Upgraded Living December 2014 by Upgraded Living

DECEMBER 2014 UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

LOCAL LEGEND

er’s Christmas Stephen Kathrin anting collection is ench

SPREAD THE YUM Sweet Cottage Jam Recipe

GIFTS GALORE Part two of our Holiday Wish List

FARM FRESH

helps Orland Farm Sanctuary ople animals and educates pe

WINTER DIY WONDERLAND

Belly warming recipes, giftwrap ideas and

ANTIQUE DIY Yardstick Christmas Tree

MUCH MORE!

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.

Seeing is Believing PHOTO BY ERIN WENHAM

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FROM THE EDITOR On Christmas Eves, my sisters and I huddle around our dad who wears a Santa hat and tear-twinkled eyes. He reads The Polar Express out loud, pausing after each page to show us the pictures which we’ve memorized over the last 30 years, and still

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF

look newly upon each winter. On Christmas mornings, Mom’s music shakes the walls of the house--a mix of haunting Russian choral chanting and The Roches’ staccato harmonic renditions of We Three Kings, Frosty the Snowman, and other seasonal staples.

Aveed Khaki PUBLISHER/OWNER

After we’ve all been jolted awake, we usually put in a request for “Bahhm-bahm-bahm-

Briana Lindstrom EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

bahm,” more commonly known as Manheim Steamroller’s Deck the Halls before we settle into Handel’s Messiah. Generations of Decembers have been scored with the same songs, and each year these sounds trigger winter emotions. For many of us, as the leaves fall down and the colorful lights go up, images

Jason Corona SALES DIRECTOR

from holiday memories flutter through our minds like thick pages of an old photo album. Preserved in these unprinted pages are those who no longer celebrate with us. In the midst of shopping and socializing and decorating, the joy of the season sometimes comes with a silent swell of emotion as we think of those who we wish were still here. These inward moments allow us to keep those people present in our lives, even if they won’t appear in any new memories. Whatever you believe in, this is a time of angels--a time to feel the spirit of those remembered, and to indulge in missing them. It is a time to reflect back on the year we are leaving behind. This is a time to believe in miracles and magic, to celebrate children, to wonder for the sake of wonder, to laugh with wide eyes at the cookie crumbs left on Santa’s plate Christmas morning. It is a time to feel the joy of giving and to be thankful

Darren Michels PRODUCT INTEGRATION & MOBILITY STRATEGY Alyssa Worley WRITER Ian MacLachlan SALES Russell Van Dewark DISTRIBUTION

for those who have touched our lives. It is a time to absorb each moment, to be with the

Erin Lizardo ART DIRECTOR

people we love, to forgive, to embrace new family, and to carry on old traditions. It is a

Erin Wenham PRODUCTION MANAGER/ PHOTOGRAPHER Michelle Camy PHOTOGRAPHER Frank Rebelo PHOTOGRAPHER Bree Chun PHOTOGRAPHER Matthew Manfredi WRITER Jaime O’Neill WRITER

time to sing! Happy holidays, readers! I hope you have a magical, memorable, holiday season (Don’t forget to shop local!), and

CONTRIBUTORS

I’ll see you next year

Briana Lindstrom Editor-In-Chief

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Renée Michel and Joe Sweeney FINANCIAL ADVISOR Scott Amick M.A., CPT, NKT PERSONAL TRAINER Chico Beauty CollegeBEAUTY Q&A Jennifer Powell Arntzen READERS’ PIC WINNER

For advertising or editorial inquiries, please contact Upgraded Living at (530) 894-8091 Sales@UpgradedLiving.com 6

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

A. Schroll, MD, HOLIDAY HEALTH

Enloe Hospice HOLIDAY HEALTH Dr. Vimali Paul, M.D. SKIN CARE Joel Fricker PHOTOGRAPHER Annabelle Pearl COOL KID WRITER Daniel Hiestand CAR CARE

SYLLABUS W O U L D L I K E TO W I S H Y O U A N D Y O U R S A V E R Y H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S E AS O N ! 2 1 2 M A I N | D O W N TO W N C H I CO

CON TE N T S

Local Legend: Stephen Kathriner and his vintage Christmas treasures

Farm Fresh: The Farm Sanctuary of Orland

COMMUNITY 11 | Parade of Lights A Chico tradition 25 years strong! This year we celebrate our community ties.

43 | Beauty Q&A Our friends at Chico Beauty College give us the lowdown on winter hair care and beautiful brows.

12 | Local Legend Stephen Kathriner preserves the spirit of Christmas past through his collection of vintage decorations.

HOME & GARDEN 46 | We Built this City For over 60 years The Hignell Companies has been providing our area with quality, affordable housing.

19 | Cool Kid Justin Gonzales gives children in need a reason to smile with his Bike Fund. FOOD 30 | Recipe Sweet Cottage’s Robin Rowe shares her delectable pear-pomegranate jam recipe. 32 | Farm Fresh The Farm Sanctuary of Orland is designed around rescuing, public education, and advocacy. HEALTH & BEAUTY 34-36 | Holiday Health Local experts help you cope with stress and grief this holiday season. 40 | LifeSpan Anti-Aging Medicine Dr. Daniel Goodman enhances quality of life through cutting edge medical science.

DECEMBER 2014

47 | Real Estate See what’s available in beautiful local real estate. 55 | Car Care Our automotive expert helps you avoid paying too much for a tune-up. 56 |New Again Kitchen and Bath Presents: Housecall - The Hernandez family gets a modern kitchen upgrade while preserving their home’s 1970s charm. 58 |Antique DIY Vintage yard sticks measure up as repurposed holiday decor. ART & ENTERTAINMENT 74|Artist Profiles KW Moore, Sr. & Carol Miles - These local artists create beautiful representations of real life on canvas.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Holiday Wish List : Part Two!

76 | 2014 Yearbook We take a glance back and reflect on the highlights of our year. 79 | Reader’s Pic Christmas Cheer Jennifer Powell Arntzen captures the joy of the holiday season. FEATURES 21 | Christmas Feature - We share some recipes, tips, projects and memories to help make your season brighter! 61 | Holiday Wish List Part Two Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this year - and maybe a little something special for yourself!

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PARADE OF LIGHTS The 25th Annual Parade of Lights was a beautiful event. The theme, Celebrating the Unity in Community highlighted the bond and working relationship between the business community and various charitable and nonprofit organizations and local schools. The spirit of support was very much alive and the vibrant lights, creative floats, fun music, dance, and other performances were a brilliant celebration and tribute to the beautiful community we are proud to be a part of.

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY

Local Legend:

STEPHEN KATHRINER

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Laying on the floor gazing up at ornaments hidden between fir limbs, basking in the glow of lights strung around branches is the Christmas moment for Stephen Kathriner that never loses its glow. He has been collecting ornaments and decorations for many years. Born and raised in Oakland and then heading to nearby San Francisco State for college put his future in line with Luisa. “I married a woman from San Francisco,” says Stephen. They both got jobs in Menlo Park at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Christmas and other holiday decorations were always significantly important to their family. They started selling pieces from their private collections out of their living room, later expanding to a shop. “It was the perfect location; right by a train station so people came from all over the area. Everyone was so nice!” says Stephen. Fast forward a few years to 2000. Stephen’s dad had moved to Almanor, so they often would travel through Chico when visiting him. “We thought it was just a huge Orland. We never stopped in town.” That is, until his dad had to have surgery at Enloe Hospital. Like many first timers in town, Stephen and Luisa were struck by the glorious beauty of the Esplanade. They fell in love. “Chico? The Valley? We are moving there?” Stephen kept asking himself. He could never have pictured it previously but once finally settled he couldn’t have been happier. “We had so much merchandise left over from our shop. We sold to Grace Jr. and Marilyn at Vagabond Rose.” His wife had ornaments passed down to her from her grandmother that dated all the way back to 1910. They had collections of ornaments from the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s and on. Luisa started her collection in the ‘50s and Stephen followed in the ‘60s. Having ornaments over the span of a hundred years makes for a large collection. Grace from Grace Jr. decided in 2004 that they needed to do a huge Christmas House Tour in Chico ending with a “big wonderful dinner” at The Sierra Nevada Big Room. One Hundred-Fifty people from all over Northern California came to view and buy vintage ornaments. The Kathriners’ Christmas legacy was spread throughout the town as people came and bought their pieces for their own homes and to pass down to generations after them. “Mrs. Grossman kindly kept up her special vintage Christmas Santa collection outside Big Room--she shows this changing collection every year.” “Why the big interest in Christmas?” was a question asked of Stephen. “Well, life was more modest during my childhood. My mom did a big Christmas. Every shelf had some Christmas in it.” Something about the tree, the glorious Christmas tree, enthralled him. It made the day the most magical, waking up

early on Christmas morning running out to see the tree and what lay beneath. Spirituality is also a factor that can’t be removed from the holiday. “In our shop we had a beautiful baby Jesus made out of smooth wax. I made a manger and on Christmas Eve it always went right in the center of the window. That was a true Christmas moment.” One of many things that Stephen’s wife Luisa taught him is the way different cultures celebrate the holidays. Both of her parents were from Germany, so St. Nicholas day on the 6th of December was celebrated in the Kathriner home along with St. Stephen’s day on December 26. The 6th of January is 3 Kings Day or Epiphany. Stephen and Luisa liked to celebrate them all in some way. He also did research out of interest on many other countries traditions, like Asia. The choosing of an ornament doesn’t have to do with how vintage it is, where it’s from or how expensive. Stephen looks more for the art and craft of a piece. How it’s been pulled out of the mold, or if there’s too much glitter saturating the work. Knowledge of the various ornament artists became clearer to Stephen over the years, along

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

with knowing where to go to look. “Of course, Grace Jr. and Vagabond Rose carry beautiful pieces here in town. Out of town, my favorite place to go is called Castle in the Air in Berkeley.” There’s also a place called Country Lane Antiques. “The owner is older than I am and climbs up and down ladders around the shop. We’ve become friends over the years.” When searching for your perfect ornament, Stephen’s advice is simple: Get what you like. Get one that says something special about your life. Seeing that tree finally light up, with many memories of collecting and decorating, is a scene difficult to forget regardless of where an ornament came from. Sadly though, the holidays are fleeting and after Christmas is over the decorations are placed in their boxes, the tree is carried to the side of the road, and the ornaments are carefully wrapped in tissue awaiting next year. “It has to go away so you can really appreciate it,” says Stephen. That can be said for most things in life. Talking with Stephen Kathriner brings a new knowledge of holiday traditions and what it means to truly appreciate that Christmas tree. BY ALYSSA WORLEY / PHOTOS BYJOEL FRICKER AND MICHELLE CAMY

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1078 Gallery Altacal Audubon Society Chico Art Center Chico Creek Nature Center Friends of Bidwell Park Museum of Northern Calif Art No California Regional Land Tr Teichert Ponds Restoration AmeraMex Foundation American Red Cross Anduril AquAlliance ARC of Butte County Arts for All Assisted Living Colaborative Back In The Saddle Project Barry Kirschner Wildlife Fdtn BCOE - Arts Education BCOE - Homeless & Foster Youth BCOE - Special Ed Sports & Rec Bidwell Jr High Endowment Bidwell Junior Foundation Bidwell Mansion Association Bidwell Park Foundation Bidwell Park, City of Chico Bidwell Presbyterian Church Blue Oak School Blue Room Theatre Boys & Girls Club of No Valley Brain Injury Coalition Bridging the Gap Bridging the Gap for Breast Cnc Butte Agriculture Foundation Butte Co Health Care Education Butte Co Historical Society Butte Co Library Endow - Chico Butte Co Library Endow - Undes Butte Co Library Endow Durham Butte Co Library Endow Oroville Butte Co Library Endow Paradise Butte Co Rescource Conservation Butte College Foundation Butte Creek Cnyn Volunteer Fire Butte Environmental Council Butte Humane Society Butte Literacy Council California Dream Week California Health Collaborative California Native Plant Society California Vocations Caminar Carrie Holiman Memorial Cast Hope Catalyst Domestic Violence Catholic Ladies Relief Society cChaos Celebration of People, Inc.

$ 3,334.72 $ 1,680.33 $ 4,814.99 $ 7,268.48 $ 5,033.34 $ 61,067.80 $ 1,187.10 $ 1,080.28 $ 6.25 $ 2,462.20 $ 104.54 $ 7,752.08 $ 7,823.02 $ 4,123.58 $ 5,758.87 $ 52.25 $ 6,747.43 $ 696.23 $ 250.62 $ 10.30 $ 1,070.00 $ 3,377.26 $ 2,249.08 $ 782.56 $ 8,240.81 $ 8,602.66 $ 23,520.45 $ 53.50 $ 13,666.85 $ 2,473.57 $ 41,704.05 $ 4,930.32 $ 7,088.75 $ 1,362.53 $ 4,705.50 $ 3,214.55 $ 1,347.01 $ 52.27 $ 267.50 $ 244.92 $ 26.60 $ 209.24 $ 7,957.99 $ 7,036.67 $ 31,869.28 $ 1,899.41 $ 259.74 $ 5,558.97 $ 3,423.91 $ 26.13 $ 180.08 $ 157.99 $ 80.25 $ 8,781.50 $ 5,003.23 $ 88.86 $ 139.10

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Center on Aging Champion Christian School Chico Air Museum Chico Arts Foundation Chico Cat Coalition Chico Community Ballet Chico Community Children’s Ctr Chico Community Scholarship Chico Country Day School Chico Eat Learn Grow Chico Food Project Chico Friends of the Library Chico Heritage Association Chico Housing Action Team Chico Meals on Wheels Chico Peace & Justice Center Chico Police Animal Shelter Equ Chico Police Animal Shelter Gen Chico Police Animal Shelter Med Chico Police Department Chico Police Department K-9 Uni Chico Police H.E.L.P. Program Chico Science Fair Chico Science Fair Endowment Chico Stewardship Network Chico Theater Company Chico Ultimate Foundation Chico Velo Cycling Club Chico Women’s Club ChicoSol Children’s Choir of Chico CHSF Adam Gausamel CHSF Class of 1961 CHSF Danny Imhoff Memorial CHSF Engineering Scholarship CHSF Foundation CHSF Holly Barnett Memorial CHSF Maddux Scholarship CHSF New Stadium CHSF Roger Williams Memorial CHSF Spirit of ‘96 CHSF Staff Endowment CHSF Teacher’s Wish List Chuck & Sharon Patterson Family Cindy Kennedy Memorial Community Connections Fdtn Community Housing Improvement Computers for Classrooms Congregation Beth Israel Cootsona Family Foundation DCBA Clean & Safe Developmental Disabilities Spor Doroteia Pathways Doug & Kaylinn Hignell Charitab Durham American Legion Durham Cemetery Preservation Durham Coliseum Capital Campaig

