The Envelopes Please ... If We Picked the Winners

Written by Gary Moffat

It is awards season in Auburn, and on Friday evening the Chamber of Commerce will stage its annual “State of the Community” dinner, an event that recognizes the good works of our town’s leading citizens.  There are tough choices to be made because so many businesses and individuals have contributed so mightily. So every year there seem to be deserving candidates who always end up as bridesmaids, never making the final cut. . .the Ron Santos who never score enough votes to make it into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. And then there are award categories that simply lack wide enough appeal to be added to the list, kind of like Texas Holdem’ Poker failing to make it as an Olympic sport. Analyzing the possibilities from the “Other Side of Auburn,” these would be the winners when the envelopes are opened: Business of the Year:  Depoe Bay Coffee.  If you gauge a business by the unrelenting effort and sheer force of will invested to make a go of it, no one is more deserving than this delightful oasis of caffeine on High Street in Downtown Auburn.  Dion Isaacson not only built his joint board by board, but he has appeared in more straight games than Cal Ripken ... he and his wife, Bunny, virtually live in the place to make it work. McCann Award:  Dr. Bill “Flying Physician” Kirby.  Our very own Harley-riding proctologist, Bill Kirby, has contributed a lifetime of service to this community, from roaming the sidelines as game-day doctor during Placer High School football seasons, to serving as a director of the Auburn Recreation District, to providing pro bono medical services for the needy. Opinionated and with a personality large enough to fill any room, Kirby is a City Council contender later this year. City of Auburn Employee of the Year:  Police Chief Valerie Harris.  No one has done more to keep the local constabulary’s office in the news than Chief Harris, and she should be widely commended for raising more DUI enforcement grant dollars per capita than any jurisdiction in California ... perhaps even on the planet. Placer County Employee of the Year:  Jim Holmes.  This guy is everywhere, even at 7 a.m. for the Meddler’s weekly meeting at City Hall and Chamber board meetings.  He not only wakes up early, he is on two County payrolls, making him the hardest working (but still most underpaid) civil employee in Placer. Auburn Ambassador of the Year:  Gilbert Ortega.  No one creates a more immediate and lasting impression of Auburn for tourists than our bicycle-riding, horn-tooting, pin-emblazoned, Gilbert—especially the two vehicles he bashed into in Old Town.  Yes, he is different, but no Auburnite is more recognizable, has a greater zest for life or causes more folks to smile than this one-of-a-kind terror on two wheels. “The Mouth that Roared” Award:  Dan Sokol. For having something to say about virtually every agenda item at virtually every City Council meeting, effectively making him the sixth but unelected City Council member.  Poster octogenarian for “Freedom of Speech” and the Brown Act. “Survivor of the Year” Award:  Jerry Martin.  While the City’s former Airport Manager was at the top of the list when the Council rolled heads to help balance its budget recently, he did manage to dodge a bullet and avoid jail after being escorted from his office by an armed police officer.  He was placed on administrative leave for three weeks for committing unspecified high crimes and misdemeanors until his employment clock ran out. “Let it All Hang Out” Award:  Christa Darlington. This land-use attorney for Republican-laden Placer County heeded her Democratic convictions and is campaigning relentlessly for Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Her reward was being elected on Sunday to serve as one of our region’s delegates to the Democratic Convention in Denver later this summer. “Placer High School’s Alien of the Year” Award:  Francisco Evangelista.  After spending eight months in Placer County Jail while charges against him for bringing a BB gun on campus crept through the legal system, this young man—a Mexican living in Auburn illegally since childhood—was found guilty and placed on probation ... and  soon will be in the hands of Immigration authorities who will deport him to his mother country. What a truly grim and sorry result. “Power Couple of the Year” Award:  Leslie Maita and Steve Galyardt. They’re everywhere, from ribbon-cutting ceremonies to hitting every stop on the rubber-chicken circuit.  Don’t be surprised to someday see the streets of Auburn flooded with young bankers driving Fords. “Politico of the Year” Award:  Keith Nesbitt.  No Council member has ever entered the mayor’s office with greater anticipation and relish; no one appears more comfortable with a gavel in hand. Too bad his term lasts just one year. “2008 Nine Lives” Award:  Old State Theater. Though named KCRA’s top independent movie theater in the region last year, this soon-to-be-rehabbed landmark remains on life-support.  If not for 11th hour rescues, this Auburn gem would be no more.  Auburn movie lovers should be lining up at show time to take advantage of this wonderful community asset. “Luckiest Person of the Year” Award:  Me ... for stumbling on this place eight years ago and making it my home. And for having the good fortune to launch my own business as well as having the opportunity to work for the little newspaper that could. Gary Moffat is a journalist and he owns Carpe Vino in Old Town Auburn. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Bookmark Email This Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Website Comment smaller | bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment