Upgraded Living - April 2023

April is National Autism Awareness Month and a topic of particular importance to me. Having an autistic cousin, and several friends with autistic children of their own, I've witnessed the challenges that arise in situations that might seem completely common and straightforward to those who aren't on, or caring for someone on, the spectrum. When parents, children, and society at large find themselves intersecting with the effects of autism, the results can often be frustrating, to say the least, and this frustration is usually brought about by a simple lack of understanding. National Autism Awareness Month aims to combat that lack of knowledge and provide valuable information not only on how to more effectively interact with those on the spectrum but also on how to fit more appropriately into their lives with a better sense of how they see and experience the world.

Our April cover story spotlights our friends at Little Red Hen. This incredible local organization's members have devoted their time and resources to not only educate the community on the various developmental disabilities that exist but to also provide a nurturing environment where those with said disabilities can find solid footing and learn valuable life skills. 100% of their sales and donations benefit much-needed programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities like autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and many more. They employ developmentally disabled adults at all of their locations, and they do so at above minimum wage. Truly, their model is a shining beacon of what is possible when you build a business to benefit the greater good. We couldn't be more thrilled with what they've accomplished and the direction in which they're headed.

There's so much to discover in this issue, and I hope you find something new and exciting to make April wonderful. My request is to check out one of Little Red Hen's many locations in Chico and support them both monetarily and with words of encouragement. We need more people like them in this world, and your support can go a long way in making that a reality.

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF

AVEED KHAKI Owner/Publisher

JASON CORONA Sales Director

TIM MILHORN Writer

MADDIE RODRIGUEZ Writer

DIANE CLIFFORD Cover Story Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS

DOUG LOVE Real Estate

SWEENEY & MICHEL Finance

DERM BAR Beauty

SHELLY BRANDON Writer

COMMUNITY

15 Downtown Chico Part Deux. Beyond the new board, and the recent headlines, lie so many reasons to love the heart of Chico. Take a trip downtown with us for the shops that embody the spirit of local entrepreneurism.

58 Be prepared to be Inspire(d)—inside the first student newspaper, the “Purple Pages”—from Inspire’s Julian Manning.

60 Take me home! Meet a new family friend, better yet, family member, from our local shelters with the adorable faces seen here.

ENTERTAINMENT

25 Chocolate and salmon? That’s nuts! The festival season ahead that encompasses those three and so much more.

47 Kelsi Judge and the troupe at Hypnotique Productions entrances local audiences with their stunning choreographed performances.

51 Cruciferous sounds like a metal band name, but it's actually this month's ingredient of the month—a family of cancer fighting vegetables.

54 Our breakfast feature comes back a-ROUND with the bagel sandwiches that complete your April must-eat list.

54 Five shows for $90? It’s not an April Fool’s gag, it's the season's special for the Oroville Concert Association at the State Theatre.

62 Trying to plan a night out or looking for that can't-miss event? Our calendar is back to save you from utter boredom!

POTPOURRI

21 Meet Patio Pros—the experienced outdoor living experts. Learn how they leverage technology to create comfort and design that help families make memories outdoors.

34 Sweeney & Michel offer a quick followup class on college savings. Parents: this is a must read.

37 We deal with pixels all the time in the digital age, but none like this. Check out the Beauty Q&A on the new pixel laser.

38 Springtime is baby season for wildlife. Find out how Bidwelll Wildlife Rescue assists when human intervention is needed.

FEATURE

41 Little Red Hen both helps us, and gives us reason to, celebrate National Autism Month with a local origin story about the lifetime of care and investment in humanity. With so many ways to engage, we encourage you to explore the spectrum of opportunities.

ON THE COVER: A LIFETIME OF CARE AT LITTLE RED HEN

PHOTO COURTESY: DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

OLD TOWN SOUL

Downtown Chico has always been a place that people want to be. It’s the vibrant, beating heart of the community, and some say it’s the soul, too. In recent years, it’s gone through a bit of a rough

patch, but with the community beginning to recover from the pandemic and with the announcement of a significant amount of funding being allocated by the City of Chico to the Downtown Chico

Business Association for upgrades and beautification, Downtown Chico is once again turning a corner.

Some of the best-known businesses

downtown are the anchor stores who have been there for twenty years or more. We all know them: Bird in Hand, Kirk’s Jewelry, Broadway Heights, Upper Crust, Campus Bicycles, Nantucket, and Melody Records are just a few. It’s rare to find a person who doesn’t know what you’re talking about when you mention the Broadway Bowl you had for lunch, or the cool new record you just picked up, along with a crystal and poster, at Melody. These businesses are icons of downtown, places that, against obstacles deep and wide, have survived, and even thrived.

Hot on their heels are a number of newer businesses that have a lot to offer downtown and the citizenry at large.

D’Emilio’s Bakery and Delicatessen is a cheerful looking new addition to Main Street with its bright gold exterior and beautiful big glass windows offering a peep into a spacious dining area that envelops you in warmth and the smell of baking bread as soon as you walk in.

Exposed brick and old wooden floors give off the charm of yesteryear as you wait for a sandwich, and the racks of bread against the walls dare you to leave without a freshly baked loaf or sack of rolls.

restaurant on West 3rd Street, has been in its current location since it opened about five years ago. Last year, it broke ground on a new space in the building where Campus Bicycles lived for many years as it too picked up and moved a little farther down Main Street. The building has been undergoing major retrofitting and construction and is currently boarded up, but if Momona’s Facebook page is anything to go by, there’s a lot to get excited about. Known for being a cozy, modern restaurant serving up cozy, comforting food (momona does mean satiated, well-fed, and fertile, after all), Momona 2.0 is sure to be a masterpiece of understated design and a place to continue finding the noodle and bao that Chico has come to love.

In October, the news that beloved Chico bakery Tin Roof was going out of business hit the community, and especially downtown, hard. Many businesses all over the county rely on the bakery for their freshly baked bread for sandwiches, rolls, and buns each and every day. They also have a loyal following of customers who pack the tiny café for coffee and baked goods on the daily, and who seek the bread out at retailers all over town. It was unconscionable that they would

Momona, the beloved noodle and bao

simply cease to exist, but that’s exactly what happened. Then, in the new year, subterranean murmurings began that Tin Roof would rise again (pun intended), continuing to bake bread from the same recipes they’d been using and in the very same location. The re-launch took place in February to much fanfare, and the Little Bakery That Could seems to be ticking over much as if nothing had ever happened, saving jobs and keeping yet another building from succumbing to a life of sad emptiness. It’s perhaps one of the best stories to have come out of downtown in recent years and is a testament to what has become a theme–people rallying around something they believe in to save it from disappearing.

It’s amazing what a concerned group of citizens can do. The news is full of stories of people helping others in absolutely beautiful and soul-fulfilling ways, funding pensions for elderly people who are still working and paying for desperatelyneeded surgeries that some families

are unable to afford. This kindness goes beyond money. It’s a universal need for those who see suffering to do what they can to alleviate it, and it’s a trait that unites us as human beings in the face of incredible odds. Downtown was facing some pretty incredible odds during and after the pandemic, and the business owners and merchants who are moving in are doing so in trying economic times, yet they refuse to let a vital part of the town

die. It’s a saving grace that people like that exist in a world like this one, where there will always be those who attempt to convince us that there is nothing good left in others.

The businesses mentioned in this article are just the tip of what is a very dense iceberg of wonderful shops and restaurants that fill an area ten blocks long and five blocks wide. Downtown

KEEPING DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFUL

If you've spent any time downtown over the past few years, you've undoubtedly seen a number of individuals sporting blue shirts or jackets emblazoned with the Downtown Chico logo. These Downtown Chico Ambassadors are responsible for a clean and vibrant downtown experience, making sure our sidewalks are clear of debris, buildings are free of graffiti, and so much more. The tireless efforts of ambassadors like Anthony and Ashley, pictured to the right, have transformed the downtown into an even more enjoyable community, and we couldn't be more thankful for their time and efforts. Their watch begins early in the morning and continues late into the evening, ensuring Downtown Chico remains a safe and beautiful place for visitors day-after-day, week-after-week. If you see them out and about, don't forget to thank them for all they do.

