Dennis was a gentle giant. His 6’3”, 250-pound frame was only intimidating until his eyes squinted and cheeks pressed outward with a charmingly goofy smile. The bass in his voice had a warm and soothing tone, which more than occasionally exploded in laughter. Despite his life experience, Dennis was an optimist who had been given much more than a second chance. While many details of his life remain undiscovered, the stories on his skin revealed a painful truth of active duty during war.
Dennis left his wife and his home, as many others did, regardless of will or Uncle Sam’s decision, to fight in Vietnam. His back was tattooed with welts from being caned during his time as a P.O.W. and only survivor in that camp. What would otherwise look like a bar fight wound revealed where shrapnel had been extracted before he was put back together and sent back into the line of fire.
He departed a dutiful citizen and returned a villain. He left home to protect his wife and family from the rocks and bricks that were cast at him or through windows, the notes of violence, and other harm he hoped his absence would avoid. He found himself in and out of homelessness, a wanderer searching for a new purpose.
Fast-forward—determination and optimism paid off. His equine therapy (before it was a thing) had led him to become a champion cowboy. His need to create evolved into becoming a skilled and sought-after contractor, and he was well-loved in his community of Morgan Hill. There, he met a new love whom he served and adored. His government experience and life in the trades led him to audit building efforts following Hurricane Katrina, after which he settled into retirement in Roseburg, Oregon.
Sgt. Dennis E. Nelson passed away in his sleep on March 20th, holding the hand of his lovely bride. Friends and family admired him, and they continue to work to secure his Purple Heart posthumously. This is my tribute to a great man and wonderful stepfather. Welcome home.
Jason Corona Sales Director
UPGRADED LIVING CONTRIBUTORS
JASON CORONA Sales Director
MICHAELA GULBRANSEN Writer and Account Executive
SHELLY BRANDON Writer
TIM MILHORN Writer
MADDIE RODRIGUEZ Writer
DIANE CLIFFORD Cover Story Photographer
ERIK BROWN Cover Design AVEED KHAKI Owner/Publisher
DOLORES MITCHELL Art
DOUG LOVE Real Estate
Sgt. Dennis E. Nelson Real American Hero
Wine Dinner
at Six Two Eight Steakhouse
Join us on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 for an Asian Fusion Wine Dinner featuring wine pairings by Jerrod Gregory, steakhouse manager and sommelier. He is pairing wines from various regions of Asia to compliment the dishes created by Room Chef Gonzalo Quezada. Call 530-528-3500 to make your reservation. Limited space available.
VETERAN SALUTE
A special thank you to the offices in Butte County dedicated to veteran support, rehabilitation, and community
Local legend and fighter pilot Colonel Koenig is that and so much more.
Introducing Kimberly Buckmaster, 2024 Veteran of the Year and volunteer extraodinaire
We revisit The Lodge at The Terraces to meet an old new friend, retired Army Linguist Andy Taylor.
Marine Anthony Geer, of Chico Veterans Health Center, advocates for veterans adapting back to civilian life.
Meet former medic, now chaplain Len Spesert, and Gary Imhoff as he focuses on suicide prevention
Commander Brianna Farrara invites us into VFW Post 1555 and explains the group's ongoing mission.
We recognize Matt McCoy, and the life changes that brought him back to serving his fellow veterans.
Roger Lewis discusses outreach and PTSD, while Larry Langwell works to get homeless vets into housing.
COMMUNITY
True North unveils the Howard Slater Navigation Center.
Discover what shopping small means for your community
The excitement behind the first Miss Chico continues with news of their upcoming docuseries, fully detailing the event.
Plan, execution, and simple math: How Creative Composition saved $50,000 in energy costs with Urban Design
POTPOURRI
Sandy Fisher journeys the globe before founding Chico Flax, weaving passion into a sustainable craft.
Christmas with an Irish brogue can be yours with a performance from worldrenowned tenor, Emmet Cahill.
When in doubt, throw it out. How long can you store leftover turkey? We have the answers—kind-of.
Upcycle that leftover turkey into something truly delicious—leftover turkey casserole!
Bao Down: When searching for delicious dumplings and Hawaiian bbq, look no further than Fortune.
Thanks, Tim. Now, back to the newsroom at McManus Elementary, with co-anchor Aniah Nelson.
COVER STORY
Immerse yourself in the scents and tastes that are forever known to residents of Paradise. Celebrate Joy Lyn's 55th season on The Ridge and make one of their treats a new family tradition. “It’s not about being the biggest, it’s about being the best.” -Glenn Hartley
DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY
True North Housing Alliance and the Howard Slater Navigation Center
Taylor Bunch is no stranger to the plight of the unhoused. She grew up experiencing it off and on with her mother throughout her childhood. Thanks to the helping hands of people around them, she was eventually able to find stability. Taylor attended and graduated from Chico State with a Master of Social Work degree and set out to design and manage programs for foster and homeless youth who were experiencing many of the same things she did as a child. When she lost her home and belongings in Greenville to the Dixie Fire, she moved to Chico and again found herself at the risk of becoming unhoused. Through relationships and a large network, she managed to secure unlikely housing once more.
Though Taylor’s story of housing insecurity is harrowing, her experience is much more commonplace than most of us likely think. Based on current estimates, 59% of Americans are one paycheck away from homelessness and 14% are believed to have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Knowing these statistics well, and having lived through the trials and tribulations of being unhoused herself, the offer to work at True North Housing Alliance seemed more like a calling than a job to Taylor. “I tried to say no because I knew how difficult it would be.” Taylor started, “However, the only difference between me and the people True North serves is that I had people who helped. I felt it was my responsibility to give back, and decided if I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the great things we could do, I should take the job.”
She began working at True North in January
of 2022, and the organization has gone on to do incredible things since.
For those that aren’t acquainted with the organization, True North has its roots in the Torres Community Shelter. Originally founded as a nomadic shelter in 1998, it was built to meet the growing needs of the unhoused community in Chico. Quickly realizing the need was far greater than they imagined, they worked with local residents to secure the property on which the current shelter stands in 2001, expanding their capabilities and opening their doors officially as the Torres Shelter in 2003.
In 2017, the Torres Shelter began to evolve, bringing in case management to help people move up and out of homelessness. They incorporated rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive services to provide a more comprehensive set of services to more appropriately meet the needs of their residents wherever they stood.
In 2019, shortly after the Camp Fire, the organization adapted again, going from an
overnight shelter to a 24-hour emergency shelter providing case management and services to assist displaced victims in finding long-term housing. They opened a family-specific program called Aurora North House to provide families with a bridge into permanent housing before finding themselves in need of another evolution due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our organization, like many nonprofits, was really impacted by Covid, both programmatically and financially.” Taylor said, “I joined in 2022 right as Covid relief and financial support services were drying up. That wasn’t when Covid was ending though. We had to adapt to help Covid-positive individuals seeking help and keep them out of the homeless community to slow its spread. Although it was an incredibly taxing time, it gave us the opportunity to rethink who we wanted to be and how we could better help.”
The Torres Shelter restructured into True North Housing Alliance in 2022 to become a service-enhanced shelter aimed at helping the unhoused develop the skills and obtain the tools they need to end homelessness permanently and become housed and productive members of the community. They launched a comprehensive street outreach program and a quality aftercare program that brought in 64 unhoused individuals. Thanks to their efforts and the determination of those once-unhoused individuals, all 64 are now stably housed. Due to the pilot program's success, they restructured their programs in 2023 to target psychological,
economic, educational, and financial issues. The organization now provides over 70 services, including workforce development, substance abuse counseling, enrichment services, yoga therapy, gardening, and holistic case management. The results are dramatic.
