Upgraded Living October 2021 by Upgraded Living

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FROM THE EDITOR As far as our magazine world goes, fall is an often rushed beehive of activity. So much so, we may as well be entering into the first of Dr. Seuss’s fictional month of Octember. Yes, the next three months emerge with a host of challenges. Seuss paints a series of wonderful and wacky ways Octember both arrives and departs. The mag’s version arrives with mayhem and high blood pressure and departs with a pair of wonderful holidays getting in the way. Our ordinary monthto-month flow comes with a three-week turn around from print-to-print, followed by the much needed breath we take during what we refer to as “dead week.” This exhale disappears as we get sucked into the haunting harbinger of that mystical month of Octember. Even before we actually get to the first of the not-so-fictional month, we spend the last week of September working on the hovering November and December issues. The true October, itself, becomes a dual workload with a much needed three-week turnaround. November and December arrive with at least one week shorter. Not a rant, just a glimpse inside this wild and wonderful world of publishing a magazine. This paragraph is usually saved for the current cover story, and you will find Nutrishop Chico to be way more than what you can conjure. However, I want to take a look in the rearview mirror to our most nerve-racking issue to date. I will never forget the tone in Aveed’s voice when he called on the cusp of uploading the magazine and sending it to the printers. As a result, we then launched into a discussion over just how the cover should look and read. Nerves aside, we did better than ok. To be bold enough to place on the cover “Presenting the Worst of Chico” is one thing. To try and guess the reception is entirely another. With great joy and relief, we have been wowed by the response. You know something went right when #worstofchico becomes a thing and calls come in with the message, “We want to be the worst place not to.” With utmost excitement, we are already working on next year’s version of WPNT. On another note, I would never have considered or discovered a time when both Mary Poppins and Julia Roberts would be featured on The Backpage—and for the same exact reason. The mere fact the melding of the two actually works, leaves me with little more than a shout-out to whoever was in control of the Ouija Board’s planchette, the small heartshaped piece of wood. Oh yeah, this month that was me.

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief JASON CORONA Sales Director BEAU VANDERMATE General Swiss Army Knife

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

CONTRIBUTORS DOUG LOVE

SWEENEY & MICHEL

Real Estate

Finance

HRiQ

DERM BAR

Human Resources

Beauty

RYAN STEFANELLI

JESSICA WILKERSON

Tacos

Health

On to Octember, with the hope it fills us with the same joy it does my grandchildren.

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

Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief

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

CONTENTS | OCTOBER 2021 FOOD

POTPOURRI

10 Meet Chef Jorge, the bee’s knees of the Orland community

26 Any way the wind blows: the music selection of KZFR’s Mark Grey

12 Parkside Tap House packs their calendar with events you'll love

28 Letting their artistry shine, Sparkle Productions creates expressions for the home

14 Having some phun once again in our food showdown, celebrating the flavors of Vietnam 16 Tres Hombres unveils their autumn cocktail menu

16 Our resident Taco Tracker tracks down Juan and Blanca Reyes of Fiesta Taco 20 Beyond creative: Shelly Anderson takes her menu on the road 22 Newton’s Law: get the skinny on the fresh and dry fig fruit.

COMMUNITY 30 The UL staff picks for art, culture and general leisure. Gtfo (going to fun October!)

49 Looking to stand out? All signs point to the creations of LeAnn Cooley 58 Lay back and remember the flumes in our Paradise community spread 62 A combination of history and memory, Oroville’s Bidwell Bar uncovered. 64 A tale of perseverance and drive— retail reimagined with Nina Hive

HEALTH 24 Short-term health routine with a longterm fix: Chico Structural Integration explains

28 8

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31 Prevention, detection and the continuum of care that is HALO

55 From LA to El Rey: Chico local Greg Scott and the miracles of family and Music 68 You’re invited to stop and smell the flowers at the Festival of Roses

FEATURE 43 Seasons Greetings! From diet cheating to goal completing, timing is everything. Nutrishop aims to educate and inspire our readers this month to gift themselves a healthy lifestyle before the storm of holiday temptation.

ON THE COVER: MARC & SHUREE WESLEY OF NUTRISHOP CHICO PHOTO BY: DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN BY: ERIK BROWN

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN | PHOTO BY BEAU VANDERMATE

love what you do—it shows Jorge Vasquez is, by any measure, the quintessential chef: well trained, level headed, forward looking, confident, and a creative soul. Raised in Orland, Jorge headed to the Bay Area to attend the California Culinary Academy and found it to be a rich experience. The school included a 30-week baking and pastry program, 16 months leading to a culinary arts degree, and a required internship. The entire journey armed Jorge with practical wisdom from both the observations and hands-on doing. Upon completion, he headed back to Northern California, landing a job at Sierra Nevada’s restaurant. Sierra Nevada thrust Jorge into multiple positions, from line cook to managing the wood fire pizza oven. Not long after returning, he moved on as a chef for the Rawbar. In his 13 years of tenure there, the wisdom and experience kept him growing. A tiny kitchen, vast menu, and the challenging private parties not only tested Jorge but also exposed his quintessential resume. Jorge found himself “looking for a change,” and one presented itself. Jorge relocated his apron to Orland as chef at the Farwood Bar & Grill.

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Change is as change does, and one year later, Jorge discovered a new and upcoming place in Orland known as The Hive. It literally is a beehive of active and attentive engagement, making him feel right at home. Featuring not only lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, the living hive, in addition, has its own bakery, in-house ice cream, and both a coffee and actual bar. Jorge inherited a kitchen resembling a cubicle, and drawing from his vast experience just kept going on. He is excited about the changes in store for The Hive and believes he has found his way back home. Interesting then to get a personal glimpse of Jorge. First off, his philosophy of the kitchen is, “Love what you do as it shows on the plate.” He lights up at revealing his ‘go to’— “red curry prawns,” a meal he’s served only as a special. It’s fascinating to hear his reply to what he doesn’t want to cook—“Anything traditional.” In person, you will notice his set eyes, calm demeanor, and easy manner as he makes his way around the beehive of activity. Jorge Vasquez, the quintessential chef, is the real deal. Just maybe one day you will be fortunate enough to hear your server revealing, “Tonight’s special is red curry prawns.”

Events you'd wish you didn't miss With events starting to pop up all over the place, it's becoming increasingly difficult to decide where to dedicate your time and hard-earned dollars. Between live music, dinner shows, stand-up comedy, pairing dinners, and after-hours dancing, there's no shortage of variety to choose from. Luckily, Downtown Chico's Parkside Tap House makes the decision far easier by having all those events and more at one convenient location. Through the month of October, Parkside will be hosting a number of events that we can confidently say you won't want to miss. If you're a fan of live music or after-hours dancing, stop by Friday through Sunday, as Parkside will have DJs both indoors and outside on their patio throughout the weekends. Plan 12

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on dancing into the wee hours of the morning on Friday and Saturday nights with DJs EmVee, CUZNLOUIE, B!ZK!T, and more on weekly rotation. Things kick off Friday, October 1st, with Parkside's Oktoberfest event from 9pm to close. DJ Cootdog, of Mystic Roots fame, will close out the weekend with his brunch set on Sunday from noon to 3pm—also a new weekly event at Parkside. If you're looking to lighten things up a bit, Parkside Comedy Night takes place on October 6th, hosted by Jerm Leather, with stand-up comedians: Josh Means, Morgan Anderson, Ashley Monique, Eliza O., and Sarah Dutcher. Tickets are $20 online at Eventbrite, $25 at the door—which opens at 7:30pm—and the show starts promptly at 8pm.

Pairing dinners return in November with a combo you're sure to love and an extra special dinner announcement we'll all be giving thanks for. These events, and so many more, make up a month full of excitiing possibilities at Parkside Tap House. Follow their instagram page @parksidetaphouse for updates and more information than we could possibly fit in this space. Looking to host an event of your own? Not only does Parkside have a great set of events, but they also have one of the best banquet rooms in town. With mouthwatering food, delicious drinks, and some of the friendliest staff around, it's the perfect place to host your upcoming holiday party! Send their event manager, Alyssa Arguello an email at parksidetaphouse@gmail.com for more information or to set up a tour.

Phee Phi

Vietnam Bistro First Glance: It was too warm for the quaint patio that surely deserves your attention this fall, so we stepped into the bistro’s modern dining room. Adorable two-tone wooden chairs and ship-lap decorated tables stood atop the black and white checkered tile flooring. The welcoming aroma and crackling, sizzling sound of what must have been a flat top grill greeted us instantly. We decided on the rare steak pho and a couple of appetizer rolls. The Experience: The first sip was simple, much like mirepoix, yet pronounced to each flavor and finished with a whisper of black pepper. Strokes of onion, mint, and a touch of lime accented the broth. Everything tasted fresh and was light in sodium. We added the side plate of cilantro, snappy bean sprouts, and thinsliced, yet sneaky, jalapeno. The steak was delightful in texture, the noodles held the flavor of the broth, and the beef ball was tender.. 14

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The Extra: Had we not split the order, even more extra would be had, since the pho was a great portion itself. The beef in the summer salad roll had the most amazing flavor and was not in need of the chili sauce that came with it. The lemon iced tea was delicious as well, and we were quite fond of the smaller ice balls that were served with it.

Phodown

Pho Noodle House First Glance: On an edge of Downtown Oroville, across from the Office of Education building, lies a site that must be over 100 years old. Inside, it’s no surprise to find anything short of heritage and tradition, decor that pays homage to ancestry, and nothing too flashy to take away from the humbleness of a well cooked meal. Amid the sounds of a ballad sung by another world’s popstar, we ordered a rare steak pho and beef ball pho to keep things as even as possible..

The Extra: The foot traffic of lunch hour kept our eyes busy as we waited, and the wait was not much at all as the broth cooks overnight. The serving was quite generous but, not having known that, we also ordered prawns wrapped in chow mein noodles and fried—also delightful. If this is where the locals go, be sure to follow them.

The Experience: The large bowl appeared and was placed next to a modest side plate of bean sprouts, Thai basil, and jalapeno. Green and yellow onion were uniform, and a dust of sliced ginger was disturbed as the spoon submerged. Hearty noodles trapped the saltier broth with hints of fennel and star anise. A chorus of beef bone that combined to leave a lightly spiced flavor on your lips. The finely sliced steak still had color and was perfectly finished in the mixture. 15

Fall for These fall cocktails Temperatures are dropping, leaves are falling, and we've been counting down the days to our favorite of Tres Hombres' seasonal cocktail menus—autumn. Crisp flavors, cinnamon, no shortage of sugar, and a bevy of accoutrement come together to push us firmly out of summer and into fall. Aside from one cocktail, anyway, that's clearly there for all of us who have difficulty moving on. After the summer we've had in Northern California, we couldn't be more ready to switch up the seasons! These fall cocktails are the perfect complement to Tres Hombres' new and improved menu items and happen to pair perfectly with the seasonal specials they're releasing week-by-week throughout the next couple months. Plan on seeing some old favorites brought back to life from

menus long since passed along with a number of revamped classics. Keep an eye on Tres' social media as announcements on new events are coming soon, including a dinner magic show on October 6th starring Kris Bentz, dinner comedy show on October 20th starring Anthony K, and a tequila tasting dinner with Teremana Tequila on October 26th you won't want to miss. Stop by Tres Hombres and try all of these cocktails for yourself along with their new weekly specials! Don't forget to say hello and show some love to their bartenders— Chavez, Drew, Tim, and Pablo—who put in countless hours to bring these delicious fall drinks to life. Cheers!

