Issuu

– Weekend Edition –

City ADA ramp

and sidewalk

repairs on the way

Andrew Vonderschmitt

Features editor

The Placerville City Council unanimously approved a $40,000 budget appropriation and awarded a $31,818 construction contract to Cox General Engineering Inc. to complete long-needed sidewalk and accessibility improvements on Bedford Avenue and Main Street.

City Engineer Rebecca Savage told council members at the Nov. 12 meeting the project addresses two locations, including a curb ramp on Bedford Avenue that was the subject of an Americans with Disabilities Act grievance ﬁled in 2022. The complaint centered on the lack of an accessible ramp where the U.S. 50 pedestrian overcrossing meets Bedford Avenue.

Savage said initial reviews suggested the sidewalk was outside the city’s right of way, but further investigation prompted by a follow-up inquiry in October revealed otherwise.

“Sta investigated further and determined that the location of the sidewalk without a curb ramp is in fact located in the city street right of way,” she said.

Designing the ramp came with constraints, including a retaining wall that prevents widening the sidewalk

■ See PROJECTS, page A5

PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE

THE WAIT IS OVER

Cathie and Mac have a home

Shelly Thorene Sta writer

Atearful and bittersweet key ceremony was held Saturday for 2021 Caldor Fire survivors Mac McNeil and Cathie Adams of Grizzly Flat, celebrating the e orts of all who contributed to the home built for the couple.

Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes, senior pastor with Federated Church opened the ceremony with a prayer, which was followed by remarks from State Sen. Marie AlvaradoGil. She praised the Title 25 program as “a model for other areas of the state. Caleb was awesome. He got the whole community involved.”

Next was an emotional speech by District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo, whose district includes much of the Caldor Fireravaged area. Turnboo was instrumental in getting the Title 25 program o the ground. He stated emphatically, “I am not giving up the ﬁght for individual assistance for the residents of Grizzly Flat.” Someone from the crowd yelled, “We believe in you George!”

Non-proﬁt Construction CEO Caleb

■ See HOME, page A5

Placerville Police Dept. gets road safety grant

News release

Placerville Police Department recently announced that it has received a grant from the California O ce of Tra c Safety to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. The grant program runs through September 2026.

“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” PPD Chief Joseph Wren said.

“Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes and make our roads safer for everyone.”

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.

• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.

• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running and improper turning or lane changes.

• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving,

impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and Drug Recognition Expert.

“Through focused traffic enforcement and education, we’re working toward a future where everyone will be safe on California roads,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “By encouraging people to prioritize safety in their daily choices, we are creating a strong road safety culture together.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California

Traffic

through the

Office of

Safety,

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene

El Dorado County District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo, left, hands Mac McNeil and Cathie Adams a key to their new home as Non-Profit Construction Corporation CEO/President Caleb Armstrong, right, looks on at a key ceremony held on Nov. 22 in Grizzly Flat.

Mac McNeil and Cathie Adams stand in their new home on Nov. 22 in Grizzly Flat. The house is the first completed under the Title 25 program, built by Non-Profit Construction Corporation with the help of several grants and donations of time and labor from local businesses and non profits.

ESSENTIALS

OBITUARIES

Clarence “Clancy”

Meyer

April 24, 1925 – Nov. 4, 2025

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Clarence “Clancy” Meyer, on November 4th, one of the few remaining WWII veterans in El Dorado County. He was born on April 24, 1925, and celebrated his 100th birthday earlier in the year. He was a Native Californian, born in Los Angeles to Victor Meyer and Sophie Quirin. He was also forever grateful to his Uncle Henery and Aunt Neola, who helped raise him.

During WWII, before graduating from high school he was drafted into the army and assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, originally formed in 1943 for combat in Italy. He then went on to serve in South Korea with the Medium Tank Company of the 160th Infantry Regiment, California National Guard’s 40th Infantry Division.

After leaving the army, he attended and graduated from California State University, San Jose, and there he met his wife of 71 years, Alicia Ench. They eventually settled in the Coachella Valley, where Clancy taught high school math for many years at Indio High School and was active in a variety of high school sports programs. He was also a passionate farmer, caring for a small vineyard during his summer breaks.

Upon retiring, he and Alicia moved to Placerville, where Alicia had grown up. They built their retirement home on the Ench family ranch, where he lived out the rest of his life. In Placerville, he was active in a variety of community organizations, including SIRS (Seniors In Retirement), Post 119 American Legion Baseball and other veterans’ activities and organizations.

He is survived by his wife, Alicia, and children: Karen (Thomas) Hoffman, Sherrie (Barry) Amundsen, and Terrie (George) Cadiz.

A member of the Greatest Generation, the men and women, and their families, who sacrificed so much to save the world. May they be remembered. There will be a private family ceremony, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion Baseball or a Veterans Organization of your choice. Below is a link to a 2015 Desert Sun article about Clancy Meyer. https://www.desertsun.com/story/ news/2015/05/29/indio-veteran-clancy-meyerpart-mule-outfit/28186639/

Stephen Joseph Baker

Oct. 7, 1949 – Nov. 9, 2025

Steve left this earth on November 9th, 2025 in favor of a new adventure. Steve was born in Everett, Washington on October 7th, 1949, the fourth of Roberta and Joe’s five children. He idolized his older siblings, Boyd, Bill and Bonnie, who all made inspiring role models with their intellect, heart, and humor. He was an inquisitive child, developing a lifelong love of animals, history and reading. The family moved to Whittier, CA when Steve was 14 years old. While attending Lowell High School, Steve won a national debate competitionsomething anyone who met him could have easily guessed. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and Master’s degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University. Upon graduation he worked for the State of California in the Department of Consumer Affairs, where he worked for 30 years. Upon retiring he put his passion for quality education to work by becoming a private post-secondary education consultant. He loved the diverse people and professions he met along the way. Steve was skilled in the art of variety, picking up many hobbies throughout his life —from kite flying, tennis, skiing, skydiving, photography, and bocce ball, to archiving family history. He was also an avid reader, who could not pass up a bookshop or library, ultimately owning enough books to start his own bookshop. His passion for thoughtful informed discussions combined with an equal passion for history and politics led him to participate in or lead several discussion groups and book clubs. Out of a deep interest in law and civic responsibility, Steve served as foreman on the Grand Jury of El Dorado County, and participated in several local initiatives, including the opening of the El Dorado Hills public library. In 1990, Steve’s beloved daughter Macey was born. Steve was a patient, loving and devoted father. He made it a priority to show his daughter the world. She eventually moved to London, England, which gave Steve a great excuse to visit her and ignite his passion for exploring Europe. Though Steve loved traveling the world, he cherished coming home to California. He had found no other place that rivaled the natural beauty of Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, or anywhere along the California coast. He is survived by his daughter Macey, brother Scott, partner Donna, and several much-loved nieces and nephews. In his new adventure Steve will be joyfully reunited with his parents, his brothers Boyd and Bill, and sister Bonnie, as well as many treasured friends, his childhood dog Taffy, and other pets he loved throughout his life. We will remember him with every sunset, ocean view, exceptionally delicious salmon filet, wild raspberry, beautiful piece of music, and shooting star. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Sierra Club.

Lane closure ahead on Placerville Drive

News release

City of Placerville

contractor Doug Veerkamp

General Engineering Inc. will be doing the final paving operations for the Placerville Drive Pedestrian Connectivity Project on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The work is anticipated to occur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Only one lane and direction of traffic will be provided southbound on Placerville Drive between Highway 50 and Armory Drive. Northbound traffic will be routed through a detour to Fair Lane to Ray Lawyer Drive. Please anticipate traffic control and delays, and access to businesses will be limited. This work is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Direct any questions to the city’s Engineering Department at (530) 6425250.

Crane work requires Mosquito Road closure

News release

El Dorado County’s Department of Transportation crew will perform a monthly inspection and maintenance of the crane boom extension and crane located at Pier 3 of the bridge replacement project north of the river on Mosquito Road. These safety efforts will require road closures each month.

The next closure for the inspection and maintenance work will be on Saturday, Dec. 6. The crane maintenance will require full closure of Mosquito Road at the gates, from 0.6 miles north to 0.8 miles south of the old Mosquito Road Bridge. The closure will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and open by noon that same day. A detour has been established via Rock Creek Road for which motorists should expect delays and allow extra time for travel.

The closure is necessary

The following was taken from EDSO reports:

Sept. 29

4:27 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Oak Lane in Placerville.

6:48 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Kirk Lane in Somerset.

9:03 a.m. Battery was reported on Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines.

10 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Deer Valley Road in Rescue.

11:10 a.m. Battery was reported on Split Bend Road in Pollock Pines.

4:13 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

6:11 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

6:44 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Salmon Falls Road in El Dorado Hills.

Sept. 30

12:25 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Awesome View in Placerville.

10:41 a.m. Vandalism was reported at a restaurant on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

11:23 a.m. Vandalism was reported at a church on Oak Lane in Placerville.

12:42 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Volcanoville Road in Georgetown.

Cranes are used to build the

Regular inspections are required to ensure the equipment

to lay the crane boom down on Mosquito Road at the north project (Pier 3) location to perform crane inspection and maintenance.

Mosquito Road will be impassable until the work is complete, and the boom is raised back

12:54 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a park on Bottle Hill Bypass Road in Georgetown.

1:52 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Mt. Rainier Way in El Dorado Hills.

2:56 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

5:07 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Crown Point Drive in Diamond Springs.

7:09 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Fairview Court in Rescue.

Oct. 1

11:51 a.m. Battery was reported on Jacobus Drive in Garden Valley.

