Biscuits & Gravy

Don Chaddock, Editor

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.

Mom’s Missing Grave Could go to Court

Friday, 11 April 2008

LINCOLN PLOT – It looks like Terry Farinha is pursuing the issue of her mom’s missing Lincoln Cemetery plot through legal means. Attorney Ralph Laird, of the Mackenroth and Laird law firm, is now on the case. You’ll recall that Terry’s dad, Frank, passed away in 1947 and was buried in what the family claims was a double plot, complete with a double headstone. Terry’s mom Mary passed away at 105 in early 2008. When the family went to make the arrangements, they were told there was no place for Mary in Lincoln. It turns out the cemetery had changed hands from the Catholic Church to Placer County in 1954. According to Sandra Calise, who runs the cemetery, the church turned over a plot map that they used to keep track of who is buried in which plot and there was no place for Mary. She also asked the family to show proof of plot ownership such as a receipt, which the family says they cannot find after 61 years. When asked about the double headstone, Calise said the other side was blank. Terry counters that people from the old country did not put the names of the living on headstones. The family ended up burying Mary in Auburn and now the issue may wind up in court.

WARM WEATHER – Thursday’s Auburn Art Walk officially kicks off the warm weather events in the area. ... Harvey Roper will be recognized as the McCann Award winner on April 18 at the State of the Community Dinner. Other awards will be handed out also, but I’m very happy that Harvey will be recognized for all that he does in the community. It couldn’t have gone to a nicer guy. ... The Wild West Rodeo is rolling into town beginning April 23 with the big events happening the weekend of April 25 and 26. ... The annual Auburn Karfluki Festival will be May 3 and 4 while Old Town should be kicking up its heels with Cinco de Mayo (that’s on May 5, of course). ... The first Auburn Cruise Nite will be May 9 but it will have some competition with another street party planned for the front of the State Theater building at the same time. Dr. Bill Kirby said the dance party would include a small street closure, music and food. ... May 10 will be the 8th annual Auburn Rotary Community Day and Fun Run at Placer High. For more info, call.

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‘State’ Theater vs. ‘Auburn’ Theater?

Thursday, 03 April 2008

NOTES FROM THE TRAIL – Trying to squeeze in a hike between work and the Auburn City Council meeting the Monday after Easter, the kids and I loaded the backpack with water, trail mix and granola bars and decided to hike from the American River Confluence (shown here in my snapshot as we got underway) to the dam. Parking, as always, was at a premium. My hiking guidebook lists the trail as easy to moderate, 1.9 miles each way. We’ve taken the trail about halfway many times to reach Clark’s Hole, a popular swimming spot during the summer. The kids were grumbling about the heat and the fact that we were going to be passing the swimming hole anyway, so they didn’t understand why we couldn’t stop for a quick dip. I rattled off the list of dangers such as swift moving water this time of year and frigid water temperature (not to mention a lack of swimsuits). Along the hike we passed cyclists, runners, a couple of young ladies walking a dog, and a few families. It’s a nice trail but lack of shade is an issue and while it was a breezy day, the air in the canyon was hot and still. As we reached the swim hole area, my oldest daughter, Madison, began complaining that she felt sick to her stomach. Maybe we shouldn’t have eaten leftover ham for lunch just before we left the house. At about a mile in, we cut the hike short (which caused my son to go into conniptions as he was prepared to view the dam with his new binoculars). It’s a nice hike for those who don’t mind the heat. We plan to return soon to make the entire hike.

