Here is the Press Release that went out….

Placerville, CA. January 10, 2010 — The El Dorado Arts Council, Libraries and County Office of Education will launch The Big Read in celebration of The Call of the Wild with a proclamation by the County Board of Supervisors followed by a reception at the Main Library in Placerville on February 2, 2010. The Big Read in El Dorado County is presented with support from The Mountain Democrat, Friends of the Library, Fergerson Financial and other individuals.

The kick-off event will feature the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors reading a proclamation announcing the start of The Big Read :WILD in El Dorado County. Become enchanted with the words of Jack London by listening to dramatic readings from the book. Then, cross the street to the Main Library for a program on wolves, featuring live wolves, book giveaways and snacks.

“The Call of the Wild is a slim book with a huge heart full of adventure. Everyone should pick it up and read it during The Big Read :WILD in El Dorado County. I know I will!” said Jeanne Amos, Director of El Dorado County Libraries.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford. El Dorado County is one of 268 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2009-June 2010. To date, the NEA has funded more than 800 Big Read programs in the nation’s towns and cities. During February and March our community will celebrate The Call of the Wild with a full calendar of events including “Jack London’s Alive and Well and Visiting El Dorado County,” dynamic portrayals by actor/scholar Michael Oakes in El Dorado Hills, Placerville, and South Lake Tahoe; Iditarod racer Jeanne Ashcraft; and The Battle of the Gold Rushes at the El Dorado County Museum.
For more information visit the web.

While it may not be more fun than geocaching, reading is still tops on our list of fun activities and you can read this short book in just a few sittings…Jack London probably would probably have loved Placerville during the “Hangtown” years, but being a Northern California guys makes him local enough for me.

From Wiki…
Jack London (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916)[ was an American author who wrote The Call of the Wild,White Fang, and The Sea Wolf along with many other popular books. A pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction, he was one of the first Americans to make a lucrative career exclusively from writing.
The ranch (abutting stone remnants of Wolf House) is now a National Historic Landmark and is protected in Jack London State Historic Park.

Rita and I have visited the reconstructed house in Oakland and the remains of Wolf House in Glen Ellen, CA. Yep, we at the Albert Shafsky House are fans and will be reading the book along with the rest of the County…have you pledged to read it???

Here is the Press Release that went out….

Placerville, CA. January 10, 2010 — The El Dorado Arts Council, Libraries and County Office of Education will launch The Big Read in celebration of The Call of the Wild with a proclamation by the County Board of Supervisors followed by a reception at the Main Library in Placerville on February 2, 2010. The Big Read in El Dorado County is presented with support from The Mountain Democrat, Friends of the Library, Fergerson Financial and other individuals.

The kick-off event will feature the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors reading a proclamation announcing the start of The Big Read :WILD in El Dorado County. Become enchanted with the words of Jack London by listening to dramatic readings from the book. Then, cross the street to the Main Library for a program on wolves, featuring live wolves, book giveaways and snacks.

“The Call of the Wild is a slim book with a huge heart full of adventure. Everyone should pick it up and read it during The Big Read :WILD in El Dorado County. I know I will!” said Jeanne Amos, Director of El Dorado County Libraries.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford. El Dorado County is one of 268 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2009-June 2010. To date, the NEA has funded more than 800 Big Read programs in the nation’s towns and cities. During February and March our community will celebrate The Call of the Wild with a full calendar of events including “Jack London’s Alive and Well and Visiting El Dorado County,” dynamic portrayals by actor/scholar Michael Oakes in El Dorado Hills, Placerville, and South Lake Tahoe; Iditarod racer Jeanne Ashcraft; and The Battle of the Gold Rushes at the El Dorado County Museum.
For more information visit the web.

While it may not be more fun than geocaching, reading is still tops on our list of fun activities and you can read this short book in just a few sittings…Jack London probably would probably have loved Placerville during the “Hangtown” years, but being a Northern California guys makes him local enough for me.

From Wiki…
Jack London (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916)[ was an American author who wrote The Call of the Wild,White Fang, and The Sea Wolf along with many other popular books. A pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction, he was one of the first Americans to make a lucrative career exclusively from writing.
The ranch (abutting stone remnants of Wolf House) is now a National Historic Landmark and is protected in Jack London State Historic Park.

Rita and I have visited the reconstructed house in Oakland and the remains of Wolf House in Glen Ellen, CA. Yep, we at the Albert Shafsky House are fans and will be reading the book along with the rest of the County…have you pledged to read it??? Click here to print out pledge form.

The downtown area is just a block from our Placerville bed and breafast,  and is all aflutter, prepping for the tree lighting and fun that will be happening starting on Friday, Nov 27th.  Historic Main Street transforms itself with decoration, and lights, and there are even about 50 decorated trees lining Hwy 50 again now that the road construction is completed.

NOVEMBER 27th
Festival of Lights, 5:30PM – 8PM
On Historic Main Street in Placerville, the old-fashioned festivities will close Historic Main Street and begin around 5:30PM at various locations up and down Main Street with music, entertainment, Santa, stagecoach rides, Holly Jolly Trolley rides (to outlying parking lots), and the tree-lighting at 6PM at the Courthouse.  Sponsored by the Placerville Downtown Association.  For info call (530) 672-3436.