All of this leads us to today when the shelter's next evolution is underway: the addition of the Howard Slater Navigation Center. “Navigation centers are and do so many things.” Taylor explained, “If you’re in an unhoused scenario, you’re likely working through many barriers to secure housing. Over 30% of the population at our shelter are older adults. They have mobility or chronic health issues, which make the steps out of being unhoused particularly difficult as you have to visit different locations in different parts of town to secure the services and support you need. Considering how many of these services are needed—social services, behavioral health, social security, medical care, department of rehabilitation, housing authority, criminal justice and reform, and so many more, the task is incredibly daunting. Then, add in children or pets— the difficulty grows and grows. Missing enrollment deadlines in some of these services means you have to wait up to one year before you can apply to receive them. People get overwhelmed and believe living on the street might just be easier, which is why you have so many unhoused individuals living in and out of shelters for long periods. The longer that goes on, the more likely someone is to become chronically homeless.”
The Howard Slater Navigation Center aims to change that by providing many on-site services and support for the unhoused. As a 24-hour facility with a no-wrongdoor approach, anyone experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless can connect with the True North staff, including intake coordinators, case managers, housing coordinators, shelter service providers, and so much more.
Behavioral Health and the Department of Employment and Social Services will have offices onsite, as will a wide array of medical, social, and other services.
“For the first time in our community, the unhoused will be able to access everything in one place.” Taylor raved, “It will reduce duplication and time as well as cost, but
most importantly, it will reduce client cycling and help people find permanent and stable housing even faster. We just received a large grant to sustain services and homeless prevention funds that will help us stop the cycle of homelessness before it even starts. Keeping people in their homes is considerably easier and more affordable.”
The average cost of homelessness to Butte County taxpayers is $41,000 per unhoused individual per year. In Butte County, we have 379 chronically homeless individuals, costing $15.5 million a year. Returning unhoused individuals to stable housing and productive community involvement is crucial for their health and the solvency of our community as well. As Taylor points out, the cost to do so is far less per individual.
With an incredible track record of proving homelessness need not be permanent, Taylor and the True North Housing Alliance team are endeavoring to turn Chico into the 15th community nationwide that has achieved functional zero homelessness. They are consulting with the first 14 to ensure the new Howard Slater Navigation Center is set up to do just that.
As always, immense undertakings are only made easier by the involvement of thoughtful individuals. True North always needs volunteers, and all skills are welcome. They’re currently looking for a yoga instructor to teach yoga, a stylist to provide haircuts, meal providers to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and so much more. If you have a skillset, there’s a good chance they could use it. Further, they could use our help financially to make the Howard Slater Navigation Center a reality. If you can donate, please do so at TrueNorthButte.org/navigation-center. If you cannot, your voice is just as valuable as they need ambassadors to spread the word through professional and social circles about the impacts and outcomes of the Navigation Center. You can find more information at the address listed above.
Homelessness doesn’t have to be a reality of society; we can erase it. Visit www.TrueNorthButte.org for more information and to see how you can be part of the solution.
Sandy fisher finds her passion
Ask Chico native Sandy Fisher how she became a professional weaver and founder of a flax growing and processing company, and she’ll credit her Scottish grandmother, who lived with her family when she was a child. “She would crochet beautiful things to wear while telling me wondrous stories. That’s when my love of the arts and making things with my hands began. But, I graduated from Chico
High with no idea how to make a living as an artist. Fortunately, my educator father encouraged me to study whatever attracted me without an agenda until I found my passion.”
Eager to explore life beyond Chico, Sandy enrolled as a fine arts major at Principia College, in Elsah, Illinois, and, in the winter of 1978, jumped at a chance to
visit Kenya as part of their Study Abroad program. For two weeks, Sandy lived with nomadic Samburu tribe people who were skilled carvers and bead workers. She says, “I loved being immersed in a culture where people made whatever they used and wore.”
In 1979, Sandy returned to Chico, enrolled at CSUC as an art major, took Jan Wagstaff’s class in off-loom weaving, and found her passion. She then resolved she'd acquire the skills needed to become a professional weaver by studying traditional techniques in Scotland. Sandy recalls: “I moved back to our family home on Arbutus, saved money by working at Burger King, and through help from the British Counsel, was accepted as an apprentice to David Gurney, a professional weaver in Turriff, Scotland.”
“For four months, I lived at the Gurney goat farm. David assigned me a project every week involving traditional weaving and finishing techniques on hand looms. I worked with natural fibers and dyes and learned to spin, card, and weave intricate patterns. David’s ability to make a living as a weaver encouraged me to give that a try. I’m a great letter writer, and on my return home to Chico, I sent samples of my weavings to the Vogue Knitting Magazine. The editors liked my work, and my weaving career began. Although I sell my tapestries, shawls, table runners, and other wares locally, I also do trade shows in San Francisco and the East Coast and have clients from as far away as Japan.”
Sandy’s motivation to create Chico
Flax sprang from conversations with friends who didn’t want to buy clothing produced in countries where workers were mistreated. They wondered if local hand weavers using locally produced wool and flax could offer a more humane and sustainable approach. Sandy recalls: “When we discovered there were no flax farms or linen mills in the United States, my husband Durl Van Alstyne and I considered growing and processing flax for linen ourselves. We searched online and at libraries for information about retting, scutching, and hackling methods for several years. Then, in 2018, a former almond orchard became available, and we put our dream of creating a
sustainable farm for growing and processing flax into action.”
“I am now a farmer as well as a weaver. We are the only small-scale flax processing farm in the United States. We grow flax in carbon-capturing soil and serve as mentor farmers in the CSUC Regenerative Farmers Program. CSUC Engineering Department professors and students have helped us create new tools to mechanize turning flax into linen. We cultivate community connections through workshops and work parties and welcome anyone who wants to try new crops or learn about their European heritage.”
You can meet Sandy at the Art on Arbutus exhibit on Friday, November 15th (1-5 pm) and Saturday, November 16th (10 am-2 pm). Her only Chico show this year is at her family home and studio at 853 Arbutus. She’ll have her loom and spinning wheel set up, and you can sort through rolls of yarn she’s dyed using plants from her garden, such as rudbeckia (BlackEyed Susans) and elderberries. You can drape one of her lightweight wool and linen shawls around your shoulders and luxuriate in its softness, or sink into robust rag rugs she’s fashioned from salvaged scraps that will brighten homes rather than add to landfill.
The five artists showing with Sandy have much in common with her. Sandy’s love of wool inspired Dolores Mitchell to animate her landscape paintings with sheep, and Eva Farley will show a watercolor of flax blossoms. Jan Summerville, a mosaicist, is as ardent a recycler as Sandy: “Almost all my mosaics use repurposed materials.” Hand-twisted wire earrings by Kari and Ashley Brose are irregular and organiclooking. All the exhibitors agree with Sandy that one-of-a-kind art offers an antidote to an overdose of mass production.
For more information, visit chicoflax.com
Chico Flax is now a 501c3 organization with a new name, Golden State Linen, that will take effect in several months.
Veterans working together
This Upgraded Living issue follows 2022's well-received veteran’s tribute issue. For this year’s effort, we interviewed several veterans, all involved with the various veterans organizations around Butte County. Some groups are funded through federal or state agencies, while others are self-funded. One thing is sure: no matter what veteran group is helping our former military members, the people involved in administering that help are 100% committed to helping others.
The services available cover a wide swath of basic human needs, including medical, dental, housing, and mental health issues. The tragic fact is many veterans, through combat or not, leave military service suffering from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or actual physical disabilities. Not surprising is the vast number of service personnel—both discharged or in active duty—who commit suicide. That number averages 22 people per day in the U.S. It’s incredible and sad.
VECTORS is an organization that deals with
suicide prevention, homelessness, and reintegration into civilian life. VECTORS stands for Veteran Executive Corporation To Organize Rehabilitative Services. It was formed when Chico Veteran Jerry L. Knight took a delegation to Washington, D.C., and lobbied Congress to approve the organization. VECTORS was officially established in 1994, and the first house, which provided a six-bed facility to help vets transition back into society, was obtained in 1996. Today, the Jerry L. Knight House offers 15 beds for residents.