2:02 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Olson Lane in El Dorado Hills.

2:35 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Digger Pine Lane in Diamond Springs.

4:13 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Mira Loma Drive in Cameron Park.

6:05 p.m. Assault with a deadly weapon was reported on Enterprise Drive in Diamond Springs.

6:09 p.m. Battery was reported at a senior living community on Ponte Morino Drive in Cameron Park.

Oct. 2

8:14 a.m. Battery was reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond

into position. Mosquito Road will be closed at the gates to ensure motorist and worker safety while the county’s contractor performs the crane work. The Mosquito Road closures will occur monthly for the duration of the project.

Springs.

8:49 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Wildrose Drive in Grizzly Flats.

3:07 p.m. Battery was reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.

7:26 p.m. Burglary to a vehicle was reported at a country club on Serrano Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

9:52 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Debbie Lane in Placerville.

Oct. 3

7:08 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Wagon View Trail in Diamond Springs.

8:52 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Greenwood Lane in Cameron Park.

9:33 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Sliger Mine Road in Greenwood.

2:41 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Greenwood Lane in Cameron Park.

3:48 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Placerville.

8:26 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Omo Ranch Road in Somerset.

8:35 p.m. Burglary was reported on Teepee Lane in Placerville.

Oct. 4

1:06 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

In case of an emergency, coordinate with emergency services for passage through the work site. For questions regarding this closure, contact the DOT main line at (530) 621-5900 (select Option 3 for Engineering).

3:27 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

3:32 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Volcanoville Road in Georgetown.

4:18 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Bear Creek Road in Georgetown.

4:27 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a grocery store on Post Street in El Dorado Hills.

5:18 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Sienna Ridge Road in El Dorado Hills.

6:51 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Shakedown Street in Somerset.

Oct. 5

1:39 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a golf course on Westville Trail in Cool.

5:29 a.m. Petty theft was reported on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.

7:45 a.m. Grand theft was reported at a pharmacy on Green Valley Road in Cameron Park.

8:09 a.m. Battery was reported at a coffee shop on Saratoga Way in El Dorado Hills.

6:09 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Bear Rock Road in Placerville.

7:32 p.m. Trespassing was reported at the apartment complex on Greenwood n See CRIME LOG, page A9

Mountain Democrat file photo by Noel Stack

new Mosquito Bridge over the American River north of Placerville.

is safe.

Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack

Work continues on the Placerville Drive Pedestrian Connectivity Project. Next week, weather permitting, part of Placerville Drive will close and drivers will be detoured.

Cameron Park CSD hosts jolly holiday events

Mountain Democrat sta

The Cameron Park Community Services District recently hosted two special events to get residents in the holiday spirit.

The Friendsgiving Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Nov. 8 brought approximately 125 attendees to the Cameron Park Community Center in support of the Cameron Park Community Foundation. Its success was made possible through the generous support and donations of many community partners and contributors, noted CPCSD interim General Manager Maurice Johnson.

On Nov. 22 local artists, crafters and other vendors ﬁlled several rooms at the CSD campus with everything from 3D-printed dragons to holiday wreaths for the 2025 Christmas Craft Faire. Shoppers found great, unique gifts for those special people on their lists and supported small businesses throughout the region.

Up next is the Cameron Park Fire Department’s 2025 Santa Parade, Dec. 19-21. Santa rolls out from Station 89 at 5 p.m. sharp each night, making his merry way through Cameron Park neighborhoods.

Tahoe Fund launches ‘A Million for

Jessica Weaver News release

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Now that the former Motel 6 building, restaurant, and parking lot have been demolished from the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe, planning is under way to bring this wetland back to life. To support the next phase of this project, the Tahoe Fund announced “A Million for the Marsh” campaign to raise the first $1 million of private funds to help secure the public funds the California Tahoe Conservancy will need to revive this area and bring significant improvements to Lake Tahoe’s clarity.

“California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot called the acquisition and demolition of this site ‘the most important in a generation to protect Lake Tahoe,’ and we couldn’t agree more,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “That’s why we’re launching this campaign — so that our donors can show that taking the next step to restore this marsh matters to our community and to the future health of Lake Tahoe.”

The former Motel 6 property, which included 31 acres total, was acquired in March 2024 by the California Tahoe Conservancy with funding from the Conservancy, the

California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Tahoe Fund and the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

Last year, contributions from dozens of Tahoe Fund donors and major gifts from the Latrobe Foundation and the Robert S & Dorothy J Keyser Foundation brought in over $200,000 to support the demolition of the buildings on site, which was completed by the Department of General Services this fall.

“This project represents a oncein-a-generation chance to return a developed property to a thriving wetland that will actively protect Lake Tahoe,” said Jason Vasques, executive director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “Restoring this site will improve water quality, expand wildlife habitat and help secure the long-term resilience of the lake we all love.”

In addition to restoring the watershed and the native habitat, this project further advances the 2012 Lake Tahoe Regional Plan and Environmental Improvement Program by removing aging development from sensitive land and retiring or transferring development rights to town centers. Learn more and contribute to the project at tahoefund.org/ millionforthemarsh.

Photo courtesy of the California Tahoe Conservancy

the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe where an

Mountain Democrat photos by Noel Stack

Parents Dustin and Chelsey, left, enjoy the Friendsgiving Pancake Breakfast with their kids Calvin, 6, and Stephanie, 2. At right, Christmas Craft Faire shoppers browse the array of custom and handmade creations offered inside the Cameron Park Community Center on Nov. 22.

Lori Holloway, left, with Holloway and Daughters Custom Creations adjusts the 3D printed dragons at her family’s booth at the 2025 Christmas Craft Faire held at the CPCSD campus. At right, big smiles from the Cal Fire crew who served fresh-made pancakes, eggs and other goodies at the Friendsgiving Pancake Breakfast.

Liz Buys Houses Connects Home Sellers with Legitimate Cash Buyers Nationwide! No Repairs. No Fuss.

• Fair Cash O er

• Quick Closing

• No Realtor Fees

• No House Repairs

• Simple Home Sale

“Selling my home with Liz Buys Houses was a game-changer! Their expertise and support throughout the process were unparalleled. I couldn't have asked for a smoother sell. KUDOS to this amazing team!” -Michael Beck

We work fast and are ready to help with your sale. Call to see if our fast cash o er aligns with your home sale needs!

(877) 587−0467

LAKE TAHOE — The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency recently announced six transportation projects and transit services recommended to receive more than $11.4 million in federal and state funding this year through the agency’s Regional Grant Program. The grant awards will improve safety and outdoor recreation access, and reduce vehicle miles traveled in the Tahoe Basin, according to TRPA.

• Transportation improvement projects include:

• South Tahoe Greenway Trail – Upper Truckee River bridge at Johnson Meadow ($5,090,000)

• Nevada State Route 28 trail, transit, and safety improvements –Sand Harbor to Thunderbird Cove ($3,253,000)

• Tahoe City Complete Streets Improvements – Grove Street intersection pedestrian and bike safety, walkability, tra c circulation, and accessibility improvements ($1,400,000)

Transit service improvements include:

• South Shore free-to-the-user transit ($1,000,000)

• Emerald Bay summer transit and parking management project ($540,000)

• South Shore new evening transit service ($193,000)

In its dual role as Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization and Regional Transportation Planning Agency, TRPA allocates federal and state transportation funds every two years to priority projects listed in Connections 2050, the Regional Transportation Plan. Each project will advance regional goals for safer roads, cleaner air and water and improved transit services to get people to work and popular recreation areas without a car. The agency also released more than $340,000 in permit mitigation fees this year to local transportation and air quality improvement projects. To learn more about the projects receiving the awards visit trpa.gov/ transportation/funding/regionalgrant-program.

SACRAMENTO — California

State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways is now accepting grant applications from government agencies for the purchase and deployment of ﬂoating restrooms on lakes and reservoirs that have limited landside access. Federal and state funding totaling $1.2 million is available for approximately four ADA-compliant ﬂoating restrooms. Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit a grant application to DBW by noon on Monday, Dec. 19. The Floating Restroom Grant Program is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service O ce of Conservation Investment and California State Parks’ Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund. Since 1978, this program has awarded approximately $21 million to fund 294 units with an estimated 117 restrooms still deployed throughout California. The units available for the

2025-26 grant cycle were designed by a State Parks engineering group. Each ADA-compliant unit can be towed to shore for scheduled pumpouts or pumped out onsite by pumpout boats.

“The use of ﬂoating restrooms is another way to help reduce pollution on California’s waterways,” said DBW’s Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez. “We encourage government agencies to apply for this program. The ﬂoating restrooms are solar powered and the holding tanks capture about 500 gallons of sewage. That’s over 1 million gallons of sewage kept out of our waterways each year.”

For general information on the grant requirements and to access the online application visit dbw.parks. ca.gov/FloatingRestroomGrants. The competitive grant applications will be scored and ranked according to need, as well as the ability to operate and maintain the ﬂoating restroom(s) for at least 10 years. DBW expects to announce grant recipients in spring 2026.

Photo courtesy of Tahoe Resource Conservation District

Photo courtesy of DBW

floating restroom sits atop the water at Lake Crowley in

California State Parks News release

Armstrong gave heartfelt thanks to the many people, organizations, business and state and county government officials who worked tirelessly to fulfill the promise of a home for Mac and Cathie.

McNeil spoke to the crowd, thanking Representative Kevin Kiley and El Dorado County Planning and Building Department Director Karen Garner for their work adding with some bitterness, “The Feds and the state did nothing.”