$ 2,059.04 $ 79.34 $ 3,531.00 $ 765.92 $ 2,902.25 $ 2,064.97 $ 1,588.00 $ 62,286.28 $ 13,805.66 $ 297.95 $ 1,796.26 $ 12,788.43 $ 2,919.17 $ 7,791.83 $ 23,498.78 $ 4,954.40 $ 588.50 $ 3,962.30 $ 4,353.44 $ 52.30 $ 1,505.97 $ 5,506.92 $ 19,611.40 $ 5,350.00 $ 27,344.40 $ 3,083.01 $ 321.00 $ 381.81 $ 344.79 $ 575.29 $ 15,751.98 $ 1,046.14 $ 107.00 $ 535.00 $ 21.40 $ 365.93 $ 26.15 $ 1,106.14 $ 52.12 $ 5,574.42 $ 104.62 $ 492.20 $ 52.31 $ 161,750.00 $ 11,470.64 $ 627.48 $ 2,954.86 $ 5,797.74 $ 16,890.70 $ 30,760.09 $ 1,405.56 $ 368.49 $ 4,580.95 $ 21,400.00 $ 107.00 $ 3,442.76 $ 52.16

North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) and Upgraded Living Magazine would like to thank all of you wonderful and generous souls for participating in 2014’s Annie B’s Community Drive. In just two short months, your incredible contributions and the matching efforts of NVCF came together to raise $1,570,57233 for local non-profits. Raised funds will help assist these organizations in continuing to provide the necessary services that they do for our communities. Without further ado, the complete reveal: Durham Community Church Durham Community Volunteer Fire Esplanade House CAA Far West Heritage Association Focus-Hands Helping Children Forest Ranch Charter School Forest Ranch Volunteer Fire #24 Friends of Blue Room Theatre Friends of Comanche Creek Friends of CSUC Herbarium Gateway Science Museum Girls on the Run of Butte Co Global Community Rising Global Outreach Gold Nugget Museum Greater Oroville Homeless Coali Green Planet Plastics, Inc. Gridley Museum Growing Place Grub Education Program Habitat for Humanity Handi-Riders Hignell Companies Foundation Hooker Oak School Hope Foundation of Sheraton Innovative Preschool Inspire School of Arts &Science Jesus Center Junior Leadership Development Katie Marie Prosser Mem Kids and Creeks KZFR 90.1 FM Community Radio Lassen Park Foundation League of Women Voters Butte Co Lundberg Family Foundation Matthew Axelson Foundation Mercy High School Mi C.A.S.A. Education, Inc. Mike & Dotty Collett AnimalCare Music Teacher’s Assoc of Calif Neighborhood Cat Advocates No Valley Animal Disaster Group No. Valley Catholic Social Serv Nord Country School North State Symphony North State Symphony League Red North Valley Chamber Chorale North Valley Food Hub North Valley Health Education North Valley Housing Trust Notre Dame School NVCF Angel Fund NVCF Endowment NVCF/Annie B’s Support One Media Player Oroville Rescue Mission Orphan Care International

$ 2,551.95 $ 79.64 $ 20,158.27 $ 3,864.56 $ 11,500.36 $ 8,957.18 $ 16,324.66 $ 1,172.63 $ 7,200.97 $ 3,412.67 $ 5,556.83 $ 159.23 $ 313.62 $ 522.91 $ 3,244.36 $ 296.36 $ 1,573.22 $ 5,601.45 $ 3,723.60 $ 1,404.75 $ 29,855.82 $ 1,785.21 $ 35,100.00 $ 2,830.83 $ 23,540.00 $ 1,930.95 $ 2,873.41 $ 38,593.10 $ 25.84 $ 295.32 $ 969.70 $ 3,314.79 $ 5,857.42 $ 1,669.81 $ 2,515.30 $ 1,135.84 $ 18,273.20 $ 18,854.99 $ 62.65 $ 4,312.76 $ 3,942.12 $ 1,665.43 $ 20,017.71 $ 932.93 $ 23,596.56 $ 1,072.12 $ 7,951.18 $ 104.62 $ 2,083.99 $ 532.52 $ 32,170.43 $ 1,337.50 $ 88.80 $ 3,514.92 $ 1,388.33 $ 11,054.78 $ 587.16

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Scho Parade of Lights Paradise Art Center Paradise Center for Tolerance Paradise Dancers Paradise Performing Arts Center Paradise Scholarship Foundation Paradise Symphony Society Passages Adult Resource Center Paws of Chico Spay & Neuter Peace Panel Project Peg Taylor Center Purses for Primates PVHS Foundation PVHS Foundation Viking Endow Rape Crisis Intervention Reading Pals Respectful Revolution Ridge Area Coalition of Sr Citi Ridge Coalition for Peace & Jus River Partners S.T.A.G.E. Sacramento River Preservation Salvation Army - Chico Shalom Free Clinic Sherwood Montessori Silver Dollar Fair Foundation Skycreek Dharma Center Skyway House Slow Theatre Stansbury Home Preservation Stonewall Alliance of Chico STOP Trafficking Foundation Strings in Schools Tehama County Museum Tehama Together, Inc. The Alex Project The Axiom Project The Hope Center The Mustang Project The Worm Farm Learning Foundtn Thomas Sprys Scholarship Fndtn TOPcats on the Ridge, Inc. Torres Shelter United Way Of No California Up The Road Upstate Community Enhancement Valley Oak Children’s Services Veterans Garden Project Wildflower Open Classroom Wings of Eagles Women’s Health Specialists Women’s Microfinance Collaborat Work Training Center Youth for Change Youth On the Ridge

$ 10,769.55 $ 2,145.22 $ 2,678.98 $ 210.37 $ 26.14 $ 20,251.46 $ 3,602.22 $ 4,215.45 $ 3,048.60 $ 8,689.40 $ 69.13 $ 5,913.11 $ 313.56 $ 2,722.27 $ 535.00 $ 2,573.69 $ 109.59 $ 1,737.78 $ 652.14 $ 13,978.21 $ 2,032.99 $ 8,302.46 $ 4,160.12 $ 21,018.27 $ 3,694.77 $ 3,936.64 $ 4,832.87 $ 9,661.91 $ 1,755.66 $ 2,574.31 $ 305.65 $ 2,692.42 $ 278.38 $ 3,856.35 $ 4,814.09 $ 272.85 $ 185.41 $ 13,224.30 $ 22,683.25 $ 377.16 $ 52,017.83 $ 373.27 $ 605.59 $ 52,851.40 $ 26.15 $ 1,066.13 $ 104.49 $ 412.38 $ 1,923.72 $ 11,054.90 $ 319.50 $ 629.63 $ 3,445.51 $ 8,780.21 $ 8,546.04 $ 4,194.86

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COOL KID J ust i n G onza l e z You know the feeling you get when you brighten someone’s day? Your heart starts to swell, your smile grows wider, and for me, the prize of happiness lasts forever. Imagine this feeling multiplied by 100. Every year, 15 year old Justin Gonzalez gives children in need a bike for Christmas. Justin’s love for bikes is why he chooses to donate bicycles every holiday. He collects money from residents in Amber Grove and purchases bicycles and helmets for the children with the donations. Justin was first inspired when he was 6 years old to give back to the community when he saw the Salvation Army bell ringers. He also wanted to help families in the Adopt-A-Family program. From that moment on, he has wanted to spread joy to children in need. The process of Justin’s Bike Fund begins like this: first, he collects money from residents in Amber Grove. Since his non-profit organization has become recognized, he has also received generous donations from local companies. Next, he purchases the bikes, and picks out bikes that each kid will love. Theses bikes range from toddler bikes with training wheels to a teenager’s dream bike. Justin’s favorite part of the process is purchasing the bikes. “It is fun but also very chaotic because it is always a huge transaction!” The next step is to assemble all the bikes-yes, Justin and his family assemble all one hundred bikes together! One winter day, Justin and his family put the bikes together in their garage. After the bikes are complete, the dream becomes real for these children. Justin and his family deliver the bicycles (with the

help of Santa, of course!) and continue to spread Christmas joy. Justin described that whenever he gives a child a bike, he “gets a sense of joy knowing their Christmas is going to be special.” One of Justin’s best memories was when he gave an orange bike to a little boy who lost his whole family in a tragic accident. Although Justin gave the boy a bike, the boy gave Justin something in return: joy, and the hope that Justin could continue to change people’s lives. Each year, Justin’s Bike Fund becomes more and more popular. In 2005, a little boy was collecting money door to door to give bikes away. He purchased 10 bikes that year. Nine years later, Justin is continuing his organization and is now raising enough money to donate 150 bicycles! Justin says he thanks Chuck Patterson for their generous donations. “Mr. & Mrs. Patterson are one of our biggest donors and the only reason we can meet our goals each year.” Year after year, Justin has put in millions of minutes and has raised over $65,000 into what has become a holiday tradition. From the moment I met Justin, I knew he was a unique kid. He is such an inspiration and it clearly shows how dedicated Justin is to making each child’s Christmas more special. If you’re interested in donating, go to www.facebook.com/JustinBikeFund, or donate to Justin’s Bike Fund on the North Valley Community Foundation website.

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With a late autumn, leaves still on the trees, and snow falling all over the country except for here, it sometimes feels like no amount of red glittery ornaments, wreaths, or cinnamon scented candles bursting from the doors of Michael’s is enough to get us feeling like it’s really holiday time. We need a little kick to get us into the spirit. So put on some joyful music, sip on a peppermint mocha and read on! We’ve got a Christmas story, delicious recipes and, of course, some darling DIY projects that will be just the things to get your silver bells jingling!

his is not a time when it is easy

movie, riding in an elevator, or—and I’m guessing

to watch football on a black and white television set

to write about solitary old

here—knowing the love of a woman.

with very poor reception, and the women bustled

men who love the company

His strangeness didn’t register on any of us kids,

around in the kitchen, my grandmother bent over

of children. Too many stories

didn’t cause us to squirm away from him when he

a bowl, always mixing something or other by

have

stories

tickled our bellies. There was just no harm in him,

hand, with a cigarette dangling from her mouth, a

about children and men who violate innocence.

and we must have sensed that. He bounced us on

precarious and ever-lengthening ash at its tip.

But there was a time when the thought of an old

his knee, making a galloping noise with his tongue.

Then, after dinner, the adults rounded up the

man surrounded by laughing children was not

He gave each of us a pet name. Me he called

kids in the rec room, telling us that Santa was coming

automatically accompanied by darker thoughts.

“snickelfritz.” When he chased us, bent over, fingers

soon, and we had to be very good and listen for the

curled in fake menace, we ran from him, but we ran

sound of the sleigh bells. So we sat cross-legged,

laughing.

fidgeting in anticipation around the Christmas tree.

troubled

us,

My Uncle Herb lived in such a time, or I am inclined to think that he did, though he was an epileptic back in the days when epilepsy was still

Then it came around to my tenth Christmas

It so happened I’d been in a school pageant that

a matter of shame in some quarters. Because of

out at the farm, with all the relatives gathered once

year, standing in front of a curtain to recite a few

that affliction, he had lived his entire life far from

more. It was usually Uncle Herb who paid the most

lines from the bible before the curtain opened on

daily contact with other people, tending to pigs

attention to us kids, the dozen or so siblings and

a manger scene—my classmates in cotton beards

and chickens during the

and bathrobes, and a very

day,

virgin Mary staring lovingly

and

exchanging

but few words with my

down at a doll.

grandparents when they

The experience had

returned home each night,

made

tired and taciturn, from the

season, and temporarily

grocery store they ran in

insufferable.

town.

the attention of all those

He smelled like the

grown

pious

that

Garnering

ups

who

had

farm even when he was

assembled in the school

all spruced up for the

lunch room to hear me say

holidays, with hair slicked

those words from the Bible

down and a clean white

while wearing my spiffy

shirt and thick-knotted tie

new corduroy sports jacket

under his bib overalls. The

and a clip-on bow tie,

odors of the henhouse and

then receiving applause

the hayloft mingled with a

for the very first time, had

heavy medicinal scent. As a

all combined to fill me

boy, I did not recognize that

with

odor for what it was. Years

I’d been in a Christmas

later, a woman ahead of me

pageant, after all, and it

in a checkout line dropped

seemed I was the only one

a bottle of liniment, and

in the entire family who had

as the green liquid spread

learned the true meaning

on the floor at my feet, my

of the season, a meaning

Uncle Herb materialized

wholly

full blown in my memory, a

Santa Claus and presents.

man I had not thought of in

Christmas was about the

a couple of decades.

baby Jesus who had come

I suppose we should

sanctimoniousness.

separate

from

to ease our suffering, and I

have been afraid of him,

by Jaime O’Neill

us kids. In addition to his

had been his opening act. So,

when

distinctly odd smell, there was the way he talked—

cousins who created the generalized mayhem down

grandmother asked if I would recite the verses

guttural and halting, the speech pattern of a shy

in the basement rec room, or wended their way

I’d recited at school a few days earlier, say those

man who mostly used his voice for calling hogs or

through the forest of adult knees and belt buckles

holy words to my brothers and my sister, and the

clucking at hens while gathering eggs. He was old,

as the grown ups tried not to spill their drinks on our

assembled cousins who waited for Santa’s arrival, I

not really my uncle, but my mother’s uncle, a man

heads. But on that Christmas, he was nowhere to be

didn’t hesitate for a moment. I stood in front of the

who had seldom been off of one or another of the

seen, and no one gave it much thought. He was out

tree and began: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

farms owned by family members, a bachelor farm

slopping the hogs, probably, or tending to a fence

and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call him

hand who lived and died without ever seeing a

post. The rest of the men gathered in the living room

Emmanuel, which, being interpreted is, God is with

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the

saw the seizure begin before they did, saw it as a

Everyone was very busy pretending that

angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him

look of fright crossing his eyes. My mother must have

nothing had happened. Mom brought a cup of cider

his wife. And knew her not till she had brought forth

seen what I saw because even before the tremors

for Uncle Herb and, when “Silent Night” was played,

her firstborn son; and he called his name Jesus.”

took command of his body, she was shooing the kids

I went over and sat on his knee and mouthed the

Back in the school lunchroom, this was the point

aside, and saying, “oh, oh, I think Santa has to leave

words to the song as I studied our reflection in a

at which I’d received the applause from the adults,

now.”Then the other grown ups were ushering us all

Christmas ornament, the two of us rounded and

before I stepped aside and the curtain opened upon

off to a side room, and the last thing I saw was my

encompassed in a red bulb. For reasons I did not

the nativity scene. But things worked out differently

dad and my grandfather bending over Santa and

understand, a tear slid down my cheek. Then, a

in the basement rec room. I’d barely finished my

trying to wedge something into his mouth.

moment or two later, Uncle Herb gave me a little

recitation when the sound of sleigh bells was heard, followed by footsteps on the stairs.

My mother tried to distract us with patently false cheerfulness, but we could hear the thrashing

poke in the ribs, said, “whatsa matter, snickelfritz?” and began to bounce me on his knee.

We saw the boots first--shiny black plastic—and

and the groans from the next room, and my

Long ago and far away, all of that. Uncle

then the white-trimmed red pants legs. If the voice

grandfather’s anxious voice saying, “hold him,

Herb gone now, of course. My grandparents dead

hadn’t given him away, surely the smell of liniment

for Christ sake,” and then the clunking sounds of

now, too, as are my dad and mom, and all of those

would have, but as soon as he was among us, we

people on the stairs.

aunts and uncles who once gathered at the farm

all knew it was Uncle Herb, though everyone but me

Christmas resumed. Someone put Christmas

for holidays. All the children who waited for Santa

played along, pretending, jumping up and down,

songs an a record player, someone else brought

to descend the stairs to that rec room have grown

and squealing with glee as “Santa” began to fumble

cookies on a platter, and then my grandfather

old, with their own children now adults, all scattered

around in the pillow case that served as his bag of

came down the stairs in the Santa suit, but without

about the country.

presents.

the beard, his face exposed and red-veined from

Sometimes, “Silent Night” can still prompt that

It must have been the unaccustomed

the exertion and from the drinking he did, and he

same tear I shed on Uncle Herb’s lap, when I hear

excitement, or the commotion of the kids all around

handed out the presents left in that pillow case.

a choir sing the words “all is calm, all is bright,” or

him. Whatever the cause, something triggered an

Not long after, Uncle Herb rejoined the gathering,

when I smell a certain kind of liniment and am

epileptic seizure in Uncle Herb. Because I had not

quietly taking a seat near the tree, looking pale and

reminded once more of the pains masked by all of

crowded up on him as the other kids had done, I

avoiding eye contact.

the children of God on all the nights of all the years.

