Village Life, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

PARTY FOR THE USA

Daughters of the American Revolution

Shelly Thorene

The kick-o cel-

ebration America

250 sponsored by the Charlotte Parkhurst and General John A. Sutter chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution was held in El Dorado Hills Town Center on Oct. 5.

The event was held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of American Democracy. The all-day celebration featured a parade with the the Young American Patriots Fife and Drum Corp, the Highway 50 Wagon Train and other groups, kids activities, history exhibits and lectures, musical performances and the Junior American Citizen DAR National Art and Poetry contest school winners award ceremony.

USA’S 250 YEARS

Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonpro t women’s service organization founded in 1890 to preserve history and promote patriotism. The DAR website states, “Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join the DAR. She must provide documentation for each statement of birth, marriage and death, as well as of the Revolutionary War service of her patriot.”

Two DAR chapters represent women on the west slope of El Dorado County — the El Dorado Chapter (eldorado. californiadar.org) and the Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter (folsom.californiadar.org).

■ GHOST STORIES

Women of Character event o ers a glimpse into El Dorado County history. ■ INSIDE, B2

EDHCSD PROMISES

‘In this community, nobody ghts alone’

El Dorado Hills Community Services District News release

The El Dorado Hills

Community Services District is turning pink for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Through special events, education and fundraising e orts, the CSD will shine a light on the importance of awareness, early detection, advocacy and funding for research and cures.

EDHCSD Director Heidi Hannaman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024.

“I received a diagnosis nobody ever wants, but far too many women receive. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer,” Hannaman shared. “My story is not unique. We need to do more as a society to support research and nd cures, and that starts with sharing stories and creating awareness. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2025, around 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. About 59,080 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ will be diagnosed and, tragically, about 42,170 women will die from breast cancer.

“My doctors told me there are only four things I can control with this disease: 1. Stress, 2. Nutrition, 3. Sleep and 4. Exercise,” Hannaman

■ See NOBODY page A4

Wrongful conviction sets DA on new path

Noel Stack Editor

El Dorado County has settled with Ricky Leo Davis, the man wrongfully convicted of a brutal murder in El Dorado Hills 40 years ago. It’s a multi-million-dollar lesson EDC District Attorney Vern Pierson doesn’t want any other law enforcement agency, city or county to learn the hard way.

“The Ricky Davis case, with its $4.5 million price tag, exposed the catastrophic consequences of awed interrogation tactics,” Pierson said. “The nancial burden on taxpayers, combined with the profound human cost, demands reform.”

The settlement includes Davis receiving $3 million from El Dorado County, $500,000 in state compensation and nearly $1 million in incarceration expenses. In 2016 The Innocence Project challenged the 2005 conviction of Davis, who was sent to prison for life in the 1985 slaying of Jane Anker Hylton. The victim was stabbed more than 30 times at a Stanford Lane home where she and her daughter were staying following a ght with her husband. Davis’ conviction was largely hinged on what was later determined to be a false confession by his former girlfriend Connie Dahl.

DNA located on a shoulder of the gown near where a bite mark also emerged on the 54-year-old victim’s body was tested by the Sacramento Crime Lab, which made its ndings known in 2014. The deposit was from a male but did not match Davis or Archie Hylton, the victim’s husband.

Legal maneuvers and a new trial for Davis followed but in February 2020 El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Melikian declared

■ See PATH page A7

El Dorado County settles long-battled mitigation fee lawsuit

Noel Stack Editor

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 8 executed a settlement agreement to end the decade-long case of Thomas and Helen Austin v. El Dorado County, which challenged the county’s compliance with the procedural requirements of California’s Mitigation Fee Act.

“Despite being provided proof that all fees were being utilized for the purposes for which they were

collected — mitigating the impacts of tra c from new development — the court ordered the county to refund Tra c Impact Fees that were collected over an approximately 22-month period in 2015-16,” a statement released by the county notes.

In 2015 El Dorado Hills residents Thomas and Helen Austin sued El Dorado County, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District and the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, arguing the agencies violated the California Mitigation Fee Act and shouldn’t have collected certain permit fees paid by home builders

in those jurisdictions. The act requires agencies to prepare and approve updated nexus studies every ve years that justify fees collected and outline how money will be spent to bene t the public and o set impacts resulting from new development; however, the agencies named in the lawsuit had failed to submit their nexus studies as required at the time the Austins and many others paid fees.

The courts ruled in the Austins’ favor and a series of ■ See SETTLEMENT page A7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Oct. 16

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce will host its Business Luncheon from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Red Hawk Casino’s Koto Buffet with guest speakers from Pioneer Community Energy. For more information visit eldoradocounty. org.

Oct. 17

The Sierra Renaissance Society hosts Marshall Foundation for Community Health Executive Director Mindy Danovaro, who will present “The Future of Healthcare in Western El Dorado County,” 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road in Diamond Springs. Admission free for members; public invited to attend two meetings for free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc.org.

The Cameron Park Community Services District presents The Great Trunk or Treat, 5-8 p.m. at 2502 Country Club Drive. For more information visit cameronpark.org.

El Dorado County Historical Society and Fountain and Tallman Museum presents Hanging Justice, an author’s book talk with M.G. Rawls from 6-7:30 p.m. at IOOF Morning Star Lodge, Placerville. For more information visit edchs.org.

Oct. 18

The El Dorado Hills Arts Association hosts the third annual Fine Art Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Library. The event is free to the public and promises an inspiring day of fine art, live music, creativity and family fun. The 2025 festival will feature 50-plus artists who will set up in booths adjacent to the library as well as inside the library in the Community Room. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet the artists, explore their creative processes and purchase original works of art. Admission is free. For more information visit eldoradohillsarts.com.

Ed Wilson will play at The Vine in El Dorado Hills from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 19

El Dorado State will present “Mortgage Theft Prevention” by Janelle Horne, El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk from 2-4 p.m. at the Rescue Community Center, 4180 Green Valley Road. The meeting is open to the public. For questions email republic4eldoradostate@gmail.com.

Oct. 23

Senior Helpers – Cameron Park will host a free Caregiver Support Group from 10:30 a.m. to noon. at Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills.

The Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly luncheon, featuring Marshall CEO Siri Nelson as the guest speaker, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Red Hawk

■ See HAPPENINGS page A4

Fire chief joins EDH Chamber Board

El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce News release

The El Dorado Hills Chamber Board of Directors has appointed EDH Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal to ll a vacant position on the board.

Lilienthal brings a wealth of experience and steady leadership to the board, according to a chamber announcement released Oct. 7.

“His appointment not only reinforces our commitment to public safety but also strengthens the essential partnerships between the El Dorado Hills business community and the re department,” the statement reads.

“A strong relationship between local businesses and re services is vital to ensuring the safety, resilience and long-term prosperity of our community,” it continues. “From emergency preparedness planning to re code compliance and rapid response in times of crisis, collaboration between these sectors helps protect lives, property and livelihoods.”

Chamber leaders lauded Chief Lilienthal’s deep understanding of both operational readiness and community engagement, noting his presence on the board will help bridge communication, foster proactive planning and ensure that the growing EDH community remains both safe and vibrant.

Give blood for ‘Ish’ at annual drive

Kristin Conner Vitalant

The El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce will hold its h annual blood drive on Oct. 21 in honor of El Dorado County Deputy Brian Ishmael, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2019.

Born and raised in El Dorado County, Ishmael initially served with the Placerville Police Department prior to joining the El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce in 2015. His death was a tragedy that will never be forgotten.

Vitalant provides blood to local hospitals and patients ensuring that those facing trauma, surgeries or chronic conditions receive lifesaving transfusions. While all blood types are needed, there is a particular urgency for type O blood — the most commonly transfused type.

More than 60% of the population is eligible to give blood, yet fewer than 3% donate. Vitalant urges the community to share in its life-saving

mission during this time of honoring our fallen.

“Every drop of blood on a hospital shelf is a lifeline when seconds count,” said Vitalant account manager Stephanie Kresse. “First responders run toward danger every day of their service and donating blood is one meaningful way we can honor that sel essness. It’s how we help others during the hardest moments and ensure that when emergencies and tragedies happen, we’re ready.”

