Mountain Democrat, Wednesday, July 2, 2025 by mcnaughtonmedia

Placerville budget comes with some strings attached

Andrew Vonderschmitt

Features editor

The Placerville City Council adopted a $24,982,533 operating budget for 2025-26 at the June 24 regular meeting.

“I know you’ve seen this document three times now, so I’ll keep my comments short,” said Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Dave Warren, adding that the budget anticipates economic impacts.

An expected 2.09% decrease to General Fund revenue and increase of 6.44% in expenditures forced the budget team to “make concerning decisions to sta in order to reach a balanced budget,” according to the proposed budget document.

These decisions include a reorganization of the Community Services Department that reduces management positions and adds front line workers

– Midweek Edition –

CELEBRATE FREEDOM

■ Two cubs captured and delivered to wildlife rehab facility

California Department of Fish and Wildlife News release

SOUTH LAKE

TAHOE — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California State Parks have removed a bear that was a danger to public safety in South Lake Tahoe with a long history of human conﬂict, including multiple home invasions and vehicle break-ins.

At 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, the light-colored female bear, or sow, entered an occupied trailer belonging to a camper at Eagle Point Campground within Emerald Bay State Park. After being awoken by the bear trying to gain entry, the camper attempted to scare the bear o by banging pots and pans, screaming at the bear and making a loud commotion. Undeterred, the bear forced its way into the trailer and swiped at the camper, leaving her with cuts and bruises on her arms and hand and requiring an escorted trip to the hospital. Later that same morning, the bear ripped the door open on a camper-van with teenagers sleeping inside and later was reported harassing other campers within the same campground. Following the camper attack, the bear was deemed a “Public Safety Bear” under CDFW’s 2022 Black Bear Policy in California and targeted for immediate removal. The bear was located in the vicinity

down a giant water slide to cool off during the Spectacular event on June 28. With splashy fun, carnival games, live music, a patriotic aerial flyover, and a dazzling fireworks finale over the lake, this annual event is a much-loved community patriotic celebration. Below, the Nattrass and West families of Placerville had set out lawn chairs and gathered by the lakeside, ready to enjoy the fireworks display at Cameron Park’s Summer Spectacular.

Photos by Laurie Edwards

courtesy of CDFW

female bear euthanized by officials had a long history of home invasions and vehicle break-ins in South Lake Tahoe stretching over two years. The sow destroyed the vehicle door above trying to gain entry.

ESSENTIALS

Ardella Pauline Dahle

Oct. 24, 1928 – June 24, 2025

Ardella Pauline (Freund) Dahle, age 96, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin, Minnesota. A woman of grace, determination, and deep faith, Ardella lived a long and joyful life that touched many.

Born on October 24, 1928, in Johnsburg, Minnesota, Ardella was the daughter of Isidore John Freund and Catherine (Klapperich) Freund. She graduated from Adams High School in Adams, MN, in 1946. After graduation, Ardella began her career working for the Hormel Estate in Austin, MN. Her work with the Hormel family eventually brought her to the West Coast, where she continued working for them before branching out on her own. While in California, Ardella met her soulmate, Howard Dahle, during an outing to the Lawrence Welk Show—where she was a member of the dancing audience. They were married on August 6, 1960, in Los Angeles, California, and together made their home in several communities before settling in Placerville, CA.

Ardella had a long and respected career in banking, retiring in 1985 as the Assistant Manager of Security Paciﬁc National Bank. Outside of her career, she was an accomplished quilter, earning recognition at the El Dorado and Mower County Fairs. Ardella had a deep interest in genealogy, especially in tracing the Freund family history. She loved music—playing the piano and organ, singing in the choir at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Placerville, and always enjoying a good tune to dance to.

Ardella and Howard were known for warmly welcoming friends and their Midwestern family during visits to California. They enjoyed wine tasting, scenic tours, and sharing a cold beer before dinner. Ardella’s stylish ﬂair and worldly experiences earned her the admiration of her 48 nieces and nephews when she visited from California.

In 2021, Ardella returned to Minnesota and became a resident at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin. Her ﬁnal years were ﬁlled with grace, faith, and fond memories. She will be remembered for her vibrant personality, her love of family, her strong faith, and her joy in life’s simple pleasures.

Ardella is survived by her brother and sisters: John (Jean) Freund of Caledonia, MN; Mary Orth of Backus, MN; Bertilla Noble and Angela Smith, both of Cedar Rapids; sisters-in-law Phyllis Freund and Ruth Freund, both of Austin, MN; and 43 beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Howard in 2005; twin sisters Lucina and Lucille Blaser; sister Virginia Elliott; brothers Delphin and Raphael Freund; and nephews Allan Blaser, Gary Blaser, Stephen Freund, David Smith, and Russell Blaser.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg, MN. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the mass at the church, with a rosary at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church in Johnsburg, MN. Arrangements by the Adams Funeral Home.

Carol Jean Sanders

Jan. 12, 1955 – May 20, 2025

In loving memory of Carol Jean Sanders 70, passed away at her home with her family at her side on May 20, 2025 from a short aggressive cancer. Carol was born on January 12, 1955 in Placerville. She was the third child to Robert and Katie Land and was raised on Martin Lane. Her memories as a child were fun and loving and she appreciated her parents taking them camping and water skiing almost every weekend at Sly Park. Carol was a bowler and played on a league with her mother and sister. She also loved ﬁshing with her husband at Union Valley Reservoir.

Carol graduated at EDHS in 1973, she worked at the El Dorado Court House in Placerville as a Court Clerk and retired after 39 years. She loved her job and made many friends.

Carol married Allen Sanders in 1978 and they were together for 47 years. They met at 50 Grand. Allen asked his sister Gladys, “ Who’s that beautiful girl,” and that was it. They settled and raised their family in Pollock Pines.

Her husband passed away at their home with Carol by his side on May 10, 2024 from a long illness. She lost her father Bob Land in 2003 and her mother Katie in 2022, her niece Erin Hauge in 1990, and her brother-n-law David Hauge in 2022. She was survived by her daughter Kylee Leonard, her husband Jayzack, grandsons Patrick, Ryan and Travis, her son Robert Sanders his wife Kerri Jo, and granddaughter Aveline. Carol loved her grandchildren with all her heart! Her sister Cindy Hauge, her son Michael and his wife Laura, their children Eryn, Evan and Ava, Carol’s brother Tim Land, his wife Barbara and their daughter Andrea Hasemeier, husband Eric, their children Gracie and Ethan, sister-in-law Gladys Neeley, brother-in-law Armond Sanders and wife Irine.

Carol will be dearly missed, she had a beautiful smile and a quick sense of humor with laughs for all who knew her.

There is a service for Allen and Carol on July 10th at 1pm at the Green Valley Church on Green Valley Rd.

Donald Emil Uelmen

Nov. 11, 1938 – June 10, 2025

Donald Emil Uelmen, 86, of Placerville California, passed away on June 10, 2025. Don was born on November 11, 1938 to Francis and Trudy Uelmen in Sun Prairie, WI. Don’s childhood was spent in Greendale, Wisconsin before the growing family moved to Inglewood, California between his sophomore and junior year. Don graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1956.

After joining the Army Reserve, Don met and married Mona Cullen and began a career in Law Enforcement; ﬁrst with the Los Angeles County Sheri ’s O ce and then the California Highway Patrol. Don’s CHP path began in Newhall, California and a orded him opportunities throughout Northern California and Washington DC. After retirement in 1993 Don entered a second career with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and then the National Highway Tra c Safety Administration. In 2001 Don worked with the California O ce of Tra c Safety coordinating its “Click It or Ticket” program and helped design the sign posted along California highways.

Don was married to Mona until she passed in 1998. In 1999 he married his high school sweetheart Caroline Brinkerho . Finally retiring for real, Don and Caroline settled down in their family home in Placerville. Don volunteered at the Upper Room and with the Children’s Ministry at New Hope Fellowship where he was known as Opa. He was also a Commissioner at the El Dorado County Museum and a Board Member of the Historical Society. Often you could ﬁnd him dressed up leading walking tours up and down Main Street. He was also a member of Branch 113 Pollock Pines Sons in Retirement serving as Big Sir.

Survived by his wife of 26 years, Caroline, Don also leaves behind daughters Allison (Jim) Wells and Trudi Carter, His son Joseph (Liz) Uelmen, two surviving brothers Gerald (Martha) Uelmen and John (Laura) Uelmen, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Don’s Memorial Service will be held at New Hope Fellowship, 3838 Ponderosa Rd, Shingle Springs, CA 95682 on July 3, 2025 1:00pm.

Betty J. Adams

Dec. 11, 1930 – June 22, 2025

Betty J. (Landstrom) Adams, 94, passed away on June 22, 2025, in Rockport, Maine. Born in San Francisco, California, she pursued her education at Paciﬁc Union College in Angwin.

In 1953, Betty moved to Placerville, where she taught ﬁrst and second grades at Camino-Placerville Junior Academy (CPJA), now known as El Dorado Adventist School (EAS). Her love for teaching also led her to Colegio Linda Vista in Chiapas, Mexico, where she taught English. Betty was an active member of the Placerville SDA Church since 1954, and spent many years serving in Adventist Community Services. She also enjoyed participating in many mission trips, serving as a translator.

Betty was married to Celian Adams of Placerville for 66 years until his passing in 2020. Together, they made their home in the community of Mosquito when not serving in Mexico. Following Celian’s death, Betty relocated to Camden, Maine, to live with her daughter, Lanita.

She is survived by her children, Fred Adams, Linda Adams, and Lanita Medina; stepdaughters Gloria Weldy, June Mitchell, and Janet Taylor; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Norma Andrews

May 23, 1937 – May 22, 2025

Norma passed away quietly at home. She is survived by her sister Carole Stimen, daughter Nita Boydell, son Michael Sterns, Nicki Nicholson, nieces, nephews, grand children, and great-grand children. She joins her son Bud Sterns, who recently passed away. She was loved by all and will be missed dearly.

Boycie (Van) Emery Vanderlinden

Nov. 6, 1918 – June 7, 2025

Boycie (Van) Emery Vanderlinden, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at home at the remarkable age of 106.

