Upgraded Living - August 2021 by Upgraded Living

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FROM THE EDITOR As we move from the blazing days of summer to August, and the promise of fall, I have some thoughts. On my walks and coffee drives, I have noticed far too many shiny clean four-door Jeep Wranglers parked on Chico streets. I can’t help but figure that along with the arrival of the next wave of Chico State coeds, the number of these vehicles will double. I have been trying to recall, the verb meaning to bring back from memory, just when a recall, the noun meaning removal from office, has become a means to decide our indifferences. Heck, cars and trucks get recalled for far better reasons, like safety. Speaking of that, curious as to why the seatbelt law is not considered infringement on our freedom. Safety I guess. I welcome fall and am OK with the changing population, leaving less parking opportunities and open bar stools in our beloved downtown. Our cover story is both fascinating and powerful. Two words that define Emily Hartmann who adorns this cover. Her story is uplifting, refreshing, and may restore your faith in the right approaches to the health of our mind, body, and spirit. Interviewing her and writing the cover story did not seem enough. So, I sat down with her and recorded a session where Emily was asked to offer her thoughts on certain subjects. I asked if she wanted the list before we sat down; she declined. Each view on each subject deepens our understanding of this remarkable member of our community. For fun, I sat down with her husband, Eric, and recorded his thoughts on his wife. Fun, mainly because we did not inform Emily about this, and she is finding out just like all of you. This issue also marks the second month we have devoted pages for our surrounding cities—Oroville, Paradise, and Orland. We are excited to move forward while providing new stories each month. Since my dawn of awareness of just how poorly I handled the pandemic, and the ensuing health trauma I experienced which came with a pair of hospital visits due to what is known as heart failure, I made a decision. A decision the three ladies in my life have wanted from me. I realized I needed to ‘talk to someone,’ and have found the perfect someone. From the fear of what is going to happen next health-wise, to coping with events in the past that keep haunting me, we have enough to talk about. The Backpage is dedicated to both Emily and this most trusted therapist. It was super fun and a trying experience mentally. Enjoy reading as much as I did putting it together.

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief JASON CORONA Sales Director

DARREN MICHELS Product Integration & Mobility Strategy SHELLY BRANDON Writer TIM MILHORN Writer

CONTRIBUTORS DOUG LOVE

SWEENEY & MICHEL

Real Estate

Finance

HRiQ

DERM BAR

Human Resources

Beauty

RYAN STEFANELLI

JESSICA WILKERSON

Tacos

Health

For editorial or general magazine inquiries, please contact: Kevin Dolan kevin@upgradedliving.com

Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief

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For sales inquiries, please contact: Jason Corona, 530.591.2634 jason@UpgradedLiving.com

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CONTENTS | AUGUST 2021

FOOD

POTPOURRI

12 Grana's Executive Chef Sarah Jesper dishes seasonality

24 Get the funk out with this nearby music festival

14 A pairing you won't want to miss

63 The Backpage

16 The Thrilla in Vanilla—one of these soft-servers gets served in our second food showdown

HOME

18 Tres hombres launches its long awaited summer cocktail menu

26 Reimagine what could be with Lauren O'Donnell Interiors

20 The Taco Tracker visits The Taco Man

30 Love Builds a home for Linda Sherwood

22 Curry favor with this misunderstood but delicious spice

36 Bad Tenant: A tale related by Realtor Doug Love

COMMUNITY 28 Harnessing the healing power of acupuncture 34 The merchants of love, community, and support 38 A gifted artist's gift to a community treasure

FEATURE 43 The impactful empathy of Dr. Emily Hartmann—owner and operator of Meriam Park's newest health, beauty, and wellness spas, Beauty Eternal and Eternal Wellness

40 Orland history's caretaker

48 Paradise, California's best kept secret 54 Explore the OG must-visits in the City of Gold 56 Cool Kid: Cadence Steenson captures the world and our hearts

48 8

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ON THE COVER: DR. EMILY HARTMANN

DESIGN BY: ERIK BROWN

PHOTO BY: DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Taproom Hours THURSDAY: 4-8 PM FRIDAY: 4-8 PM SATURDAY: 11 AM-8 PM SUNDAY: 11 AM-5 PM

88O COUNTY ROAD WW PRINCETON, CA 95970 for reservations call: 530-982-2016

Seasonality at its finest Executive Chef Sarah Jesper brightens Grana’s restaurant kitchen with her skillset and assured philosophy of all things in concert with the seasonality of the time. This certainty is carefully supported to the point the restaurant does not have a freezer. Sarah notes, “What is the use of tomatoes, just to have them when they are out of season?” As a result, Grana buys all fruit and vegetables locally. Sarah lights up at the fact the food actually tastes better while supporting local farmers and the local economy itself. The importance of seasonality comes with the fact items on the menu do not last long before being replaced by new ones. Currently, Sarah delights in the featured Pork-n-Peach pizza which is her favorite go-to. The actual philosophy of the kitchen at Grana is, “No way we use stuff not in season.” Furthermore, this is taken so seriously that the restaurant’s owner rotates the impressive wine list to match each change of season. Did we mention the restaurant does not have a freezer? Sarah left her Bay Area city of Concord to pursue a degree as a computer science programmer. The degree ended up in computer graphics. As many college grads, 12

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Sarah felt the undeniable urge to follow her own dream—to become a chef. She headed north, enrolling in the Portland Culinary School with a curriculum providing good, basic knowledge and a common vocabulary. Upon completion, Sarah moved to where it “feels like home with great food.” Back in Chico, she worked in kitchens at both Upper Crust and 33 Steak Booze & Jazz. These gigs were followed by a move to the Central Coast, where Sarah was introduced to a locally driven artisanal approach to cooking. Five years later, she returned to Chico and surveyed the beneficial sum total of her vast and different experiences in the culinary world she actively engaged in. She put this knowledge to work at Grana, where she’s been the executive chef for the past six years. We celebrate this brilliant addition to Chico’s broad restaurant scene and look forward to the changing over from summer to fall— including just how Sarah will shift the menu to best utilize the seasonality of the time. We simply cannot wait for her next go-to dish to pop up on the specials being shared at each and every table. You can find Sarah at Grana at 198 E Second Street.

a Challenge accepted

For the past 4 years, the chefs and bartenders at Parkside Tap House have worked tirelessly to create menus that would delight patrons and provide an experience worthy of dining out. Inventing these menus is incredibly timeintensive, requiring continued tweaking and rethinking to perfect, and once a menu is finally complete, it needs to be changed within a few short months to make way for a new season's produce and opportunities. Though creating these menus is certainly challenging, creating a menu from scratch to be used solely for one evening can be considered even more so. Such is the case with Parkside's pairing dinners, a challenge they've dared to accept repeatedly for the past 2 1/2 years. 14

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The first 4-course whiskey pairing dinner took place at Parkside in February of 2019 and has given way to a long string of dinners since. Pairings have included drinks expertly crafted by Parkside bartenders utilizing tequila, rum, gin, vodka, beers from local breweries, and many more. Each alcohol has been perfectly paired with a dish whose recipe was created to inspire connection with the drink it would be served with, elevating the flavors of both when enjoyed together. The experience has been such a hit that Parkside decided to make the dinners a monthly event earlier this year, and the two since—the Basquestyle and Farmers Brewing Company dinners—sold out long before the evening of the dinner itself. Having sampled the upcoming August 5th pairing dinner with Rogue Spirits, created by Parkside Chef Jaime and Parkside bar manager, Colin Jones, we have no doubt that pattern is sure to continue.

The Rogue Spirits dinner will include the following 4 pairings: 1. Fresh tomato and olive salad on a crostini boat paired with a grapefruit gin daiquiri 2. Scallop on a mackeral mantecato with jalapeño polenta cake and spinach paired with a cucumber and thyme gimlet 3. Braised short rib with pan-seared gnocchi, covered in a parmesan mornay sauce and paired with a cherry manhattan 4. Tiramisù paired with a chocolate coffee old fashioned Tickets are $50 with tip included and can be purchased at www.OrderParkside.com under menu "dinner pairing." Check their instagram page @parksidetaphouse for information on upcoming pairing dinners! We'll look forward to seeing you there!

The Thrilla

Big Al's First Glance: Soft serve, in and of itself, is the antithesis of the ice cream sundae. I’ve even heard it as an insult. However, when the wavy delight was placed in our hands, you saw only magic. The swirled perfection of the vanilla flavored barber light spoke a rhythm that only someone who is not affected by sweltering temperatures wouldn’t enjoy. The Experience: Like a Mike Tyson left hook, the immediate impact of Vanilla was felt. The twist of the swirl caught any drips before they could melt in the over 100 degree temperature. The texture was icy and smooth, and was firm enough not to buckle under the heat which any parent could appreciate were we children reentering the car. 16

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The Extra: The setting of Big Al’s, whether at the window or above the tile floors inside, was the perfect setting for the meal. The cone was the perfect vessel to hold the treat through its entirety while still buckling under your tongue at the last bite. If you like the feeling of a great day at the end of fair season, this is childhood personified.

in Vanilla

Fosters Freeze First Glance: Fosters Freeze is no stranger to folks who enjoy a frozen delight, and the soft serve one was not a disappointment. The presentation looked just as the logo, minus the eyes: a larger bulb of deliciousness finished by the final swirl that resembles the curl of Bob’s Big Boy.

