People & Places in the News

 

Congrats to Thunder Valley Casino Resort (thundervalleyresort.com) for receiving the 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award. The resort—which offers 270,000 square feet of gaming space, 18 restaurants and bars, a 17-story hotel, luxurious spa, and more—was bestowed with the honor for consistently receiving outstanding traveler ratings and reviews.

Arts Council of Placer County (ACPC) is awarding grants in varying amounts to those who have been hit financially by the pandemic. Applications are currently being accepted in various categories, including “Arts Education in the Schools,” “Performers/Artists,” and “Arts Organizations.” For more info and to apply, visit placerarts.org/community-grants.

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce (eldoradocounty.org) and the Economic Development Corporation (elevatetoeldorado.com) announced their 2020 award winners via an online video. Congrats to Carbon Copy (“Small Business of the Year”), Home Inspirations (“Start-Up Business of the Year”), and Bella Vista Bed & Breakfast (“Home-Based Business of the Year”).

 

Former El Dorado High School student and Community Observatory (communityobservatory.com) volunteer Elizabeth Gabler was a recipient of The Mars Generation’s 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award (themarsgeneration.org/steam-space-awards). The worldwide program serves to recognize young people making a notable impact and effecting change through science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM), and/or space. Gabler recently graduated from Sacramento State and accepted a position at The McClellan Nuclear Research Center; her long-term goal is to work with NASA.

California Highway Patrol canine Perry, a nine-year-old Belgian Malinois, served with the CHP for 7 years. His partner, CHP Officer Chris Sarabia, says: “Perry was both patrol-certified and trained to find narcotics. He assisted in the arrest of numerous criminals and helped take hundreds of pounds of illegal narcotics off the streets.” Perry is now retired in Folsom, and we thank him for his service.

 

Congrats to Jesuit High School senior Jacob Hall who was named Great American Rivalry Series (GARS) Scholar Athlete for 2020. Hall was one of 144 athletes selected across the country and will receive a $500 scholarship on behalf of GARS and, through a partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is eligible to become a member of the inaugural GARS Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team. To show your support and vote him onto the team, visit greatamericanrivalry.com/2020-scholar-athletes through December 14.

Placer Veterans Stand Down (placerveteransstanddown.org) honored Susan and Brian Bennett of Bennett’s Kitchen Bar Market (bennettskitchen.com) for their generous support supplying hundreds of meals to needy veterans and their families during the pandemic.

Northern California’s leading nonprofit senior living organization, Eskaton (eskaton.org), deployed the K4 Connect App and Amazon Alexa for all residents throughout its 12 communities—transforming the way they interact with loved ones and one another, while keeping them entertained and engaged. The new services include video chat, the ability to connect with the front desk, and getting information about daily events.

Dignity Health Mercy Hospital of Folsom (dignityhealth.org) announced Michael Korpiel, DHA, FACHE, as its new president. Korpiel has spent 31 years in health care leadership and—in addition to his new role as president of Mercy Folsom—will continue to oversee operations at Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center.

 

Ken Cusano—who joined the Folsom Fire Department in 1998 and has held various supervisory positions, including serving as a captain, lead arson investigator, and division chief—has been named the department’s new fire chief. In his new role, Cusano will oversee 77 personnel, five stations, and an operating budget of $20.3 million.
 
El Dorado Hills resident and owner of Little Chefs World, Susan Kakavas, is offering a new way to keep kids in the kitchen by delivering cooking kits to doorsteps. The weekly service includes recipes, non-perishable ingredients, an apron, surprise kitchen tool or worksheet, and a video where Kakavas teaches kiddos how to make the dish. For more info and to get your kit delivered, email [email protected].

HAPPENINGS

 

Quarry Park Adventures (quarrypark.com) is hosting Drive-Ins at the Quarry (quarrypark.com/drive-in-movies-at-the-quarry) with showings of the family-friendly films, Back to the Future (November 6) and Onward (November 7), beginning at 6:30 p.m. Masks are required outside of patrons’ vehicles and packaged snacks can be purchased. Tickets are $25 per car.

