Posted by | May 3, 2025 2:50 pm | , EL DORADO HILLS – A head-on collision claimed the life of a woman and left three others injured according to the California Highway Patrol CHP officials said a 2023 Dodge Charger was traveling eastbound while a 2023 Toyota Camry was heading westbound on the same roadway both reportedly driving at approximately 55 miles per hour Investigators believe the Dodge Charger veered off the south edge of the road and struck a raised asphalt curb and collided head-on with the oncoming Toyota Camry identified as 84-year-old Joan Allison of Cameron Park All three occupants of the Dodge Charger were transported to the hospital A 7-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl riding in the vehicle were also transported with injuries CHP said the crash remains under active investigation Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of alcohol or drugs as a contributing factor Green Valley Road was temporarily closed in both directions Saturday while crews worked the scene an during the investigation No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsContact UsSubscribe for FREE! 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Make sure you get those nominations in before voting begins News | Apr 14 How to reduce millions of dollars in expenses from El Dorado County’s General Fund was the topic at the April 8 county Board of Supervisors meeting with more than a dozen county services up for reductions or removal from the budget said Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Sue Hennike who along with Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Laura Schwartz the juvenile detention center and Placerville Aquatic Center funding on the chopping block the presentation was attended by almost a full house of people who spoke in earnest about their various groups’ needs While working with the budget ad hoc committee that included Supervisors George Turnboo and Brian Veerkamp staff discussed ways to close the gap and spread the burden across departments Departments had been asked to reduce their collective net county cost by $15.25 million but departments are really stepping up,” she added supervisors cut $868,567 in discretionary funding to outside agencies for tourism and economic development along with reducing funding to Planning and Building and the Department of Transportation for tourism-related programs — a $1.3 million reduction they chose to include funding for fire districts for tourism impacts at the fiscal year 2024-25 level and directed staff to ask fire districts about their tourism impacts Requests from the fire districts and the adjusted amounts are as follows: El Dorado County Fire It was recommended April 8 to cut fire tourism impact funding altogether for fiscal year 2025-26 “This call reimbursement for these TOT (Transient Occupant Tax) calls absent of the TOT dollars that are generated to offset our responses on those that shifts right to our residents,” EDCFPD Chief Tim Cordero said “We use their property tax dollars to run these calls … that could be used for other programs other aspects of our district besides these tourism-related calls.” Schwartz said it’s not getting any better It’s declined to 4.69% this year and we are projecting 3.5% “We want to direct departments to work on scenarios for a 5% and a 10% budget reduction,” she told the board adding they also want to be informed about service impacts related to these reductions “The reason we want departments to work on that now is so that we have time to plan and make some good decisions.” This information would be brought back to the board in the fall 68 is allocated to go toward a restroom facility and an environmental analysis “So that’s the part that’s already been spent,” Hennike said adding if the county doesn’t build the restroom the grant funding already spent would have to be paid back Complicating the project is the ADA accessibility needed to get to the restrooms which balloons that portion of the project’s cost to $1 million “If we took the entire $3 million (needed for) the project nothing would get done out there?” District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine asked We just don’t have any other funding the little pieces of funding that we’ve already gotten through Prop 68 wouldn’t cover enough to really do any of it,” Hennike replied.  “I think we need $800,000 to get the bathroom in with ADA accessibility and the parking lot,” said Laine “And have you ever used the bathroom before at Forebay “I’ve heard about it,” Laine answered Parlin described an old wooden potty she said is kind of “scary.” “I know that we’re hard pressed for money but gosh that’s one thing you really do need there So maybe we can get creative somehow,” Parlin added Snowline Little League President Ashley Hazlett noted her organization has been footing the bill for a port-a-potty and she lamented the loss of the Forebay Park plans “I am saddened to see that the funds that were allocated to Forebay Park are being removed in their entirety,” she shared telling the supervisors she now has to let the children know the field that they were so looking forward to seeing next year after construction was supposed to break ground on June 1 of 2025 “I’m beyond disappointed at the way that Chili Bar has been allowed to deteriorate,” said Parlin “We’ve had to demolish a building For whatever reason we let water get in there for years The county has owned Chili Bar since 2007 and American River Conservancy had its conservation easement since 1994 for the maintenance … at Chili Bar we have a partner there We could use that for our maintenance on site as part of our agreement,” Parlin suggested Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Franich said as far as the planned vault toilets in the parking lot go “We have a joint application into state parks It was completed with ARC … and the reason we were able to apply for that is because it would be serving those who use the river for recreation.” but conservancy officials said they could maintain new restrooms worrying about the discord in the state and federal government right now If you’re even going to secure those grants especially with anything federal,” Franich agreed adding staff expects to hear back this spring or summer she said there are “four levels of intensity” under consideration for a Chili Bar campground Lebek Engineering in Cameron Park is working on cost estimates for each option which will later be presented to the board Turnboo asked if staff looked into privatizing the campground “We did look at a concessionaire model They could probably do tenant improvements at the site They could give us a portion of their revenue that they make from running the site So it would be some sort of hybrid,” Franich said “It’s a shame to let that place just sit there like it is,” District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero said “It’s a beautiful area.” District 3 Supervisor Veerkamp said any river fees or TOT for campsites at Chili Bar should be allocated for improvements “We have not addressed river use fees in how long — 20 years?” he asked “We’ve got to get serious about some of these revenues and but that’s where it needs to come from.” On March 4 an updated fee schedule for the Senior Day Care Program hosted in two locations — Placerville and El Dorado Hills — was brought before the board and on April 8 those fee increases were further examined senior day care fees have not changed since 2016 and in the past four years the general fund cost of the senior day program has increased 60% So it’s up to $800,000 a year for that program,” said Emma Owens we’re serving 7.5 people at each of the sites Before the pandemic we were serving 25 people on average at each of the sites.” spread evenly across three years with Consumer Price Index increases Approximately 71% of current members who responded to a staff survey said they would continue to participate if the rate increases were spread over three years The estimated General Fund cost savings with rate increase is $440,864 Combine sites by closing the El Dorado Hills facility and moving all Senior Day Care services to Placerville Approximately 54% of current El Dorado Hills members who responded to a staff survey indicated that they would continue participation if the program moves to Placerville After closure of the El Dorado Hills facility staff can explore options to sell or lease the county-owned site and return to the board with recommendations for the fiscal year 2025-26 adopted budget Potential closure and lease/sale of the site could result in an additional $525,000 in deferred maintenance savings related to the facility “It won’t change the capacity of the program because the people from El Dorado Hills could move up to the Placerville site,” Owens shared the El Dorado Hills Community Services District operates some senior services out of that building which also served as a Senior Nutrition Program site “We’d like to come up with a plan of what we do in the interim while the (day care) program is no longer in that facility,” Owen said adding a long-term plan for senior services is also needed “I’ve lost sleep over this one,” Supervisor Ferrero said asking if the closure would affect the Senior Nutrition Program in El Dorado Hills Ferrero asked for confirmation on a waiting list to get into the El Dorado Hills Senior Day Care program “There’s a waiting list and that’s a combination of do we have enough staff to accommodate everyone because there’s ratios,” Owens explained it takes time to get someone fully enrolled So they’re on the waiting list during the process of getting them enrolled.” we could accept more,” Ferrero suggested.  “I’m just really torn,” he added “El Dorado Hills has got to have the highest concentration of seniors in the county especially with our two large age-restricted communities But I also realize that we’re not serving a lot of people from El Dorado Hills.” Supervisor Lori Parlin asked where senior meals will be served and Owens said they will stay at the El Dorado Hills location for now Meals are currently brought down from Placerville assistant director of Health and Human Services said 15-20 seniors are served daily in El Dorado Hills But there are seven congregate sites in all where meals are driven to with about 200 volunteers in the program who help deliver meals The program serves about 3,000 congregate meals monthly and 10,000-12,000 home delivered meals monthly Jaynes said she believes El Dorado Transit could drive seniors to the Placerville site “And then there’s also a program where family members can be reimbursed mileage for driving them to and from the program,” she added For those seniors who can’t leave their homes drivers deliver their meals and check in on them Chair Turnboo asked if churches could run the program “They would have to be able to receive the federal funding unless we were to contract with the churches to provide the service,” Jaynes replied Turnboo suggested the El Dorado Community Church “(They) would probably be on board with that.” Staff also explored potential for cost savings and revenue generating opportunities in Community Services programs including Senior Nutrition and Senior Legal.  “There’s some oversight of those programs so it’ll take some time to implement maybe six months if we do implement any changes,” Owens Shared • The Senior Nutrition Program is currently budgeted with 6.62 mealsite coordinators HHSA has identified operational efficiencies that will allow for the elimination of one vacant position • HHSA will increase efforts to generate community donations • Staff will continue to explore opportunities for cost savings “With 31% of the county’s population being over age 60 the influence and concerns of the seniors holds a significant weight regarding the services by the county.” Fuquay said the commission supports exploring alternative funding sources “The COA is committed to collaborating with the county in this endeavor seeking grants and charitable donations from the community,” she said a senior who volunteered at the senior center for 25 years said it was the first board meeting he has attended and commended supervisors for their thoughtfulness “Your sensitivity to the issues of the senior center are commendable,” he said you said earlier when this topic came up that you had trouble sleeping at night So I know the compassion and empathy that you have is shared by every one of your board members.” Changes were also proposed to Animal Services to help close the budget gap HHSA requested conceptual approval to review current county ordinances to identify revenue generating and cost saving opportunities That includes reviewing the current fee structure and exploring opportunities to increase revenue through grant opportunities and public donations “Our animals ordinance largely hasn’t been updated since 1997,” Owens said “So we’d like to take some time to go through that ordinance and see if there’s any efficiencies there or changes in how fees are applied.” El Dorado County’s Juvenile Treatment Center is a mandated service but only has an average daily population of 10-16 youth The average annual cost over the last three years was about $3.7 million could potentially be reduced by contracting with another county to use its facility The CAO recommendation is to “explore alternative service models for juvenile detention with regional partners for incorporation into future budgets.”  “Whether we do that through our own juvenile treatment center or if we contract with another county who has a facility it’s yet to be seen which one might be more efficient,” Hennike said.  “We have met with all the internal stakeholders at the county to see how restructuring how that service is provided might affect them,” she continued “Now we need to reach out to some regional partners and some other counties to see what might be available out there in terms of contracting and how that cost would compare with doing it in-house.” A 47% reduction in General Fund financing in the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience could be achieved through a series of program modifications The revised net county cost would be about $486,000 with the implementation of the following changes: Reorganization and reassignments of administrative/management staff to other non-General Fund roles within the CAO’s Office — $175,380 savings Removal of supplemental requests like county-owned parcel clearing and community assessments/wildfire behavior modeling — $100,000 savings End the Lake Valley contract and move defensible space inspection workload from Strawberry to the Tahoe Basin region to west slope staff — $82,700 savings Strategic utilization of grants — $38,487 savings Reduction of staff assigned to biomass — $10,000 savings Also included in the agenda item was to discontinue fire tourism impact funding in fiscal year 2025-26 and to defer the El Dorado Hills Fire for Latrobe Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund equivalent contribution to the adopted budget “I don’t want to suggest that we won’t do county-owned parcel clearing if we need to but what we will do is many of those requests come in and they end up being in the DOT’s right-of-way And so they do have some funding in DOT that they can use to take care of those parcels.” the board would be asked for a contingency But the CAO would not be allocating the funding upfront said she thought the elimination of the Lake Valley contract was “enormous.” County inspectors on the west slope could head up to Tahoe a couple of times a month to take care of complaints but would likely not be able to do proactive county emphasis area inspections “I don’t see an inspector coming up twice a month mainly to deal with complaints … I think we will lose a lot of momentum,” Laine said adding that the vegetation management ordinance and safety of the Basin would be in jeopardy if the one inspector is removed “I’m not sure that that’s a hit that we can afford to take.” District 2 asked about Fire Safe councils doing the work Schwartz said the assessments done by council members are totally voluntary “They are not inspectors under the ordinance for purposes of enforcement of the ordinance,” she said We need more to provide these services to the influx populations we see,” chimed in LVFD Chief Chad Stephen “The assistance also helps us fund fire prevention programs and fire safety education,” he added “There’s an increase in demand for services These funds will help ensure that we are adequately staffed and equipped for these emergencies.” The Placerville Aquatic Center in fiscal year 2023-24 received $77,555 the board did find some one-time funding,” Schwartz said “They had some savings in your community benefit program account and you decided to allocate that toward the pool.” The County Administrative Office’s recommendation is to discontinue funding the aquatic center for fiscal year 2025-26 The county’s contribution was set up to cover expenses related to county users “I think the estimate is 75%-76% of the users are from out of the city,” Hennike said Placerville Community Services Director Denis Nishihara said the annual cost for operating the pool is $674,630 He said there were approximately 4,000 users in 2023-24 and around 3,113 of them were from outside the city limits “I’m a huge proponent of what we can do together,” Nishihara said “Closing down facilities are never easy I know it’s a very difficult thing to do but we want to be able to provide that.” He asked for .004% “to help save 3,100 lives from outside our city limits.” “We are better together,” he added Placerville City Manager Cleve Morris said he understands budget issues because the city is going through the same thing.  