Born in 1918, Van married the love of his life, Almeta Gant, in 1940. Together, they settled in the Pleasant Valley/Placerville area in 1952 and in 1958 Van founded Van’s Paving & Grading, a business he proudly ran for 32 years until his retirement at the age of 70.

For more than 45 years, he shared Saturday breakfasts at Denny’s—a tradition that eventually became a daily gathering for co ee with lifelong friends. His commitment to the community extended beyond business; he sponsored and coached numerous local softball teams, impacting generations with his leadership and support.

Van was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 67 years, Almeta Vanderlinden, and grandsons Rick Ladner and Shawn Warren.

He is survived by his son, Larry Vanderlinden Sr., and daughter, Mona Warren (Mike); grandchildren Lorrie Ladner, Larry Vanderlinden Jr., Cherrie Ghirarduzzi (Marc), Leah Harris (Shayne), and Sarah Warren; twelve great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Van’s legacy lives on through the family he cherished and the many friends he made throughout his long and well-lived life. He will be remembered for his warmth, strength, and the deep roots he planted in the community he called home.

Work begins on parkway’s next phase

Carla Hass El Dorado County Chief Administrative O ce

El Dorado County’s Department of Transportation will perform road work beginning this month and continuing through December 2026 at the following locations as part of the Diamond Springs Parkway Phase 1B Project:

• On Missouri Flat Road between Golden Center Drive and China Garden Road

• On State Route 49 between Truck Street and Pleasant Valley Road

• On Pleasant Valley Road between Fowler Lane and Toyan Drive

• Along Bradley Drive, Throwita Way and Old Depot Road

The work will require occasional shoulder and lane closures during which motorists should expect delays. These closures are necessary to ensure motorist and worker safety while the county’s contractor constructs a new four-lane roadway between Missouri Flat Road and State Route 49.

Motorists are advised to slow down through the work zones and allow extra time in order to arrive at their destinations on time.

El Dorado Trail users should also be aware that parking will no longer be available along Old Depot Road or near the front of the Sierra Door building. Instead, use the southern portion of the parking lot at 4300 Missouri Flat Road or 4369 Golden Center Drive for trail parking.

For questions regarding this project contact the DOT main line at (530) 621-5900 (select Option 3 for Engineering).

ED Transit notes holiday schedule

News release

El Dorado Transit’s business o ce and dispatch center will be closed and the following services will not operate on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day:

• Local Fixed Routes

• Commuter Routes

• Dial-A-Ride Services

The Sacramento/South Lake Tahoe Connecting bus will operate on a weekend schedule on Friday, July 4. For more information or to reserve a ride on the South Lake Tahoe Connector visit eldoradotransit.com. All services will resume as normal on Monday, July 7. For more information call El Dorado Transit at (530) 642-5383 or visit eldoradotransit.com.

DUI checkpoint coming to area

California Highway Patrol

News release

The California Highway Patrol – Placerville Area will conduct a driving under the inﬂuence checkpoint on July 5 in an unincorporated portion of El Dorado County.

“The CHP is committed to removing impaired drivers from our roadways to protect innocent motorists,” said Lt. R. Hatﬁeld, CHP Placerville Area Commander. “A DUI checkpoint is one of the many tools we use to identify and stop drivers under the inﬂuence of alcohol or drugs. If you’re thinking about driving impaired — don’t. Make a safe choice for yourself and others.”

Tra c volume permitting, all vehicles passing through the checkpoint will be screened for drivers under the inﬂuence. The exact location of the checkpoint will be determined based on areas with a history of DUI-related incidents and arrests.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California O ce of Tra c Safety through the National Highway Tra c Safety Administration.

MARVELOUS MIXER

Budget

with the hope the department will continue to deliver expected programs and facilities.

A vacant associate planner position in the Development Services Department has been frozen.

Previously frozen positions that will remain unfilled include one police officer, an administrative assistant and associate planner in Development Services and a maintenance worker 1 and a recreation coordinator in Community Services.

The proposed operating budget includes assumptions of revenue and expenses the council had seen at the June 10 regular meeting’s budget presentation with one caveat. The Community Services Department rolled back its prior recommendation to cut public swim hours to make up a shortfall in the department’s budget.

“The proposed operating budget assumes the same aquatics program as last year, including the continuation of the midweek public swim and potentially the extended season through August,” Warren told the council. “This was made possible thanks to renegotiation of a propane agreement by Matt Lishman, recreation superintendent, which will save the city approximately $11,000 annually.”

Staff will continue to evaluate the extended aquatics season and make further cost saving recommendations as

needed, Warren said. Warren also forecasted an additional $168,000 in possible General Fund revenue from the upcoming Water and Wastewater Cost of Service Study, to be completed this summer, which is expected to result in recommended updates to the Master Fee Schedule.

“With the cooling economy the proposed General Fund budget was more challenging to balance as compared to budgets just a few years ago,” remarked Warren.

The Capital Improvement Program budget came in at $2,714,351 for streets, water system and sewer system projects. The CIP is funded through Measures H and L,

Downtown Parking District Fund and the Water Enterprise Fund.

“I would like to publicly thank the budget team, the Measure H and L sales tax committee and the City Council for once again working together to balance this year’s budget which I know wasn’t easy,” said Warren. “I also want to thank your Assistant Finance Director Natalie Tornincasa for all her help.”

With that Warren turned the item over to the council for deliberation.

After various kudos from the public for the staff’s work on balancing the tight budget the council voted unanimously to adopt.

WORDS OF WISDOM

at the gum line that invites bacteria to enter and cause infection. When extraction of the wisdom teeth is indicated, the surgery can be performed at any age.. Many people develop impacted wisdom teeth. They may erupt only partially

or not at all. Some dentists and oral surgeons recommend wisdom tooth extraction even if impacted teeth aren’t causing problems, as a preventive measure against potential future problems. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will provide you and your family with the professional care and personal attention you deserve. Our goal is to help you enjoy your teeth throughout a lifetime. Call us to schedule a dental appointment. We offer “Tooth Print,” which is an impression of a child’s full mouth. About the size of a small wafer, the impression is given to the parent/guardian for the family album or for ID for a missing child. P.S. It is best to extract impacted wisdom teeth when the patient is young, before the jawbone that supports the teeth hardens and the tooth roots develop fully.

Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene

The crew of Sierra Community Access Television, left, was on hand to answer questions and show content from their productions on Channel 2, the local television station. Left to right: Mike Williamson, George Sabato and Gary Campbell. At right, El Dorado Lake Tahoe Film and Media Office Executive Director Kathleen Dodge speaks to the audience at the I Love Film Mixer at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds June 27. Dodge has helped bring the film industry to the county, with locations featured in movies, television shows and commercials.

Dental hygienist Miguel Luna, left, gives tours of the El Dorado Community Health Center’s mobile dental unit at the I Love Film Mixer on June 27. The mobile dentistry unit travels to area schools to offer screenings and services to children from low-income families. Cruz Fregoso, right photo, and Billy Dupras, both of Placerville hand out information about Fregoso’s business Bears By Your Side at the mixer. Bears By Your Side gives out handmade teddy bears to children in crisis. Last year the group gave out 700 bears.

RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE

The annual Business Awards presented at our luncheon on June 19 were created to recognize and promote the vital role local businesses play in El Dorado County’s economy and quality of life. Each year, numerous businesses are nominated in four categories, making selection increasingly challenging as the community grows and thrives. The Chamber is proud to support and celebrate our vibrant business community.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Arnolds for Awards

Recognizing demonstrated excellence in the areas of growth, marketing and management.

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Cappelli Wine

Recognizing Small Business that has been in existence for only 1-3 years and has built a sold foundation for moving into the future.

HOME BASED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Rides with Rob

Recognizing a successful business that operates a minimum of 80% of the time from a personal residence and has overcome the unique challenges inherent to a home-based business.

COMMUNITY SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Madrone Tree Hill

Honoring a business that has demonstrated a commitment to supporting our community. This year’s recipient isn’t just overwhelmingly worthy but is also a critical part of our community that steps up to support non-profits and many others throughout our county.

KEY TO THE CHAMBER

Dear Chamber Members,

Last week our Chamber, as part of the United Chamber Advocacy Network, asked you to participate in an Action Alert to defeat two bad policy proposals in the California Legislature.

The first bill was AB 1331, which would drastically limit how employers can use workplace surveillance tools, imposing blanket prohibitions that threaten business operations, workplace safety, and compliance. This bill’s overbroad language applies to nearly every business and technology used to protect employees, customers, and property. AB 1331 will create major compliance headaches, increase legal exposure, and undermine your ability to maintain a safe and secure workplace.

Nancy Murphy was recognized for 22 years of volunteer service with the County Chamber at our June Luncheon. Thank you Nancy for being a KEY part of our team!

forward for the remainder of 2025. It is important that we honor the good faith PAGA compromise that we negotiated last year, partly to dimmish the threat of employer lawsuits which have totaled nearly $10B in recent years.

We also asked you to oppose SB 310, which would roll back hard-won reforms to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) by creating a new private right of action for wage and hour penalties. If passed, SB 310 would make it easier for lawyers to sue local businesses, inflate settlement costs, and increase compliance headaches—hurting our region’s job creators and economy.

We have good news to report on both fronts, thanks in large part to grassroots efforts from business owners like you. SB 310 was held on the Senate floor, and is not moving

AB 1331 did move forward, but only after the author agreed to remove the “private right of action” which allowed citizen lawsuits against employers, removing provisions related to “disabling” safety devices, and removing provisions that would have applied the bill to the workers’ homes, among others. Despite the substantial amendments which weakened the bill, a number of Democrats still voted no, leading to a very close roll call. We will continue to chip away at this bill as it moves through the Senate.

We know that your time is valuable, so we carefully choose the bills we ask members to engage upon. We are tracking dozens of pieces of legislation, both supporting and opposing, working with our advocates and other partners in Sacramento. However, then the grassroots voice matters, lending your voice to our efforts can help make the difference, and we wanted to thank you for engaging when we reach out.

Thank you for your participation and support of the Chamber mission!

We Reeled in a Keeper

When our friend Vern Pershing from the Art of Water volunteered to help get our fountain up and running, Jacob Martin — a passionate fishing enthusiast — saw the perfect opportunity to practice his casting in the pond. Just kidding! That fun photo was my idea. But the smile is all Jacob.

