transportation need into an awardwinning service. Founded in January 2024 by Robert DiNunzio, the business recently earned the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce’s Home-Based Business of the Year award.
“I have been taking trips and found out that it’s very di cult to get Ubers or Lyfts east of Folsom,” DiNunzio said. “I had a friend who was driving for someone else, and (I) just thought that would be a good idea and a needed service up here.” He started the business by giving a handful of rides each week, but has seen it grow as he began advertising.
Stack
for financing of up to $5,300,000 for the purchase of the second half of the Old Executive Golf Course. Umpqua Bank rescinded its terms after a former El Dorado Hills resident wrote a letter to the EDCHSD threatening litigation regarding the lease financing transaction. “As part of (Umpqua’s) requirements for the 2025 lease financing, the ... bank required an opinion of legal counsel regarding litigation. Due to the threat of litigation … (Umpqua) was unable to move forward as the purchaser … due to the inability of legal counsel to deliver a clean litigation opinion
SWEET RIDES REV FOR WORTHY CAUSE
Special to the Mountain Democrat
utomotive
AExcellence in Placerville hosted its annual car show on Saturday, Sept. 6. In addition to a spectacular car display, the fun-filled family event featured a cake walk, trophies, drawings, food, music and vendors. It wasn’t just a car show.
Hosted in proud partnership with Live On, Drive On!, this year’s event honored the life and legacy of Sidney “Scott” Santana, a beloved son, friend, athlete, and community member whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident in 2011 at just 17 years old.
Scott’s story continues to inspire thousands through his final act of generosity — organ and tissue donation — which saved five lives and restored sight to two
48 years. Their son, Lex, had the vehicle brought to Texas and it took him five years to complete the restoration. Below right, the Johnson siblings, (parents Shannon and Kevin) right to left, Alice, 7, Carter, 1, and Autumn, 4, of Lotus sit in Ol’ Hozer, a 1950 Ford fire truck owned by Tom Ambrose of Elverta.
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene Classics are lined up in a parking lot during the Automotive Excellence car show event that honored the legacy of Sidney “Scott”
accident.
from the show benefitted the Scott Santana Memorial Foundation
Above, groovy Granny Barbara Rebiskie of Placerville gives the peace sign as she stands next to her 1968 VW Bus. She said a lot of “adult cuss words” went into the upholstery of the vehicle which she did herself having no previous experience. Below left, Lex Noll, right, and his wife Casey of Placerville stand next to their 1968 Ford Bronco. Casey said when they were first dating 52 years ago, he took her for a ride in the Bronco up to Oregon with the top down and it rained and the windshield wipers didn’t work. She married him anyway and they have been married for
ESSENTIALS
OBITUARIES
Kimberly Sue Hoel
May 15, 1962 – Aug. 19, 2025
Kimberly Sue Hoel, née Madison, 63, of Garden Valley, California, departed this world surrounded by her family on August 19, 2025.
Kim was born on May 15, 1962, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Don and Vestella Madison. She grew up in the East Bay before moving with her family to Garden Valley at the age of 14. After high school, she worked as a carpenter in the Bay Area, where she met her husband Gary Hoel, whom she married in 1986. Together, they moved to Garden Valley, where they built a home on 13 acres and raised their six children and many animals on the Divide.
A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Kim lived life with vigor and energy. She poured her heart into homeschooling her children, creating a thriving homestead, and building community through music, Friday night dances, 4-H projects, outdoor activities, and events at the Marshall Grange, where she was a long-time member and officer.
Kim’s life was shaped by her deep Christian faith. A favorite passage was Ephesians 6: “Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” She lived as an ambassador for Christ—strong, passionate, and filled with love for others.
Kim is survived by her beloved husband of 39 years, Gary; her mother, Vestella Madison; her six children: Abby Costa (38), Sam Hoel (36), Clayton Hoel (32), Emily Peters (30), Robert Ira Hoel (26), and John Hoel (18); her siblings, Barbara, Stephan, Karen, James and William; and her seven cherished grandchildren, Tucker, Steven, Eleanor, Thomas, Lorena, Robert, and Ruby. She was preceded in death by her father, Don Madison. A celebration of life was held at the Marshall Grange on September 6, 2025.
Kim will be remembered for her faith, strength, hospitality, and her unwavering ability to make others feel seen and valued. She leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion that will continue to live on in the lives of her family and all who knew her.
Yougenie “Genie” Maylee Parker
Sept. 4, 1950 – July 26, 2025
With deep love and profound loss, we announce the passing of Yougenie “Genie” Maylee Parker, on July 26, 2025. Genie was a long time Placervile resident since 1975, she was born September 4, 1950, to Chung and Peter Pedersen in Tacoma, Washington where she was raised and graduated from Franklin Pierce High School.
Genie worked at her mother’s various restaurants in Washington which built the foundation of her hard work and determination and paved the road for Genie’s love for hospitality. Genie moved to the Bay Area after graduating high school where she met her husband of 38 years Ronald Parker. Genie and Ron then moved to Placerville in the ‘70s where they established roots and started their family. Genie was a fixture as a waitress at VIP’s and part of the original crew of Tortilla Flats. Ron and Genie then purchased Tortilla Flats in the ‘90s where they enjoyed serving the community with delicious food, good times and many smiles! After selling Tortilla Flats, Genie then went on to serve smiles to the community as one of the friendliest courtesy clerks at Safeway for the next 22 years until she retired shortly after covid. During her retirement Genie enjoyed spending time with her children, 3 grandsons and great-granddaughter. Genie enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing, going to community events, being part of the Widowed Persons Club, Shakespeare Club, Moose Lodge, volunteering, playing poker, enjoying music, and her many adventures with her daughter and grandson.
Genie lived a life full of joy, happiness and compassion. Her radiant positivity and heartfelt kindness left an indelible mark on everyone she met. Whether through a warm smile or a generous gesture, Genie made the world around her a better place! May her legacy of love and compassion continue to inspire us each day. Genie is survived by her son Jade, daughter Maylee, grandsons Austin, Bracen, Blake, greatgranddaughter Grace, her siblings Roberta, Nancy, Barbara, Arnie, her nieces Amy, Lauren and nephews Jonathon, Peter and Matt. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ronald Parker and her children Asia, Noah and Brian.
A celebration of Genie’s life will be held Thursday, September 11, at 1 p.m. at Green Valley Community Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road in Placerville, CA with a reception to follow. In lieu of floral arrangements please honor Genie’s passion for giving back by donating in her honor to the donation page set up with the following charity ohnifoundation.org/yougenie-parker/
Patty Buhlert
Aug. 9, 1932 – Aug. 12, 2025
Patsy “Patty” Davidson Buhlert passed away peacefully in Albuquerque, New Mexico three days after celebrating her 93rd birthday, delighting in her new great-grandson, and bidding farewell to loved ones. She will be remembered mostly for walking, walking, walking, and for her fun sense of adventure.
Patty was born August 9th, 1932, in the Glendale area of Los Angeles. She was the second of five children born to Carlos and Millie Andrews Davidson. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, LaMarr Rupley and Bobbie Bunch and two brothers, Jack Davidson and Davy Davidson.
In 1939 the family moved to a farm in Diamond Springs. Patty went from a big city elementary school to the one room school house, Ringold School. She attended El Dorado High, graduating in 1950.
In 1952 she married the boy down the road, Carl Buhlert. They moved to Torrance where she helped build the family home. She baked bread and (famous) chocolate chip cookies, sewed the children’s clothes, grew an amazing garden, and attended every sporting event and PTA meeting. She took the kids to the beach every week, making sweet memories for children, cousins, and friends. She especially loved the ocean, and even took up windsurfing, which she enjoyed for many years. In 1970 she began running for exercise. She continued jogging, nearly everyday, until jogging became walking. She walked and walked and walked, all the while picking up litter. While living in San Francisco she walked home from work (across the peninsula) once a week. The San Francisco walking practice came in handy when the 1989 earthquake shut down the city. She just walked home.
In 1992 she moved to Pollock Pines to help care for her grandson, Nick. They had incredible adventures together exploring the surrounding forest. She continued walking, personally keeping Sly Park Road litter free. When the winters just became too much, she moved down the hill to Placerville, where she was a regular fixture on the walking trail, all the while still picking up litter. Patty was preceded in death by her daughter Terri. She is survived by her son Patrick (Val), her daughters Gael (Barry) and Cathie Jo. She is also survived by her 4 grandchildren, Shelley, Annie, Missy, and Nick, and 3 great grandsons, Joey, Bryson, and Mischa.
Her ashes will be scattered at the family farm in Diamond Springs.
Jackie McClellan
May 8, 1932 – July 5, 2025
Jackie McClellan passed away peacefully July 5, 2025 at the Masonic Home in Union City, California. She was born May 8, 1932 to Wallace Ballinger and Jeanette (Christopher) Ballinger in Percival, Iowa. She was proceeded in death by her loving husband John M. McClellan. They loved each other deeply and were inseparable until his death December 14, 2020. Jackie is survived by her children Kathleen (Ron) Edeal, Michael (Pat) McClellan, Kathy (Rick Buteyn) Karnitz, and Kim Quadros. She also leaves behind several grand, great, and great-great grandchildren.
She was active in Tabor High in Iowa as a basketball player and marching band drum major. She led the marching band when Harry S. Truman visited Iowa. She was supportive in all ways to her children: cooking and hosting for many gatherings, sewing, and leading school and scouting groups. She supported her husband in every way as well: secretarial, accounting, nutritional support, and most of all unending love. She was a loving person and well loved. A special thank you to the support Jackie received from the people at the Masonic Home and Grace and Glory Hospice.
LEGISLATORS’ ADDRESSES
Cli ord “Cli ” Rackham
June 12, 1947 – Aug. 2, 2025
Clifford “Cliff” Rackham was born to Howard and Helen Rackham in Salmon, Idaho, on June 12, 1947. He passed away peacefully at home on August 2, 2025, surrounded by his wife and daughters.
