Adventure is out there
Local woman takes on Expedition Canada
Shelly Thorene
Sta writer
Endurance athlete Mila Olson of Diamond Springs will test her fortitude, along with three other women on her team, in a 750 kilometer (466 miles) athletic event taking place in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada, Sept. 25 through Oct. 6. Expedition Canada features a mountain biking, trekking and paddling course that is kept secret until one hour before the start. The race is not only a test of athletic ability
■ See EXPEDITION, page A5
county.
“So, we could generate salary savings by, when those folks leave, retire, bringing in new people at a lower level perhaps,” Human Resources Director Joey Carruesco explained to the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 16. The arrangement would be for early retirees to get a health contribution,
One final toast to the ‘Emperor of Fair Play’
Mimi Escabar
Special Sections editor
The community is invited to celebrate the life of the self-proclaimed “Emperor of Fair Play,” Charles B. Mitchell, 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Fireman’s Hall, 7060 Mt. Aukum Road in Somerset. Come and share memories and o er a salute to the founder of Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards. To RSVP call Patty at (530) 503-7209.
■ See MITCHELL, page A10
“which they can use to pay for benefits and other medical-related expenses after they retire,” Carruesco added.
“Essentially, folks who retire prior to the end of this calendar year would be eligible for $2,500 for every year of fulltime service that they have,” he continued, adding that part-time employees are prorated so they wouldn’t get the same years of service.
“So if someone worked 20 years in a part-time capacity … that would be the same as someone working 10 years of fulltime service,” he said.
Phase two of the Retirement Incentive Plan would be folks who retire next year,
at the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 2026, “and they would be entitled to $2,000 for every year of full-time service that they have,” Carreusco said.
“The idea is if we get folks who’ve been with the county for a long time, typically they’re at the highest step of the salary range,” he said, adding that they would probably be a classic PERS (Public Employees’ Retirement System) member, “which means the county contributes more to their PERS retirement.”
Each case would have to be considered individually.
■ See INCENTIVES, page A8
Photo by Kenton Gilchrist
Mila Olson, left, and Micah Tuttle discuss navigation strategy at America’s Toughest Race in Washington in September 2024.
Photo by Mila Olson
Team 45, Lucky Cosmic Confusion, trains for the upcoming Expedition Canada by mountain biking on a trail near Lake Tahoe. Left to right are Mila Olson of Diamond Springs, Ashlie Ferguson of British Columbia, Mareese Keane and Henrike Siemen both of San Jose.
Mountain Democrat le photo Charles Mitchell, center, leads a toast at one of his popular wine salons. The south county wine legend died this summer.
ESSENTIALS
Ronald James Vardanega
Jan. 7, 1959 – June 2, 2025
Ronald James Vardanega passed away from cancer 6/2/25 peacefully at home and surrounded by family in Placerville, Ca. Ron was born in Placerville to Fausto Oliver Vardanega and Janet Lee (Leepin) Vardanega, raised in Camino, and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1977. Ron was an accomplished wrestler in high school, undefeated in league his junior and senior years and then competed on the Sacramento City College team. He completed his bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, followed his father’s footsteps to acquire a Doctor of Optometry degree at UC Berkeley in 1985, joining his father’s well established Placerville practice and later taking on the business as his own. Ron loved taking care of the community’s eye health needs but mostly enjoyed getting to know his sta , patients and families through the years, spending time with genuine interest to talk about what was going on in their lives. Ron volunteered at health fairs, provided support for the needy and represented local business interests such as helping with events with the Broadway Village Association. Ron met his wife, Lesley (Petersen), when they were whitewater river guides in 1984 on the American River, then marrying and settling in Placerville in 1990 where they raised their 3 children Kristen, Andrew and Laura. Having a deep connection and love for El Dorado County Ron was so happy to return to work and play in the area. He especially enjoyed sharing and exploring the Sierra Nevada and beyond with his family and friends. He attributes attending Saturday Ski trips as an elementary school student at Camino School to the beginning of his love for skiing. He learned to rock climb in high school, throughout his life continued to share this adventure with many friends, and has been credited for establishing routes in the area. Ron enjoyed exploring untouched areas of the Sierra and was well known for leading a group through a bush-wack, pushing bikes through forests to connect new trails, always embracing the di culty and humor that came with these adventures. He was quick to share gear, food, tips and conversation with friends and strangers on the trail alike. From 2009 to 2020, Ron dedicated himself to supporting and then coaching the El Dorado High School Ski and Snowboard team. He was a deeply supportive parent, approaching his coaching responsibilities with serious determination and competitiveness, while maintaining the lightheartedness and approachability he was known for. He genuinely loved the sport as well as the racers and their families, led on-hill practices, organized and fixed gear to contribute to the success and memorable lasting experiences of all involved. Ron will be remembered for his good-hearted nature, quickness to laughter, helpfulness toward others, skillful outdoor pursuits, adventurous spirit, and devotion to family and friends. He often said “it isn’t a real adventure unless something goes wrong”, “ski fast, take chances” (which applies to more than just skiing), and a quote from Hunter S. Thompson: “when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” He is survived by his wife, Lesley, and their children Kristen, Andrew, and Laura, his parents Fausto and Jan Vardanega, and his siblings John (Yeong), Karen and David. While we grieve the loss of our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend to many, his legacy and presence will forever be felt and loved. If you’d like to make a remembrance, please consider contributing to the Ron Vardanega Memorial Fund, set up through the El Dorado Community Foundation. The fund will help support racers in need on the El Dorado High School Alpine Race Team in his honor. Fund Link : https://bit.ly/ Vardanega. A Celebration of Life for Ron will be held Sunday October 12, 2025 at Shadowridge Ranch in Placerville. If you’d like more information you can reach out at ronvardanegamemorial@gmail.com
Kathryn (Kitty) Florence Morris
Oct. 8, 1937 – Sept. 4, 2025
Kathryn (Kitty) Florence Morris, age 87, passed away on Sept. 4, 2025, in El Dorado Hills, CA.
She worked for Denny’s from 1965-1993 at multiple locations including both Placerville Denny’s - Main St. and Fairlane, revived Denny’s Howe Ave, Sac. where she was nominated Business Woman of the Year, before owning her own Denny’s in Sonoma and Dixon. She held three jobs after Fred Sr. passed and finally retired from Albertsons in 2008. She touched many lives with her kind heart during these years.
Kitty was baptized on Oct. 12, 2008. “LAST Ministry” became her passion where she spent her time serving Jesus and serving the community until she physically couldn’t serve anymore. She was the greatest example of love and service to Jesus. She was a very elegant and devoted woman who put her family first. She was proceeded in death by her husband Fred A. Morris Sr., her children Debra L. Siska and Hobie A. Morris. She is survived by her children, Fred A. Morris, Jr. and Deena M. Morris, 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, 10 greatgreat grandchildren.
Memorial Service will be held on October 11, 2025 at 10:00 Chapel of the Pines, 2855 Cold Springs Rd, Placerville. Reception and lunch to follow at family home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to LAST Ministry 6326 Main Ave #22 Orangevale CA 95662. You can donate online @https://www. lastministry.org/ in Kitty’s memory.
Helen Louise Poroli
March 30, 1922 – Aug. 29, 2025
Helen Louise Poroli, aged 103, of El Dorado Hills, CA passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025 surrounded by her family.
Born March 30, 1922 to Wilber and Martha Cragg in Mabton, WA. Proceeded in death by her brother’s, Edwin and Kenneth Cragg, and her husband of 64 years Dante Poroli. Survived by her children, Shirley Wilkendorf (Richard), David Poroli (Janice), Gary Poroli, Donna Petersen (Tom), Phillip Poroli (Beatrice), Kathy White (David), Robin Duncan (Michael), twenty-five grandchildren, thirtytwo great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.
LAKE LEVELS
Helen grew up in Vallejo, CA. Graduated from Vallejo High School in 1940. She worked at Mare Island Navel Base, before meeting her husband Dante. They were married in 1942. They settled and raised their family in Sacramento, CA before moving to El Dorado Hills in 1982. Helen worked for the State of California for over 20 years before she retired. Helen’s passion was her family, who will miss her dearly.
Services will be held at United Methodist Church, 2101 Zinfandel Dr., Rancho Cordova CA October 4, 2025 at 11:00 am.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Krohmer
May 22, 1950 – Aug. 24, 2025
EDC SHERIFF’S OFFICE CRIME LOG
Elizabeth “Betsy” Krohmer, beloved mother, sister, and friend, passed away in Placerville, California. She was 75. Born to Leo Goldsmith Jr. and Beryl Goldsmith, Betsy grew up in New York. After graduating from Monmouth College in New Jersey, she ventured west, eventually settling in Placerville, where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Betsy dedicated her career to education, working as a high school librarian. She loved the students who visited the library looking for a safe space and a listening ear. In retirement, she shined through her involvement at Green Valley Church, especially through the Common Ground and Pastoral Partners ministries. She was passionate about providing opportunities for those looking for a hand up.
She had a love for food, wine, and friends, and she embraced life with warmth and curiosity. Her kindness and generosity left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her, especially in the Placerville community that she was deeply committed to. She saw the image of God in the face of every person she encountered. She loved well.
Betsy is survived by her sons, Jesse Krohmer (Lara) and Daniel Krohmer; her cherished granddaughters, Adele and Zoe; and her sisters, Peggy Bertorelli and Claire Goldsmith.
A memorial service will be held at Green Valley Church in Placerville on Thursday, October 16th at 1:00 PM. Those interested in attending are kindly asked to notify the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Common Ground ministry at Green Valley Church or the CARES program at the Marshall Foundation for Community Health, causes close to Betsy’s heart.
She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Ralph Edward Eshe
May 12, 1931 – Sept 8, 2025
Ralph Edward Eshe, at age 94, passed away from natural causes on September 8th, 2025 at his home in Camino, CA.
He was preceded in death by his father Alfred Eshe, mother Lillian Trust, stepmother Katherine Bakan, brother Richard Eshe, and sister Kay Trainor.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy De Rosie Eshe, son David Eshe, daughter Tina Rheault, granddaughter Christine Averett, sister Alice Nelson, step-sister Paula Sullivan and step-brother Alvin Eshe and many nieces and nephews.
He was born and raised in Glendale, CA and lived there for 38 years. In 1969, he moved to the Lost Hills / Kettleman City area. He moved to Camino, CA in 1973, where he lived until his passing.
He served in the Marine Corps, in the Korean conflict, from April 1951 to April 1953. He was employed by the City of Glendale, CA and the State of California before retiring from SMUD in November 1988.
There will be a private family viewing before cremation, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the VFW or a charity of your choice.
Chief Operating Officer T. Burt McNaughton (530) 344-5055 tbmcnaughton@mtdemocrat.net
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1:09 p.m. Battery was reported at the county jail on Forni Road in Placerville.
3:01 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Traverse Creek Road in Garden Valley.
4:34 p.m. Grand theft was reported on North Street in El Dorado.
4:58 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Sundance Court in Placerville.
5:48 p.m. Robbery was reported at the casino on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.
Aug. 20
9:51 a.m. Trespassing was reported on Coyote Ridge Road in Somerset.
12:18 p.m. Vandalism was reported at the county jail on Forni Road in Placerville.
1:34 p.m. Battery was reported on Traverse Creek Road in Garden Valley.
2:27 p.m. Vandalism was reported at the tra c court on Fair Lane in Placerville.
4:08 p.m. Battery was reported on Ponte Morino Drive in Cameron Park.
Aug. 21
7:44 a.m. Burglary was reported at the mobile home park on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.
10:49 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Summer Stream Lane in Placerville.
11:30 a.m. Battery was reported on Cimmarron Road in Cameron Park.
12:09 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Wilson Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.
12:44 p.m. Battery was reported at a restaurant on Golden Center Drive in Placerville.
2:32 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a grocery store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.
5:20 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Volcanoville Road in Georgetown.
