Upgraded Living - March 2021 Issue

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FROM THE EDITOR Perhaps March will come in like a lion, and out like a lamb, or the reversal very well may take place. Either way, the inbetween counts. Unlike Shakespeare’s character, we are not bewaring any ides in March or any other months for that matter. Taxes, perhaps, which is pretty much the same thing. March also comes with my consternation of how folks will run for our school board with a mere singular purpose. One of those is combining the university’s spring break calendar with the school district’s. The week exists mainly to quiet the city streets on St. Patrick's Day. It also leaves our elementary, middle, and high school teachers with two Mondays of vacation until the finish line. Some don’t understand the squirming and downright difficulty of maintaining the mainstream for such a long duration. Rant aside, our public school teachers are set aside too easily.

Our March issue reveals an iconic cover. It is wonderfully clever and incredibly accurate, especially when you read the story. The first sentence, “Colby Ballinger is proof you do not need a college degree to be a success in life,” sets a tone for a life lived well. And Colby is just getting started.

Shout out to Jason Corona, our sales director for the cover idea. The magazine also puts us face-to-face with a person many of us have coffee with each morning. Our publisher/ owner sat down with Julia Yarbrough and, subsequently, reveals her amazing cross-country story in an even more amazing piece. Do not miss it. It appears to us that many worthwhile articles dot this issue. Read and enjoy.

The Backpage gets real, as in personal. I can assure you it helped immensely to write it. One thing was missing due to space. Recently, I have been saddened by the loss of too many friends, each losing their battle to the grip of cancer. As a cancer survivor whose diagnosis came at stage-one, and was eradicated by a surgery, I’ve been left with survivor guilt. It is not a “poor me” kind of thing but a numbing moment in time that I get to go on without the experience of any grueling and taxing treatments. It also comes with the chill running down my spine, the vision blurring to a sea of tears, and that numbing sensation ice can bring to a swollen joint. It is maybe one of those things you can only know through your own lens.

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

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

CONTRIBUTORS DOUG LOVE

DEBBIE MILDING

Real Estate

Interior Design

HRiQ

SWEENEY & MICHEL

Human Resources

Finance

KATELYN ROBERTS

DERM BAR

Let's Get to the Nine-One-One

Beauty

On to April and the results of how the universe treated me.

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

Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief

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

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CONTENTS | MARCH 2021 COMMUNITY

FEATURE

10 We find ourselves circling back to the brainchild of a non-profit with the young angel, Angelina BensonKennedy.

32 A look at the young, driven entrepreneur, Colby Ballinger, and how his company, Everclean, is doing more than pulling its own weight in the cleaning industry

15 Katelyn Roberts, Butte County EMS, answers our frontline worker call.

16 Dr. Justin Treat shares his journey from the cold of Cleveland to the sunny Northstate.

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21 Local HR professional, Shelby Chase of HRIQ, instructs readers on how to connect while working from home.

43 Jessica Wilkerson, of Inspired Life Counseling, leads us on moving toward courage, healing, and joy.

HOME 18 We invite you to the Terraces, where they truly know the meaning of home.

23 KP Designs shares three must-do’s for your kitchen facelift.

28 Doug Love shares a tale of a Californians' eastbound migration.

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30 The Crowells revitalize the spirit of a tired and dated home with New Again Kitchen Remodeling.

ON THE COVER: EVERCLEAN

DESIGN BY: ERIK BROWN

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36 Broadcast veteran, Julia Yarbrough, shares her experience as an accidental advocate for caregivers.

40 The platform may be different, but the need remains unchanged—Maggie McNamara and Becky Robinson team up once again to educate the community on Alzheimer's Disease and caregiving.

POTPOURRI 12 Our ingredient of the month is cumin to a spice shelf near you (though it's likely there already).

47 A daring, intimate, and personal look into how we see ourselves—Kevin Dolan embraces inner change.

ART & MUSIC 41 Bands unite, from a distance, under Mike Walker, “Music Man” of Oroville.

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON

Angelina: an angel with a heart Angelina Benson-Kennedy sits in her living room with a halo of brightly colored paper chains hanging behind her couch.

It seems appropriate, seeing as she was the spark that started the formation of a nonprofit known as Angels with Heart.

The thirteen-year-old attends school in Forest Ranch and loves to create art, both at home and at school. During our interview, she eagerly rushed off to get some of her creations to share. The first was a soft, pastel-colored grouping of crayon and marker drawings glued to a tri-fold cardboard display, and the second was a vibrant geometric design with a vintage truck at the edge of the board.

Angelina’s pride and joy in her displays is heartwarming, and her grin is infectious.

She also loves to play UNO, Monopoly, and other board games, or just simply hang out with her younger brother.

Her aptitude for sharing carried over into the inception of Angels with Heart.

When asked how it started, Angelina says, “I just wanted to help people.” She and her seven-year-old brother, Matthew, develop the ideas for fundraisers or food donations to help the community and 10

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then, her mom, Francean, and the other adults who work with the nonprofit, help to set them into action. Over Valentine’s weekend, they set up at the Chico Public Library and served a luncheon featuring Angelina’s menu of chili, cornbread, chocolate cake, and peach cobbler to the homeless.

Savemart and Children’s Hope currently sponsor the non-profit group. The goods and services that Savemart donates help to make Angelina’s dream of helping others a reality. Children’s Hope donated a plethora of toys for their upcoming Easter gifting. Angelina and her brother will soon begin filling donated baskets with treats and toys to distribute this spring to those in need here in Chico and Oroville.

When asked what she enjoys most about being part of Angels with Heart, she says, “It just makes me feel good to help others.”

Be sure to visit their webpage at www.angelswithheart.com or look them up on Facebook to see what Angelina’s vision has created next.

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

KOO-min or KYOO-men?

Picture, if you will, a man in a kitchen—a man about to embark on an adventure into another dimension, a dimension of taste and smell and exotic flavors. The dimension of— The Pantry Zone!

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

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We’ve all been there. We’ve all seen it.

Most of us have it—the spice rack in your cupboard or pantry, if you’re organized, or a jumble of bottles or tins jammed into the back spaces behind familiar condiments (guilty!). It’s a place where, frankly, I’m afraid to blindly root around with bare hands. Why, you might ask?

I’m afraid I’ll pull out a spice I used once back in 1999 that is now hopelessly, ridiculously, passed its expiration date. If you take a look, there are plenty of spices that remain a mystery to many of us.

Cardamom, coriander, fenugreek, mace, nigella (nigella!?), and sumac. However, I have heard of cumin, even though I’ve never knowingly added it to a dish. So, cumin it is! Kingdom: Plantae. Clade (another word I need to look up): angiosperms. Order: apiales. Family: apiacaea.

Cumin has been around for thousands of years. Its seeds were excavated in Syria dating to the second millennium BCE. Cumin

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was used as part of the mummification process in Egypt and was significant in Minoan Crete. Ancient Greeks had it on the dinner table, and it is still on the table in Morocco. It was used in Roman cuisine and has been in India for hundreds of years.

Spanish and Portuguese colonists brought it to the Americas, and it is mainly grown in North Africa, Mexico, Chile, and China. The two main exporters are China and Mexico, but South Asia is the biggest consumer.

300,000 tons of cumin is produced annually.

Cumin has fat, carbs, and protein. B vitamins dominate, especially niacin and folate. It’s high in magnesium, manganese, and iron.

Cumin is one of the most used spices you’ll find in the pantry. It has a warm, peppery flavor, and it has a noticeable aroma which heightens the food experience. It is a popular ingredient in Mexican food such as fajitas and chili, and it’s a key ingredient of Indian curries. While cumin pairs well with meats, it adds a lot of flavor to vegetable dishes such as carrots and sweet potatoes.

Oh, yeah. If you’re American you pronounce it KOO-min. If you’re British you pronounce it KYOO-men. So they say, somewhere.

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(530) 891-1133 | (800) 472-3867 901 Bruce Road, Suite 280 Chico, California 95928

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Let's Get to the

Nine-One-One with Katelyn Roberts

If I wasn’t a first responder, I’d be a teacher or professor. I enjoy passing along my knowledge and educating future generations.

Three critical qualities that got me where I am today are thoroughness, inquisitiveness, and an insatiable need to expand my knowledge about my craft of paramedicine.

Explaining my schedule to folks that don't already get it is like trying to give someone directions in a different language. Hand gestures & pictures are your best friend!

A book that left a lasting impression on me is called Elsewhere. It’s about life after death, and it helped me put some complex ideas into a different perspective.

Something I want to learn is another language—maybe Spanish or ASL. I think it would be super useful at work and in my daily life.

My “go to” Northern California spot is Fort Funston in San Francisco. It's a huge off-leash dog park on the beach. Best of both worlds!

My inspiration behind where I am today is my dad. My father inspired my career path. He has supported and pushed me every step of the way.

My single biggest indulgence is an on duty 3am donut shop stop with my partner, Bre. They’re the best reward after a busy run!