it could mean completely closing down the aquatic center this year; it’s that big of a factor and a cost in our budget that comes just from General Fund budget,” Morris said adding that closure is a safety issue because youth swimming lessons would be canceled as well as recreational activities as they are a “deterrent to crime.” He indicated that the county’s contribution last year is what is needed to fund the swimming lessons • Implement the clerk of the board’s two-year plan for the Records Center resulting in an approximately 85% General Fund cost reduction after two years • Continue to fund the Missouri Flat Master Circulation and Financing Plan until phase one obligations are complete • Renegotiate 2026-27 resource conservation district agreements • Incorporate the South Tahoe Transit Joint Powers Authority Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA and Board of Supervisors’ travel into the fiscal year 2025-26 budget • Direct staff to develop a retirement incentive plan as soon as feasible • Direct staff to begin working with departments on 5% and 10% budget reduction scenarios for the development of the fiscal year 2026-27 budget • Direct staff to work with the Budget Ad Hoc to explore revenue-generating options 1) Receive and file a presentation and supporting documentation on the fiscal year 2025-26 budget development as directed by the board; 2) Direct staff to incorporate the following into the FY 2025-26 recommended budget: a) Reallocate General Fund discretionary funding for the Chili Bar site the Forebay Park project except for the bathroom and parking lot and the Transportation Tahoma Building to county operations reallocate the funding for the Juvenile Treatment Center update to a Spring Street replacement designation and return to the board for consideration of the reallocation of Forebay Park funding for the bathroom and parking lot; b) Return to the board on April 22 for consideration of combining the Senior Day Care sites by closing the El Dorado Hills location and retaining the Placerville location and direct staff to return to the board with a fee increase for full cost recovery within three years including a Consumer Price Index annual increase; c) Direct staff to table the exploration of options to sell or lease the county-owned El Dorado Hills Senior Center site with the intention of maintaining the site for senior services and return to the board with recommendations for the FY 2025-26 adopted budget at this time; d) Explore potential for cost savings and revenue-generating opportunities in the Senior Nutrition including amendments to Ordinance Code Title 6 – Animals for inclusion in the FY 2026-27 budget; e) Direct staff to explore alternative service models for juvenile detention with regional partners for incorporation into future budgets; f) Implement the Clerk of the Board’s two-year plan for the Records Center resulting in an approximately 85% General Fund cost reduction after two years; g) Implement program modifications to the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience resulting in an approximately 47% General Fund cost reduction while exploring other options to conduct inspections including the ability of code enforcement officers to conduct inspections; h) Continue to fund the Missouri Flat Master Circulation and Financing Plan until phase one obligations are complete; i) Discontinue fire tourism impact funding in FY 2025-26 and direct staff to explore how to use CSA 7 funding to support EMS; j) Renegotiate the FY 2026-27 RCD agreements to be comparable to Tahoe RCD and explore other funding sources; and k) Include the El Dorado Hills Fire for Latrobe Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund equivalent contribution to the recommended budget to provide funding for the Placerville Aquatic Center in FY 2025-26 in the amount of $37,500 and ensure the funding is not provided unless the center is opened to discontinue funding for the Placerville Aquatic Center in FY 2025-26 Turnboo and Ferrero supported the motion with Laine and Veerkamp voting no to not provide funding for the South Tahoe Transit Joint Powers Authority to continue funding the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA to direct staff to reduce the Board of Supervisors’ travel in the FY 2025-26 budget to reflect only traveling to conferences where the member has been designated by the board as a representative and maximize use of county vehicles rather than mileage reimbursements for personal vehicles 1) Direct staff to develop a retirement incentive plan as soon as feasible; 2) Direct staff to begin working with departments on 5% and 10% budget reduction scenarios for the development of the FY 2026-27 budget; and 3) Direct staff to work with the Budget Ad Hoc to explore revenue-generating options The entire budget discussion, item 25 on the agenda, can be viewed on youtube.com by searching for EDC Board Meeting 4-8-2025. Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news Sign up for daily and breaking news headlines Manage Subscriptions Plans continue to move forward to build a Costco on this property along Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills The Costco proposal includes a warehouse store on one side of Silva Vally Parkway and a gas station on the other El Dorado Hills residents voiced concerns last week during a scoping meeting for the recently pared down Costco project proposed on Silva Valley Parkway The speaking majority opposed the commercial project split between the two parcels Costco purchased last summer encompassing 52 acres between Highway 50 and the Serrano residential community — with many vehemently objecting to the proposed gas station near Oak Meadow Elementary School El Dorado County Senior Planner Cameron Welch Discretionary Planning Manager Ande Flower along with environmental consultants Pat Angell and Kaitlin Roberts with Ascent hosted the standing-room-only meeting at EDH Fire Station 85 on March 10 would include an approximately 165,000-square-foot Costco warehouse retail center with a tire center and customer parking (above and below ground) on the south side of Silva Valley Parkway on approximately 17.63 acres The Costco gas station with 32 fueling positions and employee parking would be constructed on the north side of Silva Valley Parkway on approximately 3.29 acres The remaining Costco-owned property on the north side of Silva Valley Parkway — once slated for an apartment complex and commercial/retail project — will remain vacant A traffic light will be installed on Silva Valley Parkway at the main entrance to both the store and gas station Citing health studies and sharing concerns about safety and the wellbeing of Oak Meadow students and staff speaker after speaker implored the developer to take out plans for the gas station … or find a new spot for the entire project “There’s no mitigation plan that’s going to work except exclusion of the gas station,” declared EDH resident Amy Frith Noting how much children love to spend time outdoors during recess and during physical education classes “That’s a lot of time spent in an environment next to a lot of cars and a lot of gas.” said she wondered where all the wild turkeys she loves to watch on that property will go if the Costco project goes through “I don’t want the gas station built because of air quality.” Traffic congestion on Silva Valley Parkway was another major concern Oak Meadow parents invited planners and developer representatives to come out to the area when school starts or ends to see the traffic jam that backs up arguing that a commercial project as large as Costco will make it much worse EDH resident Tim White suggested making the developer widen Clarksville Crossing “One lane is not going to work,” White maintained Other concerns included environmental impacts to the nearby wetland area and water quality loss of revenue for local businesses as well as the sheer size of the project There were some positive comments about getting sales tax revenue that currently goes to the city of Folsom when El Dorado County residents shop at that Costco but many didn't see that as enough of a positive to support the project Noting the project includes underground parking to accommodate all the spaces necessary for a mega-wharehouse store like Costco EDH resident Jons van Dooren said it’s clear the site is too small “akin to putting 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5-pound bag Those who want to make a comment on the project before preparation of the draft environmental impact report begins have until 5 p.m. on Monday, March 31. Comments can be submitted via email to EDHCostco@edcgov.us or via regular mail: Once the draft EIR is complete in roughly three to four months residents will have 45-60 days to comment before the final EIR process begins the Costco project goes to the El Dorado County Planning Commission for approval Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The Economic Development Division is committed to cultivating a Thriving Economy within El Dorado County Our mission is to create an environment conducive to sustainable growth and enhanced quality of life for all residents Posted by | Apr 24, 2025 8:13 am | , EL DORADO HILLS — Fire crews from the El Dorado Hills Fire Department led the response efforts early Thursday morning to a reported interior structure fire at South Fork Grille a well known restaurant located in the El Dorado Hills Town Center firefighters arrived