Cliff’s childhood in Idaho, shared with his parents, brother Steve, and sister Diana, shaped his lifelong love of the outdoors. From fishing and hunting to working cattle drives in beautiful valleys, he carried those experiences with him for the rest of his life.
After graduating high school, Cliff moved to Placerville, California, where he met Janet Cunningham, who became his wife for 56 years. Together in Pollock Pines they built a life filled with love, raising four daughters—Aimee, Steffany, Heidi, and Emily.
Cliff thrived as a heavy equipment operator for Operating Engineers Local 3, where he was happiest when perched on an excavator, clinging to steep slides with the roaring Pacific Ocean below. His work carried him across California, Nevada, and Alaska, and eventually as a specialized underground tunnel boring operator.
Cliff’s greatest pride was his family. He took each of his daughters fishing, patiently teaching them to bait hooks and clean their catch. Later, he extended the same lessons to his nine grandchildren. His first great-grandchild is still too young to bait a hook, but “Paka” would have taught him well, just as he had with all the others.
Beyond work and fishing, Cliff found his deepest fulfillment in his faith. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he poured countless hours into volunteer construction projects across the country.
Cliff will be remembered for his unwavering love of family, his warm sense of humor, and quiet strength he brought to those around him. His presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the lives of those of us who loved him.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, September 6th @ 2 pm at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 5051 Hillsdale Circle, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.
CONTACT US
Chief Operating
T. Burt McNaughton (530) 344-5055 tbmcnaughton@mtdemocrat.net
The El Dorado Hills Brewfest celebrated the vibrant spirit of the region and
Old bridge debris being pulled from American River
Keith Reid Placer County
Work began midAugust on the American River Bridge Debris Removal Project, marking the start of e orts to remove 750 tons of metal and concrete remnants from the old State Route 49 bridge that have remained in the river for more than 60 years.
The first phase of the project will involve building a temporary ramp and “beach area” to allow access and storage for heavy equipment throughout the duration of construction.
Drivers are urged to use caution and watch for workers, as well as trucks entering and exiting Highway 49. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph through the work zone
Placer County has launched a new web page, ARDebris.com, to provide construction updates, road and trail closure updates and other project information.
“This is a complex process, but our goal remains clear: to remove these materials in a safe, environmentally responsible way,” said
SENSITIVITY TRAINING
overuse of tooth-whitening agents at home. In any case, the dentist can help reduce sensitivity by sealing exposed dentin and eliminating the cause(s) of dentin exposure. Tooth pain can be a rather
huge pain and irritation. It can completely dull your thinking, make your entire face feel painful, and can also keep you from eating properly. We are a highly qualified and experienced team of oral health care professionals. We will discuss all of your options with you. Our entire staff is thoroughly trained, skilled, and sensitive to your needs. Our goal is to make each visit to our office a comfortable and positive experience. Call us today to schedule an 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. Gum recession may require corrective periodontal surgery that involves grafting tissue.
Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage
explained the
is not painful, nothing uncomfortable, and is actually very relaxing.” – Neuropathy Pain
brought together brewers and winemakers from across Northern California, plus food trucks, business booths and live music, at El Dorado Hills Town Center on Saturday, Sept. 6. Hosted by the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce, the event brewed an unforgettable celebration of community and, of course, exceptional beverages. Volunteer Ron Perez of Cameron Park, center, serves a beer to Shawn Healer of El Dorado Hills. Perez and fellow volunteer Rick Harse of Rescue, rear, together kept pace with eager beverage tasters wanting to try Boring Rose Brewing Co. beverages at the EDH Brewfest.
Above, beer wasn’t the only beverage on the brewfest menu. Josy Moyer pours a sample of wine from Golden Leaves Vineyard and Winery located in Somerset for Ken Mahar of El Dorado Hills. Among the choices were a 2020 bronze medal Chardonnay, a 2023 Estate Tempranillo Rosé, a 2021 Estate Tempranillo and an Estate Angelica. Below, Sam and Mike Casey of El Dorado Hills, left, enjoy sampling kombucha as Michelle Grubbs, owner of Sacramento-based KC Kombucha, right looks on.
Courtesy photo
The American River Bridge debris removal project will rid the waterway of old bridge pieces.
El Dorado Water Agency joins Wildfire Solutions Coalition
Lisa Yarborough News release
The El Dorado Water Agency recently announced that it has joined the Wildfire Solutions Coalition, an alliance of cross-sector leaders and organizations collaborating throughout the state to secure longterm, sustained funding for wildfire mitigation and resilience and fully implement California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
For decades, California has invested heavily in firefighting and underinvested in wildfire prevention and mitigation. Compared with the costs of catastrophic wildfire, investments to reduce wildfire risk are extremely cost-e ective. Wildfires cost California $117 billion every year in economic losses on average. In contrast, investments to avoid wildfire disasters can save $6 for every $1 invested.
In addition, EDWA’s research quantified the monetary impact recent wildfires had on the upper American River watershed. Research found that the Caldor and Mosquito fires in El Dorado County
created $14.7 billion in damages to the ecosystem goods and services in the UARW. Natural capital damages occurred due to the loss and degradation of ecosystems from the wildfires and the economic impacts from the associated increase in carbon emissions. These devastating consequences reach far beyond the watershed because the UARW is a critical headwater for statewide water supply that fuels the fifth largest economy in the world.
“Securing funding and resources for wildfire prevention is critically important, especially in rural areas like El Dorado County that have experienced recent wildfire devastation,” said Rebecca Guo, general manager of EDWA. “We are looking forward to working with the coalition partners to increase understanding that wildfire is a statewide crisis that demands a long-term solution.”
Wildfires are a natural part of many California landscapes. But due to several factors — including fire suppression, land management practices and climate change — the intensity and frequency of wildfires have reached dangerous levels. With better
Lake Tahoe livestream explores water’s depths
■ Recording available on Tahoe Fund’s website
Jessica Weaver News release
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The Tahoe Fund and Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation completed the first-ever livestreamed journey to the bottom of Lake Tahoe. The team sent a custom ROV to a depth of nearly 1,600 feet below the surface and more than 3,500 viewers tuned in live.
“We did it! For the first time ever, anyone curious about what might be found beneath Lake Tahoe’s surface was invited to watch in real time as an ROV traveled all the way to the bottom of the lake floor,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “And added bonus was learning so much about the Lake during the dive thanks to Professor Sudeep Chandra and our
other guests.”
The livestream featured an interview with Lindsay Kopf, founder and executive director of Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation, as she piloted the ROV to the bottom. During the broadcast, Tim Crandle, president of SeaView Systems, shared more about the innovative technology that made this journey possible.
The audience was treated to an impromptu lesson in all things Tahoe, including why it is so blue, why it is so deep, and what you can do to help take care of it by foundation professor of limnology at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe Sudeep Chandra. Viewers were able to watch the ROV maneuver around the lake floor before it ascended back to the surface.
Watch the recording of the livestream at tahoefund.org/ deepdive.
Stay up to date with a subscription to the Mountain Democrat website: mtdemocrat.com. Call (530) 622-1255 to subscribe.
preparation and management, landscapes and communities can once again experience fire as a natural and beneficial process.
The Wildfire Solutions Coalition is calling for a dedicated, long-term funding mechanism to support proven fire prevention strategies at scale, including:
• Forest and vegetation management
• Community hardening and defensible space
• Workforce development and job creation
• Tribal-led cultural burning and stewardship
• Science-based planning and monitoring
Locally, EDWA is advocating for funding to support forest management projects in the upper American River watershed including fuels management (e.g., tree thinning), post-wildland fire restoration (e.g., clearing dead fuels and replanting), meadow restoration and prescribed burning.
More information can be found at El Dorado Water Agency and the Wildfire Solutions Coalition websites.
PG&E decreases its residential electric rates
Paul Moreno PG&E
OAKLAND — Electric rates for all Pacific Gas and Electric Company residential customers decreased by 2.1% on Sept. 1. For the typical residential customer who uses 500 kilowatt hours a month and does not receive discounts, monthly bills will decrease by about $5. Electric rates decreased because PG&E has completed a number of projects to increase wildfire safety and respond to emergencies. These temporary costs were removed from rates, helping to lower bills.
In addition to the electric rate decrease, residential electric customers also will receive a $58.23 credit from the California Climate Credit during their October billing cycle.
PG&E is working hard to stabilize electric prices through company-wide savings programs and working to lower financing costs. Residential electric rates have dropped three times over the past 15 months, which o set increases over that time, and rates are expected to go down again in 2026.
“While we continue making progress to stabilize electric prices for our customers, we know there is more work to do,” said Carla Peterman, PG&E executive vice president of corporate a airs and chief sustainability o cer. “Our focus is on making our system safer and more reliable for customers every day, while managing our costs to keep bills as low as possible.”
In the last three years, PG&E has saved approximately $2.5 billion in operating and capital costs by working more e ciently and using new technologies and improved processes, such as using drones to inspect equipment and bundling electric projects into a single scope of work.
PG&E has used the savings to do more safety and reliability work for customers more quickly and to o set some costs of that work.
PG&E’s e orts to stabilize electric rates are going against the national trend for forecasted electric prices.
While PG&E residential electric rates are going down in September and are also expected to decrease again in 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts that national electric prices are expected to increase through 2026, outpacing forecasted
Cheyenne Toney, senior civil engineer for Placer County. “It’s our intent to come in and clean this debris, and when we leave it will look like we were never here and the debris was never here.”
There will be closures and detours on popular American River Canyon trails and recreation areas during the project.
The Calcutta Falls Trail will be closed from the trailhead at SR-49 to No Hands Bridge for the duration of the project. Pedestrians will be detoured via the Western States Trail — accessible from the trailhead directly across SR-49 from the Quarry Trail parking area — or via the Mountain Quarries Bypass Trailhead on Old Foresthill Road.
