Magazine NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
COLUSA COUNTY • SUTTER COUNTY • YUBA COUNTY
On the cover:
MelanieJacobs
“It was a very grass roots effort to get it going” colusa County business & Visitors Center..........p.8
>>INSIDE:
the godfather of auto body
Charlie vigiani YUba Sutter businesses..................p.3 business profile
Premier Mushrooms colusa businesses.........................p.11 ALL NEW - United’s
Bulletin board Community submitted....................p.9 Nor. Cal Photographer
Sue Graue People of Northern California......p.7 +Plus:
Glee Fever luke miller
S#x and the county nikki hancock
Don’t Forget to fill out your Census form! Colusa Western Days - 3/9 - 3/11
© 2010 Luis Barrera Photography Design >>>>>>FREE
03.03.01.10
www.unitedmagazine.org
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designstudio
Colusa Theatre goes 3D - April 1, 2010
TheLuisBarrera
3/22/10 2:30:37 PM
UNITED This Months Contributors Nikki Hancock
g a z in e a m d e it n .u w w /7 @ w 4 2 ine onl are We a note from the
lifelarge24@yahoo.com
Kathy Craigo
editor
kcraigo66@hotmail.com
Luis Barrera
luis@luisbarrera.com
Luke Miller
luke@lukemiller.net
United Magazine by The Luis Barrer Design Studio 437 Market Street, Suite 3 Colusa, CA 95932
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designstudio
415-509-6304 info@unitedmagazine.org
.o r g
. If you e we got a new look Hello everyone, se n ca u yo w no Other than by United. Well what can I say? k you for picking up an th y sa to e lik ication, I’d uring unique are new to our publ sed Magazine feat ba ity un m m co a ine is make up our United News Magaz ing the people that ur at fe as ll we as e azin content to the mag old name in communities. to become a househ n ow gr ly ick qu s cula, United ha has doubled our cir d ite Established in 2008 Un w no By . e it was established United of and have become Colusa County, wher ea ar ge ra ve co r ve increased ou Glenn Counties. tion. This year we ha , Sutter, Colusa and ba Yu g rin ve co a, new and Northern Californi ll also see a lot of wi u yo s, ie rit ila d some sim reflecting our While you might fin Our content is also . es ur at fe d an t blish in, conten our counties we pu awesome exclusive of ch ea m fro s or e have contribut new distribution. W . uth as Sacramento coming a some even as far so e information on be or m r fo g or e. in az itedmag content. Please visit www.un to view online-only as ll we as n tio publica ide from the rest. contributor for our ts our publication as se at wh on d se cu oughts, fo This year we have ing about Kathy’s Th ad re re u’ yo er th he personal. W bulous Life, Our content is very g up with My Unfa in tch ca or es ur nt vite all ting adve just like you! We in s Nikki’s Country da er ad re e ar o wh our contributors itorials. We United is shaped by l opinion-based ed ia ec sp ur yo it bm mmunity to su unties. members of the co m our across our co fro le op pe g in ur at fe of ..” series st United up to continue our “Faces ly feel this is the be tru e W . bs co Ja ie yed our is Melan as much as we enjo ’ This month’s cover bs co Ja . rs M t ou t month! enjoy reading ab online. Have a grea date. We hope you us sit vi d ite Un e or o shoot. For m interview and phot
Luis Barrera
TheLuisBarrera
United Cares! United Magazine is printed on recycled paper. Visit www.eatrh911.com to find the closet recycling center near you! or read United on-line at www.unitedmagazine.org
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Walk-ins Always Welcome! 3720 Highway 45 • Colusa, CA 95932
Nail Tech
530-320-8885
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-4pm 3/22/10 2:30:38 PM
Only in
UNITED
From Shinning shows to shinning cars
Charlie Vigiani By Luis Barrera, editor
luis@luisbarrera.com
Special series:
The Faces of
Yuba-Sutter
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A
