Upgraded Living August 2018 by Upgraded Living

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FROM THE EDITOR I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always feel sorry for August. No, it used to be just another wonderful summer month. It posed no threat, meant no harm, even with its sweltering heat and hot evenings. Turning the calendar from July meant a whole five weeks before school would start. It is difficult to conjure up any empathy for a hapless victim that did not see it coming. August became saddled with the burden of now holding the start day for school. Whether the 6th or the 17th, the 20th or the 27th, school, nevertheless, was to begin in the eighth month of the year. Ok, so, as a teacher of 34 years, I adjusted and grew to enjoy getting to summer break earlier. For me, that has always been the best part of teaching and coaching. The fact that they both come with definitive beginnings and endings. I was often scolded for admitting out loud that there was five good reasons to teach: Christmas, Easter, June, July, and August. I never meant it to be derogatory. The start of each school year came with that quickened pulse and nervousness in the stomach. You see, each new year brought six new bells that were going to ring. With that ringing meant not that I was going to teach reading or writing or vocabulary or, whatever. No, it came with the reminder that I taught kids. All kinds of them, each coming from a different place with a different name. Just getting through that first dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roll was a unique experience. I was also acutely aware that those faces and names were going to look different and ring with familiarity on that last day. To be sure, the days in between were a go. The funnest stress I know. That was certainly a roundabout way to let you know that August is our back-to-school issue and, we at Upgraded Living, are excited to bring it to you! Our cover and its story proves a perfect match to introduce the beginning of a new school year. It was certainly a personal treat for me to spend the time with Gayle Hutchinson and then get to tell her amazing story of her rise to the presidency of Chico State. Our pages are filled with all kinds of back to school articles, from picking out the right backpack to a DIY project that will help get your year organized. It includes a metaphorical look at the tools in our shed or garage. In addition, it also offers a wonderful glimpse at what education should look like and how authentic assessment works. This marvelous example came at us in the middle of July in a week long camp for girls at Build.com. You might also notice that the August issue has a pull out middle piece, celebrating the bridal fair at the fairgrounds. It, too, is full of everything bridal, and help with all that is needed to plan and do to become one. The backpage takes yet another turn, a promised personal confession making the golfing incident appear rather tame. Clearly, I have already admitted that I was far from perfect as a young lad and this piece, one that is legendary across a three family span, is clear evidence of that. I most assuredly am both relieved and delighted it is now in print. Just remember, read with joy, and judge lightly. On to September and the promise of the welcome shift to fall.

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief

NERISSA QUINN

STACY PLANCE

Production Director

Writer

JASON CORONA

FRANK REBELO

Sales Director

Photographer

KERILYNN ANDERSON

MICHAEL MEJIA

Account Executive

Photographer

DARREN MICHELS

MICHELLE CAMY

Product Integration & Mobility Strategy

Photographer

ALYSSA WORLEY Social Media Specialist & Writer

BEIRON ANDERSONN Photographer

EMILY HUSO Writer

CONTRIBUTORS DANETTE MOLONEY

NERISSA QUINN

Beauty

DIY

DANIEL ALTAMIRANO

OROVILLE CHAMBER

Cool Kid

OF COMMERCE

DR. VIMALI PAUL, M.D. Skin Care

Community PARADISE RIDGE CHAMBER

FRANK REBELO Health JASON CORONA Bridal

OF COMMERCE Community RENEE MICHEL & JOE SWEENEY Finance

LOREN TEAGUE Health

VERONICA ENNS Bridal

MATIAS CAMPRUBI-SOMS Garden

Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief

For advertising or editorial inquiries, please contact: Upgraded Living at 530.894.8091 Sales@UpgradedLiving.com

CONTENTS AUGUST 2018 COMMUNITY

FOOD

10 Meet Cool Kid William Bearden and learn

61 Shelley’s Creative Catering offers a recipe

how he is turning karate into an art form.

12 We celebrate Dave McDonald’s completion of his bungalow and anxiously await the grand reveal.

78 Our editor takes you right to his childhood backyard for confessions of a mischievous youth—part two.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 22 Try these three ways to make your exercise habits stick—for good.

26 Important information to consider BEFORE you go for those lash extensions.

HOME & GARDEN 56 Discover who are your friends and who is your foe in the wildlife in your garden.

62 Meet Neddy and Jessanna and learn about their secret garden on the ridge.

ON THE COVER: GAYLE HUTCHINSON PHOTO BY: MICHAEL MEJIA DESIGN BY: NERISSA QUINN

62 8

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made for these hot days. These summer garden stuffed peppers will surely delight!

FEATURE 64 Meet Gayle Hutchinson and follow her story right into the office of the president at Chico State.

68 A summer camp devoted to Girls Who Code and so much more!

70 What’s in your Toolbox? Discover just how tools can school your way to a better day to day approach to living.

Dr. Kimberly Lange, DDS General Dentist

650 RIO LINDO AVE. #4, CHICO 343-3137

COOL KID: WILLIAM BEARDEN Since he was 6 years old, William Bearden has been a student of Shorin Ryu Shorin Kan karate for 10 years. Since he was 10 years old, he has been teaching children of all ages, as well as adults who are in need of help learning the ways of self-defense. Will said that karate is much more than just a mechanism for self-defense. “While many may think karate is used solely for self-defense, karate is not just physical, but mental and emotional. Karate is an art form only few can master,” he said. At a young age, Will began karate to defend himself, saying that he was a smaller kid, unable to avoid bullies, and other negative situations. But as he became more and more involved, he became more and more determined, as well as knowledgeable and respectful. Soon he was one of the Haley's Martial Arts top competitors in traveling martial arts, and now is a sensei at Haley's, helping children and adults of all ages in need of assistance. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. “At Haley's, we are not just teachers and students, children and parents, but all together family,” he said. Will is immersed in the lifestyle, his week is packed with martial arts related training and

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teaching. “Every week I arrive at my dojo, Haley's Martial Arts Center, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, as well Friday at 3:15, and teach children until 6:15, which is when I personally go to my own class for my advanced learnings", he said. Will’s skill is evident, having earned a black belt at the age of 16, the youngest you can possibly be to do so. When necessary, he helps to approach kids in extra need. If kids with a mental illness or possibly physical disability are in need, he is able to compensate and find extra ways to help them by working with their personal needs. “Doing a good deed for one person can create a chain of heartfelt events, and that is what I live my life for. To see a smile on one person's face that originally wasn't there is something you can't create every day.” William has been this way ever since he turned 10 years old.

DO YOU KNOW A LOCAL YOUTH WHO DESERVES SOME RECOGNITION? TELL US ABOUT THEM! THEY MIGHT JUST BE OUT NEXT "COOL KID". PLEASE SEND NOMINATIONS TO NERISSA QUINN AT NERISSA@UPGRADEDLIVING.COM NOMINEES MUST BE 17 OR YOUNGER.

ARTICLE BY DANIEL ALTAMIRANO OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB PHOTO PROVIDED BY WILLIAM BEARDEN

Caring Dentistry from Toddler to Teen Years

TOP PHOTO: ON THE LEFT, DAVE & PORTER MCDONALD. ON THE RIGHT, JASON & LESLEY FRENCH WITH KIDS: BRODY, CLAIRE, & ANNIE. BOTTOM LEFT: LIVING ROOM WITH FIREPLACE & EXPOSED HEADER BEAM. BOTTOM RIGHT: BACKYARD WITH COVERED BACK PATIO.

TH E H O M E ST RE TCH

Rebuilding

CHICO 12

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It has been 3 months since Dave McDonald and Jason French first started working on the old Diamond Matchstick Factory bungalow on W. 16th Street. In that short period of time, they managed to tear down the old structure and build an almost entirely new home on the property, utilizing much of the home’s original footprint. Completely finished and ready for its new owner, Jason and Dave invited us over for a sneak peek at the finished product before it hit Chico’s real estate market. We all agreed, the comparison between the old and the new is, not surprisingly, night and day.

From the curb, the home boasts HardiPlank siding and wood trim, along with a new composition and torch-down roof. The old, raggedy front yard has been replaced with brand new sod and a graveled side yard large enough to fit four RVs. The carport comes equipped with a 220V outlet for fast-charging electric vehicles, and the new front porch perfectly announces what a visitor will soon find inside. Completely remastered, the interior of the home blends modern design with craftsman-

WRITTEN BY STEVE K. PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO

TOP LEFT PHOTO: KITCHEN AS SEEN FROM ENTRY. BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO: KITCHEN ISLAND WITH INSET RANGE & HANGING ISLAND HOOD. TOP RIGHT PHOTO: BATHROOM WITH SUBWAY TILE SHOWER & EXTRA WIDE VANITY. BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO: ONE OF THE HOME'S FIVE BEDROOMS.

style touches throughout. Large, exposed dark wood headers complement the 5’ x 5’ dark walnut stained butcher block island that greets you as you enter the home. Quartz countertops, mimicking Carrera marble, connect to a large subway tile backsplash and sit atop fresh white cabinetry with oil rubbed bronze hardware. A farmhouse sink furthers the craftsman styling, while Samsung appliances again provide the modern edge. Newport oak laminate, by Oroville’s Harmonics Flooring, seamlessly flows throughout the

space, connecting common areas to each of the home’s five private rooms. Two bathrooms and a laundry room complete the home’s floor plan, while a tankless water heater and ductless mini-split heating/cooling systems increase its energy efficiency. In all, the home offers five bedrooms and two bathrooms in a total of 1,504 square feet. It will be listed, beginning August 1st, on Chico’s Multiple Listing Service for $349,000. Garrett French, of Chico’s Century 21 Jeffries/Lydon, will host

open houses on August 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th from 12 p.m.–5 p.m., and all are invited to visit! With another home remodel on the books, Dave and Jason have once again beautified a forgotten piece of Chico’s history. Stop by and see the newly finished home for yourself at 428 W. 16th Street, and prepare to be impressed. We’ll look forward to seeing you there!

BREATHE BRAVE Walking through the doors of Brave coffee, I was pleasantly surprised by the refreshingly minimal atmosphere. The clean white walls and sleek black accents provide a simple place for a community to paint their own color onto the canvas. Gentry Morton, owner of Brave coffee, wanted to create a space where the community could “come in and breathe.” The barista takes care to listen not only to the order being placed but also how the customer’s day is going. Community is an important aspect to Gentry’s vision for the coffee shop, and part of the reason he wanted to open a shop of his own.

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Before opening their doors, Brave made the decision to buy all of their products from Temple coffee. They source all their coffee directly from farmers, pay 30% over fair trade prices, and name their coffee after the location and people that have taken great care to grow it. This loyalty to the coffee farming community is a perfect blend with Brave’s mission statement of being a community-oriented establishment. You can see the respect Gentry and his team have for coffee in the care they take in preparing it. The way they see it, coffee is a mix of both science and art. “Our coffee isn't fast food, we craft each drink to order.,” says Gentry. Making the art of coffee accessible to the community is why they will be hosting various events within the next couple of months. They will host events such as coffee education classes and delicious late night dessert coffee and tea pairings featuring many local favorites. I suggest following them on social media

to stay up to date on all the new and fun activities this soon-to-be local favorite has to offer. See you at the coffee shop. FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO STOP BY FOR A HAND CRAFTED COFFEE, VISIT BRAVE COFFEE LOCATED AT 615 MANGROVE AVE #100 IN CHICO OR CALL 530.965.5539. DON'T FORGET TO CHECKOUT THEIR WEBSITE BRAVECOFFEECHICO.COM & FOLLOW THEM ON INSTAGRAM @BRAVECOFFEECHICO

WRITTEN BY STACY PLANCE PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MEJIA

The twenty-five year old Chico-born coffee aficionado moved to Sacramento, and over the years worked at a number of different coffee shops. He gained most of his coffee experience and knowledge from working at Temple coffee. After a few years, he decided to move back to Chico craving the life and overall energy of his hometown. After moving back home, he continued to research different extractions and brewing methods. This led him to start making cold brew in his garage and eventually selling to friends, family, and neighbors. He missed the community aspect of working in a coffee shop and knew his passion for coffee wasn’t lessening, so he decided to start the journey of opening his

own business. As a young entrepreneur, it was a struggle to be taken seriously and it took awhile before he found a home in the coffee shop’s current location on Mangrove. After about three months of painting walls, designing the interior, purchasing supplies and making sure they had everything ready to go, Brave opened its doors in June.

WRITTEN & PHOTO BY STEVE K.

of marble. Few of us are faced with life or death situations throughout our lives, and even fewer at such an early age. As a testament to his level of determination, he chose to live, and fought to do so. Joey returned to Chico High as a junior, with half of his face paralyzed and devoid of the strength that had helped make a name for himself in high school sports. The energy he spent on football, which just three months prior consumed his world, was completely reallocated to recovering from his devastating injury. With it, he decided to put his dreams of professional sports behind him. Joey’s close friend, Nicky Fox, and her family, took him in and helped with his recovery. In his words, “It was the first time a family showed me what true love really was.” This experience changed his life, and through their support over his senior year, he fully recovered and once again began working to build a life for himself. To this day, he regards the Fox family as his own. Joey moved to Sacramento, but the stay was short lived. He quickly found himself missing his friends, the endless abundance of trees, and the friendly nature of his hometown. He moved back in 2008 and sold beds for Sleep Train Mattress Center over the following 8 years.

