Village Life, Wed., August 19, 2026

■ CHEERS! The El Dorado Hills Brewfest will have you raising your glass. ■ INSIDE, A3

I N E L D O R A D O H I L L S ■ AUGUST 19, 2026

Former sheriff slams successor; Leikauf refutes ‘inciting’ claims Noel Stack Editor Calling El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf “a despotic leader, who only cares if you are contributing to him and his campaign,” former sheriff John D’Agostini announced he will run in 2028 for the office he previously held before hand-picking Leikauf to be his successor.

In a message posted on social media this weekend, D’Agostini offered sharp criticism of the county’s current law enforcement leader and apologized to the community while promising to “fix” his mistake. D’Agostini encouraged Leikauf to step down, noting he would advocate with the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors to be the appointed sheriff if that ■ See CLAIMS, page A5

Courtesy photo

Former Sheriff John D’Agostini, left, has announced he will challenge Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, right, in the 2028 election or request to replace the current sheriff if Leikauf should resign.

EDHCSD directors ponder board policy changes Noel Stack Editor

Courtesy photo

Susan O’Farrell stands in front of a hogan, a Navajo ceremonial structure, her first year volunteering in Tuba City. She is wearing traditional dress woven by a Navajo woman in her 90s.

Scholar embraces life-changing role Sel Richard

and traditions. Since retiring in 2007, O’Farrell has been travelling to the isolated town of Cameron and volunteering in the Tuba City school system for a week every hen Susan O’Farrell began volunteerOctober. She has worked in five different schools ing in elementary schools on a remote Navajo reservation, she was unexpect- over 15 years. Volunteers are encouraged to share their own experiences with the edly delighted students so O’Farrell brought a to find that it’s never too late of her travels. to find a new purpose for life. “That program changed my life. slideshow “I had a map of South America The Southwest always held to show them where the counYou appreciate things when a fascination for the spry, were and I showed pictures petite woman now in her you realize that there’s so much tries of wildlife and different things. 80s, who said she was inielse out there that’s different. We were trying to broaden tially inspired by road trips to their horizons,” she said, noting Colorado where her father And I’ve made friends. That’s so that the living conditions at the spent his childhood. “As we reservations were quite primidrove through the Southwest, valuable as well.” tive. “I wouldn’t have thought I would stare out the window in 2008 people still didn’t have and wonder what it would — Susan O’Farrell electricity, but it’s because it was be like to live out there,” so remote. Even now a lot of O’Farrell reminisced. She them don’t have running water.” studied Native American culture while majoring in In the evenings, community members spoke with anthropology at the University of Arizona. the volunteers. “We were getting an education at “I fell in love with the desert at that point,” she said, despite a lack of transportation and the ability to the same time that we were helping out. We learned about their customs, traditions and political sysexplore the area. tems,” O’Farrell said of experiences that ranged from Then an opportunity to live among Native field trips to swap meets and meals in a family home. Americans came through a friend who introduced O’Farrell laments the recent contraction of this her to Road Scholar, a nonprofit which operates one particular outreach which prompted her to pull out of the country’s only culturally immersive volunteer of the program. The eight yearly sessions available programs. It places participants in Navajo Nation classrooms where they assist children while gaining ■ See SCHOLAR, page A3 a deeper understanding of the area’s culture, history

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors put their own policies under a microscope at the Aug. 13 meeting, considering a multitude of changes and clarifying how the board should conduct its business. EDHCSD General Counsel Frank Splendorio began the discussion acknowledging all the front end work that went into cleaning up and revising EDHCSD Policy Series 4000: Board of Directors and Series 5000: Meetings of the Board of Directors, with staff diligently working to draft language that creates parity among board members and updating policies in accordance with the law. “It’s always gonna be a give and take. You’re gonna give something and you may give up something to get that something,” Splendorio advised. “There’s no perfect policy because it’s really a judgment call and it’s based upon looking at all these competing interests — what do you, as a board, find to be the most important that we want to highlight, or a protocol we want to protect or an important weakness that we want to minimize.” Thursday night’s discussion centered around two specific policies — who has the ultimate say on the final board meeting agenda and who can request that items be placed on the agenda — before the board majority ultimately approved the policy rewrites with a few modifications.

Village Life correspondent

W

■ See POLICIES, page A5

Varoff pleads guilty Lance Armstrong Staff writer Paul Varoff, the former local high school band teacher accused of having committed sex crimes against a minor, was sentenced to six years and four months in state prison after changing his plea to guilty. In accepting his new plea on Aug. 7, El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Mark A. Ralphs stated the defendant will be credited for 388 days of custody credits — 194 days for actual time served and 194 days for good conduct credits that he was awarded during his time spent in the county’s Placerville jail. “Cases like these shake the entire community to the core,” El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson wrote in a statement received by Village Life after the sentencing. “The idea that a band teacher, who should be a safe person, would sexually abuse his own student is devastating. The victim in this case is very brave, and it is unfortunate that the penalty for ■ See VAROFF, page A5

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AUGUST 19, 2026

WHAT’S HAPPENING Aug. 20

A FABULOUS FIRST DAY

El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts Live on the Boulevard with the Folsom Lake Symphony at 7 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. at the Marshall Amphitheater. For more information or to register on the online waitlist visit edhtowncenter.com.

Aug. 21 The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host its Summer Concert Series at Community Park, 1021 Harvard Way from 7-9:30 p.m. with Take 2. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.

Aug. 22 The Folsom Lake Symphony will hold auditions at Folsom Lake College for principal second violin, all string sections, principal bassoon and horn 4. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony.com.

Aug. 27 Senior Helpers Cameron Park will host Caregiver and Person Living with Dementia Support Groups from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills. Call (916) 461-4123 for more information. For questions contact Jillien Erdman at jerdman@seniorhelpers.com.

Aug. 29 Vitalant will hold a blood drive at El Dorado Hills Town Center, 4370 Town Center Blvd. in El Dorado Hills from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. To make an appointment use code AUGUST152026-V and call (877) 258-4825 or visit donors.vitalant.org. Village Life photos by Shelly Thorene

Sept. 1 Senior Helpers Cameron Park will host The Resilient Caregiver Class at Town Square of Folsom, 9580 Oak Avenue Pkwy, Suite 4B, Folsom from 5:30-6:30 p.m. To reserve a session call (916) 461-4123. Learn more at seniorhelpers.com.

Now The El Dorado Hills Arts Association hosts its Membership Show, Perspectives, at The Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom through Aug. 20. For more information visit eldoradohillsarts. com. Atrium Gallery at El Dorado Hills Town Center will host Hot August Days through Sept. 20. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com. The Mom Walk, Sip and Stroll meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at 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.” El Dorado Hills Town Center Farmers Market takes place Saturdays in the amphitheater near Brickyard & South Fork from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The El Dorado County Certified Farmers Market takes place at El Dorado Hills Community Center 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Kids went back to school last week in El Dorado Hills, filling hallways with joyful laughter and classrooms with eager enthusiasm. Above, kindergarten teacher Katie Webb, right, welcomes twin sisters Cyra and Harper to the classroom on the first day of school at William Brooks Elementary School in El Dorado Hills on Aug. 12. Webb teaches the morning class and was expecting 28 students. At right, Ariadne Ahn, 5 of El Dorado Hills, holds a sign her mom Daria made for her and an apple for her teacher.

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AUGUST 19, 2026

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Get ready to taste great brews at the Sept. 5 El Dorado Hills Brewfest and EDH Town Center.

EL DORADO HILLS BREWFEST This brew is for you

EDH Chamber of Commerce News release Presented by Red Hawk Casino + Resort, the El Dorado Hills Brewfest is back and better than ever. Returning to Town Center on Sept. 5, Brewfest transforms the boulevard into a lively celebration of local flavor, live entertainment and community spirit. Guests can sip their way through an impressive lineup of craft beers and a sampling of wines, savor bites from local food trucks and restaurants and enjoy one of the community’s most anticipated events. This year’s event brings back a VIP option with perks that far exceed the $20 upgrade, including entry to the event a full hour early, a larger tasting glass (16 ounces), an indoor, air-conditioned area with real restrooms, plus exclusive tastings from Sentivo Vineyards and Dios Azul and refreshments from Nugget Market. “Brewfest is an opportunity to showcase so much of what makes El Dorado Hills special,” said Debbie Manning, president & CEO of the chamber. “It brings people together in the heart of

Local breweries will be pouring their best in El Dorado Hills next month. Town Center while highlighting our local businesses, our beautiful community and the welcoming spirit that makes El Dorado Hills such a special place to live, work and play.” Tickets available online or save fees by purchasing at the EDH Chamber office at 2023 Vine St., Suite 105, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday. General admission is $55 each or a party pack of four general admissions is $180, both with a 4 p.m. entry. VIP tickets are $75 with a 3 p.m. entry. For more details visit eldoradohillsbrewfest.org or check out the event’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Courtesy photo

Susan O’Farrell and fellow Road Scholar volunteers from her final year of volunteering pose for a photo. Back row: O’Farrell, Joseph Standing, Sarah Terrell and Lisa Mcintyre. Front row: Ellen Wolff, Navajo host Sina Zhonnie and Judith Sether.

