Editorial: Auburn Library, Cal Fire, fundraisers, movies, blood donations

Fellow AAUW member Diane Fishburn and I recently got to talking about our fondness for the Auburn Library. She reminded me we can still check out books at the library – order them and pick them up, 9 a.m.-noon, Monday through Wednesday. During that time, she said, the parking lot is always busy. Boy, did that grab me. So I dropped by last week. I got a kick out of the drivers coming and going, of seeing Tom Wolfe, Felicia Black and head librarian Suzanne Payne handing people their books. Of course, because I have this column, I talked to people. Steven Tutt, a 67-year resident of Auburn, appreciates that, "They make it easy – you can go online and order. For the type of year this is, this works out really well." He's been caught by Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. I peeked into Foresthill denizen Terry Pahler's bag as I handed it to her. I spied "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and "All Quiet on the Western Front," books Terry and her 15-year-old granddaughter will be reading together – and discussing. Grass Valley denizen Dave Poppleton shared that for years he tried hard to get into books – books that were good for him, significant, enlightening – non-fiction. And, "I quit many times," he said. "I just couldn't get into them." Finally … he tried fiction. Short fiction. "I picked up the shortest book I could find," he said. Turned out it was a page-turner by Louis L'Amour. "And it was great. I was hooked." He's now a fiction fanatic. For a while, he bought books, read them and passed them on. "But now I think it's time to build up my own library," he said. And help this one. I can't tell you how charmed I was. Learn more about checking out books at the library. Search online for Auburn Library modified services, call (530) 886-4500 or email library@placer.ca.gov. … At Fiddler Green to donate to the Assistance League of Greater Placer, I saw a Cal Fire pickup in front of Auburn Trophies. This wasn't a business (as in, serious) fire truck … maybe, I thought, this guy was ordering a trophy for an employee. Maybe several. I went in. I met Fire Captain Nick Salas, who, instead of trophies, was ordering the next-best thing: name tags and gear locker tags for his (Cal Fire's) six new permanent firefighters. No awards, but the good news was we have six new firefighters. Good deal. I thanked him for his service to the community. I met shop manager Heather Korngiebel. She told me owner Connie Watson, who also manages Echo Valley Ranch Supply, provides name tags and locker name tags "for all the fire stations in Auburn – as well as Loomis, Colfax and Cal Fire headquarters." I love this. Keeps things local. … The Auburn Symphony joins forces with White House Spirits (formerly the site of Latitudes on Maple Street) at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. "A Friend-Raiser for the Symphony" provides BBQ tri-tip and sides in either the White House's outdoor patio – with symphony musicians performing – or you can pick up your meal and take it home. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at auburnsymphony.com. The deadline to buy tickets is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. See you there! … Investigate Placer Community Theater's "Socially Distanced Talent Show." Log on to placercommunitytheater.org to enjoy Part One of their talent show – and learn more about donating to help them "pay monthly bills for storage, website, phone, etc. for your hometown nonprofit community theater company." Or call 530-852-2708 to donate with your credit card; or mail a check to P.O. Box 4322, Auburn, 95604. … The State Theatre is streaming movies off the theatre's website. Check out the offerings, which change regularly. Don and I had a good time a few weeks ago watching "RBG," which focused on Ruth Bader Ginsberg, one of my heroes. And last week we watched "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon," which ended Sept. 3. Investigate at livefromauburn.com to learn about current streaming options and the theatre's upcoming, exciting, cinematic partnership with The Station Public House, 750 Lincoln Way. … "Butt Lady" Sally Dawley shares her most recent numbers. As of last Wednesday, she's up to 1,791,117 "trashy, poisonous cigarette butts." Thanks, Sally. … Last week, I gave blood at Vitalant in North Auburn. I saw fellow AAUW member Brandee Ambrosia, who was donating platelets – and taking a class online at the same time. Brandee said she used to donate blood only occasionally. "But then COVID came, and I thought what can I do? Donating blood was an answer. Then I saw someone giving platelets … and I'm O positive (highly desired and useful) … and one thing I have is time." Now she gives platelets and plasma, and hangs out at the Vitalant office every two weeks. Want to donate blood? Or platelets? Or plasma? Of course you do. Investigate vitalant.org or visit 11990 Heritage Oak Place Suite 2A, Auburn; or phone (877) 258-4825. That's my town. Got any items for me? Email me at goldcountrydenizens@gmail.com. And stay well.