The first 150 feet of shoulder parking along southbound SR-49 in El Dorado County near the Calcutta Falls trailhead will also be closed. Shoulder parking beyond that point, as well as all parking on Old Foresthill Road, will remain open.
For public safety, the river between the Old Foresthill Road Bridge and No Hands Bridge will be closed to all water recreation. The beach area between the Old Foresthill Bridge and
inflation.
California Climate Credit
Residential electric customers will receive an October Climate Credit of $58.23 on their bill. Eligible small business customers also will receive the Climate Credit.
PG&E customers receive the California Climate Credit twice each year, in the spring and fall.
The California Climate Credit is part of the state’s e orts to combat climate change and is distributed by PG&E to help utility customers during the transition to a low-carbon future.
September gas rate decrease
The September rate change also includes gas rates decreasing by 0.4%, saving a typical (31 therms/month) residential customer about $0.39 per month on their energy bill.
Other ways to save
PG&E o ers other no- and low-cost tools to help customers save energy and money.
Budget Billing averages your energy costs over the last 12 months to determine your monthly payment and avoid season spikes and billing surprises.
Home Energy Checkup is a free online tool that helps customers assess their energy use and provides customized savings tips.
HomeIntel is a free energy saving program that includes a Smart Audit and a personal energy coach. Customers who have lived in their home for more than a year and have a smart meter installed are eligible to participate.
Savings Finder is a free online tool that gives personalized recommendations for financial assistance, bill management programs and other resources to ease monthly energy costs.
Financial assistance programs are available for customers who qualify including:
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: o ers a monthly discount of 20% on gas and an average of about 35% on electric bills (compared to non-CARE bundled customers).
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: new guidelines
■ See RATES, page A5
Highway 49 bridge is closed.
The old SR-49 Bridge collapsed in 1964 after the failure of Hell Hole Dam during a major weather event. Shortly after, Congress approved the Auburn Dam project, and the debris was left in place under the assumption it would be submerged by the planned reservoir. When the dam was never built, the remnants remained in the American River.
The e ort to remove the debris gained momentum after community group Protect American River Canyons urged county leaders to take action. In 2023, the county worked with former state Sen. Brian Dahle to secure $8 million in state funding for the project. The funds were transferred to Placer County’s Department of Public Works, which is now managing the e ort.
Last year, the county contracted with Dokken Engineering of Folsom for environmental consulting services. Dokken coordinated with regulatory agencies to ensure the project meets strict environmental and safety standards.
The project is being conducted by Myers & Sons Construction of Sacramento.
provide a monthly discount of 18% on electricity, regardless of household size.
• Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program provides certain energy-saving improvements at no charge.
• PG&E Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH): provides up to a $300 bill credit to help income-eligible customers with past due balances to prevent service disconnections.
• PG&E Match My Payment Program: offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to
Car Show
Rates Continued from A4 others.
Continued from A1
The car show was a celebration of Scott’s spirit: his love for people, his passion for sports and his unwavering kindness. Through the Scott Santana Memorial Foundation, scholarships
EDHCSD
Continued from A1
(e.g., that there is no pending threat of litigation),” notes a letter sent to the EDHCSD Board of Directors from Jennifer Bradlee, BBK special counsel, who assisted the district with the purchase.
“To be clear, the failure to deliver a litigation opinion should not be construed as a failure to deliver an opinion that the litigation has no merit, but merely the failure to deliver an opinion that there is no pending threat of litigation at all,” Bradlee adds.
In his letter, Dean Getz made a number of claims regarding the lease financing agreement, including:
(1) It violates Article XVI, Section 18 of the California Constitution;
(2) it has sham lease terms;
(3) it lacks fair market rental value, and;
(4) the consultants involved in the financing were sole-sourced.
Bradlee countered in her letter:
(1) Article XVI, Section 18 of the California Constitution is not applicable to special districts in California … and only applies to counties, cities, towns and school districts;
(2) the lease terms and the lease financing structure are commonly used by public agencies throughout the state, and the lease financing structure was recently upheld by the California Supreme Court;
(3) the fair market rental value of the leased asset is supported by the insurance and replacement value of the leased asset, and;
(4) there is no requirement that the district publicly bid out the consultants or parties involved in the lease financing transaction.
Getz told directors at the special Sept. 4 meeting he wasn’t standing in the way of the CSD purchasing the golf course property.
“I stand in the way of you purchasing it using the wrong funding mechanisms,” he maintained during public comment before board members went into closed session.
When directors returned to discuss the matter in open session, a handful of EDH residents criticized Getz for his continual “agitation” as part of a “personal vendetta” against the CSD.
“We’ve allowed one person — one person who doesn’t live here — to single-handedly disrupt the district’s operations, to run off respected professionals,” EDH resident Ben Glickman told directors. “What
Continued from A1
“In the first six months, I probably had four or five rides a week and then, after that, it kept building up so that now I have three or four a day,” DiNunzio said.
Most of his clients use the service for airport transportation.
“I do 99% of the rides to and from Sacramento airport,” he said. “And then I do probably five or six rides a month from this area to San Francisco airport and back.”
Advertising and referrals helped grow the business. DiNunzio said he gained the most traction from wordof-mouth from happy clients and on the Nextdoor app.
“I get lots of referrals and faves on that,” he said. “I was in my first year; I was in the Nextdoor fave and continue to be that this year.”
He said he thinks his approach to the service sets him apart from competitors.
“I really give personalized service, basically their own chauffeur. I rarely ride share,” he said. “Additionally, you know, I have 100% satisfaction guarantee, which luckily I haven’t had to use it even once.”
Winning recognition so quickly into the business’s inception came as a surprise.
“I was both surprised and really pleased,” he said. “It gave me not only the Chamber of Commerce award, but commendation from both the State
$1,000, for qualifying low-to moderateincome customers to pay past-due bills to prevent service disconnections. Customers must make at least a $50 payment toward their outstanding bill each time to receive matching dollars.
• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): a federally funded assistance program overseen by the state that offers a one-time payment up to $1,500 on past due bills to help lowincome households pay for heating or cooling in their homes.
are awarded to students who embody Scott’s values of sportsmanship and compassion. The event also raises awareness for organ donation, encouraging others to say “Yes” to giving the gift of life.
qualified banker, engineer, auditor, park planner, volunteer would want to sign up to work for the community services district where baseless personal attacks and manufactured legal threats are an accepted norm? That’s not oversight. That’s not transparency. That’s a hostile environment for anyone trying to do the people’s business in El Dorado Hills.”
EDH resident Chris Nicholson notes how lucky the district was to quickly find another bank willing to accept terms from the previous agreement and work with the CSD.
“And I’m sure it’ll be great, but, I mean, let’s be real; this must have caused a firestorm … and grief,” Nicholson said. “Thank goodness that there was another bank willing to slip in, but that was not a foregone conclusion. We could have easily been held over the coals for higher costs, higher interest, worse terms (and threatened) the closing timing. Nicholson thanked the directors for their efforts.
“I think that every single member of the board comes to this job looking to make the right policy decisions that are best for the district, putting their personal interests aside, and … it’s frankly offensive when someone … just continuously throws spaghetti against the wall,” he continued. “It’s bogus. He dresses up policy disagreements as legal arguments and they’re bogus, and when they’re disproven, a different variant of pasta is flung.”
Over the phone, Getz defended himself, calling some of the comments and accusations “nonsense” and asserting he is “doing stuff above board and to the letter of the law.” He concluded with the pledge to “keep grinding till we get (the EDHCSD) to do it right.”
EDHCSD Finance Director Teri Gotro noted in open session, “River City Bank has agreed to provide the funding at the same interest rate and prepayment terms as the previous bank.” The CSD has also developed a professional relationship with the bank for other services.
With no further comments from the public or the board, Director Heidi Hannaman motioned to approve the new lease financing transaction with Director Noelle Mattock seconding. Director Michale Martinelli and board President Stephen Ferry joined them in supporting the resolution for a 4-0 vote.
Senate and Assembly. So really nice to be recognized and feeling like I’ve not only provided a needed service, but also rewarded for the quality of what I’m doing.”
Looking ahead, DiNunzio hopes to take a passion he and his wife share and offer it to his customers.
“One of the things I’m thinking about for next year and beyond is to offer guided tours to South Africa for the passengers,” he said, noting that his wife is from South Africa and the two of them travel there frequently.
The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement about the Rides with Rob.
“This award is presented to Rides With Rob in recognition of its outstanding success as a home-based business. Operating primarily from a personal residence — over 80% of the time — Rides With Rob has demonstrated exceptional growth, innovation and resilience.
“The business has successfully navigated the unique challenges faced by home-based enterprises, including limited resources, zoning constraints and the balance between home and work life. Through dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to customer service, Rides With Rob has become a standout example of what a home-based business can achieve.
“Congratulations to Rides With Rob, our Home-Based Business of the Year!”
Rides
OPINION
California Matters
Courts keep striking down laws infringing on free speech, gun rights
Gov. Gavin Newsom and his fellow Democrats in the Legislature
incessantly denounce President Donald Trump for trampling on civil rights in his lust for power. Their current drive to sanction a gerrymander of California’s 52 congressional districts to add five Democratic seats is couched in assertions that it would help blunt Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. One proProposition 50 ad describes Trump’s campaign for pro-Republican gerrymanders as a “blitzkrieg,” using language associated with Hitler and World War II Germany.
However, as Newsom, et al, posture as saviors of democracy, they haven’t hesitated to infringe on constitutional rights themselves.
For instance, California’s restrictive laws governing gun ownership have drawn adverse decisions from federal judges in recent months who have applied U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the constitutional right to bear arms. In the past, Newsom denounced judges who ruled against them as toadies of the firearms industry.
California’s willingness to abridge constitutional rights extends beyond guns, however. Newsom and legislators also will challenge constitutionally protected free speech if it comes from those on the other side of the political divide.
Last year, in response to some political parodies that used images created by artificial intelligence, including one that pilloried Vice President Kamala Harris, the Legislature passed and Newsom signed two measures to outlaw such tomfoolery.