7:46 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a grocery store on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.
Aug. 22
5:33 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a person suspected of child abuse, in icting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, attempted murder and murder in Bridgeport. They were listed in custody.
9:17 a.m. Battery was reported on Pleasant Valley Road in Placerville.
10:24 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.
12:20 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Monarch Lane in Shingle Springs.
12:54 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Treasure Rock Lane in Placerville.
3:33 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Spruce Avenue in Pollock Pines.
4:41 p.m. Burglary was reported at a storage center on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.
5:34 p.m. Battery was reported on North Shingle Road in Shingle Springs.
9:31 p.m. Battery was reported at a resort on State Highway 49 in Lotus.
11:05 p.m. Burglary was reported on Forebay Road in Pollock Pines.
Aug. 23
5:35 a.m. Trespassing was reported at a car dealership on Mercedes Lane in El Dorado Hills.
9:22 a.m. Vandalism
ON THE RAILS AGAIN
New excursion train rolling through El Dorado
Special to the Mountain Democrat
El Dorado Western Railroad guests have for many years enjoyed the leisurely A-car rides o ered in El Dorado and Shingle Springs. Now they have a chance to board another piece of history.
EDWR, a program of the El Dorado County Historical Museum, has unveiled a new excursion train made up of three components: the locomotive, a former Southern Pacific caboose and a former U.S. Army flat car turned passenger excursion car.
Rides take place the third Saturday of each month through December at the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St. Departures are scheduled at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., weather permitting. Call (530) 663-3581 for more information and to confirm departure times. Cost is $12 for passengers 9 and older, $3 for children ages 4-8 and free for little ones 3 and younger.
The train represents a mid-1900s branch line freight train, EDWR volunteers shared. Freight trains were the only trains that operated on the Placerville Branch during the last 50 years of rail operations. Each component of the train was donated. The caboose was previously a family art studio on Pleasant Valley Road. The passenger car was a flat car originally donated
to the California State Railroad Museum by the U.S. Army, then passed on to the Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Rail Association and leased to the EDWR.
The locomotive was built by the Plymouth Locomotive Works in Plymouth, Ohio in
Join California’s largest annual volunteer event and first ‘Trashure Hunt’
Department of Parks and Recreation
SACRAMENTO — Get ready to participate and make a di erence during this year’s annual California Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 20. From 9 a.m. to noon, more than 50 California state parks and the Division of Boating and Waterways will participate in the state’s largest annual volunteer event in coordination with the California Coastal Commission.
Organized by the California Coastal Commission, more than 45,000 volunteers are expected to gather at locations throughout the state, including beaches and shorelines. But the event is not limited to coastal regions; there are cleanups along inland waterways as well, including in the Sierra region. In El Dorado County, the American River Conservancy has organized cleanups at Henningsen Lotus Park, 9-11 a.m.; Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, 9-11 a.m.; Hangtown Creek in downtown Placerville, 9-11 a.m.; and Happy Valley, 9 a.m. to noon. The Sierra Nevada Alliance hosts a cleanup at Tahoe Keys Marsh and Beach, 10 a.m. to noon.
California’s event is also part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy. Last year, more than 47,000 volunteers removed over 400,000
pounds, or 200 tons, of trash and recyclables from our waterways, beaches and lakes. In addition to individual volunteers, 40 boating facilities and groups participated with 1,391 volunteers collecting 9,745 pounds of trash and recyclables on land and from 95 kayaks, canoes and dinghies.
New this year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will become the world’s largest scavenger hunt. Special “trashure” items will be hidden at cleanup sites across the state. Volunteers finding one of these items can redeem them for valuable prizes. The event also provides hands-on educational experiences about the damage that trash, especially singleuse disposable plastics, can cause to California’s wildlife, economy and human health. According to past cleanup data, 75% of the debris volunteers remove is composed of plastic, a material that never completely biodegrades and has numerous harmful consequences in the environment. Plastic debris can kill wildlife, leach toxins into the environment and introduce them into the food chain.
To join this statewide e ort, the California Coastal Commission has an interactive map of cleanup locations throughout the state, available on coastal.ca.gov. Volunteers can check the website for updates and share their cleanup experiences on social media using the hashtag #coastalcleanupday.
1952. An 18-ton yard switcher originally built for the California Rock and Gravel Company in Pleasanton, it was later sold to the CertainTeed Company for use as a yard switcher at the Chowchilla insulation plant. In 2010, EDWR volunteers became aware of the locomotive that had not been used in over 10 years and asked CertainTeed to donate it.
The locomotive was operational when it was delivered to EDWR’s El Dorado station in late 2010. The railroad
volunteers made major repairs to the body, replaced the windows and painted it in its current green and gold color scheme. The wheels were resurfaced and the entire locomotive was rewired and a camera system was installed to give the engineer a clear view of the front of the train.
The passenger excursion car was completely rebuilt by museum volunteers with a new wooden deck, roof structure, railings and seating. This project was managed by the late
Eric Stohl, who was able to see the completion of the car before his passing. The car was named The Eric Stohl Passenger Excursion Car in 2018. The caboose is being restored to its original 1940s condition inside. The exterior of the caboose has yet to be painted. Volunteers plan to remedy that in the near future. The caboose is currently open for tours after train rides. El Dorado Western Railroad is an allvolunteer organization that operates on donations, grants and ridership. The railroad has acquired additional equipment — locomotives and track maintenance equipment — all in the form of donations. Restoration of the non-operational equipment is supported by ridership and supportive grants. It has always been the mission of the EDWR to run an excursion train. The railroad started with one individual car and added others as they were restored. This has been the source of funding for the entire operation. Train rides on the A-cars continue on a rotating Sunday schedule with rides in El Dorado on the first and second Sundays and rides in Shingle Springs the third and fourth Sundays. The cars depart at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. For more information visit facebook.com/ ElDoradoWesternRailroad
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack
El Dorado Western Railroad volunteers wave as their newly unveiled excursion train heads down the track from the El Dorado Station. Excursion rides are offered the third Saturday of the month through December, weather permitting.
Photo courtesy of the American River Conservancy
‘Game changer’ forestry project begins in Tahoe Keys
Eli Ramos Tahoe Daily Tribune
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
— Secretary Wade Crowfoot
joined the California Tahoe Conservancy on Monday, Sept. 15, to see the work in the Tahoe Keys that started this September — a year ahead of schedule. The 43-acre mastication project is in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and contractor BurnBot and was able to start early through Gov. Newsom’s emergency proclamation to confront the ongoing risk of wildfires in the state.
According to Chris Carney, communications director at the CTC, the project is their first one approved through the proclamation, though it kicked off over a hundred projects across the state. The opportunity to move in advance was exciting for all partners involved, who felt that the project was especially important to protect the neighborhoods and sensitive wetlands nearby.
The air was rife with the scent of pine trees being masticated—a term for grinding up small trees, brush and woody debris into mulch.
BurnBot provided remoteoperated masticators that chip vegetation and spread chips around the treatment area. This management clears out ladder fuels that would otherwise cause flames to leap into the canopy, improving forest health and reducing
wildfire risks.
BurnBot representatives said that this on-the-ground work could help to address the rising insurance rates by providing more accurate models and data of wildfire risks. The machines they use are much lighter and
less noisy than typical equipment. That, combined with the remote operation, allows them to operate on steeper slopes that are environmentally sensitive. The USFS and other agencies are likely to continue these kinds of partnerships to get
fuel reductions work done on their many acres of land.
South Lake Tahoe Fire Department Chief Jim Drennan said, “In my years working here, I don’t know that we’ve ever seen cooperation and collaboration like this.” He emphasized the importance of the Good Neighbor Authority agreement and the mutual aid collaboration among fire departments, both of which allow agencies to prepare and respond to wildfires across jurisdictional lines.
California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot said, “This project is a game changer. We need many more of them in the Tahoe Basin and across the state. It’s the first to use this early action funding, streamlined permitting and groundbreaking technology. And it demonstrates local, state and federal partnership.” Crowfoot agreed with Drennan’s thoughts on working across jurisdictional lines, and was excited about the progress that he had seen since Newsom’s proclamation in March. “To me, this is the poster child for what we need to do across the state.”
Watershed Education Summit gets students out in the forest
Courtney Jackson
El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts
The El Dorado and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and El Dorado County high schools, will host the 27th annual Watershed Education Summit Sept. 24-27.
This one-of-a-kind, four-day summit engages El Dorado County students from each of the five high schools in an interactive watershed education monitoring program in the South Fork American River watershed. WES is an educational
outreach program planned and financed through the RCDs.
Sixty to 80 students are chosen from close to 400 applicants each year. The students test water quality on three different streams relying on a suite of parameters, such as stream morphology, forestry and water quality. For each area of study, the Watershed Education Summit has enlisted the help of a partner to provide a specialist from the RCD, USFS, NRCS, Sierra Pacific Industries, CDFW and USGS. In the forest, students learn about how trees impact water quality and the overall landscape. Students learn how to monitor watershed health
and why some streams are different than others. One of the benefits of WES is developing critical thinking by exposure to real natural resource management. By partnering with agencies, schools can build civic responsibility, stewardship and environmental awareness in their students.
Students apply what they learn in the classroom in the field by working shoulder to shoulder with professionals.
“I did bugs this year and it was a blast,” said Preston Egbert from El Dorado High School. “I never thought all those little critters lived in the water and how important they are in telling us what might be going on in the watershed.”
Jeff Mabe, aquatic specialists from the Eldorado National Forest, shared, “These kids are really smart and we really have a lot of fun working together throughout the week.”
Each night, by the light of the campfire, fun and educational activities are presented. Students will learn about Native American culture through discussion and storytelling, the integral relationship of wildlife with watershed health including predators and have an opportunity to present their findings.
During WES, students, teachers and professionals work together to collect
a wide range of data. Together we learn the purpose of data collection, the necessary stream monitoring protocols and how the data is used by the USFS. WES educates the students in both biological and physical parameters of stream dynamics. This dynamic collaboration allows our educational institutions to provide students with real world community related problems and state agencies to receive assistance in collecting stream data so that agencies can make better informed management decisions.
The WES program continues to yield positive environmental and social outcomes in the South Fork American River watershed, and it has created a model for student-oriented environmental monitoring that is both transferable and expandable. In contributing to a long-term monitoring dataset, the WES program has fostered connections between experts and future stewards and has led to adaptive solutions based on credible monitoring data. Establishing WES has allowed students to help develop solutions not only for the local community but, hopefully, as WES grows, throughout the Sierra and the world.
For more information about WES or how to get involved contact the RCD at (530) 295-0120 or go to eldoradorcd.org.
SACRAMENTO — The California Governor’s Office recently made the announcement of a major new research effort led by the University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Davis, in collaboration with Cal Fire, that is investigating how occupational exposures may increase cancer risk among California firefighters. The project, a sub-study of the California Firefighter Cancer Research Study, is backed by nearly $9.7 million in funding from Cal Fire and will include 3,500 firefighters from departments across the state over a two-year period.
The research team is guided by a firefighter advisory board to ensure the study remains grounded in realworld needs and priorities.
“This research underscores Cal Fire’s commitment to protecting firefighter health through science, innovation, and partnership,” said Cal
Fire Director Chief Joe Tyler. The study will analyze how exposures on the fire ground, especially during significant events, may drive changes in the body that contribute to cancer risk over time. A specific area of focus will compare exposures and biological changes in firefighters who responded to the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles with those who did not.
Funding partners are Cal Fire and University of California Office of the President. This research is part of a broader, multi-agency effort to protect the health of those who protect our communities. By better understanding the relationship between biomarkers of exposure such as heavy metals and biomarkers of effect such as epigenetic alterations, transcriptomics and markers of inflammation and immune dysfunction, the team hopes to pave the way for new prevention and intervention strategies for firefighters nationwide.
Photo by Eli Ramos / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Mastication is under way in the Tahoe Keys off 15th Street.
