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FROM THE EDITOR Two years ago, the March issue had my daughter-in-law, Layshia, on the cover. This year, our March cover features my son-in-law, Devin Van Hout. The feature, itself, is not just a story about Devin being named president of Build.com. It is also a much needed glimpse inside the company, as well as the right kind of story for the community to read. Here, at Upgraded Living, we often have conversations about whether family or friends should even be in the magazine. The conversations do not last because the fact is, deserving people belong in the magazine. I enjoy relating two things I love about Dev. The first is I love to listen to him talk. He is fascinating, well versed, well read, and possesses an intriguingly analytical mind. Yes, I am biased but that does not mean he is not any or all of these things. Second, he does not treat me as a father-in-law. We have a wonderfully organic relationship. Since the article is straightforward, I wish to take a single opportunity to relate an endearing memory. It was during Devin and Sarah’s dance at their reception. They swayed to Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us.” A couple of lines stood out immediately for me—“...and I wanna stand out for you,” followed by “..I wanna make your world better than it's ever been.” When I hear that song to this day, my eyes fight back the tears, not always successfully.
UPGRADED LIVING STAFF AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief
NERISSA QUINN
SHELLY BRANDON
Production Director
Writer
JASON CORONA
FRANK REBELO
Sales Director
Photographer
DARREN MICHELS
JENNY SKIBO
Product Integration & Mobility Strategy
Photographer
ALEX GRANT Writer
MICHELLE CAMY Photographer
BRIAN LUONG
We have three very different supporting articles that, in their own right, offer variations of the same theme of sustainability. The first is a feature on the Rock ‘n’ Oak Ranch. Among other things, the intent to keep the land sustainable is clearly evident. Next serves as an optimally obvious example of our theme. We celebrate and point a bright spotlight on Butte College’s Sustainability Program. You will be overjoyed to meet its founder and director, Mimi Riley. At the same time, you will surely be astounded by the entirety of this cutting edge program. Finally, opioid addiction, needles, and misconception abound around us. Our third entry is a personal account of a father responding to the overdose of his son. It is not only an important read, but at the same time, the story carries with it the importance of sustainability in the fight connected with this far too rampant nightmare. The Backpage took its expected wild left turn. I set out to write about the sustainable nature of editing and writing. Driving to work, my eye caught a sticker on the back window of the car in front of me. It read—#GIRLDAD. That’s all it took to get my mind wheeling in another direction. A hint in what direction is the fact I am, indeed, a father of daughters.
Writer
CONTRIBUTORS ASHLEY DEKELLIS
MIMI RILEY
Design
What Are You Comprised Of?
HRiQ
NERISSA QUINN
Human Resources
DIY
JASON CORONA
STACIE BEDFORD
Cocktails
Design
KEVIN DOLAN
SWEENEY & MICHEL
Backpage
Finance
LAYSHIA CLARENDON
TAD MILLER
Health
Feature
MATT ELLER
DR. VIMALI PAUL, M.D.
Health
Skin Care
On to April with growing excitement...
For editorial or general magazine inquiries, please contact: Kevin Dolan, 530.894.8091 kevin@upgradedliving.com
Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief
For sales inquiries, please contact: Jason Coronoa, 530.591.2634 Sales@UpgradedLiving.com
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CONTENTS MARCH 2020 COMMUNITY
FOOD & DRINK
10 Meet Cool Kid Caleb Atwood and discover
50 Corona’s Cocktail Corner primes you for
there really is more to life than basketball.
46 We shine a bright light on the Rock ‘n’ Oak Ranch and introduce you to a fun and close destination for a trail ride or just to take in the beauty.
63 Our Editor-in-Chief contemplates the merits
the 17th with all things Jameson’s.
52 The recently crowned Kale is featured with anything and everything you did not know you should know.
53 Our beloved Fresh Twisted Cafe provides their take on Twisted Avocado Toast.
of being a father of daughters.
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
ARTS & MUSIC
22 An in-depth look at the benefits and
58 You see them on Saturday afternoons in
cautions when using ice and heat to recover from injury or workouts.
24 An intriguing case for reducing sugar intake to reduce inflammation in your body.
26 A complete tutorial on the art of making face masks at home. Hint—they are not for Halloween.
HOME & GARDEN make seed pots—right in your home.
32 Ready or not—here’s the 2020 forecast for the most popular paint colors.
34 Important information and tips on ridding your yard and garden of those nasty stink bugs.
ON THE COVER: DEVIN VAN HOUT DESIGN BY: NERISSA QUINN PHOTO BY: FRANK REBELO
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60 Meet artist Charlene Abinante and her magic potter’s wheel producing a cup for everyone.
FEATURE 28 An important and chilling view into a
20 You will discover everything you need to
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the fall, now find out the origin and history behind those marvelous marching bands.
Dad’s struggle with his adult son and his addiction.
40 Our cover story features Devin Van Hout, the President of Build.com, who takes us inside and outside the doors of this bustling Chico company.
