Upgraded Living April 2013 Issue by Upgraded Living

APRIL 2013 UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

NORTHERN VALLEY LIFESTYLE

FARM TO TABLE | WILDFLOWER CENTURY | MAKE A WISH

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NorthValleyEyeCare.com 114 Mission Ranch Blvd. Suite 50 . Chico . (530) 891-1900 1056 Washington St. . Red Bluﬀ . (530) 529-1750

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Regulars

Home & Garden

Food

SEEDS OF SUPPORT 12 A message of thanks to our veterans.

APRIL DIY 22 Feel the love and get your hands dirty this spring with our newest DIY project.

FARMER’S MARKET 33 Get to know the many faces of Chico’s Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market and the farms that keep our thriving farm communities running.

LOCAL LEGEND 15 Walnut farmer, Emmett Skinner provides historical insight on Butte County’s farming community. STORYTELLER 18 Unofficial Chico historian and Queen of Butte County Theater, Verda Mackay sits down with UL for a bit of coffee talk. GETAWAY 78 A childhood favorite, follow us to Mount Lassen.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER 26 Join us as we visit the newly renovated kitchen of Ron & Maggie Thompson in Paradise. TREE DE-STRESS 28 M&S Wesley Tree Service provides hints on keeping your trees healthy this season. REAL ESTATE 30 Tour a number of Butte County’s most sought after properties currently for sale.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

RECIPES 40 Two wonderful spring table recipes that will keep a smile on your face throughout the season.

FAC

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Arts CHIVAA Art Map The Art About takes over Uptown.

ARTIST PROFILES 74 Our featured artists and art events for the month of April

IN OUR T R A P E K A T TESTS AT N O C Y L K E WE

LIVING

FACEBOO

GRADED K.COM/UP

AWAY A G IN IV G E B WE’LL O GREAT W T F O M MINIMU LOCAL O W T M O R PRIZES F WEEK! H C A E S E S BUSINES

Events

Community

HOME & GARDEN SHOW 24 Familiar sights, sounds, and plenty of faces welcomed us to this year’s spring showcase.

MAKE A WISH A profile of one of our favorite wishes come true.

WILDFLOWER CENTURY 42 Few events take Butte County by storm quite like the Wildflower Centennial. Our special bicycling section will ensure that you’re properly prepared for both the race and upcoming bike season. SURROGATE 56 A CD release party you won’t want to miss CALENDAR OF EVENTS 77 Our recommendations for must visit events throughout April

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL 55 A favorite childhood “doctor” inspires local performers to take center stage in the name of charity PEG TAYLOR CENTER 58 From the heart of a pioneer in public healthcare, comes an amazing center for health. SILENT THUNDER 62 A raceway’s committment to Carbon: Zero.

Seeds of Support by Alexa Benson-Valavanis

When Paul reached out to shake my hand I was overcome with gratitude. There was a strength and tenderness to him that pulled at my heart. It isn’t everyday that I meet a veteran. Paul looked me in the eyes and without warning I saw my grandfathers as young men just home from the war. I thought of all the men and women who’ve served our county. I managed to find the words I wanted, “Thank you for your service.” To which he graciously responded, “Thank you.” I wanted to say more, much more, but it didn’t seem fair to pour a decade of my gratitude and worry and sadness onto his day. He had far more to deal with than I could fathom. Even so, and even far from the Middle East, safe in my home, I’d been praying for him. I’d been praying for all of them. And, I was grateful he was home. I was also humbled by his service and wanted him to know. Instead, I left it at thank you. Paul Riley and Michelle Angela had come to my office to 12

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

share a new project that needed a charitable home. This was something I could offer. It was a small albeit much more significant way to offer my gratitude to all the men and women who have served. The Chico Veterans’ Garden is something Michelle and Paul have dreamed up to support generations of local veterans. It would be a place for them to come together, to grow food and hopefully to heal. It is intended to be part of a much larger community garden project already happening in Chico. Beyond a place to reap and sow the vision driving this new endeavor is to provide trainings for the veterans to learn creative and easy ways to prepare food straight from harvest. From stir-fry dishes to smoothies, Michelle and Paul, see the Chico Veterans’ Garden as a way to support the physical, mental and emotional health of local veterans. It is such a simple concept to provide a space where local veterans can nurture health and healing in their lives. But, for the rest of us, it provides a beautiful way to offer new seeds of support to our veterans to whom we owe so much.

STYLE YOUR thSOLE on April 13

Creativity with cause Purchase a pair of TOMS at the event, and local artists will customize them for you.

Saturday, April 13th at 12pm Urban Laundry 222 Main St., Chico (530) 345-2444 UrbanLaundry.com

Please arrive early. Due to time constraints, our artists can design a limited number. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One速.

Story by Aveed Khaki Photography by Michelle Camy 15

orn in Virgina, Emmett Skinner has lived just about everywhere you could imagine. As the son of a United States Marine, the concept of home was dictated by his father’s assignments, and they never seemed to keep the family in one place for any extended period of time. From Washington DC to Shanghai, China, Emmett quickly became a student of the world, traveling around with his father from one assignment to the next, before finally landing in California. Even here, his family kept on the move, traversing the great expanse of our state from north to south in its entirety. By the time Emmett turned seventeen, he had held residency at eleven different schools, and as the traveling life of a Marine was all he had ever known, he made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps himself. Reminded that he was only seventeen by the recruiting officer, he returned home and discussed the situation with his mother, finally convincing her to sign for him. He joined in 1941 at the height of World War II and was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina. In 1947 Emmett returned from his adventures overseas as a Marine and married Ann, a woman he had originally met during his one year in high school while in Virginia. The two moved to Durham where he was offered a job working under Ernest Adams at Rancho Esquon and a place to stay; he decided to end his military career and focus on his new job while raising his new family instead. It was here that he learned the art of ranching, taking on just about every type of work that Ernest could throw at him. The farm was sold in 1964, but Emmett was far from through with his ranching career. He rented one thousand acres from a landowner in town and began farming rice and grains. Using the education he had earned as a ranch hand on Rancho Esquon, Emmett began to diversify 16

the items produced at the ranch, taking on fruits, vegetables, cattle, and sheep. His success developing the ranch alongside his wife and three sons allowed him to purchase the land he was farming in Durham as well as another in Chico and finally a third in Pentz. His ranching operation continued to grow into the 80s, when he took on the nut crops that he became most well known for, starting with pecans in the early 80s, moving into walnuts in the late 80s, and finally almonds in 2000. A staple at the Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market in Chico, Emmett and his ranch’s pecans quickly became market favorites. In 2010, after nearly sixty-five years in the ranching industry, Emmett decided it was time to retire, and sold his ranch to another farmer. Quick witted, and with a smile that could charm a mule into following instructions, Emmett is a shining example of what we love about our county. Emmett, and others like himself are the true keepers of our area’s history. They have watched and encouraged our community grow into the place we love to live in today and we treasure them for that. Emmett recalls a much smaller Chico of 1948 when a few local folks built a house two blocks from where Bidwell Perk presently stands. They were considered crazy by other Chico residents for building so far away from everything. This is just one of the many illustrations of how much our town has changed in such a short period of time. Although retired from ranching, Emmett’s roots run deep in our local soil. His experiences, significantly more trying than many of our own, remind us that sheer will and determination are enough to succeed, and the happiness he exudes suggests that each can be approached with a smile on one’s face. For all that he has done both for our country as well as our county, we are proud to salute him as a local legend.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

(top to bottom) coffee talk with Emmett Skinner

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Storyteller:

Verda Mackay

Unofficial Chico Historian and Queen of Butte County Theater by Jaime O’Neill

photography by Michelle Camy

Verda Mackay lives in an immaculately kept home in an east Chico suburban neighborhood. Given her schedule, it’s a little surprising that she manages to keep her place so tidy. On a recent Saturday afternoon, she was having her picture taken for this article, generously offering her time for the interview that produced it, and eagerly anticipating an evening of theater on the opening night of Chico Theater Company’s recent production of Father of the Bride. “The theater is my life,” she says, “and I love opening nights. I get lots of hugs from theatergoers when I’m out.” Widowed when she was quite young,Verda found solace in her writing. She won several awards for Suzie, an award-winning book documenting one child’s battle with heart defects. She also wrote freelance theater pieces for newspapers in the Bay Area before her current nine-year stint as a theater critic for the Chico Enterprise-Record. But it’s not just theater that keeps her on the go. She also writes pieces on Chico history and, when time allows, she’s even tried her hand at writing romance novels. In everything she does, she’s a storyteller. “I have eight stories to write in the next two weeks,” she says, “and lots of events to attend.” But she’s not busy for the sake of being busy. She’s passionate about what she’s doing, and that passion is evident as soon as you get her talking about the things she loves. Since she moved here a dozen years ago, she’s become a civic booster, and a living reposi18

(above) Verda Mackay, at home behind her writing desk

tory of Chico history, brimming with stories about what’s gone on here long before most of us showed up. She loves unearthing old episodes recounting the activities of Board of Trustees meetings back when people were keeping track of what was said in ink dipped from inkwells. For the past eleven years, she’s been a weekly volunteer tour guide at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park. She serves as a hostess at Chico Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremonies, is a member of CSU Chico’s 125th Anniversary Committee, and she also serves on Enloe Hospital’s 100th Anniversary Committee.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Back in 2009, she put out a compilation of short historical pieces which she wrote and recorded for the local PBS station, KCHO radio. The collection is called Chico History Minutes; the first and second printings sold out, and she’s hoping to have it reprinted a third time in the near future because people often ask her how to get copies. As one of her local readers told her, “I am just amazed at all the things you know about Chico. The book is right on our kitchen table, and my husband enjoys reading it, too.” The 113page booklet features such fascinating vignettes as the little-known fact that scenes