The Experience: Sugary, Sweet and Smooth. The cream was much smoother and less icy than our previous trial, and every bite melted between your lips. French Vanilla, in color and flavor sprang to your taste buds and what was lacking in vanilla bean was made up in creaminess. This was a fully involved treat to which you couldn’t help but lick your fingers.

The Extra: The scene, while off Oro Dam, never felt too busy to enjoy the cold retreat. The cone was much more dense and never wavered against the ever more liquid treat inside. Crunchy to the last bite, the finish was equal to cone as it was ice cream. If you like the last bit of a bowl of ice cream, this is the texture and delight you are craving.

You put the lime in the coconut At the end of July, we bid a final farewell to Tres Hombres' most popular seasonal cocktail menu to date, and they're looking to one-up themselves with an end-ofsummer cocktail menu you're sure to love. Relying on flavors synonymous with the season—lime, coconut, watermelon, guava, pineapple, and mango—they've put together a brand new set of cocktails that are light, just sweet enough, and undeniably refreshing!

Not pictured in the above lineup is the Guava Primavera—the most popular cocktail from the spring cocktail menu—which is being carried over to the new menu! It was featured in the last issue of Upgraded Living and will be available through the end of summer, so drop in and order one before it's gone! Stop by Tres Hombres and give these a try for yourself! You won't be disappointed.

Left to right, from top

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1. Broadway Bramble Grey Whale gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, butterfly pea tea, and black cherry puree.

3. Mango Key Lime Martini Vanilla vodka, real coconut, mango puree, key lime and pineapple juice with a graham cracker covered rim!

2. Tres Cooler Ketel One Citroen, lemon juice, raspberry puree, peach puree, triple sec, lemonade, and topped with a splash of Sprite!

4. Watermelon Basil Smash Teremana Reposado, lemon juice, simple syrup, watermelon, basil and muddled to perfection!

WRITTEN BY TACO TRACKER, RYAN STEFANELLI

Sinaloa Seafood Gordo Burrito is a well-known name in the local taco game, and it’s difficult to miss the brightly colored taco truck at 8th and Salem Streets, with their steady flow of daily customers. Though Gordo Burrito is indeed local, its history started years ago in the coastal state of Sinaloa, Mexico, where José Uriarte was born and raised. A butcher at his family’s business, José grew up learning the ins-and-outs of cooking firsthand and the proper way to prepare meat. In fact, there was little else he thought about during those early years. In 1989, José took the opportunity to move his family to California, intent on providing them a better life. The journey, which ended in Chico, was anything but a straight line. José and his family first touched down in Escondido, before traveling up the coast to Crescent City, where he took up work as a fisherman. When work began to slow, José sought work elsewhere, finding it with his sister at an olive harvest in Corning. He worked numerous jobs between Corning and Orland before finally deciding to make a final move to Chico. It was here that he decided to start his own food truck in 2000. Appropriately naming his truck “The Taco Man,” Jose set out to make a name for himself in Chico. Growing up in Sinaloa, he was heavily influenced by the region’s focus on seafood, so he decided to make it the 20

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star of his truck, quickly differentiating his business from the other trucks in town. The truck’s success gave Jose the confidence to expand. He opened his first brick and mortar location, La Cocina Económica, at 905 Wall Street, and its success not only drew crowds this time, but investors as well. He eventually sold the business and used the profits to open a second food truck located at Park Avenue and 20th Street, and a smaller dine-in restaurant named Gordo Burrito in 2008 at 1295 E. 8th Street. Seven months ago, after many years of operating his businesses in Chico, José decided to hand the reins to his three children: Cecilia, José, and Juan, before retiring to Mexico. We will miss José’s smiling face and morning chats while waiting for orders to be prepared. According to Cecilia, Gordo Burrito will remain the same, although there will be growth in the near future. Gordo offers some of the best deals in town, and their grilled tacos at the restaurant are one of my go-tos. The taco truck, located at 598 E. 8th Street, offers delicious fare, with their shrimp tacos, chicken tacos, and classic burrito being my all-time favorites. The flavor packed into a burrito with only three ingredients is something everyone needs to try, and I highly recommend you do just that.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

It's curry, plural If you’re like many of us, you’ve gone through the years blithely unaware that curry is a mixture of spices and not just one spice named Curry. After all, you’ve got your Curry Shrimp, Curried Chicken, Curried Tuna, Shrimp Curry, Cauliflower Curry, Curry Stephen, Vegan Curry, Curried Meatballs, Eggplant Curry, Weeknight Red Curry, et al. Yes, curry is not just yellow; it’s also green and red. I was over fifty when I learned about the colors, after having lived in my meat-infested American world for, well, over fifty years. I could go on and on about curry dishes, but I’d end up sounding like Bubba Blue in Forrest Gump. So what’s in curry? It depends. There are many combinations that originate in different countries, cuisines, and dishes. The main ingredients are turmeric (Not tumeric!), cumin, coriander, ginger, chilies, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper, fennel, cinnamon, cloves, and chili peppers. Other spices and herbs are used, and some curry mixes can contain up to 60 ingredients. Turmeric is the main ingredient, and if you tap some out of the jar onto your tongue (try it!) you’d find it to have a warm, bitter taste. It’s also yellow in color, and it is used in mustard, butter, and cheese. Curry powder was exported from India to Britain in the 18th Century, and it has had a definite impact on the development of food in the British Isles. Countless British troops who served in India developed a taste for curry and brought back the spice mixture to their homes. Eventually, companies in South Asia began marketing the concoction 22

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to England. The two types of curry are wet and dry. Wet curry is sprinkled or rolled onto foods before cooking and doesn’t use added liquid. Wet curry includes a significant amount of dairy cream or yoghurt—and/or coconut milk—and sometimes tomato puree. Curry is also healthy! Turmeric is a popular supplement and has been endorsed by WebMD and other medical sites. It is said to fight cancer, ease depression, act as an outstanding anti-oxidant, and keep blood sugar levels steady. A major component of turmeric is curcumin, which has been used to help people with prediabetes. Many of the ingredients in curry contain positive benefits for your health. The first curry recipe appeared in a cookbook written by Hannah Glasse in 1747, The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy. Kerala, in Southern India, is famous for its use of coconut milk and pasta. Masala, which means spice, is used in dishes which tend to be more spicy. Tikka, literally meaning “piece,” is usually a piece of meat. Chicken Tikka Masala is a popular curry dish in the West. At Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, a special curry dish was invented, Coronation Chicken. One of the world’s most famous curry restaurants, Veeraswamy, has been preparing curry dishes in London since 1926. If you’re now in the mood for a curry dish, Chico hosts a few Indian and Thai restaurants where you can indulge your desire. GTFO and try a tasty dish of this delicious spice tonight.

Made for more togetherness

Your child is made for more. More friendship. More trust. More good times. And that’s why yearly checkups with a pediatrician are so important. A lot can change through a year, and growth is an important indicator of good health. So schedule an appointment today with a nearby doctor for a wellness exam, annual physical, sports physical, immunization or dozens of other important health needs. Same-day appointments are available, even for new patients.

Call 530-872-2000 for an appointment now.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Get the funk out! As we too often read these days, “After a hiatus of nearly two years…” But the break is over this summer, and promoter Bob Backstrom sums it up, “We’re really excited for this year. People need this to put their funk on. We want everyone to come on down and jump in the river and listen to some great music.” Since 2014, Bob and his partner, Spencer Rouse, have been putting on the event in the form of the “For the Funk of It” summer music festival held at Belden Town in the Feather River Canyon. It started in 2012 when Bob, Spencer, and some friends had a discussion about all the great music festivals in Northern California, but none that were dedicated to funk, a genre of music that has its origins in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Funk is listenable, danceable, and literally makes you want to get your funk on. It’s an irresistible sound that makes your body sway and your feet move. Funk originated in the ‘60’s with the signature groove of James Brown. His unique style influenced many to follow, prime groups being Kool and the Gang, Sly and the Family Stone, the Ohio Players, and Parliament Funkadelic, to name a few. Funk has influenced hip hop and electronic dance music as well. Herbie Hancock played a jazz-funk style on his tremendously famous album Head Hunters, and other jazz bands have embraced funk over the years. Backstrom and Rouse have been fans of funk for many years, but their life paths took a few turns before they arrived at Belden Town. After attending Chico 24

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State, Backstrom ended up running a destination hotel in Ecuador for a year. He came back to Chico, eventually left for Costa Rica, and worked at another vacation spot before finally returning to Chico. During this time, Rouse lived in Hawaii, where he worked at a sushi restaurant. Finally, the two ended up in Chico again and began to formulate the idea for the funk festival. They mulled over many locations and eventually agreed upon Belden Town as the primo location, and it has lived up to its magical location on the Feather River. For the Funk of It has been sold out over the years, booked over a hundred different groups, and currently has about twenty groups booked to play on the festival’s three stages. Due to the ever-present COVID-19, Placer County has put some new rules into effect: Attendees have to have proof of a covid vaccination or have been tested negative the week before the event. Masks will not be mandated. There will be a COVID compliance officer on site. 2020 tickets will be honored for the 2021 festival to be held on August 13-21, 2021. A full list of rules, accommodations at the Belden Town Resort, and available amenities such as food and water can be found on the For the Funk of It! Facebook page. SPECIAL NOTICE! Due to the Dixie Fire, the festival could be cancelled or a smaller version moved to another location. Check on Facebook or at www. FTFfest.com for the latest news.