One, Assembly Bill 2655, dubbed the Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act, ordered social media platforms to block or label fictional AI-generated material. Babylon Bee, which generates right-wing satire, and X, Elon Musk’s social media site, filed suit to overturn the law. A month ago, federal Judge John Mendez struck it down for violating the federal Communications Decency Act, which provides immunity to platforms for posting by third parties.
Mendez bypassed the plainti s’ contention that the measure unconstitutionally abridged free speech rights. However, he indicated that the second measure, Assembly Bill 2839, did violate the Constitution. Mendez recently took that a step further, declaring that by prohibiting deepfake material within 120 days of an election, AB 2839 restricted free speech.
“To be sure, deepfakes and artificially manipulated media arguably pose significant risks to electoral integrity, but the challenges launched by digital content on a global scale cannot be quashed through
See WALTERS, page A7
Letters to the Editor
Concerns about growth
EDITOR:
The Diamond Springs El Dorado area is experiencing rapid expansion, with numerous high-density a ordable housing projects either approved, under construction or in the proposal stage. While there is a clear and pressing need for a ordable housing in our community, the pace and scale of this development — paired with the county’s failure to consistently uphold its planning and safety standards — have raised serious concerns.
Of particular urgency are the issues of tra c congestion and fire evacuation capacity out of the Pleasant Valley area. The existing road infrastructure in this area, consisting primarily of narrow, two-lane roads, is already under strain. Adding large numbers of residents without corresponding improvements to roads and evacuation planning significantly increases the risk to life and property in the event of a fast-moving wildfire.
If you live in this area and share these concerns
or just want to learn more, please join us for a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 6-8 p.m. at the Herbert Green Middle School gym. We need your support.
DIAMOND SPRINGS EL DORADO COMMUNITY COALITION
Critical election
EDITOR:
We are less than two short months away from one of the most critical elections in California’s history, because on Nov. 4 the state’s voters could well determine the fate of the American democratic republic. That is not hyperbole. It is what Proposition 50 — the Anti Election Rigging measure is all about.
The stakes are high, as Donald Trump and his allies, including Palo Alto GOP super donor Charles T. Munger Jr., are doing everything they can to install a permanent right-wing majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and thereby
Guest column
Bed, Bath and Beyond California — businesses’ battle
The muchpublicized exchange between Bed Bath & Beyond
chairman Marcus Lemonis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is a lesson for the whole country.
We shoppers look back fondly on the marketing acumen that, starting with one store in 1971, built Bed Bath & Beyond into a retail giant that once had 365 stores nationwide.
The shopping experience there was always great fun — the basics of homemaking at great prices plus innovative trinkets that were always attention-getters at prices attractive enough to get you to buy what you weren’t even thinking about when you walked into the store.
The nature of business is that times change. The reality of the marketplace
— conditions changing daily — requires total investment of time and attention every day of those managing the business. Sometimes it gets the best of even the best entrepreneurs. Even the best can make a wrong call. Business is not what those who denigrate capitalism claim it is. It’s about humility and listening to and serving others. A moment of taking your eye o the ball, a moment of not carefully listening to and anticipating what your customers want and giving it to them, can mean disaster.
The best and most successful can do what is said to characterize a great marriage: You know what your partner wants before they even think about it. Such it is with great entrepreneurs and their customers. Because every day is a new
has demonstrated his own vision and business acumen with his multibillion-dollar 500-mile bullet train to nowhere asco.
experience, freedom is vital for business to prosper. Freedom to innovate, freedom to create, and also freedom to fail.
What’s the role of government in all this? Thomas Je erson said it.
“Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” to secure our life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When citizens, in a free country, are unhappy with how they are being governed, they have two principal options for change. Voting in the ballot box or with their feet — leaving.
I wrote recently that, per one estimate, between 2020 and 2025, some 500 companies have moved their headquarters or significant operations out of California to other
states.
Of Bed Bath & Beyond’s 365 stores nationwide, its largest presence in the country was in California, with just under 90 stores.
Now as the chain emerges out of bankruptcy reorganization, it’s announcing plans for store reopenings nationwide.
Bed Bath & Beyond chairman Lemonis issued a press release to publicize that they “will not open or operate retail stores in California.”
The short, terse announcement is a lesson in public policy for every American.
“California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive and risky environments for businesses in
DAN WALTERS
STAR PARKER
Newsom
Continued from A6
censorship or legislative fiat,” Mendez wrote, adding, “Just as the government may not dictate the canon of comedy, California cannot preemptively sterilize political content.”
The judge also noted the state Constitution protects speech so “it follows that AB 2839 violates California’s Constitution for all of the same reasons that it violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
Despite having the two bills shot down by court, California’s politicians seem bent on once again trying to influence what Californians can be told via
social media and the Internet.
Senate Bill 771, which is awaiting action during the final days of the 2025 session, would increase civil penalties that can be imposed on media platforms for content that violates laws barring threats or intimidation.
It stems from the often bitter debate over Israel’s invasion of Gaza in the wake of a deadly Hamas attack on Israel two years ago. The bill is mainly sponsored by pro-Israel groups who say it’s needed to block antisemitic threats. However, groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations argue
that opening up potential financial penalties would encourage platforms to reduce or eliminate criticism of the war.
An Assembly Judiciary Committee analysis suggested that if SB 771 is enacted it might run afoul of the federal law protecting media platforms from liability for third-party content — the same law cited by Mendez in his decision on the state deepfake law.
Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Letters Continued from A6 ensure that Trump can pursue his authoritarian agenda unchallenged, unimpeded, unquestioned. They intend to do this via a reckless mid-decennial redrawing of Congressional District lines in Texas, giving Trump five more seats in that already Republican-tilting delegation, and thereby making it nearly impossible for Democrats to flip the House in 2026. And that could very likely lead to the suspension of our cherished freedoms and our 250year old experiment in democracy.
That is what’s at stake on Nov. 4 here in California. Recognizing the threat posed by the Texas electoral gambit, Gov. Gavin Newsom and others have stood up and are fighting back. California can offset GOP gains in Texas by electing more Democrats to Congress in 2026. That’s as basic as it gets. Politics is about arithmetic; that’s always been the case and remains so today.
The opponents of Prop. 50 are already waging a campaign of fear, of fright, of intellectual fraud. They claim that Prop 50. will “weak[en] our democratic process.” They argue that Prop. 50 is a threat to the independent redistricting commission and that it somehow denies the voters their say in redistricting.
Hogwash.
At no point does the opposition mention what is going on in Texas. At no point do to they acknowledge California’s right to counter such shenanigans. They are not being honest about the redistricting commission’s future, as it is mandated to resume normal operations after the 2030 election cycle. And, unlike in Texas, California voters will decide the issue in a honest and transparent election rather than by politicians and Trump devotees cutting deals behind closed doors in Austin.
Sierra Forward, which I helped co-found in 2017, is proud to lend its name and efforts in support of Prop 50. Operating in over two dozen counties in the foothills, mountains and adjacent valleys of northern, northeastern and eastern California, we enter this fight with our eyes wide open. We know it will be tough, but we also know it is vital to America as we’ve known it since its founding nearly two and a half centuries ago
Announcements
AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com
AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net
AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org
CAMERON PARK NEWCOMERS
CLUB meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 at the Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3100 Rodeo Rd., CP, 95682. New and current local community members are welcome for fun and games throughout the month. For further information contact Jill Butler at 530-295-7448.
El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net
PLAY CRIBBAGE Join the Gold Country CribbersWe
Play - We Teach - We Have Fun Wednesdays 4:00 PM Gilmore Senior Center 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA 916-212-2465 or 916-768-4452
Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the
month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information. GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575
HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some
experience/ability required. Call Monica 530-306-7066. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and enjoy a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses.The meetings are held at 11:30 AM on May 19, July 21, September 15 and November 17, 2025 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.
SENIOR PEER COUNSELING Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.
TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.
LES FRANCIS Cameron Park
Diamondbacks find momentum but lose home opener
Mike Bush Mountain Democrat correspondent
Union Mine High School football head coach Brandon Pacheco was pleased with his team’s defense in the second half of Friday’s home opener against Bear River’s squad.
The Diamondbacks gained momentum toward the end of the second quarter thanks to a fine defensive play.
But Bear River’s fast start propelled to a 30-8 win over Union Mine (0-3).
“The kids played hard,” Pacheco said.
Union Mine received the second half kickoff at its own 35-yard line. Behind the running game of running backs Skyler Hartman, Fernando Armijo and Max Nober, plus quarterback Nathan Gregson, the D-backs marked the ball at the Bruins’ 35. But they couldn’t get another first down.
“It’s no secret; we’re going to try to run the ball,” Pacheco said.
The D-backs held Bear River (2-1) to only one touchdown in the second half. That came with 56.1 seconds left in the third quarter when running back Sean Kinney crossed the plane on a 4-yard run. Corbin Dagang’s extrapoint kick was good.
Union Mine reached Bruin territory again toward the end of the third quarter and later in the fourth. But the result was turning the ball over on downs at the Bear River 30 and 21, respectively.
The Bruins made some noise on their first offensive drive in the first quarter, which led to a 6-0 lead. An
18-play, 87-yard drive ended when running back Jaeden Waters scored on a 1-yard offtackle play with 4:43
remaining on the clock. Bear River opted for the 2-point conversion, but the pass was no good. Bear River increased
its lead to 12-0 with 24.3 seconds remaining in the quarter when Dagang, an outside linebacker, scooped up a D-backs fumble and returned it 40 yards. The extra-point kick was no good.
Union Mine responded after receiving the kickoff return and needed only one play. Running back Maxim Esteve took the handoff from Gregson, went off-tackle and rocketed 65 yards into the end zone. Gregson ran into the end zone for the 2-point conversion, slicing the Bears’ lead to 12-8.