The Deputy Brian Ishmael Memorial Blood Drive takes place 1-6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville. Make your appointment at donors. vitalant.org and enter blood drive code SMFE332 or call (877) 2584825 and use the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. Visit Vitalant.org for more information and eligibility information.

Join the Behavioral Health Commission

Carla Hass

El Dorado County Chief Administrative Office

The El Dorado County Behavioral Health Commission is seeking to ll four vacant positions. Commissioners serve a three-year term. Commission membership is comprised of volunteers from South Lake Tahoe and the west slope of the county.

The commission is looking for members who are committed to actively participating in monthly commission meetings and advancing services for consumers of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder services in the county. The commission’s authority is established in Welfare Institutions Code 5604.

The commission reviews and evaluates behavioral health needs, services, facilities and special problems where mental health or substance use disorder services are provided in the county. Both adult and children’s services are reviewed and evaluated. The commission advises the Board of Supervisors regarding the needs or

concerns of mental health and substance use disorder services delivered by the county’s Behavioral Health Division.

“We’re speci cally looking for people who are family members of consumers of adult or children’s behavioral health services in El Dorado County to serve on this commission,” said Behavioral Health Director Justine Collinsworth. “Community members with lived experience, professional expertise, or a strong interest in behavioral health are encouraged to apply, especially those who can help represent all corners of our county to advise the Board of Supervisors.”

The Behavioral Health Commission meets monthly on the third Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers located at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville. Contact the clerk of the board at edc. cob@edcgov.us or by phone (530) 621-5390 or contact Jim Abram, Behavioral Health Commission chairman, at jimabram@comcast.net or (530) 306-3897 with any questions.

EID celebrates a century of service

One hundred years ago, around 1,000 community members got together and voted to create the El Dorado Irrigation District. On Saturday, Oct. 4, that legacy was celebrated with an open house at the EID o ce on Mosquito Road in Placerville. Some of the agency’s equipment was on display and there were booths sta ed by agency personnel.

Director of Operations Dan Corcoran gave the guests a short history of water rights dating back to the Gold Rush and said early e orts “to pursue gold and water necessary to mine it boomed and busted several times over until 1919 when members of the community formed the El Dorado Water Users Association. This group secured a contractual water supply of 15,080 acre feet from the mining venture and today that same supply can provide water to 45,000 homes or generate clean hydroelectric power.”

On Oct. 5, 1925, that water supply was added to the initial water portfolio of the El Dorado Irrigation District. Earthen ditches were replaced with modern, pressurized pipelines creating a contiguous system delivering water through 1,100 miles of pipe, three dozen tanks, three dozen pump stations and more than 250 pressure reducing stations to customers from over a 4,000-foot elevation in Pollock Pines to a 400foot elevation at the Sacramento County line. The ■ See EID, page A7

CLASSY & FAST

New presiding judge, assistant presiding judge elected in EDC

Shelby Wineinger El Dorado County Superior Court

The El Dorado County Superior Court is pleased to announce the election of Hon. Michael J. McLaughlin as presiding judge, and Hon. Jamie L. Pesce as assistant presiding judge.

The presiding judge and assistant presiding judge serve a two-year term, to commence on Jan, 1, 2026.

Judge McLaughlin is the current assistant presiding judge and has served in that capacity since 2022. He was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Edmund G. Brown in 2018. Currently sitting in Department 3 of the South Lake Tahoe Branch, he presides over criminal matters.

Prior to his career as a judicial o cer, Judge McLaughlin earned a juris doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He began his legal career working as a civil litigation attorney in the Los Angeles area before relocating to El Dorado County in 1998, where he practiced in the areas of general civil litigation and business transactions until his appointment to the bench in 2018.

From

John Grigsby’s 360, Sean Wallentine’s 360 Modena, David Thompson’s California T and Cody Smith’s 458 Italia.

Top right, spectators snap photos as several race cars slowly parade by. A Koenigsegg Jesko Attack moves along on the left while Je rey O’Neill’s 2016 Ford GT Le Mans sits parked at the front right. Bottom right, Robert Robards stands beside his 2007 Aston Martin DB9, class AM2 — a striking blend of style and performance. Below, The Packard’s signature “Goddess of Speed” hood ornament adorns this 1935 Packard V-12 convertible sedan belonging to the Niello Company.

Nobody

noted. “As a community services district responsible for recreation, we have the ability to help women with exercise and recreation, and it is my hope this event will get people out moving.

“We must continue to push for cures, raise money for research, and educate women, as early diagnosis saves lives,” continued Hannaman. “I have too many friends, loved ones and women I’ve never met that must ght for their lives. I am committed to this cause and through my work on the board, am thrilled to work with sta to honor the survivors and family members who have been through this terrible disease.

Happenings

Casino’s Koto Buffet. For more information call (530) 677-8000. Oct. 24

Burke Junction in Cameron Park will host its free Trick or Treat event from 4-7 p.m. For more information visit burkejunction.com. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District presents Trunk-orTreat & Scarecrow Contest at the EDHCSD pavilion lot on Harvard Way, 4:30-7 p.m. For more information visit edhcsd.org. El Dorado Musical Theatre presents “Mary Poppins,” Oct. 24 through Nov. 2 at Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College

In this community, nobody ghts alone.”

The CSD, with Hannaman, has chosen local charity Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation, whose mission is to provide life-saving breast cancer testing, prevention, education, advocacy and compassionate support. This charity was formed in honor of Alberta “Albie” Carson, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2002. Albie’s husband Doug founded Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation in 2004 to honor his wife and o er hope to others.

“I found yoga to be a healing practice for me to stay t, help with breathing and improve my overall health

in Folsom. For more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Oct. 31

Embrace the spooky spirit as El Dorado Hills Town Center transforms into a Halloween haven, 3-6 p.m. Participating Town Center businesses open their doors for delightful trick-or-treating, creating a festive and safe environment for kids and families to enjoy. Join the excitement with a thrilling costume contest commencing at 5pm in the Steven Young Amphitheater. Categories include Most Creative, Hero/Villain or Princess, Cutest, Scariest, and Best Group

Judge Pesce was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Edmund G. Brown in 2018. Currently sitting in Department 7 of the Placerville Main Street Branch, she presides over criminal misdemeanor matters.

Prior to her career as a judicial o cer, Judge Pesce received her juris doctor degree from the University of Paci c, McGeorge School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis. She served as a deputy district attorney at the El Dorado County District Attorney’s O ce from 2005 until her appointment to the bench in 2018. Prior to this, she was a sole practitioner and a research attorney at Orion Outdoor Media.

Judge Vicki Ashworth announced she will not be seeking another term as presiding judge. She will conclude her current term on Dec. 31, 2025, a er assuming the role on Jan. 1, 2022. Previously, she served as assistant presiding judge from Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2021. A er serving in these leadership roles, Judge Ashworth said she believes it is important to allow fresh perspectives and new leadership to guide the court forward.

Court leadership expresses its deep appreciation for Judge Ashworth’s dedicated service, steady leadership and lasting contributions during her tenure as both presiding and assistant presiding judge. For more details visit eldorado.courts.ca.gov.

Tax deadline is today

News release

The Franchise Tax Board reminded taxpayers that Wednesday, Oct. 15, , is the deadline for ling 2024 state personal income tax returns to avoid a late ling penalty. Most taxpayers can le their state tax returns electronically (e- le) and for free by using FTB’s CalFile program. E- ling provides faster refunds, increased accuracy, and immediate con rmation that FTB has received a return. FTB recommends taxpayers opt for direct deposit to their bank accounts to ensure a timely and safe refund. For more information visit b.ca.gov

Continued from A1

during this time, and am thrilled to invite and join our community for a special session of outdoor yoga in the park, honoring our survivors and family members — and anyone who wants to join us,” said Hannaman. “I want to especially thank Yoga Six and Albie Aware for partnering with us for this very special event.”