Pooling His Assets A Chico native through and through, Joey Allen grew up like so many of us did, playing basketball with the undeniable surety that he’d someday be the next Michael Jordan. He attended McManus Elementary School before Chico Junior High, where he found his cadence in wrestling. The sport carried him into high school where his level of determination allowed him to quickly make a name for himself at Chico High as one of the strongest athletes both on the wrestling mat and the football field. It was clear by the end of his sophomore year that football was his true calling, and college ball beckoned as a sure thing. He took on a job through ROP at the end of his sophomore year at a local granite and marble store hoping to make some extra money for the summer, and was offered the opportunity to join the shop’s crew in delivering six 500 pound marble slabs to a cemetery in Redding. Naturally, he accepted. As they approached the cemetery, he noted its name—St. Joseph’s—and the mortuary across the street from it—Allen’s Mortuary. At the time it seemed like a funny coincidence that he shared his first name with the cemetery and his last name with the mortuary across from it. They parked the truck on a slight grade and unloaded the first three slabs, but when they went to unload the fourth, the weight of the A-frame holding the slabs shifted, causing the slabs to fall off the truck, crushing Joey and pinning his head between the curb and 1,500 pounds 16

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Knowing there was something more for him, he reached out to a close friend, Joe Greer, who owned a local pool and spa servicing business, wondering if he needed an employee or wanted a partner. As serendipity would have it, Greer was moving to Hawaii and planning to sell the business. Joey told him he wanted to buy the business, but without the money to do so, knew the wish was a little more than a pipe dream. Greer and his wife discussed the matter and called Joey three days later, offering to finance the business with zero down and payments over the following 24 months. Shocked at the offer, Joey promised to do everything in his power to make the business an even bigger success. He took over at Greer Pool and Spa Services in June of 2016 and worked tirelessly each day that followed, determined to do just that. Dedicated to providing the

"Joey is our pool guy and he does

a thorough job! Our pool is always sparkling clean, balanced and very inviting looking!" –Linda Allen

same level of impeccable customer service Greer had provided prior to his purchase of the company, he began laying the foundation for expansion, introducing the company to pool owners throughout Chico and providing a weekly service subscription model that made it easier to keep pools sparkling clean year round. For an average price of $125 per month, Greer Pool Services will visit your home each week to check the chemistry of your pool and make sure its chemicals are balanced, ensure proper circulation by cleaning all baskets and assessing filters, and maintain the cleanliness of your pool by sweeping, netting, and brushing it. All you have to do is hop in and enjoy. Two years since purchasing the business, Joey has accomplished exactly what he originally set out to do. Fully licensed and insured, he’s grown the business to 130 weekly customers and recently hired his first employee to help service the pools under his care. Humbly, he credits his success not to his own drive, but to the love and support of people like Joe Greer, his wife Danielle, and the entire Fox family whose den he’ll forever be a part of. His new goal is to grow the business even further, hire two more employees, and double their clientele yet again. Considering his determination in everything else, we have no doubt he’ll do just that. FROM GREEN POOL CLEANUPS TO MAINTENANCE, JOEY AND HIS TEAM AT GREER POOL SERVICES ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUALITY, RELIABLE, AND TIMELY SERVICE THAT YOU CAN DEPEND ON. IF YOUR POOL IS IN NEED OF SOME TLC, GIVE THEM A CALL TODAY AT 530.717.3449 OR EMAIL JOEY DIRECTLY AT JGPOOLGUY@GMAIL.COM.

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WRITTEN & PHOTO BY STEVE K.

continuous human interaction. He found everything he was looking for in optometry and decided it his true calling. He applied and was accepted at Southern California College of Optometry in 2014 and met Riley during his first year there. The two have been inseparable since. They were married in 2016, graduated in 2018, and went hunting for their new life together. Having only driven through Chico in his college years, Brad was pleasantly surprised by how much it reminded him of his hometown. Built around agriculture, and with plenty to do in the great outdoors, it seemed like the perfect place to work, and eventually, raise a family. Luckily, Riley felt the same. They were both offered positions with North Valley Eye Care, which they accepted, and the two began working for the practice full-time in June. Brad is now working at North Valley Eye Care’s newest location, Feather River Eye Care, in Yuba City located at 901 Maple Avenue. Originally opened by ophthalmologist Ronald Kalayta, M.D., the practice has long stood as Yuba City’s premier eyecare destination. Brad, the doctors, and staff at NVEC are looking forward to continuing that history of service and trust for the Yuba City and Marysville communities.

Brad Hamar North Valley Eye Care's

All of us at Upgraded Living love a good power couple story, as evidenced in our February issue this year. There’s just something about two people supporting each other in life’s endeavors, sharing the good and the bad alike, and remaining visibly madly in love that we can’t get over. One of our favorite February power couple members delivered the term, “grotesquely in love,” and we fell in love with it. Since then, we’ve been on the lookout for other couples who displayed that same level of affection for one another in the way they talked, interacted, and considered their significant other. We were recently delivered one such couple in Brad Hamar and Riley Bullert by the good folks at North Valley Eye Care . Both doctors, we profiled Riley in our July issue so, naturally, it’s only fair to introduce Brad to our readers as well. 20

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Originally from Visalia, Brad remained rooted throughout his childhood. Born and raised in the exact same home, he grew up tending to animals and riding dirt bikes on his family’s 3-acre ranch. He didn’t spend money in search of fun or much time inside, instead, he ventured outdoors and made due with whatever was available in nature. He played baseball in his younger years and found his way into water polo when he entered junior high. The sport ended up propelling him to Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, and later, Concordia College in Irvine. Eventually, he found his thoughts falling upon his future. He came from a big family and wanted to find a profession that would offer the time and flexibility to have a family of his own. Being the social type, he also needed

Asked about what he enjoys most about his new job, Brad replies, “I love working with the geriatric population. They tend to share more and always have great advice to give that only comes from a life filled with experience. I’m looking forward to getting into diabetic and glaucoma eye care as I really enjoy those fields and there’s a strong prevalence of it in Yuba City. I couldn’t be more excited to work here and have the opportunity to meet all new faces from kids to those that are 100+ years old.” We couldn’t be more excited for Brad and Riley’s new life together in Chico, and the youthful energy they’re bringing to the practice at North Valley Eye Care.

IF YOU NEED YOUR VISION CHECKED OR ARE IN NEED OF EYE CARE, SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING NORTH VALLEY EYE CARE IN CHICO AT 530.891.1900 OR NORTHVALLEYEYECARE.COM, RIDGE EYE CARE IN PARADISE AT 530.877.2250 OR RIDGEEYECARE.COM, OR FEATHER RIVER EYE CARE AT 530.674.8170 OR FEATHERRIVEREYECARE.COM.

YOUR HEALTH YO U R E XC E R C I S E H A B I T S

So you just overcame the hardest part of a new healthy habit, getting started. Now, how do you keep it going?

Write it Down

What do you want to accomplish? What is your goal? These are great questions to ask yourself if you want to make a new habit stick. Take some time to think, and write some answers down in a journal, post them to a bulletin board, or even on the bathroom mirror. The key is that you want it to be in a place where you will see it every day so that it serves as a constant reminder of what you are striving towards. Bonus: Post your goals to social media, and tell your friends. Make that public declaration to everyone why you have started this new healthy habit. The more people that know about your goals, the less likely you’ll be to quit. They will be your cheering squad, and similar to an accountability partner, they will check in with you at random times to see how you are doing.

together with you. This person is going to be one of your greatest allies, even if they are a beginner just like you. Commit to them and their goals too. It’s easy to give up on yourself, but you’ll find it harder to give up on someone else. They’ll be counting on you too. Pro Tip: Find someone who is a regular gym goer, runner, or attends a regular class that matches up with your schedule. They already have these habits in place, and a great resource to hold you accountable.

Failure to Plan is Planning to Fail

Dedicate time each day to your exercise goal. Choose how many times a week, and what times during those days that you will commit yourself to your goal. Block those times out, either in a day planner or your phone’s calendar and set reminders in your phone. With an empty schedule, it’s easy to forget about your exercise commitments. However, with that time slot reserved, you’ll find yourself planning around you exercise instead of over it.

Find an Accountability Partner

Now that you have a told everyone what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it, find someone who would want to do it with you. Ask around, say your goal is to run a 5k, see who would be interested in doing it 22

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HEALTH ADVICE

VIA

FRANK REBELO

Frank Rebelo is a health coach at Refuel Nutrition located at 206 Walnut Street unit A in Chico. He specializes in nutrition coaching, meal planning, and offers free fit camps. Stop by Refuel Nutrition today and talk to Frank about your specific fitness goals.

YOUR HEALTH LOOKING & FEELING YOUR BEST

"Vampire" Procedures Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) and platelet-richfibrin-matrix (PRFM) are used to stimulate healing and rejuvenation of the skin by using the powerful growth factors from our own blood platelets. When used in conjunction with microneedling, the PRP or PRFM can be applied topically for correction to fine lines and wrinkles, scars from acne or injury, and texture or pigmentation issues. PRP and PRFM can also be injected into the skin like filler for contour deficits and to regenerate new cells and promote collagen growth. Your own blood is drawn, (hence the "Vampire" designation) then spun in a centrifuge to separate the different components of the blood. Then the pure plasma is either injected or applied topically with microneedling. We use the Infini microneedling system, which emits radio-frequency waves into the skin through tiny needles that create a channel for the plasma to be absorbed. Your skin will be radiant, firm, and healthy, with minimal post-procedure downtime. The results will last up to 18 months, and skin is stronger and more resilient after treatment. Since your own blood product is being used, there is no danger of "rejection" or an allergic reaction to either topical or injected application. The growth factors from the blood platelets help to grow new collagen, fatty tissue, and blood vessels, so you will have a more youthful, glowing appearance. Microneedling + platelets + amazing skin! Call the Derm Bar Med-Spa for more information. DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530.342.2672

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Summer is sweeping by and your child is probably already telling you which backpack they want for the new school year! It’s the one with the coolest designs and oversized compartments. Like most people, you probably let your child pick out that backpack without thinking twice about the potential “hefty burden” it can place on your child. Backpack injuries caused by overloading and improper use send more than 5,000 adolescents to the emergency room yearly! Over 22,000 sprains, strains, and fractures were treated by health professionals due to backpacks in 2013. Reported injuries include mild to severe headaches or migraines, muscle strain and sprains, low-back pain, extreme neck discomfort, muscle spasms, and numbness. If not corrected, these short-term injuries can lead to serious chronic conditions. According to several health organizations, a child’s backpack should not exceed more than 10 percent of their body weight. So, if your child weighs 115 pounds, they should not carry more than 11.5 pounds on a daily basis. This recommendation is virtually unknown to parents and is often exceeded, leading to a multitude of acute injuries. Surveys of middle-school children have found that a majority carry an average of 18–30 pounds. Here is the predicament at schools. Many have no lockers, or very few, so that kids have to share. My child has told me on numerous occasions that she only has three minutes to get between classes and has no time to use her locker. This means your child is likely lugging his or her entire backpack full of books and binders around daily. This cumulative effect of excessive weight can, and will, cause injuries by compressing the

spine unnaturally. You can see this effect by small physical changes in your child’s posture or demeanor. Some easily identifiable signs your child’s body is plagued by an overloaded backpack are: rounded upper back, shoulders slumped forward, head/neck protruding forward, child looking fatigued and rubbing their neck and shoulders in discomfort. Much of this is caused by too much weight, but also by improper use. I have treated many kids who admittedly use one strap slung over one shoulder, or who use both straps loosely with the bag dangling down to their knees. Both cause excessive stress on muscles and joints. As a Chiropractor and parent, I can tell you the likelihood for these injuries increase if our children are not physically healthy. Two things I make sure of in our home: 1. We cultivate a family culture of being active, strong, and healthy. 2. We choose an appropriate backpack together, and they understand how to use it correctly. This results in buying a mid-size backpack that cannot be overloaded; one with compartments so weight can be evenly distributed; one with two wide padded adjustable straps; and one that has an adjustable waist belt. Lastly, you must assess your child’s backpack weight monthly. Keep in mind that while your child might want to look their best, you want your child to feel their best!

HEALTH ADVICE

VIA

LOREN TEAGUE

For more information, visit Dr. Loren Teague DC,CCSP at Synergy Chiropractic located at 1881 Esplanade #B or call 530.345.1274.

WRITTEN BY STEVE K.

is expected by June 2018; the remainder of the United States will continue receiving cards through April 2019. Once you receive your new card, destroy your old card immediately by shredding it. Do not throw it into the trash without shredding first as this is a common way for scammers to obtain information. The new Medicare numbers will not change Medicare benefits, and recipients may begin using their new card when they receive it. Ronda Kramer, Director of the Passages HICAP Program (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program), says "Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card as they are likely not legitimate representatives. Medicare will never ask you for your personal or private information in order to send out your new Medicare number and card. Make sure your mailing address is up to date to ensure that you receive your card safely. If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security by visiting www.ssa.gov/myaccount or calling 1.800.772.1213. TTY users can call 1.800.325.0778. Finally, understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at different times than your friends or neighbors."

Placing a Barrier Between

You & the Scammers Personal identity theft is a growing risk in the United States and seniors are one of the more heavily targeted age groups. In fact, people age 65 and older accounted for nearly 2.6 million identity theft cases reported in the United States during 2014 alone. Medicare fraud has long been one of the frontrunners when it comes to personal identity crimes, but the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are looking to change that with a new program aimed at combating identity theft and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

personal information by using numbers and letters to create a more secure identifier that is considerably more difficult for hackers and scammers to generate. Perhaps more importantly, it relinquishes the need for your Social Security number on the card, placing a stronger barrier between scammers and your personal information. New Medicare cards will begin arriving in mailboxes starting in April 2018 with staggered mailings throughout the year. In California, completion of the mailing process

If you need assistance regarding Medicare or the new Medicare card and ID number, contact your local HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) by dialing 1.800.434.0222 or 530.898.6716. HICAP, the Medicare counseling program at PASSAGES, has state registered counselors on hand to help you understand Medicare or resolve problems with benefits. Perhaps best of all, they have resources on government programs that reduce your medical costs and their counseling is both confidential and free.

"This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0052-01-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy."

Starting April 2018, CMS will remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and begin mailing new cards directly to Medicare recipients. These new cards will include a new Medicare ID number that is unique to each individual Medicare recipient. The alpha-numeric ID helps safeguard your 25

YOUR HEALTH BEFORE YOU GET EXTENSIONS

If you’re thinking about getting lash extensions, do some research. Many people just jump right in and try to find the cheapest place. There are many things to consider prior to making an appointment. Find out what kind of lashes and adhesive the tech is using, what they know about lashes, and if they are licensed and lash certified. It is best to find someone who is licensed and lash certified to do them. The initial appointment can take from 2–2.5 hours. After that, the fills can take up to 1–1.5 hours depending on how many lashes are being applied. With the initial service, the lash tech will go over paperwork and find out what look is best for you. Show up to the appointment about 10 minutes early to go over paperwork and make sure your eyes are cleaned and makeup free. There is a lot of upkeep that comes with having lashes. If you want them fuller, it is suggested that you get a fill every 2–3 weeks to keep up that look. With the extension being applied to your natural lash, it will shed as your natural lashes shed (approx. 3–5 lashes per eye per day). The price for lashes here in Chico ranges from $120–$250 for a full set. Possibly more. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the procedure, experience, and product. After all, these are your eyes. If you have sensitive skin, don’t be afraid to ask the technician to perform a patch test. (Applying 10–15 lashes on each eye 1–2 days prior to full appointment). Some tend to have a reaction to the adhesive. There are different ones out there, be careful. If you do have a reaction, you can go to your doctor and they can give you a cream called Dexoderm that should clear it right up. 26

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Many people think that you can’t wash your eyes after getting lashes. This is not true! You aren’t supposed to get your eyes wet 24–48 hours after the process. After that, it is suggested that you brush them daily with a spoolie and wash them with an oil free cleanser (ex: Johnson’s no more tears baby wash) to keep them in the best shape. Anything used around the eyes that contains oil will loosen and break down the glue, and cause your lashes to fall off prematurely. Also avoid sleeping on the sides of your face, this causes premature fall out. You should not need to wear mascara with the lash extensions. Some people feel that, as they shed, they want a more full look until the next appointment. If you do need to wear mascara, no waterproof at all. Use only on the tips and do it lightly. Using mascara at the base will be harder to remove and become clumpy. Make sure to get the mascara off prior to your next appointment. You also need to be careful when you rub your eyes. It puts tension on your natural lash, and tension may risk the possibility of ripping out your natural lash. Be gentle. Do not pick at them! The biggest myth is that they will ruin your natural lash. They do not! If they are applied correctly and taken care of, this will not damage the health of your natural lash. Lashes are fun. Find the right person to do them!