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Rumors, Hiking & County Kudos

Written by Don Chaddock

Wednesday, 26 March 2008

NOTES FROM THE TRAIL – Hidden Falls Regional Park has been criticized by some as being too remote to be of use to the average resident of Placer County. Someone should tell the residents. When I arrived on a recent Saturday afternoon, the parking lot was full. This was my first trip to the park that opened in October 2006 and I dragged my three children along to test the severity of the hiking conditions before returning at a later date with my wife. Beginning our hike, we passed a mother pushing a stroller as she walked with friends, a large group of children being supervised by a few adults, a legless man in a wheel chair rolling along with a caregiver, two equestrians and numerous hikers ranging in age from teens to blue hairs. There is a map posted at the beginning of the trails so you can plan your course. We chose the unpaved path that led straight down from the parking lot (not the winding one to the right or the paved one to the left). The trail was wide, recently graded, and in superb condition. The views were quite different from those found on the Western States Trail. Even my 9-year-old son Cian, who didn’t really want to come along in the first place, said it was beautiful. Rolling hills dotted with oak trees and hawks circling against a blue sky sure makes one appreciate living in this area. We made our way along the gently descending hillside, checking the many maps posted along the way. There is a footbridge crossing Deadman Creek (a name my son thought was “cool”) located about halfway between the parking lot and the waterfall. Unfortunately, the falls viewing area was closed to the public, but we were determined to get as close as possible so we could have a small picnic. The trail eventually narrows and winds its way to the creek. A small waterfall produced by a few boulders in the creek was good enough for us as Parker, my 8-year-old daughter, was complaining that she was about the expire from lack of food. We found places to sit beside the babbling brook and partook of our string cheese, trail mix and granola bars (and plenty of bottled water). Another hiker went on by us to the true waterfall area, and on his return, I asked if there was anything worth seeing up ahead. “No,” he said. “This is as good as it gets. I’m going to bring my family back here for lunch.” We finished, packed up our trash and began hiking out, passing the hiker on his way back down. With him were his wife and a very young child of probably no more than four years of age. We also passed that group of kids and adults that I mentioned earlier. One of the adults told me the group was on a field trip. The hike back up is steep in places, with roots ready to trip the unwary. Careful footing and an even pace will get you back to the main trail system. We chose to return using a different trail, turning left after the bridge. This trail follows along a creek, was much narrower than the one we came down on originally, and used a few switchbacks to get us to the parking area. We hiked close to three miles that day and we plan to return often. The 221-acre park was acquired as part of the Placer Legacy Open Space and Agricultural Conservation program and is located at 7587 Mears Place, off Mount Vernon Road, in Auburn.

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Happy Trail to You

Written by Don Chaddock

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

NOTES FROM THE TRAIL – With a new baby on the way, my wife and I are trying to get into better shape by taking advantage of the local trails. Armed with “American River Canyon Hikes,” a guide by Jim Ferris, Mike Lynch and Sheila Toner, we’ve been learning more about the fantastic trails in our area. A few weeks ago, we hiked from the staging area at Overlook Park to about 1.5 miles down along the Western States Trail, then turned around and hiked back uphill. Along the way, we ran into Jo Gennuso, of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, and her niece. This particular stretch of trail offers great views of the canyon, the dam site, the river and plenty of trees (as you can see in this week’s snapshot). It becomes very narrow in certain areas and you have to share the trail with horses and runners, which can be problematic in some spots. I took my kids on this hike the weekend before so we could scout the difficulty level before dragging my pregnant wife along. If my eight-year-old daughter can handle the trail, then I figure Rachel will be just fine. In next week’s column, we’ll look at the new Hidden Falls Regional Park trails.

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The Lincoln Cemetery Plot Thickens

Written by Don Chaddock

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Farinha Family PlotPLOTS – The Farinha family’s issues regarding the Lincoln Cemetery have caught the attention of Sacramento’s CBS TV station. Channel 13 news went out to the gravesite, interviewed cemetery manager Sandra Calise and has spoken with the family. The problem stems from the transfer of ownership from the Catholic Church to Placer County for the cemetery back in 1954. Frank Farinha passed away in 1947 and a double headstone was placed over his grave at the time, with the right side blank (for those from the old country, it was considered taboo to put the name of a living person on a headstone prior to his or her passing). When his wife Mary passed away at 105 on Jan. 25 of this year, the family naturally assumed there was a place reserved for their mom.