(above) Verda with Suzie, the subject of her book documenting a little girl’s battle with heart defects

in Gone With the Wind were filmed in Bidwell Park, and scenes from the old Thin Man movies were filmed inside Bidwell Mansion. And, on the subject of Bidwell Mansion, the next time you drive by on the Esplanade, cast an eye that way and try to imagine the crowd of 1,000 people who turned out there for Annie Bidwell’s funeral 95 years ago, all those mourners in period clothing. But Verda Mackay’s not living in the past. She’s got a lively little streak of mischief in her, too. “As I get older,” she says, “I feel I can get away with saying stuff I wouldn’t have dreamed of saying when I was younger.” She tells a story about getting her hair done at a uni-sex beauty shop recently when a rather scruffy young man came in. After his haircut, and as she was about to leave, Verda said: “you look so handsome now, I wish I was 40 years younger.” She blushes a little, then adds, “I couldn’t have gotten away with that, and would never had said it when I was younger.” She is a little coy on the subject of her age. “I won’t tell anybody my age,” she says, “because I’m still working.” She proudly admits, however, that she has four grandchildren and three great grandchil-

dren. Her activities as a writer and reporter on local theater would challenge writers half her age. But Verda is a walking testimonial to the invigorating effects of keeping busy. When someone recently asked her what she would do if she had lots of money and lots of time, she knew the answer immediately. “I’d do just what I’m doing,” she said. “I’m happy, with family and friends, and with the work I do. You live longer when you’re happy.” It’s been a few years since Verda “trod the boards,” to use the expression she uses when she refers to her own time on stage, and it’s been even more years than that since she got her degree in Theater Arts from USC, but she’s still a trouper by anyone’s definition, devoting more time to local theater than any randomly selected cast of actively performing thespians. She seldom misses a local opening night of any play she’s previewed or plans to review in Oroville, Paradise, or Chico. She’s been writing previews and reviews of those productions for years now, keeping regular readers of the Chico Enterprise-Record apprised of who is saying the lines, writing the plays, or directing the actors whenever and wherever Butte County players are, themselves, trodding the boards.

When asked if the countless evenings she’s spent reviewing local theater products had yielded some standout memories, she replied: “I counted it up this morning. Since I started writing pieces for the Chico Enterprise-Record, I’ve written 379 live theater previews and reviews, plus a few feature stories relating to theater, on things like the CSU costume department. There are so many wonderful things going on in this town I can’t even remember them all.” “When you’re a writer,” she says, “it’s your whole life. I should be getting other things done sometimes, but I can’t pull away from the writing. To me, to sit down and put words on paper that might be interesting to readers, and knowing they might read it and enjoy it, that’s very satisfying. It’s kinda like sharing.” Whether writing about the past, reviewing the latest theater productions, or volunteering her time to Chico Newcomers, an organization that helps welcome new residents to her adopted city, Verda Mackay is all about sharing. It keeps her busy, keeps her young, and keeps her happy. “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” she says, and it’s clear she’s going to be actively and happily enjoying herself until then. 19

Developing a Sacred Space with Yoga by Paula Barros

photography by Erin Wenham When the responsibilities of life start to weigh on you, there is a natural urge to “unplug” and take a moment for yourself. Each of us needs a sanctuary within ourselves where the mind settles, the body releases tension and the spirit rises into a renewed expression. For many, yoga is a pathway into that sanctuary space. Yoga can be a very powerful, healing medicine for your body and mind if you make and keep a dedication to a daily practice. On days where dedication is low, a group class dynamically led by a conscious and careful teacher will serve the student greatly. Each and every time we come back onto our yoga mat, we begin the process of remembering who we truly are, getting to know our own authentic and more natural expression. During the practice of Yoga, we are able to peel off the layers of personality that have hidden or defended an aspect of our own original innocence. This process of “getting to know you; getting to know all about you” is a pivotal concept in the psychology of Yoga. This witnessing consciousness is known as “svadhyaya”. The best way to begin is with simple breathing and bringing your awakened mind to the depth and length of each breath, where a full resonant sound of each incoming and outgoing breath is slowly, gracefully appreciated. As we move into the postures, the breath continues to deepen and widen into the surrounding vital organs, blood and lymph nodes, which allows energy to circulate more freely. At the completion of each YOGA session we rest in “Savasana,” which is translated as the corpse pose. Here we taste a very deep state of relaxation into the channels of both body and mind, which were expanded and explored in the asana practice. Once rested, we can experience this sacred space of the body, fully inte20

(above) Paula Barros at her yoga studio in Downtown Chico

grated by breath, where the mind is quiet and our spirit filled awareness brings all aspects of ourselves into balance. Little by little and breath by breath, we let go into a new blossoming of energy, which is quiet and calm. It is here the gift of Yoga moves us gently off the mat and into the world where a more positive perspective has

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

been cultivated from honoring ourselves as whole and integrated. At Clear Creek Healing Center, we welcome and support you on the pathway into your own sacred space. Visit us at www.clearyoga.com to see our schedule of group classes and learn more.

Clear Creek Yoga | (530) 894-8756 | 3561 Clark Rd., Oroville

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Events

Soroptimists Go All Out on This Year’s Home, Garden, and Leisure Show Photography by Michelle Camy When it comes to the spring season, there are few events we look forward to as much as the Soroptimist’s Home, Garden, and Leisure Show. For the 27th year in a row, the wonderful members of Soroptimist International of Chico brought together some of the best and brightest that the Butte County home and garden community have to offer. We had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with some of our own advertisers, meeting up with some old friends, and even making a handful of new ones along the way. Variety was undoubtedly the name of the game this year, as there was something for just about everyone. We couldn’t help but have an absolute blast, and as the photos undoubtedly suggest, we were hard pressed to find someone without a smile on their face (aside from the two gentlemen to the right from Emerald Pools, who we’re sure were smiling on the inside).

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Events

Paradise, as far as the eye can see. by Aveed Khaki photography by Frank Rebelo When Ron and Maggie decided to retire in Paradise, a change in scenery was on the top of their must-have list; when the house they had long admired across the street came up for sale, they figured it was as good a change in scenery as any. Though the house was perfectly situated for an easy move, it lacked some of the space that their old home had provided. Rather than simply live with it, they decided to undergo an expansive renovation to turn their new house into their ideal home. The 1,947 square foot home, built in 1997, was perched atop a hill overlooking one of Paradise’s more beautiful wooded areas. Scenic from every angle outside, the couple decided to bring the outdoors in, blowing out a wall and expanding the home’s footprint with a 500 sq. ft. addition that would soon be home to their new living room. To add to the newfound space, they then installed a massive bay window on the far side of the living room to attract natural lighting and provide an uninterrupted view of the forest below. With the home beginning to take shape, Ron and Maggie set out to redefine their kitchen, a gathering space that was equally important to both of them. As a veteran meat cutter at Chico’s Costco since the store’s opening in 1991, Ron wanted plenty of counterspace in his new kitchen to aid in food preparation. Maggie’s penchant for canning echoed Ron’s needs and also sought after an easier method of transporting water across the kitchen to the stove. The couple decided to reach out to local builders and retailers, determined to source every part of their kitchen’s redesign locally. Ron and Maggie met with Ric at New Again Kitchen & Bath who went in search of the perfect countertop for their application. The couple had both enjoyed a granite island in their old home

(above) Ron and Maggie in their new kitchen

and wanted to carry over the low-maintenance nature it provided. As granite is also heat and stain resistant, it was the perfect option for Maggie’s canning adventures. Ric suggested Glacier White granite as it perfectly matched the stain of the custom cabinetry created by Ken Davis. He furthered the suggestion by extending the counter space significantly from the stove where it originally ended. The couple loved the granite recommendation so much that they decided to carry it throughout the house, even using it to remodel their bathroom. Finally, they finished the walls and floors with tile, taking the low-hassle cleanup and maintenance of their kitchen through to the very end. With the kitchen structure in place, Ron and Maggie sourced stainless steel appliances from a local retailer and

finished the kitchen off with the gem in Maggie’s collection, a pot filler over the stove that was perfect for canning. The addition was just what she needed and has already saved her countless dangerous trips across the kitchen with a heavy pot of boiling hot water. With the interior renovation nearing completion and the exterior patios finished, Ron and Maggie are ready to experience summer the way they always dreamed, in a house built exactly to their tastes with a gorgeous view of the scenery they have come to love. By sourcing their work and materials locally, they contributed to our local economy and provided jobs for a number of resident contractors and retailers, and through these partnerships they were able to realize their dreams of turning their long admired house into a beautiful home.

New Again Kitchen and Bath | 2502 Park Avenue, Chico | (530) 899-2888 26

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

photography by Frank Rebelo

URBAN TREES ARE STRESSED

Here’s Why: by Briana Lindstrom

They’re thirsty! Paved surfaces encourage runoff instead of absorption, causing higher soil temperatures and faster evaporation of rainfall. They’re squished! Building Foundations, streets, driveways and other obstacles limit the expansion of tree roots, significantly reducing the amount of water, minerals and space available to the tree. They can’t breathe! Urban soils are usually compacted from human activity. Soils can become difficult for roots to penetrate and compacted soils hold much less water and oxygen which are critical for tree health. They’re jealous! Most yards have a dense layer of turf that surrounds a tree. Turf aggressively competes for minerals and water, which reduces their availability to other plants. Over 50% of a tree’s living tissue is found below the ground. In urban settings there are multiple factors that can hinder your tree’s health and ability to thrive. Make sure your tree’s underworld is not stressing it out! Certified arborists are key in helping ensure your tree is pruned, nourished and in the best possible environment. Properly cared for trees can increase your property value and decrease your stress level. Adding beauty, shade and privacy to your yard without fear of falling branches or bug infestation is a worthy investment. Ask your certified arborist to help you with the following cures to tree stressors: Irrigation and mulch: Increase the amount of water making it to the roots with an irrigation system. Adding several inches of mulch within the dripline of the treereduces competition with turf, keeps the soil cooler and holds more moisture.

Soil treatment: Soil can be treated with much needed nutrients to help your tree grow, as well as with products to slow the growth and encourage stronger root development. Slower growing trees will outlive trees that grow too fast, especially in yards where space and resources are limited. When the growth of trees is gently slowed, some energy is redirected from canopy growth to defense chemicals, fibrous root production, and other issues. The resulting reallocation of energy makes the tree

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

healthier and more durable. To find out if your tree is suffering from symptoms of being dehydrated, squished, suffocated of jealous, call M&S Wesley Tree Service for a comprehensive evaluation and tailor-made service plan. Their certified arborists can check and correct root depth, treat overly rapid growth, cure insect problems and adjust the stressing factors that might be making your arbor angsty. M&S Wesley Tree Service

Local trees lining a driveway, competing for resources.

