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.
Business as Usual in the Foothills
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
WILD WEST – “Her Blazing Saddle,” a short film produced by Three Blind Mice (Bob Richardson, Monti Reynolds and Harvey Roper), made its premier at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce’s 101st installation and awards dinner on Saturday at the Elks Lodge. The video spoof of “Blazing Saddles” featured many local notables in Old West attire doing their best to recall what they learned in high school drama classes and finally put those “talents” to work. Some of the folks appearing in the film included former Auburn Chamber of Commerce presidents Ralph Roper, Steve Galyardt, Brad Weston and Forrest Eklund (husband of Cindy, the organization’s newest president). Others included Auburn City Councilmembers Mike Holmes, Bridget Powers, Bob Snyder and Keith Nesbitt. Approximately 200 persons attended the dinner on Saturday. Some of those I spotted at the swell shindig were Ty and Catherine Rowe, Jennifer Richardson, Fred Relyea, Bob and Eileen Ferber, State Sen. Dave Cox, State Assemblyman Ted Gaines, Norma Harris, Christine Rydell, Peggy Seitzinger, Karen Grunwald, Gary Moffat, Janice Forbes and Ken Geil, Tony Hazarian, Karen Hancock, Sharon Gannon, Kelly Fulfer, Debi Lawrence, Placer County District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes, Jack Amick, E. Ken Tokutomi, Bill and Nancie Radakovitz, Police Chief Valerie Harris, Pat Aielo, Linda Robinson, Chip Perley, the always lovely Leslie Maita, Wayne Manning, Karla and Martin Tilley, Dr. Bill Kirby, Sutter Auburn Faith's Mindy Donovaro and many others.
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Feeling Powerless in Auburn
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
As I began writing this week’s column, it was Sunday morning and a roaring fire was burning in the fireplace while my cup of joe sat on the side table surrounded by candles. Four long tapers were burning bright enough for me to put pen to paper and I realized we’d been living this way since early Friday morning – three days without electricity. (The snapshot this week was taken in our living room early Saturday evening, just as the sun was beginning to set.)The home phone, which also runs on electricity, was dead. (I sure do miss rotary telephones). No television reports, Internet or radio programs (unless I wanted to listen to repeats of Rush Limbaugh or hear San Francisco weather updates) were available to keep me informed. Luckily, Depoe Bay – as well as most of the rest of Downtown and Old Town Auburn – had power so I was able to run out and get coffee.Our next door neighbors finally gave up and headed to a hotel on Saturday when PG&E couldn’t give them an estimate for power restoration. Living in Downtown Auburn has its share of challenges (rowdy high school students, litter and parking problems), but we live in town so these sorts of things – such as extended power outages – won’t happen. Neighbors across the street and to the right of us had power, but for about a dozen homes and a few businesses in our neighborhood (such as Taco Tree), that wasn’t the case.
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Cuddly Kittens & Placer’s Homeless
Written by Don Chaddock
Monday, 31 December 2007
PIC PICK – Fred “Mr. Coffee” Relyea received an unexpected surprise while hiking on Christmas Eve. (Many locals know Fred as the friendly vendor with the warm cups of coffee on Saturday mornings at the Old Town Farmers’ Market in Auburn. He owns Pine Mountain Coffee, is a 2007 grad of the Leadership Auburn program, and is an all-around great guy. But, back to the story.) After hiking in the American River Canyon with friends, they heard meowing near the parking lot. A search found three abandoned kittens – one of them very high in a pine tree. Fearless Fred climbed the tree and he reports the kitten purred most of the way back down. “It’s hard to believe someone in our community dropped off three very healthy and happy kittens on Christmas Eve morning in the canyon, at least a couple miles from the closest home. But we all felt it was our Christmas gift to discover the kittens and provide them new homes in which they will receive lots of love,” he said. Two of the kittens, including the one from the tree, are shown in this week’s snapshot. To find an adoptable pet, check out “Paw Pals” on page A8 of this week’s Sentinel. If you own a business and would like to help sponsor a pet for the page, call Deborah Mangione at.
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Goodbye 2007! Now, Let’s Get to Work
Written by Don Chaddock
Monday, 24 December 2007
AROUND TOWN – The Sentinel staff and friends enjoyed a wonderful Christmas luncheon at Bootleggers in Old Town last week. It was nice to see some of our regular contributors such as Bill Martin, who pens “Sierra College Notebook,” Gary Moffat (“Other Side of Auburn”) and John McCreadie, who writes feature stories and profiles. We also recognized the efforts of our staff and all the hard work they put in to make sure this newspaper gets in your hands. I want to personally thank Deborah Mangione, Rachel Chaddock, Andrew Lukkonen, Rich Kendall, Erin Gallup-Main (who is leaving for a state job), Lorelei Berry (who recently left so she can be a stay-at-home mom) and those who couldn’t attend, like Reene Abbott (our copy editor), Kevin Maguire (who handles distribution in our North Placer area), Nancyjo Riekse (who pens the “Season’s Choice” recipe column), and Kevin Hanley (writer of the “Common Sense” column), for everything they did throughout the year. In 2008, we have a lot of exciting things happening, so stay tuned.* * *
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Santa, Watering Holes & Wine Tasting
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
AROUND TOWN – When looking over the attendance roster of Keith
Nesbitt’s swearing-in as Auburn’s mayor last Thursday, one may have
mistaken the gathering for a business mixer or Rotary meeting. Oh
sure, there were the usual politicos such as former Auburn Mayor
Annabel McCord (whom Joe Carroll refers to as the grand dame of city
politics), but there were also plenty of folks whose faces aren’t as
familiar at City Council meetings. For the record, I spotted Steve
Cavolt, Jerry Kopp, Nancie and Bill Radakovitz, Debi Lawrence, Sonja
Vargas, Steve Conklin, Gary Capps, Liz Briggs, Thomas “T.J.” Jackson,
Jeff Moore, city Planning Commission member Ray Merz, Auburn Chamber of
Commerce President Steve Galyardt, Leslie Maita, Rudy and Ann Rivero,
Stephanie Snyder, Monti Reynolds, Jim Fallbeck, E. Ken Tokutomi, Dick
and Jane Amick, Jim and Beckie King, Linda Robinson, Gary Moffat,
Auburn Fire Chief Mark D’Ambrogi, Alan Young, Auburn Fire Capt. Corey
Zander, Auburn Police Chief Valerie Harris, city Finance Director Andy
Heath, and many others. ... Craig Graham, founder of AuburnBuzz.com, is
turning 40 on Dec. 31 and will be celebrating with friends at the
Monkey Cat in Downtown Auburn.
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Lincoln’s Lights & Auburn’s Holiday Cheer
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
PIC PICK – Shown in this week’s snapshot is Tina McCauslin who was busy on Saturday getting the judges table ready for the Lincoln Light Parade. McCauslin resides in Rocklin but works in Lincoln. She is also on the board of directors for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the organization responsible for the parade. For photos of the event, see page B1.
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Storm Troopers, Blogs and Egg Nog
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 04 December 2007
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.)
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'Sopranos' Star Proclaims Newcastle Restaurant as Good as New York
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
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 and online at www.lafornaretta.net.
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A Roundup of the Usual Suspects
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
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.
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Wine, Vets & Business Shuffle
Written by Don Chaddock
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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. ...
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