Another important group is the Butte County Veteran Stand Down organization. They host a three-day collaboration at the Elks Club in Chico. The weekend features many supportive organizations coming together to provide a meeting place, support for, and education about veterans’ issues. Veterans can set up appointments for medical exams and to solve other issues. This event pays special heed to unhoused veterans.
One notable event each year is the Department of Defense’s Donation
Giveaway, where eligible vets are given free boots, clothing, and other gear. Stand Down receives no governmental funding; all staff members are volunteers and military veterans. They welcome and will accept any donations. You can visit their website for additional information at buttecountystanddown.org.
Of course, long-standing organizations such as the American Legion, AMVETS, the Butte County Veterans Hall, the Chico Vet Center, the Butte County Veterans Office, Veterans of Foreign Wars offices in Chico, Paradise, and Oroville, and the local Veterans Administration offices are also available to help, support, and counsel veterans, each with its own unique skills and offerings.
The people interviewed and written about in this issue are not the only volunteers involved in Butte County. There are many, many more. But the people here are excellent examples of those who volunteer their time. One thing is absolutely certain— they are deeply involved in the common cause.
An American Hero
Fighter pilot, college professor, gunnery school instructor, flight trainer, 28-year United States Air Force veteran—Ramon Lee Koenig has done it all. He flew the F-86 Sabre fighter jet in the Korean War and the Cessna 01 Bird Dog in Vietnam. He accrued over 5,100 air hours and flew 100 missions in Korea. His USAF career took him all over the world, and his most important posting wasn’t a posting at all: It was on a stopover at the
Alameda Naval Air Station, where he met his future wife, Inez Rogers.
Together, Lee and Inez raised six children, living in 29 houses across five states and Japan. 2nd Lieutenant Lee Koenig eventually placed her name on the F86 Sabre he piloted in Korea, and you can see an F86 at the Chico Air Museum. In this type of fighter, Koenig shot down a MiG 15
Russian-built jet in 1953. He engaged in aerial combat eight times during his 100 missions, but it wasn’t the only time the enemy targeted him. In Vietnam, he flew the Bird Dog with Forward Air Control, flying low and trying to locate the Viet Cong. Sometimes, they helped by shooting at his plane.
Koenig, 95 years old and still mentally sharp, began his USAF basic training at James Connally Air Force Base outside of Waco, Texas. To become a pilot, he had to attend college for two years. After completing his college requirements, he deployed to Korea for military duty. “The Korean War was a good war,” said Koenig. “We were repelling an invader who wanted to take over the country.” One thing he recalls about Korea was the brutal cold. “The good thing about being in an airplane was you could turn the heat on.”
Other bases where Koenig trained included Luke AFB outside Glendale, AZ; at the Eastern Air Defense Command in Presque Isle, Maine; Nellis AFB outside Las Vegas; Andrews AFB in D.C., where he test flew every plane that came out of maintenance/ repair; and Mather AFB in Sacramento, his last posting, retiring in 1976.
Koenig has had several big moments in his illustrious career: he and two other pilots flew F100s loaded with tactical nuclear weapons from the U.S. to Japan via Hawaii, and he even trained Taiwanese pilots for 30 days in Taiwan. He remembered, “The Taiwanese were very good pilots. We ate with them and got to know them well.”
Taiwan President Chiang Kai-shek awarded him a solid gold Flying Cross Award for his service.
After his military career, Koenig came to Chico State and taught industrial technology—a fancy term for shop class, according to Lee. He and Inez lived at their home in Chico for 39 years until her death in June 2021. They were married 68 years, and Inez was survived by their six children, 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Inez and Lee got in many years of golf together, as it was her passion. “I’m not sure why God took her and not me,” said Lee, as he sat with a thousand memories playing out in his eyes, his love for Inez still apparent.
Kim Buckmaster
Sometimes, all it takes is a television commercial. That’s what happened to Butte County Veteran Hall Supervisor Kimberly Buckmaster. During summer break, before her senior year at Pleasant Valley High, Kim saw the ad and immediately called the U.S. Army recruiter in Chico. She joined the ranks in 1990 and served as a cook until 1993.
Buckmaster’s deployments included the Persian Gulf in the first Gulf War, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain. After her discharge from active duty, she returned to Chico and earned a degree in human resources. Along the way, she gave birth to her twin daughters, Haley and Casey.
Kim is a volunteer extraordinaire, and she was named Veteran of the Year for 2024. She is the Veteran of Foreign Wars quartermaster, Butte County Stand Down CFO, a VECTORS board member, the AMVETS Junior Vice Commander, and a member of DAV and American Legion. “In the military, you find camaraderie with your fellow members that lasts forever,” Kim said. “You find that same atmosphere here at the Veterans Hall.”
Kim considers the Chico Veterans Hall a space that encourages camaraderie and friendship. Wednesday mornings provide coffee hour, offering coffee, fresh fruit, donuts, bagels, cereal, sausages, and biscuits and gravy. “The guys in the back prepare breakfast every Wednesday,” she said. “It’s nice to see the veterans come in to talk and enjoy some company.”
Buckmaster would like to see more younger veterans come in. She noted that they do open early, so if someone has to work, they could drop by for a quick cup of coffee. “We welcome all veterans in here,” she said. There are lots of stories to tell in this building.”
The imaging technology and expertise you need is back in Paradise.
Adventist Health is investing in your care with advanced imaging at our Feather River Health Center, including MRIs, mammograms and DEXA Scans. These tools help detect health issues early. Ask your primary care provider how to use these services in Paradise.
Scan the QR code to learn more. Or visit AdventistHealthFeatherRiver.org/Imaging
A Conversation with Andy
I sit down at a window table in The Bistro at The Lodge for a conversation with Andy Taylor, one of the residents at The Terraces. I ask, “What advice would you give your twenty-year-old self?” His eyes smile as he says, “Now, that’s kind of a funny question because I’ve done quite a bit of thinking about that lately.”
He knows the standard answer—study more and do your homework. But he says, “If I had taken the standard advice,
I probably wouldn’t have ended up spending four years in Germany or being a forester. I probably wouldn’t have even met my wife. My life would have been totally different.”
Andy graduated high school and started attending college but wasn’t going anywhere with it. Then, his path shifted, and he was drafted into the Army. He served four years as a German linguist. For the first eight months,
he was stationed in Monterey at the language school, a location that probably influenced his later career path. He was sent to the occupied city of Berlin for the remainder of his service. A few months before he left the military, an idea popped into his head—he wanted to be a forester, as he had always enjoyed being outside. He laughs and says, “I have no clue where the idea came from, but it became where I was heading.” He moved to Northern California in 1973, took a job with the U.S. Forest Service, then met and married his wife. After his wife and a good friend passed away, he found himself all alone up in Corning. His son and daughter lived in Chico, and the drives down to visit were getting longer, so Andy decided to move. He says, “I needed to be around more people.”
He and his family visited several places before deciding on The Lodge at The Terraces. He says, “We liked the appearance of this place. Being so close to the lake and everything else really adds to it.” Andy has never been one to sit at home alone doing nothing, and that certainly hasn’t changed since he moved into The Lodge. Now that he’s lived there for almost 10 years, he says he really enjoys all the activities. “There’s no reason for me to just sit in my apartment and do nothing because there’s always something to do—and more importantly, do with other people.”
Andy shares the details of his busy schedule. He hosts or plays trivia on Sundays and then pours champagne for the afternoon champagne social. Tuesday is his day off, but he’s back at it on Wednesday, taking two classes offered at The Lodge, one about maintaining mental acuity and the other about telling your story. The list of activities that must be attended includes bingo, dice games, bean bag baseball, exercise classes, and bus trips for appointments or just exploring.
Andy shares, “What you do after you move in here is totally up to you.” There’s so much to see, participate in, and experience at The Lodge, tucked into Chico’s beautiful California Park. To learn more about enjoying life at The Terraces, visit www.westmontliving.com and schedule your tour.