Luxury Service, Luxury Experience Sometimes things just work out better than anticipated, which was exactly what happened for the local interior design studio, Lauren O’Donnell Interiors. Juggling upwards of 25 design projects at a time, working out of her home with her team had run its course. The garage was bursting at the seams with inventory used to put the final touches on clients’ homes, Lauren’s two young boys were running around playing frisbee with carpet samples, and her husband was (patiently) enduring the endless deliveries. During an unprecedented year, full of uncertainty amidst the pandemic while juggling quarantine with kids, school, work and everything in between, the downtime led Lauren O’Donnell to her new “home” at 1350 E. 9th Street in Chico. What happened next, although unplanned, was the start of Chico’s newest shopping experience. Lauren quickly started doing what she does best—remodeling! The studio began to take shape, and two 40-foot trucks of inventory quickly filled the space. “I was instantly in love with the new studio,” Lauren said. “It was centrally located, full of floor-to-ceiling windows, had wonderful neighbors, and enough space to finally spread out.” Lauren envisioned the space being a place where clients would visit for presentations, a showcase for design and what she could do, and a place to put her skills on display. She also wanted it to offer visitors the opportunity to purchase on-hand inventory because, why not? People were always asking to purchase products they had seen through her Instagram profile (@lodesigns) or from one of her finished projects in someone’s home. “It was surprising how many people came in and bought a piece here and there,” she added. So with the help of her team, they quickly decided to go all-in with a full-time shop. The shop officially opened its doors on the first day of spring, in March of 2021. “The grand opening was a blast,” said Lauren. The sun was shining, the 26

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champagne was flowing, and the store was filled with friends, family, past and present clients, and tons of new faces. “I felt so grateful for everyone who came and shopped—and especially my team and friends who were there until 3am the night before to make it happen. We now have a loyal customer base who’ve been in at least four-or-five times since our opening,” she added. Although interior design is still the centerpiece of the business, the store has grown into a location where customers can walk in and purchase a gift, a vintage home accessory, or get help styling an entire sideboard or table they have been struggling to make “complete.” It’s not just people walking in the door. Lauren O’Donnell Interiors has a client base that goes far beyond Chico and even the United States. “I am constantly

traveling to clients outside of the area. It’s another challenge I enjoy, and we can meet, but I couldn’t do it without my team,” she said. Please notice the use of we. Lauren’s team of four is extremely important to her. “Kelly, Christina, and Amy make people feel welcome and at home. When a customer walks through the door, we are quick to get up and offer help and fresh coffee. On Saturdays, we even serve Prosecco!” The team enjoys their work and sees days not necessarily as work, but doing something they love. As Kelly said, “It’s really fun to watch Lauren create. I love being part of the team.” Christina added, “It’s incredible what the store brings to Chico. It has so much to offer everyone and anyone who comes in.” Lauren really wanted it to be a place where her team loved to be and where customers could

come in and find something they love at a price they could afford with unparalleled service. “Service is everything to me,” Lauren added, “and as I always tell my team, this is a luxury service that deserves a luxury experience. Whether you are in for a candle or an entire ground-up design, that service carries through to everyone.” A home is so important to us all. It is where we live, where we love, where we find joy—it is a part of us and our existence. Lauren O’Donnell Interiors can help you achieve your dream home. Lauren and her excellent team can be reached at 530-965-5970 or at laurenointeriors.com. Better yet, drop by the store and check out their curated collection of home decor, furnishings, and more!

dedicate her life to providing that same method of healing to others in need. Over the years that followed, she started a family, studied acupuncture, earned her masters degree from the renowned American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, passed her board exams, and moved to Oroville. She started her acupuncture practice in 2018 as a mobile service provider and, due to incredible demand, opened a brick and mortar location named Stone Soup Acupuncture, now located at 1453 Downer Street, Suite A in Downtown Oroville.

The healing power of accupuncture The ancient practice of acupuncture is believed to have originated in China nearly 3,000 years ago and is known as one of the longest standing methods of promoting healing from within. Its first comprehensive documentation is found in The Huangdi Neijing, an early book on medicine published in 100 BC, which describes the practice as an organized system of diagnosis and treatment for a variety of ailments. Though certainly a mature practice, it’s important to note acupuncture has not only withstood the test of time, but is now considered integrative medicine and an important part of a properly-balanced care regimen. Acupuncturists are regarded by the State of California as a primary care profession. Indeed, sports teams and olympians even travel with their own acupuncturist these days. The practice is known to assist in alleviating a laundry list of ailments including musculoskeletal issues, pain, migraines, allergy, infertility, anxiety, and stress. It was an ongoing experience with the latter condition that led Lori Tataru, owner of Stone Soup Acupuncture in Oroville, to seek out acupuncture herself, and the benefits convinced her to turn it into her career. Lori is, without doubt, an incredibly 28

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driven individual, and has been her entire life. At the age of 15, she entered college, eventually transferring to UCLA when she turned 18 to study theoretical mathematics and science. As if studying two of the most time-intensive subjects wasn’t enough, she also spent her college years as the editor of the school paper, a part-time nanny, volunteering at UCLA hospital, and presiding over multiple clubs throughout the school. As is the case with so many individuals driven to succeed, it should come as no surprise Lori dealt with immense levels of stress, and that stress began catching up with her rather quickly, presenting itself as chronic illness. When those illnesses became too much to bear, she sought out help from various practitioners, and though she didn’t find immediate relief from any, her first course of acupuncture treatments proved to be just the help she was looking for. She continued to regularly receive acupuncture treatments throughout the year, and one-by-one, her many stress related symptoms such as headaches and digestive complaints resolved themselves, opening the path for her to continue pursuing her dreams. Having experienced the power of acupuncture firsthand, Lori decided to

“I love being an acupuncturist because I know I can help my patients,” Lori said. “I work with their care team and put every part of my 3,000+ hours of training into making their life more livable. People don’t often realize they have coverage through their insurance, including those with Medi-Cal. Since acupuncture is considered primary care, you don’t have to have a referral either, though we receive referrals from doctors constantly. Simply visit our website to set up an appointment.” Not only does Lori provide skilled acupuncture treatment, she is also a trained herbalist, incorporating traditional Chinese herbal medicine to achieve faster and more effective results for a variety of conditions. “It’s a lot like physical therapy,” Lori said. “We use a series of visits to encourage the body to relax and begin healing itself, then add changes to lifestyle and diet to ensure the most effective possible treatment. Over time, a commitment to these positive changes can completely turn things around and heal chronic illness from within.” Using both practices, Stone Soup Acupuncture provides a relaxing and pain-free experience that calms the nervous system and helps increase blood flow throughout the body, while utilizing the body’s natural healing ability by stimulating prostaglandins, endorphins, and other molecules in the body which promote healing and optimal functioning of the cells. Alongside the use of herbal medicine, the possibilities seem endless. Check out Stone Soup Acupuncture at www.StoneSoupAcupuncture.com to schedule a consultation and see how acupuncture can help you. The process couldn’t be easier, and the first phone consultation is provided free of charge.

to build, but now it was also going to cost everything I had to rebuild in Paradise. I wouldn't have had a penny left." Linda looked at modular homes, but they weren't clicking with her—the prices seemed to keep going up, and the wait to have one delivered seemed to follow suit. She heard about the Love Builds program and reached out to see if there was an opportunity to have her house built through them instead. As it turned out, there was.