The CSD has partnered with Yoga Six El Dorado Hills to lead Yoga for A Cause, 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Windsor Point Park, 4005 Windsor Point Place in El Dorado Hills. Register for the free event caeldorado.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html and search “Yoga for A Cause.”

or Family. For more details visit edhtowncenter.com Now

Registration is open for Theater Classes for Littles (ages 4-6) at The Stage at Burke Junction. Classes led by Callista Angelli on Mondays from 2-3:30 p.m., Oct. 20 through Jan. 19. For questions or to register email callista_angelli@yahoo.com.

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.

Pleasant Grove Middle School PTO is looking for vendors for its Holiday Makers Market happening on Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to apply visit tinyurl.com/mv7xy29s.

Registration is now open for CASA El Dorado’s annual Shine Bright Gala on Nov. 15 at the Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills. The event includes a three-course meal with drinks, a CASA impact story, CASA El Dorado Champion for Children awards and live and silent auctions. For tickets and more information visit casaeldorado. org.

The Mom Walk Sip and Stroll meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the El Dorado Hills Town Center amphitheater. It’s a great way to get active with other local moms.

EDH Cars and Coffee invites car people to meet up and hang out Saturdays, 7-9:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the right-side parking lot of the Regal movie theater in El Dorado Hills Town Center. The motto is “If it rolls, it goes.”

The El

CRIB NOTES by Julie

Samrick

Fragility of freedom

Charlie Kirk was murdered on Sept. 10, one day before a date seared into our national memory. On that morning 24 years ago, hijackers attacked us on American soil for the rst time since Pearl Harbor, killing 2,977 people.

The hijackers also sought to destroy American symbols that are the bedrock of our foundation. It was a wake-up call that rst shocked us, then united us in our shared grief. American ags ew everywhere, and, for a brief time, Americans stood together regardless of political beliefs. Yet 24 years later the divisions that now de ne us are deeper than ever.

Until talking with my four kids who range in age from 17 to 23, I didn’t realize the depth of Charlie Kirk’s in uence, especially with young people. It’s been widely reported that Kirk’s messaging is what brought millions of young adults, the leading demographic that generally skips voting, to the polls in 2024. Kirk’s shooter was from the same demographic of young people, and I couldn’t help but think he wasn’t even alive yet on Sept. 11, 2001.

The First Amendment — the very freedom the 9/11 hijackers despised

GUEST COLUMN by Lee

most — is at the center of this tragedy too. The right to speak, argue and persuade without the threat of violence is foundational. Yet a person who went to college campuses to engage and debate with young people only to be slaughtered reminds us that freedom of expression is under threat, and it is mainly from the unintended consequences of unleashing the digital world in which we now live.

The shooting was recorded and circulated online, meaning millions of kids have seen the video whether they intended to or not. One psychologist noted on television that most older teens have now seen the video, whether they’ve told their parents or not, and that many are grappling with the images. While moments of horror used to be shielded from younger eyes, now they are instantly available, replayed, dissected and sometimes even celebrated. That last part is what chills me most.

The celebrations of Kirk’s death, scattered across certain corners of the internet, show not only how divided

Tannenbaum

Reconsider this path

The Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County would remind the Board of Supervisors of its unanimous vote on agenda item 23-1724, in which supervisors directed sta to identify an outside agency to conduct an analysis of Charter Section 504 comparator agencies.

Since 1996, El Dorado County has compensated its deputy sheri s according to the mandate of Charter 504, which speci es a distinct and abbreviated comparator group comprised of the city of South Lake Tahoe, Amador County and the California Highway Patrol.

The Charter Review Committee’s recommendation was clear: review the three comparator agencies and determine if they remain appropriate under Section 504. This board agreed, authorizing an independent review in the 2024-25 budget cycle.

That work has now been done. The Charter 504 Compensation Study Final Report con rms that while El Dorado County deputy sheri s ranked in the 18th percentile of base salary, they actually ranked in the 57th percentile when total compensation was considered. In plain language: when

you look only at the paycheck, they appear underpaid; but when you add bene ts, overtime, retirement and insurance, they are in fact above the market average. This proves that relying only on base salary — as Section 504 requires — paints a false picture and drives unnecessary cost increases.

The study also found that the three-agency 504 peer group is statistically unstable, with outcomes overly dependent on a single city — South Lake Tahoe.

And while this alone is concerning, the problem has grown far larger than deputies’ salaries. Over the years, this board has added 25 nondeputy employees into Section 504 — employees who were never part of the voter-approved measure. These include the chief administrative o cer, county counsel, district attorney, public defender, DA investigators and others. None of these are patrol deputies. Some are sworn, most are not. Yet all of them now receive automatic raises tied to the sheri ’s comparators. This creates two serious problems: 1. In ated Administrative Salaries —

Davis factually innocent and vacated his conviction in response to a motion led by the EDC District Attorney’s O ce to dismiss all charges against Davis, who had served 15 years in state prison.

In August 2020 Davis led an $18 million claim against the county, alleging EDSO o cers caused his wrongful conviction and imprisonment . These investigators in the late 1990s and early 2000s visited Dahl several times while she was held in an Oregon jail on unrelated drug charges. The claim states Dahl was “coerced” into confessing she witnessed him kill Hylton, a confession that included the “fact” she herself participated. Dahl pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2005 and died in 2014. She was posthumously declared factually innocent in June 2024.

Michael Green, the man whose DNA matched what was found at the crime scene, pleaded no contest to seconddegree murder in 2022 and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

A better technique

Since the Davis exoneration, Pierson and his investigators have worked closely with California’s Commission on Peace O cer Standards and Training to overhaul interrogation practices, moving away from coercive

techniques that risk false confessions and nancial liabilities. The local team is now leading statewide training initiatives through POST, teaching law enforcement rapport-based, sciencebacked interviewing methods.

“When we know better, we need to be better,” explained Melanie Torres, media and community relations with the EDC District Attorney’s O ce.

“The goal is every law enforcement agency around the world would use these techniques,” added Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder.

Pierson called the reform a “game changer” that sets “a new standard for truth-seeking in interviews across California.”

The Science-Based Interviewing Fundamentals course focuses on listening, building rapport and treating each interviewee with respect, Suder said.

Investigators don’t go into an interview with blinders on or steer a suspect or witness into a particular direction; they engage the individuals and let them do the talking.

“There’s always evidence and the truth is the truth but sometimes … the more they talk the more they sink themselves as well — even though they’re not confessing,” Suder explained.

district now serves more than 125,000 customers.

Corcoran said throughout the district’s history, “Ratepayers and local leaders have supported the acquisitions and investment necessary to meet the needs of a growing community. However, our greatest feats for independence were achieved over the past quarter century.

“In 1999, the district acquired the water rights and facilities associated with Project 184, securing supplies from Caples Lake, Silver Lake, Lake Aloha, Echo Lake and the South Fork of the American River at Kyburz instead of relying upon a contractual commitment from PG&E,” he continued. “In 2001, the district secured 17,000 additional acre feet of rights to access water conveyed by Project 184 facilities. Once only accessible for hydropower purposes, this water would thus be available for consumption.”

Corcoran went on to list several more accomplishments, including in 2003 when the district acquired through an act of Congress the Sly Park Unit of the Central Valley Project, securing local control over Jenkinson Lake’s facilities and water supplies. Previously, the water rights and facilities were owned by the federal government. In 2016, the district secured a 15-year contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for the rst exercise of Permit 21112 water right at Folsom Reservoir. This bolstered water

legal maneuvers followed. In November 2019 a state Court of Appeals denied El Dorado County’s appeal, kicking the case back to local courts. Last April El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Gary Slossberg ruled, “Defendants have failed to substantially comply with the ve-year ndings requirement.” The ruling also states that not only were studies not completed within the MFA’s timeframe, “The most glaring omission from the record is any nding that ‘demonstrate(s) a reasonable relationship between the fee and the purpose for which it is charged,’ as required by government code …”

“As such … a refund is mandated, the amount to be determined in the next phase of trial,” the April 15, 2024, ruling’s disposition reads.

El Dorado County Auditor-Controller Joe Harn informed the Board of Supervisors, which is responsible for approving all nexus studies, in writing in 2013, 2014 and 2015 of MFA violations in the levying of these permit fees but the county continued to collect on behalf of itself and the other agencies. All necessary studies were eventually updated and approved by the supervisors with procedures put into place to ensure a lapse wouldn’t happen again.