We’re thrilled to have this bright young entrepreneur on our team through the Golden Sierra Workforce program. At just 20 years old, Jacob already runs his own landscaping business and holds a real estate license. His drive, curiosity, and work ethic are truly inspiring. We have the great privilege of working alongside Jacob until the end of July, when his internship wraps up. Stop by the Chamber and say hello to this remarkable young man — you’ll be glad you did!

Laurel Brent-Bumb , CEO El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce

OPENING & RIBBON CUTTING Chamber Champions:

The Prospector

584 Main Street, Placerville (530) 903-3006

• Entertainment • All Age Arcade

• Music Hall • Saloon • Darts

The Chamber was happy to assist in the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Celebration for The Prospector, a new entertainment venue with an all ages Arcade downstairs & (21 & older) Saloon & Music Hall with Darts upstairs.

Visit them at 594 Main Street, in one of Placerville’s oldest preserved buildings, the Soda Works - where Gold Rush history meets the best of times.

School Supply Drive

The 12th Annual Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference School Supply Drive is seeking donations of school supplies for 700+ Students in need during June and July, 2025. Donors can drop off their supplies at the EDC Chamber of Commerce, 542 Main Street, Placerville.

Items needed include:

• BACKPACKS! (All sizes. These are needed the most, especially backpacks for middle and high school.)

DONATE SUPPLIES

• Folders

• Binders

• Crayons

• Colored Pencils

• Calculators (Standard and Scientific)

• Binder dividers

• Graph/lined paper

• Protractors

• Markers

• Pencil Pouches

• Post-its

• Highlighters

• Rulers

• Sharpies

• Scissors

• Composition books

• Lunch boxes

• Notecards

• Dry erase markers

• Mechanical pencils

We already have plenty of regular pencils, erasers, black pens, and glue sticks to distribute this year.

SHOP OUR AMAZON LIST

We've put together an Amazon shopping list to make contributing even easier. Just shop this list and items will be automatically sent to Hands4Hope and included in the school supply distribution—you don't have to bring anything anywhere! Find the link here: https://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/schoolsupplydrive

IN NEED OF SUPPLIES?

If you are a parent/guardian with a student in need of supplies, please email us at info@hands4hopeyouth.org or contact the agency where you received the referral for more information about how to register in advance. Advance registration will open in July, 2025.

Miners on Main Scavenger Hunt

There are ten “Miners” hidden throughout Main Street Placerville from Sacramento Street to Clay Street. These Miners all had an impact on Placerville and El Dorado County during the Gold Rush period. Each miner has a QR code on the medallion that will take you to a webpage about the miners when scanned with your phone camera. So grab your phone and begin your hunt. visit-eldorado.com/ miners-on-main/

Live on the Blvd – Summer Concert Series El Dorado Hills Town Center July 10 – One of these Nights - The Songs Of The Eagles July 17 – Superbad - Groovin’ from the 70s to Now! July 24 – Locked Out Of Heaven- Bruno Mars Tribute Edhtowncenter.com Farmer’s Market

Sundays. EDH Community Center, 1021 Harvard Way (at EDH Blvd.) 9 a.m. – 1 p.m edhtowncenter.com/upcoming-events/ town-center-market/ Dart Tournament

Weekly on Wednesdays. The Prospector in Placerville. 594 Main Street. $15 entry fee. 6:30 – 7.00 p.m. New Business in town offering an all ages Arcade downstairs & (21 & older) Saloon & Music Hall with Darts upstairs.

Open Mic at Marco’s Thursdays, 6 – 8:30 p.m. A local community favorite event happening weekly at Marcos Cafe in Lotus, at 986 Lotus Road. Open Mic is open to all ages and is a family friendly event for all skill levels and music lovers. Bring your own instrument or grab one of our guitars and play some tunes. Enjoy wood fired pizzas and food specials along with a great selection of local drinks. (530) 863-6870 https://marcoscafelotus.com/

Moonlight Tours Weekly on Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Where historic gold town stories are as rich as the ore once was, and the ghost tours are so chilling, even the specters have goosebumps. (530) 497-4960, moonlightghosttours@gmail. com , https://moonlighttours.co/ Placerville Speedway

Located at the El Dorado County Fair and

Event Center. www.placervillespeedway.com

Jul 3 - EDH Town Center’s

2025 Fireworks & Freedom Concert

Live music, delicious food, and the area’s best display of pyrotechnics—a show that will light up the night sky. This family-friendly event promises fun for all ages, so bring your friends and family to experience the excitement. 7 –

9 p.m. Town Center Amphitheater

Amphitheater Band: Hip Service, Theatre Plaza Band: Funk Shui

Event Guidelines:

• One registrant may bring up to four people.

• Doors will open at 5:00 pm. Show your online registration to guard at entry.

• Bag policy – Bags must be clear plastic or smaller than 8x6x1.

• Beverages – all beverages must be purchased inside the event. No outside alcohol, beverages, or ice chests allowed.

• Blankets, tables, and roping off sections are not permitted.

https://edhtowncenter.com/upcoming-events/ calendar/

Jul 4 - Fourth of July Family Blast

Gates Open at 3 pm | FIREWORKS once dark

Bring your propane BBQs, footballs, other games, coolers (no outside alcohol, please) and your dancing shoes, but leave your pets, charcoal BBQs and glass containers at home.

https://eldoradocountyfair.org/blast.html

Night Sky Viewing

Weekly on Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m..

The Community Observatory is your window to the night sky! See the stars through the 17-inch and 14-inch reflecting telescopes on a clear, dark night. Follow planets or the moon as they travel across the sky. Bring the whole family for an unforgettable experience in the foothills of El Dorado County, free of charge!

Weather permitting. Please leave all non-service animals at home, along with personal telescopes. 6699 Campus Dr, Placerville, CA 95667. $2 parking fee at the college. www.communityobservatory.com (530) 3445707.

Jul 5 - Food, Wine and LIVE Music at Sierra Vista

Good 2 Go will be playing LIVE on Stage from 5pm – 8pm. We will have Burgers, Hotdogs, Wine Slushies, Case Specials and more available for purchase. Wine by the glass or bottle for purchase. Early Bird Reservations until

Wed. 2nd. Club $5/Public $10. Tickets after Wed. 2nd at the Door Club $10/Public $15. To make Reservations, please call our tasting room 530-622-7221 or visit www.sierravistawinery.com/shop/events/july4th Line Dancing at the Smith Flat House 1st & 2nd Saturday of each month. $10 cover charge, all ages welcome. 2021 Smith Flat Rd, Placerville. (530) 621-1003, www.smithflathouse.com/events Back Porch Swing at Smith Flat House Sundays, 5 p.m. 2021 Smith Flat Rd, Placerville. www.smithflathouse.com/events Bingo Night Weekly on Tuesdays. Pollock Pines Community Center, 2675 Sanders Dr. (530) 647-8005. https://pollockpinesca.org/ July 10 - Arnold’s for Awards 55th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting and Ice Cream Social. 4 – 6 p.m. 3971 Durock Rd., Ste. A., Shingle Springs. Bring a picture or story of your favorite award to enter a prize drawing.

July 12 - Riverbound Celebration Join California Watersport Collective for a day of outdoor adventure, community, and celebration. Benefits Riverbound Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in outdoor watersports. Enjoy whitewater kayaking clinics led by professional kayakers on the South Fork American River, followed by an evening of live music, a silent auction, raffle prizes, and community gathering at Trouble Makers Beer Garden. 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. www.riverboundoutreach.org/ upcoming-events/event-one-hrttl

July 12 - Line Dancing at the Smith Flat House 1st & 2nd Saturday of each month. $10 cover charge, all ages welcome. 2021 Smith Flat Rd, Placerville. (530) 621-1003, www.smithflathouse.com/events

July 18 - Home Grown Comedy at The Stage at Burke Junction Third Fridays, 8 – 10 p.m. Join The Stage for Stand Up Comedy every month! Every month, new comedians, endless laughs! Tickets only $25. $5 Beer and Wine Menu all night. The Stage at Burke Junction, 3300 Coach Ln, Suite E-1, Cameron Park.

www.stageatburke.com/homegrowncomedy

July 19 - Third Saturday Art Walk Galleries, shops and restaurants on Main Street stay open late, many offering special promotions.

($80 pp), along with burgers and beverages afterward during the mixer. Not a fan of the rapids? No worries! You can skip the rafting and come just in time for the fun at 5:30. We would love to see you either way! https://business.eldoradocounty.org/events/

LIVE on our stage while you watch the sunset in the vineyards. General Admission - Club $85/Public $95, VIP Admission - Club $115/Public $125. To make Reservations, please call our tasting room 530-622-7221 or visit www.sierravist-

OPINION

California Matters

Politicians ignore agriculture’s troubles, but boost the state’s movie business

When James Marshall discov-

ered traces of gold in the American River in 1848, he ignited the famous California Gold Rush that attracted a tidal wave of immigration and led to statehood just two years later.

However, not everyone who made the arduous trek to California in the mid-19th century was seeking gold. Many — including those in the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party — wanted farmland.

Completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 made immigration into California and shipping produce out of the state much easier. As the Gold Rush quickly waned, agriculture became the state’s dominant industry, globally famous for fresh fruits and vegetables.

California’s vast network of reservoirs to capture water and canals to deliver it was originally created to help farmers prosper. They still use, by a wide margin, most of the system’s water.

While California is still No.1 in agricultural production among the states, generating about $60 billion a year, other sectors, such as technology, health care and logistics now play much larger roles in the state’s economy.

This is the time of year when crops are maturing and farmers are looking forward to harvests, shipments and paydays. But agricultural leaders see this year as one of the industry’s most trying periods, beset by economic and political factors that could signiﬁcantly reduce production.

The lm industry pegs its economic contribution at $30 billion a year, just half of agriculture’s output.

“When we talk about the things that are keeping me up at night, it really comes down to what is going to keep our members in business,” Shannon Douglass, president of the California Farm Bureau, said last month during a gathering of industry leaders.

