SPRING 2020
Bree Little
Chantel Giongco
Carol Ramirez
Heather Smith
Kylee Warren
Cherie Stephens
Dr. Adam Hoybjerg
Michele Blake
Karm Bains
Jennifer Traynham
Kellie Sheeran & Nancy Elrod
Shon Harris
Jim King
Jackie Sillman
Reno & Nicole Rosser
Dr. Phuong Luu
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Hi, Everyone! This issue is a bit different than others—not only because it isn’t printed, but because it was put together now because we need commUNITY more than ever! Over the last few weeks, it has brought me great joy to observe the many, wonderful things happening in our local area, even amongst the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing. It makes me proud to watch Yuba-Sutter rally together! Our medical staff and first responders have, without a doubt, worked hard to keep us safe! I’ve been impressed as I’ve watched our teachers quickly alter their way of teaching to interact with our children and keep them educated. Area leaders have outdone themselves to seamlessly collaborate and ensure that our food banks are a number-one priority. I’ve marveled at local business owners as they discover new and creative ways to serve their customers and keep their doors open during these extremely threatening times. And I’ve felt emotional as I’ve seen and heard countless acts of kindness that emphatically confirm how much this community—our very own community—truly cares about its neighbors. I have always loved Me and Mine because it’s allowed me to spread positive vibes throughout Yuba-Sutter, and I am even more proud to continue that tradition after seeing the harmony that has shone through this darkness we have endured so unexpectedly. I hope you’ll join me in sharing the link to this publication, so that we can continue to build positive unity within our community. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Now you can directly interact with us! Please share your own stories, your businesses, and the good things you know of that are happening in our loving and kind community. I owe a big thank-you to the advertisers that have consistently supported me in this endeavor. I can’t thank you enough for believing in me and sharing my philosophy of the need for a positive resource throughout Yuba-Sutter. Sending a huge virtual hug to each and every one of you! All the best!
Jen
Me and Mine Staff Jennifer Jaeger Traynham PUBLISHER
Michelle Brooke EDITOR
Heather Smith Photography PHOTOGRAPHER
www.meandminemagazine.com issuu.com/meandminemagazine Me and Mine Magazine is an LLC and its information, format and designs are protected by copyright laws. Any reproduction of content, photography or arrangement is not permitted unless written permission is granted by the publisher of the magazine. Contributing authors and photographers are responsible for content and accuracy in their submissions and Me and Mine Magazine, its founders or members assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Me and Mine Magazine, LLC, © Copyright 2020
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Who will raise my children in my absence? BY MINDI REID, ESQ.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA PRATHER PHOTOGRAPHY
Planning for minor children in the event of a parent’s death or disability is one of the most important plans to have, yet it is often overlooked or ignored. The thought of losing your life or the ability to care for your child isn’t a pleasant one, and the associated fear motivated me to spend some time carefully considering my family’s options and establishing a complete plan for my child if anything happens to me.
s parents, we spend countless hours planning for birthday parties, family vacations, and college funds, but often neglect to plan for the care of our children in our absence. We plan for things that are not particularly important by making grocery lists and pinning ideas to Pinterest boards. So why do we fail our children by neglecting to plan for them during our lives for our eventual deaths? Are we too busy? Maybe, but we can prioritize. Is the topic scary? Absolutely! But, is it one of the most important things we can do for them? Yes! I hope the following steps help guide you through this important process of determining who you want to raise your children when you’re gone. Surely it is better for you to decide who will fill this important role rather than a judge who doesn’t know you or your children. Step One: Make a List Start by listing the names of five individual people or couples you may consider for this role, in no particular order (you will later have a chance to list them in order of priority). Keep in mind that you are not limited to naming family members. If the decision proves too challenging, consider the people you would never want to raise your children and the pitfalls of the foster care system, and list anyone better than those options!
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Step Two: Consider Your Values
Step Four: Document Your Plan
After your list is made, rank the following key values in order of importance:
The attorneys at Hyatt McIntire & Associates can assist with properly documenting your plan. Having a will may be better than no plan at all but often provides a false sense of security. Within your will you may have nominated guardians of your minor children, but in most cases that is not enough! We can help you develop a complete estate plan or identify and fill the gaps you may have in your existing plan. Our attorneys know the important questions to ask because we too are parents. We know what matters most and will guide you through the exact steps you need to ensure the people you love stay out of court and out of conflict if and when anything happens to you.
