Upgraded Living January 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR It’s fascinating that January’s issue, featuring the annual New Year New You makeovers, marks my first year as Editor-in-Chief. I have

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF

spent the entire year becoming a new me. Special thanks to Nerissa, who’s patience has guided me through the learning curve. Writing is

AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner

the single most difficult thing I do. Before last January, I never walked into a place, sat down with someone, took notes, and then wrote

KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief

an article. The fact is I became terrified that people were actually going to read my writing. OK, to a degree, I’ve recovered. Writing is a vulnerable trade. Though writing is difficult, I’m having so much fun. I have fallen in love with this magazine and care about each issue. I wrote in my first letter that I planned on bringing a nuance

NERISSA QUINN

JESSICA DOLAN CLARENDON

of Upgraded Living and now find myself a cheerleader, coach, and

Production Director

Writer

general manager. Purpose has its perks. Too much of this letter is

JASON CORONA

STACY PLANCE

Sales Director

Writer

KERILYNN ANDERSON

EMILY TEAGUE

Account Executive

Photographer

In the privilege of writing cover stories, the surprises, delight, and

DARREN MICHELS

FRANK REBELO

humbling feelings emerge. The first, my daughter-in-law, proved

Photographer

delightfully surprising, with the feeling that my life is rather droll.

Product Integration & Mobility Strategy

Arriving at a doctor’s office, finding the interviewee was a former

ALYSSA WORLEY

of sophistication. I believe it has made a difference. I’ve been a fan

about me. It is not me, rather it is the people I work with, and the remarkable interviews with remarkable people. In one case, it was a large Nubian goat named Kevin.

student, brought tears of delight and marvel at her accomplishments.

Then to the office of CSU-Chico’s president and her story of achievement through hard work and leaving with a new friend.

Emotionally, the most difficult story came from another former student, one who lost her mother to breast cancer and feels the pain. No two proved to be the same story or kind of writing, yet all shined brightly into my life. Capping the year with interviews of the five New Year New You candidates, brightened that light and strengthened the humility. The job remains a privilege. So does meeting the people,

Writer EMILY HUSO Writer EMILY LEBLANC Writer

KELSEY VEITH Photographer MICHAEL MEJIA Photographer MICHELLE CAMY Photographer

EMMA HOPPOUGH Writer

places, and things each interview exposed. I made new friends, connected with old ones, and know things I have never considered.

First and foremost, I discovered the story you think is coming does, but not without the “onion effect;” the fact stories have layers. The

CONTRIBUTORS

onion effect brought an alluring about-face to my outlook through the twists and turns of each conversation.

This turns up as a new series on the Backpage. Named “No story is a straight line…” each month will reveal stories underneath the story.

Our first stems from our “featured teacher,” Alexey Ledwith, (Page 16).

The onion effect arrived in a text exchange. Hope this series touches you as they have me.

AARON J. STEWART

FRANK REBELO

Estate Planning

Health

ALEXEY LEDWITH

RENEE MICHEL

Teacher Q&A

& JOE SWEENEY

BARRY R. KIRSHNER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Community

On to February and shadows, chocolate, honesty, and cherries...

Finance SWEETWATER DAY SPA Beauty

DR. VIMALI PAUL, M.D. Skin Care

SHELBY CHASE Human Resources

ELIZABETH VICHI Health EMMA HARRIS Ingredient of the Month

Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief

For advertising or editorial inquiries, please contact: Upgraded Living at 530.894.8091 Sales@UpgradedLiving.com

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CONTENTS JANUARY 2019 COMMUNITY

FOOD

10 Meet Cool Kid, Bailey Stewart, an

48 A delightful and informative look at the

impressive PV senior with a litany of accomplishments.

12 Learn the untold story of “The Swim,” the treasured New Year’s Day tradition.

63 Our Editor-in-Chief introduces a new series called “No story is a straight line…”

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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26 Do not miss these helpful tips to help shed holiday weight.

28 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder is more than a worn out cliche.

36 An indepth look at the use of BOTOX to relieve the sting of migraine headaches.

HOME SAFETY 42 Find out to get a Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification.

46 Expert advice on the in’s and out’s of making decisions for fire cleanup and debris removal.

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ON THE COVER: CHRISTINA WHITTEMORE MAKEOVER BY: MECCA SALON HEEL & SOLE SHOES DESIGN BY: NERISSA QUINN PHOTO BY: FRANK REBELO

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world of potatoes.

ARTS 60 You surely will be intrigued by Lea Gadbois, our local artist who, through Resin Art, explores local landscapes and the limits of outer space.

FEATURE 53 Meet our five nominated folks who received a head to toe makeover courtesy of numerous talented and generous local businesses.

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In addition to being a caring neighbor, Bailey is a great student and remains extremely involved in extracurricular activities. She currently holds a job with Butte Youth Now’s Prevention Youth Staff.

Through Bailey’s job, she is involved with a school organization called Friday Night Live, with ongoing initiatives to support the evacuated students. She wants the students to know that the Chico community will support them in any way possible and

“that the support is never going to end.”

COOL KID: B A I L E Y S T E WA RT When tragedy hits our community, certain people stand out amidst the chaos. Bailey Stewart, this week’s Cool Kid, recently became one of those heroes. This Pleasant Valley High School senior took control in the Chico Unified School District by helping relocated students acclimate after the Camp Fire.

Growing up in Chico, Bailey had many friends and family members located in Paradise and its surrounding area. Her compassion and humbleness show in her statement that she “could never imagine everything they are going through,” which is what inspired her to help so selflessly.

Bailey immediately called her friends and family to make sure they were safe after seeing the cloud of smoke on the morning of the fire. Just days after the fire began, Bailey was helping to organize an event, held at the high school, where students and families could reconvene and collect donated school supplies.

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Students at PV High want evacuees to know that they are part of the Viking family now. Bailey says the most rewarding aspect of helping was to know that she had “a part in bringing them all back together in supporting and loving each other.”

Bailey loves helping her community and making positive changes in people's’ lives.

Her busy schedule includes year-round sports, ASB student government and a job--yet she still has time for leadership initiatives, community service, and an impact mentoring program. She wants to continue making a difference throughout her life by starting a career in social work.

If you want to help the relocated Paradise students at Pleasant Valley High School, you can donate gift cards to the Student Services desk in the main office. Pleasant Valley High School is located at 1475 East Ave in Chico.

DO YOU KNOW A LOCAL YOUTH WHO DESERVES SOME RECOGNITION? TELL US ABOUT THEM! THEY MIGHT JUST BE OUT NEXT "COOL KID". PLEASE SEND NOMINATIONS TO NERISSA QUINN AT NERISSA@UPGRADEDLIVING.COM NOMINEES MUST BE 17 OR YOUNGER.

WRITTEN BY EMILY LEBLANC PHOTO BY FRANK REBELO

Administrators from Paradise had reached out to Pleasant Valley High, asking to use their auditorium and resources. The school went above and beyond with helping these students, teachers, and administrators.

Bailey and her administrators began setting up donation boxes and collecting supplies.

Food trucks supplied the event with free meals. Bailey and her team of students decorated the halls and auditorium to show fire evacuees support and love, then welcomed students during the event.

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THE UNOFFICIAL & UNFETTERED

History of The Swim A fascinating thing occurred when an attempt was made to uncover the history of the annual New Year's day plunge across the One Mile. I was met with a “tonguein-cheek, twinkle-in-the-eye response, springboarding its way for a tall tale.” As a result, I can guarantee that most of what follows is true.

After all, it is not everyday someone gets to sit down with the grand nephew of LeRoy Trout, a proud worker for John Bidwell.

Turns out, LeRoy’s grand nephew and friends were doing nothing more on January 1st, 1981, but following a tradition they had uncovered for themselves. They discovered that they were not to be the first ever to do this swim. Back in Uncle Leroy’s days, before bridges existed, the first of these swims happened on a New Year’s day quite some time ago. You see, at that time, the Indians lived on one side of the creek, and the settlers on the other. However, many settlers would cross over to celebrate the turning of a new year on the other side of the creek. The next day, at some point, they had to return home. Hence, the first swim took place.

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In the spirit of this, the Old Chico Athletic Club, officially brought back “The Swim.”

To begin, they marked it at one o’clock on January one at the One Mile. The simple reason was to make it easy to remember— since no flyers, radio, or television notices would exist. A “Maverick Event” of sorts, the swim was, nevertheless, not without its seriousness. Afterall, it is not like anyone wants crazy people to be involved. In fact, each swim began with the mantra, “being of sound mind and body…” Keeping this off the books without any official leadership, meant no city permits. I was told, again with that tongue in place and that twinkle, that the most attendees ever appeared to be somewhere around 300. This time a smile completed the facial expression. In modern terms, the swim very well could have been the perfect “flash mob.” You see, people just show up around 12:45 and dissipate by 1:15.

The first years were noted by a number of “giveaways.” T-shirts at first, umbrellas when needed, buttons, ribbons with buttons, and a bag of marbles because some thought they had actually lost theirs.

This was followed by things like awards for the people waiting across the water with a dry towel, a cigar, and a glass of some kind of a warm, brown liquid. Once the crowd grew to throngs of 200 to over 300, again cue the smile with tongue in cheek, these giveaways had to come to a halt.

The 90’s provided two distinct and different challenges for the swim. In ‘91, the One Mile amazingly was completely frozen.

Thick, walkable frozen. In fact, when 12:45 arrived, the folks showing up for the swim were delighted by a number of bikes sliding across the surface and more people in ice skates than the city of Chico could possibly possess. Once all of these folks were cleared, the “walk” commenced. The walk was interrupted by a small group of revelers who had cut a hole in the ice, exposing the water below—about two feet.

So, what does everybody do? Well, take turns “jumping” in through the jagged hole and climbing out with bloody cuts on each leg. Fortunately, the freezing water and ice initially postponed the pain.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO

The other adventure in the 90’s was quite the opposite. The flood waters caused the One Mile to rise, not just over both banks, but actually nearing Vallombrosa Avenue.

Since no one is officially in charge, Ranger Bob called Uncle Leroy’s grand nephew and asked for some help cancelling the swim. The awkward, precarious place to be was handled with aplomb. The flood day was indeed successfully cancelled. The Old Chico Athletic Club waited two weeks, and forty or so souls, “being of sound mind and body,” completed the swim.

Speaking of “The Swim” itself, something does need to be addressed and cleared up, once and for all. The city of Chicago has an annual New Year’s day Polar Bear swim, and rightfully should. The city of Chico does not. Here is how the mix up happened. The Aqua Jets are a well known and popular local swim club. They have a year round program. Those participants who make 75% of the winter workouts are awarded a t-shirt.

The t-shirt is emblazoned with the words ‘Polar Bear’ and some other kind of words.

A group of these successful winter workout swimmers showed up together, wearing

their t-shirts, one January one, at one, at the One Mile, to swim across the water. That is all it took and that name, to this very day, has appeared to stick. The real problem lies in the fact that, if you do not have anyone who is officially in charge, it is difficult to publicly protest that the event is being called by the wrong name. Until now.