The importance of Supporting Small Businesses This holiday season and every season
Shopping locally in Butte County is essential for supporting the community, strengthening the economy, and preserving the region's unique character. Local businesses are the backbone of the community, providing jobs, services, and products that reflect the area's distinct culture and needs. By shopping locally, residents help sustain these small businesses, ensuring their survival and growth in a competitive market. As we’ve often said, you’re shopping with families, not just brands.
One key benefit of shopping locally is the economic impact. When money is spent at local businesses, a greater portion stays within the community, circulating through other local vendors, suppliers, and services. Hudson’s Appliance Center is an excellent example of offering products and services at a competitive advantage over big-box retailers. This creates a multiplier effect that strengthens the local economy, promotes job creation, and improves the overall quality of life in Butte County.
Shopping at small businesses also fosters a sense of community. Local shop owners are often deeply invested in the area, supporting local events, schools, and charitable initiatives. Events like Kite Day from Bird in Hand and the Show and Stroll by Farmhouse Cottage and Lowla’s Boutique create family memories. By shopping at local stores, residents build relationships with business owners and contribute to a vibrant, close-knit community.
Moreover, local businesses offer unique products and services that reflect the culture and creativity of Butte County. Mary Lake Thompson and Made in Chico quickly come to mind. From locally sourced foods to handcrafted goods, shopping local provides access to items that are often not available in big-box stores or online retailers. Take Marigold in Durham and the Chico Natural Foods Co-op, for instance, which offer local small purveyors an opportunity to serve your home. This helps preserve the character of the region and promotes sustainability by reducing the environmental impact associated with longdistance shipping and mass production.
Shopping at small businesses in Butte County supports the community, boosts the economy, and maintains the region's charm. It ensures that local businesses thrive, enriching the area's cultural and economic fabric.
Forget the hassles of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Saturday, November 30th is SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! This is the time to celebrate our small businesses, and to the right you'll find only a small sample of the great and unique small businesses in Downtown Chico, the heart of our community. These businesses and their setting downtown offer unique, high-quality products and personalized services, enriching the shopping experience for all who visit. For the full experience, did you know there are over 60 eateries in Downtown Chico as well? Bring the kids and enjoy the ice rink, entertainment, and don't forget to shop small, because these are more than businesses, they are your neighbors.
Art, Etc.
Amy Waltz Designs
Four Leaf Clothing
Chico Natural Foods Co-Op
Needham's Studios
Sweet Chico
Veteran Move
We Realtors have worked with many veterans who had no idea they could buy a house. Over the years, completing the process has become smoother and faster, making the veteran buyer obtaining a VA loan a competitive buyer in the real estate market.
All military veterans wanting to own a home need to look into the VA loan, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) financing program. The opportunities available to veterans are more than just owning a home. V.A. puts it this way:
“VA direct and VA-backed veterans home loans can help veterans, service members, and their survivors to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home. You’ll still need to have the required credit and income for the loan amount you want to borrow. However, a veteran home loan may offer better terms than a traditional loan from a private bank, mortgage company, or credit union. For example, nearly 90% of VA-backed loans are made without a down payment.”
The VA home loan requires no down payment. The interest rate for a 30-year loan is now 5.25%, well below the conventional loan market.
When I spoke with a VA representative, she said, “We try to get the word out to our veterans about the help available in their housing needs, which includes rental
assistance and other forms of help, in addition to buying a house.”
She urges everyone to visit the VA website at www.VA.gov.
“We know many veterans don’t realize they qualify. Please help spread the word!” She said, “Please tell them if they qualify, they can use the loan to buy a home with up to four units (fourplex), a condo, a manufactured home, a vacant lot, or make improvements on their existing home for energy efficiency (like solar).”
She said the most underutilized VA loans are for 1) active-duty military service members and 2) surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-caused disability.
Veteran homeowners can also get help avoiding foreclosure. The VA has paused foreclosures through December 3, 2024. The VA states, “During this pause, we’ll work with servicers to find ways to help veterans and survivors stay in their homes and determine if an option for avoiding foreclosure works for them.”
Please help spread the word!
Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. Call or text 530-680-0817.
Effie is simply the best. I could not have had a more perfect experience. Always able to get ahold of her, extremely knowledgeable and always looking out for my best interest. She is everything you would ever want in a realtor. I highly recommend her! -Shelby, Chico
You will be in awe as you enter through the charming gated courtyard of this Canyon Oaks home and into its elegant entry. Designed to entertain, the well-appointed great room harmoniously flows into the fully-equipped kitchen and to the formal dining room. The well-appointed kitchen is a chef's dream and is fully-equipped with top of the line appliances, granite counter tops, a 6-burner gas cooktop, and a walk-in pantry. The residence embraces an oversized great room, a large formal dining room, a breakfast nook, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, an inhouse office and a huge media room all in over 3,900 square feet of living space. The primary suite grants a private entrance to the backyard and boasts a walk-in closet, spa-like bathroom, granite counter tops, his and her vanities, jetted tub, and walk-in shower. You'll also find 3 HVAC units, a 3 car garage, and OWNED SOLAR.
If you are looking for your private estate property, then come and see what this gorgeous 1+ acre parcel has to offer. Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac location, it will take only one look to know this is where you want your dream home to be. While its heavenly, the price is down to Earth. Bring your blueprint and build! Acres: 1.02
Located next to many newly built homes in Paradise, the property features an ideal building spot for you to create a custom home tailored to your lifestyle. Acres: 0.40
Welcome to your dream home on Bidwell Ave. where elegance meets functionality in a prime neighborhood. This stunning residence features an open floor plan bathed in natural lights from numerous Milgard windows, offering picturesque views of the lush surroundings and tranquil creek in front. With 2,862 square feet of exquisite living space, This home features 4 bedrooms, 3 baths (2 of which have been beautifully remodeled), an office, and a guest quarter. There's so much to see in this beautiful home. Call to schedule an appointment to see it today!
"Sherry was great. Efficiency and good communication were critical to me during this process, and Sherry was on it! Escrow was closed within one month of listing the house, which exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend Sherry to anyone. Thank you!" - Jaimie Malone
Nestled on 40 sprawling acres with breathtaking views of Butte Valley, this stunning Mediterranean-style estate embodies luxury and elegance. Designed by Sater Luxury Homes, this gated 3-bedroom + Den, 3.5 bath residence spans 3,378 square feet. As you enter, be captivated by the grandeur of tall ceilings soaring up to 12 feet with crown molding throughout. The custom windows allow for natural light and invites the outdoors in. 18-inch tumbled travertine tile flooring add to the home's sophisticated charm. The expansive living spaces are adorned with solid core doors, plantation shutters and custom drapery. The gourmet kitchen is a chef's delights, equipped with top-of-the-line appliances, double ovens, prep sink in the island, built in wine refrigerator, with large eating bar open to the family room. Step outside to the outdoor kitchen, where you can entertain guests in style while enjoying the panoramic views. The stunning infinity pool and spa provide a perfect vantage point to take in the scenic beauty of Butte Valley. 44 owned separate structure solar panels and a separate 2,000 square foot shop with garage doors, completes this beautiful dream home. This estate is a true masterpiece, offering unparalleled luxury and tranquility. Schedule your showing today!