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Parenting philosophy Relationship with your kids Personal values Religion or spiritual philosophy Age Location
Step Three: Prioritize Your Nominations Review your list of names once you have ranked the above values. In some situations, co-guardians may be appropriate. Yes, you can have more than one person act together, and if you choose that option, I encourage you to provide further instructions for the continuation of guardianship, or an alternate nomination upon death or divorce of the co-guardians. Keep in mind this is a nomination that the proposed guardian can accept or decline. For example, if your 65-year-old mother is your first choice and at the time she is called on to serve as guardian determines she is not healthy enough to accept the role, she may decline, and the choice would default to the person named as her alternate.
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Mindi Reid, Esq. Hyatt McIntire & Associates 950 Tharp Road, Suite 701, Yuba City (530) 674-9761 www.hm1law.com
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What is the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank? The Yuba-Sutter Food Bank is a not-for-profit organization committed to its mission of alleviating hunger through food distribution, partnership, and education. The food bank participates in federal and state government programs, which yielded $680,000 worth of food last year and provided one million pounds of food to the Yuba-Sutter community. The food bank also receives generous food donations from local sources and from Feeding America. Why is this organization so important to our area? Through providing food, food banks help all respective community members receive the fuel they need to be their best, so developing a network of food banks helps build stronger communities, meal by meal. What food donations are currently needed at the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank? Canned soups and stews, canned fruits and vegetables, canned fish, canned beans, pasta, and rice.
How should a donator deliver those products to your organization? Donations are accepted at the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank at 760 Stafford Way in Yuba City, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Are monetary donations also accepted? Absolutely! We depend on monetary donations to purchase the protein needed for the families we serve.
Michelle Downing is the interim Chief Executive Officer at the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank.
Where can someone send monetary donations? Checks can be made payable to YubaSutter Food Bank and mailed or delivered to 760 Stafford Way, Yuba City, California, 95993, or through PayPal or with a credit card through our website: www.yuba-sutterfoodbank.com.
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Adopt a Shelter Animal As the community continues to spontaneously adjust to the new normal resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, life can often feel dark and uncertain, leaving us desperate for some form of light. To join our amazing community in trying to find the light and silver linings, Me and Mine reached out to Heather Nall, a registered veterinary technician and the manager at Yuba County Animal Care Services, to discuss the wonderful benefits of pet adoption.
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Heather has an extensive background in veterinary medicine, previously managed a veterinary hospital, and is a graduate of the Yuba College Veterinary Technology Program. Heather currently manages the operational activities of Yuba County Animal Care Services, supervises the work of animal-care staff, and provides care and treatment for the animals residing at the shelter. This is what Heather had to tell us about the pet adoption process and how rewarding and easy it really is. Why is now a great time to consider pet adoption? I feel that with the current shelter-inplace situation, there is no better time to welcome a new addition to the family. Not only does a new animal ease the anxiety many of us are feeling, but it also provides a sense of comfort and happiness as we tread through these uncertain pandemic waters. As many people experience their own version of quarantine life, they see how lonely it can be; however, most are accompanied by family. Imagine being alone in a shelter, wishing you had a family to spend that lonely time with. These shelter animals are always in “quarantine”, and they would love to spend the rest of their lives as your companion or provide companionship to someone who may be in quarantine alone. Also, being forced to remain at home right now affords people the extra quality time they usually lack to transition an animal to a new home and make the animal a permanent part of their family.