LOVE BUILDS A HOME FOR linda sherwood It has been just three months since Love Builds launched in Paradise, and in that short period of time it has already accomplished what it originally set out to do—create and master a number of plans to expedite the approval process for building homes in Paradise, locate Camp Fire victims who needed help with rebuilding but were unable to do so due to finances, and connect those individuals with resources to eliminate the gap in finances preventing them from rebuilding. Thanks to partners like Academy Mortgage, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Lowe's, Maranatha Volunteers International, The Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley, and Frank Lewis of Nor Cal Construction, the lofty goals set out by these do-gooders came to fruition in an absolutely unbelievable timeframe. As a result of this incredible network of individuals and organizations, Love Builds' first client, Becky Portlock, will soon have her brand new home completed; construction on Ron Carmody's house just broke ground; and the remaining Love Builds clients are lined up to each break ground on their projects one month apart, provided the approval process continues 30

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at its current pace. With that, the first year of Love Builds applications has been filled, and the organization is well on its way to providing homes to those who need them most. Though this outpouring of support has been unimaginable for the initial Love Builds client list, it quickly became apparent that a need existed not only on the end of finances, but time as well. For individuals like Linda Sherwood who were well-insured when they lost their home, finances were less of an issue than finding someone to build a house in the first place. "It was never a consideration to leave Paradise." Linda said, "I was going to fight through it, but any builder I talked to said it would be a year and a half from the start of next year before my home would be completed. Two years seemed like a long time, so I decided to rent for awhile, but with the increase in rental costs, my monthly payments went from a $600 mortgage to a $2,600 rental, plus a $1,000 PG&E bill due to the old home's lack of insulation. The further on I got, the more expensive things seemed to get. Not only was it going to take nearly two years

Though the program had signed its last applicant for the year, Love Builds President, Mark Balken, reviewed her story and went back to the drawing board, looking for ways to bring the construction price of their plans down enough to work within her budget without the level of support needed for the initial volunteer builds. After days of crunching numbers, he managed to do just that through his own construction company, Mark Balken Construction. "As soon as we talked, I just felt good." Linda said, "Things started falling into place—it was like a dream. I felt like I was in a fantasy land or something. I loved that Seventh Day Adventist was involved, and the whole thing spoke to me on a spiritual type level. I said, 'GO' four weeks ago, and things are already well on their way. They're a godsend. That's all I can say!" Linda's birthday is April 3rd, and Mark plans to have her in her new home by then, with just enough time to host a well-deserved birthday bash. "We had to sharpen our pencils a bit, but our partners have offered to continue to help, even in these non-volunteer builds." Mark said, "Their generosity allowed us to significantly reduce the cost of each of these homes and make them fit within the budget of the vast majority of Camp Fire victims waiting to find a builder. As a result, we'll be able to offer our starter 752 square foot plan on a buyer's lot starting at just $179,000. In this current market, that's just unheard of." For Camp Fire victims like Linda who've already waited nearly three years to rebuild, it truly is a godsend. With two home plans available starting at $179,000 on your property, Love Builds is giving Camp Fire victims an affordable opportunity to be home once again. Visit them at www.LoveBuildsParadise.com for more information and how to apply.

"I have worked with Effie for many years buying and selling properties. Effie is is amazing. She is knowledgeable, responsive, a great negotiator, supportive through emotional steps in buying and selling, and offers great follow through on each step along the way to closing the deal. I would highly recommend Effie to anyone wishing to buy or sell a property. She works extremely hard to provide the best deal and experience for each client." -Kathy Hayes, Chico

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A Healing Gallery Store Opened in May of 2021, The Peddler’s Closet & Co is located at Third and Wall in Chico, is already the talk of the town. Owner Leann Powell, along with her friend Iris Natividad, are excited to be able to share everything the shop has to offer and agree they really want it to be a place of inspiration for anyone who walks through the door. Leann has been involved in various aspects of retail for the past thirty years. She started her own boutique in 2019, specializing in tie-dye and doing pop up events with local artist, Jennie Johnson who creates wirewrapped jewelry. Iris, is from Paradise. Iris’ previous venture was helping friends reestablish their antique store after the Camp Fire. She brought Leann in with her tie-dye merchandise, and that’s how the two first connected. Iris says, “We were both at the same season (in our careers). We promoted other people but never did it for ourselves. So, this was a collaboration for the two of us. We thought, let’s do this for ourselves this time.” Leann shares that Iris messaged her in the middle of the night saying, “If you end up opening a shop, I’ll rent half the building from you.” That’s how it all came to be. The store itself is an eclectic assemblage of art, jewelry, local artisans, tie-dye and antique furniture. They encourage artists to come in and be part of the store, not just featured in it. Shane Grammer, well known for his Camp 34

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Fire murals, has several pieces for sale. Local photographer, Bart Kalbach, who takes spectacular photos using a bite plate on his camera, also has his work at the store. He can often be found on Saturdays visiting Iris, Leann, and the community. In addition to established artists, their gallery store features artwork from local, up-and-coming artists, like 25-year-old Alexandra Buie. Iris talks about how some of their artist connections are purely through serendipity. Alexandra, who’s also from Paradise, stopped in the store with a friend to throw away some trash. “She just happened to stop in, met Shane Grammer, shared some of her work, and now is part of the art community featured in our store.” Leann’s 16-year-old niece, Gillian Powell, painted a whimsical Renaissance-style rabbit adorned with earrings and a red velvet headpiece. Once Leann saw it, she asked her to be part of the shop, and she’s now working on several other pieces to be sold. The rabbit holds a special place above the chunky repurposed bar, waiting to find its permanent home. You can also find more local artisans, like Wood Carver, Cole Hamilton, Graphic Artist, Patrick Fleming, Farm Girl Artistry by Debbie Presson, Apparel by Chico-dise, Mixed Media Artist, Judy Abbott, Candles by Beechwood Apiaries, and Watercolor by Jewls Gardner.

Iris emphasizes how healing through art is central to the purpose at The Peddler’s Closet & Co. She lost her partner, Andrew Downer, and his service dog Bertha, in the Camp Fire. Helping establish the gallery store to give artists a place to display and sell their work, and create an environment of hope and healing, has been extremely rewarding. People often congregate around the Shane Grammer display that features merchandise with the various murals from Paradise. Leann says they”ll sometimes just reminisce there, with tears in their eyes. It’s turned into one of the store’s many centers for healing. “We’ve got a lot of really unique and cool items, and I want them to all stand out. So the hard part is trying to make each artisan or product stand out on its own while maintaining a flow.” Leann explains, “it’s one of the most challenging aspects of owning, The Peddler’s Closet & Co.” The intent to create a one of a kind boutique and gallery store in Chico has resulted in an environment that artists seem to gravitate towards. This is clearly evident in all the items they carry; wire wrapped jewelry, hand-beaded purses, soapstone from Africa, bee products, tie-dye apparel, hand-carved pieces from Paradise trees lost to the Camp Fire, and so much more. The Peddler’s Closet & Co is located at 177 E 3rd Street and is open Wednesday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:30ish and Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00ish. They are also available by appointment.

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Thinking of Moving in Retirement? Financial planning can help you compare the pros and cons of moving to a lower cost region.

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

One of the COVID pandemic's silver linings was that many office workers realized they could move to a more affordable part of the country—and still thrive at work. They tapped into a strategy that retirees have known about for years: Relocate to a lower-cost region and you may soon be surprised by how much money you can save on a wide variety of expenses. For some, it's a sure-fire way to help supercharge their retirement plan. Consider the vast variation in expenses across different parts of America. The cost of living in Manhattan is almost two and a half times the national average, while Washington, D.C. is 1.6 times, and Orange County, California is 1.5 times (according to the Council for Community and Economic Research (CCER)). On the other hand, Amarillo, Texas is about 80% of the national average, and Kalamazoo, Michigan, about 78%. Cost of living takes into account differences in affordability for housing, health care, food, taxes, and other expenses. They can vary a great deal from town-to-town, as well as state-to-state. THE POWER OF PLANNING Deciding where to live in retirement is a very personal decision that can shape relationships, hobbies, and many other parts of life. Among those many considerations are your finances. It can be hard to estimate what a change in location might mean for your retirement income. You have to consider the cost of everything from housing to health care, taxes, and more. Over a long time period, these differences (and the impact on your investment portfolio) can really add up. But scenario planning as part of the financial planning process can help illustrate those tradeoffs, so you can feel more confident in your ultimate decision. Working with your financial advisor can help you understand how a shift in cost of living might change your financial picture throughout your retirement, and the legacy you may leave behind. Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 196 Cohasset Road, Suite 100, Chico CA 95926 (530) 487-1777 | renee@sweeneymichel.com | joe@sweeneymichel.com | www.sweeneymichel.com Sources: www.irs.gov; www.ssa.gov; www.medicare.gov | Sweeney & Michel, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser. This brochure is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sweeney & Michel, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Sweeney & Michel, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place. 35

Bad Tenant Hostile tenants can turn the act of listing a house into a dangerous proposition for Realtors. We try to stay out of landlordtenant problems, but sometimes get pulled in. “The guy’s a dirtbag,” said the owner of this house I was hoping to list. “He doesn’t pay rent, he’s mean, and the neighbors complain about loud music and parties.” “You need to evict him,” I said. “It’s in the works. I’ve sent him all the notices, but the jerk ignores ‘em. Meanwhile, I’m 200 miles away, getting no rent.” Against my better judgment, I went to the house. Maybe I could reason with that tenant. I heard Johnny Cash music as I walked up the weather-beaten staircase. The ornate front door with an oval-shaped beveledglass window and Victorian filigree trimwork had seen better times. The music stopped after I banged on the door a few times. A big guy answered. I was ready to run. He looked me over and rolled his eyes, apparently in reaction to my business attire. “Come on in,” he said in a resigned tone. I followed carefully. He plopped onto an old sofa and grabbed a beautiful Gibson Hummingbird guitar. “So, you’re what, the rent collector or something?” He strummed an E chord. 36

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“No, I’m a Realtor. The owner is talking about selling.” “Yeah, well he can do whatever he wants,” he said. “I’m outta here this weekend. I got a job in L.A. starting next week. You can let the dear landlord know I’ll be paying up on the rent.” “Wait a minute,” I said, “was that you playing Johnny Cash before I came in?” He smiled and played the opening lick to Folsom Prison Blues. He sang like Johnny Cash. I harmonized with him over the lines, ‘If they freed me from this prison...’ The guy smiled again. “You play?” I nodded. He pulled a Martin D-18 guitar from under the sofa. We jammed and sang Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams songs. A couple of his buddies showed up with beer and instruments, and we jammed some more. We became great friends. The next day I called the owner. “Your tenant will be out this weekend,” I said. “I doubt that,” he said. “I got complaints about loud music and partying again last night. The dirtbag!” Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail. com. Call or text 530-680-0817. See more columns at lovesrealstories.com.