Chico is full of wonderful businesses run by individuals and families who love this town and who love their customers. They need us. They need you to have a date night, to wander and window shop, to tell your friends about what you saw. Without you, they would not be here, and we would lose a vital piece of what makes Chico so special. Shop small. Shop local. Shop in your own downtown.

Making MemoriesOutdoors

As the days get longer and the rains abate, thoughts turn to spending more time outdoors. Patio Pros wants to make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone to make memories outside, whether it’s sheltering from the winter rain or the intense summer heat. They’ve been building custom shade structures in Chico and the surrounding areas since 2008 and continue to grow and expand their offerings while staying true to their commitment to customer service.

Ben Eckstrom, president of Patio Pros, shares that the company began as a division of Proframe Construction, one of Chico’s predominant construction framing companies. He says, “Moving into the business was a natural fit.” The aluminum structures are low-maintenance and cost-effective. “With aluminum, you’re going to build it once and then just enjoy it. It made a lot more sense than wood in a lot of ways,” Ben continued. Patio Pros shade structures are made mostly of aluminum, with 99% sourced from recycled material, and are class-A fire resistant. From an aesthetic standpoint, the shade structures portray the beauty of wood products while also offering the durability and convenience of aluminum. What started as an additional offering of Proframe Construction quickly grew, until Ben realized it wasn’t

just an offshoot of the original business, and wanted to expand and offer more to the community. The budding business allowed Ben and his team to reach out and help wherever possible, including building a probono cover for the Girl Scouts, benches for the Torres Shelter, and even stepping in to coach youth softball when needed. In 2017, with plenty of success already behind them, Patio Pros became a company independent of Proframe, and the business continues to evolve today.

While the exceptional product speaks for itself, getting the word out, designing, and installing the structures is heavily dependent on a number of people. Patio Pros has an amazing business team working both with the client and behind the scenes. The first point of contact for any project is Patio Pros’ office manager, Jey Cipolla. She joined the team after leaving another industry focused in customer service/sales and enjoys being what she describes as a hub—a tour guide in the process. She coordinates with clients,

introduces the team, and follows all the way through construction to ensure the customer is completely satisfied. She says, “I live for customers who are gushing over their projects—the ones who say, ‘It’s perfect; even my dog loves it!’ When the customer is more than thrilled with what they have, that’s what makes it special.”

After making first contact, the design and sales team heads out to the client’s home for an in-person visit. It’s here where the realization of a patio dream begins. The team arrives on scene and helps find the right fit for the family and the space. During their visit, the designers develop a custom cover specifically for the client’s home in a way that enables them to entertain outside and really utilize their patio to its fullest. Tom Fitzgerald, Ben Eckstrom, and Laura Eckstrom are all part of the sale and design process. Tom shares that listening

to the customer and helping them discover what can happen with a patio design is an integral part of the process. As a team, they strive to be informative, positive, and help a customer understand their choices.

Laura Eckstrom started at Proframe

Construction as a designer and later shifted over to Patio Pros to help with sales. She now also handles all social media accounts for the business. Her unique background in design lends a special angle to the sales process. Ben shares that she knows the product exceptionally well, and with her design background, she is uniquely qualified to help clients navigate with a softer touch.

Once they settle on a design and agree upon a budget, the next step is to visually recreate the environment. That’s where Mack Goodman steps in. Like Laura, Mack started working in the office at Proframe and

moved over to Patio Pros as the company generated more business. He became interested in computer generated design (CAD) and took classes at Butte College to learn more about the process. Now, he’s able to bring clients’ ideas to life with a 3D image of the proposed new patio structure and home. As a result, the client is able to clearly visualize their outdoor living space.

After the client is happy with the proposal, the project moves forward to Patio Pros’ installers, Patrick Herbert and Randall Stewart. Randall moved to Chico after losing his home to Hurricane Katrina in 2006 and fell in love with the mountains of Paradise, and later, Magalia. He loves working outdoors and adding a new element to clients’ backyard spaces as most have spent years turning them into beautiful retreats. He says, “I like being a part of that. It’s nice to work around; it’s like spending time with feng shui each day.” Patrick has been with the company for almost seven years and has always been a hands-on person who loves building things. “I’ve had office jobs before, and I go stir crazy. I love being outdoors and working with my hands.” Patrick shares that in building, there are always challenges, but he enjoys the problem-solving aspect and making sure everything comes out to the client's satisfaction. The installers perform the final measurements, bring the parts and pieces to the site, and then assemble the design. Their install time usually ranges from one day to a week, based on the size and complexity of the layout. However, the lead time up to the install is usually the longest span as each component of the cover is custom-designed, crafted, and shipped according to the client’s specifications. Patio Pros’ innovative software enables the customer to stay connected to the process

from anywhere. The associated portal enables them to view real-time budgets, Docusign contracts, and view their updated CAD drawings.

Ben says that the company’s accountants, Angie Roche and Marie Brown, are an integral part of the business too, setting up events and coordinating company policy. Ben Eckstrom’s energy and the overall positive disposition of the company led both Angie and Marie to recently seek out employment at Patio Pros. Angie shares, “He's passionate about people, as am I, and that’s a huge reason why I work here. It's nice to be around positive, like-minded people.” Tom Fitzgerald seconds their thoughts, “I wanted to find a company that had similar values in the way we handle customers and treat employees,” and he’s definitely found it here.

The team at Patio Pros is truly that, a team. They’ve worked hard to build a supportive

group of individuals who collaborate regularly. They structure time in the morning with the entire crew, sitting around the conference table to go over the coming day. They focus on getting multiple perspectives on any issues and collectively coming up with the best practical solution. The team members share how much they love the culture at Patio Pros and look forward to helping the community, both commercially and residentially, to allow residents to create memories while enjoying their outdoor spaces.

Patio Pros can be found online at www. patiopros.com. Here, you’ll find contact information, testimonials, photo galleries, and plenty of information about their services. Check out their Instagram profile @patioproschico and Facebook profile at FB.com/PatioPros to see some amazing patio transformations and start planning your new outdoor space.

The Bounty of Butte County

May is the month of festivals, with several coming up in Chico and the surrounding areas. What makes May such a great time to have a festival? It’s practically summertime, for a start. Everyone has the end of school and the beginning of a long summer on their minds, and after a long, wet winter like the one we’ve had, the warm weather is more than welcome. Sitting outside in the shade and enjoying the bounty of Butte County is more than pleasant; it’s what summer is all

about. Mother’s Day is also in May, and it just so happens to be the same weekend as all of these festivals. What better way to treat your mother to something special than by getting her out of the house and spoiling her? These festivals will be a great way to do just that.

In Paradise, the Chocolate Fest is returning to Terry Ashe Park on May 13th for a day filled with sweet treats and live music on

several stages. A chocolate candy land, complete with chocolate fountain and vendor booths staffed with honest-togoodness chocolatiers, offers delicacies, desserts, and confections to delight and tempt anyone of any age. A chocolate cuisine challenge beckons anyone who’d like to enter to submit a chocolatey dish of their own invention for judging on the day of the festival, but if you’d prefer to be judged on your eating rather than on your baking,

there will be a sundae eating contest, a cookie stacking contest, and a chocolate pie eating contest for you to prove your mettle. Activities abound, especially for the little ones, and you can expect absolute silence in the backseat on the ride home after a day spent playing carnival games, sliding down the super slide, and, of course, eating chocolate.

And if that isn’t enough to entice you, consider this: since the Paradise Chocolate Fest began back in 2006, it’s contributed over $390,000 to youth programs and services on the Ridge. That’s nearly half a million dollars that’s created scholarships, purchased sports uniforms, paid for dance lessons, bought musical instruments, sent kids to summer camp, created reading programs, provided vision screenings, built food banks, and enriched many more lives in countless other ways. Any and all revenue from this event and its offshoots— the Chocolate Thunder Motorcycle Run, the Chocolate Chase 5k, and the Chocolate, Wine, Brew, and Spirits event—ultimately goes to the youth on the Ridge, which means that you can feel good knowing every dollar you spend on sweets really

matters.