When I see signs, messages, or voices referring to me as a “hero,” my reaction is to be flattered at the sentiment, but I don’t think I’m a “hero.” I’m just doing my part like everyone else.

One thing I want people to know about me is that outside of work I am a totally normal person who lives a normal life with my sidekick, Lola, my puppy.

Katelyn Roberts Paramedic, Captain Butte County EMS 14

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by Dr. Anthony Rudick at UC Berkeley.

He sent in his application, received an interview, and the two clicked immediately.

Dr. Rudick flew him out to Chico, introduced him to the team at North Valley and Ridge Eye Care, and the rest is history. “Everyone at North Valley and Ridge Eye Care felt like friends right off the bat.” Dr. Treat said, “The culture was laid back but professional, and everyone really seemed to put patients first.

It would have been impossible to say no to working in an environment like that.” He was offered the job and moved out in September of last year.

Dr. Justin treat Originally from Cleveland, Dr. Treat’s family moved to the nearby suburb of Solon when he was a year old. He spent most of his childhood there with his mother, an IT specialist, and his father, who worked in construction management. “The city was a decent size, and Cleveland was nearby, so it never felt small.” Dr. Treat recalled, “People gave Cleveland a lot of flack for being super cold and equally boring, but I’m proud to say I made the most of it. My dad was in construction management, and I really learned to love the construction business because of it. I worked on his job sites and loved doing the tedious work no one else wanted to do, like picking up garbage. I honestly had a ton of fun growing up!” At this point, it’s understandable for anyone to question whether the man is just positive or an absolute master of sarcasm.

Dr. Treat’s sunny disposition kept him warm through the bitter cold of 18 Ohio winters before he—you guessed it—decided to attend Ohio State for another four, rather than leave. He completed his undergraduate studies in biology and earned a minor in business, but he still wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do. An avid soccer 16

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player, he found himself matched up with an optometrist who owned his own practice and invited him to check it out. “I realized I could help people see, and the optometrist convinced me no two days were ever alike.”

Dr. Treat said, “He had a positive impact on people’s lives while still maintaining an excellent quality of life outside of work. I was hooked and decided to study optometry.”

Dr. Treat applied to a handful of optometry schools after completing his undergraduate studies. A sucker for punishment, he of course included Ohio State, only to be accepted to New England College of Optometry (NECO) in Boston, Massachusetts, one of only a handful of climates colder than his own. “The weather was brutal out there, but I don’t regret it for a minute.” Dr. Treat laughed, “I lived in a great part of campus and made a lot of wonderful friends that I still keep in close contact with. In fact, many of them were from California, which brought me where I am today.”

After graduating from NECO, Dr. Treat searched the job boards throughout universities in California, and found a post

Now living in Roseville, Dr. Treat works at their clinics in Marysville (Royo Eye Care) and Live Oak (Peach Tree Vision). Asked about the experience, he responded, “It’s incredible to work with this group. There are a ton of doctors, and I always know that I can be in touch with any of our ophthalmologists for advice with a patient.

It’s amazing to have that kind of access, and it’s totally different from what I’ve seen at other practices. It’s difficult starting out as a doctor, especially in your first year. There’s a fantastic support system here, and the camaraderie is just incredible. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

In regards to the North State, he couldn’t be happier. “I love the sunshine here. You drive to work, and it’s a beautiful day. You spend your day helping people, and you head back home—yup, the sun is still shining! You’re a few hours away from everything, and the amount you can do so close to home really is amazing. I have access to so many things I didn’t have in Ohio.”

Dr. Treat is focused on continuing to provide excellent eye care throughout Marysville and Live Oak, especially for patients with dry eye. “People come in and say their eyes are burning or itching, and they all seem to have been experiencing it forever. From lubricating eye drops to our more involved options, everything is a quick fix, and I love having patients come back to tell me how much the treatments have changed their lives. It’s the best job I could ask for.”

If you’re experiencing issues with your vision, call (530) 891-1900 to speak with the friendly staff at North Valley Eye Care and set up an appointment with a doctor, like Dr. Treat, near you.

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Merriam Webster defines home as “one’s place of residence,” but home emotes so much more. It eludes a singular definition.

It’s not just an address, not just a place; rather, it’s an amalgamation of place, feeling, and people.

As we age, we may begin to wonder, and perhaps worry, about what home will look like in the future. The Terraces addresses these concerns by offering a community in which couples and individuals can feel secure in the knowledge there is a village where they can age in place. The campus offers a home that adjusts to your needs while maintaining those familiar aspects needed to ensure a sense of place.

The community hosts a large number of independent living apartments, ninety units of assisted living residences, and thirty apartments dedicated to memory care. At The Terraces, there is a space and program for anyone, at any point in the aging process. Their website has beautiful pictures of the grounds and buildings. The site also has a wonderful way of painting pictures for the mind’s eye in words like this: “The Terraces were uniquely created to encourage lifelong learning, community involvement, and above all, personal satisfaction. Strut your stuff with ballroom dancing, explore a museum exhibit, 18

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volunteer at a local school, and relish the company of new friends—our welcoming amenities give you so many opportunities to enjoy your new life.”

The Lodge at The Terraces is the independent living division, offering studios, along with one and two-bedroom apartments. Housekeeping, maintenance, and meals are included. They also include a vigorous activity program featuring movie theaters, exercise facilities, card rooms, craft areas, libraries, and a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and patio.

The Inn Assisted Living branch of the campus offers the same features as the independent living campus but in conjunction with coordinated care. The Terraces provides medication staff and fullcare staff twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to cater to daily needs and help residents retain their independence. A full-time staff nurse is also present to assist in managing residents’ care.

Compass Rose Memory Care also offers a variety of apartments to choose from in addition to all the amenities offered at The Lodge and The Inn. The individualized model of care is different from the other communities and is built to fit the specific needs of the residents. The cognitive

nurturing program is designed to focus on all the synapses of the brain daily. “We help our residents work their muscles and minds to preserve as much independence as possible. Our Compass Rose guides our residents through a purposeful day that highlights the dimensions of wellness.”

The Terraces is the only community in Chico that allows individuals to move from independent living to assisted living to memory care if needed, enabling residents to age in place with dignity. The fact that residents fall across the continuum in the aging process means that The Terraces is able to provide every level of activity imagined, from independent swimming in the pool, to walking along the trails while enjoying the lake view, to Montessori based dementia programming with one-on-one nurtured care. The activity and care options at The Terraces are endless.

As Maya Angelou said, “The ache for home lives in all of us—the safe place where we can go as we are.” The Terraces is that safe place. That unique blending of place, feeling, and people that is home.

Stop by their website at www.westmontliving.com/ca/chico/theterraces-5/

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON

The Terraces: The feeling of home

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5 Levels of Financial Freedom: LEVEL 2

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

On the heels of a devastating pandemic, a renaissance toward financial stewardship is well underway. To survive 2020, many had to refocus on setting and following a budget—the first and most fundamental level towards gaining financial freedom. This forced behavior has led to a record level of cash held in personal checking accounts and a reduction in personal debt.

Level two is financial security—ensuring you have a layer of security so that unexpected events, even small ones, do not force you to take a step backwards.

Emergencies happen, which is why everyone should have an emergency fund. Unexpected expenses are most painful when they’re unplanned for. However, you can take the sting out of those risks by planning for them with an emergency account. Common rules of thumb say you should save 3-6 months’ worth of expenses.

Part and parcel with savings accounts is insurance against the catastrophic. If it would devastate your family’s emotions AND finances to lose a breadwinner or caretaker, life insurance can be money well spent. Just remember, bundling investments with insurance can feel like bundling your cable bill—you’re paying for a lot of stuff you don’t need. For most people, annuities and whole-life policies are not cost-effective: specific coverages or term life insurance (until you’re self-insured) is a cleaner option.

Every individual faces a unique set of circumstances, so partnering with a fiduciary, that is someone legally working in your best interest, is key. They can review your unique situation and help you make wise financial choices to make progress towards your goals.

If you enjoyed this article, you can read the rest of the series at SweeneyMichel.com or in future issues of Upgraded Living:

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 196 Cohasset Road, Suite 100, Chico CA 95926 (530) 487-1777 | renee@sweeneymichel.com | joe@sweeneymichel.com | www.sweeneymichel.com Sources: www.irs.gov; www.ssa.gov; www.medicare.gov | Sweeney & Michel, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser. This brochure is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sweeney & Michel, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Sweeney & Michel, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.

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COVID Related Workplace Lawsuits “Is your workplace providing you with proper PPE?” “Has someone you love been infected or died from COVID after workplace exposure?”

“Has your employer compensated you for work from home expenses while forcing you to work remote?”

As if COVID hadn’t impacted small businesses enough to begin with, employers are now the target of lawsuit ads all over the internet. Remote workers are being bombarded with, “you may be entitled to legal compensation” marketing everywhere they click, and congress has yet to pass any liability protection against COVID related lawsuits.

The majority of small business owners are good people just trying to keep up with the never ending employment law updates.