(530) 343-6809

THE AUSTIN TRADITION CONTINUES WITH...

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Sherry Landis

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Just minutes from town you will find this custom built home situated on 10 acres! This 5 bedroom home with covered porches and balconies gives you that feeling of being on vacation right in your own yard. The pond is complete with water fall, outdoor entertaining patios has a pergola, and is fenced for safety. Above the detached garage/shop you will find approximately 1,000 sq.ft. of a separate unit with bathroom. Too many amenities to list with this this amazing property. Call today! Bed: 5.0 Bath: 5.0 SqFt: 4,189 Price: $920,000

This is the perfect 4 bedroom home! Your family will enjoy many wonderful evenings around the dining room table that is part of the kitchen area. Then cozy up to the fireplace in the living room for a memorable evening. This home is immaculate and impeccably cared for! Bed: 4.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,654 Price: $262.500

Owner may carry on this view lot approximately 3/4 acres situated above where the eagles soar! Have your own little slice of heaven building your dream home where some might say is the best lot in Humboldt Highlands. This prestigious gated community offers pool, storage units, RV parking!

You won’t have to own horses to enjoy this 5 acres with beautiful home nestled amongst the trees! Custom Barn, round pin, 2 car garage + shop, views out every window. Mr. & Mrs. Clean live here with separate family/ living room areas, woodstove, master suite fit for royalty with soaking tub, large walk-in closet, many custom features! This special home won’t last long at just $399,000 - Call Sherry Landis for your private showing.

Avenues here we are!! 1/2 acre, 30x60’ shop, approximately 700 sq.ft. finished basement, pool, & an outdoor kitchen area. Granite counters in the kitchen, sparkling original hardwood floors, and a large living room with a wonderful fireplace. Hurry don’t delay!! Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,906 Price: $379,000

Bed: 2.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,540 Price: $399,900 30

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3028 Esplanade, Chico

Chico’s Saturday Farmer’s Market Interviews and Foreward by Aveed Khaki Stories by Briana Lindstrom Photography by Michelle Camy

Waking up before the sun and readying the corner of 1st and wall streets for Chico’s saturday morning market is no easy feat. We would know, considering we woke up three hours later than most of them do, and just happened to make it downtown in time for the opening of the market. Even with the extra hours of sleep, three hours straight of interviews left us completely exhausted. Most of the farmers here start at 6 am and end at 1 pm, a total of seven hours. How these farmers do what they do week-in and week-out is beyond our understanding, but luckily for each and every one of us, they do it unbelievably well and with a smile that never seems to leave their faces. Throughout our Farm Fresh Agricultural Series, we’ve focused on larger farms, one at a time, in the hopes of shedding light on our outstanding agriculture community. This month, we decided to do something a bit different and shed some light on the farmers that bring farm fresh produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, flowers, nuts, honey, and more right to the heart of Downtown Chico each and every week. Our words can’t possibly express the appreciation we feel for what they do, but we figured we’d give it a shot anyhow.

North Valley Farms www.northvalleyfarms.com/chevre/ Owners Mark and Deneane Ashcraft are passionate about their cheese! As a family owned and operated farm, they have been providing our area with delicious cheese from hormone and drug free animals. All of their animals are born and raised on their farm and fed with organic feed. Raw milk is available from April to December, and they have several varieties of cheeses to choose from. From hard aged raw milk cheese to feta to plain and not-so-plain chèvre, their products are available in restaurants in Napa, Orland, Sacramento and Redding and at Chico, Redding and Sacramento Farmers’ Markets.

Lor’s Produce Growing and harvesting some of the area’s freshest produce for 20 years, Lor’s Produce always has the best of what’s in season. The farm is located in Chico when Third Street becomes farmland and there they grow lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers to name a few. Rain or shine, all year round Lor’s produce has their booth set up starting at the wee hour of 5am every Saturday at Chico’s Farmers’ Market.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Lee’s Produce

Mushroom Adventures www.mushroomadventures.com Donald Simoni started his company in San Francisco, moved to Petaluma and then up into Marysville. He grows his mushrooms indoors year-round and has portabella, shiitake, oyster, crimini and white button varieties. He loves having a booth at the market because it allows his customers to select what they want. They have the chance to look at all of the varieties, choose large or tiny mushrooms and take home a bunch of carefully selected mushrooms instead of a pre-packaged box. He also sells mushroom kits and gives great advice so you can grow your own at home!

Harpos Organics

Carrots are good for your eyes! I guess our community should thank Lee’s produce for providing us with good eyesight for the last 14 years. The family farm is located on Henshaw in Chico and although they sell berries in the summer and other veggies in the winter, carrots happen to be their top crop. They never miss a Chico Saturday market, and how could they when they sell from 500-600 pounds of carrots each market!

www.harposorganics.com

Citrus Norte

Allen Harthorn put the “Har” in Harpos and Pamela Posey is responsible for the “pos.” Together, these two California educators and long-time Chico residents have put their knowledge to work, taking over a farm that has been in the family since 1917 and making it completely organic. They produce Navel and Valencia oranges, avocados, lemons, OMG Orange Juice, sweet bell peppers and marmalade from lemons and oranges. Their produce is sold at Chico Natural Foods and they have a stand up at Farmers’ Markets on Saturdays in Chico, Tuesdays in Paradise and Wednesdays in Chico’s North Valley Plaza.

From November to April, one of our favorite healthy snacks are those juicy spheres of peelable orange goodness, mandarins! Bill Clarke of Citrus Norte works hard to make sure our cravings for that precious vitamin C are quenched. His Orland orchard consists of seven acres of mandarins, ten acres of citrus and three acres of all the rest, producing mandarins, tangelos, blood oranges and grapefruit, available at Chico’s Saturday market.

Capay Valley Ranch www.CapayValleyRanch.com Mike Wiedeman works year round to grow and sell some of the area’s best organic produce. Capay Valley Ranch is in its eleventh year of existence in the Capay district of Orland. With greens in the winter, watermelon, corn, summer squash, cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes in summer, pumpkins, winter squash, apples, plums and pluots in late summer to fall, potatoes in late spring and year round kale and salad mix, they’ve got us covered for all seasons. Their nursery operates year round and their 40 acre farm includes 30 acres of corn and a 30’x100’ greenhouse. With pre-seeded containers and greenhouse started nursery plants, you can bring some of their produce home and try your own hand at gardening. If you’d rather leave it to the pros, they’ll be around every Saturday with the freshest ingredients for all of your organic needs.

California Organic Flowers www.CaliforniaOrganicFlowers.com For 18 years, Marc Kessler has been the man behind many smiles. Beautiful bouquets for any occasion have been grown by Marc at California Organic Flowers right here in Chico on 3 acres on Oak Way. Anemone, a brightly colored native of Israel is the top seller, but they also grow beautiful Narcissis, sweet pea, tulips and dianthus. You can find these beauties at Saturday and Thursday markets in Chico, or visit their website for nationwide shipping.

Red Bank Gardens Joan and Lee Richter started farming in retirement in 1989. With four types of fingerling potatoes, specialty varieties of garlic and onions and farm fresh chicken and duck eggs, you can find some of your favorite basic ingredients at their stall year round.

Lavender Legacy Farm Ever since 2002, Nancy Metz and Stephanie Gadow have been making anything they can think of out of Lavender grown on their farm in Bangor, CA. Whether you want lotions, creams, bath salts, floral spray, sachets or oil, you can find a bit of lavender to soothe your senses just about every Saturday.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Alvarado Farms Ernesto Alvarado has had Alvarado Farms for fifteen years. With 15 acres of walnut trees and 90 acres of almonds, 20 of which are non-sprayed, he is able to produce quite a lot from his 100% family owned and operated farm. Lots of love goes into each harvest and homemade flavored almonds and almond butter are an added plus! Located in Durham, the Alvarados make it out to the market to sell their Non Pareil, Carmel and Butte varieties of almonds along with their sweet orange flavored almonds and of course, their specialty almond butter. For them, the joy they get from watching people taste their home-grown goodies is worth it, and as for us, we’re happy to be the tasters!

Spring Fever Nursery For forty years, David Walther has been growing plants, and he knows very well that when it comes to greenery, “If it’s got a flower, people love it!” With that in mind, he’s been able to make Spring Fever Nursery into a local favorite for the past ten years. With a large selection of hearty perennials, and a specialization in shade plants, Anemonella, Western Wallflower, rudbeckia, phlomis and pulsatilla flowers are just a few of the beautiful options Spring Fever presents every Saturday of the year.

Apricot King www.ApricotKing.com Brittany Dickerson and her family are approaching the third generation of management in their family-run business. Since 1946 the Gonzales family has been growing the delicious, organic, sweet Blenheim apricots on their large ranch in Hollister, CA. They also grow and sell cherries, prunes, almonds, walnuts and pears, but as their name suggests, apricots are the king of their crop. Fresh fruit is available in July and after that everything is sun-dried. They’re here in Chico every Saturday and goodies are available for order and shipping on their website.

Lue Xiong Farm For 20-30 years, the Lue Xiong Farm has had berries, greens and veggies, covering the produce section of the market from sweet to bitter. Their two properties in Chico are home to 20 acres of strawberries and blackberries and 10 more acres dedicated to veggies. Every saturday they’re at the market with seasonal berries and vegetables including kale, Swiss chard, spinach, mustard greens, chinese broccoli, green onions, okra, squash and cucumbers.

GRUB www.grubchico.org

Douglass Ranch

Shannon & Kelly Douglass (not pictured above) are farm people for sure. Kelly grew up on a farm and comes from generations of farmers and Shannon couldn’t help but fall in love with the agricultural lifestyle after being exposed to it. They now raise, harvest and deliver local beef to local folks. The cows are pasture raised in Glenn County and available at our market every Saturday.