on scene and quickly located an active fire in the restaurant’s kitchen area crews had successfully knocked down the flames and were in the process of assessing damage and checking for any additional damage Initial reports indicate that the fire was contained to a small area of the kitchen The full extent of the fire is still being evaluated as of Thursday morning but according to photos taken at the scene the fire was contained to a stove and cooking area of the business and doesn’t appear to have caused any significant damage to the building “The fire started on top of the stove and burned into the stove hood and duct system (and) caused approximately $20,000 in damage and resulted in the closure of the restaurant until damages can be repaired No injuries were reported,” the El Dorado Hills Fire Department shared “The fire protection systems installed in the kitchen operated and knocked down a majority of the flames.” South Fork Grille opened its El Dorado Hills Town Center location in 2022 occupying the space that formerly housed Bistro 33 near the Town Center amphitheater The restaurant is one of seven operated by restaurateurs Karoline and Mark Platt who have built a reputation for quality dining experiences across the region The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce is turning up the volume on its 2025 Heart of the Hills Blues Blast with the return of one of modern blues’ most powerful guitar-slingers: Albert Cummings Cummings is set to take the stage at the second annual one-day music festival on Saturday delivering a performance that fans of blues A longtime favorite among local blues fans Cummings made an unforgettable impression at Coloma Blues Live during two of the festival’s earlier years his star has only risen—along with the intensity Known for his searing guitar work and deeply emotional songwriting Cummings blends technical skill with soulful performance in a way few artists can match Cummings initially followed a different path as a builder a career he pursued with award-winning success But that all changed after witnessing a Stevie Ray Vaughan concert releasing his first recording in 1999 at the age of 32 Vaughan’s former rhythm section—bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton—were producing his next album a sign of the rising talent they saw in him Over the course of a relentless touring schedule and a steady output of 10 acclaimed albums His 2022 album TEN was a career-defining moment Produced by Grammy-winning legend Chuck Ainlay—known for his work with Mark Knopfler and Miranda Lambert—it was a creative breakthrough that set a new standard for the artist “When you walk into a room with a producer like this it feels like there is a whole new world of possibilities ready to open up,” Cummings shared at the time “I felt like things were really turning in an exciting new direction.” That album also saw country music star Vince Gill lend his vocals to the track “Last Call,” a moment Cummings described as symbolic of staying open to opportunity and creative growth 1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart—Cummings has reaffirmed his place as one of the genre’s top-tier performers Festivalgoers will experience that growth and passion firsthand when Cummings takes the stage at District Church’s scenic outdoor venue in El Dorado Hills Town Center (7000 Rossmore Lane). The festival runs from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., with gates opening at noon. Tickets are available at www.heartofthehillsmusicfest.org with General Admission priced at $45 in advance and $55 at the gate (if available) a testament to the event’s growing popularity after last year’s inaugural sellout the Laurie Morvan Band will open the day’s festivities with their electrifying blues-rock energy paving the way for the evening’s headliners—none other than the legendary Fabulous Thunderbirds led by Kim Wilson and known for hits like “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up.” The Heart of the Hills Blues Blast benefits the community through the El Dorado Hills Chamber’s wide array of local programs and initiatives Guests are encouraged to review the event FAQ page for details on what to bring and other helpful tips at the official festival website Bill Sullivan has over 25 years of professional journalism and content creation experience in which he has earned 37 professional awards He is the co-founder/publisher of Folsom Times an All Town Media LLC product Posted by | Mar 27, 2025 4:05 pm | , Could El Dorado Hills soon swap its county roots for city status While the conversation is gaining momentum don’t expect a new city hall to pop up overnight the community is just gearing up for the first step a special Board meeting will be held to initiate discussions with the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Representatives from the cityhood proponent group will present detailed insights into the incorporation process The push for cityhood gained momentum on March 13 when the proponents presented their case to the El Dorado Hills Community Services District (CSD) Board of Directors the Board approved advancing the cityhood process The District will now formally apply to LAFCO to further explore the feasibility of cityhood with costs for this phase split equally between the District and the proponents with a population of over 50,000 residents makes up approximately 26% of El Dorado County’s population Despite its size and economic contributions most local decisions are made by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors with only one supervisor representing the community Proponents argue that this structure is ineffective for a community of its size with cityhood offering greater local control and direct representation A key point emphasized in the presentation was the financial imbalance Proponents stated that El Dorado Hills contributes nearly 30% of the county’s tax base yet receives far fewer services in return compared to what it generates Becoming a city would allow the community to retain more of its tax revenue according to the presentation by El Dorado Hills Citizens For Cityhood The proponents further highlighted that El Dorado Hills’ contributions act as a financial advantage to the county with county leadership having little incentive to change the status quo They referred to El Dorado Hills as a “cash cow” for the county asserting that incorporation would ensure tax revenue is reinvested locally instead the El Dorado Hills CSD commissioned GRA and McGuire Research to conduct a comprehensive community survey The survey was designed to gauge residents’ thoughts on incorporation According to the results presented at the April 13 a significant majority of respondents supported further exploration of cityhood Residents voiced strong interest in increased local control and improved allocation of local tax dollars Many participants expressed concerns over the county’s ability to address El Dorado Hills’ growing needs respondents supported cityhood as a potential means of enhancing community planning and maintaining the character of the region What Cityhood Could Mean for El Dorado Hills El Dorado Hills would establish its own city government led by a five-member city council elected by residents Responsibilities currently managed by the county would also be absorbed into the new city government Proponents argue that having a dedicated city council would enable faster decision-making and more responsive governance Law enforcement services would also see changes with the possibility of establishing a local police department solely focused on El Dorado Hills Proponents further highlighted that affordable housing mandates could be managed with greater flexibility under city governance ensuring that the community’s character is preserved Cityhood would also grant the community more control over future development Proponents pointed to past frustrations with the county’s development decisions including large-scale projects and rezoning proposals the community could have a stronger voice in shaping growth and ensuring development aligns with local priorities The presentation emphasized that cityhood would not mean new taxes Proponents committed to advancing the cityhood effort only if it could be achieved without increasing taxes They explained that the incorporation process involves a Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis (CFA) that will provide a clear assessment of the city’s financial feasibility If the CFA reveals that cityhood would require raising taxes the effort will be abandoned before proceeding to a public vote will offer further clarity on the city’s projected revenue Costs for these studies are estimated to range from $300,000 to $600,000 with cityhood proponents having already raised $200,000 to contribute to these efforts governance would transition to a local city council Proponents expressed confidence in the proposed leadership model emphasizing that council members would be directly accountable to residents The new city government would manage essential