They don’t intentionally violate labor laws, they reward dedicated employees, and they do the best they can given the current circumstances. COVID has caused a lot of positions to transition to remote working, and that means less contact between managers and their employees. People tend to forget what is not right in front of them, so burnout overrides their ability to remember they are working for honest and ethical people who are making do with something completely out of their control. In addition to the lack of face-toface interaction, employees are bombarded with information about their “rights”, and

although everyone should be educated on their legal entitlements, the companies pushing these advertisements out do not have the employees’ best intention in mind.

There is a huge difference between an employer intentionally taking advantage of their employees and an employer not being aware of the legal complexities COVID has caused in the business industry. Chico is uniquely full of incredible small business owners, and HRiQ is lucky to be able to say that nearly all of them make the necessary changes when given the information. We understand how difficult it is to stay up-todate with workers compensation laws, wage and hour issues, fluctuating employee head counts, and discrimination protections, on top of just trying to keep your business afloat. Unfortunately, COVID related lawsuits are not as forgiving, and it is critical that small business owners do as much as they can to protect themselves from liability.

The law doesn’t differentiate between negligent employers and employers who understandably cannot keep up-to-date with capricious employment practices the pandemic has caused.

Know what you know, what you don’t know, and who knows what you don’t know.

Shelby Chase is an HR professional. Her company, HRiQ has been helping companies in Butte County and beyond remain compliant with changing laws for years. If you could use help with HR or updating your company operations, reach out to her by calling (530) 680-4747 or emailing shelby@upyourhriq.com

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Why Eye? You can tell a lot about someone by their eyes, whether they are smiling, laughing, crying, or just looking. What we notice as we age is the thinning skin, the lines, the dark circles, and puffiness. A lot of people use their daily moisturizer around their eyes, but is that always the best choice?

Eye creams are specifically formulated to improve this problem area without burning the eyes, which regular moisturizers are often known to do. This skin is thinner, more delicate, and very sensitive. Sometimes, small vessels and capillaries can show through, making the eye area appear darker.

Fluids can accumulate and cause puffiness, or "bags". Ingredients commonly used in eye creams are caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E. These help with microcirculation, dehydration, and to firm and strengthen this fragile skin. Some eye creams also contain optical diffusers to reflect light, making the eyes look brighter and hide dark circles. Of course, getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water are helpful, but a targeted eye cream can go a long way toward keeping the eye area smoother, brighter, and firmer.

It is important to understand there are a lot of specific eye creams on the market, so check the ingredients and find out what conditions they address. The average price for an eye cream that has the most benefits will be $80 to $120, so ask your skin care specialist to recommend one for your needs and skin type. Why your eyes? Because sometimes you just have to treat your eyes to a makeover!

DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530.342.2672

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Surefire and Budget Friendly Ways to Update your Kitchen As a homeowner, when you hear the words “update” and “kitchen,” the first response is to panic. You want to remodel your outdated kitchen, but don’t want to empty the piggy bank. The kitchen is the heart of the home, where your family gathers daily.

And, now that families are home more than ever, outdated kitchens are being used for schooling, work, meetings, and meals.

First and foremost, replace the hardware.

Most homeowners can do this with a trip to the hardware store and a screwdriver.

New handles and knobs give your cabinets a complete new look with just a little investment of time and money. Think of your hardware as the accessories to the cabinet.

There are so many options to consider such as color, style, and finishes. Like most accessories, this is something you can change often if you like. If you want to have a custom look, search online and discover some varied and unique hardware.

Second, replace the fixtures. A sleek new faucet is eye candy for your sink and can also be installed without breaking the bank.

New plumbing fixtures are an amazing combination of function and style. New light fixtures are considered another accessory, one that can completely transform the look of a kitchen. From a simple fixture replacement to removal of that dreaded lightbox that screams 1970, light fixtures can refresh the look of your entire kitchen. Think

outside the box and look for specialized light fixtures. The increased value to your home stems mainly from making the entire look more customized.

Finally, for a little more money, replace your counters and backsplash. There are real options to keep the cost of counters and backsplash down, so seek out advice on this one. A good rule is to select one ”heavy” design element. For example, if you want a busy granite counter, the backsplash tile should be far less busy. As an alternative, you can always keep the counter simple and go wild with the backsplash. A new backsplash can change your kitchen’s personality, so have fun with it. In light of all this, one strong suggestion—if you have tile counters, replace them immediately.

This one piece of advice might be moved to number one on the priority list, as nothing dates a kitchen more than fat grout lines on your counter.

There are countless other ways that can be found online or by asking the advice of a local expert. The point is you don’t need to wait to have a stash of cash before taking steps to improve your kitchen. The question is, what will you do first?

Designer and Project Manager, Debbie Milding of KP Design and Construction. You can contact KP Design directly at (530) 828-2769 23

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There’s something about

Sherry LandiS

"Sherry is such a great ally to have in the Chico market, her networking “Sherry Landis is by far the best real estate agent in Chico. She is and persistence make her one of the most well positioned agents inus professional, positive, and has incredible follow through. She helped town tonavigate find the right buyers.

Every one in my family uses her as an our way through the sale of two homes and the purchase of agent and for good time she hasadelivered excellent another—all at reason, the sametime time!after She never missed beat. She made sure we results."understood the process, and stayed in constant contact with us. Even after all three homes closed, she continued to call, email, and textAdams, just to make sure -Sam Chico everything was going as planned. We could not have done it without her.”

— Doug anD CoLEttE RobERtS

(530) 514-4855 landis4sale25@gmail.com | landis4sale@aol.com | www.SherryLandis.com

This beautifully European Flair custom built home by Michael Galli is an Estate sitting on 40 Acres!!!! Open floor plan and a grand kitchen open to family room. The upscaled appliances with granite counters, eating bar are un-paralled in architectural tastes and quality. The master suite is just that!!! Feeling like you’re on a spa-weekend, but yet you are at HOME in this cozy, inviting area that’s got your steam shower, soaking tub, his/her walk in closet, separate fireplace, natural lighting and separate from the rest of the bedrooms/baths. Views from the balcony to watch the spectacular sunsets are always fun, as is exploring the grounds and seeing nature!

Bed: 5.0 Bath: 5.0 SqFt: 5,853 Price: $1,377,000

PENDING

PENDING

Aspen Glen beauty. Tiled counters in the kitchen, large eating bar, Darling Avenues Charmer!!! Granite counters, stainless steel appliances, vaulted ceilings with ceiling fans and indoor laundry. Nicely fenced yard indoor laundry, city services, detached 1 car garage and one the biggest with dog run, covered patio with slider off Master Bedroom. Attached 2 most beautiful oak trees I ve ever seen in Chico. I love this big front car garage, nice quiet street with little traffic. A pleasure to see. porch with fenced in yard. Close to biking paths, schools, shopping and This was the modelBed: home only2.0 oneSqFt: owner!

TherePrice: have $349,900 been many downtown.

A terrific Michael Galli floor plan updated and remodeled head to 3.0and Bath: 1,186 Bed: 2.0 Bath: 1.0 Price:from $320,000 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 plan with so many upgrades! this home a must see!

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 4.0 SqFt: 3,166 Price: $429,000 Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 3,675 Price: $665,000

Yikes!

This country estate is on nearly 2 acres! The master suite features his & hers bathrooms, but meet in the middle with a huge shower! The kitchen is truly a Chef's delight and has top of the line appliances. The 6 burner stove came from Italy and there are 2 sinks smaking entertaining an absolute breeze!!!! Large granite eating bar and a cozy stone fireplace with insert that gives off that radiant heat! There are garages for all of your toys, and this home comes complete with every creature comfort one could imagine!

Bed: 5.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 3,367 Price: $1,100,000

My homes are selling fast! Call if I can helpProducer, by listing2019! your home today! #1 Top Contact me today to tour any of the properties above!

(530) 514-4855

landis4sale25@gmail.com

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CA-DRE lic# 01084946

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

-Kathy Hayes, Chico

The lake, park and Canyon Oaks Golf Course are a stone's throw from this stunning home!! Here, you will be greeted by walls of windows, generously proportioned rooms, plus an open-concept floor-plan filled with light and airy rooms that convey an aura of happiness. Right after adding numerous upgrades, the sellers have decided to jet to a far off place and leave this gorgeous home to be enjoyed by a new owner. Recent upgrades include: a brand new kitchen, fresh interior paint, new fixtures, water softener, custom draperies and so much more.

The living room, with its glowing fireplace and newer 65 Sony T.V. with Sonos sound bar, is spacious and makes entertaining a breeze. The kitchen, built for gourmet chef, is home to plenty of new appliances and follows the rest of the home's attention to detail. The new custom easy-close cabinets adorn the walls with endless storage, while the new granite counters provide plenty of room for prep. Wake up and fall asleep while enjoying the private master-suite with walk-in closet, dual vanity, walk-in shower, and soaking tub. The yard is beautiful with its darling dining patio, mature landscaping, and plenty of space for a pool or gardening. With an indoor laundry room, 2-car garage, doublegated huge side-yard and every creature comfort you can imagine, this home was built for the type of convenience and carefree enjoyment you deserve. This is a rare gem in California Park.

Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,713 Price: $499,900

SOLD Tucked away in a great established neighborhood awaits you this beautiful home. In this special place you will fall in love with its glimmering wood floors, its high ceilings and its numerous walls of glass windows that provide ample natural lighting. The living room is spacious and offers a toe-warming fireplace/wood insert for those cold winter nights. The darling kitchen with its eating bar, its large pantry, the refrigerator, the numerous cabinets and its under the sink Reverse Osmosis makes you want to eat at home. The light and airy dining room has a built in china cabinet and provides a plenty of space for entertaining.The other features include open floor plan, dual pane windows, a large bonus room that can be used as a forth bedroom, office or workout room, washer, dryer, storage shed and R.V. area. Of course the yard is stunning with its sparkling in-ground Gunite pool, its mature landscaping and its private covered dinning patio. This home is perfect place for entertaining your families and friends!

Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,730 Price: $499,000

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CALIFORNIANS We unloaded our daughter’s storage from the barn, packed up our horse-trailer with tables, couches, dressers, hutches, mirrors, and boxes of what-not, hitched the horsetrailer to the truck, and hit the road for the cross-desert trek to visit the little adobe house we had just purchased for her, in a river valley outside of Taos, New Mexico, sight unseen.

We used our horse-trailer because all the rental utility box-trailers were already being pulled by other Californians moving eastward. Not a single trailer was available for rent. Meanwhile, the long-term inhabitants of Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas and beyond, shake their heads and wonder how many more of us they can take.

The New Mexico magazine we subscribe to contained an article beginning this way: “Perhaps it’s time to erect billboards in New Mexico urging Californians to stop migrating here.”

The common lament about migrating Californians is that we are out of control with our lifestyles, and we display careless attitudes and lack of respect for the localities and communities to which we are migrating.

Day two, on Highway 40, old Route 66, we pulled off the highway outside of Gallup, New Mexico, into a wide-open desert landscape, at a sign reading Budville. The exit road tees into a smaller road which tees into another even smaller road, with a sign facing us that says, “Village Closed. No guests or visitors.” Scanning the landscape, we see a house here or there, perched on 28

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one hill or another. We pulled to the right and drove a few hundred feet into a dirt pullout area. We fan out, stretching our legs, pulling stuff out of the horse-trailer, when the police SUV swings into place behind our rig with the lights flashing.

“Did you see the sign?” asks the officer, tilting his head a little, implying ‘You couldn’t miss it, right in front of your face.’

“Uh, yes.”

“All the pueblos are closed because of COVID.” Oops, we are on tribal land. He is tribal police. He surveys our scene: a suitcase, a couple of coolers, and random clothing strewn about. His eyes settle on our California license plate.

“You are trespassing,” he says. “You will be held over to appear in court. We will impound your vehicles.”

I attempt to excuse our carelessness and lack of respect by explaining we are from California. He agrees. He lets us off the hook. “This time.”

We apologize and make a little small talk about being the new buyers of the home up the road.

“Yeah,” he said, “you’re the ones from California, right?”

Right.

Doug Love is sales manager at Century 21 in Chico and would love to hear from you. Call or text 530-680-0817. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. See more columns at lovesrealstories.com.

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON

Dream Neighborhood to Dream Kitchen When Patrick and Katie Crowell first settled in Chico, they lived in a newer house with a small yard and very few mature plantings.

Patrick remembers dropping off his niece’s friend in their current neighborhood, with its expansive lawns and large established trees, and saying, “Someday we’re going to live in that neighborhood.” Six years later, the opportunity to own a home in their dream spot presented itself, and the Crowells were ecstatic to continue their family journey in the new space.

The home’s dated kitchen sported a 1980’s feel, along with a poorly-executed layout, resulting in a cramped, crowded, and dark environment. The Crowells wanted an update, so they began reaching out to contractors. They obtained quotes from several area businesses, but then had a difficult time getting calls back due to an uptick in building and renovations. Patrick stopped in at the New Again Kitchen Remodeling showroom on Park Avenue and developed an instant rapport with the manager, Ric Powers. With the newfound friendship, he elected to have New Again Kitchen Remodeling carry out the renovation. Patrick and Katie went in full of ideas for the kitchen remodel, maybe even too many. Katie says, “My biggest struggle 30

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was that I had all these big ideas and big dreams for my ‘dream kitchen’, and I was just going to go for it.”

In hindsight, the Crowells realized a lot of their ideas weren’t practical for the new kitchen. Ric’s advice was crucial in helping them hone in on their wants and needs in order to make the project fit their budget and new space. “Ric was great about gently taming our ideas, explaining why some wouldn’t work well or why others wouldn’t be worth the money,” shared Patrick. “It’s so important to be flexible, but the remodel was so worth it!” Once they decided on the layout, lighting, and surfaces, it took New Again less than three weeks to complete the project. Naturally, the Crowell family could not be happier.

Their new kitchen is bright, airy, and open.

The crème Shaker cabinets with clear glass inserts reflect the light coming in from the back window. Patrick says people often ask if they made the window bigger, but it’s simply an effect of the beautiful Sorrento Grigio tile they used to frame out the view.

They also decided to incorporate it into the rest of the kitchen walls. The backsplash uses the same glassy soft-toned 3 x 16 tiles to continue the feel throughout the kitchen.

The bright white counter, highlighted with its thick muted gray veins, is made of durable Vienna Quartz and truly completes the fresh new space.

Katie’s favorite thing about the kitchen is the sink. “We purchased the largest sink and, at first, we weren’t sure if it was going to work in the space.” They let Ric know how much they really wanted it and he, “somehow made it work. It’s absolutely perfect.” Patrick loves everything about the kitchen, but he is happiest with the way New Again was able to build the refrigerator into the cabinets so it’s tucked into the space rather than overtaking the area. Both Katie and Patrick love the new open layout along with the built-in conveniences usually not found in older homes, like built-in waste bins and roll-out pantry drawers. Little conveniences, like these, make keeping the kitchen clean and tidy easier, especially with dogs and children running around.

If you’re like the Crowells, and looking to have your kitchen or bathroom remodeled, give New Again Kitchen Remodeling a call, or stop in and speak with Ric to start your perfect refresh. Call (530) 899-2888 or visit by their showroom at 2502 Park Avenue in Chico.

Chico's Very Own

Mr. Clean Colby Ballinger is proof you do not need a college degree to be a success in life.

Colby does have a high school diploma from Core Butte Charter, but as he will tell you, “I hated school. I hated being told what to do, and I hated sitting at a desk.” It just could not be explained much plainer than that. However, Colby’s discontentment with school didn’t mean he disliked learning. On the contrary, when he was just a kid, Colby began challenging himself to learn how to do whatever caught his eye at the moment.

It became evident at every turn that he was acquiring skills that would benefit people’s lives.

Colby attended public school into middle school, but was homeschooled by his parents thereafter. “It was a shock,” he 32

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said. “After all the years being in public school, homeschooling was a big change.”

He quickly learned if he wanted to get anywhere in life, he needed to start at the bottom and move up. His first job was selling the Chico Enterprise Record door-to-door when he was twelve years old. At fourteen, he worked for a local carpet cleaner and thus, started a new, life changing career. At just seventeen, Colby started his own business, Everclean Carpet Cleaning.

In the middle of all of this, Colby got involved in weightlifting. He started weight training at fourteen and entered into competitive powerlifting at sixteen. From sixteen to twenty-four, he participated in competitive events, usually entering two

to three each year. Not only did Colby win almost every competition he entered, but he also found himself breaking world records in both his age and weight category.

To be sure, Colby Ballinger is a big man— perhaps better said, a huge man, standing at 6’5” and weighing in around 280—280 pounds of muscle. His personal best is a 573lb bench press and an 801lb deadlift. He cannot help but often wonder what it would have been like to play football or other school sports, but that’s a passing notion as Colby clearly had other plans on his mind.

“My dad gave me the Rich Dad, Poor Dad books when I was a kid,” said Ballinger.

“Being an entrepreneur has always been an interest for me.”

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Based on that desire, he founded Everclean.

“The reality is, I started this company because I had no idea what to do after high school.” He added. “All I knew was I disliked school and being told what to do. Starting a business seemed right up my alley!”

Fortunately for Colby, a co-worker told him about some inexpensive carpet cleaning equipment he’d learned how to operate while working in New York City. Curiosity sparked, so he made up a business plan and took it to his father. “I asked for a $6,000 loan which I would repay in a year. He agreed, and that’s how Everclean started.”

While Colby didn’t attend college, he did learn on the job. “Starting my business at such a young age was a lot like college, in a way.” Colby said, “Everything was completely new to me. All I knew was how to clean carpets!” He became his own instructor and taught himself about taxes, accounting, money management, website design, marketing, and learning how to generate a new business with no money on hand—all at the age of seventeen. “It was a lot to handle, but I wouldn’t change a thing. It forced me to make choices and made me directly accountable for my decisions.” And there stands the remarkable truth. How many seventeen year olds hold themselves accountable for their actions at all? Further, how many have the maturity to start a business, keep with it, and make it a success? From my recollection, not very many.

