Village Life, Wed., April 15, 2026

MOVING UP THE

RANKS

Woman pleads not guilty in fatal crash

Chris Woodard

Staff writer

Cheyanne Wright pleaded not guilty on April 3 to multiple felony charges connected to a fatal DUI case.

Wright, 35, was indicted by an El Dorado County criminal grand jury on March 25.

Prosecutors charged her with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury and two counts of child endangerment. The case had previously been led by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s O ce.

The charges stem from a May 3, 2025, wreck in which Wright’s vehicle reportedly dri ed o the edge of Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills, hit a raised curb, re-entered the roadway, crossed into the opposing lane and struck a silver Toyota Camry. The Toyota’s driver, 84-year-old Joan Allison, died and two children riding with Wright su ered minor injuries. The 7-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl were transported to UC Davis Medical Center along with Wright a er the wreck.

“This is a devastating and entirely preventable tragedy,” El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said in a statement. “An innocent life

■ See PLEA, page A4

El Dorado Hills Town Center hosted the Spring Flower Festival, Butter y Release and Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4. Children dressed in their Easter best and held on tight to their baskets during the community event. At right, Remi Bautista, 4, of El Dorado Hills waits for the start of the egg hunt for children ages 0-5 near the Town Center amphitheater. Far right, the race is on as children ages 6-12 scramble to gather eggs during the Easter egg hunt dash at Town Center.

See more photos on page A4

102 & IN PEAK FORM

Hossein Elli proves age is just a number

Shelly Thorene Staff writer

The El Dorado Hills Sports Club and Asante Spa threw a party for its oldest member, Hossein Elli of Cameron Park, who celebrated his 102nd birthday, surrounded by friends and family at the club on April 10. Elli has been a member of the club for more than 20 years and still works out three times a week.

Elli’s daughter Shiva Frentzen of Cameron Park translated for the native of Iran. When asked what his secret to longevity was, he said he “doesn’t stay still” and that his personality is “driven.” Elli shared he eats healthy food, including fruits, vegetables, berries and high protein. He doesn’t consume alcohol or re ned sugar, and said he does not eat chocolate. Frentzen said he takes a lot of vitamins, walks 40 minutes a day and still tends to the garden at his home.

Frentzen also told Village Life her father never smoked but went to work for the Government Ministry of Tobacco when he was 17 years old. She said he has asthma and manages it with natural medicine and; he also reads a lot of books on nutrition and health.

Elli uses the elliptical machines at the club and when asked which one was his favorite said “all of them.” He demonstrated his strength on the biceps curl for a photo.

Elli and his wife Azar and their two children, Shiva and Shahram, le Tehran due to the Islamic

Easter egg enthusiasts hop to it at EDH Town Center event!

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

April 16

April 18

John Adams Academy in El Dorado Hills presents a student production of “Oklahoma!” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 1102 Investment Blvd. For more information visit tinyurl.com/8pw9cs4e.

April 17

The Stage at Burke Junction in Cameron Park hosts Home Grown Comedy with Stephen B., Ryan Holloway and host, Marcus Peverill at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

Falcon’s Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College presents “Godspell” at Harris Center for the Arts through April 26. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter. net.

The Cameron Park Community Services District hosts a Community Clean Up Day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Camerado Middle School’s parking lot. For more information visit cameronpark.org.

April 19

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts Yoga in the Park at 9 a.m. at Blackstone Park. For more information and preregistration visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

A Voice to Comfort presents A Song for You: The Music of Karen Carpenter starring Laurie Roldan, 2 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Empty Bowls dinner raises thousands to fight hunger

Hands4Hope – Youth

Making a Di erence

News release

The Placerville Empty Bowls Dinner, a cherished community event for 26 years was held on Feb. 15. The e ort was led by a committee of youth and adult mentors from Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Di erence. The dinner resulted in a total of $17,000 in grant requests ful lled to support four nonpro t organizations helping to address food insecurity and hunger in El Dorado County and beyond. Held inside the Forni Building at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, the 26th Placerville Empty Bowls Dinner welcomed almost 500 guests of all ages. Each received a unique handmade ceramic bowl that they then lled with their choice of three soup options, served alongside fresh bread. Guests enjoyed lively music by Coloma Celtic, browsed vendor booths selling handmade cra s and purchased delicious baked goods for dessert. Additionally, guests had the option of purchasing beverages and ra e tickets for a wide range of ra e drawings donated by local businesses. The ra es themselves helped to raise over $2,000, and this wouldn’t have been possible without generous donations from the community.

Planning began in November, led by an a er-school committee of 18 middle and high school students, with guidance from 10 adult mentors. The committee was divided into ve di erent subcommittees, each led by a youth leader, to manage di erent aspects of event preparation. Additionally, more than 100 youth and adult volunteers helped serve soup, bread, butter and drinks, distribute bowls and sell ra e tickets on the night of the dinner. In total, from all the e orts of the planning committee and volunteers who assisted with the event, Hands4Hope youth participants and adult volunteers dedicated nearly 1,000 service hours to planning and executing the event.

“In El Dorado County, approximately 10% of residents experience food insecurity, meaning they do not know where their next meal will come from. The impact on children is even greater at nearly 12% facing uncertain access to the nutritious food they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Sudeep Mazumder, Empty Bowls Marketing/ Education Committee lead and a junior at Oak Ridge High School, in a

speech presented on the night of the event.

Co-presenter Ashna Vaikunthan, an Empty Bowls Marketing Committee participant and sophomore at Vista Del Lago High School. shared, “Not only are the bowls lled with delicious soup, they also carry a message about the empty plates that exist both in our community and globally. Empty Bowls is not only about recognizing the problem, but also how we choose to respond. Hands4Hope plays a key role in this by empowering youth to lead service projects that respond to community needs. Through youthled service and advocacy, Empty Bowls highlights the power of young leaders to create signi cant, lasting change.”

Youth leaders of the committee created an application and invited organizations to apply for funding for their projects that address food insecurity. Upper Room Dining Hall (Placerville), El Dorado High School’s Natural Resources Program – Garden Senior Project (Placerville), Hands4Hope Emergency Food Pantry (Placerville) and Earth’s Angels (Ghana) were selected as event bene ciaries. Ultimately, the organizations’ requested grant amounts were fully funded through money raised as part of this event.

Lynn Fedoryk, Empty Bowls Operations Committee Adult Lead Mentor, shared, “My favorite thing about the Empty Bowls dinner is that it allows the community to come together to make a meaningful di erence. The thing I am most proud of is how the Hands4Hope youth participants on the Empty Bowls Committee, along with their adult mentors, work together to make it all happen because they care so much about their community. That is so special to me.”

