Hidden Falls Regional Park has been criticized by some as being too remote to be of use to the average resident of Placer County. Someone should tell the residents. When I arrived on a recent Saturday afternoon, the parking lot was full. This was my first trip to the park that opened in October 2006 and I dragged my three children along to test the severity of the hiking conditions before returning at a later date with my wife. Beginning our hike, we passed a mother pushing a stroller as she walked with friends, a large group of children being supervised by a few adults, a legless man in a wheel chair rolling along with a caregiver, two equestrians and numerous hikers ranging in age from teens to blue hairs. There is a map posted at the beginning of the trails so you can plan your course. We chose the unpaved path that led straight down from the parking lot (not the winding one to the right or the paved one to the left). The trail was wide, recently graded, and in superb condition. The views were quite differ

ent from those found on the Western States Trail. Even my 9-year-old son Cian, who didn’t really want to come along in the first place, said it was beautiful. Rolling hills dotted with oak trees and hawks circling against a blue sky sure makes one appreciate living in this area. We made our way along the gently descending hillside, checking the many maps posted along the way. There is a footbridge crossing Deadman Creek (a name my son thought was “cool”) located about halfway between the parking lot and the waterfall. Unfortunately, the falls viewing area was closed to the public, but we were determined to get as close as possible so we could have a small picnic. The trail eventually narrows and winds its way to the creek. A small waterfall produced by a few boulders in the creek was good enough for us as Parker, my 8-year-old daughter, was complaining that she was about the expire from lack of food. We found places to sit beside the babbling brook and partook of our string cheese, trail mix and granola bars

(and plenty of bottled water). Another hiker went on by us to the true waterfall area, and on his return, I asked if there was anything worth seeing up ahead. “No,” he said. “This is as good as it gets. I’m going to bring my family back here for lunch.” We finished, packed up our trash and began hiking out, passing the hiker on his way back down. With him were his wife and a very young child of probably no more than four years of age. We also passed that group of kids and adults that I mentioned earlier. One of the adults told me the group was on a field trip. The hike back up is steep in places, with roots ready to trip the unwary. Careful footing and an even pace will get you back to the main trail system. We chose to return using a different trail, turning left after the bridge. This trail follows along a creek, was much narrower than the one we came down on originally, and used a few switchbacks to get us to the parking area. We hiked close to three miles that day and we plan to return often. The 221-acre
park was acquired as part of the Placer Legacy Open Space and Agricultural Conservation program and is located at 7587 Mears Place, off Mount Vernon Road, in Auburn.

RUMOR CONTROL – A misinformed gadfly is passing along a rumor regarding the new tenant of the former location of the Silver Store (which has moved to Palm and High Street, below the old car lot) and Open Door Café on Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn. According to Sarah Nolivo, owner of the building, the new tenant is a restaurant called Three Brothers and a Mudda. The eatery will take up both locations and will feature a major overhaul of the front of the building (thanks to designs by Michael Kent Murphy). There IS a wine tasting room run by Fawnridge Winery going in nearby (taking up part of the old rug store on Lincoln Way) that is called A Taste of Auburn, which is where I think the confusion is coming in. We have three new businesses all going in next door to each other (a restaurant, Me Gusta Baby children’s clothing store and the wine tasting room, all of which are separate enterprises). Whew!

AROUND TOWN – Tons of locals turned out for last week’s Placer County Economic Development Summit held in Lincoln. Four Auburn City Council members were on hand (Mike Holmes, Kevin Hanley, Bridget Powers and Keith Nesbitt) to receive awards for the city’s Auburn School Park Preserve project, which was one of many redevelopment projects recognized by the county’s Economic Development Board. Other projects included the South Placer Heritage Foundation’s restoration of the Blue Goose Fruit Shed in Loomis, Lincoln’s revitalization of its historic downtown area and affordable housing program and Rocklin’s I-80 and Sierra College Boulevard interchange that includes new retail centers. According to county Chief Assistant CEO Rich Colwell, about 250 attended the event, including Jillian Ferretti (who works with the county’s CEO’s office), county Information Officers Mike Fitch and Anita Yoder, Jack Amick, Bill Radakovitz (who retired from the Economic Development Board after 18 years of service), Beverly Lewis of the

county film office, Rick Bluhm, county Ag Commissioner Christine Turner, Agricultural Marketing Director Nancyjo Riekse and many others. ... Dan Luper hosted the recent Auburn Chamber of Commerce mixer at Big O Tires on Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn. There was very little elbowroom as the charismatic Luper hosted a swell soiree. Some of those attending included Penni Utterback, Betty Estep, Julie Bourriague, the always lovely Leslie Maita, Steve Galyardt, Gary Capps, Madonna Anglin, Peggy Seitzinger, father and son team Ralph and Harvey Roper, Tracy Whaley, Gary Moffat, Cathy Bianchi, Chris Whitehead, Sharon Wells, the lovely Sharon Gannon, Kelly Cooper (who is expecting a baby in October), Nancey Holland, Debi Lawrence, Richard Hall, Monti Reynolds, Sandra Lewis, Auburn City Councilman Bob Snyder, Karen Spencer, Linda Robinson, Marilyn Welz, Monique Krafft, Shari Smith, Keri Roeder and too many others to list.

GOOD NEWS DEPT. – Congratulations to the comely “Irish” Katie Hannah, one of the bartenders at the Club Car. She’s now sporting an engagement ring.

Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. His column, “Biscuits & Gravy,” publishes weekly. He may be reached at editor@sentinelnews.biz.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it