Bear River scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter for a 23-8 halftime lead. Dagang booted a 24-yard field goal with 10:22 on the clock for a 15-8 score.
The Bruins went to the air for their next score, this time on a 1-yard run. Quarterback Jayden Brock threw a pass to Seamus McKeown on the 2-point conversion, which was good, to make it 23-8 at 2:55.
After losing the football on a fumble while receiving the ensuing kickoff, Union Mine got the ball back thanks to its secondary. Gregson, who doubles as defensive back, picked off a Brock pass at midfield. But the D-backs turned the ball
Special to the Mountain Democrat
The Oak Ridge High School cross country athletes joined 25 other high school teams at the Sept. 6 Soirée Invitational at Sunset Whitney Recreation Area in Rocklin.
“The Soirée Invitational has a unique format with 4 x mile relays (all boys, all girls, coed with two girls and two boys) starting the meet at 8 a.m. and heats of 3,000-meter
the top five earning a soirée T-shirt. Oak Ridge fielded eight coed relay teams and three all-boys relay teams that competed very well.
Senior Roman Zamora placed 2nd in the boys’ soirée heat (fastest race of the day) and senior Adriana Ingargiola placed 3rd in the girls’ soirée heat.
“Roman and Adriana raced at a very high level,” Fairley said. “They are seeing all their hard work with their training is paying off for them.
9:06.4
Thomas Capelli, 6th, 9:17.3
Bailey Van Leemput, 16th, 9:42.9
Ben Gutierrez, 27th, 9:54.1
Austin Mackovic, 39th, 10:11.8
Braden Laxamana, 61st, 10:29.0
Cooper Smith, 64th, 10:30.1
Owen Kraft, 72nd, 10:36.1
Filip Kruckenberg, 81st, 10:42.3 Linden Pike, 122nd,
Photos by Mike Bush
Courtesy photos
Above, the ORHS girls cross country runners took 2nd place as a team at the Soirée Invitational at Sunset Whitney Recreation Area. Below, Oak Ridge’s cross country boys came in 3rd as a team.
Cal Fire awards grants to train future forestry workers and help small businesses
Cal Fire News release
SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has awarded $5 million in grant funding to eight projects that will create jobs, train future forestry workers and help small businesses expand their role in protecting California’s forests and communities from wildfire.
These projects are part of Cal Fire’s Business and Workforce Development Grant program, which supports innovative solutions to wildfire risk reduction and rural economic development. Since 2022, Cal Fire’s Business and Workforce Development program has awarded more than $100 million in funding to 100-plus projects across the state.
“From hands-on training for young adults to new mass timber production right here in California, these projects are helping build a more resilient future for our forests and our communities,” said Assistant Chief John McCarthy of Cal Fire’s Wood Products & Bioenergy Team. “We’re proud to support efforts that grow our workforce, increase forest health and reduce pile burning by moving woody waste into beneficial use.” Grants will support projects across the state, including:
• Job training for youth and entrylevel forestry workers through the F.I.R.E. Bootcamp from Conservation Corps North Bay and Fire Forward’s workforce initiative by Audubon Canyon Ranch.
• A statewide mentorship program that connects college forestry students
Trojans Continued from A8
11:23.2
Sutton Paulsen, 33rd, 11:51.9
Cameron Fechter, 34th, 11:57.0
Elise Sale, 50th, 12:23.1
Serapha O’Sullivan, 69th, 12:43.5
Emily Capelli, 70th, 12:45.6
Sade Yimer, 91st, 13:11.6
with experienced professionals, led by Placer Resource Conservation District.
• A web-based course developed by the California Licensed Foresters Association to help more people prepare for the state’s Registered Professional Forester exam.
• The long-running Forestry Challenge, which gives high school students, including many in El Dorado County, hands-on experience in forest science and management.
• Business expansion support for Diversified Resources Inc. and Thompson Land Management, who will purchase equipment to treat more acres for wildfire risk reduction and forest restoration.
• A major investment in innovative mass timber production at Mad River Mass Timber in Humboldt County, supporting new jobs and local use of sustainably harvested wood in construction.
Together, these eight projects will train more than 300 people, create or retain dozens of jobs, and increase the capacity to treat thousands of acres per year. A full list of grantees and project descriptions can be found on Cal Fire’s Wood Products and Bioenergy Program webpage.
These investments align with California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, which outlines a path to improve forest health, protect communities, and create climate benefits through sustainable forestry. Funded through California Climate Investments and general funds, these projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening the forest sector.
Girls team results
St. Francis, 1st, 45 points Oak Ridge, 2nd, 53 points Davis, 3rd, 82 points Whitney 4th, 87 points
Vista Del Lago, 5th, 138 points
Coed relay teams
A Team, 3rd, 21:30.1
Diamondbacks Continued from A8
over on downs to end the quarter.
“That gave us a chance to come out in the second half and potentially keep playing our style of football,” Pacheco said. “Huge play going into the second half.”
Union Mine has the bye this week, which should help the nearly halfdozen players who were out with injuries prior to Friday’s game.
“We’ve had the injury bug the last two weeks,” Pacheco said. “The bye could not have come sooner. These guys are going to rally; they are good kids.”
The D-backs will shift their focus toward preparing for the Sierra Valley Conference opener, also at Union Mine High School Stadium, when Liberty Ranch (2-0) pays a visit. The Galt school had the bye last week and plays at Dixon (1-2) this Friday to wrap up its preseason schedule.
“They do a great job,” said Pacheco of Liberty Ranch head coach Warren Schroeder and his coaching staff and players. “It’s always a good challenge.”
Scoreboard
Ponderosa — The Bruins played their first home game of the season on Friday and came away with a 50-6 win over Foothill of Sacramento.
Ponderosa (3-0) led 43-6 at
Parker Continued from A6
America.
“The result? Higher taxes, higher fees, higher wages that many businesses simply cannot sustain, and endless regulations that strangle growth.”
Newsom’s response? Who cares! Adios! His office issued a statement on social media saying, “We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again as they try to open a second store.”
Newsom has demonstrated his own vision and business acumen with his multibillion-dollar 500-mile bullet train to nowhere fiasco. It was supposed to be completed by 2030, but a foot of rail has yet to be laid. Now he is scrounging for cash as President Donald Trump has pulled $4 billion in federal funding.
COMICS
n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly
n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
n RUBES by Leigh Rubin
B Team, 4th, 21:58.2
C Team, 5th, 22:07.2
D Team, 6th, 23:11.9
E Team, 7th, 23:26.8
F Team, 10th, 24:27.1
G Team, 13th, 24:58.8
H Team, 15th, 25:11.7
All boys relay teams
A Team, 16th, 23:51.4
C Team, 30th, 26:51.8
D Team, 31st, 27:05.0
halftime at Simon-Bruin Stadium. Quarterback Colton Ridgley threw two touchdown passes for the Bruins, who had a combined 324 offensive yards. He completed six of seven for 145 yards.
The Bruins wrap up non-league action this Friday, playing at Sierra Foothill League powerhouse Granite Bay (2-1). The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
El Dorado — Playing its final preseason game on the road also on Friday, the Cougars defeated East Nicolaus, 20-13.
El Dorado (1-2) held a 14-13 lead entering the fourth quarter, when the team scored the final touchdown.
The Cougars are also taking their bye this week. They will open SVC play hosting Argonaut (1-2) on Friday, Sept. 19. Oak Ridge — The Trojans had the bye last week. This Friday, Oak Ridge (1-1) will play its first home game of the season against another powerhouse in the Sac-Joaquin Section in St. Mary’s (3-0). The Stockton school, which has won consecutive Tri-City Athletic League titles for more than a decade, has beaten Marin Catholic of Kentfield, Central Catholic of Modesto and Bishop Manogue of Reno, Nev., in recent weeks.
With Americans pouring out of blue states and moving to red states, Texas has moved to redistrict to make their state a more welcoming red. Newsom’s answer is to push to redistrict to make his state an even more discouraging blue.
The Cato Institute issues a biannual report on the nation’s governors, giving grades A to F based on tax and spending policies. In the latest report in 2024, Newsom garnered an impressive D. If Democrats want to know what’s wrong with their party, Gavin Newsom is serving as a great poster boy.
Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available.
n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The way your mind plays with risk, creativity and “what ifs” is incredibly magnetic. While you think boldly, you don’t always follow through, and that’s wiser than recklessly acting on every impulse.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll step into something unfamiliar and fun. It adds a value to your day that’s not monetary, reminding you that every experience builds a kind of wealth, often in currencies like humility, wisdom, resilience or perspective.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Usually you can tell from the storefront what the shop is all about. This is not the case today, as all the metaphoric window displays are either cryptic or misleading. You really must go in and feel the vibes.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll suddenly feel inspired to help someone and to make it special too. To honor a specific preference or give help in a way that is tailored — this is what makes your people feel so seen and cared for.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There’s no stopping the storms of life, but your approach doesn’t have to be one of cowering. You’ve been known to sing in the rain and change the heart and spirit of the weather. In some ways you’re doing it right now.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The things that get the most use are also the most likely to break. It happens whether or not you take precautions, but regular maintenance does help. Apply the principle to a relationship. What maintenance can be done to keep it strong?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re not angling for anyone’s approval. You’ll be the one people cross the room to meet because you’re bringing the one thing money and connections can’t produce — the kind of originality that changes the landscape.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Getting people on board with your plans won’t happen instantly. You’ll need to repeat your message and show up in the same way, over and over, so they start to recognize and trust your pattern.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Check in with your internal environment just as you do when you’re checking the weather to prepare for the day. What’s going on inside you will color everything else. Outcomes will be reflections of your inner climate.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Today you’re fluent in the unspoken, reading tone, gesture and pause like text on a page, and knowing exactly when to “reply” and when to let it land. A shared glance will carry more meaning than a paragraph.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There’s charm in not over-rehearsing. Your natural rhythm today has a freshness that pulls people in. You could walk into a room with
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NEWS, IN THE KNOW
Sept. 10
Cantare Chorale presents Christmas Concert Family Matinee at the Foothills United Methodist Church in Rescue, 3-4:30 p.m. For more information visit cantarechorale.com.