BEAUTY ADVICE

VIA

DANETTE MOLONEY

Danette has had her Cosmetology license for 10 years. She specializes in lashes and owns the Butterfly Kiss Boutique located at 10 B Williamsburg Lane, Chico. To make an appointment with Danette, call 530.680.7036.

HELP!

I’ve Fallen In The Doughnut Hole There’s good news! If you have Medicare, you know what this is. Many Medicare beneficiaries reach the coverage gap, also known as “doughnut hole” during the year. What this means is that they are paying a much higher co-pay for their prescriptions after they reach the $3750 drug coverage limit. The drug costs from $3750 to $7508.75 during the coverage gap period are subject to discounts of 65% for brand-name drugs and 56% for generics. However, some prescriptions are still too high for the average older adult living on a limited income. Once they have spent a total of $5000, prescription costs dramatically are reduced, and costs can be as low as 5% or $3.35 for generics and $8.35 for brand-name drugs. Following are some tips to reduce your prescription costs during the coverage gap: 1. If you are taking a brand name drug, ask your physician or the pharmacist if there’s a generic equivalent. 2. Ask your prescription plan if there’s an alternative in their formulary that costs less. If there is, get the prescription name and ask your doctor if it is OK for you to switch. 3. Find out if there is another pharmacy that could give you a better price. Plans have contracts with many pharmacies, but not all. 4. Ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter (OTC) equivalent, if there is one. For example, OTC insulin could be just as effective and could cost you under $50, depending on the pharmacy. If there is an OTC equivalent, you can submit a claim to the plan for some potential reimbursement. 5. Some drugs qualify for Patient Assistance Programs from the manufacturer, where costs could be significantly reduced or eliminated. 6. In all situations, Passages HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) is available to help you maneuver through the doughnut hole. Call 1.800.434.0222.

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FLORAL ARRANGEMENT BY CHICO FLORIST PHOTO BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

UPGRADED LIVING’S SUMMER/FALL 2018

Bridal Guide

B R I DA L S H O W | A U G U S T 1 9 | S I LV E R D O L L A R FA I R G R O U N D S 33

WRITTEN BY STACY PLANCE

What to Do If Your Guests Don't

You have chosen a venue, set a date, and put your invitations in the mail. At this point, there is only so much planning you can do until you hear back from your guests and have a solid head count for the wedding and reception. So what do you do if some people just never respond? If it is a few days past the deadline to RSVP and you are still waiting for replies, send out a personalized follow-up email to each guest. Be direct. Simply say you need to know whether or not they will be attending in order to finalize table assignments and give the caterer and venue a final head count. If the delinquent guests do not reply to your email within a few days, it is time to start making phone calls. This way, you can get a definitive yes or no from the guests themselves. Have the groom call his guests while you call yours. Unfortunately, there is a chance a few guests who did not RSVP or who declined the invitation will still show up unannounced. To reduce stress on your big day, have a hostess check guests as they arrive and inform those who are not on the list that they can wait to see if there are any no-shows. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to be strict with guests who break etiquette by failing to RSVP or let things slide and make adjustments to your plan as needed.

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FROM ONE BRIDE

TO ANOTHER Congratulations! You just got engaged and starting the planning process of one of the best days of your life is both exciting and daunting. I know because I have spent the last year planning my own wedding. The best advice I can give to you is, breathe. Planning a wedding may become stressful at times but it is important to remember that this day is about you and your partner. Here are a few tips from one bride to another. I would recommend downloading a wedding planning app to help guide you through the planning process. I chose to use The Knot because it not only provided me with a very helpful checklist of wedding to-do’s, but I was also able to link my registries and create a wedding website. Having everything in one place has made it a lot easier when I try and look into something I have already decided on or still need to do. I also recommend having some sort of binder or file where you can put all your hard copies of contracts, ideas, menus etc. I found a very helpful wedding binder at Michaels complete with budget table, checklist, and pages for brainstorming ideas. It is also a great idea to create a Pinterest board dedicated to wedding details that you like. This will help you figure out your wedding style as well as being really fun.

The first decision you both should make is when you want to have you wedding. The exact date may come when you decide on a wedding venue but you need to figure out what time of year you would like to get married. Once you have decided when you want to get married, the next decision is where. Venues tend to book up quickly so my advice to you, in order to ensure you get your favorite place, is to start searching as soon as possible. Talk to your partner and decide on a few details such as whether or not you want to have it inside a banquet hall or outside in the park. Look at as many locations as possible, decide on your favorite place, and then book your day. In conjunction with deciding when and where, you should also have the conversation with your partner and those helping you with the wedding about the budget. It is important to decide on a rough estimate in order to keep your spending on track. The one thing I suggest spending a good amount of time and money on is finding a proper photographer. At the end of the day, the photos are all you have and spending the time to find the right person will definitely pay off in the end. At times, planning will seem overwhelming; trying to make a number of decisions, juggling multiple people’s opinions, and trying to stay on track with your timetable. Just remember, it is important to communicate with your partner, even if it may seem hard or a potentially messy conversation. I’ve found that planning a wedding together has had its many ups and downs but in the end we have become a stronger couple because of it. Use the tools you have to help you stay on track, ask for help when you need it, and have fun with it. Good luck & congratulations!

A Plan Fit For You We’ve all been there, wanting to look and feel healthier, but finding the motivation to stick with a plan to be somewhat difficult. We have tried cutting carbs, consuming weight loss drinks, going to a Zumba class but never returning, and still we stay the same. Maybe it isn’t that we lack the motivation to continue on our health journey, but that we don’t have the proper knowledge of what is going to really work for our bodies. At Basis Health & Performance, they believe that finding the appropriate nutrition and workout plan for each individual person is a key ingredient to success. They focus on improving the longevity of a person’s mobility and joint strength while also providing a proper nutrition plan based on what does or doesn’t work for your body.

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The small group personal training aspect of Basis provides a comfortable and non-

intimidating place to workout without the flashy impersonal classes that rarely seem to work. Membership includes access to every class that is offered. Seeing as the class size ranges from 4–20 people, you will always receive the attention necessary for receiving a complete workout. Coaching and personal training is available to those who want to pursue a professional career, overall health, or even slimming down for a specific event. My recommendation is, if you are tired of bouncing from one plan to the next, and want to both look and feel good, then Basis Health & Performance is something to check out. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BASIS HEALTH & PERFORMANCE 117 E 20TH STREET IN CHICO OR CALL 530.636.0850.

WRITTEN BY STACY PLANCE PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO

At Basis they have four different class types: nutrition, Kinstretch, conditioning, and strength. The most important thing in health and fitness is setting up a proper nutrition and sleep plan. Basis helps you create personalized nutrition plans to find out what foods are inflammatory to you specifically, what carbs work for you based on blood glucose test, and what macro ratio work best based on your history, genetics, and metabolism. The next step is focusing on improving mobility, injury proofing your joints, and strengthening the body. They focus on mobility through Kinstretch and recovery-based conditioning options help with the general aches and pains of life by lowering the stress level. “Those aches and pains are a function of not using your joints to their fullest extent.” says coowner Grayson Strange. Kinstretch has also become a necessary part of training for most athletes in the professional circuit because it

prevents injuries and extends the life of their frequently used body parts. The conditioning theory is that you need high frequency and varied intensity, not high intensity everyday. The benefit of varied intensity levels allows people to train more frequently, train recovery, and avoid overtraining and losing motivation. “Sprinting is great, but we shouldn’t neglect endurance: humans are built to out endure not out sprint other animals.,” says co-owner Sarah Strange. The strength class is set up to blend bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongman with Kinstretch to reduce the risk of injury. They focus on appropriately assigning exercises and progressing in increments.

What Good Decision Didn’t Start With Tequila? So I’m somewhat of a tequila nerd and I also like to find options to otherwise popular drinks. Sure, you can throw in a cucumber, fresh berry mix or jalapeno into your margarita or you can wow your guests with something they will (or perhaps, just might) remember. Let’s talk about the incredibly refreshing and intriguing Paloma. The unsung hero of Mexican cocktails is pretty and also quite simple to make in its classic and varied forms. Here’s how I like to mix this one together. Start with a good, 100% agave blanco tequila. To accentuate the herbaceous, pepper and citrus of this spirit, we’ll need acidity. Because grapefruit juice isn’t enough on its own, we’ll throw in a splash of lime and sweeten with simple syrup. Finish with a rose lemonade or grapefruit soda to add some bubbles. Get creative, offering Fentimans or Bundaberg rather than Squirt. Pour all ingredients over ice into 12 oz glass of choice: • • • • •

1.5 oz blanco (silver) tequila .5 oz lime juice .5 oz simple syrup 1.5 oz grapefruit juice Finish with grapefruit soda

Cheers to happiness, love, and peace!

Vibrant Blooms for Every Occasion

“My relationship with flowers started early,” Krista begins. Involved in the floriculture Program at Chico High School, she also participated in competitive floral design through the Future Farmers of America. She ranked top three in the state and has been making waves in the industry ever since. Acknowledging that she had a unique, perhaps innate, sense for floral arrangements and design, eventually led to purchasing her own shop. Hired at Chico Florist in 2004, Krista quickly moved up to manager. Two years later, at just 26 years old, she bought the company. 38

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“There are often times when I stop, look around the shop and know that I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Everything has worked out to this, through the good times and hard times; it’s always worked out,” she says. The sweet staff at Chico Florist love their jobs because of the natural relationship that evolves with their customers. Many of life's most emotional moments involve flowers; weddings, anniversaries, new babies, and funerals. Fresh blooms are there for it all. It takes a lot of focus to ensure every bouquet they hand over is beautiful and crisp. “A typical day in the shop is all about prioritizing. We’re receiving flowers every day from wholesalers, then processing, cleaning, and consolidating the flowers.” Let alone the delivery coordination (up to 24 a day) and designing. “I often run on adrenaline and caffeine,” she laughs. Some people like to be involved in every aspect of their bouquets, while others prefer

to be hands off in the process. At Chico Florist, they’re happy to help either style. Their shop is open air and customers are invited to be a part of the design. “Our coolers are always open!” Krista says. For customers who call in with an order, they’re more than happy to text a picture of the arrangement before it goes out. Krista says, “Our job is to provide people with a piece of art to express their feelings! We want to make sure they like it.” And if you appreciate locally sourced blooms, you’ll love these arrangements. Many of the seasonal flowers used at Chico Florist come from their private farm. For any remaining needs, they look to growers along the coast, as well as Sacramento. Chico Florist receives flowers daily, Tuesday through Saturday, to ensure freshness. Cheers to vibrant, healthy blooms for every occasion! CHICO FLORIST CELEBRATED TWELVE YEARS OF BUSINESS ON MAY 2ND. WE WISH THEM MANY MORE! TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHICO FLORIST VISIT CHICOFLORIST.NET.

WRITTEN BY ALYSSA WORLEY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

For centuries, flowers have been given as symbols; for love of course, but also condolence, friendship, and congratulations. When you receive a bouquet, those first seconds spent admiring the various colors, textures, and fragrances are timeless. Somebody who cares deeply for the moments a person spends admiring gifted blooms is Krista Knecht, owner of Chico Florist.

WRITTEN BY STEVE K. PHOTOS © CARTER HOUSE INNS & RESTAURANT 301

Eureka! A Retreat from the Heat

As summer temperatures stagnate in the triple digits, and they did for nearly the entire month of July, there is little on anyone’s mind aside from one word: escape. While the rising temperatures simultaneously test the limits of thermometers and our sanity, a cooler destination beckons from California’s nearby coastline. Eureka, an early 1900’s port city, has no shortage of enticing opportunities; the most alluring of which is undoubtedly its cool coastal temperature, with days averaging a high between 64 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit at this time of year. Unlike in our neck of the woods, such welcome temperatures encourage you to spend extended time outdoors, perhaps visiting the Sequoia Park Zoo with its primates, pandas, and walk-through aviary; cruising upon the early-1900’s Madaket Ferry on Humboldt Bay; lounging on the Pacific beaches; or traveling to Sequoia Park for the enormous old-growth redwood trees. With so much to see, finding the perfect place to stay is a must, and the Carter House Inns prove to be not only that, but also as historical as the town they reside in. Built by Mark Carter in 1982, the Carter House was designed to match a set of plans found in a Eureka thrift store. The plans belonged to San Francisco’s Murphy House, a home completed in 1885, but destroyed by the massive earthquake and subsequent fire in 1906. Mark intended for the home to be his family’s residence, but due to delayed construction and the incredibly high costs of Victorian moldings, he and his wife, Sherri, decided to open their doors to visitors and operate the home as a 5-bedroom bed & breakfast. They quickly found that the business was their true calling. As the years went by, Mark and Sherri began expanding the business, purchasing nearby properties and adding them to their list of lodgings. The first of these purchases was a property in 1987 that sat at the opposite corner of the intersection and came to be known as the Hotel Carter. With 23 rooms, a large reception area, and space for a restaurant and bar, it was the ideal investment 40

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for growing their hotel portfolio. The Carters continued their expansion by purchasing and renovating a number of homes in Eureka’s historic district, eventually opening Carter Cottage, Bell Cottage, and Annie’s House, each with its own unique style and offerings. Today, the Hotel Carter serves as the central point of the couple’s properties. It is home to Carter Gardens, which provides chefs at their onsite restaurant, Restaurant 301, with herbs, salad greens, microgreens, and edible flowers. Recognized for its innovative seasonal menus, superb service, and farm-to-table philosophy, Restaurant 301 has been given the prestigious Grand Award by Wine Spectator Magazine each year since 1998. As of this writing, the restaurant’s wine list has over 3,800 wines, including 5 red varietals from the couple’s own winery, Carter Cellars, that have been awarded a perfect 100-points by wine

critic, Robert Parker. The hotel recently added a beautiful full bar to complete its dining experience, and is one of the few places one can find Kentucky Owl Bourbon, a deliciously rare spirit made from a prohibition-era recipe of the Dedman family, one of Kentucky’s original distillers. Perfectly situated in of one the most refreshingly chilled climates California currently has to offer, the Carter House Inns provide a wonderful getaway at a time when we could use it most. Whether you’re looking for stunning architecture, hospitable lodging, award-winning dining, or some of the best wine and spirits the world has to offer, you’ll be sure to find it right in the heart of Eureka’s historic district. For more information on the property, their myriad offerings, and reservations, visit them online at carterhouse.com or call 1.800.404.1390.