54 We are delighted to introduce you to Mimi RIley and the Butte College Sustainability Program. Get ready to be amazed!
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WRITTEN BY ALEX GRANT PHOTO BY JENNY SKIBO
THE VOLUNTEER
BALLER If eighth grader Caleb Atwood isn’t blocking shots and boxing players out on the court, you can find him on the sidelines volunteer coaching alongside his father. Caleb started playing basketball in first grade for the Upward Basketball league, organized by his family’s church, Grace Community. He’s played just about every sport, but basketball stuck with him. About two years ago, he started volunteering his time for Grace Community allowing him to be around the game from a different viewpoint. Coaching and playing ball has not only fulfilled his own personal interests but also has helped him develop a stronger bond with his father and younger brother. “Before, my Dad and I went to go see an occasional movie or we talked every so often but we didn’t really have something that we went and did all the time that brought us closer, so coaching with him is really nice,” Caleb said. “I thought I’d take it up because I got to coach my brother’s team. My brother and I were already pretty close but we’re five years apart so we don’t really have a lot of the same views but basketball is something we can bond over.” The whole Atwood family is involved in the league as his mother works as Upward’s Coordinator/Assistant Commissioner. Caleb got inspired to volunteer by his mom and 10
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said that she’s one of his biggest role models. “She works for the church so she got me into volunteering and she’s one of my biggest role models,” Caleb said. Caleb also prides himself in getting good grades, working hard in school by challenging himself with honor classes. As he nears graduation, he’s aiming to get a Bidwell Legend Award, reserved for students who do community service hours, get good grades, and show excellent citizenship. Over 300 students are in Caleb’s graduating class, but only 20 students will receive this award. Caleb said he doesn’t volunteer or go for good grades to get recognition, rather he enjoys both aspects of his life. Bidwell Junior High Principal David McKay echoed Caleb’s sentiment about himself and his community. “Cool people make the world around them a better place without making a big deal about it. Caleb is one of those people. He’s so genuine and consistent about positively contributing to his community that it’s easy to go unnoticed,” David said. After graduation, he plans to attend and play basketball at Pleasant Valley High School. While he doesn’t see professional coaching in his future, he’s excited to continue volunteering as he loves the rewarding nature of the youth league. “It’s fun to see how much they progress over the season because there are some kids that didn’t know how to dribble a basketball at the beginning of the season, but they progressively got better and better. That’s something I love to see.”
I am comprised of morning matcha, meditation, and meandering in nature. I am comprised of the courage to tell MORNING ROUTINE
the truth and to challenge my students to seek their own. I am comprised of the features of a lighthouse in a storm. UNIQUE SKILL I BRING TO THE CLASSROOM
MY MOTTO
I am comprised of fairness, compassion, and deep listening —as Paul Hawken taught me, "You never learn A DV I C E A B O U T T E AC H I N G
anything when your mouth is open".
What are you comprised of? MIMI RILEY Butte College Sociology Instructor 11
Located on Kentfield Road is a small community garden that has been making a huge impact on Chico ever since its first harvest. Every year, thousands of pounds of fresh, organic, and delicious produce is provided to at-risk populations at no cost, thanks to From the Ground Up Farms, a local nonprofit priding itself on feeding the community flavorful and nutritious food. Adorned with an 18-bed garden for seasonal produce along with native plants and trees, there’s a little bit of everything at the Kentfield Garden. The nonprofit is spearheaded by founders Jenny Lowrey and Bruce Matthews, both of whom have been able to improve their mental and physical health through gardening and healthy eating. 12
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“It kind of started with the kids saying, ‘What if you grew some food, Mom, and gave it away?’” Jenny said, Executive Director of From the Ground Up Farms. At the time, Jenny had just stopped working in the agricultural chemical industry, and was having trouble transitioning from her previous life as a self described “workaholic.” Jenny was also facing health issues.When the doctor told her she only had a few months left to live, she began to focus on her own health and how she could help the health of others. It was then that Jenny began to work on her first garden up on Lake Concow Campgrounds and began educating herself on different aspects of her health such as nutrition, exercise, and organic farming.
Although this was Jenny’s first experience with gardening on a larger scale, their first harvest still produced lots of food, including several pounds of lettuce, kale, and cucumbers along with other summer crops. From there, they took the crops out to the Torres Shelter where they saw the immediate impact nutritious food could have on people’s lives. “People were so thankful,” Bruce said, with Jenny adding that often times, the only fruits and vegetables that they eat were ones that were ready to be thrown in the compost bin. After that initial harvest, they were hooked, and began to look for more ways in which they could help out the community. Later, they would meet Todd, the owner of the Kentfield Garden property, who would allow them to use the space. From the Ground Up Farms began to start growing at a faster pace. Although they had now found a space to grow, they began to tackle other issues that at-risk populations had when it came to acquiring healthy foods, such
WRITTEN BY BRIAN LUONG PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Huge Impact SMALL GARDEN
as transportation. Now, From the Ground Up has been able to build 17 different gardens, many of which are located in the communities with at-risk populations. These gardens are cared for by these communities and are in different locations throughout the city, including an 18-bed garden at the Torres Shelter. From the Ground Up Farms not only provides nutritious foods to these communities, but part of their mission is to educate them as well. Through different workshops and community classes, Jenny and Bruce have been able to teach everything from nutritional cooking demonstrations, economic grocery shopping, and how to store bulk foods. Not only do they help educate the older communities, they also host a weekly education program for Butte County Homeschoolers, where children are able to get 'hands on' experience in the garden. “Teaching people how to help themselves— that was our mission,” Jenny said. From the Ground Up Farms impact reaches further than just providing food and education as they are also helping the Concow communities in a variety of ways. In a partnership with the North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF), they have been able to provide things such as medical devices, car repairs, and hearing aids to those affected in the Camp Fire. NVCF and From the Ground Up Farms are also helping to increase the participation in the 2020 census within the Concow community, which is important for things such as allocated funding for better roads and emergency services. They will be hosting two events over the next two months, including their 6th annual Spring Sowing Circle (March 22) and their event “Concow Counts” at Jake’s (April 1), both of which will have food and music provided. “If we continue to give, we continue to receive,” Jenny said. From the Ground Up Farms is always looking for more volunteers, so stop by the Kentfield Gardens to help with everything from pulling weeds to making benches and leave with enough vegetables for a delicious, healthy dinner.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FROM THE GROUP UP FARMS VISIT, FROMTHEGROUNDUPFARMS.ORG. 13
The Perfect Accent Piece Looking for the ideal accent piece for your patio or kitchen table? Well look no further! WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
DIY BY NERISSA QUINN PHOTO BY FRANK REBELO
• Cacti &/Or Succulents (Assorted Sizes And Shapes) • Rocks • Sand • Soil • Decorative Items: Moss, Bark, Sticks • Glass Bowl
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DIRECTIONS: Remove all stickers and tags from your glass bowl. Once cleaned, add a thick layer of rocks followed by moss and the soil. After the soil is placed, plant your succulents. Add sand, rocks, and other decorative items around the succulents and enjoy!