Scholar when she first began volunteering in 2008 has now dwindled down to four. “It’s such an important program,” O’Farrell insisted. “People don’t understand what life is like out there. I didn’t want to take up a seat. I wanted somebody who had no idea what was going on out there to have an opportunity.” Programs are already sold out through 2027. “If they had more sessions, I would go back,” O’Farrell said, speaking fondly of the kids she met. “It’s just so much fun. There was one little boy who got really attached to me. He cried when I left. The next year, I found him on the playground. His eyes just grew huge, and he gave me the biggest bear hug I have ever had. He wouldn’t let go.” Although O’Farrell is disappointed to not be helping in Navajo schools for the near term, she said she will continue to travel with the Road Scholar program, through which she has journeyed as far as Williamsburg, South America, Vietnam and Cambodia. “They go all over the world,” explaining that while not every Road Scholar travel program is service oriented, they all include an educational component. Other service programs include environmental preservation in

Continued from A1 Trinidad or classroom volunteering in Guatemala. Meanwhile, the 34-year resident of El Dorado Hills keeps busy with two women’s groups, including the Philanthropic Educational Organization which gives educational grants and scholarships to women, as well as the El Dorado Newcomers Club, a social club which also supports charitable causes. Along with fiddling in the garden, O’Farrell continues to feed her lifelong passion. “I read books on Native Americans, and I read Native American writers. My bookshelves are always overflowing,” she admitted. “You don’t know what you’re missing if you don’t go out and explore,” shared O’Farrell. “That program changed my life. You appreciate things when you realize that there’s so much else out there that’s different. And I’ve made friends. That’s so valuable as well.” Since 2002, Road Scholar has welcomed nearly 1,500 volunteers to its Navajo Nation Schools program, offering an opportunity to learn directly from the Navajo people while helping address teacher shortages in remote reservation schools. For more information visit roadscholar.org/find-anadventure/6262/Volunteering-NavajoNation-Schools.

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AUGUST 19, 2026

EDHCSD moves forward with assessments; changes on the way Noel Stack

errors have not been corrected. In fact, they’ve been repeated.” El Dorado Hills resident Bob Williams commended EDHCSD staff for the many positive things happening in the district but the LLAD situation isn’t one of them. “Unfortunately, year after year after year, we’ve been dealing with a very unequal set of taxes,” he told directors, noting many efforts that have fallen short of making things better. “And we’re back here, yet again, with flawed assessments. I. beg you to make sure that you have your ducks in order, and you have all your notes.” Williams reminded everyone that a trial is set to start in January 2027 for former EDHCSD general manager Kevin Loewen, accused of two felony perjury counts, one felony count of participating in a government contract while having a financial interest, and three misdemeanor counts of participating in a government decision while having a conflict of interest. The charges stem from Loewen’s relationship with DTA, which handled the district’s LLAD calculations for several years. “Accountability is going to happen there; it will happen elsewhere,” Williams said. “Please don’t make the same decision and … compound the problem that’s already terrifically bad.” The EDHCSD has an LLAD Advisory Committee but it hasn’t met since fall 2025. It was announced at the Aug. 13 Board of Directors meeting the committee will reconvene on Sept. 1. Committee member John Davey noted, “A lot of the trouble with LLADs stem from the fact that they were put in place over years and years and years — 30 or 40 years. They were formed in different ways, different items were included as amenities or were considered as amenities so each of them are unique and individual, and we need to approach them that way.” He and fellow committee member Ben Glickman urged the board to begin the assessment process earlier. “The more we can front-load this process, the better ... to the extent that the committee or this body can meet earlier in the spring to start talking through some of these issues,” Glickman said. “I think it gives us all an opportunity to get to the best result.” Glickman called the assessments approved by directors on Aug. 5 “a result of an imperfect process, and when I say that, I’m not referring to the district’s process. I’m referring to the legislative process that created these LLADs. “I think folks, our engineers, our staff and everyone

Editor Acknowledging an imperfect system and a looming deadline, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors approved landscaping and lighting assessment district engineers’ reports on Aug. 5. The split vote, 3-2, confirms assessments will appear on 2026-27 property tax bills. However, comments from board members and the public acknowledged much-needed changes in the way assessments are calculated. The district has contracted with NBS to look at better methodologies; that report has not yet been completed. In separate board action that Wednesday, directors asked staff to come back with additional ideas to formalize the process and make it fairer for taxpayers. EDHCSD General Manager Stephanie McGann-Jantzen told Village Life she’s preparing a presentation for the Sept. 10 meeting. The EDHCSD website states: “The goal of assessment districts is to provide funds for maintenance, repair and replacement of identified assets; including providing services, utilities and capital improvements associated with landscape medians, corridors, entrances and parks.” Heritage resident George Steed maintained the district’s current LLAD calculation method “violates the basic premise of proportionality of taxation.” “The LLAD assessment process is fundamentally flawed,” he said during last week’s special meeting. “Your constituents, the taxpayers of El Dorado County, El Dorado Hills, have repeatedly drawn attention to errors in the engineering reports. Those

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else have done their level best to get this right, and we should continue to improve the process going forward and look for alternatives that may resolve some of the community’s broader concerns,” he added. Directors and staff did acknowledge the tight timeline. Director of Administration & Finance Office Cara Layne said the final tax roll data is processed in late July or early August, “which is why we set this date for the meeting, so that if there are changes to the parcels to be assessed ... we’re reflecting those in the final reports.” Further clarification received by Village Life acknowledged the El Dorado County Assessor’s Office has the information available in late June. The data is sent to a third-party vendor used by the CSD’s consultant, in this case Wildan Group, where its is formatted and then sent to the consultant “to make any updates to the parcel data (such as parcel splits or new development, for example) as compared to the preliminary engineer reports,” McGann-Jantzen shared. “It takes quite a bit of time, and it’s not remotely the ‘fault’ of the county nor the Assessor’s Office,” she said of the delay in data transmission. “It’s just an intensive process.” “We’re doing the best we can with an antiquated system,” Director Heidi Hannaman said. She moved to adopt the resolutions and move forward with this fiscal year’s assessments. Director Mike Martinelli seconded the motion and it passed 3-2 with board President Noelle Mattock voting in favor and Directors Stephen Ferry and Gary Kinghorn voting no. In addition to the 2026-27 assessments, this year’s tax bills will also include the 2022-23 assessments that were previously left off due to a legal dispute between the EDHCSD and the El Dorado County AuditorController’s Office. As part of that lawsuit’s resolution, it was part of the court order that the auditor add the 2022-23 assessments to this year’s property tax bills. Assessments for the 2023-24 fiscal year will appear on the 2027-28 bills. Kinghorn questioned the legality of piling on additional assessments, bringing the total assessment amount higher than what he said is legally allowed. “The answer is that the assessed property owners got an interest-free loan as a result of the (auditor’s) conduct, but they’re not being charged more than the law allows us to charge them,” attorney Michael Colantuono said. “In fact, they’re being charged a little bit less.”

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has been delayed until next month. During a court session at the county courthouse in South Lake Tahoe on Aug. 3, defense attorney Cliff Safranski made a request for Wright’s case to be postponed to give his team additional case preparation time. Safranski was standing in for Dain Weiner, Wright’s regular attorney of record for this case. The requested continuance was granted by El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Michael J. McLaughlin. Sept. 28 is the new date for this trial-setting conference, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the courthouse at 1354 Johnson Blvd. Wright, 35, is accused

of causing the death of Joan Allison, an 84-yearold resident of Cameron Park. The incident occurred on Saturday morning, May 3, 2025, as Wright and Allison were driving in opposite directions along Green Valley Road near Silva Valley Parkway. According to California Highway Patrol reports, the black Dodge Charger driven by Wright was traveling eastbound at about 55 mph when it drifted off the edge of the road, hit a raised curb before reentering the roadway and crossing into the opposing lane. The Dodge collided head-on with Allison’s silver Toyota Camry,

which was traveling westbound. Wright and two children who were passengers in her car, suffered injuries and were transported by an ambulance to the UC Davis Medical Center. Following the accident, Wright was arrested and later indicted by an El Dorado County Grand Jury, which charged her with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a DUI-causing injury, and two counts of child endangerment. Wright pleaded not guilty on April 3 to multiple felony charges. She is being held without bail at the county jail in Placerville.