Most of our readers are already familiar with our local cooperative, GRUB. Among other contributions and opportunities for our community, GRUB offers garden-grown fruits, veggies and flowers at Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday markets in Chico and at S&S and Chico Natural Foods. To find out more about the GRUB cooperative or to participate with your own share, stop by to chat with them at a market or visit their website. 37

Williamson Farms Sheri Williamson, of Williamson Farms is at our market every Saturday with some of our favorite complementary-colored edibles: juicy red strawberries and perfectly firm green avocados! Williamson Farms has been in business for 50 years and with 1,000 acres of strawberries and 10.5 acres of avocados, their land is in San Diego County, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Maria and Watsonville.

Ariza Farms Since 1979 Michael and Debra Ariza have been growing fruits and vegetables year-round. Their 11 acres in Orland yield mandarins, stone fruit, kiwis, peaches, nectarines, plums, cantaloupes, cucumbers, satsumas, Asian pears, guava and pineapple... just to name a few! Find them at farmers’ markets in Chico, Davis and Sacramento with the juiciest of whatever’s in season.

Noble Orchards A local favorite since we were young’uns, Noble Orchards just celebrated their 91st season. Noble Orchards is Paradise’s last original apple orchard, and currently produces some of the area’s most delicious Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious and Pink Lady® apples, alongside cherries, peaches, pluots and nectarines. They recently registered as the first cottage food business in Butte County and are now selling apple chips, varietal apple sauces, and some of the best apple butter we’ve ever laid taste buds on. 38

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

The Citrus People Since 1993, Stan Hawthorne has been putting his 20 acres in Ord Bend to good use. Producing mostly citrus such as mandarins, blood oranges, grapefruit, kumquats, limes, pomelos, navel oranges, and figs in the summer, we see how the Citrus People got their name. For anyone with a taste for tang, it’s a good thing Stan and his people are around our local market scene.

Creative Cacti & Succulents Claude Geffray has brought his knowledge of succulents to our area all the way from Normandy, France. Located in Chico, Geffray’s gardens are full of hundreds of cacti, five greenhouses and endless options to help you create your own succulent garden. Find them at the Saturday and Thursday markets, or visit them online to get more info and schedule an appointment to view Geffray’s Gardens.

Bordin-Huitt Ranch www.QueenOfTheValleyAlmonds.com Richard Bordin is part of the second of four generations of working Bordin Huitt Ranch family, and you’ll still find him at all of Chico, Paradise and Oroville’s farmers’ markets with stories to tell and products to sell. He does it by choice, “I can’t sit at home and watch soap operas, so I couldn’t retire.” The ranch was started in 1937 and has grown to produce a variety of goods for every season. With 80 acres in almonds, 20 acres of vegetables, 30 varieties of bell peppers and 10 acres of corn, they’ve got the market covered. But that’s not all, with blossoms come bees and with bees come wax and the Bordin Huitt Ranch has made its way to the top as the largest bee keeper in the county. From candles to honey stix to honey bears to huge jars of honey, we’re sure the Bordin Huitt Ranch will continue to be the bee’s knees for generations to come.

Down to Earth

Isern & Sons

Although Filomena, the first generation of Down to Earth’s green thumbs has passed on, her son, Charlie White and grandson, Hyat are carrying on her legacy in their backyard garden on 19th Street in Chico. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are their main blooms and their flower stand at the Chico market is full of beautiful blooms to take home as centerpieces or bring to someone special to add a bit of color to their day.

If it’s local extra virgin olive oil you’re looking for, thank goodness the Iserns have come all the way to Chico from Spain to give us just that! The Isern family has been farming olives since 1847 in Spain. Now with plenty of land out near the Midway, they have brought their family tradition to our own backyard. Their olives are a blend of Tollo Italian, hojiblanca and arbequina varieties and their olive oil is made from hand-picked, gently milled olives.

Skylake Gardens Several years ago we learned that pomegranates were crazy-good for you, and now they are used in everything from martinis to marinades. For 13 years, Gail Brown and her family have been growing 20 acres of pomegranates and creating delicious recipes with these wonder-fruits right outside of Chico. They are always inventing new pomegranate products and sell syrup, marinade, balsamic grill sauce, grenadine, balsamic vinegar, and of course the fruit in it’s raw form. Find them at the Chico markets, or visit them online.

Rob’s Natural Produce

William Montgomery’s family has been farming for a little over twenty years, and the proof is in their produce. Pulling their harvest from seven cultivated acres of farmland in Durham, they cover everything seasonally from beets and watermelons to spinach, salad variety greens, and carrots!

foodies

Seasonal Recipes Undoubtedly the last few pages have caused you hunger pangs, much as they have us. Fear not, dear reader, all of this information was not some cruel attempt to simply tease your taste buds. The following two seasonal recipes will make good use of some of our favorite finds at the local farmer’s market.

Artichoke & Rice Quiche Ingredients 1 cup cooked Massa Organics long-grain brown rice 1 cup Pedrozo’s Blondie’s Best farmstead cheese 2 tsp dried dill 4 medium Red Bank Gardens chicken eggs 2 cup artichoke hearts 1 cup cup minced green onion 1 cup skim milk 2 tsp honey mustard 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Combine rice, 1/4 cup cheese, dill, and 1 egg in a bowl, stirring well. Coat 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray and pour mixture in. Bake at 350°F for 6 minutes and set aside. Place artichokes in shell and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Combine milk, 1/4 cup cheese, green onion, honey mustard, and black pepper in bowl. Pour into shell and bake at 350°F for 50 minutes. Serve hot.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Blood Orange Truffles Ingredients 1/3 cup whipping cream 20 oz of mixed semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate 2/3 cup fresh squeezed blood orange juice from blood oranges by Citrus Norte or Citrus People 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. Mix the whipping cream and blood orange juice together in a bowl. Melt 8 oz of mixed chocolate in the microwave stirring often so that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t burn. 2. Completely mix cream mixture into melted chocolate. Place in refrigerator for approximately Ingredients two hours or until firm.

3. Melt remaining chocolate and butter in the microwave and stir until the mixture is uniform. 4. On wax paper, scoop small balls of refrigerated mixture, then coat each one in the melted chocolate by dipping them in one at a time. 5. Place truffles in refrigerator or freezer to harden. Once hardened, remove from refrigerator and serve.

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Warm 3 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in chicken and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook until chicken is cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken to paper towels. Pour chicken broth into the skillet. Stir in asparagus, garlic, cherry tomatoes and a pinch more garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cover, steam until the asparagus is just tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet and warm through. Stir chicken mixture into pasta, and mix well. Let sit about 5 minutes. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp olive oil, stir again and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

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Bike Safety 101 1. Dress for Safety

Have your bike checked once a year at your local bike shop.

Eyes: Helmet should fit low on your forehead, you should JUST be able to see your helmet if you look up.

Use the ABC Quick-Check to check your own bike every time you ride:

Ears: Your straps should come together in a ‘Y’ just below the bottom of your ears. Mouth: Straps should fit loose enough so you can breathe but snug enough that you feel the strap if you open your mouth. Wear light or bright-colored clothing so you can be seen. Tuck away shoelaces and other strings or cords so they don’t dangle and get caught in the moving parts of your bike.Loose or baggy clothing can also be dangerous-- wear snug or tucked-in clothing.

3. Obey the rules of the road & ride safely ALWAYS ride with, not against traffic. Wrong-way riding is the cause of most bike-car accidents!!! Ride on the right, straight, in single file, and obey all traffic signs, signals, and laws. Look back and signal before turning, yield to pedestrians and use lights if riding at night. Always stop at the end of any driveway or parkpark ing lot entrance-- look left, right and left again before entering the road.

2. Check bike for safety

Always wear a snug-fitting, properly adjusted helmet. Follow the Eyes, Ears and Mouth tips:

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

AIR - Pinch the tires, they should be hard. BRAKES - Make sure they work and aren’t rubbing the tires. CRANK/ CHAIN – The chain should fit snugly and be lightly lubed, and gears (if you have them) should shift smoothly. If you have problems shifting gears or if the chain is loose, take it to a bike shop immediately to avoid causing damage to your drive train. Don’t over-lube your chain as this creates a mess and collects dirt and grit! QUICK - Check “quick release levers” and other bolts to make sure they are tight.

If you’re behiNd the wheel... Be watchful for bikes especially at intersections & driveways; obey posted speed limits to ensure adequate reaction time. DON’T honk your horn when you’re right on top of a cyclist, it can startle them, and they probably can hear you anyway. Instead, proceed with caution and if you must give a warning ‘toot,’ do it lightly and well before you get close! Be prepared for the unexpected!

tips brought to you by

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

by Alyssa Worley photography by Michelle Camy

additional photos courtesy Devin’s family

There is nothing more miraculous than the smile of a child. The Make-A-Wish® foundation has worked 33 years in helping to make children with life-threatening illnesses’ ultimate dreams a reality, creating smiles in the face of adversity. In fact, every 38 minutes a new wish is granted...that is an incredible number! 51

(above) Devin with his sister and mother at Powell’s. (below) Powell’s owner Nancy Carlson

Started in 1980, with the first wish being granted to a boy named Christopher, who wanted nothing more than to be a police officer, the Make-A-Wish® program has made thousands of kids “normal for a day” when their lives tend to be more complicated than most. Their ultimate mission is to give hope, strength, and joy to as many children possible. There are only a few steps to get to the actual wish itself. The first is that the child must be referred (requires you be from age 2 and a half to 18 to be eligible). The next step is having the right medical eligibility. To receive a wish, the child must be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. Third, one of the enthusiastic wish team members help dive into the child’s imagination to create the perfect wish for the wisher. Last, is experiencing the unforgettable wish itself. Unique to the Make-A-Wish® program in our area is North Eastern California and Northern Nevada’s Wishing Place! As only one of three in the nation - and the only one on the West Coast, this “Wishing Place” is a kid’s paradise. You walk in and immediately are greeted with a “Galaxy of Stars” lighting the room 52

in the child’s favorite color, each star commemorating a special wish child. The child then proceeds to the Wishing Room, where the wish decision is made. A special key, personalized to each wish, is made and then given to the child. This key opens a Wish Granting tower, when they turn the key their wish is unlocked and that is where the journey begins. A different kind of journey for a local boy named Devin began about 8 years ago. Born February 18, 2005 he appeared to be a healthy young boy. Other than needing help breathing, he seemed to be a medically sound newborn. They realized during a checkup while they were during an Echo scan that there may be something of concern. Devin’s family (Mother Michelle, Dad, 2 older

