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AUBURN AUGUR – As some may have already heard, our beloved Joe Carroll (who pens the weekly “Auburn Augur” column in the Sentinel) is under the weather so I will do my best to keep up with local political circles and keep you informed until his return ... DOOLITTLE DOINGS – It seems Rep. John Taylor Doolittle’s announcement that he will not seek re-election caught the eye of the editorial board at the New York Times. Published Jan. 23, the editorial titled “A Reminder from Mr. Doolittle” called on Congress to create a non-partisan oversight committee tasked with handling allegations similar to those plaguing Doolittle. According to the editorial, “The House’s own ethics panel was notoriously passive and uncurious during the Abramoff go-go years in which five Republicans ensnared themselves with luxury junkets and quid pro quo politicking. Mr. Doolittle’s wife enjoyed a soft job on the Abramoff payroll and also drew unusual paychecks cut from her husband’s own campaign treasury. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly determined to move ahead with the proposal for a new oversight office employing six nonpartisan outsiders, appointed by the two party leaders. This would be a definite step forward. The office would vet allegations of members’ misconduct and refer serious cases to the ethics committee for, we hope, conclusive investigation.” Doolittle has said he will not endorse a candidate to replace him in this year’s June primary, as he’s interested in seeing how it all shakes out, but there are still plenty of contenders for his post, including Theodore Terbolizard (featured in Joe’s column last week).
TERBO ‘BLIZZARD’ – Speaking of the GOP hopeful for the 4th
Congressional District seat, Mr. Terbolizard has been meeting with
local political powerhouses such as Auburn Vice Mayor Mike Holmes,
himself a former candidate for the seat, and Steve Cottrell, of Nevada
City. Apparently, he came away from the meetings with warm fuzzy
feelings for the two gents, who both served as mayor of their
respective towns. In his e-mail “campaign update,” Terbolizard wrote:
“In my opinion these are trustworthy gentlemen, and folks I’d be
willing to listen to at any time in the future, whether we found
ourselves in accord or not.” ECONOMIC FORECAST – Granite Community Bank held their quarterly
business luncheon at The Ridge a few weeks ago featuring financial
advisor Kelly Brothers of TV and radio fame. A quick glance around the
room revealed a veritable who’s who in local business and government,
such as Placer County Assessor Bruce Dear, Placer County Superintendent
of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica, father-and-son team Ralph and Harvey
Roper, Jack Amick, Downtown Business Association Vice President Rebecca
Toedter, Downtown Business Association board member (as well as Auburn
Chamber of Commerce board member) Gary Capps, E. Ken Tokutomi, Placer
County Undersheriff Devon Bell, Doug Ose (former Congressman), Dennis
Arietta, Ron Lichau, Leilani Vierra, Auburn Chamber of Commerce
President Cindy Eklund (with hubby Forrest, also a previous president
of the Chamber), Auburn City Councilman Bob Snyder, Mickey’s Boots
owner Mickey Bennett, Placer County Economic Development Director David
Snyder, CHP Capt. Rick Ward, Monkey Cat owner Jim Bril and Club Car
owners Sarah and Marcello Nolivo. The economic forecast for 2008? “I
hope we’re hitting a plateau,” Brothers said. When comparing the dollar
with other countries, he said our greenback is seen much the way
Americans view the Mexican peso. “This is just a realignment of our
position in the world,” he said. Europeans have been flying to America
to spend their money because it goes farther, which he viewed as
positive, since it’s an influx of cash into our economy. The housing
market and a lackluster retail holiday season, combined with a job
growth rate at less than one percent for the first time in 15 years,
means the economy is slowing down, Brothers said. “(The economy) will
skip like a flat rock over the American River, skimming the top of a
recession or sinking into a shallow and short-lived recession, and pull
up again in the last six months (of 2008),” he predicted. RUMOR MILL – Dave Rosenthal, who hosts the Afternoon Report on KAHI AM
950, recently asked about some of the business rumors in Auburn. Let’s
start with Izy’s Corner Pub on Lincoln way. From previous discussions
I’ve had with the landlord, the new tenant could be a national
franchise sandwich shop or a convenience store. Barbara Clark, of
Placer Land Co., told me nothing had been finalized, but this was about
a month ago. Calls to her office were not returned as of press time.
