Susan Rushton commentary: Auburn in Carmel, plastic, museums, healing, theater, Grange

Don and I hung around the Monterey area last week. As I sat in a coffee shop in Carmel working on my computer, I heard "Susan!?" I looked up and saw Bernie Schroeder – both of us in a place where we didn't expect to see each other. Lovely to see her. Retired from the city, Bernie now has time to volunteer, and she chose to work with the State Theatre as the secretary. Thank you, Bernie. ... As I walked through Carmel, I glanced into an art shop and saw a glass bowl – large, multi-colored, a little bent ... it looked so familiar. I entered. I moved closer. As I did, I saw others like it, felt chills and was aware of tears. Ah. I knew I was right: Nicholson van Altena Glass. I was so proud. The best part: It wasn't the first time I'd seen this work in Carmel. Auburn's artistic talents have moved past the Placer County lines. Wonderful. ... Don and I had packed our clothes in a suitcase we hadn't used in at least 10 years. And when we packed to go home, I found a plastic bag we'd left in there for our dirty clothes. Yow. This bag was falling apart. As I touched it, pieces came off, tiny pieces, all impossible to gather up easily. As small as these pieces were, they'll get smaller. Smaller and harder to deal with. These pieces can't possibly help anything or anyone as they get smaller – and as they find their way into the water. The air. The dirt. Or into us. Laboring to gather these pieces, struggling to keep them together, I thought of the vast number of plastic bags I've thrown away over the decades. They've all done exactly this. Then I thought of the billions of plastic bags constantly being manufactured, bought, used briefly and thrown away, unrecyclable. Sigh. So, I ask two things of you. First: Work hard not to buy plastic stuff. It's hard, I know ... nearly impossible. Yeah, plastic is everywhere. Second: When you eat out, take containers with you for the leftovers so you don't have to deal with the restaurants' plastic boxes. Or ask for paper bags instead of plastic at the grocery store. Or bring your own plastic (or paper!) bags with you when you buy vegetables or fruit. Or load yourself up with cloth bags. At the very least, choose to be aware of all the plastic crud surrounding us. I'd love to hear your ideas of cutting back plastic use. Please email me with your suggestions, and I'll share them. ... Auburn is about to get a new museum, another welcome one which celebrates our considerable and important history. This is the Western States Trail Museum, and its home will be in Suite 300 at 1103 High St., in back of the Chamber of Commerce between the Auburn Art Park (the corner with the multicolored umbrellas) and Placer County Visitors' Bureau. I recently interviewed two people deeply involved: Shannon Weil, secretary on the Board of Directors; and Board Member Dave Allen. These enthusiastic hard workers are thrilled to have this museum coming into reality. For more information, investigate wstrailmuseum.org and the museum's Facebook page: Western States Trail Museum. Plus: The new museum is on this summer's Placer County Museums Tour. Sample some of the historic objects and photographs in the collection. Drop by the Visitors' Bureau, 1103 High St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 22. For more museum tours, investigate theheritagetrail.blogspot.com. ... Mark Berry shares the Foothill Center for Spiritual Living presents a Vajravidarana Healing Ritual, offered by Tibetan Buddhist monk Geshe Lobsang Tsultrim. This ritual involves "the clearing of all past, present and future negativity – and energetic cleansing of whole being. "All are welcome" to this free event, Mark says. "This is not religious ... all faiths (and none) are welcome." This ritual starts at 7 p.m. Friday, July 21, at Foothill Center for Spiritual Living, 2945 1st St., North Auburn. For information, contact Mark: 916-872-4482, or email markberry869@gmail.com. ... Placer Community Theater presents its Gala Fundraiser and Re-launch Party, 7-10 p.m. next Saturday, July 22. Held at General Gomez Arts, 808 Lincoln Way, this event celebrates PCT's 20-year history and features a silent auction, live music, finger foods, soft drinks, a cash bar – and a live performance of Orson Welles' 1938 radio drama "War of the Worlds." For more information and to purchase tickets ($60 per person), investigate placercommunitytheater.org. ... The Mt. Vernon Grange Hall Rummage Sale & Craft Fair runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday through Saturday, July 28-30, at 3185 Bell Road. Craft vendor tables are $25 for one day, $45 for two days, $65 for three days. Proceeds will help update the Grange Hall – and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Senior Center. For information or to RSVP for craft tables, phone 530-863-8501. If you have rummage to donate, drop by the Hall every Tuesday, 5-9 p.m., or call to schedule a drop-off. That's my town. Got any items for me? Email me at goldcountrydenizens@gmail.com.