Commentary: ACTV, art, music, musicians, chefs

I usually don't mention my shows on Auburn Community Television. But I want to share some stuff from a couple of them I learned recently. First: Last December, I interviewed Don Ales, CEO of the Gold Country Fairgrounds. You know the Placer Building has a new ceiling, and Old Town Pizza has a presence there. Other things are going on as well. One of the great pieces of news Don shared with me: "We just came off a record year," he said. "Even with Covid, we have the largest cash reserve in our history." Of course this doesn't mean if you want to donate to the fairgrounds, they won't take your donation. Of course they will. Please take a look here: youtube.com/watch?v=hkfzd73w5AE – that's my conversation with Don. It's easier for you to watch than it is for me, because you probably won't care … much … that I stumble over myself. … I was also impressed by my guests last week, Emilie Brown and Alex Belles, president and vice-president of the Placer High School Environmental Club. I became aware of the group when I kept seeing the club's "500 Words for Earth" column appearing twice a month in the AJ. I invited these two energetic young women to be my guests. This club is 3 years old. It boasts 80 members and if they're anything like Emilie and Alex, they're gung-ho about making change and encouraging people to reduce their carbon footprint. They have a podcast, they work with area organizations, they've helped to create the Auburn Sustainability Advisory Committee, and they collaborate with local environmental groups like Placer Sierra Club and Placer Land Trust. The group has two community events coming up: They're hosting a Used Electronics and Batteries Drive, 3-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 17 and 18. Drop off your used electronics and batteries at the Placer High School upper parking lot, on Stadium Way behind the football field. The group learned that in the school year of 2018-19, PHS used more than 2 million sheets of paper. So they're hosting a tree-planting event to offset that loss. Order saplings for $10 by Saturday, Feb. 19, and pick them up on March 19. Information is on the home page of the club's website. Investigate their website (look for Placer High School and click on Activities, click on Clubs on Campus, and there you'll find the Environmental Club); they're on Instagram (@placer_environmental_club) and Facebook (PHS Environmental Club). I've interviewed lots of fascinating people on my ACTV shows over 25 or so years, and I've never been prouder to talk to anyone as I have these two young women. They represent a horde of equally amazing energetic young people. And I've never been prouder to live here – because I live here with them. Investigate youtube.com/watch?v=fGnmrZS4TQ8. … OK – if you couldn't make it to City Hall to check out Patty Pieropan Dong's artwork in January, you're in luck. The Auburn Art Commission has extended her show through March. More time to see 30 of her paintings, as well as block prints and assemblage pieces. … Don and I attended the second Auburn Symphony concert on Jan. 23, and we'll make it to the third (3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Placer High Auditorium). I know a lot of wise people, and I saw many of them at that second concert: Royce and John Birks; two of my favorite Silver Screen popcorn people, Lorene Euerle and kW Rice; Greg Brown, husband of Executive Director Anne Brown – so I liked him immediately. I sat next to Hometown Realtor Linda Wismar, who sat with her violin-playing husband, Walt. Sandra Reeves sat in front of me. In the row behind us, I spied Merien Wong, the wife of violinist Anson Wong. Storyteller/harpist Nancy Thym, here for a while from Germany, got my attention. And I saw Ray and Irene Yamasaki, Gerry and Audrey Mueller and Bruce and Carol Lundberg. Oh yeah – the music? Well, at the end of their first piece, the "Danse Bacchanale" from Saint-Saëns' "Samson et Dalila," I roared so loud that later, principal cellist Alexandra Roedder said she heard me. No surprise. I was charmed by the young soloist who has performed for us before, Amaryn Olmeda. And – here's why I always bring facial tissue to these concerts – the last piece, "Carmen Fantasy," thrilled me to the point I couldn't applaud – I couldn't stop crying. No, it's not sad music. It's exciting, thrilling – and so are the musicians. I cry because I'm so grateful to these people for sharing their talent with me. And because it's My Auburn Symphony. … I have seen publicity for the 49er Lions' upcoming Celebrity Chefs event, set for 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the Placer Building on the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Tickets are $20 (such a deal!), available at the Assistance League Thrift Shop, 1263 Grass Valley Highway, and Golden Swann Jewelers, 881 Lincoln Way. I'll be there with my Best Cake in the World, promoting the Silver Screen Classic Movie Series (auburnsilverscreen.com). That's my town. Got any items for me? Email me at goldcountrydenizens@gmail.com.