She cited a federal census of agriculture which revealed California has lost 20% of its farmers in the last decade. The industry is at a tipping point, she declared.

Letters to the Editor

Grand Jury blasts EID

EDITOR:

The recent 2024-25 El Dorado Grand Jury report gave a scathing critique of El Dorado Irrigation District ﬁnancial reporting accuracy and incompetent ﬁnancial oversight by its board.

More than $100 million of commingled funds, erroneously credited hook up funds, discrepant pension debt receipts and projected cost understatements of capital projects have occurred under the watch of the district’s retiring general manager and its 2021-24 board members.

Yet the district’s management and board have publicly rejected most all of the grand jury’s ﬁndings and continue in denial.

Hopefully, EID’s incoming general manager will get the district’s ﬁnancial representations trustworthy and voters will make better choices in upcoming EID director elections.

GREG PRADA Cameron Park

Placerville’s ongoing struggles

EDITOR:

Placerville, a historical Gold Rush-era city nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is facing a persistent challenge: filling essential supervisory roles across several departments. For years, city leaders have grappled with a thinning pool of qualified candidates and growing competition from neighboring municipalities o ering more competitive pay and benefits.

From public works supervisors to police sergeants, many key roles remain vacant or ﬁlled on a temporary basis, stretching city resources and burdening existing sta . Placerville o cials have acknowledged that these sta ng gaps are not new but rather part of a long-standing issue rooted in budget constraints, limited housing options and a slower pace of government hiring processes.

She also pointed to a study by researchers at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo that detailed rising costs of producing lettuce in the Salinas Valley due to government regulations. It found that costs of environmental, labor and food safety regulation are $1,600 per acre, up 63.7% since 2017, while income ■

■ See WALTERS, page A7

Guest column

Assembly Bill 84 is a cheap shot against parental rights

If your child is enrolled in a California public school, there’s a two-in-three chance they can’t read or do math at grade level. According to the state’s own 2023 test scores, just 34.6% of students met math standards and only 46.7% met English standards. Millions of children are being failed by a system that continues to demand more money while delivering less. But the crisis goes beyond academics. Since the governmentmandated lockdowns, our children’s mental health has deteriorated at alarming rates. Depression, anxiety and even youth suicide are rising. Families were left to pick up the pieces. Sacramento never apologized — never even acknowledged the damage.

children actually learn. For many families, charter schools and homeschooling aren’t just options — they’re the only option. Instead of learning from the success of these models, some Democrats in Sacramento are trying to shut them down.

Assembly Bill 84, introduced by Los Angeles-area Democrat Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, is being sold as a reform bill to crack down on fraud. In truth, it’s the latest in a long line of Sacramento’s power grabs, aimed squarely at charter schools, homeschooling families and parents who dare to seek alternatives.

California parents deserve better than a legislature that punishes them for choosing what’s best for their children.

by the governor and unaccountable to voters. It gives this o ce broad powers to audit and investigate charter schools, and triples oversight fees — from 1% to 3% of each school’s budget. That’s money directly taken from classrooms, teachers and students.

It gets worse. AB 84 bans charter schools from partnering with local businesses, religious nonprofits or community groups. It imposes onesize-fits-all credential requirements, despite a statewide teacher shortage. It strips away flexibility and guts the very programs that make charter schools work for families.

So it’s no surprise that more than 700,000 students now attend charter schools in California. These schools provide smaller class sizes, real support for special needs and at-risk kids and programs tailored to how

AB 84 would slash up to 30% of funding from schools that provide hybrid, non-traditional or homebased education models. These aren’t fraudulent schools; they’re innovative and adaptive schools that serve students the traditional system has failed. AB 84 isn’t accountability; it’s punishment. The bill also creates a new inspector general o ce, appointed

Last year I introduced SB 1409, a good-faith e ort to strengthen oversight while protecting innovation. It brought stakeholders together — charter leaders, auditors, and state o cials. But it was blocked before it even received a hearing. Why? Because real reform isn’t the goal. Control is. Thankfully, there is a bill with a balanced alternative, SB 414. This

bill ensures auditors understand charter school models, limits funding cuts to actual cases of wrongdoing and provides transparency without crushing innovation. California parents deserve better than a legislature that punishes them for choosing what’s best for their children. AB 84 doesn’t ﬁght fraud; it ﬁghts freedom.

Let’s be honest: Sacramento doesn’t fear mismanagement. It fears competition. It fears an independent, choice-driven education system that works — and proves the state-run model doesn’t. As a parent and a former educator, I will not stand by while your parental rights are stripped away and our children’s futures are sacriﬁced for political power.

Parents: your voice matters. Your vote matters. Stand up for your right to choose the best education for your child. Because the Sacramento establishment won’t. Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil represents California’s 4th Senate District.

DAN WALTERS

MARIE ALVARADO-GIL

from lettuce has been virtually stagnant.

The list of factors a ecting the industry also includes rising labor costs due to state wage regulations, new limits on pumping water from wells and demands from the state to reduce water diversions from rivers.

This year brought two new adverse factors — President Donald Trump’s tari s that could generate retaliatory tari s, depressing export markets, and Trump’s sweeps of undocumented immigrants, who are a major portion of the agricultural labor force.

Alexi Rodriguez, president of the Almond Alliance, told the gathering that China had been the top market for almonds until 2018, when an

Letters Continued from A6

One city employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told me the work still has to get done and without strong leadership in place, it’s even harder on the crews and employees who are here. People burn out.

The issue is especially pressing as Placerville works to modernize infrastructure, improve public safety and maintain essential services for its residents. Despite repeated e orts, including increased recruitment outreach and temporary wage adjustments, the city continues to struggle to attract and retain experienced supervisory-level talent.

City Council members have expressed concern that without long-term solutions — such as salary restructuring, housing incentives and expedited hiring practices — the cycle will continue,

earlier round of Trump’s tari s cut shipments. “After this year, China is likely to drop out of the top 10 export markets for almonds as a result,” she said.

The state’s labor costs also put California’s growers at a disadvantage.

“We’re sitting here in California and getting our brains beat in with costs that are through the roof and going up against my competitors in the East Coast paying $8 to $9 an hour for labor, and we’re dealing with the same customers,” said Mike Way, a bell pepper producer in the Coachella Valley. “What’s my choice? My choice is to shrink my acreage and go elsewhere.”

As agriculture’s acreage declined, so too did

jeopardizing service quality and employee morale. For now, Placerville continues to lean on dedicated sta who are going above and beyond their roles. But without decisive changes, the small city may ﬁnd it increasingly di cult to sustain the quality of life its residents expect and deserve.

MATTHEW MEYLOR Placerville

Independence for all EDITOR:

As we celebrate the 4th of July with friends, festivities and ﬂags, basking in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, let’s pause to consider those denied even the most basic freedoms — not just people, but animals.

by Will Shortz No. 0528

its economic importance and its once-dominant political clout vis-à-vis other economic interests. E orts by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to double state subsidies for the ﬁlm industry underscore that decline.

Newsom, et al, say the subsidies are necessary to keep ﬁlm production from declining further. The ﬁlm industry pegs its economic contribution at $30 billion a year, just half of agriculture’s output. Implicitly politicians believe that producing movies is much more important than producing food.

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

Whether hunted in the wild, conﬁned in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin, feathers, ﬂesh or by-products, animals have no freedom.

Consider farmed animals: billions live in conﬁnement, deprived of autonomy, dignity and joy. Chickens never spread their wings, pigs never root in the soil and cows never feel the sun on their bodies. They’re bred solely for exploitation — caged, mutilated and killed, with no say in their fate.

If freedom is a value we truly cherish, shouldn’t it extend beyond our own species?

Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one powerful way to put our values into action. On this Independence Day, let’s widen our circle of compassion. Liberation shouldn’t stop with humans; it should include every living being who longs to live freely.

If the roles were reversed, wouldn’t we want the same? Think about it.

ERNEST DUVALLE Placerville

Announcements

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

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

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

CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS

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

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

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

PLAY CRIBBAGE Join the Gold Country Cribbers 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452. We Play - We Teach - We Have Fun. Wednesdays 4:00 PM. Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see

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

HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Monica 530-306-7066. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested

PUZZLE BY PETER A.

Gomes surges to 2nd Placerville Speedway win of the year

Gary

Thomas Placerville Speedway

Tony Gomes utilized a perfect restart on lap nine to grab the lead and never look back on way to his second Placerville Speedway triumph of the season on Kings Meats Burger Night Saturday. It marked the second consecutive season that Gomes and C&M Motorsports snagged a win with the Thompson’s Winged Sprint Cars during Kings Meats Night. It was the eighth career Placerville Speedway Winged 360 score for the Modesto driver, matching him with Tanner Carrick, Kalib Henry and Glen Boune for 21st all-time.

Sharing victory lane on Saturday were Kevin Jinkerson with both the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks and Mountain Democrat Mini Trucks, along with Jake Morgan with the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour.

At the waving of the green flag in the 25-lap Thompsons Winged Sprint Car finale it was Aromas’ Justin Sanders who jumped out front. Auburn’s Andy Forsberg quickly moved to second and stayed within striking distance as lapped traffic came into play.

With the intensity picking up Forsberg looked to capitalize a couple of times until a wild moment occurred on lap nine.

Racing in traffic Sanders and a lapped car made the slightest contact, which sent both around. Sanders was remarkably able to keep going but the yellow waved as the lapped car stalled.

Running third at the time, Tanner Carrick had nowhere to go and contacted the car, resulting in too much damage to continue. On the

double file restart Gomes got a great launch from the inside of row two, shooting by Forsberg and then making a bold move to drive under Sanders for the lead.

After that Gomes had his way with things up front, as timely yellows kept leaders out of traffic. He marched away to accept the Darin Stahl checkered flag over Sanders, Sacramento’s Austin Wood, Forsberg and Bozeman, Montana’s Cole Schroeder who claimed his first Placerville top five result.

Rounding out the top 10 were Chance Grasty, Steven Kent, Hard Charger Shane Hopkins, Cody Gray and Justyn Cox. Wood began

the evening by blistering the quarter mile in 10.550 seconds to bring home the ADCO Driveline and Custom Exhaust Fast Time Award.