Keeping Your Wedding Budget In Check You can have your cake and eat it too; if it’s in the wedding budget that is! From the very beginning, having a clear budget for your wedding is a necessity because it not only keeps everyone on the same page, it also gives you some parameters in order to prioritize what areas are the most important to you as a couple. There are scads of great wedding budget tools out there to get you started. Keep in mind, there can be a few things that most budget templates leave off: such as, delivery fees, rental usage/maintenance fees, and shipping costs for all of those must-haves you found on Amazon or Etsy. Here are some tips to keep your budget in check throughout the planning process and to avoid any stress when it comes to paying for everything that you’ve booked. 1. Create the budget before you book your venue: Couples who booked the venue before creating the overall budget can find that, either due to the venue not providing the same amenities that others do, or maybe not fully looking at the per person cost overall, can quickly dictate the remainder of the budget. 2. Estimate food and beverage: If you have your mind set on a china package for dinner service make sure that you have discussed not only the food costs but any additional labor and fees with your caterer at your estimated guest count. This will tell you if you need to scale back on a less elaborate appetizer display or maybe select disposables instead of china. When serving alcohol, talk to your planner or to your caterer if you do not have a designated bartending company so that you can start putting some estimates together for alcohol quantities including ice, cups, and the set-up for kegs or other bar supplies. 3. Read your invoices and contracts carefully: This will ensure you have a good understanding of what is included and what isn’t. If you are comparing two catering quotes, be sure to look 42

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at the food cost vs. labor cost and whether service, gratuity or taxes are included. Another example is that if you are planning to hire a band and their contract states that certain additional equipment, such as a stage or generator is required for power; you may want to make certain that you have enough in your budget to cover any additional items. 4. Plan for all that “other” stuff: This includes water bottles or a beverage station for ceremony guests, sunscreen and bug spray for outdoor weddings, perhaps votive candles that aren’t included with your decor rentals, printing some of your engagement photos for your welcome table, etc. By keeping some additional money available for miscellaneous items, you will be prepared over the last few weeks for all the small details. 5. Say no to anything that doesn't jive with what you envision for your day. If you do not care for wedding favors or a lot of extra decor, then do not think twice about scratching it off the list and keep it simple! Once you have the budget together and some general quotes/invoices; start tracking your deposits and payments as you reserve your date. Then if you would like to start making payments on the bigger items that are not guest count specific, such as your venue, photographer, Photo Booth, etc...You will be slowly paying things off ahead of time. If you have a wedding planner, you can meet periodically to discuss budget and ensure that everything is on track and know that you are prepared for each next step along the way.

WEDDING ADVICE

VIA

VERONICA ENNS

Veronica Enns is the co-owner of The 530 Bride. The 530 Bride team offers wedding planning and design services in Northern California. Learn more about their services and helpful planning tips on their blog The530bride.com

Color Palettes

What can make your cake, invitations, and decorations even more stunning? The perfect color palette! Choosing a color scheme will not only give you a beautiful look that is truly “you,” it will help you make decorating decisions with more ease and certainty. Inspiration is everywhere! Try looking outside of the wedding realm at everyday color combinations that you’re drawn to.

Wedding Moment? W H AT ' S Y O U R F AV O R I T E

There were so many amazing moments! One of my favorite being when we were taking our wedding photos in the crosswalk on Broadway. We were surrounded by everyone we loved and were having a great time! People at Tres Hombres were cheering us on and we just had a dance party in the middle of the street! Now it is so nice to go through that intersection and remember that amazing April day! –Hannah Kuiper-Morgan My favorite thing about our wedding day was the people we spent it with—our friends, family, and each other. It was a million degrees out that day (1150 to be exact), but we didn’t care—we were high on love. 6.8.13 baby! –Cyndee Mendonca Douglas 44

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We just eloped in Yosemite. We had to hike into our spot (dress and all) on what seemed like the hottest day on the tallest, flattest rock we could find. We loved the intimacy of just being ourselves and saying our vows and afterwards we decided to hike up a little further to a swimming hole where we literally took the plunge! I was surprised when he followed me in! This picture is us laughing about how much we regretted getting in the freezing water. –Kristin Leah Coley Having our ceremony at Bidwell Presbyterian Church in front of all of our loved ones and my husband stumbling on every line of our vows that Pastor Brian gave him. He was so nervous, but adorable. –Kelly Locklin

My favorite moment was when my husband and I stepped away from our guests after our ceremony to enjoy our first moments as a married couple. It was so amazing to share our day with our closest family and friends but we made sure to focus on what the day was all about, being together with each other forever. March 19th, 2016 was one of my best days. –Maddie Coleman The best personal moment of our wedding day was the moment I walked down the aisle, and Marc was finally able to turn around to see me. Not only did I get to walk down the aisle with my dad, but only our guests and bridal party were able to see me as I took the beginning steps down the aisle. It wasn’t until I was about 20 feet away when Marc got the

‘Okay’ from our pastor to turn around, and had that special moment to himself to see me walk down the aisle. I feel like it really made the anticipation so much stronger, but also allowed him to have a special moment to himself. –Meg Giampaoli Our favorite moment of the day was sitting down at dinner with all of our favorite people gathered together under one roof. We were able to be present in the moment, soak it all in, and embrace all of the emotions—it was the one moment where it seemed like time stood still. So surreal and special! –Natalie Konyn My favorite moment was after the ceremony. We went on a small boat around the lake and were able to calm our nerves after emotions ran high. Our guests enjoyed cocktails and horderves while we had a moment to ourselves. –Grace Marshall My husband kissing my mother-in-law!! She had been emotional all morning. He went over to console her. The love and help that she offers this family is beyond anything I could ever ask for. Thank you Lori for shaping the perfect man for me to marry! –Janeene Hudson Having a small wedding with family. –Brittany Harford What a beautiful day it was! Our favorite moment was having all the people who we love and cherish all together! It’s an overwhelming feeling of emotions when you think about all these people came to celebrate us and love us unconditionally. –Amy Watts

I loved all of our friends and family coming together to share a very special love between two people. –Stephanie Lapp Finishing our night on our friends and families shoulders while Miley Cyrus sang We Can't Stop. –Marcella Kennedy My favorite moment was having my dad walk me down the aisle to marry the love of my life! –Danielle Barr Being introduced and running into our reception to No Sleep Til Brooklyn by the Beastie Boys! –Heather Selzer Singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the end of the night with 15 tipsy friends and one mic! Epic. –Kelley-Rose Sexton Our favorite moment was getting our wedding pics and video back and reliving our beautiful day all over again. –Judy Tatom Having the Chico Community Band play on the banks of Big Chico Creek as I got married at the amphitheater. –Luann Manss DiRienzo My favorite moment from my wedding was when we were all settled in, eating dinner in the mountains under a canopy of redwood trees, and looking out amongst all of our amazing friends and family and realizing they were there to celebrate us and our commitment to each other! It was a wonderful feeling on the greatest of days.10.01.05 –Ricki Pavis Birdsill

Eloped. So married by a Justice of the peace wearing a leisure suit with blue and white pants and a red jacket. It was 45 years ago, so he was in style. –Jackie McClain

Help Plan Your Big Day! Whether or not you have decided to splurge on a professional wedding planner, you are going to have your hands full managing all the details leading up to the big day. Luckily for you, modern technology and the glorious internet have got your back. Work smarter by utilizing these top free websites & apps. • Use Pinterest to keep track of wedding inspiration. When it comes to wedding planning, Pinterest is your best friend. Create online pin boards to curate your favorite wedding ideas in one place. Use the online sharing option to give your groom or wedding planner access to the boards, so that everyone is on the same page. • Manage wedding finances with Mint. It is too easy to start racking up costs when it comes to wedding planning. With this free, user-friendly app, you can create a budget and track your spending. • Create a free wedding website with The Knot. Use this industry-leading tool to create a custom website where you can direct your guests for information and to RSVP.

Been married 27 years...we're getting old...I'm forgetting, but every time I look at him I'm sure glad it happened! –Jennifer Thayer We were married on a cruise ship and, during our ceremony, dolphins were jumping outside for all of us to see. –DeAnna Passalaqua Orlando

The Best Websites & Apps to

We love hearing about your big day! A special thanks from all of us at Upgraded Living, for sharing your favorite wedding moments.

• Organize your tasks with WeddingHappy. This comprehensive app will help you create a timeline for your wedding. Set deadlines, get reminders, track payments and share your planning progress to other social media platforms. This app does it all!

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COURTNEY FAITH

Courtney Faith E X T E N D I N G B E A U T Y O N E L A S H AT A T I M E

It is no secret to anyone who has spent time applying makeup to their face, that eyes are an absolute time killer. Between liner, mascara, shadow, and curling, half of the time spent on the average facial makeup routine is usually spent on eyes alone. For many, this can account for hours spent each week in front of a bathroom mirror, or worse, a rearview mirror. For those who find themselves searching for the perfect look without the necessary time, eyelash extensions can be an absolute godsend as they remove the need for most eye makeup. Courtney Faith has been helping friends and clients recoup that time by providing eyelash extension services since October of 2017. Born and raised in Chico, Courtney Faith found her passion for art early on while attending school at Bidwell Junior High. Winning multiple awards at the Silver Dollar Fair, and eventually having her work displayed at the county courthouse, she quickly realized others appreciated her art as much she enjoyed creating it. When she began attending Pleasant Valley High School, she put her artistic talents to work online, creating textures in a popular online game called IMVU. The textures garnered the attention of thousands of players, eventually encouraging her to sell them on the game’s marketplace. She made several hundreds of dollars in the first three weeks and realized that art could be lucrative while continuing to be an excellent outlet for her creativity. She continued making and selling her art on the platform through 2015, before graduating and deciding to expand her love of art into a career. Courtney explored a number of options, but having always been awed by dermatology, decided to train as an aesthetician, as it combined her desire to work with skin and utilize her artistic talents. She was introduced to lashes, makeup, and waxing halfway through the course, and immediately fell in love. As a results driven individual, focusing on lashes made perfect sense as you could see immediate results from the work she was doing. She graduated with her aesthetician license in 2017, earned her certification, and began offering extensions in October. Since beginning her business, she has built an impressive book of clientele and a large portfolio of classic, hybrid, and volume extensions. In classic eyelash extensions, an individual lash is applied to each of the client’s lashes; with volume extensions, a fan of smaller lashes is applied to each lash, significantly increasing fullness of the eyelash area. Finally, in the hybrid model, the same smaller lash fans are applied to every other lash, resulting in a full, but less dense, version of volume extensions. The procedure takes between two and three hours, based on the state of the client’s lashes, and extensions can last up to four weeks. With pricing that starts at $100 for a set of classic extensions, it’s well worth the time savings and hassle spared each month. Should you be a bride or bridesmaid in a wedding, like so many are at this time of year, it’s also the perfect way to alleviate some of that pre-wedding preparation stress. Courtney operates her business at Rising Beauty Salon, located at 1324 Mangrove Avenue in Chico. Appointments can be made through 46

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StyleSeat by visiting styleseat.com/courtneyfaith or calling her directly at 530.520.1425. She is quick to point out that many people have a misconception about eyelash extensions ruining your natural lashes. “If you have them applied correctly by someone certified to do so” she says, “your original lashes will be perfectly fine. When it comes to lashes, it’s important to have someone who knows what they’re doing.” As we’ve discovered time and again, this advice holds true for everything in life.

IF YOU’RE A BRIDE-TO-BE, BRIDESMAID, OR SOMEONE WHO WOULD JUST LIKE TO REGAIN SOME FREE TIME AND ALLEVIATE A LITTLE DAILY STRESS, GIVE COURTNEY FAITH A CALL AT 530.520.1425. AS HER CLIENTS ARE SURE TO TELL YOU, YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

WRITTEN BY ALYSSA WORLEY

time limit. From the first course to dessert, attention will be locked on all the funny quips and sentimental stories that make your couplehood unique!

Hot/Cold Weather Even the best planned wedding can contain surprises. There’s a reason the lyrics “it’s like rain on your wedding day” are from a song titled, Ironic. Depending on the season of your wedding, here are a few tips to prepare for anything the skies could release. If your wedding is in the fall or winter, place umbrellas nearby so that guests can open them up as needed. Towels are also a great item to have on hand for wet surfaces or damp hair. Guests can grab them for their chairs or personal items. Also double check with your caterers (if you have one), to make sure they have water proof food storage or dish covers. Goodbye soggy tea sandwiches! On the opposite spectrum, we all know how harsh summers in Butte County can be. Blazing sun, lack of shade and temperatures over 100 degrees can make for an uncomfortable setting. Dehydration and heat stroke is real, so providing your guests plenty of options for hydration is key. Additionally, customized paper fans can be both a sweet decorative touch and easy way to keep guests happily refreshed.

Lag Time

Common Wedding Day Complaints &

HOW TO AVOID THEM Your wedding—it’s one of the most monumental moments in life and also potentially one of the most stressful. Things do not always go as planned, but we are here to help you foresee any possible hang ups.

Long Toasts “What a gorgeous wedding! But the speeches were so long … grandpa fell asleep!” Personally,

toasts are one of my favorite parts of any wedding. I love seeing the father of the bride tear up or maid of honor gush about how these two were destined from the beginning. However, on the occasion that the speaker has a few glasses of champagne, these words of endearment can take a while to get through. A great way to keep guests attention is to guide your speakers on an appropriate

There are many moments throughout a wedding day where time is unaccounted for. After the ceremony, when guests are arriving at different times to the reception, there is often a break in the action. This is a great opportunity for your friends and family to mingle and have some fun. Games, like corn hole or life size Jenga, add a distinctive touch and are a pleasant way to actively take up some time. Cocktails are another option to keep guests happy. Provide two specialty drinks; one that is the bride’s favorite and another that is the grooms. Cheers! Regardless of what happens on your wedding, make sure to take a moment for yourself during the day. Breathe deeply and remember that the reason people are here is to celebrate the lifelong commitment of two people they love. All of that stress will melt away as quickly as the buttercream on your first bite of wedding cake.