May 13th also sees the return of the California Nut Festival out at the historic Patrick Ranch. This event is an agriculturefocused bonanza where nuts take center stage and entertainment includes cooking demonstrations, live musical entertainment, wine and beer sampling, and an art show, all outside on the lawn at the beautiful Patrick Ranch property. Large agricultural implements, both antique and modern, will dot the grounds, encouraging questions about our agricultural heritage and how the land is farmed. As many as 50 vendors will set up booths around the perimeter of the house, and one can spend the entire day talking to local restaurateurs, caterers, business owners, farmers, and chefs about produce grown right here in our own backyard. It’s educational, fun, and—perhaps most importantly—filling. Each admission ticket guarantees the entrant six drink tickets, six food tickets, and a commemorative glass, as well as samplings of a wide variety of nut-inspired dishes, wines, brews, juices, and much more.

This event is also a good way to support the

Patrick Ranch Museum, which preserves and interprets over a century of the Sacramento Valley’s agricultural history for visitors from far and wide. To date, over $200,000 has been raised by the Festival alone in support of the museum, and that will help keep Butte County, and California agriculture, thriving into the next generation.

And finally, the last event in our overview of festival season in Butte County is the festival formerly known as Art at the Matador. Rebranded as the Chico ART Festival, this event, which is hosted by the Chico Visual Arts Alliance, or ChiVAA, will take place on Friday, May 12th and Saturday, May 13th at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chico, where sweeping grounds provide an ideal backdrop against which beautiful art pieces can shine. The festival will showcase the many and varied talents of our beloved local artists, including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and more. Food trucks, a margarita bar, demonstrations, live music, and activities for children will round out the event, making it a perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day.

By their own admission, the art expo has

four goals: to showcase local artists, to promote Chico as an arts destination, to educate the public about the value and variety of art in our community, and to throw a really great Chico-style party. A vibrant, thriving arts community makes Chico a better place to live, and that is a sentiment that we can definitely get behind. What would Chico be without its murals, its music, its public art installations, and its treasure trove of artists? What indeed.

Support local youth, agriculture, and the arts this Mother’s Day by attending one of the festivals that individuals and organizations spend all year putting together. Tickets can be purchased for the Paradise Chocolate Fest’s many events online at https:// chocolatefest.us/events/event-tickets/. Admission to the Fest itself is $5 per person, and free for children under four. General admission tickets to the California Nut Festival are $35 in advance or $40 on the day of the event. Purchase ahead at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/california-nut-festivaltickets-559975791667.

Admission to the Chico ART Festival is free.

Real Guy

More often than not, when I write stories about my real estate mentor KDV, people will call, write, email, or text me something along the lines of, “Is that KDV guy a real guy?”

A lady wrote me an email, “Is this person you refer to as ‘KDV’ your alter-ego? He is quite an embellishment.”

One guy texted, “Are these stories about you and KDV sort of like ‘real estate myths?’”

I can hear KDV answering for me with one of his standards: “I’ve had a long and storied and up and down career, my friend. It’s been hit and myth all the way.”

When I obtained my real estate license, my neighbor told me, “There’s this guy, Ken DuVall, who teaches the real estate classes at Butte College. The guy is brilliant. Funny, too!”

I reached KDV by phone at his real estate office. He said, “Come on down to the classroom at the college and watch me do my schtick, babe. We’ll have some fun, my man.”

The classroom at the college was the size of a theater, a half-rotunda setup with seats rising away from a small stage in front. Ken DuVall, the teacher, needed no microphone. He had a deep, booming, actor’s voice. He interfused the technical real estate instructional material with stories of his Hollywood stuntman days in the ‘Picture Business’, his motorcycle racing in the desert, and a steady stream of jokes. At least one joke per five minutes. A percentage of his jokes were questionable for public consumption. I noticed some of the class glancing questioningly at one another, while others laughed and snickered.

When KDV finished one joke in particular, which definitely pushed the appropriateness factor, a few people in the class sat open-mouthed and wideeyed looking at each other in apparent disbelief.

I knew right then that with the level of brazen honesty, KDV was my guy.

Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. Call or text 530-680-0817.

Sherry Calbert did a fantastic job selling our home. She was professional, down to earth, knowledgeable, and friendly. She explained the process in easy to understand language and made the overall experience so pleasant. I would highly recommend Sherry Calbert to anyone in need of her services.

- Kate Harrington, Chico

SOLD FOR

$950,000

WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS!

Giddy Up!!!! Attention all horse lovers!!! This is IT!!!!! This is a very sprawling and GORGEOUS country Durham estate with over 2,500+ and situated on 5 acres!!! This tucked away private cul-de-sac location is perfect for livestock, and a gentleman's farm!!! Check out the barn with 4 horse breezeway, with feed storage and tack room. Fly control, Covered wash rack with cross ties. Electric outlets and lighting. 3 12 x 12 box stalls with huge turnouts and 1 12 x 16 box with large turnout. 4 Rail white vinyl fencing! This home is custom with crown moldings and tall ceilings and large windows to allow the natural lighting to just pour in!!!! Ahhhhh sitting there in front of the fireplace and gazing to the back yard makes one think there is no place like home!! It might be time to get a snack or entertain some friends or family! Perhaps you are a chef!!! You'll think you're in heaving with the well-laid out kitchen at every turn, with the high end appliances, granite counters, eating bar, and open to the family room with another fireplace!!! Head to the formal dining room with warm maple laminate flooring!!! It's a 1 of a kind property. Make it your dream come true!!!

How can I help you?

Call me today!

(530) 514-4855

Sherry Landis Real Estate, Inc.

$850,000

Behind the gate!!!! Canyon Oaks Premium building lot!!!! Views galore where the eagles soar!! Watch beautiful sunsets, Check out the Bear and Salmon Hole and Butte Creek Golf Course! It's no wonder this street name is Rising Ridge!!! The sounds, the smells and the feeling of privacy and serenity are at your fingertips! Flat 2 acre parcel located on a cul-de-sac with Bidwell Park in your back yard!!!

Acreage: 2.02 Price: $375,000

Serving happy customers for over 33 years.

"Effie's knowledge and skills are unsurpassed in her field. She is a true professional. She is patient, kind, and always has her clients interest in mind. I can't say enough good things about her to do her justice except you are in good hands if you're lucky to have her as your agent."

entry gate with its brick work, a pond, paved driveway etc. The property is connected to PID water and condition of septic is unknown to seller. Buyer to investigate.

Acres: 1.02 Price: $55,000

Escape the noise of city life and settle into tranquility at this home nestled well into Canyon Oaks, Chico’s most sought-after gated community. This property offers ample natural lighting throughout with an open concept floor plan on the top floor. There you’ll find a beautiful kitchen—with granite countertops, loads of cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances—which opens to a full dining room and living room with a gas fireplace. The 2-car garage, laundry room with included washer & dryer, and first bedroom and bathroom are also located on the top floor, perfect for accommodating guests. On the bottom floor, you’ll find the massive primary bedroom with en-suite bathroom complete with dual vanity, walk-in shower with dual shower heads, privacy toilet door, his-and-hers closet, one of which with a large walking closet. Call today! Bed: 3.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,164 Price: $539,500

Situated in a wonderful neighborhood in lower Paradise with an easy commute to Chico, this amazing property once held a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1370 sqft home with a 2 car garage. The previous home was on PID water, septic tank and had a natural gas. The seller does not have information about the condition of the septic tank—buyer to investigate. Price: $44,500

Own a piece of PARADISE!!! If you are looking for your private estate property, then come and see what this gorgeous 1+ acre parcel has to offer. Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac location, it will take only one look to know this is where you want your dream home to be. While its heavenly, the price is down to Earth. Bring your blueprint and build! Acres: 1.02 Price: $49,900

-Pamela Fuller

College Savings 2.0

Everyone wants to set their kids up for success, but not everyone knows whether they’ll go to college. Before today, that was a big problem.

529 college plans are a popular choice for child saving accounts with tax-free growth; with the condition that the money was used for college. However, with the rise of trade schools and the changing education landscape, it’s no guarantee every child will end up in a traditional 4-year program.

Tax reforms in 2017 and 2019 expanded withdrawal guidelines to include educational elementary, middle, and high school expenses, along with apprenticeship costs, and limited student loan repayments. Still, the money would only be tax and penaltyfree so long as it was used for education. Until now.