The EDHCSD settled its portion of the case in

we’ve become, but also how toxic some online communities are. People isolate there, hiding behind anonymity, feeding o one another’s anger and bitterness. Bit by bit, empathy erodes, and bit by bit, our humanity continues to erode. And in its place grows a kind of gleeful cruelty — a belief that violence against someone with opposing views isn’t just acceptable but worth applauding. We cry when school shootings happen, and we cry when someone like Kirk is assassinated. Neither tragedy is justi ed. Most decent people grieve

These top-level management positions now ride the coattails of deputy pay adjustments, even though there are no equivalent positions in the comparator agencies. Their salaries are arti cially elevated, completely disconnected from any real market analysis for administrative or legal roles.

2. Distortion of voter intent — Section 504 was passed in 1996 to stabilize pay for deputies, not to give automatic raises to the CAO, DA, county counsel, or other administrators. The expansion of 504 beyond deputies has turned it into a backdoor pay-raise mechanism for high-level managers, something the voters never approved.

The recommendations of the independent study are unambiguous:

• Compensation studies should be based on total compensation, not base salary alone.

• A broader comparator group is needed for accuracy and scal responsibility.

• A ballot initiative should be considered to tighten 504 language so compensation aligns with the true market

SBI also takes deception out of the interview process. “No more, ‘Alright, I’ve got your DNA right here,’ when you don’t have it,” she continued. “When you feel like you’re not being treated like a thing — you’re being treated like a human — then … science has shown (people) are more apt to talk to you and tell you things.”

POST has initiated SBI training for new detectives while Pierson and his team work with agencies to integrate the techniques with veteran law enforcement in California and beyond. A symposium is planned in 2026 in Southern California.

Preventing further harm

SBI not only aids in the prevention of wrongful convictions, but can also help bring criminals to justice sooner, according to DA o cials. In the “American Nightmare” reinvestigation case out of Vallejo, o cials asserted awed interviewing of victims Denise Huskins Quinn and Aaron Quinn allowed kidnapper Matthew Muller to avoid capture and commit two more terrifying home invasions before he was taken into custody in 2015.

Pierson, alongside Alameda Sheri ’s Lt. Misty Carausu and Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges, reopened the case

supplies during the 2021 drought. Also mentioned were the 2020 enlargement of El Dorado Forebay which increased emergency water supplies from one to six, days which proved to be crucial during the 2021 Caldor Fire, and the Sly Park

January 2025 and EDH Fire followed with its settlement last month.

The county’s statement issued last week maintains, “Most of the legal issues raised in this case were novel issues that required the courts to interpret the intent behind the Mitigation Fee Act. While this case was hard fought over the years, the county, through its defense of the case, was able to reduce its fee refund exposure by approximately 50%. Although the county has the option to appeal, the board determined that ending this nearly decade-long litigation was in the best interests of the county, its residents and the TIF Program.”

“The county remains disappointed in the outcome of this litigation,” said District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp. “The TIF program enabled and is currently enabling the construction of important transportation infrastructure in the County by ensuring that new development pays its fair share of the cost.”

The TIF program has facilitated the county’s compliance with its voter approved General Plan policies regarding roadway levels of service and infrastructure concurrency, according to county o cials.

“The Austins’ lawsuit and the court’s ruling will a ect the county’s ability to meet the General Plan’s

both. When 9/11 happened, the attack was clear and external. We could see who the enemy was, and we rallied. Today, the threats feel harder to name. Our enemies are less o en from the outside and more o en found in our own fractured society. The enemy is our inability to tolerate one another’s views, in our retreat into silos of thought and in our willingness to dehumanize people who disagree with us. That’s what makes this moment so sobering. Freedom of speech, and the

median and applies only to the employees originally intended. Given these ndings, the Taxpayers Association demands that the results of this study — which taxpayers funded — be made public in full, without delay and without redaction. Section 504 is one of the most consequential scal issues facing our county and transparency here is not optional.

This board made the commitment in 2023. It is now time to honor it; release the study in full and let both the board and the residents evaluate whether Charter 504 remains appropriate.

Based on the independent analysis, the answer is no: Section 504 locks the county into an arti cially narrow comparator pool, produces salary outcomes disconnected from true market medians and elevates total compensation for a select group of employees beyond sustainable levels. In short, 504 is not scally appropriate for El Dorado County today and the voters deserve the opportunity to reconsider it.

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

and, a er more than 10 months of reinvestigation e orts, using modern SBI techniques, they uncovered the additional serious crimes, including a kidnapping and sexual assault case from 1993, two home invasions in 2009 and a 2015 home invasion/kidnapping for ransom case that had not been previously reported to police.

“Our partnership with POST is ensuring law enforcement adopts methods that prioritize truth, protect the innocent, prevent wrongful incarcerations and stop perpetrators from further victimizing others — as seen in the ‘American Nightmare’ case,” Pierson said.

Suder noted the prevailing interrogation technique — the Reid Technique — is still lawful and used by law enforcement. Information provided by the DA’s O ce notes this method heavily relies on an array of pseudo-scienti c and psychologically manipulative strategies. “A compounding problem with relying on behavior to distinguish between truth and lies is twofold: interrogators o en overestimate their ability to detect deception, which then intensi es the accusatorial nature of the interview,” SBI course information states. “These awed interrogation tactics collectively increase the potential for false confessions.”

Intertie Project connecting two drinking water arteries with the district’s two water treatment plants in Pollock Pines. The project is set to be completed next spring and will make it possible to take the Sly Park Water Treatment Plant o ine for critical maintenance and provide reliability during unscheduled outages caused by re or landslides that damage the El Dorado canal.

Corcoran expressed his thanks on the behalf of EID for “the con dence you have demonstrated to us as stewards of your resources.” He stressed that these assets belong to the community and that EID operates and maintains them on behalf of the community.

EID General Manager Privani Vandeyar said that EID’s mission as a public agency is “to provide high quality water, waste water, recycled water, hydroelectric power and recreation services in an environmentally and scally responsible manner.”

“The challenges we face, including a changing climate, evolving regulations and the need for greater e ciency are signi cant,” she continued. “These challenges also bring opportunities for innovation, collaboration and growth. I am a rm believer that the best solutions do not come from a single person but from collective wisdom and expertise of a dedicated team. Together we will identify where our e orts can make the greatest impact.”

goals and to deliver the infrastructure that is critical to the well-being of the county,” added District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin. Under the terms of the settlement agreement per the county’s news release, the total settlement amount is $14,769,601 — $5,219,601 will be used to satisfy the Austins’ attorneys’ demand for their fees and costs and $50,000 will be paid as a stipend to the Austins, since they are not otherwise eligible for a refund, and $9,500,000 will then be refunded on a prorated basis to eligible property owners in accordance with the Mitigation Fee Act. The county’s TIF funds will cover all expenses except the Austins’ stipend.

Within the next two months, the Board of Supervisors will determine the method by which prorated refunds will be issued, the statement explains, which could include direct payments, a temporary suspension of fee collection, fee credits, a combination of the foregoing or by any other reasonable means. “Once the method of prorated refund is determined, the eligible property owners will be identi ed and processing of payments can begin,” in concludes. “Depending on the method chosen by the board, payment processing could take seven months or more to complete.”

safety to use it, requires more than laws and amendments. It requires a culture that values disagreement without demonization, debate without destruction. It requires people willing to see one another not as enemies, but as citizens, neighbors, even friends. We need to get out of isolation and into the sunlight, and as I’ve said countless times, we need to unplug and nd community with one another.

The anniversary of 9/11 reminds us of what we once were — wounded, but together. The day before this year’s anniversary reminds us of what we risk becoming — divided and detached from our shared humanity. The choice before us is clear. Do we continue down the path of isolation and cruelty, or do we nd our way back to the harder, nobler work of living freely together?

Julie Samrick is an EDH mother, teacher and writer. She is the author of “Murphy’s Miracle: One Dog’s Wild Journey” and “How People Get Their Politics.”

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Designed for multigenerational living, the home blends timeless elegance with resort-style amenities.