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N E W AG A I N K I TC H E N REMODELING PRESENTS HOUSE CALL:

Putting Down New Roots Originally from the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Rosemary Driskill moved to Oroville in 1991, excited to chase her love of water sports on Lake Oroville and the Feather River. She purchased a 1948 charmer on the eastern side of town, and content with her new arrangement, settled into life in her new home. It wasn’t long before she met Bud Willett, a Bay Area transplant who had also recently relocated to the area. The two fell for each other and Bud moved into her home. They lived together for years before getting married in 2010, and as so many often do, they eventually fell out of love with their kitchen. Between the linoleum flooring, metal cabinets, and worn butcher block counters, it should come as no surprise that the two grew weary of the space. Small renovations throughout the rest of the home had brought it into modernity, but the kitchen continued to hang onto its roots. They decided it was finally time to change that. Having read a number of New Again Kitchen Remodeling renovation stories in Upgraded Living, they decided to visit their showroom first and met with store manager, Ric Powers. Recently retired, Rosemary and Bud both needed the kitchen to be more accessible or “elderly-friendly,” as Bud put it. They wanted a better flow and more usable space that they could enjoy throughout their retired years. CONNECT

Ric understood fully and drafted a couple of different designs that would best make use of the space they had, while delivering the things they needed most. Neither Bud nor Rosemary wanted to manage a number of sub-contractors, so they were pleasantly surprised to find that not only were Ric’s plans exactly what they were looking for, but that all parts of the job from demolition to finish work were completed by New Again’s in-house construction crew. They selected the plan that best fit their tastes, decided on colors and materials, and readied themselves for their kitchen to be made new again. The New Again team arrived on schedule and broke down the entire kitchen. They removed the linoleum flooring and replaced it with Australian Cypress vinyl plank flooring that would hold up beautifully against water spills and clean up easily, which was important considering the kitchen’s usual pet traffic. Five new can lights were installed in the ceiling which beautifully illuminated the couple’s new gray Shaker cabinets, calacatta quartz countertops, and Jeffrey Alexander door hardware. A custom tile backsplash was added by New Again’s tile expert, Victor Cabrerra, and as the photos above show, it really tied the kitchen together. Start to finish, the project took less than 10 days to complete; Rosemary and Bud couldn’t have been happier. Asked about their experience with New Again, Bud quickly responded, “They did a great job! Their price sounded good considering all of the work needed to demolish and rebuild an entire kitchen. The crew was confident in their work and they did what they said they would do, but most of all, everyone was honest and so easy to work with.” Rosemary continued, “We wanted new solutions rather than new problems, and they delivered! The crew was so skilled and detailoriented, plus they were very conscious of

their scheduling and making sure everything was done in a timely manner. We absolutely loved working with them, and I’ve already recommended them to so many friends.” With another remodeled kitchen on the books, New Again continues to set the standard for kitchen and bathroom renovation in Butte County. If you’re looking to start a home improvement project, and want a one-stop shop with impeccable service like Rosemary and Bud did, call New Again Kitchen Remodeling at 530.899.2888.

NEW AGAIN KITCHEN REMODELING | 2502 PARK AVE, CHICO, CALIFORNIA 95928 | 530.899.2888

Chico has long been a town of vision and growth when it comes to the development of local businesses and the town itself. For those of us who haven’t been around long enough to see the growth first hand, having people like Georgie Bellin and Frank Ross around is an important resource for us new generation of Chicoans. Equally important as well to potential new businesses looking to invest in Chico’s future. With over four decades of experience here in our town, it is safe to say this brother and sister commercial real estate duo is an integral part of not only our past but also most certainly our future. Now that they have merged with Century 21 Select Group and their 33 offices, they will be able to offer a substantial amount more networking and marketing for clients looking to buy and sell commercial properties.

working at the real estate agency, got her license and began showing people houses via her bicycle. In the middle of her real estate career, she was appointed a member of the Chico planning commission and served as mayor of Chico from 1985–1987. During her time on the council, she was involved in the planning and development of the mall and the surrounding roadways. Frank, after having worked a number of years in the corporate world negotiating contracts for commodity purchasing, decided to move to Chico, retire, and play some golf. Georgie, on the other hand, saw the value in Frank’s corporate world expertise and decided he needn’t retire. Frank’s ability to speak the corporate language combined with Georgie’s knowledge of the city was going to create the perfect commercial real estate pair. She was right.

Georgie Bellin graduated from good old Chico State with a degree in economics. During her time as a college student, she worked part-time at Sears & Porter Real Estate where she practiced her shorthand skills while sitting in on meetings with local legends such as Ted Meriam and Harlen Adams. After she graduated, she continued

Commercial real estate agents never just sell you a building or property, rather they provide valuable information about the community. Frank jokes, “Angie’s List should be changed to Georgie’s List.” Oftentimes, their team helps clients find tree trimmers, engineers, electricians, movers, etc. The relationship created between broker and

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CENTURY 21 COMMERCIAL GROUP AT 1101 EL MONTE AVE IN CHICO, ONLINE AT SELECTCOMMERCIALGROUP.COM. OR 530.899.5931. FRANK ROSS DRE #01014400 GEORGIE BELLIN DRE#00449992 ©2018 CENTURY 21 SELECT REAL ESTATE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CENTURY 21® AND THE CENTURY 21 LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OWNED BY CENTURY 21 REAL ESTATE LLC. EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WRITTEN BY STACY PLANCE PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MEJIA & PROVIDED BY CENTURY 21 SELECT REAL ESTATE

The Perfect Blend

client is one that often flourishes through years of specific property requirements, complicated issues, and long escrows. In their merging with Century 21 Select Group, and the opening of Century 21 Select Commercial Group, Georgie and Frank have been able to utilize its vast network and marketing team to ensure a confidential and informative transition for any business looking to move in or out of Chico. The marketing department uses myriad forms of advertising in order to assure clients are able to sell and buy all over the world. In addition, the network’s many divisions in locations such as Reno, Tahoe, and Sacramento region, has created an easy in-house transitional environment for clients looking to move or relocate. Georgie and Frank’s extensive knowledge of Chico joined with Century 21 Select Commercial Group broad network and countless marketing tools offers clients a world of resources.

Technology—Changing the World Since the Beginning of Time

BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ®, FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP

Innovation and technology have been the catalysts for virtually all human progress since the beginning of time. However, when a new technology emerges, it disrupts our way of life, and can cause anxiety as the full effect of the change is unknown.

innovation mechanism by which new production units replace outdated ones. Change is usually good but at first can seem radical and unnecessary—especially as we age and the way we are used to doing something completely changes.

However, technology drives growth and is nothing to fear. Depending on one’s age, there are so many things we each take for granted that would have been unimaginable twenty years ago.

Today, families living 5 miles apart or 5,000 miles apart can share, in real time, the happenings in each other’s lives. We can monitor our homes and close our garage doors from anywhere in the world. Despite how scary change can be, focusing on the positives can help alleviate some of our fears.

The potential for growth and new technology is massive and with it will come destruction of old businesses and products. Over the past decade we’ve seen headlines almost weekly from media outlets around the world casting the same fear…a dystopian future where technology takes over our lives and jobs. Technological growth has rapidly accelerated over the last 100 years and the changes seem to be constant. This constant change is often referred to as creative destruction, which is the continuous

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 2452 Lakewest Drive, Chico, CA 95928 530-342-2900 | 800-333-2901 | (F) 530-342-3925 | rmichel@amgchico.com | www.sweeneymichelamg.com 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.

DIY BY NERISSA QUINN PHOTO BY MICHAEL MEJIA

WHAT YOU'LL NEED FOR THIS PROJECT: • • • • • • •

Mirror (any size) Paint (color of your choice) Black chalkboard paint Chalk pen Blue masking tape Paint brush Newspaper

DIY DIRECTIONS: For this quick craft, I visited Well Worn in Downtown Oroville, and found the perfect foundation for our menu chalkboard! First, lay down newspaper in the area you will be working. Set the mirror on top of the newspaper and use the blue masking tape to mask off the border of the mirror closest to the frame. Apply paint to the frame of the mirror then let dry. Apply as many coats as desired until you achieve your ideal coloring. Once dry, mask off the framed area that was just painted and paint the mirror with the black chalkboard paint (note: make sure to apply as many coats as necessary so that the mirror doesn’t show through! It took me two heavy coats). Let dry and then personalize away! We use our board to plan meals for the upcoming week so that we can stay on top of our busy life! Other possible ways you could use this board are for grocery or chore lists. Any little bit of organization can help when preparing to jump back into the new school year!

FOR MORE DIY INSPIRED PROJECTS, VISIT WELL WORN AT 1887 MONTGOMERY STREET IN DOWNTOWN, OROVILLE.

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oin us in one of our many classes…

Furniture & Sign Painting Mixed Media Jewelry Making Paper Crafting A

eeker's

BOUTIQUE AR

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6424 Skyway in Liberty Plaza Paradise 916-622-7894 View Classes and more on our Facebook page

OPEN Wed–Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 55

W I L D L I F E I N YO U R G A R D E N :

Friend or Foe? While we know that deer and gophers can wreak havoc on a garden, bees are generally necessary for pollination, and yellowjackets will actively defend your plants from caterpillars and the like. It’s vitally important to maintain an awareness of the unsung heroes of the garden: Microbes. We are surrounded by them and full of them at all times, and a healthy soil should have ~75,000 species of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi represented in any given spoonful. There are steps that you can take that will ensure that your garden is full of these wild allies. First off, start a compost if you can. If space is an issue, look into worm bins. When given just two minutes of attention per day, these things won’t produce any unpleasant odors, and will provide trillions of helpers to be sent to work in your garden. Take it to the next level by spending time out in healthy wild places. When you find a patch of earth that is particularly vibrant, take just a handful of soil and bring it home in a cloth or paper bag, allowing it to breath. You’ll be bringing billions of wild organisms home to help. You can simply stir this into a 56

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bucket of dechlorinated water, and spread that "tea" around your garden, or add it to your compost as an inoculant. When the microbiome is thriving, your plants will thrive, and pests will generally prefer to seek out the sick and weak plants, whose natural immunities are low. Our friends the bees, like us, are dependant on the right microbes to help them maintain optimal health. This is why it is generally important to stay away from harsh chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. These chemicals can kill microbes in seconds, severely weakening your gardens natural defenses, and opening the doors to pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Beneficial fungi can promote better nutrient uptake and water retention, as well as suppressing harmful fungi, thereby reducing the need for fertilizer and fungicides. Some bacteria will thrive on the above ground parts of a plant and actively defend the host from pests, reducing the need for pesticides. Remember: there is no "out there". We are in it. We are a part of the world. By separating yourself from the "wild", you deny your agency for affecting change in the world. As Mahatma Ghandi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

GARDEN ADVICE VIA M AT I A S C A M P R U B I - S O M S Visit Matias at Chico Gardening Center located at 3028 Esplanade in Chico.

BRE Lic #00596703

See these homes on virtual tour at my website!

Broker Lic #01912741

“Effie was an awesome advocate as our Realtor; she was on our team the whole way through the purchase and even after. She took every step possible to make our home-buying process smooth and simplified. We appreciate Effie’s attention to detail and excellent communication. Effie made sure that we found our dream home, paid a fair market price, and that all inspections requested were performed in a timely manner. We highly recommend Effie for your next purchase!”” -George Selland

Expect to be impressed. Superbly appointed in an exclusive community of fine estates, this elegant home was built to exact specifications with almost no regards for cost. As you approach the house, you will fall in love with the peaceful ambiance of the beautiful koi pond and its waterfalls. The massive, double door entry will welcome you to a stunning residence offering exceptional detailing throughout. This beautiful home features all the amenities one could want, including radiant, heated marble floors, imported Brazilian mahogany pillars, dramatic ceilings, formal room,neighborhood formal dining room, a family by room with fireplace, Intoxicating view! Where the eagles soar, this captivating residence Tucked away in living a upscale & sheltered majestic kitchen with granite counters, doublehome. convection oven, trash compactor, and sits shielded behind iron gates. This home is truly magnificent with trees, here you will find your dream This beautiful home bar. The master ers dual his is &loaded her closet, a jetted tub,about is eating designed for and indoor/outdoor entertaining and with towering ceilings,The walls of glass, gleaming wood floors,ofathis lavish livinghave Bidwell Park Onesuite MileoffPool are vanities, near your doorstep! Time forgot this charmer. formal living and dining rooms home and a walk-in love the fully-equipped home theater, the wine room, formal & informal dining, gourmet kitchen, granite counters, upgrades. Youshower. willblack loveYou the generously proportioned rooms, the and held numerous tiewill parties and entertained many friends families. Guests must have marveled at the generously sized rooms, stunning cellar, andwood the dumbwaiter. A wholeliving house fan,dining central vacuum, A/C units, gorgeous floors, and the the formal and rooms, the2cozy designer hood,is3with fireplaces, 6” interior car garage and swan water fixtures, customsystem leaded glass windows. Old-fashioned? It certainly its built-in cabinetwalls, work2HVAC, that has3been polished for 2 water heaters, and security will keep thismaster home perfectly family room with intercom it’s fireplace, guest quarter, expansive suit, more all onan almost 2 acre parcel. The ambiance is peaceful with decades, oversized double French doors leading to the dining patio, and library with built-in shelves for your books and mementos. Here, every suited to you with at allcan times. The backyard is centered around entertaining, with a views of sunsets & city lights. You will breakfast on the patio watching large kitchen lighting, breakfast nook over looking a beautiful room yard, is fipool, lled with classic appointments thatall refl ect memories of workmanship, pride,ranges and elegance unobtainable today’s homes. Minutes gorgeous waterfalls, and covered private 3 car garage, gated R.V.gazebo. parking on almost one ace the mountain & Sutter-Buttes. At nightinsimply relax & enjoy your Bed: Bath: 3.0 Lot offrom total everything privacy. Chico has to offer, this home can be yours for a short time. unobstructed view of the 3.0 star-speckled sky.SqFt: 3,468 Price: $699,000 4.0 Bath:3.0 Price: $749,900 Bed: 4.0 Bed: Bath: 3.0 SqFt: SqFt: 2,5014,367 Price: $487,500 Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,389 Acreage: ~2.0

