12125 Folsom Blvd. Rancho Cordova
Mon - Fri 10am – 6pm Sat 10am – 6pm • Sun 11am – 6pm
916-351-0227
www.naturwood.com
■ GROWING GIFT An Oak Ridge High School grad is giving back to her alma matter by creating a garden on campus. ■ INSIDE, A5
IN EL DORADO HILLS
■
JULY 16, 2025
EMBRACING FREEDOM Photo by Sel Richard
A new restaurant is planned in the Green Valley Road building that once housed The Purple Place — a longtime El Dorado Hills institution.
The Purple Place makeover reveal coming soon Sel Richard Village Life correspondent After three years, a once favorite El Dorado Hills haunt is showing signs of life. “It was always my plan to bring a new and improved iteration of The Purple Place back to the community,” Green Valley Center owner Amy Anders insisted, adding that she never once considered putting anything other than a restaurant in the space. Former owners Mike and Denise Hountalas closed The Purple Place Bar & Grill in August 2022 amid tempestuous negotiations and since that time Anders has been patiently awaiting her Goldilocks. “I had a lot of interest from entrepreneurs with various backgrounds. However, I wanted an operator who could do it all and do it well. That meant holding out for the right operators.” ■ See PURPLE PLACE, page A2
Community mourns EDH advocate Billy V.
Village Life photos by Shelly Thorene
Thousands packed El Dorado Hills Town Center for the annual Fireworks and Freedom Concert on July 3. Events in El Dorado Hills include children’s activities and bounce houses, live music, food and beverages plus a spectacular fireworks display from three Town Center locations. Above, sporting patriotic face paint, Mila Koupal, 5, of El Dorado Hills joins the hula hoop contest amidst the bubbles in the Kidz Zone at Thursday’s event celebrating Independence Day. At right, the grand finale fireworks light up the night sky. Below, Caleb Burgess and Charissa Isom of Rancho Cordova dance to music performed by Funk Shui in the Theater Plaza.
Noel Stack Editor A moment of silence was held Thursday evening at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors meeting as staff, board members and the public paid respect ■ See BILLY V., page A2
WILLIAM VANDEGRIFT
INSIDE NEWS VOL. 32 ■ ISSUE NO. 14
■ HOME BOASTS A SERENE SETTING
■ TIME TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED
This Serrano property has plenty of space, golf course views and much more.
The Hands4Hope School Supply Drive is in full swing. Help stuff the bus this week.
■ VILLAGE HOMES, B1
■ INSIDE, B2
FOR GUARANTEED WEEKLY DELIVERY, SUBSCRIBE BY CALLING 530 3445000 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 215 FOLSOM, CA 95630 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
ocrat ain Dem Mount
1 04
2200 2
• Maximize Savings v.s. PGE • Get your FREE quote
202
4
• Reliable Power During Outages • Zero Down options!
Call Today! (530) 298-0019 3867 Dividend Drive, Ste A, Shingle Springs solarsavingsdirect.com info@solarsavingsdirect.com CSLB # 1065773
TAKE YOUR POWER BACK!