The main residence features vaulted cherry wood ceilings, sculpted elements, hydronic heated oors and a 2,300-bottle climate-controlled wine cellar showcasing hand-carved double doors imported from Monterrey, Mexico.

The expansive living space within the home’s two levels features gorgeous wood and tile ooring, plenty of room to hold large celebrations and beautiful details like a builtin bookcases and shelving, show-stopping staircases and designer lighting. Resident chefs will love the impressive kitchen with two islands, beautiful countertops, ample cabinetry and top-of-the-line appliances.

The primary suite dazzles with mahogany doors and Brazilian and American cherry oors and ceilings plus a cozy replace and outdoor access. Other amenities

include dual walk-in closets, a spa-inspired bathroom with a soaking tub, steam shower, dry sauna and private tness area.

The home also features a second kitchen plus an attached, yet separate residence with its own living spaces, kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms.

The recently built rec center highlights the sparkling lap pool, locker rooms and a commercialgrade kitchen with entertainment space wrapped in stone.

Outdoors, residents and guests will enjoy multiple fountains, a spring-fed pond with bass and bluegill, planted gardens, putting green and a commercial greenhouse with its own shower and laundry facilities. The property also o ers a private runway, hangar, and helipad, plus expansive storage for RVs and boats as well as two garages.

The estate is secured by sustainable features, including a 35KW solar array with 10 Tesla batteries, metal roo ng and walk-in refrigeration. Interested in learning more about this exceptional Salmon Valley Lane property in El Dorado Hills? Contact real estate agent Chris Wolfe at (559) 289-8218 or chris@ chriswolferealestate.com.

Annual Warm & Fuzzy Drive helps everyone stay cozy

Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference

News release

The youth-led nonprofit organization

Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is collecting new essential clothing and blankets to help those in need stay warm and safe this winter. Community members can contribute by dropping off donations at collection sites throughout the region, shopping from the Amazon or Walmart registries, or making a financial contribution. The Warm and Fuzzy Drive, now in its 16th year, is organized and led by Hands4Hope youth participants.

Items collected through the drive will be sorted, counted, attractively displayed and distributed at the Hands4Hope Winter Boutique in December.

During this multi-day event, hundreds of families referred by local schools, caseworkers and service providers will select essential clothing and blankets in a festive, boutique-inspired “popup shopping” experience, leaving with what they need at no charge.

“Thanks to previous donations, we already have many new and used jackets, sweaters, pants and other warm clothes to distribute at Winter Boutique,” said Alexa Schaudel, a junior at Oak Ridge High School and clothing logistics lead for the youth-led committee. “This is why we are mainly reaching out

to the community for donations of new underclothing, warm essentials, and blankets. These items can be expensive for foster care providers and families with limited means, and we want to help ensure that local children and families have what they need to stay warm this winter.”

Donations of new items for babies through adults are needed and include socks, underwear, thermals, sports bras, pajamas, leggings,

gloves, scarves, hats and blankets (twin and larger). Through Oct. 17, Hands4Hope collection bins will be at Lakeview Elementary School, Folsom Lake Surf Club, El Dorado Hills Library and Serrano Visitors Center. Oct. 20-30, bins for all items will be at Buckeye Elementary School, Silva Valley Elementary School and Oak Meadow Elementary School. Nov. 3-14, bins for all items will be at

Faith Episcopal Church, Heritage Community, Snap Fitness Shingle Springs, Snap Fitness Placerville, Jackson Elementary School and William Brooks Elementary School. The Markham Middle School Hand4Hope club will collect socks Nov. 10-14 and Nov. 3-14 Reliance Home Loans and Sutter’s Mill Elementary School will be hosting a Blanket Blizzard. Donations can also be brought to the Hands4Hope El Dorado

Hills Youth Center now through Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As a convenient alternative, Hands4Hope offers donors the option of shopping an Amazon Registry and Walmart Registry that will deliver directly to Hands4Hope, or simply sponsoring a family in need though a direct financial gift. Donation drop off addresses, links to registries, and other information can be found on the Hands4Hope website at

Hands4HopeYouth.org/ warmfuzzydrive. Additionally, Hands4Hope will host its annual Blanket Making Party on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Camerado Springs Middle School. At this all-ages event, youth and families will have the opportunity to make cozy no-sew blankets for distribution at Winter Boutique. All materials and instruction is provided. RSVP is required. The Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference Winter Boutique Committee is youth-led with the help of adult mentors. This year, 20 youth in eighth through 12th grades are planning and running all aspects of the Winter Boutique event and Warm and Fuzzy Drive, from coming up with a theme and organizing collections, to advertising, leading sorting and set-up events and managing the distribution days at Winter Boutique. Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is a nonprofit youth driven organization with the mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service. The organization offers hands-on education and community engagement opportunities to youth in middle and high school through on-campus and after-school programs in Sacramento and El Dorado counties. For more information visit hands4hopeyouth.org or call (916) 294-7426.

Women of Character offer voices from the past

Mike Roberts

Save the Graves

Save the Graves returns to Placerville Union Cemetery, 650 Bee St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 18. This year’s production features eight notable El Dorado County Women of Character telling their stories. Each was influential at a time when women’s roles were limited. Expectations were low. Barriers were high.

“These were bold, inspirational women who contributed to their community,” said Theatrical Director Kathleen Young. “Their stories should not be forgotten.”

Save the Grave is an ambitious day-long living history production staged in the county’s only Victorian Garden Cemetery. The event celebrates the stories of lesser known, but nonetheless important El Dorado County men and women. Stories are engaging, historically accurate, first-person portrayals by costumed actors. All performances are captured on video, keeping the stories alive for future generations. Each performance consists of a brief intro-

duction by an emcee, followed by a 10-12 minute monologue.

“Stories create community, enable us to see through the eyes of other people, and open us to the claims of others.”

— Peter Forbes

Performances are repeated throughout the day on two theatrical stages in the heart of the historical Masonic and Odd Fellows sections of Placerville Union Cemetery. The live experience in the unique cemetery venue is impossible to achieve on page or on screen.

The Women of Character and the actors portraying them include Texas Ellen Wilson, Coloma’s compassionate madam, played by Ronnie Duska Fowler; Gloria Miserlian, historian, genealogist and face of the Blue Bell Café, played by Darcy K. Hall; Nancy Ross Gooch, an enslaved woman who became a respected Coloma landowner, played by Sarina Krastev; Mollie Carpenter, musician and Mountain Democrat publisher who witnessed the 1906 earthquake, played by Kathy Drew; Gertrude Kirk Cornelison, car dealership owner who drove the Lincoln Highway in 1919, played by Jill Kearney; Margaret Kelly, lifelong teacher, historian and loyal friend of James Marshall, played by Marilyn Judge; and Lucinda Nail and Georgia Nail Leoni, as told by George Nail, Grizzly Flat pioneers, played by Evan Taylor.

“These performances explore the lives of women who are part of history that is largely overlooked,” said Young. “The firstperson perspective lets us dig into these characters, their motivations, their ambitions and their accomplishments.”

In addition to the two theatrical stages, a third “community” stage will feature informal cemetery and history presentations. Topics include the resurrection of Nelsonville Cemetery in Mosquito, an update on the Placerville Old City Cemetery Restoration, green burial options,

Gold Rush songs, Garden Valley’s lost cemetery, the 1903 prison break and subsequent mayhem featured in the 2024 STG production and tales of the Goat Doctor ghost stories.

“People have been wanting ghost stories out of us since we started this thing,” said Save the Graves President Mike Roberts. “They’re finally going to get one, and it’s a doozy.”

A shaded central pavilion area will once again host history groups, local authors, pioneer families and fraternal groups.

Attendees receive an event program that has evolved in recent years into a collectable local history magazine, choked full of local history and cemetery lore. Local businesses purchase ads in the program to support the group’s efforts.

A little history

Save the Graves was formed in 2019 by Charlie Basham, Andrew Vonderschmitt and Mike Roberts with the broad mission to restore, preserve and celebrate El Dorado County’s rich legacy of historical cemeteries.

“No one else was doing it … these fascinating, important places were deteriorating before our eyes,” said Roberts. “Visitors were disappointed, pioneer families who buried loved ones here were appalled. Plot sales had slowed to a trickle.”