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Placer Politics Taking Center Stage

Wednesday, 05 March 2008

THE JOE CARROLL QUESTION – Phone calls regarding former Sentinel columnist Joe Carroll have been pouring into the office and we tell each caller the same thing: “We can give you no personal information regarding Joe, his condition or his contact information. All we can say is that Joe is no longer associated with the Sentinel.” For most callers, this doesn’t suffice. One was deeply offended that I wouldn’t discuss Joe’s personal life or pass along his phone number or home address. She thanked me for my “lack of information.” If these callers are such “close personal friends of Joe,” then why aren’t they speaking with him directly? Shouldn’t they have his personal contact information? Another caller wanted to know why there was no explanation published in the newspaper regarding Joe’s departure. The caller said it was our duty to inform his readers why he is no longer writing for the paper. I will say it was Joe’s choice to stop writing his column and focus on his personal life. He asked that his reasons be kept private. Joe’s personal decisions are his own and therefore none of my business (or yours). Around the Sentinel office, we miss Joe, his writing and his stories of colorful Auburn characters. I learned more from Joe in five years than I have from any of my previous newspaper jobs.

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Politics, Chocolate and a New Wine Tasting Room

Written by Don Chaddock

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

Crystal KerzelPIC PICK – This year’s “Taste of Chocolate” was a swell affair, with lots of local folks turning out a few weeks ago to stroll the streets of Old Town Auburn. Crystal Kerzel, owner of Salon J Williams, handed out her chocolate confections to eager tasters. Her salon is located on Maple Street in one of the recently restored Victorian buildings.PLACER POLITICS – With the races for the June primary election underway, 4th Congressional District GOP hopeful Doug Ose landed the endorsement of the California Farm Bureau Federation. “Doug Ose is a proven champion for family farmers and ranchers,” Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar said in a press release. “He shares our goals for lower taxes and reduced regulation on the farm, and for improved markets for California-grown products. He has been a key partner in our effort to secure private property rights for all Californians.” Ose’s campaign contributors, dating from the late 1990s through 2001, include plenty of agricultural interests. Other contributors included Wal-Mart, UPS and a certain jailed lobbyist by the name of Jack Abramoff (for $1,000). It should be noted that Mr. Abramoff contributed loads of cash to many campaigns, including Democrats, before he was thrown behind bars. ... Theodore Terbolizard, who is trying to secure the GOP nomination for the 4th Congressional District, opened his mouth and inserted his foot following his arrest for DUI in Nevada County. Trying to make light of the situation, he said his DUI bust would get him more name recognition with the voters and since he didn’t harm anyone or damage any property, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Well, he’s changed his tune in a recent statement sent to local media outlets. “I am asking for your forgiveness and understanding,” he wrote. He also expects to spend more time in jail. “Be reminded that I am the only victim in this matter; I did no damage to any other person or property.” Terbolizard vowed to continue his campaign and deal with the consequences of his actions. ... I hear Jimmy Carroll will seek re-election to the Auburn Recreation District Board of Directors. There is no word yet on Jim Gray or Gordon Ainsleigh.

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Babies, Old Town & the Farinha Family Plot

Written by Don Chaddock

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

OH, BABY! – Having been in the ink business as long as I have, I know people love pictures of kids, kittens, puppies and their neighbors. They also love to see photos of babies, so here’s one for you. As I mentioned in last week’s column, Sydney Claire Hodge was born on Feb. 1 to proud parents Kristina and D.J. Hodge of Auburn.OLD TOWN TALK – To quash rumors that rambunctious youngsters are taking over Old Town, a meeting of that district’s business association was held in the back room of Marybelle’s on Thursday morning last week. For an association that was on the brink of bankruptcy a few years ago, conservative money management (which included some controversial decisions, such as canceling the group’s contract for the billboard on Interstate 80, which used to cost them about $24 grand annually) has brought the organization into the black. Auburn City Manager Bob Richardson had high praise for the merchants. “You’re on a real successful track right now,” he said. “You’ve completely turned the train around.” Setting up committees that handle issues separately from the general membership (returning to them with proposals for approval), closely watching expenses and trying to turn decades-old festivals into vibrant revenue-generating events for the association and its members has been difficult. One of the “apparent” wedge-driving issues was the decision to move Country Christmas from Saturday to a weeknight. I say apparent, because when it was brought up at the general membership meeting, 16 of the 17 voting members in attendance were in favor of the change. Gary Lord pointed out that Country Christmas used to be held on Tuesday evenings and was only moved about a dozen years ago to Saturdays so the new Holiday Inn could market the event for weekend packages. When the whole thing was said and done, only one member voted against changing the day of Country Christmas to a weeknight. The committee will be meeting to discuss the new day of the week, how many times the event should be held (once, twice, thrice?) and how close it should be to Christmas. They will then report back to the general membership in two weeks.