Expedition Continued from A1
but also a test of good route planning and navigation skills. Teams can gain a free entry to the event by winning qualifier and regional championship races held around the world.
Sixty teams are set to compete in the 2025 Canadian race and past races have taken place in Africa, South America and Asia, to name a few. Olson competed two years ago in South Africa with the same company.
“There’s usually some kind of water feature. It could be whitewater; it could be flat water or the ocean,” Olson said. “The trend now is to use pack rafts. There are some long water sections in this upcoming race. When it’s a really long race it’s usually a lot of hiking and there is the element of navigation. None of the course is marked and we don’t have any way to use GPS. We have a map and a compass and we have to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B.”
A first
Up until this year, the races have featured a team of three men and one woman or another co-ed combination.
“This is the first world championship with all women teams,” Olson, 45, pointed out. “I’m a part of the Bay Area Adventure Racing Association ... and two women on the team are from San Jose and we needed to find a fourth; one of our racing friends suggested a woman from British Columbia.
“These
mentally how you can handle it,” she explained. “By day four, it’s all about attitude and your ability to keep going. While the men are faster the first day, it all evens out.
“I am super thrilled to be racing with three other women,” Olson added. “It’s a different experience, for sure. We did a training weekend in Tahoe about a month ago and it was so much fun. It was the first time we had gotten together. We flew our Canadian into Reno and were able to train together. I think we’re going to do well. They are so strong.”
Carrying the gear on these expeditions is a test of endurance as well. Athletes are loaded with a tent, sleeping bags, life jackets, paddles and dry suits.
“There’s mandatory gear we have to carry which we will have to decide how to split it up amongst us,” Olson explained. “We have tow systems so we can tow someone who is slower. You’re only as fast as your slowest member. We have back packing meals, snacks, trail mix, carbs, protein. My favorite is mashed potatoes with bone broth. There are bins at the transition area.
“Our friends can’t follow us with supplies,” she continued.
races are so crazy because you enter thinking, how am I ever going to do all of this and when you finish you end up thinking that you can accomplish anything. It is so empowering.”
Endurance athlete Mila Olson
—
“We are all veteran racers and should have a fairly strong showing against the 60 teams competing in the race and we’ll definitely place in the women’s category,” she predicted Olson trains for the event by competing in smaller challenges, anything from a 150 kilometer mountain bike ride in Susanville to a NAVX training in Tahoe to the Troy’s CA Trail run at Sly Park in August. Olson said she wasn’t interested in sports in her youth, instead focusing on another passion. “I was a musician. I still am. I teach band in the Rescue Union School District and I play flute and piccolo in the Folsom Lake Symphony,” she shared. “I focused on my music.
“In college, I got diagnosed with Celiac disease and all of a sudden, when I was eating healthy, I had so much more energy. One of my friends suggested I join the Triathlon Club at Sac State and I became an endurance athlete,” Olson continued.
“My husband, Jeremy, was racing on a team on shorter adventure races and they wanted to become competitive and needed a woman on the team so I became the woman. I have done triathlons and I did two Expeditions in Oregon this year. I mountain bike race.” Olson said she showed her band students the recap from the race in Africa and said, “They thought it was so cool.” She has three daughters, a junior in high school, an eighth grader and a fifth grader. She is also a Girl Scout leader for Jamanna, a Girl Scout high adventure troop.
“There’s one in SoCal and we started one here a few years ago,” she shared. “It pulls from troops from around the area. We’ve gone backpacking and hiking. We’re planning two orienteering events this fall and archery and camping.”
Olson said these adventure races are a test of both physical and mental endurance. “Your physical endurance will only take you so far. It’s about
“There will be bins along the way transported to each section where we transition to a new discipline and where we’ll be able to restock our food, change out our shoes, etc. We have up to 10 days to complete the race and I’m thinking we’ll finish by day nine.”
The race
The first section on this particular race is mountain biking followed by hiking and then a 40-kilometer paddle, an 87-kilometer mountain bike ride, two days of trekking and another very long paddle. The team loses points if they miss any of the checkpoints.
“And then we have to carry our paddle gear on our bikes,” Olson said. “There’s a lot of portaging. We finish up with a canoe paddle on a lake because it’s Canada.
“The biggest challenge is managing sleep. Typical adventure racing means sleeping two to three hours,” she shared. “It’s pretty intense. You’re pretty mush doing the entire race sleep deprived. Our typical strategy is to go the first night without sleep at all; we go all night, then sleep early the second night, then after that, two to three hours a night. For this long of a race we might have some longer sleeps. The other challenge is the weather. The race location is undisclosed but it will be within 750 kilometers of Penticton. There are alpine areas so it could get cold. The water is going to be cold for sure so the goal is to keep dry.”
Olson has no plans to slow down after Canada, sharing she plans to race in Mexico in 2027 and maybe partake in Expedition Alaska. “These races are so crazy because you enter thinking, how am I ever going to do all of this and when you finish you end up thinking that you can accomplish anything,” she said. “It is so empowering. I started these in my 20s. It has shaped my life in a great way.”
One of the teammates carries a tracker in their backpack so people can track the team’s progress. To follow Lucky Cosmic Confusion live during the race go to ARWC25.com.
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Mila Olson holds up a simplified map of her upcoming Expedition Canada race in which she will be a member of a four-woman team, biking hiking, paddling and trekking a total of 750 kilometers starting Sept. 25 in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada.
OPINION
California Commentary
Legislature’s attempted extortion of taxpayers fails
Is there anything the California Legislature wouldn’t do to prevent a tax relief measure from appearing on the ballot?
Apparently not.
With virtually no notice, legislation was introduced last week with the intent of negating the Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Prop. 13, a proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to close court-created loopholes in Proposition 13. Not only does Senate Bill 423 reflect anti-taxpayer policy, the manner in which it was introduced — as a “gut and amend” bill — should enlighten voters about how little transparency there is in Sacramento.
Letters to the Editor
Take a break
EDITOR:
I’d like to suggests that we consider taking a break from politics and just do something fun. My wife and I recently attended Imagination Theater’s production of “Blithe Spirit” and had a great time. The story, sets and acting are all delightful.
For context, recall that HJTA sponsored the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, a measure which would have appeared on the November 2024 ballot except for the intervention by the California Supreme Court. Bending to the political agenda of Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature, the court removed TPA from the ballot. Much has been written about this judicial overreach, including an editorial in the Wall Street Journal titled “Democracy Dies in California.”
The impact of the ULA tax has been so bad that even many who originally supported it are having buyers’ remorse ...
Recognizing that tax relief is still desperately needed for California homeowners, HJTA submitted a new initiative to address two of the most egregious loopholes created in Prop. 13. Unlike the previous e ort, this measure avoids secondary issues and focuses just the two-thirds vote requirement for local special taxes and the issue of huge increases in real estate transfer taxes. That initiative measure, the Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Prop. 13, is currently in circulation gathering signatures from thousands of voters who are printing and signing the downloadable petition at home.
Historically, real estate transfer taxes in California were limited to $1.10 per $1,000 of property value. However, following Prop. 13’s passage, many cities began imposing increases, enabled by court decisions in the 1990s. Even worse, because of the infamous Upland decision in 2017, local governments operating under the guise of “citizen groups” can propose “special taxes” by initiative, evading the requirement of a two-thirds vote of the electorate to pass. The worst abuse of Upland occurred in Los Angeles where, because of Measure ULA, high-value properties are now subject to very high transfer taxes. The impact of the ULA tax has been so bad that ■ See COUPAL, page A7
Guest column
It was a nice break from work and the general noise of life. You might even meet some friends you haven’t seen for a while, as we did. It’s also a good way to reset and re-assess those things that really matter to you. Give it a try. Between the laughs you might just find that life is a pretty good thing.
RANDY PALMER Rescue
Open letter to our DA
EDITOR:
You, Mr. El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, seem to forget that our valued immigrants who work hard, pay taxes and are raising the next generation of birthright citizens are our neighbors, our husbands, our wives, our entrepreneurs downtown, the cashiers at grocery stores, the cook at your favorite breakfast spot or maybe they
clean your house, mow and weed your property.
You want to curb crime and arrest serious rapist o enders or drug dealers ... have at it. Criminal elements are not wanted in any of El Dorado. County.
Drug treatment is a pathway to legitimate work without addiction running your life whether you’re white or brown, immigrant or naturalized or DACA. Court-ordered drug or alcohol treatment saves lives each and every day someone remains sober. A family can be made whole again.
You seem to lack the empathy we need in a DA who sees the possibility in people turning their lives into contributing community members and would rather throw out the trash than recycle a valuable resource.
Straining police resources has always been a challenge in every county, every year, and is no new revelation.
Start working smarter and not harder. If you lack the skills then develop them. If your sta is lacking in innovation then mentor them to think outside the box. Work with community. not against it.
Judges are not delaying placement; they are ensuring that detainees receive the time and the legal resources in a language they speak and
Congress apparently takes a holiday from oversight
Given the recent headlines that
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to blow up three Venezuelan ships, the American people could rightly wonder if we are at war. It’s a fair question, and one that Congress should be posing through oversight hearings.
The U.S. military blew up a ship on Sept. 2, killing all 11 people on board. On Sept. 15, the military struck again, this time sinking a second ship and killing three people, according to the Defense Department. And President Trump announced on Sept. 16 that, in fact, the U.S. military had “knocked o , actually, three boats.” The third had not previously been disclosed.
President Trump has taken to social media to declare these attacks a success, and to warn Venezuela and other nations sending drugs to the United States to rethink their strategy.
“We are hunting you!” the president declared. Without question, the Venezuelan government is supporting and facilitating the transfer of illicit and lethal drugs into the United States. And, equally without question, the American people overwhelmingly want these foreign drugs to stop flowing into our country.
President Trump has a mandate from the American people to stop the illegal flow of drugs into our nation. After four years of open-border policies under President Joe Biden,
me that I am never going to side with drug dealers. But I am a big fan of due process, the U.S.
which were an invitation for drug cartels to flood our streets and schools with illegal drugs, the 2024 election served as a referendum on the openborder chaos. President Trump has correctly read the mood of the American people, and he understands one of the defining issues of the 2024 election.
I have prosecuted criminals for 25 years and witnessed firsthand the devastation that illegal drugs cause in our communities. Believe me that I am never going to side with drug dealers. But I am a big fan of due process, the U.S. Constitution and the separation of powers.
The popularity of President Trump’s actions to stop the flow of illicit drugs
into our country, at our border and at the high seas, does not mitigate the need for declarations of war to come from Congress. And that brings us back to the foundational question: Are we at war? Our founders understood that going to war was one of the most consequential decisions a nation ever makes. The transcripts from the Federal Convention reveal a debate among attendees about how to balance the requirement for swiftmoving defensive actions, but also thoughtful deliberations to ensure that the nation would not be engaged in frequent wars.
KEN BUCK
JON COUPAL
even many who originally supported it are having buyers’ remorse and have signed off on an effort to ameliorate some of the worst effects. That effort, flawed as it is, is Senate Bill 423.
According to media reports, Mayor Karen Bass and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg negotiated the framework of SB 423, which would reduce the tax on sales of apartment buildings and commercial properties that were built within the last 15 years. The tax on residential properties would remain in place except for those impacted by recent fires.
While any reduction in ULA’s draconian transfer tax would be welcome, a provision of SB 423 conditioned its limited relief for fire victims and commercial properties on the failure of HJTA’s initiative to qualify for the ballot. You read that right. For the operative provisions of 423 relating to LA’s transfer tax to become effective, either HJTA would have to withdraw its initiative, or the initiative would have to fail to qualify.
The word for this is extortion. Indeed, according to the Los Angeles Times, “Hertzberg … said he’s hoping the bid to overhaul Measure ULA will spur
business leaders, advocacy groups and others to withhold support for a ballot proposal drafted by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assn.” But Hertzberg is mistaken if he thinks that HJTA would drop its comprehensive tax relief measure for the fig leaf of reform contained in SB 423.