From top LEFT to bottom RIGHT ON NEXT PAGE 1. Maple Ol' Fashioned High West Bourbon, maple syrup, a drop of agave nectar, and orange bitters combine to make a classic with an odd note of familiarty you might have trouble putting your finger on. 2. Easy Peasy Pama Squeezy Exotico Silver, lime juice, clementine, rosemary syrup, triple sec, pomegranate juice, sugar/cinnamon/salt rim topped with pomegranate seeds. Remember when we mentioned "crisp" flavors? This is it. The tart pomegranate is a welcome surprise with each and every sip! 3. Churro Marg Pure vanilla extract, brown sugar cube, and cinnamon powder mixed in with our famous blended margarita. A brown sugar rim completes the presentation and satisfies the sweet tooth once and for all. 4. Cinnamon Roll Marg Pure vanilla extract, brown sugar cube, and cinnamon powder mixed in with our famous blended margarita. Sounds familiar, but there's a twist—this marg comes with Tres' ice cream mix and is topped with icing and a powdered sugar rim. It's well worth it to try both! 16

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5. Night at the Cabin Teremana silver tequila, rosemary agave nectar, lime juice, fresh grapefruit juice, salted rim, and burnt rosemary. You may remember this from a prior autumn cocktail menu. As it was the most requested cocktail, Tres decided to bring it back for another go. 6. Apple BSB BSB, maple syrup, apple cider, muddled apples, and burnt cinnamon stick. If you're as much of a fan of apple pie, apple crisp, and just about anything containing apples during the fall, this is the cocktail for you. It's sweet, crisp, comforting, and the burning cinammon stick will transport your senses to a camping trip deep in the woods. Truly, there isn't another cocktail that conjures autumn quite like this one. 7. Blue Street Margarita (not pictured) Teremana silver, blue curaçao, lime juice, and sweet and sour. Served with gummy sharks and an orange slice, the Blue Street Margarita provides a bit of fun to an otherwise cozy cocktail menu built to evoke comfort. Sweet and tropical, it's the perfect way to steal those last available moments of summer.

Although somewhat newcomers to the taco truck game, Fiesta Taco’s roots run deep in Chico. Juan and Blanca Reyes married in 2007, and Blanca set out looking for a job in Chico. Not having much luck, a friend told her there was a position available at the Fiesta Taco truck located in front of the old Star Liquors. At the time, Fiesta Taco had already been at the location for a number of years, previously going by the name Crazy Taco. She applied and was hired on the spot. Blanca continued on at Fiesta Taco for eight years before the owner decided to move on and sell the business. Faced with the possibility of losing her job, Blanca and Juan discussed their options and chose to take a risk, diving straight into taco truck ownership. Blanca called upon her mother, asking for her amazing recipes to help kickstart the process. The first few months were a struggle with the long hours of owning a truck and Juan working a second job. Eventually, they perfected her mother’s recipes, and completely changed their menu, setting themselves apart from all the other trucks in town, and taco truck trackers started to take notice. Things have been going their way ever since. Blanca prides herself on only preparing 18

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small batches of ingredients, but doing so more frequently, so everything is as fresh as it can be. Wait times can be a little longer as nearly everything is made to order, but you can certainly taste the difference. A couple particularly noteworthy fan favorites are their breakfast items, shrimp dishes, and their double decker taco. Yes, you heard that right—a flour tortilla with a layer of beans covering a crunching taco shell filled with meat, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream. Don’t worry—I was drooling a little just writing it. For a little extra kick, substitute nacho cheese for the beans, or if you’re feeling extra daring, add both! Another best seller is their nacho burrito, consisting of all the regular fixings of a burrito supreme but with nacho cheese piled on. As with most businesses, Fiesta Taco has experienced their fair share of struggles as new business owners over the last few years, but these two are not letting anything stop them from continuing their dream. Blanca is continuing to refine her craft and Juan is looking to expand into offering delivery services throughout Chico We wish both of them nothing but the best! Visit Fiesta Taco at 933 Nord Avenue in front of the new Star Liquors, and make sure to tell them we sent you!

WRITTEN BY TACO TRACKER, RYAN STEFANELLI | PHOTO BY RYAN AYERS (RECENTLY MARRIED TO TORI VAUGHAN! CONGRATULATIONS, YOU TWO!)

The double decker you Simply can't miss

BEST. PIVOT. EVER. Shelley Anderson, owner and operator of Shelley’s Creative Catering, finds herself repeatedly asking the same question— “What would Lowell order?” Looking back on her 27 years, she never considered what one individual customer would order. No, her attention was clearly on the next large wedding reception, anniversary gathering, or milestone birthday party. Shelley also never considered a day like March 20, 2020 would ever come. In just four days, her catering company lost a significant amount of revenue through the cancellations of those receptions, gatherings, and parties. The unexpected often begets the unexpected. In 48 hours, Shelley and her son, Nate, transformed the entire idea of catering by redefining the business model. Four days later, the company’s new website was up, adding the subtle ‘2go’. Shelley’s Creative Catering 2go was born and Lowell, a loyal fan, was completely delighted. The perfect pivot included stepping away from regular catering, leading them into full time ‘helpful’ catering of meal preps for pickup or delivery, thus filling a necessary void. Shelley’s Creative Catering 2go changed the entire product design, and uncovered a new and rewarding niche. At first, it became survival. They started out slowly utilizing Facebook friends and followers. Shelley creates the menus, and Nate maintains the website and photos. Shelley believes, “People eat with their eyes.” Moving away from the grind of weekend gigs to planning 20

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meals that could be picked up or delivered, came with a new pride in their work and the ability to build lasting relationships. They also happened upon the fact they’re contributing to better health. For Shelley, she found herself “re-energized,” and also found herself front-and-center interacting with her clientele. More importantly, the transformation retained continuity with its previous history of excellence, especially the strategy of appeal. Traditional catering is well known for its long tables adorned with white cloths, featuring covered silver trays full of fancy goods. Shelley is too familiar with this, spending nearly three decades providing delicious food. She’s now conscious of the fact catering has a flipside—one of contributing and assisting, right down to occasional indulging, and even the need for some coddling. This contribution demonstrates the constituents have better health by making better choices. Numerous elderly, thrust into isolation, relied on Shelley’s new focus for their needs. Simply standing to cook is hard; ordering multiple meals that last for days is better. WIth a glint in her eye, Shelley shared, “It’s like we are a gourmet Meals On Wheels.” And what a menu of gourmet meals she has put together. One evening’s choices include: Italian antipasto sliders, Asian chicken bowl with rice noodles, along with a chile relleno casserole. Another menu offers a carnitas bowl with rice and beans, vegetarian fajita bowl, beef cheeseburger

with condiments, potato and fruit salad, and coq au vin—chicken thighs braised in red wine and cognac with bacon. Simple to get the idea, one night's delivery can easily stretch beyond one day. In fact, when people discovered the lasagne could be placed in the freezer, one couple ordered 20 servings! The menus are also playful, feature seasonal foods, and offer a diverse array of meals. There is a not-so-whimsical part of this entire experience. Shelley shared, “What they order, they eat, leaving their shopping trips limited to the little stuff.” She went on to note the limitations involved in diets like low-sodium, diabetes, or dairy. She is committed to accommodating special dietary needs. Shelley admits “My personality is such that I am not going to just do your order, but rather do what ‘you’ want done.” As a result, she has established relationships with numerous clients. So have the delivery drivers, the “guys” as clients say. One client in Durham took the entire crew to 5th Street Steakhouse as a way to say thanks. Shelley is thankful for how regenerated she feels and how the pandemic became the best pivot ever. With joy, Shelley will continue posing the same question each week, “What would Lowell and a host of other potential patrons order?” If you would like to join loyal customers like Lowell, go to creativecatering2go.com or call 893.8277.

The fig is one of the oldest known cultivated fruits on earth. Fig fossils were found in the Jordan Valley in the early Neolithic city of Gilgal. The fossils date back to 9400-9200 BCE and precede the cultivation of wheat, barley, and legumes. Figs have also played a role in the world’s major religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. They were included in Babylonian mythology when Ishtar took the form of the divine fig tree Xikum, who, as we all know, was the primeval mother at the center place of the earth. Okay, we don’t all know that. Probably none of our readers knew that. So let’s dispense with the history lesson. Yay! One item everyone has heard about are Fig Newtons, which were introduced in 1891 at the F.A. Kennedy Steam Bakery. Nowadays, the fig rolls are just called Newtons because they are filled with a variety of flavors, including blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry. These do include fig paste, so it’s all good. For the true fig aficionado, however, a fig is a fig is a fig. Some people love their figs raw, right off the tree, but other people, not so much. The raw fleshy gooeyness of the raw fig is just too much with its seedy and crunchy texture. And those dang seeds end up in every nook and cranny between your teeth! My advice: toothpick. I don’t care how 22

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I eat a fig, as I love them raw or dried. I did have a horrible experience with dried figs, however. I went and bought some Calimyrna (Cali+smyrna) dried figs. They are also called Golden Figs. Anyway, I opened up the package and reached inside, ready to grab a delicious treat and take a bite. To my dismay and horror, a strange growth covered all the figs! Its crusty feel and whitish appearance shocked me. It looked like the figs had leprosy! Good lord, how could this be? To make a short story longer, it turns out the substance on the fig was sugar that had come through the skin and dried on the surface of the fig. Wow, was I happy! As soon as I “figgered” it out by licking the fig, I dug right in. One negative of figs who have bled their sugar out is they tend to be very dry. So beware! Finally, the funnest fig fact: Figs are pollinated by the tiny fig wasp. The fertilized female wasp crawls through a tiny hole in the fig and pollinates the tiny flowers inside. She also lays her eggs inside some of the flowers and then dies. After weeks of development, the male wasps eat holes in the galls and emerge from the fig, to be followed by the females, which have 48 hours to find another fig tree and pollinate the figs!

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Fig it is!

experience amazing, but emotionally, it felt like I was finally able to let everything go. After that first session, I knew it would be my new path in life. I wanted to deliver that same level of peace and relief to others, so I began studying the practice in 2017. I haven’t looked back since.” Structural Integration, also known as Rolfing, is a process by which the body is stretched and “unwound” to allow each element to function properly again. When one part of your body is injured, the nearby parts jump in to provide assistance. This allows our bodies to continue moving during the healing process. However, if an area is badly or consistently injured, the constant stress on nearby body parts for assistance can cause them to fail as well, leading to the type of cascading failure of physical health Cara experienced.

providing Relief for life What if you could see into the future and know exactly what would plague your body in 20 or 30 years—every ache, every pain, everything that made you less than fully mobile? Would you make the appropriate changes to your life to circumvent it? Most of us live our lives behind a thin veil, masking those aches and pains to the best of our ability with medicine like Ibuprofen or Tylenol, rather than listening to what our body is telling us: something isn’t right, and if things don’t change, it’s going to get worse. Throughout her twenties and thirties, Cara Ernest ignored those warnings, eventually developing debilitating issues which slowed her life to a grinding halt. It was through this experience that she found a new career path and the fulfillment she had long sought. Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Cara moved all over the country, working in various industries before relocating to Chico in 2006 with her husband, where she took up a job in marketing at Auctiva. By the time she arrived, Cara had been experiencing lower back issues for some 24

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time, and the constant stress of a computerdriven job only furthered those issues. As time went on, those issues became worse, eventually resulting in a cascading failure of physical health. First, her neck began to stiffen, so she visited a chiropractor. Then, she developed plantar fasciitis. She dealt with the discomfort, but the pain became so bad she couldn’t walk in anything but Birkenstocks. Still, she powered through it, wearing only Birkenstocks for a number of years. To top it off, Cara was also experiencing a considerable amount of emotional trauma at the time, dealing with a divorce and the rollercoaster such an experience provides. With all of her systems screaming something was wrong, and having tried everything to ignore them, Cara finally listened. She spoke to her chiropractor, and he recommended she try structural integration. “I made an appointment and went to my first session.” Cara said, “The experience was absolutely life-changing. It wasn’t like any body work I’d ever had, and I had tried literally everything. Not only was the physical

“Structural Integration is a 10-visit treatment that provides a long-term fix.” Cara said, “We work from the outside in. The first three visits focus on the outer layer of the body— just under our skin but over our muscles. We stretch these areas and allow them to open, providing room for everything else underneath. The following four visits focus on the core—bringing the muscles back to a relaxed state, and allowing everything to reposition properly throughout the body. The final three visits focus on integration, where we take everything we’ve done and allow the body to make the most of those changes. In a relatively short period of time, we’re are able to make changes that can provide relief for a lifetime” The experience is one in movement education, and Cara has had no shortage of education to be able to provide it. With over 1,300 hours of training through two different programs, it took Cara a number of years to specialize in the field of Structural Integration. Having read the rave reviews from those who have undergone treatment, it’s clear we’re lucky to have it so accessible in our community. Conveniently located at 315 Wall Street, Suite 5, in Downtown Chico, Cara is providing a service we could all use, especially after the stress we’ve endured over the past few years. Call her at (530) 588-0177 or visit www.chico-si.com to book your consultation.