Diamond Springs Kevin Jinkerson doubled his pleasure on Kings Meats Night, racing to victory with both the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks and Mountain Democrat Mini Trucks.

In the 25-lap Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour feature it was Morgan racing to his 12th career NonWinged Sprint Car main event win at Placerville.

Marysville’s Josh Young got a tremendous start to lead the opening lap after starting from the second row. Morgan quickly moved into second after five laps and then reeled in the leader. Both Young and Morgan showed they were the class of the field on this night, pulling away from the pack.

The complexion of the race then changed on lap 13 when a spun car in turn one forced leaders to take evasive action. Morgan was able to continue, but Young sat parked off the corner, forcing him to the rear.

With Morgan out front that was all she wrote, as he pulled away to complete a clean sweep of the night’s program. Bob Newberry, Anthony Bruno, Kaden Ramos and Shannon Newton comprised the top five.

The evening began with drivers and teams honoring long time member of the racing family, Jimmy Wall, who is currently battling an illness. Promoter Scott Russell and long-time friend Andy Forsberg handled the ceremony and did a fantastic job.

On the pure stock side of things Sacramento’s Jason Palmer led the first couple circuits, before Jinkerson carved his way by to take the lead.

After that Jinkerson was oh so smooth up front and drove away to grab his first victory of the season and number 13 in his Placerville

like a normal kid. In reality, his days at Blue Oak Elementary School and Camerado Springs Middle School were anything but. Klotz

Speedway pure stock career. Point leader Nick Baldwin, Rio Linda’s Ryan Peter, Placerville’s Tyler Lightfoot and Auburn’s Colton Arbogast completed the top five. With the mini trucks it was Howard Miller who set the pace early on. Jinkerson kept him honest though and would charge to the lead on lap six.

The remaining distance saw him once again remain calm, cool and collected to take the checkered flag and his second Kings Meats meat box of the night.

Howard Miller, final starter Mike Miller, Luke Costa and Paizlee Miller followed him across the line.

Placerville Speedway returns to action with a double header on Independence Day weekend. Friday, July 4, is the annual Freedom Fireworks event, while Saturday, July 5, brings the all open wheel Triple Crown to the track. Tickets are available for both nights at placervillespeedway.com

Klotz shared

Village Life. “The

Courtesy photo

Former Cameron Park resident Matt Klotz, seen here while swimming for Louisiana State University, hopes to become the most decorated deaf athlete in the world. He next competes in the 2025 Deaflympics this November.

Photos courtesy of D&P Photos

Left, Jake Morgan was No. 1 in the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour race at Placerville Speedway on Saturday night. Right, Kevin Jinkerson snagged victories in both the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks and Mountain Democrat Mini Trucks.

Tony Gomes enjoys his victory in the Thompsons Winged 360 Sprint Cars race on June 28.

with homework and assignments. And being able to socialize and make friends with hearing people was hard for me as I couldn’t engage in all the conversations or even keep up, especially if someone is more quiet.”

Though he struggled in school, Klotz loved sports and began swimming partly because his sister was a swimmer. Soon other sports fell away, as it was simply more convenient for his parents to manage transportation issues.

“Funny enough, swimming was the one sport I had to take my hearing aids o ,” Klotz reminisced. “And yet I loved it the most because I started making friends from that. Then I got more conﬁdence in myself with being good in the water. I always wanted to get better and push myself as it was my only motivation since school wasn’t very easy for me.”

As a young swimmer, Klotz trained with the Sierra Marlins and the Sierra Sharks year round competitive teams. Nationally ranked at LSU where he earned his degree in Kinesiology, Klotz competed several times at USA Nationals and USA Olympic trials but truly excelled swimming for team USA at the Deaﬂympics in Bulgaria 2013, Turkey 2017 and Brazil 2022.

Then in 2023, Klotz landed a spot on the CBS show Big Brother. “They’d never had a deaf contestant before and I thought that I could advocate and spread awareness on reality TV about what it’s like and the challenges we face,” Klotz explained, saying his favorite experience was seeing his housemates change. “Everyone knew I was deaf, but after a few weeks, other houseguests, producers, everyone involved started to see how di erent it actually is. They started accommodating me, realizing they need to face my direction and look at

Races Continued from A8

Results

Thompsons Winged 360 S print Cars: 1. 7C-Tony Gomes; 2. 4SA-Justin Sanders; 3. 2A-Austin Wood; 4. 92-Andy Forsberg; 5. 3-Cole Schroeder; 6. X1-Chance Grasty; 7. 81-Steven Kent; 8. 21-Shane Hopkins; 9. 4-Cody Gray; 10. 42X-Justyn Cox; 11. 5-Kenny Wanderstadt; 12. 12J-John Clark; 13. 21C-Cody Meyer; 14. 25JR-Cody Johnson; 15. 98-Chris Masters; 16. 9-Adrianna DeMartini; 17. 56-Taylor Hall; 18. 17J-Josh Young; 19. 83T-Tanner Carrick; 20. 25-Seth Standley, Red Hawk Resort + Casino Pure Stocks : 1. 30-Kevin Jinkerson; 2. 17-Nick Baldwin; 3. 83-Ryan Peter; 4. 23-Tyler Lightfoot; 5. 08-Colton Arbogast; 6. 43-Kenny Bernstein; 7. 16-Tommy Sturgeon; 8. 12J-Jason Ramos; 9. 54-Anthony Vigna; 10. 64-Jeaguer Ruckman; 11. 22K-Jason Palmer.

Bear Continued from A1

of the Eagle Point Campground the following day, June 23, and euthanized by a State Parks ranger. DNA testing conﬁrmed it was the same bear responsible for the attack.

CDFW and California State Parks had been attempting to trap the bear since June 17. The sow’s two cubs of the year have been captured and delivered to a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Northern California in the hope they can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

“As wildlife professionals who devote our careers to the health and wellbeing of California’s ﬁsh and wildlife species, euthanasia is a measure of last resort,” said Morgan Kilgour, regional manager for CDFW’s North Central Region. “Our foremost responsibility, however, remains the protection of human life and the safety of the Tahoe region.”

Since the spring, the sow had generated multiple 911 emergency calls and unrelenting conﬂict activity. DNA evidence linked the bear to multiple attempted home and vehicle break-ins along Cascade Road in South Lake Tahoe and many confrontations at the Eagle Point Campground.

On June 10, the bear entered an occupied vehicle at the campground with a child fastened to a child seat inside.

The bear had been unresponsive to multiple attempts to haze it out

me when talking, repeat things and not cover their mouths.”

Dubbed “Matty Ice,” Klotz eventually found other houseguests sticking up for him during challenges and ensuring that Klotz understood all the rules, despite the fact that they were each competing for almost a million dollars.

“It made me glad I went on the show,” Klotz said. “I learned that at the end of the day, enemies or not, we still respect, care about and help each other which was very refreshing.”

Klotz is currently working and training in Houston, Texas, squeezing in a little beach volleyball between daily training sessions. He lists Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps as his Olympic inspirations, but admits he didn’t have a deaf athlete as a mentor and credits his parents with keeping him focused and supported. Come November, he plans to compete in almost every race as he did in Brazil, where he swam 14 races and medaled in every one. He currently holds 22 medals and to break the record for most medals won by a deaf athlete, he would need to win 12 in Toyko.

USA does not o er funding for athletes to travel, compete or train for the Deaflympics as they do for regular Olympics and Paralympics, nor do Deaflympics athletes earn medal money. Between travel and competition costs, training and equipment, it costs about $10,000 each time Klotz competes in a Deaflympics event.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/ defying-the-odds-matt-klotzsjourney-to-the-deaﬂympics. For a tax deductible donation for USA Deaf Swimming visit mightycause.com/ story/.Usadeafswimming and add in the notes “IN HONOR OF MATT KLOTZ” for Klotz to receive funding.

Mountain Democrat Mini Trucks: 1. 03-Kevin Jinkerson; 2. 28-Howard Miller; 3. 16-Mike Miller; 4. 17-Luke Costa; 5. 26-Paizlee Miller; 6. 92N-Noah LaPoint; 7. 07-Tyler Goggin; 8. 22-Nick Perkins; 9. 75-Brycen Bragg; 10. 70-Austin Struthers; 11. 33-Russ Murphy; 12. 24K-Michael Barreno. Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour: 1. 7EJ-Jake Morgan; 2. 36-Bob Newberry; 3. 9-Anthony Bruno; 4. 28K-Kaden Ramos; 5. 2N-Shannon Newton; 6. 17M-Evan Gularte; 7. 7D-Daniel Dekeyser; 8. 31P-Eathon Lanfri; 9. 18-Josh Gillis; 10. 11-Matthew Haulot; 11. 9P-Paul Vandenberg; 12. 91-Cooper Marchant; 13. 17J-Josh Young; 14. 95-Joshua Wooten; 15. 14M-Joe McCoy; 16. 17N-MacKenzie Newton; 17. 92A-Jeff Scotto; 18. 1-Kris Jemmett; 19. 2-Kane Jemmett; 20. 22-Boy Moniz; 21. (DNF) 3C-Carson Hawkins; 22. (DQ) 15K-Matthew Kaiser.

of human-occupied areas. The bear had been aggressively hazed by four di erent agencies, including CDFW, State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service on at least seven di erent occasions, yet the conﬂict behavior persisted.

“California State Parks is really the gold standard when it comes to human-bear conﬂict prevention,” said Kilgour. “There is nothing State Parks could or should have done di erently at Emerald Bay State Park. State Parks is a model with their well-maintained bear boxes and other bear-proof infrastructure and clean campgrounds. They do a thorough job of educating their visitors and camp hosts on preventing human-bear conﬂicts.”

CDFW hopes for a better outcome for the sow’s two 5-month-old cubs now at a wildlife rehabilitation facility permitted to care for and rehabilitate bears.

“Bear cubs learn everything from their mothers — good and bad behavior alike,” Kilgour explained. “A mother bear that constantly searches human-occupied areas for unnatural food sources, breaks into homes and vehicles teaches this behavior to her cubs and perpetuates another generation of human-bear conﬂict. Removing these cubs from this conﬂict activity early in their lives gives them a chance that they can return to the wild and live as wild bears should.”