s a thirteen-year-old boy, Charlie Vigiani, owner of Vigiani Auto Body in Yuba City began his career as a shoeshine boy but soon found shining automobiles was his true calling. In a recent interview with UNITED News Magazine, Vigiani recalled a time as a boy when he asked his father for a quarter. What he got instead was a couple of dollars and a list to take to the corner store. The list contained items young Charlie would need to shine shoes. By the time he got home his father had completed a shoeshine box. “Dad then gathered every shoe in our house and proceeded to teach me the fine art of shoeshine,” said Vigiani. Vigiani made some money and had fun shining shoes, but he recalled one day on his way home he saw a very fast, shiny car. He said he noticed the very nice shine on the car, and the next day he stopped at the auto body shop to get a better look at it. “The shop owner asked what I needed and the only thing that came to mind was to solicit a shoeshine,” said Vigiani. Vigiani remembers that the owner was a nice guy that he had a very clean shop. He had a few pairs of shoes in his changing room and he had Vigiani shine them, but it took him a little longer than usual because Vigiani kept watching the man shine the cars. “It was as if it were magical,” he recalled. “He looked like he was enjoying what he was doing,” said Vigiani. Before Vigiani left the shop, the man asked if he could help by sticking his smaller hand between a frame rail and an engine block to undo some bolts. He liked how Vigiani worked, and later asked him if he liked shining shoes or did he want to come to his shop and sweep floors. Vigiani accepted the job and in a short time, he was taking parts off of cars and putting them back on without help. One of his early jobs at the shop was wet sanding lacquer paint jobs for either re-painting or for polishing lacquer jobs. Vigiani said that shining things though was where he felt most at home. Even now while Vigiani has a staff for the polish jobs at Vigiani Auto Body, he still enjoys doing the work and polishes a car from time to time. Over the years, Vigiani has owned six different body shops; five in the San Jose Mountain View area. “These shops were designed to build, develop and sell, helping Vigiani to succeed in the real estate market. “I was able to acquire the properties, install the spray booth, lease the frame machine and build a clientele before selling,” he explaned. The ‘build and sell’ operation helped to educate Vigiani in the smooth flow of paperwork and corporate
protocols that are serving him well in his current shop. He said Vigiani Auto Body is the shop he intends to keep. “This is a business that is working,” he said. He said he is fortunate in that the business runs smoothly not matter if he is there or not. He said this is the case because of his talented staff. He said his son Joe is a gifted body man, and his painter Eric Hopkins is an incredible painter. He also credits his assistant in the front office, , as being the most organized special assistant ever. “She knows how to read my mind,” he said. Vigiani shared that on the home front, his girlfriend Heidi is a big support and often brings him new ideas for the business. He added that what he likes most about his business is that it is a symphony of things that need to happen all day and he feels as if he has a front row seat watching and orchestrating challenges from day to day. “People bring us their special and sometimes biggest investments and trust us to make them right for them. He started the business in October 2008 without one single customer. Vigiani said he has been fortunate to watch it grow every month and to be on target with his business goals in his first year. Vigiani is also very active in the community. He is an ambassador for the North Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Kiwanis in Yuba City and hopes to become a Marysville Rotarian. He is a member of the lunch chapter at Peach Tree, Dan Kennedy Inner Circle Marketing Group directed by Jan Duke and to which he credits his marketing skills. He is a member of the Thursday morning Le-Tip group and the California Auto Body Association. He is the former Feather River Chapter President and he has hopes to join the local Chamber Of Commerce the Lyons Club. “As you can tell I do networking groups and marketing groups.” he said adding that the Kiwanis and the Rotary clubs are in place because it is with these types of groups that he can take an active role in giving something back. He said he is involved with the NVHCC because it is a venue to assist other business owner who may not have the ability to grow on their own. With the auto body shop, he has found that he is connected to many people who at one time or another need his services. From auto detail to collision repair, Vigiani, known as the Godfather of Auto Body, meets the needs of his clients, and hopes to continue doing so at affordable prices for a very long time to come. U
3/22/10 2:30:39 PM
Feature
page four
UNITED
Nikki hancock’s
s#x and y r t n the cou
EXCLUSIVE to
UNITED
Better than expected.