“The Empty Bowls Committee wants to thank our generous ‘Lobster Bisque’ sponsors: Katy and Don Peek, Pioneer Community Energy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Nugget Markets / Fork Li , and Folsom Times; and ‘Minestrone’ sponsors: Placerville Food Co-op, Placerville Art Gallery, The Maier Family, and El Dorado Community Health Centers; along with all of our other sponsors,” said Lily Hinkle, Empty Bowls Committee project manager and a senior at Ponderosa High School.

“In addition, we would like to give a heartfelt thanks to our Bowl Donors and student

potters who cra ed and donated beautiful handmade bowls, a signature keepsake of Empty Bowls, including Dean & Linda Bullert, Susan Babson and all four El Dorado Union High School District schools.

“We would also like to thank local wineries, businesses, and individual donors and home cooks who contributed wine, juice, soup, bread and desserts, making it possible for attendees to enjoy a delicious meal while supporting a worthy cause,” she continued. “Finally, we would like to recognize the Legacy Empty Bowls Committee. We are grateful to everyone who helped make the Empty Bowls dinner such a success. Your generosity lls more than just bowls — it lls hearts. ”

For a list of additional acknowledgements and a wrap-up video visit the Hands4Hope website at hands4hopeyouth.org.

Empty Bowls Dinner Placerville was led for 23 years by the El Dorado Peace and Justice Community, with assistance by Hands4Hope youth participants since 2019. In 2024, the event leadership transitioned to the youth-led Hands4Hope Empty Bowls Committee.

Hands4Hope – Youth

Making A Di erence is a nonpro t, youthdriven organization with the mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service. It o ers hands-on education and community outreach opportunities to youth from sixth through 12th grades through school-based and a er-school programs in Sacramento and El Dorado counties. For more information visit hands4hopeyouth.org or call (916) 294-7426.

El Dorado Hills firefighters douse blazes

Noel Stack Editor

Two small res kept El Dorado Hills Fire Department crews busy on a recent spring weekend. In the very early hours of Sunday, April 5, reghters responded to a vehicle re in a driveway on Brentford Way in the Blackstone community. Flames extended into the adjacent house, causing an estimated $75,000 in damage. The cause of the re is a mechanical failure in the engine compartment of the vehicle, according to EDH Fire.

About 12 hours before that nighttime blaze, reghters on Saturday, April 4, extinguished a re in a shipping container on the old golf course property

was lost, and two children were placed in harm’s way because of a decision to drive under the in uence. Our o ce remains committed to holding impaired drivers accountable and protecting our community from the deadly consequences of DUI.”

near the intersection of Serrano Parkway and El Dorado Hills Boulevard. The property is owned by the El Dorado Hills Community Services District. The cause of the re has not been released but EDHCSD interim General Manager Stephanie McGann-Jantzen told Village Life it might have started due to homeless activity. Parks Superintendent Ryan Kukkola shared, “There wasn’t much in the container that was set on re. Maybe some tree branches and an old golf course sod cutter. It’s a wood oor inside the container so that’s likely what was feeding the ames.”

District o cials had planned to remove the entire container structure, which was not locked due to the latching mechanism being broken.

Continued from A1

Wright, represented by local attorney Dain Weiner, entered her not guilty plea during her arraignment in El Dorado County Superior Court. She is being held without bail at the county jail in Placerville. A pre-preliminary hearing has been set for Friday, May 1.

Revolution and the war with Iraq and immigrated to Sacramento in 1985. Elli was asked by a granddaughter who interviewed him in 2024 if there was anything he wanted to do but never did.

“I am content with what I have,” he replied. “What else would I want? I have kids, grandkids and some people never have that experience in life.”

He was asked what he missed most about Iran. “I’m really upset and sad,” he admitted. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Iran and the memories of Iran, of my mom and dad.” Elli lost Azar, his wife of 67 years, due to lung cancer in 2024. He has

four grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren, many of whom traveled from San Diego to attend his birthday celebration. Frentzen said her father still lives in his home and only recently started using a cane for balance. She lives nearby.

“We are grateful for the services that the county provides to help the elderly live independently at their homes,” Frentzen said. “The meals on wheels with warm food delivered to his house and El Dorado Transit Dial-a-Ride providing transportation to the El Dorado Hills Sports Club has made the biggest di erence in quality of life and living independently at his home.”

Supervisors back new approach to setting salaries

Noel Stack Editor

El Dorado County will change the way it establishes salaries for employees, with the Board of Supervisors supporting a data-driven approach that also takes into consideration fiscal outlook, vacancy rates and hardto-fill positions. The decision came after a lengthy dis-cussion at the March 24 board meeting, during which supervisors received a presentation on Section 602, the salary and benefits resolution for unrepresented (non-union) employees, and received a total compensation study for unrepresented classifications.

Additional directions given to staff:

• Conduct a total compensation survey off all benchmark classifications, countywide at least every two years;

• Draft revisions to the unrepresented salary and benefit resolution for unrepresented employees to require an annual board review each fall of compensation for unrepresented employees and the Board of Supervisors; and

• Develop benchmarks and internal linkages for all unrepresented classifications for positions that currently don’t have benchmarks or linkages to roughly maintain structure within Section 602. Debate and discussion at the meeting focused on Section 602’s link to voter-approved Section 504 of the El Dorado County Charter. Section 504 determines salaries for law enforcement positions, including the undersheriff, captains, lieutenants, sergeants and deputies. This charter amendment uses comparator agencies — South Lake Tahoe Police Department,

Amador County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol — to set El Dorado County salaries at least equal to the average of the salaries for the comparable positions in those other jurisdictions; 504 currently covers 181 positions and 25 other positions are linked through a handful of resolutions, including 602.

While any changes to 504 would require voter approval, Human Resources Director Joseph Carruesco noted the board does have options related to 602. “I do think it’s warranted for me to point out a couple of facts regarding Section 602. First, the salary alignments ... are not, ‘automatic pay increases’ for those 602 classifications,” he explained. “In fact, we have to bring an item to the board for your approval every year, and the board could simply choose not to apply those increases to those classifications.”

With the exception of the two elected positions (rules are different about reducing salaries during an elected’s term), Chief Administrative Officer Sue Phillips reiterated, “You have complete discretion over adopting that (salary) resolution when it’s brought to you each year; you could simply choose not to.”

“So when the resolution for the 602 group is brought to us, we could actually say, ‘No, we’re not doing this’?” District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin asked.

“Yes, you could,” Phillips confirmed. That reassurance came after sharp public comment criticizing the expansion of 504 beyond the voters’ intentions as well as how El Dorado County leaders negotiate and set salaries for all employees.

“I keep saying that actions speak louder than words. When the discussion is about management, department heads or unrepresented leadership, the language is always positive — retention, competitiveness, attracting the best,” El Dorado County Local 1 President Jen Rimoldi said. “But when Local 1, OE3 and other lowerpaid workers ask for livable wages, the conversation suddenly becomes about costs, limits and what the county supposedly cannot afford. And that’s exactly why people are starting to pay attention to this.”