MARIACHI DIVAS & CALIFAS CELEBRATION OF LATINX MUSIC

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

TAPE FACE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10

CIRQUE MECHANICS BIRDHOUSE FACTORY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

JUPITER STRING QUARTET A CELESTIAL ENSEMBLE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2

NORTH STATE SYMPHONY MASTERWORKS 2: A LITTLE MAHLER SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6

BALLET HISPÁNICO

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

POST MODERN JUKEBOX THE GRAND REOPENING TOUR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13

TICKETS 530-898-6333 chicoperformances.com University Box Ofﬁce 26

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Mark Gray is All Mixed Up For thirty years, Mark Gray has been playing music on his weekly KZFR show “All Mixed Up.” Mark likes to mix up the music, and he loves to blend music that is all over the map, which also reflects the time of year and the current world situation. “KZFR is a station for the people,” said Gray. “There’s a show for anyone across our wide array of music selections.” Mark’s journey to get behind the mic took its own unusual course. When he was six months old his parents moved to Nigeria, where they could carry out their professions of doctor and nurse respectively. The country was in the middle of one of its numerous civil wars at the time. “When I grew up in Nigeria, we had no electricity, so we had no television,” said Gray. “We didn’t get newspapers either, so we often didn’t know what was happening in the world.” He attributes listening to the various styles of Nigerian music as a child to his diverse approach to music today. “I’ve always been someone with a short attention span in music. I like to take different styles and blend them together in a show.” While he tends to stay away from “popular” music, he likes to blend familiar music with new music people haven’t heard. He also creates special themes, such as his latest “Pandemic Music,” which focuses on isolation. Like the word the call letters represent, zephyr, Gray’s music goes which way the wind blows.

It seems a fair wind blew Mark into the path of Eric Mateissen about thirty years ago while floating the Sacramento River. They began talking and Mark discovered Mateissen liked music on the left end of the dial, and he was trying to form a new station in Chico modeled on KPFA in the Bay Area. “I went to a meeting to volunteer to do what I could, and here I am today,” said Gray. He was on the first program council, and they had one big problem: no equipment. In steps, Terry Green, a KFM engineer, had access to old equipment. They patched together enough to tape 30 minute shows on a reel-to-reel they broadcast from Nimshew in three-to-four hour segments. Mark started out helping with the nuts and bolts of the operation and eventually found himself behind the microphone. The station nearly folded many times, but it somehow kept broadcasting, at one point from the Chico Airport and another at the old Victor Industries Building on 20th Street. One night during a bad storm, an electrical problem occurred. Mark went to another room and saw sparks arcing before realized he was standing in a foot of water! Through it all Mark Gray is still playing music. If you’d like to get your feet wet (pun intended) and listen to an eclectic mix of music, tune in to KZFR on Saturday night from 6 to 9 and check out All Mixed Up.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

TAYLOR TOMLINSON DEAL WITH IT TOUR

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Words like sustainability, repurposed, and carbon footprint echo around Sterling and Susie Sparkle’s twin shops. You will also hear things like “wonderful, whimsical” and “adorn it with beauty,” when referring to just what is being done inside their company, Sparkle Productions. Sterling and Susie are both SoCal transplants. Susie made her way up to Chico first and found herself driving a B-Line bus for over 20 years, as well as operating a home and office cleaning company. Sterling moved north at the urging of his closest friend, only to find his woodworking skills would instantly be put to use manufacturing birdhouses for Made In Chico. Both repurposing and ingenuity immediately surfaced as Sterling thoroughly researched the birds of Northern California and how to find used fence boards, intent on bringing them back to life. The banter of sustainability and whimsy actually mesh quite well and combine together, allowing this dynamic duo to create cherished objects. Sterling, the woodworker, and Susie, the metal virtuoso, also join in unison to make all this magic happen. The magic, itself, does not merely appear from the wave of a wand or mumbling a mystical phrase. It takes ingenuity, work, and just enough outside help from dear friends to reach the expected product time and time again. Each contributor brings an out-of-this-world presence, thus becoming an intricate piece of this undeniable prize puzzle. First and foremost, the wood is the major player, arriving with the absolute assurance of sustainability, re-purpose, and so much 28

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more. It certainly helps to have your dearest friend, Phil Aldred of Westgate Urban Hardwood, on the cutting edge. Literally, as Westgate began harvesting the remarkably beautiful wood of the area in 2010, most planted by John Bidwell himself. From the black walnut experimental orchard in the avenues to the well known English walnut, the whole concept surrounded the fact these trees were old and better off being milled than cut up and burned in fireplaces. Phil and Sterling believe strongly in the heritage behind it, started by Bidwell. Giving a second life to one of the most beautiful woods in the world is honoring it as a valuable resource. The walnut trees are but a part of a varied collection including: pecan, maple, eucalyptus, redwood, oak, olive, and the ever-cherished Chinese ornamental pistachio. The slabs of each kind undoubtedly remain the most intricate puzzle piece. Sterling fashions each slice from the trunks of these treasured trees into tables, shelves, and altars. Yes, altars. As Sterling explains, “Folks are looking for a place to place their sacred objects.” Not surprisingly, these are not merely tables, shelves, or altars. Enter contributor number two, artist John Dutro. Sterling points out, “John adorns each piece with beauty.” One of the finest artists in Chico, Phil shakes his head, declaring, “He doesn’t even know how good.” Just a glance at one of these tabletops, adorned with John’s beauty, would be enough to agree. However, it takes more than a glance to realize the unique enhancement.

I’m not certain there exists proper words to describe what can only be appreciated through the eyes. The final piece to this puzzle is also like the cherry on top of the sundae, the frosting on the cake, the green olive on the toothpick in the martini. Susie, with her “keen eye, allowing her to see the end product,” remains a time-tested invaluable last piece, completing the puzzle. The marriage of wood and art is one thing, bringing the world of metal into the fray is the end all. The fine feathers sprung from the sheet of metal make for enchanting legs of the already treasured tabletop. Susie is also behind the words, “wonderful and whimsical,” as she brings a light-hearted, joyful touch to the production company. Her yard art alone will ensure smiles on faces and those look-at-this, look-at-that kind of reponses. Just as John’s contribution, Susie brings a delightful flair to the entire process, and in the end, produces her own “cherished objects” clearly adding to the magic of Sparkle Productions. Sterling enthusiastically sings the praises of the twin shops and their ways of making beautiful things. He’s also ever thankful to the strong friend base. The simple joy and fun make this warehouse on Orange Street a happy place. Sparkle Productions is located in Chico at 633 Orange Street #4. Their studio opening is Saturday, October 16th, from 9am to 9pm and Sunday, the 17th, from 9am to 3pm. They can be reached anytime by phone at (530) 487-7027.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN | PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH POCOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

A Seriously Whimsical Approach to Sustainability

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN | PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH POCOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Must See, Must Do Events in October Sierra Oro Farm Trail (check SierraOro.org for details) The month-long celebration is back and bigger than ever with a new digital Farm & Wine Pass. Get exclusive access to celebrate harvest for the entire month of October. For 31 days, you can tour, taste, toast, and shop at 31 farms and wineries throughout Butte County. With the mobile Farm & Wine Pass, you’ll unlock free wine tastings, discounts on farm-fresh treasures, and immersive farm experiences.

Relay for Life October 16, 2-8pm, 1720 Esplanade, Chico Hosted by HALO Breast Care Center. Be part of an amazing community fundraising event held annually by the American Cancer Society. Walk as you cheer others on that are remembering a life lost, celebrating a battle fought successfully, or honor someone currently battling cancer, and be a support to those of like mind.

Downtown Orland Treat Street October 31, 1pm-3pm Walker Street at 4th and 5th Streets Dress up as your spirit animal or favorite character and safely travel to more than 60 businesses, organizations, and families in what should be beautiful, cooler weather. Sponsored by Bless Your Heart Mercantile.

Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory October 22, 7:30pm at Laxson Auditorium Birdhouse Factory, is a nostalgic tale set in the 1930s, where a widget factory is transformed by the resourcefulness and creativity of the American worker. The drab factory and its workers come to life and present the classic Cirque experience— including trapeze, contortionists, clowning, acrobatics, and more. All told through an enchanting tale of love, laughter, flight, and birdhouses.

Annapurna at Theater on the Ridge October 10-24, (www.totr.org) After twenty years apart, Emma tracks Ulysses to a trailer park in the middle of nowhere for a final reckoning. What unfolds is a visceral and profound meditation on love and loss with the simplest of theatrical elements: two people in one room. A breathtaking story about the longevity of love.

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HALO Breast Care Center Do It Today For Your Tomorrow This is different and distinctive. An imaging center that puts patient care first; one that takes into account each client’s experience and focuses on a patient-forward approach to care. HALO Diagnostics built upon the already well-established and respected reputation of Chico’s Breast Care Center. It is one of the few stand-alone mammography centers in California, and HALO is eager to expand and enhance this Pink Ribbon Center of Excellence.

The strategic dedication begins with the patient’s ordering physician requests for a study. HALO conducts extensive back work to complete their pre-registration protocols: assuring insurance eligibility, double checking referring physician orders, and reaching out proactively. Armando says, “Our goal is to make sure everything is in order, so that we can make one phone call to the patient and get them scheduled for their appointment.”

The moment you walk in, the deep green walls soothe. The curved partitions that encircle intimate waiting areas enable private seating options, while the round check–in desk echoes the HALO emblem. Director of Operations Armando Romo describes it as, “a way to symbolize the care we provide for our patients, a HALO looking over them and giving them the best patient care possible.”