What process does an animal go through prior to adoption? Animals taken in at Yuba County Animal Care Services are immediately vaccinated, scanned for microchip identification, evaluated for health and behavior issues, and then put on a four-day adoption hold to allow the animal’s owner to claim him or her. The initial, intake evaluation determines whether the animal can be immediately adopted after the four-day hold or if it needs to be medically treated by staff as advised by a veterinarian. Once the animal is treated or medically cleared, and/ or its owner does not claim it during the four-day hold, that animal is made available for adoption. Because some animals take a little longer to overcome fears of being in a shelter, our dedicated animal care technicians sometimes work with them to implement behavior modifications and build trust prior to making them available for adoption as well. Once ready for adoption, all shelter animals are featured on petharbor.com, a website dedicated to finding homes for animals. This website features all the animals in the shelter and provides their story, to help anyone find the perfect pet. How should a family select their pet (what are things to keep in mind, questions to ask about the animal, or questions to maybe ask yourself prior to the commitment of pet adoption)? I encourage families to think about their lifestyle and how a pet would fit into it. This helps determine whether to adopt a younger dog versus an older dog,
an indoor cat versus an outdoor cat, a smaller animal versus a larger animal, etc. I honestly feel that once a family visits the shelter, the animals pick them. You can see the immediate love reaction when a family walks by a certain kennel. It’s that instant, “This is the one!” moment. Those are fun to witness! When can someone visit Yuba County Animal Services? Currently, Yuba County Animal Care Services is closed to the public due to social distancing, but we are scheduling adoptions by appointment. We encourage you to view our available animals on petharbor.com and call us at (530) 741-6478 to inquire about the pet you’re interested in. We will set you up with an adoption appointment as soon as possible. How long does the adoption process take and what are the associated fees? The adoption process can take up to about a week. Adoption fees are $62.00 and include the spay or neuter (all animals that are adopted from our shelter are spayed or neutered). The process is so simple—please call us today! What better time than right now to empty the animal shelter? Don’t let these sweet companions spend their lives in quarantine alone—allow them to spend it with you! Besides her extensive and impressive veterinary background, Heather is also a lifelong Colusa resident and married mother of two. She coaches softball and soccer and enjoys camping and family time. Yuba County Animal Care Services is located at 5245 Feather River Boulevard in Olivehurst. Call them today at (530) 741-6478 and schedule your adoption appointment! www.petharbor.com
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We’re in This Together Young Children and COVID-19
Recognizing that today is different than anything we have previously experienced and knowing there is no one-sizefits-all piece of advice that applies to every family, one thing is certain amongst those sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic: we’re all in this together!
t Sutter County Children & Families Commission, children and families are the core focus of our existence. The Commission regularly maintains a comprehensive system of information, programs, and services that support Sutter County children ages zero to five and their families, to ensure that each child is healthy and ready to learn; however, COVID-19 has forced the Commission to shift from its general response to family needs to providing support, information, and/or access to local resources that offer a different level of service to families during this difficult, uncertain, and constantly changing time. There is no doubt that shelter-in-place orders have created new anxiety levels for families, and creating a happy surrounding feels hopeless at times. But while there are temporary holds on play dates; gatherings; and visits to parks, zoos and other places children love, there are some methods families can implement to ensure that children continue to thrive amongst the pandemic. When Young Children Ask About COVID-19 Developmentally, young children (ages zero to five) live in the present moment. When young children ask about COVID-19, they are really projecting: Am I safe in
this moment? It is important to keep your answers concrete and age-appropriate. A good example of a simple answer to help a child feel safe and secure is to say: “I am/we are taking good care of you, you are healthy and strong . . . look how you picked up your yellow truck!” Questions about COVID-19 also allow the opportunity to remind children that there are active ways to protect ourselves and others: •
It is important to wash our hands! Wet, lather with soap, scrub, rub for at least 20 seconds, and dry. Teach a child to sing the full Happy Birthday song, twice, throughout their hand washing session—and you can even use silly voices for extra fun!
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We must practice healthy habits to keep our bodies strong! Good and plentiful sleep, healthy foods, and everyday exercise are very important to help keep those germs from causing harm to our bodies or others’ bodies.
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Say hello to friends and neighbors with a “wiggle wave dance” instead of a hug. Explain that this is the better option right now to safely maintain the recommended physical distance, and master your own “wiggle wave dance” together!
BY MICHELE BLAKE
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Cough or sneeze into your elbow! Young children tend to cough or sneeze into their hands and then touch everything! Teaching them the “Dracula method” is not only spooky and fun, but you can also reinforce the healthy behavior with exclaiming, “Good job! You caught that cough!”
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Set a good example! You are your child’s role model. Be mindful about modeling healthy and positive behaviors in front of your children so they can follow along.
When Sheltering in Place Creates Family Chaos All families are experiencing unique challenges. These may be health conditions, financial hardships, lack of social interaction, working at home while caretaking, or simply the impossible challenge of finding toilet paper! Regardless of the specific challenge, it is essential to recognize that young children are sensitive to stress and may express it through unusual behaviors such as becoming withdrawn, frequent crying, or even being aggressive. It is imperative to establish consistency and routines while strengthening relationships within the household, to help decrease this stress.