Sept. 11
Arts and Culture El Dorado will host an Exhibition Talk, Themes in the History of El Dorado Irrigation District from 6-8 p.m. at the Switchboard Gallery in Placerville. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.
El Dorado Hills Town Center will host Live On The Boulevard with Bad Jovi — tribute to Bon Jovi and Bad Company, 7-9 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
The Sacramento State University Union’s UNIQUE Program will host its fourth annual WEUSI Music Festival at Serna Plaza lawn, University Union, Sacramento State University from 2-8 p.m. For more information visit sacstateunique.com.
Sept. 12
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting at New Hope Fellowship in Shingle Springs at 2 p.m. For more information call (530) 677-8000 or visit sscpchamber.org.
The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the Highway 50 Corridor Power Lunch at Riley’s On Sutter from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Business Connections Mixer at Alchemy in the EDH Town Center from 5-8 p.m. For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.
Imagination Theatre at the El Dorado Fairgrounds presents “Blithe Spirit” at 7 p.m. and running through Oct. 5. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.
1850 Wine Cellars will host Name That Tune, ‘80s edition from 5-7 p.m. Form a team, guess the song(s) and band/singer (for extra points) and win prizes. For more information visit 1850winecellars.com.
Moody Cat will play, 8-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Stereotype will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Ed Wilson will play at Domenico Winery in Ione from 4-7 p.m.
Sept. 13
Join the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County for the Gardening in a Changing Climate workshop. 9 a.m. to noon. Examine factors that have in uenced Earth’s climate throughout history and what is likely to happen in the future if current trends continue. The course will take place at Bethel-Del no Agriculture Building, 311 Fair Lane. Register at surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=46423.
The Shingle Springs/ Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will host the Bags and Beers Cornhole Tournament, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shingle Springs Community Center. For more information call (530) 677-
■ See KNOW, page B5
You got to know when to hold ‘em
MORE doubles down with second annual poker tournament
Andrew Vonderschmitt
Features editor
Shuffle up and deal will be the theme Friday, Sept. 26, as Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises brings back its All In for MORE Poker Tournament, a western-themed fundraiser that mixes competition, camaraderie and community.
The event, now in its second year, begins at 5 p.m. at MORE’s Placerville campus. Guests can expect a professionally run No Limit Texas Hold ’Em tournament alongside a catered dinner from Old Town Grill, drinks, ra es and plenty of opportunities to mingle. Top five players will walk away with special prizes, but organizers say the real reward comes from helping local adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Whether participants are card sharks or brand-new to the game, the tournament is designed to be welcoming. Player and spectator tickets are available, and both include dinner. Those who prefer to watch can cheer on friends, enjoy the western-themed atmosphere and still make a direct impact on MORE’s programs.
“This is poker for a great cause,” said former player Dan Naygrow. “The funnest, most wellrun fundraiser in El Dorado County!”
A local favorite
Last year’s inaugural event drew a full house and quickly established itself as a standout among community fundraisers. MORE
CEO Kelli Nuttall said the decision to host a second tournament was an easy one.
“We’re thrilled to bring back our poker tournament for a second year,” Nuttall said. “Last year was so much fun, and this year will be even better! Where else can you enjoy a delicious meal, play a lively game alongside poker legend Lon McEachern, and support the incredible adults served by MORE?”
For many attendees, the experience went far beyond poker.
“The 2024 MORE poker tournament was a great time,” said former player Lynell Phillips. “I met up with several poker buddies and made new friends too. Great food was a great start to the event. The tournament was well run and the western theme dress added to the fun atmosphere.”
A poker legend in the mix
The excitement is heightened by the return of ESPN commentator Lon McEachern, known worldwide as the “Voice of the World Series of Poker.” McEachern will once again take a seat at the table, giving locals the rare chance to play against — or at least share a laugh with — one of poker’s most recognizable personalities.
“I’m excited to be able to join the fun for the MORE poker tournament once again,” McEachern said. “What’s better than getting together with the good people of this community — my community — playing a little poker while supporting one of the finest organizations in the county?
“This is not the World Series of Poker, so I would encourage novices and newcomers to come on out to share a laugh with us. Who knows what could happen — hey, maybe they’ll win it!”
For organizers, his presence adds star power while reinforcing the tournament’s welcoming tone. McEachern’s mix of professional credibility and down-to-earth charm fits well with the event’s community focus.
Supporting growth and opportunity
While the tournament provides plenty of fun, its deeper purpose is raising funds for MORE’s services. Founded more than 50 years ago, the nonprofit provides education, training and support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across El Dorado County.
Proceeds from this year’s tournament will benefit two new initiatives:
• Grow MORE Together Garden Program — Participants learn to grow produce,
develop skills in teamwork and responsibility, and even gain experience in managing a small business.
• Culinary Training Program — Participants receive hands-on experience in cooking, baking, food safety and catering, building confidence and employable skills.
Each program is designed to help participants live with greater independence,
develop job readiness and take pride in their accomplishments.
A night to remember
The tournament’s success last year left a lasting impression on attendees, who praised the careful planning and community spirit behind the event. With this year’s tournament set to draw an even larger crowd, seats are expected to go quickly.
“This event is about so
much more than poker,” Nuttall said. “It’s about bringing people together to celebrate inclusion, opportunity and the joy of giving back. We’re inviting the entire community to join us — whether you play, watch or just come for dinner — and make a di erence in the lives of the adults we serve.”
The tournament will take place Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. at 399 Placerville Drive. For details visit morerehab.org.
Courtesy photos
The gameplay is exciting, the competition is worthy and the fun is palpable at All In for MORE coming Sept. 26.
Daughters of the American Revolution welcomes new leadership
Karen Shadle
Daughters of the American Revolution, El Dorado Chapter
The El Dorado Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is beginning a new chapter of its own. After Regent Beki Parks stepped down in August to pursue a new job, the group welcomed longtime member and retired educator Carol Bly as its new Regent.
DAR, which is active in historical preservation, education and support for veterans, remains a vital community presence in El Dorado County. The group is also planning to honor Placerville’s beloved “Pie Lady,” Lucy Stoddard, with a historical plaque dedication this November.
Bly, who joined the El Dorado Chapter in 2020, has served on several committees and helped promote the organization as its public relations chair. Before her retirement, she led the Rescue School District as superintendent, and she said she looks forward to putting her leadership skills to work in this new volunteer role.
Her goals as Regent are to grow membership and
expand opportunities for members to contribute meaningfully to the chapter’s mission.
“I would like to see more descendants join DAR so they can learn more about their own ancestors and see in what way they are a part of the heritage that built our country,” Bly said.
Bly will be joined by a strengthened leadership team. Acting Vice Regent Margi Klein, a longtime member and past Regent, will coordinate speakers and programs for the chapter’s monthly meetings. Klein, who worked in Radiation Therapy during her career, said she is eager to help rebuild and energize the chapter.
In addition, Marilyn Glass will step into the role of Treasurer after the position sat vacant for several months. Glass brings decades of experience as a small business owner, having operated her own child care service for 36 years.
Together, the new leadership team is preparing to carry on DAR’s legacy of patriotism, community service and historical preservation.
The team’s first meeting will be Sept. 10 at the American Legion Hall in Diamond Springs. For more information visit eldorado.californiadar.org.
Soroptimists call for dream applicants
Soroptimist of Cameron Park/El Dorado Hills is seeking applications for its Live Your Dream Award, which provides cash grants to women who are the primary earners for their families and need financial assistance to continue their education or training.
Applications are available at bit.ly/LYDAapply and are due by Nov. 15.
The Cameron Park/El Dorado Hills club will award up to $2,500 to local recipients. The top awardee will advance to the Soroptimist Sierra Nevada Region level, where winners may receive an additional $5,000.
Recipients may use the awards to offset costs related to education, including tuition, books, childcare, transportation or other
training expenses.
Nationally, the Live Your Dream Award provides more than $3 million annually to women in need. Since the program’s inception in 1972, it has distributed more than $40 million to tens of thousands of women. A study by the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania found the program improves quality of life, builds confidence, strengthens self-determination and inspires recipients to give back to others.
Founded in 1981, the Cameron Park/El Dorado Hills club is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through education and empowerment.
For more information, visit soroptimist.org or sicpedh.org, or call (916) 933-8205.
Explore local irrigation history
Arts and Culture El Dorado News release
Arts and Culture El Dorado will host an illuminating talk by Tom Cumpston, retired General Council for EID on Thursday, Sept. 11 from 6-8 p.m. Cumpston will discuss the history of the El Dorado Irrigation District, organized around three main themes: legal battles for water rights, the power of the agricultural industry and the way in which nonprofit, public ownership best serves the common good. Drawing on
images from EID’s extensive collection, many of which are currently on display in the gallery, Cumpston will detail the beginnings of water management in the region and the way it has shaped (and continues to shape) communities.
“Water Ways: El Dorado Irrigation District’s Centennial” looks back at the agency’s early history and the many services it provides to El Dorado County, using vintage images, maps, ephemera, and other items from the EID collection.
For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.
Coach highlights power of sports, thanks Assistance League for support
News release
At a recent meeting of Assistance League Sierra Foothills, members were reminded just how much of an impact their work has on local youth.
Gene Groninger, president of Prospector Soccer Club and longtime coach, shared stories about the transformative power of sports during the group’s August gathering. He also expressed gratitude for the scholarships his athletes have received through the league’s Sports Locker program.
“Participation in sports enables our children to grow in confidence and character,” Groninger told members. “Assistance League provides scholarships for children who wouldn’t normally get to play.”
His words left the audience with a deeper appreciation for the value of organized athletics.
Sports Locker is one of several philanthropic programs run by Assistance League Sierra Foothills. Since its launch in 2008, the initiative has provided more than 1,000 scholarships to disadvantaged children, from kindergarten through high school.