Since its inception, Save the Graves has funded restoration efforts, hosted volunteer projects and encouraged local government to improve cemetery upkeep. Hundreds of volunteers have worked with Save the Graves to improve conditions in local cemeteries. Each gains an understanding of the place and its importance. Conditions have

improved. Visitors enjoy the experience. Pioneer families support Save the Graves restoration efforts. Volunteers are eager to return. Plot sales are up.

Recent cemetery projects include the installation of 12 VA headstones on previously unmarked veteran graves, with more planned. Volunteers have also cleaned and straightened headstones at Union, Diamond Springs and Greenwood cemeteries; repaired crumbled plot coping in Union Cemetery; maintained landscaping at Union and Diamond Springs cemeteries; and completed headstone repairs in Diamond Springs.

The group’s mission includes celebrating the history contained in local cemeteries, which starts with raising awareness of the 120+ cemeteries in El Dorado County. Members regularly lead public cemetery tours and speak to civic groups. To broaden public interest in cemeteries, Save the Graves has sponsored dozens of interpretive signs detailing interesting aspects of cemetery lore, tombstone symbology, and stone carvers as well as biographies of interesting people buried in local cemeteries.

A 2025 Latrobe Fund grant will support the installation of more than 75 new signs across multiple cemeteries in the coming months. The project will include large entrance signs that share each cemetery’s backstory, section maps inside Union Cemetery to help visitors locate graves, and section and row markers at El Dorado Cemetery for easier navigation. Additional signs will highlight biographies, local history, cemetery lore, legacy roses and notable cemetery trees.

Local author releases rousing mystery

Wendy Schultz

Special to Village Life

Huzzah! The newest o ering from El Dorado Hills/Cameron Park/now Granite Bay author Cindy Sample was released Oct. 2 and it’s a doozy! Volume 2 of the Spindri Cove Mystery series, “All’s Faire in Love and Murder” takes place at the Renaissance Faire in Spindri Cove, Wash. as Sierra Sullivan, a former cruise ship director, takes on the role of lady-in-waiting to the Queen and ends up doing some sleuthing as well.

What’s afoot when the Ren Queen is found foully murdered? As Sierra winds her way past the Feudal Funnel Cakes, jousting knights and the Guild of Rogues, Scoundrels and Cads looking for clues, murder and mayhem are her companions. And she needs to solve this murder quickly — there’s a grandchild on the way!

With plenty of pointy things like swords and lances surrounding her, as well as a disapproving police chief, a horny pirate, a lter-less New Age friend and a very pregnant daughter with heartburn, Sierra’s hapless path to solving murder seems hopeless. And dangerous.

“All’s Faire in Love and Murder” is Sample’s 11th book. The rst nine books feature El Dorado Hills soccer mom and amateur sleuth Laurel McKay, and are set in and around El Dorado County. Older

■ See SAMPLE, page B5

Area creative writers honored

resident

Garcia and El Dorado Hills resident

Clavere have been selected as nalists in the 2025 Non ction Short Story Contest sponsored by Gold Country Writers.

The authors were among 10 nalists honored on Oct. 4 at Auburn City Hall. First, second and third place stories were read and the writers received cash prizes in gold coins.

The contest ended Sept. 17 with 54 entries.

The 1,500-word maximum contest attracted writers from ve surrounding counties.

Gold Country Writers president Nicolle Goldman said, “We’re proud to o er the oppor-

tunity to so many writers to celebrate their creativity for our community.” Keynote speaker

■ See WRITERS, page B5

Downtown Placerville space ourishes as Art on Center

Andrew Vonderschmitt Mountain Democrat features editor

The downtown Placerville storefront once known as Center Street Gallery is getting a new life as Art on Center, a vibrant Native and Latino arts hub made possible in part through a T-Mobile Hometown Grant.

The program, which invests $25 million over ve years in small towns across the country, provides up to $50,000 per project to help revitalize community spaces. For Art on Center, the grant means more than just paint and lighting — it’s a chance to reimagine the role of art in local cultural life.

“It’s called Art Center, and it’s a gallery and an art center for Native and Latino communities,” said director James Marquez, who has been leading the project for several months. “We don’t have signage or anything up yet — not o cially open yet — but we’re getting close.”

Marquez took over the lease a er the previous gallery closed, transforming the space into a creative hub.

“When Center Street closed, I took over the lease and it became Art on Center,” he said. “We’re operating that now, and we’ve got a lot of things planned.”

Those plans include a mix of visual arts, performance, and hands-on workshops designed to celebrate cultural traditions while inviting community participation.

“It’s going to be a gallery, so we’ll have rotating shows coming in and out,” Marquez said. “It will feature Native American artists from throughout California, Nevada and Oregon. We have a lot of people that are interested in participating in our shows.”

Before the rst exhibition opens, though, the space is getting a complete refresh — with help from the T-Mobile grant.

“The T-Mobile grant is going to help,” Marquez said. “We want to just start with a fresh coat of paint that has to go up before we can do the gallery lighting, because we’re painting the ceiling also.” Instead of hiring professionals, the community wanted to pitch in.

“We’re planning to have a painting party with the community here at the gallery,” Marquez said. “I actually have some money to hire professionals who could just come in and get it done, but the community really wanted to help, and just about everybody knows how to work a roller.”

Classes and culture

Once open, Art on Center will o er a broad slate of art classes — from traditional pottery to metalwork — that re ect both Native and Latino cultural practices.

“We’re going to have a whole series of art classes that we will hold here,” Marquez said. “A lot of them will be Native-based, and the rest will be Latino culturally based, but some of them will be just real traditional kinds of art classes. We do everything from pottery — we have a kiln and we’re purchasing potters wheels with the T-Mobile grant — to metalwork, beadwork, woodwork and jewelry making.”

Marquez said the team is working on scheduling classes months in advance so people can plan ahead.

“We’re coming up with the schedule now and getting that in place so people can see a few months in advance what’s going to be coming up,” he said.

A community space

Beyond art instruction, Art on Center is also becoming a much-needed gathering space.

“We have been making it available, even though we’re not fully open yet, to community groups who are looking for a place to have meetings,” Marquez said. “A lot of the groups don’t have a formal place to meet, so they can meet wherever they can.”

One such group, Common Roots El Dorado — a coalition supported by Marshall Hospital and focused on behavioral health — has been using the space regularly.

“They have been meeting here for a number of months,” Marquez said. “It’s just one day a month, but we have several other groups using the space. As soon as we’re open, there’ll be other groups that are going to want to use it.”

While Marquez said he’s trying hard not to charge community users, the reality of keeping the gallery

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News release

Sopen is expensive. “I am actually self-funding at this point, which is costing me about $3,000 a month,” he said. “We’re looking for grants that will allow us to use some of the funding to pay for overhead — utilities and rent — so we can o er the classes for free.”

Plans are also underway for a small membership and sponsorship program to help sustain operations.

“We’ll o er sponsorship opportunities to people who do have the means to help,” said Marquez. “We’re hoping to raise enough to keep us going for a while until we have grants that can give us a constant funding stream.”

A stage for stories

Evenings at Art on Center will come alive with music, storytelling and performance — o en with a cultural focus.

“We’re going to purchase with the T-Mobile grant a small collapsible stage that we can put in here,” Marquez said. “The space isn’t real big, but we have a PA system so musicians can perform. It can be everything from folk kinds of music to Latino music, and we’re going to have storytellers come in that tell stories from the culture.”

Some events will be family-oriented, with children invited to gather around an “arti cial camp re” for Native storytelling nights.

“We’ll turn the lights o , have the camp re going and tell stories that way,” he said. “It’ll be kind of dramatic — all Native stories from di erent tribes around the country.”

Marquez said Art on Center is also hosting this year’s Sugar Skull Art Walk, in partnership with Arts and Culture El Dorado and the Switchboard Gallery, using the event as an opportunity to bring people together.

Community partnership

For Terry LeMoncheck, executive director of Arts and Culture El Dorado, Art on Center is one of 17 “incubator projects” the organization supports

acramento Ballet is unveiling its highly anticipated 2025-26 season, following the success of its 70th anniversary season. With support from season sponsors Western Health Advantage and Dignity Health, the company plans a lineup that blends beloved classics with bold new works.