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The Value of a Schedule Structured routines are important because they provide children with a sense of security. When creating a schedule for your family, do what works best for your situation. You can also create a schedule chart with pictures or stickers, not only to make it fun, but to help your child visually recognize each activity in his or her day. Below are some routine activities to consider when making your schedule, but as you create your family routine, please remember to always allow flexibility. •
Wake up and start the day
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Eat breakfast/lunch/dinner
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Brush teeth and comb hair/get ready for the day
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Exercise/stretch
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Social connection/family time
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Creative hour
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Story time
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Open-ended/free play
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Outside time
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Bedtime
Maintaining Socialization As humans, we are born social beings. The social distancing order mandates that we think outside the box to support, maintain, and nourish relationships that mean a lot to our families and young children. Social outlets such as Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype allow young children to engage in
magical moments and to have fun! This is valuable not only for family connections, but perhaps a “playdate” with friends, too! Another social connection to consider is creating a photo board or album where you can add meaningful photos of friends, family, and teachers that your child can look at frequently. Encourage your child to go to the picture board and take a photo from it, and then share a story or engage your child in a conversation about the person in the photo. Talk about the value this person holds in the child’s life and how the person is loved, and allow the child to remember and share a special experience with this person. These engagement activities will keep happy memories flowing and support the special relationships in your child’s life. Play, Play, Play! We must never underestimate the value of play! Play helps children make sense of uneasy experiences like this one; is essential for healthy human development; and promotes cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Open-ended play is play with no specific instructions or rules to follow. Unlike closed-ended play, there is no “correct” way to engage in this play time, and it allows children to use their own creativity and go at their own pace, so providing open-ended play opportunities for young children is a wonderful thing to do right now. To help with open-ended play, consider placing open-ended materials (items a child can play with freely) around the house to invite more
in-depth play at your child’s leisure. These play items allow children to use the materials for their own purpose and meaning (the child tells the toy how to play, rather than the toy telling the child how to play) and that is so much more satisfying to a child than always following a specific rule or guideline. Here are some examples of openended materials: •
Playdough
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Chalk
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Paper and markers/crayons
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Water toys (funnels, spoons) to play with outside or even in the kitchen sink
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Building materials (blocks).
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A dress-up box with clothes, shoes, and costume-type items
Each child has different likes and interests, so experimenting will help both you and your child recognize the most rewarding and engaging open-ended play opportunities. Each child’s play skills become stronger with experience. Even amidst the concerns and chaos that COVID-19 has created in our families and in our community, the one thing you always have is the power to support your children and to engage, play, and strengthen loving relationships. The practice of being fully present is exactly what children truly need from you now, more than ever. Contact the Sutter County Children & Families Commission call center at: 530-822-7505 and let us help you find resources, projects, and assistance, or follow us on Facebook.
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Staying Healthy at Home BY JESSICA SMITH
With little to keep you occupied and stress running high, it’s easy to eat your way through each quarantined day! But a quick, at-home workout could be just what you need to manage the waistline. No equipment? No problem! This workout is 100 percent equipment-free. All you need is your body and some free space! Warm-Up Complete each exercise for 30 to 60 seconds. 1. Inchworms 2. Downward Dog to Hip Flexor Stretch 3. Plank with Arm Circle 4. Reverse Lunge with Upward Reach 5. Squat to Calf Raise
Workout 1. 20-minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds as Possible) 2. 10 Burpees (with or without push-up) 3. 20 Total (10 each way) Bicycle Crunches 4. 25 Squat Jacks 5. 20 Total (10 each leading arm) Plank Push-ups 6. 40 Total (20 each leg) Mountain Climbers 7. 30 Total (15 each leg) One-Leg Bridges (on back) 8. 20 Total (10 each leg) Alternating Lunges (jump lunge as a bonus!) Cool Down Complete each stretch for 30 to 60 seconds. 1. Child’s Pose 2. Hamstring Stretch 3. Glute Stretch 4. Quad Stretch 5. Chest/Shoulder Stretch
Fun Fact:
Did you know that bell peppers have more vitamin C than an orange?
For more workout ideas or move instructions, visit us on Instagram or at the Yuba City Racquet & Health Club Facebook page! Keeping a Healthy Immune System We all are looking to boost our immunity during this pandemic, but did you know the way to a healthy immune system is a healthy gut? Even more reason to not reach for that candy in the cabinet! The gut composes 80 percent of the immune system through the gut microbiome (a.k.a., gut bacteria). Gut bacteria can even produce vitamins, including B vitamins and vitamin K! Individuals with comorbidities (diseases or conditions) typically have alterations in their gutmicrobiome, making them more susceptible to infections. To keep your gut happy and yourself healthy, fiber should be an essential part of your diet! Here is a delicious recipe from the website “Killing Thyme” that’s worth a try! It is high in fiber and natural antioxidants. Jessica Smith is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer/Group Exercise Instructor.