The program helps cover registration fees and equipment costs, allowing students to participate in community leagues. This year, 84 scholarships supported players in soccer and baseball. Volunteers also contributed more than 160 hours to the effort, according to program chair Vera Doettling.
For Assistance League members, hearing directly from a coach underscored the tangible results of their service.
Assistance League Sierra Foothills runs additional programs aimed at enhancing the community. Learn more at assistanceleague.org/sierra-foothills.
FOLSOM — A new community initiative in Folsom is offering free monthly support and education to family caregivers navigating the complexities of caring for seniors with health needs. The program brings together experienced family caregivers and health care professionals to provide guidance and practical skills.
by Desiree and Nick Trunzo, who became family caregivers for Desiree’s father and grandfather while working demanding corporate jobs.
“We were overwhelmed, uncertain, and searching for support that didn’t seem to exist,” Desiree Trunzo said. “We knew others were feeling the same way, and we made it our mission to be the helping hand we so desperately needed. Striving to support families in need and empowering them with knowledge is our mission.”
“Caring for my husband with dementia was overwhelming, but the guidance of caring, experienced people helped me understand his needs and navigate tough moments,” said Placerville resident Teresa Speece. “Now, I am passionate about giving back to help those struggling with these issues, being grateful to pay it forward, giving other caregivers a break and making a difference in others’ lives.”
Speece is part of a growing group of local residents dedicated to supporting seniors and their caregivers. The program is coordinated by Senior Helpers of Folsom and Cameron Park and includes free, drop-in sessions held on the fourth Tuesday afternoon of each month in Folsom. The sessions provide information and a supportive environment for those seeking to learn more about in-home senior care.
The local Senior Helpers agencies were founded
“The team hears the same questions all over the community,” said Jillien Erdman, a care manager with Senior Helpers. “People facing new chronic illness or disabling conditions and their friends or family are often very unequipped for managing the challenges of increasing needs for care. From supporting people with memory loss and confusion, to assisting with care for someone who is bedridden or needing help with bathing or managing other bathroom tasks, a safe space is needed to ask questions and practice the skills to be successful.”
While Senior Helpers traditionally focuses on providing in-home care services, the organization also hosts family support groups to address questions and concerns that may arise long before families are ready to engage professional care staff. The monthly meetings aim to equip families with knowledge to arrange their homes for seniors aging in place and to practice effective ways to engage with those facing dementia and other health challenges.
The support and education sessions take place the fourth Tuesday of each month from 2-4 p.m. at Senior Helpers Office, 1621 Creekside Drive, Suite 100, Folsom.
The free sessions are open to family caregivers, friends and anyone interested in learning about senior care
The program is a collaboration between volunteer family caregivers such as Speece and experienced professionals in all stages of in-home care.
For more information, contact Jillien Erdman of Senior Helpers at (916) 461-4123 or jerdman@ seniorhelpers.com.
Courtesy photo
Carol Bly takes up the reins as DAR’s new Regent.
Courtesy photo
Gene Groninger, Prospector Soccer Club thanks Vera Doettling, Sports Locker chairman.
Kids get muddy, learn perseverance at annual Dirty Kid Obstacle Race
SACRAMENTO — Kids will climb obstacles, drag tires and crawl through mud pits at the annual Dignity Health Dirty Kid Obstacle Race, hosted by Sacramento Adventure Playground, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11–12, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Maple Neighborhood Center, 3301 37th Ave. in South Sacramento.
Children ages 4–15 — and even some adults — will be challenged by a demanding course with obstacles such as climbing over walls, jumping hay bales, crawling through mud pits and tubes, balancing on beams and dragging tires. Course length and difficulty vary by age. The race is designed to be both fun and a lesson in perseverance.
The outdoor event is a fundraiser for Sacramento Adventure Playground, a nonprofit that serves
about 7,000 children a year with hands-on play activities such as building forts, climbing trees, using tools and caring for animals — all without screens. The program fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking in youth who need this unique outlet.
Advance registration is open now. For details and to register visit sacadventureplay.org.
New this year: Obstacle racing comes to Fairytale Town on Sunday, Sept. 21, from 9-10 a.m. The race serves as a warmup for October’s Dirty Kid Obstacle Race or as a chance for children to run over, under and through Fairytale Town’s iconic play structures. Each racer will receive a Fairytale Town family pass for four. Additional spectators must purchase admission.
The Dignity Health Dirty Kid Obstacle Race is sponsored by Dignity Health, Sacramento County
Supervisor Patrick Kennedy (District 2) and HUB International.
About Sacramento Adventure Playground
Sacramento Adventure Playground is a program powered by Fairytale Town. Located at Maple Neighborhood Center, the after-school program serves children ages 6–15 with supervised, free play activities.
The Adventure Playground is a makers’ lab where kids can use real tools to build and create based on their own ideas. Research shows children are more imaginative, creative and collaborative in these flexible environments compared to traditional playgrounds.
For more information, visit sacadventureplay.org or call (916) 222-3831.
Local author’s trek puts California on the map
ROCKLIN — When filmmaker and writer Matt Tory set out to explore every corner of the United States, he didn’t just check destinations off a list — he gathered stories, photographs and moments that would eventually become the heart of his new travel book, “Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All).”
The book available on Amazon highlights 118 of the country’s most memorable stops. Fifteen of those are in California, a state Tory calls “America’s most diverse and scenic.” His selections span the famous and the tucked-away: Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sequoia National Park and Disneyland share pages with Apple Hill, Burney Falls and Laguna Beach.
“It’s not meant to be another boring bucket list,” Tory wrote in the introduction. “This book is a nudge to get out there, let yourself be wowed and remember there’s something worth seeing in just about every corner of the U.S. It’s an encouragement, basically, to go see America.”
Tory’s California picks reflect the variety he discovered while traveling: natural wonders like the redwoods, alpine escapes at Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes and the iconic Pacific Coast Highway that ties it all together. Each site is paired with anecdotes and photos from his own visits, giving readers more than just facts — they get the sense of being there alongside him.
The project began after Tory completed a personal challenge: visiting all 50 states and every national park in the contiguous U.S. Along the way, he realized the collection of experiences was worth sharing.
Blending humor and heart, “Go See America” offers snapshots of well-known landmarks alongside the quirky and unexpected. It’s equal parts travel guide and travel diary, told with the light touch of someone
“Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All” is available at Amazon.
who has spent much of his career making people laugh.
Tory is no stranger to storytelling. His credits include the mockumentary “We Make Movies” — hailed as “one of the best films of the year” by Cinescape Magazine — and the streaming comedy series “The Beech Boys.” Now, he’s turned his lens on the open road, hoping to inspire others to embark on their own adventures.
Zenia LaPorte The University Union
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento State University Union’s UNIQUE Programs announced the return of the fourth annual WEUSI Music Festival, set for Thursday, Sept. 11, from 2 to 8 p.m. The outdoor event will take place on the Serna Plaza lawn at Sacramento State University.
The WEUSI Music Festival is not only a celebration of music but also of unity within the Sac State community. This year’s festival will feature live music, giveaways and the Stinger Expo vendor fair, showcasing the talents of more than 30 Sac State student makers and sellers.
The music lineup includes “LabRats” (hip-hop/jazz fusion), “Where’s West?” (indie rock), “Karega Bailey” (hip-hop), “Jackson Marshall” (alternative) and “Ruby Ibarra,” an NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner. Sac State student dance groups also will perform, including “Red Lotus” (Lion Dance), “Sac State Hornet Drumline,” “Sac State Stingerettes” and “Krescendo” (K-pop).
A limited number of tote bags and festival wristbands will be available as free souvenirs.
The festival is free and open to the public. Food trucks will be on site, and free parking is available on the top floor of parking structure 3.
The event will take place Thursday, Sept. 11 from 2-8 p.m. at Serna Plaza lawn, University Union, Sacramento State University.
For more information visit sacstateunique. com or call (916) 278-6997.
8000 or visit sscpchamber.org.
Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Placerville will host a Block Party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with barbecue, kid’s activities and a visit from 19th century minister C.C. Peirce. For more information visit oursaviourplacerville. org.
Mellowood Vineyard, 2979 Mellowood Drive in Fair Play, presents Reggae in the Vineyards 2025 from 2-7 p.m. Get ready to groove to the amazing Reggae sounds of Rootsafari. Delicious Mellowood wine and barbecue will be available. Overnight camping is available on Mellowood grounds. To make camping reservations call (916) 261-7512.
El Dorado High Class of 1975 will be
joined by the class of 1974 for the 50th and 50+1 reunions to be held at The Placerville Gathering Place, 2820 Cold Springs Road, Placerville. . Email euhs.75@gmail.com.
Ed Wilson will play at Cielo Sulla Terra Vineyards in Somerset from 1-4 p.m.
Sierra Vista Winery will host live music featuring Echo Summit from 5-8 p.m. For more information visit sierravistawinery.com.
Smith Flat House will host a Winemaker’s Dinner with Boeger Winery at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit smith athouse. com.
Nevermind Sac: A Tribute to Nirvana will play, 8-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series presents Darius Rucker from 7-10 p.m. For more information visit tinyurl.com/yfvbt3xz.
Dustin Saylor will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
The Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance will host its annual Community Costume Pop-Up Sale at Broadway Costumes, 3945 Franklin Blvd. in Sacramento from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information email sarta@sarta.com.
The Folsom Lake Symphony presents The Moonlight Serenade Bene t Gala at 5 p.m. at Twin Rocks Winery in Granite Bay. Learn more at folsomlakesymphony.com.
GROW FOR IT!
Late summer garden spruce ups
Here are some late summer flowers that will rejuvenate the look of the garden and lift any gardener’s spirits. Summer Hyacinth, Ornithogalum candicans, is a perennial bulb; plant it now for next year’s bloom. It has a blooming funnelshaped flower, and the plant wants regular water during spring and summer growth and bloom. Like the tuberose rhizome, it is better to leave the Summer Hyacinth bulb undisturbed from year to year.
