Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Recent reviews of the inn

These are some of the wonderful comments our fabulous guests have made to us via Tripadvisor this month.

"I think that this is the best option in town, particularly if you are on vacation. Was actually in town for the business. Was looking for nice, quiet place. Good B and B, has only three rooms. Got to meet some interesting people who were staying there. Cookies in the evening were delicious. Unfortunately, had to leave early in the morning both days, so could not partake in the 9AM breakfast, but sounded really good. I had the upper bedroom. Nicely decorated, everything worked well. However, if you need a big desk and other things to do business work, this is not the place. Remember, this is a B and B. The only other thing, which is minor, is that house at corner of the street, and there are cars going by. However, very few cars after 10PM. Will only be problem if you are very sensitive to noise."

We thank you all for your comments and look forward to hosting you again at our Placerville bed and breakfast!

"Very charming old Victorian home. Rita was so kind and served up some wonderful breakfasts! Will stay there again if we are in the area. Felt very comfortable there."

"We just spent three days at the Albert Shafsky House B&B in Placerville and had a wonderful time! The house is a registered Victorian, beautifully restored inside and out. The innkeepers, Rita & Stephanie, live in the house, which has only three rooms available for lodgers. Our room, the Gandy Dancer, was upstairs and adjacent to a busy road so traffic noise was noticable with the windows open. The room was very clean, the decor nicely done, and the bed quite comfortable and elegant. The breakfasts were really a treat: always delicious and far from ordinary fare. Our favorite part of our stay? Meeting and becoming friends with Rita and Stephanie. They were so welcoming and cordial that we soon felt like we'd known them for years! The bent over backwards to help us with dinner reservations (at wonderful restaurants they suggested) and anything else we needed. We highly recommend this B&B.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Yes, the inn is haunted!

The team also found this out about our bed and breakfast in Placerville.


Now let's see what Robert's FINDINGS and CONCLUSION are. Did Robert's team capture EVPs or any photographic evidence? Let's see, Robert take it away:

ROBERT REPPERT'S FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION:
ROBERT REPPERT: There was a great amount of voice phenomena in the kitchen area, and also in the area where the piano once was. The voice phenomena was extremely audible on the stairs, and it is clear that you can hear Albert Shafsky say "Christmas party" which was interesting in itself, as he was Jewish. He speaks of a "holiday party" for the children, his and his friends, keeping them upstairs until the downstairs is ready for them to see. He also says the word "Memorial". Both these are clearly heard when he was on the stairs, and in the kitchen his voice is heard as well, as is his wife 'Kitty'. We will do further work on getting those words clearly off our equipment, this is a preliminary finding.

There was a great amount of orb actrivity at the bottom of the stairs where the unseen steps go under the building, as well as in the Albert Shafsky bedroom. Shadows appear in the kitchen, stairs, and living quarters which will need further investigation. As we go through the voice phenomena with a fine tooth comb, it is clear there are other words. This is truly a haunted building.

One more thing. Nancy was able to identify that there was a piano in the living room, and was surprised it was on an outside wall. She was concerned as she plays the piano herself, and knows that all pianos must be kept on an inside wall so as not to allow for moisture. However, she has a clarification for the door next to the piano. On first observation she thought it was opened with shelves inside and perhaps some brass parts for instruments. Upon looking at it closer she is certain at 100% that what she thought was shelves, was WOOD PILED UP SIDEWAYS, making it appear to be shelve like. The shiny objects are at the end of what appears to be a wood holding device, so the opening next to the piano held firewood, and the cabinet led to the outside of the building.

This is a truly haunted Victorian building with wonderful clear and happy energy. We do not have Brian or Rodney's findings on their equipment as yet. We intend to come back and spend our anniversary here in November with Stephanie and Rita over a glass or two of wine, our two new friends, seeing what else may be going on.