MacNeil also praised Non-Profit Construction. “Caleb came along and put this together and this is the first and only house, including Paradise and the fires in Southern California. I don’t see the government doing anything,” he shared. “Caleb, he’s a miracle worker.”

Supervisor Turnboo handed over a key to the front door and Armstrong gave the couple a key to the back door before the couple went inside. They were surprised to see that gifts, purchased by Armstrong, that included a new set of pots and pans, a dog bed with a large bone, art supplies and snacks were laid out for them. Although they do not yet have any furniture, Cathie said she was not worried and explained they would be looking into Snowline Hospice’s program that provides free furniture to veterans.

“They did a wonderful job,” Cathie told the Mountain Democrat. “If we had to do this ourselves, I wouldn’t be able to stay retired.”

Community support

Armstrong acknowledged District 3 Congressional Representative Kevin Kiley’s work to expedite the construction company’s 501c3 status and for his continued efforts to “advocate that this community was unjustly denied FEMA individual assistance.” He thanked Assemblyman Joe Patterson and his office for providing technical assistance with the California Contractors State License Board and Sen. Alvarado-Gil for advocating for Grizzly Flat and all rural communities.

He also gave thanks for Turnboo’s hours of work on the project. “He has been an amazing advocate for this community,” Armstrongg shared, adding words of gratitude for El Dorado County Planning and Building Director Karen Garner and her staff for “the dedication to the Caldor Fire survivors and for their technical assistance.”

Armstrong took the time to thank each and every person, business and foundation who contributed time, labor, materials and technical support starting with John Siracusa of Siracorp who sponsored Non-Profit Construction’s first year of worker’s compensation. “Without John’s compassion for this opportunity, we would have never gotten started,” Armstron said. He noted Diamond Pacific and Brendan Page with Pacific Coast Suppliers for their contributions to the home package, without which, he said, “We would have faced tremendous odds.” Armstrong said Chris Meyers and family of High Sierra and Motherlode Rock and Ready Mix were “in all truth, the foundation of this project, donating over 27 yards of concrete so this home would stand the test of time.” Armstrong said when he asked Eagle Roofing if they could “chip in some way,” he said they replied, ‘No, we’ll chip in all the way.’ The company covered every bit of material and labor.” He acknowledged Max McDonald of MP Electric and the company’s contribution of materials, labor and volunteers, saying it was “absolutely shocking to learn of his amount of heart and love for those in need.” Armstrong said Chris D’Angelo and D’Angelo Construction did a “stand-up job when raising the walls of the home.”

Soren Christensen of Christensen Heating and Air received thanks for providing the 750-square-foot home with a top-of-the-line heating and

Projects Continued from A1

to meet current 4-foot standards. Savage told the council the city plans a 3-foot ramp, the width of the existing sidewalk, which the resident who filed the grievance has reviewed. “He was satisfied with the narrow sidewalk width,” she said, adding that he “expressed gratitude to the engineering department for reviewing and addressing his concerns.”

The second repair site, at 459 Main St., involves sidewalk and curb sections lifted by the roots of a now-removed street tree. Savage said multiple complaints had been received about the tripping hazard, and the scale of the concrete

air system. “They are sure to have the coolest house around this summer.”

He expressed appreciation for Joe Barnes and Jeff Dukes at BID Construction for handling all phases of the plumbing, “From under ground to finish fixtures. Without your sponsorship, all of our contributions would have gone down the drain.”

Armstrong went on to thank Hunt Propane, which donated to the build and made the commitment to donate a full tank of propane and one year of free service to every Title 25 home built by Non-Profit Construction in Grizzly Flat. “The level of commitment and dedication to your community and our mission is out of this world,” Armstrong said. “Your work is vital in providing this couple and this veteran a home where they can take hot showers and cook meals in the comfort of their new home. Without Hunt Propane our plans of getting Mac and Cathy in before Thanksgiving would have tanked entirely.”

Cameron David and his brother from 3D Tile, a family run business out of Cool, provided the tile installation. Edwards A-1 Appliance, Armstron noted, was “adamant about providing this home, these survivors of the Caldor Fire with new appliances. This was an immense boost that we needed because we knew they needed new appliances but didn’t know how that was going to be possible.”

Armstrong thanked John Harrod of Mr. Itchy’s Insulation for “doing a job none of us wanted to do.” He said the insulation of the home was done to code in one day free of charge and that the company has committed to insulating every one of the Title 25 homes. The crew of the Upper Room was thanked for bringing their food truck to both the groundbreaking and key ceremony and, Armstrong added, for “your dedication to those in need throughout El Dorado County. Your mission is truly beautiful.”

Wilkinson Portables Site Services received thanks for providing their service making the construction site code compliant and for servicing the couple’s RVs “with the utmost service and community care.” Erin Izen and Courtney Smith of the Home Depot Foundation were thanked for “outstanding technical assistance, providing materials at cost and for working with us through challenges as they presented themselves.” Armstrong said the team was “dedicated to seeing this project through in every way possible.”

The El Dorado Community Foundation was acknowledged for providing the first grant toward the build. Armstrong said, “Key seed funding demonstrated the potential impact of the project.” He also thanked Frank Porter and the board members of Housing El Dorado for providing the second grant — “crucial in steadily furthering this project.”

Armstrong showed appreciation to the El Dorado Board of Supervisors, the Veteran Affairs Commission and

replacement exceeds what city crews can handle in house.

Cox General Engineering’s proposal includes $21,500 for the Bedford Avenue curb ramp and $10,318 for Main Street repairs. The project is categorically exempt under CEQA, and a notice of exemption was filed Nov. 4. Placerville resident Sue Rodman told the council she had “tripped several times” on the damaged Main Street sidewalk and is “really glad to see these come under repair.”

Council members voiced support for the plan and approved the contract without opposition. Work is expected to begin soon.

the TOT grants committee for the $20,000 grant that, he said, “assisted in every phase of construction. Without local grant opportunities we would not be able to support our veterans and provide critical services.”

Cyndi Romano and the El Dorado Association of Realtors Honor Our Troops Committee were acknowledged for their efforts.

Armstrong said, “When we reached out to Cyndi, she was immediately excited to hear about our work. The grant and donation to the lumber package was an immense boost to this project’s potential.” He also gave thanks to the family of the late District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl, saying, “John and his family adamantly supported services for our veterans.”

“Federated Church of Placerville, Reverend Barnes and the ministry she leads made not one but two contributions to the project’s materials when one of our main sponsors was unable to carry out their portion of sponsorship to the project,” Armstrong continued. “I cannot thank you enough for reminding us that faith is not just a warm feeling. It is a practice carried out day after day.”

Armstrong thanked his construction lead and nonprofit Vice President Nick Siracusa for his leadership, for believing in the vision and his

dedication to every project Non-Profit Construction does in the community. He made sure to thank each worker individually for their outstanding work, including Teresa Bonetti, the CFO and bookkeeper, noting that keeping in compliance with a 501c3 is, he said, “no small task, especially working with contractors. We all have squirrel brains!” Lastly, news media, including local television stations and the Mountain Democrat, received thanks. At the end of the presentation all the sponsors who were present and the construction workers gathered for a group photo.

Garner said she and her staff are currently working with about a dozen Grizzly Flat residents who have already been issued a permit for a Title 25 home or are in the process of doing so. “We believe there may be about a dozen more families out there who may want to participate but are waiting to see how it works for others,” Garner shared. “There are some people who have moved away but may want to come back with this program.

“I am so pleased that Caleb Armstrong and his nonprofit have been able to build the first Title 25 home for Mac and Cathie,” she continued. “It takes wonderful and caring people like Caleb to help in this effort.”

A row of bird houses collected by Cathie Adams stands on a base made from pallets against a stark landscape of trees burned in the 2021 Caldor Fire in Grizzly Flat.

Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

OPINION

California Matters

A spate of new studies gives the lowdown on California’s skyhigh living costs

We Californians know, or should know, that while living in this state has many positive aspects, we are paying through the nose for the experience.

A ﬂurry of recent studies drives home how deeply California residents must dig to meet costs of living that are either at or near the highest of any state.

One comes from the Legislative Analyst’s O ce, the Legislature’s advisor on the state budget, delving into the astronomic costs of buying a home.

The LAO study found, “California home prices far exceed the rest of the country.” Mid-tier homes, those roughly in the middle of the price range, are more than twice as expensive as the typical mid-tier home elsewhere in the U.S. Monthly payments for such homes run about $5,500 in California, 74% more than what they were 25 years ago.

The study also found that the annual household income needed to qualify for a mortgage on a mid-tier California home in September was about $221,000 — more than two times the median California household income in 2024, which was $102,000. For a bottom-tier home, about $136,000 in annual income is needed to qualify for a mortgage — about 33% higher than median household income was in 2024.

The data illustrate why California has the second lowest rate of home ownership in the nation. Just 55.3% of Californians live in homes they or their families own, slightly higher than New York’s ownership rate.

The California Farm Bureau recently revealed that a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people this week will cost a California family $72.61, well above the national average of $55.18.

It’s not surprising that hundreds of thousands of California residents, unable to aspire to home ownership, have decamped for more a ordable states, such as Texas, where home prices are a fraction of California’s.

Those who do migrate to other states ﬁnd not only are houses much less expensive but fuel for their cars and utilities to light, heat and cool their homes are markedly less expensive.

The Center for Jobs & the Economy, an o shoot of the California Business Roundtable, continuously monitors energy costs in California and other states. Its latest report says gasoline, averaging $4.64 a

The Balancing Act

Letters to the Editor

Join EDSO in its holiday mission

EDITOR:

As the holidays approach, I’d like to personally invite you to join me, my sta , the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce and the Food Bank of El Dorado County in helping make the season brighter for local children and families in need.