The gifted Artist Jedrek Speer is a renowned artist. A graduate of Pleasant Valley High School in 1995, Jed is quick to point out the inspiration from beloved art teacher Ed Logan, in both print design and murals. Like many local grads, Jed yearned to move out of Chico and did so successfully. First stop, a stint in Tahoe before moving to Santa Cruz in 2000. After three years gathering experience and knowledge in film and digital media, he set his sights on L.A. There, he went to work, putting his skills in media on display, including a gig with E! Entertainment. Jed simply was not fulfilled or happy and, after meeting a gal, found himself in the apparel industry drawing for her. He was hired away and, not surprisingly, moved back to Chico to work for 5th Sun. Jed realized the move made sense, especially considering his family. Once again breaking away, he and a friend ventured into the apparel world through their company, Seizer One Designs. 38

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With all this both in front and behind him, Jed felt strongly about bringing a Southern California vibe to his hometown. Jed revived his early inspiration in the world of murals by bringing vibrantly colored walls to Chico, at a time they were sorely lacking. His “LOVE” murals on the west end of Lulu’s building burst onto the scene as an instantaneous selfie and insta-place to be featured on demand. The art world is known for collaborations, and Jed joined Christian Garcia to bring to life the healing “Here We Grow” mural in Paradise. Jed noted, “It was meant to be considered empowering.” So then, what happens when a lifelong friend, mentor, and early source of inspiration asks you to install a mural in the front window of his bike shop? Beyond merely answering the call, you reminisce, seek perfection, and discover the unwavering truth behind this remarkable childhood hero, Dax Downey.

Dax has been owner and operator of Greenline Cycles, a unique local bike shop located in Downtown Chico. Interesting that the first shop he worked at was known as Family Cyclery. Dax treated the young people around like his family. Jed mused, “I met Dax when I was around 11 or 12 years old. My friend and I would ride the bus down from Paradise to ride in the parks in Chico. Dax was the same warm and kind person he is today, but I felt he made an extra effort to make sure we were taken care of.” He also shared the fact Dax always allowed them to take his bikes out, which were always the newest and the best. Jed also recalls Dax took him snowboarding for the very first time. He smiles at the fact that, at age 15, Dax hired him to be his first employee. Jed laughs, “I’m sure I was an awful employee!” As a son of a single mom and not having a lot of stuff, he holds Dax close to his heart as “a gem, a shining light in all the dark.” Then as Jed got deeper and deeper into the project for Dax’s storefront, a tide turned revealing an awesome reality.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY JEDREK SPEER

The Greenline piece’s concept, set for the front window, came immediately to Jed, featuring Dax in the forefront on his bike and a series of geometric shapes suggesting a mountain of possible jumps and curves. As the project continued to take shape, Jed just kept hearing about Dax and discovered he had influenced young people all over the place. He did some research and, in the end, a large list of names was put together to be included as part of the mural—all without Dax knowing. All of these fortunate young men fit the same description of single parents, hard times, and not much stuff. Jed remembers running into Dax in L.A. for the X Games. He had brought a kid in a wheelchair so he could see the games up close. The sheer amount of names on the list lit up the backdrop of the geometrical artwork. The names serve as a beautiful sunset of sorts reaching out from behind. At the revealing on a hot evening in July, Jed spoke of Dax the mentor, the influencer, the shining light in the dark. Jed knows the project turned out to be special. The tears in both Dax and Jed’s eyes can attest to that. To Jedrek Speer, the renowned artist, “Dax is so much more than a bike shop owner. He is my hero, but he is also the hero of so many others. Your wings are so big my friend; feel your heart so full. I love you and thank you for being such a positive light for me and our community.” So, in the end, that is what you do when a lifelong friend, mentor, and early source of inspiration asks you to install a mural in the front window of his bike shop.

Jim Wackerman is the current owner and caretaker of the property widely known as the Wackerman Ranch. The history of the ranch goes back to 1864 with the settling of the pioneers. This is some 40 years before Orland became a city, and the water rights have Teddy Roosevelt’s signature. In 1900, the ranch became known as the “Old Colony,” honoring an ever-present Bay Area influence. Though dairy farming was the mainstay, the ranch also included vegetable gardens, cattle, pigs, and fruit trees. At the youthful age of 22, and only a few years out of high school, Jim’s father was offered the farm. It was 1950, and he decided to purchase the farm, determined to turn it around and make it prosper. At the time, it had been a dairy farm like many others dotting the Glenn County landscape. Dairy farming came with maintenance and impending rules. Not only was Albert clearly aware of this but also discovered how hard it had become to find hay. In addition, restrictions and 40

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new regulations kept emerging. In the ‘70’s, Albert related to Jim that he felt, “We are one generation on the verge of bankruptcy.” Where once 125 dairies flourished, the number had plummeted into the 20’s. Originally, pioneers irrigated the land from government funding. Water has remained a touchy topic ever since and moving away from the dairy industry proved difficult. The dairy business, like many operations, came with big pressures, like going completely organic while fighting the seller’s market which had stretched all the way to Colorado. It became clear that Jim had inherited too much hassle, so much maintenance, and ever-changing rules. Like his dad, however, pressure and all, Jim Wackerman is truly the right person to tend this property. Among other things, Jim is a walking sound bite, dropping lines one cannot write down fast enough. He speaks in both a demonstrative manner in full

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

The old guy and his old colony

animation and, in an instant, he strikes a statue-like pose, leaving his eyes to express emotion. He was in full animation, hands and arms flailing away, when describing the cattle still roaming the ranch. With obvious pride, he noted, “They never stop. The heifers and jerseys love the area with its numerous trails and fire breaks.” Then Jim got into it, forming his arms and hands in the pantomimed backside of the cattle. “They look like Olympic athletes!” Immediately, his more statuesque style emerged while taking stock of the reversal of the property from a dairy farm to an almond ranch. He also turned his attention to remodeling the “big barn” into an event center. With bright eyes, he mused, “I’m just an old guy, using old tools, trying to fix old things.” Jim relayed thoughts on planting the orchards,165 acres below and 65 up on the hill. Planting trees meant taking out native ones. The oak trees, a vital part of the life and heritage of the property, literally proved “heart-breaking” to uproot. It was also sad to lose the majestic black walnut, referring to it as

“a helluva tree.” He moved to a delicate subject—the difference between flood drainage and irrigation. The almonds are watered through a sprayer sprinkler, one that found the use of 60% less water. Jim made no mistake when he said, “I’ll raise nuts until I die.” It’s his retirement. Standing on a porch next to his son, Gabe, he left a genuine glimpse of the ranch’s future. The big barn do-over is a retirement gift to his beloved wife Jeanine. Jeanine and their daughter, Sophie, have plans for the wedding and event center on the property. Jeanine is a local legend in Orland as a remarkable educator. An English teacher serving both middle and high school classes, her praises are shouted from every corner. Jim is aware the orchards are doing well, and though it takes time, he is waiting to make real money. He will turn to the remodeling of both the big barn and the property itself to prepare for Jeanine’s retirement. The wedding venue and event center on the property is enticing. Typical of Jim, he puts it this way, “When she retires I’ll teach her to drive the tractor. It’ll be fun!” 41

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WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN

The Impactful Empathy of Dr. Emily Hartmann D

r. Emily Hartmann wants people to know what is at the core of her life. She readily admits, “I am just a normal working mom, battling normal body image issues, while possessing a lack of self worth.” When measuring her leap into the practice of plastic and reconstructive surgery, opening her

Beauty Eternal Spa, and now introducing her Eternal Wellness Spa featuring a full range of holistic healing - you very well may question if ‘normal’ is the right word to define Emily Hartmann. A hometown girl, she left Chico State for Georgetown’s medical school. Early on she understood the importance of job satisfaction to

reduce burnout. She also knew her future, as she puts it, had to be “satisfying to me.” Emily has long been aware of her inclination to help people and, as a result, she was drawn to surgery. The clinical rotations during the fourth year 43

allowed Emily to eliminate other areas of practice, narrowing the decision between cardiology and plastic surgery. The cardiology rotation revealed to her a degree of discontent and jealousy throughout the candidates, as well as the raw truth, people die. The experience in her final rotation, plastic surgery, unveiled smiling faces, loud music, and a social aspect, including the enjoyment of getting to know each patient as a person. The seemingly brief stint in plastic surgery during Emily’s residency, left a tremendous impact on her. She reveals, “I was unbelievably happy, felt like I belonged as they fully embraced me.” Along the journey, Emily also became acquainted with vulnerability. The first patient she encountered as a resident doctor was an 18-year-old woman born with a breast that did not come to form. “She blew my mind.” The young patient acted out in any direction in order to draw attention away from her deformity. Her ability to display her vulnerability in an open setting touched Emily’s heart. The successful result of her reconstruction surgery sharpened Emily’s vision, including the possibilities of miracles ahead, laying in wait.

