C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 39 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
A Natural partnership
Photo courtesy of Gold Country Wildlife Rescue
This cub, now healthy and fluffy, was found emaciated and practically hairless in Coloma last December.
Coloma cub rallies Mountain Democrat staff Gold Country Wildlife Rescue shared happy news Monday. The sickly, once hairless black bear cub found in Coloma in early December 2024 has a fluffy coat and is almost ready to head off to his forever sanctuary home. Black Bear Cub 24-3926 will receive his final exam and vaccination regimen soon, the rescue announced on its Facebook page. The cub came to GCWR on Dec. 9, 2024. He was severely dehydrated, anemic, suffering from serious ear infections in both ears and an obvious skin infection ■ See CUB, page A9
Courtesy photo
ENFIA member Kellie Trevena joins a group at Frog Lake for a watercolor hike with her dog, Jake. ENFIA sponsors geology hikes to Frog Lake a Devil’s Ladder history walk, wildflower hikes and family scavenger hunts along with many other interpretive activities at various locations in the Eldorado National Forest.
Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association Members care for the land and serve the people Shelly Thorene Staff writer
PITCH PERFECT
Resident’s tail-wagging tunes land her on the River Cats mound Sel Richard
Mountain Democrat correspondent
“I
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
LESLIE SILVA & MUSHU POO
’m very nervous and excited,” said local veterinarian Leslie Silva, thrilled to be throwing the first pitch at the upcoming May 18 Sacramento River Cats game. “What started out as a fun way to learn the guitar and writing songs about dogs has evolved into a very proud moment for me.” Her musical journey began a mere eight years ago while traveling in Africa when she was moved by a fellow veterinarian who had taken up the violin late in life. Silva came home, bought a ukulele and enrolled in group lessons, quickly progressing to private lessons and expanding into guitar. When encouraged to try songwriting, Silva wasn’t sure what to ■ See SILVA, page A9
G
et in touch with nature through journaling or perhaps a lakeside al fresco watercolor workshop. Both activities, and much more, are available thanks to the Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association. ENFIA collaborates with the Eldorado National Forest to provide educational and interpretive opportunities for the visiting public and its members. The organization began more than 30 years ago when a group of like-minded folks came together with a common purpose: to aid the understaffed and underfunded U.S. Forest Service in El Dorado County. ENFIA members have volunteered 70,000plus hours in service, providing the public with educational materials, activities and information through locations in ranger districts including Carson Pass and Crystal information stations, the Georgetown Ranger District, the Eldorado National
1 Dentist Dentist!
#
nine times!
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Visitor Information Service Assistant Xiomara Herman holds a book written by local author Frank Totorich Jr. — one piece of merchandise provided by ENFIA at the U.S. Forest Service office on Forni Road in Placerville. The Carson Pass Information Center located on Highway 88, 60 miles east of Jackson in Alpine County, was one of the first projects initiated by the Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association. It sits at an elevation of 8,574 feet and is a popular rest stop for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo by Carl Gwynn
Forest Supervisor’s Office in Placerville and the Placerville Ranger Station in Camino. “Our Story,” a publication put
ROOFING • SOLAR • SIDING
1,750 OFF
$
up to
New Patients Always Welcome!
Jeff Little, DDS
Mention CODE: MD
Your Next Project!
*Call for details. May not be combined with other offers, estimates or prior purchases. Quantities Limited.
General & Cosmetic Dentistry
“Look For My Column On Page 3 Today!”
together by the ENFIA 30th anniversary committee of Dawn King, Karen Finlayson, Kathie Piaszk and Kathy Lewin, chronicles
2024
3811 Dividend Dr., Suite A, Shingle Springs (916) 985-9995 • (530) 672-9995 www.straightlineconstruction.com
Mountain Democrat
2010 2024
the history of the group beginning when ENFIA opened a center in 1984 in Camino to ■ See ENFIA, page A5
5.000%3.61 5.30% YEAR3.250 1515YEAR 3.250 3.61
HOME LOAN HOME LOAN
Fixed RateFixed Rate
Annual Percentage Annual Percentage Rate Rate
• ReÀ• nance Purchase ReÀnance PLACERVILLE Purchase PLACERVILLE 4040 ElRoad Dorado• 622-1492 Road • 622-1492 • 4040 El •Dorado
180180 Monthly per $1,000Borrowed Borrowed MonthlyPayments Payments of $7.91 $7.03 $1,000 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 ofper $1,000per Borrowed
Check the El Dorado Advantage: Check the El Dorado Advantage:
PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) Main • 622-0833 PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247 Main247 • 622-0833
✓ No application ✓ No application fee fee W. PLACERVILLE l e Dr.Lawyer & Ray• Lawyer W. PLACERVILLE • Placervi•l ePlDr.acervi & Ray 626-3400• 626-3400 ✓ No prepayment ✓ No prepayment penalty penalty • 694 Val Plelasant Road • 626-5701 DIAMONDDIAMOND SPRINGSSPRINGS • 694 Pleasant ey RoadVall•ey626-5701 Local processing and servicing CAMERONCAMERON ✓ Local✓processing and servicing PARKCameron • 4060 Cameron Drive • 677-1601 PARK • 4060 Park DrivePark• 677-1601
PINESPony• 6462 PonyTrai Express Trail • 644-2363 POLLOCKPOLLOCK PINES • 6462 Express l • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLSPark• 3963 Drive • 933-3002 EL DORADO HILLS • 3963 DrivePark• 933-3002 GEORGETOWN 193 • 333-1101 • 6310 Hwy.• 6310 193 Hwy. • 333-1101 Serving local over 54 years GEORGETOWN Member Member Serving our local our communities forEspanol over 54foryears Se communities Habla
Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum loan$417,000.00, $650,000, primary vacationresidence. residence. Se HablaSe loan vacation Maximum Maximum loan $417,000.00, primary orprimary vacationororresidence. NMLSR ID 479256 20%cash minimum downonpayment on purchase. equityonrequired on refiOther nance.loansOther loans under availabledifferent underterms. different terms. 20% minimum downcash payment purchase. 25% equity25% required refinance. available