Robert Reppert

One more thing, let's see what our Evidence Analyst Brian Abeel and Technician Rodney Roberts have to say:

BRIAN & RODNEY'S NOTES (found at this link):
http://forums.jazmaonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=633

Photos of the Shafsky House can be found here:
http://ghosts.meetup.com/231/photos/

For more information on Gold Rush Ghosts please visit
www.GoldRushGhosts.com


Paul Dale Roberts, GRG Paranormal Investigative Reporter, Ghosthunter
WPRT Paranormal Radio - Content Editor
Email: JazmaPika@cs.com
www.GoldRushGhosts.com
www.nancybradley.org
www.wprt.com
Paranormal Cellular Hotline: 916 203 7503 (for comments on this story).

Copyright © 2008 Paul Dale Roberts, GRG Ghostwriter/Gold Rush Ghosts/Nancy Bradley Copyright © 2008
all rights reserved.

Haunted happenings at the inn

As promised here is more of the finding of the Gold Rush Ghost folks from their visit at the Albert Shafsky House B&B.



From Paul Dale Roberts:"After gathering all of the history about the Shafskys, I wanted to know the experiences of Rita and Stephanie. I wanted to know what the guests also felt in this spacious bed and breakfast. While I was getting the information from Rita and Stephanie, Nancy sensed their was a ghostly fuzzy white dog and a ghostly tabby cat that was still roaming around in the premises of this home. As the interview continued, I learn that Rita and Stephanie owned the home for 6 years, they absolutely fell in love with the enchanting personality of this home. They have both experienced hearing heavy footsteps on the second floor, books being flown off the shelves, lightbulbs being unscrewed. They will also find pennies laying about the house. Mrs. Shafsky was known to save pennies. Nancy was feeling the presence of a small child in the neighboring room. Later she feels that two kids are playing. Could this perhaps be the children of Albert & Kitty? Rita and Stephanie at times hear piano music playing in the lounge room. Sometimes they smell cherry pipe smoke from 7:30pm to 8:30pm in the evening. On this very night, the cherry pipe smoke aroma filled the room for a matter of a few minutes during the interview process.

I learn that during storms, the activity seems to increase, as if the entities may be drawing energy from the ion particles in the atmosphere. Guests have seen a man on the stairs, it has been suggested that the man is Albert Shafsky himself. Shoes have been placed in order underneath the bed by an unseen force. We later learn that Kitty Shafsky's mother Thora Bean died in this home. Nancy conducting a psychic reading of the house, discovers that Albert Shafsky and his wife Kitty are here in this home. She also feels Alberta, Boyd and Bernice are still here. Nancy feels that it is Kitty, who is playing the piano in the lounge area room. Nancy picks up the fact that two dogs are buried in the backyard and the ghostly presence of the fuzzy white dog and tabby cat are also in this home. There was one more entity that Nancy picked up on, she said that Marian Wing a former resident of this home is still here making her haunting presence known.

Nancy picks up more energy signatures that indicate that Boyd had some kind of breathing problem and she could see Kitty beating on a rug outside on the porch. She said that Kitty was always concerned on the condition of her floors, she wanted the floors cleaned and tidy. Going through some old notes on the Shafsky, I found something comical. When Albert Shafsky was a little boy, he was on a ship with his father, he wanted to know what the time was and picked up an English dictionary to say "what o'clock is it?" and instead accidentally said "son of a b****".

The entities of this home, seem to be completely benevolent, they mean no harm to the owners and only want to make their presence known at certain times. Since little children are seen, this home probably has a combination of residual haunting activity in which an act replays itself over and over again. Case example, the children playing in the adjourning room. The children could possibly be the children of Albert & Kitty Shafsky. There seems to be some intelligent activity with the books flying off the shelf, as possibly one of the entities is trying to make a statement or let the owners know that he or she is around. With this beautiful bed and breakfast there is absolutely nothing to fear. If you ever stay at this bed and breakfast, you will even be greeted by the cutest miniature dachshund named Lily. Lily has detected presences in this home too. She will bark at an area where there is nothing there to be seen.

