Headlines & Happenings: What’s Brewing Up in EDH

EDHFire Welcomed Its New Engine 91 Into Service
El Dorado Hills Fire Department welcomed its new Engine 91 at Station 91 in Latrobe with a ceremonial push‑in—marking its official entry into service just ahead of fire season. This state-of-the-art Pierce Type 1 pumper features a 500‑gallon tank, “pump‑and‑roll” capability, advanced life‑support and rescue gear, and debuts the department’s new grey‑over‑red color scheme. Read more →

Child Injured in E-Bike Crash in El Dorado Hills
An 11-year-old boy suffered a head injury and briefly lost consciousness after crashing on a moped-style e-bike at Serrano Parkway and El Dorado Hills Boulevard. His passenger, also 11, escaped unharmed. Both were wearing helmets when the California Highway Patrol responded around 11:24 a.m. Read more →

Multiple Fireworks Displays Canceled After Warehouse Explosion
Several fireworks displays across Northern California, including El Dorado County’s Family Blast, were canceled or rescheduled following a deadly warehouse explosion in Yolo County. The fire destroyed a large supply of fireworks, impacting vendors and prompting cities to cancel their events. Read more →

EDH Wins District 54 10–11 All-Star Baseball Title
The El Dorado Hills 10–11 All-Stars completed a flawless four-game tournament sweep by defeating Lakeside 7–1 at Richards Field on July 3, capturing the District 54 championship. Pitchers Logan Reichard and Cole Gibbons combined to hold Lakeside to just one run, while standout performances by hitters like George Bergamo and CJ Ard fueled the offense. Read more →

Teen Turns Personal Tragedy into Countywide Wellness Initiative
After the tragic loss of a classmate, 15-year-old Anaya Shah, now a sophomore at Oak Ridge High, launched Wellness4Teens—a nonprofit aimed at improving middle school mental health. What began as a wellness fair at Marina Village Middle School has grown into a countywide initiative promoting student-led wellness events. Anaya's mission: 20 active school chapters by 2027, each empowering students to prioritize mental health. Read more →

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— by Leo C.

You know how some neighborhoods feel like an oven in summer? 🔥 Like, sidewalks sizzle, playgrounds are empty ’cause it’s too hot to play, and everyone’s just…hiding inside? Turns out, there’s a wild reason: shade deserts. Places where trees are super scarce, concrete rules, and temps soar way higher than greener spots nearby. And guess what? It’s usually low-income areas getting roasted. Not cool. Literally.

Why should we care? ’Cause heat isn’t just annoying—it’s dangerous. Kids can’t play outside safely. Families crank up ACs they can’t afford. And honestly? It’s unfair. Everyone deserves shade, parks that don’t burn your feet, and air that doesn’t feel like soup.

But here’s where it gets kinda awesome: Teens are stepping up as guerrilla gardeners. Picture this: crews of young people sneaking into forgotten lots, sidewalk cracks, or sad-looking parks—tossing "seed bombs" (clay balls stuffed with seeds!), planting fast-growing trees at night, and basically weaponizing nature against the heat. They’re fixing it. Rebel gardeners for the win.

This isn’t just "save the planet" stuff. It’s right-now action. More trees = cooler streets, cleaner air, and spaces where little kids can actually swing without melting. It’s community care with dirt under its nails.

So yeah, heat inequality’s real. But so are the teen tree-ninjas fighting it. 🌱 Maybe we don’t all need to go full stealth-mode…but supporting them? Or even just talking about why shade matters? That’s how change grows. Literally. Learn more —>

Bringing Disability Awareness to Our Classrooms
A Touch of Understanding (ATOU) brings disability‑awareness workshops into Northern California classrooms every weekday morning—and they need your help! As a Program Speaker, you can share your personal story to foster empathy. As an Activity Instructor, you’ll guide students through hands‑on stations that break down barriers. Sessions run 8 AM–12 PM, and you can volunteer as little as once a month or as often as you like. Learn more →

📧 Email Shanna at [email protected]

Want your organization or story featured here? DM us on Instagram @lilmediaorg. We’d love to highlight your community impact! 📩

From Clients to Coaches to Co-Owners

In this edition of Behind the Business, we’re featuring Neda and Holly—two local moms who started as gym clients and ended up taking over the whole place.

After finding community and confidence at Push EDH, a women’s gym in El Dorado Hills, they leaned into fitness not just as a lifestyle, but as a purpose.

🎬 Watch their inspiring story here 👇

Keep an eye out—we’ll be featuring more local legends soon! 🫡

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

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Let’s build something great together for our community.

Catch up on our last issue: My grandfather's life-changing story + EDH events & nonprofit heroes. Read it here 👉

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