Approximately 45 minutes northeast of Chico, up highway 32 in the Sierra Cascade Mountains. When you enter this mountain home, you'll flip on the heater switch which works very efficiently while you light your freestanding wood stove that is centrally located. In the summertime there is no need for a/c, ceiling fans in every room for cross ventilation when you open your windows. The custom kitchen with alder wood cabinets, pull out drawers, large kitchen island/granite offers an entertainers dream space for buffets, and gatherings. This home would be a great place for reunions, birthdays, wedding!!! People usually just linger and don't want to go home while hanging out on this large, covered deck with ceiling fans and lights!!! You'll feel like you're on vacation as you peer out each and every window which offers views watching birds, and local wildlife. Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,260 Price: $439,500
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This custom built home with over 8 acres of planted walnuts is truly a rare find!!! This split floor plan offering the master suite with an amazing bathroom and fancy schmancy shower is on one side of the home and the other 2 bedrooms and bath the other for privacy. Bring all the toys including boats, RV and extra autos in this 30' x 48' shop! That's right there is even 2 large roll up doors and a private bathroom. The lift, hoist and air compressor are included. There are 2 wells, one ag well with a 10 h.p. turbine pump for the walnuts and a domestic well. The walnuts are Chandler and were planted in 1991 on Paradox and there are solid set irrigation system. Sit on the front porch and listen to the birds singing and the sound of silence. This is a great property to come home to and hang out!! Great space for entertaining and making memories with family and friends!
: 3.0
: $839,000
Joy Lyn's Candies
A Whiff
of Chocolate Memories
Memories drift into our hearts and minds on the invisible wisps of scents. The distinct aroma of lovingly crafted chocolate sweets stirs cherished memories each time the bright turquoise door of Joy Lyn’s Candies swings open.
As you enter the quaint Paradise candy store, you are immediately drawn to the familiar chocolate confections, boxed and bagged straight from the nearby candy belt. Glenn Hartley calls out a greeting from his post in the kitchen, where he’s busy perfecting the latest batch of chocolate magic. “That’s one of the things that makes Joy Lyn’s special,” Glenn shares. “You’re standing in the very room where everything is made. It all starts as one of those bags of sugar. It was in this kettle and ended up on this table.”
When people suggest moving the kitchen to another building to expand production, Glenn firmly refuses. “With the making comes the smell; without that, we’re not us anymore. It’s not about being the biggest but being the best.”
Don and Joan Memmer founded Joy Lyn’s Candies in the 1960s in Southern California before relocating to Paradise. Named after their two daughters, the candy shop initially operated out of their home while Don worked at the post office. Eventually, they built a small store next to their house to accommodate their growing business. After over a decade of running the shop, they passed it on to new owners, carefully teaching them the time-honored craft of candy making. Their legacy is still felt today in the well-worn binder of recipes,
the original candy-making tools displayed on the wall, and the cherished memories carried by the Paradise community.
The Hartley family’s story with Joy Lyn’s began a little later. Bill Hartley and his wife Pam moved to Paradise when the town was first incorporated, with Bill joining as one of its original police officers. In 2000, Bill neared retirement from the Paradise Police Department, and Pam from the local school district, so they decided to buy Joy Lyn’s Candies. This was a surprise, especially to their son, who never imagined he would one day continue the family tradition as the second-generation owner. “It’s just one of those things,” he reflects. I was going to be a firefighter and work in construction. I never thought I’d be a candy maker.”
Glenn served in the Navy for four years, working as a welder and firefighter aboard a ship named the David R. Ray. After two deployments to Iraq, he left the military, ready to start a civilian career as a firefighter. This role complemented the family candy business well—busy during the summers and available during the winters, which was Joy Lyn’s busiest season. “I ended up working for my folks and found out I was pretty good at it,” Glenn recalls. As he grew older, started his own family, and sustained an injury while firefighting, he realized candymaking offered a more family-friendly career. After 15 years as a firefighter, he and his wife bought the business from his parents in 2018—just a month before the Camp Fire. On the day of the fire, Glenn managed to save the cherished recipe book, the store’s computer, and a pot welder by a friend before Joy Lyn’s was engulfed in flames.
In 2019, a small building that survived the fire at 220 Pearson Road was purchased to bring Joy Lyn’s Candies back to life. The building required extensive renovations to transform it into a functional candy factory and store, along with the purchase of new equipment. In 2020, Joy Lyn’s proudly reopened its doors after considerable hard work.
Joy Lyn’s continues to use the timeless recipes passed down from Don Memmer, who learned his craft as a candy maker at Helen Grace Chocolates in Los Angeles, California. These recipes feature all-natural flavors and high-quality ingredients, staying true to old-fashioned traditions. Glenn feels incredibly fortunate to have learned the art of making candy on vintage equipment, a skill that he treasures, especially after losing much of the equipment in the fire.
He fondly recalls working with the antique candy fire mixer, patented in 1919. “It was a hands-on process. You had to pay attention the whole time: no alarms or safety switches.” He laughs and says, “You lit it with a lighter, and if you did it wrong, you’d practically singe the hair off your legs.” Joy Lyn’s was like a living history museum operating with pieces of candy-making history.
Learning the old-fashioned way instilled a deep respect for the craft in Glenn. In candy making, just three degrees can be the difference between a perfect product and "Oh, no, what do we do with this?” His dedication to this level of precision enables him to create the award-winning chocolates and candies Joy Lyn’s is known for today.
Glenn expanded his expertise in the art of chocolates and candy making by joining the professional confectionery association Retail Confectionery International (RCI). Through this network, he attended classes across the country, further honing his skills. Joy Lyn’s has since received multiple awards for excellence at RCI conventions, a testament to the high standards and craftsmanship Glenn brings to the business.
Glenn takes great pride in the products crafted at Joy Lyn’s. He shares, “There is an immense amount of effort and care taken with each piece of candy we make. From cutting it as caramel and extruding it into little round dough balls before it’s made
into cream to the amount of effort that goes into each cherry—it’s not a machine. They are all handmade, intricate, and time-consuming in their own way.”
This fall marks the beginning of Joy Lyn’s 55th season in Paradise and their busiest time of year as they prepare for the holiday rush from fall through winter and into spring. It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort with family and employees working together. Glenn’s father assists with deliveries to local businesses, his mother carefully arranges the storefront, and his daughter Haley helps craft the candy.
Customers often catch Glenn and his team in action, making caramel-dipped apples, pumpkin pie truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries, brittles, and more than 60 other confections—all prepared with the same dedication that has kept Joy Lyn’s thriving for over half a century.
The stories of people who stop by to get their fix of Joy Lyn’s candies are genuinely what defines the shop. Customers often say, “Oh my goodness, this is just like I remember.” Glenn finds it incredibly rewarding to offer highquality candies “Made in Paradise” to the local community and customers nationwide. “To have something like this in town—especially when we don’t have much left of our history—keeping a piece of Paradise alive since 1969 is pretty amazing,” he says.
Joy Lyn’s Candies is deeply woven into the fabric of the community’s memories. Whether by the Easter chocolates, Christmas treats, or that special candy Grandma always had on hand, Joy Lyn’s holds a cherished place in people’s hearts. Glenn believes this connection makes the long hours, troubleshooting equipment, and perfecting every batch of chocolate worth the effort.
As Glenn reflects on how special it is to be a part of so many people’s memories, a customer walks in as if on cue and says, “I just came in to relive childhood history.” That’s what it is all about.
Joy Lyn’s Candies is located at 220 Pearson Road in Paradise and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the cooler and busier months, they also offer shipping. For more information, visit their website at www.joylynscandies.com and get ready to relive those “Heavenly Candies Made in Paradise” memories this holiday season.
Woman empowerment pageant, miss chico Arrives in November!
The Miss Chico pageant will be held on November 16th at 5:00 pm at Neighborhood Church. This event celebrates womanhood and provides a unique platform for young women to tap into their identity, discover their capabilities, and develop vital leadership skills. Through this process, the organizers aim to inspire and empower the next generation of women in the community.
In addition to the traditional pageant elements like evening gown, fitness, and interview, contestants also attend the Forever A Queen Academy workshops. These workshops foster personal growth by offering valuable instruction in self-defense, interview skills, nutrition and fitness, goal setting, becoming a difference-maker, etiquette, posture and presence, branding, maximizing talents, maintaining a positive mindset, and clean/healthy living. Ultimately, the Miss Chico Pageant is about much more than
physical beauty. It is a celebration of the multifaceted nature of womanhood, empowering young women to embrace their unique strengths, find their voices, and positively impact their world.