The Shafsky House is pretty popular, since established people of Hollywood have stayed here. Such as the location scouts for the movie Memoirs of a Geisha and the Director of the movie trailer Pirates of the Caribbean has stayed here too. Steve Hanks the well known artist has comfortably stayed the night at the Shafsky House to rejuvenate from his travels. If there was a haunted home I want to live in, the Shafsky House is right there on my list! "

Is the Albert Shafsky House Haunted?

Yes, we have been wondering that very thing for a long time ourselves.  When Rita and I first moved in there were a number of things that we could not explain and chalked up to being in a new house, exhaustion from moving and learning to be innkeepers....but we also felt like there was more going on....and we were right.

We recently had the experience of having Nancy Bradley and her team of "Gold Rush Ghost" hunters visit and record their experience with us and the home of Albert Shafsky.  Below is a portion of their preliminary report...more to follow.


Submitted by Paul Dale Roberts
"Sometimes when I go to Blockbuster Video, I pick up a few horror movies, like Thirteen Ghosts. That was one scary movie, in which every ghost is hideous and is an imminent threat to the guest's well-being. Ummm...how come I never run into Thirteen Ghosts that will scare the living daylights out of me? Case example, I get a call from Robert Reppert - Head Investigator of Gold Rush Ghosts and his lovely wife Nancy Bradley - Celebrity Psychic. They run down a story to me about a preliminary investigation that Robert Reppert, Rodney Roberts and Catherine Noble did at the Albert Shafsky House B&B. The story is intriguing. Robert wants me on the official investigation. Robert has me hooked, because he also mentions an Indiana Jones meets the Winchester House type of discovery. Robert discovered a stairwell in the basement area that leads to nowhere!

When I arrive to Nancy's home, the paranormal investigative team gathers: Robert Reppert - Head Investigator, Nancy Bradley - Psychic Extraordinaire, Rodney Roberts - Technician, Brian Abeel - Evidence Analyst and of course me, Paul Dale Roberts - Ghostwriter. We gather all the equipment that we will be using this evening of Sunday - May 18, 2008, which includes: thermal reader, digital audio recorders, digital cameras, video cameras, temperature gauges, EMF Readers. We all pile up in the official GRG Truck and head over to the Shafsky House - www.shafsky.com / 2942 Coloma Street, Placerville, CA 95667.

We are greeted by the owners Rita Timewell and Stephanie Carlson. Two very sweet ladies that have stories to tell. Nancy and I, conducted the interviews for her show Journey into the Paranormal. With the interviews, I learn that Albert Shafsky and his wife Dora Shafsky aka Kitty came to Placerville in 1901. Albert was a dry goods salesman and opened up a department store on Main Street. He was the first man to have glass show windows and he had a milliner who made lady's hats. He built a beautiful home for his wife Kitty and their 2 year old daughter Alberta. He later had 3 more daughters, Verah, Bernice & Jeane. He was to later have a son named Boyd, born in Oakland. Albert became well known in the community and was elected City Council Member from 1906 to 1910 and Mayor of Placerville from 1906 to 1908. Albert and his three brothers came from Kishinvev, Moldavia. His daughter Alberta lived for 103 years. Albert Shafsky is descended from Kopel Yarashafsky of Modavia. "

I will post more in a few days.....

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Upcoming Events near our Placerville bed and breakfast

June 4th
The Sequoia Comedy Night which is just a block from our bed and breakfast has great comedy nights.
The Sequoia presents a comedy showcase evening Doors open for Comedy Night at 7:00 pm; the show begins at 8:00 pm. Sequoia Restaurant at the historic Bee-Bennett House, 645 Bee Street, Placerville. For more information contact: Sequoia (530) 622-5222

June 6th
El Dorado Hills 2008 Summer Concert Series - Hot for Teacher - Van Halen Tribute Band
Great times, great tunes and high energy is the theme for this summer series. Tantalize your senses with songs from the 80's. Bring the kids, pack a picnic, potluck or stop for pizza and come on out for our summer concerts. Sponsored by Comcast, Wells Fargo, Sierra Fine Living Magazine and Marble Valley Center for the Arts 7:00 - 9:30 pm. El Dorado Hills Community Park Free For more information contact:

