From A Walk-Off Thriller To A Community-Wide Conversation 💭

EDH All-Stars Advance at State Tournament
Walk-off 6-5 win over Chico Central sends EDH into winners' bracket championship. Read more →

Three Injured in Friday Evening Crash
Friday commute disrupted after crash sent three people to hospitals in El Dorado Hills. Read more →

Jewelry Theft Warning Issued for Shoppers
Authorities urged shoppers to stay alert for distraction thefts at busy stores across Sacramento County. Read more →

Circus Vargas' ‘Masquerade’ Coming Soon
Tickets on sale for Roseville and Folsom’s dazzling Big Top spectacular this summer. Read more →

36 Handles Pub Files for Chapter 11
Popular El Dorado Hills public house seeks bankruptcy protection while continuing operations. Read more →

Community Blood Drive Returns to Library
Vitalant blood drive offers lifesaving donations, gift cards and River Cats ticket vouchers in Folsom. Read more →

Know something we should cover? Send us your tip or story here. 📩

Your go-to list for family-friendly events and happenings:

🤝 Pawsibility Project Fundraiser – Aug. 2 | 10 AM | The Crafted Canvas, Fair Oaks
Browse artisan vendors and support lifesaving programs for local cats. See more →

🍪 Jungle Animals Cookie Decorating – Aug. 4 | 5:30 PM | Painted. Studios, Folsom
Pipe, decorate, and take home four animal-themed cookie creations. See more →

🪴 Succulents & Driftwood Arrangement – Aug. 6 | 5:30 PM | Art & Bloom Studio, EDH
Create a stunning succulent centerpiece with driftwood, moss, and natural accents. See more →

🎶 Live On The Blvd: Journey Unauthorized – Aug. 6 | 7 PM | Marshall Amphitheater, EDH
Journey's biggest hits come alive with powerhouse vocals and nonstop energy. See more →

🎶 Live Music with Dunsbar Road – Aug. 6 | 7:30 PM | Zittel Family Amphitheater, Folsom
Sheryl Crow hits and rock favorites at the Twilight Summer Concert Series. See more →

🖼️ Japanese Fabric Art Workshop – Aug. 8 | 2 PM | 9906 Fair Oaks Blvd
Create stunning Kinusaiga art using a relaxing no-sew technique. See more →

✏️ Charcoal Portraits – Aug. 9 | 9 AM | 4320 Arden Way, Sacramento
Master charcoal portrait techniques with easy, guided instruction. See more →

Got exciting events to share? Let our community know by sending in local happenings here. 📩

Every business has a story. We’re highlighting the hardworking locals behind the brands serving El Dorado Hills. Be featured for FREE here. 👉

— by Lil City Staff

A local family recently opened up about a loss most parents can't imagine: their son, a talented athlete known for his adventurous spirit, died after unknowingly taking a substance laced with fentanyl. He wasn't a kid anyone would have flagged as at risk. He came from an involved, present household, excelled academically and athletically, and had no history that would have raised alarms. That, his mother explains, is exactly why she's speaking out, because the danger no longer fits the profile people expect.

What's changed, she says, isn't really the choice to experiment—plenty of past generations did that too. What's changed is the risk attached to it. A single counterfeit pill today can carry a fatal dose of fentanyl, often without the person taking it ever knowing. That single fact reframes what "experimentation" even means for young people right now, turning what used to be a manageable risk into something far more permanent.

Rather than focusing solely on warnings aimed at teens, much of her message is directed at parents, encouraging a return to habits that once felt normal: knowing your kid's friends' parents, asking direct questions about supervision at a gathering, and creating an environment where concern can be voiced without fear of overreacting or being dismissed. She frames it as rebuilding a "village" that quietly disappeared over the last decade.

It leaves the community with something to consider beyond the immediate warning: has watching out for each other's kids become less normal than it used to be, and what would it take to make that kind of everyday check-in feel routine again?

We're giving away 1 professional local business website EVERY MONTH! Reply "WEBSITE" with a business name to enter.

PLUS, 50% OFF WEBSITE BUILDS for all El Dorado Hills & local businesses for the rest of the year!

Handpicked properties in El Dorado Hills that you won’t want to miss 🛣️

4040 Monte Verde Dr, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 – $699,000
5 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,600 sq ft

4044 Albert Cir, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 – $1,699,000
6 Bed | 6 Bath | 5,100 sq ft

We’re looking for someone local to help build relationships with businesses and support our growing 5,000-home community mailer.

Want to help local businesses grow with Lil City? Reply "TEAM" to this email to connect. 📩

Join our community and help shape the stories that matter:

✅ Submit a Story: You have a scoop, spotlight, or question? Share it with us →

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Are you a local business owner or know someone who is?

We’re featuring local businesses in upcoming issues of the Lil City newsletter—and we’d love to include yours. Whether you want to share your story, highlight a service, or sponsor a local giveaway, just reply to this email and let us know.

Let’s build something great together for our community.

Catch up on our last issue: Cityhood debate, Oak Ridge alum world cheer champ & Brewfest returns. Read here 👉

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Thank you for supporting Lil City—a student-led newsletter sharing local news, events, and community stories, while empowering youth and giving back to causes that matter. We’re growing city by city, building chapters to help more students lead and serve their communities.