Things had been going well between Grant and I. Surprisingly well. So well, in fact, that I began to feel a small pang of guilt when I remembered that my intentions weren’t all that great in the beginning. I hadn’t believed this guy had a shred of good in him and had listened to the rumors and gossip after all. I had expected him to be a sleaze, that wasn’t exactly fair to him was it? When Grant asked me to meet his family I was surprised. I didn’t think that was where this had been going. Sure we had been having a great time together, but it had only been a few dates spread out over a few weeks. Sure enough though, he had asked me to go out to dinner with his sister and her husband. He told me we were going to a restaurant that I had never even heard of. After asking around and discovering that this might be the nicest place I’d ever step foot in, I headed back to the mall.
Looking back. Grant picked me up for our date with six roses in hand – one for each date that we had been on so far. How could I not find that adorable? His sister drove and I tried not to let the mix of hunger and nerves grumbling in my stomach get loud enough to give my emotions away. I chomped on a piece of gum to quell the queasiness.
We sat at a table covered in white linens and I began to feel a little overwhelmed. What if there isn’t anything on this menu I like? I wondered just how out of place I was going to feel in this restaurant. When the boys got involved in a lively debate about baseball, Grant’s sister leaned to me and whispered “If you don’t know what to order to drink when they ask, just ask for a vodka soda with a twist.” I had no idea what that was but felt instant gratitude for her kind gesture. I took that as my green light to follow her every move for the rest of dinner. When she took the white napkin off her plate and spread it over her lap, I did the same. I watched which forks she used for which foods and did the same. As we left the restaurant after dinner, I leaned into her and mouthed “thank you.” She smiled and said “The boys forget sometimes… not everybody was raised the way that we were. You’re going to be fine. Ready to meet the parents?”
Nikki Hancock, Contributor
SANKEY AUTOMOBILE CO.
“Located in the Heart of Downtown Colusa”
Sankeys Business: (530) 458-2125 Toll Free (800) 223-2081 E-Mail: sankeys@colusanet.com 315 Market Street • Colusa, CA 95932
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3/22/10 2:30:41 PM
page three
magazine
QUEstIoNs. MINUtEs.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MAKE HIstoRy. Your census form will arrive in March 2010. Don’t miss your opportunity to make a difference. By answering 10 simple questions, you can help improve our schools, roads, hospitals, job-training programs, public transportation and much more. 2010census.gov Issued August 2009 | Form D-3289
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3/22/10 2:30:45 PM
opinion
page six
Glee
UNITED
!
New In United
Fever
Luke Miller, Contributor luke@lukemiller.net mediagasm.graypublications.net
Anyone that’s as big a fan of the TV show “Glee” as I am has probably already rushed out to their favorite local online music store (or certain less reputable hubs of online audio goodness) to snatch up the first two installations of its musical numbers. And for those of you that aren’t fans (yet), for SHAME. Go to Hulu right now and watch it, and enjoy it. The show is a really fun experience, if not for the slightly overdone acting and (yes, I’ll admit it) rather flimsy story line, then for the awesome musical numbers alone. The producers of Glee definitely knew what they were doing when they selected the members of their cast. Most of the main actors on the show are skilled performers, making anyone a candidate for a featured performance: The star quarterback (Cory Monteith) singing “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by R.E.O. Speedwagon, the star drama nerd (Lea Michele of “Spring Awakening” fame) belting out Celine Dion’s “Taking Chances,” or the asian-girl-witha-stutter-but-not-really (Jenna Ushkowitz) singing a charming rendition of “Tonight” from West
Colusa
r ally p you fill u y bag loC r e C o gr se Chee
Business & Visitor’s Center
Farmer’s market
is baCK!