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Tips to
Prepare Your
Home For Sale BY AMBER TORRES
1 2 3 4 5
Deep Clean, Declutter, and De-Personalize: A clean home is a difference of thousands of dollars, and a buyer wants to imagine themselves living in a home, so the fewer personal photos and items, the better. Maintaining the Structure: Large rehab projects may not guarantee you the dollar-for-dollar return on your investment. Repairing items such as dry rot, water damage, and potential electrical hazards as well as maintenance of larger appliances will take you further financially and get you to closing faster. Paint the Interior: Freshen up the space with a coat of paint and remove any loud or bright accent walls. Even though gray is a hot trend, statistics show that white or beige allows buyers to see a clean palette of potential. Create Curb Appeal: Keep the lawn mowed and watered, trim back garden beds and spread a layer of bark. Make sure gutters and down spouts are clean and windows are sparkling. First Impressions are everything! Stage Your Home: An experienced and professional realtor should help with recommendations to highlight the best features of your home. You’re guaranteed top dollar with an attractive setting and flow.
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Sutter Buttes Wineries THE WOMEN BEHIND THE
When we think of wine tasting, places like Napa or Sonoma generally come to mind. But, did you know you don’t have to leave the area to enjoy the same beautiful atmosphere and amazing wines you get elsewhere? You can indulge right here in Sutter County! Three little hidden gems sit around the Sutter Buttes, and some pretty amazing women stand behind them—from moms and wives to dear friends, these women have planted grapes and built dreams from the ground up—and here are their stories.
Cordi Winery
Teresa Cordi and her husband, Reece, are the owners of Cordi Winery, the first winery to ever exist in Sutter County, located in the beautiful Sutter Buttes. Teresa has lived on the north side of the Sutter Buttes for 30 years, where she and Reece raised their family and farmed almonds until the January 2008 storm decimated their orchards. But rather than simply accepting the loss of the almond orchards, the Cordis combined their love for wine with a “why not?” approach, some research, a little self-teaching, and some mentoring from other small wineries, and used the land to plant grapes to establish Cordi Winery, their family-run business. Reece and the Cordis’ daughter Emily facilitate the winemaking and maintain the vineyards, and Teresa and their daughter Juleah take care of the tasting room, wine club, and charity side of the business. Cordi was the only winery in Sutter County for eight years until the Cordis shared their knowledge with others to help them establish Sicilia Winery and Munger Winery. Not only were two new wineries born, but three new friendships were formed. All three winery owners continually support each other and refer to their trio as The Wineries of the Sutter Buttes, or when all three wineries are open at the same time, they call it a “wine trail weekend”. Cordi Winery’s tasting room is located on the winery property, close to the vineyards. To encourage people to spend ample time in the vineyard and not feel rushed, the winery offers plentiful outdoor seating for picnics and relaxing; a family- and dog-friendly environment; and outdoor games like cornhole. Some of the tables are covered by a huge willow tree, making it a very popular place in the summertime! Cordi is a great stopping place
for those biking around the Buttes or a great starting place for those riding on the northside, but any method of transportation can bring you to the winery—one of their customers even shows up on horseback! At Cordi Winery, each season is unique, making it an inviting place to visit year-round. Early spring is beautiful with the orchards in bloom (usually in mid-February), summer finds the Buttes looking like golden velvet, and fall and winter bring migratory birds and great cloud watching! Teresa’s favorite Cordi wine is their Negroamaro, a full-bodied, fruit-forward wine that dries nicely mid-palate and has a peppery little kick. Negroamaro is made with a unique grape that is particularly beautiful because of its deep color and nearly perfect bunch shape. This wine was awarded a silver medal at the 2019 California State Fair and a silver medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Last summer, Teresa even used the beautiful grapes to make amazing grape jelly. The most rewarding thing to Teresa about bringing wine to Sutter County is the opportunity it has provided to promote ag-tourism and celebrate the majestic Sutter Buttes. The Cordis love meeting new people in the tasting room and sharing their side of the Buttes, and the winery has allowed them to support local charities and organizations. Cordi Winery is located at 10401 Ingram Lane, Live Oak, on the north side of the Sutter Buttes, about 15 minutes west of Highway 99, just four miles from Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge. The winery offers a wine club membership with significant savings to members. You can enjoy Cordi Winery’s amazing wines by calling them at 530-695-1785 or emailing teresa@cordiwinery.com to place an order for delivery or make an appointment to pick it up curbside!
