Don Chaddock is the executive editor and general manager of the Sentinel newspaper. He comes to the
Sentinel with 18 years of experience in the newspaper industry. He's worked in many different departments of various newspapers including editorial, graphic design and advertising. He's worked for the Reno Gazette-Journal, Nevada Appeal and the Merced Sun-Star. Married with three children, he also serves on the board of directors for the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army of Auburn.
This is the last installment of “Biscuits and Gravy,” a weekly column I have penned for the Sentinel for about five years. With a new baby on the way (Rachel is due in about three weeks), it was time for this newspaper editor to make some changes. This Friday, I’ll be starting my new job as the editor of the Folsom Telegraph.
But, before I throw myself into the daily happenings of Auburn’s neighbor to the south, I can’t help but be thankful for all the wonderful people I’ve met while having the privilege of covering this area.
The photo in this space, snapped by my friend Bill Radakovitz, was taken just a few weeks ago at Jennifer Richardson’s 40th birthday bash. That’s her husband Bob on the left and Ty Rowe on the right, with me carrying a beer and two sauce bottles for the roast pig. Ty did a great job that night, as did my wife and Catherine Rowe with the desserts. There’s nothing like a small town gathering.
ODD STUFF – If you saw Luigi’s Little Italy staff members and friends frantically moving equipment and chairs into new digs near Pistol Pete’s a block up Lincoln Way early last week, your eyes were not deceiving you. Pete Aroz is still planning to open a pizza joint on Harrison near his bar and the post office, but now he’ll have a pasta-serving neighbor. When a landlord disagreement boiled over at Luigi’s, the longtime Downtown Italian eatery had to relocate in a hurry and Pete was more than willing to offer space in his shopping center. Luigi’s also sent an e-mail notification to their customers informing them of the address change. Luigi’s owner Terry Galli tells me they plan to open in their new location in about four weeks. She said customers with questions or concerns may e-mail her at
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. “It’s going to be a good thing,” she said. “Pete is a good friend of mine and this will be a good move.” Meanwhile, Pete’s pizza place should be opening in 8 weeks, she tells me.
COLFAX CORNER – The City of Colfax may be battered and bruised after recent developments, but it is just one entity. If the proponents of the dis-incorporation movement are successful, the city will be disbanded and new levels of bureaucracy created to fill the void and offer the necessary services to the residents of that fair town. According to Placer County Executive Officer Tom Miller, all these new agencies and service districts would be paid for by the residents of Colfax and through developer fees in that area (and if you look at development in Colfax, it’s almost nonexistent).
PIC PICK – While attending Saturday’s Black & White Ball, I stumbled upon Jennifer Montgomery, a candidate for Placer County’s 5th District Supervisorial seat. In November, the Serene Lakes resident will face off against incumbent Bruce Kranz. Montgomery is campaigning hard, hitting major events such as the Ball and the State Theater Marquee Lighting Party last month.
AND, THEY’RE OFF! – Ken Nittler, lucky hubby of the lovely Nancy, has tossed his hat in the ring for the Auburn Union School District Board of Trustees. Many know Ken through his work with the Auburn Education Foundation, a nonprofit group that raises money for local schools. To learn more, visit VoteNittler.com. ... Gary Liss wants to take on Rocklin’s sprawl, so he’s running for Loomis Town Council. He recently filed the proper paperwork with the county elections office. More information about the Liss campaign can be found at garyliss.com/loomis. ... Bill Kirby filed his paperwork at the county elections office last Friday in his bid to secure a seat on the Auburn City Council.
AROUND TOWN – The Auburn Host Lions Club held a farewell send off for Wayne Foote at the Canyon View Community Center last Sunday. More than 100 friends and family members gathered to share funny stories about the late florist. The celebration of life drew former Auburn mayors Hank Gonzales (with his wife Glenda), Cheryl Maki (with her husband Randy), and Mike Holmes, longtime pharmacist Charlie Fink, Paul and Sherry Gilbert, D.J. and Kristina Hodge (who took over Wayne’s floral shop and renamed it Cattail Flowers), Jeff and Jeannie Bryan (former owners of Bryan’s Florist), Madonna Anglin, Joanne Neft and Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes.
AROUND TOWN – Jesse Colin Young, founder of the Youngbloods, took Auburn by storm in 1982, opening the door for other acts in this sleepy foothills town that weren’t big band sounds or orchestras. The mayor at the time, George Beland, recalls that many of the townsfolk were worried the band would attract the wrong kind of crowd. “It all went smoothly,” Beland said while listening to the Stardust Cowboys perform at the Auburn Library Amphitheater concert on Sunday. The free outdoor summer concert series, in its 20th season, was dedicated to the memory of the late Dorothy Sanborn, longtime librarian and one of the key community leaders who helped bring the amphitheater from the drawing board to reality, according to master of ceremonies David Swart. Mild weather drew plenty of locals to the concert. I spotted former Auburn Mayor Bud Pisarek, Janelle Bertilson, Chip Perley, Linda Robinson, Sharon Gannon, Pat Aiello, Juan Aceituno, Richard Hall and Dee Paul, George Coe, Janet Paehlig, Vicky Morris, and Tanya Hibbard with her son Jake. Next year, the free outdoor concerts will begin on Sunday, June 21 and continue through July 19, with no concert held on July 5.