In December 2022, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion spending package that (among other things) allowed funds from an

BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ® , FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT SWEENEY & MICHEL, LLC

established 529 account to be transferred *tax-free* to a Roth IRA for the same beneficiary.

Now, unused educational funds could be used to supercharge a beneficiary’s savings. From a retirement standpoint, this could give kids 10-15 years of extra compounding!

As always, there are terms and conditions, including (but not limited to):

The 529 account must be open for at least 15 years.

The amount of the rollover will have annual and lifetime limits (a total of $35k per beneficiary)

If you have questions about college savings, Roth IRAs or anything else, give us a call at 530-487-1777. We’re happy to help.

This is not tax advice. | Sweeney & Michel, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser. This brochure is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sweeney & Michel, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Sweeney & Michel, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney,

Pixel Laser Q & A

What is a Pixel Laser?

Pixel is an FDA approved fractional resurfacing treatment that makes microscopic perforations in the skin via laser energy. .

How does it work?

It stimulates collagen growth to smooth and tighten the skin. It can improve and correct scars, fine lines, rough texture, pore size, and sun damage

How effective is it?

Once the collagen growth is stimulated, it continues to improve over the next six months. Texture is smoother, scars are less noticeable, sun damage is improved, and skin is refreshed overall.

How many treatments will I need?

The recommended treatment plan is 3-5 treatments, approximately 4 weeks apart. Healing time can be up to 5 days, sometimes longer for neck and chest, as the skin is thinner there.

What is the cost?

The cost is approximately $650 for face, neck, and chest, and $975 if combined with the IPL/Photofacial.

What can I expect during and post procedure? Treatments are well-tolerated by most patients, with a warm, slightly "snapping" sensation on the skin. Swelling, redness, and flaking are common posttreatment, and cool compresses can be used to disperse heat. Use only a lightweight moisturizer the next day if skin feels dry and tight after your procedure.

Spring's shower of babies

Spring has arrived and with it an abundance of new wildlife additions to the world. Feathered fledglings scutter about in the bushes seemingly abandoned by their parents. Newlyarrived fawns are hidden away in tall grasses or left in quiet yards. Young opossums drop off their mother’s crowded back and sneeze for her attention, while a tiny hummingbird out for their first flight meets a window instead of open air.

When we see these babies alone out in the wild, it’s human nature to want to go and help them, but actually only one of the above scenarios requires human intervention, that tiny injured hummingbird. The others are likely common behaviors for young animals learning how to survive. Determining which animals need help and how to go about giving it to them is the focus of Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation. This entirely volunteer-run organization was founded 50 years ago by Sandy Doolittle, who recognized the need for this program that continues to serve Butte, Colusa, and Glenn counties.

Springtime is their busiest time of year, and they’re flooded with online submission forms for animals in need. Melanie Welchel, volunteer and board member says, “We definitely could use some more volunteers. Baby season is busy; we get over a thousand for the year. It starts in February, and depending on the species, the last

one may not be released back into the wild until the fall.” There is no ‘center’ per se as the organization is based out of the volunteer’s homes. They are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned and injured wildlife, and in the unfortunate event that the animal cannot be released, they are delivered to an appropriate sanctuary such as Turtle Bay in Redding. They work with fawns, skunks, foxes, jackrabbits, cottontails, opossums, racoons, raptors, and songbirds. The larger animals and those with longer, more involved rehabilitation requirements, such as otters and beavers, are taken by organizations better equipped to handle their care and release such as Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

If you see an animal you think may need some help, what should you do? First, watch and see. Young fledglings seem like they need help, but more often than not, their parents are keeping an eye on them from up above. They’ll watch as they learn to walk, hop, and take short flights around the yard periodically stopping in to check on them. Deer will ‘hide’ their fawn in grasses or quiet places while they head out to keep them hidden from predators until the fawn is old enough to escape with their mother if needed. Opossums may fall off their mother’s back but will call out in alarm for their return. If the parents never return, or the animal is injured, or you’re still not sure, access the website at www. bidwellwildliferehab.org and fill out the appropriate form. That information is

checked throughout the day and passed on to one of the volunteers. They will then get in contact with you about the next appropriate steps to take and, if needed, a volunteer will come to pick up the animal and begin caring for it.

April 29th is Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation’s second annual “Baby Shower” fundraiser at The Barn. Because they are entirely volunteer-staffed and primarily donation driven, this fundraiser is a great way to raise money and spread awareness about the wonderful work they do for area wildlife. They’ll have craft vendors, face painting, concessions, and the Wild Things Conservation Ambassadors will offer two animal shows on the main stage. They’ll also have various informational booths highlighting how they help each species around the Northstate. A bird booth, for example, will demonstrate what’s involved in caring for orphaned birds along with an opportunity for the younger visitors to make a pinecone bird feeder. Melanie shares, “It’s a way for the community to get to know our name and say, “Oh yea, we should call them if we find something,’” instead of wondering what to do with that lonely fledgling, that sneezing opossum, or that tiny spotted sleeping fawn.

You can follow them on Facebook for more information on their “Baby Shower” along with information on upcoming volunteer orientations or go to their website for info at www.bidwellwildliferehab.org.

Different Can Be Extraordinary

Imagine an organization that works to provide opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities, from childhood, through the teen years, and on into adulthood in order to ensure they are afforded the tools to succeed and benefit from a rewarding career. Little Red Hen Nursery, Inc., a non-profit serving children and adults with developmental disabilities is that organization in the Northstate. Its approach focuses on access throughout the lifespan for persons with autism and developmental disabilities to be engaged, participating members of their communities. Through public awareness, education,

research, and employment, Little Red Hen helps individuals and their families achieve their dreams and reach their goals.

The success of their mission cannot be more clearly demonstrated than with the story of Alex Wolk, the impetus behind the creation of Little Red Hen by his mother, Teresa Wolk Hayes. Alex was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and at that time there was not the collective awareness around autism, nor the level of resources that are available today. So, Teresa set out to change that starting with a swim program in her backyard which has grown into a

large organization employing more than 175 adults with developmental disabilities and serving over 100 children with autism each week. Alex, now an adult, graduated in 2022 with an MBA in business from Chico State University and is the financial manager of Little Red Hen overseeing a team of five gentlemen who also have autism. Alex is just one of the hundreds of individuals who have benefited from the organization’s dedication and empowering programs.

There are a myriad of specific characteristics representing autism and its effect on daily life, which is why it’s

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

referred to as a spectrum. Dr. Stephen Shore, who is on the spectrum as well as being an autism advocate says, “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” Each individual will experience it differently and demonstrate their own strengths along with their own challenges. The human brain is constantly determining what things to pay attention to and what to ignore with all five of our senses. One example is to imagine sitting outside at a park, having a conversation with a friend. Now, imagine you have a soundboard in front of you with all the sounds present in the situation; people talking in the distance, birds singing, cars going by, dogs barking, and your friend’s speech. A neurotypical brain will amplify the friend’s voice, pushing up that volume on the soundboard while automatically decreasing the volume of all the other sounds in respect to the friend’ voice, pulling down those specific noise levels. For some individuals on the spectrum, those sounds are all pushed up to their loudest level with very little discrimination between them, thus fighting for attention from the brain. Now, imagine this same scenario but include sight and touch battling for attention as well. Everyone’s brain works differently and neurodivergent individuals may also have issues with social behavior, executive functioning, such as organizing, planning, paying attention, or self regulating and again, these difficulties fall across a broad spectrum.

Erika Birkholm, senior director of Little Red Hen, shares that while they assist everyone with all types of developmental disabilities, their children’s programs at the LifeSpan Center, as well as supportive employment programs serve individuals with autism starting at age four all the way up to the age of retirement. Rachel Hoyle, LifeSpan manager, says, “The beautiful thing about our programs is that we accept everybody; we don’t reject anyone based on their skill level because autism is a spectrum.” They may have participants who are extremely verbal on one end, and at the other end, someone who is completely nonverbal. The use of sign language and assisted communication devices enables those who are nonverbal to interact with their peers as they all learn and grow. The play and socialization programs run year round. These include Lil’ Sprouts, for children ages 4-7 which meets on Mondays and

Wednesdays after school, the Budding Sprouts program is for ages 8-12 and meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the Growing Together Teens program meets on Fridays. All of these center around play and socialization appropriate for their ages.