The actual truth is this peculiarly distinguished event is an enigma. People, and I mean a plethora of people, show up, without being told, or prodded, or even reminded. They then dive or jump, and swim or wade across with huge smiles and belly laughs, and the entire showcase is one large community of comrades in wet, freezing armor. And people, yes, scads of people are waiting on the other side with a towel, possibly a cigar, and some sort of warming liquid for each of these sane souls doing what they should be doing, knowing the real reason is to wash away the foils and foibles from the previous year. And, of course, marking another new year by completing “The Swim.”

What To Do When Your Will And Trust Are Destroyed Given the recent devastation in our community, a lot of people are asking what what they should do when their estate planning documents, like their Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney, were destroyed in the Camp Fire. The short answer is that they should get them re-executed and restated to avoid any questions of validity or problems in administration.

Looking at your Will as an example, the California Probate Code (Section 6120) says that destruction of a Will may revoke it.

That happens if the Will was (1) physically destroyed and (2) with the intention of revoking it. Obviously, for documents destroyed in the Camp Fire, it is safe to say there was no intention of revoking it.

However, the potential problem comes in Probate Code Section 6124, which creates a presumption of revocation of your Will if: (1) your Will was last in your possession, (2) you were competent until death, and (3) the Will cannot be found after death.

With a natural disaster, however, your heirs could argue the presumption does not apply.

The way they have to do that, though, is by going to the probate court after your passing. What that means in practical terms is that if you pass away and never re-executed your destroyed documents, your heirs will likely have to incur a decent amount of time and expense to prove the validity of the destroyed documents.

In order to avoid the uncertainty and expense of this process, the simple solution is having your documents re-stated and re-executed. This would give you new, original documents without any question or confusion as to their revocation. That is what our office is doing for the clients we know about who lost their documents in the Camp Fire. If you lost yours, please contact the attorney who drafted them and request a re-statement and re-execution.

LAW OFFICES OF AARON J. STEWART BUSINESS LAW & ESTATE PLANNING 2619 Forest Avenue Suite 100 Chico, CA 95928 530.345.2212

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Tips for Achieving Four Popular Money Resolutions Early The changing of a calendar year can bring about a lot of emotions.

BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ®, FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP

• Improve your estate plan: Most people easily go a decade

Relief to leave experiences in the past, excitement for future events,

without updating their trust or will. The problem is, when people

and renewed resolutions for self improvement. Most people create New

acquire a new home, bank account or other personal property, they

Year’s resolutions to focus on improving specific areas of their life, but

forget to title it correctly into their trust. Family additions and losses

procrastinate or give up when the process takes longer than expected.

should also be reflected in your estate wishes. We recommend

Here are four solid recommendations to help you achieve your financial resolutions: • Be better with money: It is said that what you feed your mind determines your appetite. Investing in a personal finance book may cost only $10–$15, but changing how you think about money can improve your savings drastically. We recommend: “The Investment Answer” by Gordon Murray. It is incredibly short and hits all the important high points about saving and investing.

• Earn more on your savings: Review how much money you have sitting in the bank, and shop for a better yield. Vanguard reports that average bank APY’s (annual percentage yields) are about 1.25% lower than common money market options. We recommend researching money market rates with options like Ally Bank, Fidelity, or Vanguard; all of which yield now over 2% at last look.

reviewing your personal assets and property annually to make sure everything is titled correctly and read your trust at the very least, every 5 years.

• Increase and automate your retirement savings: Congress approved an increase in retirement savings limits. You can now save $6,000 into an IRA or $19,000 into a 401(k) plus an additional $1,000 and $6,000 respectively if you’re over 50. Most companies will allow you to automate your savings, so make sure you are set up to save on a regular basis to avoid falling short of your contribution goals.

Finding financial peace is a great New Year’s Resolution. Whether that means paying down debt, making smarter spending and savings decisions, or setting savings goals for you, we wish you much success and happiness in 2019!

Third parties mentioned herein are provided for informational purposes only and do not reflect a recommendation or endorsement by Cetera Advisor Networks or its representatives.

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 2452 Lakewest Drive, Chico, CA 95928 530-342-2900 | 800-333-2901 | (F) 530-342-3925 | rmichel@amgchico.com | www.sweeneymichelamg.com Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency), member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

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Moment I realized I had made it: The birth of my second daughter.

Worst excuse ever from a student: “But I’m calling my mom so it’s okay, she gave me permission.”

First three songs listed on my life playlist: Oh me-Nirvana (Meat Puppets cover), Baby Blue Sedan-Modest Mouse, Common People-Pulp.

Single biggest indulgence: Coffee.

Ocean or river? Beach or campsite? Why? Ocean, it calms me every time I’m near it.

Song that always makes me cry: A Change is Gonna Come-Sam Cooke version.

Still on my bucket list: Skydiving.

My “go to” Chico spot: Celestinos.

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If I weren’t a teacher, I’d be: A counselor for at-risk teens and young adults.

The inspiration to teach came from: My frustrations in classrooms as a student.

Biggest challenge I face each day: Leaving my stress at work.

Three qualities that got me where I am today: Perseverance, Persistence, Patience.

One change education needs tomorrow: Professional development for graduating seniors.

What my life will look like in five years: I stopped making 5 year plans 4 years ago.

Teacher I remember the most from being a student: James Kuiper CSUC. Summer break is for: Family.

Book that left a lasting impression on me: The Old Man and the Sea Last thing I binge-watched: The First One thing I am exceptionally good at: Helping others One thing I am epically bad at: Asking for help I have zero tolerance for: Bullying, emotional, and physical abuse of others My personal billboard would read: Keep Moving Forward

PHOTO BY FRANK REBELO

Alexey Ledwith has been called a “a gift who landed on the Fairview campus.” He graduated from Fairview, and, after student teaching at Chico High, took a job at his alma mater. Eight years later, Alexey has amassed an eight period day. It includes: painting/drawing, welding, ceramics, mixed media, computer lab, and runs the screenprinting shop. Alexey feels strongly that learning is welcoming, a school is a community, and teaching is not necessarily individual subjects, but an awareness of each individual. We applaud everything he brings to this alternative education setting. It goes with little doubt that this gift truly remains a treasure for the entire Fairview community.

What gets me out of bed each morning: To make my better the best.

AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER When you picture your ideal wedding venue, what do you see? Your vision may become reality at Irongate Garden Inn. Paved paths lined with lush vegetation and white crepe myrtles lead the way to a venue experience unlike any other. Nestled in North Chico, one and a half miles from the Esplanade and 500 feet from Meridian Road, Irongate is an oasis amongst the orchards.

Every personality at your event will find something uniquely notable about this location. Soon-to-be brides will love the bright and airy Master Suite, complete with an en-suite restroom. There is plenty of space for both bridesmaids and the bride to get ready together before walking down the aisle. The groom and groomsmen can relax in “The Den,” separate from the suite but also complete with mirrors and couches.

Step outside into the fresh garden air and find a breathtaking view of the Formal Courtyard. Follow the trickling sounds of a fountain to the Lawn Garden and have a drink under the magically lit gazebo. And what modern wedding venue would be complete without a bocce ball court for guests to enjoy? You will love the lawn space available for additional games, life size Jenga or ladder toss anyone? A pool is situated nearby where flameless floating candles can be placed to further light up the night.

of up to 500. The last thing you want to worry about on your wedding day is gathering enough chairs and tables for those friends and family.

As an inclusion, Irongate provides white resin chairs and tables for the ceremony and reception.

Dance the night away under bistro lights draped throughout the Lawn Garden. Elegance was at the forefront when designing this venue and the natural beauty of its location will only enhance the vision you had of your big day. While events are mainly held within the formal gardens, the land surrounding Irongate can be temporarily accessed for unique photo opportunities and sweet first looks.

A wedding is one of the most cherished events in life. Start your journey together at a venue that further enhances the beauty of your relationship. Relax in the confidence of knowing Irongate Garden Inn has it all taken care of, so you can focus on enjoying every fanciful moment.

WRITTEN BY ALYSSA WORLEY PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA MCPHERRIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Irongate Garden Inn

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MID-CENTURY RANCH, HEAD TO THE IRONGATE GARDEN INN WEBSITE AND COMPLETE THE CONTACT FORM.

Watch the bride and groom say “I do” under the surrounded arch of shaded trees and mature vegetation. Every special moment has a defined space at this venue, making it all the more striking place to observe and participate. At Irongate, customization is always welcome! If clients are interested in including a tent or dance floor at their event, placement is entirely flexible within the gardens, including the lawn itself.

A typical event here accommodates 200 guests; however, a few times throughout the year special requests can be made to hold a gathering 17

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN

1 STOP Bridal Shopping

Downtown Chico offers untold ways for the bride, her groom-to-be, and their family and friends to fill all things needed for wedding preparation. For starters, there are numerous cozy spots to get a hot drink and a baked goodie and huddle together to discuss the plan itself. Once that is completed, simply begin walking the blocks to uncover business front after business front that surely can help in some delightful measure. Not surprisingly, venue and DJ aside, all of those items on your ‘to do’ list are within reach.

For openers, if matching wedding bands, or one of a kind rings, are on your mind then a 18

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pair of places can match your needs. Both Gabrielle Ferrar and Kirk’s Jewelry offer unique designs coupled with personal and informed service. Olde Gold Estate Jewelry specializes in vintage collections for those wishing to go in a different direction. It may be important to note that each of these places are nothing short of an amazing shopping experience making it worth the mere decision to walk through each door.

Shopping for the perfect dress can seem both daunting and stressful. With the proper support group to tag along, any bride should make her way through the glass door at AE bridal shop. Their “Always Elegant” promise is just the beginning of a magical journey. With a comfortably informative atmosphere coupled with an impressive inventory of any design possible; it is certainly not difficult to believe that with the knowledgeable staff and the intimate support by your side, a “she said yes to the dress” will soon be said. For those brides ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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with a made to fit idea or bringing a dress back to life, then Milena’s Tailoring Custom Design & Alteration may serve as a perfect fit. Both of these places offer bridesmaid and flower girls dresses.

Both of these shops also offer tuxedo rentals for the groom and his groomsmen.

Formal Education, a premier men’s clothing store, does as well. Formal’s service for men equals that you will find for all the brides.

Equipped to size and fit the entire wedding party, this experience proves both efficient as it is fun. Formal also has an array of suits for those who wish to purchase that perfect look for the wedding day. The groom can be outfitted from head to toe including socks, shoes, shirt and tie. This balance for brides and grooms alike assists in checking off all items on the ‘to do’ list.

Speaking of bachelors and bachelorettes, Downtown Chico offers a “can’t miss” opportunity for the individual parties.

Simply make your own list of drinking and eating establishments from the vast array of choices dotting the landscape of blocks available. By putting personal choices of just the right place for each and every stop, you surely will build a night to remember (or not).

Keep in mind the unwritten law that these parties are not recommended on the same date nor to end up in the same place. The rule of thumb is to “go your own way.”