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

sisters, and 1 older brother) did not understand what the colored pictures of blood flowing through his heart meant but the technician’s demeanor changed. He got on the phone and asked the cardiologist if she was watching from the back, she was and within a minute she

came into the room and said there was a problem and Devin needed to be in the hospital right away. The news that any mother dreads to hear became Michelle’s reality. Devin was diagnosed with a major

(above) Devin with his family during the trip (right) Carlos Miranda and Christina Reese in Powell’s

heart defect and had to have immediate surgery. In the 8 years following Devin’s first surgery, he has been in and out of the hospital and recently undergone a heart transplant. His last biopsy came back clear which is amazing news! I tell you the background of Devin, now 8 years old, to prelude the incredible story of his wish granting journey. Being that he loves Disney, the movie Cars and Transformers, Devin created the perfect vacation with his Wish Granting team. Devin in Disneyland, Devin in Legoland, and Devin at Universal Studios were worlds apart from Devin at the Hospital. Referred by his doctor, Devin’s mother realized that Devin could have his dream

come true. Make-A-Wish® volunteers, Carlos Miranda and Christina Reese who are Redding’s chapter Vice Chair and Chairperson, got Devin’s case and immediately felt a connection. They prepared a “Wish Granting Party” at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe in Chico! Devin was greeted at the candy store door by a bag and instructions for a sweet scavenger hunt by owner Nancy Carlson, who lights up when she has any opportunity to help a good cause. Smokin’ Mo’s catered, can you say yum?! All while, multitudes of chocolate gelato, and Lego Candy Blox (his favorite) spilled into Devin’s hands. Already, the day was great and Devin didn’t even know what was in store next! Shocked, elated, and bursting with excitement, was the way everyone around described Devin’s face when he found out

that all the things he had dreamed of and more, were about to come true. When he and his family were picked up in a stretch limo January 26th, Devin was a rockstar. When he rode Pirates of the Caribbean and got his face painted as a rugged chum himself, he was a buccaneer. After going on the Cars ride (over and over and over) he was well acquainted with Mater and Lightning McQueen. And no way was he ACTUALLY standing in front of THE Optimus Prime himself. Devin clearly had “transformed” into a superhero, ready to fight evil. Nothing could trump the feelings for that week Devin and his family experienced. From pillows made to look like beach balls in their hotel room, to getting a backstage private peek at how Legos 53

are created (even getting to keep the lego Devin made), to California Adventures’ “World of Color” show, countless memories were made and not once did he feel like the boy who had a heart defect. The most amazing thing about the Make-A-Wish® foundation is the way its volunteers invest their whole selves to children and their families. Christina and Carlos did such amazing things to pull off the perfect wish for Devin, and grew very close to the Becerril family. Only a parent of a child with medical hardship knows how important it is for their son or daughter to feel normal, while still being supported and cared for. These two shower everyone around them with warmth, empathy and compassion. While working their “normal” jobs and caring for their own families, Carlos and Christina work hard in their off-time to make

wishes come true for Northern California wishers. Making the trek from Redding to Chico frequently to help Butte County’s wish-list kids, they are truly going far beyond the call of duty to put smiles on the faces of families in need of a lift. I feel so blessed to have met members from the incredible team Make-A-Wish®, Christina and Carlos, as well as owners of the businesses that volunteered to help grant Devin’s wish. But most heart warming of all was meeting Devin and his family. His older sister, who now aims to work at Stanford medical hospital in the future and literally reads her brothers mind. And of course, Michelle, an amazingly loving and strong mother, who simply wants the best for her kids; a wish she is dedicated to granting every single day. help grant Devin’s wish. But most heart warming of all was meeting Devin

(above) Devin with his family at Universal Studios

and his family. His older sister, who now aims to work at Stanford medical hospital in the future and literally reads her brothers mind. And of course, Michelle, an amazingly loving and strong mother, who simply wants the best for her kids; a wish she is dedicated to granting every single day.

Chico is, as we know, a town of support, but we do not have our own Make-A-Wish® team. If you or anyone you know has any interest in donating (the whole program is funded by donations) for Make-A-Wish® in Redding, they would welcome you with open arms. Chico Wish Training is set for June 8th with more information to come, so keep your eyes peeled if interested! The experience is incredibly touching and meaningful for all who are involved in these wishes. If you have any questions, would like to be involved in any way, or have a space that could be used for wish granting parties, please contact Carlos Miranda (530) 223-3005 54

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Seussical the Musical by Alyssa Worley

with Oh the thinks you can along think…..when you think about Seuss! this cast! (above) The cast of Seussical The Musical preparing for opening night “I have Dr. Suess’ book characters, The Lorax, there Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, heard Whos, Gertrude McFuzz and more come are troubles of more than one kind. Some established in June of 1993 by to life in this play directed by Bob Maness come from ahead and some come from Georgia Alvarez in memory of at Chico’s California Regional Theater. If behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all her son Joseph who died of a very rare you are looking to see something enter- ready you see. Now my troubles are go- and terminal form of leukemia in Janutaining and fun for all ages, Suessical The ing to have troubles with me!” In the true ary of 1991. The program is funded by Musical is the show for you! Expect high spirit of many of Dr. Seuss’ stories, this donations, fundraisers, and small grants, quality singing, dancing, and acting from show will brighten your day with humor and is dedicated to helping families in this cast. and youthful imagination while providing Butte, Glenn, Colusa and Tehama counNational Dr. Suess Day just passed support for an important cause. Proceeds ties with all financial hardships that come on March 2nd so this show is the perfect from “Seussical” go to the along with having a seriously ill child. way to celebrate late, put a Wocket Wings of Eagles Foun- They aim to fill that financial void that in your pocket and grab a date! dation in Chico can fall to the side in times where your Bring your kids to join the chosen by a child is the only thing you have room to t u o journey as the colorful huge local worry about. From lodging to car repairs k ec Ch st, meet the ca to m characters transport sponsor of to medical co-pays, “Wings” is there to co s. e ow bout th www.crtsh arn more a le d n a help because after all, “A person’s a person, California you from the Jungle s ! et th ck pril 26 purchase ti ing night, A en p o no matter how small.” Regional of Nool to the Circus ya ee show. S s: Show date M P Being a part of this cast, and also a 0 Theater, McGurkus to the :3 7 4/27 0 PM | Sat M P 0 receiver of Wings of Eagles’ help, I can :3 Tr a n s invisible world of 7 Fri 4/26 7:3 i 5/3 :00 PM | Fr PM 0 :0 2 vouch that opening night will be an in/5 Sun 4/28 2 ferFlow. the Whos. Even the 5 n 0 PM | Su Sat 5/4 7:3 credibly special moment for our supportgrouchiest Grinch W i n g s ive community. Delightful characters won’t be able to reket Prices: Advance Tic each 0 .5 8 1 of Ea- through and through, Suessical the Musisist the urge to clap $ s: Adult ch ts: $15.50 ea son en d cal will be a hullabaloo! tu gles was and dance and sing S d n iors a per per Sen $15.50 (4 or more): ck a P y il m Fa

www.NorthValleyEyeCare.com | www.RidgeEyeCare.com 55

Peg Taylor’s Inspired and Inspiring Legacy by Jaime O’Neill (above) The Peg Taylor Center (right) One of the center’s participants

There may be no profession more noble than nursing. I’ve been lucky thus far in my own life; I’ve only been in the hospital once. When I returned to consciousness after my operation, I was greeted by a woman’s face, haloed by the light above her head. I thought for a moment that I had died and gone to Heaven, but then I realized it was a nurse bending over me, offering care in the truest sense of the word.

a pioneering advocate for preventative and rehabilitative care for the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. She knew that making us well means making us whole, and that often requires more than the occasional doctor’s visit. The Peg Taylor Center

Life is always changing, and the day will surely come when I will need more care. When that day comes, I hope to be lucky enough to find the kind of supportive attention offered at the Peg Taylor Center for Adult Day Health Care. As I write this, the inspiring story of Peg Taylor reminds me of one of my favorite quotes. “The true meaning of life,” wrote Nelson Henderson, “is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” In the last few days I’ve learned a thing or two about Peg Taylor, and the metaphorical trees she planted so many years ago. Peg Taylor was a public health nurse with the surprisingly visionary idea that health care works best when it is holistic; when the patient is truly treated as a human being. Taylor overcame tuberculosis when she was young, then went on to become 58

guides everyone who works at the Center, or contributes time, money or energy to this uplifting enterprise. “We’re named for Peg Taylor,” she told me, “because her ideas shaped our model of care. Our goal is to help people get stronger, even in the face of changes in their health. In many ways our program is like a community center for people with health concerns, who are striving to improve or maintain their quality of life in the wake of illness or injury. We’re committed to our participants, their families, and the community.” So, how does it work in practice?

for Adult Day Health Care is committed to keeping patients independent, caring for all aspects of their health and well-being. Their center on Parmac Road in Chico is a shade tree planted by a nurse whose dreams have been realized in the place that bears her name. It’s a fortunate person who has a job they truly believe in. Executive Director Diane Cooper-Puckett is such a person, and you can tell by her enthusiasm. When I spoke with her, she explained the philosophy that