EID announces an office hours shift Jack Carrerow Village Life correspondent Beginning this November, customers of the El Dorado Irrigation District will conduct in-person business Monday through Thursday. At the Aug. 10 EID Board of Directors meeting, Renee Barragan, utility bill supervisor, presented information regarding the planned operational change: the headquarters’ front office lobby would be closed to walk-in customers every Friday. This will also include incoming billing inquiries and non-emergency dispatch calls. Barragan told the board that emergency services would continue to operate 24/7 without interruption, ensuring customers always retain full access to critical support. She stressed that by reducing walkins and calls by one day per week, the overall intention is to improve operational efficiency, reduce front-counter responsibilities and allow staff to address backlogged tasks, all while preserving customers’ access to essential and emergency services. “The purpose of this change is to give utility billing staff dedicated, uninterrupted time each week to complete administrative and technical work,” she told the board. “This is difficult to manage with regular front-counter activity and call volume.” In her presentation, Barragan showed a list of other utility companies and districts that have adopted this practice and have been successful in streamlining their operations. Director Pat Dwyer raised the concern that ratepayers might view the change differently. “They may think that they’re paying more, while we’re working less,” he said.

Barragan also mentioned that a lot of business customers could be served by the automated phone system. Director Lori Anzini pointed out that many of the district’s customers can be intimidated by AI. “We have to be aware of the age of several ratepayers who really don’t care for change or dealing with an automated system,” she said. Barragan admitted that the phone system could use some improvements. Customers will be notified of the change in schedule on the district’s website as well as on their monthly paper bill. The meeting lead off with an information item from finance with regards to possible future approval to amend board policies 3010 (budget), 3020 (revisions to budget) and 3050 (financial condition and activities). The budget was originally adopted in 2006 with minor targeted updates over the years. ßA comprehensive review identified opportunities to update and consolidate district policies that align with the Government Finance Officers Association best practices and with the American Water Works Association recommended reserve types. The item was originally presented at the July 27 meeting. At that meeting, the board instructed staff to come up with a comprehensive plan that would address maintaining a cash reserve for emergencies, while maintaining an operating budget, without burdening the ratepayers with constant increases. It was decided that to keep a closer look on district financials, staff would report back to the board on an annual basis. The next meeting of the EID board is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 9 a.m.

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A5

AUGUST 19, 2026

Policies

Continued from A1

Who has the power? Questions over the general manager’s authority versus the board president brought differing opinions to light. Policy 5020.10: “The general manager and district clerk, in a form approved by general counsel, shall prepare an agenda for each regular and special meeting of the board of directors. The general manager shall confer and coordinate with the board president regarding the proposed agenda, however, the general manager retains all final authority regarding the final agenda, including its contents and order of items.” Director Stephen Ferry pointed out, “We have a general manager going to court on Jan. 26, coming up in 2027. There are people (who) can go off the rails.” Ferry is referring to former general manager Kevin Loewen, who is accused of two felony perjury counts, one felony count of participating in a government contract while having a financial interest, and three misdemeanor counts of participating in a government decision while having a conflict of interest. “My point is that the general manager doesn’t get

elected. They get appointed. We get elected. We’re the ones with the audience, if you will,” Ferry continued, explaining that he has concerns with board members answering to the public when something goes wrong with or missing from the agenda. “And we just say ... ‘You know, we’re supposed to do that, because that’s what our policy manual says.’” “That’s a remarkable amount of discretion for an employee who reports to the board, giving up the board’s purview to set the agenda and what needs to come before the public,” Director Gary Kinghorn maintained. “That reverses the normal governance hierarchy.” Splendorio acknowledged the concern, calling it one of the “competing interests” staff has sought to address with the policy changes, including those related to cooperation between the general manager and board, and the board president’s role. “The president is not the board. The president possesses no extraordinary powers above and beyond any other director,” Splendorio said. “So just like the general manager can’t take direction from any individual or member, he or she shouldn’t be able to take any

direction specifically from the president. “(A) good GM will work with that president,” he added. “They’re not gonna stiff-arm that president.” The attorney and board members pointed out that the GM works at the pleasure of the board of directors. The safety rail in place is that the board has the ability to evaluate the general manager’s job performance and, if needed, dismiss them. “Changing the structure in which the board and president and GM work on getting the agenda out was a huge change, from my perspective,” Board President Noelle Mattock said. “But I think it’s in the best interest and the governance of this organization.” “What we know about governance is the GM should only take the direction from the majority of the board,” added Director Heidi Hannaman, explaining that shifting the authority to the board president puts the GM in a perilous position should the president be at odds with a majority of the board. Putting it bluntly, Splendorio told directors, “We’re not really designing policies for ... nice GMs. We have ■ See POLICIES, page A7

Claims occurs. “When I stepped down as your sheriff, I believed the foundation built during my administration would continue to move this county forward,” he wrote. “I fully supported the current sheriff’s transition into this role, providing strong backing that allowed him to run unopposed, believing he would carry forward the shared mission of putting the office and this community first. “Your current sheriff was my choice. I endorsed him, helped his campaign path to office, and we were successful,” he continued. “As time has progressed it has become clear that the focus has shifted away from serving the office and the community to the current sheriff’s individual priorities and he is not the leader I believed he would be. He has failed me, he has failed the agency, and he is failing our communities.” D’Agostini didn’t provide much detail behind his change of heart, only sharing his decision came after having “many conversations with employees of the sheriff’s office and community members.” Leikauf called D’Agostini’s actions “inciting” and an “absolute joke” — one that has been ongoing for the last year and a half. “He’s been trying to attack my character and everything that I’ve worked to do here for the past 36 years,” he told Village

Continued from A1 Life. The sheriff asserted D’Agostini has “tried to come in and turn my agency on its ear and create dissension and divisiveness, and he’s been able to get a couple people on board. He says people are calling him and meeting him. No, he’s actually seeking out people and calling them and meeting them … on county property, which is not against the law or anything like that, but it just goes to show the lengths at which he will go to stir things up. “It’s unfortunate that he would take to social media and put out such a false statement, but that’s what we’re dealing with,” Leikauf continued. “Reading through the lines and seeing what he wrote it has … put the community against one another, get them talking back and forth about it because it creates attention to his cause. “I’m not trying to be spiteful. I’m not trying to be petty and point out the countless things that we can get into,” he concluded. “I will stay positive and keep being the sheriff and keep moving this county forward, and refute all the false statements that he put out in his social media post.” Leikauf said he is drafting a more thorough, meaningful response and will share that when it is completed. D’Agostini served as sheriff for 12 years, leaving his role in December 2022 after a nearly

Varoff this crime is not more severe.” The criminal complaint for this case refers to various unlawful sex acts that occurred between Varoff and a minor in El Dorado and Sacramento counties in 2023. Varoff, who spent 27 years working for the El Dorado Union High School District, retired from his teaching position at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills at the end of the 2022-23 school year. However, a statement released by that school district notes that Varoff occasionally worked with the district in a limited support role following his retirement. During his appearance in a Placerville courtroom on Aug. 7, Varoff pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual crimes against a minor, including oral copulation and sexual penetration, in both El Dorado and Sacramento counties. The defendant admitted to an age gap of more than 10 years and acknowledged the victim’s vulnerability. A 15-year no-contact order was stipulated, and the defendant will register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Varoff to provide a DNA sample, undergo AIDS testing and relinquish any firearms. Ralphs stated that upon Varoff’s release from custody, he will serve a parole or post release community supervision period. “I believe it will be a period of parole,” he said. “Either way, it will be for a period not to exceed three years from the date

30-year law enforcement career. At that time, D’Agostini had high praise for Leikauf, who joined EDSO in 1990. “I’m leaving at a time that I think every elected (official) dreams of leaving — on a high note — but it’s not my high note,” the then-sheriff said during the final Board of Supervisors meeting of 2022, during which he was honored. “We have a house full of leaders right now that I’m extremely proud of.” “Any great leader knows the way. They model the way, they show others the way and they go the way,” then Sheriff-elect Jeff Leikauf said at that same meeting. “I’ve had the opportunity to work for six sheriffs in my career and what we’ve been able to accomplish and learn under Sheriff D’Agostini and what we’ve been able to do in our community has set precedence.” Leikauf later championed to name the new EDSO headquarters on Industrial Drive the Sheriff John D’Agostini Public Safety Facility, made official in August 2023. One indication of a difference of opinion between the two emerged earlier this year when D’Agostini supported appointed county Treasurer-Tax Collector Sean Coppola and not Coppola’s opponent, Corey Leikauf, the current sheriff’s son. Coppola overwhelmingly won in the June primary.

