■ ON THE COURT
An Oak Ridge basketball star returns to coach the next generation. ■ INSIDE, A3
I N E L D O R A D O H I L L S ■ DECEMBER 17, 2025
Village Life photos by Shelly Thorene
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in El Dorado Hills with signature community events celebrating the season recently taking place. Santa Claus, at right, is all smiles after he and Mrs. Claus arrive at the El Dorado Hills Town Center Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 6. The pair rode in style, atop an EDH Fire Department ladder truck, and joined the holiday festivities. At left, the jolly fellow celebrates as the tree’s lights twinkle.
Village Life photos by Noel Stack
A happy reunion — Susan Leonard, above left, and her husband Don join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a photo during this month’s El Dorado Hills Fire Department Santa Run. — Holiday Heroes Food and Toy Drive. In September 2024 Susan went into cardiac arrest and among the first responders who came to her aid was the man in the red suit, Capt. Brian Wilkey. Above right, snow falls on holiday revelers at the Oak Knoll Park Santa Stop on Dec. 9. This year’s Santa Run collected more than 5,000 toys, which were delivered to Shriners Children’s Northern California in Sacramento on Dec. 13.
County moves ahead Snowball event fulfills Christmas wishes with fee refunds Village Life staff
S
Noel Stack Editor Ten years to the day Thomas and Helen Austin filed their lawsuit alleging the county and two special districts improperly collected impact fees while in violation of the California Mitigation Fee Act, El Dorado County supervisors set into motion a refund process for 1,800-plus property owners. At the Dec. 2 board meeting a motion was made by Supervisor Brian Veerkamp, seconded by Supervisor Lori Parlin and supported by Supervisors Brooke Laine and George Turnboo to: • Direct staff to issue partial refunds by direct payment to the current record owners of eligible parcels as of the last equalized assessment roll, with payment amounts prorated based on the proportional relationship between the amount of fees actually paid on an eligible parcel and the amount of funds subject to refund pursuant to the settlement agreements; and • Direct staff to develop a claims process to facilitate the refunds, proceed with the refunds once the claims process is implemented, and to return to the board in approximately six months with a status update on the refunds. Supervisor Greg Ferrero was absent. The settlement agreement negotiated over the ■ See REFUNDS, page A4
hopping carts filled with warm clothes and aisles filled with laughter and smiles took over Target in El Dorado Hills on Dec. 6 at the 17th annual Snowball Heroes and Helpers Shopping Event, benefiting at-risk children in El Dorado County. More than 200 kids were treated to a $200 shopping spree at this community event that brings youth together with first responders for a morning of positivity. The Snowball event is one of the largest and longest-running holiday charity outreach programs in Northern California — raising more than half a million dollars and supporting over 2,000 local children since its inception. “Unfortunately, many at-risk children’s earliest interactions with first responders happen dur-
Village Life photo by Noel Stack
The Grinch gets a high-five from Makayla, 6, as her volunteer shopping buddy Aubrey watches. The pair filled the Target cart with necessities and a few treats during the Dec. 6 Snowball Heroes and Helpers Shopping Event. ing stressful or traumatic moments,” said District Attorney Vern Pierson.
“Cyndee and I started the Snowball event with the help of Ken and
Lani Steers to give these ■ See SNOWBALL, page A5
INSIDE NEWS VOL. 32 ■ ISSUE NO. 24 FOR GUARANTEED WEEKLY DELIVERY, SUBSCRIBE BY CALLING 530 3445000
■ BLACKSTONE BEAUTY IN EDH This exceptional home backs to a greenbelt, offering privacy, and has many great features.
■ DENTIST HOLDS SUGARY CONTEST El Dorado Hills Dental’s office has more candy inside than you would think.
PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 215 FOLSOM, CA 95630 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
■ VILLAGE HOMES, B2
■ INSIDE, A5