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Local Artists A Visit With
Drive up the hill from Chico, through the pine trees lining Highway 32, and you arrive at Forest Ranch; a quiet community that fosters the perfect setting for artists to craft their trade. Sitting down in writer Josh Shelton’s den with he and illustrator Sam Pullenza, you can’t help but be drawn into their amicably shared story. Can’t wait to hear more about how they met and reconnected, how their eerily linked creative process works, how they hope their books set a ripple of change passing from one child to the next. Sam’s colorful creative space spreads across the floor, finished illustrations, paintings in flux surrounded by paints, brushes, and watercolor pencils as their story begins to unfold. Josh was born in Chico and has a deep history in the area. His Great Great Grandma was a Native American of the Wintu tribe so his roots 16
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His childhood love of drawing recently gave way to painting, employing all types of media from watercolors to oil paints. Because it’s his love, Sam says, “Painting never seems like work, it’s play.” It has taken off since he reintroduced himself two years here are deep. He moved to Forest Ranch ago with these books as well as shows at twelve years ago where he lives with his OM restaurant and Ellis Art in downtown wife Amanda, his daughter Ashley, and son Chico. When he isn’t painting, he’s playing Caden. In addition to his writing, Josh is a guitar or spending time with his son, Mason. talented craftsman and builder who works Sam and Josh graduated from the same in Paradise aiding in the reconstruction. His high school together, but Sam left the area wood pieces are scattered throughout his and moved to Arizona and then on to Idaho. home, bookshelves sporting a sign for their After a time, he realized he was lacking any website along with a beautiful five foot oak true connections and decided to come back tree he uses at schools throughout the area. home to the place and people he knew. Josh feels he learns more from his kids Upon returning to Chico, Sam was looking than they could ever learn from him and for serenity, someway to help clear the enjoys their time together. He says their life “mind chatter” that kept him awake at night. is “centered on the real, the outdoors, and He and Josh reconnected after a decade the arts.” He’s always enjoyed writing and apart and Josh introduced him to meditation credits his Martin guitar, his best non-human as a way to calm and re-center himself. “A friend growing up, with motivating him to mountain of synchronicities landed [them] in continue writing throughout his life, in songs, this book journey together.” prose, and now in books. In his first book, Hey Tree, What Should I Sam grew up in Southern California and Be?, a child poses a question about what moved to Chico in the seventh grade. he wants to be when he grows up. The
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO
arrange everything themselves in order to maintain their artistic perspective on it, especially with the third and fourth books on the way, and have they settled in beautifully with this publisher. The books have opened up many opportunities from energizing their art to visiting area schools and doing workshops based on the stories. Josh will typically do a reading of one of the books and then based on that, will structure a “playshop” as he calls it, around a particular theme in order to engage the students. The kids will take a paper leaf and write down what they want to be when they grow up or, perhaps, a positive change they want to make in the world. Then they’ll take their leaf and place it on the oak tree Josh shaped out of wood. He shares, “Working in the classrooms and seeing what ideas the children have to offer, I am given such great hope for our future.”
book follows him on his journey. First, he discovers the things he wants to do don’t have grown-up jobs, then learns there are too many things he loves to do in order to choose just one. He worries that as he grows and changes so will his dreams. He’s faced with all of these outside pressures but he keeps going back to nature and the old tree to help settle his mind. The tree helps the boy learn to tune into his heart and realize that if he focuses on being happy, the rest will follow. The tree is the centerpiece of the story and really stood out in Josh’s mind as he was writing it. One day, he popped in while Sam was working on some charcoal sketches of a beautiful old oak and Josh was shocked, “It was exactly what I had pictured in my mind as I wrote the story!” It seemed as if they were connected by the tale. So he asked Sam if he wanted to illustrate some children’s books and their adventure began. Initially, they lay out storyboards with phrases at the bottom and brainstorm together on different ideas of what the accompanying images should be. This often ends in raucous laughter at some of the pictures and concepts that develop. Sam might see an image in his head and his hand has to catch up with what he’s
seeing. They’ll “comic book it out” and sometimes Sam’s picture comes first and the right phrase will follow or vice versa. It’s a definite co-creative process cultivated by their connectedness as friends and artists. They have two books published as of right now—Hey Tree, What Should I Be? and Imagine A World. He and Sam are currently working simultaneously on the third and fourth in the book series. The most challenging part of the entire process was getting through the publishing of the first book. Josh speaks of the horror stories of people not being able to find a publisher or trying to self publish and not knowing where to even begin. He kept looking for ‘publishers near me’ on the Internet and one night a group from London popped up incongruously; Conscious Dreams Publishing whose logo happened to be a feather exactly like the one his daughter Ashley had just finished in pottery class. It seemed like a sign, so Josh called them up and said they have been an amazing company to work with. The first back and forth between the rough drafts being sent in and then returned all typeset and arranged by the company was unexpected, because it didn’t appear at all the way they had envisioned it. So now, they typeset and
You can find their books locally at ABC Books, Bird in Hand, Made In Chico, Downtown Bookstore and various other stores around town as well as online from their website, whitemagicbooks.net or on Amazon.com. Keep an eye out for their next books, Just Be and I Am A Drop In The Ocean, which should be available in the next year or so. Josh and Sam’s advice for others contemplating any new endeavor is, "Let your excitement be a little bit stronger than whatever your fears may be and go all in. Just start.”