“I firmly believe that getting the agency back on track will not require a heavy lift. It simply takes strong, experienced, and knowledgeable leadership,” D’Agostini maintained in his message. “The institutional knowledge of my administration is still intrinsically ingrained — which is why staff continue to contact me. The budget will take a cycle or two to repair, but it will be done. “I encourage everyone to stand by all the employees of the sheriff’s office as they are committed to all our safety,” he further stated. “I ask everyone to encourage the current sheriff to retire. His most favorable retirement formula would be to retire on Dec. 30 of this year and I look forward to that announcement.” The former sheriff concluded by sharing that if given the opportunity to serve once again, his focus will be “entirely positive and centered on the future of El Dorado County while protecting taxpayers, supporting deputies and professional staff, and upholding the

daily basis.” After reading the victim’s statement, Cardullo commented on Varoff’s abuse of trust that parents put in teachers. “What Mr. Varoff did, he really abused the trust that all parents put in teachers,” she said. “He abused the trust of the victim in this case, and the rippled effects of that sort of abuse of power will be felt for a very long time. “Oak Ridge is a prominent high school in our community, and he was the band teacher there, and he should have known better and he should have done better,” she added. “And I hope that his time in prison causes him to truly reflect on what he’s done, and I hope that he rehabilitates.”

basic human right. Our county is not safer today as you pay while our current sheriff plays.”

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 – Begins June 17, 2026, Join the Gold Country Cribbers, We Play - We Teach - We Have Fun, Wednesdays 11:30 AM – Summer Play, Steve’s Pizza – 3941 Park Dr #100, El Dorado Hills, CA, 916-212-2465 or 916-202-1762 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. Grief support: Green Valley Community Church provides caring support through: • Grief share classes • Suicide loss support group • Memorials year round, Visit our website: www.greenvalley.church/outreach or call 530-622-3231. 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.

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Continued from A1 of his initial release.” The victim impact statement, which was read in the courtroom by El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Kassie Cardullo, details the psychological and emotional trauma suffered by the victim, who was solely identified as J. Doe. Within that statement, the victim mentioned that Varoff gave her free music lessons, accompanied her to the college that she would attend and ultimately encouraged her to engage in a sexual relationship with him. Doe recalled telling her mother in 2024 that she had been sexually assaulted by Varoff. “I finally felt some sense of calm when I was able to release my secrets to someone I trusted,” Doe wrote, adding that after informing her mother about her sexual encounters with Varoff, she slowly began to resent him. “I changed my mind about my perceived love for (Varoff),” she said. “I no longer felt indebted to him and instead disgusted. “I still have a hard time understanding that Mr. Varoff had ill intent toward me,” she continued. “I must constantly remind myself that he was supposed to do the right thing, not convince me I was responsible for my own sexual abuse. Although I have grown immensely since the grooming and sexual abuse I experienced, the scars of this relationship still pervade my life on a

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EDH Taz caps season with best championship finish since 2019 Special to Village Life EDH Tasmanian Devils Swim Team closed the summer season with the strongest showing at the Suburban Swim League Championships in seven years, finishing fourth among the league’s eight teams. The championship meet (often referred to as Champs) was the finale, but only three days of a summer that ran from the season-opening mock meet through a full dual-meet schedule, where Taz also finished fourth in the league. Across the season, the team’s 425 swimmers from 270 families recorded 2,714 personal-best swims and dropped a combined 7,437 seconds. Board president Ben Glickman said the results he watches are elsewhere. “The number I actually care about isn’t times,” he said. “It’s how many kids come back for a second season. And that number is really high!” At Champs, Taz swimmers won 13 individual events and four relays. Seven-year-old Arielle Makanoneng won three of them in the 7-8 girls division — the 50 (yard) free, 25 back and 25 breast — and swam on two winning relays with Charlotte Reade, Sophia Watterson, Evelyn Spencer and Annie Sorensen. Riley Hall took high point honors in the 9-10 girls. In the 11-12 group, 11-year-old Lyla Frith won the 50 back, while Zola Birch and Olivia Novak went second and third in the 50 free. Frith, Birch, Novak and Quinn Canfield combined to win the 200 freestyle relay in a team-record 1:53.57, breaking a 31-year-old team record. Dakota Alfaqih swept three events in the 15-16 women’s division, with Harper Anderson right behind her in two of them, and Jessi Pyle won the 100 back. Katie Tadayeski won three more in the 17-18 races. Jake Novak led the men’s side with wins in the 15-16 100 back and 100 breast, finishing third in his age group overall. Dylan McDonald was the team’s top boys’ scorer on the season and placed third in the 11-12 50 fly, with teammate Aayden Whitworth fifth. Aiden Makanoneng finished fourth among 9-10 boys at Champs, and Jackson Watkins and Graham Konkel both landed in the top six of the 7-8 25 fly. Thomas Drever, Benjamin Drever, Jaren Gonzales and Jack Anderson added points in the older divisions. Taz finished the meet with 908 points, 60 shy of third place, and added the Champs President’s Award to their trophy case. The women’s squad accounted for 586.50 of that total, third-best in the league. Seven team records fell this season. Tadayeski accounted for four of them, including the 15-18 medley relay with Harper Anderson, Alfaqih and Ella

Courtesy photos

Charlotte Reade, Sophia Watterson, Annie Sorensen and Arielle Makanoneng, left photo, took first place in the 7-8 Girls Medley Relay at the Suburban Swim League Championships. At right, Olivia Novak, Lyla Frith, Quinn Canfield and Zola Birch set a new TAZ record in the 11-12 Girls 200 Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:51.08. This is a record that hasn’t been broken for 31 years. Anderson, and her 1:00.34 in the 100 back stands as a new Suburban Swim League record. Alfaqih and Novak each broke the 100 breast record in their divisions, and the 11-12 girls’ relay rounded out the list. At the 24th Annual Sacramento Valley Meet of Champions two weeks later, Taz finished fifth out of 15 teams in the Large Division, the highest placing of any Suburban Swim League club. Makanoneng, 7, won the 7-8 girls high point award there against a field of mostly 8-year-olds. The season was the first for head coach Eddie Akbary, who joined as part of a new partnership between Taz and Sierra Marlins Swim Team. “Seeing how much the kids improved and grew in confidence throughout the season was awesome,” Akbary said. “They worked hard and had a lot of fun along the way.”

Taz sent 213 swimmers to Champs, the largest contingent in the league. Parents logged more than 2,800 volunteer hours, the Laps for Taz fundraiser brought in $20,500 and Swimclusion (the team’s adaptive swim program) hit record enrollment. For one swimmer, the summer was a last lap. Katie Tadayeski, who first swam for Taz at age 4 and broke her first record at 6, closed out a lengthy career with the team this season — both racing and coaching the youngest Devils from the deck. “What makes Taz special goes far beyond the pool,” Glickman said. “It’s swimmers like Katie who grow up on Taz. It’s hundreds of families, coaches, and volunteers coming together to build something truly meaningful for our kids and our community. I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together this season.”

County leaders unite around bold promise: Every child deserves a champion and mentor Curtis Wise El Dorado County Office of Education County leaders from education, healthcare, social services, nonprofits, public safety and community organizations gathered earlier this summer for the Commission for Youth and Families’ LIFT Together event, united around a bold promise: Every child and

youth has a champion and mentor in their corner. The event brought together partners from across El Dorado County to explore how existing community connections can become a stronger navigational network for children, youth and families seeking support. Through presentations, activities, and community dialogue, participants examined

how trusted adults — from coaches and teachers to neighbors, faith leaders and volunteers — can help connect young people to resources before challenges become crises. The gathering builds on years of work by the Commission for Youth and Families to create a “No Wrong Door” system that allows families to access support regardless of where they first seek help. “Every child deserves to know there is someone in their corner who believes in them, advocates for them, and helps connect them to opportunities and support,” said El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ed Manansala. “At the heart of our work is a promise that no child should have to navigate life’s challenges alone. By bringing together schools, agencies, community organizations and caring adults, we are creating a county where every young person has a champion and mentor they can count on.” Throughout the day, participants reviewed findings from the county’s Leading Indicators for Future Thriving (LIFT) initiative, which gathers input directly from youth and families. A consistent theme emerged across multiple community engagement cycles: when children, youth and caregivers need help, they often turn first to someone they know and trust rather than a formal service provider. That insight is shaping the commission’s next phase of work — building a connected network of champions and mentors who can help families find the resources they need. To move this vision forward, the commission is forming a work group with representatives from mentoring programs, faith communities, and nonprofits to identify strategies and next steps to ensure every child has a mentor and a champion. “The voices of youth and families have been remarkably clear,” said Deanna Santana, director of Child, Family, and Community Services. “People turn to trusted relationships first. Our challenge is making sure those caring adults — whether they’re coaches, relatives, neighbors, teachers or volunteers — have the tools, information and connections needed to help a child or family access support when it matters most.”