Rachel shares that their aim is to help them become more comfortable with social situations, teach strategies to address challenges they may face, and help them prepare for life after graduation. For instance, they teach the ins and outs of playing games functionally, taking turns and moving the pieces where they are supposed to go. They also work on coping skills, winning and losing, learning how to appropriately ask a friend to play with you, and learning how to compromise all while working on communication skills. The teen program also focuses on social skills, trading information by taking turns in the conversation, and recognizing social cues. Community integration is a large component as well; during year round programs, kids get to engage daily with neurotypical peers and during the summer, kids get to experience community integration every day by going bowling or mini golfing, oftentimes riding the bus in order to learn and practice how to read a bus schedule. Rachel says, “We want our kids to be able to use those social skills and then translate them into real situations as well as carry those skills throughout their lives.”

Erika speaks of the “astronomical amount

Meet alex

of people with autism graduating out of the school system and once they graduate out of that, what’s next for them?” Far Northern Regional Center, the organization which serves persons with developmental disabilities in the nine county area, has determined that over half of their clients with autism will be aging out of the educational system. Erika says, “With all these people graduating out, there’s going to be a real need to teach these job skills and help them move on in their careers. So, let’s teach these components and work with getting them jobs.” Little Red Hen has an entire department that helps participants with writing resumes, doing job interviews, and preparing for employment. They are attuned to the need that is coming up very soon for all of these individuals who will no longer have the support they had while growing up. As this need grows, they will be looking at how they can provide more of these types of services because they won’t be able to employ all of the individuals entering the workforce. The organization employs a large number of people with autism, many of whom have been with their programs as children and now, 20 years later, are employees at one of their many locations.

These adult employees look forward to participating in Little Red Hen’s Autism Fair and Children’s Carnival. The carnival will be held at Sycamore Field in Bidwell Park on April 16th from 10am to 1pm. Rachel shares, “It’s all about wanting our kids

Alex Wolk is the talented, charismatic man running the finance department of a company with more than 200 employees. He was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and was the inspiration for the multi-faceted organization that is Little Red Hen. His mother, Teresa Wolk Hayes (also pictured) was passionate about bringing opportunity to others with developmental disabilities, including autism. Alex has worked in the Little Red Hen organization since 2008. He was an early participant in Little Red Hen’s children’s programs and began his career working in the Gift and Kitchen Stores before working as a teen instructor, helping teens with autism interact with others. He graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 2009.

Continuing in his education, Alex earned his bachelors in entrepreneurial and small business operations in 2016 and his MBA in business administration and management 2022, both at Chico State. Alex is proud to admit he’s good with numbers, which is great for the organization where he has so many financial responsibilities.. But beyond all that hard work, there's so much more to be in awe of. Alex is a world traveler, having visited many parts of eastern and western Europe. His favorite destinations are Amsterdam, where he has family, and Cabo San Lucas, where he will be visiting again this April. When he’s not globetrotting or helping run the company, he loves taking his nephews around on errands and shopping trips and adding to his VHS collection.

to feel like part of the community. A lot of times, when you go to these big giant community events, our kiddos can get kind of lost and overwhelmed.” A unique aspect of their carnival will be the sensory stations dotted throughout the space. These stations provide an outlet for the kids to self regulate while they are out mingling and exploring with everyone. For instance, the mermaid wall is covered in sequined fabric for kids to experience tactile stimulation while ‘drawing’ on the wall with their fingers. A sensory walk will present different textures to walk through to give the kids a break from the carnival atmosphere and help them to reset, while music walls constructed from PVC pipes provide an outlet to experiment with sound. In addition to these sensory islands, there will be games, community vendors, and community service resource booths. Princesses from Princess Parties LTD and Star Wars’ 501st legion cosplayers will be there along with a giant bounce house and face painting. It’s sponsored by Edward Jones who covers the cost of all the tickets enabling a totally free carnival experience for the entire community. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to attend and gain a better understanding about autism while enjoying a springtime festival.

We all see, hear, and feel the world in different ways. Autism can present with different traits, and individuals demonstrate varying challenges, strengths, and abilities related to where they fall on the spectrum. They experience the world differently than neurotypical individuals. According to Haley Moss, the first known Florida attorney on the spectrum, “Different isn’t less. It isn’t bad. It’s just different, and different can be extraordinary.”

To support Little Red Hen you can shop at any 6 of their retail locations, as well as shop or donate online at www.littleredhen. org. You can also learn more about the children’s services offered at the LifeSpan Center by contacting Rachel Hoyle at 530897-0900. Visitors are invited to drop in to their Resource Library, Mondays through Fridays from 10am to 2pm, to pick up pamphlets on area resources, borrow from their lending library, or browse available sensory items available to purchase.

The lights begin to dim, and immediately the chaotic fervor of Mulberry Station Brewing Company, one of Chico’s favorite pizza joints, is reduced to excited whispers. The elderly couple in their 80s, seated in the corner at a table for two, turn their gaze from each other intently toward the stage, pausing their conversation entirely. So too do the group of six all-inblack twenty-somethings who had been debating the merits of a recent punk rock album release, so audibly you would struggle to miss it. A farmer and his wife, sitting center stage and enjoying a romantic dinner, neatly follow suit with the click of their cowboy boots. It’s an eclectic group of individuals to say the least, and the remaining 140 souls packed shoulder-toshoulder in the small dining room are no different. From a cursory glance, one would be hard-pressed to find a unifying thread among them, but they are all here for one reason—to see Hypnotique Production’s newest show: A Nightmare on Mulberry Street, and just as the troupe’s name would suggest, the promise of what’s to come has their audience in a trance. It is the realization of Kelsi Judge’s dream—one that has been decades in the making.

A Chico native, Kelsi grew up performing in musical theater from an early age. As a student of performing arts at Chico High and musical theater at Chico State, she pursued her passion, following it to Los Angeles where she quickly found a bit of success in both acting and modeling. Though the allure of the bright lights were enticing, she longed for the connection she experienced performing in front of a live audience and the camaraderie gained from participating in community theater. “There’s something incredibly satisfying and special about making an audience laugh,” Kelsi smiled.

“It’s unlike almost anything else.” As luck would have it, Phil Ruttenburg, of the now closed Chico Cabaret, had an opportunity brewing that would allow her to do just that. “He called me out of the blue in 2007 and said, ‘I have the perfect role for you in our new show. Would you consider coming back for a bit to take it on?’” She laughed, “I didn’t even let him finish. I decided then and there that I was moving back for good.”

Kelsi returned to Chico and took her spot on stage as TaTaTa, a campy and charismatic cavewoman in Phil’s new musical. “It was so much fun to be back in my element.”

Kelsi remembered, “We had such a good

time putting the show together that Phil invited me to stay onboard and hired me as Chico Cabaret’s choreographer. It was honestly a dream come true to be paid to do community theater.” She stayed with the company for 10 years, choreographing, performing, and even doing a little directing in over 50 unique shows. “I learned to trust my instincts as an actor and a dancer.” She said of her time at the Cabaret, “I’ve always wanted to be a comedian, and I’m as campy as they come—it’s what I do best. My time there encouraged me to believe in myself, learn from the people around me, study the audience, and always be a sponge. I took in everything I possibly could during those years, and it helped shape who I am today.”

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and the Chico Cabaret closed shop in theatrical fashion. Though Phil was ready to move on from the Cabaret, he wasn’t prepared to leave the world of performing arts behind, and through that enthusiasm he decided to continue on with a Chico Cabaret theatre favorite, Chico’s Holiday Burlesque and Vaudeville Show. Having worked together for over a decade, Phil again approached Kelsi to be his star performer and choreographer.

HYPNOTIZED HYPNOTIZED HYPNOTIZED HYPNOTIZED HYPNOTIZED HYPNOTIZED HYPNOTIZED

WRITTEN BY AVEED KHAKI | PHOTOS BY MADESON BAE

Naturally, she said yes, and the five years of shows that followed were delivered to nothing but sold out audiences. “The Holiday Burlesque Show gave me what I had always been searching for—true artistic freedom.” Kelsi beamed, “Beyond the choreography and performing, I was able to help with the song choices, costumes, and even had the freedom to create some of my own bits in the show. It was a dream come true!” The show grew and grew until it sold out every show at its largest venue, the El Rey Theater, in 2019. The pandemic, however, brought things full circle, putting a screeching halt to performing arts in general, shuttering venues completely, and making a sixth consecutive year of the show an impossibility. “It was really difficult to not be able to help create something that I had become so attached to.” Kelsi said, “It took the wind out of my sails for a bit, but it also made me realize the true importance of the arts—performing and otherwise—to a community.”