The single event prior to the wedding where you will be altogether is the rehearsal dinner. The Downtown venues are wide and varied. 5th Street has its back room, the

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Diamond its basement, and Tres Hombres has its Blue Agave Room. Both La Salles and Parkside have side rooms available while Christian Michaels has its curbside room ready to go. Do not forget that Grana has its delightful upstairs venue. Many of the smaller restaurants offer renting the entire space for your evening together. Any way you choose, ensures a delightfully reflective experience prior to the big day.

The Downtown store fronts also offer the variety of shopping needs for items found on your list. This may range from just what to wear on your honeymoon, to that special personalized item for each bridesmaid or groomsman. Family members searching for that one-of-a-kind gift for the happy couple will have success as well. For honeymoon outfits, whether you find it “on Broadway” or upstairs on Main, the numerous clothing stores are worth the time to visit and explore. Unique and personal gifts abound in places like Made in Chico, the Rustic Nest, Tom Foolery, or Bird in Hand. These are just a small representation of the possibilities these city blocks have to offer.

Brides-to-be will be astonished at just how far ahead of the game they will be by staying so close. The entire wedding party, including family and friends, most certainly will feel the same. It is simply not possible to sing the praises of this quaint, charming downtown enough.Chico most assuredly possesses a “big city” vibe, complete with all the same metropolitan stuff while maintaining the same urban beat.

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as she constantly wiped tears away from her face, she felt the issue was giving her patients the impression that she was crying. Eager to alleviate the problem, she went searching for a new eye doctor, asking friends and family for recommendations. Each one referred her to the same place—North Valley Eye Care.

She visited North Valley Eye Care and met with Dr. Merry. He examined her eyes and found that she suffered from dry eyes, a common condition in our area. Luckily, her problem had an easy fix. Dr. Merry recommended trying punctal plugs—tiny devices that can block drainage when inserted into tear ducts. By blocking drainage, the surface of the eyes receives greater moisture coverage, relieving dry eye symptoms and the perception of crying. Susy agreed and prepared herself for what Dr. Merry explained was a very simple procedure. To test their efficacy, he put in temporary plugs and Susy found the difference to be like night and day. As she put it, “The procedure was so fast and painless. I was waiting to feel some pain but it didn’t hurt at all. It took 5 minutes, and my symptoms were gone!”

Susy Tinnel Not a Thing to Cry About

Originally from California, Susy Tinnel bounced around the United States throughout her childhood. Her father was a geologist and eventually moved the family to Oklahoma where he worked as a petroleum researcher.

She returned to California just in time for high school and finally moved to Hawaii shortly after she graduated.

Susy attended nursing school in Oahu at University of Hawaii where she earned her degree and was hired shortly thereafter at Hawaii State Hospital as a psych nurse. She remained there until 2007, when she and her 22

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high school sweetheart reconnected and rekindled their decades old romance. He lived in Chico, so she decided to move back and was hired at Enloe Hospital. She’s been here ever since.

Since childhood, Susy was afflicted with an imperfection in her eyes’ curvature commonly referred to as astigmatism. As a result, she wore glasses most of her life and became well acquainted with the world of ophthalmology.

When she arrived in Chico, she found that her eye issues were exacerbated due to the arid climate. Her eyes continually watered and,

Dr. Merry replaced the temporary plugs a few weeks later with plugs that last for 6 months before dissolving on their own. Since her appointment, Susy has visited the office every six months to have new plugs put in and she couldn’t be happier with the results. “I don’t have to deal with tearing up unnecessarily anymore.” Susie explained, “It had become so difficult to even read my computer screen at work before seeing Dr. Merry. These little plugs changed my life, and I can’t speak highly enough about everyone at North Valley Eye Care. From the moment you walk in, you know how much they all care. Everyone is so polite, efficient and friendly. The back waiting room has the animal channel on, which I happen to love. The wait is never long, but even when there is a slight wait, they make it really fun.

It’s a great place. They even have great coffee!

If you’re experiencing any eye symptoms out of the ordinary, go see Dr Merry. It’s one of those things that you would wish you had done years ago.”

IF YOU’RE LIKE SUSY, AND THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME TO FIX A PROBLEM AFFECTING YOUR VISION, CALL NORTH VALLEY EYE CARE IN CHICO AT 530.891.1900. HER AMAZING RESULTS CAN BE YOUR AMAZING RESULTS, AND YOU WILL SURELY FIND WHY NORTH VALLEY EYE CARE IS RATED CHICO’S BEST EYE CARE PROVIDER FOR 2018!

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What Do Aesthetic Lasers Do? Lasers for use on the skin are a high-energy light that is absorbed into tissues to affect collagen, elastin fibers, pigmentation, blood vessels, or hair follicles. Depending on what treatment is desired, and the foreseen results, laser wavelengths have different functions and characteristics. When light energy is absorbed, it turns into heat to eliminate or modify the targeted tissue or vessels.This tissue needs to sustain a thermal injury to cause it to either destroy or rebuild its target. As laser light is attracted to darker pigmentation, care must be given to adjust the laser settings to skin type and color to avoid a possible burn. No tanning, even self-tanning lotions or sprays, should be done prior to any laser treatment to prevent too much laser energy from concentrating on darker areas.

Lasers can be used to treat a wide variety of skin conditions including: acne, rosacea, sun damage, wrinkles, cherry angiomas, spider veins on face and body, nail fungus, pore size, skin tags, and birthmarks. Especially with pigmentation issues, which can be hard to resolve, more that one treatment is usually recommended for best results.

Most aesthetic lasers have been around for awhile and can be researched online by brand and model. Doing your homework can prepare you for your laser consultation and help to decide which treatments are right for you. At the DermBar Med-Spa, consultations are free, and we aim to answer all your skincare questions!

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

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YOUR HEALTH START I N G T HE N E W YE AR OFF RI G HT

It is 2019! New resolutions, new goals, and a new you! Here are three tips to help start the New Year off right, while successfully achieving your exercise goals.

First, write it down! What do you want to accomplish? What is your goal? These are great questions to ask yourself if you really want to make a new habit to stick. Take some time to think, and write some answers down in a journal, post them to a bulletin board, or even on the bathroom mirror. They key is that you want it to be in a place where you will see it every day, being that constant reminder of what you are striving towards.

Tell everyone! Post your goals to social media, and tell your friends. Make that public declaration to everyone why you have started this new healthy habit. The more people who know about your goals, the less likely you will be to quit. They will be your cheering squad, and similar to an accountability partner, they will check in with you at random to see how you are doing.

Second, find an accountability partner.

Now that you have told everyone what you are doing, and why you are doing it, find someone that would want to do it with 26

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you. For example, say your goal is to run a 5k, ask around and see who would be interested in doing it with you. It is easy to give up on yourself, but you will find it harder to give up on someone else. They will be counting on you.

Third, fail to plan, and you will plan to fail.

Dedicate time each day to your exercise goal. Choose how many times a week, and what times during those days that you will commit yourself to your goal. Block those times out, either in a day planner or your phone’s calendar, and set recurring reminders in your phone. With an empty schedule, it is easy to forget about your exercise commitments. However, with that time slot reserved, you will find yourself planning around your exercise schedule instead of over it.

Good luck! I guarantee that if you follow these three tips, and make time every day to achieve your goal, you will have no problem making your resolution a reality this New Year.

HEALTH ADVICE

VIA

FRANK REBELO

Visit Frank at Refuel Nutrition located at 206 Walnut St, Unit A, in Chico or follow Refuel Nutrition on Facebook at facebook.com/rfnutrition.

Helping Address The

Community Needs!

Butte and Tehama County are experiencing an increase in children diagnosed with feeding and swallowing difficulties. With greater survival rates of premature infants and infants surviving NAS, neonatal abstinence syndrome due to opioid addiction in pregnant mothers, these children require assistance with domains of development, particularly feeding and swallowing.

Access to specialized services is a challenge for Butte and Tehama Counties. Full Circle’s intent is to bring life saving services to the north with sound interprofessional education program, including communication disorders, dietetics, occupational therapy, and pediatrician consultations.

Since 2017, Full Circle Speech Therapy has completed nearly 50 evaluations, providing all its families with proper treatment.

These treatments include children with limited food inventories, preference for one consistency or color of food, and poor oral skills for chewing. In addition, significant medical conditions exist, such as drug exposure, prematurity, and sensory processing disorder.

Working collaboratively, Full Circle’s mission addresses all aspects of a child’s development from nutrition, to sensory processing, swallowing, and communication! “We believe in educating the family to be the therapist too!”Serving pediatric patients, Full Circle is dedicated to bringing the remedies one would expect from larger feeding clinics in the state.

FULL CIRCLE SPEECH THERAPY 643 W East Avenue Chico, CA 95926 530.892.9127

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BEAUTY Q&A F E E L I N G G O O D, LO O K I N G G O O D

We have all heard the old proverb stating that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

It is evident from life experiences this is clear and true for every human being. One can be attractive to some people while others see nothing beautiful within him or her. The unfortunate reality is that we have allowed culture to define what beauty is; for example, just look at the current commercials with regards to makeup, current fashions, and perfume brands. The people portraying this are slim, appear to work out, and often are seen as beautiful.

However, beauty lies within all of us; we have both an outer and inner beauty. Both of which are important in a person’s life.

The physical beauty and the beauty that lies within an individual are each unique and important assets for all of us. What becomes apparent in this struggle is maintaining a balance of our outer beauty and our inner beauty. Neither should outshine the other.

If outer beauty becomes the obsession there is a possibility that the inner beauty will suffer. What considerations does one consider with our inner beauty? Most would agree that the characteristics of inner beauty relates a person’s personal traits, sense of humor, and habits. A person with a 28

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strong sense of inner beauty, understands, is willing to help when needed, and looks optimistically while others are pessimistic.

We believe in having a balance between the two. It is important to take care of your body through exercise, massages, and with facials that revitalize the skin bringing back that youthful luster. Exercise, just a few days a week helps release endorphins which in turns helps to relieve pain and stress.

Massage therapy has many benefits such as relieves stress, reduces anxiety, muscle tension, and better sleep. Exercising and massage have wonderful effects on the psyche and the body. As for your skin, there is nothing better than getting a professional facial done. These trained professionals have the skill set to analyze your skin type and get you on a regiment that brings wonderful results. In addition, they can recommend a skin care regimen that you can do at home as well. We at Sweetwater Day Spa believe it is important not only to look good, but to feel good as well.

BEAUTY ADVICE

VIA

SWEETWATER DAY SPA

Visit Sweetwater Day Spa at 40 Declaration Dr. #100 in Chico or call 530.894.7722.

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Self

W H AT Y O U N E E D A S A

Caregiver: Information Education Support Trainings How To Care For Yourself Family Caregivers provide countless hours of care to their loved ones.

Passages Caregiver Resource Center would like to recognize and thank them all!

The caregiver program is here to support, educate, and guide unpaid family caregivers. Please contact us for more information at 530.898.5925 Passages Caregiver Resource Center is funded by the California Department of Healthcare Services, the Area Agency on Aging (PSA2, PSA3), and the California Department of Aging.