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Munger Family Vineyard
Stacy Munger, owner and operator of Munger Family Vineyard, a local winery in Sutter, shared with us her experience with being a winery and vineyard owner. Where are you located? Our winery is located at 2144 Irwin Avenue in Sutter. When visiting, you park in our vineyard and walk through a breezeway to our covered, outdoor facility at the base of the beautiful Sutter Buttes. All our red wine grapes are grown in Sutter county, but our Estate Zinfandel and Estate Cabernet are grown right on our property. How did you get started in the wine business? My husband, Danny, and I began our winery as a hobby. When we moved into our home in Sutter, we had a small amount of open land and thought it would be fun to grow wine grapes and eventually offer tastings and private events. But our hobby grew about as quickly as our kids, starting with just three varietals in 2011 and expanding to fourteen varietals today. Danny is the primary winemaker and vineyard manager; I focus on the business side, including marketing and label design; and the rest we do as a family (my eight-year-old son, Trevor, is our best corker and my ten-year-old daughter, Sydney, is a fast labeler). What is one of your favorite varietals to work with? One of my favorites is our 2015 Merlot, and a close second is our 2016 Primitivo, which are both California State Fair winners. Both of these wines are wonderful on their own, but they’re also used to create our Sutter Cut Blend, which is another great one.
Sicilia Vineyards
Sandie Adams is the owner of Sicilia Vineyards, a winery located at the foot of the Sutter Buttes. Sandie started in the wine business simply by going along with her husband’s dream and because she knew that they could turn the bare land around their home into something different and special. But when Sandie went through a breast cancer battle, having her husband by her side through the winery activities gave her something to look forward to and inspired her to fully support and help him grow his passion. Sicilia Vineyards is the only local winery that offers a tasting room in Yuba City. The tasting room offers a unique, Italian atmosphere with vibrant, Italian colors, and, because of Sandie’s love for pairing food with wine, tastings always include specialty cheeses and accompaniments. It was created to encourage guests to linger and relax by providing a large, outdoor area; an Italian garden; and an arbor with a fireplace. In 2018, before Sicilia had much public exposure and the tasting room was open, the winery hosted a tasting event at New Earth Market’s Harvest Room. This was at the end of Sandie’s cancer treatments when Sandie was still feeling the effects of her medications and she was having trouble using her cell phone during the event. Jill Corbella was also attending this event with friends, and offered Sandie help with her phone. Jill was such a good helper, Sandie flagged Jill’s wine club membership form as someone to call for help in the future, and from there, Sandie acquired a full-time helper and a dear friend. In fact, Sandie 16 ME A N D M I NE M AG A Z I N E | S PR IN G 2020
What is one of the most rewarding things about bringing wine to Sutter County? Seeing our dream come to life. Danny and I used to go wine tasting any chance we could. We talked about how fun it would be to make wine and open a tasting room, but through all our talks we never really thought it would be something our whole family was involved in. From our initial planting, through harvest and bottling, to our opentasting weekends, our parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews have been right there alongside us. It’s a lot of work, but our family makes it fun! Munger Family Vineyards offers wines for sale in Yuba City at New Earth Market, Sutter Buttes Brewing, and Dancing Tomato Caffé. Their wines are also available at Kourtney Kay’s Sutter Cut Pizzeria in Sutter and at Riverside Lanes bowling alley in Colusa. You can also order curbside pickup by calling or texting Munger Family Vineyard at 530-774-3989 or emailing mungerfamilywine@att.net.
and Jill are so compatible that they both choose Teroldego as their favorite Sicilia wine. Sandie likes it due to its rarity (there are only 600 acres of this wine grape planted in the US), its smooth taste, and because it’s easier to maintain, but Jill said that although Teroldego is a fine wine, she likes all of Sicilia’s flavors. Sandie and Jill both agree that Jill is partial to them all because she likes being an integral part of creating the wines she loves, including being the one who loads the grapes on the trailers after harvest with a huge forklift (now that is helping!). When asked what the most rewarding things are about bringing wine to Sutter County, Sandie said it is making a historical statement that fine wine can be grown on her property; after all, her property is where the Thompson seedless grape was originally grown! She added that it’s been very rewarding to experience the surprise and excitement from customers enjoying the wines and Italian ambiance. Jill moved to Sutter County in 2002 and loves the community and involvement, so her biggest reward is bringing wine to the community and watching the amazed reactions from people when they realize that these wonderful wines come from Yuba City, in the small area of Sutter County. Sicilia Vineyards is located at 3981 Nuestro Road in Yuba City. For online orders and curbside delivery, call or text Sandie at 530-701-3795 or order online at siciliavineyards.com. Orders can be picked up on Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 P.M. For curbside delivery, call or text ahead when you are on your way and someone will meet you in the tasting room parking area to provide you with your wine.
Presenting...