Once they arrive, check-in is fast and user friendly. The Patient Access Rep sits down with the patient and asks them detailed questions about their own health as well as any pertinent family history. Once compiled, the information is electronically routed back to the waiting staff and technologists who perform the appropriate exams. By focusing on streamlining the check-in process and providing the latest in technology, an appointment for a screening mammogram

at HALO can take less than 15 minutes from the moment they check-in to the moment they leave the center. A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breasts to check for cancer when there are no signs or symptoms present. It is recommended to start these yearly exams at the age of 40, unless there is a family history or other indicators that necessitate starting them at an earlier age. HALO Breast Care Center offers the latest 3D mammogram also known as tomosynthesis. This technology incorporates taking multiple images of the breast from various angles and then combining them to recreate a 3-dimensional image. This advanced screening technique offers a clearer and more precise picture for the radiologists to examine, making it easier to detect cancers and find them at an earlier stage. According to breastcancer.org, 3D mammograms found 22% more cancers than traditional 31

2D-mammography and reduced the number of callbacks for questionable areas by 15%, greatly reducing additional anxiety for the patient. Armando emphasizes the desire to put the patient at ease as a cornerstone of their mission. “What really sets us apart is our white glove service. We have two people who guide the patient from the beginning of their journey to the end.” These two positions are the nurse navigator and patient care coordinator. If a patient has a screening mammogram that indicates a need for a closer examination, the coordinator will reach out and walk them through the rest of their journey at the center. They will be that individual’s point of contact throughout the entire process. The next step is usually a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, breast MRI, or a combination of these. These types of studies provide a more detailed image of the breast tissue. Depending on the radiologist’s findings, the patient may be advised to schedule a breast biopsy. A biopsy takes a sample of fluid or tissue from the area of concern. A pathologist then examines these cells under a microscope in order to evaluate them for cancer. HALO’s nurse navigator and patient care coordinator work in concert to offer these patients the support, information, and continuity of care they need, regardless of whatever their next step may be. The nurse navigator is present with each patient during his or her stereotactic breast biopsy. Not only is she communicating with the patient throughout their time at HALO, she is actually in the room with the patient and is able to walk them through the process. She schedules a follow-up with the patient where she and the radiologist will go over their exams and speak with the patient about the next steps. The patient care team works diligently in the aftercare facet as well, gathering data, getting results, making phone calls, and connecting every intricate detail needed to ensure excellent patient care even after they leave the breast center. Armando says, “We want our centers to focus on the patients and provide excellent care, but then we have a whole other side of our company that focuses on artificial intelligence and software. We take all the information we acquire from our patients— their patient history, demographics, genetic 32

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Each member has a story, a reason they’ve chosen to join HALO. Leann Pierce wanted to work somewhere she could make a difference, wanted her story to help others understand the importance of prevention, and to share the idea that cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. She was diagnosed with breast cancer after being encouraged to get a mammogram by her mother once her sister was diagnosed. Leann had started her screening mammograms at 40, but life got busy and it just fell to the wayside. She had no lumps, no pain, and no indications that anything was wrong, but was diagnosed with Stage-3

markers, and indicators that drive how and when folks get cancer. We want to integrate that information into our imaging systems to allow our radiologists to try and detect cancer at its earliest stage.” Each screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, and ultrasound is read by one of HALO’s three in-house radiologists. Dr. Letner was born and raised in Chico and began practicing radiology at North State Imaging in 2005. He specializes in Diagnostic Radiology. Dr. Schrader was raised in Bogota, Colombia and has been practicing in Chico since 1992. He received his fellowship training in MRI, CT, and Ultrasound from the University of California, Irvine. HALO’s newest physician is Dr. Hadley, who has worked in Northern California for over twenty years, including Chico’s North State Imaging in 1999. Dr. Hadley completed her Breast Imaging fellowship at Mt. Sinai Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center in Miami. Armando feels, “As a team we are a force. All of the things we do together have allowed us to be able to provide this safe

cancer following a biopsy on October 1, 2012. Leann elected to have a double mastectomy following 6 months of chemotherapy, then had 6 weeks of radiation after her surgery followed by 6 more months of chemotherapy. She has an extensive support system with her family and coworkers, but emphasizes that the presence of a nurse navigator and patient care coordinator, like HALO Breast Care Center has, is especially important for those individuals who may not have such strong connections. When the opportunity to work at HALO presented itself, Leann jumped at the chance. “To be able to be there for people when they come in and are scared, whether it’s their first mammogram or a diagnostic—I want them to know it’s ok.” Leann’s personal experience lends to her protectiveness of the patients and she commends her fellow staff on their care, “Thank you for walking them out and making sure they get into their car, thank you for caring. That’s what I love, how awesome the staff is and how they truly care about these patients.”

space for our patients to come here and get screened.” The breadth of the team includes the radiologists, the technologists who are educated and trained in their specialized modalities, as well as the highly skilled and helpful representatives.” While October may be breast cancer awareness month, every month should bring attention to the fact that screening saves lives. It has helped reduce cancer mortality rates by more than 40% since 1990. Prevention is crucial, and early detection is key. On October 16th, HALO Breast Care Center is hosting the Relay for Life of North State. Survivors will speak about their experiences and HALO’s radiologists will give presentations on the importance of prevention. By raising awareness and funds, the community comes together to make a difference. Armando explains, “When we rally together in the fight against cancer, we can accomplish anything.” HALO Breast Care Center is located at 1720 Esplanade. The phone number to call and schedule your mammogram is (530) 8980500. Do it today for your tomorrow.

"E a a re b h

"Effie is simply fantastic! Her knowledge of the local market, her expertise in negotiations, and her attention to detail throughout was very impressive. She demonstrated her willingness to go above and beyond without hesitation prior to, and all through, the escrow process. It will be my pleasure to recommend her to all my friends and associates in the future, whenever they are in the market to buy or sell. Effie is a real gem, and both my husband and myself feel VERY fortunate to have had her in our corner." -Pam & Bill Fuller, Chico

This magnificent residence awaits, situated right in the heart of Bidwell Park. As you step through the massive double-door entry, you will immediately be drawn into the home's warm and happy aura. With soaring ceilings, numerous windows, and lustrous wood floors, it's easy to imagine yourself in this dream home. At 2152 square feet, no expense was spared and no consideration forgotten in the building of this estate. With 3 oversized bedrooms, plus a spacious master suit and 3 bathrooms, this home is perfectly sized for nearly any buyer. The kitchen, built for a gourmet chef, follows the rest of the home's attention to detail. Beautiful cabinets adorn the walls with endless storage, while the granite counters provide plenty of room for prep. Warm your feet by the living room's fireplace and enjoy the dancing flames. The yard is beautiful with its in ground Gunite pool, wood decking, and outdoor dining patio. Additionally, in the past 2 years, the seller has installed a solar system, wood floors in all bedrooms, pool pump/filter, and a dishwasher. This home also offers 2 A/C units, 2 heating units, under-the-kitchen-sink water heater, 2 year old roof, 5 burner gas cook top and a convection oven. With a 2 car garage, indoor laundry room, and every creature comfort to speak of, this home couldn't get any better.

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,152 Price: $799,500 Vacant Land!!! Bring your blueprint and build your dream home on this 1.5 acre lot! Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac location, it will take only one look to know this is where you want your dream house to be. According to the seller, property is zoned for having horses after obtaining a permit from the Town of Paradise. Also, prior to the Camp Fire, the property was on septic, well water, and PID water. Buyers are advised to verify this information with the town of Paradise. Seller does not have any information regarding whether the well or septic are functional presently. Buyer to investigate to their own satisfaction.

Acres: 1.5 Price: $79,000

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 her one the most wellthrough. positioned in professional, make positive, and hasofincredible follow She agents helped us townnavigate to find our the way rightthrough buyers. Every one in my family uses her as an the sale of two homes and the purchase of agentanother—all and for good reason, timeShe after time she has delivered excellent at the same time! never missed a beat. She made sure we results" -Sam, Chico understood the process, and stayed in constant contact with us. Even after all three homes closed, she continued to call, email, and text just to make sure 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 very popular floor plan in Hancock Park is ready for the picky buyer! The landscaped lawns both front and back have been cared for and show a thought out design. Lots of patio space (covered) to enjoy as well as cemented walking path to a beautiful built Shed for even more storage! This home has vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, open concept living area with kitchen open to family room. Enjoy the fire or watching your favorite show while preparing a meal for the family!! This is the hub of the home and offers lots of windows allowing natural light in. There is a neighborhood park not far away and is a perfect place to walk the dog, ride your bike, or take a picnic at!!! There is Pride of ownership here in this home! Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 1,881 Price: $550,000

Country Setting! Enjoy big beautiful oaks trees in this very peaceful setting. This vintage home has ample room to entertain both inside and out with open kitchen to family room with woodstove, loads of windows and storage galore! Separate This was the model home and only one owner! There have been many A terrific Michael Galli floor plan updated and remodeled from head to and living with upgrades including travertine tiles, upgraded carpets, granite, oversized toe about a year ago. Stainlessdining steel appliances, graniteroom, counters, plush lot, built in desk in media room, special color paint throughout, draperies, a special master Indoor carpets, decorator lighting, exterior and interior painting,suite. lush park like yard, landscaped beautifully with slate water fall, flowers galore and redwood sparkling in ground gunite pool,laundry, newer 10x10 outdoor shed, and wood All stove, vaulted ceiling, trees.Solar!!! RV Access sides of house andPool!!! two master suitesSchools!!! make shows like Wow!! a modelBe home.appliances Open floor plan with soinmany upgrades! Owned A on BIGboth Shop!!! Anthe Inground Durham Wow!truly Wow!! included the sale! If this home a must see! the new proud owner Bed: and4.0 ownBath: this4.0 great property!!! It's been nearly 2 decades since this you have lots of cars, boats, and SqFt: 3,166 Price: $429,000 Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 3,675 Price: $665,000 little slice of heaven has been offered !!! Newer carpet, refinished hardwood floors in some off road toys, this is the place rooms, there are some dual pane windows, washer/dryer/refrigerator are included. Fireplace, for you ! Enjoy the large shops woodstove, and a wonderful HVAC will keep you warm or cool in this country home! There is with concrete floors, electricity, a wonderful newer addition of a Sunroom with large windows into the backyard! The riding and room for all sorts of storage. lawn mower and generator are included in the sale. Bed: 3.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,000 Bed: 4.0 Bath: 1.5 SqFt: 2,500 Price: $625,000 Price: $400,000

Yikes!

My homes are selling fast! Call if I can Celebrating 31 years help by listing yourin home today! Chico Real Estate! CA-DRE lic# 01084946 Call or text me

regarding these homes and others

(530) 514-4855

SherryLinnCalbert@gmail.com

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"Effie came highly recommended by my brother and his family whom had a positive experience buying their house through her. She was friendly, helpful, and willing to go above and beyond from our first phone conversation. Within a few days, Effie arranged for me to see every house available in my price range, and I found the one I ended up buying. She was organized and thorough in all of the details, paperwork, and support. I could reach Effie with questions at any time, and she worked hard to help me buy my first house. My kids and I couldn't be happier in our new house, and we are so grateful for all that Effie did for us!" -Laura Ray

Golf Course!! In an exclusive community of fine estates, awaits this captivating residence. Sheltered by majestic trees and situated on over a one-half acre lot, this stunning home offers exquisite detailing throughout. From the updated kitchen with its granite countertops, the 5-burner gas stovetop, dual ovens, trash compactor, soft-close cabinets, pots & pans drawers, and the security system, this home exemplifies quality. The lavish living room and formal dining room have held numerous parties and entertained many friends and families. Guests must have marveled at the rich wood floors while gathered around the crackling of wood in the fireplace, and conversed in the warm ambiance of the spacious family room. You will love the master suite, which provides his and her closets, dual vanity, a bidet, and an oversized Roman tub shower. Here, you will fall in love with the flowing floorplan, well proportioned rooms, indoor laundry, 2 fireplaces, and its brand new AC unit. The yard is exquisite and offers numerous dining patios, an in-ground Gunite pool, sauna, stunning landscaping, a fire pit, RV area, and plenty of space for gardening. This home is being offered for you to create warm memories of your own. The assessor record shows this home as 4 bedrooms, however one of the bedrooms does not have a closet. Bed: 4.0 Bath: 2.5 SqFt: 2,487 Price: $787,000

Tranquility!!! Situated on a 5 acres of enchanted forest, where the eagles soar high, you will discover this magical place. This beautiful home offers towering ceilings, walls of glass windows, and beautiful wood floors. The spacious living room, oversized formal dining room, and the huge kitchen are perfectly designed for entertaining family and friends. The gourmet kitchen, with its center island and its granite countertops, is fully equipped with a six-burner gas stove/grill/wok burner, 2 ovens, microwave, instant hot-water dispenser, veggie sink, wine rack, and Bosch dishwasher. The home offers 2 bedrooms and a bath on the first floor, and on the 2nd floor you will find the master suite with walk-in shower, soaking tub, a spacious game room (which can be used as a 4th bedroom ), a hall bath and an office area. This home is also equipped with a detached art studio unit with a 1/4 bath, owned solar, outdoor shower with hot water, wired for sound system, water softener, water purifier, and has brand new septic tanks with brand new leach lines. The yard is beautiful with its majestic sheltering trees, fruit trees, and a spring that runs through this property (when it's not dry). In the morning, you will breakfast by the pool, enjoying the sound of a waterfall, and at night simply relax and enjoy your unobstructed view of the star speckled sky! Bed: 3.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,482 Price: $569,000