“Our 2024-25 season was a milestone for us as we celebrated the legacy of Sacramento Ballet while embracing bold new dance works,” said Board President Alyssa Paoletti. “With the 2025-26 season, we’re continuing to build on that momentum by showcasing our dancers’ exceptional talent, reimagining a classic fairytale and pushing the boundaries of ballet through collaborations with some of the world’s most exciting choreographers.”

The 2025-26 mainstage-season opens with Connections, running Oct. 24-Nov. 2. This mixed-repertoire program highlights the voices of choreographers closely connected to the company, including Artistic Rehearsal Director Stefan Calka, R. Colby Damon and Company Artist Julia Feldman. Each performance begins with a special reception.

“It’s always an honor to get to create on the company,” said Feldman, who has been with Sacramento Ballet since 2010. “I’m incredibly inspired by the artists in this company, and excited to make a piece that celebrates their

strength, artistry and complexity.”

Calka’s new work will explore human connection in its emotional, physical and ethereal dimensions. “Creating new work is always a dialogue,” he said. “It’s about nding meaning through movement and shaping moments that re ect both the individuality of the artists and the spirit of the piece.”

Damon’s contribution examines human consciousness. “Sacramento Ballet was where I got my start as a choreographer,” said Damon, a former company dancer who has worked with BalletX, Opera Philadelphia and American Repertory Ballet. “I’m really excited to create a new work on the company and share my movement style and vision with the Sacramento community.”

The season continues with “Nutcracker,” sponsored by California Walnuts, Dec. 12-21, featuring live music by the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera. Hundreds of young dancers from across the region join the company, playing roles from shooting stars to toy soldiers, keeping the production rooted in Sacramento’s community.

“Sleeping Beauty,” sponsored by Jim Hargrove, runs Feb. 13-15, 2026. Directed by Rehearsal Directors Elise Elliott and Stefan Calka, the full-length ballet features Tchaikovsky’s score performed live. Audiences are invited to

ak Ridge Music Boosters and Band are proud to host the Western Band Association Marching Band Competition in the Oak Ridge High School stadium, 3:30-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. This special event will feature 15 bands and more than 1,300 talented performers, including a special exhibition performance by the Wolf Pack Marching Band from the University of Nevada, Reno. Oak Ridge isn’t the only local high school performing. Ponderosa, Union Mine and El Dorado high schools will also be there, along with bands from Antelope, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Olivehurst, Reno, Roseville and West Sacramento. See the full list at

oakridgemusic.org.

The WBA Band Competition is open to all! The community is invited to experience an electrifying showcase of precision, artistry and sound. Browse booths highlighting local arts programs and music vendors and grab dinner and snacks at the concession stand or food trucks. This promises to be an inspiring and fun- lled day for the whole family. Don’t miss the chance to support youth music education and see some of the best marching bands in action, all in one place! Find out more about the event, including the schedule at the WBA website: westernbands.org/events/ details.php?ID=1283. Tickets will be available online at oakridgemusic.org and at the gate. Proceeds bene t Oak Ridge Music Boosters.

Roberts sees the type of storytelling featured in Save the Graves as salve for wounded communities.

“Everyone loves local history,” he said. “Well told history stories connect us to people and places from the past. They’re also a great vehicle to connect us to each other.”

“Cemetery work projects also have a powerful effect on people,” he added. “They form surprisingly strong connections to the place, and to each other in this environment.”

Roberts believes the combination of good storytelling and hands-on preservation work strengthens communities and creates situations where people with differing perspectives can work together, and “just maybe start to overcome the divisiveness which is tearing communities like ours apart.”

Recent studies have demonstrated how group activity generates so-called “networks of reciprocity,” which can directly impact participants’ quality of life and the strength of communities. “These are all threads that get woven together into the fabric of society,” he said. For more information on Save the Graves events, local cemeteries and cemetery lore or to purchase tickets to Women of Character, go to savethegraveseldorado.org.

from B3

“Unleash Your Inner Storyteller: Turning True Events to Stories.” The author of the best-selling book “Force of Nature” emphasized her points by reading selections from the book.

The Gold Country Writers Nonfiction Short Story Contest and award ceremony was sponsored in part by the Arts Council of Placer County, the Auburn Arts Commission, Gold Country Media Newspapers and Auburn Community Television. The ceremony was recorded by ACTV and is available at goldcountrywriters.com.

cousin, Sierra Sullivan, was a cruise director in book No. 6, “Dying for a Diamond.”

When she finished the “Dying” series, Sample wanted a different character for her next series. “I liked the idea of an older, more grounded character and a cousin, so I used Sierra. And I set the stories in Washington; a beautiful place I have visited many times.”

Sierra, no longer a cruise director, relocates to tiny Spindrift Cove to be near her adult daughter. “I liked the idea of Sierra butting heads with her married daughter who is a detective,” said Sample. “Sierra is a pantser, just like me, and so she just finds herself in unexpected situations.”

Sample describes herself as a “pantser” as opposed to a “plotter,” in writing her books. “I don’t plot out my books; I write by the seat of my pants, so it always amazes me what happens in the book and what my characters

Ballet

dress as their favorite characters, with a Saturday afternoon lobby celebration including photo ops, runway walks and prizes.

“Visions,” March 20-22, 2026, highlights emerging choreographers, including Caili Quan’s “Love Me Anyway,” the Sacramento premiere of Ihsan Rustem’s “Mother Tongue” and a new world premiere. Quan is known for her vibrant and musical style, and Rustem returns after captivating audiences in 2024 with “State of Matter.”

The season concludes with “Beer & Ballet,” May 28-31, 2026, where company artists choreograph original works on their peers. Audience members receive a complimentary drink from Bike Dog Brewing, adding a festive touch to the collaborative

Art on Center

countywide — each unique, and each rooted in community need.

“We are very proud of all 17 of our incubator projects,” LeMoncheck said. “One of the things I love most about the program is how different all the projects are, how much variety there is. As far as Art on Center and our other culturally specific projects, it is really an honor and a privilege to support them in El Dorado County.”

Arts and Culture El Dorado serves as the nonprofit of record for Art on Center, providing its infrastructure for fundraising and compliance.

LeMoncheck said the project was a natural fit for T-Mobile’s program.

Continued from B4

event.

Beyond the stage, Sacramento Ballet contributes to the region’s cultural and economic vitality, supporting local businesses and enhancing quality of life. Each performance showcases Sacramento’s place in the global arts scene, fostering creativity, empathy and community connection.

Founded in 1954, Sacramento Ballet is the region’s only professional dance company. Its mission is to enhance the human condition through dance and make it accessible to all. Through performances, educational programs and outreach, the company continues to leave a lasting impact on Sacramento and beyond.

For more information visit sacballet.org.

Continued from B4

to support. Art on Center was just a perfect fit for the Hometown Grant.”

T-Mobile awards 25 grants per quarter across the nation to fund community revitalization and development projects in towns under 50,000 people.

“For them to select Placerville — it’s really to T-Mobile’s credit that they are looking for organizations like this to support,” LeMoncheck said.

“We’re hoping to pull in lots of people from the community who want to participate and share their gifts.”

“We have worked closely with T-Mobile — they are one of our biggest and most consistent funders,” she said. “So I know what their priorities are and the kinds of work they’re looking

do. I put my fingers on the keyboard and the magic happens,” said Sample. “I fell in love with Nancy Drew and I’ve wanted to be a mystery writer since I was 8.”

Instead of becoming Nancy Drew, Sample grew up, got married, had children and worked in the mortgage industry for many years. “But, I always planned to retire and write mystery novels,” said Sample.

Her first book, “Dying for a Date,” took a few years to get just right.

“I wrote it while I was working at El Dorado Savings and Loan,” said Sample. “I gave it to some of my coworkers to read and they loved the voice of the book and the characters, but the writing — well, reading 2,000 mystery books is not enough. You need to learn the craft.”

She took writing classes and workshops and became an active member of writing organizations such as Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America

— James Marquez

Over the past few years, Arts and Culture has received $10,000 annually in direct support from T-Mobile, LeMoncheck added, making the company “a consistent and valued partner.”