AROUND TOWN – Friday night was a busy one for this newspaper guy. It started with Cruise Nite at 5:30 p.m. on Lincoln Way. Thin on cars and spectators (which usually happens every July), the evening was still a nice one. A break in the weather had some of the regulars coming out. At the KAHI van was Dave Rosenthal (shown in this week’s snapshot) with a Black and White Ball sponsor bunny. I also ran into Rosie Mietzel, chief organizer of this year’s Ball, and Bob and Eileen Ferber, who are in charge of organizing the restaurants who participate. Vance Sauter was checking out of the classic cars while chatting with Auburn Recreation District board member Curt Smith. Pete Aroz and his crew, including son Troy, were busy keeping the crowds well watered. The family owns the Liquor Outlet and Pistol Pete’s Brew & Cue. Soon they’ll be branching out into restaurants by opening Pistol Pete’s Pizza, slated to go in next door to the bar. ... At about 8, I wandered down Lincoln Way to the State Theater Illumination Party happening on the street in front of the theater. Spearheaded by Bill Kirby, the shindig was well attended. The Auburn Chamber of Commerce ran the bar with the Sentinel’s Deborah Mangione slinging drinks beside Chamber CEO Bruce Cosgrove and Kevin Capps of The Capps Group. Glenda Gonzales sang a few tunes and brought in the rest of the performers.
These two smiling gents, Fred Waters andChip Perley, helped keep the Auburn Family Fourth of July parade going as it reached the Gold Country Fairgrounds. For more on the event, see below.
COLFAX SEWAGE – Colfax is facing the same problem that many small foothills towns face – mandates placed on their waste water quality by the state and federal government. While Auburn is still seeking a solution, and Lake of the Pines continues to pump money into its own facility, many of the residents of Colfax appear to be unaware of the government imposed water quality standards. At a public hearing held last week, the meeting got out of hand as protesters presented signed letters of opposition to a sewer rate hike (meant to help pay for the town’s new waste water treatment plant and subsequent upgrades) and urged the city to dis-incorporate. At one point, one of Placer County’s finest had to step in to keep the peace. City Manager Joanne Phillipe said there was still the option of bankruptcy, but the city hoped to avoid that course of action. Jeff Williams, a vocal critic of the City Council, led the charge at the meeting, often asking residents to stand up and be counted if they wanted to take their city back. About 60 folks in the audience stood at his prompting. “We hear all this talk about Auburn, Lake of the Pines and Grass Valley. We’re Colfax,” he proclaimed. “If we dis-incorporate, the county will take us in.” As an example, he brought up Hornitos, a small town in the foothills of Central California that dis-incorporated in the 1970s.
TRAIL MOVE –Starting this week, you’ll see “Notes from the Trail” has grown into its own column and will no longer be a topic within “Biscuits & Gravy.” Eric Peach, of Protect American River Canyons, tells me he’s enjoyed reading the exploits of the Chaddock clan as we explore the trails in our town’s collective backyard. The trail maps produced by PARC are available at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce office and at the Placer County California Welcome Center on upper Lincoln Way.
AROUND TOWN – The Leadership Auburn Class of 2008 celebrated in fine style at the Headquarter House at Raspberry Hill last Friday. While I couldn’t attend (hey, I was busy consoling myself with cold beer after the cancellation of the Western States Run), my wife Rachel attended with the lovely Peggy Seitzinger. Rachel went through the program in 2006 while Peggy and I were classmates the following year. District Attorney Brad R. Fenocchio presented the graduation honors for Scott Owens, who works in the D.A.’s office. Other grads included Leslie Maita and Curt Smith (shown in this week’s photo courtesy of Rachel), Bill Kirby, Linda Maeding, Stevie Rea, Beth O’Brien, Greg Hegwer, Garry Hopping, Michael Garlock, Tad Berkebile, Larry Au, Dave Horsey, William Johnston, Cedric Lee, Carolyn Metzker, Michael Otten, Susan Teixeira, Darrin Van Dyke, Cindy Wharton, Laura Whitton and Sue Yassu. ... Linda Lareau, of Courthouse Coffee, is planning a Fourth of July bash on the lawn of the historic courthouse in Old Town Auburn. Expect grilled hot dogs and the like. She advises people show up at 6 p.m. and bring lawn chairs and blankets. Courthouse Coffee will also serve beer, wine and sodas. For more info, call 530-889-1373.