COMICS

■ SHOE by Jeﬀ MacNelly

■ TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

■ RUBES by Leigh Rubin

■ SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s senseless to ask for permission in situations where no one is in charge. That would be like riding into the Wild West and asking to see the town ordinances. You’ll magnetize opportunity by acting as if you already belong.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If something excites you, claim it. Don’t try to impress — try to connect. If you can make someone feel like the most important person in the world while you’re with them, you’re operating at a high level of humanity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Feelings, when accepted, tend to pass. When repressed or argued with, they linger and distort. Let it move through. Acknowledge it without judgment. Let the feeling exist and it won’t bother you for long.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll thrive in the thrust of the challenge because you love the game. You’re good at it. You have range. You can play with tone, break the rules, depart, y and stick the landing. You’re magnetic when you’re in your zone.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re more emotionally uent than most today. You’ll sense the feeling under the conversation — the thing no one’s naming. What should you do with the information? Let it guide your tone, not your agenda, and the rest will come to you along the way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve seen enough to know that weird can be wonderful. Something that doesn’t make sense at rst will turn out to be exactly right. Trust your fascination. It comes from a part of you that is guided by forces beyond logic.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are those who want you to do things the same way they would, but that’s not going to work. Be polite, be blithe and be moving right along. Even if you’re not sure where you’re going, you’ll get there in your own way. Keep walking.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are those who act nice because they have excellent manners, or because it’s the most expedient way to carry out business. You act nice because you are nice. Everyone feels it and wants to be around you because of it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.

NEWS, IN THE KNOW

Stellar students

Congratulations to Kayla Vota of El Dorado Hills, who was named to the University of Mississippi Chancellor’s Honor Roll.

July 3

El Dorado Hills Town Center presents Fireworks and Freedom Concert. This familyfriendly event promises fun for all ages. Big Crush will perform at the Live on the Boulevard Summer Concert Series in the amphitheater from 7-9 p.m. Followed by the area’s best display of pyrotechnics — a show that will light up the night sky. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

July 4

The Pleasant Valley Grange will host Pleasant Valley Day 4th of July Celebration including a Pancake Breakfast at the Grange from 8-11 a.m., the Independence Day Parade at 11 a.m. and food, fun and games at the Pleasant Valley Fire Station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information visit pleasantvalleycommunityhall. com.

The Georgetown Divide Recreation District will host the Garden Valley 4th of July Parade and Celebration at 9 a.m. at the Garden Valley Park with booths offering arts, crafts, food and a raffle to win a Grand Prize. Live music will be on the Garden Valley Park Stage. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Garden Valley Fire House. For more information visit gdrd.org

The Lights on the Lake Fireworks extravaganza will take place on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore at 9:45 p.m. and is visible from all over town. For more information and best ways to view the show visit tinyurl. com/2rbbet3t.

The Pollock Pines-Camino Rotary will host the Pollock Pines Independence Day Parade, noon to 1 p.m. celebrate with friends, family and neighbors on Pony Express Trail from Sly Park Road to Sanders Drive. Join in on the parade or grab a seat and enjoy the view. For more information visit pollockpines-caminorotary. org.

El Dorado County Fairgrounds will host the 4th of July Family Blast from 3-11 p.m. with live music from Locked -N- Loaded, vendors, food and beverages for sale and fireworks around 9:40 p.m. For more information visit eldoradocountyfair.org.

Shadow Ranch Vineyards, 7050 Fairplay Road in Fair Play, is celebrating Fourth of July with complimentary small bites on July 4 and 5 from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy a watermelon feta cup with wine tasting in honor of the holiday. For more information email info@shadowranch. com.

July 5

The Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 512, will host its Famous Pancake Breakfast from 8-11 a.m. at the Placerville Airport, 3501 Airport Road. Enjoy breakfast, airplanes on display and old friends. Proceeds go to the Sunny Atkin Scholarship Fund for students of aeronautical related studies.

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County host a free public tour on the first Saturday of each month, starting at 9 a.m. After the

Shakespeare Club celebrates scholarship winners

Sacramento in a Can showcases canning history

Traci Rockefeller Cusack News release

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento History Museum located at the Old Sacramento Waterfront is excited to debut “Sacramento in a Can — Featuring the Campbell’s Sacramento Story.” Chronicling the fascinating history of the canning industry in the Capital City, the all-new exhibition will take place on two floors in the Museum and will remain on display through Sept. 1. On the first floor of the museum, the history of the Campbell’s Sacramento Plant and its impact on the South Sacramento community will be showcased with images, artifacts and more. Upstairs, on the third floor, guests will learn more about Sacramento’s cannery industry that left behind a cultural legacy of union struggles, family traditions and the indelible scent of syrup and steam.

Sacramento was a powerhouse of California’s canning industry for over a century.

“Major companies such as Libby, McNeill & Libby; Bercut Richards; California Packing Corporation (later Del Monte) along with the California Almond Growers Exchange operated alongside smaller, family run outfits,” said author and local historian Maryellen Burns. “These plants pulsed with seasonal activity, employing thousands,

especially women and children from immigrant, Indigenous and working-class communities.”

The limited time “Sacramento In a Can” exhibit is perfect for visitors interested in learning how Sacramento became the Tomato Soup capital of the world.

“As Northern California's rail and river transportation hub, and the region's largest population center,

Sacramento's canning industry processed just about anything edible that could be put in a can,” said historian William Burg. “Our canneries, including some of the largest in the nation, turned our region's agricultural bounty into goods that could be shipped around the world, and provided employment for thousands of Sacramentans, principally women of color. While most of

our canneries are now gone, or converted to other uses, many Sacramentans still remember the days when workers rushed to process the region's bounty of vegetables during harvest season,

and large parts of the city smelled like tomato soup.”

For more information about the exhibit and Sacramento History Museum visit SacHistoryMuseum.org.

Shakespeare Club Scholarship Chairman Betty Ackley, left, and Shakespeare Club

right, Ashland Lim, Rebecca Roth, Madison Blair, Isabella McRitchie, Sarahi Lopez Pliego and Diana Mora

Courtesy photo

Campbell’s was among the many products canned in Sacramento and will be part of the exhibition at the Sacramento History Museum.

Teen turns tragedy into action and encouragement

Julie Samrick Mountain Democrat correspondent

Just days before starting eighth grade in 2023, Anaya Shah’s classmate died by suicide.

“It was really hard for me, so I knew it must be hard on the hundreds of other kids who also went to our school,” Anaya, now 15 and a sophomore at Oak Ridge High School, explained during a recent interview with Mountain Democrat. “I wanted to be sure it didn’t happen again.”

Within weeks, Anaya approached Marina Village Middle School Principal Levi Cambridge about hosting a school wellness fair. The event is now held annually on the minimum day when students recess for winter break. Teachers host activities to bolster mental health, from breathing exercises and board games to art, during their respective class periods. After the first wellness fair, Anaya aimed to spread greater awareness beyond her own school, starting Wellness4Teens, a nonprofit focused on improving the mental health of middle schoolers. “I have been working with local schools and district offices to start up student-led W4T clubs with the objective of hosting one wellness focused event per year,” Anaya continued. “Wellness events could be a full day, such as wellness fairs, but they might also look like a booth during lunch where breathing exercises are modeled and stress balls are passed out.”

After getting feedback, Anaya wanted to see students more involved in the process, not just teachers, so Anaya and the rest of the nonprofit’s youth board work to help club chapters get started.

“After working with

students and staff to develop Anaya’s vision, we have had two amazing (annual) days dedicated to wellness instruction. The response from staff and students has been very positive and we are excited to continue our commitment to supporting students,” Cambridge told Mountain Democrat. “Anaya continues to work with Marina Village to provide wellness

support for students, bringing a greater awareness to student needs. We are grateful for her vision and efforts.”

Though she’s moved on to high school, Anaya said she thinks middle school is a “crucial time when students mostly absorb information” when it comes to mental health and awareness.

Marina Village Middle School now has a

Wellness4Teens club and Anaya said it’s “a mission” to get 20 club chapters started by 2027, with each hosting one wellness event a year. Most recently Wellness4Teens co-hosted a booth at the El Dorado County Fair with the National Charity League to spread their message. The nonprofit currently has Wellness Kits for any school that wants to get started.

Anaya said she’ll measure success based on student feedback and would like to get data from the Healthy Kids Surveys California public school students are offered annually. “I mainly want to see if wellness routines would have an impact,” she continued. “Seeing that change would be a really good thing.” For more information visit wellness4teens.org.

Courtesy photo

W4T members Jack Clarke, Anaya Shah (founder) and Lana Flaherty work with other members to spread the word about their nonprofit. Here they are at the Marina Village Middle School open house in May.

The Arts: July means it’s fair time in California

airs are the heartbeats of our communities — where traditions thrive, memories are made and the simple joys of life are celebrated. Summer in California brings with it the vibrant tapestry of fairs. The aroma of kettle corn mingles with the laughter of children and the thrill of rides complements the melodies of live music.

This July, two standout events — the Stanislaus County Fair and the California State Fair — invite families to enjoy festivities that blend nostalgia with new experiences.

Deep roots

The Stanislaus County Fair in Turlock, July 11-20, is celebrating its 113th year with all the charm of a classic hometown fair. With heritage trees shading the fairgrounds and a late-afternoon start time, the StanCoFair is a fun destination for all. New this year: the children’s Midway has been moved closer to the entrance gates, making it even more convenient for families with little ones.

While the fair keeps traditions alive through 4-H and FFA exhibits, livestock shows and a demolition derby, it also adds new energy with interactive booths for kids, a brightly lit carnival midway and a live music lineup that spans genres. This year’s free-with-admission concerts feature Drake Milligan, Taking Back Sunday and LOCASH. Grandstand events like monster trucks,

Properly

prepared

for pepper season

The heat of summer in California is in full swing. We are in the height of the season for growing peppers. Hot as well as sweet peppers have been grown for thousands of years in Central and South America. Did you know that the Aztecs had at least seven different words for hot pepper or that the Incas used peppers as currency?