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The feather Plumas County came into my life when I was a senior in my Bay Area high school. A couple of representatives for the brand-new Feather River Junior College in Quincy, gave us a little slide show of the new mini-campus tucked back among the pines. This visit would foretell my relationship with Plumas County and even my future career in Real Estate. “This new college is in the Alameda School District,” said the guy from Feather River, “so it’s tuition free to you kids.” The guy was wearing a plaid shirt, blue jeans, and hiking boots. I raised my hand. “Where do I sign up?” Within a week of graduation, I hauled my newly purchased, 20-year-old, 18-foot trailer to Quincy. I landed a summer job with the Quincy Courthouse landscaping and maintenance crew. My buddy Perkins moved up from the Bay, and he, too, hired on with the courthouse crew. We dug ditches, planted trees, and poured concrete. The big exposed-aggregate concrete plaza we poured is still the foreground to the Quincy Courthouse. By way of roaming the creeks and rivers in the territory, Perkins and I came upon an old cabin with no windows or doors, situated on the narrow shore of the Feather River. A handmade wooden sign was nailed to the wall of the cabin, which read “Moffett’s Idle Hour.” This is where 38

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my budding Real Estate career began. I started with “prospecting”. We searched the records at the Quincy Courthouse and wrote a letter to the listed address of the Idle Hour property owner in Morgan Hill. We received a letter from Mrs. Moffett who wrote glowingly of the great times her family had at their Idle Hour. But those times were past and gone. She included a sentence “… I hereby give you the right to act as caretaker for the Idle Hour at no expense and no liability for the owner of the property…” That’s some successful prospecting! One letter and gold is found! The Idle Hour was our private vacation spot with endless fishing and swimming on the mighty Feather River. Thank you, Mrs. Moffett. As we now watch the fires ravaging Plumas County, we find it ironic that the fate of the Idle Hour cabin was not to burn. It was taken away in the floods that scoured out the Feather River Canyon in 2017. Still, we pray for rain. Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. Call or text 530-680-0817. See an archive of columns at lovesrealstories.com.

Creating and Inhibiting Both, this political climate and pandemic life have so many people feeling powerless, which can often lead to hopelessness, emotional struggle, or being easily triggered. Throughout the course of our existence as humans, we have had to learn to exist within strife and struggle, and it appears we are in another global season. Individually, we’ve never had to navigate such chaos, and many of us feel as though we’re nearing our breaking points. This moment. Here. Now. This is a time to take a deep breath in; sit down, and make yourself aware of your body’s space in the room. Feel the mass displacement you create by just being there. Notice the temperature of the air as it enters your lungs and notice how it’s warmer as it leaves your mouth. As you breathe deeply, pay attention to how heavy gravity makes your feet and how solid the floor is beneath them. It is through these seasons of strife and struggle that humanity has stepped up to the occasion and innovated. You don’t need the pressure to be innovative, but maybe you can think for a moment and identify one thing in your life that you have some control over. Is it your morning routine? Is it the way you dress

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

and present yourself? Is it a goal that’s so trivial you’ll get to it “soon”? There’s likely at least one small thing that you enjoy and can look forward to, and if there isn’t then let’s take a few minutes to create it. When all feels like it’s spinning out of control, finding one thing to ground you and to act as a foundation from which you can build more positive aspects of your life can make all the difference. It doesn’t have to be a grand scheme, but creating is empowering, especially when so much of our lives feel disempowered. Creating a new routine or creating something tangible are healing opportunities, and creating healthy boundaries: inhibiting unhealthy people, places, or events in our lives can also be the very tool we need to make space to create. For some, the creation process is what they need to ground themselves to take back some of the powerless feelings, for others, creating space that doesn’t have room for toxicity is the creation they need to have breathing room to grow.

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

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PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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NUTRISHOP CHICO GIVING THE GIFT OF HEALTH PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

The holidays are right around the corner, and there’s no easier time to stray from our commitments to health and nutrition than over these final three months of the year. It almost seems as if they were specifically put here to test our resolve. With nutrition landmines like pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween candy, the constant onslaught of baked goods, Thanksgiving, peppermint mochas, copious amounts of alcohol at holiday parties, and Christmas, the 92 days that make up the end of the year are sure

to be trying for even the most committed of individuals. It should come as no surprise then, that the majority of us who make resolutions on January 1st each year count exercise, improving diet, or losing weight as one of them. We scramble to the gym, sign up for year-long memberships, and declare, “This year will be different!” Statistically, the vast majority of us won’t make it past February. So, why is sticking to these resolutions so difficult, and how can we become the healthiest versions of ourselves

permanently? Marc and Shuree Wesley, coowners of Nutrishop Chico, have the answer. “It isn’t about making a flash decision on one particular day of the year.” Shuree said, “It’s about planning ahead, waking up each morning, and making that same decision before you get out of bed. More importantly, it’s about being excited in making that decision, and we should be! Each day we prioritize our health and wellness over the whirlwind of things that seek to derail 43

us from becoming the best versions of ourselves is a significant victory. Too often, we wake up and groan just thinking about what the day has in store for us—work, bills, deadlines, etc. It’s a perfect example of starting the morning focused on the whirlwind, and the whirlwind is something we have little control over. The only thing we are in complete control over is ourselves, so choose to wake up and better yourself each day! It’s a way of living that we’ve always believed strongly in, and it’s what we teach at Nutrishop Chico. It’s been our mission to help others find the same path since we opened our doors.” Shuree has been nutrition-focused throughout her life, but even she had her stumbles along the way. She recalled, “I started studying to be a nutritionist before the Camp Fire, but losing our home and belongings put a pause on my progress. I had to make a conscious effort to make a change and create a new path for myself. Marc and I began focusing on our health and getting back into shape. We cut the junk out of our diets and focused on making sure our bodies received what they actually needed each and every day. The difference became clear in a few short weeks, and just by supplying our bodies with what they needed to operate at their peak, we were able to start the healing process—body, mind, and soul.” It was this journey that eventually led them to purchase Nutrishop Chico in May of 2021. Since then, they have done whatever they could to help others find the same path and begin their own journey to becoming the best version of themselves. Committing to health and nutrition seems like a no-brainer. After all, who wouldn’t want to be healthier? As most have come to find though, initially executing on that decision each day is anything but easy. After years of less-than-healthy choices, our taste buds and brain become primed to covet snacks and meals that are high in fat, sodium, and sugar. Most of us attempt to put a hard stop to that all at once, switching to a whole-foods diet—or other drastically different path—cold turkey. It’s a decision likely doomed to fail before it even begins, causing us to fall into the dreaded yo-yo cycle of dieting. The reality is meaningful change takes time. Nutrishop makes the transition to a 44

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healthier diet easier by providing meal substitutions, in the form of shakes, that are just as filling and delicious as they are healthy and nutritious. With flavors that include white chocolate peppermint, pumpkin spice, cookies and cream, caramel pretzel, churro, peach mango, strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla, there’s something for everyone, and plenty of familiar seasonal flavors to help get us through those holiday cravings. “Finding that perfect balance isn’t easy.” Marc said, “Shakes are just one set of items from a number of different categories at Nutrishop that make finding a healthy balance so much easier. Each day we have community members visit in search of a healthier version of themselves, and we have the knowledge and products to help them on that journey—it’s a great feeling to know we can help! From protein powders to supplements, and fat burners to energy and mood enhancers, we have everything someone could need to jumpstart their health and fitness journey, allowing them to get the most out of every workout and achieve their goals faster.” Marc isn’t exaggerating. Hundreds of items stock Nutrishop Chico’s shelves, and they seem to know everything about each one. If you’re looking for weight loss, check out Gamma Lean. Interested in building muscle? Try the Hydrapro. Trouble falling asleep? They’ve got a number of supplements for that too. Product-after-product, we went down the line before realizing a full explanation of each would keep us occupied for hours. Suffice to say, if you’re looking to lead a more balanced lifestyle, they have you covered. They also have the ability to analyze your progress with their Inbody Machine, a full-body scanner that can provide a comprehensive picture of your body’s health. “It’s a great way to track the effects of the new life choices you make after committing to bettering your health and wellness.” Shuree said, “Changes within our bodies take place immediately, but can take a few weeks to begin showing themselves externally. This is where most people get frustrated and give up on their journey. Having feedback from a machine like this keeps people focused and on the path to achieving the results they seek.” Becoming the healthiest version of yourself has to be a personal decision and your own

journey, but that doesn’t mean others can’t help you along the way or give you a much needed kickstart. With the holidays right around the corner, giving someone the gift of health and nutrition could be the greatest gift they ever receive. Filling stockings with protein powders, pre-workouts, and supplements rather than sugary treats can be the first step in giving someone a helping hand on their journey. Some of Marc and Shuree’s recommendations are listed above. Adding a gift card to Nutrishop Chico will help them not only fill their personal nutrition inventory, but also provide them with the personal coaching they need to make the most out of everything they purchase and use. Swapping a few high-calorie recipes during Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for something more healthy can similarly keep

everyone more health focused during the holiday season. A few of Marc and Shuree’s favorites are listed on the next page. Starting in December, Nutrishop will launch its first annual angel tree initiative, aimed at sponsoring people in Chico who are looking to get healthy but may not have the means to afford a comprehensive program. “We are already working on creating partnerships with local banks, gyms, and businesses to help provide individuals with gym memberships, supplements, and gym clothing.” Shuree said, “Sometimes the cost barrier alone is enough to stop someone from pursuing a healthier lifestyle, and we want to do whatever we can to make sure finances don’t get in the way. A healthier community is a more positive community, and we all win if there’s more positivity 45

surrounding us.” The angel tree program will include bins throughout the community for collecting gently used donations of workout clothing, which will then be provided free of charge to those in need at Nutrishop Chico in Meriam Park. Marc and Shuree both ask that anyone who would like to donate, sponsor, or participate in the program contact them directly for more information. Having already done so much in such a short period of time, Marc and Shuree remain humble and focused on gratitude. “We just want to say thank you to our local nutrition and fitness community for allowing us in.” Marc said, “Everyone has been so wonderful and welcoming—it’s given us the ability to focus on providing guidance to those who need it most while continuing to build our business. We have so much respect for the time, effort, and commitment everyone in the local fitness industry has put into making Chico a healthier community, and we want to give that respect back. The easiest way to do so is by building on the foundation they’ve given us and doing our part to further promote health and fitness locally. Keeping this community as healthy as possible is our main focus and goal.” Nutrishop Chico is a results-driven store geared towards helping people stay healthy and maintain their best possible physique. As sponsors of a number of local athletes and working to make Chico as healthy as possible, they are doing their part to take care of our community. Marc and Shuree are continually expanding their inventory and providing even more opportunities for the community to get healthy and maintain a better way of living. They encourage everyone to come down and talk to anyone at Nutrishop Chico for help in jumpstarting their health and fitness journey. All of the staff have been in-house certified through Nutrishop on all of the supplements and nutrition in the store, and they’re more than happy to provide any direction or coaching that visitors require. Stop in and get started on becoming the best version of yourself today! You can find Nutrishop Chico in Meriam Park at 2275 Springfield Drive, Suite 140 in Chico. You can also reach them via phone at (530) 8981600. Your body will thank you in ways you can’t imagine.

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Crustless Pumpkin Pie Less than 100 calories per serving › 15-ounce can pumpkin puree › 11-ounce vanilla protein shake › 1 scoop vanilla protein powder › 2 large eggs › 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice › ¼ teaspoon salt › Low-calorie sweetener to taste › Sugar-free whipped topping

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin puree, protein shake, protein powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice until evenly mixed. Taste the mixture and add sweetener if desired. Mix the eggs into the pumpkin mixture. Spray 7” to 9” diameter pie dish with cooking spray and pour filling into it. Bake at 350F for about 50 minutes. Cool for one hour. Cut and serve.

peanut butter balls The Dough › 1 cup peanut butter › ½ cup protein powder › ½ cup honey › 2 tsp vanilla extract Combine all ingredients: peanut butter, protein powder, sweetener, and vanilla. Make some 1-inch balls from that soft dough and arrange in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze balls for about 30 minutes. For coating, mix chocolate, sweetener, and oil. Microwave in microwave-safe bowl 30 seconds at a time until smooth. Take balls from freezer, stick with toothpick, and dip in chocolate. Place balls on parchment paper and return to freezer for one hour or more. Remove and serve.