NOVEMBER 27th & 28th
Merchants Open House, Extended Hours.
Historic Main Street merchants welcome visitors with coffee, cider and seasonal goodies.  Enjoy hometown holiday shopping and hospitality in one convenient setting.  Free parking, entertainment, stagecoach rides and visits with Santa.  Sponsored by the Placerville Downtown Association.  For info call (530) 672-3436.
DECEMBER 6th
32nd Annual Christmas Parade 1PM.
This big parade takes place rain or shine and starts at the Mountain Democrat parking lot on upper Broadway in Placerville and continues down Main Street.  Sponsored by Jim & Cathy  McIntire.  For info call (530) 621-5885

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
December 4 to December 27, 2009

IT! Box Office
(530) 642-0404

The $150 package includes: special check-in reception, introduction to geocaching and hands-on experience, hunting for caches, tips for successful “finds”, Geomate.jr. for guests to use and take home (one per room), and supplies to make your first “hide”. ** 3 nights lodging at the Albert Shafsky House B&B in Placerville (AAA rated and number 1 on Tripadvisor) not included in package – rates will vary depending on your room choice.

The festivities will begin on Thursday at 6 pm with wine and nibbles at check-in. Learn how to cache after breakfast on Friday, then head downtown with the innkeepers to find your first cache of the weekend. Saturday after a delicious breakfast, we will create your first hide (materials provided), be shown how to create a free account on geocaching.com, and look up hints and tips for finding more caches.

For still more reasons to visit, Placerville will be starting the holidays off with a tree lighting on Friday, November 27th from 5:30-8:00 pm which closes Historic Main Street to cars and offers music, entertainment, Santa, stagecoach rides and shopping for that special gift. Saturday, November 28th the shops on Main will welcome you with coffee, cider and seasonal goodies to tempt you…and maybe you can find the cache at the Historic Bell Tower too!

The El Dorado County Artists at holding their Annual Studio Tour Sept 18-20 and we still have one room available for you art lovers (or you can come for Apple Hill donuts!).  91 artists, 30 locations, 3 days–how can you go wrong?

Make the Albert Shafsky House B&B your home base for exploring all that El Dorado County has to offer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Albert Shafsky House B&B Receives 2009 Best of Placerville Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 — Albert Shafsky House B&B has been selected for the 2009 Best of Placerville Award in the Bed & Breakfasts category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org

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June 13th — Wagon Train and Placerville Founders Day. Celebrate Placerville’s 155th birthday on Historic Main Street all afternoon with us. Placerville was founded 155 years ago, just a few miles from where gold was first discovered in California. To celebrate, Historic Main Street in Placerville closes to welcome the Highway 50 Wagon Train and host the Founders Day Street Faire with living history exhibits and re-enactments, gem-panning, fire engine displays, pony rides, costume contests, music, a decorated banners display and more from 1PM to 5PM. Free to the public.

June 18th-21 – The El Dorado County Fair comes back to town! This year’s theme is “Hooves to Horsepower” and promises as much fun as always.

June 27th
Bell Tower Brewfest, 6PM to 9PM
This popular Placerville event will be hosted again by downtown merchants and will include a street closure for added enjoyment and safety for all patrons. Entertainment will feature the Bill Magee Blues Band, the Mark St. Mary Zydeco Band, and Trac 7 in different locations on Main Street. If you are interested in sampling over 40 different micro-brews, tickets will need to be purchased for patrons over 21 years of age. Tickets are limited and expected to sellout before that evening, so plan on getting them early. They will go on sale in late May for $30 at River City Bank, Tony Matthews The Wine Smith and Placerville Brewing in Placerville. Or, tickets can be purchased onl-ine with a credit card. For more info on this big fundraiser, please contact the Placerville Downtown Association at (530) 672-3436.

More fun at the Fairgrounds…..
July 4
Family Blast
Main Lawn Area – Gates Open at 4:00 pm
Live Music by Bad Iron
Fireworks, Kids Activities. Food and Beverage available for purchase.
For more information, call 530-621-5860

July 4
Placerville Speedway
Pits open @ 3:30 pm, Gates Open @ 5:00 pm, Qualifying @ 6:30 pm.
Admission – Adults $ 15.00, Juniors $ 10.00, Children $ 5.00
Parking is $ 5.00 per vehicle.
For more information http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com/placerville/

July 5
Flea Market
7:00 am – 2:00 pm
For more information, call the Fair Office at (530) 621-5860 or eldoradocountyfair.org/flea.html

July 5
Placerville Speedway
Pits open @ 3:30 pm, Gates Open @ 5:00 pm, Qualifying @ 6:30 pm.
Admission – Adults $ 15.00, Juniors $ 10.00, Children $ 5.00
Parking is $ 5.00 per vehicle.
For more information http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com/placerville/

All this to do and the summer is just beginning! Hope to see you soon!