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OF EXPERIENCE & VARIETY
reduce inflammation, both of which help with fighting acne. High frequency treatments also help increase circulation, stimulating the creation of collagen and making skin appear more youthful by diminishing age lines. After the high frequency treatment, Carla completes the procedure with dermalinfusion, a 3-in-1 remedy that helps exfoliate the skin, extract dead and damaged skin cells, and infuse the skin with serums. Dermalinfusion can help with a wide variety of skin issues from reversing hyperpigmentation to improving aging skin with fine lines and wrinkles. Carla also offers a number of add-ons her clients can combine with their facials. One of these add-ons is LED light therapy, a technique originally researched by NASA as a means for plant growth on shuttle missions and later proven to be beneficial in repairing damaged skin. Different color lights have different effects on the skin—for example, blue LED light helps clear acne and prevent future breakouts, while red LED light helps with stimulating collagen, the most abundant protein found in our body and vital to skin strength.
"Carla is incredibly talented,” said Jennie Wolfe, a friend of Carla’s and owner of Microblading Chico. “Her facials, skin work, and body treatments are just amazing. As a skincare professional myself, you quickly learn that experience is everything, and the work she does proves just how experienced she is. Plus, her clients absolutely rave about her!” Carla Lai has over 10 years of experience as an esthetician, and has come a long way since starting her career in Southern California at Burke Williams Day Spa in Santa Monica. Seven years ago, she moved to Chico looking for a change of pace and found exactly that. Carla was surprised at how genuinely friendly everyone was; how simple gestures like eyecontact were commonplace, and everyone said hello to one another. She began working at Urban Medspa, where she fine-tuned her techniques and skills as an esthetician over the following seven years before striking out on her own. Now, with her new business, Noomi Skin Care, Carla is bringing her own personal flare to everything she does, including advanced procedures such as peels and head-to-toe body treatments. 18
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It isn’t just the amount of experience that makes Carla so respected in the local skincare community, but also her breadth of experience, as she offers a wide variety of techniques to help clients with whatever they may need. Of her procedures, the most popular are facials—a great way to refresh oneself, both physically and mentally. "Totally customizable, relaxing, and pampering— facials are a great way to relieve stress,” said Carla. She begins each facial with extractions, pinpointing any imperfections in the skin and clearing out clogged pores. Afterwards, she treats the skin with high frequency electrodes which help kill bacteria on the skin and
"Everything that Carla does is organic, natural, and soothing; it’s what women and men are both looking for.” Jennie said, “More importantly, she’s constantly striving to be even better. Just when I think she’s perfected her craft, she finds a way to take it to the next level. It’s truly inspiring!” It’s true—Carla isn’t satisfied with what she already knows; she is constantly researching new techniques and procedures that provide her clients with the best possible experience while refining the atmosphere to ensure they’re totally relaxed and comfortable. Most recently, she has been studying Gua Sha, an ancient Chinese technique that employs flat jade stones to massage the face, relieving pain and tension while draining lymph nodes. “It makes your face look and feel ten years younger.” Carla said, “I think that’s something we could all enjoy!” Carla’s sleek and modern studio at 1731 Esplanade suite 7 is quiet and totally private. Merely stepping inside feels like a departure from the hectic race of daily life and a giant leap closer towards true relaxation. Whether it be a facial or massage, feed your skin and treat your soul with Carla at Noomi Skin Care. Make an appointment by calling 530.514.0632 and don’t forget to follow Carla on Instagram @noomidayspa.
PHOTOS BY JENNY SKIBO
A Winning Combination
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Ready For Spring? Get Planting! The itch to get our hands in the dirt and start growing often comes before winter is quite ready to let go. However we can satisfy our urge to get a head start on our gardens by planting seedlings indoors. There are a plethora of containers we can use, from newspapers we already have at home to mini greenhouse containers to those abundant K-cups.
Biodegradable Containers:
The benefit of using biodegradable seed vessels is twofold, helping both the plant and the environment. Purchasing less plastic means less waste going into landfills while planting the seedling where they’ve grown prevents transplant shock. If you don’t replant your seedlings soon enough they can become root bound in their containers but biodegradable pots allow the roots to push through the walls and establish themselves. Some seedlings are susceptible to transplant shock and don’t like being moved once they’ve sprouted, like poppies for example. Pots like the following newspaper tubes allow the seedlings to continue their growth uninterrupted.
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Another biodegradable pot possibility we may have in our refrigerators are those cardboard egg cartons. If you cut them to separate the cups, you’ll avoid having the seedlings and roots grow into each other. Plant your seeds as you did with the newspaper cups and settle them onto a waterproof tray to sprout. Once sprouted, you can plant the cups right into the soil in your garden. Why stop with the egg carton? Did you know you can use eggshells as well? Save those shells from breakfast, rinse and fill them with soil and seeds. Once they’ve sprouted, you can plant the entire shell, which will add nutrients to the soil as it breaks down and help keep those slimy slugs away from your seedlings. Take a look around your house and rethink the items you toss in the recycle bin. Imagine those toilet paper and paper towel rolls as tiny seed starting pots and open up to the sustainable possibilities.