Thirty years after they were high school sweethearts, Marianne and John rekindled their former flame through an online site called classmates.com. John was living in Florida but quickly saw the charm of Chico and made the move west. After nine years back together, John had a stroke that would leave him physically unable to care for himself. Marianne was suddenly thrust into the role of a full-time caregiver and soon became overwhelmed with how all consuming the job truly was. Her love and commitment was never what she wanted a break from, however, it was the constant tasks that left her physically and mentally drained.

After three years of taking care of John by herself, one of her daughters mentioned Passages and then called them on her behalf.

Marianne quickly learned the value of this place and felt relief in the support she was beginning to receive. A big part of what Passages has taught Marianne through free classes, books, and their overall philosophy is that taking care of yourself is an important part of being a caregiver. They have taught her how to balance her time and the importance of not losing herself while taking care of John.

Another aspect of Passages that has found to be extremely helpful is attending the annual conference and caregiver retreat. At the

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conference, they have a speaker who shares information as well as funny stories that everyone can relate to. This event has also provided her with informational handouts and pamphlets, as well as cards to keep in her wallet to lift her spirits throughout the day. Her favorite event is the annual caregiver retreat that takes place at the Greenhorn guest Ranch in Quincy. The retreat includes transportation to and from the site, all meals, educational meetings, and plenty of fun.

On the first night, they sit around a huge bonfire and share stories and sing silly songs.

This two-day retreat is all about taking care of ‘you’ for a change, and not worrying about anything else. This retreat has also given her friendships with people that truly understand her daily life and can share with her similar stories.

Passages has provided Marianne with a renewed sense of self and commitment to remaining mentally and physically healthy.

Over the six years she has been with Passages Caregiver Resource Center, she has been given a number of tools to make her a better caregiver for both John and herself. When asked about her journey with Passages she said, “I feel very blessed that Passages is part of my caregiving experience.”

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT PASSAGES CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER AT 530.898.5925.

WRITTEN BY STACY PLANCE PHOTO BY MICHAEL MEJIA

The Importance Of

Medicare Beneficiaries And The Camp Fire Important Information for Medicare Beneficiaries Regarding Camp Fire Disaster:

Medicare beneficiaries or their family caregivers who have any questions about their rights and protections can call HICAP for assistance at 1.800.434.0222 or 898.6716. For information

Passages Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program

regarding FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

(HICAP) has been informed by the Centers for Medicare &

assistance call 800.621.3362.

Medicaid Services (CMS) that people with Medicare who live or were evacuated from the FEMA-declared Camp Fire disaster area, will be eligible for a Special Election Period (SEP) to change or enroll in a Part D plan after the official Open Enrollment ends December 7 if they missed the deadline.

Happy New Year! –From All Of Us At HICAP

In addition, this SEP is available to those individuals who don’t live in the affected areas, but rely on help making healthcare decisions from friends or family members who live in the affected area.

The SEP is available from November 8 to March 31, 2019.

"This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0052-02-01 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy."

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CAMP FIRE SURVIVORS LEGAL ASSISTANCE It is possible to recover from disaster. We are here to help.

FIRE VICTIM REGISTRATION Frantz Law Group is a nationally recognized law firm that has specialized experience in representing victims of wildfires caused by the negligence of public utility companies and has represented and/or currently represents over 10,000 victims against various utility companies.

Listen to our weekly podcast to learn more about how we can help you recover from your wildfire losses. http://www.ksro.com/show/california-wildfire-law/

The attorneys do not charge.

CALL NOW: 530.423.6774 236 BROADWAY STREET, SUITE #B, DOWNTOWN CHICO

2019

2018

2017

2016

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! Let us help you rebuild your life.

This is not a class action lawsuit.

This is in addition to, and separate from, your insurance.

• Our investigation will show how PG&E allegedly caused the fires • $55.4 Million jury verdict obtained against San Diego Gas & Electric Company/ SEMPRA ENERGY for negligence / punitive damages for failure to maintain their utility equipment** • Learn more about our Rapid Recovery Assessment Program to expedite rebuilding your home and getting reimbursement for all of your damages and all of the emotional distress and upheaval in your life.

• Find out how you can claim compensation for these increased expenses.

• Information Provided on Rebuilding Resources: Civil Engineers, Soil Engineers, Architects, Permit Expediting, Structural Engineers, Contractors, Erosion Control services, & Asbestos and Hazardous Waste Testing & Cleanup services.

Frantz Law Group, APLC | McNicholas & McNicholas | Bridgford, Gleason & Ar tinian San Francisco 71 Stevenson Bldg 71 Stevenson St, Suite 40 0 San Francisco, CA 94105

Chico Downtown Chico 236 Broadway St, Suite #B Chico, CA 95928

Santa Rosa Fountaingrove Center 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 215 Santa Rosa CA 95403

WWW.FRANTZLAWGROUP.COM SAN FRANCISCO • LOS ANGELES • SACRAMENTO • SAN DIEGO FRESNO • RIVERSIDE • BAKERSFIELD

**Reduced and appealed; resolved for a confidential amount, (non-fire utility case). Results in other matters do not constitute a guarantee, warranty orprediction. This advertisement is not a guarantee or prediction of any recovery as each case is dependent on its particular facts.

James P Frantz Esq., Patrick McNicholas Esq. and Richard Bridgford, Esq. are responsible for the contents of this advertisement.

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Additional things should be considered. What are the current rental rates? How much will you put down? What kinds of upgrades are needed? Will stainless appliances, granite countertops, and luxury carpet maximize your cash flow? Does making hard decisions cause you stress, because many decisions await? These are the considerations you will want to ask before diving into the world of “fixer upper” rentals.

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about purchasing rentals but don’t know how to begin. Why not fix the house you currently occupy? Makes sense for many reasons. Owner occupied financing is more affordable, so why not start with the house you live in! Of course, you will need to be honest about whether or not you can live in a less than perfect environment for awhile. You can put your skill set into action and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Remodeling can be very gratifying with a little creativity and a lot of elbow grease. Best of all, you will enjoy the prettier and updated version of your home!

Being keen to the needs of your house as a rental is key, and will help you to become aware of what needs to be done. Often homeowners neglect things that would need to be taken care of in order to rent.

It will take a while to train your eye to the needs of a house turning rental. This list includes such things as new appliances, water heater, HVAC, counters, light fixture ceiling fans, plumbing, electrical, or

cosmetic touches and updates. Answering these questions delivers a nice product bringing responsible tenants with a ‘pride of ownership’ feeling. Looking at your home through the lens of a potential renter will help jump start your process.

In order to invest, you will need to consider the following: Are rental rates at market value for future potential income property? Who will pay water, garbage, utilities? In addition, do you have a willingness to learn some things you can do yourself? Do you have the energy and flexibility? Do you love making stuff look good and artistic?

WRITTEN BY KELLY LOTTI

Have you ever considered buying investment property? How do you know if it is for you? Have you considered buying investment property that is less than perfect? Buying a “fixer upper” is not for the faint of heart. A calm demeanor and go-with-the-flow attitude helps. The concept of buying low and adding value by improving is a healthy goal!

Picture the worst house in the best neighborhood. When weighing the options; a less than perfect property may be just right.

Leveraging is the key. What do you have to leverage? This means taking advantage of all the available resources. Some examples include good credit, a current mortgage, or equity line of credit. Perhaps you have skills enabling you to leverage your brawn, knowledge, and skill set.

If so, are you willing to incur debt, take on a partner or investor, be flexible, be willing to work two jobs? Can you handle surprises that will cost you both money and time?

Once you commit, build a team. Understand a team of professionals will be needed to succeed in Real Estate management. It is prudent to have a good loan officer and Licensed Agent. In the end, your team could consist of a Realtor, accountant, contractor, home inspector, property manager, electrician, attorney, and “fixer upper” folks.

Organizing this takes help as well. Technology offers apps for scanning your expense receipts and so much more. Keep your technological assistant at hand.

If you’ve been looking for a healthy hobby like property investment, and think you have the intestinal fortitude to weather the inevitable storm of the fixer upper, maybe it's time to take the plunge!

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WRITTEN BY DR. PHILLIP FILBRANDT

BOTOX For Migraine Relief?

YES! Botox is increasingly being used for medical purposes—not just for the cosmetic purpose of removing wrinkles.

WHY? Botox blocks signal transmission at the nerve-muscle junction. This results in muscle weakness. For this reason, it is widely used to treat the conditions of spasticity, dystonia and other disorders caused by muscle overactivity.

Botox is also believed to block the release of pain causing chemicals which may account for its additional benefit in migraine prevention.

HOW? Botox is a 15 minute office procedure in which the medication is distributed throughout 31 sites in the forehead, temples, neck, and shoulders. It is repeated every 12 weeks. A slight pinch is experienced at each site during the procedure causing mild discomfort but it is not considered painful.

Improvement in symptoms usually occurs within 2 weeks and lasts for 10–12 weeks WHAT are the results? The anticipated result is 40–60% reduction in pain severity, or the 36

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number of headache days per month. Fewer headaches results in less oral medication, improved function, improved quality of life, less cost, and fewer doctor or emergency room visits!

WHO? Botox is FDA approved for the prevention of headaches for people who have 15 or more headache days per month. An additional typical insurance requirement is that several other medications have previously already been tried. These include beta-blockers, antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), anti-seizure drugs (eg, Topamax), and anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, Motrin and Aleve).

MORE: Like the management of other medical conditions the management of headaches involves multiple factors. These include avoiding identified headache triggers, following a healthy diet, appropriate exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, optimal management of other medical conditions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT HEALTHMONITOR.COM/MIGRAINERESOURCES. DR. PHILLIP FILBRANDT, MD IS BOARD CERTIFIED IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION AND HAS BEEN TREATING CHRONIC MIGRAINE WITH BOTOX FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

I S Y O U R B U S I N E S S I M PA C T E D BY T H E

Camp Fire?

A multitude of businesses were displaced or are non operational due to the Camp Fire. This has led to business owners having no other choice than to lay off their employees. This further impacts both the business owners and the employees who are already dealing with this devastation in other ways.

HRiQ is available to assist with any human resources needs or questions you might have. This is a free service to any employees or employers affected by the Camp Fire. If you are out of work, or you have employees that are out of work because your business is non operational, please reach out to us and we will be more than happy to help.

Happy New Year!

–From All Of Us At HRiQ. HRIQ–HUMAN RESOURCES + PAYROLL CHICO, CA SHELBY@UPYOURHRIQ.COM UPYOURHRIQ.COM 530.200.2663

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An early riser, it was strange that on November 8th of all days, George slept in. He awoke three hours later than usual at 9 a.m., looked outside and saw the sky was dark. Thinking storm clouds had rolled in overnight for an unexpected rain, he stepped outside and immediately smelled heavy smoke. He knew something was wrong but had not received an alert from any authority or heard an alarm of any kind.

When the electricity went off, he realized his next steps could be the difference between life and death. It didn’t take long to realize it was time to run.