Chris Proctor, Director of Community Benefit and Business Development, had this to add, “This format was really helpful in establishing connections throughout the county. This event had the perfect cadence: collaborating at our tables to understand real case studies, identify gaps in care and acknowledge all the great partners we have in El Dorado County. I left with the feeling that we have the right partners wanting to do the right thing for the youth of our county, and I was excited to see what we can do next.” In addition, Jude Wood, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, conveyed, “It takes a village to raise a child, and LIFT and the Commission for Youth and Families are creating a countywide village that can serve every need of our children and ensure that they get the love, care and support they need to not just survive but thrive.” The event also previewed a new countywide Community Resource Guide that launched in July. The guide is designed to serve as a centralized, continuously updated resource that helps residents and community champions connect families to services and supports across El Dorado County. It is now available at edcoe.org/resources. Participants concluded the day by beginning development of a blueprint for a countywide network of champions and mentors. The commission will synthesize input gathered during the event and convene a Champion and Mentor Work Group to continue shaping the initiative over the coming year. “Our greatest investment is in the children of our community,” said El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf. “Through the LIFT Together initiative, we are strengthening partnerships between community leaders, educators, businesses, nonprofits and public safety to ensure every child has an all-in mentor and someone who believes in them. When we work together, we create opportunities that allow kids to enjoy the kind of childhood every young person deserves, one filled with support, meaningful relationships, great memories, and hope for the future. I am honored to stand alongside our community partners as we work together to make that promise a reality for every child in El Dorado County.”

Photo courtesy of EDCOE

County leaders discuss the needs of youth, their families, and the community in one of the collaborative table discussions.

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AUGUST 19, 2026

Policies

Continued from A5

to design them for the bad GMs and we have, all due respect, designed (the policies) for the bad directors, too.”

Three’s a crowd Board policy as presented: “Items may be agendized for future board of directors meetings upon a majority vote by the board of directors in an open meeting. Nothing herein precludes a board director from asking the general manager to exercise his or her administrative authority to place a matter on a future agenda, and nothing precludes any member of the public from requesting the board of directors to request to have a particular item agendized for a future meeting under this policy.” Some directors and members of the public felt, as written, the language is too restrictive. “Nobody does it this way,” Kinghorn shared. “It’s frustrating when a single board member, potentially in a minority, cannot bring the public’s concern in front of the board for open discussion. And California State Code and good governance practices and the rest of the state seems to agree with that.” “Most communities, bodies of this size, require two directors to put something on the agenda, and that is, again, voting on it, not approving it; it’s just putting it up for discussion,” EDH resident Ben Glickman said. “It’s very difficult to get three directors together, right? They can’t do it with the Brown Act. So how is one to get that discussion in order to come to this

meeting (and ) say, ‘I want this on the agenda,’ and have people think about it enough and be able to get it on. It just seems a little restrictive, so I’m just curious if there’s a history there or a rationale.” Splendorio noted this structure has been in place for some time and shared thoughts on possible problems should the board relax the policy. “I just want to highlight the competing concerns because you can’t have a situation where you have a minority board member, one person, who has clearly a different perspective or has some special interest that they’re focused on, that continues to take up time,” he said. “I have clients that allow anyone to do it. I have clients that went from one to two or three because they felt ... their agenda (was being) monopolized by these very unique, odd special interests.” Director Heidi Hannaman, who served on the committee that worked with staff to modify the policies, noted the cleaned up language in the policy rewrite gives individual directors “two or three paths” to place something on the agenda. She shared her fellow directors’ frustrations on the delays between agendizing and item and finally getting to the discussion in an open meeting. She suggested the policy allow two board members to agendize an item “but we can’t have a complete free for all.” “If you look at what we had before, I think ... we’re trying to make it a little more flexible, but have some guardrails,” Hannaman said. Mattock said having three members of the board agree on a future agenda item has allowed the board

to be “a little bit more focused on the items that are important to the community and the work of the community that needs to get done.” While comfortable with the rule of three, Mattock went on to say she would consider dropping the threshold to two if her fellow directors desired. Noting some brutally long past meetings, Director Mike Martinelli said he could see where directors and residents were coming from “But there has to be some, as mentioned, guardrails in place ... (to) keep these meetings going forward for the greater good of the community.” The final motion to approve EDHCSD Policy Series 4000 passed 4-1 with the request that staff return with language that would allow a director serving on a subcommittee to place items on that subcommittee’s agenda. Directors Hannaman, Martinelli, Kinghorn and Mattock voted yes, and Director Ferry voted no. A final motion to approve EDHCSD Policy Series 5000: Meetings of the Board of Directors also passed 4-1 with changes: the threshold to add items to a future agenda was changed to two directors and direction was given to add language clarifying that the general manager does not have the authority to block or indefinitely defer requested future agenda items. Ferry was again the lone dissenter. He argued the board should consider the significant number of policy changes and rewrites in sections rather than approve them all at once, giving the board and public time to digest and discuss the information.

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

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T

his stunning Wichert Homes estate on a soughtafter Serrano street, just a short golf cart drive away from the private Serrano Country Club and Golf Course, is located in one of El Dorado Hills’ most prestigious guard-gated neighborhoods. Enjoy the convenience of living on a single level with an open-concept main floor that showcases beautiful exposed beams, ceiling treatments and thoughtful designer details throughout. This home incorporates a fully functional Smart Home Control 4 system with surround sound and eight exterior security cameras. The chef’s kitchen features a Wolf double oven gas range, Wolf microwave convection oven and a side-by-side SubZero refrigerator. Additionally, there are two ASKO dishwashers, custom cabinetry with inlay doors, an oversized pantry and dramatic, bold lighting fixtures make this a chefs delight. The main level includes two ensuite bedrooms and a full primary retreat, showcasing a spa-inspired bathroom that offers a dual vanity, walk-in dual head shower and oversized soaking tub with chandelier. Other suite features include a barn door walk-in closet, a beautiful stone-faced gas linear fireplace and private exit to the ultimate backyard. Step outside to a resort-style entertainer’s dream. The nearly one-acre lot is thoughtfully landscaped to maximize

privacy while opening up to natural beauty and incredible Folsom Lake sunsets. Fully usable and low-maintenance, it features an infinity-edge pool with safety auto cover, three firepit areas, an outdoor kitchen/bar, a bocce court lined with grapevines and a professionally designed fully enclosed vegetable garden. The yard features a beautiful terraced rose garden with 24 established rose bushes/ trees across three separate levels, creating layers of color and visual interest. The smart-home loggia includes a linear fireplace, heater, exterior SunBrite TV and automated shades. Nighttime lighting and a full indoor/outdoor independent Control 4 speaker system with sub woofers set the perfect mood. Pizza bar loggia with refrigerator offers nearby bocce court refreshing libations. The lower walk-out level offers a versatile guest suite, living area/ theater with a 65-inch TV and surround sound enjoyment plus a private yard with a hot tub. Complete this dream property with a finished four-car garage, custom cabinetry and epoxy floors. One of the separate garages is presently used as a climate-controlled home gym with a 65-inch surround sound TV and refreshment refrigerator. Interested in learning more about this stunning Da Vinci Drive property in El Dorado Hills? Contact real estate agent Chris Wolfe at (559) 289-8218 or chris@chriswolferealestate.com.

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AUGUST 19, 2026

The art of building a life has many paths “B

eing good in business is the most fascinating kind of art,” Andy Warhol once wrote. Warhol knew something about art, business and refusing to stay inside one tidy little box. That seems worth remembering during back-toschool season.

hear him at 19, 42 or 70. Life does not always follow a timetable.