PENDING The lake is only seconds away from this beautiful home! Tucked away Pirates will squeal & scurry for this hidden treasure! The delightful, large in neighborhood, a friendly neighborhood, this immaculate home offers an open Golf porch course,oflake walking trails are provides just a stone throw away fromgreat this inTucked a quiet this well maintained home offers a darling front this&gorgeous great income producing investment properties with zero percent vacancyhome. factors are just ahome throwinrelaxation away fromand theaChico State flThese oor plan, highperfect ceilings,for large living days room, ansitopen kitchen with an island, a stunning Tucked away instone’s a cul-de-sac a prestigious gated porch, summer to upon and relax. Inside place to get to know your neighbors. With soaring 10 andneighborhood, 12 foot campus. This welltop maintained apartment complex consists of 2 individual fourplexes, each with their own separateproportioned parcel number, and can fi ve burner gas cook and a double ovens. Seller has made many upgrades this home off ers an open fl oor plan, generously rooms and you’ll find an open floor plan, high ceilings, tile counters, and wood ceilings, this home features walls of glass windows providing ample to this darling home which includes all new appliances in the kitchen, new abundance of windows for natural lights. As you step into the house you be purchased together or separately. The fourplexes are located next to each other, one at 620 W Sacramento Ave. and the other at 1019 flooring throughout. Tile floors in the kitchen and bathrooms, fireplace natural lighting, crown molding throughout, bamboo flooring, a cozywill shower head, bathroom newer carpet and some falleach in love with the spacious living cozyhave fireplace, with itsindoor sunny Mechoopda. Both properties are identical to each other, offwindows. ering 4 units, with 4mantel, bedrooms and 2room baths.and Allits units their own infaucets, the living room, walk-in closet,sink, mater bath with dual sink,new separate fireplace with built-in bookshelves, cabinets with glass doors, The master bedroom is located in the fi rst fl oor and two other bedroom are breakfast nook and the formal dining room. In addition, this home also ers laundry with side-by-side and dryer, garbage disposal, heater, and and acentral heat laundry, and air. a New roofoff was shower and a tub. The yard iswasher maintenance freerefrigerator, so you can dishwasher, enjoy life a darling kitchen,water 3 bedrooms loft, indoor beautiful on the second floor.time Theby yard is beautifully ersenjoying asee lushinvestment lawn, patio a family room that can beZen-inspired easily intoSqFt: an offi10,454 ce plus or aPrice: bedroom. The installed onmore both buildings in January oflandscaped 2018. Thisand isoraoff must property! Bed: 32.0 Bath:turned 16.0 landscaping Lot $2,190,000 by spending the lake canoeing, fishing, just with fountain and 24th car garage. a bubbling spa, water fountain, 2 large sheds and an oversize side yard. updated kitchen and bathrooms have slab granite counter tops and custom walking the paths around the area. Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,516 Price: $279,900 tiled flooring. Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,899 Price: $399,000 Bed: 2.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,346 Price: $269,000 Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.5 SqFt: 1,739 Price: $309,000

PENDING Two commercial properties. The This home features granite Intoxicating views of Mt. Shasta Mt. Lassen!! This well maintained This through 5 multi-family unitofconsists of a single family home with 3 bedrooms, bath and a Chico fireplace plusand a Nested 4-plex. Each of the 4-plex units Step theAC entry home and experience the history of 1this antique charmer. in theone coveted Avenues, first parcel has 1.6 with athis delightful counter tops, laminate flooring, home sits on 10 acres of total privacy. Featuring a large living room off ers 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and fi re sprinklers. The assessor record shows the year built for the 4-plex to be 1989, however the year built for the this home has been enjoyed by numerous Chico generations. From its cozy kitchen with granite counters to its newer dual pane windows, 600 Sq ft. building structure that crown molding, security system, with a free standing wood stove, a newly remodeled kitchen with front house is and unknown. In just heater thecentral lastand couple weeks, the units in thethis 4-plex were updated with beautiful slab granite countertops, new security new gas water stainless steel appliances, home exemplifi es the quality of fi ne homes. You will love the was built insystem, 1979 has been heat and air, dual pane granite counter tops, custom cabinetry and newer appliances, thissinks, new flooring, and fresh paint. you are peaceful a retiree, this is yourofopportunity to live inprovides the front home and others. The sized current rents are generously proportioned rooms the ambiance this home. The lavish living room and therent formal dining of this home operating as a nursery for the lastIf and windows, upgraded appliances home also tile and laminate flthe ooring, an room over bonus 25have years. It isnumerous partially fenced, itand is entertained and opportunity fixtures. This home also a below market, offering an exceptional for higher income. The property has 6stove, PG&Eindoor meters, 2 water meters, and a 2coin operated room with a wood water softeners, balconies, held parties many friends andhas families. Guest must of marveled at rich laundry, wood floors, the spacious family on city services and isin near park basement foroff your a private domestic wellState plus well, downtown central air,of community laundry with 2 washers and yard 2 dryers. Itperfect is located a ers short distance from California Chico, and and plenty room and sparking ground pool.large The is beautiful and a dinning patio with pergola andaUniversity ashared newly Ag. installed droughtheating friendly and shopping. The is youwine collection and storage! shopping. This is 2nd ais great investment property! Bed:more. 19.0 Bath: 9.0 Price: $1,039,900 landscaping. This a parcel home for to create memories of your own. barn/shop, 4 car carport and much on .29 AC and is adjacent to the Bed: 2.0 Bath: 2.0 Bed: Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,503 2,240 Price: Price: $399,900 Bed:4.0 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: $399,900 other parcel. Price: $400,000 SqFt: 2,085 Price: $239,000 40

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL MEJIA

Summer Garden Stuffed Peppers INGREDIENTS: • 5 bell peppers, cut in half lengthwise, seeded & white veins scraped out • 1 cup raw brown rice • 1 lb Italian sausage, mild or hot • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 small onion, diced • 1 zucchini, diced (~1.5 cups) • 3 corn on cob, kernels cut off • Salt & Pepper • ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped • 2 tbsp chopped basil • 2 tbsp chopped parsley • 1 egg, beaten • 1 cup shredded mozzarella

DIRECTIONS: Place pepper halves in pan, cut side up, with a half inch water, cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees until semi-soft, about 15–20 minutes. Cook rice as directed to yield about 2 cups. Brown sausage with garlic and onion then place in a large bowl. Saute zucchini for 2 minutes, add corn kernels and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add cooked rice, zucchini mixture, salt, and pepper to taste, to sausage. Let cool slightly, add sun dried tomatoes, parsley, basil, egg, and mozzarella, mix well. Stuff peppers with sausage-rice mixture. Place in baking sheet, cover with foil, and bake at 400 degrees until heated through, about 30 minutes. RECIPE COURTESY OF SHELLEY'S CREATIVE CATERING. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CREATIVECATERING.NET OR 530.893.8277.

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The Pu Heart Be Tucked quietly amongst the pines in Paradise, CA is a secret garden. Native birds happily chirp their approval of this beautiful setting and the produce that grows here. Heart Beat Farm is a natural habitat for all living things. With careful nurturing from owners Neddy Baguio and Jessanna Levitsky, it has become an oasis for both their family and the plants. The Bay Area is a familiar place for many of us in the North State. Skyline views, bumper to bumper traffic and long work days are the norm. They just weren’t what Neddy and Jessanna craved. “There was this overwhelming feeling of working ourselves to death. At our jobs but also with time spent commuting, while juggling having kids. It was a lot!” says Neddy. So began their search for a slower pace of life. That journey led them north to dirt roads and crisp fresh air. Jessanna, who is originally from Philadelphia, hadn’t ever been to Chico, let alone Paradise. But “the stars aligned” when their real estate agent showed them this property. “Before we purchased the farm, it belonged to another couple and was called Sawmill Creek Farms. It ran for 15 to 20 years and they already had all the infrastructure in place when we bought it,” says Jessanna. That groundwork being deer fencing, contained growing areas, a high tunnel and gorgeous greenhouse. Sometimes life brings us to unexpected places, but it’s the place we’re meant to be. Neddy was a “punk rock kid” who was classically trained, living in San Francisco in his early 20’s. He’d grown up gardening with his dad and discovered that backyard gardens were gaining popularity, specifically in the East Bay. Eventually, his beloved plot was 62

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ulse Of eat Farm covered with cement and he had to find other outlets for his green thumb. Today, he’s able to feel the beat every time he steps into their garden. Jessanna recalls her initial experience up in the trees. “I have a really strong memory of first seeing this place and feeling at peace. I looked around and thought, ‘Wow, this is so beautiful. This is it!.’” Neddy and Jessanna bought the farm in 2016 and wake up every morning with that same appreciative thought. Snow peas, melons, summer squash, onions, garlic, shallots, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, snap peas, kale, chard, basil, lavender, lettuce, green beans, vegetable and herb starts; they all start in the clean soil here. These happy plants are chock full of pure nutrients. Almost everything Heart Beat Farm grows, they pick within a few days of selling. “We have a lot of customers that tell us they bought chard from our stand and couldn’t believe it was fresh in the fridge weeks later!” Storing their vegetables chilled in water keeps them crisp until selling. For some people, gardening is a hobby. For Neddy and Jessanna, it’s a lifestyle. Remaining conscious of the impact their farm and food can make, while constantly re-examining practices, makes this farm unique. “Feeding people in as cheap a manner as we possibly can, while remaining sustainable in really uncertain economic times, is key. At the end of all this, I want to step back and know we were part of something really good.” From firsthand experience, we can vouch that Heart Beat Farm is doing just that.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE PULSE OF HEART BEAT FARM ON INSTAGRAM @HEARTBEATFARM 63

Pre-Test: Based on your knowledge of current Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson, circle true or false after each statement:

The Once And Future President

1. Her first job, at 15 years of age, was sewing tobacco leaves together. True False 2. She can crack four eggs, two in each hand, in a single movement. True False 3. She believes that after 131 years, Chico State has not reached its potential. True False 4. Credits Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist for where she is today. True False 5. Believes that Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirts and Birkenstocks are appropriate attire for a job interview. True False

It becomes immediately evident, when you find yourself in the presence of Gayle Hutchinson, that she fully embraces her current role. She moves seamlessly from one thing to another in a timeless fashion. As she began to speak about her backstory, it became noticeable that Gayle has been preparing for the enormous responsibility of this job her entire life. For starters, she grew up in Enfield, Connecticut and quickly points out the pure distinction between growing up in Northern Connecticut rather than its southern counterpart. Enfield sits in a small, rural area in an agriculture belt once known for growing tobacco. Understanding early in high school that she needed to work, she had a brief stint in the tobacco industry before taking a job in a greeting card factory. The opening of a McDonald’s in town offered Gayle the opportunity for the perfect fit. You see, she needed to work weekends only, and this job enabled her to take the early breakfast shift. Playing three sports and maintaining a grade point average that would aid in her college aspirations necessitated this perfect fit. This glimpse at a hectic, busy life shows nothing more than the proverbial tip of her pending iceberg. Gayle left high school and Connecticut accepting a four year scholarship to UMass Amherst. She mused at getting this opportunity at a time when college athletes could play three sports. In addition, the fortuitous or ironic fact that Title IX also existed, demonstrated equal benefits. At Amherst, she competed in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. With the expanding schedules, her junior and senior years became relegated to field hockey in the fall and lacrosse in the spring. Her academic pursuits mirrored her extra-curricular activities, and she earned a degree and credential enabling her to follow her dream of teaching physical education and coaching. She got her first job in a 7th through 12th grade school in Englewood, New Jersey. As a first generation college graduate, and first member of her family to leave Enfield, the sprawling metropolitan geography of this school tested Gayle as both a true eye opener and definitely a culture shock. A far cry from the distant, rural feel of her town. In her four years there, she coached, what else, three sports—field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. She did, however, leave field hockey for soccer realizing that this gave more girls an opportunity to compete. In the middle of all of this chaos, she took the time to earn a master’s degree from Columbia’s Teachers College. Her plan swung into full speed.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN DESIGN BY NERISSA QUINN

Midterm Exam: Multiple choice—select the most correct answer: Gayle Hutchinson’s love of teaching and passion for people striving to reach their potential is clearly reflected by: a. Her earning a Doctorate in Education. b. Her belief that teaching is leadership, and leadership is teaching. c. Her understanding that vibrant rural communities rely on health, education, and a sustainable lifestyle. d. Her persistence in gaining two jobs where she initially finished second in both. e. All of the above. f. None of the above. Gayle’s intent to teach and coach high school students and athletes took an unexpected turn. Arlan Barber, a professor and mentor at UMass Amherst simply urged her to, “Go earn a doctorate and become a professor.” This thought had never crossed her mind. However, after taking a step back to ponder this nudge, just as simply, she said yes. This affirmation resulted in a return to UMass Amherst and the pursuit of an Education Doctorate. The pursuit, including the research, time, and resignation, also managed to manifest itself into fun. Once she completed her coursework and conducted her study, six grueling months of early mornings writing her dissertation, while keeping her full-time job during the day, ended with a doctorate. With all of this behind her, Gayle went on the hunt for a job. The surprising by-product arrived with five different solid offers. She clearly favored one over the others and accepted that offer. Likewise, she turned down the other four. The Alchemist rears its head here and comes back into play. The novel reveals that, when you really want something, it appears like “the entire universe conspires to make it happen.” While Gayle waited for the contract to present itself in the mail, a phone call arrived saying that there was no longer a job offer. Having no idea what legal grounds she had, in order to say something like, wait a minute, I had an offer; Gayle was now faced with no job offer at all. Apparently this whole

if-you-need-the-universe-thing checks in as real. A friend informed Gayle that Chico State had an opening, encouraging her to apply. Chico State appeared similar to the lost job. Gayle secured a map to find Chico’s whereabouts. At first, she happened upon Chino and quickly detected the discrepancy. No, Chico sat perched in Northern California, far away from its southern counterpart. The very next thing found Gayle on a plane for an interview. She rented a car and began the drive, for the very first time, to Chico. She still shakes her head when sharing her wonder at driving by what she describes as “the tiniest mountain range ever.” Gayle arrived in Chico, bedecked in a nice suit, awaiting the committee entrance. Each member strolled in adorned with Tommy Bahama shirts and Birkenstocks to Gayle’s sheer delight! She found both this attire and her values aligned with this department.

The trip also included a drive to Lassen National Park and Lake Tahoe which brought an alignment with the location as well. The offer proved to be the only obstacle left. After that, followed the move from East to West. Chico State extended an offer. She happily accepted and loved joining this faculty and its curriculum and began doing, as she puts it, “what I was supposed to do.” The outgrowth of this approach materialized into both early tenure followed by the bestowment of a full faculty position. This brought Gayle full circle, back to that moment of certainty of her plan that included both teaching and coaching at the high school level. Those moments of certainty that where you are is where you belong. Gayle found herself on the academic senate and successfully became elected to the chair of her department. Perhaps having certainty leads to no certainty at all.