Rimoldi noted that hourly rate increases for lower-paid workers pale in comparison to those received by management.

Shannon Starr with Operating Engineers Local 3 asked for fair wages for all county employees.

“If you keep a fair space between wages at all levels, including the lower level staff that I represent, Local 1 represents, then you keep fairness throughout,” she said. “If you raise a lower level and you keep a spacing between the levels then everybody has fair pay and fair wages.

“But those at the lowest levels are underpaid. We can’t recruit. We can’t keep people,” Starr continued. “We get them, and we’re a training ground. You’ve heard this for years. You’re training the people that then go to the surrounding agencies because they pay better. It’s time to start making those lower wage employees fairly paid and stop inflating the salaries of those highpaid officials automatically.”

Hold El Dorado Accountable, a coalition of taxpayers, El Dorado County workers and community members,

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earlier this year filed a ballot initiative with the county Elections Office aimed at eliminating the 504 salary links not approved by voters. El Dorado County shortly after filed a complaint with El Dorado County Superior Court seeking the court’s opinion on the validity of the proposed initiative.

Lee Tannebaum, president of the Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County, which is a member of Hold El Dorado Accountable, wrote a lengthy letter to the board maintaining that the solution is to return to 504’s original intention.

“The county’s current position attempts to have it both ways. On one hand, Section 504 is treated as mandatory and binding when it drives salary increases. On the other, it is treated as flexible when it comes to expanding its scope to additional classifications,” the letter notes. “Those positions are mutually exclusive. Either the charter controls, or it does not. It cannot be selectively applied depending on the outcome.”

During his presentation, Carruesco told the board and public the 602 positions’ salary adjustments have a comparatively small impact.

“The seven classifications that are outlined in Section 602 (DA, sheriff, CAO, County Council, public defender, alternate public defender and chief probation officer) are a very small fraction of the total number of employees that have their salaries linked to 504,” he said. “The majority of them are represented folks, and it’s laid out in the charter. I don’t know how many deputy sheriffs we have, but that’s a huge chunk of the salaries. So I don’t want there to be a misconception that the board added hundreds of employees to Charter 504 (and) is giving them automatic pay raises every year. That is not a fact.”

“I think your data shows that 504 and the associated 602 are really not blowing the budget up,” District 5 Supervisor and board Chair Brooke Laine noted.

Looking to the future

SECTION 602

UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:

• The base salary of the district attorney shall be maintained so that it is equal to the base salary of the sheriff/coroner/public administrator.

• The base salary for the sheriff/coroner/public administrator shall be set and maintained 2.5% above the classification of undersheriff, calculated at step 5 of the base salary of the undersheriff classification plus 5% education differential and 13% POST certificate pay.

• Step 5 of the base salary for the public defender shall be set no greater than 15% below the district attorney’s base salary. The public defender shall receive base wage adjustments at the same time as any given to the district attorney in equivalent percentage adjustments.

• Step 1 of the base salary for the alternate public defender shall be set 5% below step 1 of the public defender’s base salary.

• Step 5 of the base salary for the chief administrative officer shall be set at least 2% above the sheriff/coroner/public administrator’s base salary. The CAO shall receive base wage adjustments at the same time as any given to the sheriff/coroner/public administrator in equivalent percentage adjustments.

• Step 5 of the base salary for county counsel shall be set at least 1% above the sheriff/coroner/public administrator’s base salary. County counsel shall receive base wage adjustments at the same time as any given to the sheriff/coroner/public administrator in equivalent percentage adjustments.

• The chief probation officer shall receive base wage adjustments at the same time as any given to the sheriff/coroner/public administrator in equivalent percentage adjustments.

of the county’s compensation philosophy, District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp advocated for a simple, fair approach — from bottom to top.

“Years ago, there were unintended consequences of 504 and we made some adjustments to make sure the severe compaction issues were dealt with,” Veerkamp said. “in my opinion, we need to keep it as simple as possible, and that’s really addressing base wage. It’s the base wage is the major comparison. Yeah, there’s going to be an advantage here or an advantage there ... but by the time you try to sort all those things through in a comparison, it really comes back to that base wage. That’s what somebody’s really looking at.”

“I’m totally agreeing with you,” Carruesco responded. “Where you have to ... balance business needs, certain positions that are hard to fill (and) how our budget looks, it’s a big picture.

But at the end of the day, it’s data, and I think that going down that path and bringing your board data to make your informed decisions is the way to go.”

District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo suggested cost of living adjustments be part of the process. Noting the county’s previous attempts to bring county employees’ salaries up to the median — as determined by looking at comparator agencies’ salaries — Turnboo stressed the urgency of having a compensation philosophy that keeps up with the data and supports staff on the county payroll.

“We’re way behind right now, and now we have to play catch-up, especially when it comes to our employees,” he said. Veerkamp agreed, making the motion to provide direction to staff. District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0.

County joins effort to secure state funds for HR1 mandates

Noel Stack Editor

Already grappling with expenditures outpacing revenue and more difficult budget cuts to come, El Dorado County leaders must address new mandates that could further drain the general fund.

Administrative Officer Carla Hass said it’s “likely in the millions of dollars.” Additional mandates without necessary financial support had supervisors shaking their heads after CSAC Chief Executive Officer Graham Knaus’ presentation Tuesday afternoon.

“Counties can only do what the state funds us to do,” District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin lamented.

House Resolution 1 — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — passed last summer and shifts some Medi-Cal and CalFresh responsibilities from the state to counties. However, the money to cover these new obligations didn’t follow. In an effort to encourage state leaders to include funding in the 2006-27 state budget, the California State Association of Counties is lobbying legislators and asking county leaders to join its effort. On April 7 the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved sending a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, the President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly that requests action to mitigate severe fiscal and operational impacts of HR 1 on county safety net programs.

CSAC estimates the total cost to California’s 58 counties to be $6 billion-$9.5 billion and has requested $1.9 billion be included in the 2026-27 state budget and $4.5 the following year. El Dorado County officials are still crunching the numbers as to its anticipated funding need for mandated indigent care services, Medi-Cal and CalFresh eligibility checks and behavioral health services. Director of Communications and Deputy Chief

“But I don’t know if the legislators know that. I feel that they come up with these mandates and pieces of legislation ... (but) counties can’t run in a deficit. Do they know that? I mean, there’s just fundamental things I don’t know if the folks at the state level understand.”

“I’m not sure how we get their attention. Obviously, this letter of support would be good, and I think ... there’ll be a lot of counties unified in it,” District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp said. But, they don’t tend to listen very well so we’ve got to get their attention somehow.” District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero maintained the state has enough money — even though leaders at that level consistently ask for more from taxpayers and ask counties to cover

April 21

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts Shaping EDH with the GM Topic: Your Guide to Running for Office: Insights from the Registrar of Voters & the District Clerk at 5:30 p.m. at the CSD pavilion. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

April 22

The Stage at Burke Junction in Cameron Park presents Capital Storytelling with John Aubert, a two hour introduction to personal storytelling from 6-8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.