A degree is not a destiny

Susan Laird

The pressure of August It is the back end of August. Kids have new backpacks. College students are moving into dorms. Parents are juggling calendars, traffic, tuition and worry. Right on cue, the internet arrives with advice. “Here are the degrees companies no longer want!” “Here are the degrees that make the most

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Some college majors lead to higher salaries than others. Engineers, computer scientists, nurses and other technical professionals often earn good incomes. Good for them, truly. Those careers matter, and they suit people whose gifts and interests lead them there. But not everyone has the mathematical gifts to become an engineer. Nor should everyone try. In college, I became the go-to coach for my engineering friends who needed help passing their English writing courses. They, in turn, got me through BASIC and COBOL. We knew our gifts. Universities also do not hold a monopoly on useful education. We once called many handson fields “industrial arts.” Today we often call them skilled trades. Whatever the name, they deserve respect. One nephew chose to forgo a university degree and built a lucrative career in HVAC. Another completed his bachelor’s degree, then decided to become an EMT. Another family member left college to build a career as a governess for elite families. She married a gentleman who is both a firefighter and a fire inspector, and now has chosen to take a few years away from paid work to raise their family. All good lives. All different. I will leave it to you, gentle reader, to consider how differently those choices can look years later. Some paths bring degrees. Some bring

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Artist Andy Warhol with his dachshund, Archie, at the Factory in 1974. Warhol built a life around his gifts, blending creativity, business, curiosity and personal freedom. His example reminds us that success is not one-size-fits-all. The real art may be in building a life that fits who we are. trades. Some bring flexibility. Some bring debt. Some bring security in unexpected ways.

The price of pressure There is another cost we do not discuss enough. Family expectations, social pressure and frightening headlines can push young people toward degrees and careers that look impressive on paper but do not fit the life they want. Last week, I met a highly successful ophthalmologist. By the usual measures, he chose one of those coveted careers: education, prestige and a strong income. Then he looked at my life outside medicine. I was once pre-med

myself. “Maybe you got lucky,” he said. “Decades later and I am still in debt to loans.” That stayed with me. Medicine can be a wonderful calling. For the person who loves it, it can offer purpose, service, challenge and a lifetime of meaningful work. But prestige is not purpose, and pressure is a poor career counselor. The wrong vocation, or one that slowly becomes a source of resentment, can make even an impressive career feel heavy. If you discover years later that the ladder you built is leaning against the wrong wall, you can move it. It is never too late. But the price may be higher.

Five questions worth asking Perhaps we should worry less about which degree “wins” and ask better questions. What are your gifts? What do you love doing? How could you earn a living from it? What training do you truly need? And what can support you while the dream grows? A side job is not failure. Neither is an apprenticeship, trade school, community college or changing direction. Neither is college. The point is not to choose the path someone else praises. It is to understand why you are choosing yours. ■ See LAIRD, page B4

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Get ready to laugh when Sutter Street Theatre actors Connie Mockenhaupt and Scott Howard, standing, along with Dave Valpreda, Beth Sheridan and Cattaryan Tekin, seated left to right, perform in“Noises Off.”

‘Noises Off’ brings a lot of hilarious craziness to the stage Allen Schmeltz Sutter Street Theatre

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utter Street Theatre presents a the play once called “the funniest farce ever written.” “Noises Off” is a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called “Nothing’s On.” Slamming doors, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious, high-energy comedy written by Michael Frayn.

Mixing mockery and homage, Frayn heaps a hilarious mêlée of stock characters and situations into his side-splitting play-within-a-play. The three-act performance directed by Mike Jimena is rated PG and includes mild adult themes. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4:30 p.m. through Sept. 13 at Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St. in Folsom. For reservations visit SutterStreetTheatre. com or call (916) 353-1001.

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AUGUST 19, 2026

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AUGUST 19, 2026

EDC Poet Laureate Moira Magneson awarded fellowship Arts and Culture El Dorado

the Elephant,” was published by Sixteen Rivers Press.

News release

T

he Academy of American Poets has announced that it will award $50,000 to El Dorado County Poet Laureate Moira Magneson as part of its 2026 Poet Laureate Fellowship Program. The program honors 22 poets serving as poets laureate in cities, counties, states and Tribal communities across the United States. Magneson is one of five poets laureate from California selected for the 2026 fellowship. The academy will award a total of $1.1 million to the 22 poets, with each recipient receiving $50,000 to support community-based poetry projects. In addition, the academy will provide a total of $81,000 in matching grants to 14 local nonprofit organizations collaborating with laureates on their work.

Curriculum and collaboration

Courtesy photo

Project goals and student engagement

El Dorado County Poet Laureate Moira Magneson is one of 22 poets to receive a fellowship, allowing her to pursue a project with local students.

As part of a nationwide competitive application process, poets laureate proposed communitybased poetry projects. Magneson’s winning proposal, “Wisdom of Watersheds,” will engage students at El Dorado County’s Mountainside Middle College High School in a monthslong exploration of the

Upper American and Cosumnes rivers’ watersheds through poetrywriting workshops led by Northern California poets; publication and public reading of a watershed-themed chapbook of student poems; guest speaker talks and activities by storytellers, visual artists, Tribal

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elders and watershed scientists; and field trips to county nature preserves, rivers and Tribal lands. The academy’s Poet Laureate Fellowships recognize laureates’ literary excellence while enabling them to undertake meaningful and innovative projects that enrich the lives of community members, including youth, through responsive and interactive poetry activities. Magneson joins a cohort of only 21 other poets from across the United States and will travel to Washington,

The El Dorado Community Foundation will open several fall grant opportunities Aug. 27 for nonprofit

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organizations and public school programs serving El Dorado County residents. All grant cycles will open Thursday, Aug. 27, with application deadlines varying by program. Applicants should review each grant’s guidelines and verify their organization is in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service, California Secretary of State and California Department of Justice, officials said. The foundation encourages organizations to check their compliance with the three agencies before applications open, noting that resolving compliance issues can take several weeks. Applications and grant guidelines will be available beginning Aug. 27 at eldoradocf.org/grantscatalog.

The Academy’s Poet Laureate Fellowship Program, supported by the Mellon Foundation, has bolstered laureateships across the United States since 2019. The academy has awarded $8.75 million in fellowships to 171 poets laureate, plus more than $620,000 in matching grants to secure project support from 93 local nonprofit organizations. “Poets laureate bring poetry out into public life, where language can help people feel less alone and more connected to one another,” said Robert Casper, president and executive director of the Academy of American Poets. “We are honored to support these 22 poets laureate as they create meaningful projects for their communities, and we are deeply grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its continued partnership in making this work possible.” Public programming will be planned for the “Wisdom of Watersheds” project, with information forthcoming.

El Dorado Hills Area Foundation Grant The 2026 El Dorado Hills Area Foundation Grant is open to nonprofits and agencies providing services or programs that include El Dorado Hills. Proposals of up to $10,000 will be accepted. The grant has no specific area of focus. Instead, it is intended to support innovative ideas and programs that respond to unmet community needs. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 24. Recipients will be

announced and funds awarded in January 2027.

Pay It Forward Project School Grant

FEET Fund Grant

The Pay It Forward Project grant supports student clubs and organizations planning community service or environmental projects that benefit their communities. The youth empowerment grant is available to student clubs or organizations at El Dorado County high schools, South Tahoe Middle School, Douglas County high schools and Carson City high schools. The project emphasizes community service, respect for others and efforts to create stronger communities. Grant funds must be spent during the 2026-27 school year. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 24. The foundation also has a 20-minute grantwriting presentation to provide tips for organizations applying for EDCF funding available through its grants catalog and on YouTube at tinyurl.com/ bden2xwv.

The FEET Fund grant is available to Lake Tahoe Unified School District schools. The program seeks to provide equitable educational opportunities by funding overnight field trips for socioeconomically disadvantaged students in fourth and fifth grades. The FEET Fund considers overnight, standards-based field trips an important part of students’ development and educational experience. LTUSD schools are encouraged to apply. Requirements are available at feetfund.wixsite. com/feetfund/receive. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 1.

Locher Agricultural Grant The 2026 Locher Agricultural Grant is available to 4-H and FFA programs serving El Dorado County. The grant was established through the estate of Carl and Kathy Locher, who were passionate about agriculture and sharing that interest with children. Grants of up to $4,500 will be awarded. Recipients will be notified and funding will be available in early December. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 24.

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Artists understand this, too. Go to the library and read about Andy Warhol. Study his art. Better yet, see it in person. But also study his business. Warhol understood that creativity and commerce could live together. In the end, each of us is building a business of sorts. That business is our life. We need to keep it solvent. We need food, housing, savings and some security. But salary is only one line on the ledger. A good life may also need purpose, people we love, curiosity, freedom, usefulness and room to change.