1/4 cup cocoa powder

SALTED CARAMEL HOT CHOCOLATE: OH,SEASALTANDCARAMEL.YOUWOWME AGAIN.

HOTCHOCOLATEDIY

3 Ways to Spruce up your Hot Chocolate this winter

1 tablespoon granulated sugar pinch kosher salt 3 cups whole milk 4 ounces milk chocolate chips 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips 4 ounces Frangelico

CHILLY CHOCOLATE: FOR THE ICE-CREAM IN WINTER TYPES. Ingredients 1 cup cocoa mix 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup 1 cup low fat or fat free milk 1 cup ice cubes

Blend all ingredients in a blender until the consistency of a milk shake. Serve immediately.

BACON, BOURBON, AND HAZELNUT HOT CHOCOLATE: FORTHEMOREADVENTUROUSCHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR. Ingredients 4 thick-cut slices of bacon 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

4 ounces Bourbon Whipped cream and chopped toasted hazelnuts for garnish

Cook bacon in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat until crisp and rendered. Transfer bacon to a paper towellined plate. Pour fat into a small bowl and stir in cornstarch with a fork. In medium saucepan, stir cocoa with sugar and salt. Stir in reserved bacon fat/corn starch mixture, milk, milk chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate. Heat over medium heat until, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is hot. Gently whisk to completely homogenize mixture. Add Frangelico and bourbon. Pour into individual serving cups. Top with whipped cream, chopped toasted hazelnuts, and a strip of bacon. Serve immediately.

Ingredients: 16 ounces milk or cream (or combination of 8 ounces milk and 8 ounces cream) 4 ounces dark chocolate 4 ounces chocolate caramel (such as Hershey’s version) A pinch or two of sea salt. In a saucepan or small pot heat half (8 ounces) of the milk and 4 ounces chopped dark chocolate and salt until melted. Continue heating and whisk in the remaining milk and 4 ounces chopped chocolate caramel. Continue whisking until the entire mixture is warmed through and smooth in texture. Serve with a little whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt. All these hot chocolates will make tasty accompaniments on a frosty morning, WARNING: if served to party guests, you may have to build a house addition because nobody will ever leave due to mugs of enticing hot chocolate creation.

Too Pretty to Unwrap! Project and Photos by Erin Wenham

Brown paper packages tied up with strings and other pretty things. With colorful craft paper, ribbon, and a blank canvas of brown paper, there are countless ways to create a fun and unexpected gift experience. Grab your scissors, put on a movie, and wrap away! Make your giftees feel extra special by personalizing packages with letters. Layer colored yarn or string for an extra crafty feel. Print out traceable patterns of your favorite holiday items, like snowflakes and ornaments, to add extra cheer to your gifts. Baker’s twine is available in several colors and is a great way to add a fun, vintage feel to gifts. Add some sparkle! Create an “ombre” look with circles cut from paint chips, then make it really pop with some sparkly gold craft paper.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Gift-Boxing 1to0b1e a TKO! For a gift that is sure

perfect putting together the give us a few tips on to s ert exp the called to We went iption box company n a monthly subscr ow Sam d an ies ley gift box. Ash local gifts and good ibers a box full of scr sub d sen y the scribe, go to Hazel Ln. where more info, or to sub y each month. For cit US nt ere diff a subscription from ED” for 10% off mo code “UPGRAD pro ter En . om hazelln.c la carte” items. boxes and Shoppe “a

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$20 Flash Tattoos / $40 Infinity Buffalo Check Plaid e Mad .95 $18 / Scarf t By Girl Pineapple Prin / $16 Brittany Garner Sky Designs Mug / $36 Billy m/ y.co .ets ww e-w klac nec and shop/billyskyvintage $40 www.HazelLn.com / ses Vintage Dior Sunglas 3rd St) Bootleg (located on Shit / $20 Groceries and owell Tote Bag by Emily McD

will htful ornament flower, or thoug t as well vessel that g, ske ba ba x, or bo x a bo se Tip #3: Choo beautify your hind ch as what ry or people be k peek as to d love just as mu an amazing sto they will use an as give a snea ow nt kn rta I . po ide. early is im g ins ion pin tat are op sen res sh Pre rt asu . Tip #1: Sta them. the contents gorgeous tre nd. tmas vironment in mi thinking of Chris t also keep the en you might not be bu u t’s yo ng t en ple. thi ipi tha me gift in so out your rec u see an item and keep it sim in May, but if yo Tip #2: Figure By wrapping the Tip #4: Have fun nd0% re mber tre 10 stu me a of ge ily nd ul de rie fam htf ma irlf or ug is nd or pal/g a tho KNOW your frie style. Is your gal they can re-use Gifts should be not only making ur mother’t blow your By yo are n. esn es u do rde Do yo it bu s, ta? d ial ng nis an ter mi e would lov setting fashio recycled ma and not a loo the l nsive g the d stash away for ssic aka “expe collection of usefu earth, but makin budget, grab it an in-law have cla helping mother the gift a curated ll er c we ssi oth , Cla An um . e… son. member or ecial lik sp ily n sea re ma ay fam , mo lid ur nd yo ho ch frie es impending taste”? Do gift that mu items, your ndy te bon likes. be to start a ha sure to apprecia like grosgrain rib at he actually thought would figure out wh wrapping items loved one will be e ad d lov an tep ll ic no wi ch y s e or put into it. the ay u on yo ow alw iph kn ht ur u are ug r yo yo tho pe on ms d dandy list Choose ite and craft pa the time an look last this has to hand for those as for…” I love to Not everything fully have read entitled “Gift ide and appreciate. great to have on Also, they hope e s h, int iqu mp un po s oo d nu e you one bo ded d an t giv ad cte ge ll r ll pe wi Fo wi d ex u an es. un yo ll t zzi at for gifts “match” bu minute pre article as we me the n be great pieces ca has a common the bauble tied to t gift right back! places. Some if your selection add a special truly magnificen nd sh ha fre . d , ng on asi arm sec ch ple or lly ble ca e eti ora tag ad sth vin ae found at and looks ribbon. An o, ts or on Etsy. Als shops, flea marke or al loc op ble try to sh whenever possi with small businesses purchase from

Expensive TastehopHomeEc.com or location on Main St.) / $24

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Man Stuff

SNOWCATION by Alyssa Worley

Bundle up in water-resistant gear, grab a cup of something steaming hot, and head to the mountains for a day of fun in the many winter wonderlands our north valley has to offer.

CO O K WH ILE YO U SH OP !

Mount Shasta has bounties of snow for sledding and exploring. Surrounded by pines is the Mount Shasta Ski Park that is great for both beginners and the excelled skier/snowboarder. Lake Tahoe, with its picturesque peaks, holds some of the best snow sport mountains in the country. Get away for the weekend and enjoy the view from one of the many resorts or from the top of the mount itself. Lake Almanor is a quick hour and 45 minutes away. The Lassen National Park leads various weekday snowshoe tours starting in January. There is plenty of snow to play in until then. Find a hill off Old Highway 32 to park and set up snow shop. Sled till your fingers are numb and your nose resembles Rudolphâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Crock pots are the experienced hostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dirty little secret. Throw in a few key ingredients and it does the work from there. While you do your holiday shopping and often seemingly endless errand running, your trusty crock pot is cooking a meal, preparing to please the entire family.

HOT SPICED APPLE CIDER INGREDIENTS

Cook on low until hot and spiced through, about 4 hours. Ladle into mugs along with an ounce or so of rum (optional). Place a cinnamon stick in each glass if desired and serve.

2 quarts (64 ounces or 8 cups) apple cider Six 3-inch cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving if desired 1 medium orange 2 tablespoons whole cloves Rum of your choice (optional) Additional cinnamon sticks for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

EASY POTATO SOUP INGREDIENTS 1 30oz. bag of frozen diced hash browns 1 32 oz box of chicken broth 1 can of cream of chicken soup (10 oz)

Pour apple cider into a 2.5-quart or larger crock pot or other slow cooker. Add cinnamon sticks to cider.

1 pkg. cream cheese (8 oz, not fat free)

With a toothpick, poke holes all around the orange, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch apart. Carefully poke the cloves into the toothpick holes in the orange.

Salt and pepper to taste

Place orange into the cider in the crock pot.

3 oz bacon bits 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS Put the potatoes in the crock pot. Add in the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup and half of the bacon bits. Add a pinch of

salt and pepper. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until potatoes are tender. An hour before serving, cut the cream cheese into small cubes. Place the cubes in the crock pot. Mix a few times throughout the hour before serving. Once the cream cheese is completely mixed in, it’s ready to serve. Top with cheddar cheese and some additional bacon bits.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP

WINTER WINDOW

Herb Garden Two things about winter:

1- It is a sad sight for those of us used to picking colorful, juicy fruits and veggies from our gardens. 2- Even if those bounties were still abundant in the winter, it’s too dang cold to go out and pick them! A windowsill garden is the perfect solution!

Start basil from seeds or starters and place the pots in a southfacing window—it likes lots of sun and warmth.

INGREDIENTS 2 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 8 ounces sour cream 1 small onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed

Pot chives with roots attached (available at the grocery store). Leave the pot outside until the leaves die back. In early winter, move the pot to your coolest indoor spot (such as a basement) for a few days, then finally to your brightest window.

or west-facing window. Start with a cutting of rosemary, and keep it in moist soilless mix until it roots. It grows best in a south-facing window.

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/3 cup mayonnaise

Your best bet is to start with a tip cutting from an outdoor oregano plant. Place the pot in a southfacing window.

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed

DIRECTIONS Place artichoke hearts, spinach, sour cream, onion, garlic, Parmesan, milk, feta, mayonnaise, vinegar and pepper into a slow cooker. Stir until well combined. Top with cream cheese. Cover and cook on low heat for 2 hours. Uncover and stir until cream cheese is well combined. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 15 minutes.

You can start this herb from seeds or starters. Parsley likes full sun, but will grow slowly in an east-

You can start thyme indoors, either by rooting a soft tip cutting or by using a starter plant. Thyme likes full sun but will grow in an east- or westfacing window.

Water when the top of the soil is dry, and make sure enough water fills the dirt, then drains. When harvesting, be delicate and not over-zealous. Leave some foliage to absorb light and continue to encourage plant growth. 27

Scarf Tutorial

Step up your scarf game with these unique and easy looks!

Photos by Erin Wenham

STYLE 1

Draped in Drama

Step 2. Cross behind your neck then bring both ends to the front Step 1. Drape the

scarf around your

neck

Step 5. Rotate your scarf so the knot is over one shoulder. Wow everyone!

Step 3. Fluff the loop around your neck until comfortable

Step 4. Tie the corners of your scarf into a small knot

STYLE 2

Faux-finity

Step 2. Tie the ends of your scarf into a small knot

Step 1. Put the sc

ar f around your

neck

Step 4. Place the bottom loop around your neck

Step 5. Adjust scarf so that the knot doesn’t show. Go get ‘em! Step 3. Twist your scarf into a figure 8 shape

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Bring Home The Band with Yamaha's Disklavier Watch and hear your favorite artists play YOUR piano

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Call 530-924-4469 · 3150 Highway 32, Chico apollopiano.net

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Pear-Pomegranate Jam

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Once you have sterilized 6-8 1/2 pint mason jars you may proceed with your jam.

INGREDIENTS:

SPECIAL NOTES:

2 ½ Cups Chopped Pears

I suggest using safety glasses and wearing long sleeves.

½ Cup Pomegranate Juice ½ tsp Fresh Lemon Zest 2 TBSP Lemon Juice 7 Cups Organic Sugar 1 Batch Pouch of Pectin

DIREC TIONS: Combine pears, pomegranate juice, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar in a pot. Bring to a rolling boil. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes. After boiling for 2-3 minutes, add pectin. Continue to boil for 2-3 additional minutes. Turn off burner. Now you are ready to jar up.

Also use a flat bottom wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot to move fruit and sugar often to prevent sticking. Blessings and may you enjoy the fruits of your labor!

RECIPE COURTESY OF SWEET COTTAGE 220 BROADWAY ST, CHICO (530) 513-2044 PHOTO BY ERIN WENHAM

201 Broadway, Chico (530) 342-7000 ChicoCrush.com

Create and serve delicious bite-sized appetizers and desserts with ease and style! INSPIRED BY URUGUAYAN CUISINE

Call (530) 894-5252 to purchase your Quesalera and get recipes and ideas.

The Quesalera will be demonstrated December 6th at the Lucero Winter Crush event in Corning, and on December 13 at the Galley in Chico.

craft beers • local ingredients • seasonal menu

FA R M F R E S H :

Orland Farm Sanctuary BY ALYSSA WORLEY / PHOTOS COURTESY OF ORLAND FARM SANTUARY

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Patio Dining Full Service Restaurant 7 Days a Week Bar 3pm to Close Happy Hour 3pm-6pm Kitchen 4pm-10pm 128 W. 2nd Street, Chico • 530.343.3408

mid rolling hills and cloudless powder blue sky, there’s a farm. A farm, better described as a sanctuary. It is a place of refuge and safety, for hundreds of animals from all over the United States. These animals are as individually treated as you or I would be, and are known as someones not somethings. At the Orland Farm Sanctuary, only about a 35 minute drive from Chico, you can get to know rescued farm animals during tours guided by one of the knowledgeable staff. According to National Shelter Director, Susie Coston, each animal has a story. “We allow people to see why these animals exist and the conditions they previously existed in.”The sanctuary was designed as an education program so that people could gain greater understanding of where their food comes from. “I think when people come here they are worried that we are going to try to brainwash them. It’s not like that at all.” Coston wants the public to come for the animals. The sanctuary began when co-founder Gene Baur was doing undercover investigations of farms. When a food animal went down at a stockyard they would put them on a “dead pile” where they would languish until they finally died. Baur was doing constant documentation of that type of behavior. One night, she was at a particular stockyard taking photographs. When her camera flash went off, a head popped up. They rescued their first sheep, Hilda, that day and so began the farm sanctuaries.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

There are 2 others, one in Los Angeles that is much smaller, and a third in New York. Animals from all over the country come to receive better lives at these farms. Many of the factory farm rescues happen after natural disasters when tornadoes or floods take out hundreds of animals at once. However, 10 billion animals a year are killed. “Even if all the sanctuaries took 10,000 animals we still wouldn’t make a dent,” Coston says. Because of that, the best defense for the sanctuary is their “three point prong:” rescuing, public education, and advocacy. “I wanted to come here because this is the original and first sanctuary. It is also the one that does a major job in advocating the change of laws to help animals.” As people are becoming more aware of what they eat, Orland Farm Sanctuary, hopes people also become in tune to how what they eat is raised. Visit the Sanctuary and their site for more information on the animals, the farm, and how you can support them. “Farm animals feel pleasure and sadness, excitement and resentment, depression, fear, and pain. They are far more aware and intelligent than we ever imagined…they are individuals in their own right.” — Jane Goodall

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HOLIDAY HEALTH Happy, Merry (and Bittersweet) Holidays Getting through grief and loss during the ‘happiest’ time of year By Mary K. Dillon, RN, MA, MDiv, Charge Nurse; Tami Brown, MSW; Sheri Martin, MSW; and Jamie Hesson, Social Work Intern of Enloe Hospice

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Warm up this winter with a one of a kind look from Trucker.