For Chocolate Coating › 3 oz baking chocolate (unsweetened) › 3 tbsp honey or confectioners sweetener › 1 tbsp olive oil

protein brownie bites › 1 cup pumpkin puree (can sub for sweet potato or banana) › ½ cup almond butter (can sub for peanut butter, cashew butter or a nut butter alternative) › ¼ cup cocoa powder › 2 scoops protein powder › 1 serving liquid stevia

Preheat oven to 350F and line a mini-muffin tin with liners. Grease each tin generously. In a highspeed blender, combine all your ingredients and blend/mix until smooth. Pour brownie mixture into each muffin tin, filling until just full. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a skewer/toothpick comes out just clean. Allow to cool in the muffin tin completely. For best results, refrigerate once cooled for several hours.

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTOS BY BEAU VANDERMATE

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTOS BY BEAU VANDERMATE

An Interesting and rewarding experience LeAnn Cooley, owner of Signs and Graphic Design in Chico, is not your typical sitbehind-the-desk owner working on a computer all day. She has done it all in the sign business, from hand-lettering and painting, computer graphics, and sign installation. Doing it all includes getting in a boom lift and helping install the Woodstock’s Pizza sign on the corner of 3rd and Main Streets in Downtown Chico. Rounding out the downtown corners displaying LeAnn’s

creations are 300 Broadway, 115 West 3rd Street, and 245 Broadway. LeAnn’s journey to Chico began in Redding, California, where both of her grandfathers were preachers. Her mom, as well as aunts and uncles, of Indigenous Wintu descent, were artists and musicians. Her mom’s musical influence held sway, and by six years old, LeAnn was playing the piano, guitar, and anything else she could get her

hands on. In sixth grade, she took a turn as a ventriloquist, acting as Santa Claus with her dummy, Danny O’Day, entertaining a kindergarten class at Sycamore Elementary School. While there are no more ventriloquist gigs, LeAnn still plays music locally with The Occasional Swingers and as a duo with Eric Peter. “There’s a synergy between the creative aspect of sign design and playing 49

music,” said LeAnn. “They both take skill, energy, and creativity.” And the creative aspect of her nature led her into the career that really began back in 1987. As a young girl, LeAnn spent many hours in automotive paint stores and businesses as her dad was in the auto-body business. She grew to enjoy the atmosphere of the paint shop, with its pinstriping and hot rod colors. When the wanderlust took over at 21, she moved to San Diego. She ended up entering the world of engineering, and her first job was with R.D. Instruments, where she typeset and designed the layout for the first company handbook, “An Interesting and Rewarding Experience.” It emphasized the entrepreneurial aspect of business and the fact the employees are the company. She still has a copy on her desk. Her next step was hand-lettering on vehicles, pinstriping hot rods, and applying graphics on cars and vans. LeAnn self-taught the skills and a scuba dive shop owner saw her work. He asked if she could make a sign for his business. Being innovative, she used an opaque projector to display the design on plywood, traced it out, and filled it in afterwards. Her pay for the deal: $100 and a dive knife. A big break came in 1997 when she got the call to work for Pacific Sign Construction. Pacific Sign Construction was a big electrical sign company, and LeAnn credits its owners, Roy and Cheryl Flahive, with encouraging her to take a step further in her career. LeAnn said, “The first thing Roy told me was ‘Work starts at 8:00am. Get there at 7:50 and get your coffee. Don’t wander around.’” He added, “Always have a pad

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and paper. Write down what I say because I don’t want to repeat it later.” To this day, LeAnn’s employees carry around a pad and paper! A breakthrough moment came when the older model CNC router broke down. LeAnn got on the phone to the manufacturer, and they walked her through the G-Code programming process. It worked! That’s when the light bulb went off and gave LeAnn the confidence she needed. “At that moment I knew I was intelligent.” Her next career move came when LeAnn got a job at Fabrication Arts in San Diego, a company who counted Disneyland Hong Kong, the Getty Museum, and Legoland among its customers. Once again, she was blessed to have a positive mentor, John O’Connell, who gave her encouragement and is still her biggest cheerleader to this day. “I’ve been very lucky,” said LeAnn. “I’ve had the best people help me in my career. John O’Connell and Roy and Cheryl Flahive made me realize I could accomplish my goals.” One of those goals was earning her C-45 Electrical Sign Contractor’s License, an achievement she is particularly proud of, as the profession is dominated by men. One lesson LeAnn learned is the benefit of having a team. “We are a team. We share the same work email. We double and triple check our work with each other,” she said. “I’m fortunate to have such a good team working for me.” One saying Signs and Designs goes by is, “What looks good on paper doesn’t always look good on the street.” As you can tell by the company’s creations, they make sure their designs always look perfect. You can contact LeAnn by phone at (530) 343-2543 or via email at info@signsofchico.net.

before finding her place in the optical department. She enjoyed helping customers find the perfect pair of glasses and specifically loved the opportunity to work with patients who had strabismus. In 2017, Misty was promoted to Optical Director for the Ridge Eye Care Group and has since overseen all six of their optical departments. She has helped open several clinics and been with the company through a number of trials, including the Camp Fire and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a recipient of considerable goodwill herself, she helped facilitate a fund with the Lions Club to help those less fortunate battle eye disorders of their own. She continues to be the coordinator for those treatments and surgeries throughout the North Valley. Misty exclaimed, “I am forever grateful to help the community that helped change my life.”

Developing Confidence Through Newfound Vision Born with exotropia, a form of strabismus, childhood was anything but easy for Misty Patterson. The disorder caused a misalignment of her eyes that was made physically apparent by one or both eyes floating outwards, out of sync with each other. An intermittent situation, and one which she had zero control over, the unusual movement of her eyes gave plenty of material for bullies to latch onto, making her early years particularly difficult. As her family couldn’t afford glasses at the time, she wore eye patches and focused on eyetraining exercises instead, but they didn’t erase the low self-esteem or lack of self worth she felt during the first few years of elementary school. When Misty entered the second grade, she was gifted her first pair of glasses by the local Lions Club. Though they changed her vision considerably, she still felt like the “dorky” girl in glasses at all times. These 52

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feelings continued through her teens and into her early 20s, until the Live Oak Lions Club chapter paid for an initial exam for eye surgery. The exam proved Misty could experience a significant betterment in her vision, so the chapter approved the funding for her surgery and a hotel. “I received the surgery, and it was absolutely life changing.” Misty said, “I quickly adjusted to my newfound vision and found I was treated with more respect. I developed confidence and the self-worth I should have had for so many years before.” Four years later, Misty’s roommate began working at North Valley Eye Care in Chico and couldn’t help but sing their praises. “I wanted to help others, especially those who had experiences similar to mine growing up.” Misty remembered, “So I applied for a job and was hired in September of 2014.” Misty worked in a number of departments

Beyond overseeing the Ridge Eye Care Group’s private clinic optical departments, she continues to style patients, helping them choose the proper frames and eyewear that complement their unique facial characteristics. Though she primarily works out of Chico, she is constantly on the road traveling throughout Northern California to provide assistance wherever necessary. Asked for advice, she suggests everyone should schedule an eye appointment. “Any change in vision should be checked out immediately.” Misty said, “The sooner an optometrist can see you for a change in vision, the better your outcome will be. As for building confidence, finding the right frame and right look is everything. Put your personality out there! At this point, I have 20 pairs of frames to suit different moods, and each one allows me to be who I want to be at the moment. Let the opticians pick what looks best on you, and don’t hesitate to let them know what you’re most comfortable in. At North Valley Eye Care and the Ridge Eye Care Group, providing excellent customer service is our primary mission. We can help you with anything involving your glasses and eyesight. We have a wide variety of frames for everyone, and love nothing more than to help our community.” If you’re experiencing a change in vision, take Misty’s advice and call the Ridge Eye Care Group and North Valley Eye Care at (530) 891-1900 to set up an appointment. It could change your life just as it did hers.

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The Biden Tax Proposal

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

The long-awaited Budget Reconciliation bill was unveiled this month, and there’s a lot of changes on the way. The bill is the key to Joe Biden’s tax reform and how the government intends to pay for the 3.5 trillion dollar infrastructure stimulus plan. While the bill is nowhere near becoming law, what’s included and omitted says a lot about what will (and won’t) become law. Most of the proposed bill would go into effect in 2022, and most of the proposal focuses on those making over $400k annually. Individual Taxes | The top marginal rate increases from 37% to 39.6% | A 3% High Income Surcharge for incomes over $5 Million | Long-term Capital gains are currently 20% but jumping up to 25% for high earners. This is lower than the “ordinary income” tax which had been discussed. The 3.8% Medicare surtax also applies. Corporate Taxes | Corporate taxes are currently a flat 21%, but the new proposal is a sliding scale from 18-26.5%. | Pass-through corporations such as S corps and LLC’s will no longer be able to avoid the 3.8% Medicare surtax. | The Section 199 20% Qualified Business Income deduction is (shockingly) still alive for self-employed business owners but is capped at $400-500k. Estate taxes | Estate taxes would revise back down from $24 Million to $12 Million, 4 years ahead of schedule. Retirement plans | Roth conversions would be disallowed for people in the top tax bracket, beginning in 2031. This gives people 10 years to convert their existing IRA accounts to Roth, which encourages a current tax windfall for the IRS. | The Mega-backdoor Roth would come to end- workplace retirement plans would be prohibited from allowing after-tax contributions. | Anyone with IRA or retirement accounts exceeding $10 Million dollars would be disallowed from making contributions. Additionally, required minimum distributions would kick in once an IRA or Roth IRA balance exceeds $10 Million. 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 This is not tax advice. | 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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one of these. Through this new connection, Greg fell in love with soul music and started to develop his R&B sound. He eventually found himself lovestruck and married the woman he now calls his best friend. The two had kids, and the experience further guided Greg in his craft as he discovered the true meaning of family. As time went by, Greg happened upon another avenue he hadn’t given much thought to—the world of music for TV shows, movies, and advertisements. It was a big field and held limitless opportunities for his music to be featured in numerous places. Many commercials and shows started using Greg’s music, including the popular Netflix show, “You,” that featured his song “Pretty Good.” Another show, “Black Ink Crew,” featured his song “Warrior,” and the offers kept coming. Things were finally taking off, and Greg was eventually able to make music his full-time job.

The Prodigy Returneth From humble beginnings in the small town of Chico, an artist was emerging. Greg Scott Jr. was heavily influenced by his father Greg Scott Sr. At nine, Greg would make his own appearance on his father's sets ridding himself of stage fright from an early age. It wasn't long after that Greg's parents noticed his potential and unwavering will to perform. Through his teen days, he would play in numerous bands and perform at special events. The snap tracksuits, combined with the signature white K- Swiss shoes, were taking over. We can thank Justin Timberlake for those memories. Greg found himself experimenting with different sounds and trying out new dance routines dressed in flavorful outfits, knowing full well there was a change coming. With music never at a standstill, it was ever so important to stay on top of the latest trends and opportunities.