services The April 3 meeting will be the first formal step in the cityhood application process the CFA and an environmental review will be completed Residents will have opportunities to provide input throughout the process with the CSD planning additional public meetings and informational sessions believing that cityhood will provide El Dorado Hills with financial independence Community members are encouraged to stay informed and participate in discussions to help shape the future of El Dorado Hills For ongoing updates and information on the cityhood process, including upcoming meetings and presentations, residents can visit the El Dorado Hills Community Services District’s cityhood page at www.eldoradohillscsd.org/about/cityhood.php Megan Davis is a student intern with All Town Media LLC Posted by | Apr 18, 2025 6:53 am | , EL DORADO HILLS—Fire personnel responded to an early morning structure fire just before daybreak Friday containing the blaze that ignited along a residential fence line and spread into a home’s garage in El Dorado Hills The fire occurred off Bass Lake Road and drew an immediate response from El Dorado Hills Fire Department Crews arrived to find active flames on the exterior of the residence with the fire having extended from the fence into the attached garage and firefighters successfully extinguished the flames According to the El Dorado Hills Fire Department the fire originated from rags soaked in an oil-based wood stain that had been improperly discarded The heat generated by the chemical-soaked rags caused them to ignite spontaneously setting fire to nearby materials and spreading to the home The department is using the incident as a reminder to the community about the hidden dangers of oil-based products “Rags soaked in oil-based stain can combust without warning if not properly handled,” the department shared “These materials must be thoroughly dried in a well-ventilated area before being placed in any trash receptacle Simply tossing them into a garbage bin can lead to fire.” Posted by | Apr 8, 2025 2:19 pm | , The wait is finally over—Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar is officially opening its doors to its much highly anticipated location in El Dorado Hills The newest location for the local restaurant group opened its doors for a soft launch Monday and Tuesday and will officially open with full operations this Wednesday bringing its signature Japanese cuisine to El Dorado Hills Town Center the new Mikuni marks a milestone not only for the restaurant group but also for the local community—this is the very first Mikuni location to open in El Dorado County With an enthusiastic “Let’s Go!” shared by Chief Dreaming Officer Taro Arai on social media Mikuni made its quiet debut in a space formerly occupied by Aji Japanese Bistro closed last May due to rising operational costs Bringing Mikuni to El Dorado Hills has been a long-standing dream for Arai who has spent more than 15 years working to make it happen After years of negotiation and searching for the right location a deal was finally struck in 2024 with El Dorado Hills Town Center “This endeavor represents a significant milestone for us as we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Japanese cuisine and unparalleled dining experiences to communities across Northern California,” said Arai The El Dorado Hills opening brings Mikuni’s total number of restaurants to 10 across the Sacramento region El Dorado Hills residents have driven to Folsom or Fair Oaks to enjoy Mikuni’s famous sushi rolls and Japanese dishes those same diners have a much more convenient option and that restaurant was too small,” Arai shared in a previous Folsom Times interview when they announced the expansion to El Dorado Hills. “That was a mistake I made when we opened in Folsom.” Mikuni has grown into one of Northern California’s most beloved restaurant brands who affectionately refers to himself as Mikuni’s “Chief Dreaming Officer,” has long been a trailblazer in the local culinary scene He’s also known for his community spirit and philanthropy—raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through creative campaigns like the “Rescue Roll” in times of disaster “This is such an exciting addition to our community,” said Debbie Manning CEO and President of the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce “We are thrilled to welcome Mikuni into Town Center as a restaurant business partner Their successful history of serving exceptional Japanese cuisine will benefit the community greatly.” a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Pan Pacific International Holdings Mikuni emphasized that it will remain locally operated with the Arai family continuing to lead day-to-day management “We want to emphasize that Mikuni’s heart and soul will remain true as we live by our mission to be the most loving and loved company in the world,” Arai said in a statement The acquisition is expected to help fuel Mikuni’s longtime expansion goal of 50 locations by its 50th anniversary Mikuni El Dorado Hills is welcoming diners for an early look at its newest location Full operations will continue to ramp up in the coming days offering everything from the beloved Fair Oaks Roll to inventive creations inspired by Arai’s culinary imagination For more information and updates, visit www.mikunisushi.com or follow Mikuni on social media The Long Range Planning team is responsible for helping the Board of Supervisors develop plans Long range planning involves highly complex and diverse land use decisions that require a careful balancing of competing economic The Board of Supervisors endorsed the Long Range Planning 2024-2025 Work Plan on July 30, 2024 (Legistar File Number 24-1332  Note: All dates are subject to change. Updated meeting calendars, agendas and information for the Board and Commissions can be found on the county's Legistar system Note: Written comments on Long Range Planning projects submitted to the Board of Supervisors Subscribe to Long Range Planning News & Updates We are currently in the process of updating all Fire Hazard Severity Zones in our system to reflect the recent CAL FIRE updates. As a result, some information on our website may not yet reflect these changes. We appreciate your patience as we work to ensure that our data is accurate and up-to-date. Check here: Fire Hazard Severity Zones | OSFM El Dorado Hills Fire District Inspections and Reviews: Effective March 1 all residential fire sprinkler reviews and inspections as well as smoke and carbon monoxide alarm inspections within the El Dorado Hills Fire District will be conducted by the El Dorado County Building Division Fire sprinkler reviews and inspections for permits submitted prior to March 1 2025 will remain under the authority of the El Dorado Hills Fire Department Exterior Elevated Elements(PDF, 165KB) We are dedicated to serving our citizens with integrity Our professional staff work to simplify the planning and building experience for our citizens to encourage a thriving economy for all Monday - Friday (Excluding Wednesday)7:00 AM - 12:00 PM1:00 PM - 4:00 PMWednesday9:00 AM - 12:00 PM1:00 PM - 4:00 PMBefore 12:00pm: Walk-InsAfter 1:00pm: Appointments Posted by | Apr 25, 2025 6:31 am | The El Dorado Hills Fire Department has a new official fire chief The El Dorado Hills Fire Board of Directors has approved interim Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal to become the new permanent El Dorado Hills Fire Chief The permanent title was approved with a 4-0 vote by the board and comes with a three-year employment contract that officially takes effect May 1 Lilienthal assumed the role of interim chief at the conclusion of 2024 when former Fire Chief Maurice Johnson made the decision to retire “It is an honor and privilege to serve as the fire chief for the El Dorado Hills Fire Department With more than 28 years in the fire service I am proud to lead a dedicated team committed to protecting lives property and the unique spirit of our community El Dorado Hills is not just where we work — it’s where we live raise our families and build lasting connections I believe that strong relationships and open communication are the foundation of a truly successful fire department a public safety event or simply a moment to educate and engage.” Chief Lilienthal brings over 28 years of fire service experience to the El Dorado Hills Fire Department Beginning his career with the Stockton Fire Department he has served in various leadership capacities including Fire Marshal and multiple Deputy Chief roles supporting employee wellness and safety,” he continued “Reducing wildfire risk and remaining fiscally responsible We are continually evolving to meet the changing needs of our growing community while honoring the values that have shaped this department over the years.” The 4-0 vote came from EDH Fire Board Directors Tim White and Kevin Gotro at last week’s meeting Director Debbie Manning was absent from the most recent meeting Focus on permanent housing solutions for low to moderate income households by financing the development of affordable rental units and financing loans for homebuyers and homeowners Phone: 530-621-5824 Developers: Housing@edcgov.us Homebuyers: Loans@edcgov.us SIGN UP you’ll receive updates on program timelines and eligibility Are you an El Dorado County resident currently experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness Call The Front Door at (530) 600-2822 for assessment and referrals to eligible Homeless programs The El Dorado County Navigation Center is a 60-bed referral-only shelter Please contact The Front Door at (530) 600-2822 to determine eligibility.  