Obituary ~ You may write the tribute in your own words or if needed we can provide assistance. Obituaries will publish on the day requested, subject to publication deadline. Anniversary Remembrances ~ You may place an ad in memory of a deceased loved one on the anniversary of a significant date such as a birthday, wedding anniversary, or the anniversary of their death. Call Elizabeth Hansen for more information 530-344-5028

The fellowship program

Community foundation opens fall grant cycles News release

Insured

D.C., for a special awards ceremony. “We are incredibly proud of Moira,” said Arts and Culture Executive Director Terry LeMoncheck. “She is a brilliant poet and tireless advocate for poetry and the deeper meaning it brings to our lives. This fellowship is a shining moment for El Dorado County, for our Poet Laureate Program, but most of all for Moira and her extraordinary achievements.” Magneson’s first fulllength collection of poems, “In the Eye of

During the course of the 2026-27 academic year, students participating in “Wisdom of Watersheds” will emerge with not only a deeper appreciation of poetry, local ecosystems and regional Indigenous cultures but also a fuller understanding of themselves as poets, writers and stewards of the watersheds they call home. Collaborating on the “Wisdom of Watersheds” project is educator Kate Wells, who teaches English at Mountainside Middle College High School. This project teaches students to weave experience and observation into insight and art. “It’s an honor for Mountainside Middle College High School to be chosen to take part, and I can’t wait to see what the students will create,” noted Wells. “Undertaking this project with Kate Wells and her creative writing students is a dream come true,” said Magneson. “Exploring the riches of our home watersheds coupled with learning about poetry’s magic and mystery promises to be an amazing experience for these young people. We’re excited to see what unfolds!” The 2026 Poet Laureate Fellows were recommended by an adjudication panel that included Nandi Comer, award-winning author

and 2024 Michigan Poet Laureate Fellow; Dennis Nangle, senior program officer at the Institute of Museum and Library Services; Naomi Shihab Nye, winner of the 2024 Wallace Stevens Award and Academy Chancellor Emerita; Shin Yu Pai, 2023-24 Civic Poet of Seattle and visual artist; and Lynne Thompson, 2021-22 Los Angeles Poet Laureate and board chair of Cave Canem.

Get the details Questions about the grants can be directed to Kathy Haven at kathy@ eldoradocf.org. The El Dorado Community Foundation strengthens local communities by connecting donors, nonprofits and charitable resources to address community needs.Learn more at eldoradocf.org.

Continued from B2 No 18-year-old needs to have the whole enterprise mapped out before the first day of class. And no 40-, 50-, or 60-year-old has to keep following a road simply because it once seemed like the right one. There is no single approved business plan for a successful life. Success is something each of us must consider, and define, for ourselves. Warhol famously said, “Good business is the best art.” Perhaps our most important business is the life we build. What would it mean to build yours well? Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@handywriting.com.

B5

AUGUST 19, 2026

Harris Center concert series includes area favorites, international flair Stacy Hanson

a-kind comedy experience. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Harris Center for the Arts FOLSOM — The Harris Center for the Arts celebrates 15 years with the announcement of its 2026-27 concert series. Featuring everything from music and dance to illusion, circus arts, and classic hits, this season offers something for everyone and promises a year packed with celebration and exceptional live entertainment. To buy tickets and stay up to date on future on sale dates visit harriscenter.net/events.

The Spinners March 18, 2027 — Known for their smooth harmonies, memorable melodies, and polished stage presence, The Spinners created a catalog of songs that remains a cornerstone of classic soul music. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Burn The Floor: Maks & Peta

Tracy Lawrence Sept. 4 — With 13 million albums sold and 18 No. 1 singles, Lawrence has solidified his status as a cornerstone of country music for more than 30 years. Tickets are on sale now.

Andy Grammer is among the many talented musicians who will come to Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom over the next concert season.

Mariachi Herencia de México

barriers. Tickets are on sale now.

Sept. 6 — The twotime Latin Grammynominated ensemble celebrates the timeless artistry of El Divo de Juárez, bringing his unforgettable catalog to life with passion, elegance and mariachi brilliance. Tickets are on sale now.

Shanghai Ballet: “Giselle” Oct. 18 — Known for its ethereal beauty and emotional power, “Giselle” comes to life through Shanghai Ballet’s refined technique and impeccably unified ensemble. Tickets are on sale now.

Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band Oct. 27 — Coupled with his gift for storytelling, Lovett fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down

Courtesy photo

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Nov. 20 — After 33 years, 11 records, more than 3,000 live shows and countless appearances in film and television, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is showing no signs of slowing down, and is looking forward to sharing its music with old and new fans alike in 2026. Tickets are on sale now.

The Carpenters Songbook Dec. 4 — With a full band and heartfelt storytelling, this concert captures the warmth, emotion, and musical brilliance of The Carpenters. Tickets are on sale now.

Cirque Musica Dec. 8 — Breathtaking acrobatics, soaring aerial performances and heart-

pounding feats bring the season’s most beloved melodies to life, delivering an unforgettable holiday experience for the whole family. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Andy Grammer Greater Than pt. II: A One Man Show Dec. 11 — Multiplatinum artist Andy Grammer continues to energize, empower and bring together audiences around the world with his uplifting and honest pop anthems. Tickets are on sale now.

Garrison Keillor with Heather Masse & Richard Dworsky Dec. 14 — “His shows can, for a couple of hours, transform an audience of even so-called coastal elites into a smalltown community with an intimacy only radio and its podcast descendants can achieve” — Chris

Barton, LA Times. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Jazz At Lincoln Center

March 24-25, 2027 — Featuring an ensemble of world-class dancers drawn from international championship ranks and leading television franchises, Burn the Floor delivers a powerful and visually striking performance that celebrates the joy, diversity and passion of dance. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Riverdance April 8-11, 2027 — Riverdance, the international Irish dance

phenomenon, rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography and costumes and state of the art lighting, projection and motion graphics. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Classic Albums Live performs Eagles Greatest Hits April 15, 2027 — Classic Albums Live takes the greatest classic rock albums and recreates them live on stage–note for note, cut for cut. Tickets on sale to be determined.

MOMIX May 10, 2027 — Renowned for presenting works of astounding inventiveness and physical beauty for over 45 years, MOMIX is an internationally celebrated company of dancerillusionists founded and directed by Moses Pendleton. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Jan. 26, 2027 — Guest vocalists Kate Kortum and David Marino will debut arrangements of tunes from Broadway’s most beloved productions including “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” “South Pacific,” “West Side Story” and more in a special concert event titled World on a String: Swinging Songs of Broadway. Tickets on sale to be determined.

Hyprov Feb. 8, 2027 — Starring Colin Mochrie (“Whose Line is it Anyway?”) and Master Hypnotist Asad Mecci, the live show HYPROV, which has been called “hilarious and fascinating” by Time Out New York, combines hypnosis and improv for a one-of-

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Tales & Ales is a family friendly community gathering.

Fairytale Town’s brewfest returns News release SACRAMENTO — Craft beverages, live music and family-friendly fun will take over Fairytale Town on Aug. 22 when the children’s park hosts its eighth annual Tales & Ales Brewfest fundraiser. The event, scheduled from 5-9 p.m. at Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Drive, will feature more than 30 craft beverage offerings for guests 21 and older, along with live music by AKAlive and food from local vendors. Families are also invited to enjoy Fairytale Town’s play structures, while children can visit a Root Beer Float Garden created especially for them. Featured pourers include Acheson Wine, Altamont Beer Works, At Ease, Athletic Brewing, Backstage,

Balance Beerworks, Block Craft + Kitchen, Blue Note, Common Space, Crooked Lane, Flatland, Fort Rock, Freedom Juice, Full Circle, HenHouse, Hooby’s, Jackrabbit, KC Kombucha, Knee Deep, Lagunitas, Lost Coast, The Monk’s Cellar, Monster Brewing, Morgan Territory, New Glory, New Helvetia, North Coast, Oak Park, Original Pattern, Riley’s Brewing, Silt Wine Co., Strad Meadery, TiogaSequoia and Urban Roots. The lineup is subject to change. A VIP experience will begin at 4 p.m. and include exclusive tastings from Morgan Territory and Silt Wine Co., catered bites from Selland’s, a commemorative Tales & Ales mug and access to a private, air-conditioned VIP

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AUGUST 19, 2026

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The digital rendering “Don’t Drink the Coffee” earned Nick Charonis his first ever win in any art competition.