The event's excitement has continued to grow, as the Hollywood Studio Media Center has filmed the contestants in their weekly workshops. This footage will be produced into an uplifting, familyfriendly reality TV program, amplifying the valuable skills and empowerment being imparted to the young participants. This development emerged during the Miss Chico kickoff event at Lulus Outlet in Downtown Chico, where the instructors provided invaluable training to the contestants.
Recognizing the immense value of this training, Miss Chico Pageant’s founder, Lora Shipley, reached out to Hollywood Studios Media. It was then agreed that the academy workshops and the Miss
Chico competition would be documented and filmed. This endeavor is projected to reach over a million viewers in the Northern California region and will air in the spring after the pageant. This presents a fantastic opportunity for young women in the NorCal region who are not in the pageant to also benefit from the exceptional training.
The winners of the Miss Chico Pageant will go on to represent Chico at the Miss California USA competition in the spring. As Lora confidently states, "Who wouldn't want to be involved in sending our lovely young ladies to represent Chico at the state level?" The event is proudly sponsored by the Nutrishop Chico, The Lion’s Den, Artistic Aesthetics, Dallas and Austin Stahl, Lawna Dunbar, Heidi Ferguson, Tio's Pizza, Nama Sake, Live Life Juice, Luna Sole, Julianne's Jewelry, and Lulus Outlet. For more information, call 530-826-6936 or visit them online www.misschico.org
Not all contestants pictured
Huge Savings - Not Hidden in Fine print
No matter which way you turn when you’re out exploring the North State, you’ll see the products of the Hendry family’s hard work around you—you just may not know it.
The posters displayed in your favorite shop’s storefront, that brochure in your mailbox, or even the custom car wrap advertising a familiar business—that’s often Creative Composition at work. Gayle and Ed Hendry started the company in Brea, California, in 1968. At that time, Ed was working as a salesman for a form printing company called Cal Snap & Tab. On his routine sales runs, he discovered a lack of businesses capable of designing layouts for various forms. So, he and his wife opened up their own business in the second story of their home. As the company expanded, the Hendrys ultimately looked to get out of the big city. They settled in Orland with
their four boys on a 19-acre property perfect for their growing company and continued to expand and add services to Creative Compositions over the following years. Eventually, all four sons joined the company, and “Gayle’s dream of her family working together became a reality.”
Their latest move in 2010 allowed them to consolidate what had been spread out at three different locations in Orland. This 20,000-square-foot building is now home to their design, print, mail, and sign departments. While the large building is perfect for their busy company, it does come with the drawback of high energy consumption. Sales/Marketing Manager and Owner Mark Hendry says, “We run numerous printing presses and equipment that draw a lot of electricity alongside our air conditioning system. We cool the building all the time; it’s never off.”
They looked to invest in solar to cut their operating costs while reducing their carbon footprint. As is routine for any company or individual considering such a significant investment, Mark says they did their due diligence in researching area solar installers and decided to hire Urban Design. “Sean was excellent to work with, and they came in with a competitive price. His other projects' workmanship looked extremely well done, organized, and clean.”
Once the decision was made, Urban Design visited the site and designed the best system for Creative Composition’s needs, considering their current energy usage and future growth projections.
“They determined the number of panels and inverters we should have to get us where we needed to be. We have 396 panels on our roof, which happens to match our address here on Park Avenue.”
The Urban Design team provided a seamless process from the initial contact through the installation and completion of the project. Mark shares that every team member respected the worksite and communicated very well. If any unexpected issues arose, the team provided the necessary solutions.
“My partners and I are very careful when making that large of a purchase, so we looked at a lot of vendors, and Urban Design came in with the best plan, and they executed it well.” Mark said. “The investment paid for itself in just a few years since the solar installation. It’s great to see it come out how they said it would.”
The savings have been dramatic, to say the least. Creative Composition’s solar system produces 70% of their energy needs, reducing their annual PG&E electricity cost from $74,000 to $22,000. With numbers like that, it would be difficult to see the decision as anything other than the obvious choice.
If you’re considering investing in solar or adding to your existing solar system, contact the Urban Design team at 530-809-1079, visit them online at www.urbandesignsolar.com, or stop by 4742 Skyway Road in Paradise.
Anthony geer
A graduate of Orland High School, Anthony Geer was playing amateur baseball when a friend asked him to attend a Marine Corps history presentation in 1994. While there, he met a recruiter who soon had Anthony signing on the dotted line, and that’s how Geer enlisted in the Corps. He received training in advanced avionics technology and eventually trained at both Beaufort, South Carolina, and Yuma, Arizona.
His military occupational specialty code was high-tech avionics training in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1994-95. One of the first tests he had to take upon arrival was a calculus exam. He also trained at Lemoore, California, near Hanford.
Geer deployed to Japan and served on the Aircraft Carrier Harry S. Truman during the Iraq War. He later was stationed at Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Geer is employed at the Chico Veterans Health Center. He counsels veterans on how to receive proper healthcare and where to apply for benefits. “I’m pretty much an advocate for the veterans who come in,” he said. “I also ensure their providers do the right job and the billing is correct.”
You don’t have to be a veteran to come in and advocate for vets. “We have family members and other types of advocates come in and help set veterans on the right course,” Geer said. The center offers classes to help veterans adapt to civilian life. “I’ve been out for fourteen years, and occasionally, I see adjusting to civilian life as challenging. If a veteran feels that way, they need to come and see me.” The Veterans Center has a program called “The Healthy Home,” where vets can come in and talk, relax, and pick out a book from the library, among other offerings. “If you need some counseling or help adjusting, come on out, and we will help you.”
Voted Chico’s Best Eye Care Specialists Since 2009 Our
U.S.
Gary Imhoff
Chico High graduate and U.S. Army veteran Gary Imhoff considers himself fortunate. From 1960 to 1963, his assignment as a member of the Signal Corps was to Orleans, France. His occupational specialty entailed working at a large Signal Corps communication center, sending messages all over Europe. More importantly, to a young man in 1960, Paris was only 80 miles away.
“Paris had a mystique. You got into the Old City, and it just drew you in. It’s hard to explain,” said Imhoff. It wasn’t only Paris and France that Gary got to see. He also traveled to Spain, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. “I liked Italy a lot,” he said. “The culture and the people were wonderful.” As for Switzerland, it proved too expensive for a soldier making less than $100 per month.
Imhoff is currently captain of the Chico Honor Guard, the group that attends funerals, plays Taps, and commemorates a veteran passing on.
“Attending the funerals is a real honor. You get to pay respect to the families and hand them the flag.”
He also serves with the AMVETS, the organization that focuses on suicide prevention. The AMVET One bus will stop in Oroville in November to give a presentation about suicide prevention. An average of 22 veterans a day commit suicide in the United States. Imhoff is doing his part to change that.
Len Spesert
After graduating from Paradise High in 1962, Len Spesert attended Chico State as an animal science major. In 1966, his student deferment was canceled, and he was drafted into the military. He requested an assignment as a medic and ended up at Fort Sam Houston, where he received training as a medical corpsman. He was stationed at Sharpe Army Depot in Stockton,
In 1968, he was deployed to the 93rd MASH hospital unit at Long Binh in the surgical intensive care unit, where he provided care to the critically wounded. On January 30, 1968, North Vietnam began the TET Offensive, the largest offensive ever in Vietnam. Over 2,000 Viet Cong and battle-hardened North Vietnamese Army regulars attacked the post. It took the intervention of Navy A-7 Corsair jets deploying napalm to stop the attack.