This time of year, the City of the Trees surrounds us with glowing fall colors. Time is moving on. The gingkoes along the Esplanade are bursting with the brightest yellows. The light through the trees warms our spirits and reminds us that the holidays are around the corner. Soon we will hear, “Happy Hanukkah” and “Merry Christmas.” The holidays can also touch our hearts with moments of sadness, reminders of loved ones we have lost; and bring up the pain, emptiness, old anger, and exhaustion we have experienced. Looking ahead. It is hard to be surrounded with celebrations and not have the heart for them. Invitations are being arranged; dinner menus are coming together. Each of us manages the sadness of grief in our own way. We may be asking ourselves: Do I celebrate the holidays this year, can I stay at home or would this make me feel even lonelier, and how do I talk with family and friends about all that I am feeling? Taking a moment to think about “getting through” the holidays can offer great rewards. Getting ‘unstuck.’ Each winter holiday recounts events that prompted gratitude for the seemingly impossible becoming possible. In times of grief, we can often feel stuck; moving forward seems impossible. Remembering the “good times” and special moments can help us

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UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

ease the grief and move forward. Connecting through ritual. These holidays also come with rituals. Sharing family stories is a way to bring life to the promise that “I will never forget you.” Family traditions, big or small -- gathering in the kitchen to make that special stuffing, dunking those donuts, putting the precious ornaments on the tree -- can help reaffirm the unbroken connection we have with those we have lost. Grief is an individual experience. We each work through it using the gifts and supports we have at hand. They may be found in surprising places, reassuring us that things will get better. We may not have the energy we once had, but by planning ahead and being selective, we can shape the holidays in a way that brings opportunities to celebrate the lives of our loved ones. For more on this topic, visit www.GoodTherapy.org (click on Grief and Loss) or find Best of 2012: GoodTherapy.org’s Top 10 Websites for Grief and Loss. For a packet of bereavement resources or information about a free series of bereavement support group meetings offered four times each year, contact Enloe Hospice at (530) 332-3180.

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Best Gym 1st Place - 21 Years Running! Best Yoga Studio 1st Place - 5 Years Running! Best Place to Take a Dip 2nd Place - 2 Years Running!

Where Fitness is a Resort! 35

HOLIDAY HEALTH Coping with Holiday Stress By A. Schroll, MD Aldebra L. Schroll, MD, is board certified in Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine and practices at California State University’s Student Health Center.

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Shopping, travel and family engagements – the holidays are fast approaching and with them, the many stresses of the season. It is common to feel overwhelmed, even to dread the coming of the holidays. Planning ahead and making simple lifestyle adjustments can ease the stress of this busy season. Stress can affect our bodies in a variety of ways: headaches, anxiety, depression, fatigue and chronic pain. Medical studies suggest stress impacts 50 percent to 80 percent of illness. However, we can learn to manage stress, lead healthier lives and enjoy the holidays. Get your rest. Sleep deprivation is chronic for many of us while we try to cram more into each day, ignoring our body’s need for rejuvenation. This can be especially true with the demands of the holidays. Develop a regular sleep regimen, going to bed and getting up about the same time each day. Maintain a quiet, dark sleep environment; avoid bringing work into the bedroom. Limit substances that interfere with sleep, like alcohol or caffeine. Find time to exercise; it provides a natural stress reducer and mood enhancer. Regular physical activity will improve sleep and reduce feelings of depression and anxiety by releasing natural endorphins, the “feel good chemicals.” The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of activity five days each week. If you are beginning an exercise regimen, see your doctor.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Limit screen time and get outside. We receive a constant barrage of bad news from our televisions and computers, generating anxiety and fear. As we have increased “screen time,” we are spending less time outside. Medical studies find that time in nature enhances psychological well-being. Japan has recognized the need for nature by creating “forest healing centers.” Reduce stress by limiting debt. Our consumer-oriented culture and the aggressive advertising around the holidays encourage us to spend, sometimes more than we should. Debt is a leading cause of stress. Research into happiness suggests that it is not the amount of things we own that makes our life rich but rather the relationships we enjoy. Think before you buy. Consider alternative gifts: the gift of time, assisting an older relative with errands or arranging events with loved ones. Embrace gratitude. The holidays are the perfect time to introduce the practice of gratitude. It is easy to get caught up in negative thinking. However, making a conscious effort to focus on what we are grateful for can create a greater sense of wellbeing. While you are writing your holiday cards, consider adding a thank you to those who have been helpful and supportive. You will make them happy and in turn the practice of being thankful will bring happiness your way. Happy Holidays.

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PracticalFitness Gifts for the Holiday Season

S Y A D I L O H Y P P A H Fill your stockings with the largest selection of extensions, wigs and beauty supplies in the North Valley.

By Scott Amick, MA, CPT, NKT

perfect body scrub. I set out to create the foamy and non ffy, flu t ligh is t One tha inspiration, I've as oily. Using the scrub lotions that are ion pan com ed also design nourishing. ply dee light, yet rich, and dmade All products are han , Ca. Enjoy! ico Ch in s che bat in small

- Jamie Wendorf

We support the:

342-1200

870 East Ave. in Chico

Exclusively available at Refresh with more locations coming in December

Blossom (inside Refresh) 1047 Village Ln. Chico 896-0300 www.blossombodycare.net

HAVE YOU LISTENED LATELY?

As you sit down to make your seasonal gift list, I would like you to take a good look at what your gift options are in the health and wellness market. Whether you are shopping for a tech savvy teen, your dog loving spouse, or looking to buy yourself a holiday treat, consider a “health conscious” gift. If you prudently select the right gift, by this time next year both the gift giver and the recipient will be glad that you kept their health in mind. The spectrum of health related gifts is humongous, so it will be hard to go wrong if you carefully assess the needs of the person you are shopping for. Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself: Is this person stressed? Yes? One massage gift certificate, please. Does this person have a smart phone? Yes? One set of bluetooth headphones, please. Does this person like to cook or eat? How about a gift certificate for a healthy cook class? That sounds tasty. Does this person need motivation for their health or personal goals next year? Visit a bookstore for an empowering book, novel, fitness manuscript, or collection of healthy recipes. Or, better yet, hire a personal trainer or buy a package of sessions for a discounted rate. Most gyms and studios have specials during the holidays and into the new year, so you should be able to score some motivation at lower cost than if you choose to wait until summer looms.

Happy Holidays... Scott Amick, MA, CPT, NKT advanced-body.com 530-781-2639

Merry Christmas from

LIVETHELIFESTYLE!

BY BRIANA LINDSTROM / PHOTO BY ERIN WENHAM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT A Holiday Recipe for Disaster: The holidays are a time of family, friends, celebration and tradition. Food and drink come along with each of these elements. Mix that in with 2 parts stress, 1 part anxiety and 4 helpings of “Oh well, it’s the end of the year, I’ll just binge,” and you’ve got a huge serving of lazy, drowsy, food-coma regret coming your way.

TREAT YOURSELF RIGHT Try to be mindful of what you’re eating. If there is something special that you love, help yourself to a little, but make sure to consider how you feel first. Are you really hungry? How much do you really need? Taste each bite, drink plenty of water, and don’t over-do it. Being mindful of what and how much you eat during the holidays will help you to avoid the post-holiday food comedown. Live the Lifestyle can help with your meal planning, your relationship to food, and will be there to support you in your journey. Food should be a positive part of your life, not your downfall.

Linda Sue lost 75 lbs!

REAL PEOPLE, REAL SUCCESS

“Before Take Shape for Life, I was obese and very unhappy with the way I looked and felt. I had a lot of pain in my knees, and I would go straight to the couch or bed as soon as I came home from work… I love what Take Shape for Life has done for me! I love my life! I have more energy, and love to shop for clothes and groceries. I can walk all day without pain.”

BEFORE

Peggy lost 56 lbs!

BEFORE

“I saw something in our local paper about someone I knew who lost weight and looked terrific. He hosted a tasting, and when I attended, I saw his ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures. I started to think this could work for me too, and ordered my first month of Medifast Meals. I saw results almost instantly! I began feeling better and more energetic. After watching me daily and tasting the food I was eating, my husband decided to join me. [Now] I can look in the mirror and see a very happy and healthy person who can tackle anything the world has to offer!”

“When I was overweight, I was tired all the time, which made it hard to keep up with my kids. My weight was so high that I was on BEFORE several medications, my doctor was close to adding a medication for cholesterol... This plan has changed my life. I interact with people in a much more positive way because of my new-found confidence.”

David lost 205 lbs!

“I was depressed. I attempted to lose weight a dozen different ways. I would lose 25 pounds, at most, before returning to my heaviest weight--or more. I was completely illiterate about food and overwhelmed by contradictory advice and claims. Now I share my story with others in hope that they will be inspired to take BEFORE control of their bodies and lives.”

A local team of health and weight loss coaches are bringing Take Shape For Life to Chico and adding a twist! With whole food options and recipes, two offices to visit for consultations and coaching, they are happy to present their revolutionary nutrition and weight-loss program, Live the Lifestyle. If you are truly ready to get to work… If you are interested in hunting down and eliminating the habits and beliefs that don’t serve you… If you are ready to go after and achieve your dream body… Then the time is NOW. Set up your free consultation today! 38

Christine lost 75 lbs!

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Russ lost 80 lbs! “After 35 years in the restaurant industry, I’d gained over 70 lbs, with no end in sight. I wasn’t happy, and it showed in the way I dealt with people at work and at home… With the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan I lost 60 pounds quickly, and began to follow the Take Shape for Life Maintenance Plan. My family was absolutely thrilled to see me lose weight and get healthy. I could not believe the results and how good I felt about myself.”

• Customized Meal Planning • Coaching • Medical Support • A variety of options to best suit your health and weight loss needs.

BEFORE

Live the Lifestyle is located at 1057 Village Lane and inside In Motion Fitness in Chico Take the first step today and call for an appointment.

(530) 321-5962 wwwlivethelifestyle.net 1057 Village Lane, Chico

Holiday MOCKTAILS

Essential Calorie Burn Infusers™ are available at Live the Lifestyle. For non-virgin recipes, use 1.5 oz of Patron Tequila.

Basil Sangria

Ginger Fauxito

Spiced Mockarita

1 Packet Antioxidants White Grape Peach Flavor Infuser™

1 Packet of Essential Calorie Burn Green Tea Lemon Flavor Infuser™

1 Packet Essential Calorie Burn Strawberry Lemonade Flavor Infuser™

4 oz Club Soda

8 oz Seltzer

4 oz Carbonated Water

4 oz Cold Water

1 tsp Minced Ginger Root

4 oz Cold Water

Cup Chopped Fruit (berries, oranges, etc.)

2 tsp Lime Juice

1 tsp Chopped Cilantro

1 tsp Chopped Fresh Basil

1 Tbsp Mint Leaves

1 tsp Minced Jalepeño

1 tsp Agave Nectar Directions: Combine all ingredients, and

Directions: Mix all ingredients, chill for one

refrigerate for several hours. Strain fruit and

Directions: Combine all ingredients, and chill

serve over ice, if desired.

for 30 minutes. Serve over ice.

“We get a lot of emails about Live the Lifestyle and our various programs. Mostly, the questions can be summarized into some version of: Will this really work for me? I so wish I could reply and say that this is the answer and snap my fingers and you would be thin. But then I remember the journey. I remember the work that I had to do. It was so much harder than

the magic pill I had been searching for. And so much better. I didn’t end up with a perfect body. I ended up with a body I loved. My own body. Who knew? And I learned how to feel instead of eat. I learned how to manage my mind. It wasn’t tidy and linear. It wasn’t a clean math equation. It was messy. I was a bit of a mess. I gave up many times before I made it. But I did the work and I earned a solid relationship with myself. So I

hour. Strain and serve over ice.

can’t tell you that this is the program for you. Annoying, I know. The only program that will ever work for you is the one you are willing to work. The one you keep doing until you get the result you want. And the one you are willing to keep doing after you get the result. So do I have the answer? No. You do. And we can help you find it.”

--Live the Lifestyle

COMEVISITUSFORANEWYEAR,NEWYOUOPENHOUSE Thursday January 8 @ 5:30

1057 Village Lane (Across from In Motion)

Healthy Happy Hour, Chamber Ribbon Cutting, Food, Prizes 39

doctor friends didn’t really respect it. Now a lot of those friends come to see me which is the ultimate way we can see that medicine is changing.” So what exactly is regenerative medicine? It’s the most natural, healthy way to manage pain. No more addictive pain killers with terrible side-effects or surgeries with long recovery time. Dr. Goodman uses his vast knowledge and experience in dealing with pain as an ER doctor and anesthesiologist, and has a natural approach. “With steroid shots or a nerve block, you hide the pain. But the pain is still there. Regenerative medicine helps heal the tissue. It lets your body heal itself. This is the wave of the future. This is what professional athletes and the rich and famous are doing.” How does it work? Dr. Goodman breaks it down in a way that is easy to understand. “When you get a cut, it bleeds. The blood goes outside and the platelets form a clot so the cut scabs and stops bleeding. The beautiful thing is that these platelets have other functions as well. They attract stem cells. Stem cells are created in the bone marrow and are

STEMCELLS:

Medicine of the Future

BY BRIANA LINDSTROM / PHOTOS BY ERIN WENHAM

undifferentiated cells that can become anything your body needs. During an injury or stress, they are released into the bloodstream so they can rush to the area of damage and take the form of whatever is needed there. For example, they become new skin where you once had a cut. This is the natural regenerative process of healing in our body.” And

Pain, drugs, surgery, more pain, more drugs, more surgery… this is a cycle for so many people

this is the process that Dr. Goodman’s practice uses to heal patients.

in today’s medication-happy world. When it comes

When someone develops chronic pain, it is

to pain management, aging and overall health, it is

usually from an injury or many tiny injuries or tears

refreshing to meet a doctor whose practice is based

that build into a problem. By taking stem cells out of

on the true theory that our bodies are naturally able

your body and reinjecting them at the site of damage,

to heal themselves. Humans produce the ingredients

it encourages the body to repair itself where it hasn’t

needed to exist, heal, and thrive. Dr. Daniel Goodman

already. “Unfortunately not all areas of body have

is passionate about educating the public and taking

great blood flow--tendons, ligaments, joints. I take

real attentive care of his patients as he helps them

some of your blood out, I spin it down, I separate out

with hormonal health and pain management.

the platelets and re-inject them to areas of damage.