Cassie Fifield
Cassie Fifeld, in her own words, has “been singing and being a general drama queen” since she was a little girl. Her interest in the arts took off when she was 12 years old and her family moved to London, where she fell in love with the West End Theater musicals; attended a special performing arts school; and did voicework for audiobooks, foreign films, and the movie Balto (and even attended the Balto movie premiere with her family). From there, musical theater and performing became her passion. She became involved in theater and music everywhere she lived, and deemed it her favorite thing to do.
Cassie’s performance life slowed down a little as she started her family, but it didn’t stop her from being creative—she just channeled her theatrics into a new hobby: reading out loud to her daughter. First with storybooks, then Harry Potter and Fablehaven, and on to The Hunger Games as her daughter got older. Cassie’s daughter is now a teenager and although she is fully capable of reading to herself, she still loves the quality time that comes with her mom’s out-loud reading, and of course the way Cassie uses her theatrical voices and accents. Through Cassie’s journey of passionate and various projects, her love for musical theater stayed strong! Cassie, her husband, and her daughter moved to Yuba City six years ago, and through a Facebook post, she discovered a community gem: Yuba City’s local theater, The Acting Company. Cassie’s husband is also a performer, and when Cassie saw that The Acting Company was looking for male performers in an upcoming production, she encouraged him to audition, and he immediately landed the role of “Jinx” in the performance, “Forever Plaid”, which later won a local Elly award for best musical production. From there, Cassie’s whole family became a part of The Acting Company community; in fact, when she saw casting for a holiday feature, “The Best Gift Ever”, she, her husband, and her daughter auditioned and were all cast. Cassie herself has appeared in “Oliver”, “9 to 5”, and “Mamma Mia”; musically directed “The Ever After” musical; and wrote and directed her own children’s show, “The Fairyest of Them All”. Cassie considers all the people involved at The Acting Company her family.
Besides acting, Cassie has taught private piano and voice lessons for a decade and, five years ago, added a children’s choir to her list of classes. Three years ago, she added a theater class, where children learn and perform her original plays. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. It forced Cassie to cancel her choir and theater classes but it didn’t stop her from teaching. She’s continued piano and voice lessons virtually, and although it’s been an interesting challenge, Cassie explains in her own, very fitting words, that she and her students have “found their rhythm” and she is extremely proud of them for their progress. She is looking forward to (hopefully) starting back up in the fall with a new holiday play and some great Christmas songs, but in the meantime, Cassie found a light in these dark times. Canceling classes and losing some students gave her a little more time on her hands and allowed her to do what she loves and does so well: give back to her community by sharing her talents. As a parent, Cassie knows the struggle many are facing to keep their kids busy and entertained during the shelter-in-place, so she went back to her other true love: reading stories aloud. Only this time, she is featuring them on YouTube. She still uses her theatrical voices and displays the pictures as she reads. Her current YouTube following isn’t quite regular, but her nieces and nephews tune in every night at bedtime. And leave it to Cassie to take it up a notch! She has written her own stories in the past to entertain her daughter, and decided to “mix things up” by sharing one of her originals on YouTube. After posting the first one, Cassie’s sister sent a picture of Cassie’s enthralled nieces and nephew watching the video, which inspired Cassie to write more original stories and to tailor
them to her biggest fans! She wrote one featuring her nephew, Jack, and soon came her sister’s video of Jack, reciting his favorite part of the story in the greatest detail. She then wrote a story for her niece Poppy, featuring her as a determined ballerina, and one for her youngest niece, Molly, about her adventures with a dragon, that she says is right up Molly’s alley. Cassie is looking forward to seeing her nieces’ excitement! But it doesn’t stop there! Occasionally, Cassie’s family flexes its creative muscles by creating a puppet video, too, either performing an improvised scene or singing/ lip-syncing something. As Cassie says, “They’re pretty silly, but everything is funnier with puppets!” Although Cassie stays consistently involved with local community productions, her deviation from theater to become a voice actor for films, TV shows, and audiobooks became her new dream, and she still considers it the ultimate job! Cassie Fifeld is a local piano, voice, choir, and theater teacher. Cassie has lived in Yuba City for six years, loves it here, and plans to make it her family’s permanent home! You can find Cassie’s story time videos, puppet movies, and watch her family singing songs by searching “Cassie Fifeld” in YouTube. You can also email Cassie at chocolatestu@ yahoo.com, message her through Facebook (Cassandra Fifeld), or call or text her at: 801-830-4210. ME AN D MIN E MAG AZIN E | S P RI NG 2 02 0
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Spreading Sunshine in Our Community So many wonderful things still happening in our great community! Be sure to write to us or tag us @meandminemag and tell us about the acts of kindness and amazing things you are seeing around town!!!