Greg always believed if an opening presented itself to go after it. So, when one finally presented itself, he did. Greg was able to win the Northern California American Idol and make it past qualifying rounds all the way to Los Angeles. The journey was not exactly what he had in mind though. While grateful for the experience, he was happy to be done and firmly believed that everything happens for a reason. Little did Greg know this would only be the start of a beautiful voyage. A move to the Bay Area would change his course, guiding him to more prevailing arenas. Greg is an ‘artist’ and, like artists do, he was making new connections through trips to L.A. It was during one of these trips when he met his first manager—one that would stick by his side, leading to new connections. The beautiful and talented Roberta Flack was

Little to his knowledge, another huge opportunity was getting ready to emerge. The talented singer/songwriter finally got the recognition he deserved. NBC’s hit show, Songland, features up-and-coming singers and songwriters, but unlike other shows of that caliber which would typically use other well-known artists' music, Songland was completely different. Instead, they relied on the contestants to prove they can write a song for a featured artist to record. Greg Scott checked off every box and quickly made a name for himself on the show. The judges were looking for a song that could be played at sporting events or in competitive settings; at the time, Greg felt he didn't have anything from his song list to offer. Then a lightbulb went off. Greg remembered a song he worked on but never recorded. Titled “Miracle,” it turned out to be exactly that for him. The judges all loved his song, and he ended up earning a spot for it to be used in the Olympics. Through his continued success, Greg never left touch with the small town he came from. He says Chico will always have a spot in his heart, and the community that always showed their support. Greg will be taking a trip down memory lane when he performs at the El Rey Theater on October 22. Tickets are available online, so make sure to buy some before they sell out and show this Chico native some love!

Over the last couple months, Upgraded Living has been highlighting waterways and different bodies of water surrounding our community. We have talked about the amazingly little-known Paradise Lake and its capitatvting nature. We now have the pleasure of talking about what is known as Black Butte Lake. The very same Black Butte Lake that, in the late 60’s and mid 70’s, served as the destination for the surrounding high school’s “cut days.” From Chico and Pleasant Valley, schools from the east and west selected this as the cut day target. The lake, itself, located about 9 miles west of Orland, provides a neutral location for neighboring communities to come and gather with joy. When the lake is full, it covers over 4,460 acres and a shoreline of over 40 miles. However, what sets this lake apart from others is the vast amount of activities 56

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available. Black Butte Lake features ample camping, courtesy of Buckhorn Campground, featuring such facilities as showers, clean bathrooms, and firepits at each site. Unfortunately there are no power hookups, so come prepared when camping with an RV. My favorite part of the lake is, unequivocally, the dam. It provides a majestic birds-eye-view of the entire lake. If you are fortunate to stop by at sunset, you surely will be mesmerized by the contrasting colors and shadows, mysteriously illuminating the surrounding foothills. The dam, completed and dedicated in 1963, provides much needed protection for the vast agriculture area it serves from potential floods. It may not seem like a problem now, due to our drought. Hopefully that changes this

WRITTEN BY BEAU VANDERMATE | PHOTOS BY BEAU VANDERMATE

Oh That Damn Dam!

winter as La Niña graces us with much needed rain. On the other hand, in the 1940’s, flooding was quite persistent in these areas of the foothills, and many floods threatened livelihood downstream. One particular flood in Stony Creek, adjacent to the Sacramento River, did considerable damage. Many locals at the time would call it the 100-year flood, as storms like these did not come often. This flood prompted the construction of the dam. It is said that the dam has protected and saved the area over $300 million in land and assets. While reducing flood risks is a fundamental need, the dam also regulates the water supply for most of Orland and additional farming needs. In addition, the dam also provides fantastic fishing for the lake, and many fishermen cast their lines off its friendly banks. Black Butte Lake is generously filled with a variety of fish like Bluegill, Catfish, Green Sunfish, and the Largemouth Bass. The Green Sunfish is

a species of freshwater fish known as a panfish and is popular with anglers. However you cast it, there’s sure to be plenty of fish to go around. For those who enjoy boating—ski boats, jet skis and more are welcomed at Black Butte Lake. The versatile compact lake can make for some fun turns and maneuverability when driving any sort of watercraft. Black Butte Lake would be nothing if it wasn't for the dedicated workers that keep the facilities clean year round. Whenever you find yourself looking for a fun weekend of camping that is not too far from Chico, perhaps tap Black Butte Lake as your next spot. I know I will.

The California drought of 1976-1977, the worst drought in the history of the state, saw The Golden State endure its fourth driest year on record, only to then suffer the driest year in the state’s history, 1977. At the time, most people saw this as a normal climate cycle. The rains will surely begin again and everything will be good. After all, the local farm expression cited two dry years followed by a wet year. That's the way it had been since the farm community could remember. However, even after the normal cycle did resume in the subsequent years, the drought of ‘77 became a harbinger of what would increasingly become “normal” at the beginning of the 21st century. While we had no idea about the future and the perils it would bring, we endured

the drought, conserved water by taking “Marine Showers” (Turn on water long enough to get wet. Turn it off and soap up your body, and then turn on and rinse off.) We were urged to conserve. Don't water lawns, don’t wash your cars, and make every drop count. And we did, thinking this would alleviate matters until the next big, wet winter. On the upside of the drought, however, was being able to float five or six miles down the flume outside of Paradise. Because of the low water levels in the flume, you could take your inner tube and jump right in. You might have to duck in a few places or lie flat across the tube in order not to hit your head on the walkway above. However, for the most part, the ride was swift and cool with a beautiful

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTO BY LEA GREER

Floatin' the flume

view of the canyon in the heat of the day. In the summer of 1977, my future bride and two friends drove up to Paradise to access the flume by hiking in to get there. The August sun beat down on our shoulders, and the subsequent sweat and heat made jumping into the cool, completely clear water a huge relief. Accompanying us were two dogs, and, yes, they each had their own tube. They were veterans of the flume ride and showed it! At one point in the ride the flume disappeared into the black maw of a tunnel about a mile long. The dogs had no hesitation and floated right on into the welcoming water. The first part of the tunnel trip let in some light from behind, but when you began to round the curve, it became so completely dark you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. As we rounded the curve, faint light appeared until we could literally see “the light at the end of the tunnel.” It was always a relief no matter how many times you surfed the tunnel.

Back then, we felt fortunate to be able to float the flume for such a great length. You could go down the flume when the water was higher, but you either went “bareback” or used a partially deflated air mattress to ride on. One thing is certain though, back in ‘77, we took the experience for granted. Yes, the ride was a blast, and you could stop at certain points to enjoy the view, or take a sip of wine out of the plastic jugs we brought. Overall, you felt as if the future promised unlimited joy and fulfillment. What 20-year-old doesn’t feel that way on the brink of full adulthood with the wide world at your fingertips? Without a doubt, thousands of people have gotten to experience the flumes over the years and all the gifts it offered. But no more. Tragically, those beautiful structures burned in the Camp Fire, and the entire length of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Miocene Canal system is dry and faces the reality of never having water run through it again. Bleak future to be sure, for the 20-somethings in today’s world. 59

DESIGNER EDUCATOR BUILDER Rouben Mohiuddin of Design SI Rouben Mohiuddin brings visions to life through a collaborative and holistic design process. With more than 25 years of experience working and teaching in the field of design, architecture and planning, Rouben’s studio, Design SI, offers a myriad of opportunities for homeowners to create something unique that compliments their lifestyle. In your words, how would you define what you do? I think of myself as a resource and facilitator of creative lifestyle design. I am committed to the idea that design is a fluid problem-solving creative process, derived contextually with attention to detail in a collaborative environment. I approach ideas with an open mind, without a preconceived notion or a personal agenda. When approaching a new project, what are the first steps you take to ensure it start off seamlessly? Establishing good communication, trust, and clear expectations. Every journey starts with a direction. Understanding where you are and where you want to go is the first task we do together. We discuss the goals, needs, and the function of the project. We also discuss design expectations, available budget, pertinent building code and zoning regulations. As we listen, reflect, and learn, we help you arrive at a realistic budget estimate for creating the perfect space. In what ways do you tend to draw inspiration from your projects? Inspiration typically comes as I get to know the site, context, and client better; we want to be inspired by our clients to design a space that relates to them. Our goal is to respond individually to each project, subsequently ridding ourselves of a repetitious personal style and self-promoting ‘signature’ design. I enjoy listening to my clients’ personal stories, getting to know their personalities, day-to-day rituals and experiences. I try to translate my clients’ personal stories into the design using various shapes, colors, and materials. You are currently a Professor at California State University – Chico. What inspired you to bring your skills to the classroom and teach others? Yes, I’m currently a Professor of Interior Architecture. I never had any plans to be a teacher; it happened by chance while working on community projects early in my career. For as much as I love to design, I also love to learn; and it’s that same desire for knowledge that I would hope to inspire in my students. That’s the reason that I became a teacher. How has teaching influenced your work? I don’t want my classes to be something that my students have to “get through.” Rather, I hope that they will see them as the start of a process, a journey which will carry them through their career. Similarly, designing a project is a journey. So, they go hand in hand. In the classroom, I emphasize research-based design, focusing on creative solutions, continuous 3D testing, exploration and redesign of various ideas and design concepts. I use the same process in my own work. Being a design professional requires you to educate your client, instead of prescribing them a design solution. Education allows clients to make sound decisions by understanding the implications through different options. No matter how many houses we’ve designed, there is always room to improve and learn, and to attempt new things. Contact Rouben at (530) 965-5731 or email him at roubenm@designsi.net. You can also see a portfolio of Rouben’s work at www.designsi.net. 60

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The bridge under vanishing water I was born when my family lived in Oroville. My stay lasted two years before they moved 22 miles east to Chico. We may have left our roots behind but never ignored the ties to my hometown. This included a set of grandparents, an aunt and uncle, and strong links to our favorite swimming hole at the bottom of the Feather River Canyon, under the shade of a suspension bridge, known simply as Bidwell Bar. In the summertime, these kindred visits were related directly to our weekly rendezvous with the beautiful sandy beach leading to the inviting water. High along the cliff overlooking the river below was the community of Las Plumas. Our mother was raised in this quaint hamlet known mainly for its post office. My early childhood is known for the trips down the two-lane Oro-Quincy highway which has since been relocated from the dam and its massive lake waters. At the time, arriving at the swim hole was also to be down deep in the Feather River Canyon. Repetitive switchbacks led the way down, down, down to the inviting river below. Our Golden Retriever, Amber, made short work of the man-made path 62

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by jumping out of the side window of the car as it was being parked and taking a straight route through the switchbacks. She hit the water long before we hiked down to join her. My older siblings would arrive shortly after holding on to the hand-sewn pillow case made from a pair of fitted sheets. Running down the path, holding the sheets high above their shoulders, filled it full of air allowing the first in the water to jump on top and ride down the river’s quiet current. Being the youngest at the time, leaves me with fractured memories of the cherished trips. Little did we know we were but living what would be nothing more than a historical tall tale of sorts.

Bidwell Bar was well known not only for its friendly sandy beach but also the bridge spanning across the Feather River’s water below. It is the first steel suspension bridge in California, completed in December 1855 for $35,000. In comparison, the cost of replacing the Honey Run Bridge today is estimated at $2.9 million. Most of the

money to complete the construction was put up by Judge Joseph Lewis, who moved to Bidwell's Bar in 1849. The bridge crosses the Middle Fork Feather River and is the only one of several suspension bridges built in the area in the 1850s that still remains. Hard to comprehend, the Bidwell Bar Bridge remained open to vehicle traffic until 1954. The completion of construction of the Oroville Dam flooded the canyon where the Feather River ran and placed the town of Bidwell's Bar at the bottom of the lake. The bridge is built a mile and a half upstream from the original location of the Bidwell Bridge. At the time, it was one of the highest suspension bridges, but with the creation of the lake, the bridge now sits just above the water level when the lake is full. On another note, the entire location of the bridge, the beach, and the community of Las Plumas were based on John Bidwell’s Bar. It was founded by General John Bidwell on the bank of the Middle Fork Feather River nine miles northeast of Oroville. One of the oldest mining camps in California, it was there that Bidwell struck it rich on July 4, 1848. The community of Las Plumas, whose name gave the tiny colony the Spanish translation for the river it resided in—a feather. Bidwell’s gold camp and Las Plumas served briefly as Butte’s county seat for a short time after the General’s striking gold. For years, Bidwell Bar Day celebrated the bridge for its historical place, the gold rush, and the pioneers. The entire camp and surrounding community are all intact under Lake Oroville. Preservationists arranged for the relocation of the bridge in 1966 to the south side of the lake, where it is still open to foot traffic. The dam was completed in 1968. Age and history has its own way of making certain changes occur time and time again. That is why we have memory. Memories like our dog jumping out of the passenger window, discovering our mom grew up in a community called las Plumas, and running down a hill to inflate a giant pillow case before jumping into the inviting waters of Bidwell Bar. In this case, the history is as rich as the treasured memories.