Down but not out, Kelsi took the time to explore what she really wanted out of performing in Chico. “I wanted to produce my own show more than anything, and I kept having this idea of creating one with all female vocalists who did musical theater numbers but with a script attached. Conceptually, it was similar to Holiday Burlesque Show, but rather than individual bits, it would be a larger plot-driven story with a full script.” Kelsi recalled, “I started reaching out to other friends of mine who were singers and performers, and we put a group together. We came up with everything together and hosted our first performance of ‘The Trinity Burlesque’ show on the outdoor

stage at Union Restaurant in Oroville. At the time, it was one of the only places allowing any kind of gathering at all, and it gave us the opportunity to test a lot of things with a very receptive crowd.” The show was wildly successful—so successful in fact, Kelsi decided to get a business license and turn it into something long-term. She named the business Hypnotique Productions, and the group has delivered on their moniker ever since.

In 2022, Hypnotique Productions put on their first show as a full cast—a Valentine’s spectacular titled Eden: Love at First Bite. The production found its home at Mulberry Station Brewing Company for six nights over the span of two weeks. With a live band in

tow, the show featured a bit of everything— music, comedy, camp, drag, and striptease. It also didn’t hurt that some of Chico’s best pizza and beer happened to be on tap.

“With Eden, I realized how well-received this kind of art form actually was by the community.” Kelsi stressed, “Chico was starving for something like that, and the sold out shows night-after-night proved we were headed in the right direction. As soon as we wrapped on Eden, I began working furiously on the one to follow.”

That show—Nightmare on Mulberry Street— was written for the Halloween crowd, and also happened to be where we had our first encounter with the team at Hypnotique Productions. Just like everyone else in the dining hall that night, we couldn’t help but fall under their spell. To say the show would fit in comfortably on the Vegas Strip is nowhere near an exaggeration or overstatement. The performance was reminiscent of Vegas’ Spiegelworld troupe, the multi-award-winning group responsible for three of the Strip’s most sought-after shows: Absinthe, Opium, and Atomic Saloon. Between the camp, adult comedy, musical numbers, choreography, live band, lighting, sound effects, and burlesque, you feel as if you’ve been transported to a highbudget production under one of the spiegel tents. The $35 ticket price is quite honestly the only thing to convince you otherwise, and at one-fifth of the average ticket price for any one of the aforementioned Vegas

shows, you’ll be more than glad to take the journey here at home.

Smart, witty, and unabashedly sexy, Hypnotique’s Nightmare on Mulberry Street couldn’t have been a more welcome Halloween escape. With all eight shows delivered to sold-out audiences, it was the proof Kelsi needed to press forward to her next show, and we couldn’t be more excited she did.

The end of April will see the launch of

Hypnotique Productions’ third show. Aptly named Nebula: An Evening With The Stars, the storyline follows a journey through all 12 signs of the Zodiac as performed by many returning members of the Halloween show’s incredible cast. Described by Kelsi as a campy comedy, it too will provide the myriad forms of entertainment as its predecessors, but she’s quick to note that this performance will be the first without frenzy. “Nebula is the first Hypnotique production that really allowed all of us to dive in and find our footing. We finally had time to think everything through and work to make sure the show was exactly what we wanted. It isn’t as frantic anymore, and I have an established group of people beside me that really know how to help make the show shine.” Kelsi elaborated, “We brought on an incredible photographer, Madeson Bae, and her work really gives everyone an idea of what they can expect from a Hypnotique Productions show. She’s the best there is. Sandii Lynne, who played Lucifer Morningstar, is a PR wizard, and has coached me on how to run PR myself as a small business owner. Their help has been invaluable in the launch of this new performance. The talent in this town is absolutely amazing, and it makes a world of difference. Finally, I want to thank Roland Allen and Allen Gross, the owners of Mulberry Station, for inviting us in, and Steven Locke, their GM, for coordinating everything with us and seeing our vision from the start.”

As one final note of thanks, Kelsi wanted to mention another local company that has been near and dear to her heart— Italian Cottage. This year marks her 20th anniversary as being hired as a server at one of Chico’s most nostalgia-inducing restaurants, and she’s quick to mention they’ve always been a place of support where she knew she could land. “The owners and team have always been my

second family.” Kelsi gushed, “It’s my home away from home.”

Nebula will take place at Mulberry Station Brewing Company, April 20th-22nd and again on April 26th-May 2nd. The 26th will be a special cash-only showing where

tickets are sold at the door for $20 each. Tickets to the remaining dates just went on sale, and if history is any indication, they’ll sell out long before the show itself. They can be purchased online for $35 at hypnotique-productions.ticketleap.com Get yours before they’re all gone.

Additional credits

Kiersten Gama, stage name Ghost Girl, has been inspirational to Hypnotique with her years as a trained, professional ballerina. The way Kelsi and Gama work together makes for the most special, prevalent, and fun choreography you will see. She has made a name for herself as a performer in this area because of her intoxicating stage presence and capturing performances. Gama is also a huge part of the vision behind all that is Hypnotique Productions. Alexander Garcia, stage name Ruby Alexander, is their resident drag queen and MC extraordinaire. Ruby skyrocketed to being a local favorite with his infectious wit and larger-than-life personality. A Hypnotique show would not be the same without him. Jojo Judge has been standing by Kelsi and supporting her through the whole Hypnotique journey from its

start. He is, after all, married to its owner. He has been instrumental in helping with storytelling ideas, building the scripts everyone loves so much, and adding his falsetto and charm to the stage. Hailey Dart, stage name Kiki, was brought onto the team for her dedication and knowledge of social media. She is also their top networker in getting people to their shows. Kiki has been an asset to the PR team and a dream to watch and listen to on stage. Of course, they couldn’t do what they do without the talent and commitment of the rest of their incredible cast and their band: on drums, Jaik Hakkarinen; Ethan Walter, drums; Halfpenny Swett, bass; Aron Linker, sax; Jillian Olivar, keys; Glenn Tucker, magic and back up vocals; plus Samaria Grace and crew who are each a unique ingredient in what the show brings to the table.

Don't cross these off your list!

Raise your hand if you know someone who has cancer right now. It’s a good bet that over 75% know a cancer victim, including yourself. The numbers are astounding. Be it chemicals in our water and food, microplastics everywhere, or electromagnetic frequencies from our phones, computers, or other devices, there’s no doubt cancer affects us all. However, knowledge about what is best to eat has been recently reinforced. Some of the most promising foods that fight cancer are cruciferous vegetables, so named because their flowers have four petals shaped like a cross. And remember, it’s pronounced KROO-cif-erous.

Having had my own encounter with cancer, I decided consuming cruciferous vegetables would be on my menu multiple times per week. After all, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and the like had always been favorites. Easy peasy! But let me warn you: Don’t overdo it!

Cruising through the produce section one day, I noticed a big sign advertising

organic broccoli on sale. Yay! I love broccoli. So I bought a few pounds of dark green florets, took them home, steamed some, and added Vegenaise. It was quite a large portion, but it was the main course. No big deal. The next day I included broccoli at lunch and ate the last of it at dinner. Kinda burned out on it, but I would reap the gut-cleansing benefits later on. But I didn’t. Instead of re-enacting A River Runs Through It, so to speak, the huge amount of fiber bound me up tighter than Willie Nelson’s headband! The bloated, crampy feeling sucked. It took another day until I could free myself of the broccoli burden. Yes, fiber may be good for you, but be careful on how much you consume.

Back to the vegetables. While we’re all familiar with the cruciferous plants mentioned above, there are far more in the group than you may know. Some of the arcane include Ethiopian mustard, komatsuna, mizuna, choy sum, tatsoi, rocket arugula, and field pepperweed. And don't forget the cress family: garden cress, watercress, and the very rare Mike Cress. All of these carry the promising

cancer-fighting nutrients to some degree, and they not only help prevent but battle existing cancers—what can’t Mike do?