Each year, the Sheri ’s O ce hosts our Toys from the Bearcat holiday toy drive. We collect new, unwrapped toys for children right here in El Dorado County. Following the event, our deputies will deliver the toys — in our Bearcat (our armored rescue vehicle) — to low-income communities throughout the county. It is one of our favorite traditions and a powerful reminder of what community is truly about.

I’m asking for your help in collecting toys and bringing them to the event on Dec. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the food bank, 4550 Business Drive in Shingle Springs. Your participation will help spread the spirit of giving across our community and bring joy to children who might otherwise go without.

Thank you for your verbosity and for standing with us in making a di erence this holiday season — right here in El Dorado County.

JEFF LEIKAUF

Allegiance to the Constitution

EDITOR:

Iwas surprised to see a group of representatives and senators come together to remind our military members of their obligation to disobey unlawful orders from their superior o cers. To those of us who have served, it goes without saying that we are not only expected to do this but are actually required to do so.

An example would be: if ordered by a superior o cer to execute a prisoner of war we must refuse to comply. So, it comes as a surprise that our president would actually suggest that these members of Congress could somehow be guilty of sedition and therefore should be executed.

Sadly, I’m afraid what has really been suggested

America has kings, but Donald Trump

Our president, whoever it is, can never be a king. Every four years America elects a new president; kings are usually for life and have complete power. But there are kings in this country (so to speak). They are the 865 federal judges that sit on the Supreme (nine judges), Appeals (179 judges) and District (677 judges) courts. All of these judges are appointed for life (like a king) and are appointed by politics; there are no elections or term limits. When the president and Congress are Democrats, you only get judges who are Democrats and leftist. When it’s Republican controlled, you get Republican and more conservative judges. Many judges are selected or recommended by senators or congressman from their districts, but it is all political. Judges are suppose to

serve at the will of their appointee, the president.

The thinking behind lifetime appointments by the Founding Fathers was they wanted federal judges not to be subject to elections and politics. Unfortunately, because they are appointed by politicians and usually have a political background, as can be read by their prior decisions and actions, federal judges are a political animal.

One way to limit this problem is to end judge shopping, mostly used by Democrats, so obvious decisions made up out of whole cloth by judges such as James E. Boasberg of the D.C. court are stopped. And the rulings out o the District of Columbia, which is just 68 square miles, should be limited to just that, 68 square miles, and not the rest of America’s 3.6 million square miles. Take the recent case in which a

There have been dozens of rulings enjoining presidential authority by politically inclined federal district judges who act as kings ...

district judge, whose district only encompasses a few thousand square miles, makes a ruling that e ects the entire country, e ectively a nationwide ruling. It has happened perhaps a hundred times already when supposed, alleged king Donald Trump gets an executive order enjoined (overruled) by a federal judge. In that case who is the king?

One order was about the food stamp program, which has 42 million recipients buying coke, candy and cakes with your hundreds of billions of dollars. The president claimed that until the government has a budget, he couldn’t spend any unbudgeted money and SNAP money is part of the current budget which hadn’t passed Congress. (It passed Congress and was signed into law on Nov. 12). An an Obama appointed judge overruled the president. Who’s the king? How could our president be

considered a king when his orders get overruled by one of 677 district court judges? A king has absolute power, so who is the king? It appears to be district court judges. They were not elected president, but appear to have absolute power over the head of the executive branch of government.

Chief executives of an organization control the disbursements and hire and ﬁre employees. They set policy as well. That’s their job. So when the president ﬁres non-union, probationary employees he should have the power to do so. He is the chief executive; it’s his job. He runs and administers what happens in this country.

Why should some district judge (I’m not going to get into “judge-shopping” just yet) have the power to overrule the orders of the president in his

El Dorado County Sheri

DAN WALTERS

LARRY WEITZMAN

other states. California’s electrical power rates are roughly twice as high. Another take on California living costs comes from the Transparency Foundation, a conservative economic think tank. It gathered a wide variety of factors and calculated living costs for an upper-middle class California family with a $130,000 annual income. It concluded the family would pay $29,753 more per year than the national average for housing, utilities, health care, taxes and other costs of living.

“This report should be a wake-up call to all Californians, that they are being unfairly punished by the bad policies imposed on them by their politicians — and they are literally paying the price for it,” Dave McCulloch, the foundation’s chairman, said in a statement about the report.

A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California conﬁrms that Californians worry about living costs. Nearly a third of those polled said they, or someone in their household, have reduced food purchases to save money.

The California Farm Bureau recently revealed that

a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people this week will cost a California family $72.61, well above the national average of $55.18.

Finally, there’s a new report from WalletHub, a website devoted to personal ﬁnance, implying that Californians are taking on more debt to pay their rising bills.

In this year’s third quarter — July through September — the average California household added $880 in new debt, increasing the total owed to $259,773, second only to residents of Hawaii. All together, Californians’ personal debt increased by $11.8 billion during the quarter. Now it’s nearly $3.2 trillion, just a bit lower than their $3.6 trillion in annual personal income.

A truly staggering number.

Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonproﬁt, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

executive administration of America? That’s what he was elected to do. He wasn’t appointed or became president by birthright; he was elected by a majority of the people and by the electoral college.

Many of these judge-shopped (judge shopping is when you ﬁle cases in a district or the district politically assigns the case with politically favorable judges) politically appointed, leftist, Democrat judges will be overruled by a higher authority — an appeals judge. They too, are politically appointed and will vote the way of their political leanings, upholding or overturning the district judge’s injunction rulings of presidential authority.

There have been dozens of rulings enjoining presidential authority by politically inclined federal district judges who act as kings appointed by Democratic presidents. They make up specious reasoning to support their rulings instead of following the law. They have absolute power and kingly authority to do so. In their domain, there authority is absolute. So, again, who are the kings?

In one case recently, the Supreme Court, the ultimate authority in America, ruled that district court injunctions are not nationwide but limited to the district in which the judge presides. However that ruling had a loophole which stated if the case were a class action (claiming potential plainti s from all over the country) injunctions of presidential power would be nationwide. So all a district judge has to do since he has the authority to declare if a suit is a class action, is declare these lawsuits class actions. Let’s hope the Supreme Court rectiﬁes its original ruling. There are several cases before SCOTUS that will have wide-ranging e ect on presidential power. They are the ultimate kings. Let’s see how they rule. There is no appeal at that point.

Larry Weitzman is a former El Dorado County resident.

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 CribbersWe Play - We Teach - We Have Fun Wednesdays 4:00 PM Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the

month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information. GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School,

SPORTS Lady Cougars going the distance

Monsters score for foundation

West Slope Foundation News release

West Slope Foundation has announced its partnership with the Tahoe Knight Monsters hockey team for the entire 2025–26 season. This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities across rural areas.

For years, West Slope Foundation has led efforts in disaster preparedness, response and recovery — providing critical training, education and support to survivors. Through this exciting partnership, foundation leaders invite the hockey fans, businesses and sponsors to join them in making a lasting impact.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Tahoe Knight Monsters and invite fans to join us in building stronger, more resilient communities,” said Scot Telfer, executive director of West Slope Foundation.

“Together, we can make a lasting impact and

provide hope to those who need it most,” added Jennifer McKim-Hibbard, deputy director.

Support the partnership

Hockey fans can purchase game tickets using a special link or QR Code and 20% of the ticket price will be donated directly to West Slope Foundation to fund disaster preparedness and recovery programs.

Get tickets for any game this season at gofevo. com/event/Westslope420251028-100445030.

Save the date

Join the nonprofit at the Tahoe Knight Monsters’ home game on April 1, 2026, where West Slope Foundation will be recognized as a featured nonprofit partner for the night. Stop by the booth in the concourse to meet the team and learn more about how the foundation team serves the community. Get tickets for the April 1 game at gofevo.com/ event/Westslope2.

About West Slope Foundation

West Slope Foundation is dedicated to helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Through collaboration, innovation and compassion, the foundation team provides essential training, education and support to those affected by such disasters. For more details visit westslopefoundation.org.

OUTSIDE WITH CHARLIE

Ski season is here November quietly gives way to December

after giving us brilliant autumn colors, rain, wind, snow and Thanksgiving. Autumn will give over to winter on Dec. 21, the winter solstice, shortest day of the year, hopefully bringing a lot of snow to our slice of the Sierra Nevada.

After a long wait since last winter, it is skiing time. There is an amazing variety of snowy mountain areas, spanning a wide variety of ski areas — each one different than the others, except for the snow of course.

Alpine or downhill, skiing rules the slopes. Ski resorts are big and complex places, offering a stunning array of services.

We have two downhill resorts in El Dorado County. Sierra-at-Tahoe is right off Highway 50, close to Echo Summit. Heavenly Mountain Resort is in the Tahoe Basin, off Saddle Road in South Lake Tahoe. The next closest resort is Kirkwood, located off of Highway 88 in Alpine County. There are plenty of others.

Terrain ranges from gentle slopes known as bunny hills, to not too weirdly steep trails for the intermediate types, to some pretty radical steep terrain for the experts.

What is common to all is a spot in the mountains with a lot of snow. Lodges, robust food service, rental gear of all sorts, retail shops, lessons, National Ski Patrollers, groomed and not groomed trails, large parking areas and ski lifts to take you to the top of the trails is what you’ll find at these resorts.

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Sacramento Kings, making them the one of the few NBA teams to feature a land acknowledgement at games.