Side Story. By far my favorite song of either album has to be the first track, and the first song performed on the show, an awesome version of Journey’s classic-turned-brahanthem “Don’t Stop Believing.” Watching the culmination of the first episode in this performance was awesome, and definitely got me wanting more from the show. I won’t lie, I’ve been caught at a red light a time or two belting this song out at the top of my lungs. A close second is a song by one of the show’s star guests, the lovely Kristen Chenoweth singing Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” This is my next one up for the karaoke bars for sure. In the end, if you’re a fan of any of the songs on the track list of either volume, go get BOTH immediately. If you’re a fan of the show and haven’t already, hurry up! The renditions of all the tracks are awesome, really fun covers of classic songs, new songs, and one-hit-wonders alike. I, for one, am most definitely one of what all the youngins nowadays are calling a “Gleek!”
a Coerslmaurkets nter
itor’s Ce
ss & Vis
Busine
Farm
Keep an eye out this summer! Colusa Certified farmer’s marKet
is baCK starting in may
!
uda • Go e • RiC s n • bea ey • hon s s ve mon d l • oli ks hiRe al i ive o C • bla e view ol Cts t du • but smill pRo is • GR
. also.. oGRaphy t . • pho ailable.. baGs av ft also y Gi t i d o Comm
For more information contact Melanie Jacobs at (530) 458-5525 or download the vendor application at www.colusacountychamber.com
The Colusa County Business & Visitor’s Center
2963 Davison Ct. Colusa, Ca 95932
UNITED
is now on facebook... visit our fan page for daily post, some funny, some intersting, some are just too good to miss. Look us under United News Magazine today!!!!
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3/22/10 2:31:46 PM
Only in
UNITED
Northern California through a lense
Sue Graue
By Kathy Craigo, Contributor
Special series:
The Faces of
Northen California
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With a passion for discovery, adventure and learning, Colusa County photographer Sue Graue has evolved into a professional and talented photographer after beginning to shoot photos as a hobby in the 1970’s. In a recent interview with UNITED, Graue recalled that she first began taking photos using a Canon 35 millimeter film camera. Primarily a self-taught photographer, Graue has also attended photography workshops and receives coaching and critiquing by other photography professionals. “I found I was primarily inspired by having young children at home, and later with landscape, nature, and candid settings with people. While her craft and her talent have grown and evolved from the days when she first picked up a camera, to now and the age of digital photography, Graue said there was also a time when she didn’t take photos at all. “My camera had broken, and my lifestyle had changed. It just wasn’t a priority with me,” she said. She didn’t take any photos throughout the late 1990’s. She picked her camera up again in 2000. “Of course it was prompted by the fact that I got a new camera,” she said. “I updated to digital in 2004.” In 2007, Sue found she had amassed a large inventory of photos by then; mostly of Colusa County. Then, she was invited to be the first exhibitor at the Colusa Regional Medical Center’s (CRMC) first “Art in Public Places” show. “A hospital board member encouraged me to participate in this show,” said adding that at first she was reluctant to do so. “My photography had been a private world of adventure, solace and creativity,” she recalled. “I was reluctant to make it public.” In fact, she admits she seriously thought about not doing the show. She had a month to pick 20 images, get them enlarged and framed. “It seemed like a daunting task and I had not had my photographs professionally enlarged before,” she added. In the end, she agreed to do it and she was happy that she did. As she selected the photos for that first show, she said that she was reminded of what each photo meant to her as she picked it up. “The time spent exploring and taking photos helped me through the grief process during the loss of a family member,” she said. “I found healing and still do in seeking beauty in everyday life,” she shared. “Things catch my eye,” she said. Graue said she spent a lot of time at the Colusa wildlife refuge. “It was very healing there,” she said. Later it became a great adventure. “Every time I visit the refuge there is a surprise.” Now, as her talents have grown and her craft has expanded, Graue finds herself in a whole different realm of photography. While she still thrives on photographing wildlife, candid photos and landscapes, she has again upgraded her camera and has added computer