Recycled Seed Starters:
Containers don’t need to be biodegradable to make excellent seed starting pots. The plastic clamshell containers that you buy grapes and strawberries in become excellent mini greenhouses set on your windowsill. Just put your soil starter in the clamshell and set it on a waterproof plate or pan. Plant the seeds at the specified soil depth and close the lid. Keep them moist and watch them grow. Once they are ready for planting, head outside and put them in the garden. Rinse your container and you’ll be ready for the next set of seeds. Do you have a Keurig machine? Then you probably also have an overabundance of used K-cups. These little pods are the perfect size for starting seeds. Simply remove the top foil, fill with potting soil, pop in your seed, keep moist and sunny, and transplant when ready. As spring approaches, keep an eye on what you’re putting in the recycle bin. Could you use that milk jug, orange juice carton, or yogurt cup as a planter for seeds? Oui, those French glass yogurt cups would look perfect lined up on the windowsill holding this summer’s producers when they’re just babies; simple heralds of spring awaiting winter’s release of Mother Nature.
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON
Newspapers are something that we probably all have laying about and make perfect little pots. Take one layer of newspaper and fold it lengthwise into a five or six inch strip. Using a small can of soup, place in the middle of the strip and begin rolling the paper around the can until you come to the end. Starting at the seam, fold the edges of one side of the tube down over the can and repeat with three more folds. Firmly press the can down onto a solid surface to compress the folds and then let the can slide out the opposite end. Fold over the top edges of the ‘pot’ starting at the seam to stabilize it even more. Repeat the process until you have enough closed tubes to fill up a waterproof tray. Fill each tube with moistened potting soil and one or two seeds. Then place them in the sun
according to the seed packet directions and keep the soil moist. Once your seedlings sprout, you can plant the entire newspaper pot right into the garden being sure to make the hole deep enough to cover the newspaper rim. Keep the soil moist and most seedlings will send their roots right through the newspaper as it degrades.
YOUR HEALTH H E AT & I C E I N R E C O V E R Y
For most of us, an active lifestyle at any age is the goal. As we strive to attain our full potential of fitness and wellness, some degree of suffering from pain or injury is simply a part of life. All athletes, as well as those who have a physically demanding job, will encounter some degree of musculoskeletal injury, overuse, or dysfunction. Becoming skilled at managing simple to more complex impairments is paramount in today's medical and fitness landscape. Being proactive in your wellness and health will always serve you well. Age old techniques utilizing ice or heat carry merit to assist you in healing when overcoming injury, soreness, and inflammation. Heat prepares soft-tissue to move and stretch while improving joint stiffness. It is important to distinguish between superficial deep heat applications. Moist hot packs or heating pads are utilized in physical therapy for rehabilitation or by individuals at home to produce an increase in blood flow of superficial tissues. Increasing the temperature of connective tissue improves the elasticity. A deep heat can be produced by movement, preferably of the entire body, such as aerobic activity. This allows an increase in circulation, core temperature, as well as increasing synovial joint fluid which relieves joints and soft tissue aches and soreness. Other forms of heat include hot tubs, sauna, or infrared. Arthritic joints, very stiff joints, or shortened muscles feel much better and more relaxed when temperatures are increased. In addition, heat has a proven effect on muscle recovery and repair after exercise. I tell my patients when pain levels are mild to moderate, below 5 out of 10, heat can be a smart choice. Always use precaution, considering your overall health and hydration when utilizing any form of heat. Prolonged exposure to environmental heat can lead to life-threatening illness. 22
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In more acute or painful situations, applying ice to a body region can reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Cryotherapy can help pain management for a recent injury, immediately after injury up to 48–72 hours, or surgery. While the acute inflammatory process is a critical aspect of our bodies healing capacity, it tends to be excessive, leading to prolonged swelling, pain, and disability. Icing slows this process. Icing also helps pain within the sensory nervous system. I advise the use of ice in most cases involving a pain level above 6 out of 10. Ice packs are simple and easy to use at home. In physical therapy, we use crushed ice in bags or towels to maximize surface area over joints or injured regions. Ice compression machines assist in reducing swelling and reduces pain. In order to achieve a proper analgesic effect, ice should be applied for 15–20 minutes. Ice massage is an excellent treatment for local pain or inflammation for 7–10 minutes. Other forms of cryotherapy include cryotherapy chambers and ice baths, which are often utilized for recovery from training. In healthcare today, we strive to have evidence for everything we do to support our approach. We have research to support the treatment effect of icing after an injury such as an acute ankle sprain. Regular icing is proven to diminish pain and decrease the amount of time to comfortably bear weight on the injured limb. Evidence is mixed regarding use of cryotherapy chambers or cold water immersion to speed up the recovery process after an intense training session. However, a lot must be said for clinical based evidence, which is simply utilizing our knowledge gained from years of practice, observed treatment effects, and careful consideration of patient preferences.
HEALTH ADVICE
VIA
MATT ELLER
Matt Eller is a Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer & Co-Owner, along with his spouse Julie, of Avail Physical Therapy here in Chico. Matt specializes in Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
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YOUR HEALTH S AT I R I C A L S I D E O F S U G A R
As a professional athlete, my health equals my livelihood. How I fuel my body affects the way I perform. What professional athletes eat is an example of how their bodies perform. What is less obvious is how our bodies do so much. Simply breathing in and out requires more energy than you know. Hearts beat about 100,000 times and pump around 2,000 gallons a day! At this point, we know diets seem satirical. Gluten/wheat free, paleo caveman, vegan with honey okay, “real” vegans without honey, keto because eating fat is cool, pescatarian, etc... It’s hard to keep track of what is best for our body. The single biggest benefit is regulating my blood sugar by eating frequently (Whole Body Fitness taught me this) and limited sugar. You’d be shocked at how much better you’ll feel. I thought I had a thyroid problem because, out of nowhere, I would overheat. After closer attention to what I was eating along with the timing, I discovered blood sugar was the culprit. Sugar’s key is its connection to inflammation. Some levels of inflammation are good. It can be a sign that bodies are healthy and can heal. Inflammation you don’t want is the low-grade kind leading to gut issues and chronic pain.