Taxpayers throughout California, not only in Los Angeles, are entitled to the protections that Proposition 13 added to the state constitution. All of them. Without court-created exceptions.
Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Buck Continued from A6
The founders resolved the question by deciding that the president, who could move more quickly, would be given the constitutional role of commander in chief of the armed forces, and would be granted the authority to repel immediate threats to the homeland. But Congress, the slower moving branch of government, and the one more accountable to the American people, would be constitutionally charged with declaring war.
President Trump has said that his directives to the military to blow up three ships (with a promise that even more ship-destroying maneuvers are on the way) are fully within his constitutional duty as commander in chief looking at defensive actions.
And he may be exactly right.
But the Constitution insists on getting that question correct. The only way to ensure that these ship-sinking exercises are defensive is for Congress to do its duty and to perform adequate oversight.
Republicans in Congress are no strangers to oversight. When Biden was in office, the GOP engaged in almost weekly oversight hearings to examine the Biden administration’s actions. But the Republicans’ zeal for oversight evaporated when President Trump took office.
The only way to ensure that the United States does not get embroiled into a dangerous and protracted war with Venezuela is to engage in proper oversight. Questions are mounting about these three incidents at sea, but Republicans in Congress so far seem entirely disinterested in their constitutional responsibility to seek answers.
Republicans hold the majority in both the House and the Senate in large part because they made the case to the American people that they would be the rule-of-law presence in Washington, D.C.
So, how about the GOP recommits to being the party that stands for the rule of law and conducts the serious oversight that the Constitution requires of Congress? The American people deserve nothing less than a full accounting of our military’s activities with Venezuelan ships.
Ken Buck served in the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2024 representing Colorado’s 4th congressional district.
Announcements
AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com
AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net
AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org
CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS
CLUB meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 at the Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3100 Rodeo Rd., CP, 95682. New and current local community members are welcome for fun and games throughout the month. For further information contact Jill Butler at 530-295-7448.
El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net
PLAY CRIBBAGE
Join the Gold Country 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, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Monica 530-306-7066. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and enjoy a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses.The meetings are held at 11:30 AM on May 19, July 21, September 15 and November 17, 2025 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.
SENIOR PEER COUNSELING Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.
TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Resilient Bruins hang on to ground Falcons
Mike Bush Mountain Democrat correspondent
Three touchdowns set the tone early for the Ponderosa High School girls flag football team in Wednesday’s Capital Valley Conference game against Christian Brothers.
The Bruins overcame an obstacle and a late Falcons rally to post an 18-14 win at Peter P. Bollinger ’57 Stadium on the Christian Brothers campus in Sacramento.
Ponderosa is playing better on offense than almost a month ago, when solid defense against Oak Ridge in the season opener was impressive, but the Trojans posted a 6-0 win in El Dorado Hills.
“We made some personnel changes,” said Ponderosa head coach Tyson Escobar.
“A lot of our offense is a lot of timing. It just took us time this last month to really build on what we were trying to grasp as far as an offensive scheme. The girls are starting to pick it up right now; they are playing with confidence.”
The win was the fourth in two seasons for Ponderosa (3-0 in the CVC, 7-4 overall) over Christian Brothers. This includes a 2024 SacJoaquin Section Division II semifinal game, which led to the Bruins winning the blue banner.
Returning to Wednesday’s game, the Bruins scored their first touchdown on the opening possession in the first quarter. Freshman quarterback Lily Thomas kept the ball and ran it into the end zone on a quarterback keeper with 7:24 remaining on the clock. The extra point attempt, a pass, was not good, as Ponderosa led
6-0. The Bruins’ defense set up the offense’s second touchdown of the game. Ponderosa defensive back Madalyn Meier intercepted a Falcon pass, scoring on a 21-yard run with 4:34 on the clock and bringing the lead to 12-0. Ponderosa scored its final touchdown toward the end of the opening quarter. Thomas came through again, this time completing a touchdown pass to Rowan Thomas for an 18-0 score. The Bruins were again unable to score on the extra point. Both teams exchanged possessions throughout
“We plan to announce this. It’ll be an email from me to all staff,” Carruesco said.
Staff will have a range of dates during which they can apply, he added, and there will be limitations. Those who have already announced they were retiring, or who have retired in the past, would only be able to cash out their accruals and not get the incentive, according to Carruesco.
“The spirit of this plan is to have folks who have been maybe contemplating retirement, like I said, retire a little bit earlier than they were planning,” he shared.
Acting Chief Administrative Officer Sue Hennike suggested the limitation only apply to those who have already submitted their retirement letter and weren’t expecting an incentive.
“So if you’ve just spoken about it in general terms, that wouldn’t necessarily disqualify you,” Hennike said.
The funding, coming from the Retiree Health Fund, would be limited to first-come, first-served, according to Hennike.
“Each individual application would be capped at $50,000 and we’re capping the entire program at $2 million,” she said, adding these actions would still leave about $8 million in the Retiree Health Fund.
In the past, that fund has not been relied upon for annual contributions to retiree health, she clarified.
“How does the county’s retiree health benefit
the second and third quarters. Escobar credits his team’s defense, plus the Falcon players, for keeping the other offense off the field.
“We kept running the ball, trying to eat some clock,” Escobar said.
“The defense played really well. That’s kind of the heartbeat of our team right now. We were very conservative on offense. We just didn’t want to get any turnovers.”
The Bruins were without the services of starting quarterback Aleyah Cruz, who went down with an injury in the opening quarter when she and a Falcons player collided.
“We sat her the rest of the game,” said Escobar of Cruz.
Christian Brothers (1-3 in the CVC, 8-6) scored its first touchdown on a pass in which the Falcons player rocketed down her
work in general?” Supervisor Brooke Laine asked Carruesco.
Retiree health benefits had been phased out for new hires in the years 2009-11, he answered.
“So anyone hired after that time, they can still be on the county health plan after they retire but they have to pay the whole share, the whole premium,” he said, adding that employees hired prior to that time are eligible for the county contribution toward a portion of their health premiums.
District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero asked County Counsel David Livingston whether an employee can rescind a letter of resignation to resubmit later and Livingston said they cannot.
Ferrero also asked if there were legal issues on putting a cap on the incentives.
“There’s really no parameters around this other than just an effort to apply the provisions equitably first-come, first-serve,” Livingston said.
District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin said she’s talked to county employees who are asking when the plan starts.
“They’ve been waiting to read what we’re proposing to help them make a decision,” Parlin said.
Hennike said it will also help department heads to reduce their staff.
“We are asking departments to come up with 5% and 10% reduction scenarios,” Hennike said. “That doesn’t mean we’re implementing across-the-board cuts, but we want them to start looking at their operations and planning for that.”
Retirements could also prevent layoffs, she added.
“Are you concerned at all with a siphon of expertise leaving the county?” Ferrero asked.
“Institutional knowledge. Sure. And hopefully departments have been planning for this,”
But the Bruins killed the remaining seconds on the clock when Lily Thomas took a knee in the victory formation for the win.
On Thursday, the Bruins were back on the road again, this time in Roseville to take on West Park’s squad in a non-league game.
Ponderosa has two games at Simon-Bruin Stadium next week. On Sept. 22, Rio Americano makes the trek from Sacramento to play the Bruins. Then on Sept. 25, Ponderosa welcomes Vista del Lago, which is 4-0 in CVC action.
Both games are scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.
Oak Ridge topples St. Francis
In a Sierra Foothill League road contest on Monday, Oak Ridge was too much for St. Francis, posting a 41-2 win.
“The assistant coaches prepared the team very well and the girls executed the game plan even better,” said Oak Ridge head coach Eric Cavaliere, who is also the school’s athletic director.
team’s sidelines for the score. The extra point was good, trimming the Bruins’ lead to 18-7 with 3:44 left in the contest.
The Falcons added a final touchdown with 48 seconds left in the game when wide receiver Jordyn Daniels, a sophomore, caught a pass from her quarterback and raced to the end zone from midfield. The extra point was good for what would be the final score.
Carruesco said.
Quarterback Maya Scipio, a junior, completed 31 of 42 passes for 307 yards and five touchdowns for the Trojans. Laurel Smart hauled in three touchdown passes while teammate Hannah Rivas had two.
Brielle Stewart scored the other touchdown for Oak Ridge (3-0 in the SFL, 7-1).
The Trojans continue league action Sept. 23, making the trek over the Yolo Causeway to Davis High at 7:30 p.m. On Sept. 24, Oak Ridge will entertain Granite Bay with a 5:45 p.m. kickoff.
Assistant Director of Transportation John Kahling said of himself and his wife, “The incentive would make an impact on our decision to retire.”
He said the board shouldn’t worry about knowledge leaving departments.
“People are already thinking about what’s going to happen with the next generation of leadership in this county,” Kahling said.
County retiree Shannon Murphy, a volunteer with the El Dorado County Probation Officers Association, said the POA supports the Retiree Incentives Plan.
Shannon Starr with Operating Engineers Local No. 3 said, “The unions have met multiple times with HR and given our input on this as it was written and have basically agreed to it as it’s written. So I would be concerned about any changes if they weren’t discussed with the unions.”
Carruesco said about 300 county employees are eligible to retire since retirement age starts at age 50. Laine asked what would keep someone at age 50 from retiring and then taking another job. She also said she would have liked to see more statistics on cost savings to the county.
Hennike agreed that it is delving into the unknown.
“In terms of position to position, I do expect there will be some savings. Now, will that savings offset the full $2 million that you’re spending out of the Retiree Health Fund? If that’s the board’s goal I can’t guarantee that,” Hennike said.
But she said with $10 million in the Retiree Health Fund, it is a viable way to save money in other areas, such as the General Fund and the Road Fund.
Parlin moved to approve the recommendations as written with the addition: “To be eligible for this program, an employee must not have submitted written notification to their appointing authority of their intent to retire or resign, prior to Sept. 16, 2025.”
District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp seconded with another caveat that it comes back to the Budget Ad Hoc committee for review.
“I think we need to monitor, to keep an eye on it, and if there’s an overwhelming response to it we’ll need to bring something back and discuss it,”
said. The
Photos by Mike Bush Ponderosa quarterback Lily Thomas (24), above, finds room to run in Wednesday’s CVC road game against Christian Brothers. At right, Bruin running back Aryanna Baker (17) tries to escape from a Falcons player during the game.
Groups given firefighting grants from PG&E, CFF
Paul Moreno PG&E
SACRAMENTO — Despite the coolest summer in Northern and Central California in more than a decade, wildfire risk remains constant. That’s why the California Fire Foundation, with support from the PG&E Corporation Foundation, is helping communities prevent and prepare to respond to the ongoing wildfire threat. Together, they have awarded $950,000 in wildfire safety grants to 63 local fire departments, fire agencies and nonprofit groups primarily in Northern and Central California.
In the Greater Sacramento area, 18 agencies received grants totaling $256,215. The grants will be used to purchase personal protective and specialized equipment for firefighters, complete defensible space and vegetation management work, reduce fuels and hazards and conduct fire safety public education and outreach.
El Dorado County recipients
• Food Bank of El Dorado County — $15,000
• Garden Valley Fire Protection District — $15,000
• West Slope Foundation — $10,000
This is the eighth year CFF and the PG&E Foundation have partnered to award grants to help communities bolster their disaster preparedness and response programs. This year, the PG&E Foundation committed an additional $200,000 to enhance the grant program and provide more community funding.
CFF reviewed over 190 submissions during a month-long application window and distributed the annual wildfire safety grants to agencies in high wildfire-risk areas. The grant awards come during National Preparedness Month, observed each September to raise awareness of preparing for disasters and emergencies.