an exquisite new home community in El Dorado Hills Only a dozen new homes remain available for sale in this popular community located at 7044 Grand Teton Drive in El Dorado Hills Hidden Ridge offers four distinct floor plans each showcasing open-concept home designs with first-floor ceilings soaring up to 20 feet and ranging from 3,000 to 4,000+ square feet with 4 to 5 bedrooms and 3.5 to 4.5 baths Each floor plan features an expansive kitchen and casual dining area perfect for entertaining Home buyers will enjoy elevated features including fireplaces in the great rooms The dynamic structural options allow buyers to create their perfect home with features such as an office The gorgeous streetscape of the community features Coastal Contemporary The state-of-the-art Sacramento Design Studio allows home buyers to choose from a wide array of selections to personalize their dream home with the assistance of Toll Brothers professional Design Consultants “We invite home buyers to explore the final remaining homes for sale in Hidden Ridge before it is too late,” said Scott Esping Division President of Toll Brothers in Sacramento “This community offers exceptional home sites and access to top-rated schools Residents of this new home community in El Dorado Hills will enjoy high-ranking public and private schools and an abundance of local public parks Hidden Ridge is conveniently also located near high-end dining as well as the Folsom Historic Downtown District The community is within the Rescue Union School District (Elementary and Middle Schools) and El Dorado Union High School District visit the Toll Brothers Sales Center at 7044 Grand Teton Drive in El Dorado Hills and Wednesday from 2 pm to 5 pm by appointment only is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes The Company was founded 57 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986 Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” The Company serves first-time Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona The Company operates its own architectural The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@tollbrothers.com Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG) Posted by | Mar 2, 2025 8:49 pm | , my anniversary and an average of 18 days of sunshine in the Sacramento area our wedding was outdoors in February because we were counting on one of those 18 days we got married on the coast where the average number of sunny days in February is only ten we caught one of those ten sunny days.  It’s those 18 sunny days in February that tease me into thinking Spring is here Spring weather is just another reason to go outside My last column highlighted the endless number of outdoor activities that are available in Folsom I received feedback to shine a spotlight on El Dorado Hills as it too has lots of features to enjoy.  Look no further than the El Dorado Hills Community Services District and Community Park area It embodies what makes this area so unique and special lots of communities have parks and community areas But have you ever visited and spent time at ours there’s an endless number of activities to do There are sports fields for soccer and baseball and a building with classrooms and dance floors oh let’s say 1.5 miles away and walking easy hike or ride your mountain bike across 28 acres of wilderness trail that is spotted with oak trees and a meandering stream that is so peaceful and beautiful in any weather – rain It’s an amazing natural getaway in the middle of suburban El Dorado Hills Between subdivisions and running fairly parallel to and between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Silva Valley Parkway you’ll feel miles away and in the midst of nature to experience the sights and sounds of birds Whether you take a walk to start your day take a midday break or end your day with a leisurely stroll on your own you’ll surely enjoy the New York Creek Nature Trail On one end is Jackson Elementary School and on the other is the El Dorado Hills Community Park and nearby Oak Ridge High School You’d never know unless you looked for it a hidden treat and something special that makes El Dorado Hills a wonderful place to live and work.  El Dorado Hills (EDH) and Folsom are wonderful places to live average price of a home sold in EDH is up to $1,100,000 and increase of approximately 17% The number of new listings and homes for sale increased too while the average number of days on market increased The number of homes sold dipped slightly.   many of the statistics and trends are fairly similar to data for EDH the most glaring difference is that the average price of a home sold in Folsom was $766,000 the number of homes sold in January 2025 was more than double the number sold in January 2024 The number of new listings and number of homes for sale in Folsom was up for both measures in January 2025 compared to January 2024 It’s an unusual set of data for sure let’s see how the numbers take shape as we move further into the year.  The above commentary was authored by local resident Pat Quan who regularly submits to Folsom Times The views and opinions expressed in community commentary submissions are that of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Folsom Times All submissions to Folsom Times are subject to guidelines, review and approval or disapproval by All Town Media That’s the consensus four El Dorado Hills Community Services District directors came to after discussing an investigative report related to the conduct of current Director Noelle Mattock and former Director Ben Paulsen Though disappointed with the quality of the report and what some called blatant gaps in the investigation Steve Ferry and Chuck King opted not to have another investigator tackle the subject It was decided on a 4-0 vote that the report and its conclusions released to the board and public will be sent to the Fair Political Practices Commission for review and the CSD will take no further action unless the FPPC comes back with a recommendation Mattock recused herself from the item discussed at the Dec The Mountain Democrat reached out to Mattock for comment after the meeting; she did not respond as of press time we're just dragging this out and we're just spending more money and we're getting a poor product for something that ultimately is up to the voters,” Hannaman shared “And the voters spoke just a few weeks ago That is the ultimate judge and she beat the odds So I'm not really willing to go forward with keeping this open.” EDHCSD General Manager Mark Hornstra said the district paid approximately $11,150 for the investigation and report Director Ferry agreed with Hannaman and made the suggestion to forward the investigation to the FPPC “… if we really pin this down as hard as we can pin it down over the next three or four months we're just gonna stop getting things done that this board needs to get done.” Director Martinelli echoed those sentiments sharing he didn’t think another investigation would reach a different conclusion “and I believe that we will figure them out and figure a better way forward “I think you said it best,” newly elected Director King responded to Martinelli’s comments The investigation was prompted by Dean Getz a frequent EDHCSD board meeting attendee and oftentimes critic in early July and directors voted to hire an independent attorney to look into the issue in August Getz claims both Mattock and Paulsen were aware that former EDHCSD General Manager Kevin Loewen was working for district consultant DTA while also employed with the CSD A report released earlier this year confirmed Loewen’s employment and noted it was a clear conflict of interest and violation of CSD policy led to district leadership's refusal to sign a document attesting to the accuracy of LLAD assessments as prepared by DTA El Dorado County Auditor-Controller Joe Harn requested the letter after he expressed concerns about discrepancies in DTA's work Assessments were left off the property tax rolls for two years amounting to an approximately $2.8 million loss for the CSD The CSD Board of Directors later sued the auditor as documented in the Loewen investigation President Noelle Mattock admitted knowing that Loewen worked for DTA," Getz's letter notes she chose to initiate costly litigation with the county's auditor-controller rather than risk exposing Loewen DTA or her awareness of Loewen's conflict of interest with DTA "I assert that district records support the fact that .. Paulsen actively participated in the district's