5. Avoid store bought cookies and cakes and make them at home. 6. Eat what makes you feel good. I love fried chicken but I don’t feel great after eating it, the same goes for ice cream. So, I only indulge on occasion. 7. When shopping, create a 2:1 veggie to fruit ratio. 8. Sub Agave, maple syrup, and honey for white sugar. 9. Buy plain yogurt, add your own fresh fruit or honey. 10. Drink “clean” cocktails—like vodka soda with an orange slice. I’m never going to give up wine, we’re way too close to Napa! It’s easy to say eat healthy, exercise, and keep sugars at a minimum. I’m getting paid. My “real world” awakening came from interning for The Players Tribune one off season. Shocking how hard it was to stay in shape and eat well through the demanding hours. I get to “be healthy” for a living. I also know, when done, I need the same mindset. This performance-based attitude is why CEOs train like athletes. No doubt, we all need to fuel our bodies. No matter our job, occupation, or status, what we eat matters.
Here are a few tips and tricks: 1. Be wary of sneaky sugars like fructose.
For real.
2. Eat smaller, more frequent meals— key in keeping blood sugar stable. 3. Never skip breakfast. 4. Sub sparkling water or Kombucha for soda. 24
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HEALTH ADVICE
VIA
LAYSHIA CLARENDON
Layshia Clarendon is the captain and starting point guard for the WNBA’s New York Liberty. A graduate of UC Berkeley, she led the Golden Bears to the Final four her senior year. Layshia spends the off season providing color commentary for women’s basketball on the PAC 12 network.
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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON
BEAUTY Q&A A FAC E M A S K S A M P L E R
You do not have to head to the store when the urge for a face mask comes on. Simply head into your pantry and grab the ingredients needed for the perfect mask for the day. Not only can it save you some money, it is also a way to create some fun memories with your friends or family. YOGURT: For Sensitive Skin • 1 Tablespoon yogurt • 1 teaspoon honey • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder Yogurt based masks are a great option for sensitive skin. The creamy cool yogurt soothes and brightens irritated skin. The honey helps tighten while the cocoa powder’s antioxidants help with skin hydration and repair. OATMEAL: For Oily Skin • ½ cup cooked oatmeal • 1 egg white • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice This oatmeal-based mask is a good choice for acne-prone skin since it helps absorb excess oils while the egg whites help tighten the pores and tone the skin. Lemon juice decreases oil on the skin as well and the vitamin C addresses skin’s premature aging. Citric juices can cause irritation because of the naturally occurring fruit acids. However, combining it with oatmeal’s anti-inflammatory and anti-itch factors, this mask should balance that out. BANANA: For Dull Skin • 1 ripe banana • ½ teaspoon baking soda • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder • 1 teaspoon water 26
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The banana in the mask provides skin with moisture, antioxidants, and phytochemicals to help revitalize the skin and fade age spots. Baking soda also aids by evening out skin tone and acting as a gentle exfoliant. The turmeric powder can help lighten dark spots while its antibacterial properties aid in fighting off acne. HONEY: For Breakout Prone Skin • ½ teaspoon lemon juice • ½ teaspoon baking soda • 1 Tablespoon honey The honey in the mask helps to soften and hydrate the skin. Lemon juice and baking soda are slightly antibacterial which can help with breakouts while the soda’s antiinflammatory properties help calm the skin. Once you’ve decided on the best mask for your skin type, gather your ingredients, mix them together, and apply to your face by gently dabbing it on. Allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse well and pat dry with a soft cloth. Most masks should only be used once a week in order to avoid irritation or damage to your skin. Remember to do a small patch test on the inner elbow before using the mask in case you react to various ingredients. This area is similar to the face as far as sensitivity is concerned go and although these ingredients are all things most people have in their refrigerators and pantries, it doesn’t mean they can’t cause irritation and skin reactions. Ultimately, you not only save money but create some fun memories with family and friends.