For Marquez, that partnership has already made an impact.

“This is going to continue to grow,” he said. “We’re hoping to pull in lots of people from the community who want to participate and share their gifts.”

and Romance Writers of America.

Many revisions later, after getting her first agent, Sample published that first book in 2008. “I was determined; I knew I could do it.”

All that hard work paid off as Sample is a five-time nominee for the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery, a two-time Silver Falchion finalist for Best Traditional Mystery, a 2015 Next Generation finalist in Humor and Mystery and the winner of the 2011 Northern California Publishers & Authors’ Fiction Award.

In the past year, Sample experienced a slowdown with her magic fingers as she went through chemotherapy for a return of ovarian cancer.

“I was writing so slowly. I tried dictation instead, but it just didn’t work for me.”

Finally, she went back to putting fingers back on the keyboard despite her health issues, and “All’s Faire” was finished.

“I think the magic of my fingers on the keyboard just works its way into my brain.” Writing to find out what those crazy characters want to say and do has been a great escape for Sample as well as for her readers. “My books are a humorist escape from the world; everyone needs a lightness in life. I can provide that and give readers a few laughs.”

“All’s Faire in Love and Murder” became available Oct. 2 in eBook and paperback versions on Amazon, and in print locally at Placerville News Company in Placerville, Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills and Book House in Cameron Park. With plenty of laughs and some truly medieval plot twists, “All’s Faire” will have you looking for the closest Ren Faire — and, maybe, over your shoulder.

To read more about Sample and her wonderful books visit cindysamplebooks.com or follow her on Facebook, X, Bluesky, Instagram and Goodreads.

Recipe

Exhibit produced in partnership with Flying Fish, one of the

Julia Child’s

Thursday, November 6th 9:30am6:00pm

Itinerary

Depart 9:30AM

Upon arrival visit Julia Child Exhibit. Then onto Oxbow Market in Napa for lunch on your own and time to shop Depart 4:00PM

Please make checks payable to El Dorado Hills Travel.

Mail to: 3941 Park Dr. Ste. 90, El Dorado Hills, Ca 95762 or call 916-933-0475

If paying by credit card there is a $5 fee per person. Reservations

3941 Park Drive, Suite 90, EDH 916-933-0476 • 800-963-SAIL www.edhtravel.com

Sem Jacobs @ 10pm Halcyon SF, 314 11th St, San Fran‐cisco

No Kings Rally @ 10am This is a rally protesting federal government overreach in areas that hurt Americans. Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo. 27.brats-triumph@ icloud.com, 707-816-1922

Yolo County NO KINGS March and Rally @ 1:30pm Drawing on momentum from the �rst Yolo NO KINGS march and rally in June, Indivisible Yolo and Davis Phoenix Coalition will host a second Yolo NO KINGS event on Oct. 18 themed "We the People." Civic Center Park, 615 B Street, Davis. indivisibleyolo@gmail.com

SOMA @ 2pm Halcyon SF, 314 11th St, San Fran‐cisco

Saturday at the Patio @ 4pm Join Cloud Forest Cafe on the patio this fall on Saturdays for live music! Cloud Forest Cafe, 222 D Street, Davis

The Sun Followers: Yolo County Wine & Food Affair (Davis, CA) @ 5:30pm Great Bear Vineyards, 24800 Co Rd 101A, Davis 19th Annual Lobsterfest

Soroptimist of Napa FUNdraiser @ 6pm / $150 A fun evening of food, drinks, mu‐sic, games, prizes and auctions, to raise funds for programs and grants helping local women and girls access opportunity and edu‐cation. 1333 3rd St, 1333 3rd Street, Napa. soroptimistnapa@ gmail.com, 707-812-1666

Phantom of the Opera House @ 7:30pm / $21.05$23.18 A spoof melodrama at the historic Winters Opera House! Part comedy, part history, and all fun, this playful tale imagines Win‐ters’ past through the eyes of Main Street’s old‐est building. Winters Opera House home of the Winters Theatre Company, 13 Main Street, Winters Victor and the Callers: October 18 Mixtape @ 7:30pm Music City San Francisco, 1355 Bush St, San Francisco

Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac @ 8:45pm / $31 First United Methodist Church, 2100 J Street, Sacramento. billy@ eventvesta.com

Elz @ 9pm Monarch - Upstairs Lounge, 101 6th St, San Francisco

Storia @ 9pm Monarch - Upstairs Lounge, 101 6th St, San Francisco

Phantom of the Opera House @ 2pm / $21.05-$23.18 A spoof melodrama at the historic Winters Opera House! Part com‐edy, part history, and all fun, this playful tale imagines Winters’ past through the eyes of Main Street’s oldest building. Winters Opera House home of the Winters Theatre Company, 13 Main Street, Winters

Anja Kotar x Sofar Sounds @ 3:30pm San Francisco, 2090 Green St

Aaron Bennett: Playing with Lisa Mezzacappa for S.F. Music Day! @ 5pm War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco

Mr. V: Feelmore Sundays @ 6pm White Rabbit Bar, 3138 Fillmore St, San Francisco

Nolan Taylor @ 7pm Gold�eld Trading Post, Sacra‐mento

Mr. Washington @ 7pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco

Frank Catalano @ 7pm Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐cisco

San Kaza‐kgascar, Grex, Wrungst @ 8pm The Golden Bear, 2326 K St, Sacra‐mento

Nolan Taylor @ 8pm Gold�eld Trading Post - Sacra‐mento, 1630 J Street, Sacramento

The Saloon - Peter Lindman Duo with Roger Rocha (4 Non Blondes) @ 4pm The Saloon, 1232 Grant ave, San Francisco

The Shining by Stephen King - Meeting #1 (Fat Rabbit) @ 6pm The Fat Rabbit Public House, 825 Decatur St, Folsom

Celeste Barber (16+ Event) @ 7pm Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Celeste Barber @ 7pm Palace Of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301

Lyon St, San Francisco

Dave Luv @ 7pm Gold�eld Trading Post Sacra‐mento, 1630 J St, Sacramento

Dan English @ 7pm 4 Star Theater, 2200 Clement St, San Francisco

Rhett Miller with Murry Hammond

@ 8pm Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco

Lulu Simon @ 8pm The Independent, 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco

Watercolor Painting with Misuk Goltz (3-sessions) @ 10am / $108

Oct 21st - Nov 4th

Expand your watercolor painting skills in this workshop with artist Misuk Goltz! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pencesocialmedia@ gmail.com, 530-758-3370

Victor and the Callers

@ 12pm Civic Center Soundtrack, Fulton Plaza, San Francisco

Ella Boh @ 1pm Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 1710 Mission St, San Francisco

The Thing (1982) @ 6pm Crest Theater, Sacramento

Chainsaw Man - Free Preview @ AMC Metreon @ 6:30pm AMC Metreon 16, 135 4th Street Suite #3000, San Francisco

Pro Am Showcase -

@ Davis

Plant

Mockingbird Park @ 9am Join us on Saturday, October 25th from 9AM-11AM for a workday at the Mockingbird Park native plant garden! 500 Mockingbird Pl, 500 Mockingbird Place, Davis

Plant n’ Care @ Davis Mockingbird Park @ 9am Join us for a volunteer workday at the Mockingbird Park native plant garden in Davis! 500 Mockingbird Pl, 500 Mockingbird Place, Davis

Bay Area Science Festival @ 11am

Discover science together at the Bay Area Science Festival, north‐ern California's largest FREE allages STEM event October 25 at

D.I.R.T. Festival: Dance In Revolt(ing) Times - Come Hell

REFRESH & REFURBISH PROGRAM

YOUR CENTURY 21 SELECT REALTOR ® WILL

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FORECLOSURE RESCUE PROGRAM

By participating in the Foreclosure Rescue Program, you can bring your loan up to date and halt the foreclosure process. As a result, we will have sufficient time to sell your home as a regular sale instead of a distressed one. —AND—

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MARKET VALUE LOCK FOR YOUR NEW HOME

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• For the first 3-years of ownership

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EXAMPLE:

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• HVL covers first $50k of loss for the first 3-years

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• Subject to the qualifying criteria of the