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.
PIC PICK – The Auburn Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 100th year a few weeks ago with a big bash at the offices. Some of those attending included the lovely ladies shown in this week’s musings. All from Auburn, they are, from left, Ms. Accomplished America California State Queen Lisa Clark, Mrs. Placer County Heather Scott-Clark (she’s married to Lisa’s brother) and Miss Accomplished Nevada Placer County Shelley Layland. "We’re here to show our support," Heather told me. The ladies took a tour of the remodel and viewed the slideshows depicting the town’s history.
PIC PICK – John Schmidt, an incoming senior at Placer High, discussed his experiences at Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp with the Gold Country Rotary Club last week. The teen is also the incoming president of the school’s Interact Club (a Rotary sponsored youth service club for those 14 to 18). His dad is Walt Schmidt, owner of Roger’s Automotive and a member of the Rotary club.
WALKING THE STREETS – Muggy heat didn’t slow down a group of business and civic leaders last week as they strolled the streets of Auburn with the folks behind the city’s "Streetscape" beautification plan. Chalking out areas where the sidewalks are to be widened and small entry way monument signs are to go was one way to get more of Auburn’s movers and shakers on board and get their "buy in," but more than one on the walk expressed concerns over making Auburn appear too "touristy." When concerns were voiced regarding improving drainage in Old Town Auburn, Auburn Mayor Bob Snyder said the Streetscape plan doesn’t involve storm drains because the cost would skyrocket. Streetscape tour guide Paul Weller (the senior landscape architect for Rocklin-based Foothill Associates) said, "We can leave it just the way it is or we can look at this as an opportunity and investigate."
PICTURE THIS – While attending the Granite Community Bank “Banking to Business Quarterly Forum” last week, I bumped into the entire Kopp clan. Shown, from left, is papa Jerry with daughter Rachel, mama Sandi, and son Aaron. They run the family business, UpTown Signs in Auburn.
WATERING HOLE MUSINGS – Pete Aroz, Sr., owner of Pistol Pete’s and the
Liquor Outlet, had a mighty fine set up at last Friday evening’s Cruise
Nite in Downtown Auburn. With a margarita in hand, he told me to speak
to his son (that would be the younger Pete up at Pistol Pete’s) to find
out about the Sublime tribute show going on this Friday evening.
Fulfilling my duty, I worked my way up to the bar and got the scoop.
Apparently, there is a loose affiliation between the band Sublime and
the tribute band (and plenty of legal documents have been filed by both
parties). To witness the carnage and mayhem (and a great show, from
what I hear), head over to Pistol Pete’s Brew and Cue on Friday night.
Admission is $10 per person. If you happened by and saw lovely
green-clad ladies in front of the Liquor Outlet, they were part of the
official Bacardi Rum Mojito folks (complete with a giant green van).
The Mojito girls could stop traffic, let me tell you. ... I see that
Sarah and Marcello Nolivo (the couple who own the Club Car) have
returned from Italy, looking well rested. Their place was packed Friday
night (not a night I’m usually out and about, but with a free pass from
the wife, I was in). Debbie, our server, was in great form, as usual.
Debbie is also serving up cocktails at Lou La Bonte’s, so stop by some
evening and say “howdy.”
Filmmaker Steps In to Get Film Shown in Auburn & Some St. Patrick’s Day Luck
AROUND TOWN – A few merchants e-mailed or called me last week due to a column item in which I mentioned that retail shops were closed at 9 a.m. while hundreds of walkers from Volkssport (an international walking club) were on the streets of Auburn. My point is that merchants in small towns, because they are mom and pop shops, generally aren’t open when shoppers are available (before 9 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m.). The workforce is usually occupied with their jobs during these hours, meaning shopkeepers are giving themselves only about an hour to get these customers into their stores. I wholeheartedly agree with Ross and Lynn Carpenter, owners of Serendipity and Box Office Candies in Old Town. They’ve been reminding fellow merchants for years to “be open when the customers are here.” The Carpenters keep their stores open later and Old Town as a group will be staying open later on Friday nights. Also, the Volkssport walking tour organizers should have done a better job of alerting local media about their plans so that we could have informed the public (and shopkeepers) before those hundreds of walkers arrived.
Hundreds Take to Auburn’s Streets and New Eateries Open in Colfax
PICTURE THIS (& COLFAX CORNER) – The annual Colfax Independence Day Celebration brought hundreds to this historic town on Sunday, July 1. The parade was well attended and it was nice to see WWII veteran Charlie Gray (shown in this week’s column) honored as the grand marshal. While walking around after the parade, I spotted John Potter, Jack Knight (of Knight Electric), and Dion and Carol Isaacson (owners of Depoe Bay Coffee Company).