Enduring TET was horrendous, but what Len recalls most about his time in-country were his forays into the jungle with doctors to treat villagers. “The people were always happy to see us because we provided needed medical care,” he said. A special honor was the time elders sacrificed a chicken for a banquet. “Chickens were a valuable commodity to the villagers as they provided eggs for
These days, he is honored to be the chaplain for multiple veteran groups, including the Gideons. He is also the president of the
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The Changing Faces of Freedom
Obie Wickersham, a decorated 98-yearold WWII and Korean War veteran, and Hans Ploog, an 85-year-old German immigrant who enlisted and served 30 years before retiring as Captain, are the faces and stories we expect to see at the local VFW post. But if you look around, you’ll see many more faces and stories— some you may not have anticipated.
Alongside veterans like Obie and Hans stand some of the youngest members, those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are also women like Kim Buckmaster, who was stationed in Saudi Arabia, and Brianna Farrara, who served in Kuwait. This is the VFW of today, and these are the many faces of freedom.
Brianna Farrara is the Commander of VFW Post 1555. She is the youngest veteran to hold that office and the first female. Brianna is passionate about helping her fellow veterans. She shares, “Each group has its own battles and stories. It’s a phenomenal program. I’ve learned so much about my war and the wars before me and how they affected those who served.”
The VFW’s mission is to “promote patriotism, honor military service, and ensure the care of veterans and their families, and serve in our communities.” Brianna explains that their Assistance Program is notably the most rewarding project. They built it from the ground up just four years ago. Now, veterans can request help with rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, or even transportation issues. Seeing veterans in the community get the help they need pushes Brianna to continue her work and bring more money into the post to fund their efforts. The VFW relies on donations and grants for its activities, and the Buddy Poppy program is its biggest fundraiser.
These funds are used to support myriad programs aimed at youth and veterans in the area. The VFW sponsors the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Bright Lights Program, and the Sea Cadets. Veterans in the community benefit from the coordinated effort of the VFW post and other outreach programs. Brianna shares, “I love helping people, and as commander, I oversee everything. So, I’m in a good spot to touch as many lives as possible. I maintain a good relationship
with Butte County VSO, the head of the VA, and VECTORS House.” It’s not just about connecting people with programs but supporting and walking with them through the process.
The VFW is changing. Its focus is shifting to bring in younger generations of warriors. Family-oriented events like end-of-the-year barbecues at the Elks Lodge, pizza parties, family days, and cornhole competitions are slowly replacing the images of veterans posted at dark, smoke-filled bars. Brianna shares, “We all understand what we fought for and want to carry on that legacy with all the newer generations. Whether you were in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, and no matter what war you were in, we all have common bonds and come together as one large family.” Building connections based on these commonalities is encouraged at the sponsored Coffee Hour from 7 am to 12 pm every Wednesday at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall.
For information about Chico VFW Post 1555 please call 530-487-0347 or email chicovfw1555@gmail.com
Matt Mccoy
Matt McCoy is proud to work with the Butte County Veterans Office and is thrilled at how they help veterans. “The Office can help provide a variety of benefits to veterans.”
Matt says, “Veterans can avoid paying out of pocket for many services as we provide them for free.” Currently, the office helps over 1,000 vets with medical, dental, and housing assistance.
McCoy graduated from Pleasant Valley High in 1992. He joined the U.S. Army and received training at Fort Jackson and Fort Belvoir. His military occupational specialty code (MOS) was power generator equipment manager. He explained that the army had good incentives to join, with two years active, two years reserve, and two years ready active.
Matt deployed to Somalia in 1993 as a 52 Delta Power Generator Repair technician. His unit provided electricity wherever it was needed out in the field. He returned to the States and attended college, studying integrated computer technology and technical steel drafting. He was diagnosed with cancer, and it put him on a different path. “Having cancer gives you a pause,” he said. “It makes you stop and think.”
His new path led him to work with veterans in Butte County, and he is grateful for such a rewarding career. “There are a lot of benefits out there if veterans want to take advantage of them.”
Larry Langwell
Butte County Stand Down Board President Larry Langwell is a self-described “U.S. Navy brat.” After moving around the country and graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1980. An untimely wrestling match with a 2,000-pound bomb ended his military career, and he eventually came to Chico and enrolled at Chico State in 1992.
He graduated with a degree in construction management in 1996, but as fate would have it, he became Coordinator of Veterans Services. He was the only employee in the Chico State VETS office for 20 years and was recognized as being in the top 5% nationally. He held the job for 32 years, but “a job” is not how Larry saw it. “I never called it ‘going to work,’” he said. “It was a very rewarding and fulfilling career.” Langwell has also headed up VECTORS for 15 years.
Currently, he is also the president of the Butte County Stand Down Board, an organization that helps homeless vets get off the street and into housing. VECTORS serves about 350 vets each year and holds a weekend event at the Elks Club in November. “It’s an amazing event,” Larry said. “We serve more vets than any organization in town.”
Roger Lewis
One harsh reality of military service is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a veteran doesn’t have to be in combat to experience it. Roger Lewis, part of the administration at the Chico Veteran Center, specializes in dealing with PTSD and helping the veterans who come into the center.
“A big part of my job is not just getting out in the community to connect with the vets; it’s also destigmatizing mental illness,” said Roger. “Vets don’t like asking for help, so we must go out and actively meet them.” That’s why you’ll see a Veteran Center staff member at air shows, veteran get-togethers, and other events
Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Army after 9/11 and joined the 81st Airborne Division, where he tallied 81 jumps. He deployed to Iraq for nine months and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Upon fulfilling his military service, he received a degree in physics from
However, helping other veterans drew him to Chico, and he became involved with the Veteran Center. “One thing about the veteran organizations in Chico is how tight-knit they are,” he said. “They are very supportive and very close to each other.”
The irish tenor
World-famous singer and storyteller
Emmet Cahill returns to Chico for an uplifting performance of Christmas music and traditional Irish song in “Emmet Cahill’s A Celtic Christmas.” The performance is on Sunday, December 1st, at 4:00 pm at the Bidwell Presbyterian Church, 208 West 1st Street, in Chico. A special VIP event is set for 2:30 pm.
Cahill is also a performer with the renowned Celtic Thunder singing group, and he has been singing since he was
a child in his hometown of Mullingar, Ireland. His father was a music minister, and his mom sang in the choir and solo performances. Emmet received voice training in high school and studied opera and classical music. He has been performing for thirteen years and sees music as a universal language to which we can all relate. “I take people on a journey, and I’m not trying to convert anyone or be political,” he said. “Music gives people hope.”
His show blends Christmas songs and traditional Irish songs. He intersperses the music with stories about Ireland and his life, emphasizing nostalgic events we can all relate to. “Music is a gift we all have,” he said. “It’s not about me. It’s about the song, the story, and the journey.”
Emmet performed sold-out events at Carnegie Hall and with the Tabernacle Choir. His Irish music album debuted at #1 on the World Music Chart, and he has also appeared on the Today Show, at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and in Atlanta Symphony Hall. With Celtic Thunder, he has performed around the globe, and he is a featured soloist on eight of their albums, including the latest, Celtic Thunder: The Live Experience.
Jo Tyler, the local liaison for the Chico performance, met Emmet last year. She said, “One of the things I appreciate most about him is that he will only sing songs in which he truly believes—you can see it in his performance.” When talking to Cahill, it is easy to grasp his humility and thankfulness for his talent. He is easygoing and weaves in some laughter and humor with his evident passion for his music. He is a natural storyteller who makes the characters come alive and the action relatable and realistic to the audience. One of his favorite moments is getting the crowd to sing along with his songs, which he plans on doing in Chico.
His shows include everything from Irish favorites “Danny Boy” to “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen” and “Wild Mountain Thyme.” The Christmas songs include “Silent Night,” “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Ave Maria,” among others. “Christmas represents a tenderness for the past, courage for the present, and a renewed sense of hope for the future,” said Cahill.
If you wish to hear Emmet Cahill in person, there will be a VIP Experience in the basement of Bidwell Presbyterian Church at 2:30 and the main show at 4:00 pm on December 1st. VIP tickets are limited and cost $50. General admission is $40.00 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased at www.emmetcahill.com/tour. Cahill will perform on November 30 in Los Altos and December 2 in Fresno.