Ultimately, Emily selected a practice that left time for her number one priority of having a family. Upon completion, she returned to Chico with her husband Eric and their three children: Ollie, Belle and Lincoln. Upon arrival in 2015, she joined up with a partnership in plastic surgery, knowing full well she still had to finish her boards, including the grueling orals. Time certainly became a juggling act, including an unexpected fourth ball. If the preparation for the boards while getting her feet wet as a practicing surgeon wasn’t enough, Emily found herself on call for Enloe’s emergency room. An ordinary “every third week” rotation turned into long spells of constantly having her phone by her side. Like everything else, the varying and often eye-opening visitors to the ER honed her skills and expanded her vision of empathy. Three years later, Emily opened Beauty Eternal, marrying the plastic surgery side with alternative avenues for patients to choose. The expanding of her practice was “very emotional” to her and felt very much like a rite of passage. Her vision was coming into fruition just as the entire world changed.

It is important to understand Emily is not a “half full, half empty” kind of person. All she sees in a glass filled half way up with water is its potential. So with the pandemic stopping our everyday life, Emily immediately took to FaceBook, offering to meet patients at her office for laceration repair and other needs. What happened next proved a true anomaly in the life of Emily Hartmann - she slowed down. The awareness of the need to alter her pace began by becoming a part of a women empowerment group. The togetherness and strength of the group gave Emily permission to label herself as an entrepreneur and to surround herself with her own energy. The result of her post kept Dr. Hartmann busy enough while Emily hung out with her family, did a lot of meditating, and found herself bursting with creative energy, clearly without an outlet. How to channel the energy came from two different and distinct matters: performing a daily morning routine of gratitude alongside her decision to “become fearless.” The morning routine “quieted the demons who are always there, and kept them at bay.” The fearlessness rid Emily of her limited beliefs. She then closed her eyes,

Emily on Empathy

Emily on Vulnerability

Empathy, wow, big one right out of the gate. Empathy’s big right now, meaning to be on the path to connect with other humans, feel their energy and emotions. I practice my empathy every day with every patient I see. I just spent a full day in clinic - seeing patients, trying to really connect with them and understand what it is that they are going through, what makes them tick, what's important to them, and really get into their shoes. If I don't do that, then every single person is just another surgery and I’m not looking deeper into the picture, such as whether it's right for them or in their circumstances or fits their needs. It's a really important thing in my job to have and so I'm still working on it.

Hmm. Vulnerability is where the magic happens. Everyone is trying to close off and not let anyone in, and it's those moments of realness that makes the moment. The true connection, true communication, true understanding, true empathy happening are where people really connect, but it can also be where people are. It can be extremely painful and can manifest as some kind of defense mechanism where they may not act their best or can’t be at their best.

I was telling someone the other day that I've always been connected to emotions. I can remember as a kid and my parents had this fruit bowl and I would grab an orange and I'd stand there and I'd look at the other oranges and I think how sad they must be that they didn't get picked. I was crying a little bit. I mean, it didn't happen all the time, but I just remember being really upset for the oranges. That sweet little fruit bowl. It would just tear me up. And I think that's when I first learned to be perfect.

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What's really interesting is what I learned in medical school. Came from an older gentleman who was teaching us about how to care for the patient and interact with the patient. I remember him saying, and he said a lot of really funny things, but I remember him saying, you will have those patients who yell at you. You will have those patients who make the nurses cry, who say things that you're sort of taken aback by. Just remember, whatever kind of day they're having, they're just doing the best that they can. And that is all you can ask, are you doing the best you can and your spouse is doing the best they can. And every day your best is different. And so for most patients, they are so extremely vulnerable that they're just doing the best they can. I think it's really something that I carry his words in the back of my head every single day. When they're most vulnerable, let the tears flow and the emotions I have to just be a sounding board and hand a hold or a box of Kleenex to pass out. Right?

paid close attention to her breathing, and turned to social media for much more than a way to stay busy. Emily mused, “The outlet became an immediate release, a means of connection.” She began by playing around, seeing what worked, and how to reach the widest population. The result did not manifest her into some mystical ‘influencer’ but rather revealed Emily Hartmann in full “Impactful Empathy.” The kind of empathy which led her to post herself as an example of just what someone would face with procedures leaving faces scarlet red with an amount of uncomfortable burning. The kind of empathy leading to a post on top surgery with a straightforward explanation of the vulnerability involved. That kind of impact. The sum total of the post pandemic Dr. Hartmann, as fearless and mindful, came into full bloom as she gave herself the permission to follow through with her “Field of Dreams '' endeavor. The whole if-you-build-it-they-will-come kind of faith and trust is nearing fruition. Dr Hartmann’s medical practice and

companion spa has made the move to Meriam Park and introduces the “dream” in the form of the “Eternal Wellness Spa.” Tucked in the southwest corner of the park, across from the drive-in theatre’s screen is a pair of buildings erected faceto-face. The Wellness Spa occupies a building of its very own. The kind of move an entrepreneur would do. The theme behind its opening is to empower people to come into who they feel by utilizing an entire holistic approach. Personally, Emily wanted to build “a place I want to go to feel good - like a vacation.” She defines holistic “as the unleashing of powers within you (me).” The impact of the Eternal Wellness Spa is immeasurable as it concentrates on the mind, body, soul. It does so by drawing from both the Eastern and Western methods characterizing the following tenets: body positivity, stress reduction, patient empowerment, and tools for ultimate well being. The mind is served by the Western practice of trauma therapy and nutrition counseling along with the entire spa experience. The body revels

in facials, massage, acupuncture, yoga workshops and a Nurse Practitioner providing the Allopathic practice of medicine. The soul becomes soothed by hypnotherapy and the benefits of Ayurveda, the ancient art of medicine and of prolonging life. To be sure, the slowing down of Emily Hartmann also has sent her very being in a welcome spiraling. She exists as a walking, living, breathing oxymoron. Oxymorons are the practice of placing two unlike words directly together - for a purpose. At first glance, they do not appear to work together. Upon further looking, the clear purpose emerges. Emily conjures such examples as simply complicated, calmly austere, casually deliberate. She also represents and continues to put her impactful empathy to use. So refreshing to know that at the end of each and every day, Emily remains authentic, all the while adamantly insisting, “I am just a normal working mom, battling normal body image issues, while possessing a lack of self worth.” And so much more.

Emily on Happiness

On Emily (as told by Eric Hartmann)

Well, it feels a little like a cliche. But then happiness, I mean we are so psycho crazy about finishing projects and checking off the boxes and achieving this just all the things that we feel like we're supposed to do and the way people around us are supposed to be acting. I went through some tough years recently just dealing with my quote-unquote, type A personality, trying to be a perfectionist in everything that I do.My reality was sort of I was kind of losing grasp of what I thought was what I wanted to be. I think the more that I let go of what my expectations are, the more I pull back. And I don't honestly care if it gives room for those things to just develop authentically and naturally and organically. And I get to just revel in that rather than stress about it. And that is what we are going through trying to complete this relocation. I know right now that's a big mess and mind blowing. But to just let go and,in the words of someone very wise, to just lower your expectations for everything. Once you start doing that, it becomes like a drug. You just want to lower your expectations for everyone and everything. And you know what, honestly? You know, we don't need to do these dishes. I mean, it's really a freeing experience. I believe that in my present day is what has brought me the most happiness here. Stop chasing what Instagram is showing you, what your neighbors are doing, and what you thought you would be doing at this time in your life and just frickin let it go. And that moves you into gratitude. Right? As you know, I am truly grateful and I am truly OK to have those dirty dishes. I have some amazing food on those dirty dishes and I'm just gonna sit, you know, and just let that go, and enjoy my world of happiness.

It's hard for me to talk about Emily. It's like a singular context. When I met Emily, I knew that I wanted her to be a part of my life. I didn't know at that time what that meant. But I could sense that there was something about her and the way that she interacted with people and with me that was unique and special. And she’s important to me. When I think about Emily as a healthcare provider, it is mainly about the things I admire. Emily truly sees possibilities in the world and in people and in things, and when she sees the possibility for something to be better or different or helped or cured she just fearlessly charges towards the goal. And in patient care, the goal is the patient. And in life, the goal is living a good life. And in taking care of our children, the goal is giving them love and support and helping them become people who realize their potential, but also realize their own joy. And that's probably the most important thing, is that Emily does all this with a joyfulness and a real desire to bring that joy to others.

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In the end it isn't just about her and it is about her. There's no line there. She's the most fearless, open, raw, and authentic person. Emily is not afraid to open up to her patients and to people and to the world in a way that, to be perfectly honest, scares me to death.

Best Kept Secret Many people are familiar with Lake Oroville, Lake Almanor, and many other lakes dotting the Northstate. However, many fail to realize we have yet another beautiful body of water residing in our very own backyard—Paradise Lake, a jewel of possibilities that will ensure a day well spent. Whether you’re relaxing by the water, hooking a trout, or getting lost in the captivating woods, Paradise Lake

welcomes all adventurers to explore every single possibility. Life moves at 100mph, and, as the wise man Ferris Bueller once said, “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” These words ring true every day, so as life passes by, taking advantage of small opportunities can turn into lifetime memories. We hope you can curate some here.