Don’t miss the Folsom Women’s Conference (folsomchamber.com/events/folsom-womens-conference) on November 19 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The virtual event—which is designed to empower women of all ages and walks of life—will be emceed by local media mogul, Cristina Mendonsa, with a keynote speech by Evy Poumpouras, and feature breakout sessions about topics pertaining to the theme #HER (heal, evolve, reinvent). A virtual happy hour, dance parties, and mini breakout sessions with bartending and beauty hack how-tos are also on the agenda. Tickets ($99) include a swag bag full of giveaways, including an opportunity to win real diamond earrings.

Help generate funds to assist homeless and disadvantaged youth in El Dorado County at Assistance League® Sierra Foothills’ (assistanceleague.org/sierra-foothills) Holiday Boutique on November 7 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and November 8 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Held at St. Stephen’s Church in El Dorado Hills, masks are required, and social distancing will be observed. Attendees will also receive a 20% off coupon for Pottery World.

 

 

Stop by newly opened Oki Sushi (facebook.com/okisushirocklin) at Rocklin Crossings (5406 Crossings Drive, Suite 104) for elevated Japanese cuisine made with high-quality ingredients in sleek environs. Favorites include the Basil Roll (cream cheese, crab mix, deep-fried asparagus; topped with salmon, yellowtail, unagi sauce, roasted garlic sauce, butter garlic sauce, spicy sauce, and basil) and Crossings Roll (spicy tuna, crab mix, deep-fried shrimp; topped with torched salmon, special sauce, unagi sauce, masago).

 

Wellpath Community Care Center (wellpathcarecenters.com)—which is devoted to treating opioid use disorder and is the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive medical and behavioral health care services in jails, prisons, and inpatient and residential treatment facilities—opened a clinic at 1130 Conroy Lane, Suite 150, in Roseville.

 

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade (wowwowhawaiianlemonade.com)—known for its assortment of fresh-pressed tropical lemonades in fun flavors like passionfruit guava, plus hot and cold brew coffee, superfood raw smoothies, nut butter and avocado toasts, gourmet acai and pitaya bowls, and specialty toasts—is coming soon to El Dorado Hills’ Sienna Ridge center (3373 Bass Lake Road, Suite 100).

 

Petaluma-based Amy’s Drive Thru (amysdrivethru.com) is slated to open next year at 1119 Galleria Boulevard in Roseville at the former site of a 76 gas station. The quick-serve eatery serves healthy, ready-made meals that are entirely organic and vegetarian—including more than 124 vegan options—from burgers, pizzas, and salads, to burritos, milkshakes, and fries.

 

Beloved East Coast counter-serve burger chain, Shake Shack (shakeshack.com), opened its second Sacramento-area locale at Westfield Galleria at Roseville (westfield.com/galleriaatroseville). Customers can expect a gourmet take on fast food favorites, including all-natural Angus beef burgers on potato buns, crinkle-cut fries, and handmade frozen custard.

Locally owned, family-run India Oven (indiaoven.com), which serves upscale, authentic Indian cuisine—like butter chicken, homemade breads, and shrimp tikka masala—is opening new locations at the Fountains at Roseville and in El Dorado Hills.

GearTooth AleWerks (geartoothalewerks.com) is opening a seven-barrel, 3,200-square-foot brewery in Placerville (7553 Green Valley Road). In addition to serving an array of darker beers, including an award-winning imperial stout, plus kettle sours, IPAs, and lagers, they also plan to serve food (smoked meats, mac & cheese, etc.) and offer wine.

 

Creative Clay House Lounge (cchlounge.com), a modern ceramics studio, is open at 6835 Lonetree Boulevard, Suite 104, in Rocklin. Pick from three experiences (“Glazing Gallery,” “Handbuilding Hub,” and “Potters’ Paradise”) while little ones (ages 5-12) can avail of the kids’ activity center featuring a projector, games, reading nook, and more.