technology skills. In addition to photography, she markets a line of greeting cards using her photos. Graue said that doing that first show for CRMC was rewarding and transformative in that now she has gained an identity as an artist and a photographer. “It was unexpected for me,” she said. Since that time Graue has developed a home-based business offering photos for sale and display. The photos share Colusa County as seen through Graue’s eyes and captured by her camera. Sue Graue Photography offers photography of landscapes, wildlife, candid event documentation, people & pets and high school senior portraits. She prefers to shoot primarily outdoors. Graue said her goal is to earn at least a portion of her income through photography and so far there is encouragement to continue. She is employed at CRMC as project coordinator/community relations, and she commented that her position there has afforded her more opportunities to photograph people. When photographing a person she said she is allowed to capture the unique person in that image. “It is a timing thing,” she added. “You see the genuine self of the person in that moment.” Graue’s cards are available at Davidson Drugs & Stationery, Red’s Cookhouse, Louis Cairo’s, and by word of mouth. “I give them away sometimes like Mrs. Fields did her cookies,” she said. Her photographs were featured on the 2009-09 Frontier telephone directory and will appear on the 200910 issue as well. They also appear in the Colusa County Business & Visitor’s Guide and CRMC’s “Healthlink” newsletter. Her work has also appeared in Bay Area art shows. Her entry of a cattle branding day photo won the people’s choice award at the Annual California Rural Health Association Conference in Sacramento. Graue said although she never intended to grow a business, and that the photos where who own private world, it seems to be happening. She has been working locally and discovering what people like. She is gradually expanding into internet sales. But for Graue and her pictures, she said she still takes photos of what inspires her. “I may be driving along and if I’m inspired by an image, I’ll stop,” she said. “Some shots are a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. Graue’s catalog of photos includes shots of things that no longer exist in Colusa County. “It is a matter of being in the right place at the right time,” she said adding that she doesn’t capture the image, the images capture her. “If I can inspire others that’s good with me.” For more information contact Graue at PO Box 394, Colusa, CA 95932 or by email at sgraue@hotmail.com. U
3/22/10 2:31:48 PM
on the cover
Only in
UNITED
Special series:
The Faces of
Colusa county
Melanie Jacobs
Melanie Jacobs Executive Secretary - Colusa County Business & Visitor’s Center
By Luis Barrera, editor
luis@luisbarrera.com
worked for TNT Fresh Cuts as well as round commodity retail center is located A s the Executive Secretary for the Premier Mushrooms. She says that her in the Visitor’s Center, featuring locally Colusa County Business and Visitor’s previous jobs have “allowed her to meet produced items such as honey, cheese, Center, Melanie Jacobs is Colusa County’s first impression to our county’s tourism. Upon entering the Visitor’s Center, Melanie Jacobs greets every guest with friendly service and the comprehensive knowledge about our county, as well as the county wide events and organizations in Colusa County. “It’s really the first stop to many visitors to the county,” said Jacobs in a recent interview with United Magazine. “We have about 300 guest that stop by the center on a monthly basis.” Jacobs explained that the Visitor’s Center is also a one stop shop for locals who would like to promote their businesses and learn about local organizations in the county. The Business and Visitors Center is located at Colusa Industrial Properties and is funded through a USDA grant and “it’s the Colusa County One Stop’s contribution to Agri-tourism.” The Business and Visitors Center also houses the offices of Colusa County’s Economic Development Corporation as well as the Colusa County Chamber of Commerce. Prior to working at the Business and Visitors Center, Jacobs had extensive experience and knowledge in Colusa County’s agriculture. She previously
