El Dorado County Community Service & Support Digest

In 1859, the IOOF Hall began its history as the Balzar House. The building is crucial to the well-being of not only Georgetown but also the whole Divide community.

The 22nd annual festival takes place in-person Feb. 15-19.

The California Faculty Association is seeking a 12 percent pay increase, while university officials counter with 5 percent in each of the next three years.

In 2020, the state agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed too many students were not learning to read. As part of that agreement, the state spent over $50 million on 75 schools with the lowest reading scores.

San Diego-area nonprofits and faith organizations struggle to provide for tens of thousands of migrants border agents have released on San Diego streets.

Jizo Bosatsu is a Japanese deity who protects children and travelers. In Japan, Jizo statues can be commonly found, especially in cemeteries as they guard over the youngest of lives lost.

Since 2013, the Nest Family Resource has been dedicated to helping families thrive from fertility through parenthood in an accessible, inclusive, and compassionate environment.

It’s an El Dorado County tradition: sending small Christmas trees and other goodies to local servicemen and women deployed during the holidays.

Shelbi’s Helping Hand Fund, a new fund under the El Dorado Hills Area Foundation, was created to impact the lives of thousands into the future.

Assistance League Sierra Foothills announces the return of its seasonal fundraiser, Homes for the Holidays. Taking place Dec. 2-3, the tour features five festively decorated private homes, a raffle, and gifts, food and beverages for sale.

State law requires community colleges to spend at least half their general fund on instructors. But administrators say they want more flexibility to pay for the growing need for student services.

The Women’s Fund El Dorado held its annual membership meeting in Placerville, celebrating its members and the contributions made to the community.

Tiny homes are increasingly California cities’ shelter option of choice — but how far they go in solving homelessness is a contentious question.

After years of planning a broadband system to bridge California’s digital divide, officials deprioritized some low-income areas due to unexpected costs. Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’s committed to funding the entire network, but advocates are skeptical.

Despite an influx of money to counter learning loss during the pandemic, English language arts and math test scores remain low.

With the growing use of AI, campus officials are trying to set clear guidelines for college application essays.

The facts of climate change can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. Some California activists are creating communities for people to talk about those feelings.

The El Dorado Community Foundation has launched a Scholarship Giving Circle. Anyone can contribute and all funds collected will go toward scholarships at five local high schools.

The CPUC is considering a rule that would gut the payments that solar panels on apartment buildings receive, and many housing groups are blazing mad about it.

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation is raising funds and community involvement with sales of a pink bracelet for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Trash reportedly left behind by illegal campers that has over the years piled up in the Johnson Meadow area of South Lake Tahoe has been hauled out in recent weeks.

After a historic decline in community college enrollment during the pandemic, students are returning to school again, according to the state’s most recent data. But students between the ages of 20 and 30 are lagging behind.

Several anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers are advertising abortion pill reversal. California Attorney General Rob Bonta calls the claims false advertising that mislead vulnerable patients.

Grass Valley Courtyard Suites presents “Ronnie Hart: Just a Little Strange Art Show,” featuring unique artwork by Ronnie Hart. The purchase price from all art sales will benefit Interfaith Food Ministry, a local non-profit serving families in Western Nevada County.

In an annual, statewide effort to clean up local waterways, the American River Conservancy is partnering with the Sierra Nevada Alliance and the Coastal Cleanup Commission to participate in the Great Sierra River Cleanup.

A dozen teenagers from El Dorado County traveled this summer to the central highlands of Kenya on a Days for Girls International humanitarian aid trip to deliver washable menstrual hygiene kits to 800 schoolgirls.

A last-minute legislative deal would raise pay for California health care workers while giving medical providers a guarantee that they won’t have to battle local measures on employee compensation.

Elected for a second year to lead the branch is Deborah York, who will return as Branch President. The other 2023-2024 AAUW Nevada County Branch elected officers are Ann Gould, Secretary; Jennifer Wilkerson and Peg Flanders, Co-Finance Officers; Diane Kellegrew and Karen Hull, Program Co-Vice Presidents (VPs); Carol McMillan and Mari Kobus, AAUW Funds Co-VPs; and Deb Cubberley, Membership VP. Also serving on the Executive Committee is Past President Katherine (Bup) Greenwood.

Gold Country Artists Gallery in historical downtown Placerville announced that 11 of its incredible artists donated their artwork to the art auction sponsored by Public Broadcasting Station KVIE.

In partnership with Nevada County Social Services and Bright Futures for Youth, Connecting Point provides paid internships at local non-profits and government agencies for Nevada County and Tahoe-Truckee residents ages 16-30 that address food insecurity, climate action and COVID-19 recovery.

Music in the Mountains (MIM) executive director Jenny Darlington-Person was elected to a three-year position on the board of directors of The Association of California Symphony Orchestras, where she will continue to advocate for small-budget, rural arts organizations while taking advantage of opportunities to connect with artists and leaders throughout the state.

The 18th Annual Gold Country Golf Classic benefiting Sierra Services for the Blind will take place at the Alta Sierra Golf Club on Oct. 6.