Originally from New York where he attended

They attract stem-cells like magnets and then the

med school, Dr. Goodman spent 19 years working in

stem cells create natural healing. It’s a biological

anesthesiology at a trauma hospital. The high-paced,

treatment, not a drug. The healing time is incredibly

stressful life was not what he wanted for his family

short and these are injections, not surgery, so I use a

and after years of practice, he began to research

local anesthesia and there is no discomfort or pain.

and learn more about the alternative fields of anti-

There is no risk because it’s your own body, your

aging and regenerative medicines. Now his practice

own cells, and it works.”

in Redding is leading the way in a revolutionary

The area of regeneration that Dr Goodman

approach to medicine, and Dr. Goodman is dedicated

is most excited about involves using stem cells

to using what occurs naturally in a patient’s body to

to heal severe, painful joint arthritis. Up until this

heal the patient.

time, patients with end stage (“bone on bone”)

“This is the next thing in medicine!” Dr. Goodman

arthritis in their knees, hips and shoulders had

explains, “When I started in this field, some of my

one option for treatment, that being, total surgical

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

joint replacement. Total joint replacement involves multiple day hospitalizations, general anesthesia, large blood loss, risk for severe infection, months of recovery and even potential failure of the procedure. Instead of going through all this , Dr Goodman can gently remove a patient’s own stem cells, under local anesthesia (in his office). Then by injecting these cells into a degenerated arthritic joint, he allows the body to regenerate it’s own cartilage. This minimally invasive, low-risk procedure alleviates the patient’s pain and restores function to the joint. As of now, there are very few physicians in the US who are knowledgeable and capable of performing these procedures.” To learn more, call Dr. Goodman at LifeSpan (530) 605-4531, and visit increasedlifespan.com.

Weather-Proofing your Skin!

by Dr. Vimali Paul

Skin is the largest organ of the body, and it performs many key functions. It protects the body from injuries, thermal fluctuations, light radiation, and invasion of bacteria and microorganisms. It regulates body temperature and moisture loss through the sweat glands. It is a sensory organ that processes heat, cold, pleasure, and pain. It is regulated by hormones and internal organs as well as outside influences. What you put on your skin and into your body can have profound effects on the appearance and health of the skin. Smoking, sun exposure, dehydration, nutrition, and drugs (prescription and non-prescription) can have very long-lasting effects. Most damage occurs from UV rays breaking down our DNA and causing us to age more rapidly, causing wrinkles and dark spots to appear. The use of good skin care products plus a sunscreen of SPF 30 or above can really make a difference in keeping a youthful appearance. Other

contributing factors are stress, allergies, lifestyle, and climate. Steps we can take to have healthy skin are: keep skin clean, exfoliate on a regular basis, use sunscreen every day, get plenty of sleep, eat right, and drink plenty of water. Use antioxidants such as Vitamin C or green tea to fight environmental factors. There are many corrective procedures (such as lasers) now to reverse some of these skin issues, and that’s what we do here at the Derm Bar Med-Spa. Call us at 530-342-2672 to set up a free consultation and make a plan for your healthiest skin! Make an appointment for a free consultation with our licensed professionals at:

The Derm Bar Med-Spa

SLIP-RESISTANT

530 -342-2672 85 Declaration Drive Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973

WATERPROOF

OLDE GOLD oldegold.com

ESTATE JEWELRY

“Gifts for everyone on your list!”

(530) 891-4610

�� Main Street | Chico, CA | Inside the Garden Walk Mall

Call today for your complimentary hearing evaluation.* *To determine candidacy for hearing instruments.

Chico's hearing aid specialists since 1949 Chico Hearing Aid Center

Deanna McCoy

CERTIFIED AUDIOPROSTHOLOGIST BY THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF AUDIOPROSTHOLOGY, HEARING AID DISPENSER

www.ChicoHearingAidCenter.com

1600 Mangrove Ave. Suite 160 . Chico, CA . (888) 710-8419

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

211 M A IN ST | D OW NTOW N CHICO W W W . ANIK A B UR KE . COM

BEAUTY Q&A Q: My hair always looks dull during the winter. How can I liven it up and make it shinier?

Q: How can I make liner in my eyebrows look natural?

A: Working with a professional stylist who can determine the overall condition of your hair will be a big help. Whether you have highlights or artificial color on your hair, there is a new collection of products that can give the desired shine and silkiness and they are called Diamond Oil or Argan-6 oil, made by several professional hair care companies like Redken. They should be applied according to the directions, after blow drying as a finishing touch. Hair will look healthy and shiny.

A: Making your eyebrows look natural requires the proper shaping of the brows with either tweezing or waxing by a professional esthetician. When using a brow pencil to color or define the shape, be sure to use hair-like strokes. Most brows look better when using a brown color brow pencil rather than black; soften with a small makeup sponge. For long lasting brows, apply a light clear brow gel. Remember eyebrows can be tinted with a special brow dye, or can be permanently colored by a professional tattoo artist specializing in eyebrow, eyeliner and lip lining techniques.

Q: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in the market for a new blow dryer. What should I look for? A: Blow dryers should be easy to use, not too heavy and have several temperature settings, so as not to abrade and burn the cuticle layer of your hair. As far as the cost of a new blow dryer, remember: YOU CAN PAY TOO MUCH. Blow dryers are available at most drug stores, department stores and beauty supply stores such as Sallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

ANSWERS COURTESY OF:

Chico Beauty College 1356 Longfellow Ave, Chico (530) 343-4801

( 530 ) 774 - 50 84 2995 ESPL A N A DE , SUITE 103 CHICO

Bonnie Murray AT THE SPA BY AVEED KHAKI / PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LAPP

Born and raised in Quincy, California, Bonnie Murray’s initial career path bore little resemblance to the work she would later fall in love with. Presented with a job opportunity at the age of eighteen, she found herself leaving her home and family far behind to set out for Alaska. After spending a number of short stints experimenting with different jobs throughout Alaska and even Hawaii, she finally returned to Alaska and took a position at a local restaurant where she eventually became assistant manager. She remained in Alaska for ten years before the continued longing to be near family finally took its toll. She returned home to her family in Quincy and, once settled, sought out the next step in her life, this time applying for a job at Plumas Bank. With all of the managerial experience she had earned in Alaska, and one year of prior banking experience, it was no surprise that the bank was so eager to hire her. She began working for the bank in 1986, the same year she met her husband of twenty-seven years, Pat Murray. 44

Her time at Plumas Bank was filled with new challenges as the bank quickly grew and expanded into several new areas. Due to her continued commitment to the bank and its customers, it seemed that Bonnie was offered more opportunities with each new expansion. By the end of her twenty year career with Plumas Bank, she had seen the once small bank expand to twelve branches throughout Northern California and had earned the titles of Data Processing Manager, Customer Resource Center Manager, and finally Vice President of Plumas Bank. Pat owned a successful auto glass and welding shop in Quincy, and when Bonnie told him she wanted a change in scenery, he agreed. The two retired from their professions in Quincy and moved down to the home they owned in Chico in 2006, where they decided to finally do the work that each had grown passionate about over their lives together. Pat returned to school to become an EMT, while Bonnie returned to school to earn her esthetician license and follow a realization she had at nineteen, when she first recognized the importance of taking care of her own skin. She loved quality products and skin care was one thing she was obsessive about. She and the new career path were a perfect match. Both achieved what they set out to do—Pat took up a new position within EMS at Enloe Hospital, and Bonnie joined a local medspa where she worked for eight years. During her stay, she completed nearly

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

1,000 HydraFacials®, a procedure that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts impurities, and hydrates the skin. It was during this time that she also met close friend and co-worker Angie Wisdom. Angie, an esthetician herself, began working at a new medspa called The Spa for Dr. Randy Landis and his wife Sherry during the early planning phases of its construction. It was no surprise that with her experience in the industry, and focused care for her clients, that she was one of the first to be invited by Dr. Landis to join The Spa shortly before it was completed. An expert in acne facial treatments, HydraFacials®, and so much more, Bonnie brings a dominating amount of experience to the team at The Spa. Her friendly nature and commitment to regarding customers as family have helped develop her reputation in the industry over the years, and one short conversation with her is enough to give credence to that reputation. She fits in perfectly as part of the family at The Spa, and contributes to the deep sense of trust and loyalty the team shares. As she puts it, the women are like sisters to her. When she isn’t at work, she spends her time with her two sons and two granddaughters, who one can clearly see, mean the world to her. Bonnie is available for appointments on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at The Spa in Chico. Call (530) 342-4SPA (4772) or visit them at 80 Declaration Drive Suite 102 to make an appointment today!

Happy Holidays from » Buy a gift certificate and we’ll add 10% more to the amount! » $80 European Signature Facial includes makeup application if purchased before December 31st. $130 value

530-342-4SPA

80 Declaration Drive Suite 102 Chico, Ca 95973

» 30% off Youngblood makeup bags (while supplies last) » Buy two or more Youngblood makeup items and get 15% off

TIMELY • KNOWLEDGEABLE • COMMUNICATIVE

Get your keys early with us*

on time

We Built This City THE HIGNELL COMPANIES 1051 Mangrove Ave, Chico • (530) 897-4090

www.accessloans.net LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS UNDER THE CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LENDING ACT CA BRE: 01215943 | NMLS: 1850

*average loans close 4 days before the close of escrow

Custom Upholstery

Design Projects

Slipcovers

Window Treatments

Professional Sewing

Retail Fabrics Foam & Dacron

Call to get your project started! Michelle Siam (503) 343-3943 2574 Fair Street, Chico EXCLUSIVE NORCAL SELLER

ACROSS FROM BUTTE HUMANE SOCIETY NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS

Walking by the numerous busy cubicles of The Hignell Companies office building, I quickly notice how active everyone in the workplace seems to be. The phones are constantly ringing, papers are rustling, and fax machines are buzzing—all the typical characteristics you would expect from a big time law firm—not from your local Butte County property management company. Located on Humboldt Road, The Hignell Companies sits as one of Chico’s largest property management companies owning and managing over 1,000 homes and dozens of apartment complexes and commercial properties. Doug Hignell opens the door, welcomes me into his office and quickly gets into the story of Hignell Companies and how it all began with his father, Fred Hignell Jr., over sixty years ago. As a young veteran returning from World War II, Fred Hignell Jr. had one thing in mind: the City of Chico and its expansion. Fred was an experienced engineer and producer of submarine torpedoes during the war and when he returned stateside, he would form a contracting partnership with a man named Floyd Strange that would ultimately affect Chico and its suburban evolution. During this time, around 1948, housing production in Chico had been moving at a rather slow rate. Houses were being built one at a time on land bought only big enough for that one house. A big factor in construction during the era was the short process of acquiring permits to begin building on a piece of land. Typically, four months would be the maximum wait period during the 1940s to be granted a building permit. Now, the wait for a permit can range up to three years to receive approval. The time was right (not only in Chico but all of the United States) to have a high demand for homes because of the end of World War II, people were starting families and in need of a place to live. Recognizing the demand, Fred and Floyd quickly assembled a team to begin building some of Chico’s first sub-divisions, which are now some of Chico’s

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

oldest and most familiar neighborhoods. The decade soon started over and the height of Hignell and Strange came during the early and mid 1950s when the company was producing 70-90 homes every year. Nobody else was building homes in the surrounding area on such a large and affordable scale. Fred continued to be very adamant about building within the Chico City Limits and as the years went on, he and his partner were producing over sixty percent of the houses that were being built in Chico, which remained the same throughout the sixties. As Floyd Strange was reaching retirement age, Doug Hignell, was finishing up his master’s degree at Stanford when he decided to move back to Chico and help his father with the family business. The Hignell and Hignell partnership was soon formed and Doug and his father began to expand the company in a completely new direction. Doug had the great idea to buy properties already existing in town (apartment complexes, business properties), remodel and restore the structures to be functioning better than they were when they first opened. Successfully and rapidly, Hignell and Hignell did exactly this. Quickly, changing from a contracting and construction company, the new father and son partnership transformed the company into a successful property management firm. Known today as The Hignell Companies, Doug Hignell does exactly what his father set out to do over sixty years ago, providing the area with affordable, first class properties and effectively creating a caring community revolving around Chico. BY MATTHEW MANFREDI

Serving Butte County

UPSCALE VIEW HOME! Custom built in 2004, gated subdivision, split floor plan, commanding entryway, granite, stainless, tile, excellent condition, amazing expansive views

PRIME LOCATION! One owner custom built home, tile, hardwood flooring, open beam ceiling, wood burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen, RV Parking w/ full hookups, pool, natural landscaping, large corner lot over an acre! One of Paradise’s most sought after locations! Bed: 3 Bath:2 SqFt:2088 Price: $339,000

TOO CUTE! Home exudes pride of ownership. Centrally located in Magalia, newer laminate flooring and linoleum. Natural setting, two patio areas, fully fenced rear yard, extra parking, must see home!

OUTSTANDING PARADISE LOCATION! Nestled amongst the pines. Big living room with vaulted ceiling, oversized bonus room, copious master suite, covered patio, garden area, fruit trees, lush yet low maintenance yard. Call today!

Bed: 3 Bath:2 SqFt:1491 Price: $235,000

CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN! USDA ELIGIBLE!! Updated throughout! New cabinets, flooring, appliances, tile bathroom, vanity, fixtures,Gorgeous laminate flooring, large yard, laundry room, big deck, RV or boat parking, conveniently located. Nice place! Must see! Bed: 3 Bath: 1 SqFt: 1,584 Price: $115,900

PREMIER PARADISE LOCATION! Newer roof, HVAC, Tank-less hot water system, dual living spaces, Vaulted open beamed ceilings, huge laundry room with half bath, large deck, oversize garage, gated RV parking, quiet cul-de-sac location. MUST SEE HOME! Bed: 3 Bath:2.5 SqFt:2,252 Price:$329,000

ASTOUNDING ESTATE PROPERTY! Unique custom built home on over 5 acres of Paradise. Split floor plan, sunken living room and master suite, Decks, detached oversized garage with bonus guest quarters, paved private rd,Horse and animal potential, Live in the country yet still be in town! Bed:3 Bath:3.5 SqFt:2409 Price:$340,000

EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY! Spacious home located on a sweeping corner lot in gorgeous Magalia, attached 2 car garage and detached 2 car sized shop. Freestanding woodstove and central heating. Don’t miss this wonderful home!

Bed: 4 Bath:3 SqFt: 2754 Price: $374,000

SPECTACULAR LOCATION! Exceptionally well cared for Home in one of Paradise’s most desirable locations! Turn-key, super-clean, master suite, fireplace, 2 car Garage, large rear yard, RV parking and more!

Bed: 3 Bath:2 SqFt:1496 Price:$159,500

Bed: 2 Bath:2.5 SqFt:1771 Price:$232,900

Bed:3 Bath:2 SqFt:1779 Price:$149,000

UNRIVALED CUSTOM HOME! One of kind property with amazing attention to detail. Light and bright, soaring ceilings, amazing woodwork, gas fireplace, carpet and tile, large laundry room, massive storage area, attached 3 car garage, fenced rear yard, covered patios, RV parking, Absolute must see home! Bed:4 Bath:4 SqFt:2,600 Price:$459,000

Must Sell Properties!

