The new school year is on the horizon, so enjoy your last few weeks of summer, and if you or your kids are avid musicians with a love for acoustic music, consider the annual American River Acoustic Music Camp on August 9-13 at the American River Resort in Coloma. Contact 530-622-6044.

The El Dorado High School Drama Department has been accepted along with only 100 other high schools around the United States to participate in the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August 2010! Visit ahstf.com/AHSTF to learn more about the selective American High School Theater Festival.

The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado County welcomes new Executive Director Sean McCartney, who has been active in leadership of several Boys and Girls Club organizations.

Don’t miss the 2009 El Dorado County Artists Studio Tour from September 18-20! From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, 92 artists will be featuring their works at 32 area studios. Tour maps are available at 28 locations now. For more information, visit placervillearts.com or call 530-677-1566.

A new retirement community has opened up in Cameron Park! Ponte Palmero, on Ponte Morino Drive by Bel Air and Marshall Medical Center, is an independent living, gated community for seniors.

You hear that reverse mortgages can make the golden years brighter, but is this really the case? Get the answers at the Straight Talk About Reverse Mortgages community training, designed to inform the public about the pros and cons of this loan type, on August 18, from 1-2 p.m. at the Placerville Senior Center. For more information, call 530-621-6154.

The Red Hawk Casino’s Wai Sushi Restaurant in Placerville has opened a new “Lucky 8 Lunch Menu” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Asian dishes for only eight bucks. Grab some lunch, and check it out.

Gardeners, prepare for the cooling weather with a UCCE/El Dorado County Master Gardeners public workshop, called “Fall and Winter Vegetables,” from 9 a.m. to noon in Placerville. To learn more about upcoming workshop opportunities for the season, visit ceeldorado.ucdavis.edu.

Artists, looking for a new project? Want to support the fight against breast cancer? The Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation and Women’s Wisdom Project will be hosting its second annual Art Bra Show in September in Sacramento and is looking for artists of various media to submit work. To find out more, call Helen Plenert at 916-456-1980.

Concerned about your skin after being in the sun so much this summer? Spend an afternoon at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center for “In Your Own Skin,” a free workshop about skin protection, sun damage, cancer and treatment options, hosted by Dr. Arnold Almonte. The workshop meets on August 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. Contact the Senior Health Education Program at 530-621-6251 to learn more.

Fenton Herriott Vineyard in Placerville will host its annual Hawaiian Luau on August 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Relax Hawaiian style with food, dancers, and plenty of wine! And, wine lovers have even more reason for excitement.

Check back in September for our Art & Wine feature issue!

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