Senior Helpers Cameron Park hosts Caregiver Support and Activity Enrichment Group from 1-2:30 p.m. at Oak Hills Church, 1100 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a Park Party from 5-7 p.m. at Murray Homestead Park. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

Folsom Lake College Music Department presents Dawn Within – Awakening the Soul, Transcending the Limits at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

April 23

The Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce hosts its Networking Luncheon with speaker Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center Executive Director Kyle Nelson at Red Hawk Casino’s Koto Buffett, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (530) 677-8000 or visit sscpchamber.org.

Folsom History hosts Eat, Create, Celebrate from 5-8 p.m. Hosted in The Square, this special event brings local makers together. Whether they craft beer, throw pottery, or prepare your favorite food, you will find them at Eat. Create. Celebrate. For more information visit folsomhistory.org.

April 24

Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises hosts Stand Up for MORE at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, 5-9 p.m. For more information visit morerehab.org.

April 25

Catalyst Community hosts the 40th annual Kids Expo Placerville at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

April 26

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts April Pools Day, 1-3 p.m. at Community Pool. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd. org.

April 29

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosts its April Member orientation at 7 p.m. at Patra in El Dorado Hills For more information visit eldoradohillschamber.org.

April 30

Senior Helpers Cameron Park hosts a Caregiver and Person Living with Dementia Support Group from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills. The League of Women Voters of El Dorado County hosts a candidate forum for El Dorado County District 4 Supervisor candidates, 6-7:20 p.m. at the Gold Trail Grange, 319 Highway 49 in Coloma. hear Gina Posey, Robert Deitz and Greg Clark discuss their candidacy for District 4. Candidate Ted

costs.

“We’ve been paying our fair share for decades. They’re spending it wrong,” Ferrero said. “They have a $350 billion budget. Realign the money. Let’s stop spending the money on things like ... the bullet train, and hold people accountable for fraud.

There’s money. They’re just not spending it correctly.”

“How confident are you that our budget request is going to be met?” Parlin asked.

Holding an imaginary crystal ball, Knaus replied, “What I can say is the education day around HR 1 was very impactful. So the initial responses there were very positive, which means there is growing awareness, not sufficient yet, but there’s growing awareness in the Legislature of what the problem is.

“I believe there should be an expectation of dollars coming out of the state budget connected to this,” he continued. “What that looks like — I don’t know. And what the structure of it is, and if it’s exactly what we just talked about or if it’s something else — I don’t know either. But I do know that the only way

Gaines declined the invitation. Ponderosa High School Theater presents “Frozen” through May 17. For tickets and more information visit pondodrama.com.

May 1

Sacramento Youth Symphony presents Honoring our Past & Inspiring our Future – 70th Anniversary Celebration at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

May 2

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a Community Clean Up Day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bayside Church, 800 White Rock Road in El Dorado Hills. This is tour chance to clean up unwanted material from your home and garage, clean your yard of unwanted green waste, clipping and tree trimmings, and properly dispose of bulk items. Donations are accepted on behalf of the Moni Gilmore Senior Center.

May 3

Cantare Chorale presents Dawn Within Family Matinee at Foothills United Methodist Church in Rescue at 3 p.m. For more information visit cantarechorale.com.

VITA Academy presents Great Composer Chamber Music Series — Friends from Afar at 2 p.m. at the Scott Skillman Recital Hall as Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Folsom Concert Association presents TAKE3 at 2 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

May 7

The League of Women Voters of El Dorado County hosts a candidate forum for El Dorado County Treasurer-Tax Collector candidates Sean Coppola and Corey Leikauf, 6-7 p.m. at Placerville Town Hall, 549 Main St.

Now

Imagination Theater at the El Dorado Fairgrounds presents “Narnia the Musical” through May 10. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.

The Atrium Gallery EDH at El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts Spring Studio, an artists exhibition featuring the works of Volha Narita-Johnson and Jenny Huang, through May 17. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

Registration is open for the free Professional Advisors Forum on May 7 from 8-11 a.m. with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Serrano Country Club. This educational event hosted by the Legacy Planning Committee of the El Dorado Community Foundation offers continuing education credits for MCLE, CFP and CPE requirements. To register visit tinyurl.com/22d5ndtk.

Folsom History Museum presents Ride ‘Em Cowboy – the Folsom Rodeo Exhibition through Jan. 4, 2027. Learn more at folsomhistory.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 Dorado Hills Town Center Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays in the amphitheater near Brickyard & South Fork. Stop by 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to enjoy local certified produce and more.

we’re going get there is to have them hear from you and your colleagues across the state.”

In addition to sending the letters, supervisors committed to reaching out to El Dorado County

representatives in the state Legislature. The motion passed 4-0 with support from Supervisors George Turnboo, Parlin, Ferrero and Veerkamp. District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine was absent.

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 334-2970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com

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

HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB: Come play tennis for fitness, fun & friendship. Meet at El Dorado HS tennis courts on Acacia St., Placerville, Wednesdays 9-11 except June -August, hours 9-11. Social activities & monthly tennis clinics. Some tennis ability required. Call Trisha 530-651-8121.

Come and enjoy a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA), for the CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held at 11:30 AM on March 16, May 18, July 20, September 21, and November 16, 2026. The location is at the Denny’s Restaurant, 3446 Coach Lane in Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for information and programs.

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) 503-7400 or see edcdems.org for more information.

Do you have an announcement that you would like to include here?

Contact Elizabeth Hansen (530) 344-5028 or ehansen@mtdemocrat.net

VH V illage H OMES

Chris Wolfe CalBRE #01894853 (559) 289-8218 chris@chriswolferealestate.com eldoradohillsliving.com

1345 Easy Lane, El Dorado Hills

2,631 square feet

4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

3.01-acre property

Listed at $1,885,000 MLS #226025350

Entertaining is easy on Easy Lane

This exceptional estate on three usable acres in the heart of El Dorado Hills o ers a rare blend of privacy, recreation and exible live/work potential. Located at the end of a private road on a gated lot, with no HOA, this peaceful resort-style property borders the open space of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, providing direct access to scenic horse trails, hiking and some of the most desirable and quiet stretches of Folsom Lake approximately 100 yards to the high-water mark.

The updated single-story residence features an e cient, comfortable layout with 17kW of owned solar and all-electric multi-zone heating and air for modern, energy-e cient living. Designed for versatility, the property includes an oversized detached garage with a ex-space that can function as a workshop, o ce, studio, or expanded garage. Zoning allows for a variety of home-based business uses, making this a rare opportunity to combine lifestyle and workspace.