Final Exam: Short answer essay section. Answer each with a minimum of 300 and maximum of 600 words using personal experience as support. 1. Describe the notion behind the idea that striving to be one's best self includes staying at a place of good will. 2. Develop an argument that the future success for the CSU system is partly dependent on clear access/ affordability/excellence. 3. Take a stance on the idea that, to get where you want to go, you have to be willing to move.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MEJIA AND JESSICA BARTLETT

At this point, Gayle either found herself wishing she had never read The Alchemist or convinced herself that the Universe existed to keep talking to her. After this noticeable rise in the ranks, Paul Zingg, the sitting president at Chico State, told her she had leadership skills and recommended she apply for a prestigious Presidential Fellowship with the American Council on Education. Gayle’s response, not once but twice; “Thanks, but no thanks.” This competitive fellowship not only included a three hour interview but came with a six month hiatus away from Chico. The universe refused both answers, and Gayle left for Texas State and, perhaps, to the only permanent place in her life. No, Texas would not prove that place, but rather a harbinger of her future. The president of this university, Denise Trauth, would become a significant mentor. This opened Gayle’s eyes to a picture of women doing amazing things

in higher education. Texas State, and then one future university, would both focus a new and inviting lens leading to a permanent place. The return to Chico State arrived with yet another quandary for Gayle. The enigmatic fact that it is difficult to become dean of a college from an academic discipline outside of that college. Traditions of academe predicted that the opening for Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences would be out of her reach. She pursued the deanship anyway and finished second. The first choice took another job and instead of offering the number two candidate the job, the search was reopened. This must have felt like being a backup quarterback, and after witnessing that player getting hurt, the backup gets traded for the replacement. Nonetheless, Gayle chose to go through the tough process again and ultimately prevailed. Her tenure at this position left her with the understanding that striving to be your best self means staying at a place of good will. An open provost position at Chico State put her to the test once again. She did not get this job. Thus to secure a provost position came with the willingness to move, and Gayle did just that; taking the job at the fledgling campus, CSU Channel Islands. The time there afforded her the rare opportunity to witness a university’s building from the ground up; a place finding itself actually defining its very existence. This allowed Gayle to understand what it looks likes to build internal and external relationships and engage in the need to establish innovative ideas to better students, academics, and communities. Channel Islands

offered yet another cherished mentor, the sitting president, who opened the door to viewing a political scene. To then unfold it and show just how you can think this way and get people to buy in and actually get those thoughts accomplished. This wonderful mentor retired at the same time as the president of Chico State. Her current mentor at Channel Islands joined the universe and told Gayle to go after the Chico State job. Gayle truly believes that teaching is leadership, and leadership is teaching. She also must clearly understand that learning is living, and living is learning. After all, she had been preparing for this job, at this place, for her entire life. Geographically, her hometown and her current residence could not be any farther apart. In fact, one begets the other. Heading into her third year as president of Chico State, Gayle has joined forces with the superintendent of Chico Unified and the president of Butte College to concentrate on a workforce that includes a look at its quality of life. This calls for vibrant rural communities concentrating on the health, education and sustainable lifestyle of its residents. Gayle gets it. The need for the CSU system to remain accessible and affordable with a clear focus on excellence. There can be little wonder she sees this as an exciting time—one that delights her to have returned to this “awesome place.” This awesome place tucked up in the north, far away from its southern counterpart. The universe may now remain silent.

GIRLS WHO CONVINCE Ryan Sanders, a product manager at Build. com, knew there existed a wide disconnect in the tech industry. He not only witnessed the lack of female focused technicians, but an investigation industry wide showed an obvious discrepancy between men and women, revealing the fact that men were ten times more represented. That investigation also revealed that lack of tech interest in girls, the pulse of this cause, happens around the 10th grade. Ryan knew he was not going to solve this global issue, but did know he could help locally. His idea was to “Create a space where this can happen.” The result proved the birth of a week-long camp for girls, ages 11 to 17, based on the nationwide movement known as Girls Who Code. The North Valley Community Foundation allows for this to be a non-profit so they can get donations for the necessary funding. This camp, now in its second summer, is housed on the Build.com campus for a week in the middle of July. The camp runs from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. 22 girls attended both summer camps, this year’s session was filled in less than a week. Events like this do not put themselves together. After reading about this camp in the Chico News & Review, Jodi Halligan, from Navigation North, found Ryan, and a natural team was formed. Brian Ausland, also from Navigation North, came along, and this trio works seamlessly together. Ryan is very much 68

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the logistics guy, whether it’s blowing up a bounce house for a lunch time experience, or taking multiple trips to Costco to keep the snacks and drinks replenished in the girls’ workspace, or any other needs that may simply pop up. Jodi and Brian facilitate the weekly sessions. Each day, Brian is in front of the girls both to instruct, answer questions, and tell corny jokes. He also keeps the camp on its tight schedule. Jodi, with her intentional manner, goes from table to table helping with any and all needs, both technical and personal. There are additional helpers in the room to assist in technical matters with each team. The room at Build that houses this camp is relatively small, with tables and chairs,

a large screen on one end, and walls made out of white board material. The main focus for each week is for the girls to work in groups and develop a workable app to present to a group of experts on Friday in a Shark Tank type atmosphere. Each of these weeks have been named. Last summer’s camp was known as Mine Camp, a spinoff of the popular game, Minecraft. This summer, the camp has the distinct title of devPop. A title, Ryan will admit, “Means nothing,” until further pushed to explain. He then reveals that it matches the concept of the camp by combining the word developing with an action word. Thus devPop takes on an entirely different spin, as a visual representation of what these girls are actually doing.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO

On Monday, each group takes one of the whiteboard walls and brands their team with a name and logo. Of course, Ryan takes the time to graphically design each name and logo for the teams to use at their presentations on Friday. This wall also serves as a brainstorming place. As the week goes on, in storyboard fashion, picture after picture of cell phones are replicated containing the intricate transitions of each app. The week consists of group work time, yoga on Tuesday, a dance at North State Ballet on Thursday, and this thing called Lunch with a Luminary. Monday’s lunch had the digital learning specialist of the Smithsonian live on the big screen, along with her female intern for the summer who is going into her Senior year of high school. The live exchange and information that went back and forth was one thing. The mere example of two females, one very close to these girls’ age, is phenomenal. This symbol alone must empower these girls to understand they can go as far as they wish. The app remains the focal point of the week. Since these girls are asked to “pitch” their apps in front of experts then, of course, the team brings in experts to work with, and

directly instruct each team. This help comes in two fronts, the development of the app itself, as well as the all important preparation for Pitch Day. Four components of the app are stressed: design, usability, functionality, and the use of actual data. The push for the pitch itself centers around the notion of “wow and astound!” A pitch deck, a visual depiction of each business plan, is a huge part of the in house experts’ jobs during the week. Sophie, an incoming 8th grader at Chico Country Day School, explained the idea about her teams app. It is titled 7 Stories, and revolves around the idea that the player has won a trip. Upon winning, the player must choose from the several vacation options appearing on the screen. Her concern was about the amount of descriptive writing involved in the destinations. She also was trying to figure out how to get back to main story with more ease. When asked about the 9 to 5 day, she instantly retorted, “I had just got back from a week’s vacation away and, on Sunday night, was, NO, I do not want to go!” She smiled and admitted, “I am so glad I came, I love it.” Ryan and his cohorts have certainly taken an issue and created a space where success

can happen. They will undoubtedly begin to change that wide disconnect. They have also put into place a model of what authentic assessment and real learning looks and acts like. The week culminates at the Chico Women’s Center where, on stage, these girls will pitch their apps to a panel of experts. The lessons and activities the girls experience during the week builds a confidence within each of them that allows for the nerves and fright of presenting to disappear. These campers, basic strangers on Monday, have not only branded a group with a name and logo, but bonded as friends as well. Ryan shared that he has no idea how this Pitch Day will go. Based on last summer, he too, has confidence. He shared with delight the highlight of last year’s Pitch Day, an app called “Competitive Cat Nurturing,” the crowd favorite. No doubt that Ryan, Jodi, Brian, and the other experts involved are also a crowd favorite. The crowd being these 22 girls and each knows this will be the favorite experience of their lives. They collectively signed up to be girls who code, turned into girls who convince, and now, most assuredly will become girls who take that issue head on and reshape the world.

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SCHOOLING TOOLS

My grandson spent last school year in Kindergarten. He loved every minute. I loved being his sounding board and confidant. I also was impressed with the school and its approach to learning. One day he came home with a paper toolbox filled with paper tools; so we did what sounding boards and confidants do, go through the toolbox. One by one, he brought each tool out and shared it with me. The flat, paper glue bottle with the words, ‘Apology and Forgiveness Tool.’ He explained how glue will keep things together. So when you say, “I’m sorry” or, “that’s ok,” is the same as keeping people together. We kept going, and then out of the toolbox came a paper level with the words, ‘Empathy Tool.’ He went on to say that the level keeps things in balance and that people would rather have that then being felt sorry for. OK, so I guess metaphors are not as difficult to grasp as my 34 years in high school classrooms led me to believe.This also led me into a stunningly huge moment of reflection. I was left thinking about the simple nature of metaphors. I turned my thoughts to the start of another school year and how children and parents will both be departing each day to go somewhere. I felt like whether it was a lunch or diaper bag, a briefcase or backpack, shoulder bag or even a fanny pack; we all fill something up before walking out the door. This begged the question of why not packing a metaphorical toolbox, one filled with tools that surely would assist in our decisions and interactions throughout each and every day. I combined this kindergarten lesson with one I had done

They are as follows: a power drill representing decorum, the level standing for empathy, a hand planer coupled with commitment, a jig saw representing imagination, a tape measure paired with perspective, and sandpaper as humility. As defined, a metaphor takes two unlike things and directly compares them so that one becomes the other. Let’s take a closer look at this.

Decorum simply means the proper behavior to fit the given social setting. Drills can make a huge impact. They also can get into and right out of something. Attach a paddle and they can either stir things up or blend them. The versatility of attachments and purposes allows the drill to be fit for any need or occasion.

Empathy is the first cousin to sympathy. Sympathy is a tough place to be as pity or sorrow both appear so shallow. Empathy suggests prior connection or similar experiences. If we would just realize we are all in this together, our ability to make any connection and then reach with a helping hand or a hug would come with something intentional and authentic. Levels do more than a balancing act, though that is a hugely important roll. They also can help draw straight lines or to connect open spaces together.

tool can represent each and every one of those as clearly or critically as the deft nature of a hand planer, complete with its intricate accuracy and coupled with its awe struck need for patience and persistence.

Perspective calls for seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship. It stems from a mental view or prospect. It too often leads to improperly measuring that which we are viewing. The tape measure, also known as a measuring device, houses both simpleness and intricacies. It measures itself out in an intentional pace and recoils itself instantly. It can both reveal the most basic length or narrow it down to the absolute exact fineness of an answer. A proper measurement makes for relevant data.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTO BY MICHAEL MEJIA

THE ESSENTIAL

with seniors in high school. Not surprising that these two lessons proved mirror images. The seniors, like these younger children, were faced with what we termed as “Soft Skills,” those skills adults just expect kids to do and know, all the while nowhere in school exists a class to address them. Natural skills like focus and excellence, fortitude and resilience. I concentrated on six of these skills, based on their collective popularity of expectation and doggedness. I honored my grandson’s lesson and still applaud a school who addresses such things with such young minds. Perhaps I should title these An Essential Six, instead of suggesting that this is “the” list.

Humility has nothing to do with humiliation. Rather it is the quality or condition of being humble. There exists a bit of resignation, shyness and timidity in humility. Do not confuse this with weakness. Sandpaper must keep its coarseness in check while remaining acutely aware of its grit. It can both erase mistakes as well as reveal the true beauty and nature of something. The actual job of sandpaper is “to add to” by “taking away” in the most subtle and lasting manner. Often, taking away from a conversation is far better than adding to one. As I take a moment to ponder this, it is obvious that this is not just adults expecting this out of children, but also there exists a certain adult to adult version to this. Many bigger companies have Soft Skills training in place. I am going to fill a plastic bucket with these tools and place that bucket next to my desk. Maybe, I will take each tool out on occasion, and see if my sounding board and confidant is available to listen to my explanation of each.

Imagination can be defined as any reality you want to create mentally to further create a reality that does not presently exist. In woodworking, if you can think it or draw it, the jigsaw will make it happen. Make it happen, that is, if you have the drive and focus to stick with it to the end. Mere daydreaming does not always lead to a product.

Commitment suggests engaging oneself, a pledge or promise, strict involvement. No 71

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and Youth Programs with bowling coaches teaching the basics of bowling. Tall Pines Entertainment & Bowling Center 5445 Clark Road, Paradise, or 530.872.2695. Theatre on the Ridge was founded in 1975 and produces seven shows annually. TOTR is the oldest California non-profit community theatre north of Sacramento. TOTR welcomes actors of all ages and experience levels to audition for its plays, and welcomes youth to its junior theatre company, Stagecoach. Information at totr. org, 3735 Neal Road, Paradise, or 530. 877.5760

HIGHER LEARNING Come on up to Paradise for some Higher Learning! A wealth of knowledge and enjoyable pastimes await the adventurous.

Golf and private tournaments available. Call before visiting to check availability. 5325 Clark Road or 530.872.4653.

Craftysewingsue Custom Seamstress offers sewing lessons in addition to alterations, pattern creating, mending, curtains, costumes and more at affordable prices. Phone: 530.877.7203 Cell 530.717.9675 or visit craftysewingseamstress.com.