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a lot of people very fast,” which in return allows her to stay networked with the community. Last year Jacobs was the driving force behind Colusa’s only certified’s Farmers Market. “It was a very grass roots effort to get it going,” explained Jacobs. The weekly market attracted many vendors and featured fresh produce, specialty cheeses, handmade crafts, fresh baked bread as well as information booths on local organizations. Jacobs said she was pleased with the fruits of her efforts last year and her goals for the 2010 Colusa Farmer’s Market are to “attract more people to come and view all the wonderful things that are locally and regionally grown.” Jacobs said that one of the rarest items she has found grown locally are kiwis. Also for 2010, Jacobs added that she hopes to see “a higher participation from non-profit organizations around the county at the farmers market.” She also expressed her interest in having a variety of entertainment and vendors with “hot foods” to attract more people to the market. Jacobs has also help established the “Colusa County Bounty.” The year
rice, olives, almonds, beans as well as local photography by Sue Grau. “We have gift bags available,” commented Jacobs, who has recently seen an increase in the demand of these local commodity bags. She also added that the products are sold at close to whole sale price. “We are not looking to make money off the products, we want to promote the growers and the county,” she added. Being the first contact for visitors, Jacobs commented she would like to see an improvement in the way communication is shared in the county. “We want to promote as much as we can, but we need the information from the community.” Every day, Melanie Jacobs is making lasting impressions in our visitors and in local businesses in her efforts in uniting the community though the Business and Visitors Center. For more information on Colusa County’s Business & Visitors Center, Colusa’s Certified Farmers Market or Colusa County Bounty, contact Melanie Jacobs at 530-458-5525 or stop by the Center located at 4963 Davison Ct, Colusa CA, 95932.
U
3/22/10 2:31:49 PM
page three
magazine
Bulletin Board
UNITED Magazine
Sheriffs
Town Hall Meeting
The Farm Show
Wow!
COLUSA th March 22
Church Day at the park! COLUSA th March 28
Must Attend: Colusa Western Days April 9th - 11th
Save the date: CRMC’s Ride for Life April 24th
Must Attend: Colusa Rural Firefighters Comedy Night March 27th
Colusa City
Firefighter PanCake Breakfast YUMMY! th March 27
This is your bulletin board! - Fill it up. Submit your photos and important community dates to bulletin@unitednewsmagazine.com our bulletin board also gets blasted through our e-mailed data base twice a month! *Our bulletin board space is limited and it’s available on a first come first served basis.
The Colusa Theatre Proudly Presents
Technicolor Starting April 1st (Select Films)
3D
• Free Refills on Large Popcorn and Large Fountain Drinks • Now Serving Straw Hat Pizza* (by the slice, weekends only)
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3
For more info visit www.colusatheater.com
530.458.5777
3/22/10 2:32:07 PM
page ten
UNITED
Colusa Industrial Properties Serving Colusa County & Northstate Agri-Business
Beduhn Business and Tax Service
50 Sunrise Boulevard - Colusa, California 95932 (530) 458-2118 - Fax: (530) 458-2110 E-mail: edhulbert@cipcorp.com
436 Market Street Colusa, CA 95932 (530) 458-2197 Gail A. Beduhn E.A. - Owner Enrolled Agent
Kathy Craigo Media Consulting “When The Public Needs to Know”
Networking News Releases Event Planning & Photography HR Service Consulting Newsletters AD Design & Placements
430 Market Street, Suite A Colusa, California 95932 Office: 458-3704
B.S. Accounting
Colusa County One-Stop Career Resource Center Your Workforce Connection
Let us connect you with: www.kathycraigo.com
Arbuckle’s
Now Featuring Custom Designed Cakes by Katrina Struckmeyer, for all occasions Weddings - Quinceañeras - Birthdays Showers - Baptisms - And More!
The Right Employee • Resume Assistance • Employee Recruitment & Screening • Internet Job Announcements • Customized Training • Supplemented Payments to Train Employees The Right Job • Labor Market Information • Job Placement Assistance • Skills Upgrading • Internet Job Search
Colusa1Stop.org The right cake & right design for every occasion
311 5th Street
(530) 476-3663
Stop by Monday - Friday 6:00am to 4:00pm Saturdays 7:00am to 2:00pm
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Connect With......