The resort-style grounds are built for entertaining and recreation, featuring a pool with waterfalls, island and swimup bar, spa, LED-lit pickleball/tennis/basketball court and

an additional badminton court. Elevated viewing areas, multiple gathering spaces and expansive parking inside the gate make hosting events e ortless.

Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate direct trail access from the property, generous open space ideal for horses, gardens, orchards, vineyards or greenhouses, and abundant room for vehicles, equipment and recreational toys. Additional highlights include covered RV and boat storage, a dedicated RV campsite with hookups, mature drought-tolerant landscaping and a peaceful park-like setting.

The property is located just minutes from top-rated schools, boutique shopping and dining, and Brown’s Ravine Marina, with skiing approximately one hour away. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own your own private park bordering the lake, perfect for an active outdoor lifestyle with room for horses, recreation, home business operations and unforgettable entertaining.

Interested in learning more about this beautiful Easy Lane property in El Dorado Hills? Contact real estate agent Chris Wolfe at (559) 289-8218 or chris@chriswolferealestate.com.

A FILMMAKER’S JOURNEY El Dorado High School grad’s passion fuels film project

Andrew Vonderschmitt

Mountain Democrat features editor

When filmmaker Joshua B. Porter talks about his work, one word keeps resurfacing: journey.

Not in a vague, inspirational sense, but in the tangible reality of spending 11 years willing a first feature into existence — then turning around and doing it again, faster and sharper, with a second.

Porter’s debut feature, “No Evidence of Man,” now available on Amazon, did not begin as a microbudget passion project. Ironically, it grew out of a larger film that never made it to production. Before “No Evidence of Man,” Porter and his longtime collaborator and lead actor Matthew Donaldson were raising money for a more ambitious project, “To Find a Monster,” largely set in El Dorado County. The cast was coming together, with recognizable names attached.

Then, like many independent film projects, it fell apart.

“As happens on a lot of projects … It just fell through,” Porter said. “We just didn’t get the money.”

Instead of shelving their plans, Porter and Donaldson pivoted.

“We thought, let’s try to make the film we can make with whatever means we have,” Porter said. “We’ll beg, we’ll borrow, we won’t steal … we’ll put our pennies together.”

What emerged from that decision became the foundation for “No Evidence of Man.”

A title, two ideas and a ‘scriptment’

The film’s origins trace back to a now-closed San Francisco café, where Donaldson arrived with a title — “No Evidence of Man” — and a character: a man retreating into the mountains to reset his life.

Porter brought a separate idea focused on modern life’s constant noise — device addiction, sensory overload and a 24/7 stream of information.

“We figured out pretty quickly that those two ideas went pretty well together,” Porter said.

Instead of writing a traditional screenplay, the pair developed what Porter described as a “scriptment.” The first third of the film was fully scripted. Once the story moved into the mountains, it shifted into outlined beats, allowing for improvisation and discovery during filming.

That approach reflected both creative preference and necessity. With limited resources, the

production would rely heavily on performance, environment and adaptability.

11-year production

Filmed across El Dorado County, the Bay Area and Sacramento, much of “No Evidence of Man” was shot near Fair Play, where Porter grew up after moving from the Bay Area in the late 1980s.

The process was far from smooth.

Working with a small budget assembled over time and a crew with limited feature experience, Porter and Donaldson took on multiple roles as writers, producers and, in Donaldson’s case, the film’s central on-screen presence.

After principal photography, Porter stepped away from the footage for months. Life intervened — including the birth of his first child — and he returned to the material late at night.

“We did have something,” Porter said, adding he thought the film ran a little short and still missed something.

That missing piece centered on a character named Genevieve, originally introduced only through a brief “Dear John” video message before disappearing from the narrative.

“I thought, I don’t know if anyone’s going to buy this story … without knowing her,” Porter said.

Years later, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the Santa Cruz fires, the team returned to shoot additional scenes. They cast Spanish actor Sarah Casanova and expanded the character into a fuller presence, adding nearly 20 minutes of screen time.

“We fleshed out who she was, how they met,” Porter said. “Through that, they understand where he’s coming from.”

The reshoots, delayed by both fires and pandemic restrictions, ultimately reshaped the film’s emotional core,

turning it into a story about heartbreak, grief and healing.

The journey from first shoot to final cut took nearly 11 years.

“At first I was kind of embarrassed … that it took almost 11 years to make a darn film,” Porter said. “But the long journey allowed us to pay for it very slowly. That was just the journey of it.”

Onstage to behind the camera

Porter’s interest in performance began in sixth grade when teacher Paul Franks cast him in a school production. That experience led him to Theatre El Dorado, where he auditioned for Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness!”

“I walked in and walked out with the starring role … and I had no idea what I was doing,” Porter said.

He continued acting through high school, studying under drama teacher Pete Miller at El Dorado High School, graduating in 1997. He later performed in productions, including “A Few Good Men,” and worked with local theater groups, including what would become Imagination Theater.

In his early 20s, a friend encouraged him to explore directing. A visit to the New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus solidified that interest.

“That kind of gave me the vocabulary and the understanding, the know-how, how to at least attempt to make a film,” he said. Even if those early student films were “just god awful,” he admitted he learned a lot during the process.

He returned to the region to make short films, including “Hatched,” a 25-minute silent period piece set in the 1950s.

“Overly ambitious … for the means we had,” he said. “But that was kind of my second film school.”

Porter’s transition from acting to directing was

gradual.

“At a certain point … everything was going really well,” he said. “But I just thought, I don’t want to do it on this side anymore.”

He described the shift as less about ego and more about authorship — a desire to tell stories that felt personal.

“I wanted to kind of tell the stories I wanted to tell … not inherently original, but original to me,” he said.

That philosophy shapes his directing style. He prefers to establish structure, then allow actors room to explore.

“I like to take what we’ve written, and I want the actors to make it their own,” Porter said. “I love

‘Oklahoma!’ is more than OK on John Adams’ stage

n 1943 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical a must-see in El Dorado Hills

News release

More than 30 middle and high school students will take the stage this month as the Secondary Drama Department at John Adams Academy presents its largest production to date, a live staging of “Oklahoma!” at the Ronald Reagan Performing Arts Center.

The classic musical, written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, runs April 16-18 and brings to life a story of romance, rivalry and resilience set in the early 20th-century frontier, as Oklahoma stood on the brink of statehood. Centered on spirited farm girl Laurey and confident cowboy Curly, the production features well-known songs including “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,”

“People Will Say We’re in Love” and the title number, “Oklahoma.”

First premiering in

1943, the musical is widely regarded as a landmark of American

theater, helping define what became known as the Golden Age of musi-

cal theater. Its themes of westward expansion, community and identity

align with the academy’s emphasis on creativity, civic understanding and cultural heritage.

Directed by Sunny Mitchell, the scholar-led production marks the largest staging in the El Dorado Hills campus’ history and reflects the continued growth of its Visual and Performing Arts program. Students are involved across acting, music and dance, including the show’s signature dream ballet, originally choreographed by Agnes de Mille and reimagined here through choreography by Felicia Fry, with associate choreography by Elizabeth Malekos. Musical direction is led by Alexander Grambow.