George packed his desktop computer into his car, emptied his safe, and grabbed a few other essentials. Yelling to his neighbor Nola, he found she was in the same frame of mind. As she packed her car, she said she was fine, and that she wasn’t waiting around to find out what might happen next.

George Gold BORN OF SURVIVORS

George Gold is a survivor. Truth be told, his perseverance comes as no surprise when you discover his roots. Holocaust survivors, his mother and father both escaped concentration camps during World War II—one from Czechoslovakia and the other from Austria—before seeking refuge in Switzerland. The two were rehomed in Sydney, Australia, and it was here where George’s story began. Surrounded by other Holocaust survivors from birth, some of George’s earliest memories involved Sunday luncheons spent around a large table, where seemingly all the guests bore telltale tattoos identifying their prisoner number within the death camps.

George and his family immigrated to California when he was just in grammar school arriving via boat at the docks in Long Beach. They moved into a one bedroom apartment where he spent his childhood with his sister, and his parents as they carved out their careers in fashion and education. Eventually, George left Los Angeles and moved to Santa Cruz where computers soon seduced him into a career as a computer systems engineer, specializing in disk array storage.

In 2007, George moved permanently to Magalia. When he arrived, he purchased a newer home on Ishi Drive in Old Magalia and built a beautiful high-tech office on his property where he could work remotely managing storage disk sub-systems all over the world.

In 2016, he left for Ghana where he took part in a Beyond Belief Project, working to better the lives of women who were accused of witchcraft, and much like his parents, were segregated into villages with deplorable living conditions. At the completion of the project, he returned home, eager to enjoy an active and adventure filled retirement. He had earned a lovely home for himself, and he loved Butte County. He was the president of two local clubs, and felt he had finally found a community where he truly belonged.

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George jumped into his first car and stopped at his neighbor Jesús Chacon’s house. At 80 years old, George wasn’t sure if Jesús knew what was going on outside. He repeatedly knocked on the door until Jesús answered, apparently arising from a deep sleep. Jesús grabbed a few things and drove off. George drove his first vehicle to the Magalia Community Church parking lot on Old Skyway. Next he ran the half mile back down Indian Drive to his house to retrieve his other car, a beloved 2011 Mazda Miata MX-5, and returned it to the church parking lot. As the fire raged all around, George noticed a nearby home was about to go up in flames. He heard the sound of barking dogs coming from inside the house. After banging on the door for several minutes without response, he attempted to kick the door down, but it was chained shut.

Heartbroken, the flames forced him back, and he had to leave the dogs.

The barking was replaced by the roaring. In five minutes, the entire house was engulfed in flames.

By 6 p.m., it was clear that it was time to go. Leaving one car, George drove back down Indian Drive only to find his house still on fire. He headed down Skyway. In the heavy smoke, he could barely see in front of him. Dodging downed power poles and lines, he smashed into a boulder that appeared out of nowhere. Luckily, the car remained operable, and he managed to escape down to Chico.

Eventually, Eric Diamond of Wittmeier Auto Center, who organized the repair of George’s Honda, also provided storage of the Miata for two weeks. He also stepped in as a bit of an angel and found George an apartment to rent in Willows. He moved in with the items he was able to save from the fire: the clothes on his back, his desktop computer, disk backup drive, a few items from his safe, and his two vehicles.

Asked about his experience since the fire, George said, “I’ve felt depressed, overwhelmed and just really sad. I’m still trying to find a way to recover. I filed a claim with my insurance company soon after the fire and I’m still in the middle of that. When I look back, I realized I had worked my whole life to achieve financial independence. I had just refinanced my house, and aside from the house, I was debt free; I was financially secure. Now, all that is gone. All of a sudden I was homeless, and it took a while but it really hit me. I realized, holy fuck, I don’t have a house anymore.”

Searching for an advocate and answers, George did his due diligence and found the Frantz Law Group. “I met with the firm,” George said, “and I was struck by the experience and competence of the individuals

FRANTZ LAW GROUP: 236 BROADWAY ST, SUITE #B, CHICO, CA 95928 | 530.423.6774

I spoke with. At our first meeting, I met their fire investigator, and I was impressed by his expertise and willingness to look at the situation to find the truth rather than a scapegoat. I had the sense that this law firm wanted to get the facts, and as someone who had just lost everything in the fire, I think we all deserve to know how it started and whether or not there was negligence involved. When it came to my claim, my insurance company wanted to settle the case to their advantage. It was nice to have a legal advisor to help with my insurance claim.” Speaking with a representative from the Frantz Law Firm, this is a service they provide free of charge and any legal claims are filed outside of any insurance settlement.

“Life has multiple tracks.” George explained, “I have to settle up with my insurance company, but I’m not in a rush to do so. Patience is key in these situations and it’s helpful to have an advocate like John Thickstun from the Frantz Law Group. I would recommend that those affected by the fire come and meet John to see if there’s fault or negligence involved with what they experienced. When it comes to insurance, go to an attorney before a public adjuster. It doesn’t cost any money and as the insured you’re entitled to answers. Everyone needs a caring and knowledgeable advocate; the way this team approaches the possible legal issues in this catastrophe goes far beyond insurance or lawsuits.”

WITH NO SHORTAGE OF WORK AHEAD OF HIM, GEORGE HAS ENTRUSTED THE FRANTZ LAW GROUP TO LOOK OUT FOR HIS BEST INTERESTS AND GET ANSWERS AS TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS HORRIFIC FIRE. IF YOU’VE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FIRE AND ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS OR HELP REBUILDING, REACH OUT TO THE FRANTZ LAW GROUP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION BY CALLING 530.423.6774.

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NEW AGAIN KITCHEN REMODELING PRESENTS HOUSE CALL:

Gold Counters in Gold Country A fourth generation Butte County resident, Toni Medina was raised in Oroville by parents who worked in the construction industry.

Growing up around contractors and countless building projects, Toni developed a discerning eye for quality construction and turned it into a career at the family business, eventually taking over as its office manager.

When it came time to buy a home of her own, Toni found a 600 square foot cottage built in 1964 on nearly one acre in north Oroville.

Though dated, it was the perfect starter home for Toni and her small family, but as their family grew, they quickly realized there would be a need for more space. Luckily, with the large lot size, they had plenty of room to expand their home. Toni worked with her contractor from Smalley General Contracting to design the addition and, since the house would be under construction, decided they may as well remodel the kitchen as well. As with many construction projects though, things aren’t always as straightforward as CONNECT

they seem. The countertops that were to be installed in the kitchen were finished incorrectly, requiring Toni to modify her initial design.

Originally set on laminate countertops, Toni decided to get quotes for tile and granite.

She stopped by a local showroom before finding her way to New Again Kitchen Remodeling on Park Avenue in Chico, where she met with store manager, Ric Powers. The two immediately clicked and she recalls appreciating his friendly and helpful personality. She obtained a bid from New Again and stopped by one of the big box stores to compare. She found New Again to not only have a better selection, but a better price as well. Perhaps more importantly, her construction project was stalled, and she needed to move quickly to get it finished. Ric understood fully, and unlike their competitors, he found a way to fit her project into their schedule for the following week.

The New Again team arrived on schedule and began installing cactus gold granite countertops on top of the custom cabinets Toni’s contractor built for the project. Even with multiple slabs, the team was able to complete the entire project in less than one day. Toni was so impressed with their workmanship and attention to detail that she asked if they could finish her two new bathrooms as well. Knowing the tight timeline Toni was on, Ric managed to fit the project into their schedule three days after she

made the request. Again, the team completed the project in less than one day, installing sparkling white quartz countertops in both of her new bathrooms and silver galaxy granite in the home’s original bathroom.

Having lived around contractors and worked in construction her entire life, Toni couldn’t have been more impressed with the work completed by New Again Kitchen Remodeling.

When asked about her experience, she said, “Ric was such a nice and friendly person! He really listens to what you need and made sure to take my needs seriously. They had so many great granite options, but it was easy to match one to the custom cabinets I had built. The construction team laid out tarps and made sure to walk me through the entire installation before they started working on the project; it made things so much easier! They were quick and left the space as clean as they found it.

After they were done, I mentioned that one seam felt a little rough and the owner came right back out and fixed it at no charge. They did such a good job, it was an easy decision to bring them back for the bathroom countertops as well. I would definitely recommend them to friends and family!”

With another remodeled kitchen on the books, New Again continues to set the standard for kitchen and bathroom renovation in Chico. If you’re looking to start a home improvement project, and are looking for affordability along with impeccable service like Toni did, call New Again Kitchen Remodeling at 530.899.2888.

NEW AGAIN KITCHEN REMODELING | 2502 PARK AVE, CHICO, CALIFORNIA 95928 | 530.899.2888

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and will be performed by both government and private contractors. Everyone involved in the cleanup or rebuilding of Paradise will be required to have a Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification. According to the last debris removal meeting in Chico, on December 17th, the county information officer stated that homeowners who decide to clean their own property would be required to have the same licenses and certifications as contractors who would perform debris removal. Any contractor the homeowner hires to help them clean up will be required to have a 40-hour HAZWOPER certification on top of the licenses and certifications required for hazardous substance removal. Participants who complete the 40-hour training course offered by Derek will not only receive this certification, but also learn how to properly protect themselves from toxic air, hazardous materials, and other unseen dangers. As Derek states,

The Dawsons Enter Hazardous Waste Sites with Confidence

With all evacuation orders recently lifted in Paradise, the natural inclination has been to head back up the hill. Those who lived in Paradise will want to return home to survey the damage, gather photos required by insurance, and sift through their property for belongings. For those who lived nearby in Chico and surrounding communities, there will undoubtedly be a desire to volunteer and help those who lost their homes in whatever way we can. For everyone heading up the hill, it is important to remember that regardless of the evacuation orders being lifted, the area affected by the fire is still considered a hazardous waste site. Just as we learned to protect ourselves from inhaling the smoke released by the fire, it is important that we also take care to protect ourselves from the ash, hazardous materials, and air that currently occupies the area. Derek Dawson has been teaching those entering hazardous situations how to do exactly that for the past five years.

Originally from Chico, Derek has been the emergency response superintendent for an underground mining contractor in one of the most remote areas of northern Nevada for the 42

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past eight years. Tasked with training workers and emergency response personnel on proper safety operations during fires, mine cave-ins, and handling of hazardous materials, he has seen the result of inadequate safety training firsthand. From corrosive burns to dangerous carcinogens, there is no shortage of potential dangers present in areas like these. He has made it his mission to ensure the safety of as many people as possible through his training programs, and is teaming up with his family at Dawson Landscaping to deliver those same classes in Chico through Hazmat Training and Consulting Associates (HTCA), a Dawson and Sons Inc. company.

As Paradise is under a state of emergency, Phase 1 of the debris removal process is currently underway. Phase 1 is being carried out by the EPA and involves the removal of Hazardous Household Waste (HHW). While residents are allowed to return to their homes during Phase 1 and sift through their belongings, it is important to remember, however, that during this time, the potential health and safety risks are also the greatest.