The entire family is rich in nutrients like carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Glucosinates help fight cancers such as colorectal, mouth, esophageal, lung, and stomach. An extremely promising study, recently released, indicated that sulforaphane could help thwart the development and progression of prostate cancer.

On top of this, many compounds in cruciferous plants were found to fight cancers of the bladder, colon, and lungs in a study done on rats and mice. (We won’t dwell on how the little critters got the cancer, but it’s safe to say it wasn’t due to smoking cigarettes and chugging whiskey every night.)

Next time you’re in the produce section, take a closer look at the various cruciferous selections available. They look good, taste good, and are good for you.

Caffeinated Chatter

What festival are you most looking forward to this year?

Regan Murray

I’m going to Outside Lands in August, and I can't wait! I went to 14 concerts last year, so you could say I'm a bit of a live music fan. My favorite was Harry Styles in LA. It was the Halloween show where he dressed up like Danny Zuko that was popping up all over the internet. I’m looking forward to seeing the 1975 live at Outside Lands. It's going to be a great show!

Jazmin Cauffield

I'm looking forward to the festival WinterWonderGrass at Palisades in Tahoe! The type of people that are at the festival make it such a good community environment. I grew up listening to bluegrass, and I feel like it can connect a wide mass of people together. Once you start talking about it, you learn a lot of people like it. It’s a very inclusive, feel-good type of music.

Elisa Negahdari

I'm thinking about going to Outside Lands too. This would be my first time, and it sounds like so much fun! It’s in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park which is just beautiful. The lineup looks great too. I love Kendrick Lamarr and Foo Fighters so I know it'll be a great show. Bottlerock in Napa is also on my list, and I can’t wait to go to Worldfest. I haven’t been in years, but my family always used to go, and I can’t wait to get back to it.

Hole in One

Morning Thunder

On the first bright morning we’d seen in what felt like ages, we sought inspiration for the food that would seem fitting to share with you. Since it was still generally cold, windy, and raining all over the Northstate, we were naturally craving a meal that provided comfort and warmth, but we had already explored soup. Not sure where to turn, we decided to go full circle with another breakfast feature. Enter: The bagel sandwich. Full circle… bagel… get it? We headed over to Morning Thunder Cafe where seared and seasoned aromas wrapped us like scarves, and a hot cup of coffee became mittens to chilled fingers. Our objective, ordering the Bidwell Egg, was not difficult to accomplish as it was the first option on their “favorites” menu.

Indeed, a favorite it quickly became. If a cloud aspired to become a sandwich, it would want to be the Bidwell Egg. The bagel isn’t toasted, in fact, it feels like it’d been steamed. It was completely warm throughout, firm enough to hold the sandwich together while being

soft enough that someone with any sensitivity would have a breeze eating. The warm bagel draws in the yolk of the over-medium egg (cooked to order), while the melted cheddar creates a comfort reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons. The bacon was hearty, sharing its saltiness and delightfully contrasting with the other textures. On the side, a bounty of seasoned red potatoes so tender that you cut through them like a hot knife through butter, with a delicate amount of pan charring. I decided to dress them with sparse drops of Chiligods Green pepper sauce, created by Chico State alum Frank Yates.

Morning Thunder’s Happy Days-esque locale is complete with retro lighting features and black and white tile counter facing. It’s been home to loyal foodie fans who appreciate great breakfast and lunch food with excellent service. Be sure to check them out, and decide which mug you’ll want to store on their regulars wall.

Breakfasts

Bellachino's

We moved onward to Bellachinos–a place where many a meeting was held in my early days at the magazine, over a decade ago. The exterior, dressed in bold terra cotta opens to a warm yet vibrant bistro. Colorful chalk art, playful looking menus, and a bustling working space for both eats and drinks—it's a great place to visit often in the California Park area. While we noted in a previous issue that they have the must-try Tangalicious sandwich, we were on a bagel mission. Having had my share of Piggly Wiggly bagel breakfasts, I was excited to check something new out.

We went with a create-your-own, choosing a jalapeño cheddar bagel with bacon as the protein. It arrived, sliced at the center, revealing a rich flow of american cheese. The bagel is a buttery crusted masterpiece. The layer of cheddar toasted on top, and the centers are toasted crisp, perhaps grilled on a panini press. The folded egg balances the mouthfeel of the bagel and the bacon is semi-firm; it’s fat just at the point of

crackling. Halfway through, I noticed what appeared to be a thin layer of smoky aioli between the egg and cheese, while the ingredients were mostly too melded together to investigate further. Served as a bagelwich alone, I didn’t miss having a side to go with.

Besides the huge assortment of teas, specialty coffees, and other beverages, there are plenty of bakery treats or sides if you do need a little more in your meal. They had quite a bit more seating than they had when I went previously, and they still offer one of Chico’s favorite patios—semi-secluded along 8th Street and Bruce Road, among accents of green from the large ferns and other plants. Perhaps you’ll catch us planning our next issue there in the near future. Please don’t hesitate to stop by for a chat if you see us.

70 Years of music

Besides the top-quality music events the Oroville Concert Association brings to the State Theatre five times a year, is the affordability of the $90 season ticket. That works out to only $18 a show. The music is not only world class, but the performances offer a variety of styles sure to appeal to almost everyone.

This season, the series opened up with international piano competition champion Pauline Yang, followed by the Jackie Wilson tribute led by Chester Gregory. Swing piano master Judy Carmichael performed in March, and the season will end on April 23, with a Sail On!, a Beach Boys tribute which is described as “musically sound in every respect.”

The idea of a community concert series was developed back in 1927. The goal was to promote an appreciation of live, quality musical entertainment across the United States. Backed by Columbia Artists Management, Incorporated, the number of concert associations quickly grew into the hundreds nationwide. In 1953, Columbia placed an ad in the Oroville newspaper and scheduled a meeting of interested music lovers. This resulted in the formation of the Oroville Concert Association (OCA).

Membership headquarters were originally located in the renowned Oroville Inn but later changed to Hill Furniture on Bird Street. For many years, concerts were held at Oroville High School and then the Central School gym. Enter the State Theater in 1986 when United Artists shut down showing movies. A consortium of Oroville residents and the City of Oroville purchased the theater and began renovations. Eventually, concerts and other events were held at the theater.

Since the 1980’s, the OCA has contracted with Live On Stage as their agent to book acts. They provide a performance list of 40 artists and the OCA board listens to each group and votes on the top five. The groups will be offered contracts and dates set for their night on stage. The OCA comes up with a varied selection of entertainers each year, and the 202324 season is no exception. This coming season will begin with The Smiths, a male pop vocal quartet on October 22, 2023; The Rice Brothers, a piano and cello duo, November 8, 2023; Maria and Sergei Tekshev, a father/daughter accordion duo playing everything from Bach to AC/DC, February 29, 2024; Key of G Live!, a Garth Brooks tribute, March 15, 2024; and Adam Swanson, four time winner of the OldTime Piano Competition, April 19, 2024. You can preview these artists on the Live On Stage site.

Pam Hanson, a member of the OCA governing group, said, “You’ll always be pleasantly surprised by who performs. They’re the top of the live performance entertainers. These people play so well.” The OCA also offers free afternoon performances to local student groups, where the performers actually tailor the act to school children. The current board is committed to offering the best of entertainment. It includes Linda Ames, Sharon Wedin, Linda Dewey, and Millie Taylor.

The OCA strives to bring great entertainment to the area at affordable prices. In addition to the funding from ticket sales, the group welcomes individual and business donations and corporate sponsors. The membership campaign begins on April 3, 2023. Go to www.orovilleconcertassociation.org for more information.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

APRIL 5

THI BUI: THE BEST WE COULD DO Book in Common Lecture

7:30 PM | Laxson Auditorium

Artist and author Thi Bui will speak about her debut graphic novel memoir

TheBestWeCouldDo. With haunting, poetic writing and breathtaking art, she examines the strength of family, the importance of identity, and the meaning of home.