UPGRADED LIVING | NOVEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

There’s something about

Sherry LandiS

When we ﬁrst listed with Sherry, she was so helpful in telling us what changes inside our house must be done to prepare for the listing. Sherry was also our realtor for the prop“Sherry Landis is by far the best real estate agent in Chico. She is erty we were buying. Any time we had questions, she made us feel as though we were professional, positive, and has incredible follow through. She helped us her only listing. She always responded to our texts and emails quickly.

navigate our way through the sale of two homes and the purchase of the same SheSherry neverwould missed a beat. She made we Onceanother—all we had our at house on thetime! market, have an open housesure any weekunderstood the process, andletstayed in what constant contact with Evenand after all end that we wanted. She always us know the comments of us. realtors their clients were so that we knew we stood. Once weand made sell, would three homes closed, shewhere continued to call, email, textthe just to she make sureexplaineverything each step was of the way,as always watching out for our bestdone interest. We would going planned. We could not have it without her.”highly

recommend Sherry to anyone wanting to sell their house or buy a new one! RobERtS — Doug anD CoLEttE -Jennifer Teague

(530) 514-4855 | landis4sale@aol.com | www.SherryLandis.com

This one owner home located in popular North Chico has a newer roof. This property has beautiful newer tiled hallways and an open ﬂoor plan, loads of parking as well as a 3 car garage. Brina the dog may greet you with a smile. Easy to show. Bed: 4.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 2,051 Price: $345,000

Yes, rebuilt due to a fire in 2013 so this nearly new home is a terrific find!! Some might say it reminds them of a Frank Lloyd Wright design and they would be correct in that! Every angle, every thought went into this sq.ft. when re-established. With much excitement of doing it up cute, these sellers chose nice colors and big open walls of windows, large courtyard in the front and back yard sitting area. New fencing, landscaping, large lot with new sprinklers and landscaping, city services, cute neighborhood~~ Nice neighbors - this one is too cute and very Blue!!! don’t miss this little cutie pie! Bed: 2.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,320 Price: $250,000

Granite counters, alder cabinets, tiled ﬂoors in most of the home. Cute, large lot, covered patio without permits. RV access Bed: 3.0 Bath: 1.0 SqFt: 1,014 Price: $199,000

This was the model home and only one owner! There have been many A terrific Michael Galli floor plan updated and remodeled from head to upgrades including travertine tiles, upgraded carpets, granite, oversized toe about a year ago. Stainless steel appliances, granite counters, plush lot, built in desk in media room, special color paint throughout, draperies, carpets, decorator lighting, exterior and interior painting, lush park like yard, landscaped beautifully with slate water fall, flowers galore and redwood sparkling in ground gunite pool, newer 10x10 outdoor shed, wood stove, trees. RV Access on both sides of the house and two master suites make shows truly like a model home. Open floor with sohome manysituated upgrades! Check outplan this custom on this home a must see! the end of the cul-de-sac! Enjoy nights in At the top of a hill, behind a gated community, you’ll3,166 ﬁnd this 1 owner custom built home by Jimmy Lamb. You’ll Bed: 4.0 Bath: 4.0 SqFt: Price: $429,000 your 3.0 beautiful landscaped yard$665,000 watching Bed: 4.0 Bath: SqFt: 3,675 Price: know it is Jimmy’s house by the landscaping when you pull up! Standing out in the crowd and boasting things that others might now have, proudly sitting on this 1.49 acres is pure heaven. Whether you are enjoying entertaining in this gourmet kitchen with top of the line stain less steel appliance, gas stove with griddle, built in wine cabinets, granite counters and cherry cabinets, or relaxing in one of the 2 living areas, or perhaps sitting in the gorgeous dining room, all while meandering down the wide hallways with travertine tile - Waking up or going to sleep in the master suite, you’ll be reminded how blessed you are to call this house a home! The closet alone is as large as some bedrooms, and this double headed shower you can spend the day in!!! Views galore off the back deck while watching a sunrise or a bird go by, feel the breeze in your hair and listen to nature, you’ll feel like your on vacation, but lucky you - it’s home. Easy to show, just make appt. ﬁrst!! Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 3,482 Price: $679,000

Yikes!

sunsets and the glistening of the moon on your pool, the whispering of winds in the eucalyptus trees that frame this amazing setting. Redwood trees are seen here too with multiple areas in the yard to sit and visit. The home shows much newer than it is as it has been lovingly taken care of by the original owner. Bed: 3.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,206 Price: $325,000

My homes are selling fast! Call if I can #2help in Production for 2013! by listing your home today! Any closed transaction receives a gift certiﬁcate to 48

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

CA-DRE lic# 01084946

LOVELY HOME! 3BR/2BA, att. 2 car garage. radiant heat in master bath, his & her closets, high efficiency wood stove. Large detached building can be used to run a business. Outdoor pond, pergola adorned in Wisteria, outdoor kitchen, greenhouse. $289,000 #966 Jamie McDaniel 530-872-5891

SPECTACULAR VIEW! Backs to green belt. 3 BR/3.5 BA, dining nook, 2605 sqft on .5 of an acre. Huge game room with bar & Woodstove or potential for 2 living space, Much more & must see! $272,500 #1044 Susan Doyle 530-877-7733

SWIM ALL YEAR! Great centrally located, 2825 sqft home with beautiful gas heated built in swimming pool, large deck great for entertaining, garden area, many fruit trees, shop and so much more! Home features basement with bathroom, utility sink and separate entrance. $264,500 #849 Nikki Sanders 530-872-5889

COUNTRY CHARMER! Lovely 1.68 acre parcel of land with plenty of room for gardening. Darling 2BR/1BA house. Great area under house for game room or extra storage. 3 bedroom septic. Selling as is.

BEAUTIFUL 2 STORY HOME! 2 br./ 2 ba., 2 Garages + Shop! Oak floors, tongue & groove cedar ceilings, central heat & air + a propane gas fireplace w/ marble hearth face, built-in oak entertainment center w/ extra storage & dual pane windows. Kitchen w/ Mission Oak cabinets & granite counters.

JUST MINUTES FROM EVERYTHING IN TOWN! This home has an open living space and part of the garage has been converted into a good sized bonus room. The large yard is covered in mature fruit trees and the location is fantastic.

$129,950 #665 Rhonda Maehl 530-873-7640

$139,000 #706 Heidi Wright 530-872-5890

$115,000 #1105 David Connell 530-321-8920

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

RARE FIND - & HUGE PRICE REDUCTION!! Possible Owner carry!! Charming 2br/2ba home in town on 2 acres. Newer roof, septic system & updated bathrm. Plus, building opportunity - tentative parcel map & subdivision w/4 1/2 acre lots perked for 3-bedrooms. Call Annette for details.

$159,000 #847 Annette Gale 530-872-5886

AVAILABLE IN 55+ SIERRA SUNRISE! HUD home with so much to offer; 2BR/2BA. Large living room with vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, laundry in unit. Large master w/ att. bath. Att. 1 car gar. w/carport, walking trails, community pool, community center and so much more!

$184,000 #1233 Julie Rolls 530-520-5845

COMPLETELY REFURBISHED, fresh paint, new carpet, new fixtures & more! 2BR/2BA, huge master suite, w/ a large dressing room that could be a nursery, workout room or office? Separate dining room, laundry room, fenced backyard. Seller will include a 1 Year Home Warranty.

$159,900 #216 Julie Rolls 530-520-8545

GREAT PARADISE LOCATION. 3BR/2BA 1792 sq.ft. remodeled custom home on over a half an acre. Covered front porch, large living room, large master BR w/bonus den/ sitting area, master BA w/spacious walk-in closet Att. 2 car garage & a detached shop. $264,500 #386 Brian Voigt 530-514-2901

SPACIOUS INVITING HOME! Over 3300 sq.ft 3BR/3BA, large bonus room. Large kitchen with granite island, breakfast bar, plenty of prep/ cabinet space and two large pantries. Master suite w/coffered ceiling, double vanity, jetted soaking tub & large walk in closet. $399,500 #598 Kandice Rickson 530-872-5892

BEAUTIFUL AND SPACIOUS! Can function as a 3 BR or 2 BR with office. Soaring vaulted ceilings, amazing bright and light kitchen, enormous master bathroom with large walk in closet, beautiful garden areas, delightful pond. $139,000 #212 Shannan Turner 530-872-3822

Brand New Custom Built Home

$434,000

Is your home ready for the holidays? lets you control light. Beautifully.

Lana Gunn 891. 4866

FREE in home cosultations. 1314 Mangrove Ave. in Chico

We also oďŹ&#x20AC;er: Paint, Wallpaper, Custom Draperies, Interior Design, Home Accessories, Weekend Delivery

(Inside Finds Design)

Hours: M-F 10am - 6pm www.SelectiveInteriors.com

Parker Realty

lanagunn.com BRE 01107562

Looking back on 2014 I have much to be thankful for. I wish to thank the many families that have trusted my team and I to help them buy or sell a home or help with their investment needs. I am also thankful to all the co-operating brokers, lenders, appraisers, title company staffs, home inspectors, and contractors whose efforts have helped support myself and my team make it all possible.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Steven J. Depa 530.896.9339 depasells@aol.com BRE# 00813533

Amazing comfort, wherever you are

"BIG Man's" Recliner Chairs $399

2101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Chico

THIS YEAR'S PLENARY SPEAKERS: Returning favorite

Dr. Robert Eyler Dr. Jaana Remes

of the McKinsey Global Institute and Introducing the 2015 keynote speaker

Jake Soberal

CEO of Bitwise Industries

Breakout session topics ranging from agriculture and water to marketing to manufacturing! Early bird registration rates are now available! Register today at www.cedcal.com/events! For questions, email Georgia Nilsson at gnilsson@csuchico.edu or call 530-898-4598.

HOSTED BY

LARRY KNIFONG TEA M!

LARRY KNIFONG

872-5400 larry@knifongteam.com 7020 Skyway Paradise, CA BRE# 00913120

www.knifongteam.com

DONT LET PESTS RUIN YOUR

Holiday’s

Call for a FREE estimate 54

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM HOME NESTLED AMONGST THE TALL PINES & OAKS. MEANDER UP THE LONG DRIVEWAY ADORNED W/WELL MANICURED SHRUBS & LUSH LAWN. THIS HOME BOASTS ELEGANCE THROUGHOUT.

BEAUTIFULLY BUILT, TUSCANSTYLE HOME LOCATED IN ONE OF PARADISE’S MOST DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. EXCELLENT CURB APPEAL DRAWS YOU TO THIS CUSTOM BUILT HOME ON .51 ACRES.

5884 Cameron - Paradise

5764 Hollis Hill Drive - Paradise

$309,900

$399,900

CUSTOM, ONE OWNER HOME. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A WELL MAINTAINED HOME W/ LOTS OF CUSTOM FEATURES. 2 CAR GARAGE. VAULTED CEILING, GAS HEAT STOVE AND LARGE UTILITY ROOM.

SPECTACULAR HOME & SETTING! BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM BUILT HOME ON 1.37 ACRES OF WELL MANICURED LAND. THIS SPACIOUS HOME OFFERS LIVING ROOM W/VAULTED WOOD BEAM CEILING, CEILING FAN, HEAT STOVE ON CUSTOM BRICK HEARTH, SLIDER TO THE BACK YARD & SEPARATE FAMILY ROOM. 2020 Picnic Lane - Paradise $549,000

6516 Shaw Circle - Magalia $69,000

OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE!

Guaranteed gift-giving success the one thing every cyclist can never have enough of is on-bike gear. Take advantage of the years best selection of cycling apparel, accessories, foot wear, and more, for the special riders on you list. list

Certified and

HOWMUCHSHOULD A TUNE-UP COST?

Master Technicians you can Trust Call Today:

(530) 343 5613

In the bygone days most vehicles needed the same basic items which wore out about every 15,000 miles and noticeably affected engine performance as well as fuel mileage. Without even popping the hood, a mechanic could scribble some numbers on an estimate which would likely include: spark plugs, fuel filter, pcv valve, air filter and a few minor adjustments to the carburetor. Heck, why waste the time to price it out, just have a price range from $79.95 for a 4 cylinder to $129.95 for a V-8 engine. Simple, effective and it makes sense to the consumer. A simple need and a simple price-Miss Jones says she has a 4 cylinder engine and therefore she needs the $79.95 tune-up. In rolls the modern vehicle sporting 19 plus computers, limited access to components, and wildly varying manufacturer recommendations which the technician may not agree with. The answer to the question“How much for…?”becomes a process of educating the consumer. There is no simple answer and the mechanic must follow up with a series of questions that if not tactfully approached may feel like and interrogation or attempt to mystify and or mislead the driver. Questions like: What year make model is your car? What engine do you have? Do you have the license plate or VIN number handy? What is the approximate mileage on the car? When was the last time the oil was changed? When were the spark plugs, fuel filter, injectors last serviced or changed? The concept of a tune-up just doesn’t fit a modern vehicle well at all and quite frankly any

one-size-fits-all pricing is suspect and something to avoid. An educated consumer should ask something more along the lines of “What would it cost to evaluate my vehicle for its maintenance needs?” Today’s vehicles rarely break down compared to their predecessors and it is easy not to notice the slowly deteriorating fuel mileage and performance. Look for a repair shop that will shy away from quoting prices over the phone. Rarely can they ever know what is best for you and your car without a visual inspection. Some shops may perform a brief no-charge inspection while some may charge a nominal fee to inspect various components and review the manufacturer recommendations as well as the vehicle history if available. Expect some sort of inspection form to show the overall vehicle condition has been taken into consideration, a written estimate and explanation for items that have been recommended. Do not be afraid to ask which items are recommended by the manufacturer and which are suggestions made by the technician or the shop based on their professional experience. Recalls are an important topic these days. Visit chicocarcare.com/recall to access a free recall search as well as a free report to be sure you are alerted to past due and future recall you cars may need. Courtesy of Dan Hiestand Chico Car Care 1369 E 9th Street 433-5575

.org

1188 E. Lassen Ave, Chico, CA

New Again Kitchen & Bath Presents

House Call

December 2014: Family Matters BY BRIANA LINDSTROM / PHOTOS BY ERIN WENHAM

The Couple

The Call

Carlos and Sunny were living in a small home with their two sons and running a busy landscaping business, J C Hernandez Landscaping. With all the equipment for their business and their sons--one a sports fan and athlete, and the other a budding chef, they were quickly outgrowing their home. The boys hated sharing a room and the family was ready for something with a little more space. They found a perfect home with many little bits of character from the 1970s, and they spent the summer gutting the house and turning it into their dream home.

The Call

BEFORE Popcorn Ceiling Old Cabinets Chipped Paint Outdated Appliances

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Popcorn ceilings, old cabinets, chipped paint and outdated appliances were a big job to take on, but Carlos knows how to do pretty much everything and was able to do most of the work to breathe new life back into the house. Before they had even bought the house, Sunny was looking through Upgraded Living magazine at the real estate listings and noticed a cute couple standing in their kitchen that was re-done by New Again Kitchen & Bath. She made a mental note to call New Again when it was time, and when it came to the kitchen counters, she knew it was time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We called a few places to price non-granite options and when we called Ric, we realized that granite was nearly the same price and so much better. Ric helped a lot. He came in and looked at the cabinets and the floor and helped us find something that would look great.â&#x20AC;?