Once Phase 1 is completed, Phase 2 will begin.

Phase 2 involves the removal of fire debris

“Anyone can put on a suit and a respirator to protect themselves, but this program teaches you why you need to wear personal protective equipment, how it protects you, and how to wear it properly.”

The class itself takes place over one week and is created to be interactive with presentations and real- life exercises. Participants are trained to use an emergency response guidebook (ERG) to help assess potential dangers and participate in a final day ‘hands on’ field scenario where they learn how to safely identify various hazardous materials, chemicals, and other health hazards firsthand.

The final day field scenario takes the participant through the entire debris removal process from the initial site survey, separation of waste streams, and decontamination procedures. The entire course is fire-specific and relevant to the people of our county who could use it most. As class sizes are limited, priority registration is offered to locals first, including homeowners, renters, and contractors in Paradise before being offered to the general public.

WITH THE IMMENSE LEVELS OF TOXINS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RELEASED DURING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FIRES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IN AFFECTED AREAS. TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS, VISIT HAZMATTRAININGCONSULTING.COM OR CALL 530.592.3488.

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industry and built a team capable of cleaning eight properties each month, thus becoming an important piece of the recovery efforts throughout the area.

His time working with those that had lost so much, and the opportunity to be a positive point in their experience, convinced Zeb to continue the business full time. Just as he did in his hometown, he’s now offering his services to residents in Butte County to help expedite the process needed to rebuild and to do so safely without putting their own health at risk. Having completed the process for over 50 homes in 2017, Zeb has the following advice for anyone looking to engage the services of a private contractor for fire cleanup and debris removal: 1. Find someone to work with who will assess exactly what needs to be cleaned up. Most cement needs to be replaced due to the heat of the fire—obviously ash and dead foliage as well.

2. Discuss your case with your insurance adjuster to determine the amount your coverage allocated for cleanup.

3. Meet with a number of fire debris cleanup companies to discuss how they would approach your particular situation.

4. Select a partner that is interested in working with you to bring your property back to its former state.

RISING FROM THE ASHES Originally from Calistoga, Zeb Allard grew up in the construction industry, eventually starting his own business as a licensed general building houses throughout the Napa Valley. His skillset was put to the test when the Tubbs Fire ripped through Santa Rosa in October 2017, leveling his families’ homes and creating a painful new normal throughout wine country. Wanting to assist family and friends in the process of rebuilding and recovering from their loss, Zeb took the HazWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) course and obtained his certification, allowing him to operate safely 46

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within hazardous waste sites and properly handle hazardous materials. As a result, he was able to help his family rebuild and recover a good amount of the life they once had in Santa Rosa.

As waiting lists grew longer and longer for the limited number of contractors with the HazWOPER certification, word quickly spread that Zeb was working on his family’s properties. Family friends and friends of friends began reaching out, and he soon found he had a waiting list of his own. As a result, he hired friends in the construction

5. Make sure that your fire debris cleanup partner is experienced and certified in fire debris cleanup with a HazWOPER certification. Ensure that they are only removing what is needed, as whatever is taken out will have to be replaced. You want to make sure that all cement, metal, and ash is removed. Also, make sure you do not take more dirt than needed since you will need to replace that dirt once you start to rebuild your hardscape.

Fire cleanup is a specialized trade, so make sure your contractor has done it before and knows what needs to be done. If you’re looking for a contractor to help clear your property of hazardous materials and get it ready for rebuilding, contact Zeb Allard at 707.570.5707. With a proven track record and experience in the field, he’ll be glad to help.

WRITTEN BY EMMA HOPPOUGH PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY

PARKSIDE TAP HOUSE: Giving You The Best of Both Worlds

Josh Snider and Josh Marks share much more than a first name; the co-owners of Parkside Tap House in downtown Chico also share a vision that drives their work; they want to serve something “different” to the community.

The two friends opened their restaurant in 2016 after two years of planning and building— all while they continued to run the popular Bella’s Sports Pub just a few blocks away.

Knowing that they wanted to build something unique, as well as avoiding competition with their other business, Snider and Marks created the casual, family-friendly Tap House that is now a local favorite for both dinner and drinks.

At the heart of the restaurant is its twist on traditional pub fare, simply known as “creative comfort food.” This phrase, adopted by Marks and Snider in the early stages of development, perfectly describes the slyly gourmet menu that sets Parkside apart from other establishments. Beer cheese sliders, jalapeño poppers, and lobster grilled cheese are just a few examples of the restaurant’s twists on traditional meals. By building on these two ideas—creativity and comfort—Snider hopes to provide guests with the best of both worlds.

“You can come here for a beer and a burger, or you and your date can come get a bottle of wine and steak,” he explains. The Tap House would also not be the same without, well, its taps. The bar acts as a hub between the restaurant and patio on busy nights, and it features 24 rotating craft beers. “If we can go

local, we will,” says Snider, explaining the bar’s selection of Sierra Nevada brews. Also noted are its seasonal cocktails like the “Lower Park Lavender,” which was ranked best in Chico by the Chico News & Review in 2018.

However, Parkside might be best known for its 3,000-square foot patio, which pushes up against the street. Marks enjoys that the space is “not a separate entity” like other bar patios. In fact, if games of corn hole and giant Jenga are any indication, the unique space is one of Parkside’s greatest assets. Snider agrees that its eye-catching positioning has helped bring in crowds that the owners didn’t expect. “We may have underestimated the fact that there aren’t just college students who want to be out on weekends,” explains the coowner, “Because we’re definitely not a college bar.” Ultimately, the restaurant’s menu and

atmosphere caters to anyone who wants to socialize with friends—but not to any one customer.

While Snider and Marks have worked hard to establish what makes their restaurant different, they clearly embrace their restaurant’s ties to the community. Parkside is named both for Bidwell Park and the former Park Hotel, which once stood in the tap house’s location in the 1800’s.

The original building may be gone, but Parkside honors its roots—and guests— with photos of local landmarks lining the walls, locally brewed beers dominating the bar, and the One Mile just a short walk away.

All the while, concentrating on constantly building something unique in a comfortable, creative fashion.

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Potato INGREDIENT OF THE MONTH:

During the cold winter season, many of us will be roasting, boiling, and stewing up delicious potato dishes. Potatoes, or ‘spuds’ as some affectionately refer to them, are a starchy tuber that are a staple food group around the world. They are one of the most widely grown crops, in fact the fourth largest after rice, wheat, and corn. Potatoes belong to the nightshade family, with most parts of the plant considered toxic for human consumption. The exception being those hearty tubers that grow beneath the earth’s surface. Today, thousands of varieties of potatoes exist and are cultivated in various parts of the world.

Potatoes provide carbohydrates, potassium, and energy to fuel the body. They are energy packed and provide a nutritional boost of Vitamin C and B6, magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants. They are also completely fat free and contain no sodium or cholesterol, making them a healthy addition to any diet. Potatoes are excellent for anyone with an active lifestyle or simply looking to control their weight. Because they are starchy and bulky, they are extremely satisfying and filling.

Europeans in the 17th and 18th century grew potatoes as one of their year-round staple crops. Because farmers grew only one or two varieties, the lack of diversity made their large potato crop susceptible to rampant disease. From 1845 to 1848 a disease called ‘blight’ infested and destroyed over two-thirds of the potato fields that farmers had become dependent on for food. The organism Phytophthora infestans had devastating effects in Ireland and caused 48

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what is commonly known in history as the Irish potato famine. The lack of food caused riots and a tragically large death toll from starvation. Thousands of people died as a direct result of the famine and many were forced to flee Ireland and other parts of Europe to relocate in North America.

Today, thousands of varieties of potatoes are widely cultivated. You can find beautiful, colorful potatoes in various sizes and varieties at the Certified Farmers Markets in Chico, CA. Since they are rather starchy and plain tasting, you can add almost flavor to potato dishes. This holiday season, a wonderful recipe to try is potatoes au gratin.

Thinly sliced potatoes layered and baked with cheese is a delicious crispy and yet creamy dish. Slice four russet potatoes into thin slices and add half to the bottom of a greased casserole dish. Next add chopped onions and the remaining potatoes and season with salt and pepper. In a saucepan, mix 3 tablespoons of butter, 3 tablespoons flour, and a half teaspoon of salt and whisk together for one minute. Next stir in 2 cups of milk and cook until the mixture thickens. Lastly, add 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese and continue stirring until melted and then pour over the potatoes in the casserole dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 1 ½ hours. This is a delicious, heart-warming, and easy meal for enjoying with loved ones this holiday season.

INGREDIENT OF THE MONTH VIA E M M A H A R R I S For more information, visit the Chico Certified Farmers Market.

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THE M.A.D.I.A. PROJECT Living Up To Its Name

“Our focus is to develop programs that will help to uplift, empower, and encourage women so that they can rise up and conquer the obstacles they may face,” says Crystal Johnson, executive director of The M.A.D.I.A. Project. “The vision of our organization was to be a community resource for women and children who may be suffering hardship due to a variety of reasons.” Since its inception in May 2015, the non-profit, which stands for Making A Difference in America, has lived up to its name. Today, the M.A.D.I.A. Project has made an enormous impact in the lives of countless women and children by providing clothing, resources, and support through several different programs.

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When Johnson and her family first started The M.A.D.I.A. Project, they began by opening a six-month transitional housing program that could accommodate up to six women and their children. The program was designed not only to provide shelter to these women, but also to help them develop a successful plan for living independently. The program provided education on life skills topics as well as a weekly group session led by a licensed counselor. The housing program received referrals from rehab centers, catalyst women's shelter, Butte County Children's Services, and other local social service programs.

Although the program had a substantial waiting list and filled an important need in the community, it was unfortunately forced to end when the owner of the house had to sell the property.

WRITTEN BY EMILY HUSO PHOTOS BY EMILY TEAGUE

Undaunted, Johnson and her husband immediately started a new initiative to help provide clothing to foster parents when a new child was placed. Being foster parents themselves, the Johnsons knew what a helpful resource a clothing program could be. “Often, [the children] came with only the clothes on their back,” Johnson says. The clothing program would give foster parents the ability to obtain clothes for the children until they knew the status of the new placement. As the Johnsons collected donated clothing, they realized that this clothing initiative could be valuable not only to foster parents, but also to single mothers having a financial hardship or other crisis in their life. As a result of this realization, the Johnsons developed their current clothing programs, Clothes 4 Kidz and THE BUNGALOW. These programs allow qualified women to “shop for free items in a store-like atmosphere.” If the women are still in need after receiving three months of help, they are given the option to work volunteer hours to earn additional clothing for their children.

Primarily a self-funded, family-run organization, The M.A.D.I.A. Project has worked to develop funding sources to help cover the non-profit’s costs. One such funding source is the CURVY GURLZ Boutique, a store that sells plus-size clothing at a reasonable price.

“Being a plus size myself, I know first-hand the difficulty in finding affordable and fashionable clothes,” Johnson says. “I also felt this would fall in line with our mission of supporting and empowering women by giving them a comfortable and body positive place to shop for clothes.”