Colby’s first set up was his late ‘90’s 4Runner and a trailer he towed behind it.

His cleaning unit was a heavy duty machine he bought for $4,000. It cleaned carpets as good as any high-dollar unit, but it took three times longer. That is not exactly the recipe for getting the bills paid. After a year, he “graduated” to an all-in-one set up: a white van with no side windows. No doubt, it was immediately dubbed “the creeper van.” This is the van Colby used for personal transportation as well as work. “I took a lot of ribbing, but I needed to invest in the business,” he said. “I drove that van for almost seven years.” Now, Everclean utilizes three high-powered truck-mounted steam cleaning units. They also have various heavy- duty floor scrubbing and buffing equipment, and multiple specialty cleaning machines for concentrated cleaning projects. This now includes: tile & grout, upholstery, and mattress cleaning systems.

In addition, Colby is intent on becoming the premier area rug cleaner. He refers to this as “real service cleaning.”

The notion of self-education comes back.

Having to use the smaller equipment, which is more labor intensive, taught Ballinger the finer points of cleaning and a thorough education as to what chemicals need to be used and how to use them. He is also well-versed in operating smaller equipment and knows how to teach his employees how to use the machines. From the beginning, Colby emphasized customer satisfaction

as the number-one priority. To ensure this, each job needs to be done right the first time, and to facilitate each by using honesty is the best approach. If a carpet and pad is so stained it can’t be cleaned correctly, Everclean lets the owners know. There’s no use wasting time and energy on an outcome that is questionable or not up to standards.

“From the beginning, I’ve been obsessed with customer satisfaction and making sure every customer is ecstatic about the result of the job. This has really been the key to our success.”

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When the business first began, all they did was clean carpets. Over the years, however, customers started asking about other cleaning jobs. They’ve transitioned to cleaning other types of flooring such as hardwood floors and tile. They’ve also expanded to stone and countertops.

Cleaning delicate rugs has its own niche, as you need to be aware of the fiber, the age, and the dyes used in the carpet. Colby went to one home where the owner had tried to clean an expensive area rug with the wrong cleaning agent. It bleached out the color in a small spot and there was nothing Everclean could do. The carpet was ruined, and the loss of the expensive rug stuck with him.

“There’s a reason we have to be trained in specialty cleaning services,” said Ballinger.

“We go to classes in the Bay Area, take online courses, and attend seminars. The last thing we want to do is make a mistake cleaning someone’s carpet they inherited from their grandmother.” In the past few years, there’s been a trend in hardwood floors and ceramic tile. These need to be cleaned the correct way. The Everclean technicians have been trained and certified

in a wide variety of cleaning techniques.

If they can’t do a job, they will give you a referral for someone who does that kind of work. “Giving a referral is an important part of business. The specialty cleaning business in the Chico area isn’t huge. We help each other out when we can.”

Helping Colby along the way has been his wife, Cassandra. They met years ago and have kind of “grown up” in the business together. Cassandra has been an employee and a supporter through it all. “It’s been tough at times, but we’ve managed to come through. It’s good because I know what the job entails,” she said. “It’s a lot tougher than many people think, and the hours can be very long.”

Another goal for the business is to find and hire the right employees. “My goal is to not only be the best floor care service available, but to also provide a great workplace with as much opportunity for my employees as possible,” said Colby. “Great employees are not found, they are made.” He realized this very early on when dealing with his workers. “Who deals with the customers?

The technicians. They are the most critical part of our company, and I spend a lot of my time on training and educating these guys not only on cleaning technique but good business practice.”

One employee in particular has stood out because he’s been with the company the longest. “Julio really worked out for us.

He’s a local kid who came in one day and just fit in. He’s been great!” Ballinger cited the importance of getting to know your employees as people. “I know Julio’s dad, and they’re a great family.” An emphasis at Everclean is also to teach his employees to be good leaders and to provide them with opportunities to advance when the business expands. Colby is planning for his business to grow, allowing some of his employees to branch out and become managers in other locations. He envisions soon having a number of Everclean operations throughout the Northstate. “I guess it’s every owner’s dream to not have to go out and do the actual labor if they don’t want to. I’d like to keep up the business end of the company and have enough well-paid employees to perform the technician duties.”

In the near future, Colby plans on expanding into flood damage and mold removal and repair. He’s also developing an area where people can drop off area rugs for cleaning.

As for local jobs, Everclean’s clientele runs the gamut. They stripped and resurfaced the floors in the old Sears facility after the Camp Fire aid organizations left. They also clean the In Motion Fitness facility and have done the Valley Oaks Veterinary Center for quite some time. We celebrate the company’s ten year anniversary and marvel at Colby's resilience and commitment to being the best. “One thing I emphasize to my employees is that getting where you want in life doesn’t always require a college education. It requires hard work and persistence.” So far, Colby Ballinger is living proof of that philosophy.

If you have carpet, tile & grout, upholstery, or other flooring in need of a thorough cleaning, make sure to reach out to Colby and his team at Everclean. You can reach them by phone at (530) 591-3860, email receptionist@evercleanchico.com or visit www.ChicoCarpetCleaner.com.

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Even with her myriad experiences and the world being laid bare in front of her, the path to her true passion had become no more illuminated. As she approached graduation, a campus advisor in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) asked if she would be willing to film a short video about her experiences. She agreed, and her advisor immediately complimented her on her ease of delivery and poise in front of the camera. A former broadcast television veteran herself, she asked if Julia had thought of working in the industry. The thought had never crossed her mind. The advisor reached out to her old colleagues and secured an internship for Julia at KEYT in Santa Barbara, where she began working in 1987.

The accidental advocate Julia Yarbrough grew up in a less than conventional setting, spending the entirety of her childhood on the move. The youngest of seven children in a military family, she was born in San Bernardino, California, but soon after, the US Air Force transferred the family to Japan at Johnson Air Force Base.

Eventually, they returned and settled at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California.

“When you’re that young, there are specific memories you have, but you may not see the bigger picture.” Julia reminisced about her childhood, “In retrospect, without knowing it, the experience paved the way for me to be very chameleon-like—almost a nomad. You’re used to having your friends come and go. You learn how to engage with strangers, make friends more easily, and adapt to change. I didn’t notice how important that was until I began to meet people who were born and raised in the same town. They had a more difficult time adapting to change than I did. Thanks to growing up in the military, I learned to stay somewhere a few years, then pick up and move without thinking about it. It was just natural, and not everybody can do that.”

Little did she know the experience would pave the way for her future success as well.

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Julia graduated high school in 1983 with no earthly idea of which direction she would go. She entered college expecting to find that ‘aha’ moment—a moment that did not materialize in a traditional sense.

She studied economics thinking it was a broad enough field, but quickly found she preferred words to numbers. Attending UC Santa Barbara gave Julia a new vision for possible pathways. “It was an eye-opening experience.” Julia recalled, “Growing up on a military base, you’re somewhat insulated from the realities of the world around you.

I grew up surrounded by diversity, and my group of friends were like a little rainbow— we represented every color, shade, and ethnicity you could imagine. My time in Santa Barbara was my first experience where kids didn’t mix due to the color of their skin, and it was a pivotal time for me. I spent my junior year studying in London and returned to the level of diversity I knew from my time on military bases, but it was the first time seeing the true wealth disparity that existed in the world. On the one hand, you have your regular Londoners; on the other, you have heirs to Middle Eastern oil money.

The level of wealth was so crazy different.

In Santa Barbara, we thought Hollywood money was the pinnacle of wealth. It didn’t even come close.”

The internship taught Julia the key points of broadcast journalism and allowed her to interact with a number of industry heavyweights, like famed CNN reporter Paul Vercammen. There were no computers, no cell phones, and of course, no social media. Instead, you were either out chasing a story or recording your notes in front of a typewriter. “It used to be so linear.”

Julia stated, “Now you’re trying to go in 50 million directions to create something the broadcaster needed three hours ago. I absolutely loved the old style of broadcast journalism, and it was finally something I felt a connection with, so I decided to give it a shot. I sent my résumé reel on a ¾” tape to stations around the United States and got a call back from Pensacola, Florida. Growing up in California, I knew very little about anything east of the Rockies. California was the center of the world for me. They were looking at a couple other people, and they offered me $15,500 per year to move across the country, sight-unseen, and work at the ABC affiliate, WEAR in Pensacola.

I just remember hanging up the phone, jumping up and down, and screaming with excitement after accepting the offer. I got up and moved to Pensacola with nothing to reference. It wasn’t until I arrived there that I realized how well we have it and how spoiled we really are as Californians.”

It was Julia’s first time experiencing the deep south and her first time seeing how people in much of the rest of the country live. One of her first stories involved a nearby town weighing the pros and cons of installing a city sewage system. One of her interviewees, an elderly woman whose

kids had moved away, still left her home and headed to an outhouse when she needed to use the bathroom. The home was ratty, with ripped furniture on the porch and a dilapidated roof overhead. As Julia recalled, the woman was incredibly sweet, but realizing how she lived her life gave her a better understanding of the differences that exist even here in the United States.