deliberate evasion of signing the attestations for DTA's work products mandated by the county," the letter continues In a public statement made at the August board meeting Mattock denied knowing Loewen worked for DTA and called Getz’s accusations politically motivated as she and Paulsen were up for reelection Paulsen did not publicly respond to allegations and did not run to retain his seat Attorney Jennifer Shaw with the Shaw Law Group conducted the investigation and prepared a final report noting: Mattock’s and Paulsen’s explanations related to the attestation Harn required are more credible than Getz’s allegations It is more likely than not that Mattock and Paulsen acted for legitimate reasons in supporting the decision not to sign the 2022 and 2023 attestations Harn required Although the district lost revenue in 2022 and 2023 because of the board’s refusal to sign the attestations Harn required the loss in revenue was not the result of Mattock’s or Paulsen’s alleged improper use of their authority It is more likely than not that the board’s refusal in fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 to sign the attestations Harn required did not violate any district policy Although the district is incurring attorneys’ fees in its litigation with the County there is no evidence that the litigation is the result of Mattock’s or Paulsen’s alleged improper use of their authority EDHCSD directors and community members expressed many concerns about apparent holes in the investigation notably that Shaw failed to interview Harn — a decision later revealed was made by Shaw on the advice of EDHCSD counsel Derek Cole as the district still has an active lawsuit against the county official Shaw also apparently never requested email or text messages exchanged between CSD directors and the former general manager related to his consultancy business which led several commenters to call it incomplete “This report has done nothing to satisfy my concern relevant to the issue,” King noted in a lengthy statement made before directors decided to move on fact finding investigation with a solid timeline and a true effort to uncover supporting documents whenever possible so we could put this behind us and move on … I believe a good investigation would have done so much more for the integrity accountability and transparency of the board of directors and Directors Mattock and Paulsen.” Getz expressed multiple frustrations related to the investigation including Cole’s guidance of Shaw even though the CSD attorney had previously said he would not be involved in the process He said the attorneys focused too much on whether Mattock and Paulsen gained monetarily “An example of a personal gain for a wrongful act is if a public official uses … the staff or any of the other resources of the agency to cover up their misconduct to pursue a personal lawsuit or otherwise shield themselves from accountability,” Getz said “They're deriving a personal benefit from the use of money that was intended to be used for the public benefit EDH resident Bill Jamaca also shared his concerns with Cole’s definitions Cole sounds more like a defense attorney than an advocate for the citizens of El Dorado Hills,” Jamaca said during public comment “His characterization of personal benefit seems way off to me Personal benefit and political benefit are almost the same thing in this context.”  Cole didn’t respond to public comment but he did advise the four directors present that the entire board should take a close look at the district’s Board of Directors Code of Conduct and make revisions to ensure more clarity in the language as it relates to investigations of board members Posted by | Feb 25, 2025 6:49 pm | Annual event also celebrated installation of 2025-2026 Chamber Board of Directors The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Installation & Business Awards Dinner on February 20th Distinguished guests included Congressman Tom McClintock California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil Victor Wolfe representing California State Assemblyman Joe Patterson El Dorado County District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero This celebration honored the Chamber’s business members and their guests at the elegant Serrano Country Club and a lively table activity called “Motto Mingle,” which sparked conversation and laughter Wine for the event was generously donated by Chamber Member Myka Estates Congressman Tom McClintock opened the evening by leading the Pledge of Allegiance and sharing remarks on current events in Washington Anthony Avery of A&A Events kept the program engaging as Master of Ceremonies the El Dorado Hills Chamber installed its 2025-2026 Board of Directors The Board includes Jenna Hoyt (Chairman of the Board) with Holiday Inn Express & Suites Craig Badolian (Past Chairman of the Board) with BI Designs & E Life Cycles Kelly Seymour with Blue Shield of California Ed Manansala Ed.D – El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools and Dave Williamson with Foothills Regional Insurance & Financial Solutions The Chamber also proudly announced the winners of the 2025 Annual Business Awards: Home-Based Business of the Year was awarded to Joey Starrett of Peak Design Start-Up Business of the Year went to Billy and Jamie Rose of Boring Rose Brewing Co Small Business of the Year was presented to David Ciapponi of GoldKey Storage Young Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Devin Dedier of Vacanza Romana Excellence in Business of the Year went to Natalie Moore of CASA El Dorado Special recognition was given to the Chamber’s 2024-2025 Premier Partners Thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders in the Silent Auction scholarships for local graduates will be funded Posted by | Mar 3, 2025 8:13 am | El DORADO HILLS – The El Dorado Hills Fire Department wrapped up the month of February as personnel and their families dressed their best and gathered for the department’s annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony this past weekend in El Dorado Hills celebrating the dedication and achievements of its firefighters and staff Among the evening’s top honors, Firefighter of the Year was awarded to Ritchie Edelman for his outstanding service and commitment to the department and community The Customer Service of the Year Award was presented to Joey Gonzales and Lindsay Jones recognizing their exceptional dedication to assisting residents and ensuring top-tier service The department also took time to honor past Union President Brian Wilkey for his leadership and contributions to the organization The department shared that the annual awards event serves as a moment to reflect on the hard work and dedication of the men and women who serve El Dorado Hills reinforcing the department’s commitment to excellence in firefighting and public service Posted by | Dec 3, 2024 4:53 pm | , , EL DORADO HILLS – The holiday season in El Dorado Hills is set to shine brighter than ever as the El Dorado Hills Fire Department gears up for its 60th annual Santa Run a beloved tradition that has delighted local families for decades Transforming fire engines into dazzling sleighs adorned with lights spreading joy and the spirit of giving throughout the community This cherished event not only brings magical holiday experiences to residents but also serves as a vital fundraiser benefiting local organizations including the Food Bank of El Dorado County and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California the Santa Run underscores the community’s commitment to charity showcasing the true meaning of the holiday season This year’s Santa Run will span five nights with Santa and his helpers visiting various neighborhoods in El Dorado Hills The festivities also include a special earlier tour from December 5 to December 8 marking the department’s milestone 60th year of bringing holiday cheer stopping at designated locations to collect donations Residents are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items These donations will directly support local families in need and children receiving care at Shriners Hospitals neighborhoods along the route can participate in a Holiday Lights Contest showcasing their festive spirit in a friendly competition Donation drop-offs, including non-perishable food and toys, can be delivered to Santa Stops or at any of the department’s five fire stations. Monetary contributions to Shriners Hospitals for Children can be made by scanning the EDH Fire Holiday Heroes QR Code or using the donation link. Residents can follow Santa’s route in real-time with the SantaTracker The Santa Run is more than just a festive event; it’s a highlight of the community calendar Families are encouraged to gather along the routes to cheer for Santa The fire department is also seeking volunteers to assist with the event offering a rewarding opportunity to contribute to this heartwarming tradition As El Dorado Hills prepares for the Santa Run, the community is reminded of the power of generosity and the joy of coming together to support those in