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 530-823-2463.
AROUND TOWN – The Auburn Downtown Business Association’s January 3rd
general meeting has been canceled. The group will meet again on
February 7 at 6:15 p.m. in the State Theater building. But, the
business association’s new website, www.downtownauburnca.com, is up and
running. SHELTER VS. SHELTERS – My last column regarding Placer County’s
homeless issue seemed to spark a bit of defensiveness on the part of
The Gathering Inn, an organization that provides bunk space in rotating
churches for the homeless. Executive Director Suzi deFosset called to
let me know that the organization has been looking at the viability of
a permanent homeless facility but believes the current rotating church
program, in coordination with other homeless prevention efforts, is
sufficient. While I never mentioned this particular nonprofit program
in my column, I am well aware that it exists. I am also aware that it
has limited capacity and the addition of a permanent homeless shelter,
along with the efforts of the area churches, would better serve those
in need. To set the record straight, I applaud the efforts of The
Gathering Inn, The Salvation Army of Auburn (in the interest of full
disclosure, I am a member of that organization’s advisory board),
Auburn Interfaith Food Closet, Placer Extends a Caring Environment –
commonly known as PEACE – for Families (which offers assistance to
those fleeing abusive homes) and all the other groups that provide help
to those in need. As I wrote last week, the requests for assistance
jumped dramatically in 2007. Whether you blame it on the economy, the
housing foreclosure epidemic or drug abuse, the fact remains that food
closets are running bare and more families are seeking help. According
to a report released in mid-2007 by the Salvation Army, the homeless
count for Auburn and Roseville was 587 persons while 136 of those were
children. Those labeled “chronically homeless” totaled 48, severely
mentally ill numbered 131 and 167 persons were labeled as battling
“chronic substance abuse.” There were 14 veterans without a place to
call home, 5 persons suffered from HIV or AIDS, 66 were victims of
domestic violence and 4 were “unaccompanied youth under 18.” Michelle
Talbott, Social Services manager for the Salvation Army of Auburn,
admits that it is difficult to count the homeless because they are
scattered. Many of those included in the count were persons seeking
help. A more comprehensive count should be completed in 2008 and will
include more of the county, rather than just two cities. “There is a
need and we do need to look at what’s happening with homelessness in
the whole county,” Talbott said. In America’s cities, the homeless come
into shelters in during the winter, but in rural areas such as Placer
County, there are no shelters. According to Talbott, the Placer
Consortium on Homelessness (PCOH) will conduct their new survey in the
warmer months. If you’d like to learn more about the county’s homeless
issues, the PCOH meets the second Thursday of every month from 9 to 11
a.m. at the Salvation Army of Auburn. The group’s next meeting is
slated for Jan. 10th. WISHING WELL – Colfax resident Linda Robinson will officially be
blowing out the candles with a birthday bash this Saturday in Auburn.
Robinson, well known in this neck of the woods, is the promoter for
such events as Old Town’s Country Christmas, the Antique Street Fairs
in the spring and fall and Old Town’s “A Taste of Chocolate,” which
will return on Feb. 10. She also owns Sun River Clothing Company in Old
Town Auburn. MAYOR SHUFFLE – Auburn isn’t the only area town sporting a new mayor.
Primo Santini picked up the gavel from Kent Nakata in Lincoln. In
Loomis, Russ Kelley has assumed the mayor title from Tom Millward. In
Rocklin, Brett Storey was named mayor for 2008. This is his second time
wielding the gavel, having served in the same post in 2004. The Colfax
City Council is due to pick a new mayor at their Jan. 8th meeting.
Sharon Geiras currently holds the seat. THIS JUST IN – The Auburn City Council is holding a special session on
Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way in Auburn. The council
will decide the request for approval of the “application and contract
execution for funding from the Economic Development Allocation of the
State Community Development Block Grant Program.” Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. His column, “Biscuits and Gravy,” publishes every Friday. He may be reached at
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