The PG&E Foundation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company support CFF’s broader 2025 Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program with $1.65 million in charitable funding. The program works to raise awareness about wildfire safety throughout California and deliver resources to underserved communities in high fire-risk areas. The grants to local organizations are a core component of the WSPP, funding also supports CFF’s public safety education and outreach multimedia campaign in a variety of languages.
“This time of year is critical for the California Fire Foundation as we review WSPP grant applications from fire departments, agencies, and nonprofits. Each application reinforces the urgent need for resources to help mitigate wildfire risk,” said Brian K. Rice, chair of the California Fire Foundation. “The WSPP program is a lifeline for many of our firefighters, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of PG&E. With drought conditions, warmer temperatures, and drier months ... the threat of wildfire
remains real. These grants allow us to equip local agencies with funding for vegetation management, fuel reduction, specialized equipment, community outreach and essential protective gear.”
Since 2018, 431 grantees that include fire departments and fire agencies statewide have received $5.5 million in direct funding through the grant program as part of WSPP and each year the program receives more applications than the prior year. Funding targets specific communities identified as having extreme or elevated fire risk by the California Public Utilities Commission High Fire-Threat District map.
“PG&E has the privilege of serving 16 million people every day who live in 48 counties and 246 cities and towns in Northern and Central California,” said Sumeet Singh, EVP, operations and chief cperating cfficer.
“As the risk of wildfire continues to grow, partnerships like the one with the California Fire Foundation are critical for protecting the hometowns where our friends, families and neighbors live and work. By making homes and businesses fire-safe, by providing firefighters with the tools and equipment they need, by raising awareness of how we all can prevent wildfires — we are truly making everyone and everything safer.”
The WSPP focuses on two key areas to help keep communities safe:
• A wildfire safety campaign that features fire safety education, developed by CFF, in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Hmong to promote early evacuation during fires. The WSPP has worked diligently to overcome language barriers by developing and distributing in-language fire-safety messaging. This campaign includes advertising on radio, television and digital ads, as well as outdoor billboards in high fire-threat areas.
• A grant program administered by the CFF through an application process. The CFF awards grants to recipient fire departments, agencies and community groups in support of projects and programs focusing on wildfire/disaster prevention, preparedness and/or relief and recovery assistance.
Grant funding this year supports projects anticipated to have the following impact:
• Over 1,000 pieces of personal protection equipment such as helmets, boots, gloves, goggles and fire shelters.
• Fuel reductions/vegetation management
• Multiple acres of hazardous tree and brush removal
• Millions of pounds of tree limbs, branches and other combustibles chipping and hauling
• Multiple prescribed fires or pile burns
• Fire safety education provided across 12 counties potentially benefiting over 1.4 million residents.
• Over 1,000 pieces of specialized equipment including water storage tanks, portable radios, headlamps, hoses/clamps/nozzles, chainsaws and gear packs.
COMICS
n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly
n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
Letters Continued from A6 write to stand against illegal arrests and detention. Are we flooded with these cases? Of course we are because someone said round ‘em up boys. That’s B.S. and it is profiling people because they are brown and/or because English is not their primary language. If you think the majority of this El Dorado County shares your sentiment, you would be sadly mistaken. We intend to help our immigrant community members navigate the minefield of the ICE Gestapo and I am one of thousands who do not support your stereotype of immigrants or your failed leadership in this community and against sanctuary cities. Your betrayal is shining through. We now know where you stand and it is not beside us. We will hold you accountable for infringing on the
civil rights of those in our surrounding communities of Placerville, El Dorado, Cameron Park, Camino, Pollock Pines and beyond.
If you were oblivious to the 16 miles of El Dorado County overpass banner drops then perhaps you should wake up.
CHRIS HENDERSON Placerville
Alternative beef
EDITOR:
Beef! It ain’t what’s for dinner anymore. That’s the popular response to the tripling of beef prices in the past 15 years. The underlying reasons have been severe droughts in the cattle producing states of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, aggravated by the 50% tariff imposed by Trump on imports of Brazilian beef. Ironically, the
droughts are connected to global warming caused in part by methane emissions from cattle. The rising price is expected to reduce consumption of beef, as well as the associated disastrous impacts on our personal health and the health of our planet. But there is still hope for folks who just “have to have” their steak. A number of start-up companies are developing healthy, ecofriendly, convenient, tasty and reasonably priced steaks from animal cells and plants. They should appear on our supermarket shelves within a couple of years. And here is the best part for those of us who care where our food comes from: these steaks will be processed through sanitary health-inspected vats, rather than through the digestive tracts of cows.
PERCY MAILLOT Placerville
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Opportunities don’t always arrive in tidy order after “earning.” Sometimes they come early, because someone senses your readiness — or more likely because it’s needed in the moment and you’re in the vicinity to be tapped.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Everyone needs a support system. You’ll be attracted to those with talents and skills that complement yours. Even if you must go out of your way to add to your team, it will be worth it because building teams is building power.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). A strategic act of inclusion builds goodwill. The one you performed a while back is now affecting your life in a good way because someone feels woven into your circle — evidence that this is the way to continue on, moving forward in kindness.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Selectivity turns a good day into a great one. Choose depth over breadth. The temptation is to say yes to it all, but if you only say yes to one, you can immerse, enjoy more fully and gain more satisfaction than scattered energy would allow for.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If your first communication doesn’t land, take that as information. Use it to guide an adjustment of tone, language or delivery. Tweak gradually. Change one thing at a time so you can see what made the difference.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Prometheus is the figure in Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, a gift that brought light, warmth, knowledge
and power. There’s a Promethean fire lighting up your situation today — the breakthrough that feels stolen from the heavens.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The air will be cleared. Misunderstandings between people will be resolved. Much will be accomplished because of this, but for now, just concentrate on flowing as much compassion as possible.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). People may not talk about the flip side of a situation, but everyone knows there is one and can make an accurate guess about it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s not necessary to be easy to read, contact or find today. You’ll cultivate a magnetic vibe based in mystery and maybe a dash of ambiguity while you’re at it. People will be drawn in by not understanding everything right away. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You know exactly who your role model is, but you may not know who is using you as a role model. For this reason, be on your best behavior at all times today. You’ll be copied in this state. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There is no
n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
n RUBES by Leigh Rubin
HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis
SUDOKU
Mitchell Continued from A1
Charles was the son of Betty and Foster Mitchell and born on Sept. 24, 1941, in Wisconsin. He grew up in Oshkosh and embraced his entrepreneurial spirit in his teens. His son Chris related a story of how his dad worked at a hardware store and he discovered a box of Army surplus screwdrivers sitting in the basement. He bought the box from the owner and then sold them to farm owners surrounding Oshkosh — of course at a profit.
Mitchell was the ultimate promoter and worked tirelessly to put the Fair Play wine region on the map. He retired from a successful real estate career in the Los Angeles area in the 1980s and moved to Mammoth Lakes to become a ski bum. Retirement did not suit his strong work ethic, so the bored wine lover decided to enter the vineyard business in the next phase of his life. In 1994 the industrious wine connoisseur bought vineyard property in Fair Play and opened Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards.
The Wisconsin native’s love of wine and flair for creating a memorable wine and food experience was well received. Wine aficionados and
neophytes not only visited the winery to sample the vintages but also to hear Mitchell recount wonderful tales about every aspect of a complete wine experience.
The winemaker dinners were a showcase for not only the awardwinning wines and beautifully curated courses to pair with the wines but became an entertaining evening with
Mitchell regaling the crowd with facts and fantastic stories. The wine salons were another popular time with wine, food and, of course, entertaining banter by Mitchell.
He also held bottle your own events where guests would fill, cork and label various wines at a great price. At times people would eagerly wait in line to become a winemaker, thrilled with the whole process.
Always thinking of ways to promote southern El Dorado County as a wine destination, he worked with other winery owners to get Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to approve Fair Play as an American Viticultural Area in 2001.
The enterprising vintner also founded Winery by the Creek, Argonaut and J Foster wineries. When not engaged in running his wine interests, Charles loved motorcycles, boats and airplanes. He also enjoyed skateboarding and would often board on Perry Creek Road.
Daughter Jill accompanied Charles on many wine adventures to France and she said she has fond memories of those occasions. Son Chris told the Mountain Democrat he admired his father and will deeply miss him.
Mountain Democrat file photo by Mimi Escabar
Always a showman — Charles Mitchell would entertain guests at Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards by opening a sparkling wine with a sword.
PROSPECTING
IN
THE KNOW
Sept. 19
The Sierra Renaissance Society presents The History of ARC’s Wakamatsu Farm presented by Melissa Lobach, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road in Diamond Springs. Admission is free for members; public invited to attend two meetings for free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc. org.
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will host a Ribbon Cutting at Paco’s Mexican Cuisine at 4:30 p.m. For more information call (530) 6778000 or visit sscpchamber.
org.
1850 Wine Cellars will host Name That Tune, ‘90s edition from 5-7 p.m. Form a team, guess the song(s) and band/singer (for extra points) and win prizes. For more information visit 1850winecellars.com.
Bumgarner Winery’s tasting room in Camino will host Brea’s Big Birthday Celebration from 5:30-8 p.m. For more information visit bumgarnerwinery.com.
David Outlaw Band (psychedelic southern rock) will perform, 8-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Sons of Rock and Roll will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
The Stage at Burke Junction will host Homegrown Comedy presenting Freeway Farrell at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.
The Grass Valley Center for the Arts presents An Intimate Evening with Shovels & Rope at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.
The So a in Sacramento presents Duo Quartet at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 4435300 or visit bstreettheatre. org.
Sept. 20
Join the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County for the California Native Plants workshop 9 a.m. to noon. Discover how to evaluate your yard to establish a native landscape, how to select and maintain plants, how to group plants by water needs and, if you only have a small space, the best native plants for containers. The course will take place at Placerville Veterans Memorial Hall. Register at surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=46404. Join the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County for the Gifts from the Garden and Kitchen workshop. 9 a.m. to noon. Get ideas for gifts you can give from your garden or kitchen as well as gift ideas for the gardener and the cook in your life. The course will take place at Cameron Park Community Center. Register at surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=45484.
News release
The Tahoe community gathered at Lakeview Commons on a late August evening to celebrate the unveiling of “Footsteps of the Past: Suspended in Time” a new public art installation designed to reflect the culture, history and spirit of the Tahoe Basin.
The installation, created by local sculptor Terrie Bennett, features four bronze and stainless-steel sculptures suspended inside transparent mesh cubes, each representing a di erent chapter of Tahoe’s story: a Washoe woman weaving a basket, a schooner sailboat, a vintage skier and a bear. Bronze footprints — cast from the feet of Washoe elders and youth — form a pathway that invites visitors to walk through the past, present and future. As daylight fades and evening shadows fall, the stainlesssteel mesh transforms the sculptures, incorporating the changing light and the surrounding lake and mountain vistas into the experience.
“This installation is designed to enrich the community, reflect our unique history and enhance the beauty of Lakeview Commons for generations to come,” Bennett said. Bennett is a secondgeneration sculptor, raised on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Her family business, Bennett Sculpture, relocated from Tahoe City to Placerville in the early 1980s, and that environment provided Bennett with early exposure to the
tools and techniques of sculpture.
From her youth, Bennett apprenticed with her father and uncle — Tom and Bob Bennett — working in bronze foundry and learning a range of artistic crafts, including wire sculpting, lost-wax bronze casting, clay modeling, welding and steel and aluminum fabrication.
Her early subject matter reflected her love for wildlife and the natural world. In her 20s, she began focusing on marine mammals — whales and dolphins — inspired in part by dream-images and a sense of environmental stewardship.
Over time her artistic voice broadened, incorporating more abstract and modern forms while retaining her core emphasis on nature, community and conservation.