Paradise Lake is a little known, beautiful tucked-away landscape featuring a variety of hiking trails and fishing coves. The terrain is vast, offering the perfect scenery for a Sunday family picnic and an afternoon of kayaking. With an area of 244 acres, and a shoreline of 7.5 miles, there's plenty of room to roam and ample opportunity for privacy—unlike most other shorelines at this

time of year, you can forget about having to compete with others altogether.

WRITTEN BY BEAU VANDERMATE

There’s far more to Paradise Lake than hiking or fishing though—kids will absolutely love the playground featuring all sorts of fun activities, including a horseshoe pit. If you plan on staying all day, we recommend renting out a gazebo. It's a great way to guarantee shade and a perfect spot next to the lake. This is truly a special place in Butte County, and is home to wildlife of all kinds. Be on the lookout for bears, as they seem to enjoy summers here as much as we do, but leave the pup at home, as they’re not allowed on the lake. If you're lucky, a bald eagle may grace you with a plunge dive for its next meal. Speaking of fish, Paradise Lake is filled with tons of trout, bass, and perch, providing the perfect opportunity to lure your next big bite. Trails surrounding the lake are ideal for young or inexperienced hikers and provide the type of views you would only expect from advanced-level hikes. Finding a comfortable and quiet place to relax can be difficult in our fast-paced lifestyles. Paradise Lake provides a peaceful locale to decompress. There are countless trees for those who enjoy hammocking, and nothing beats letting the wind gently rock you back and forth into complete serenity. This secret getaway has long been one of our favorites, and we hope everyone has a chance to experience not only the beauty but also the recreation this waterway has to offer. Aside from Wednesday, Paradise Lake is open daily from 5 am to sunset. Make sure to bring $3 for a parking fee when staying onshore. The lake holds an important purpose as it supplies water for the community of Paradise as one of only two reservoirs. Since the lake provides sustainable water, it is regulated to ensure the highest quality. If you're looking for an easy getaway for the day, Paradise Lake is a fantastic option. There are countless options from floating atop the glass-like water via kayak to enjoying a beautiful sunset as the day gives way to slumber. We celebrate this jewel of a recreational treasure and encourage you all to get out and see for yourself.

Great Skin is Always in Fashion! We all want smooth, youthful looking skin, but even your best outfit won't look good if your skin is dry, dull, blotchy, or broken out. The seasons take their toll with temperature changes and environmental factors such as pollution, wind, chlorinated pools and spas, and pollen or smoke in the air. The quality of your skin can be protected with the skin care products you use, and corrected with the use of lasers, lightbased treatments, and limiting exposure to detrimental factors. Eating right, drinking lots of water, not smoking, and getting plenty of sleep all help to keep our skin glowing and healthy. There are ways to correct the damage that has already been done, with regular aesthetic treatments like lasers, radiofrequency, pixel resurfacing, photo-facial, and microdermabrasion. We can improve dark spots, scars, sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, rosacea, and many other skin imperfections. Facial contours and deeper wrinkles can be addressed with injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers. Botox relaxes the muscles that make frown lines and crow's feet. Juvederm and Voluma are dermal fillers that can re-contour deep lines around the mouth, replace volume loss in the cheek area, and plump the lips. While we can't turn back the clock to stop the aging process, we can improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity with the proper application of skin care products and services. DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 | 530.342.2672

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New Upper Hand It is safe to say that COVID changed workplace dynamics for the rest of our lifetime, and employers big and small are having to reevaluate their business strategies accordingly. Despite California reopening, businesses have still had to reduce hours and operations due to staffing levels, and things don’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

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There’s a fine line between having a mutually beneficial relationship with employees by offering generous compensation packages and being completely powerless to your staff because they hold the power to not work. Understandably, business owners have scrambled to find quality employees and overpaid for below average workers, but not only is that not even a temporary solution, it’s just postponing and amplifying the staffing doom. Responding out of desperation never results in anything positive, and spending the time attracting quality, stable employees is worth a few more days or weeks in the long run. Not only did COVID change workplace dynamics, but it also changed what employees value in a workplace, so offering applicable benefit packages is key to finding employees who can’t be swayed by a few months of unemployment and will be dedicated to your business through the next crisis. Butte County sure has taught us to always be ready for one. Shelby Chase is the owner/operator of HRIQ, a boutique HR provider in Chico. She can be reached at SHELBY@UPYOURHRIQ.COM WWW.UPYOURHRIQ.COM 530.200.2663

Embracing Your Authentic Self It’s human nature to walk around with a mask; it’s not safe to be vulnerable and exposed all the time. But in these modern times, people are wearing their armor to bed. They are masked up when they look in the mirror and when they are alone in their vehicles. This is partially because we can now bring work home with us via email and because social media has been so invasive. Our subconscious doesn’t know where the responsibility to embody our persona ends and the safety to reveal our true self begins. I want to affirm something right now—the world can be a scary place, but it can also be safe, supportive, and understanding. Our brain wants to keep us safe, so it stores all the threatening data of past events within a finger’s reach so it can gather it up and access it at a moment’s notice. Over time, this causes us to walk with either more hesitation or with more grandiosity. While this makes sense to keep us safe from lions in the safari, dark alleys, and dangerous-people-who-appear-normal, it too quickly gets applied across the board. We don’t want to be eaten, killed, deceived, judged, shamed, or rejected—all those experiences can have pretty serious consequences physically, emotionally, and professionally.

JESSICA DARLING WILKERSON, MA, LMFT 104464 LICENSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST EMDR CLINICIAN

We can’t walk through life with that fear just under the surface where we can’t see it, but we feel it. We won’t thrive. We won’t take the risks that get us the rewards. We won’t so easily and readily lift our faces to the sun or bop along to the music, and that’s no way to live. Being authentic means your no means no and your yes means yes. It means allowing the absentminded parts of you to show when you’re having a forgetful day. It means not trying to live up to what you believe society thinks you should be. It means allowing yourself to ask, “Why am I angry?” and realizing that you’re really disappointed, hurt, or sad. Then allowing yourself to actually experience those deeper emotions. It means letting down your guard or mask now and then, giving people the opportunity to accept the real you. It has been my experience, and the experience of so many of my clients, that when we test being real with ourselves, then with trustworthy people, and slowly start branching out to colleagues and strangers, that we start to relax and settle into a happier and easier life of authenticity.

Jessica Wilkerson, MA, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Chico, CA. She is an EMDR clinician as well as the owner/operator and clinical supervisor of Inspired Life Counseling. For more information, visit www.jessicawilkerson.com and www.inspiredlifechico.com. Jessica can also be reached via phone at (530) 809-1702

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Oroville old and new If you haven’t visited Oroville lately, you need to. The downtown area in particular, bordered by Feather River Boulevard, Montgomery Street, Oliver Street, and High Street, has undergone a tremendous change in the past few years. Buildings and businesses have been renovated, refurbished, and remodeled. Strictly speaking, some of these changes have been ongoing, and some of the additions have been around for longer than just a few years. We are going to take a look at seven “new” and seven “old” projects. Yes, there are many more projects of change in the “City of Gold,” but those are the topic of another article. This piece will feature the “old” sites of Oroville, and the “new” sites will be in the September issue. For years, Oroville has endured the sometimes harsh condemnation and often subtle snobbery of other cities in Butte County. But the times, they are indeed a’changing, and you need to see the results for yourself. While we focus upon the obvious, one stroll, car ride, or bicycle circuit of the downtown area will reveal it’s as beautiful and vibrant as any city in Butte County. The variety of shops and storefronts bedazzle every block. You will find 54

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what you want in the downtown area, from antiques, to restaurants, to gift shops, clothing stores, music, tattoo, barber shops, jewelry stores, banks, and a beautiful library. But the royalty of Downtown Oroville has been here for decades, and each is a shining example of what can be done with teamwork, group motivation, civic pride, and the generous donations of the public. The Old The Oroville Inn was dedicated on June 1, 1930. It was instantly one of the most sought after entertainment and social centers of the Sacramento Valley. Its sheer size and dimensions set it apart from any hotels in the area. The beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival Style stands in all its glory today. The interior is still undergoing renovation, but just step inside the lobby to see how magnificent it was in its heyday. The State Theater, built in 1928 by renowned architect Timothy Pflueger, has been completely refurbished and held a Fourth of July concert this summer. Its nickname is “The Miracle on Myers Street,” and the staff of all-volunteer workers and supporters have transformed the theater into its grandeur and glory.

