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

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

visit namieldoradocounty.org.

The Master Gardener public office is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon at 311 Fair Lane, Placerville. Have a gardening question or problem? Come in and chat. Bring a cutting or insect in a baggie or a picture. Can’t come in person? Call (530) 621-5512 and leave a voicemail or email mgeldorado@ucanr.edu.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2680 in El Dorado County invites veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War as well as those seeing action in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries to become VFW members. Call (530) 499-2950.

SACRAMENTO — Capital Stage announces its final piece to the 2025-26 season to be performed during the holiday season. Charming,

mysterious, and poetic in the truest sense of the word, Lauren Gunderson’s “I and You” is a study of the beauty, the agony and the mystery of human

House Cleaning

connection. Imani Mitchell returns to direct having directed “Predictor” previously at Capital Stage. Performances run Dec. 3-28. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1. This special

limited production is not included in subscription plans, but subscribers can purchase discounted tickets now.

One afternoon, Anthony arrives

(Rancho Cordova, CA) — Maintain, oversee and configure essential IT and cloud infrastructure. Analyze, research and recommend new hardware and software to increase efficiency of computer systems. Manage and perform network administration for core and LAN systems. Provide hardware/software technical and help desk support. Develop, administer, customize, maintain and program software using SALESFORCE and SAP Business One. Environment: C#, SAP Business One, Salesforce, SQL. Salary: 132,475 to 150,000 per year. Bach. Deg. in Comp. Sytms or related degree (or equiv.) and 5 yrs exp.

Mail resumes to: Danielle Lassiter, Office Mgr, 3043 Gold Canal, Ste. 200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

unexpectedly at classmate Caroline’s door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” an urgent assignment from their English teacher. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn’t been to school in months, but she is as quick and sardonic as Anthony is athletic, sensitive and popular.

As these two let down their guards and share their secrets, this seemingly mundane poetry project unlocks a much deeper mystery that has brought them together. “I and You” is an ode to youth, life, love and the strange beauty of human connectedness. For more information visit capstage.org.

Lydia Pense & Cold Blood will play at Sutter Creek Theatre on May 17 at 7 p.m. Lydia Pense & Cold Blood debuted when the Fillmore was at its peak as one of the nation’s musical Meccas. Owner Bill Graham was so impressed with Lydia’s voice and the sound of the band that he immediately signed Cold Blood to his new record label. During the span of six original late-60’s, early-70’s albums, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood helped, along with Tower Of Power, forge their own specific brand of funk/soul and R&B which came to be known as East Bay Grease. That music still holds up today, proving that great music is timeless and will continue to inspire generations to come.

Soul/R&B vocalist Fred Ross (formerly with Tower of Power) also appears with Cold Blood – add in sax and

trumpet – this will be a killer show! The word legend certainly applies to Lydia Pense and Cold Blood…and not in some past tense-make-aliving-as-an-oldies-act sort of way either. Pense can still shout like a 60’s soul diva and purr a slow blues tune with spine-tingling subtlety. Cold Blood, as a whole, features a stellar group

of musicians who have been playing together for nearly 20 years including Steve Dunne on guitar, Steve Salinas on keyboards, a gritty-growling horn section comprised of John Hablieb and Rob Zuckerman along with a stellar rhythm section featuring Evan Palmerston on bass and T Moran on drums. The band members

The Georgetown Divide Public Utility District

invites applications for the position of:

ADMIN AIDE I: $23.26 to $28.27 per hour plus benefits, depending on qualifications.

ADMIN AIDE II: $25.62 to $31.14 per hour plus benefits, depending on qualifications.

OPENING DATE: April 14, 2025

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. First review date for applications will be held on May 12, 2025.

An application can be printed from the District website at www.gd-pud.org or request an application by emailing Stephanie Beck at slbeck@gd-pud.org. Return a completed application to the District office by mail, or email to: slbeck@gd-pud.org.

Georgetown Divide Public Utility District P.O. Box 4240, Georgetown, CA. 95634 For further information call (530) 333-4356 or visit our website at www.gd-pud.org

Public Notices 

are all veteran Bay Area musicians who have played with many great artists including Elvin Bishop, Jefferson Starship, Boz Skaggs, Albert Collins and more. Of course Pense still has the chops with the patina of a veteran. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

HELP WANTED

TK/K Instructional Aide

Latrobe Elementary School

6 hrs/day 7:30-2:00 M-F, 185 day school year, starting salary range $21.35-$24.03/hr + med/dental/vision/PERS. Apply online edjoin.org/latrobeschool. Contact Tracy 530-677-0260 x301. Open until filled.

AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 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) 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2 14445

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO.

County on 04/07/2025 NOTICE-IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 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) 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2 14447

FICTITIOUS

NOTICE-IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 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) 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9 14477 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER

Virtuoso shares adventurous style

The Sofia in Sacramento presents multi-award winning acoustic guitar virtuoso Pierre Bensusan. If World Music means the fusion of traditional, contemporary, jazz, classical and pop music, then Bensusan is one of the most eloquent World Music musicians of our time. A pianist in his beginnings then self-taught on the guitar, the originality of his style makes him one of today’s greatest guitarists and composers for the instrument. Also called “The Prince of DADGAD,” the Rose d’Or of the Montreux Festival. His triple album “Encore” won the Grand Prix of the Independent Music Awards

in the category best live album. The guitarist has sold half a million albums and given thousands of concerts around the globe. Pierre Bensusan is an adventurer of unusual lands. His almost sacred music is an intimate and orchestral hymn, a solo crossing on a multi-shell Lowden guitar subjected to the natural elements with sound molecules and finger pulp on an ebony fingerboard for open tuning — an unique and transparent technique, under the fingers of an adventurous pilgrim.

The show will take place on Sunday, June 8 at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Courtesy photo

Bensusan has been dubbed the Prince of DADGAD for his unique technique.