AFTER Black Pearl Countertops Black Pearl Backsplash

The Cure “When I walked into the house to measure, I immediately realized the Hernandez family was not afraid of color. The living room and dining area was all soft greys, one son’s bedroom was done in Giants colors and the other in bright blue. When I saw their color choices and the tile flooring, I immediately knew that Black Pearl would be the perfect granite choice for the kitchen. We completed the kitchen countertops and also supplied the kitchen sink and faucet. By the end of the day, they had decided they wanted the same material on the backsplash. Four days later, we installed a Black Pearl backsplash to match the countertops.” “I love the Black Pearl. When the light hits it, there are parts that just shine. I love things that sparkle-things that are simple and pretty,” says Sunny. Ric was the perfect designer for the Hernandez family. Sunny loved being able to work with someone who understood

Faucet from New Again Kitchen & Bath her quirky side, “I like little things like this Nutone Intercom,” she points at the original intercom in the kitchen that was built into the home in the ‘70s. “You can use it to talk into any room in the house and it is old and fun, I wanted to save it.” These little requests and sentimentalities are always honored by Ric and his team at New Again Kitchen & Bath, which is what makes them so special. They are not just there to do a job, take the money and cut ties--they truly get to know and care about each client they work with and each home they are in.

Sink from New Again Kitchen & Bath

New Again Kitchen & Bath 2502 Park Ave, Chico, CA 95928 | (530) 899-2888 57

ANTIQUE DIY: Yard Stick Christmas Tree

PROJECT AND PHOTOS BY ERIN WENHAM

What to do with some old yard sticks, a vintage brooch, and a jar lid? Make an adorable Christmas decoration, of course! We stumbled upon these fantastic vintage yardsticks at Ambiance Antiques in Chico that were just begging to be repurposed. The soft mint green paired with natural wood and weathered zinc jar lid makes for a charmingly rustic look that takes us all back in time. The vintage brooch adds a fun touch of sparkle and breaks up the rougher elements. We wanted to use as much of the yard sticks as possible for our Christmas tree, so we started with a base size of 11 inches and measured each additional piece down by one inch, leaving one half inch of space on each side. We were left with a six inch piece that was the perfect size for the treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trunk. Your measurements will depend on what size you would like your tree to be. Including the trunk and topper, our tree stands at 19 inches. We used a miter saw (Thanks to the help from Neil Carr of Summit Landscape!) to cut our yard sticks into the pre-measured sections, but a hand saw can be used as well. You may want to sand the cut ends for a smoother finish. We layered the pieces together using wood glue and placed a sawtooth bracket on the backside for easy hanging. This project is fun, simple, and one of a kind!

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Vintage Christmas Ornaments! Holiday Sale! 20% Off* *almost everything, thru Dec. 24

Wed-Sat, 11ish to 5pm or by appointment

速

180 E 9th Avenue . Chico

TREASURE COVE Donations and consignments supporting disabled adults for over 20 years

6194 Skyway, Paradise, Ca. 530-877-2514

ORANGE STREET CONSIGNMENT an organized display of the rare and collectible to unique, unusual and pratical too

(530) 899-7064 514 ORANGE STREET CHICO, CA OPEN THURSDAY - SUNDAY 8AM-2PM

Want to win this and other Upgraded Living Projects? Follow us on facebook for daily giveaways.

“The staff at Happy at Home Chico were truly the Angels I needed to help me care for my parents. Happy at Home allowed my parents to live the life they wanted, while giving me the comfort and security I needed.” - Greg Sad

Bathing/Dressing · Light Housekeeping/Laundry Family Respite · Meal Preparation/Dietary Needs Transportation · 2-24 Hour Care Options

When Can I Retire?

by Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP ® Financial Advisors at Asset Management Group

In today’s uncertain economy and volatile markets, the retirement dream can seem elusive. However, with proper planning your dream retirement can become a reality. Many people put off planning for retirement because of emotions and financial worries. However, we believe that the earlier you start to plan the better prepared you will be as you will have time to make adjustments where necessary. The decision to retire is a very personal one that depends on a number of important factors like your age, financial circumstances, health, and family situation. If you’re worried about being able to retire, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are worried about whether their retirement savings will be enough to keep them comfortable. In fact, many Americans fear running out of money more than they fear death1. Here are a few important steps that you can take now to determine whether you are on-track financially. While a financial advisor can help you explore your personal situation in greater detail, you can get started by doing some simplified retirement strategizing on your own. Start by estimating your expenses in retirement. By adding

up all of your basic living expenses and desired discretionary spending, you can develop a better idea of how much money you’ll need each month. The second step is to identify any sources of income from Social Security benefits or other guaranteed income sources like a pension (i.e. CALSTRS, CALPERS). Any gap between your guaranteed income and your expenses will need to be covered by withdrawals from your retirement savings. Understanding how much can be safely withdrawn each year during retirement without running out later in life is a complicated process and should be discussed with a professional. He or she will develop an investment plan that helps balance the need for growth against your risk appetite, time horizon, and future goals. 1

Running Out of Money is Worse Than Death.” AARP. http://www.

aarp.org/work/retirement-planning/info-06-2010/running_out_of_money_worse_than_death.html [Accessed 24 March 2014]

The Sweeney & Michel Team 2452 Lakewest Drive| Chico, CA 95928 530-342-2900 | 800-333-2901 (F) 530-342-3925 rmichel@amgchico.com www.sweeneymichelamg.com

Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency), member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. 60

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Pa Wish List

rt Two

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tis the time for all to stop The procrastinational window shop Go on in and get the goodies From jewels to toys to shoes to hoodies Wrap each gift neatly with paper and a bow Then under the tree on the faux snow they go On Christmas day your loved ones are gifted As you watch them smile, your spirit is lifted To help with the shopping, we gift to you An organized Holiday Wish List, Part 2

18K White Gold Vintage Flower Pendant with Diamonds @ Gabrielle Ferrar

18K White Gold Specialty Cut 9.6CT Citrine and Diamond Pendant @ Kirk’s Jewelry

14K White Gold Honey Quartz, Mandarin Citrine and Diamond Pendant @ Gabrielle Ferrar

le k r a p S t a Gif ts th

! Diamond Cluster Earrings, Micropavé Set Center Diamond .69CT Total Weight @ Olde Gold

14K Gold, Cubic Zirconia, Handmade from Raw Sugar Crystals - $1050 @ Aicora Gems

Sterling Silver & 14K Yellow Gold Lemon Quartz Ring @ Gabrielle Ferrar

14K Yellow Gold Brushed Trumpet Vine Earrings @ Kirk’s Jewelry

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

14K Yellow Gold Brushed Swirl Earrings @ Kirk’s Jewelry

Sterling Silver Shield Bracelet with 100 million year old Dinosaur Bone inlay and inset Diamond button lock clasp by William Henry @ Gabrielle Ferrar

Fine Emerald and Diamond Pendant set in 18K White Gold @ Olde Gold

Sterling Silver 14K Gold Necklace with Arizona Amethyst and Gold Sugar - $220 @ Aicora Gems

.26CT Dancing Diamond suspended on a 14K White Gold chain - Prices start at $495 @ Kirkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewelry

14K White Gold pendant with Diamonds and Pear Cut Aquamarine Center @ Gabrielle Ferrar

Gif ts t

h at S p

ar k le!

14K White Gold Custom Made One of a Kind Ladies Ring Mounting @ Kirkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewelry

18K White Gold Ring with black Rhodium finish with Diamonds and 6.87CT Oval Rubellite Center @ Gabrielle Ferrar

Craig Tolman Original Design - 14K, .58CT Diamond Ring @ Bling on 3rd

Pink Sapphire Ring with 70 Diamonds, .51CT total weight, 18K White Gold @ Olde Gold

18K White Gold Engagement Ring with Diamonds and Radiant Emerald Cut Emerald Center with Square Shank @ Gabrielle Ferrar 14K Yellow & White Gold Earrings with 7.89CT Cushion Cut Topaz with Rubies and Diamonds @ Gabrielle Ferrar

Eco Friendly Infinity Scarf - $32 @ 5th Street Clothing Co.

14K White Gold Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings @ Kirk’s Jewelry

Dylan Modern Luxury Washable Zip-Up Jacket @ 5th Street Clothing Co.

Jonquil Platinum Pleated Gown @ Heavenly Blue

Cozy-Chic

Women’s Duffield Ugg Robe @ Heavenly Blue

Dazzleflyz Ornament -$25.95 @ Phoenix Building Gift Shop

Vionic Gemmalux Slippers with Orthotic Technology - $69.99 @ Birkenstock

Goodhew Women’s Cashmerino Bamboo Socks - $22.99 @ Birkenstock 64

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

L&H Designs Filigree Amethyst Earrings @ The Dressing Room

Angie Black Cocktail Dress @ The Dressing Room

Luii Designs Lush Wool Blend Brown and Green Tailored Coat @ Katieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner II

Glam Gal House of Honey Soy Candle with Chalkboard Surface @ Syllabus

Vintage Crystal Timepiece Necklace @ Finds Design

Diane Von Furstenberg Zarita Lace Dress @ Syllabus

Lauer Scrunch Sheepskin Gloves @ The Dressing Room

Sorial Rubino Coco Clutch @ The Dressing Room

Lulu Frost Decade Earrings @ Syllabus

Mother and Grandmother Pendants - Prices start at $39 @ Kirk’s Jewelry

Assortment of Ladies’ Scarves - 2 for $15 @ Anika Burke

Velvet Brand Cashmere Blend Sweater - $237 @ Montana Blues

Trend-S e

tter

Alo Yoga Airbrush Legging - $90 @ Montana Blues

Brighten Reversible Necklace - $50 @ 5th Street Clothing Co.

Christy Top @ Syllabus

14K Yellow Gold Brushed Circle Earrings @ Kirk’s Jewelry

Joseph Ribkoff Midnight Blue Dress with Gold Trim @ The Dressing Room

David Kahn Mickayla Skinny Jean @ The Dressing Room 66

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Goldsign Skinny Crop Jeans @ Syllabus

Syllabus Market Bag with Waterproof Lining @ Syllabus

Ritual Quad Stack Ring @ The Dressing Room

IRO Leather Biker Jacket @ Syllabus

Ear th B

abe 14K Gold Handmade Earrings Made with Raw Sugar Crystals - $580 @ Aicora Gems

Ellington “Sadie” Italian Leather Crossbody - $239 @ Birkenstock

Paparazzi Cream Colored Jacket @ The Dressing Room

European Women’s Montanaco Brown Quilted Vest @ Katie’s Corner II 67

Scotch & Soda Cable Knit Scarf @ Formal Education

Maui Jim “Nalani” Sunglasses @ Family Eye Care

Trend Ultra Slim Suit @ Formal Education

Scotch & Soda Fitted Sport Coat @ Formal Education0

For the Stance Heavy Wool Boot Socks @ Formal Education

Guys

Nixon Watch (Model 4820) - $425 @ Trucker

Rodd & Gunn Oversize Genuine Leather Weekender @ Formal Education

Rodd & Gunn Super Soft Corduroy Pant @ Formal Education

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Will Leather Goods One of a Kind Belt @ Formal Education

Rodd & Gunn Genuine Leather Gloves @ Formal Education

Custom Cutting Board - $29.95 @ Chico Locker

Embellished Print with Swarovski Crystals @ Finds Design

Hous Decorative Wine Server @ Finds Design

m o H e&

Hand-Knotted New Zealand Wool Rug @ Finds Desig

Handmade Sculpture Lamp @ Finds Design

Holiday Candles @ Finds Design

One-of-a-Kind Vintage Accent Table @ Finds Design Give the gift of music with our selection of fine pianos @ Apollo Piano

Decorative Pillow @ Finds Design

Jennifer Fisher RGB Nail Polish @ Syllabus

B eaut y Blossom Coconut Vanilla Foaming Sugar Scrub @ Refresh Face & Body

Redken Diamond Oil High Shine Hair Kit @ Laura’s Wig & Beauty Supply

Skin Medica Vitamin C+E Complex @ Derm Bar Obagi - C Rx System Skin Intervention Kit - $363 @ Derm Bar

Clarisonic “Mia” - The perfect start to sonic facial cleansing, works 6x better than hands alone @ Powder Room

Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder - $42 @ Derm Bar

CHI Escape Professional Cordless Styling Iron @ Laura’s Wig & Beauty Supply

Gift Basket - Professional skin care and pampering items for someone special. Fill up a gift basket @ Massage Envy

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Kenra “Platinum” Blow Dry Combo @ Envee Salon & Spa

Skin Medica LYTERA Skin Brightening Complex - $125 @ Derm Bar

Chico Graphic T-shirt - $19.99 @ North Rim Adventure Sports

Steripen Freedom Water Purifier: Treats 40 half liters of water on one charge - $79.95 @ Mountain Sports

Two Pound Box of Assorted Chocolates @ Shubert’s Ice Cream & Candy $31.20

G ’ n ‘ s Gif t

s e i d oo Le Creuset Cast Iron Fondue Set @ Zucchinni & Vine

Pumpkin Truffles, Assorted Sizes @ Joy Lyn’s Candies

“Frozen” Mini Carousel Plays “Let it Go” @ Phoenix Building Gift Shop

Schoenhut Toy Piano @ Apollo Piano

Raleigh “Lil Push” Balance Bike for Practice Riders - $129.99 @ North Rim Adventure Sports

Gigantic Keyboard with record mode and playback @ Apollo Piano 71

shop credits 5th Street Clothing, Co. 328 Broadway St, Chico 530-345-5754

Massage Envy 615 Mangrove Ave #110, Chico 530-892-8585

Formal Education 334 Broadway St, Chico 530-809-1839

Heavenly Blue Fine Lingerie 240 Main St #220, Chico 530-343-3333

Gabrielle Ferrar 214 Main St, Chico 530-345-1500

Chico Locker & Sausage Co. 196 E 14th St, Chico 530-343-7370

Syllabus 212 Main St, Chico

Olde Gold Estate Jewelry 225 Main St #3, Chico 530-891-4610

Joy Lyn’s Candies 1183 Bille Rd, Paradise 530-872-9167

Aicora Gems at The Jewelry Box 1334 Mangrove Ave., Chico 530-809-1034

Envee Salon & Spa 218 W 3rd St, Chico 530-891-3683

Bling on 3rd 240 Main St #180, Chico 530-892-2000

Family Eye Care 2565 Ceanothus Ave. Suite #155, Chico 530-899-3939

Katie’s Corner II 1950 E 20th St F619 Chico (Inside Chico Mall) 530-892-2228

Kirk’s Jewelry 246 W 3rd St, Chico 530-891-0880

Montana Blues 250 Vallombrosa St, Chico 530-592-3918

Laura’s Wig & Beauty Supply 870 East Ave, Chico 530-342-1200

Mountain Sports 176 E 3rd St, Chico 530-345-5011

North Rim Adventure Sports 178 E 2nd St, Chico 530-345-2453

Derm Bar 85 Declaration Dr #100 530-342-2672

Apollo Piano 3150 California 32, Chico 530-924-4469

Phoenix Building Gift Shop 300 Broadway St, Chico 530-895-9239

Powder Room 239 Broadway St, Chico 530-899-9350 and 30 Philadelphia Drive, Suite B 530-898-9350

Finds Design 1341 Mangrove Ave, Chico 530-892-1905

Trucker 232 Broadway St, Chico 530-343-1073

Shubert’s Ice Cream & Candy 178 E 7th St, Chico 530-342-7163

The Dressing Room 530 Broadway St, Chico 530-566-9394

Birkenstock 333 Broadway St, Chico 530-345-4880 Anika Burke 211 Main St, Chico 530-918-8850

Refresh Face & Body 1047 Village Ln., Chico 530-896-0300

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Zucchini & Vine 204 Main St, Chico 530-345-3551

Artist Profile:

KW Moore, Sr.