Stop by at night when the marquee is lit up; it is a grand sight to behold. The Lott House was built in 1856 by “Judge” Lott, a gold rush pioneer who started the first Citrus Exchange in California. It sits in beautiful Sank Park and has many of the original furnishings. You can tour the house from Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. The Chinese Temple has served as a place of worship since 1863. It served over 10,000 Chinese residents, with furnishing and funds provided by the Emperor and Empress of China. Labor was provided by Chinese workers. The Jewish Cemetery hosted its first burial in 1859. It is located at 1874 Feather River Boulevard and sits on 2.6 acres with only one acre hosting gravesites. The cemetery is designated as a historical cemetery and has many Chicoans buried there as well. It is an unexpected step into the past. Tong Fong Low is located at 2051 Robinson Street. It is a family-owned and operated Chinese restaurant and has been serving food since 1912. It is considered by many to have the best Chinese food in Oroville and customers visit frequently from surrounding areas. No doubt some attractions have been left out, but take some time and head over to Oroville. You never know what you might discover in The City of Gold. 55

Let's Get to the

Nine-One-One with Jim Parrott

If I wasn’t a first responder, I’d likely be teaching. Three critical qualities I possess that got me where I am today are a decent ability not to procrastinate, an above average ability to read and write, and the talent to talk to anyone (plus a healthy level of insecurity to keep me motivated). My schedule? Well, since I no longer work shift work, think of it like banker’s hours, except the bank never really closes, and I’m on-call a lot. A book that left a lasting impression on me is The Haj by Leon Uris. Ironically, it was the last book I read in college, but it kicked off a lifelong obsession with history and geography. Something I wish I were better at is typing. I thought it was too nerdy to take typing in high school. Who’s the nerd now? And yes, I text with one finger, too. My “go to” Northern California spot is Crater Lake near Mt Lassen—a favorite place to fly fish and at the same time be humbled by the resident ospreys (who will always be better at fishing than I). My personal billboard would read, “Get over yourself; nobody cares.” Humility needs constant cultivation. My inspiration behind where I am today are my daughters. The only thing to which proving yourself as a cop takes a back seat is doing so as a father. My single biggest indulgence is Cuban cigars. One thing I wish to share as I near retirement is that I will be eternally grateful to have worked with and for some of the finest people in Chico. It’s been an honor to have served alongside so many truly remarkable individuals over the last 25 years. Jim Parrott Detective Chico Police Department

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON

COOL KID cadence steenson 17 year old Cadence Steenson created Sixteen Storms Photography last year. The idea had been building in her head like a storm—the feeling that something wild and big was coming. She and her dad thought the name ‘Sixteen Storms’ fit her budding business venture perfectly. Cadence will be a senior next year at Pivot Charter School in Chico. She says that the class structure at Pivot, “allowed a lot more free time to do what I liked and really got my creativity flowing while doing schoolwork.” The school’s versatility enabled Cadence to take side classes, like photography and gaming, to supplement the core curriculum. While the photography class certainly bolstered her love of the field, her passion began long before. Cadence’s dad is a landscape photographer and would always bring a camera along on their hikes and travels. She said, “He would pull out his camera during pretty moments, and I realized we could really show people what we were seeing.” So, at 13, she saved up and bought her first camera at a local pawn shop and spent her free time learning about photography from her dad. She then found her own path in portrait photography. Cadence says, “I’ve always felt a draw towards emotions with people and being able to tell a story through the lens.” Creative shoots are her favorites, with 58

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crazy makeup or homemade flower crowns and unique ideas on settings and poses. A shoot she did for The Coffee Company featured her dad playing a guitar while a car did crazy burnouts in the background. Cadence realized this is what she wanted to do because the smile never left her face. “I have such a passion and joy for this.” She said, “Why would I not pursue it?” Following a dream isn’t always easy. After the Camp Fire, her stress levels were extremely high, and she couldn’t find her creative spark. She started offering free sessions for families impacted by the fire. “I saw the joy on their faces from being able to replace photos they lost, and it made me realize I can still get those emotions out of people.” Losing that joy in creating, and having to pick it back up from the ground, was the hardest part of Cadence’s journey, but the support of her clients and their belief in her ability despite her young age has been truly uplifting. Cadence looks forward to continuing her journey conveying stories through her lens by earning a degree in business, with a minor in photography. She just completed her application to the Chicago Arts and hopes to attend after graduation. Check out her website at www. sixteenstormsphoto.com for samples of her work and schedule a personal session.

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Are you or a loved one struggling to pay your Medicare costs?

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! ‣ Extra help for Medicare Part D ‣ Medicare Savings Programs ‣ Medicare Preventative Services ‣ Part D Plan Comparison & Medicare Counseling ‣ Enrollment Assistance For more information, call HICAP (530) 898-6716

"This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0094-02-00 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."

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By Kevin Dolan

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by strong women. The myriad ways they provide comfort and support is staggering. The amazing number of these influential beings goes far beyond my own close family. It often catches me in awe of the sheer number helping to hold me up and make me better. The gentle soul on this month’s cover is one. If you happened to read “In Her Words” this month, you would begin to understand. The newest addition to the list is my lifeline, confidant, and someone who challenges me at a new level. She is my counselor, my mental therapist, and a true gift. I realized I needed to face the fears of my health and “talk to someone.” I dedicate this backpage to them both. You see, our cover story, coupled with a single shared truth from the newfound holder of my deepest thoughts, took over the Ouija board and full control of this back page. It also managed to really get my head spinning. The cover story “transcripts” came from a live recording of her personal view on subjects such as “empathy” and “vulnerability.” As if on cue, my counselor framed the word ‘fear’ in a way I have never considered. She stated, “Kevin, the opposite of fear is not courage, it is love and gratitude.” Turns out, she is 100% correct. I have since not been able to shake this unique way of thinking in regard to difficult subjects. As a result, I have chosen to give my thoughts on the “opposite of” each item contained in the “In Her Words” portion of the cover story. It is imperative to take into consideration that these are the end result of my mental examination of each. So, if you find yourself disagreeing, that is absolutely ok. In the end and beyond, I simply cannot thank this pair of guiding lights, who have no inkling they spurred this on. With trepidation, here goes. The opposite of empathy is not apathy or indifference. According to Plato, “The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world.” He certainly offers the correct answer to an obvious question. People who are apathetic or indifferent have no interest in living in another’s world. This matter reaches far beyond mere lack of interest or motivation. It goes beyond merely words such as important or unremarkable. Wonder if these souls could even conjure up any form of sympathy. In the world we study, the world that has been, is, and will be, clearly supports the opposite of empathy is neither of those. No, it is the glaring phrase, “I don’t care.” In my heart, this is so sad, so

true, and so gut wrenching. Knowing there exist living souls emanating Plato’s claim softens the sadness as the ugly truth remains dolefully disconcerting. The opposite of vulnerability is not sheltered, secure, or invincibility. The obvious “ability to be vulnerable” negates this trio of imposters. There is no ability to be invincible, no guarantee of shelter or security. We are vulnerable in a wide spectrum of possibilities. The compound word ending in “ability” grants the power to strike a vulnerable pose willing to face what comes next. Brene Brown agrees as she points out, “VULNERABILITY is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” You see, it’s easier to say, “I don’t care'' than to act like a human getting the hard words out, like “I hurt.” The opposite of vulnerability is bystander. Standing by suggests the possibility to assist, help, listen. A bystander is nothing but that—being present while being there. Brene Brown’s third word is the key to the entire truth and the hardest—change. The opposite of happiness is not sadness, sorrow, or suffering. The idea of gloom, woe, or grief working as opposites denies happiness its worth. Shakespeare offered this, “I were but a little happy, if I could say how much.” Yes, it can get complicated. Any of the antonyms deny the ability to be in the moment and blind the eyes from any slice of light. Sadness is but a fleeting black cloud; suffering is too personal to allow it be considered. Charles Schultz wrote a book titled Happiness Is, including such gems as...a warm puppy...just being yourself...a day on the couch. These are commitments, hanging in there, certain kinds of commitment. Woe is me and silent sufferers remain cursory. The opposite of happiness is negativity. Now there’s a true commitment if I’ve ever witnessed one. Negativity lacks positive attributes. Happiness exudes hope. I will leave you with this—the wonderful woman who listens to me before asking questions is empathy, a direct synonym. Our visits alone have sharpened my skills as an empathetic soul. Hard to believe there is a better example of vulnerability than walking through that door for the first time, sitting at the far end of the couch, and actually getting words to come out of your desert-dry mouth. Notably, I’ve discovered there is no greater happiness than discovering how to let go of a longstanding obstacle so readily stepped over for far too long. Well, ok— maybe grandchildren.

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Upgraded Living - August 2021

Articles inside

The Backpage

Paradise, California's best kept secret

Explore the OG must-visits in the City of Gold

The impactful empathy of Dr. Emily Hartmann—owner and operator of Meriam Park's newest health, beauty, and wellness spas, Beauty Eternal and Eternal Wellness

Orland history's caretaker

Bad Tenant: A tale related by Realtor Doug Love

The merchants of love, community and support

A gifted artist's gift to a community treasure

Love Builds a home for Linda

Harnessing the healing power of acupuncture

Get the funk out with this nearby music festival

Tres hombres launches its long awaited summer cocktail menu

Curry favor with this misunderstood but delicious spice

Reimagine what could be with Lauren O'Donnell Interiors

The Thrilla in Vanilla—one of these

The Taco Tracker visits The Taco Man

A pairing you won't want to miss

Grana's Executive Chef Sarah Jesper dishes seasonality