During her time in Pensacola, she covered countless stories that only further illustrated this divide. After two years with WEAR in Pensacola, she was whisked away to a new job offer in Louisville, Kentucky.

Over the years that followed, Julia made good use of the skillset she unknowingly honed as a child, living a relatively nomadic lifestyle throughout the United States. After Louisville, she moved to WSVN in Miami, Florida, where she anchored the FOX news network’s morning show. Known for its “If it bleeds it leads” slogan, she found herself covering violent crime stories more often than not, which unsurprisingly was a culture shock coming from Kentucky. After a handful of years, she moved to KCBS in Los Angeles to take up their weekend anchor position, and a job offer she simply couldn’t refuse.

Julia reminisced, “It was the most primo position you could ask for. I was making more money than I thought was humanly possible. There were so many perks—I had my own parking space with my name on it, each day was a different party, and everyone treated me so well, but I really didn’t take well to living in Los Angeles.

I felt like a caged animal surrounded by concrete, so when I received a job offer to return to Miami in 1998 at NBC’s WTVJ, I jumped at the chance.”

Julia remained in Miami until 2009, anchoring the 5pm, 7pm, and 10pm news shows Monday through Friday.

“I had reached a point where I had the best position I could.” Julia said, “You’re being invited to everything and having the most incredible experiences, but I felt like I wasn’t telling stories anymore; I was just reading the news. This car went into a canal, this house is on fire, this person robbed a bank, this person had an accident—it was all so monotonous. My life had become nothing but work, work, work.

On the surface, I had everything I wanted, but it wasn’t fulfilling. Being in the news, I had a number of friends who were first responders, and I saw tragedy all the time.

I couldn’t help but realize just how quickly things can change, and I remember thinking I never wanted to wonder should I have tried something different.”

She followed her instinct and took five years off to escape the rat race, and launched a blog platform called, “Highway to a Husband.” The blog followed her year-long adventures, traveling back-and-forth across the country with a close friend in search of their future husbands. “We lived out of the car for a year” Julia started, “and we made headlines doing it. We were booked on The Today Show, and we were even offered to put a reality show together with Nate Berkus. It was an amazing, crazy year, and the website was successful, but we weren’t entrepreneurs or business people—just reporters. We tried to figure out how to monetize it all and turn it into a business, but we were running out of money and energy, so we decided to call it quits.” Her mother, Miss Nellie, had also moved to southern Florida during this five-year adventure, to be closer to Julia during those times when she was at home.

Julia returned to Miami Beach and went back to work, this time in the government sector. She was hired by the City of Miami Beach to be part of their communications

department and was tasked with developing PSAs for the fire and police departments alongside other local organizations. Though hectic, the experience involved less traveling which allowed her to remain closer to home.

Over the years, Julia began noticing her mother’s health and condition declining. It became clear Miss Nellie would need more focused care in the years to come. Julia dedicated herself to providing that care and assisting her mother in the day-to-day needs that were becoming progressively more difficult to complete on her own.

Even still, she didn’t fully recognize what that entailed or what she was becoming.

Julia recounted, “I’ve realized that people are often caregiving but not willing to tell people they’re doing it. I was realizing mom was getting slower, she was having trouble getting up and down her stairs, and she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which she really didn’t want to accept. It’s neurological, so there’s really no way you can stop it. She was diabetic with high blood pressure, and it was just a bad combination of things. I had to accept that she was going to need help, and that she would continue to decline as long as she lived. It wasn’t easy, but I had to come to terms with the fact that you have two choices—you can continue to get older and face decline, or you can die. If you want to continue living, you have to face what that means. You have to be pragmatic. You don’t retire, get old, and die. You get old, you decline, you get older, and you decline. Then you need help, and most people don’t realize that or want to accept it.” It wasn’t easy for Julia to accept, and it’s understandably difficult to publish.

Successful in blogging, but unsuccessful on the relationship front during her yearlong “Highway to a Husband'' adventure, Julia ironically met someone special while sitting completely still at home, in front of her computer, browsing the dating website eHarmony. Robert lived in Santa Monica, and after some back and forth visits, the two decided to find a place they could both agree on and move in together. They began researching communities throughout California, wanting to get away from the traffic and congestion she had known in larger cities, and the two found what they were looking for in Chico. They moved in April 2016, and Julia’s mother moved with them.

Originally, the two expected to find the perfect property with two homes on one lot, but not being able to find it on their initial search, they decided to move her into their home and continue the search. Upon 37

moving in, they realized she was in need of more help than they originally thought.

Though Julia cared for her mother in Florida, she also had a caregiver who helped her three times per week. The additional help had blinded her to just how much assistance her mother truly needed. “You really have to pay attention to your elders.” Julia cautioned, “When you ask them how they’re doing, they’ll always say they’re doing fine.

You have to look around their bedrooms, their kitchen, and their bathrooms. If something hasn’t been cleaned for a few days, it may be because they simply can’t clean it. There are numerous red flags that you really have to be aware of.”

Somewhat luckily for Julia, she had purchased a long-term health plan for her mother while working in the newsroom. The cost was $444 per month and provided an $89 per day reimbursement for in-home care or nursing home care, but didn’t cover assisted living. “If something goes haywire when it comes to an elder in need of care, the experience could sink you.”

Julia warned, “People really need to read their policies and ask a lot of questions. It was something I unfortunately didn’t do, but luckily the plan provided some benefits.

Most care agencies are going to charge anywhere between $20-30 per hour, and in 3 ½ hours, I had used up the entire day’s reimbursement.”

Though Julia had help in Florida, she hadn’t hired any in Chico. She spent the first few months getting her bearings, and building a career in Chico, joining the Chico Police Department in February 2017. A year later, Action News Now came calling, pulling Julia back into broadcast.

In February of 2018, just as she started her new job with Action News Now, her mother had a heart attack which landed Miss Nellie in Enloe Hospital. “A friend reached out and told me to make sure they keep her in the hospital under watch for 72 hours, as it was the only way to trigger her full benefits within Medicare coverage.” Julia remembered, “I had no idea how any of it worked, and I’m so lucky he told me. The hospital gave us a list of Medicare approved locations, and luckily we only had five to look at since we’re such a small community.

I took the list and went to each location, and distinctly remember that I wouldn’t leave my mother in any of them, regardless of the 38

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length of her stay. They weren’t clean or neat, and the people there weren’t being tended to. With 24 hours left before the hospital released her, I found a rehab facility in California Park, off Bruce Road, and it was the first I found to be clean and neat. It was literally the only one I felt comfortable having my mom transferred to. I kept wondering how people who had to do this remotely could even begin to understand what they were getting themselves into?”

Julia’s mother completed her rehabilitation at the California Park facility before returning home. As time went on, her health gradually declined, and Julia decided to hire in-home care. She interviewed a number of companies and found Happy at Home to be the best. “One woman pulled out a clipboard and wanted me to fill out a credit card application before we even talked. She didn’t even ask my mother’s name, nor did she seem to care. I was shocked, and I came to find that it’s what most people encounter.

I immediately told her to leave. It’s such a heart-wrenching experience to even have to consider someone else caring for your loved one. You know it’s the best decision, but it isn’t easy. I’m well-educated, and I have resources along with the emotional fortitude to hold my ground. I know that a lot of other people don’t. They’re scared for their loved ones, and they don’t know where to turn. It simply shouldn’t be that way.”

Julia’s mother continued on with a blend of in-home care through Julia and Robert alongside the caregivers from Happy at Home until January of 2020, when they realized she would need around-the-clock care at an assisted living facility. Nellie passed away September 2nd of last year and is buried in San Francisco’s Presidio National Cemetery next to her husband.

The experience lit a fire in Julia, and in her mother’s memory, she decided to advocate for those in the same situation.

“I call myself the accidental advocate. I didn’t know any of this was even a concern before I was thrust into it with my mother’s failing health. Now, I’ve dedicated myself to becoming a resource for others, but I still warn people there are no easy answers. As prepared as I thought I was, there were still so many surprises. You don’t know what you don’t know.” Julia advised, “If you have an elder you love, assume they’ll live until they need help doing everything. Start there

and work your way backwards. RESEARCH. When the Medicare book arrives before they turn 65, pick up the book and read through it. There’s so much to know.”

Recently, Julia was chosen as a journalist representative with the Gerontological Society of America due to her work in the field, and is hard at work on a website and blog to assist in her advocacy. “My goal in moving down this caregiving advocacy role is to open people’s eyes. I want people to be aware that this isn’t just for our parents and grandparents, but for everyone.” Julia said, “If someone wants help, I want to be able to help them, rather than have them dig through levels of some government website to try and find something like I had to. I want it to be practical and easy. I didn’t know what I would find when I started, and now that I do, I’m taking action to make sure others have an easier time than I did.”

Asked for a final piece of advice, Julia replied, “If you feel like you have a loved one, and you’re heading down this road, reach out to folks who have been through it already. A friend of mine who had helped prep me a few years ago told me to go visit care facilities early on. Introduce yourself and establish a relationship with the administration and the owners, so they know you right now. That way, if you need to find a place, you know where you’d never place your parents, and which places you would. If they already know you, there’s a slim chance they would hold the bed for you. Build relationships. It’s a hard thing to think about, but you have to physically go see places. Show up without an appointment, and you’ll see places how they really are.”

Julia has been working with the good people at Passages Caregiver Resource Center to help advocate for accidental caregivers like herself over the past year, and her fire has only grown brighter. If you’re in need of direction providing care for a loved one, visit her website at www.keepingitrealcaregiving.com and reach out to Passages Caregiver Resource Center at (530) 898-5925 or visit them online at www.passagescenter.org.

FREE CLASS

IMMUNE HEALTH FOR CAREGIVERS

h t 7 1 h c r a M 2:30 pm Join us for our next virtual class to learn how stress, diet, and lifestyle impact the immune system.

REGISTER AT MCRC@CSUCHICO.EDU

530-898-5925

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The becky and maggie show There’s been no shortage of change over the past 12 months, and though we’re all slowly adjusting to those changes and pivoting to meet the new demands they pose, time continues on as if nothing has changed at all. The same needs that have existed within our community for decades continue to exist, and luckily, individuals like Maggie McNamara of Passages Caregiver Resource Center and Becky Robinson of the Alzheimer’s Association are continuing to do everything in their power to ensure our community members are well cared for. As a team, they have spent years working together to provide better access to caregiving tools throughout both rural communities and cities in the Northstate.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, they too are pivoting to provide those same services virtually with their upcoming free webinar event titled “Conversations About Dementia & Driver Safety for the Aging Driver.” It is, in our opinion, one of the most important seminars of the year and applies, essentially, to everyone.

Originally from Hollywood, California, Maggie spent a good deal of time bouncing back and forth between northern and southern California, experimenting with various unrelated jobs. “I was a logger.”

Maggie started, “My family owned a sawmill in Northern California, so I moved out here 40

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to try my hand at logging and operating heavy equipment. It was a huge change from Southern California, both in the type of work and the geography.” The experience exposed her to the rural populations around Redding and their way of life.

Eventually, Maggie left the Northstate for Texas, where she worked for Standard Oil. She later moved into the savings and loan industry before finally deciding to go back to school in the late 1980s, turning her focus to healthcare. She graduated from CSU Chico in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and immediately went to work in the healthcare industry.

Sharing a similar migration pattern, Becky grew up in Ventura, California, but found her way to Chico for college. Having heard nothing but positive things about CSU, Chico from friends and family, and looking to get away from home in search of new experiences, the trek was exactly what she needed. She began studying recreational therapy and, through her coursework, signed up for practical experience at various skilled nursing facilities. “I found that I really loved working with older adults.” Becky remembered, “I started actively tailoring my major to focus on working with them in the future by studying gerontology and anything else that would provide me with

the knowledge and skills I would need.

It was really what I wanted to do, and it made perfect use of the time I had spent in therapeutic recreation.”

After graduating, Becky began working at an assisted living facility in San Jose. The City of Ventura soon recognized her passion for helping the elderly and tapped her to open and run an adult day program for residents who were suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. The concept was brand new at the time and had no medical component to speak of, rather, it stemmed from studies showing that socialization in a group setting for people suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia was incredibly beneficial to their health and well-being. Consequently, it was also of incredible benefit to their caretakers, providing respite from an allconsuming job. Throughout the five-hour program, individuals would take part in a series of activities with facilitators aimed at stimulating their cognitive functions while providing a level of happiness and fulfillment. As Becky found, it proved time and time again to be incredibly effective.

During an alumni event at Chico State, she happened to pick up the newspaper to find the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in Paradise was looking to open an adult day program of their own. Having run the

new program in Ventura for 18 months, and looking to return to Northern California, she applied for the job. Three months later, she was back in Chico.

As luck would have it, Maggie had taken a job at around the same time as a caregiver advocate with Golden Umbrella, an organization that is now part of Dignity Health Connected Living. The program, and Maggie’s job, were eventually transferred over to Passages of Butte County, and it was during this time that she and Becky met.

One, a caregiver advocate, and the other, an advocate for those in need of care, the two quickly learned they were the perfect match.

“We traveled everywhere together!” Maggie mentioned with fond recollection. “In the years before COVID, we traveled throughout the rural and frontier areas of Northern California, doing presentations and helping everyone understand what was available to them. We’ve always called it ‘The Becky and Maggie Show.’ We’ve traveled to Bieber, Fall River Mills, Susanville, Alturas, Hayfork, Weaverville, Plumas County—you name it, and we’ve traveled there. We work really well together. Becky is so brilliant, and she works so well with people. She has so much information that people really need, and through our combined knowledge, we’ve been able to connect with so many people.”

“It’s been a great partnership working with Maggie and the Caregiver Resource Center.”

Becky mused, “I’ve really enjoyed working with her! Throughout my time here, dating back to when I was hired, there’s always been someone from the Caregiver Resource Center around, whether on our board of directors or working in partnership with us. We have a long and wonderful history with them! The Alzheimer’s Association and Passages have worked together for over 20 years now, and Maggie and I have worked with each other for 17 of those years.”

Over those years, Maggie and Becky have provided group presentations, face-toface, throughout the Northstate. The two have also worked together on large-group events aimed at educating caregivers and the community that supports both caregivers and those they care for. It hasn’t been an easy mission, but it’s certainly one they’re both proud to be part of. The largest of these events, aimed at increasing awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, and the needs of caregivers,

takes place each year in April. The event focuses on providing the tools caregivers will need, not only to properly care for those in their charge, but to effectively communicate with them as well. This year will be the same, as they will once again hold this event in April, although the platform will be different.

“In the past, these events and seminars were in-person and have always been incredibly effective at educating the community. This year, due to the pandemic, we’re having to take the show online.”

Maggie enthused, “It will be a different platform than we’ve used in the past, but the format will be the same. More importantly, though it won’t be in-person as it has been in the past, having it online means it will be far more accessible to those who aren’t within a short drive of Chico.” This is a significant silver lining.

“Caregivers have a tendency not to care for themselves.” Maggie continued, “They tend to spend all 24 hours paying attention to the person in their care that has dementia. Most do it for some time before they even realize they’re a caregiver. 40-60% of people caring for someone with dementia will pass away before the person they are caring for, and to me, that’s always been a startling statistic.

It is an incredibly taxing job to take care of someone else who has lost the ability to care for themselves. This event helps normalize things a bit and always brings in speakers with significant experience in the field of caregiving who can illuminate the situation for those who are just starting or find themselves lost, years into the experience.”

This year’s online event is titled, “Conversations About Dementia & Driver Safety for the Aging Driver.” The program consists of two parts. The first, “Dementia Conversations,” is an educational workshop that covers three main areas of primary concern to family members of those needing care: driving, doctors’ visits, and legal & financial planning. These tend to be the three biggest areas families with a member who has dementia or Alzheimer's Disease really struggle with. The workshop aims to provide caregivers and support staff with the tools and ability to start having the needed conversations with a family member early on, making the transition as easy as possible.

The second part of the program focuses exclusively on driving. “The ability to get in our car and go someplace is, in itself, a sense of independence.” Becky notes, “When conversations about not being able to drive anymore are had, it’s often very difficult for an aging family member to accept. Families really struggle with how to talk about it. A lot of tools for families and caregivers will be available in this workshop, including a presentation by a DMV Senior Driving ombudsman who will talk about the evaluation of Alzheimer’s Disease, and other cognitive and physical impairments, on driving and driver’s license renewal. We’ll also bridge how to have the conversation that someone shouldn’t be driving if they aren’t fit for it.”

The event is absolutely free and open to anyone in the general public who wants to learn more about caregiving or might be concerned about a family member.

Professionals, including CNAs and staff from assisted living facilities are also encouraged to attend as the information presented directly pertains to their day-to-day jobs.

As noted, the event will be taking place online this year. It will be a webinar held on Wednesday, April 7th from 10am-noon, and those interested in attending can RSVP by calling 1-800-272-3900 or visiting tinyurl.com/DemConv040721 As both Maggie and Becky agree, these types of seminars are invaluable not just for those currently caring for another, but for anyone, as we’ll all eventually find ourselves caring for an aging family member or friend.

The sooner we are all trained on how to effectively handle such a situation, the more effective we can be in properly caring for those who mean the most to us.

We couldn’t be more thankful for the work Maggie and Becky are doing in our community to help those in need. We encourage you to take them up on their offer by visiting their website at tinyurl.com/DemConv040721 or calling 1-800-272-3900 to attend this wonderful and free webinar. As so many are sure to agree, possessing the knowledge of how to care for another is certainly half the battle.

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WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN

Moving toward courage, hEaling, and joy A thought provoking adage states, “Those who think they can and those who think they can’t... are both right.” Jessica Wilkerson has parlayed those first five words into believing she can attain anything.