Those damn leftovers!
Who knew an argument about how long you could leave leftover turkey in the refrigerator would lead to a drunken fight, a ruined celebration, and a nearly lifelong feud between family members?
It was Thanksgiving Day in 1965, and many family members had brought in varying dishes to serve. There were the staples: mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce—canned as well as with real berries—cornbread stuffing, celery stalks filled with pimento cheese spread, black olives, sweet pickles, and on and on. Of course, because there were 20 or so people, we had three turkeys, each cooked by a different family member.
As was the tradition back then with our crew, the men would start hitting the beer and assorted cocktails before dinner. No one got drunk—yet. But after dinner had been served, it seemed the booze would flow. Of course, we had that uncle who drank too much, became boisterous, and a little too handsy with his sisters-in-law. To add to the excitement, we also had
that other uncle who got too drunk and a tad belligerent.
The argument was stupid. How long could you leave turkey out, and how long could you leave it in the refrigerator? Uncle Bud was firmly in the camp where you could eat the turkey until a few days after Thanksgiving. Being the argumentative type, Uncle Carl said you should eat the turkey by the day after T-Day; otherwise, you would need to throw it out. One thing led to another, and the two soon raised their voices. This, in turn, prompted a shove. The shove caused inebriated Uncle Bud to lose his balance and fall over the couch.
Then, it got interesting. Carl laughed loud and long until Bud got up off the floor and punched Carl in the face. Then Carl hit the floor. Yikes. After much shouting and recrimination, Bud and his wife, Dot, left in a big huff. That’s the last family event they attended—all over turkey leftovers.
Let’s answer the question in our
remaining space. How long can you utilize leftover turkey? According to the USDA, about 35% of all turkey is wasted annually. 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. That’s a whole lotta bird, and you should pre-plan what you will do with leftovers.
You need to minimize the time the turkey is left out in “the danger zone,” about two hours at room temperature. It’s crazy, but cooking experts still disagree on how long you can refrigerate turkey. The length of time is two days to seven, believe it or not. A lot depends on how large the pieces are and how they are stored. The USDA recommends no more than four days. My choice would be three days tops.
You can check the turkey visually and by smell. Poultry isn’t shy about letting you know it’s gone bad. The best advice is to remember the adage, “When in doubt, throw it out.” Please enjoy your turkey this Thanksgiving and avoid those pesky fistfights.
WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN
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Leftover Turkey Casserole
There are few meals we look forward to each year like we do Thanksgiving. Though leftovers will often receive an audible groan from those at the dinner table, Thanksgiving leftovers are a different matter entirely. Each item in the feast can easily be refreshed and upcycled into something brand new, making for a number of exciting meals following the big day. This leftover turkey casserole a perfect example. With just a handful of extra ingredients you can wow family or guests with something they're sure to love. Best of all, it couldn't be easier to prepare.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces egg noodles uncooked
- 4 cups chopped cooked leftover turkey
- 2 10 ounce cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
-▢2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided use
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots or frozen mixed vegetables
-▢1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and coat a 9 x13 pan with butter or cooking spray.
2. Cook egg noodles in salted water per package directions.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, cream of chicken soup, 1 cup of cheese, milk, peas, carrots, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Then add the noodles.
4. Place the turkey and noodle mixture in the coated pan and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the dish.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes or until completely heated through. Uncover and bake for an additional 7-10 minutes or until cheese is melted—longer for a crispier top. Sprinkle with parsley, cut, and serve.
Good Fortune
Harkening back to the days of Turandot, this completely centralized location has only hosted me less than a handful of times between different business iterations. However, the buzz and wonderment of what would eventually go into the space at 1851 Esplanade made me determined to visit, regardless of the cuisine. As luck would have it, I love dumplings, so it made me all the more curious to stop by Fortune Dumpling House as soon as possible.
I couldn’t decide on just one or two items, so I ordered a spread, knowing my wife would love to try what I brought home. Will, an excellent and attentive server, took the time to explain some of the items and then quickly returned with an assortment of red wine vinegar, sweet chili, and teriyaki sauces.
The green onion pancake, made from Phyllo dough, is cut into six even triangles. Its warm and thin cracker texture has a light onion flavor and offers a beautiful break from the softer textures of the bao and dumpling, not to mention it allowed me to try each sauce quickly. The Har Gow, or crystal shrimp dumplings, have a translucent casing of wheat and tapioca starches packed full of shrimp
and a mixture of diced bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. Flavored naturally, their delicious simplicity allows you to add to them as you wish.
The steamed barbecue bao is expertly prepared—fluffy and not too thick. Lying within, an explosion of flavor awaits as shredded barbecue pork fills the pillowy bun. Finally, the pork soup dumplings are the star of the show. Their non-salty vegetable broth is paired with a giant pork dumpling resting neatly inside the steamed gyoza wrapper.
Fortune’s large patio offers ample shade, and the roomy interior boasts far fewer tables than would fit, allowing for a less cluttered and more private dining experience. To truly appreciate the food you’ll soon enjoy, two televisions show food traditionally prepared in a Food Network-style presentation. In a teasing sense, it forces you to eat with your eyes first. A sizeable open preparation area reveals where the dumplings, bao, and egg tart (a dessert item currently on their appetizer menu) are all prepared fresh daily. With another entire side of the menu to explore, I’ll be back for more soon.
WRITTEN
A thoroughly talented student
Fifth grader Aniah Nelson receives high marks from McManus Elementary principal Chris Weaver. “Aniah is extremely positive. She sets a wonderful example of being safe, respectful, responsible, and hardworking in and out of the classroom.” Indeed, she is currently the co-anchor of the McManus Daily News program, which broadcasts school events, activities, and updates on the construction on campus. She is especially excited about the new multipurpose room that should be open in November.
As for her classes, Aniah loves school, hanging out with friends, and being in the classroom. “I’ve been going to McManus since kindergarten, so the school really feels like a community,” she said. She loves writing and math, and adores her teachers—currently Mr. Wakefield and previously Mr. Canales. She speaks highly of Principal Weaver, saying he’s the nicest person.
Dylan Wakefield said, “She is every teacher’s dream student. Aniah has an incredible personality and is a great leader on and off campus. She is wellliked by all her peers and is destined to do great things in life.”
Aniah’s family consists of father David, mom Siera, and little brother Joel. She
enjoys reading to Joel, watching movies together, or just having fun and playing together. She wanted to give a shout out to friends Hailey, Serai, and Naomi. They are her favorite “hang out friends.” Her favorite author is Roald Dahl, and she loved James and the Giant Peach and The BFG.
Aniah would like to train to be a nail technician in the future, but that is a ways off. She describes herself as a smart, sweet, and kind person who loves her family. Her father, David, echoes these claims: “Aniah is a bright spot in all my conversations. I couldn’t have custombuilt a better daughter.” That is high praise indeed, and Aniah says the same thing about her parents.
She is thinking about college, and Dad says that’s definitely in the cards. After talking to her, I found it obvious she would be college-bound after high school. She has a sparkling personality, communicates well, looks forward to the future, and has a positive outlook on life.
Aniah is a leader on campus and treats everyone with respect. Her kindness is evident in her responses to her fellow students, and she is seen by all as a genuinely sweet person. All our schools need students like Aniah Nelson.
WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Meadow Brook Ranch is a collection of new single story homes located off Degarmo Drive and the Esplanade in Chico, CA.
Providing the perfect blend of quality craftsmanship and value, along with comfort and convenience, Meadow Brook Ranch is the perfect place to call home.
bring us home
Butte County has an inordinately high number of animals in need of adoption due to a number of factors including wildfires, floods, and irresponsible breeding. Please consider adoption as an option for increasing the love in your own household. These soon-to-be pets can be adopted by calling the Chico Animal Shelter at (530) 894-5630. You can also visit their website at www.chicoanimalshelter.org