Now, let’s change gears and think about the part of our country that produces maple syrup. It takes sunny, warm days and below-freezing nights to have the maple sap running. Native Americans used maple sugar as a source of food as well as a trading item. If we combine the wonders of our Northeast (maple syrup) and Southwest (peppers) we come up with a spectacular recipe from the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, 38th edition, 2024. Try this recipe over a block of cream cheese or spread on a hamburger (sop up the pickled juices into that bread).

Maple Pickled Jalapeños

Makes about 4 pint jars

• 2 ½ to 3 pounds jalapeño peppers, sliced*

• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 teaspoons salt

• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds

• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns

motocross and Tuff Trucks make it easy to find something fun around every corner.

For admission information, fair hours and more visit stancofair.com.

Big, bold & modern

Down the hill in Sacramento, the California State Fair runs July 11-27 at Cal Expo. This modern fair covers acres of entertainment, featuring a monorail, interactive exhibits and pop-up shade tents to help beat the summer heat.

New for 2025: the fair will open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with Friday through Sunday hours remaining 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fair closes at 8 p.m. on its final day, Sunday, July 27. This shift is in response to changing attendance patterns — and much like the Stanislaus County Fair, the California State Fair is becoming more of an evening fair. Organizers hope this will make for a cooler, more comfortable experience as the Delta breeze rolls in each night. This year marks the

Lewis UCCE

Food Preserver of El Dorado County

• 3 cups cider vinegar, at least 5% acidity

• 1 ½ cups water • 1 cup maple syrup Prepare boiling-water canner or atmospheric steam canner. Heat cleaned jars in canner until ready to use, do not boil (simmering water at 180 degrees F). Wash lids in warm soapy water and set aside with bands. Wash peppers under cold running water; drain. Cut stem and blossom ends off peppers. Cut peppers crosswise into onequarter-inch slices. Peel onion and remove root and stem ends. Cut onion crosswise into thin slices; separate slices into rings. Combine sugar, salt, mustard seeds, peppercorns, vinegar, water and maple syrup in a medium saucepan. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer for five minutes. Stir in peppers and onions; simmer for five minutes.

Pack hot vegetables into a hot jar, leaving one-half-inch headspace. Ladle the hot liquid over vegetables, keeping one-half-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust

170th edition of the California State Fair — a tradition that began back in 1854. While the fair has seen pauses over the years, including a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, it returned in 2022 with renewed energy and continues to grow.

One notable change: horse racing is no longer part of the fair, following the racing industry’s decision to leave Northern California. But don’t worry; there’s still plenty of excitement and variety.

Fair food is half the fun, and this fair delivers in spades. Alongside the usual deep-fried delights, you’ll find international eats like birria tacos, Korean corn dogs,

Hawaiian barbecue and Thai tea floats. Culinary showcases include award-winning California wines, cheeses and olive oils, with tastings available for grown-ups.

The Toyota Concert Series features Ludacris, Dustin Lynch, Tesla, Bret Michaels and more. Concerts are included with admission, and reserved seating is available for those who want to be up close.

For admission information, fair hours and more details visit calexpostatefair.com.

Good to know Central Valley summers can be hot, so don’t forget the essentials: sunscreen, hats and water bottles. Both fairs offer

handicapped access, but heat can be a concern, especially for young children or older adults. Look for cooling stations and shaded seating areas to take a break when you need one.

As I mentioned earlier, the StanCoFair is an evening fair. It’s a great option for a weekend day trip or an overnight weekday getaway.

Turlock’s Fairfield Inn and Holiday Inn Express often offer special rates for fairgoers, so ask when making your reservation.

The California State Fair can get busy, especially on weekends. Weekday visits and early entry are great ways to beat both the crowds and the heat. Check online for the fair’s updated policy on

clear plastic purses and backpacks before you go; security rules may change year to year.

Fun included daily

In 2025 fairgoers want more than a day out; they want connection, culture, food, and fun. And that’s exactly what these two fairs offer. Whether you’re marveling at prizewinning produce or singing along to your favorite band, the Stanislaus County Fair and California State Fair promise something special for everyone. So grab your hat, your appetite and your sense of adventure. It’s fair time in California! Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@ handywriting.com.

headspace, if necessary. Clean jar rim. Center lid on jar and adjust band to finger tight. Place the jar in the canner. Repeat until all jars are filled. Water must cover jars by at least one inch in boiling water canner or come to the base of the rack in a steam canner. Adjust heat to mediumhigh, cover canner, and bring water to a rolling boil in a boiling-water canner or until there’s a steady stream of steam coming from the steam canner. Start timing and process half-pint (or pint) jars: 15 minutes at 0 – 1,000 feet elevation, 20 minutes at 1,001 –3,000 feet, 25 minutes at 3,001 – 6,000 feet and 30 minutes at 6,001 – 8,000 feet. Turn off heat. For

boiling water canner, remove lid and let jars stand 5 minutes. For atmospheric steam canner, let canner sit undisturbed for three to five minutes, then remove lid. Remove jars and cool on a toweled surface 12-24 hours. Check lids for seal (they should not flex when center is pressed). Label, date, and store in a cool dark place.

*When cutting or seeding hot peppers, wear rubber gloves to prevent hands from being burned. For more information about UC Master Food Preservers visit ucanr.

Pixabay photo

Aztecs had at least seven words for hot pepper and Incas used peppers as currency.

Susan Laird The Arts

Courtesy photo

Summer smiles and sweet treats — a young fairgoer enjoys cotton candy near a lively midway game, surrounded by colorful prizes and classic carnival fun. From tasty fair food to hands-on activities and engaging exhibits, the Stanislaus County Fair and California State Fair serve up family-friendly fun for all ages.

Exhibit highlights Wayne Thiebaud’s self-described art theft

Wayne Thiebaud (1920–2021) became famous for his colorful paintings of American confections and buffets. He was also a self-described art “thief,” who openly drew ideas from and reinterpreted old and new European and American artworks.

An influential teacher at Sacramento Junior College and the University of California, Davis, Thiebaud never stopped learning. He believed that art history is a continuum that connects artists of the past, present and future. Highlighting work from across the beloved artist’s six-decade career, this exhibition features Thiebaud’s inventive reinterpretations and direct copies of famous artworks, as well as objects from his personal art collection that inspired him. Approximately 65 quintessential works by Thiebaud — including paintings of people (alone and together); still lives of cakes, tabletops and other ordinary objects; cityscapes featuring

soaring buildings; and mountain landscapes — offer an in-depth exploration of his work.

“I’m very influenced by the tradition of painting and not at all self-conscious about identifying my influences such as that or any other,” said Thiebaud. “I

approximately one-hour tour, wander around the 16 individual gardens at your own pace or ask docents for help and more information. May be closed for inclement weather or poor air quality; check before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden/. Parking permits are required, purchase a $2 permit at any kiosk. At the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive, Placerville.

Myka Estates and 1850 Wine Cellars, 3405 Carson Court in Placerville, is having a Weekend Concert and Cookout 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate the Fourth of July. The team is firing up the grill,

think sometimes it’s very conscious at the beginning, and sometimes it occurs to me in the middle or sometimes when I’m through with it.

Sometimes I’m all the way through with it, and someone will point out, ‘Well, that looks like Manet’s bullfighter

pouring the wine and turning up the tunes with a celebration not to be missed. Bobby Dickson Unchained Duo will be playing the sounds of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and more outlaw country classics from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information and to make a reservation call (530) 644-3474.

El Dorado Musical Theatre presents “Willy Wonka” July 5-13 at Harris Center Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

The Tahoe Blue Event Center presents South Shore

pose,’ and I hadn’t even thought of it until then.”

One of the most important aspects of Thiebaud’s art practice was his passionate engagement with art history. A self-described art “thief,” Thiebaud openly drew ideas from and reinterpreted works by others. Some

appropriations are more apparent, referencing subjects or poses, while others are more subtle, capturing qualities like mood or meaning.

Showcasing Thiebaud’s deep appreciation for his fellow artists past and present, these reinterpretations reveal his perception that the

Showdown, car show at noon For tickets and more information visit tinyurl.com/yfsp8cf9.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents Peter and the Starcatcher,” at 7:30 p.m. and continues through Aug. 24. For tickets and more information visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Sacramento Shakespeare Festival presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” July 5-27. For tickets and more information visit sacramentoshakespeare. net.

July 6

Ed Wilson will play at Fenton Herriot Vineyards from 3-7 p.m.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents “Twelfth Night,” July 6 through through Aug. 23. For tickets and more information visit laketahoeshakespeare.com.

July 8

entire history of art was as relevant and inspiring as the most contemporary art.

One of These Nights – Songs of The Eagles will perform at the Live on the Boulevard Summer Concert Series at the El Dorado Hills Town Center from 7-9 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

July 11

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

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

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

Never A Dull Moment — a tribute to Rod Stewart will perform at 8 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.

Vitalant will host an El Dorado Hills community blood drive 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Bloodmobile bus will be parked near the baseball fields at Community Park, 1021 Harvard Way. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM019 or call (877) 258-4825. Walkins will be accommodated if space allows. El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society will host its featured speaker Nancy Calhoun at 6 p.m. on Zoom. She will present “Shakin’ Out the Smiths: Tips on Researching a Common Surname.” Everyone is welcome to join on Zoom by notifying Pat Kriz at patkriz@earthlink.net no later than Monday, July 7.

EDHGS also invites anyone interested in genealogy to attend regular workshops on the fourth Tuesday each month at 6 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Library.

July 9

The 36th annual American Century Championship, celebrity golf’s most prominent tournament of sports and entertainment superstars, takes to the fairways of Edgewood Tahoe, July 9-13 and the airwaves of NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock. For details on the clear bag policy, transportation, parking and entry details visit americancenturychampionship.com.

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host Business Connections Mixer at Lindora at EDH Town Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

July 10

Ed Wilson will play at Arnolds for Awards in Shingle Springs from 4-7 p.m.

The CA State Fair will host Ludacris as part of the Toyota Concert Series on the Main Stage. The concert is free with general admission to the fair. Visit calexpostatefair.com/home-state-fair.

July 12

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

July 13

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

July 15

1850 Wine Cellars and Myka Estates will host the July 5th Barbecue and Cookout Independence Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music from Bobby Dickson Unchained at Myka Estates at Apple Hill. For more information visit mykaestates.com.

Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art is on display at the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park in San fransisco through Aug 17. For more information visit famsf.org.

Courtesy photo

Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art features over 65 of the artist’s quintessential works.

presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.

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

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

July 17

SuperBad will perform at the Live on the Boulevard Summer Concert Series at El Dorado Hills Town Center from 7-9 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

Showroom entertainment at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe presents One Night of Queen at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit tinyurl. com/9c3db54t.

The CA State Fair will host Dustin Lynch as part of the Toyota Concert Series on the Main Stage. The concert is free with general admission to the fair. Visit calexpostatefair.com/home-state-fair.

Now

The Stage at Burke Junction presents “For the Love of Dog” through July 6. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

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

The Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series presents live music on the main stage every Friday and Saturday from 5:45-9:15 p.m. through Labor Day. For more information visit tinyurl.com/3h88rmpb. The Mom Walk Sip and Stroll meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Amphitheater at the El Dorado Hills Town Center. It’s a great way to get active with other local moms.

Marco’s Café in Lotus hosts a family friendly Open Mic Night Thursdays from 6-8:30

ARC to host overnight backpacking trip

— Picayune

at Talbot Creek. The hike will go up along the middle fork of the American River passing through an old growth forest. After a short crossing of the headwaters of the middle fork hikers will emerge into the Picayune Valley. In the valley hikers will explore waterfalls and pass through several alpine meadows. The group will camp at the upper end of the valley. After setting up camp they will hike up to the saddle and have views of the Granite Chief wilderness.

Hikers will bring their own backpacks with supplies and food. Bring a pair of water shoes. Well behaved dogs on a leash are welcome.

Hike difficulty is moderate with no steep elevation gains. The elevation reaches 6,300 ft. The round trip hike is a total of 16 miles. Age minimum is 12 years-old with backpacking experience. The meeting location will be in the Georgetown area. This is a free event. A detailed email will be sent after registration. Visit app.dvforms.net/api/ dv/qv71re.

PLYMOUTH

— Iron Hub introduces the Iron Hub Spirits brand with the launch of a handcrafted brandy by master distiller and winemaker Tom Jones and his son Spencer Jones.

(A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).) This statement filed with the county clerk of El Dorado County on 06/04/2025 NOTICE-IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS

Brandy boasts a centuries-old tradition in many historical wine country settings around the globe. Tom and Spencer crafted the brandy primarily from Iron Hub Winery’s estate-bottled sémillon wine using a continuous distillation still. This distillation process requires a high level of craftsmanship, resulting in remarkable smoothness and complexity in the brandy.

Unlike traditional cognacs, which are batch distilled by heating large volumes of wine, Tom’s innovative still distills a half gallon of wine per minute. Through continuous distillation, Tom efficiently extracts the hearts of the spirit from

the rough-tasting heads and tails. After the distillation process, the brandy ages for about four years in French oak wine barrels.

Iron Hub’s brandy features robust aromas of apricot, vanilla and caramel. Its deep amber color results from three to five years of aging in wine barrels. On the palate, it has a velvety texture with complex flavors in every sip. The apricot and butterscotch notes blend together, creating a pleasing depth of flavor. The smooth, long-lasting finish lingers, leaving a delightful impression.

Tom has distilled wine into spirits for more than 20 years, beginning at his previous winery. He is excited to announce his

Inaugural release at Iron Hub in Amador County.

“I appreciate the smooth, rich flavors in our brandy for enjoying in the evening,” Tom said. His frequent trips to the high country, where he discovered the old iron hub, involve sipping his brandy while relaxing by the campfire. Iron Hub Spirits can be enjoyed in the Tasting Room at Iron Hub Winery, 12500 Steiner Road in Plymouth, from Thursday through Monday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. To book a tasting appointment for the premium wines and fine spirits visit ironhubwines.com/visit or call (209) 245-6307 for a reservation.

Courtesy photo

Volunteer Tom Dodson leads explorations of the Granite Chief Wilderness Area.

18th

Oakland, CA, but with deep roots in Texas, Tristan's com‐edy is as adaptable as his upbring‐ing. Since 2009, he has brought laughter to diverse audiences Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front Street, Sacramento. laughsunlimited@ gmail.com, 916-446-8128

JourneyDay Music @ 7:30pm The Saint, 1351 Main St, St. Helena

Sean Carscad‐den Mu‐sic: Sean Carscad‐den Trio @ Blue Note Napa @ 8pm Blue Note Napa, 1030 Main St, Napa Ritmos Tropicosmos @ 8:30pm Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street, San Francisco

Surge @ 9pm Monarch, 101 6th St, San Fran‐cisco

Noah Solt @ 9pm Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 1710 Mission St, San

7th

2-week

7–18, 2025!

ages 7–15, all levels. Elite gear, skill train‐ing & matches. Register NOW! $450 per week. info@consciousath leteacademy.co Golden Gate Park Polo Field, 1232 John F Kennedy Drive, San Francisco. info@con sciousathleteacademy.com, 510631-1100

Dance Fitness Classes at Woodland Senior Center @ 10:15am Low-impact aerobic exercise choreographed to contemporary music. Super fun! Woodland Com‐munity & Senior Center, 2001 East Street, Woodland. tina�tness68@ gmail.com

Balloon Museum | Emotion

Air - Art you can feel @ 12pm Palace of Fine Arts, 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

Balloon Museum | Emotion

Air - Art you can feel

@ 12:45pm Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

Balloon Museum | Emotion

Air - Art you can feel

@ 1:30pm Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

Balloon Museum | Emotion

Air - Art you can feel

@ 2pm

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

Salsa Dance Classes - Be‐ginning and Intermediate Salsa Dance Lessons with Salsa Bachata Dance Party @ 6:30pm / $30 Learn to Salsa Dance plus an AWESOME Salsa Bachata Dance Party. We’re Back, THIS Monday! https://salsamon‐days.eventbrite.com Join us for SalsaCrazy Mondays - where you can learn to Salsa dance Neck of the Woods, 406 Clement Street, San Francisco. info@dancesf.com, 877-398-7025

Ritualz

@ 7pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco

ΣΕΘ(SET): RITUALZ : Forever North American Tour 2025 @ 7:30pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco

3160 16th St, San Francisco

Dave

Alex

Friday Jul 11th

Slice: A Juried Exhibit of Regional Art 2025 @ 11:30am Jul 11th - Aug 17th Pence Gallery, 212 D

The Karens @ 7:30pm Cafe Colonial, 3520 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento Mob Rule @ 7:30pm Cafe Colonial, 3520 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento

Paul Taylor @ 7:30pm Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Colum‐bus Ave, San Francisco Lagrimas @ 8pm The Starlet Room, 2708 J St, Sacramento Sonamó + DJ Nino MSK @ 9:30pm Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisadero St, San Francisco

Karaoke

DANA GOLDBERG: Olivia Travel - Italy to Croatia @ 12am Jul 9th - Jul 8th Olivia Travel, 434 Brannan St, San Francisco

Advanced Tai Chi Forms @ 10:15am

ESG in Life Sciences

Summit West

Miranda

Beginning + Intermediate Tai Chi @ 9am Beginning/Intermediate tai chi classes offered at the Woodland Community & Senior Center Woodland Community & Senior Center, 2001 East Street, Wood‐land. tina�tness68@gmail.com

Focus on Nature: Beyond Eden by Rochelle Mason @ 11:30am Jul 11th - Aug 17th View a new exhibit at the Pence featuring animal paintings by Rochelle Mason! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pencesocial media@gmail.com, 530-758-3370 Live at DCC 2nd Friday Free Noon Concerts! Yolo Hot Club July 11, 4th and C Streets, Davis @ 12pm Enjoy the heat with "Yolo Hot Club", a Parisian 30's and 40's style jazz trio, Friday, July 11, from 12 noon - 1 pm at the Davis Com‐munity Church 4th and C- Second Friday Free Concert Series Live@‐DCC! Davis Community Church, Davis. luannhiggs@gmail.com, 916-600-8872

2nd Friday ArtAbout at the Pence Gallery @ 6pm

Zepparella: Fillmore Jazz Festival 2025 @ 4:30pm Fillmore Street Stairs, 2799-2701 Fillmore St, San Francisco Jonathan Scales Fourches‐tra @ 5pm Torch Club, 904 15th St, Sacramento Sincerely Yours

@ 9am / $1999-$5097 Jul 8th - Jul 10th

Benchmark Approaches to Re‐porting, Identify the Right Environ‐mental & Social Projects, & Stay Ahead of Evolving Global Require‐ments to Optimize Cost Savings & Build a Market-Leading ESG Strat‐egy The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco, 495 Geary Street, San Francisco. eva.marsik@hanson wade.com, +44 (0)20 3141 8700

Beginning + Intermediate

Tai Chi @ 10am Tai chi classes for beginning and intermediate practitioners at the Davis Arts Center Davis Arts Cen‐ter, 1919 F Street, Davis. tina�t ness68@gmail.com

Explore all of our new ex‐hibits at our opening re‐ception on July 11! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pencesocialmedia@ gmail.com, 530-758-3370 Jefferson Bergey Music: Jefferson Bergey at Belle Cora @ 6pm Belle Cora, 565 Green St, San Francisco Bear Grillz @ 6pm Heart Health Park, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento Jay Hollingsworth - Live Comedy @ 7pm / $29 Jul 11th - Jul 12th

SIDEPIECE @ 9pm Barwest Midtown, 2724 J St, Sacramento

DANA GOLDBERG: Olivia Travel - Italy to Croatia @ 12am Jul 7th - Jul 6th Olivia Travel, 434 Brannan St, San Francisco

Keepers of Humanity (Solo) @ 2pm Fulton Street Plaza, 147 Fulton St, San Francisco Love and Honey: Love +

“Big Irish” Jay Hollingsworth is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. Originally from the Paci�c Northwest, Jay set out to the east coast and honed his craft on the stages of Boston, Massachusetts. Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front Street, Sacramento. laughsunlimited@ gmail.com, 916-446-8128 The Emo Night TourSacramento @ 8pm Harlow's, 2708 J St, Sacramento Cosmic Triumph @ 8pm The Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 4th St, San Francisco

Devault - Ages 21+