This week I met with several newsmakers, a few of whom deserve comment.

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I talked to former Auburn Journal Editor Helen Bale by phone Wednesday. Helen said she is prepared to die and has been under the “excellent” care of hospice. At 87 and a devout Catholic, she has no fear of death. She also displayed that feisty spirit for which she is locally famous.

Helen wrote a column for Sunday’s edition that is a must read for any longtime Auburnites or Journal loyalists. She tells the story of her life. Bale was truly a pioneer newswoman who used her position to help others.

I got to know her through the Vernon Gould McCann Award nomination and selection process. She was a co-winner of that prestigious award in 2004.

I am humbled and inspired by her courage. She said she believes she has less than six months to live and this may well be her final column.

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Assemblyman Ted Gaines called to say he has been working on getting the 2018 Winter Olympics to the Lake Tahoe area. Gaines was also instrumental in pushing through Assembly Bill 1915 this week, which relinquishes a segment of Highway 49 within the city limits, from the state to the city.

That change is crucial to the city’s Streetscape plan, which seeks to link Old Town and Downtown Auburn, add trees, wider sidewalks, lighting, outdoor dining areas and more.

Gaines also complimented Jenna Nielsen, one of our reporters who covers the city, police beat and his Assembly District.

I thought Gaines’ call was nice gesture. Many people call when they don’t like something in the newspaper. Few call when they see something that pleases them. That’s the nature of the business and we’re used to it. Still, getting some positive feedback made Jenna’s day and lifted my spirits as well.

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I met with City Manager Bob Richardson for coffee this morning. These are difficult times with the country’s and state’s economic crises. Bob mentioned that it was more important than ever that local agency’s remain strong and work together for the common good. He said the Downtown and Old Town business associations have been voluntarily meeting together. That’s a sign of progress. We have too much in common and too much to gain by working together to let a few divisive people keep the districts separate. The Streetscape plan and completion of the Auburn Performing Arts Center will be major improvements to the look and feel of Auburn. I love the marquee on the theater. And I know the performing arts center committee wants its own theater productions. But while the old theater is housed there, why not advertise what’s playing at the current theater on the marquee? It looks silly otherwise and having an adversarial relationship with a tenant can look petty to potential contributors.

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I had lunch at the Club Car with Supervisor Jim Holmes Monday. Holmes is a likeable fellow. I used to take our family cars to him when he had his repair business on Highway 49. I trusted him then and now. I also coached his daughter Amy in Auburn Recreation District basketball several years ago. I think they were sixth-graders and she is probably 20 now.

Jim and Pat have a nice family.

I did a 5 questions segment with Holmes for Tuesday’s edition. Our photographer, Ben Furtado, wanted to try out our new indoor studio, so the picture accompanying the Holmes 5 questions feature was what Ben calls a portrait. Ben and I liked it, anyway ...

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Jim Holmes’ brother Mike, Auburn's incoming mayor (?), e-mailed today to say he wants to talk. That should be interesting. But that’s not until Monday ...

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Read Helen Bale’s column in Sunday’s Journal. I’ve read it three times and enjoyed it each time ...