Northern California Ballet is a preprofessional ballet company offering yearround classes and staging two classical ballets per year. NCB strives to develop a love of dance, accurate technique, and all of the foundation skills necessary to pursue a professional career in dance. northerncaliforniaballet.com. 5794 Clark Road, Paradise, or 530.872.1719

Find serenity at ‘Ohana Health, with Yoga and Meditation classes in addition to workshops. Visit ‘Ohana Health at 757 Fir Street, Paradise, or online at ohanahealth.net, 530.876.1692, ohanahealth1@gmail.com. Atria Paradise educates its residents and the community with varied programs. On August 27, feast on treats from the Caribbean—jerk chicken, Cuban style sweet potatoes, Caribbean salad,and more. Stay for the Caribbean Travelogue to learn about the islands. RSVP the number of guests to 530.872.3344. Atria Paradise, 1007 Buschmann Road, Paradise. Lava Creek Golf and Disc Course features rolling hills, shaded fairways, wildlife, and a creek to cool off the summer days. Tee time reservations are accepted a week in advance. Ladies play every Wednesday morning and the Men’s Club has tournaments on a Sunday once a month, with a twilight league every Thursday. Disc 72

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Paradise Airport offers CFI training with FAA certified instructor James Franklin including private, commercial, tailwheel, complex, high performance, and flight reviews. Contact James at 530.521.2289. Paradise Airport, 4405 Airport Road, Paradise. Paradise Irrigation District’s newly created demonstration garden at 6344 Clark Road in Paradise is an educational enterprise for Ridge residents. Planting areas include a focus on erosion control; fire-resistant plants; plants to encourage butterflies, pollinators and birds; and drought-and shade-tolerant native plants. A brochure allows visitors to take a self-guided tour through the garden. Tall Pines Entertainment & Bowling Center offers many different bowling leagues including traditional bowling leagues, After School Juniors, Senior Scratch, No Tap Fun, Pinz n Pistols, Adult / Junior Doubles

Ever After Antiques & Vintage Chic offers repurposed crafting classes for those who love to create. Classes are taught in a sweet little cottage and include all supplies and a delectable array of teas and homemade treats. To view and sign up for classes, visit everafterparadise.com, call 530.762.7400, or register in person by stopping in to the shop. 6025 Skyway, Paradise. Norton Buffalo Hall is an outreach of the Paradise Community Guilds, part of its vision to “Be the community we want to live in.” Regular classes include T’AI CHI on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Other classes and workshops are to be announced, contact "Norton Buffalo Hall" on Chapel Lane in Paradise, call 530.588.0522 paradiseguilds@gmail.com or nortonbuffalohall.com. Paradise Elks Lodge offers free line dancing classes to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1100 Elk Lane, Paradise. 530.872.4563 The Paradise Community Chorus loves to sing and share with the community. Santa makes an appearance at Christmas concerts and spring concerts honor veterans and service members. Concerts are performed at the Paradise Performing Arts Center. Join the Chorus! No audition needed. paradisechorus.org or 530.872.9252. FOR MORE ACTIVITY, VISITOR, AND RESOURCE INFORMATION. VISIT PARADISECHAMBER.COM, PARADISE RIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 5550 SKYWAY, PARADISE, 530.877.9356. ARTICLE PROVIDED BY PARADISE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PHOTO BY MARK DALE OF PARADISE IRRIGATION DISTRICT’S NEWLY CREATED DEMONSTRATION GARDEN, 6344 CLARK ROAD, PARADISE.

OROVILLE! Returning to school isn’t just about studying and homework. Students can participate in a variety of after-school activities in Oroville, ranging from dance to robotics. DANCING Children, starting at age three, enjoy dancing at Strive Dance & Performing Arts, who “offer quality dance education in a safe and encouraging environment.” Students dance in styles ranging from ballet and tap to hip-hop and jazz, all while learning skills of teamwork, responsibility, and respect. Strive also teaches theater and performing arts lessons. Children perform in competitive dance teams, at dance recitals, and at local festivals and parades. Their competition based teams are hip-hop team Fanz-of-Dance, Elite Contemporary Team, Elite Jazz Team, Junior Tap Team, and Junior Ballet Team. Open weekdays after 4:00 p.m. More information at StriveDance.com. GYMNASTICS Oroville Gymnastics offers classes for students with nationallycertified and professional instructors in a 214,750 square foot facility with state-of-the-art equipment arranged in multiple spaces. Gymnastics classes, offered for all skill levels for students of 74

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Class offerings include Parent-Tot, Kinder Gym, Basic Gymnastics, Advanced Gymnastic, and Team Gymnastics. Their gymnastics teams perform in competitions, and the facilities host gymnastics tournaments. Gymnastics, plus cheerleading, karate, sports, and more are offered by Feather River Recreation & Park District. More information at FRRPD.com ROBOTICS CLUB For high school students interested in robotics engineering, Thunderbird Robotics Club offers innovative and accessible programs to motivate youth to “pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.” Students build, design, and program robots used in competitions. The club started in 2013 with students from Las Plumas and Oroville High Schools and expanded to include several schools from throughout Butte County. The Thunderbirds are also a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Competition Team and travel across California. At these events, their robots are required to complete a variety of tasks to move forward in the competition. The team also continues to host the Lego Robotics Camp for third through eighth graders. More information at ThunderbirdRobotics.org.

FOR MORE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS OR TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EVEN MORE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN OROVILLE, CONTACT THE OROVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT 530.538.2542.

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY OROVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AFTER SCHOOL FUN IN

any age, help students gain repeated success experiences that “build self-esteem and self-confidence needed to enjoy the many challenges of life.”

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR AUGUST 2 The Kelly Brothers acoustic! 6–9 p.m. 220 W 4th Street, Chico Info: Every Thursday evening join the Kelly Twins for their "living room" style music.

AUGUST 2–3 Free Day Use & Boat Launch at Lake Oroville All Day Cost: Free Lake Oroville State Recreation Cntr, Oroville Info: Department of Water Resources 916.704.5529 or California State Park 916.651.7661

AUGUST 3 Grateful Dead Tribute hosted by No Simple Highway 9 p.m.–2 a.m. 319 Main Street, Chico Info: Three sets of Grateful Dead at Lost on Main.

AUGUST 4 15th Annual Hot August Day Car Show & Barbecue 8 a.m.–3 p.m. 1705 Manzanita Avenue, Chico Cost: $15 pre-registration | $20 at gate Free for spectators Info: Contact Dan Allen at 530.518.3430 or Bruce Norlie at 530.343.8969. Vintagechevroletclub.org Back to School Saturdays 1–3 p.m. Chico Mall, Chico Info: Every Saturday through August 18th bring your donations to the Chico Mall to support students of the Chico Unified School District. There will be games, prizes, special guest appearances, and the chance to enter to win a $500 gift card. ShopChicoMall.com

AUGUST 11 S1–Latin Dance Party 7 p.m. Intro to Salsa Lesson

8 p.m. Latin Dance Party 707 Wall Street, Chico Cost: $13 General Admission | $10 Full-time students & Seniors (60+) | Social Dance $8 Info: Intro to salsa lesson followed by a social dance to a live dj!

AUGUST 5 Summer Sizzler 5K & 10K 6:30–10:30 a.m. Cedar Grove in Bidwell Park, Chico Cost & Tickets: underthesunevents.org

AUGUST 15

Chico Pride: Fierce and Fun Queer Sounds with Beer Garden 2–6 p.m. 592 E 3rd Street (3rd & Pine), Chico Cost: $5-10 suggested donation (no one will be turned away for lack of funds) Info: Beer Garden: 21+ w/ID StonewallChicoPride.com Happiest Hour-Cocktails for a Cause 5–9 p.m. 9275 Midway, Durham Cost: General Admission $50 | DD $40 Info: Live music by The Kelly Twins, drinks, raffle, silent auction, and photo booth! Visit eventbrite for tickets.

Open Mic Night 7 p.m. 1108 Sherman Ave, Chico Info: Share your favorite writing, 10 minutes per person. The third Wednesday of every month. Contact Katy to sign up kazevedo@buttecounty.net

AUGUST 16 Nature Creations 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Oroville Cost: Free Info: Art program for youth ages 7–12 that uses natural and recycled materials to create original art to take home. 530.538.2219

AUGUST 18 40th Annual Chico Concours d’Elegance Car Show 175 Estates Drive, Chico 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Cost & Info: facebook.com/chicoconcours

AUGUST 25 Chico Pride: Dance 8 p.m.–midnight 592 E 3rd Street (3rd & Pine), Chico Cost: $5-10 suggested donation (no one will be turned away for lack of funds) Info: Music, DJs, a no host bar, and open to all 18+. StonewallChicoPride.com

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AUGUST WINNER:

A M Y WAT T S

The Drinking Shack We told my mom we were going to build a fort in our backyard. At the time, we did not see this as a lie. Kids build forts with blankets and chairs, cardboard and crayons. So, therein lies the truth about our lie. We were at the cusp of actually still being “that” kind of kid. The spring of our 8th grade year, going in to the summer before some of the rules were about to change. No, this required something grander than a mere fort. Our intent was to erect a shack. To be clear, a drinking shack. Semantics reveals just how big this lie 78

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actually was. My mom seemed rather nonplus over the prospect and simply asked, “Where?” Surrounded by normal houses with normal yards, our house sat in the middle of an acre which was framed by fences into three distinct parts. Those fences defined a normal backyard behind the house, leaving the two open sides rather unkept and inviting. We had decided on the field closest to the road where our driveway began. The construction site was to be in the far corner of that field, closest to the backyard fence line. We had no strategic

reason for this as we were eighth graders not engineers. Though my mom thought it was kind of unnecessary to pick such an overgrown area, calling for more work on our part, she, nonetheless, gave us her blessing. Building childhood forts will never appear on a resume regarding actual construction. It was obvious we did not know what we were doing. We were, however, resourceful and excited. Serendipity arrives in many forms. Our fortuitous fortune was right across the street

I am the sixth of seven children, so we had several choices of drivers to take us to the lumber yard. However, we did not have access to a pickup truck. We did, however, have my Uncle Joe’s late 50’s, early 60’s Cadillac. This car had a trunk that, at today’s standards, would qualify as a tiny house. One of my sisters agreed to drive and off we went. We collectively pooled our money from various sources and said a silent prayer that it would be enough. That prayer also included the hopes that the calculations for the number of bags needed was also accurate. We paid for the cement and backed the Caddy up to load the 50 pound bags into the ginormous trunk. Cadillacs are known for already being close to the ground. With this amount of weight on board, the back bumper bounced off the ground at every bump in the road. Slowly we made it back to the construction site and, one by one, unloaded each bag. All the while under the fierce glare of my sister urging us to hurry, so no one would notice that she had backed this classic car up the curb and across the open field. Our intent of mixing three bags at a time into a wheelbarrow and pouring into each of the five narrow rectangles worked well until we got to number five. The other four were full, level, and surprisingly troweled smoothly. The problem with the fifth stemmed from our original calculations, leaving the last two feet void of wet cement. Realizing this was it, with no way to turn back; we managed to shovel and trowel a gentle slope leaving about an inch of cement at the very tip. This shallow tip, of course, was right inside the planned doorway. Undaunted and understanding we could deal with this later, it was on to framing. Ah, yes, framing. We failed to get the idea that the walls are framed on the ground and then

placed upright and connected at all four sides. Our plan did not include this conventional manner of erecting walls. No, our plan was different, and leads this story directly into a rather precarious place. That place of making the lie to my mom appear angelic compared to what we were about to do. We, first, need to get something straight. You see, I did not exactly have a curfew when I was growing up. Actually, the only curfew I had was that my friends all had curfews, and I was not a fan of hanging out by myself. My room, it cannot exactly be called a bedroom, was not connected to the main house, making coming and going effortless. It should be pretty simple to understand that, when I had friends overnight, the same lack of curfew applied to all. This very well may assist in adding clarity to our need for a drinking shack rather than a fort. Ok, so I am aware of the difference between want and need. We believed we needed this. It appears that just a bit of further clarity may help. It should be apparent that we had access to, and experience with adult beverages at this tender age. Ours came in the way of one case at a time of tall Colt 45 cans. Funny to read this and realize that this is not the comparison I was referring to about our angelic lie. Just trying to draw some perspective as we dive in to the rest of the story. To erect the walls of the shack, we settled on sinking 4 x 4’s into each corner and going from there. A quick shopping trip across the street turned up empty. So, we went on a hunt. Evening turned to dusk and, just as the sky darkened, the 4 x 4’s were right in front of us! We had made our way to the far corner of the junior high field and stood in the end zone of the Pioneer football team. Yes, we found ourselves admiring the brightly painted black and gold goal posts. Unlike today’s single post, these had a pair of 4 x 4’s separated by a rather long 2 x 4. We could not help but take note that the 4 x 4’s were inserted into the ground just the way we had planned for our four corners. I am fully aware that one would think we might have seen this as, what, wrong? Not a chance. We wiggled, twisted, and strained to unearth each post, thankful they were not cemented in place. (I can’t help but now wonder if Coach Kemp ever considered doing this.) Without the ability to separate the two posts, we wrestled them out of the school grounds, across the street and, finally, around the corner and up the dirt pathway leading to the shack site. Never did we consider

the spectacle of this, appearing much like a wooden version of a Macy’s Thanksgiving float whisking its way down North Avenue, or, the mere fact that we might get caught. Whereas I most assuredly should be reticent about sharing this, I find myself completely enthralled with the utter mindlessness of a juvenile mindset. As luck would have it, we secured our four corners.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN

where a junior high school had just been completed and row after row of two story apartments were being built. This proved to be a twofold assistance—a visual ‘how to’ and a wealth of shopping opportunities. Like Kentucky race horses with blinders, we dove right in to the project. Clearing the site for the foundation proved simple, the foundation on the other hand, not so simple. It is not like we had pending cement trucks arriving. As we were planning to mix and pour the concrete by hand, we formed the foundation like a five pocket door. It turned out that the bags of concrete required for this job proved the only out of pocket expense for the entire project. Procuring the bags is a story in and of itself.

The walls went up with relative ease, due to the wealth of shopping and courtesy of a solid base. We came across a roll of roofing material that worked perfectly and we were convinced would keep out the elements. The siding, at least, worked also, though we were less convinced about avoiding the elements through the obvious cracks. A piece of plywood was installed inside the front door alleviating the awkward slant below. Interior decorating was completed in a single step. A white leather couch was being discarded from one of the construction mate’s houses. When the couch was placed inside, so ended any further decorating needs, as it planted itself wall to wall in the confines of the shack. With just enough room for our legs to extend and feet to hit the floor, we were elated. There remains but one last piece of this story. One that somehow ties a bow on the entire affair. One mid Saturday morning, making our way from the unattached room that came without a curfew; we trudged into the main house to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Out of nowhere, my mom came storming through the back door, shouting, “Boys, boys, someone has been drinking in your fort!” The kitchen table came alive with muttered responses like

“Wait, no.,” “No way,” and “What?” I gathered myself and exclaimed to my mom, “Ok, we are going to get to the bottom of this. We’ll stay out in there tonight and see who is doing this and put a stop to it.” Amazingly, that was all my mom needed to hear. With our heads still pounding, and now spinning, we nevertheless left with a plan. A plan that included the drinking shack. For now, let me leave you with this thought. I recently learned that time is obdurate. In other words, you cannot go back and change events. With that in mind, I am not certain which bothers me most; the goal posts, the lies, or the fact that my mom actually believed we were building a fort.