MASTERWORKS 4: RACHMANINOFF & DVOŘÁK Guest Artist Charlie Albright, piano

Join North State Symphony as they capture in sound the iconic beauty of nature’s endless charm. A highlight for this performance is the World Premier of Lassen Awakes! by composer Marko Bajzer, 2022 Artist-in-Residence at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Bajzer was awarded a co-commission by the North State Symphony to produce this original piece, and it will be performed before a live audience for the first time at this concert.

PROGRAM:

BAJZER - Lassen Awakes! *World Premiere*

RACHMANINOFF - Piano Concerto No. 2

DVORAK - Symphony No. 8

Saturday, May 13 | 7:30 PM | Cascade Theatre, Redding

Sunday, May 14 | 2:00 PM | Laxson Auditorium, Chico

2 PM | ARTS Recital Hall

Italian Serenade Wolf

String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44 No. 2 Mendelssohn

String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 with Große Fuge, Op. 133 Beethoven

Purple Power

Many people have the same misconceptions about Inspire School of Arts and Sciences: That it is a school dedicated to “the arts,” that regular classes aren’t offered, that the school only accepts certain students who possess a unique talent, and that there are no sports at Inspire. Let’s put those ideas to rest. And there’s no one better to illustrate the type of student who attends the school than sophomore Julian Manning.

While Julian (they, them) does possess some remarkable talent in the areas of creativity and motivation, they are also unique in a number of other ways. Julian is enrolled in subjects offered next door at Chico High: creative writing, chemistry, English, Spanish II, math, and world history. What does differ is the outlook on life and school many Inspire students possess. They want to be involved in school-wide decisions and be a participant, not a spectator.

As journalism and student government advisor Brittney Hawkins said, “We have a special kind of student who flourishes in the Inspire environment.” Julian echoed Hawkins’ comments. “At Inspire, you want to work. I’m much more engaged in class than in a typical school.” In fact, students actually have input into what goes on at the school. “You have a voice here,” said Julian. “You can help choose what is going on, and all the students appreciate it.”

What Julian really appreciates is the school-wide support they received in creating the school newspaper, the Purple Pages. The idea came to Julian as a freshman. “We were working on a project, brainstorming ideas, when the thought of a school newspaper came to me. Eventually, with the help of Ms. Hawkins, we put one together.”

Hawkins has high praise for Julian: “In my two years of working with them so far, Julian has proven to be a very driven, motivated, inspired, and creative person.”

Julian’s elementary and middle school experiences definitely helped her prepare for Inspire. Julian attended Hooker Oak Elementary School, where they were in theater and band and Blue Oak Charter, where the transition to Inspire was a natural choice. “Blue Oak focused on a community of students, where close friendships were made but still included hard work in the classroom,” they said.

Julian also attributes their success with the newspaper to their parents, Sarah Ebling and Neal Manning. Grandmother Theresa Manning has also played a motivational role. Julian’s immediate family is rounded out by siblings, Charlie and Ben.

Said Julian, “So many people have been supportive of the Purple Pages. My friends have been great!” In order to pull off the paper, Julian became self-taught in publishing programs Adobe Creative Suite and Printshop. “Print journalism needs to stay alive. The publication is physical for the time being and always will be.” Julian also attributes the success of the paper to friends Gage, Andres, and Phoebe. The plan is to expand the paper and hopefully create a journalism class instead of an after-school club.

You can help the Purple Pages expand by making a donation, buying an ad, or telling your friends. Students can pick up copies and see what articles are coming up so they can contribute to the paper news-wise, and the paper is printed on recycled paper which is good for all of us. You can contact the paper at purplepages@inspirechico.org.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

bring us home

Butte County has an inordinately high number of animals in need of adoption due to a number of factors including wildfires, floods, and irresponsible breeding. Please consider adoption as an option for increasing the love in your own household. These soon-to-be pets can be adopted by contacting the Northwest SPCA at (530) 533-7636. You can also visit their website at www.northwestspca.org

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

APRIL 1

Run the Runway @ 9am

Chico Air Museum

Join us for a one mile run on the Chico Airport’s runway to benefit the Chico Air Museum! See the Chico Air Museum Facebook page to register

17th Annual Cinderella’s Closet Prom Dress Event @ 11am-3pm

Chico Marketplace

1950 E. 20th St. Space B229

Chico Marketplace and the Student California Teachers Association, Chico Chapter, SCTA at Chico State have partnered once again for the 17th Annual Cinderella’s Closet prom wear giveaway for local high school students. Every student deserves to attend their prom, and this event removes barriers that many students face.

APRIL 5

Full Moon Night Hike @ 8pm

Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Ave., Chico

Come experience the light of the full moon and join CARD for a hike in Upper Bidwell Park. As you explore nocturnal animals and some of their unique adaptations, you will also learn about the phases of the moon and soak in the beautiful evening sky. These hikes will meet at Wildwood Park Parking Lot off Wildwood Avenue and will be held on relatively flat terrain. For the full experience and the safety of wildlife, please leave your pets and strollers at home. While all are welcome, these hikes are geared toward adults. Star Finder App and headlamps are recommended. Register online at www.chicorec.com

APRIL 9

Pancakes for CHAT @ 8am-12pm CARD Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico

Join CHAT on Easter Sunday, April 9th for a family-friendly event at the beautiful CARD Center. They’ll be serving up pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, fruit, and coffee, plus a silent auction and an Easter egg hunt in their glorious rose garden. Purchase tickets at the link on CHAT’s Facebook page.

APRIL 14

Creative Fusion Art Reception and Awards

Chico Art Center, 450 Orange St.

This annual exhibit brings together Chico's young, creative talent. This is the only exhibit in our area to display the formative, 8-year span of our youth's creative development in a curated, visually literate environment. Please join the Chico Art Center in celebrating the best and brightest in arts education. Pieces will be on display April 8th-29th.

Owl Prowl

Chico Nature Center, 1968 E. 8th St. Join naturalists at the Nature Center for a family-friendly owl prowl. What a hoot! Kiddos will think like a scientist as they dissect owl pellets in the science lab and learn about native owl species in our area. Don’t miss out, it’s going to be totally owlsome!

APRIL 21

Whiskey River Band @ 6pm

Unwined Kitchen and Bar, 980 Mangrove

Join Unwined Kitchen and Bar for a night of live country music with the Whiskey River Band! What happens when you play country music backwards? You get your dog back, your truck back, and your sweetie back! Come out for boots and booze at the 980 Room!

APRIL 23

Balourdet String Quartet @ 2pm ARTS Recital Hall, CSU, Chico Campus

Currently the artists-in-residence at the prestigious New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program, Balourdet String Quartet is bringing beautiful music to Chico State. The quartet received the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in New York City as well as the top prize in the 2021 International String Quartet Competition “Premio Paolo Borciani” in Reggio Emilia, Italy. With each performer’s list of personal accolades also as long as your arm, it’s sure to be a wonderful afternoon of strings. Tickets available at chicoperformances.com or the Chico State box office.

APRIL 29

Chico Spring Jam @ 1-9pm

The Spring Jam is back at the Patrick Ranch! Bring the whole family down for a beautiful day of fun in the springtime sun. Featuring games, live music, art exhibits, vendors, a car show, kid’s zone, and cornhole tournament, this event has something for absolutely everyone to enjoy. Buy tickets online at blueskyfestivals.ticketspice.com

Small Towne Salvage Spring Market @4pm Orland Memorial Hall, 327 4th St. Orland

This curated vintage and home decor market hosts over 40 vendor booths, bringing you some of the best vintage goods, home decor, and handmade artisan items around! All the vendors are local, small, and family-owned businesses. When you shop you are supporting community!

APRIL 30

Wildflower Century Ride

Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, 2357 Fair St., Chico

The iconic Chico Wildflower Century ride is back again for 2023! Riders can enjoy several route options designed for riders at all ages, stages, and abilities including the Megaflower 125 & Mountainflower 100 for those of you wanting some extra climbing! Registration includes a custom Wildflower

Century Klean Kanteen pint cup, fully loaded rest stops, SAG support, maintenance at stops, and a delicious catered postride meal! Sierra Nevada Brewery will be sponsoring the event this year and will be proudly brewing up and serving their extra special Wildflower IPA at both the Wildflower post ride event and pre-ride party, Wildfest. The Chico Wildflower is a jam-packed cycling inspired weekend made for everyone and we want you to join us! Visit www.wildflowercentury.org for tickets and registration.