June 7 & 8
25th Annual Fair Play Wine Festival
This festival features 20 wineries all located within a 5 mile radius in southern El Dorado County. The festival will feature special events, gourmet faire, barrel tasting, live music, demonstrations and wine tasting. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. both days Fair Play wineries $35/person and may be purchased at Fair Play wineries in advance or at the door during the event or online at www.fairplaywine.com

June 12-15
2008 El Dorado County Fair - Paws in Placerville
More details to come Thursday - Noon to Midnight; Friday & Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to Midnight; Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Buildings & Exhibits close @ 10:00 p.m. El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville. General (13 years & over) -$7. Youth (7 - 12 years) -$4; Children (6 & Under) - Free everyday; Senior - (60 & over) - $5; Parking - $4 or free shuttle service www.eldoradocountyfair.org For more information contact: El Dorado County Fairgrounds (530) 621-5860

June 14 & 15
Fathers Day Weekend Cherry Festival at Boa Vista Orchard
U-Pick Bing & Rainier Cherries, fresh Cherry & Blackberry Pies & Turnovers. BBQ Tri-tip sandwiches, fresh summer fruits & vegetables, apple wine tasting. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Boa Vista Orchards, 2952 Carson Road, Camino no cost for admission but cost for goods For more information contact: (530) 622-5522

And soon Imagination Theater will have tickets for it run of the Wizard of Oz which is sure to sell out. Nov 14-Dec 21

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Gas, Snacks and Slug Gulch Red

Gas prices are going up and one of the El Dorado WIneries close to our Placerville bed and breakfast wants to help you out. Over the Memorial Day weekend for 11-5 in their tasting room they will be releasing Slug Gulch Red for $9 (case and club discounts apply) and if you bring in a receipt for gas or diesel purchased during the Sat-Mon they will add an additional 5% discount to your wine purchase at Oakstone Winery.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Visits from other inns to our Placerville B&B

We had a lovely visit from our pals at the Olallieberry Inn located in Cambria, just minutes from Hearst Castle.  We love this place!!!!  And it is even painted the same colors as our Placerville bed and breakfast.

For great breakfasts on the central coast, there is no place we would rather stay than the Olallieberry Inn.  Tell them we said "hello" if you happen to go.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Kindle and bed and breakfast innkeepers

I have found a solution to the problem of space for my personal collection of books-- the Amazon Kindle.  This wonderful little devise can hold 200 books on it, and since I love to read, it is practically perfect for me.  There are still a number of books that will stay in the guest area of the inn--in fact nearly all, but my collection will be e-books for now.  Plus Rita won't know how many I have purchased!!!

I am not suggesting that innkeepers get rid of their books that guests enjoy, but if your personal collection is getting too big for the space in your quarters, you might want to consider purchasing a Kindle and having "more room at the inn".

The Kindle has made living at a bed and breakfast so much easier, and since you can download and read a new book without leaving the bed and breakfast, it saves us time and gas as the nearest large book store is about 20 minutes away (a lifetime for some innkeepers).

Monday, May 05, 2008

Wine tasting in the foothills





Saturday found us wine tasting at some of our favorites spots with some innkeepers from the Casa Tropicana in San Clemente who decided to getaway to our Placerville B&B.  It is always fun to host other innkeepers---and play a bit in our backyard, showing off the fun to do in the area.

Our first stop was to Boeger where we of course had to try the Barbera in the tasting room with Sarah.  As you can see they had other goodies to taste along with the award winning wines.  When you stop in, tell them the Shafsky gals said hello!

Next stop for some Old World Port was Madrona Vineyards.
We also enjoyed the lovely view of the vines and snow-capped Sierra from just outside the tasting room door.  They are holding an Open House at Madrona on May 24 & 25 for the release of their 2006 Shiraz-Cabernet where you will be able to purchase it by the case for $10/bottle.

Our last stop was to our pals at Wofford Acres Vineyards.  What a great view they have!  And fabulous wine too!