Fractional Laser Resurfacing Lasers have been used for decades to treat various skin issues. The DermBar has recently purchased the Palomar Icon laser with a fractional handpiece to provide the improved complexion you seek. The fractional laser is used for skin resurfacing on acne scars, surgical scars, and stretch marks. These lasers are also effective for general skin tone and texture improvement. With a micro-beam delivery system, the laser creates deep columns of soft tissue coagulation without breaking the surface of the skin. As a result, it has rapid healing time, works in the lower layers to rebuild collagen, and strengthens the skin's support structure. Much like photographs being altered pixel by pixel, the laser beam divides into thousands of microscopic treatment zones, targeting a fraction of tissue at a time. This encourages new collagen and elastin growth. In addition, it can improve several age-related skin issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and overall skin appearance. Working below the skin's surface results in minimal down-time, and a topical numbing agent is used prior to the procedure to ensure client comfort, even for sensitive skin. Multiple treatments are recommended for long-lasting results. Optimal improvement may take three months or longer, however, overall appearance improves dramatically as new collagen begins to form to give a more even, glowing skin. Sunscreen should be applied daily to protect from further damage to delicate facial skin, thus prolonging the results. Call us at 530.342.2672 to make an appointment. Consultations are always free. DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530.342.2672
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A Six Hawk Day The Red-Tailed Hawk, found throughout North America, are monogamous and known to hunt in pairs, usually a mile apart. Tad Miller shook his head and mused at the random facts dancing around his preoccupied brain. California Department of Public Health: Butte County’s druginduced death rate is 2.5 times higher than the rest of the state. In 2017, there were more opioid prescriptions than people. 2:07 PM: Toby Miller snorts a small amount of “China White” heroin. Ironically, it is actually a dull brownish-white powder. Tad, Toby’s dad, drove his truck down Highway 99, thinking about the girls soccer game later tonight. Tad coaches the local high school’s varsity team. He noticed a Red-Tailed Hawk perched on the limb of a walnut tree, its outline clear among the stark December branches. “Never saw one in this area,” he thought. Number one. Counting hawks along the way to school on game days had become sort of a superstition. When does an action transition to a silly superstition? Superstition as defined, is belief or notion, not based on reason, in the significance of a particular occurrence. Nevertheless, he continues down 99, eyeballing the trees and poles for another hawk. If he saw at least four, his team would win the game tonight. A mile later, sure enough, another hawk. Number two! 2:14 PM: Toby, feeling the familiar grip of the heroin reaching deep inside, picked up the phone and called his mom. Despite what people think, many heroin users never nod off, slur their words, act erratic, or stumble along like they’re drunk. Often, they use heroin to feel “normal.” It gives them energy and motivation. Pills like Vicodin, Norco, and Oxycontin kick start that feeling. For millions of Americans, the path to heroin addiction begins with prescription pills. 28
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Many stories begin like this: Toby Miller survived a car accident in 2005. His doctor prescribed Norco. 90 pills. The first time he took them, he loved the feeling. Besides dulling the pain, he also felt motivation and energy. It was like cocaine without the paranoia. And it was legal. Tad rounded the curve leading to the bridge over the Sacramento River. He knew he’d see a hawk around here. He always did. Tad glanced up as he drove. He always worried about distracted driving, never called or texted. But he had to spot more hawks. Tonight’s game was for first place. Sure enough, set high in a Valley Oak far off the highway, he saw two hawks in the same tree. Two! That never happened. Total hawk count up to four. Yes! Things were looking good. 2:20 PM: Toby talked to his mom. He told her he was sober and looking forward to seeing his kids on the weekend. Everything was looking good. He had a job interview Thursday. His mom, Diane, later said he sounded completely normal. The progression is all too familiar: First, the prescriptions. Mostly for legitimate injuries like a sprained ankle, back strain, knee surgery, or broken arm. You get 90 pills. The pain fades away, but the spiralling descent into addiction takes hold in less than a week. For some, opioids make them sick and they can’t tolerate them. They’re the lucky ones. 2:32 PM: Toby and Diane continued on about his kids—one son and two daughters. Two moms. The first marriage ruined by addiction. Toby promised it would never happen again. Diane made plans to see her granddaughters over the weekend for baking lessons. The girls loved it and they got to see their great-grandmother. For others, the constipation caused by opioids is enough to make them quit. Some just power through it so they can enjoy the high. Difficulty with urination is also a problem. That's easier to deal with; the high overcomes the hassle.
Tad continued along 99. He was coming into town and just passed “the cat and the cow” when he spotted hawk five. “Dang! Five hawks! Only seen that once. We are definitely the winner tonight.” About a half mile before local businesses began to line the highway into town, Tad glanced up and saw yet another hawk on a telephone pole. He never saw hawks this close to town! This was wild. A six hawk day. How special is that? 2:38 PM: Diane asked Toby if he could go to lunch. No response. She heard a vague rustling sound. She asked if he was okay. Nothing. Then the sound of the phone clattering to the floor, followed by a soft thump. She called Toby’s name. Louder each time, panic setting in, anxiety amping. Tad rolled into the school parking lot, anticipating a 75 minute bus ride with 40 players. He went to the back of his truck to get the equipment. The phone rang from the cab. Dammit! Should he answer it? Reluctantly, he went to the open door and picked up the phone. It was from his wife. He hit the answer button. “Tad! Something has happened to Toby! We were on the phone and he passed out!”
accident, went to one. His monthly take: 90 Norco, 30 Oxycontin, and 20 Dilaudid. He sold all of it. The Dilaudid went for ten bucks a pop. He sold it all the first day. Pill availability was rampant in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Then people started to die all over the US, especially in West Virginia. The epidemic caught notice. Numbers were insane: The CDC estimates there are 17,000 deaths annually. Death rates tripled from 1999 to 2015 and rose 20% from 2015 to 2016. US life expectancy dropped for two years in a row for the first time since the early ‘60’s. Opioid use is to blame. 2:55 PM: Tad hit 75 mph on his way back to Chico. He put on his flashers, passed three cars at a time, tires burning around curves. “This isn't the end,” he told himself over and over, a litany of fear and emotion. He called Diane. No answer. He swore and sped on. 3:02 PM: Diane calls. “The ambulance is here! I went in and found him on the bedroom floor. His lips and tongue were blue! I couldn’t feel a pulse…” “Is he alive, Diane? Is Toby alive?” “Yes! He's alive. He’s breathing. The EMT’s gave him Narcan. He’s in the ambulance. We’re going to the hospital.” “I’ll meet you there. I’m on my way.”
“He didn't pass out! He’s OD’d! Crap! Drive over there. Call 911. I'm on my way!"
After two doses of Narcan, Toby gasped back to life. The EMT’s said he’d stopped breathing. His heart had stopped. Two minutes later would have been too late. Technically, Toby died on his bedroom floor. Since the current crackdown of opioid prescriptions and the inability to get pills, the inevitable result is the road to heroin. It’s cheaper, the high lasts longer, and you can buy it in every town in the area. You read about it every day and see it locally. It is not going away soon.