Chairwoman Regina Cuellar created a video, playing at Kings home games at Golden 1 Center, recognizing the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands the arena and city of Sacramento occupy.

“We are grateful to the Sacramento Kings for this meaningful partnership and opportunity to share our history and our enduring connection to this land,” said Chairwoman Cuellar.

“As the original inhabitants of Sacramento, we acknowledge the land we are sharing at this very moment is the unceded homeland of our Nísem Péwinan ancestors, and neighboring Nisenan, Patwin and Miwok people,” she continued. “I welcome you to our homelands.”

There’s a wide variety of ski shapes, sizes and reasons for choosing what suits you and your skiing ability. Skis today are generally shorter than they used to be, are shaped with a narrow middle, weigh less and are far easier for learning to ski. They do not eliminate face plants though.

Rental skis at the resorts are suited for a wide variety of skiers, as are the boots. Whatever your skill level is, they have you covered.

The resort demo shops have skis that are a bit different. They can be more radical in shape and size — better for advanced skiers to push their limits.

Ski boots for downhill skis lock down, toe and heel, to the binding. Those bindings release if you get past your skill level and find yourself crashing

The message acknowledges that Golden 1 Center and the city of Sacramento rest on traditional and ancestral Nisenan homelands. This recognition honors the unique and continuing relationship that exists

the

Continued from A8

onto the snow. This is sometimes called a garage sale, much to the delight of everyone on the lifts above you who see this — skis, poles off on their own while you brush the snow off your face. Applause may greet you as you get up.

The other type of skiing is Nordic, commonly known as cross country. Cross country skis have a few varieties too. At larger cross country resorts there’s a lodge, with food that ranges from pretty extensive to just a variety of snacks. Kirkwood XC and Royal Gorge fit this model. They have rental shops, groomed trails and lessons.

Groomed trails have a wide middle, bordered by tracks. The tracks are for kicking and gliding, the wide middle is for skate type skiing. Both are done on really skinny skis. Only the toe of cross country ski boots lock down to the skis. That’s the reason that XC skiing is referred to as “free heel” skiing.

Those skinny skis will work in the backcountry, outside of the XC resorts. XC skis for the backcountry though are shorter, shaped and wider. The entire cross country experience is vastly different than downhill skiing at a resort. No lifts will take you up to

Crime log

7:48

Oct. 6

5:52

Placerville.

Continued from A2

7:24 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a gas station on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

1:26 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Carson Road in Camino.

1:54 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

4:25 p.m. Burglary was reported on Rhodes Avenue in Placerville. An arrest was made.

4:55 p.m. Battery was reported on Valley View Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

7:12 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

7:15 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Ridgeway Drive in Pollock Pines.

7:24 p.m. Vandalism was reported on San Sorrento Street in El Dorado Hills.

Oct. 7

9:10 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Volcanoville Road in Georgetown.

10:06 a.m. Battery was reported on

the top of anything, no groomed trails or lodges. There are different types of backcountry techniques. Telemark and randonee differ from free heel.

The boots for Telemark and randonee are more like downhill boots. The bindings are different. The toe locks down for most travel. Heading downhill the heel locks down. Some Telemark skiers free heel it all the way though, with traditional XC boots and bindings.

Cross country fans have some choices as well. Kirkwood XC Center is off Highway 88 at Kirkwood, and features groomed trails and a small lodge, rentals and lessons.

Camp Richardson Mountain Sports is on Emerald Bay road in South Lake Tahoe, across from Jameson Road. They have XC and snowshoe rentals and some groomed trails.

Differences between Alpine and Nordic skiing? There are lots of people at downhill resorts, pretty busy places. For the Nordic skiers, not very many people out in the thousands of acres of forest, far less busy, and it’s quiet.

Skiing, Alpine and Nordic, offers a great time outdoors, slipping and sliding about on the snow. Gear up and do the snow dance. Leave no trace. Get outside!

Forni Road in Placerville. 10:28 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a park on Bottle Hills Bypass Road in Georgetown.

11:16 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Rubicon Road in Georgetown.

1:39 p.m. Grand theft was reported on State Highway 49 in Pilot Hill.

2:19 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Star Lane in Georgetown.

2:58 p.m. Burglary was reported on Chatee Lane in Rescue.

4:43 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

5:29 p.m. Battery was reported on Mystic Mine Road in Somerset.

6:03 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

7:06 p.m. Battery was reported at a senior living community on Ponte Morino Drive in Cameron Park.

9:35 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a person suspected of possessing a stolen vehicle, shoplifting, trespassing, obstructing a peace officer, possessing a controlled substance and probation violation on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. They were listed in custody.

Oct. 8

7:40 a.m. Grand theft was reported on

Tribe Continued from A8

between the Tribe and traditional territories. The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians joins Indigenous communities across the country whose voices are being heard in the NBA and at other major sporting venues including the MLB, NFL and NHL.

“When thousands of people gather

Letters Continued from A6 is that members of the military should pledge allegiance not to the Constitution but to the president. This must never be the case or the country we swore allegiance to defend to the death has ceased to exist.

ROB PURDIE Col., USAF (Ret.), Cameron Park

Restore our relationship with Cuba

EDITOR:

et me start by saying how happy

LI am that President Trump has moved numerous carrier task forces to the western hemisphere. Our country’s leadership has allowed China and Russia to infiltrate our backyard for too long. And I have written many times that Narcoterrorists are terrorists and should

COMICS

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

Pleasant Valley Road in Placerville.

9:40 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a laundromat on State Highway 193 in Georgetown.

1:36 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a person suspected of violating probation on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. They were listed in custody.

2:27 p.m. Burglary was reported on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.

3:23 p.m.Trespassing was reported on Wagon View Trail in Diamond Springs.

5:31 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Faith Lane in Diamond Springs.

9:41 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a gas station on Carson Road in Camino.

10:04 p.m. Battery was reported at a grocery store on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. An arrest was made.

10:06 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a casino on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.

Oct. 9

5:42 a.m. Battery was reported at the county jail on Forni Road in Placerville. An arrest was made.

8:26 a.m. Vandalism was reported at the county jail on Forni Road in n See CRIME LOG, page A10

for a Kings game, it creates a powerful opportunity for education and reflection,” explained Cuellar. “Sports venues are community gathering places and land acknowledgements help remind everyone whose land we share and the Indigenous peoples who continue to contribute to our communities today.”

be dealt with as such. Blow them up from the air, land and sea. Now, with that said, it is time to take a different approach to Cuba, and I think Trump is just the man to do it. Remove all economic restrictions and use them as a social experiment of fitting capitalism against totalitarianism. Cuba isn’t governed any differently than Canada, New York or California. Why allow the good people of Cuba to suffer? JFK established Castro in Cuba, and the people have suffered ever since. The U.S. has created Cuba into what it is today. How well is that going? Trump is excellent at reimagining political turmoil around the world. I believe it’s time to normalize relations with Cuba for the sake of its children and ours.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Something new has your full attention, and it feels good to be lit up again. Just remember to look up from your project now and then. The people who love you most want to share in your excitement, too.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Someone’s pattern of letting you down has begun to weigh on you. Instead of holding it in, bring gentle honesty to the situation. If things don’t change, you’ll know it’s time to seek the care and consistency you deserve.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Relationships don’t stay strong by accident. It depends on how they are grown and protected. They thrive when people nurture trust, honesty, curiosity and time together. Neglect makes love brittle; care makes it resilient.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve taken on a job and figured out how to do it in your own very specific way. Someone gets what you’re doing and respects your approach. Their recognition will benefit you in more ways than one today.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Today you’re like an actor with the good lines. With dialogue this sharp, you don’t need to perform much; just say the words that come to you and make your exit. Brevity is always welcome because most people are in it for the action scenes.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll feel a surge of creativity after you tidy up. Clean surfaces brighten your thoughts and signal to your subconscious (and anyone who drops by) that all is well and ready for beauty to unfold.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Minding your own business

is a challenge with so many wanting you to mind theirs. Attention-grabs abound, but you have a talent for tuning it out today so you can focus on solving problems and creating your own success.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When something doesn’t work out, you don’t take it personally — any more than a puzzle piece would resent not fitting every shape. You trust that the right connection will click naturally, and that trust is your peace.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Instead of imagining what others see when they look at you, you make it your job to know. You practice in a mirror; you self-tape; you ask. You’ll enjoy this process of discovery, since what others are seeing today is validating.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ve been trying so hard to time things perfectly and say all the right words. It’s exhausting! Don’t quit, just pause. Take a breath, loosen your grip, and let your mind wander. Clarity comes when pressure lifts. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some people are just harder to understand. That’s why you feel proud to finally be able to accurately read and predict a person — not only what they say, but the silences, too. Those pauses will

SUDOKU

Charlie

Photo by C. Ferris

Cross country skiers have opportunities to explore throughout

Sierra. Hope Valley is a lovely place to start.

Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

A scarecrow couple on a Fergusson 35 Diesel Deluxe tractor and tiller appear to be hard at work tending to a vineyard on Gold Hill Road north of Placerville.

IN THE KNOW

A Victorian Christmas comes to life

El Dorado County Historical Society News release

This December, the Bee Bennett Mansion, 643 Bee St. in Placerville, (now known as Sequoia) will open its doors to the public for one unforgettable night, offering a rare chance to step directly into the warmth, wonder and magic of a living Dickens-era Christmas.

On Thursday, Dec. 4 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., the El Dorado County Historical Society will host Spirits of Christmas Past, an immersive holiday fundraiser that transforms one of Placerville’s most storied homes into a glittering yuletide scene straight out of “A Christmas Carol.”

eateries and a visit from Santa Claus at T.W. Bonkers. For more information visit cityofplacerville.org.