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

“To make it more concrete,” she continues, “people often come to us after they’ve been released from the hospital, or had a crisis due to their illness. They and their families are struggling to manage all the complex aspects of coping with a health condition; some may be taking more than 20 medications a day. And although most people want to live at home, it can be very difficult without extra assistance, and their health may deteriorate further. By coming to the Peg Taylor Center during the day, in addition to other help provided by family and friends, we can put the whole picture together for their continuing recovery. One great example of this is the way our nurses work in concert with the

person’s physician to prevent medication problems, including negative drug interactions.” But the care offered at the Peg Taylor Center is much more than just medication management. “Adult day health care is a pioneering program in the field of treating people with ongoing health issues,” Cooper-Puckett says. “After a health crisis, it’s not uncommon to think that our loved one’s health may never improve, or that we just have to cope with such problems on our own. What we have seen instead is that by offering a safety net of supportive daily care, we can make a dramatic difference. Over time, life re-stabilizes, and people can enjoy healthier, happier lives, even as they address major health challenges.” And while having a place to go for health care and companionship offers countless health benefits, it also shields people from the isolation and depression that can impact the lives of those who are coping with serious health concerns. “We have an incredibly dedicated health care team,” Ms. Cooper-Puckett continues, “and the wide range of services we provide enables people to meet the majority of their daily health needs in one convenient location. Our nurses, social workers, physical, occupational and speech therapists, recreation therapists, activity coordinators, dieticians and other professionals work closely with the individual, their families, and their physician. She tells the story of one participant, a woman who came to the Center after a serious health crisis. “Due to severe cardiac concerns, her family told us that her doctor had indicated she might not survive the year,” she says. “But this wonderful woman participated in our program for the next 16 years—years which she truly enjoyed, thanks to the integrated care she received at the Center and from her physician, and her family’s loving care at home. Overall, the amazing medical interventions that can be done today often have the best long term results when offered in concert with hands-on daily support. This can make all the difference for continuing quality of life and the ability

to live in one’s own home, or with our families. We seek to foster that independence.” Of course, older adults aren’t the only people served at the Peg Taylor Center. Cooper-Puckett explains: “We bring together the whole community. We’ve served people from age 18 to 104, and the very best part of what happens here are the friendships that develop. During a day at the Center, the health care and rehabilitation we provide is seamlessly interwoven with enjoyable activities. For example, a participant’s individual session of physical therapy might be followed by a group focused on armchair travel, world events or brain fitness. Interns and volunteers come in from all over the community, including a jazz guitarist who plays for us at lunchtime. Our participants are truly fascinating and have generally had long working lives—they are professors, nurses, veterans, farmers – during which they developed many different interests. The creativity of

our activity coordinators and program assistants, and the involvement of volunteers, keeps our activity program stimulating and engaging.” I ask her how the non-profit center is funded. “Community support brings everything together,” she explains. “Our goal is to serve all who need us. Our sliding fee scale makes our care highly affordable. Program fees may be covered through private insurance, long term care coverage, the Veteran’s Administration, or Medi-Cal, for those who are eligible. We also have support from the City of Chico, Town of Paradise and United Way. The cornerstone of support for our services, however, is the generosity of local community members. For example, we created our Ride-to-Life Fund to meet the urgent need for transportation to our program, and many wonderful community friends have stepped forward to help. The amazing support we have had over the past 59

(above) Alan Rose, Andrew Anderson, and Activities Director Emily Pretto at the Poppy Walk

27 years is truly what has made it possible for the Peg Taylor Center to become a model program in our state and maintain the excellence for which we are known.”

Of her life’s work, Peg Taylor once said: “It’s all about love.” I heard the same feeling in the voice of the woman who is carrying on the mission Peg Taylor inspired.

The Center’s biggest fundraising event of the year is the annual Poppy Walk and 5K Run. The Third Annual event on Saturday, April 13th will raise both money and awareness, and all proceeds go directly to care. “Since our program supports the entire family, we love this opportunity to get together for a lovely one mile walk or 5K timed or untimed run in Bidwell Park. And, since California poppies are hardy and bloom everywhere, even in challenging soil, we adopted them as our symbol for the Peg Taylor Center. April 6th is California Poppy Day each year, and the Poppy Walk is a perfect way to help people understand what we’re all about.”

If you should happen upon this article after the April 13th Poppy Run has passed, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to find out more about this remarkable place, or to make a donation to the work they do, the people they serve, and the community we all share. More information about the center and its services is available at pegtaylorcenter.org, or by calling (530) 342-2345. It seems fitting to end with another quote about trees. A writer named Lucy Larcon once wrote “he who plants a tree, plants a hope.” Peg Taylor helped plant a tree, and the staff and volunteers at Peg Taylor Center nourish that hope on a daily basis. I, for one, am reassured to know they’re there.

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

REGISTER FOR THE POPPY WALK The 2013 Poppy Walk/ 5k Run is Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 am -1:00 pm starting at One Mile 3 ways to register: • Register Online pegtaylorcenter.org • Pick up a registration form at Fleet Feet downtown or at the Peg Taylor Center • Register on race day between 8:00 and 8:45 am at the registration table at One Mile. Donation amount: 5K Timed Runners $35 5K Non-Timed Runner $30 1 Mile Walk, Non-Timed $30

As day breaks, the sun spills light over a picturesque hillside just southwest of Butte County. The moment defines silence â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not a chirp from passing birds, hum of traffic in the distance, or even the wind meandering through nearby trees. It is total serenity, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the last thing you would expect to experience next to one of the largest racetracks in California. If things go as planned, this level of silence could be something found even more often. UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

photography by Frank Rebelo 63

David continued pursuing his love of racing through college, but reality began to slowly set in. With more time off the track at school, he was given plenty of time to reflect upon the drivers he idolized growing up. Relatively broke, they lived simply for the thrill of their passion, but their families and lifestyles suffered as a result of it; statistics also seemed to be against them when it came to early mortality rates. He decided to focus on school instead, earning a Master’s Degree in business administration at California State Fullerton and soon after accepted a job with Pacific Telephone Company. Years passed and life was good, but it wasn’t great. Racing had taken second seat to David’s “real world” job and the thrill of the telephone business, shockingly, wasn’t measuring up to that of racing. In an attempt to provide some excitement in his life, he supplemented his real world job with part time jobs in racing. As the life crept back into his veins, David became progressively more involved with the sport, and was chosen to replace Chris Economaki, one of the best known motorsports commentators of all time, as the announcer for a national event held at the Orange Show Stadium in San Bernardino California.

(left) Thunderhill Raceway CEO, David Vodden (above) A stretch of Thunderhill Raceway

offered him the job of his dreams, building and running a brand new racetrack in northern California. He suddenly found himself trading in a 5-day per week job for a 7-day per week hobby.

Though running one’s own racetrack may well be every man’s boyhood dream, building one would probably be enough to When David turned thirty-five, disenchant them of racing entirePacific Telephone Company trans- ly. Luckily for David, he was absent ferred him to northern California. in the knowledge of exactly what Naturally, he took the opportunity order a project of this magnitude to begin booking dates for nearby was supposed to unfold in. He racetracks, and word of success began researching locations and in his booking endeavors quickly came upon a ranch in the hills spread. He was contactwest of Willows called ed by Baylands RaceThunderhill. He way in Fremont and made an offer on offered a job as a the ranch and R consultant, which the process RAINMThAuKndEerhill is a docuenter s area, C w e o he accepted. His of building ill Th . W ct e a For th omic imp e sitive econ ponent of th m work here finally a racetrack co a t, mented po men ic Develop ter reported garnered the for Econom iversity Research Cen began. rs lla o Un 5 million d Chico State added $16. in rk s attention of the n Pa o ti ill a h er niz s and orga that Thund to businesse million of this came Sports Car Club David in revenue .5 $8 y nty. Nearl tly to local ec ir of America who d approached id a Glenn Cou p venue of re l income. in the form as persona individuals

the county and applied for a permit defining the effort as a group of men and women who were members of the San Francisco Region of the SportsCcar Club of America [SCCA] and were looking for a permanent home. He also suggested that these folks were “all nice people.” The Glenn County planning office decided to dig a bit deeper and found that the track would also provide a positive economic impact for their community. In a situation where legal fees, surveys, impact reports, and more would have probably crushed the dream, fate happened to be on David’s side. Glenn County approved the permit and after one year of construction the raceway opened in October of 1993 as Thunderhill Raceway Park in deference to the original ranch that bore that acoustic name. Reading this article you’d probably claim to have never visited the track or to have any knowl65

edge of it whatsoever, but chances are, you’ve seen it under exhaustive use throughout the past two decades. Over the years, Thunderhill Raceway has become a staple for companies like Ford Motors in testing and promoting their cars. In fact, many of the car commercials you’ve seen with the disclaimer, “Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt.” were filmed here. The course has also become home to a growing num(above) Chevy Volt electric vehicle on the Thunderhill Raceway track next to the recent windmill project ber of racers with (below) The controlling elements for the solar energy system something to prove. 25 Hours of Thunderhill, the longest money saved through the use of saving money and reducing its endurance automobile race in renewable energy and funneling carbon footprint through these the country, has turned into the it into planning the racetrack’s additions, it has also been attractdefinitive proving grounds for racgrowing distance from the power ing the patronage of new motor ing fanatics as well as celebrities grid, while smaller additions like companies like Tesla and Brammo, like Patrick Dempsey and Craig T. waterless urinals and a large rebuilders of some of the world’s Nelson. cycling program further reduced most coveted electric cars and its carbon footprint. Though the accolades for this Most recently, David racetrack since its inception have commissioned the continued to stack up, David was folks at Chico’s ready to set the track apart from Alternative Energy sister tracks throughout the counSolutions (AES) to try. As one of the members on the build the first phase Butte College Board of Trustees of their solar prothat was present when the Colgram consisting of lege installed its huge solar system, three hundred and taking it completely off the grid, fourteen solar panels David questioned why he couldn’t throughout the track. do the same thing for Thunderhill The electric bill offRaceway, in theory making it the sets from this phase first racetrack in the nation with a alone will save the carbon zero footprint. He set out racetrack approxito prove that he could. mately $25,000 per year, and the energy The first venture focused on harvested will probuilding a set of windmills alongvide for the greater side the track as wind throughout portion of the electhe hillside was plentiful. Since tricity necessary to the track was completely bootpower the track’s strapped from the start, there operation. weren’t any hefty loans to repay. Not only has David focused on taking the Thunderhill been 66

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

(above) A portion of the 314 panel solar energy installation completed by Alternative Energy Systems (below) A potential relic, and the future home of a number of electric charging stations

motorcycles, respectively. Watchmachine you are commanding. ing vehicles like these speed down Driving is currently the leading killer the track is a complete culture of teens in the United States, and shock when used to the high deci- David happens to be hell bent on bel level of nascar-style racing. changing that too. As one-size-fitsThe cars appear to effortlessly all programs teach teens how to glide over the pavement at break- drive a vehicle, rather than their neck speeds as if pulled along by vehicle, David launched the onesome unknown force. Over the day Teen Car Control Clinic where next year, David plans on building teens bring their own car to the a set of charging stations in place track and are instructed on proper of a few of the old gas use of the vehicle through a host pumps. Here, these of common situations that new electric could quickly become sports cars and life-threatening. By bikes can providing instruc” ALERpTco! ming charge up tion in a fun envi“E-VENaTn ex citing u for tive exclusively ronment through a n er lt Stay tuned A t a the folks event from underhill through the professional drivers, Th d n a s em Energy Syst use of solar teens are more apt Raceway. energy, not to respect the vehionly taking the cles they drive and track further off are less likely to make the grid, but racers panic-driven decisions as well. that could endanger their lives — a positive impact Though racing provides the for both the teen and those rush of adrenaline that so many of driving around them. us seek, David is well aware of the Through extensive expedangers of driving without proper rience in the racing industry, instruction and understanding the

David is bringing something to the racing world that we’ve previously neither seen nor heard of, and we are excited for the potential implications. We look forward to the future of racing at Thunderhill and all of the changes that are set to come its way. Pioneers like David change our world one small step at a time, and from what we’ve seen so far, they are nothing but steps in a positive direction.

