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.
LIGHTS ON AUBURN – Who’s that happy couple in this week’s snapshot? None other than Gail Remington and her hubby Jack enjoying the Festival of Lights parade in Auburn last Saturday evening. To put on the annual parade takes a team of dedicated volunteers, weeks of planning and, of course, the support of the community (not to mention, plenty of heavily spiked egg nog). From Wayne Manning announcing at Central Square (as well as all the others announcing at various locations along the parade route), Teri Gibson (of the Christmas Village) donating decorations for the town Christmas tree, Leslie Maita and Steve Galyardt posting "no parking" signs along the parade route the day before (as well as delivering garbage cans along the same route the next morning), Harvey Roper organizing volunteers to work the parade route, the city’s public works department hanging garland and holiday decorations before the day of the parade, business owners such as Jerry Kopp working to keep the crowds out of the streets during the parade and the Auburn Police Department (with their own volunteers and on-duty officers) providing much-needed traffic direction and crowd control, the Festival of Lights is one of those gems that make small towns like Auburn so special. As one of those volunteers working the parade route, I spotted plenty of friendly faces including Tanya Hibbard, Old Town Business Association President Ty Rowe, former Auburn Mayor Cheryl Maki and her husband Randy, Auburn’s Finance Director Andy Heath and his wife Cherié, Craig Graham of AuburnBuzz.com, City Manager Bob Richardson and his wife Jennifer, Bob and Eileen Ferber, Jackie Weston, Placer County District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes, Auburn Nissan’s Michael Barbieri, Rob and Kim Haswell, Auburn Planning Commission member Mark Smith, Auburn Police Chief Valerie Harris, Nancie Radakovitz, Sonny Harris of Auburn Public Works Dept., and Kurt Bertilson of AuburnEvents.com. And what a parade it was! Who among us doesn’t think of Storm Troopers or Darth Vader during the Christmas season? I hear the massive float featuring "Star Wars" characters was officially approved by filmmaker George Lucas. (For more, see page B1.)
A ‘SOPRANO’ COMES TO NEWCASTLE – Actor Joseph Gannascoli, who played Vito on the hit TV series “Sopranos," paid a visit to our area recently to promote his new cook book and, much to my surprise, speak very highly of a restaurant in Newcastle. While being interviewed on Good Day Sacramento, the actor (who is also a chef) said he stopped by La Fornaretta in Newcastle two days in a row and had fantastic meals. So good, in fact, that he invited one of the restaurant owners (Suzanne Di Lorenzo) to come on Good Day Sacramento with him. The two did a cooking segment and the recipe is posted on www.cw31.com. Gannascoli said La Fornaretta’s food was as good as he’d get back in New York (and he said it was much better than what he’d recently eaten in Fresno). The dining establishment, billed as an authentic Sicilian restaurant and pizzeria, is owned by Suzanne and her husband, Cesare. You can find the eatery at 455 Main Street #4 and online at www.lafornaretta.net.
AROUND TOWN – The Auburn Police Department has a new face. Give a warm welcome to Officer Adam Cline, who comes to us after serving two years with the Anderson Police Department. ... Mountain Carpets showcased their new building on Highway 49 last Thursday in Auburn by hosting the Auburn Chamber of Commerce’s mixer. Who was there? Many locals turned out to see the new facility, including Auburn City Council members Mike Holmes and Keith Nesbitt, Auburn City Manager Bob Richardson, Dave Johnson of Keller Williams, Sharon Wells of Ultimate Beauty Source, Gary Capps of the Capps Group, Nancie and Bill Radakovitz, Gary Moffat of Carpe Vino, Leslie Maita of Maita Ford, attorney Monti Reynolds, Chuck Webber of The Beda Place (in Meadow Vista), Stewart Feldman, Laurie Penn, Rob Huckins of Auburn Moving Co., Brooke Higgins of Smoothie King, Auburn Chamber President Steve Galyardt, Richard Hall of Bottom Line Attorneys, Ray Whaley of Secure Record Management, Vance Sauter, Shari Smith of Casablanca Salon, Old Republic Title’s Enid Baldock, Kelly Fulfer of Community 1st Bank, Placer County Planning Commission member Rich Johnson and his wife Peg, Cathy Bianchi of Cathy’s Catering, Rudy and Ann Rivero of Art Accents, Sharon Gannon of Gannon Financial Services, Linda Robinson of Sun River Clothing Co., Susan Teixeira of Keller Williams, and Nancey Holland of Harris Industrial Gasses. Ty Rowe, of Bootleggers Restaurant in Old Town Auburn, catered the shindig. ... Perfect weather and great mandarins made for a wonderful Mountain Mandarin Festival at the Gold Country Fairgrounds last weekend. Some notables spotted at the event were Brenda Roper, Scott Holbrook, Tony Hazarian, Darryl the Magician, Michael Leydon and his lovely wife Beth, Ed Gilligan, Kim Haswell, Kurt Bertilson and Karen Grunwald.