Nina Hive is a product of Aliyah ShineFajardo’s heritage, history, and fierce determination. Growing up, people would ask Aliyah what she wanted to be when she grew up, and she always had a lot of answers. She wanted to be an actress, an astronaut, or join the army, but it was always part of the plan that at some point she was going to open a clothing store. She laughs and says, “I’d say, ‘I’m going to go be an astronaut, and when I retire I’ll open a clothing store.’” Aliyah built her portfolio marketing various businesses in the area. While she enjoyed the work, there was something missing. She was building up businesses and clientele for others instead of focusing on her own dream. She says, “I decided to do what I’d always wanted to do ever since I was a little girl.” She didn’t know how to go about achieving it without money or business help, but she was focused and determined. Using her tax refund to purchase two portable racks from a thrift store, she proceeded to fill them with wholesale clearance clothing finds. Living in her extended family’s compound at the time, with her second husband Leo and three children, there wasn’t a lot of room for the budding business. So, she set up in an old Fleetwood Prowler RV with her racks of clothing, her phone’s hotspot as her internet base, and focused on establishing her shop’s website. 64

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She found that rather than sales being spread out across the country, like she had expected, 90% of her clientele were actually local. She had done very well with the help of the Yuba City community as they sought to support her in her new venture. She decided to investigate doing pop-ups in the area and had a weekend sale at the mall which had an amazing turnout followed by a busy holiday sale. Now, she was ready to set up a permanent location in an area she loved, and in March of 2021, she opened Nina Hive at the Hillcrest Plaza in Yuba City. Six months later, she added another location at the Chico Marketplace. The boutique’s name has two origins. The ‘Hive’ part of the name brings forward the concept of many individuals working together to create something bigger than themselves. ‘Nina’ comes from Aliyah’s Punjabi great grandmother. Nina was a true powerhouse, a woman who believed in education, who always worked hard, and always believed in her granddaughter. Aliyah says, “I grew up with her a lot. Nina instilled confidence in me, something I really didn’t get anywhere else at that time.” Nina’s voice echoes in Aliyah’s mind like a spirit guide, "You can do anything that you believe in. I am betting on you!" She’s created a clothing boutique that truly embodies her sense of self. The brightly colored saris hanging over the register honor her Indian heritage, small touches

speak to her mother’s Filipino background, and pink stripes signifying her great great grandmother and Nina’s mother, Nand Kaur Singh, surround you. When writing up her plan for what Nina Hive should be and everything it should encompass, Aliyah drew from personal experiences. She says, “Anybody can sell clothing. I wanted more.” She remembered the feeling when her husband, Leo, took her shopping for her first official work attire. Aliyah had fled her abusive past life with only her children and a single suitcase when she settled back in Northern California. “I hadn’t worked for a long time, didn’t have any money and had left everything I had to my name behind. Leo took me and bought me clothes.” She says that while some may think of clothes and shopping as silly and superficial, she “just remembers feeling so good. That’s the feeling I want people to be able to experience when they shop at Nina Hive.” Aliyah’s story is so much more than what is here on these pages. She focuses on affordability, community, and personal connections at her boutique. Go and visit her newest store in the Chico Marketplace, sit down on that comfy bright orange couch and visit with her. You’ll likely find a friend and an inspiration for whatever goals you may have.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY BEAU VANDERMATE

A Snippet of how nina HIVE arrived

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A GENUINE SPIRIT LOOKS TO FLY Ben Donnelley is a twelve-year-old 7th grader who attends Bidwell Jr. High. His sunny disposition and natural exuberance in life is evident as soon as you sit down to talk with him. When you hear his current favorite book is “So You Want to Be A Commercial Airline Pilot,” you can’t help but want to know more. Ben’s interest in flight first began two years ago, after a Christmas trip to Denver. His aunt is a flight attendant and, initially, Ben thought it would be an interesting career, but then he started learning more about pilots and thought, “That would be pretty cool.” He appreciates all the tips the book offers for becoming a commercial pilot, and he likes that it has a pros and cons section, which gives insight into both sides of the profession. This past summer, Ben was lucky enough to fly to Alaska with his family to spend some time with his uncle who lives near Ketchikan. While there, they mostly went fishing on the rivers and the ocean. Ben also enjoys taking photos of nature and was able to get some great shots of brightly colored starfish while out on the water in Alaska. This love of flying and photography are probably why he’s looking forward to someday taking a trip to Hawaii, along with his camera, to enjoy 66

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all the beautiful scenery he’s heard about. At Bidwell Junior High, Ben’s involved in both the Peer Mediator Club and Club Live. Peer mediators work to solve conflicts among the students, raise awareness about mental health, and focus on improving the local community. Club Live is a youth group run through Butte County Behavioral Health whose goal is to create a school environment that is both positive and supportive. The club meets each week to create student connections through games and discussions about common issues students may be facing such as drugs, alcohol, smoking, and vaping. Ben says he joined these clubs because he “really liked the thought of teaching people about mental health” and wanted to learn more himself. Ben’s teachers note that Ben has an ability to make anyone around him feel comfortable and like they belong. He never hesitates to volunteer to do an extra project and has shown his leadership by becoming an officer in Club Live as a 6th grader. He is confident and kind—a true joy to be around. Ben’s advice to others coming into middle school at Bidwell is to go in with a positive attitude and just be yourself.

Celebrating the symbols of love and romance The stunning beauty releasing the magic of roses deserves to be celebrated. That is the exact goal of the annual Chico’s Festival of Roses, marking the 26th year of the event. After a year’s absence during the pandemic, the festival, presented by the Butte Rose Society, is on again. The entire community is invited, Saturday, October 30th, from 1:00 to 4:30. The event is, of course, at the Chico Community Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, and there is no admission fee. Several hundred roses, grown by local members, are expected at the judged show, marking this as a great place to check out the plants that do remarkably well in the Northstate. And, as rose growers say, “The rose is not difficult to grow.” Members of the Butte Rose Society will be on hand, including certified rose experts, to answer questions or simply chat and brainstorm about what’s going on in the garden or planning for a future garden. “The Butte Rose Society’s rose show is called the Festival of Roses because we offer much, much more than a display of beautiful roses,” describes festival coordinator Joanne Lester of Chico. “Our club caters to those with many interests, therefore in addition to our horticultural 68

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display, the show will feature roserelated arts and crafts, flower arranging, photography, and a fragrant rose contest. Our members have been hard at work so we can show off our love of roses to the public on October 30. I hope you will join us at the C.A.R.D. center.” Unlike other shows, the Festival of Roses is not just about gorgeous flowers. There will be educational exhibits, photographs, and the arts and crafts section clearly incorporating everything roses. Those attending will also be able to help pick the show’s most fragrant rose. This is a most popular and challenging competition. Not surprisingly, there are even more roses! Just stroll right out the Community’s Center’s backdoor to discover the Creekside Rose Garden, a public garden featuring more than 100 rose bushes. The relatively-new public rose garden was created by Chico Area Recreation and Park District with help from the Butte Rose Society. The garden has hosted weddings, anniversaries, parties and more throughout the year. It was sponsored in part by the late Chico philanthropist Marilyn Warrens. Public participation goes beyond merely seeing how blooms on the bush can also

help gardeners decide on the type, size, and shape of the rose they might want to buy. Members of the public can participate in the show, either to submit cut roses for the judging competition, or submitting a rose photograph. A junior division, from 17 and younger, can submit rose blooms and arrangements, as well as photos, for judging. More information on public participation is available from www.butte-rosesociety. org/2021roseshowguidebook.htm COVID guidelines and mandates from the California Department of Public Health and Butte County Public Health will be followed. Masks are recommended. The Butte Rose Society is a nonprofit, community oriented, educational organization dedicated to the enjoyment of roses and is affiliated with the American Rose Society. The monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month at the Chico Veterans Memorial Hall, 554 Rio Lindo Ave., Chico. Guests are welcome free.

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By Kevin Dolan

Chances are I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind, that I put down in words how wonderful life is while you’re in the world - Elton John The 5th day of this month will mark the 51st time my darling Renee finds herself, once again, the same age as me. I have yet to confirm a single person who believes it’s true. Even me. In a somewhat enigmatic way, Renee has always struck me as the perfect cross between Mary Poppins and Julia Roberts. One obviously being practically perfect in every way and, the other, an unquestioned pretty woman in denial of the truth attached to that fact. Practically and denial should be marked with emphasis. One month into our senior year, which also clearly marks the fact we are the same age, Renee was sitting in a corner booth with her sister at the popular hangout, Denny’s on 5th and Main Streets. I walked in with some friends, and, without hesitation, she pointed and told her sister she was going to marry me. Through my eyes and heart at the time, I would have said her chances were awfully good. This foolproof matching of a diametrically opposed pair, could not be better summed up with that pointing of her finger. When Mary Poppins enters your life, it is forever changed, and she is going to mindfully be in charge of the present and her future. Once Julia Roberts is in line of sight, your eyes steer your heart to the most unequaled embodiment of something. Something pretty women do not understand, or even consider embracing. That said, I’ve never believed Renee was not one bit in denial that she knew she had completely turned my head in every direction. She’ll just never admit it. There, of course, exists a lengthy laundry list of things ‘I could put down in words’ revealing how wonderful life is, and not just my life, while Renee has been in the world. To start, she possesses an uncomplicated manner of touching people’s hearts. Renee moves smoothly on this planet in a transparent fashion. She is patient to a fault and relentless in her pursuits, like a bulldog digging for a bone. She is most definitely opinionated, however, at the same time, is a compromisingly open-minded soul. And, good Lord, she can dance. I mean, I never have to be one single bit concerned about joining her on the dance floor, “Cuz there ain’t no one watching me!” My mind is in full dance mode, moving to the music of our lives together. The images click by like an Instagram story, revealing my Renee

from the wild to the sublime in resplendent rapid fire. And, oh boy, can she ever dance! Allow me to pause and elaborate on a few. For starters, throw the entire concept of being a grandmother out the door. When Renee became “Ne,” a saint in teenage attire was unleashed. Each grandchild has their own relationship, their own reasons to be considered the favorite, and have captured the most endearing heart on earth. Yes, I am aware of the myriad amount of wonderful grandmamas, Ninnos, GaGas, and whatever. I have only witnessed Ne, witnessed her not just put the boys in the bath but rather turn each bathroom into their own ‘spa experience.’ Ne doesn’t just go to the Saturday soccer melee, but also attends the midweek practice. Perhaps the best Ne line I ever heard is “Everyone should have someone look at them as each individual grandchild looks at their Ne.” Renee obviously does not have MD at the end of her name. That is, unless you are a member of her family. Countless texts including a picture of some rash or swelling ding her phone. Urgent phone calls asking what can be done or, simply, what is this, come in at random times. Two things about Renee allow her to provide answers and clues and diagnoses. It started in a Butte College anatomy class Renee conquered with an A. She said it was easy, nothing more than memorization. She then went on to a 46-year tenure in the medical field memorizing all that happened before her carefully discerning eyes and mind. She does not have any paper proof, but she knows and understands more than I'll ever try to comprehend. Her family knows this. Always in the forefront, she is my far better half, my constant companion, and ever ready partner in crime. Doesn’t ever hurt to add intrigue. We don’t finish each other’s sentences, we start them, mostly at the exact same moment. In so many unique and trying circumstances, Renee became my voice when I did not have one. She’s the one who walks with me while holding hands in silence, communicating with each and every step. Renee is her world’s Mary Poppins and my world’s Julia Roberts and the source of these happy tears falling on my keyboard. From the very outset to the right now, Renee has and forever will light up every room she enters, changing its barometric pressure. I will leave you with this—The chances were, her chances were awfully good. (and she knew it)

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