As a result, she is delighted to introduce Inspired Life Counseling, a boutique therapy practice providing healing and counseling services to help individuals, couples, and adolescents move through tough situations.

Jessica grew up in Redding and graduated from Enterprise High School, a place she felt “had a great climate and happy staff.”

Soon after graduation, she found herself in a challenging time, faced with an infant and a failing marriage. She kept her thoughts together, focused on what she could do, and enrolled in Simpson College to earn a bachelor’s degree in business. College demonstrated that a degree would allow her to do whatever she wanted. Upon graduation, she found a job in commercial lending at North Valley Bank. She had been enamored by the business classes she took in college and was delighted to put it to use.

Originally, Jessica wanted to be a teacher but was afraid it would be tough to balance a classroom and home. Jessica decided to get a master’s degree in psychology, figuring it would either open doors or change her direction. That whole ‘those

who think they can’ thing came calling once again. In fact, one week from submitting her master’s thesis, the bank, due to the real estate bubble bursting, served her with a layoff notice. She found a job at a nonprofit, the Child Abuse Coordinating Council of Shasta County and served as an AmeriCorps volunteer. For three years, Jessica served both the nonprofit and the community to ensure large strides were taken in order to strengthen families and prevent all forms of child abuse and neglect.

She most enjoyed teaching parents how to parent.

With the master's degree in hand, and the sum total of her life lessons behind her, Jessica took a job at Chico Creek Counseling. It took less than five-andone-half years for her to make the move and start her own business in 2019, using her training in attachment and brain development. Her confidence level was high, as she understood many therapists don’t succeed due to the general lack of the all important “business acumen.” She was asked by a Camp Fire lawyer to help his clients as Jessica had been trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a psychotherapy enabling people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress due to a disturbing life experience. She believes that a business

background, and training like EDMR, allow her to relate to these and every client from teens to folks with considerable financial wealth. This became the birth of Inspired Life Counseling, owned by Jessica Wilkerson, LMFT. The way Jessica got to this point is both remarkable and telling.

The business has been in a "convenient and beautiful location" since September, with three additional counselors and the recent addition of a front office employee.

All three therapists, under Jessica’s umbrella, are also trained in EMDR. Jessica emphasizes that at Inspired Life Counseling, the therapist’s mindframe is “human first; therapist second,” ensuring the therapist brings their real self to the session. Jessica has faith in the notion that when two humans are talking, it is important one has the tools and confidence to shine a light on patterns and help a client who feels lost see the forest for the trees. Overall, Inspired Life Counseling reveals itself as quiet, safe, and confidential. Jessica points out ,“The therapists, themselves, are moving toward courage, healing, and joy.” In the end, those who think they can are definitely right.

Visit their website, inspiredlifechico.com and read an encouraging piece from each therapist. To contact Inspired Life Counseling, call (530) 230-9086.

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

One Sound, One Band, One Family, One Community To say last year has been tough on schools and students would be a gross understatement. To say it’s been even tougher on extra curricular activities is obvious. Try teaching band class through distance learning. While the focus has been primarily on sports, pure “handson” activities like band and theatre have also suffered.

No one understands this better than Mike Walker, current director of the Oroville/ Las Plumas High School Alliance Band.

That’s where the title comes in. “We have a combined band, and that’s a little unusual,” stated Walker. “While, as a band, we are playing the same songs, it’s a challenge because one school practices in the morning and the other in the afternoon.” It’s difficult for people who don’t play an instrument to fully comprehend how tough this is.

Obviously, however, the concept has not only worked, it’s also been a very successful venture. Coming off a first place win in their category in Seattle in 2019, the band received a prestigious invitation to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The bandmates raised the trip money through a variety of fundraisers, then COVID-19 hit. The trip to NYC was cancelled. Then, another invitation came their way—to represent California at the 2021 National Memorial Day Concert.

Sadly, this event was also cancelled.

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the band has recently been able to practice. “One of the hardest aspects of band is teaching self-discipline,” said Walker. “I teach them to believe in their music. My goal is to see the students become true artists.”

To assist in this endeavor, the Oroville Union High School District approved $120,000 in funding for new uniforms and instruments. “The district really came through,” Walker emphasized. “We’ve had amazing support from the parents and the community at large. There is some truth to look sharp, play sharp.”

Mike Walker knows all about looking sharp. He played in the United States Marine Corps Band and the band at North Dakota State in Fargo.

Besides an extensive career as a musician, Walker has directed high school musicals as well. Pre-COVID, he portrayed Harold Hill in “The Music Man” at the Chico Theatre Company, and he also directed it at Orland High School, when he was their band director. Walker said, “‘The Music Man’ is my favorite musical of all time. I was lucky to be in it as well as direct it.”

Let’s hope a little luck continues, and the Oroville/Las Plumas band gets to perform by the end of the school year.

Since Walker also directs the Oroville Community Concert Band, a performance by them would also be an added bonus.

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By Kevin Dolan

Me March. In case you do not find this a complete sentence, allow me to play my Irish card and, as sure as the pee stains in an Irishman’s underwear are green, so does a tipsy bloke go about telling people, “Me go down the street to the next pub.” Which is where this all started. On the 13th of March, 2020, we began our shelter-in-place. What took the place of our normal routine became a daily countdown to the seemingly magical embracing of the five o’clock hour. This was in no way frivolous, but rather with guarded intent and shared through Zoom happy hours, FaceTime cheers and cheers again, and even house parties on the House Party app. Yes, there is one. We were not going to take sheltering in place lightly and shared the load with any or all willing souls. After all, the word “march” carries with it words like: to go forward, advance, proceed.

Five o’clock became known as all of those, as we lockstepped our way to the bottle opener, wine opener, or occasional shot glass.

March turned into April, and April into May, and so on, and so on.

And now, we have made a full circle with our pre-conditioned selves, dutifully carrying out the countdown with ease. Then, out of nowhere, the metaphorical prince kissed the sleeping beauty, or the dawn of 5:00 am may have just shone a bit brighter, or however it was the dog died, I woke up. For a guy who has long used the mirror as his conscience, I walked by a full length mirror and caught more than a glimpse from my side view on the way to the shower.

Whoa, like what you want a horse to do immediately. Whoa, as in me.

What is so disconcerting is the fact I was not supposed to be able to gain weight. Six years ago, a nine hour surgery to rid my body of stage-one esophageal cancer was also to be enough of a change in my plumbing for unnecessary weight gain. Five days in intensive care, where I was not allowed to swallow anything, sealed that deal. So what kind of medal do you get for breaking this record?

You don’t. You get a line of dominoes ready to fall. First is my left knee finally giving up and in need of being replaced, which led to the orthopedic surgeon informing me my BMI is too close to the cutoff for a safe surgery, which left him listening to the vein in my ankle for sometime before referring me to a heart doctor. In other words, I did much more than merely gain weight, I gained a lot of weight. I immediately took myself back to last spring and my Reese’s “sorry not sorry” moments of walk-not-walk rationalizing.

The smoke from the east, the unbearable burden of the summer

heat, to how my knees hurt too much. Anyone’s knees would suffer carrying extra weight. I put myself on the sideline, a spectator to my family disappearing down a beautiful trail leading to an even more beautiful view. Found myself watching the family soccer game on my backyard lawn from the shade of a tree. I didn’t feel much like a real “Poppy” to my 9 and 5 year old grandsons.

So what does Me March look like? For openers (pun intended), no alcohol. I fully embrace this. More importantly, I make a renewed commitment to get back on my yoga mat. (Yes, I have one.) I also have blocks and these elastic straps, but I don’t use them. The whole body stretches and repetitive movement goes way beyond relief; it actually puts my body back together and assists in weight loss. I have a video of myself in a 90-second plank from this mat on my 60th birthday. Not certain you will see one from this year’s turning of the page. Finally, the page turns back to my meditation, my mind release, my trusted friend—my daily walk. My playlists to match different walks which I have given names to, such as the 3rd Ave stroll, big oval, and stretched rectangle. The walks, for now, will come with some changes. In place of a paced 45 minutes, will be what I refer to as “LSD,” long slow distance. More songs, more time for meditation sounds like a definite win-win. Finally, I am going to add writing just for me, not what I am doing here and now. My anxiety levels from the pandemic and politics should nod a fond adieu. My unnecessary time in bed, metaphorically beating myself up for putting myself in such a fix, will disappear. The horrifying paranoia haunting me, making me believe everyone is pointing at me as I walk past, pointing out my gross physical change should, at the very least, diminish. My whole body approach should leave me whole again. I will get off the bench and back in the line up.

I will leave you with this. As most people who know, one of my very favorite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, mostly for the amazing life lines within. One of them should help you understand why I would choose to be so public with my Me March. It goes like this. “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Perhaps some of you who exist in my universe may want to join one of my sessions on LSD (could not resist!) and take me for a walk you have named or at least conjured in your mind. Feeling supported is paramount to success and washes away paranoia.

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