Throughout her more than four-decade career, Bennett has completed a number of prominent commissions including “Spirit of the Red Hawk” in Shingle Springs — a monumental sculpture for Red Hawk Casino; a NASA Space Shuttle Program commemoration at the Space Foundation Headquarters in Colorado; “Prayer for Peace” in Lubbock, Texas — a 12-foot tall sculpture symbolizing peace; “Transformational Leadership” in Washington, D.C. — commissioned by the African Leadership Congress for President Barack Obama; and the Camino Gateway Sculpture in Camino — depicting agricultural
Photo by Nicki Bennett
The individual installations are encased in stainless steel wire mesh enabling the surroundings to become part of the art.
Pops Chorale & Orchestra to present Festival of Wonders Gala
News release
FOLSOM — The Pops Chorale & Orchestra is preparing to roll out the red carpet for its Festival of Wonders Concert and Gala, a “Hollywood at Harris” event that blends music, glamour and community celebration.
The event, scheduled for Sept. 27 at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom, will showcase the music of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, the award-winning composers behind some of Broadway and Hollywood’s bestloved works, including “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Wicked” and “Godspell.”
Organizers say the Festival of Wonders is designed to be more than just a concert. Guests will be welcomed with champagne, fine wines and gourmet food, and invited to participate in a silent auction. One attendee will even have the opportunity to step on stage as guest conductor.
“This event is about celebrating the power of music to bring people together,” said Lorin Miller, artistic and musical director of The Pops Chorale & Orchestra. “The works of Menken and Schwartz capture the magic of storytelling through song, and we’re thrilled to share that experience with our community in such a dynamic way.”
A night of music and spectacle
The Pops Chorale & Orchestra, known
for its large-scale productions that blend imaginative staging and choreography with highcaliber musicianship, has built a reputation for offering something for everyone. From Broadway standards to big band and holiday classics, the group’s performances are designed to be both entertaining and memorable.
At the Festival of Wonders, audience participation will be part of the program, continuing the ensemble’s tradition of inviting community members to be active participants rather than passive observers. Miller said the intent is to create an atmosphere of wonder and delight that lingers long after the final note.
General admission begins at 4 p.m., with upgraded VIP access — including wine, beer and appetizers — available starting at 3 p.m. The performance itself begins at 5 p.m.
The gala is also a fundraiser for The Pops Chorale Student Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to young singers and performing artists pursuing music studies at the collegiate level.
“Supporting the next generation of musicians is central to our mission,” Miller said. “We want to give talented young people the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in the arts.”
A community cornerstone
The Pops Chorale, an 80-voice ensemble of singers ranging from students to retirees, has been a fixture in the Sacramento region for years. Under Miller’s leadership, the group has performed internationally in Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, England and Scotland, while maintaining
a busy schedule of performances at home.
Miller, now in his 20th year as artistic director, has spent his career balancing performance, education and leadership in the arts. A native of Grass Valley, he holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in the humanities with a focus on music performance. After a career that included recording, touring and studying film scoring at University of California Los Angeles, Miller returned to Northern California, where he has worked to expand access to high-quality musical performances.
His programming approach emphasizes variety, with concert seasons that feature everything from jazz standards and Americana to Broadway blockbusters and holiday shows.
“The goal is to create something fresh and exciting every year while maintaining the quality and artistry that
audiences expect,” he said.
The Chorale’s partner orchestra is composed of professional musicians from across Northern California. Its flexibility allows it to transform from a full orchestra to a chamber ensemble to a jazz band, depending on the program.
A night to remember
Organizers of the Festival of Wonders say the event represents both a celebration and an investment in the future of local music. By combining spectacle with purpose, the gala aims to engage audiences in a shared experience that supports community growth.
“We see music as a unifying force,” Miller said. “When people come together to sing, play and listen, they form connections that extend beyond the concert hall. That’s why this event is so special — it’s entertainment with a
lasting impact.”
The Pops Chorale & Orchestra is operated by PPC Entertainment, a nonprofit that presents concerts throughout the Sacramento region. Its mission is to provide opportunities for both seasoned musicians and emerging talent, fostering intergenerational connections through live performance. From international tours to local fundraisers, the group’s performances highlight not only artistic skill but also a commitment to community. For Miller and the musicians he directs, the Festival of Wonders represents the next step in that ongoing journey.
“It’s about creating moments of joy and inspiration,” Miller said. “That’s what we hope people take with them when they leave the Harris Center on Sept. 27.
For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net.
Chess, loss and legacy inspire Sacramento author’s new novel
News release
SACRAMENTO — Before chess became Brad Buchanan’s passion, therapy and obsession, it was simply a gift from his mother. Susan Buchanan taught her young son the game, never knowing that the lessons would outlast her own life — and eventually inspire his most ambitious book, “Spy’s Mate.”
“My mother was a remarkable person,” Buchanan reflected. “She taught me chess, but more importantly, she showed me how a game could be both discipline and joy, both strategy and story. When she passed away from complications of blood cancer in 2021, I wanted to honor that gift with a chess-inspired narrative in which a mother is central to the storyline. Thus, ‘Spy’s Mate’ was born.”
In “Spy’s Mate,” readers are introduced to Yasha, a gifted chess prodigy whose life is upended when his chronically ill mother is hospitalized. Sent to live with an uncle in Armenia, Yasha finds solace — and obsession — in the game of chess and foolishly promises his mother that he will become World Chess Champion before her death.
Yasha suffers humiliating defeats before his chess prowess begins to develop, and his talents eventually draw the attention of powerful figures, including the crusty chess coach Churbanov and the manipulative KGB operative Vasily Ulyanov, who falsely claims to be Yasha’s father.
Churbanov turns Yasha into a world-famous phenomenon, and after his meteoric ascent to grandmaster status, Yasha is thrust into scandal when he is coerced into throwing a critical match, resulting in the suicide of a beloved dissident player. Compelled to seek redemption, Yasha joins forces with Vadim Ibragimov, a Kazakh grandmaster with
ties to the Mossad and a new team of renegade coaches who aim to take down the reigning World Champion, Evgeny Volosin.
Through it all, Yasha must also navigate a Soviet Union in turmoil and anti-Armenian violence, which ultimately claims the lives of his close friend’s family and pushes Yasha into open defiance of Soviet authorities.
“Spy’s Mate” culminates in a spine-tingling, seesaw battle on the chessboard. In a stunning upset, Yasha becomes World Chess Champion. But victory comes at a price. Yasha must make a harrowing decision: flee the Soviet Union for his safety or return to Moscow and risk everything to pay one last visit to his dying mother.
“It is a hero’s journey that only chess can offer,” Buchanan added. “A truly remarkable story of perseverance and pluck, with some amazing brilliancies built in. I think my mother would absolutely love it.”
About the Author
Buchanan is a lifelong chess fan, student of chess history and culture and online chess addict. In a former life, he taught English literature at California State University, Sacramento until his retirement in 2016. His poetry, short fiction and scholarly articles have appeared in more than 200 journals, and he has published four book-length collections of poetry, three academic books and a medical memoir.
He was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in February 2015, and underwent a stem cell transplant in 2016, which involved a lengthy recovery and temporary vision loss. He is currently in remission, though he suffers from graft-versushost disease. When he isn’t writing, or hanging out
at 530-344-5028
with his daughters, he facilitates recurring online Writing As Healing workshops through the UC Davis Cancer Center, the Sacramento Society for the Blind and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. To learn more visit bradthechimera.com.
“Spy’s Mate” is available at book stores and online sources. traveling out of town? stay informed while you’re away with the mountain democrat’s website! www.mtdemocrat.com
Photo by Lorin Miller
The Pops Chorale & Orchestra is coming to the Harris Center Sept. 27 for the Festival of Wonders Concert and Gala.
Dance spectacle ‘A Taste of Ireland’ brings high-energy show to Grass Valley
GRASS VALLEY — One of the world’s top Irish dance productions is set to bring its mix of tradition, talent and modern flair to Nevada County.
A Taste of Ireland — The Irish Music & Dance Sensation will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. The show arrives fresh from its West End debut in the United Kingdom and is part of a 2025 world tour presented by Pace Live.
The production debuted in the United States in 2024 with a successful Off-Broadway run before touring internationally. Critics have praised the show as “world-class Irish dancing, melodic folk music mashups, live a capella tap battles, and craic galore,” according to Time Out Sydney. BroadwayWorld Sydney called it “an evening to excite and satisfy your Irish palette.”
Featuring a cast of world champion dancers, musicians and a contemporary vocalist, A Taste of Ireland reimagines Irish classics such as “Danny Boy” and “Wild Rover.”
The performance blends high-energy footwork, emotional storytelling and theatrical effects to take audiences on a journey through Ireland’s history.
The cast includes Gavin Shevlin, a two-time world champion and veteran of Lord of the Dance and Riverdance; Callum O’Neill, world champion and former Riverdance performer; and Cian Walsh, world championship runner-up. They are joined by fiddle player Megan McGinley, Patrick O’Keeffe Young Musician of the Year, who has also performed with Lord of the Dance. (Casting is subject to change.)
Producer and director Brent Pace said the performance is designed to immerse audiences in the heart of
heritage and local history.
Bennett has also been active in gallery work and arts education: she has owned and curated fine-art galleries in California and Taos, New Mexico and teaches sculpting to others, believing strongly in nurturing creative talent.
The new installation was paid for with $100,000 in American Rescue
Irish culture.
“This show offers audiences an adventure through the heart and soul of Ireland, where every beat of music and every step of Irish dance shares a captivating journey,” Pace said. “Each narrative is interwoven with dramatic lighting, breathtaking visual scenery, and performances that express the depth of these stories, so that audiences can appreciate Ireland’s rich history through movement, music and dance.”
Pace emphasized that unlike some productions, all taps in A Taste of Ireland are performed live. “Every
Plan Act funds allocated by the South Lake Tahoe City Council in August 2021. The city’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission selected Bennett’s proposal from several submissions, citing her strong track record of honoring local history through compelling public art.
“Footsteps of the Past” adds to the city’s ongoing efforts to integrate
performance is a breathtaking feat of excellence,” he said.
Pace brings more than 20 years of experience in Irish dance to the production. A six-time national champion and world medalist, he trained across London, Dublin, Australia and the U.S., and became lead dancer for The Rhythms of Ireland in 2011. He later performed with Gaelforce Dance and starred in ABC3’s documentary “Dancing Down Under.”
Co-producer Ceili Moore, also a world champion, launched her professional career at 18 with
art into shared spaces and deepen the connection between residents, landscape and culture.
The South Lake Tahoe Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission was established by city resolution in 2021, to advise the City Council on arts, culture and tourism policy. Its mission is to ensure that arts and cultural programming are accessible,
Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, performing across 15 countries and on shows including “The Graham Norton Show” and “Good Morning America.” Since 2016, Moore has worked alongside Pace in developing A Taste of Ireland and other Pace Live productions. With more than 150 five-star reviews on Facebook, the production has become a global phenomenon, combining storytelling with traditional and modern Irish dance, tap and music. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.
inclusive and that they strengthen the community identity, civic vitality and local economy.
The commission reviews public art and grant proposals and administers programs such as microgrants to support local artists and cultural projects.
To learn more about the artist visit terriebennett.com.
Photo by Chris Hardy
The critically acclaimed “A Taste of Ireland — The Irish Music & Dance Sensation,” will hit the stage in Grass Valley Sept. 30.
Photo by Nicki Bennett
A sunset becomes part of the installation, making the lake and surrounding area complete the awe inspiring visage seeming to place the schooner inside on the water.
Culinary challenge to showcase Nevada County’s local flavors
GRASS VALLEY — A new culinary competition aimed at celebrating Nevada County’s farms and chefs will debut next month when Sierra Harvest hosts its first Food Fight benefit.
The event is set for Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. at Castello Vista Estate in Grass Valley. Organizers describe it as part cooking challenge, part community celebration, and all about local food.
Top chefs from across the region will go headto-head, preparing dishes made entirely with
locally sourced ingredients. Guests will sample the creations, cast votes for their favorites and enjoy craft cocktails, live music and a silent auction. Local artists will also display food-inspired works.
“We are thrilled to bring the community together for this special event that highlights the incredible agricultural products and culinary talent we have right here in Nevada County,” said Eli Bacon, executive director of Sierra Harvest. “This event is all about the artists — our farmers, ranchers, chefs, mixologists, vintners, brewmasters, food entrepreneurs and really anyone inspired by fresh
food.” Bacon said the challenge encourages chefs to discover regional producers, while giving attendees a firsthand look at the possibilities of eating local.
Chefs scheduled to compete include Zach Sterner of Twelve28 Kitchen in Penn Valley, Alan Gosker of Lola at The National Hotel, Garrett Dakan of DaKan, Rose Fischer of Kikimora and Blake Bichsel of Water & Air Catering. Additional offerings will come from recent graduates of the Sierra Commons Food Accelerator.
The competition’s ingredients will be sourced from farms within the Sacramento River Watershed, a natural boundary identified by BriarPatch Food Co-op.
Proceeds will support Sierra Harvest programs aimed at building a resilient and equitable regional food system.
Sponsors include BriarPatch Food Co-op, MEC Builds, the Nevada County Resource Conservation District and Baird Lee & Dunn Group.
Organizers encourage attendees to wear “garden chic” attire. Tickets include unlimited tastings and are available at sierraharvest.org.
Sierra Harvest, a nonprofit based in Nevada County, offers farm-to-school programs, community education and farmer support as part of its mission to connect residents with local food and nutrition education.
Blues man comes to Sac
News release
SACRAMENTO — Soul blues saxophonist and singer Terry Hanck will bring his trademark blend of groove and grit to Harlow’s on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. for a release party celebrating his new album, “Grease to Gravy.”
Hanck, a three-time Blues Music Awards winner, is known for his warm vocals and fiery tenor saxophone style. His new record, released on the respected Little Village label, has already drawn praise from critics in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Brazil, Japan and beyond.
“With his unmistakable saxophone playing and charismatic vocals, Hanck serves up an album that’s both deeply nostalgic and incredibly fresh,” one reviewer writes.
‘Grease to Gravy’ isn’t
just an album for blues aficionados; it’s for anyone craving music that grooves with sincerity and soul.”
Based in South Florida, Hanck has spent more than 30 years on the road, performing at clubs, festivals and fairs across the country. He has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable saxophonists in the blues and soul scene, wielding his favored Selmer Mark VI with a tone that’s been described as both virile and commanding. Fans can expect the same blend of heartfelt songs and high-energy performance that have defined Hanck’s career — music that, as he puts it, “reminds us why it matters, not just as entertainment but as a connective force that bridges time, places and people.”
For tickets visit tinyurl.com/4n2c3scp.
Symphony opens season
Ravel. Originally written for piano, the piece transforms a walk through an art gallery into a kaleidoscope of sound, with Ravel’s orchestration turning every brushstroke into vivid color.
with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a sweeping work that moves from stormy drama to luminous release.
Wilson, described by the Baltimore Sun as “one of the biggest pianistic talents to have emerged in this country in the last 25 years,” will bring the concerto to life on the Harris Center stage. The program continues with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, famously reimagined for orchestra by Maurice
Wilson, a Juilliard graduate, has performed with orchestras across the United States, including those in San Francisco, Atlanta, Baltimore and Philadelphia, as well as with ensembles abroad such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Malaysian Philharmonic. He has earned numerous honors, including the Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Grammy nomination in 2011. The Folsom Lake Symphony is the resident orchestra at the Harris Center for the Arts. For tickets call (916) 608-6888 or visit folsomlakesymphony. com.
Courtesy photo
Award-winning Terry Hanck will play Harlow’s Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
Save the Graves will host a Headstone Cleaning at Placerville Union Cemetery from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information visit savethegraveseldorado.org.
Placerville Merchants on Main will host Octoberfest/Harvest Festival, 2-8 p.m. on Main Street with live music, contests and a family fun zone hosted by Ag in the Classroom. Green Room Social Club will host Island of Black & White + Born & Raised + Smokin Violets + Darth Mozart + Echo Summit will perform, 2-8 p.m. and Oktoberfest Harvest Party with Face Down + Cherisha Heart Band (Rock) at 7 p.m. For more information visit givebutter.com/potickets.
Miraflores Winery, 2120 Four Springs Trail in the Pleasant Valley area, is having Brunch and Bubbles with chef Tara Martinez. Enjoy a Trip to Hawaii with tropical mimosas. Reservation times are 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. Call (530) 647-8505 or email info@mirafloreswinery.com to make a reservation.
Nello Olivo Winery will host a Birthday party for the Grapefather from noon to 4 p.m. with a special menu and live music from Lilian Ghafari & Friends at the Camino Patio For more information visit nelloolivo.com.
Cynthia Renee Band will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series presents Megan Moroney from 6:30-9 p.m. For more information visit tinyurl.com/yfvbt3xz.
Ed Wilson will play at The Vine in Folsom from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The Stage at Burke Junction presents Improv
Classes with Luminous Linda from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information visit stageatburke.com.
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host EDH Summer Fest, 4-9:30 p.m. at Community Park with live music with a DJ, carnival games, rides and inflatables, face painting, petting zoo, beer and wine garden, food and dessert vendors, and more. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
The Atrium Gallery at El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts an opening reception for El Dorado Hills Arts Association Autumn Exhibition, 5:30-7 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
El Dorado County Historical Society and Fountain and Tallman Museum presents the Mines, Caves, & Quarries of El Dorado County presentation, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Placerville museum. For more information visit edchs.org.
Smith Flat House will host a Comedy Night at 8 p.m. For more information visit smithflathouse.com.
California Museum in Sacramento will host a Film Screening: “Pedro Páramo” from 1-4 p.m. For more information visit californiamuseum.org.
Kenny Metcalf as Elton with the Early Years Band 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.
Sept. 21
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host Yoga in the Park at 9 a.m. at Blackstone Park. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Myrtle Tree Arts and American River Conservancy co-present Ripe Area: The Art of Native Plants Festival. The celebration of local artists exploring the beauty and significance of native plants through
various art forms will take place at the Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit bit.ly/RIPEAREA25.
Ed Wilson will play at Renegade Winery and Bistro in Mokelumne Hill from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills will host a special story time with Lynn Smith, former news anchor, producer and author of the inspiring picture book “Just Keep Going,” 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. And Writers’ Coffeehouse from 1-2:30 p.m. For more information visit getyourfaceinabook.com.
Shadow Ranch in Somerset will host live music with West Coast Turnaround. For more information visit shadowranch.com.
Jeff Carter Trio ft. Keith Filson and Dustin Burton will perform from 6-9 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For
tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom. com.
Folsom Concert Association presents GQ: Gentlemen’s Quartet at 2 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916)
Black
Sept. 22 Win
Gifts from the garden and kitchen
This holiday season, learn how to create special homegrown gifts from your garden.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, UC Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County will hold a free public event at the Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park. Visit idea booths and listen to short talks about gift ideas for the gardener or cook in your life. Many easy garden gifts can be created using plants, herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables that might be in your garden. Even the kids can get involved.
The event will feature the following ideas and presentations:
The Superb Herb: Explore the Superb Herb booth for tasty, fragrant and soothing holiday ideas for
Gbringing herbs into your home and giving them as gifts. Learn how to make herbal butter and vinegar, candies, bath salts, simmering potpourri and more.
Fragrant Candles: The aromas are relaxing, refreshing and beautiful. Making your own candles can be rewarding and tailored to your tastes and moods. Using lavender, lemons and herbs from your garden will enhance your designs.
Succulent Artistry: Creating succulent planters is an inexpensive, easy DIY project for adults and children. With a few
RASS VALLEY — Comedian and actor Jon Lovitz, best known for his eccentric cast of characters on “Saturday Night Live” in the late 1980s, will bring his trademark wit and over-the-top persona to Grass Valley for a onenight-only stand-up performance Sept. 27 at The Center for the Arts.
Lovitz, 68, became a household name during his five seasons on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” where he was nominated for an Emmy in 1986 and 1987. He introduced audiences to
items, your imagination and some tips, you can create planters to give as gifts or decorate your home for the holidays.
Simmering Potpourri: Add holiday fragrance to your home using simmering water infused with herbs, spices and fruit.
Tiny Terrariums: Learn how to assemble tiny glass garden terrariums. Making and giving them as gifts will delight adults and children.
Garden Journaling: Give yourself or your favorite gardener a new journal to start in 2026. Keeping garden records is a valuable tool for learning, planning and preserving memories of your garden.
Pressed Flowers: Learn how to capture the beauty and color of fresh flowers forever, then incorporate your pressed flowers into gifts. Kids will also enjoy the process of gathering and preserving blossoms.
Forcing Bulbs: Give the gift of growing a flowering bulb on your windowsill next
some of the show’s most memorable recurring characters, including the shameless liar Tommy Flanagan, the booming “Master Thespian” and the holiday favorite Hanukkah Harry. Lovitz studied drama at the University of California, Irvine, before training with the famed improvisational troupe The Groundlings. His years there not only sharpened his comedic instincts but also connected him with future SNL castmates Phil Hartman and Julia Sweeney.
After leaving SNL in 1990, Lovitz built a career that crossed comedy,
spring. Learn how to put together a bulb and vase, including instructions, for this living gift.
Citrus: Who doesn’t love the fresh lemon or orange flavor and fragrance over the holidays? Use some of your winter fruit crops to whip up treats to serve or give as gifts.
Gorgeous Gift Baskets: Themed gift baskets filled with treats to enjoy are always a winner.
Freeze-Drying: Freeze-dried foods are favorites among many home gardeners. A home freeze-dryer makes it possible to create freeze-dried ingredients, meals and treats.
Our gardens can be a treasure trove of holiday gifts if you know how to use their bounty.
Become a UC Master Gardener. Visit the website for more details about how to apply for the 2026 training.
For more information about UC Master Gardener classes, events and garden resources visit mgeldorado.ucanr.
edu. For garden hours and activity information for the Sherwood Demonstration Garden visit ucanr. edu/sites/EDC_ Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden. Have a gardening question? Use the “Ask a Master Gardener”
film, television and voice acting. He appeared in more than 40 movies, often scene-stealing with his offbeat delivery. His film credits include Penny Marshall’s “A League of Their Own,” in which he played a sarcastic baseball scout; “The Wedding Singer,” opposite Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore; and “Big,” directed by Penny Marshall. He has also worked with directors Woody Allen and Rob Reiner and appeared in Adam Sandler projects ranging from “Little Nicky” to “Happy Gilmore 2.”
His voice is also instantly recognizable. Lovitz lent it to numerous roles on “The Simpsons” and starred as the title character in the cult animated series “The Critic,” which developed a following for its biting satire of Hollywood.
In addition to film and television, Lovitz has appeared on Broadway in Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party,” performed stand-up at Carnegie Hall and headlined his own national comedy tours. Since 2003 he has regularly taken his act on the road, mixing sharp-tongued observational
Mountain Democrat staff
Fred Simon, a Shingle Springs businessman and philanthropist who helped shape El Dorado County’s business and athletic landscape, turned 90 this week. Simon, who moved to the area in 1978, is known for his entrepreneurial ventures and decades of community service.
option on the website or leave a message at (530) 621-5512.
For more information about UC Master Food Preserver classes, events and food preserving resources visit ucanr. edu/site/ucce-masterfood-preservers-centralsierra.
humor with reprises of his classic characters.
Lovitz has remained a familiar face in pop culture through television guest appearances, commercials and even music — once singing with the Boston Pops. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.
He owned multiple businesses in Northern California, including hardware and liquor stores, gas stations and shopping centers, while also directing resources toward local athletics.
He is credited with spearheading the construction of Ponderosa High School’s football stadium, dedicated in 1997 as Simon-Bruin Stadium, and personally
contributed $160,000 toward the $365,000 project. He also helped develop softball dugouts, baseball fields and other athletic facilities in the region.