In the aftermath of the Camp Fire, the CURVY GURLZ Boutique is currently collecting and distributing free clothes to survivors.

"Women have come in here crying that they could not find

any plus-size clothes at the shelters or evacuation centers, and felt humiliated digging through piles of clothes and not finding anything that would fit them. The boutique has become a place of healing for many of these women,” Johnson says. “I feel humbled and blessed that I have been able to be a part of that.”

In the future, the M.A.D.I.A. Project hopes to secure funding and a reliable volunteer base to ensure the Project’s continued success.

Volunteers are needed to help organize and sponsor fundraisers that would help the Project both cover operational costs and help garner support from the community.

If you feel so moved, consider donating your time, products, or services to support The M.A.D.I.A. Project’s worthy cause. Your taxdeductible monetary donations would also be welcome.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT CRYSTAL JOHNSON AT 530.966.2793 OR EMAIL MADIAPROJECT@AOL.COM. 51

Microblading Chico Team!

Chico’s premier cosmetic tattoo studio, Microblading Chico, has moved into a larger space to accommodate their growing team of talented beauty artists. The bright and airy new studio is conveniently located off the Esplanade and opened for business in midNovember. With two new artists joining the team, owner Jennie Wolfe is excited to offer a wide variety of new services to meet the diverse needs of the studio’s valued clientele.

“Whatever makes you feel amazing, we’ll try to give you that,” Jennie says.

Microblading Chico’s new artists, Ashley and Kaylen, add their own individual energy, talent, and flair to the studio. Jennie’s daughter-in-law Ashley Simons, specializes in services including permanent eyeliner, scalp micropigmentation, and scar camouflaging—a treatmeant to help reduce stretchmarks and wrinkles. A mom, and formerly a full-time college student, Ashley enjoys the flexibility and creativity that her new position offers.

She is also continuing her education in cosmetic makeup to add even more skills to her arsenal. Artist and licensed esthetician Kaylen Parcell trained at Paul Mitchell in Sacramento, and later took advanced certifications in eyelash extensions and microblading. In addition to her love for cosmetic makeup, Kaylen has a deep love for visual art and is an accomplished portrait 52

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artist. A few examples of her striking work are on display at the new studio. Together, Jennie, Ashley, and Kaylen make a bad-ass team of dedicated and gifted artists. “We all work together really well,” Jennie says. “They teach me things just as I teach them things.”

For the Microblading Chico team, there is nothing more rewarding than helping clients to gain confidence and enhance their natural beauty. “I think my favorite part is when they look in the mirror for the first time at the end of their appointment,” says Kaylen. Whether they have just had eyelash extensions put on or their brows microbladed, clients are always thrilled with their new look. “It seems silly in a way, but it’s those little things that make women feel so good about themselves: just waking up in the morning and feeling like the most authentic version of themselves,” Kaylen says. “In this studio especially, we don’t want to change the way anyone looks drastically.

We just want to enhance your natural beauty.”

What Jennie finds most rewarding is how the job allows her to build relationships with clients and give them the confidence boost they deserve. “We’re all individuals and we should all feel amazing,” she says. The whole team is passionate about empowering men and women by helping them to feel beautiful in their own skin. “What’s not rewarding about this job?” Ashley says with a smile.

Whether they are serving cancer patients who have lost their hair, men who have receding hairlines or patchy beards, or busy women who want to save time in their daily makeup routine, the Microblading Chico team is all about providing a full range of permanent and semi-permanent cosmetic services to fit the needs of every client. Services new to the studio include scar camouflaging, lashes, spray tanning, and combo brows, which combine hair-like strokes with shading.

Another new service the studio offers is scalp micropigmentation, which helps to create the illusion of hair for men and women who may have receding hairlines or bald patches.

Microblading Chico also promises to offer additional new services in the future. “We’re always evolving and going to get more education,” Jennie says. “We’ll continuously get training and become better and better at what we do every single day.”

FOR A FULL LIST OF THE SERVICES THE STUDIO OFFERS, VISIT MICROBLADINGCHICO.COM. BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

WRITTEN BY EMILY HUSO PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO

MEET THE NEW

NEW YEA R, NEW YOU Each new year comes with some kind of self reflection and resolution. The five people you are about to meet did not wait until the strike of midnight to gain their resolve. Their life-changing stories are inspirational, and though no two are the same, they share a common ground and goal. We celebrate each of these successful memoirs with a head to toe makeover, courtesy of locally talented hair and makeup stylists along with generous clothing shops. We are excited to present each in our annual New Year, New You feature. Delight in their collective intention!

RIKKI

CHAMPELLE

CHRISTINA

WILL

SY LV I A

R I KK I

GLAM S QUAD Clothing/Accessories: Bobbi’s Boutique Hair: Satori Color & Hair Design Makeup: Powder Room Beauty Bar Shoes: Birkenstock

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It is so difficult to try and imagine growing up in 27 different foster homes from Oroville to Gridley. Not for Rikki Philbrook, as this was her life experience.

As a child of addicted parents, she ended up on the streets of Chico. On December 12th of last year, she gave birth to a son, Grayson, moving from the hospital to the Jesus Center. She worked through the programs, “As best she could,” and moved to the Lily House in February. This house is for younger moms with children up to two years old. Initially, the move proved both a blessing and a curse as the occupants were forced out each day until 4:00 p.m. In the cold Chico rain, those days were uncomfortable at best. She learned to just, “Keep truckin’ along,” and discovered that a parenting class and AA were both helpful. Crediting her baby, Rikki has been sober for 10 months but still finds “stumbling blocks,” such as the Welfare to Work program. This due mainly to her learning disability. Refusing to fail, she has taken on a best friend, Champelle.

She finds it “cool” to be be straight with her friend and their babies.

GLAM S QUAD Clothing, Hair, Makeup, & Accessories: Mecca Salon Shoes: Heel & Sole Shoes

CHR I STINA Born and raised in Woodland, Christina Whittemore understood early, as a child of a broken home, this was not the place for her. Without a home, Christina, at the age of 14, turned to drugs. She soon found herself homeless and sleeping in a 2004 Suburban. With her drug use escalating and the loss of her oldest child to CPS, Christina made the decision in 2014 to move to Chico and live with her mother-in-law. After a brief stay she entered the Esplanade House and welcomed the required programs. Her smile brightened as she explained, “It’s a whole different mode of life...not using.” In 2015, Christina took a house cleaning job at Twin Oaks, and, as a result of this experience, enrolled in Butte College’s CNA program. Four semesters later, she graduated from the program with a certificate of nursing tech. She now has enrolled in the LVN program and travels four days a week to Redding to complete the class requirements at Shasta College. She certainly was not kidding when relaying it is a completely different way of life. She now spends 32 hours a week working a job while spending four days a week going to school!

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GLAM S QUAD Clothing/Accessories: 3 Seas Jeans: Curvy Gurlz Boutique Hair: Embellished Salon Makeup: Makeup By Mrs. Kirk Shoes: Birkenstock

C HAMPE L L E Champelle Davison’s first years in Chico were nothing but “bad stuff,” including drugs. Living on the streets, she slept outside the Jesus Center. She lost twins to CPS, another child died at birth, and she was left wondering what more could go wrong. Nothing, as it turns out. She gave birth to a baby girl, Jaliah, and all the bad stuff came to a halt. She credits God with the overwhelming feeling of embarrassment washing over her. She looked around at her dire situation saying, “No more!” Seven months later, they moved from the streets to inside the Jesus Center and have since moved to Lily House, with her friend, Rikki. Champelle’s story of redemption is so compelling that she was asked to speak, on stage, at the National Prayer Day gathering in the city plaza. She shook her head in amazement as she admitted that she had “never done anything like that before.” She gleamed as she shared a picture of her daughter and that she now has a part time job at the Jesus Center. Her dream is to work with severely handicapped kids and it appears the dream will most assuredly come true.

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WILL Will Priest understands the clear difference between “being clean,” and the initiative to be clean. The change resulted from leaving the Army, losing a home, and finding drugs. As the drugs changed, so did the fun. The true tipping point stemmed from seeing his kids staring at a TV, lifeless and zoned out. As difficult as it was, Will knew he had to give them up in order to get better. Six months of classes at the Oroville Rescue Mission led to volunteering there, where he became in charge of the clothing.

This led to a place in the Esplanade House where he built more trust and volunteered at the Hope Center feeding the homeless. Will signed up for Terra Fuego, admitting that they made the work sound much cooler than “picking up branches in the hills.”

This experience led him right into the Firestorm outfit, fighting wildfires.

Firestorm was much like the military and he embraced the renewed discipline. “We are so blessed where we are right now,” Will admits. He finds fighting fires fun and stressful, and allowing time at home. He points out that this job, “Helps a lot. It keeps me steady emotionally and keeps me busy.” We applaud his fight for change and celebrate his new life.

GLAM S QUAD Clothing/Accessories: Formal Education Barber: Chop Shop Barber Co.

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GLAM S QUAD Clothing/Accessories: 5th Street Clothing Co. Hair & Makeup: Envee Hair Studio and Spa Shoes: Labelz Upscale Consignment Boutique

SY LV I A Four years ago, living a life of “craziness and drugs,” Sylvia became pregnant with her son. At the time, she knew of the New Year, New You campaign and “wanted to be picked so bad,” as it was always “a desire in my heart.” Not being selected was the first trigger for change. The second was a relapse after the birth of her son. She described going down “the deepest hole,” resulting in probation taking her son. She also lost a friend to addiction at 22. The end of the destruction came on January 4th when, after being jailed, a judge told her she would be better in a program than jail, and told her to get her son back. This struck home and proved a enormous catalyst, especially not being with her family for Christmas. This final trigger sent Sylvia into a 6 month program. She has moved into the transitional living House of Hope, and has been promoted to manager of the Subway she has been working for just a short time. Being selected for New Year New You is a big deal. Now Sylvia is setting her sights on her biggest dream, becoming a child psychologist. We believe that Sylvia can go as far she sets her heart’s desire!

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A B I G T HA N K YOU!

Jesus Center 1297 Park Ave, Chico 530.345.2640 BEAUTY: Chop Shop Barber Co. 127 Main Street, Chico 530.809.1839 Embellished Salon 2621 Esplanade #C, Chico 530.354.2871 Envee Hair Studio and Spa 152 E 2nd Street, Chico 530.891.3683

Curvy Gurlz Boutique 1376 Longfellow Ave, Chico 530.966.2793

Mecca Salon 1342 Esplanade #B, Chico 530.892.8746

Birkenstock 333 Broadway Street, Chico 530.345.4880

Powder Room Beauty Bar 239 Broadway Street, Chico 530.899.9350

Bobbi’s Boutique Reopening in Paradise!