“Our goal is to give scholars the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in a classic piece of American musical theater,” said Mitchell.

“‘Oklahoma!’ is more than just a show — it’s a story about community, identity and growing into who you are, which makes it especially meaningful for our scholars to perform.”

Senior Amanda Runyan, who plays Laurey, said the experience has been especially meaningful.

“I’ve never been more excited about any role than playing Laurey,” Runyan said. “This musical may be from the Golden Age, but it feels incredibly relatable and exciting. It features some of our best choreography and most engaging scenes. I’ll forever be grateful to Mrs. Mitchell for directing such a memorable production.” Performances will be held at the Ronald Reagan Performing Arts Center, 1104 Investment Blvd. in El Dorado Hills, with shows at 6 p.m. April 16-18. Get tickets online at johnadamsacademy.regfox.com/ john-adams-academyedh-vapa-2025-2026season.

The academy

John Adams Academy is a tuition-free public charter school focused on academics, character education and community involvement. Its Visual and Performing Arts program offers students opportunities to develop creativity, confidence and collaboration through theatrical productions. Learn more by visiting johnadamsacademy.org.

Found Poem Project brings surprise poetry to county libraries

Arts and Culture El Dorado News release

This April, in celebration of National Poetry Month, Arts and Culture El Dorado is partnering with El Dorado County Library to launch the Found Poem Project. Designed to delight library visitors with a splash of poetry, the Found Poem Project will pop up for two weeks in all six county library branches — El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Placerville, Georgetown, Pollock Pines and South Lake Tahoe.

“In essence, the Found Poem Project is a twist on the traditional treasure

hunt,” said Terry LeMoncheck, executive director of Arts and Culture El Dorado. “And there is a special prize for some lucky library patrons.” April 16-30, a range of contemporary and classic poems will be hidden throughout each library, waiting to be discovered, enjoyed and shared by visitors.

A select few of each library’s found poems will come with a bonus prize: a free book of poetry authored by a Northern California poet. In all, 17 poets — including prize winners and poets laureate — have donated chapbooks and full-length collections in support of the project.

The Found Poem Project was conceived by Moira Magneson, current El Dorado County poet laureate.

“I’m hoping that folks who find poems in their local library this April will experience a little starburst of joy, kind of like happening upon a dime on the sidewalk. It makes your day,” Magneson said.

The Found Poem Project is a joint effort between Arts and Culture El Dorado and El Dorado County Library. El Dorado County Library provides free and easy access to ideas, books and technology. Since its founding in 1947, the library system has supported the freedom to read. More informa-

tion about library services is available at eldoradolibrary.org.

About the nonprofit Arts and Culture El Dorado serves as a catalyst for arts and culture in the region, acting as the state-local partner to the California Arts Council and providing targeted programs and services. Founded in 1984 as El Dorado Arts Council, the organization curates gallery exhibits and supports initiatives that sustain the region’s cultural life. Programs serve veterans, students, families, artists, arts organizations, residents and visitors. Visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.

Andrew Vonderschmitt

Mountain Democrat features editor

Mother Lode Rehabilitation’s

Stand Up for MORE Comedy Night brings together nationally recognized talent, rising local voices and a community eager to give back, 5-9 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.

The fundraiser offers more than a night out, it is an opportunity to unwind after the workweek, share a meal and support the programs at MORE that help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities thrive locally.

“I am especially thankful to the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce and Leadership El Dorado Class 9 for championing this event 10 years ago,” CEO Kelli Nuttall said. “Their vision created something that continues to bring our community together in a meaningful way.” At the center of the evening are two comedians whose paths to the stage reflect different journeys shaped by persistence, risk and a willingness to embrace the unknown.

Cash Levy Levy said his career began as a creative escape from structure. A theater major at Colorado College, he found himself drawn more to improvisation than scripted performance.

“I like to improvise a lot,” he said. “People were frustrated when I’d go outside the script, so I decided to just do it on my own.”

That decision launched a career that has taken him from Los Angeles comedy clubs to performances for U.S. troops overseas.

“It’s really all I’ve ever done for a career,” he said. “It’s taken me all over the world … It’s been a fun ride.”

Levy admitted the path was far from easy, particularly in the early years of performing for unfamiliar audiences.

“You can make your friends laugh, but it’s hard to make strangers in another state laugh — or another country,” he said. “There’s a learning curve.”

That experience helped shape the improvisational style he is known for today. While he has a deep catalog of material, Levy often lets the audience guide the show.

“I can let the improvisation lead me into whatever material,” he said. “It keeps it fresh. You

“I said I’m going to give myself three months to come up with three minutes,” Mangham said.

“I was going to do it one time to get it out of my system — and nine years later, I’m still doing it.”

Like many comedians, Mangham said early expectations didn’t

stage time, produce your own shows,” he said.

“Then you can do as much time as you want — and make money while you’re doing it.”

Now based in the Sacramento region, Mangham produces multiple shows, runs a weekly open mic and

never really know what’s going to happen.”

Marcus Mangham

Mangham took a different route into comedy, driven by curiosity and a personal challenge. Originally from Salisbury, North Carolina, he spent months debating whether to try stand-up before committing to a simple goal.

always match reality.

“You could think it’s spectacular, then you get on stage and realize you don’t have three minutes anymore,” he said. “You have one minute.”

He quickly immersed himself in the open mic circuit, building experience wherever he could find stage time — and creating opportunities when they didn’t exist.

“If you really want

performs across Northern California. He said the path has included risks, including leaving a steady job at exactly the wrong time.

“I said, ‘I’m out of here,’ and two months later the world shut down,” he said. “Terrible timing — but I figured it out.”

While Levy leans into improvisation and crowd work, Mangham’s style

centers on relatable storytelling drawn from everyday life, including marriage, culture and personal experience.

Both, however, share an appreciation for the unpredictability of live comedy.

Mangham still remembers the moment it clicked.

“The bug bit me that day,” he said.

Your host

Producer and master of ceremonies Scott Edwards returns to lead the evening. Known for founding Sacramento comedy club Laughs Unlimited and now hosting the podcast “Standup Comedy ‘Your Host and MC,’” Edwards is expected to add his own comedic interjections between acts.

There’s MORE

The event will also feature dinner catered by local favorite restaurateur John Sanders, along with raffles and the return of the popular “Lucky

Liquor Wall.” For Nuttall, the evening’s success lies in the community that continues to support it.

“We are incredibly grateful to our community for continuing to show up, year after year, to support this event,” she said. “Your presence truly makes a difference in the lives of the individuals we serve.” She said the combination of entertainment and impact is what makes the event stand out.