Shingle Springs artist takes Best in Show at California State Fair Andrew Vonderschmitt Mountain Democrat features editor

F

or Nick Charonis, creating the artwork that would eventually win Best in Show at the California State Fair was never about winning a

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competition. It was about making something cool. Charonis, a 26-year-old Shingle Springs artist and student at Folsom Lake College, took the top award in the California State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition with “Don’t Drink the

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Coffee,” a playful digital 3D rendering that depicts tiny mischievous characters inside a coffee mug. The recognition was particularly notable because digital and 3D artwork rarely receives top awards in traditional juried fine art competitions. According to the exhibition director, Charonis’ piece is believed to be the first digital/3D artwork to win Best in Show at the California State Fair. For Charonis, the accomplishment came as a surprise. “I was just so surprised that I won,” he said. When he walked into the exhibition, he saw what he considered an impressive collection of artwork and initially felt like “a little bit of an imposter.” He was thrilled simply to have his work accepted into the exhibition. Learning that it had received Best in Show was something else entirely. “It was like a dream come true,” he said. Charonis has been making art for most of his life, beginning when he was a child. His experience has included drawing with pen and watercolor, digital illustration and, more recently, 3D rendering. “Don’t Drink the Coffee” was his first attempt at 3D art. He created the piece using Blender, a computer graphics program. Unlike a physical sculpture, the artwork is entirely computer-generated and rendered to look like a three-dimensional object. Charonis originally began the project because he wanted to create a 3D-printed file that could eventually become a sculpture. As he worked, however, he became increasingly interested in the task. “I really enjoyed the process,” he said. The inspiration for exploring 3D art came in part from the animated film “Flow,” which was created using the same Blender software Charonis was learning. He had previously used the program primarily for creating game assets and visualizing ideas. Seeing the possibilities in “Flow” prompted him to reconsider what he could do with the medium. “I never expected it to actually be considered fine art,” Charonis said. “I was just trying to make something cool.” The finished work combines technical precision with a deliberately whimsical concept. The coffee mug appears almost photographic at first glance, but closer inspection reveals the tiny characters carrying out their mischief inside it. The playful nature of the piece also sets it apart from the more traditional and serious works surrounding it in the exhibition. Because digital 3D rendering can be

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unfamiliar to viewers and jurors accustomed to physical media, Charonis worked with the fair to create a display panel showing the process behind the finished image. That behind-the-scenes presentation helped demonstrate that the seemingly photographic image was actually constructed entirely in a digital environment. Charonis said one of the judges was familiar with 3D art and advocated for giving his work a closer look. That support may have helped the piece overcome one of the challenges facing artists working in newer digital mediums. “Digital art doesn’t usually get understood,” Charonis said. Entering the State Fair competition was itself a new experience. His former art professor had encouraged him to submit his work to the student exhibition, and Charonis said he had rarely shared his artwork publicly before. He decided it was time to be more proactive about his passion. When he discovered the Fine Arts Exhibition was accepting submissions, he entered “Don’t Drink the Coffee.” The Best in Show award has given Charonis encouragement to continue pursuing his art and submit more work to competitions. He currently has the same piece entered in an international competition and plans to enter future work as well. He is already developing another series featuring the same mischievous characters. The next installment moves the characters into a wealthy person’s bank vault, where they fill a bag with valuables, pry gems from a crown and toss coins into their haul. Charonis describes the characters as mischievous critters and envisions the series with an “eat the rich” theme. The new work will continue the same visual style while placing the characters in a different environment. Although Charonis once considered animation, he has decided not to pursue it as a career. He is currently studying philosophy and focusing on his grades with hopes of transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, or another university. His larger ambition, however, remains tied to art. “I really want to make a living off my art,” he said. “That’s like my dream.” For someone who had rarely shown his work publicly, the State Fair award could provide an important first step toward that dream. What began as an experiment with a computer program has now introduced Charonis’ work to a much larger audience — and established his place in the history of the California State Fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition.

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Lic. #982830

Lic. #982830

open only to applicants residing in supervisorial District 1, which covers most of El Dorado Hills. The Library Commission is advisory to the Board of Supervisors on ways and means of improvement of county free library services; advise Board of Supervisors of rules and regulations governing operation of county library system; make recommendations to Board of Supervisors for future development and maintenance regarding library services. The person chosen to serve will be fulfilling the unexpired term of a previous appointee with the term expiration of Jan. 8, 2029. The El Dorado County Library Commission

meets in January, April, July, and October on the third Thursday of the month at approved county meeting rooms and are also available via Zoom. The meetings are open to the public with the next meeting set for 3 p.m. on Oct. 15. An online application is available at eldoradocounty.ca.gov/ County-Government/ Board-ofSupervisors/ Application-for-NewBoard-Commissionor-Committee. All applicants must complete an application to be considered. Interested applicants may also call (530) 621-5390 or visit the Board of Supervisors office at the county government center, 330 Fair Lane in Placerville for a paper application.

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AUGUST 19, 2026

It’s time for adventure. Fourth-graders get free park passes California State Parks

ticipants of California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. To date, Californians have received more than 145,000 Golden Bear Passes. State Parks recently completed a promotion of its Historian Passport, which saw more than 454,000 passes downloaded in just over two weeks.

News release SACRAMENTO — California fourthgrade families can now add a California State Parks pass to their back-to-school shopping list. And unlike the backpack, notebook and pencils, this pass is absolutely free! Just in time for the 2026-27 school year, State Parks is updating its free pass program for fourth graders with a simplified name and new sign-up period. Now, incoming California fourth graders in public school can get their Free Fourth Grade Pass at the same time as all their other school supplies and start the new academic year with unlimited free access to 54 participating state parks. Parents and guardians can download the free pass for their incoming fourth graders at ReserveCalifornia.com. “Fostering a lifelong connection with nature and the outdoors starts at a young age,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “With California’s Free Fourth Grade Passes for fourth graders and their families, we are giving more school kids the opportunity to experience all the natural wonders of the Golden State. With the school year kicking off, California’s fourth graders will lead the charge as the next generation of environmental stewards.” “As a mom, I’ve seen firsthand how fourth grade is a time for personal growth, endless wonder and exploration — and there are no better places to explore than our amazing state parks,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “The Free Fourth Grade Pass

Benefits of spending time outdoors

Photos courtesy of California State Parks

California State Parks’ Free Fourth Grade Pass provides families with a variety of outdoor and cultural experiences at 54 state parks throughout the state. makes it possible for all fourth grade families to go out and immerse themselves in our state’s incredible beauty, culture and history, helping create an Outdoors for All.” Fourth graders previously couldn’t sign up for the pass — formerly known as the California State Park Adventure Pass — until September, after the school year had already started in many districts throughout the state. In addition to opening at the beginning of August, the pass is now valid for up to 13 months, through Aug. 31 of the following year, so it can be used from the time students start fourth grade until

they begin fifth grade. “California State Parks is committed to making it as easy as possible for fourth graders and their families to experience California’s unparalleled natural and cultural treasures. The updates to our Free Fourth Grade Pass program do exactly that,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “As the new school year begins, I encourage every California fourthgrade family to get their free pass and start exploring the nation’s largest and most diverse state park system. Parks are living classrooms filled with opportunities to learn, discover and create lasting memories together.”

Outdoors for All The free pass is a cornerstone of Outdoors for All, Gov. Newsom and the First Partner’s commitment to equitable park access, ensuring all Californians can enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of the outdoors. Since the free pass program was launched in September 2021, more than 100,000 passes have been distributed to fourth graders and their families. Along with all fourth graders in public school, California residents from all walks of life — including families receiving public assistance and anyone with a library card — can

access free parks passes as part of Outdoors for All: • California State Library Parks Pass: Allows library cardholders to check out a pass from any public library for free vehicle day-use entry at 200-plus state parks. It’s just like borrowing a book, with more than 33,000 passes available at over 1,100 public and tribal libraries in the state. • Golden Bear Pass: This free annual pass provides vehicle day-use entry at over 200 state parks for families who receive CalWORKs, individuals who receive supplemental security income, incomeeligible Californians older than 62 and par-

The 54 participating state parks help complement the fourth-grade curriculum, bringing to life what fourth graders are learning in the classroom. Fourth grade is a unique time in a child’s development where they begin to better understand how the world around them works in concrete ways, and they are more receptive to engaging with nature and the environment. Studies indicate that access to parks and green space can lead to improvements in children’s physical wellbeing, social-emotional learning and academic outcomes, with children experiencing reduced stress and demonstrating more enthusiasm for school.

How to get your Free Fourth Grade Pass Signing up for the Free Fourth Grade Pass is easy. A parent or guardian can apply on ReserveCalifornia. com (account required) to download the pass. The only information required is a name, address, phone number and email address. For more information about the Free Fourth Grade Pass program visit parks. ca.gov/4thGrade.

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AUGUST 19, 2026