Satori Color & Hair Design 627 Broadway Street Suite #120, Chico 530.342.2828 CLOTHIERS: 3 Seas 240 Main Street Suite #180, Chico 530.809.1673 5th Street Clothing Co. 328 Broadway Street, Chico 530.345.5754

Formal Education 127 Main Street, Chico 530.809.1839 Heel & Sole Shoes 708 Mangrove Ave, Chico 530.899.0725 Labelz Upscale Consignment Boutique 974 Mangrove Ave, Chico 530.345.1615

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN, PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO, & DESIGN BY NERISSA QUINN

NOMINATIONS: Esplanade House 181 E. Shasta Ave, Chico 530.712.2600

Makeup By Mrs.Kirk IG: makeupbymrskirk 530.514.6847

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Art, WI TH A G LOSSY LAYER OF RESIN

For creative inspiration, mixed media artist Lea Gadbois looks to nature, the open night sky, and beyond. A long-time lover of the outdoors, Lea feels most alive when she’s surrounded by forest, breathing in fresh air, and sleeping under the stars. “I paint to try to capture that kind of escape,” she says. In her work, the NorCal native explores local landscapes and the limits of outer space.

Her recent resin series depicts a wide array of cosmic phenomena, from serene starscapes to swirling, sparkling nebula.

After she graduated from Chico State with her B.A. in drawing and glass, Lea made her first foray into resin art when she found a table abandoned on the side of the road. Drawn by the table’s interesting surfboard shape, Lea carted the table home, where she sanded and painted it. Looking for a way to protect the painting on the table, Lea decided to try coating the whole thing in resin. “That was really the first project,” she says.

Though Lea does most of her resin work in her garage, she typically paints in her shared kitchen and sometimes even brings the whole process into her bedroom. She wears a mask to filter out toxic fumes and spreads a drop cloth on the carpet to catch any spills.

However, since most of her resin art involves 60

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finger-painting and glitter, things can still get messy. “Obviously there’s glitter everywhere,” Lea says, laughing. “You do what you have to do as an artist to make it work.” Since Lea’s resin process involves waiting for layers of the mixture to dry, each piece can take anywhere from one to eight hours from start to finish.

Lea’s artistic aesthetic has evolved significantly throughout the years. Starting out, Lea painted more traditional landscapes in a style evocative of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. More recently, Lea says that her style has deviated more towards stratified, electric representations of night scenes, nebula, and planets. “I’ve been getting deeper into space, if you will,” she says. In addition to resin art, Lea also does acrylic paintings and portraiture.

The pet portraits Lea creates on commission, feature realistic pencil drawings on resinfinished wood panels and make a great gift for animal lovers. “Pretty much any picture you give me, I can draw it,” Lea says. “I would love to do somebody’s lizard or bird someday!”

LEA IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING COMMISSIONS. HER GALLERY DISPLAY CAN BE VIEWED AT CHICO PAPER COMPANY OR ONLINE AT CHICOPAPERCOMPANY.COM/LEAGADBOIS.

WRITTEN BY EMILY HUSO PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO

Since then, Lea has gone on to master and innovate this unique art form. Many of Lea’s resin pieces feature vibrant acrylic landscapes and nightscapes finished with a glossy layer of resin. To create these pieces, Lea paints directly onto locally sourced wood panels. She then mixes and pours a two-part epoxy resin over the whole panel, allowing the mixture to drip off the sides. The result is a shiny, eye-catching finish that brings out the full depth of the acrylic paint. Lea is perhaps best known for her cutting-edge three-dimensional resin art that is embedded with electrifying LED lights. Through a top-secret process, the artist layers resin, acrylic paint, glitter, and waterproof LED lights to create dazzling, solid resin pieces whose splendor rivals that of the night sky.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR JANUARY 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY

JANUARY 4 The Kelly Twins Dueling Pianos 9:00 p.m.–midnight Colusa Casino Resort, Colusa Info: All request music soiree, come tell the Twins what you want to hear!

Meet Mr. Amur We are pleased to introduce our newest family member, a male Amur leopard, born in March, 2018. This eight month old is a gift to our Foundation, meant to be a companion to our female Amur leopard.

He is an ambassador of his species and will help to educate the importance of conservation for this species. The Amur leopard has been reported to leap more than 19 feet horizontally and up to 10 feet vertically. The coat of the Amur leopard is fairly soft with long, dense hair and varies from a fairly light yellow to dense yellowish-red in winter, and a brighter more vivid coloration in summer. The Amur leopard also has widely spaced rosette spots that cover its body. The Amur leopard has long limbs and is well adapted to walking through deep snow. In addition, Amur leopards are also able to run up to 37 miles per hour.

The Primorye region of southeastern Russia and the Jilin Province of northeast China. The Amur leopard feasts on a diet of beef, pork, chicken, and lamb.The main threats to the Amur leopard population are due to poaching, habitat loss, decline in prey population, and potential inbreeding because of a small gene pool. There are between 50 and 60 individual Amur leopards estimated in the wild, and approximately only 40 in the United States.

Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary and Educational Center hours: Tuesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and no appointment necessary to walk around on your own.

Guided tours by appointment only, call 530.533.1000. Follow us on: kirshner.org.

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JANUARY 13 Bird Painting at The Commons 2:00–4:00 p.m.

The Commons, Chico Cost: $38 in advance or $42 day of event.

Info & Tickets: Come paint this cute little bird on a pine cone branch! It's a season for enjoying quality time with friends and family... whether you're done with your gift list or just ready to finish it off with gift cards too, The Commons and Sienna Joy Painting Events... come out for some creative time and great drinks. Your first brew or glass of wine is included in your ticket as well as all painting materials. https://squareup.com/store/sienna-joy

JANUARY 14 An Evening with David Sedaris Laxson Auditorium, Chico Cost: $60 Premium | $50 Adult $48 Senior | $40 Youth Info & Tickets: An evening with David is side-splittingly funny as he delivers life stories through his unique lens, beautifully capturing the humor and humanity of life.

During this performance, David will be reading new and unpublished material.

Chicoperformances.com or 530.898.6333

JANUARY 19 Thank You Sheriff Honea & First Responders 2:00–5:00 p.m.

Feather Falls Casino & Lounge, Oroville Info: Join us and express your gratitude and thanks to our own Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea, as well as other Public Safety personnel who dedicated themselves to the community on Nov 8th 2018 during

the Camp Fire. Feather Falls Casino has provided the upstairs banquet rooms, as well as appetizers. Let's come together as a community to show our appreciation and give them a huge thank you!

Women’s March on Chico 2019 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Chico Downtown Plaza, Chico Info: We will march again with a wave of Women and Allies flooding the streets from the Chico area and beyond. #WomensWave After marching, Women's March on Chico 2019 will hold an hourlong Lunchtime Rally & Community Potluck at the Plaza, where we will be invited to connect, hear music, and enjoy community speakers. facebook.com/WomensMarchChicoOfficial/

JANUARY 22–FEB. 23 Meemento: Before Janet Turner Print Museum, Chico State Info: This exhibition is curated from The Turner Collection by Jacob Meders, a member of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, whose own work is concurrently exhibited at the Jacki Headley University Art Gallery. Meders explains that the linked exhibitions function "as a before and after" that suggests ways to "see, share, and learn—to open a dialogue that allows a healing process." Artist talk will be on Thursday, February 7 at 5:30 p.m. and reception will follow in the galleries lobby.

Curator's talk will be on Saturday, February 9 at 2p.m. at The Turner. 530.898.4476

JANUARY 24–26 Madonna: Uncle Dad’s Art Collective Laxson Auditorium, Chico Cost: $26 Premium | $19 Adult $17 Senior | $15 Youth Info & Tickets: The creative minds of Uncle Dad's Art Collective turn their attention to the archetypal "Queen of Pop"—Madonna.

Follow along on this historical musical soundtrack as the talented members of Uncle Dad's Art Collective and a slew of special guests pay tribute to the most influential female recording artist of all time. csuchico.edu/upe/performance/ artists/2018-2019/madonna-UDAC.php

No Story Is A Straight Line.

The geometry of a human life is too imperfect and complex, too distorted by the laughter of time and the bewildering intricacies of fate to admit the straight line into its system of laws.

–Beach Music by Pat Conroy

To sit across from Alexey Ledwith, you cannot help but notice his facial countenance lies somewhere between mild surprise and faint annoyance. His eyes, however, reveal the mischievous joy and aid his boyish charm to belie the fact he is nearing 40. Alexey is a true Renaissance man; he is an art prodigy, visionary, doer, evaluator, and like all geniuses, he fights complex inner struggles. He not only is a spitting image of the Renaissance artist Raphael, with his wispy ponytail and hollow eyes, but he shares the same hectic and triumphant life. Unlike Raphel, Alexey put art aside at the age of 16, turning away from his talent. This decision also led him away from traditional schooling, a place he felt alone, to Fairview High school, the alternative approach he belonged. So much so, Alexey adopted it as his permanent campus.

The road to this chosen field was filled with obstacles and downward spins. At 26, he was diagnosed with ‘accelerated alcoholism’ and thought he was “going to die.” The disease comes with bodily deterioration leading to life threatening seizures. He beat it and is now a rare statistic; only 2% fully recover. This battle is a blip on his radar screen. Alexey completed college and the credential program and landed a job at Fairview, teaching art. He is in his 8th year there, and, 6 years ago, he bought a home in Paradise.

Thursday, November 8th, may have been more trying than beating his disease. He and his daughter left home before 7:00 for the drop off at Chico High and then on to Fairview. They saw the plume of smoke followed by the red sky. His wife and younger girls did not see the imminent danger and took too long to follow repeated pleas, entering the living nightmare. Alexey’s attempt to rescue fell short of the Skyway, and with cell service gone, waited at the bottom of the hill with his daughter. They were to meet up at the Oxford Suites. Five

and half grueling hours later—they did. The story, the horrifying details, the obvious face to face encounter with death, the reunion, played itself out. So what does a Renaissance man think? Where does his mind turn?

Where it should, directed at three remarkable places with three catastrophic events.

The first is before the disease, before the marriage, when he and his wife began Butte College. The date was 9/11. His dad was working on the Twin Towers. No cell service led to that frantic hopelessness. After forever, they discovered his dad had been laid off just three days prior. The second was New Orleans and Florida, August 2005. He and his wife were separated and she had gone to visit family with their daughter. Hurricane Katrina swept ashore. No contact led to his renewed anguish over which place she had landed.

Neither place was safe, still one brought back that hopelessness. They survived the storm in Florida; his family in New Orleans did not fare as well. Only a true Renaissance man would allow his mind to focus on yet a third remarkable place.

Pompeii. An ancient Roman city buried under 20 feet of volcanic ash spewing from Mount Vesuvius in the year AD 79. Most of the inhabitants were buried before they could escape. The site was lost until its rediscovery in 1599. Due to lack of air and moisture, the remains of the city provided an eerily detailed insight into the life of the inhabitants. All of these feelings and all of these tragedies rose up inside him at once. He will continue to hear a voice in his head, the one that rose like that volcanic ash, saying, “Got a bad feeling— something bad is gonna happen—please don’t let it be my wife.”

I can leave you with this: Purpose erases anguish, stillness eases franticness, perspective invites change, positive change.

Just ask our Renaissance man, who faced death and lived to fear it.

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