Meadowsweet or Fernleaf, Filipendula ulmaria, prefers damp soil and blooms tiny pink or white flowers on plumes of coarse leaves. For best results, plant this in partial shade.
Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia, grows 4 to 10 feet tall and its blooms are on 4-to-4-inch spires
Kit Smith UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County
of white spicy-fragrant flowers. It likes regular water and is happier in partially acidic soil. It will do well in full to partial sun.
Butterfly Bush, Buddleja spp., is a stunning and eyecatching plant with flowers on a dense spike that attracts butterflies. Plant in well-draining soil and give it ample water during its growing season. It will die back during a winter freeze, but it will regrow from its roots and rebloom.
Most varieties of sedum will be beautiful assets this time of year.
The one to two-foot-tall plant bears rounded smaller star-shaped pink cluster flowers, which turn to coppery pink and then rust. It is a succulent perennial, and most are evergreen. This plant is easy to propagate from cuttings of its leaves and stems. Everyone’s favorite is easy-to-grow sage, Salvia spp., that has fragrant foliage and flowers. It prefers welldraining soil and regular deep water. Specifically, the Woodland Sage, Salvia nemorosa, sprouts from a rhizome and blooms through fall. The Meadow Sage, Salvia nemorosa Ostfriesland, has intense violet bluish flowers with pinkish purples bracts. Purple Majesty is a shrubby salvia and has long-blooming purple flowers. Mexican Sage, Salvia leucantha, has a hint of pine fragrance and its yellow-green calyxes and violet blue flowers will brighten the yard. Pineapple
Sage, Salvia elegans, is delightful-smelling and beautifully bright. It is stunning and easy to grow. Autumn Sage, Salvia greggii, with its showy pink, white, red or orange flowers, likes full sun and is drought resistant. Salvia attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies and is deer resistant. For best results, cut it back every year.
Goldenrod, Solidago, can live in most any type of soil. It is a woody perennial that is 2 to 3 feet tall and produces feathery yellow flower clusters. This, too, attracts butterflies.
Nemesia is a semitrailing plant, 14-16 inches tall and 16 inches wide with sweetly fragrant white blooms. It likes full sun and will flower until the first frost.
Consider the colorful black-eyed susan, Rudbeckia, too. The Prairie Sun variety has pale green centers surrounded by three to
six-inch-wide blooms.
The petals near the center are butter to yellow color. It is a great cutting flower.
Summer Phlox, Bright Eyes, Phlox paniculata, has flower clusters in the shape of domes and the small pastel flowers will last well into fall.
Join Master Gardeners on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the BethellDelfino Agriculture Building, 311 Fair Lane, Placerville, for a
free public education class on Gardening in a Changing Climate. For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/3sa2hj92. For more information about UC Master Gardener classes, events and garden resources visit mgeldorado.ucanr. edu. Have a gardening question? Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on the website or leave a message at (530) 621-5512.
California native plants are what’s happening in September
chapter
Many people have discovered native plants and want to know more about them, how to find and enjoy them in the wild and where to get plants to put into their yards and gardens. In September alone there are three events of interest.
Plant sale
El Dorado Chapter CNPS’ fall plant sale, a chance for gardeners to pore through a
catalog and select what works best in their environment.
Sales begin Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. and last for four days, through Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.
Pick up will be at Wakamatsu Farm over two days, Sept. 20 or 21. For the plant sale and pick up detials visit shop. eldoradocnps.org.
Chapter meeting
For the September program, the El Dorado chapter will be joining forces with the CNPS Redbud Chapter to hear Michelle Fullner, educator and host of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, discuss
Keystone Plants — native plants that serve as the foundation for the local food web at the Lakeside Room, Auburn Recreation District, 3770 Richardson Drive, Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m.
Festival of native plants
Also in September, the American River Conservancy is holding RIPE AREA: the Art of Native Plants Festival. Among the many educational opportunities at the Festival, EDC CNPS plant experts will host tables to o er information and advice. (EDC
CNPS plant sale customers can pick up their purchased native plants and attend the festival, or they can pick up the day before. Details are on the CNPS sales website.) RIPE AREA will take place Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wakamatsu Farm, 941 Cold Springs Road, Placerville. Festival details can be found at bit.ly/ RIPEAREA25. The California Native Plant Society is a nonprofit organization working to save and celebrate California’s native plants and places. The El Dorado Chapter is active
in educating about as well as identifying and protecting the many endemic plants of the area. To learn more visit cnps. org or eldoradocnps.org.
Kathleen Barco California Native Plant Society, El Dorado County
Photo by Pixabay
The colorful Black-eyed Susan is a great late summer addition.
Courtesy photo
The Rosa Californica is great at attracting pollinators.
Mick Martin’s Big Blues Band will perform at 7 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.
Sept. 14
Burke Junction in Cameron Park will host the Junction Jamboree community festival from noon to 6 p.m. The event will include food trucks, live musical performances, Hands4Hope Kids’ Zone, local artisans. tapas and sips, DJ, giant puppet performances, costume parade and a nonprofit showcase. For more information visit burkejunction. com.
C&C Ranch in Jackson will host the Forest Forum Blanket Party to benefit the Edwin F., Lila and Lyle Smith scholarship fund. Social hour at 3:30 p.m. Dinner served at 5 p.m. with an auction to follow. RSVP by Sept. 10 at dianedealeyneill@gmail.com.
Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills will host Coloring and Croissants for National Coloring Day from 3-5 p.m. For more information visit getyourfaceinabook.com.
Word of Mouth Storytelling presents “Love Bites, Stories from the Dating World” at the Prospector in Placerville from 6-9 p.m. Shadow Ranch in Somerset will host live music with Adam Beasley. For more information visit shadowranch.com.
Sept. 16
Join the El Dorado Community Foundation for its Amplify Good; Brown Bag Lunch and Learn
event from noon to 1 p.m. at the EDCF conference room in Placerville. For more information visit eldoradocf.org.
Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.
Sept. 17
Phish vs Dead with Marcus Rezak and Anna Elva + Robby Dean will play, 7-11 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Senior Helpers, Cameron Park will host a free Caregiver Support and Activity Enrichment Group 1-2:30 p.m. at Foothills Church in Cameron Park. To register for the group call (916) 461-4123.
Now
Applications are open to join the Placerville Public Art Committee. The new committee will include seven members representing the community, arts, design and local history. To learn more visit artsandcultureeldorado.org/public-art-committeeapplication.
Applications are now open for Folsom Lake Symphony’s Young Artist Competition with a Sept. 30 deadline. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony.com.
Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “Men
on Boats” through Sept. 20. For tickets and more information visit bigideatheatre.org.
Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “You Can’t Take It With You” through Sept. 14. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.
California Stage in Sacramento presents “The Lehman Trilogy” through Sept. 28. For more information visit calstage.org.
Tickets are on sale for The Robert Cray Band at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net. Word of Mouth Storytelling is seeking
storytellers for its “Love Bites, Stories from the Dating World.” To pitch a story call (650) 274-6041.
Arts and Culture El Dorado will host Water Ways: El Dorado Irrigation District’s Centennial at Placerville’s Switchboard Gallery through Oct. 5. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.
Registration is now open for The Center for Violence Free Relationships’ annual Drive Fore Change Golf Tourney at X Golf in the EDH Town Center on Nov. 1. For tickets and more information visit thecenternow.org.
IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 8/20, 8/27, 9/3, 9/10 15032
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. FB2025-0787
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ENDURING ACRES located at 4681 Montaire Drive, Shingle Springs, CA 95682/Mailing Address: PO Box 277, Shingle Springs, CA 95682 Registrant’s Name & Mailing Address: Enduring Acres LLC, PO Box 277, Shingle Springs, CA 95682 This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company, State of LLC: CA The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 08/10/2025 Signature of Registrant: /s/ Jason Clarke JASON CLARKE, MANAGER I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any
/s/ Jeffrey S. Field JEFFREY S. FIELD, VICE PRESIDENT I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (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 08/11/2025 NOTICE-IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 8/20, 8/27, 9/3, 9/10 15034
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. FB2025-0792
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EL DORADO HILLS MATTRESS COMPANY, located at 2208 Peggy Ln, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 Registrant’s Name & Mailing Address: El Dorado Hills Mattress Company LLC, 2208 Peggy Ln, El
or
/s/ Javon D Mitchell JAVON MITCHELL, CEO I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (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 08/04/2025 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 STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 8/20, 8/27, 9/3, 9/10 15036
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. FB2025-0749
The following person(s) is/are doing business as:
SERVICES FOR STATEWIDE FIRE ALARM REPLACEMENTS AND FIRE WATCH PROJECT AT CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON, SOLANO AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY RFQ NO. PMB2050502 EProcurement Event ID#0000036423 The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is requesting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from firms interested in providing professional Architectural/Engineering Services as a Criteria Architect/Entity for Fire Alarm and Detection Systems for the replacement of the existing fire alarm and detection systems and associated support systems at California State Prison, Solano (SOL) and the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF). The existing fire alarm and detection systems have reached the end of their useful life, are no longer fully functional, and/or are out of compliance with the California Office of the State Fire Marshal inspection, testing and maintenance standards. This Scope of Services (SOS) includes, providing criteria documents for the removal and replacement of the existing fire alarm equipment, including but not limited to devices, control units, annunciator panels, backup power supplies, and terminal cabinets within all buildings. In addition, the SOS also includes providing network connections, new pathways, conduit, and cabling as required within all buildings to provide signal monitoring at both the onsite fire house and central control. Some of these repairs have been completed within CDCR’s ongoing construction program; however, other connected components such as fire/smoke dampers, fire shutters, fire suppression, electronic supervision or smoke control/ evacuation operation will need to be evaluated for repair. SOL originally opened in 1984. The prison consists of four facilities: Facilities A, B, C and D. Each facility contains up to six housing units and a main yard. The institution
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