Rylie Kate Rollins celebrated her 4th birthday with a parade!! Friends and family decorated their cars and drove by to wave to the adorable birthday girl.
Alexandra Giongco, age 13, drew her version of Rosie the Riveter. Thank you for sharing your amazing artwork with all of us!!!
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Thanks to our generous community, 42,639+ pounds of food were donated to our local food bank! The Yuba-Sutter Covid-19 Task Force collected $83,339!!!
As of April 10th, the Valley Quilt Guild donated 308 masks to Adventist Health and Rideout!
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530.844.0739
Brighten Your Days Julie and Matt Stevenson invite you to Tony's Fruit Stand. You'll find a beautiful selection of fruits and vegetables, local jams and honey, nuts, dried fruit, and hand-made pies. You can pre-order online or select your very own goods at the stand. Come experience this local happy place soon! Tony's Fruit Stand 530.741.1512 www.tonysfruitstand.com 10464 State Highway 70, Marysville
Take time for yourself to be creative and paint! Christina May is offering online Sip & Paint classes. Follow The Beauty of Paint on Facebook and Instagram to get details of upcoming classes and available projects. Classes are viewed via the Zoom application and supplies can be shipped or arranged (with Christina) for pick-up.
Flowers help brighten anyone's day! Whether it's a special occasion or just because...let your loved ones know that you're thinking of them with a fresh bouquet. Kevin DeHoff and his staff at The Country Florist are here to help you spread good cheer with flower deliveries in our local area. The Country Florist 530.743.7387 1500 N. Beale Road, Marysville www.mycountryflorist.com
The Beauty of Paint 530.218.7552 www.thebeautyofpaint.com
Retail therapy is good for the soul! Creative Interiors, Etc. on Plumas Street is entertaining us as we shop during their virtual sales. You don't have to leave the comfort of your own home while shopping for the cutest home dĂŠcor in town. Find them on Facebook today and tune in for some shopping fun. Mother's Day, birthdays, and other celebrations are still happening and they have your gifts covered. Curbside delivery is available. Creative Interiors 530.821.0664 654 Plumas Street, Yuba City
Pass the Cheese...Please!!! A charcuterie board will make anyone feel fancy during these times. Unwind with your favorite glass of wine and let Dee deliver one of her beautiful grazing boxes to your front door. You can have this delivered as a gift while maintaining social distancing, or just treat yourself. Amazing Graze By Dee 530.520.6611
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Support Family-Owned Restaurants
The Happy Viking Appetizers, soup & salad, pastas, burgers, and pizzas. 55 beers on tap, wine, and fun cocktails available curbside or delivery. Be sure to bring your growler! Call 671.PIZA (7492) or go online to https://happyviking.hrpos.heartland.us/
Rocco's Bar & Grill Full menu and daily lunch and dinner specials are available at Rocco's in Colusa. BBQ Night, Tuscan Tuesday, family specials, or the Dinner for 2 are just a few local favorites. Don't forget to add the famous Rocco bread and an amazing dessert! You can always add some of your favorite beverages too, and maybe even pick up your own Rocco's growler. Find Rocco’s on Facebook or Instagram for their daily specials and call 530.458.8646 to reserve yours now! www.roccosbarandgrill.com 546 Market Street, Colusa
Pasquini’s Fine Italian Food We specialize in homemade pastas, fresh seafood, and juicy steaks. Preordering online is recommended and you can find links to our full menu, daily specials, and online ordering at: www.pasquinisfinefood.com Your orders can be picked up curbside. 530.695.3384 6241 State California 99, Live Oak
La Unica’s Fresh Mex Open seven days a week! Try one of our Family-Style Specials for $40: 20 street tacos (beef, chicken, or pork) or 12 chicken or cheese enchiladas, both served with rice, beans, chips, and salsa! Our full menu is also available! Phone-in, online, takeout, and curbside ordering available by calling 530.755.3900 or visiting www.launicasfreshmex.com . 971 Gray Avenue, Yuba City
Stephens Farmhouse The menu of daily specials is everchanging over at Stephens Farmhouse—it’s always a fun surprise to see what Cherie has planned for the day! But one thing is guaranteed...it’s all delicious!!! From pot pies to fresh salads and bread. Pastries are available and made-to-order desserts too! Give them a call at 530.673.0406. 6219 Sawtelle Avenue, Yuba City
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Me and Mine
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