What’s this I hear that Becky Martin, the lovely lass of Luigi’s Little Italy, is hopping on a plane to tour Greece? Never fear, for she’s due to return home on Oct. 3. I spotted Martin at the Black and White Ball with a group of girlfriends as she celebrated her birthday. Speaking of the Ball, attendance was probably a little lighter than last year and I certainly noted many came in casual attire.  Despite that, it was a stellar evening with real highs, such as visiting with my friends Jeanette and Carl Bullock (shown above). Another highlight of the evening was listening to the smooth tunes of the Rat Pack who performed at the sponsor party (and later during the regular Ball). Mike Branson and his crooners did a swell job. At the swank VIP party, KAHI’s Dave Rosenthal announced the arrival of the sponsors as they entered. I spotted three Auburn City Council members (Kevin Hanley with his wife Hattie, Keith Nesbitt and Bridget Powers), City Manager Bob Richardson and his wife Jennifer (as a fetching redhead), city financial guru Andy Heath with his lovely wife Cherié, E. Ken Tokutomi, Nancey Holland, Newcastle’s Dr. Walter Winfrey with the Sentinel’s Deborah Mangione on his arm, Lowell and Debra Jarvis, Jerry Kopp, Vance Sauter, Chip Perley and Linda Robinson, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital’s Mitch Hanna, Peggy and Tom Seitzinger, Marty Warmuth, Mindy Donovaro, Shari Smith, Gary Capps, Rudy and Anne Rivero, Kurt Bertilson snapping photos for his website AuburnEvents.com, Kristina and D.J. Hodge, Ty Rowe and his lovely wife Catherine, Tom and Gail Stout, Auburn Journal publisher Tony Hazarian, Michelle Strange and many others. At 8:30 p.m., the VIPs were allowed out and into the regular Ball area, where I noted the attendance of Bill and Cindy Wharton, Carl and Jeannette Bullock, Scott and Aliah Shuttleworth, brothers Troy and Pete Aroz, local historian George Lay, Leadership Auburn teambuilding expert Scott Winter (who hails from Chico) and many others. After we headed home, living just outside the Ball area, we held our annual tradition of turning out all the lights, opening the blinds and watching people walk up our street to their vehicles. Two ladies, from out of town, were hopelessly lost as they searched for their car (I did step outside to give them directions). Another group shouted at each other while others meandered up the street and just as we were about to head to bed around 2 a.m., two stilt-walking ladies made their way up the middle of Finley. Ah, only in Auburn. ... Friday’s Cruise Nite was the last one of the season and as has become tradition, there was a 9/11 tribute to the victims and emergency responders who lost their lives six years ago. On the steps of the Auburn Promenade, Judy Bacon led the group in song and Auburn Police Chief Valerie Harris said a few words. In all, it was quite moving and nicely done. The last Cruise Nite is always a great place to spot local movers and shakers, who really turn out in force. Ralph Roper, who owns many classic vehicles, was there and I also spotted Auburn Mayor Bob Snyder, Newcastle Fire Dept.’s Bob Roth, Dave and Gail Mackenroth, Michael Barbieri, Steve Conklin, Darci Glen, Terry Crouson, Doreen Kidd (who sits on the Historic Design Review Commission as an Old Town Auburn representative), Placer County Sheriff’s Chaplain Terry Morgan, Barbara Beland, Dave Imgrund, Jeff Gooding, Phil Clayton and the lovely Tomi Kiddoo (of Liquor Outlet and part of the Aroz clan).

OUT & ABOUT – On Saturday, Sept. 29, two ladies will be named Miss Auburn and Teen Miss Auburn at the DeWitt Theater. For more information, visit www.westcoastpageants.com or see page A1 of this week’s edition.

HELPING THE TROOPS – PostalAnnex+, owned by Forrest and Danelle Stumbo, is pitching in to get sports equipment to the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a national effort dubbed “Operation Slugger II.” They are seeking donations such as softball/baseball gloves, bats (wood and aluminum), baseball hats (featuring corporate logos and notes of encouragement are welcome), softballs, basketballs and nets (no backboards), footballs, volleyballs and nets (no poles), Frisbees, Nerf products, hackey sacks and hand airpumps with needles for basketballs and footballs. If you’d like to help, stop by their shop at 670 Auburn-Folsom Road in Auburn or give them a call at 530-885-7600.

CROSSWORD CONUNDRUM – You can’t please everyone and, unfortunately, some of the longtime players of our crossword puzzle are disappointed in the size and format we’ve recently been publishing. Carolyn Webber wrote that I was insulting the crossword puzzle players when I suggested the newer version was easier to read. In the past, we have published the King Crossword puzzle if we couldn’t fit the larger game in the space allowed. For now, the current version will continue publishing. I hope to print the larger puzzle again in the future.

Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. His column, “Biscuits and Gravy,” publishes every Friday. He may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 530-823-2463.

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