Olde Coloma Theatre presents “Thrice Upon a North Pole Christmas” ... Or ... “Get Lost, Jack Frost!” through Dec. 21. For tickets and more information go to oldecolomatheatre.com.

Brandon Lee King will perform, 4-6 p.m., “Into the Woods” Cast Meet and Greet will take place from 6-8 p.m. and U.B.U Rave & Club Night will take place, 8 p.m. to midnight at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Nick Eng Band will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley presents Django Festival All Stars featuring Veronica Swift at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.

Nov. 29 Imagination Theatre at the El Dorado Fairgrounds in Placerville presents “Into the Woods” through Dec. 21. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.

Jackpot + Sarah Bethe Nelson +Brocky will perform, 7-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Rockify will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Toogood Winery will host a Private Reserve Wine Tasting at 11:30 a.m. and again on Sunday, same time. For more information visit toogoodwinery.com.

n See KNOW, page B7

The evening’s magic begins the moment guests ascend the walkway and enter the mansion’s grand foyer, where flickering candlelight, evergreen garlands and the scent of mulled cider evoke Christmases of long ago. From there, visitors will wander through richly decorated rooms filled with live Dickens carolers, Father and Mother Christmas, and the “spirits” of early El Dorado County pioneers, each sharing heartfelt and humorous stories of holidays past in California’s Gold Country.

In a rare and deeply personal touch, the mansion’s most notable mistress, Mrs. Mary Cordelia “Mollie” Bennett, will be portrayed by her great granddaughter, guiding guests through the home as though welcoming them back for a family Christmas gathering.

Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy festive hors d’oeuvres, artisan holiday desserts and seasonal beverages including champagne, mulled cider, hot chocolate and coffee. Each attendee will receive one complimentary glass of champagne, with unlimited hot drinks served.

A cash bar will also offer hot toddies and other seasonal libations.

“This program builds on the immersive historical events our community has loved, but takes the experience to an entirely new level,” said Sean Manwaring, programming and events chair for the Historical Society.

“It weaves together local history, holiday tradition, storytelling and community inside one of Placerville’s most beautiful and iconic historical homes. It truly feels like stepping back in time.”

This unique Victorian holiday experience featuring little known stories of Placerville’s Christmas pasts in full Dickens style is happening here in historical Placerville for all to enjoy, he added.

Tickets are available at edchs.org or by calling (530) 626 0773.

All net proceeds support the El Dorado County Historical Society’s mission to preserve local history and fund operations at the historical Fountain & Tallman Museum on Main Street in Placerville. With limited capacity and a one night only showing, early ticket purchase is strongly encouraged.

Discover the magic of the season at Sac Waterfront

Traci Rockefeller Cusack News release

SACRAMENTO — The Old Sacramento Waterfront will once again shine bright this holiday season as downtown’s most spirited destination for shopping, entertainment and festive fun. With its twinkling décor, 60-foot holiday tree, beloved Theatre of Lights performances, pedestrian-friendly streets and growing lineup of interactive experiences, the waterfront is where Sacramento comes together to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

Located just steps from Golden 1 Center and the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink,

Old Sacramento Waterfront offers a walkable, vibrant neighborhood full of small businesses, holiday activities and one-of-a-kind photo moments that make the season merry and bright.

Now in its 17th year, Theatre of Lights returns brighter than ever, with new Sunday performances added for 2025. This free, familyfriendly light show transforms the balconies of Old Sacramento Waterfront into a live holiday stage, blending a retelling of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” with stories from Sacramento’s history. Narrated by Disney voice legend Bill Farmer (Goofy) and created by Stage Nine Exhibitions’ Troy Carlson, the show continues to be one of Sacramento’s most beloved traditions.

Lineup

Theatre of lights

Theatre of Lights, produced by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and sponsored by the Sacramento Kings, is a free, immersive performance retelling of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” in a uniquely Sacramento way on

the balconies of Old Sacramento Waterfront. Guests can enjoy two performances each Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and now a special Sunday show at 6:30 p.m. every weekend from Nov. 28 through Dec. 21. There will be two special show dates on Dec. 23, with shows at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 24 with one show at 6:30 p.m. To increase accessibility, an American Sign Language interpreter will be on-site for Saturday evening Theatre of Lights performances throughout the season and the final show on Dec. 24.

Holiday bingo card

The district is home to more than 150 small businesses, each ready to help shoppers find the perfect holiday gift. This year, visitors can support local merchants in a new way with the Old Sacramento Waterfront Holiday Bingo Card. Guests can explore the district’s shops, restaurants and attractions while collecting stickers for the bingo card. Completed cards can be entered for a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to The Polar Express Train Ride in 2026 along with other

festive prizes.

North Pole safari

Ten festive artifacts have mysteriously appeared across the Old Sacramento Waterfront, but which Christmas characters do they belong to? Embark on a North Pole Safari to find out. Guests can follow one of two themed routes — the Workshop Route or the Winterwood Route — to uncover holiday magic. Scan QR codes at each trail marker to reveal 3D artifacts and their owners in augmented reality. Collect all five artifacts on either route to claim a prize, or complete both to become an official North Pole Explorer and unlock bonus digital gifts.

Holidays on K

New this year, Holidays on K expands to both Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 29 through Dec. 21. Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., K Street will become a pedestrianonly zone, inviting visitors to stroll, shop and play amid the festive backdrop of Old Sacramento Waterfront.

From 1-4 p.m., enjoy live music while relaxing in al fresco seating. The street will also feature a Letters to Santa station, interactive building blocks, mobile library carts and family-friendly games, creating a lively outdoor experience for all ages. For more information visit oldsacramento. com.

Courtesy photo

Victorian carolers will entertain during Historical Society’s event, Spirits of Christmas Past: An Immersive Dickens Journey in Placerville at the grand Bee Bennett Mansion, 643 Bee St. in Placerville, Dec. 4 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Photo by Natalie Dolan

A free, immersive performance retelling of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” will be presented on the balconies of Old Sacramento Waterfront.

F ables take to the stage

Imagination Theater strolls ‘Into the Woods’

Odin Rasco Mountain Democrat correspondent

Fairy tales are usually selfcontained and happen in a sort of narrative vacuum; Hansel and Gretel don’t have an uneventful walk in the woods because the big bad wolf snacked on a stray witch on his way to devour Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, for instance. But in Imagination Theater’s newest show, a staging of James Lapine (book) and Stephen Sondheim’s (music and lyrics) classic “Into the Woods,” the fables interact and overlap, their different plots weaving together like the vines of a giant beanstalk.

The plot is an entertaining mashup of well-known tales like “Rapunzel,” “Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella” and more, but be warned — some of the story beats can get pretty Grimm, with death and madness seeming to lurk behind every tree and branch in the titular woods. But there’s a ray of hope that descends from the canopy, and a combination of moving themes that have made “Into the Woods” such a well-loved play since it first hit the stage in 1986 when it earned 10 Tony nominations with three wins along with multiple other accolades.

“I think it’s just one of the most beautiful stories in musical theater,” Ari Galindo, who plays Cinderella, attested. “I think it sheds light on the importance of chosen family — what you wish for in a family, and what you get because your family is not just who you were born with. It has a lot of underlying themes to it and you don’t really see it until it all comes together in the end. I hope there’s some people where this is their first show and they take something from it.”

The go-to for community-produced theater for more than 25 years, Imagination Theater (located in the El Dorado Fairgrounds next to the Forni Building) is looking to set a high bar with this production. The cast, crew and creative team have been giving their all to make “Into the Woods” one of the most memorable shows IT has ever done. It’s been a lot of hard work — rehearsals have been going on for months, including weeks upon weeks of focused vocal training to help the cast nail Sondheim’s difficult music.

“It is a monstrous undertaking,” director Marc Bonham said. “The

show itself is incredibly difficult in the way that the story is told, how the blocking is done and the music itself is very challenging. This cast has worked incredibly hard to pull it off.”

Bonham and the rest of the creative team, including assistant director Kate Barba, have been working behind the scenes for months before the first rehearsal even began.

“I’ve been working on the show for a little over a year,” Bonham explained. “We started blocking the show in June, and we had our first round of meetings about set construction and music directors shortly thereafter. It’s been great. I love working with Kate, my assistant director; she’s fantastic. Without Kate, this show wouldn’t happen. Period.”

The effort put into the production is apparent from the moment the audience sees the stage, with a beautifully designed and handpainted backdrop made by Trish Abbott.

The performances are also poised to blow the audience away, with some fantastic singers and actors returning to the stage after years away for the chance to do the beloved Broadway hit.

“The last show I was in was almost nine or 10 years ago,” recounted For Music’s Sake’s Caitlyn Miller, a local vocal coach and music instructor who plays the Baker’s Wife. “‘Into the Woods’ is one of my favorites, for sure, and Baker’s Wife was a bucket list character for me. I am kind of a sucker for Sondheim in general, so I was very excited about the show.”

Casey Ellis, performing arts teacher at the Crocker House, returns to the stage for only the second time in a decade to play Prince Charming. Other than Ellis’s performance in last year’s locally-written and produced “Closer to Home,” he hasn’t been in a play for over a decade.

“‘Into the Woods’ was the first Broadway soundtrack I listened to from start to finish; for a long time it was my favorite musical,” Ellis explained. “I’ve had every song from the show memorized, except for the ones that I have to sing now; Caitlyn has actually taught me most of the songs from this show in the past.”

“Into the Woods” at Imagination Theater opens Saturday, Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 21 with shows on Fridays through Sundays. Tickets are available at itplacerville.org.

Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco

The cast of Imagination Theater’s “Into the Woods” is ready for opening night this evening at 7 p.m.

Starfield Vineyards

Starfield Vineyards is giving holiday hosts a head start on standout Thanksgiving dishes with a collection of chef-crafted recipes designed to elevate the holiday table. Each dish includes a suggested Starfield wine pairing to complement its flavors. Recipes and photographs may be credited to Starfield Vineyards. More at starfieldvineyards.com/ recipes.

Savory stuffed pumpkin with sausage and cornbread

A visually striking baked mini pumpkin filled with rich sausage and cornbread and

finished with brown butter sage vinaigrette.

Ingredients

Mini pumpkins

6 mini pumpkins Rock salt for baking

Sausage

1.5 pounds pork butt

2 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cornbread

1 1/4 cups milk

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tablespoon canola oil

Stuffing

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 1/2 stalks celery, diced small

1/3 medium onion, diced small

1 to 2 1/2 cups chicken stock

Directions

Pumpkins

Heat oven to 350º F.

Cover a rimmed baking tray with a thick layer of rock salt. Set mini pumpkins on the salt. Cover with foil and bake 90 minutes or until tender but still holding shape. Cut the tops off and scoop out seeds and some flesh, leaving about 1/2 inch of flesh.

Cornbread

Heat oven to 425º F.

Warm a cast iron pan with 1 tablespoon canola oil for 5 minutes.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Pour batter into the hot pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Sausage

You may substitute store-bought mild Italian ground sausage. Dice pork into 1-inch cubes.

Mix with seasonings. Grind with a meat grinder.

Stuffing

Heat oil in a pan over medium-high. Cook onion and celery until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add sausage and cook until browned, about 20 minutes, breaking it into pieces.

Crumble 1/3 of the cornbread into the sausage. Add chicken stock in 1/2 cup increments until desired consistency is reached.

Stuff pumpkins to the top. Warm in oven about 10 minutes. Finish with brown butter sage vinaigrette.

Partner Wine: Starfield Miner’s Inch Brown butter sage vinaigrette

Ingredients

3 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 1/4 tablespoons honey

1 1/4 tablespoons mustard

1 1/2 tablespoons minced sage Pinch salt

5 1/2 tablespoons brown butter

5 1/2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions

Heat butter in a medium saucepan over

medium until toasty brown. Transfer to a metal pan to cool. Blend vinegar, honey, mustard, sage and salt until smooth. Slowly drizzle in oils while blending until emulsified.

Add brown butter and pulse to combine.

Fig bruschetta

Ingredients

1 bunch marjoram

1 French baguette

1 bunch oregano

8 fluid ounces honey

1 8.5 ounces bottle Sutter Buttes Hickory Smoked Balsamic Vinegar

Zest of 2 oranges

6 fluid ounces extra virgin olive oil

Cracked black pepper to taste Goat cheese (amount as needed) Fresh figs

Directions

Wash and dry herbs. Slice baguette on a diagonal into 1/2-inch slices. Brush with olive oil and toast until lightly browned. Finely chop herbs and mix into goat cheese. Remove stems from figs and slice figs into thin “shingles.”

Zest oranges carefully, avoiding the bitter pith. Spread toasted baguette slices with herbed goat cheese and top with fig shingles. Add a pinch of black pepper, drizzle with 1 teaspoon hickorysmoked balsamic vinegar, and finish with honey in a zigzag. Top with orange zest. Serve three pieces per 12-ounce serving.

Partner Wine: Starfield Counoise Pumpkin trifle with spiced pecans

Ingredients

CHP history rolls into Hangtown Christmas Parade

Andrew Vonderschmitt

Features editor

SACRAMENTO — Two pieces of California highway-patrol history will cruise down Main Street in Placerville this holiday season, thanks to the dedication of volunteers from CHP Museum. On Dec. 7, the museum’s volunteers will bring a 1922 Hupmobile and a 1955 Buick Century — two patrol cars that span eras of enforcement — to the 47th annual Hangtown Christmas Parade.

Early patrol days

The 1922 Hupmobile was once driven by State Traffic Officer Thomas V. Eisenhuth, who patrolled El Dorado County in the early 1920s as a “dual-control” officer — simultaneously serving under the Department of Motor Vehicles and, during summer months, under what would become the California Highway Patrol after its founding on August 14, 1929. During that six-year period, dual-control officers were required to purchase and maintain their own patrol cars. The vehicle was restored and donated to the CHP Museum by Julie E. Craig and Louis V. Craig.

Mid-century muscle

Headlining the newer classic is a 1955 Buick Century, Model 68 — a patrol car custom-built for the CHP. Donated on July 25, 2025 by Ernie and JoAnn Zebal of Reno, Nev., the vehicle honors the memory of Sgt. Drew Richards and pays tribute to retired Assistant Chief Sarah Richards. Starting in 1954, all patrol vehicles were outfitted by the CHP’s newly formed Motor Transport Section with modern enforcement tools and equipment.

Buick built 270 of these two-door sedans for CHP use — none were offered to the public. Powered by a 236-horsepower 322-cubic-inch V8, the car could reach a top speed of 116 mph. The body was the lightweight Special model, but under the hood it boasted heavy-duty components: the V8 from the upscale Century line and oversized drum brakes from the top-of-the-line Roadmaster. The car was barebones — no AM radio, no clock, no right-hand mirror, no air conditioning — built purely for enforcement duty. The particular unit being donated was acquired by Zebal on July 12, 2015 in Pasadena, after a full restoration by emergency-vehicle collector Mark Galoustian.

Carrying on the legacy

The cars will be driven to the parade by museum volunteers Daniel Barnes and Walt Witt.

“I’m a USAF veteran Special Vehicle

Peter

SRepairman,” Barnes recalled. “I was employed by the County of Santa Cruz as a Heavy Equipment Repairman from ’79 to ’85. In ’84, I was recruited by a CHP Motor Carrier Specialist 1 and was appointed to state service in ’85 … I met CHP Officer Walt Witt as a towing operator in Santa Cruz in ’79.”

The two reconnected 5 years ago when Witt cajoled Barnes into volunteering at the museum.

“The honor and privilege to represent the CHP, CHP Museum and all the dedicated folks that have made

the Blue and Gold so special keeps me involved,” he said. “It adds so much to our colorful and storied history.”

CHP Museum

The CHP Museum is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of the California Highway Patrol. It relies exclusively on donations and sponsorships and operates with an all-volunteer staff. The museum preserves and displays vehicles, motorcycles, uniforms, badges and other artifacts tracing the evolution

of the CHP’s mission. Though housed on the grounds of a training facility, the museum welcomes public visitors by appointment, Monday through Friday. Fore more information visit chpmuseum.org.

The 2025 Hangtown Christmas Parade will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. on Upper Broadway in Placerville and wind down to downtown Main Street.

Mark your calendars — and don’t miss these rolling ambassadors of CHP history as they join the parade flurry and holiday cheer.

Petty’s big-band Yuletide revue, “Hepcat’s Holla’ Daze”

ACRAMENTO — For a decade, Sacramento bandleader Peter Petty has ushered in the holidays with his high-energy big-band revue “Hepcat’s Holla’Daze!” This year, the show marks its 10th anniversary with a return to the Crest Theater on Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m., promising an evening of swing, spectacle and grown-up holiday cheer. Petty, known to fans as the “Man wit’ da Flop,” fronts his 12-piece Mercenaries of Merry jazz orchestra, a band that leans hard into the rhythms and attitude of the Swing Era. The annual production has become a Sacramento holiday staple, celebrated for its mix of Harlem Renaissance flair, burlesque artistry and vintage floor-show polish.

The revue blends Petty’s operatically trained 3 2/3-octave vocals with performances from regional guest artists in what he calls a live, jive “Christmas Special.” Audiences can expect holiday tunes that veer far from the usual radio rotation, with musical selections originally recorded by Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, Louie Prima, Ray Charles, James Brown, Bing Crosby, Tom Waits and the Pogues.

The Crest’s full bar will again serve Petty’s signature cocktail, the Peterpettytini, a detail the bandleader jokes helps set the mood as brightly as the decorated trees onstage — provided guests aren’t driving home.

This year’s lineup of guest performers includes soul singer Dana Moret, operatic baritone Omari Tau, Americana musicians Richie Lawrence and Robert Armstrong, honky-tonk artist Geoff Miller and burlesque performers Mone’t Ha-Sidi, Jean Heart and Rebel Rose. Petty hints at additional surprise appearances throughout the night.

Although the show is wrapped in holiday spirit, Petty notes that adult themes

Peter Petty’s “Hepcat’s Holla’Daze — Swingin’ Yuletide Revue!” will take place

p.m. at the Crest Theater

make it a parents-night-out event.

“You’ll probably be glad you left the kiddies at home for this one,” he said.

Peter Petty’s “Hepcat’s Holla’Daze — Swingin’ Yuletide Revue!” will take place Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Crest Theater, 1013 K Street, Sacramento. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/4543nrv2.

Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra ushers in the season

News release

The Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra will bring holiday cheer to the community on Saturday, Dec. 13, when its large choral ensemble and professional orchestra present an afternoon of seasonal favorites under the direction of Donald Kendrick.