AROUND TOWN –The Veteran’s Day Parade was a well-attended affair on Sunday with hundreds turning out to show their support. When the Clock Tower struck high noon (which was 11 a.m. in the real world), there was a fly-over, a 21-gun salute and “Taps” was played. The weather certainly cooperated as threatening storm clouds kept their distance. Marching with the honor guard that day was Nick Santini, who is home on leave from the Middle East. He has received two Purple Heart awards and is stationed at 29 Palms. As always, retired Sgt. Major Terry Crousen did a bang-up job leading the group of vets and active military. Some of those in attendance included Auburn City Council member Bridget Powers, KAHI’s Dave Rosenthal on the microphone at the KAHI van announcing the parade, former Auburn Mayor Bud Pisarek, Old Town Business Association President Ty Rowe with his three children, Auburn Police Sgt. Dave Lawicka directing traffic, Ralph Roper driving one of his antique vehicles, Placer County District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes riding in a car and waving to the crowd with his older brother (as well as an Auburn City Councilmember) Mike Holmes, and many others. ...
PIC PICK – Who’s the cute baby? None other than Lane Vincent Dunbar who was born July 25, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital. The little boy’s proud parents are Pleasant Grove residents Sheila and Logan Dunbar. His grandparents just so happen to be Rich (who now sits on the county’s Planning Commission) and Peg Johnson of Auburn, Susan Dunbar of Lincoln and Jeffrey Dunbar of Rio Oso. Congrats to the happy family!
PICTURE THIS – In this week’s snapshot we have Celtic harpist George Leverett, who was performing at the Cultural Days festival at Sierra College with his wife Anwyn. I’ve known the Leveretts, who now reside in O’Brien, Oregon, since my days as a weekend reporter at the Merced Sun-Star more than a dozen years ago. They were also playing tunes at High Hill Ranch at Apple Hill (just outside of Placerville) over the weekend and will be there again on Nov. 3rd and 4th. (Stop by their booth and tell them the Chaddocks said “howdy.”) Speaking of the Cultural Days celebration, perfect weather blessed the event last Wednesday and Thursday. College instructor (and Auburn resident) Joe Medeiros, one of the key organizers, booked some splendid entertainment. Belly dancers (I’m a sucker for those), Celtic musicians, African drummers and plenty of others graced the amphitheater stage. I also spotted Dawntrix Kerry at her PachaMama’s booth (the health-food restaurant is located inside the Gold Country Mall in Downtown Auburn) selling wraps and handing out flyers.
PIC PICK – Let’s start this week’s column on a sad note. Early Sunday morning, Keith Nesbitt lost his wife Annie to cancer.
The couple is shown in this photo while attending the Auburn Wine Festival in 2004 (at the time, Keith was campaigning for his Auburn City Council seat). Annie will be missed and our prayers are with Keith and their teenage son, Dylan.
Keith asks that charitable donations, in lieu of flowers, be sent to Sutter Auburn Faith Cancer Support Group.
A memorial service is planned for Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. at Lassila Funeral Chapel at 551 Grass Valley Highway in Auburn.
STAY SEATED – County CEO Tom Miller was the guest speaker at Meddlers early Tuesday morning and he did his darnedest to put to rest rumors that Roseville will become the new “virtual” seat of Placer County. “We have no plans to move out of DeWitt or the Domes,” he told the gathering. “There will be new facilities to the west, but there is no effort to move the county seat.” Placer County Supervisors Jim Holmes and Bruce Kranz, who were at Meddlers, seemed to agree. “It’ll never happen,” Kranz said.
PICTURE THIS (AND AROUND TOWN) – In the first photo this week, we have Pam Tichenor, left, and Juanita Holmes working behind the scenes at Friday’s Oktoberfest. The duo took tickets, sold t-shirts and handled the cash. In our second photo we have my friend Scott Bentley grilling pork chops for the hungry horde at the festivities. All those good-hearted folks from the Gold Country Rotary Club should be commended for putting on another great Oktoberfest at the Gold Country Fairgrounds.
PICTURE THIS – Dolores M. Garcia, the lady credited with founding the Placer Community Action Council which oversees the Head Start program in Placer and Nevada counties, will long be remembered for her work with children in the community. This week’s snapshot comes courtesy of her daughter, Trisha Pickerel, and shows Dolores with local students. It was a year ago that I attended Dolores’ funeral and Trisha tells me she is starting a scholarship fund to help continue her mother’s work.