BY MATTHEW MANFREDI / PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY

Originally born and raised in Paradise, K.W. Moore’s artistic talent developed at a very young age. K.W. is everything western: his grandfather on his mother’s side was a full-blooded Choctaw Indian, and his father, an American working cowboy; heritage is something undeniably represented in every brush stroke and detailed line of his artwork. Continuing to cultivate himself as a figure in the western art community, K.W. has created several vivid and colorful series throughout his career—The Working Cowboy, Men and Women of the West, The Mexican Series along with collections of still life and landscapes—all of which are a stunning representation of western American culture. Each of his series seems to take the viewer away, just for a brief moment, to a time when things were a bit more modest and humble. And though the smell of leather and the crunch of sagebrush no longer cross the daily commute, they are a few outward aspects echoing in K.W. Moore Artwork. The Sally Dimas Gallery on East Avenue is currently hosting a showing of the K.W. Moore Sr. Series—be sure to stop in for the culture and color of the American West. UL: Is there a certain process you follow when you begin work on a piece? KW: To me, the creative process is the fun part. I don’t use anything mechanical—no projectors, cameras or computers, it’s all old school. My feeling is, today, a lot of artists use technology in the creative process, which is something I have never done. All

of my oil paintings begin with a study drawing done in pencil, followed by a wash with turpentine and burnt umber (a dark, reddish brown shade of paint) to get out the lights and darks and then I do the final painting. Everything I paint is real and authentic— certain places I’ve been and people I have met and it all begins with study drawing. UL: Can you explain some of the different places your career has taken you? KW: Well, I have been in galleries my whole life. I sold my first painting at the age thirteen and had my first gallery showing when I was thirty. In my twenties, The Lodi Sentinel hired me to do political cartooning and covers for the newspaper. It was a dream job! I used to do quite a lot of pen and ink portraits because they are so much easier to reproduce. I also did a courtroom drawing for a murder case in Lodi. It was pretty exciting…to say the least. UL: What artists have inspired you throughout your career? KW: Well, I’m old school and Norman Rockwell is definitely one of my heroes. Rockwell’s style, his realism is something I’ve always liked. As far as western art goes, Howard Terpning is someone I’ve always looked up to. He is one of the first western artists, still living and painting, to sell a piece for over a million dollars. He is the big name is this business. I did the Charlie Russell show [the famous art show in Montana] and he was the guest speaker at the event. I got up early one morning to get breakfast before the show started I saw him in the restaurant. I still kick myself today; I never went up to him to say hello or anything but I knew he wanted to be left alone. UL: Was there ever a point or particular moment when you realized art was going to be a part of your life? KW: It all started when I was very young. I would drive my father crazy, studying the paintings my family had on the walls of our house—the lights, shading and the sunlight coming into our house, it all caught my attention—which is something that I assumed the other kids did as well. But, as I started grammar school, I realized I had a knack for drawing and the teachers began to recognize my talent as well. Art was really never a question whether it was something I wanted to do. It was something I always did.

Artist Profile:

Carol Preble Miles

BY MATTHEW MANFREDI / PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY

The front door of Art Etc. remains wide open and the November sunshine floods the entire room, illuminating the countless pieces of local artwork. In between helping the conversational window shoppers and weekday art collectors passing through the store, Carol Miles takes the time to answer some questions about her own career and art. Originally from Corning, Carol has been a Chico resident and active community member for the last 40 years. Her watercolor collection extensively ranges from vast landscapes to simple, abstract pieces relating to the North State—a great illustration of Butte County and what it is to live in the inception of a great rural valley. Carol has also been teaching at the Chico Arts Center for the last ten years, lending her expertise to the community and people interested in the patience of watercolor. Be sure to catch Carol and her work at the Chico Arts Center Christmas Boutique during the entire month of December along with showings at both, Art Etc. and Sally Dimas Art Gallery all throughout the year. “Whoever you are will show up in your artwork—no matter what the medium is.” -Carol Preble Miles UL: When did you originally start doing art? CM: I have done art all of my life, although I didn’t start doing watercolor until about twenty-five to thirty years ago. As a little kid, I remember a fine arts teacher going around to the different classrooms of my school and it was then that I found out an artist was something that you could grow up to be. Ever since then, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. UL: How did you develop your artistic style over the years? CM: Well, I always drew and I used to use colored pencil before [I started watercolor]. Prismacolor pencils were released when I was in my thirties and I just couldn’t get enough of how fabulously brilliant the colors were! Though, the process with colored pencils is very slow, very tight and I’m very impatient. I finally took a watercolor class with Julie Shaw at Butte College and remember thinking, maybe the watercolor will control me, instead of me controlling the sharp point of the color pencil. UL: How do you begin a piece? CM: Well, I don’t use pencil to draw out an outline when I begin a painting. With my work, it tends to be really stiff and simply filling in the lines of a pencil sketch has always been confining to me. Whether inspiration for a piece comes from a photograph or plein air, I always begin the process using one specific paint color to sketch and progressively add colors and details as I continue to work through the piece. It gradually evolves over time into what I want the painting to look like. I try to keep it atmospheric, bringing the dark colors to the foreground and lighter colors to the background. UL: Can you share any words for someone beginning to take interest in art? CM: You just have to keep at it and, just like anything else, you ultimately get out what you put in. Paint everyday if you can and be patient and be persistent. And practice! I originally had to take Julie Shaw’s watercolor class twice before I was fully convinced that it was something I could do. I went back and took her class in the following summer for three hours a day, four days a week and it was then, after all the practice, I fully convinced myself watercolor was what I wanted to do. UL: Is there a famous quote that has inspired you? CM: “Disorganized people are constantly making fascinating discoveries!” 74

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

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YEARBOOK

2014 by Matthew Manfredi

The conclusion of 2014 draws near as Christmas lights are being dug out of the dark corners of the closet and the valley oaks get ready to expose those bare branches. Yes, we have taken another successful trip around the sun! Winter is here and, once again, we await the giant December disco ball to drop, introducing us to the New Year. No, it doesn’t look like we are going to see any personal spacecraft sputtering along downtown in 2015 (like my peers and I were expecting) but I can tell you how many steps I took in the last week thanks to little rectangle (soon to be outdated) which is, forever residing in my pocket. In a fleeting moment, 2014 flew by. Events came and went, birthday candles were blown out, and more technology became obsolete and although a small collection of photos and blurbs fall short of summing up an entire year, here are few footnotes to help you recall some of the moments of 2014.

HIGHESTGROSSINGFILMOF2014:GUARDIANSOFTHEGALAXY Guardians of the Galaxy, the Hollywood blowout blockbuster of 2014, killed the box office with an opening weekend $94 million in ticket sales and gross profit reached a monstrous $324 million.

HIGHEST RATED FILM OF 2014: BOYHOOD Filmed over the period of 11 years, Boyhood follows the life of Mason, a young boy living with his single mother and sister. Ethan Hawke plays the boy’s father, a musician trying to make it in the industry but constantly moving and looking for odd jobs, consistently making appearances in the boy’s life. The Pageant was effortlessly packed for every showing of this modern indie film documenting the actors’ performances over an 11-year period. It’s not very often when a production comes along with such uniqueness, long-term dedication and individuality as Boyhood.

MOST STREAMED SONGS OF 2014 Rude by Magic Budapest by George Ezra Sing by Ed Sheeran Stay with Me by Sam Smith Problem by Ariana Grande Ft. Iggy Azalea Ghost by Ella Henderson Waves by Mr. Probz Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz Don’t by Ed Sheeran All of Me by John Legend

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

MAY 2 & 3: CALIFORNIA CHROME WINS THE 140TH KENTUCKY DERBY We’re always proud of a successful Northern California athlete, and Yuba City’s California Chrome is at the top of his game. The beautiful American Thoroughbred is winning the hearts of Californians and horse-race lovers alike.

SUMMER RORY MCILROY The young Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy, surpasses the rest of the field with an astonishing year, which included two major victories including The Open Championship and The PGA Championship. The uprising of this young star has come as no surprise to golf fans everywhere but is something the public hasn’t seen since the beginning of the Tiger era in the early 2000s.

SEPTEMBER 19TH: IPHONE 6 RELEASE Apple releases iPhone 6 with 10 million units sold within the first three days. Sales projected 70-80 million units by the end of 2014. “Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn’t be happier.”—Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER: THE RISE OF ANNIE B’S COMMUNITY DRIVE Extending from August first to the end of September, Annie B’s Community drive has grown into a local fundraiser resource. The beyond-successful grant program reaches out to Glenn, Colusa and Tehama Counties receiving help from over 250 local nonprofit contributors and volunteers. Over $7 million has been raised since the program’s 2007 inaugural year and it continues to grow with every passing year.

OCTOBER: SF GIANTS WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!! The 2014 World Series is one that will go, undoubtedly, down in history. As Pablo Sandoval looked up at that last pop fly over the third base line in Kansas City, everyone in Northern California stood still and soon witnessed their team, once again, finish the season with a glorious win in late October.

COLD BLUE MOUNTAIN: OLD BLOOD Café Coda was packed wall-to-wall for the release party of Cold Blue Mountain’s sophomore album: Old Blood. The band performed the record in its entirety, front to back and suddenly the venue was pulverized by down-tempo grooves along with Brandon Camy’s assault of low-end vocals. Surrogate’s Chris Keene sat in on keys to complete Old Blood’s nuances and dark tones, giving the audience an extensive listen to the band’s musical direction. Chico will undoubtedly hear more of Old Blood throughout 2015.

FURLOUGH FRIDAYS: DIVIDED The hard rocking quartet, Furlough Fridays launched their new album Divided, the hard hitting follow up to the 2011 hit debut album, Silver. Winning Best Rock Act at the 2013 Cammies, the group shows no signs of slowing down—or turning down the volume on this new album. Cycling through a number of member changes, Furlough Fridays has found right pieces to project their music to the highest, raucous level, slating themselves as an irreplaceable local rock group.

SIERRA NEVADA’S SINGLE, FRESH, WET AND WILD BEER FEST. Just when you didn’t think the Butte County October could get any busier, the second (now annual) Single, Wet and Wild Fest rolls around at Sierra Nevada Brewery. Featuring over 50 breweries from all over the United States, the event is a celebration of “the one time of year when hops hit their prime, farmers pull them from the fields, and create some of the most expressive beer around.” Already, this event has turned the heads of craft beer makers, giving them the chance to showcase their artistry on a stage built by Sierra Nevada.

NOVEMBER 18 Dow Jones closes the day at a record high of 17687.82.

DECEMBER EVENTS

DECEMBER 1 World AIDS Day Trinity Methodist Church 5:30 PM For more details call 530-893-3336 Brokedown in Bakersfield Sierra Nevada Big Room 7:30 PM www.SierraNevada.com/BigRoom DECEMBER 1-24 Santa at the Chico Mall Thursday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM DECEMBER 3 Swing Dance Class The Tackle Box 379 East Park Ave., Chico 7:30 PM DECEMBER 4 Center for Economic Development’s Email Marketing Event Chico Masonic Family Center 1110 W. East Ave., Chico www.cedcal.com/events DECEMBER 4-7 The Nutcracker By the Chico Community Ballet Laxson Auditorium, CSU Chico Evening & Matinee Performances www.CSUChico.edu/upe/performance DECEMBER 4 - 21 Christmas Carol Blue Room Theatre 7:30 PM Thursday - Saturday 2:00 PM Sundays www.BlueRoomTheatre.com DECEMBER 5 6th Annual Holiday Fine Arts & Gift Sale Downtown Chico 6:00 PM Tree Lighting Ceremony Chico Creek Nature Center 1968 East 8th Street, Chico 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM bidwellpark.org

DECEMBER 5-7 California Regional Theatre Presents: Stansbury House, 307 W 5th St, Chico Friday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Christmas Faire Silver Dollar Fairgrounds www.SilverDollarFair.org DECEMBER 6 Glorious Sounds of the Season Harlan Adams Theatre, CSU Chico 7:30 PM www.SchooloftheArts-CSUChico.com 27th Annual Butte County Toy Run Chico Muni Center, 411 Main St., Chico 11:00 AM, Rain or Shine All Motorcyclists Welcome For more details call 530-893-1918

bistro bar patio

Happy Holidays are here. Call to book your holiday parties with us.

Reinventing New American Cuisine

DECEMBER 8 Christmas from Ireland with Lunasa & Karan Casey Sierra Nevada Big Room 7:30 PM www.SierraNevada.com/BigRoom DECEMBER 10 USAF Free Holiday Concert Paradise Performing Arts Center 777 Nunnelly Dr., Paradise www.ParadisePerformingArts.com DECEMBER 13 Mariachi Sol De Mexico Presented by Chico Performances Laxson Auditorium, CSU Chico 7:30 PM www.CSUChico.edu/upe/performance DECEMBER 17 Melvin Seals & the Jerry Garcia Band Sierra Nevada Big Room 7:30 PM www.SierraNevada.com/BigRoom DECEMBER 25 Merry Christmas! ONGOING EVENT C.A.R.D. “Family Friendly” World Dance Class 2320 North Chico Ave., Chico Thursdays 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM To register, visit www.chicorec.com

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2014 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

This is Brenda. She is named after a volunteer who has been with the Foundation since 1997. She was born in May 2014. She will be a companion to Everest, our other snow leopard. Snow leopards are native to the mountainous regions of Asia. They are critically endangered due to habitat encroachment, decline of prey, and poaching. Fun fact: The snow leopard’s long tail aids them in balance as well as keeps them warm. When lying or sitting they will wrap their tail around them as added warmth. Come visit Brenda and our other furry friends at the Barry Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary and Educational Center. Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation 4995 Durham-Pentz Road Oroville, CA 95965 Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Self-guided (no appointment): $10 for adults and $6 for children over the age of 2. Guided tour (by appointment): $20 for adults and $10 for children over the age of 2. Kirshner.org (530) 533-1000

Enter, vote, and find our monthly Reader’s Pic themes by following us on facebook.com/upgradedliving.

Reader’s Pic Ch r is tm a s Ch eer

Winner: Jennifer Powell Arntzen Age: I am 42 (I think...) Occupation: I am a Speech Language Pathology Assistant (super long title, but each word carries impor tance). I work at Chico Speech and Language Center. Hometown: Chico is my hometown.

Photo Inspiration: My family is very involved in the Chico Elks Lodge. This photo was from a children’s Christmas party hosted by the Chico Elks. The children pictured are Holly Fortier, Abbie Thorpe, Emily Staples, Masyn Arntzen and of course Santa Claus. They were giving him a run for his money and I couldn’t resist snapping this funny picture. Favorite Christmas Tradition: Christmas Eve with my entire family is my favorite holiday tradition. We gather together to love one another and reflect on family memories. It’s a time to come together and enjoy a delicious meal, laughter and merriment.

530.533.8500 | 2767 Olive Hwy, Oroville, CA. 95966 | www.OrovilleHospital.com