The concert, set for 3 p.m., features guest tenor Sam Faustine, an award-winning singer and actor known for his

range across baroque opera and modern musical theater. Faustine has performed on national and international stages, earning acclaim for roles that include the first national tour of Broadway’s “A Christmas Carol” and Tony in “West Side Story.” Organizers promise a warm, family-friendly celebration of the season. The performance opens with a candlelight procession by the 140-member chorus and continues with a mix of new and familiar holiday classics such as

“Silent Night,” “Sleigh Ride” and “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” Audience members will also be invited to join a sing-along. Beyond the music, guests can browse a selection of holiday craft vendors and enjoy a visit from Santa, who will be available for photos. For tickets and more information, visit sacramentochoral.org or call the box office at (916) 808-5181 Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Courtesy photos

The 1922 Hubmobile was the patrol car of choice when dual-control officers were required to purchase and maintain their own patrol cars.

The 1955 Buick Century, Model 68 was custom built for the CHP and outfitted by the Motor Transport Section formed in 1954.

Courtesy photo

Dec.

at 7:30

photo

Lacy J Dalton 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 Sutter Creek Art Show will take place at the Sutter Creek Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and again on Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (209) 304-0867.

Nov. 30

FNS Productions Presents: Queer Community Social will take place, 1-3 p.m. and Girl Part’s 90’s Girl Rock will perform 6-8 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Join the Extraordinary Camino Hotel for the Grand Opening of its Pouring Lounge from 5-8 p.m. RSVP by texting Grand Opening to (808) 366-8201. For more information visit theextraordinarycaminohotel. com.

B Street Theatre in Sacramento presents “’Tis The Season: Hometown Holidays, Traditions Of Sacramento & Northern California” through Dec. 20 at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Dec. 1

The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will host Toys from the Bearcat Community Christmas Toy Drive, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at 4495 Business Drive, Shingle Springs. For more information call (530) 677-8000 or visit sscpchamber. org.

Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom will host Folsom Lake College Music Department’s Voice Recital at 3 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Dec. 2

Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.

The Placerville FamilySearch Center at 3275 Cedar Ravine Road will host Quick and Easy Family History Gifts with a bonanza of fun and memorable gift ideas for photos, family trees and keepsakes at 1 p.m.

Dec. 3

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce will host a Ribbon Cutting Celebration at Essential Oils Marketplace in Placerville. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host its Holiday Luncheon at Dry Diggings Distillery from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

Dec. 4

El Dorado County Historical Society and Fountain and Tallman Museum presents Spirits of Christmas Past at the BeeBennett Mansion. Step back into a bygone era and experience the warmth and wonder of a Victorian Christmas inside the beautiful and historical BeeBennett Mansion in Placerville.

For more information visit edchs. org.

Now Placerville Friends of Tibet is seeking volunteers for the Jan. 2026 tour. Looking for community members interested in volunteer coordination, marketing and social media, host site coordination and other behind-the-scenes roles. Contact Danya Waters to express your interest (530) 575-1879 or danyawaters@gmail.com. For more information visit placervillefriendsoftibet.org.

The El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts its Elf on the Boulevard scavenger hunt daily through Dec. 24. Children search and find the hidden elves in participating businesses get their holiday map stamped by each business. The first 200 children to return their completed map will receive a special gift and all names of participants will be entered to win one grand prize. For more

information visit edhtowncenter. com.

El Dorado County Historical Society and Fountain and Tallman Museum presents “Snowbound, Historical Vignettes of Winter Sports and Leisure in El Dorado County” on view through Feb. 16, 2026. For more

information visit edchs.org.

Arts and Culture El Dorado will host “In the Meadow” presented by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Exhibits and Collections Center in partnership with concept:art+movement through Jan. 11 2026 at the Switchboard Gallery. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.

The Atrium at EDH Town Center and EDH Arts Association will host “All The Leaves Are Gone” showcase through Jan. 18, 2026. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

W orship D irectory

Public Notices

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) 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28 15354

FICTITIOUS

statement filed with the county clerk of El Dorado County on 10/10/2025 NOTICE-IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE

AND RESTRICTIONS AND A NOTICE OF DELINQUENT ASSESSMENT (LIEN) DATED 07-10-2024. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF

YOU

Outside the

On 12-04-

at 495

95667,

SERVICES (Trustee), 1601 Response Road, Suite 390, Sacramento, CA 95815, (877) 282-4991, under and pursuant to Lien, recorded 07-172024 as Instrument 2024-0020012 Book - - Page - - of Official Records in the Office of the Recorder of EL DORADO County, CA, WILL CAUSE TO BE SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check/cash equivalent or other form of payment authorized by 2924h(b), (payable at time of sale)

Over 5 Million students empowered with CalKIDS Scholarships

ACRAMENTO

S— As National Scholarship Month highlights the power of educational opportunity, California is celebrating the growing impact of the CalKIDS Scholarship Program, the nation’s largest children’s development account program that now serves more than five million children statewide.

Launched in 2022, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program provides scholarships worth up to $1,500 for eligible public school students and up to $175 for every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CalKIDS was created to make higher education more accessible for California families and to promote collegegoing mindsets across communities.

In three years, more than 750,000 students have claimed their scholarships, which can be used to help pay for tuition, books, housing and other educational expenses at accredited colleges, universities and vocational schools.

“CalKIDS is a catalyst for building family assets and expands access to education,” Ma said. “For older students, it offers real financial support to meet immediate education needs. For younger families,

it plants the seeds of lifelong financial literacy.”

CalKIDS is designed to advance educational access and economic mobility for California families. By giving every eligible child a scholarship account automatically, with no application required, the program removes barriers and provides families with an easy first step toward higher education.

“Having a CalKIDS Scholarship Account had helped me a lot,” said Abigail Lopez, a student at California State University, San Bernardino. “I found out about it my first year of college and wanted to use it to pay my tuition, books and housing. It relieved some stress I

had about paying for things for school. I will forever be grateful for the money I had received from CalKIDS.”

For many new parents, CalKIDS serves as an early reminder that it’s never too soon to start thinking about their child’s future.

“College may be a long way away, but seeing my son get his first scholarship last year was a special moment as a new parent,” said Lindsay Ferguson of Orange County.

“My experience with CalKIDS has been eyeopening, especially when students are able to use the money for college and vocational school,” said Cindy Duran, Faculty CalWORKs Coordinator and Counselor at Saddleback

College. “CalKIDS provides families with an additional way to receive money for their education that most students aren’t aware of. What makes CalKIDS even more impactful is that families don’t need to apply; accounts are created automatically and students can simply register online to claim their funds.”

Who is eligible?

• Sixty percent of public school students in grades 2-12 across California

• All children born in California on or after July 1, 2022

Check eligibility

Families can visit CalKIDS.org and click “Confirm Eligibility.”

Local Registration Number located on their child’s birth certificate.

Once a CalKIDS account is claimed, students can request to use their scholarship funds after turning 17 and enrolling in an accredited higher education or career training institution.

CalKIDS plays a central role in California’s cradle-tocareer vision, promoting savings behaviors and college-going mindsets across communities statewide. Research from Washington University in St. Louis’ SEED OK study found that a small investment at birth can change family behavior and expectations for years to come, especially for marginalized households and communities of color.

visit CalKIDS.org to check eligibility and claim their CalKIDS Scholarship.

About CalKIDS

Public school students will need their Statewide Student Identifier, a 10-digit number found on the student’s school portal, transcript, report card or by contacting their school.

Parents of newborns will need the 13-digit

Scholarship investments like CalKIDS help close long-standing gaps in educational equity and send a powerful message to children: the future is yours.

Families and students are encouraged to

water in a bowl. Add pecans and coat.

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Sprinkle over pecans and toss.

Spread on baking sheet and bake 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Mascarpone cream

The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program is the nation’s largest child development account program, providing scholarships for higher education. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, the program promotes the pursuit of higher education by empowering families to build assets, nurture savings habits and raise educational aspirations. Eligible public school students can receive CalKIDS Scholarships worth up to $1,500 and every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022 is awarded a CalKIDS Scholarship worth up to $175. To learn more, visit CalKIDS.org.

1/2 cup canola oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon ground pepper

Beat all ingredients until firm peaks form. Reserve 1/2 cup for pumpkin filling.

Filling

Whisk pumpkin, brown sugar, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.

Whisk in reserved mascarpone cream.

Assembly

Spread 1/3 cup mascarpone cream on the bottom of an 8x5-inch trifle dish.

Add a layer of ladyfingers and sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoon rum.

Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin filling. Add 1/3 cup spiced pecans. Spread 1 cup mascarpone cream. Repeat layers with ladyfingers, rum, pumpkin filling and pecans. Add final layer of mascarpone cream. Chill overnight.

Top with 1 cup spiced pecans.

Partner Wine: Starfield Che Moscato

Roasted Cauliflower With Sultana Caper Vinaigrette

Ingredients

Sultana Caper Vinaigrette

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 tablespoon

1/4

1/2

1 cup pomegranate seeds

1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds

Directions

Vinaigrette

Bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Pour over raisins and let plump 15 minutes. Blend raisins, capers and vinegar mixture until smooth. Drizzle in oils and blend until emulsified.

Cauliflower

Heat oven to 400º F. Cut cauliflower into bite-size florets.

Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast about 12 minutes or until tender. Transfer to platter and drizzle with vinaigrette.

Top with pomegranate seeds and almonds.

Partner Wine: Starfield Viognier

About Starfield Vineyards

Starfield offers wine tastings and wine flights seven days a week in the heart of Apple Hill in the Sierra foothills at 2750 Jacquier Road in Placerville. The winery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and reservations are recommended by calling (530) 748-3085 ext. 2 or emailing reservations@ starfieldvineyards.com. Starfield is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New

Courtesy photo

CalKIDS was created to make higher education more accessible for California families and to promote

mindsets