need. For more information about routes and stops, visit the El Dorado Hills FireDepartment website Get ready to celebrate the holiday season with Santa and his team as they spread holiday cheer throughout the community For more details, including live tracking information, donation guidelines, and volunteer sign-ups, visit the El Dorado Hills Fire Department’s official website at edhfire.com This year’s Santa Run is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of holiday spirit and community generosity Sacramento Metro and more deployed to help Southern California continues to grapple with one of the most devastating wildfire outbreaks in its history prompting a statewide response to assist with firefighting efforts Agencies across the Sacramento region have joined the fight or both to help contain the blazes and protect lives and property The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) deployed a 22-member strike team to aid in battling the Palisades Fire includes five engines dedicated to the effort El Dorado Hills Fire Department have been deployed to the Eaton Fire which erupted Tuesday night in the hills above Altadena The fire has already claimed two lives and scorched more than 10,600 acres as of Wednesday morning The El Dorado Hills crew has been joined by personnel from El Dorado County Fire a strike team from CAL FIRE’s Amador-El Dorado Unit has been dispatched to support efforts at the Palisades Fire which began in northwest Los Angeles on Tuesday morning The fire has forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate and has destroyed numerous homes and businesses The Folsom Fire Department did not deploy personnel to Southern California at the same time as the other local agencies “Our OES Engine is out of service due to mechanical issues so Folsom Fire will not be sending any crews to SoCal yet,” Cusano said “We may be sending some overhead assignments such as safety officers The local department then added four members of its local team to the growing force of mutual aid to the region Two battalion chiefs and two additional firefighters from Folsom have been deployed to assist as needed firefighters across Southern California are working to control multiple fires that have ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena The fires have resulted in five confirmed deaths the destruction of nearly 2,000 structures and the evacuation of approximately 130,000 people The Palisades Fire alone has become the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history Efforts to combat the fires have been hampered by extreme winds Aircraft had to be grounded temporarily due to hurricane-force gusts on Wednesday further complicating firefighting operations calmer winds on Thursday have provided an opportunity for crews to gain ground on the flames which broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills posed a significant threat to densely populated neighborhoods but was brought under control within hours and Mother Nature was a little nicer to us today than she was yesterday,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt Evacuation orders for the area were lifted on Thursday morning The fires have consumed vast swaths of land forcing communities to flee and leaving behind a trail of destruction bolstered by reinforcements from across the state to protect lives and bring the infernos under control Posted by | Nov 17, 2024 9:23 am | , Blaize CEO Dinakar Munagala recognized in latest edition of 2024 Sacramento Inno Awards EL DORADO HILLS – The Sacramento Inno Awards has included an El Dorado Hills CEO amongst those recognized for 2024 Blaize CEO Dinakar Munagala is one of four individuals recognized as Innovators this year in the annual recognitions organized by the Sacramento Business Journal celebrate innovation in the Sacramento region and the remarkable individuals and organizations behind these initiatives In addition to receiving the Innovator of the Year award 1 Most Funded Company after securing $106 million in funding earlier this year At the 2024 Sacramento Inno Awards ceremony on Nov an expert panel discussed the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation in the Sacramento region “The Sacramento region has a wealth of individuals and organizations at the forefront of driving innovation and moving our economy forward,” said Munagala “It is an honor to receive this recognition alongside other incredible individuals and companies I look forward to future discussions about the important role of the Sacramento region in the AI and innovation economy as well as how the region will benefit from breakthroughs in this new AI technology.” Munagala was joined in the 2024 honorees by Kyle Cobb of Advance Farm brings more than 22 years of experience successfully leading global teams building graphics chips He has been recognized for technical excellence Munagala launched Blaize with a bootstrapped effort to create a more energy-efficient processor architecture for emerging computing needs Blaize has developed a transformative compute solution that integrates silicon and software to optimize AI at scale across various environments The company has attracted prominent investors expanded its customer base in automotive and other industries and established a global presence with offices in the United States holding key positions in graphics processor microarchitecture and feature ownership within the mobile and graphics engineering group His contributions included developing Intel’s next-generation multi-core multi-threaded graphics chips and architecting the company’s first integrated CPU/GPU product family Munagala holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical and computer engineering from Osmania University in India and a Master of Science degree in the same field from Purdue University in the United States He is listed as an inventor on five patents Munagala has spent a decade leading fundraising efforts for CRY (Child Rights and You)/Vibha (Sacramento Action Center) a nonprofit organization supporting underprivileged children’s education He is also a committed supporter of Kiva and Vittana initiatives which empower students and entrepreneurs through microfinance loans Blaize provides a full-stack programmable processor architecture suite and a low-code/no-code software platform that enables AI processing solutions for high-performance computing at the network’s edge and in data centers Blaize solutions deliver real-time insights and decision-making capabilities with low power consumption Blaize has raised more than $330 million from strategic investors such as DENSO and Samsung and financial investors such as Franklin Templeton Blaize has more than 200 employees worldwide North Carolina; and subsidiaries in Hyderabad The 2024 Sacramento Inno Awards program recognizes the area’s vibrant innovation community—from startups to established companies—and their breakthrough creations The program is organized by the Sacramento Business Journal Posted by | Jan 17, 2025 9:40 am | , The El Dorado Hills Fire Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Debbie Manning President and CEO of the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce filling the vacancy created by the passing of Supervisor John Hidahl. Manning’s appointment marks an exciting step toward fostering a closer collaboration between the local business community and the fire district As a long-time advocate for El Dorado Hills Manning brings decades of experience in business leadership Manning’s dual roles as President and CEO of the Chamber and now as a Fire Board Director are expected to strengthen partnerships and drive innovative solutions to benefit residents and businesses alike “I am honored to join the El Dorado Hills Fire Board and look forward to contributing to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Manning “This role provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between our local businesses and our fire department ensuring we work together for a more resilient and thriving El Dorado Hills.” “We are thrilled to welcome Debbie Manning to the Fire Board,” said Interim Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal “Her expertise and deep connections within the business community will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence in the community but enhance our relationships with our valued businesses throughout El Dorado Hills.” Manning’s election highlights the importance of collaboration between businesses and public safety in addressing the diverse needs of a growing community that is both business-friendly and resilient.  “On behalf of the Board of Directors and our Chamber has been appointed as a Director on the Fire Board. We are confident that she will bring a wealth of experience in leadership and collaboration further enhancing the effectiveness of the Fire Board in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community,” Jenna Hoyt Manning plans to work toward innovative strategies for public safety Make sure you get those nominations in before voting begins.