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A Grave Situation for Farinha Family

Written by Don Chaddock

Tuesday, 05 February 2008

TOON TOWN – It’s been a while since an editorial cartoon has graced our pages and this week we are fortunate to have Bob Taylor saluting Joe Carroll. Mr. Taylor wrote, “I submit this merely as a personal tribute to Joe Carroll – whose persistent pursuit helped bring down the scoundrel and demagogue.” Mr. Taylor, in case you didn’t know, is nationally recognized. He was a regular cartoonist for the Dallas Times Herald (which folded in 1991 after more than 100 years in the ink biz) and his work was distributed nationwide through News America Syndicate. Thank you very much, Mr. Taylor. (To see the cartoon, pick up a copy of the print edition of the Sentinel, available at locations in Lincoln, Rocklin, Loomis, Newcastle, Penryn, Meadow Vista, Auburn, Colfax and Lake of the Pines).PLOT PROBLEM – Trouble is brewing for one local cemetery. It appears that when the Lincoln Cemetery acquired the old Catholic cemetery in 1954, the church gave them a map showing burial plots and ownership. The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be a plot for Mary Farinha. You may recall that Mary was honored by the Placer County Board of Supervisors late last year in honor of her 105th birthday. Mrs. Farinha passed away Jan. 25 and when the family began planning her funeral, they were told the plot next to her husband (who was buried in the old Catholic cemetery in 1947, seven years prior to the transfer to the Lincoln Cemetery) now belonged to someone else and there was no record indicating Mary ever owned the plot next to her husband. There is a double headstone over Mr. Frank Farinha’s Lincoln grave, awaiting Mary’s name and information. Mary’s daughter, Terry, told me the family will have to move Frank’s remains to the New Auburn Cemetery so the couple can have side-by-side plots. I’ll be looking into this issue a little deeper in coming weeks, but no matter what I discover, it’s a sad situation for any family to go through.

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Augur, Economics, Politics and a Very Full Rumor Mill

Written by Don Chaddock

Tuesday, 29 January 2008

AUBURN AUGUR – As some may have already heard, our beloved Joe Carroll (who pens the weekly “Auburn Augur” column in the Sentinel) is under the weather so I will do my best to keep up with local political circles and keep you informed until his return ...DOOLITTLE DOINGS – It seems Rep. John Taylor Doolittle’s announcement that he will not seek re-election caught the eye of the editorial board at the New York Times. Published Jan. 23, the editorial titled “A Reminder from Mr. Doolittle” called on Congress to create a non-partisan oversight committee tasked with handling allegations similar to those plaguing Doolittle. According to the editorial, “The House’s own ethics panel was notoriously passive and uncurious during the Abramoff go-go years in which five Republicans ensnared themselves with luxury junkets and quid pro quo politicking. Mr. Doolittle’s wife enjoyed a soft job on the Abramoff payroll and also drew unusual paychecks cut from her husband’s own campaign treasury. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly determined to move ahead with the proposal for a new oversight office employing six nonpartisan outsiders, appointed by the two party leaders. This would be a definite step forward. The office would vet allegations of members’ misconduct and refer serious cases to the ethics committee for, we hope, conclusive investigation.” Doolittle has said he will not endorse a candidate to replace him in this year’s June primary, as he’s interested in seeing how it all shakes out, but there are still plenty of contenders for his post, including Theodore Terbolizard (featured in Joe’s column last week).

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