“There’s something really special about seeing people come together, share laughter, and enjoy the night, knowing it’s all helping create real opportunities for the individuals we serve,” Nuttall said.

For attendees the night offers a chance to relax, connect and contribute to programs that support independence and opportunity for local residents. And for one evening in Placerville, that blend of humor and heart may be the biggest draw of all. For more information visit morerehab.org.

FLC a training ground for aspiring performance artists

Barbara Chronowski News release

OLSOM —

FFalcon’s Eye theatre will open “Godspell” April 17 at Harris Center for the Arts, kicking off its 20th season. For many of the students at Folsom Lake College the show and program offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to work on a world class stage in the foothill community of Folsom.

There is something happening almost every night at the Harris Center for the Arts, widely considered the cultural heartbeat of the city. The venue hosts a diverse range of performances, including Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, ballet, comedy and live concerts. Most are traveling productions that move between cities for limited engagements.

One exception is Falcon’s Eye Theatre, a permanent fixture of the Harris Center and the production arm of the department of Theater and Cinema at Folsom Lake College. As a homegrown program, every element of each production is created

on-site, from early development in the drama lab to final execution in the lighting booth, dance studio, scenery shop,

costume department and classroom.

The hands-on approach gives aspiring actors and crew members firsthand experience in mounting a full production in Folsom. The process mirrors professional theater, with time constraints, rigorous

rehearsal schedules and adherence to industry standards. Auditions are competitive and open to the community, and weekly production meetings guide each aspect of a show, from scenery and props to lighting, sound, choreography and stage management.

Nothing is left to chance

The program is led by faculty with extensive professional backgrounds. Department chair Ian Wallace and founder David Harris are graduates of the MFA program at University of California, San Diego and have worked at the renowned La Jolla Playhouse.

Harris said he aims to challenge students artistically.

“If students have the opportunity to perform in at least a couple of classic genres outside of the 21st century, then I feel satisfied we have elevated them,” he said.

Jennifer Provenza Wallace is directing the upcoming “Godspell” and brings experience in both film and stage.

“We’re able to teach the students all the acting and design techniques they would learn in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program, but at a fraction of the cost,” she said. “Additionally, the students have access to facilities I could only have dreamed of when I was a student at NYU.”

Students also have the opportunity to perform in the same venues that host Broadway tours, a rare experience even among BFA and MFA programs, she said. Folsom has been

named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best places to live in California. Wallace said the recognition helps expand both storytelling and audiences.

“For us it’s really exciting because theater is at its best when it represents the diversity and energy of the community it serves,” he said.

Wallace encouraged audiences to step away from screens and experience live theater.

“There is nothing like the hush that goes over a crowd when the curtain opens, nothing like the shared laughter and tears at pivotal moments of connection, and nothing like the applause of a community of people who have just viewed something that changed them in some vital way,” she said.

“Godspell” will run through April 26. The musical celebrates community, compassion and hope, drawing inspiration from the Gospel according to Matthew. It follows an ensemble of performers who join Jesus in bringing parables to life through storytelling, humor and music. The score blends pop, folk-rock and vaudeville influences. Learn more about the production at falconseyetheatre.com. Tickets are available at harriscenter. net.

‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ presented al fresco

This May, Falcon’s Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College will present its fifth annual outdoor Shakespeare production in Placerville. This year’s show is a beloved Shakespeare classic. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedy where love is tested, identities are mistaken and joy is found in the chaos. Four young lovers — Hermia,

Lysander, Helena and Demetrius — run away to a magical forest. There, they become entangled in a lovers’ quarrel between fairy king Oberon and queen Titania, causing mischievous fairy Puck to misuse a love potion, resulting in chaotic romantic mixups.

As usual, this performance will feature live original music by Jillian Secor and local musicians.

Folsom Lake College presents a regular spring

production at the Harris Center each year; additionally, the Theatre Arts department has added a spring Shakespeare productions in order to expand opportunities for theatre students and provide more performances to the region. Jamie Van Camp, adjunct theater professor at FLC and director of the Shakespeare productions, has played an important role in leading efforts to bring more theatre to the Placerville area.

The outdoor

Shakespeare show celebrates not only excellent theater, but also the beautiful outdoors of the Sierra Nevada foothills as well as its viticulture. Wine from local David Girard Vineyards has been featured at each show since 2021. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” takes the stage at 7 p.m., May 7-10, at Wakamatsu Farm, 941 Cold Springs Road in Placerville. Tickets are available at falconseyetheatre.com/ midsummer2026.

Craig Vreeken

Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band

RGolden State Performing Arts and dancers from Ignite Dance Academy to help bring the magic of Broadway to Rancho Cordova. Expect drama! Expect romance! Expect at least a few tunes that will be stuck in your head all the way home.

ANCHO CORDOVA — Cue the overture and warm up those imaginary jazz hands. The Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band is bringing the bright lights of Broadway to town with not one, but two toe-tapping, show-stopping performances of “‘Showstoppers! A Musical Spectacular.” And the best part? No tickets, no tuxedos, no travel to New York required. Join the band at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, at Koreana Plaza and again at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Cordova Performing Arts Center. Both concerts promise an afternoon packed with melodies you know, love and might accidentally sing out loud (we won’t judge).

This musical romp through Broadway will feature hits from crowd favorites like “Phantom of the Opera,” “Hamilton,” “Chicago,” “The Lion King,” “Wicked,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and more. Vocalist Michelle Pavolva and announcer/narrator Larry Womac will join the band for both performances. The May 16 performance will also feature vocalists from

Whether you’re a Broadway buff or just someone who enjoys a good tune and a great time, this concert has something for everyone. No prior theater experience required — though spontaneous humming is highly encouraged. And no tickets required — just bring your love of music and enjoy the show. Under the direction of its talented conductor Tom Seaton, the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band continues its tradition of bringing highquality live music to the community. The band is a community-based, nonprofit, volunteer-driven ensemble dedicated to bringing quality concert band music to the greater Sacramento area. The band provides opportunities for local musicians to perform and fosters a love of music through free public concerts and community engagement.

For more information, visit rcconcertband.org or follow the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band on Facebook for concert updates and event details.

The underworld invades Sutter Street Theatre

OLSOM — “Hadestown: Teen

FEdition,” an intriguing and beautiful folk opera, delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. The full-length adaptation of Anaïs Mitchell’s “Hadestown,” modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences, opens at Sutter Street Theatre on April 18.

Following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and Lady Persephone — “Hadestown” invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage

New Orleans jazz, Mitchell’s beguiling sung-through musical pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. “Hadestown: Teen Edition” is directed and choreographed by Sarah Williams with music direction by Heather Clark. This performance is rated PG with a run time of 120 minutes. The show includes themes of death, trauma and abuse.

The show runs April 18 through May 17, with a 1 p.m. showtime Saturdays and Sundays plus two 7:30 p.m. shows Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, at Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St. in Folsom.

