Normadene Carpenter still remembers the early days of the El Dorado County Library. She moved to the Placerville region with her husband, John, in 1951 and would often spend hours there while working on call as a laboratory technician. “The library was just two blocks from the hospital,” she shares. “And I just enjoyed reading!” She went on to become one of the founding members of Friends of the Library, and during a term as president was instrumental in helping them acquire the property for their headquarters in Placerville.

These days, Carpenter is well-known throughout the county for supporting arts and culture; so much so that the El Dorado Arts Council recently honored her with the Normadene Carpenter Award—an accolade they created in her name to acknowledge a lifetime spent giving back to the community. In addition to her volunteer activities, Carpenter is also an avid supporter and member of the El Dorado County Community Concert Association, and her biggest goal is to help found a community arts center—a dedicated space for local and visiting musicians and performers. And while she may be 90 years old, she shows no signs of slowing down. “I don’t plan to retire any time soon,” she says with a laugh.