A Los Angeles native, Simon was born in 1935 and raised in Compton, where he began working at his mother’s country store at age 9. He later served in the U.S. Army, worked for United Airlines and joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department before turning to business ownership.
In El Dorado County, Simon became active in local politics and civic organizations, serving on the Shingle Springs/ Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, the Cameron Park Design Review Committee and the El Dorado Parks and Recreation Committee. He was named Cameron Park Rotary’s Man of the Year in 1988 and earned the Myrtle Baker award for community service.
Simon also spent more than two decades coaching youth sports, including Little League baseball, soccer, basketball and softball. His three children competed in multiple sports at local schools. At 90, Simon remains active in the community.
Photo by Judy Hobbs
Many easy garden gifts can be created using plants, herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables that might be in your garden.
Courtesy photo
Jon Lovitz will appear at The Center for the Arts on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
Sept. 23
Sierra Foothills Audubon Society will host A Saunter for Bird Lovers at 8 a.m. meeting at Magnolia Ranch Trailhead 5 miles north of Coloma on Highway 49. This walk is intended for anyone who loves birds. This is a fairly flat trail through beautiful oak woodlands with views of the American River. For more information call Walk Leader Kate Brennan (530) 268-1682.
The Family Search Center will host Family History Paperwork, learn an easy filing system that works at 11 a.m. at 3275 Cedar Ravine Road, Placerville. For more information call (916) 290-4395.
Senior Helpers, Cameron Park will host a free Center for Excellence Family Care Training from 2-4 p.m. at Senior Helpers Office, 1621 Creekside Drive, Suite 100, Folsom.
The El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society meets at the El Dorado Hills Library for the regular monthly workshop at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Sept. 24
The League of Women Voters of El Dorado County host a El Dorado Hills Community Services District candidate forum with candidates Wayne Lowery and Gary Kinghorn at 6:30 p.m. at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills.
Main Street Menagerie PRIDE Celebration! (DJ + Drag Show) 7-10 p.m. is at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Harris Center for the Arts presents “The Little Mermaid” at noon at Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.
Broadway at Music Circus presents “& Juliet” the Broadway Musical at 7:30 p.m. and through Oct. 5 at the UC Davis Health pavilion in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 557-1999 or visit broadwaysacramento.com.
Sept. 25
Senior Helpers, Cameron Park will host a free Caregiver Support Group from 10:30 a.m. to noon. at Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills.
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will host a Networking Luncheon at Red Hawk Koto Buffet with speaker U.S.
Representative Tom McClintock from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (530) 677-8000 or visit sscpchamber.org.
The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce will host its Fall Mixer at the Pollock Pines - Camino Community Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.
Joe Nipper Band (blues & rock), 7-10 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
The Sofia in Sacramento will host Jacam Manricks presents Omari Tau Quintet at 6:30 and 8 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
The Grass Valley Center for the Arts presents Get the Led Out A Celebration of “The Mighty Zep” at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org.
Sept. 26
The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce will host a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening at the Boot Barn in Placerville from noon to 2 p.m. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.
Join Mother Lode Rehabilitation for the annual All In for MORE Poker Tournament at 5 p.m. For tickets and more information visit morerehab.org.
1850 Wine Cellars will host Name That Tune, 2000s edition from
5-7 p.m. Form a team, guess the song(s) and band/singer (for extra points) and win prizes. For more information visit 1850winecellars. com.
Flat Busted will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
The Sacramento History Museum presents RCAF in Mictlán: 50th Anniversary of Dia de los Muertos on display through April 5, 2026. For more information visit sachistorymuseum.org.
Now
Pleasant grove Middle School PTO is looking for vendors for its Holiday Makers Market happening on Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to apply visit tinyurl.com/mv7xy29s.
Applications are open to join the Placerville Public Art Committee. The new committee will include seven members representing the community, arts, design and local history. To learn more visit artsandcultureeldorado.org/public-art-committee-application. Applications are now open for Folsom Lake Symphony’s Young Artist Competition with a Sept. 30 deadline. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony.com.
Imagination Theatre at the El Dorado Fairgrounds presents “Blithe Spirit” through Oct. 5. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.
Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “Men on Boats” through Sept. 20. For tickets and more information visit bigideatheatre.org. California Stage in Sacramento presents “The Lehman Trilogy” through Sept. 28. For tickets and more information visit calstage.org.
R-25 Theater Company presents “The Outsider” through Oct. 5. For tickets and more information visit r25theater.org.
Free tickets are available for the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West performing at the Harris Center for the Arts on Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.
Tickets are on sale for The Robert Cray Band at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.
Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents Arts, Letters, and Power, Van Dyck and the Portrait Print through Oct. 12; Cara and Diego Romero, Tales of Futures Past through Oct. 12; Black & Gold – Traditional and Contemporary Japanese and Chinese Ceramics through Dec. 31, 2025; Pueblo Pottery – Native
American Pottery and Sculpture through Dec. 31, 2030; and A Taste of Beauty, Spoons of Africa from the collection of Richard Ulevitch through Jan. 11, 2026 For more information visit crockerart. org.
California Railroad Museum presents the Restored No. 9 Steam Locomotive and companion Exhibit on display inside the historical roundhouse through January 2026. For tickets and more information visit californiarailroad.museum.
Registration is now open for The Center for Violence Free Relationships’ annual Drive Fore Change Golf Tourney at X Golf in the EDH Town Center on Nov. 1. For tickets and more information visit thecenternow.org.
The Mills Station Arts and Culture Center in Rancho Cordova hosts Live Model Drawing classes every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. For more information visit rcmacc.org.
The Mom Walk Sip and Stroll meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the El Dorado Hills Town Center amphitheater. It’s a great way to get active with other local moms.
Marco’s Café in Lotus hosts a family friendly Open Mic Night Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. Visit marcoscafelotus.com
Check out Placerville Cars and Coffee every Saturday, 7-9 a.m. at Lions Park. Hang out with other car enthusiasts.
will be held on September 29,
An application can be printed from the District website at www.gd-pud.org or request an application by emailing Stephanie Beck at slbeck@gd-pud.org. Return a completed application to the District office by mail, or email to: slbeck@gd-pud.org. Georgetown Divide Public Utility District P.O. Box 4240, Georgetown, CA. 95634 For further information call (530) 333-4356 or visit our website at www.gd-pud.org
Public Notices
why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: OCTOBER 24, 2025, 8:35 A.M. DEPT. 9 AT SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 8/29, 9/5, 9/12, 9/19 15091
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. FB2025-0817
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MEYTAV CONSTRUCTION, located at 4586 Mewuk Dr, Placerville, CA 95667 Registrant’s Name & Mailing Address: 1. Gerald W Malone, 4586 Mewuk Drive, Placerville, CA 95667, 2. Pavel V Fedchuk, 2320 Craig Ave, Sacramento, CA 95832
Karl McHugh @ 7:30pm Music City San Francisco, 1355 Bush St, San Francisco
Aggressive Monks LIVE at Savoy Tivoli! @ 9pm The Savoy Tivoli, 1434 Grant Ave, San Francisco
Corrine @ 9:30pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco
Danny Delorean @ 9:30pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco
iamsu! @ 8:30am 605 Main St, 605 Main Street, Su‐isun
Coastal Clean-up Day @ 9am Join us on Saturday, September 20th from 9:00AM-12:00PM for the annual California Coastal Clean-up Day! Rotary Park, 201 East Main Street, Winters. peyton@ putahcreekcouncil.org
ABAS Bonsai Show and Sale, Shepard Garden and Arts Center, McKinley ParkSacramento, September 20, 1P @ 1pm Large, live auction and sale featur‐ing the sales of Bonsai and related items. Beautiful material nurtured by our bonsai practitioners some of whom have been nurturing bon‐sai for decades. McKinley Park, 3330 McKinley Boulevard, Sacra‐mento. abasbonsaiclub@ gmail.com
Tribute Gala @ 5:30pm / $50-$7500 Welcome to San Francisco AIDS Foundation Tribute Gala, an extra‐ordinary evening to celebrate the remarkable �ght against HIV and AIDS and the journey to health jus‐tice for all. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, 757 Market Street, San Francisco. eventinfo@sfaf.org, 415-487-3025
Tantra Speed Date®Sacramento! Meet Singles Speed Dating @ 5:30pm / $45-$140 Join the speed dating revolution with a 94% connection rate! Meet singles & ignite connections through fun, chemistry-building games! Yoga Shala Sacramento, 2030 H Street, Sacramento. help@ tantrany.com
Art in Action: Beautiful Beaded Plants @ 1pm / $10
Our Art in Action family art workshops are back monthly! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pence socialmedia@gmail.com, 530-758-3370
Jiinto Daybreak Covidsafer Tour "Stellar Zero" @ 4pm The Backyard Off Broadway, 2122 X St, Sacramento
KillBill Sax: Private Event @ 6pm Private Event, Napa
Mr. Washington @ 7pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco
niko rain @ 7pm Cafe Du Nord, 2174 Market St, San Francisco
SMART BOMB x SF JAZZ with Mark de Clive-Lowe, Melanie Charles & more @ 7pm SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St, San Francisco
Balloon Museum | Emotion
Air - Art you can feel @ 11:30am Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
Balloon Museum | Emotion
Air - Art you can feel @ 11:45am Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
Balloon Museum | Emotion
Air - Art you can feel @ 12pm Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
J Holiday Live! at R&B PAST PRESENT FUTURE | SAT SEPT. 20TH | 6PM | 21+ @ 6pm / $40 J Holiday Live! at R&B PAST PRESENT FUTURE SAT SEPT 20TH - 6PM BROUGHT TO YOU BY: 360ENT.COM Journey Downtown, 308 Main Street, Vacaville
The Meaty Ogres @ 6pm Five Suns Brewing, 701 Escobar St C, Martinez
Audio1 @ 7pm SPIN San Francisco, 690 Folsom St #100, San Francisco
Dead Boys, Total Chaos, Guns For Sick Children @ 8pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco
KILIMANJARO @ 10am W San Francisco, 181 3rd St, San Francisco
Grease Sing-a-long @ 2pm Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento
Tantra Speed Date®Reno! (Meet Singles Speed Dating) @ 2pm / $45-$140 Join the speed dating revolution with a 94% connection rate! Meet singles & ignite connections through fun, chemistry-building games! The Studio, 1085 S Virginia St, Reno. help@tantrany.com
GGP Whale's Tail - Peter Lindman Solo @ 2:45pm Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Balloon Museum | Emotion Air - Art you can feel @ 12:15pm Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
Balloon Museum | Emotion Air - Art you can feel @ 12:30pm Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
The Saloon - Peter Lind‐man Duo with Mike Groh @ 4pm The Saloon, 1232 Grant ave, San Francisco
Mo Dotti @ 7pm 4 Star Theater, 2200 Clement St, San Francisco
Ryan McMullan @ 8pm The Chapel, 777 Valencia St, San Francisco
Vulture Feather @ 8pm Bottom Of the Hill, 1233 17th St, San Francisco
The Prodigy + Nitepunk @ 10pm The War�eld, 982 Market St, San Francisco
Balloon Museum | Emotion Air - Art you can feel @ 12:30pm Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
209923-1303
An Evening with a Mentalist :: Jay Alexander's Mind Tricks Live @ 6:30pm / $55 Sep 26th - Sep 28th Escape the ordinary and step into the San Francisco Magic Theater, where Mentalist Jay Alexander guides you through an evening of wonder. You’ll laugh, gasp, and leave with a story you’ll tell forever San Francisco Magic Theater (w/ Jay Alexander) at the Marrakech, 419 O'Farrell Street, San Fran‐cisco. mar@jayalexander.com, 415-305-6893
performances and sharp, relatable hu‐mor. An ancestor of iconic singing cowboy Gene Autry Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front Street, Sacramento. laugh sunlimited@gmail.com, 916-446-8128 AxXiDeNt @ 7pm Kilowatt