... The remodel of the old Post Office on Lincoln Way near the
Clocktower is progressing nicely, according to building owner Billy
Prior. Original plans were to move Pasquale T’s from their Highway 49
location into the renovated space in January, but construction delays
(and weather) have probably pushed that move to spring. ... The vacant
Tsuda’s Grocery building in Old Town Auburn is going through some major
renovations and an expansion. The plans recently went before the
Historic Design Review Commission and easily passed. Why the
improvements? As announced at the meeting (and hinted at in a previous
installment of this column), Bootleggers Restaurant owner Ty Rowe is
planning to open an upscale deli in the space. ... While we’re looking
at Old Town, it appears that Brian Hayes will finally be allowed to put
a large parking meter in his lot located between Awful Annies and the
Auburn Alehouse. Based on parking meters more commonly found in public
parking garages, drivers would pay at one meter, receive a parking
slip, and place that slip in the windshield of their vehicle. This was
another matter that was recently brought before the Historic Design
Review Commission and it also passed. GIRL POWER – Janeene Coleman dropped off a note for Joe Carroll on
Monday, asking him to help publicize the Sister-to-Sister conference in
Auburn on Feb. 2. While I’m no Joe, I’ll do my best to get the word
out. The American Association of University Women, Auburn branch, and
the Auburn Area Recreation and Park District are presenting
Sister-to-Sister 2008 on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Canyon
View Community Center at 471 Maidu Drive. The conference is for, about
and put on by teen girls between 7th and 12th grades. Check-in for the
event is at 8:30 a.m. Parents need to sign a permission slip, by the
way. Thirty bucks will get you in the door. The fee includes all
workshops, activities, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Workshops will include “cyberbullying,” body image and the media, small
group discussions, “Yogalates” and hands-on craft activities.
Registration forms may be found online at www.auburnaauw.org. BLACK AND WHITE BALL – Auburn’s annual street party, usually held the
third Saturday in September, is being bumped up to August 16 this year.
The reason? Rain has always threatened the event and the Auburn Chamber
of Commerce decided to that an August evening would probably be much
better. This year’s theme, as will be unveiled to the Downtown Business
Association’s general membership meeting on Feb. 7 (at the State
Theater Building at 6:15 p.m.), is “Hollywood: You Ought to be in
Pictures.” If it’s successful, expect the third Saturday in August to
become the permanent date. AROUND TOWN – About a dozen friends gathered in Roseville for a dinner
at Mimi’s Cafe recently in honor of Gary and Anke Lee, who returned to
these parts for a family visit. The couple left Placer County a few
years ago to relocate to Daphne, Alabama (which is within spittin’
distance of my wife’s old stomping grounds in Mobile). Anke was once in
the employ of the Auburn Journal and its sister publication, the Auburn
Trader (both friendly competitors of the Sentinel). Since her
retirement, Anke has enjoyed the hospitality of The South and keeps in
touch with her friends, returning for occasional visits. Some of those
at the dinner included Lyle and Wendy Westoby and Liz and John Daniels. WISHING WELL – Happy birthday to the lovely Sharon Gannon, who blew out
candles on Monday with a party at the Club Car. Another lovely lady
celebrating her birthday on Monday was local ace news reporter Jenna
Nielsen. Wish a belated happy birthday to Auburn City Manager Bob
Richardson (Jan. 19) and Harvey Roper (Jan. 24). Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel and may be reached
via e-mail at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
His column, “Biscuits &
Gravy,” publishes every week.
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Sorry to hear you're out of commission. Get well soon. We need you.
Joe Labrie and Anne Cooey