American River Music Festival Sept. 19-21

Come enjoy the second annual American River Music Festival, whose mission is teaching, inspiring, and enjoying music. The three-day festival features various types of acoustic music from throughout North America: Cajun, classic Americana folk, rock, roots music, folk, blues, folk rock, cloggers, flute & drum, and more! Artists include The Buccaneers, John Wort Hannam, The Refugees, Ray Bonneville, the David Jacobs-Strain Trio, Keith Greeninger with Dayan Kai, Joe Craven with Sam Bevin, Steppin' In It, Gandolf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Blame Sally, and more.

The main stage is in Henningsen-Lotus Park, in Lotus, California, and many area campgrounds are participating with their own intimate musical stages. The festival is expanded this year to include a complete musical Friday. There will be 24 music performances and workshops over the 3 days, including Jammin 101 with Sid Lewis from Chico which is open to anyone staying at participating campgrounds or volunteering for the event, who are ready to learn that they too have musical ability!

There will be kids' activities in the park, a free shuttle to and from participating campgrounds, and special events such as music and rafting on the South Fork American River, naturalist-led musical hikes, and music in the schools. The Buccaneers will be visiting four local elementary schools to lead students through Canada's history and geography, intertwined with shanties and music. The band Steppin' in It will visit Golden Sierra High School and present two complete, complimentary high school performances of their educational piece that covers eight genres of music, and history.

Many local organizations, individuals, sponsors, and agencies have cooperated to make this festival so comprehensive and exciting. "The community has been fabulous about supporting the festival, top to bottom," reports festival organizer Matt Semonsen. Come on out and camp, hike, boat, and listen to great music!

Advance ticket prices are: $35 for single-day main stage tickets, $89 for three-day camping and all music, $189 for three-day camping, a river trip, and all music, and $219 for the all-inclusive package of three-day camping, river trip, all meals, and all music. Purchase tickets at the American River Music Festival website or call (530) 622-6044.

There may still be space for members of the local community to volunteer with the event. If interested, contact Alice Butler, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@americanrivermusic.org.

Change in El Dorado County Parks & Recreation

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is considering a proposal to dismantle the Airports, Parks and Grounds department. This is the group that manages county parks such as Henningsen-Lotus, and whitewater recreation on the South Fork of the American River. We've posted a PDF of the reorganization proposal.

If you would like to hear more about the plans and let your Supervisors know how you would like to see recreational facilities and opportunities managed in the County, come to the public meeting tomorrow, October 2, 2007, in the BOS chambers, 330 Fair Lane, Building B, in Placerville. The item is #25 on the BOS agenda. See the BOS website for details. The meeting starts at 9 a.m., which means that this item will probably be discussed sometime between 10 a.m. and noon, but could be as late as 1 or 2 p.m.

This may be the public's only opportunity to comment on this subject, but if you cannot attend the meeting, you can email your supervisor. See addresses on the BOS website.