Colusa One-Stop 144/146 Market Street (530) 458-0326 Fax: (530) 458-0335
is now on facebook... visit our fan page for daily post, some funny, some intersting, some are just too good to miss. Look us under United News Magazine today!!!! 3/22/10 2:32:08 PM
P
Only in
UNITED
Business Profile
Premier Mushrooms
By Kathy Craigo, Contributor
John Ashbaugh Managing Partner of Operations RedWhiteBlue_2010_United_Colusa_3.1 copy.indd 11
remier Mushrooms L.P., established in Colusa CA in 2007, is now one of the largest employers in the county, occupying 20 acres at Colusa Industrial Park (CIP) and employing about 140 people. The mushroom farm produces approximately 185,000 pounds of mushrooms each week. White, crimini and portabella mushrooms are grown in 48 growing rooms and are available at SaveMor, Raleys, Nob Hill, Bel Aire and Grocery Outlet. Since the beginning of production, Premier Mushrooms owner operators have made efforts to become a part of the Colusa community and bring benefits to the county and its citizens. In recent years Premier Mushrooms has contributed $1 million monthly to the county through county taxes, payroll taxes, wages, local revenue and numerous donations. In addition Premier contributed $50,000 to the Colusa High School stadium project which paid for the facilities snack shack, donated compost to the local community garden project, sponsored free sodas and hot dogs for kids at the Colusa County Fair, and supported a number of youth organizations. Premier Mushroom continues to advance toward being a completely “green” company. Presently Premier Mushroom is a non-discharge facility; recycled ingredients such as cottonseed meal, gypsum, wheat straw and pasteurized dry poultry waste make up the compost, and the water from the facility is reused in the production of its compost. Additionally, all of the mushroom waste generated at the farm is used in the composting process. Producing renewable energy is the next “green” step in line for Premier Mushroom according to John Ashbaugh, managing partner of operations Plans are currently being researched to implement an alternative energy source such as an anaerobic digestion system, solar system, or cogeneration system that would produce reusable energy capable of providing most of the farm’s energy needs. Anaerobic digestion is a biochemical process in which particular kinds of bacteria digest biomass in an oxygen-free environment resulting in the production of “biogas.” Ashbaugh added, “This solution would produce alternative energy using our compost as fuel.” The Premier management team is comprised of the Flores brothers, known both nationally and internationally in the mushroom industry. They have over a century
of combined years of experience in growing mushrooms: Manual, growing manager, Fernando, processing and warehouse manager, Jose, farm manager, Fidel, substrate manager, and Ramon, harvesting manager. The Flores brothers expertise and commitment are helping produce the finest quality mushrooms. Ashbaugh commented that quality control is extremely important in the production of Premier Mushrooms. “The growing and processing operations follow GAP and GMP guidelines as a proactive approach to ensure the safety and quality of our product,” he said. “Quarterly audits are conducted by the Department of Defense and we are registered with USDA and FDA.” Likewise, equal attention is paid to providing safe working conditions for all its employees and to protect its customers, visitors, or persons residing on or near company property from any unusual health or safety risks. While there may have been previous issues concerning odor at the site, Premier Mushrooms has taken great care in upgrading the facility to provide an odor reduction air system. The facility’s compost wharf area is totally enclosed preventing escape of interior air and odors while forcing the wharf air through two bio-filters that cleanse the air and mitigate odors. According to information provided by Premier Mushrooms L.P., the odor impact minimization plan has been developed to provide guidance to on-site personnel in the handling, storage, and removal of compost-like substrate materials in accordance with the California State Code of Regulations. Premier Mushrooms is dedicated to being not only a profitable company, but to being good neighbors as well. The company has established a telephone information line, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. When residents have questions or comments of any kind connected to the mushroom farm’s operation, they are invited to call [530] 458-8600. An operator will document the caller’s concerns, questions or comments, and the information will then be forwarded to Ashbaugh. All inquiries will be reviewed and responded to in a timely manner. Premier Mushrooms is firm in its commitment to enhance Colusa County by providing substantial revenue, support the community and provide a model state-ofthe art mushroom facility that is both efficient and environmentally friendly.U 3/22/10 2:32:08 PM
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