Business

The “What-If” Box by Renée Michel, MBA Financial Advisor for Asset Management Group

This year, as you tackle the dreaded task of spring cleaning, consider putting together your “what-if ” box. Your “what-if ” box is a compilation of all the documents, account numbers and contacts your family will inevitably need should something happen to you. This is always a sensitive subject and one that is often uncomfortable to think about. However, it could help lessen the frustration and financial pain heirs often experience. I’ve sorted the documents and information into several categories and would recommend creating a separate file for each one. This list is in no way all inclusive but should give you a good start. Beneficiary File Include copies of the beneficiary designations for the following: • All Life Insurance Policies • All Retirement Plans (i.e. 401(k), • All IRA Adoption Agreements 403B, 457, etc…) and Annuities Insurance File Include copies of the following policies: • Home Owners or Renters • Medical and Dental Insurance Insurance • Life Insurance • Auto Insurance • Disability Insurance • Long-Term Care Insurance • Annuities • Buy/Sell Agreement Investment File Create a list of account numbers and contacts for each financial institution you work with. Put it in a locked safe or leave it with a trusted friend or family member. • List and/or copies of savings • Most recent year end statement bonds, stock and bond for all bank accounts and certificates in your possession investment accounts (note their physical location) Proof of Ownership File Copies of deeds/titles for: • Home(s) • Automobile(s) The Essentials File Copies of deeds/titles for: • Copies of Wills, Trusts • Military Discharge Paperwork • Funeral/Burial Instructions • Do-Not-Resuscitate Order

• Other real property

• Personal and Family Medical History • Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney

Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency), member FINRA/ SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Renée Michel, MBA2452 Lakewest Drive | Chico, CA 530-342-2900 | 800-333-2901 | (F) 530-342-3925 rmichel@amgchico.com | www.amgchico.com 68

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Health

PROPER

Myths About Long Term Care Planning

LONG TERM CARE COMES FROM

PROPER PLANNING

by Nicole R. Plottel, Attorney

Planning for long term care ensures that the care you receive is exactly the care you expected.

, CELA

Estate & Long Term Care Planning Center

Certified Elder Law Attorney 3120 Cohasset Road, Suite 10 Chico, CA 95973 | 530-893-2882 | HarrisPlottel.com

Myth: “Planning for Long Term Care is only for the elderly.” About 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will require some type of long term care services during their lifetime. The cost of long term care could exceed $150,000 per person per year! Planning ahead gives you time to understand the various types of long term care services, the costs of such services, and the public or private payment options available to you. Waiting until a crisis happens without a plan in place may cost you more and may limit the care options available to you. Myth: “Medi-Care will pay for Long Term Care.” Medi-Care may cover a maximum of 100 days in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) so long as the patient is receiving and progressing in physical, speech, or occupational therapy. Medi-Care coverage in a SNF is limited, complex, and certainly not a guarantee. MediCare does not cover the cost of independent living or assisted living facilities. Myth: “My living trust will protect my estate if I need Long Term Care.” A revocable living trust will not protect your assets should you require MediCal to help pay for your long term care. Although Medi-Cal exempts your home while you are living, the State of California has the right to recover against the home at your death regardless of whether you have a living trust or not. Planning for long term care means understanding what tools are available to protect your estate. Seeking expert legal advice could eliminate these and other common misconceptions about long term care planning.

Health

our Ask ERT P X

Janie M. in Chico asks: It seems like everyone has bangs nowadays, it’s so tempting but do they work on any face type? What types of faces and types of bangs do you suggest? Answer by Kimberlee Klein, Owner of Poison Apple Salon

I get asked this question behind the chair every day. Bangs are so personal, everyone has a different face shape, hair texture and personal style. For my guests I also take into consideration the amount of time they want to spend maintaining their hairstyle. My suggestion is to meet with your stylist and go over your options, most salons have free consultations just for this type of communication. Have your stylist determine your face shape & explore your options with you. Here are some great questions to ask when you decide you want to rock bangs:

LOOKING SHARP: the facts about injectables

by Dr. Vimali Paul The pursuit of the “Fountain of Youth” can be found with the push of a syringe for millions of people. BotoxTM and JuvedermTM are FDA approved ways to lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles, especially deep frown lines and smile lines. BotoxTM is used to relax facial muscles so that in effect, lines and wrinkles are “ironed” out. It is not for everyone, so a consultation is required to see if you are a candidate for the procedure. Results typically last 4 to 6 months. JuvedermTM is an injectable gel made from hyaluronic acid (which occurs naturally in the skin) used to fill in deep lines typically found alongside the nose and mouth. It usually lasts a year or more and is gradually (and safely) absorbed into the body. Both BotoxTM and JuvedermTM are safe and effective in most cases, and we strive to give you the most natural look possible. No “frozen faces” or “duck lips” with our trained professional injectors at the Derm Bar Med-Spa! Call us at 342-2672 to schedule your free consultation!

Poison Apple Salon | 313 Walnut St. Ste 100, Chico | (530) 899-7875

Have a beauty question for our experts? Email it to beauty@upgradedliving.com. If we choose your question for the next issue, you’ll win a Label M Dry Shampoo and Youngblood Lipgloss from Poison Apple Salon in Chico!

our Ask ERT XP

Derm Bar 85 Declaration Drive #100 Chico (530) 342-2672 | thedermbar.com 70

• What is my face shape? • How often will I need to trim my new bangs to keep the same shape? • What tools do you suggest I use to achieve this look? • Is there a product you recommend I use on my bangs to help set the shape? It’s always better to go in prepared with pictures and an idea of what style you are trying to achieve. Bangs are really hot this session, it’s a great way to draw more attention to your eyes or soften your look when styled up in a pony. If you find the right style, bangs are a great way to update your entire look!

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Laura F. in Oroville asks: I’m so sick of my same-old eye makeup routine. Is there a fresh new way to do my makeup to make my eyes pop this spring? Answer by Rocio Jauregui, Manager of Poison Apple Salon

There are great techniques to make your eyes stand out this spring. Put aside all the old fall colors you have been using. Brighten up your eyes with some lilac shades, dusty pinks, even some blues and greens.

Be careful, DON’T bring back the 80s! Add a light hue of these colors inside your crease and blend with some neutral tones. Finish off with a smudge cat-eye liner and some bold lashes to give you a definite pop to your eyes this spring!

our Ask ERT P X

Planning to Succeed, Part 2 Health

Health, It’s a Moving Target by Dr. Michelle L. Anderson

There is a lot of information available about health, but how do you know what to believe and what is applicable for you? True health is multifaceted. It is comprised of 5 critical factors: Positive mental attitude, Proper Diet and Nutrition, Exercise, Rest, and a Healthy Nervous System. It is true that the hub of health is a balanced, functioning nervous system. However, that’s not the only critical piece, which is why at Chico Spine & Wellness we focus on all aspects of health. In order to get true Health information to the masses, we recently started evening workshops in our office. These workshops go into more detail about the 5 Factors of Health. We’ve already hosted a few workshops about guidelines for proper diet and healthy nutrition, what supplements

are recommended for you and when, and how to eat healthy when you’re in a hurry. On April 8th, we are hosting a workshop on Nutrition for Weight Loss, and over the next few months we will be moving on to topics like: Stretching for Seniors, getting the skinny on exercise, and strengthening – front to back and top to bottom. The evening workshops are being held as a free community service. There is no cost or obligation to attend, we merely want to provide true healthy information to our local community. If you are interested in attending these workshops, please call our office for more information at 530.456.1457. Working to achieve health and then maintain health is a lifetime journey. At Chico Spine & Wellness, we are experts at guiding people on the path toward health. Let us help you on your journey.