For tickets and more details call (916) 353-1001 or visit SutterStreetTheatre. com.

Sacramento Area Museums celebrate Earth Month with special events

Traci Rockefeller Cusack News release

SACRAMENTO —

Many Sacramento area museums are celebrating Earth Month with special events, activations and dedicated programming that supports conservation and connecting with nature. A sampling of celebratory and eco-friendly related offerings at local museums includes:

Eco-Friendly Exhibits at SMUD Museum of Science & Curiosity — The SMUD Museum of Science & Curiosity offers eco-friendly exhibits and activations all year long. A few of the current, hands-on exhibitions celebrating Earth Month include Nature Detectives (designed for young explorers to use their five senses and science tools to uncover the secrets of the natural world), Powering Change (highlighted by a 50-foot digital display to redesign Sacramento’s transportation system so guests can explore ways to electrify our cities, create smart homes, and

Filmmaker

revitalize green spaces) and Water Challenge (where visitors can shape a watershed, create a water-saving tune, make eco-friendly meal choices, and even swim with the salmon to learn how small changes can make a big impact).

Inspiration Garden at the Utility Exploration Center — Committed to educating the public about conservation, saving energy and water, reducing waste, protecting the watershed, and living sewer smart, the Utility Exploration Center in Roseville is a perfect place to visit in April. The Center offers an Inspiration Garden that is a living example that demonstrates how water-efficient landscaping is beautiful, lower maintenance, thrives with less water and is the best match for California living.

Earth STEAM Day at the Aerospace Museum of California on April 18 — There is no better way to celebrate Earth Day than with an Earth STEAM Day at the Aerospace Museum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where

to improv a little bit on set … and find that magic.” A school of many hats

On “No Evidence of Man,” Porter learned firsthand the challenges of balancing multiple roles.

“Being a co-writer and a lead producer and director on a first feature — it’s just way too many hats,” he said.

That experience informed how he approached his second feature, “I’ve Got You.”

If “No Evidence of Man” was a marathon, “I’ve Got You” moved at a pace closer to industry standards.

The project came through producers Karyn and Kevin Yarris, who joined “No Evidence of Man” late in its development and helped bring it to completion.

After seeing the finished film, they approached Porter with a script.

“They said, ‘We’re really proud of you … and you did great work,’” Porter recalled, the couple asked to meet. At that meeting, they introduced “I’ve Got You.” Decades in the making

Porter had read a version of the script nearly 20 years earlier. Originally written by Greg Stetchman and later revised by Kevin Yarris, it had long been a passion project.

“It was one of the few scripts that ever actually made me cry,” Porter said.

At the time, he lacked directing experience. After completing “No Evidence of Man,” he was invited to take the helm.

Originally set in Pacific Grove, the story was relocated to Calaveras County, where the Yarris family owns a cabin.

With financing in place, production moved quickly. Porter collaborated closely on rewrites, and a cast and crew came together for an 18- to 19-day shoot of the 120-page script.

“We were moving fast,” Porter said. “We’ll never do it that way again, but … we were punching above our weight class.”

He credited the cast and crew for elevating the production.

“I was very blessed and humbled to work with that type of cast,” he said. The film is now in postproduction, with multiple edits completed and a sales agent already presenting it at markets, including Berlin. Festival submissions are planned.

This time, Porter was able to focus solely on directing.

“They were like, ‘You’re just directing,’” he said. “I’ve never had that experience.”

Art, money, modern reality

Like many independent filmmakers, Porter balances creative work with day jobs, supporting his family while pursuing projects.

“You’re always going to get into it for the love of the game,” he said. “If you get into it for money, you’re in the wrong business.” He sees both of his features as driven primarily by artistic intent.

curious minds can enjoy special STEAM activities to get closer to our planet while learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Guests can hang out with Makani — the trailblazer for airborne wind turbines — or maybe pay a visit to the NASA Space Theatre to see what we are learning about other planets.

Earth Day Celebration at Fairytale Town on April 18 — Families with little ones are encouraged to visit Fairytale Town for a special Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. complete with gardening activities, outdoor games, vendors, handson sustainable crafts, and watching shows in the Children’s Theater. This family-friendly celebration encourages participants to connect with nature while fostering awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s beauty and the importance of environmental conservation. The popular Story Center will feature an art class (“Earth and Happiness”) at noon,

and a STEAM class (“Earth Heroes”) at 1 p.m., with performances by School Of Rock and Fenix Drum and Dance on our Mother Goose Stage, plus performances at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. by NorCal Arts (“Hip Hop Drip Drop”).

Yoomeen: A Celebration of Spring at the Maidu Museum & Historic Site on April 25 — The community is invited to visit the Maidu Museum & Historic Site in Roseville for a Yoomeen: A Celebration of Spring event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yoomén is the Nisenan word for the season of Spring. The first part of this word, yoo, means ‘flower;’ the second part, -men, is a word-ending that is used when describing periods of time. To mark the arrival of “flowertime,” the community is invited to experience and appreciate the rich traditions of Native American cultures. This free family-friendly event serves as an opportunity for Indigenous communities to gather, celebrate and share deep history

“These are very personal, emotional stories to all of us,” he said.

He also points to the influence of independent film pioneers such as Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” and Richard Linklater’s “Slacker.”

“Kevin Smith taught us that you can just get a camera … and make ‘Clerks,’” Porter said. “Instead of just relying on hope … we bet on ourselves. We just made the movie.”

Looking ahead

Porter does not describe his career in terms of a single long-term goal.

“Some people have that sort of internal, ‘This is what I want to do,’” he said. “I don’t really have that yet.”

Instead, he focuses on growth.

“When we get done with something, we kind of change,” he said. “From that experience, I’d like to try this.”

Throughout Porter’s career, collaboration has remained central.

From his partnership with Donaldson to his long history with local theater groups and film collaborators, he emphasizes trust and shared effort.

He cites director Richard Donner’s description of directing as “just directing traffic.”

“You get the right people,” Porter said. “If something’s going off the rails, you bring them back. But mostly, you let talent work.”

Whether filming in the hills near Fair Play, working in a cabin in Calaveras County or shaping scenes in an editing suite, Porter continues to build films on his own terms.

The timelines may be long. The budgets may be tight.

But the work, he said, remains deeply personal. And for now, that is enough.

and traditions with all in attendance. Spring Festival at the Old Sacramento Waterfront Presented by the Sacramento History Museum on April 26 — A Living History program presented by the Sacramento History Museum and taking place outdoors in Old Sacramento State Historic Park, the community is invited to a free Spring Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., that celebrates the new season through

dance, music, entertainment, crafts, food, and sheep (yes, live sheep!). The lively, open-air, and family-friendly event bridges the past and the present with immersive living history demonstrations, hands-on activities, lively performances, artisan vendors, and interactive experiences for all ages. For more information about Sacramento Area Museums visit SacMuseums.org or follow on social media.