Don’t miss out on all the sounds life has to oﬀer Call now to schedule your complimentary consultation

Deanna McCoy Certified Audioprosthologist

Chico's hearing aid specialists since 1949

www.ChicoHearingAidCenter.com

1600 Mangrove Ave., Suite 160

Chico, CA

342-8132

by Scott Amick, CPT

Summer follows the MOST intense season of health focus, spring. During spring I recommend tightening up your caloric expenditure/ intake ratio in order to find what the fitness industry affectionately labels “THE ZONE.” In “The Zone” you are almost at the top of the Health Focus Ramp. Attaining high cardiovascular based intensity levels, lifting with great intensity, and being diligent in your meal planning is a must while in the Spring Zone. Due to its location on the “Train for the Season” model, spring can help you plan backwards through winter and fall, arriving at our current upcoming summer season. This model of backwards planning is a sure-fire way to make sure you end up where you want to be when summer starts- lean and mean, ready for any beach. To clarify, summer is not a time to throw caution to the wind, it is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor from the disciplined routine of the other three seasons. If this model is followed year after year, then each summer should be the realization of a higher level of your lifetime fitness goals. Starting up the ramp during summer includes an understanding that this period will be your least intense period in the gym, but the most active outside of the gym. North State summers are hot! Spending time outside drenched in sweat on bike rides through Bidwell, swimming, and enjoying water sports like skiing and wake boarding are all great calorie burners for summer. As summer winds down and fall begins....final seasons discussed next month. More next issue, until then, Move With Intention! Scott Amick, CPT advanced-body.com 71

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

THIRD ANNUAL

Join us for a day of grove tours, wine tasting, food, live music, local vendors, mill tours and olive oil tasting. Saturday May 11, 2013 from 10am-4pm Lucero Olive Oil • 2120 Loleta Avenue, Corning, CA 96021 877-330-2190

•

w w w. l u c e r o o l i ve o i l . c o m

Arts

Artist Profile:

Kathryn Silvera by Briana Lindstrom

While talking to Kathryn, you’ll feel her focus flicker from one subject to the next with impulsive energy, and although she claims to “have the attention span of a gnat,” she actually is paying attention. She’ll notice if you trip (it will make her day!), she’ll select a word from your sentence that intrigues her and become temporarily consumed by it, she might even tell you what a “snark” is. The details she pulls from her conversations, observations and experiences become slight obsessions; cravings that are only muted after she has dissected and reassembled them into art. It’s almost as though she has a unique vision condition that allows her to see the negative space more obviously than the subjects and objects around her. Kathryn’s art is her intellectual and rare interpretation of things she has encountered and we, her audience thank her for creating new beauty from all she sees. View more of Kathryn’s art at kathrynsilvera.com Earrings designed and created by Kathryn are available at Konjo in Downtown Chico 74

UL: What do you get from your art? KS: I get everything from my art. It’s the best kind of therapy because it doesn’t matter what’s going on in my life, it goes into my art. I get everything back from it and put everything into it. UL: What do you like about Chico? KS: I bike everywhere, I don’t drive and it’s an awesome place for that. We live downtown. Justin (husband) and I walk the park all the time. Chico has the coolest park. Bidwell park is the best way to clear your head. I love the delineation from upper to lower park-- there are totally different vibes. It’s fun during this time of year because I love to go puddle jumping. I’m like “BOOM” I’m in that puddle! It can drag you out of a bad mood. UL: How did you develop your style? KS: When I was in college I was like get me out of these studio classes! I was enrolled in color theory and I went home and told Justin “I’m in a class called Color Theory. This is not real.” Now I’m eating those words because that class was so helpful in developing good skills with color. I’ve always liked painting, even when I was a kid. A couple years ago I developed the style I have now out of a need to be more creative. If I painted a bird or something and developed the color it would be pretty but it wouldn’t say what I wanted it to say, so I’d put it together with a page from a book, a movie ticket, or a map from travels and a picture would emerge that was more evocative of the feeling I was going after. UL: How do you begin a piece? KS: It’s never the same. For my painting of the crow and phoenix, I was reading Metamorphoses which is all about transformative processes. I was thinking “Ok this is awesome, I have to make this into something.” On another one of my pieces, I was watching Inspector Lewis on Masterpiece Theater. He was on this case where someone was murdered and a book called The Hunting of the Snark was stolen. So I looked up the book and I was thinking “What the hell’s a snark?” I found out the book was by Lewis

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Carroll and I love him so the next day I read the entire thing and I was like “Yeah! Snark is awesome!” So then I started that piece. UL: Do you listen to music while you paint? KS: Yes, it’s like a crazy person listening to music because it will be Ravi Shankar then Britney Spears then 50 Cent then Garth Brooks from the 90’s then Shakira but her Spanish speaking CD so I don’t know what she’s saying, but I really like it… After like 10 hours of that I’ll switch to NPR and listen to that forever and start to think “I’m the smartest person in the world right now,” then I get really upset about the world and change to a book on tape. UL: What inspires you in the world? KS: Strangeness. The offbeat. I love the creation of the iphone because I have a little camera with me everywhere and when I see a crazy person I can take a photo of them and be like “Yes! Inspiration!” Small things inspire me. Anything that makes me smile. I love it when people trip, seeing anyone trip makes me happy. Even when I trip. And little old people that are wrinkled like raisins still together holding hands walking down the street. That will melt my cold dead heart. That you could be together that long and still love that person enough to be holding their hand. UL: What are 3 words you describe yourself with? KS: Crazy, neurotic and quirky. I was told once that eccentric is only for rich people, I’m just crazy. I can’t be eccentric because I don’t have enough money. UL: What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? KS: My husband’s eyes. UL: What’s your favorite color? KS: I would say the color of blue when it’s an ink splatter. UL: What is your favorite quote? KS: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.”-- Lewis Carroll.

Arts

Artist Profile:

Lee Wright by Briana Lindstrom

Sometimes you find yourself in Chico for a little longer than expected. So many of us have drifted here and before we knew it, roots began to grow; Lee Wright is one of us. From San Francisco to Denver to Washington, he has wandered his way through life interested in the beauty of nature and simple pleasures. It seems as though Lee Wright and Chico were separated at birth and have finally been reunited. This man was born to paint our local scenery. His use of color, shape and truly observant nature inject his paintings with vibrant life and soulful nostalgia. And although his art is rich, precise and gorgeous, Lee is not a fancy kind of guy. He doesn’t have fancy brushes, use fancy words or care about a fancy place to stay. In fact, the mostly self-taught painter spent a lot of time at the Jesus Center when he arrived in Chico and it was there that his artistic sparks began to fly. “I knew I needed to make friends and the best way to make friends at a place like that is to help out. I was doing all this girly stuff, hanging clothes and stuff to make myself helpful.” While helping out at the Center, Lee mentioned that he liked to paint and the girls at the Free Shop became aware of his innate talent. “One day one of the ladies said, ‘I would like to commission you to paint a picture’ and I said ‘Cool, how about 50 bucks?’” And so it began. You can see Lee Wright’s art at facebook.com/LeeWrightFineArt, pick up one of Lee Wright’s prints at Art Etc. in Downtown Chico, or contact Laurie Maloney to commission a piece maloneez@gmail.com Lee Wright and Kathryn Silvera’s photos by Michelle Camy

UL: How did you get into painting? LW: I always could draw real good growing up and when I was about 30 I figured it out. There’s so many different ways to approach it. You first have to figure out what you like and go with it and it turns into some kind of style I guess. I had the cheapest worst brushes ever but they had long handles on them so that was important. Those aren’t very good so I had to watch the hairs and make sure the lines weren’t coming out of my paintbrush. UL: What advice do you have for young artists? LW: Have fun don’t worry about it too much. Don’t let people see your whole process because they’ll tell you you’re doing it wrong. Make it as cool as you can, who cares what everybody thinks. UL: What inspires you in the world? LW: I like animals. I like to look at beautiful things. Landscapes, buildings, parks. I think about how happy the other person will be when they get my painting. The sentimental piece for other people. Especially with portraits. UL: What do you get from your art? LW: Art is kind of worthless and priceless at the same time. Sometimes you don’t even notice it. But if it does something for you, it’s worth something. The priceless part is the feeling you get from it. When someone commissions a piece, their reactions to what I create are just priceless. They’re extra nice about it here in Chico, that’s for sure. UL: How did you end up at the Jesus Center? LW: When I first came to town, I went to the Jesus Center to use their services. If you’re new in town and you have hardly any resources you can go there. It’s like a home base for getting started. It’s the only place to shower and get clean and get a free

meal. When I showed them that I could paint, they said “well paint on this wall,” so I painted on the wall and they liked it and left it on there for a long time. Then when it started to rain they wanted me to have a place to paint inside so they gave me a room to paint in. It is a very positive place. UL: How has it been trying to sell your art in Chico? LW: The gals at the Jesus Center have been real nice. Laurie (a worker at the Resource Center and the one who referred me to Lee) bought some in the beginning. I would joke and say she should be my manager and Laurie would say “no way!” But one day she called herself my manager and it stuck, so I’ve been using the heck out of her. We’re having fun with it. UL: Where is your favorite place to paint? LW: Right there in my living room. I used to like painting outside, but it was too distracting. It would be alright if it was normal distracting, but it’s extra distracting. People don’t know to leave you alone when you’re trying to do art. UL: What are 3 words you describe yourself with? LW: I never describe myself. I know I’m an introvert, I’m just like any typical artist. Artists can be typical too. We don’t all have to be ultra one of a kind, you know. Everyone wants to be so one-of-a-kind but we’re all the same. 3 words? Typical artist dude. UL: What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? LW: Nature. People and nature. Natural stuff is the prettiest whatever it is. Landscapes or leaves in the fall or little kids. UL: What is your favorite quote? LW: “Don’t let your happiness depend on something that you might lose.” --C.S. Lewis 75

Arts

Local artist profiles

Justin Cooper 1424 Martin St. Chico Ca 95928 artbyjustin.weebly.com jippeenator@gmail.com 530.588.0327

Carob and Justin’s Art Studio When I was a kid I used to listen to NPR and draw. Now I paint robots! Justin is looking for patrons and businesses interested in showing, collecting, and commissioning art from him. Please come and visit our studio: Call for an appointment.

Waif Mullins Showing at Avenue 9 Gallery 180 E 9th Ave., Chico (530) 879-1821

Waif Mullins This painting, “Beach Vendors, Roatan”, is based on a trip to Roatan, Honduras. Here, a young woman is perusing the wares of two local “merchants” who are heavily laden with their wares. My memory is that she bought the shirt.

Richard Lea

Bruce Sillars Master in his craft Viewing hours: Monday – Friday

Orient & Flume Art Glass A Chico Tradition Since 1972

Summer Woods, Made by Artist Scott Beyers & Bruce Sillars 2161 Park Avenue Chico 530-893-0373 Ext. 3 Gallery Hours; Monday – Saturday 10am- 5pm Viewing Hours; Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm (Viewing hours may vary)

UPGRADED LIVING | APRIL 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Spring Clearance Sale 30% off entire inventory of handmade, one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories.

Rich designs and builds one-of-akind pieces of furniture both on a commission and on a speculation basis. In all of his work, his goals are to design and build furniture that will: 1) perform well according to its intended function; 2) last for generations; and 3) please the eye and sense of touch. Website: furniturebylea.com Find me on Facebook For appointment, call 570-1086 Gallery/shop Location: 13303 Cabin Hollow Ct.

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