In the 1990’s pills were easy for addicts to get. “Pill doctors” were in every town. Toby’s cousin, injured in a motorcycle
On January 28, 2020, Toby Miller overdosed on heroin laced with fentanyl and died. Only to awake—again.
“Passed out? What?” “He just quit talking. Nothing. I heard the phone drop…”
ARTICLE WRITTEN & PROVIDED BY TAD MILLER
Soon, however, the lower dose pills lose the ability to produce the needed level. That's when users progress to the “better” pills: Oxycodone, oxymorphone, and percocet. The granddaddy is Dilaudid, the final step before heroin. Other opioids can come into play here, but these are primary.
As we get ready to move from the cold of winter to the promise of warmth in the spring, it becomes easy to forget to bring our fireplaces along into the new season as well. Here’s a few tips to shed your firebox from its winter role to a more stylish look for spring.
from one of the warmer months. For a more layered look, add a leaning part sign overlapping part of the art along with a quote related to the season or art. To evenly distribute your weight, add groupings of vases or containers with spring and summer florals and greenery. Using florals specific to the season will make your mantel pop for the warmer months. Get creative with your containers by using decorative water cans, summer fruit crates, or your own unique hand-painted pots. Scatter a couple of bird's, nests, or decorative candlesticks throughout the mantel to help balance the other decor pieces. Finish things off with a crisp, clean summer scented candle to bring all those touches to life.
Style The Firebox With Logs
Finish With Touches Near The Fireplace
Styling Your
Fireplace FOR A WARMER SEASON
Although you can get really ‘out of the box’ with ideas on what to put in your firebox, here is an idea on how to get a unique look while still utilizing the fireplace with what is normally used in it—wood logs. Start by arranging your logs in a staggered or ‘tossed in’ look so there are randomly spread gaps between the logs. Fill the gaps in with natural looking greenery, florals, or Spanish moss to give the feeling of spring sprouting. Your logs can also be sprayed with an adhesive and moss can be added for a simple, more natural look. For a little night twinkle, wrap various logs with battery operated string lights. If you still plan on using your fireplace or would like to add another layer, create this same look inside a large basket to put inside the firebox. This just adds another unique touch and makes your little vignette easy to move.
Style The Mantel With Color
Change up your art with something more colorful or season appropriate, like flowers or sunny feeling scenery. You could do a large print of your favorite family memory 30
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If you have a seating area in front of the fireplace, you’ll want to keep your warm season theme on point by removing anything around the fireplace representing the winter months such as super cozy blankets or pillows, winter stems or branches, or accessories that give a winter vibe. You can easily make the switch by swapping the heavier blankets with lightweight throws and pillows that coordinate with your spring color palette. Swap out books or magazines for something representing the season. This makes a huge difference between an area that is cozy and warm to a space that feels bright, and season appropriate. With the curtains pulled back welcoming the warming rays of sunshine, you will be delighted to have your updated fireplace shine brightly in the glow.
DESIGN ADVICE
VIA
STACIE BEDFORD
For more design inspiration, visit Stacie at The Address for Home Interiors located at 2444 Cohasset Road in Chico or call 530.898.9000.
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2 0 2 0 PA I N T F O R E C A S T
Colors To Dye For Every year designers, retailers, and color enthusiasts alike are biting their nails waiting for the “color of the year” to be revealed. This color will dictate the rest of their lifetime, pave the way for future generations, and decide the fate of the planet. Or…it might just make their home a little brighter, bolder, and on trend.
This year, Pantone announced “Classic Blue” as their color of the year. They describe it as timeless, dependable, comfortable, honest, reliable, and neutral. Blue is a color that has stood the test of time and is often the answer to the age old question “what's your favorite color?” If you want to stay current with the trends and newest paint colors, you can also look at other brands “color of the year” and find something that works with your style and 32
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Running out and painting your interior and exterior blue (or whatever the current color of the year may be) will not always end up how you may envision. Kind of like showing your hairstylist Taylor Swift’s bangs and ending up looking like the haircut you gave Barbie at age five. Knowing your home’s architecture, wall texture, and looking at your current furnishings and decor can help you decide if this wall color is right for you. Paint is an inexpensive, temporary, and excellent way to transform a space. If you are hesitant to go full throttle, try incorporating this year's hot paint colors with pieces in your home like pillows, throws, furniture, and accessories. If you really want to embrace the trends and paint a room, just make sure that you either get a paint sample (most stores will sell you
a small container of the paint) or use a large paint chip to test the color. Paint is a chameleon and will look vastly different in certain areas of the home and with the change in light throughout the day. There’s nothing you can do about the sun going up and down but making sure you love the color in all of its light will make for a happy hued home. I encourage everyone to experiment with color this year. After all, it just might make your home a little brighter, bolder, and trendy.
DESIGN ADVICE
VIA
ASHLEY DEKELLIS
For more information on home styling, visit heirloomfox.com
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY QUINTO
Although I am one of the nail biters waiting for the Pantone announcement, I do like always to keep into consideration personal style and the overall feel and end result of a clients home or my own home.
aesthetic. Some other 2020 colors include shades of green like Secret Meadow, Back to Nature, or Neo Mint. Saturated colors like Living Coral, Gen Y Yellow, and Ultra Violet may be more the style of those who like to be bold and bright.
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• Spraying possible entry areas with a mixture of water and a strong smelling essential oil such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or lavender may help repel stink bugs looking to spend the winter somewhere warm and cozy.
CALL IN THEIR ENEMIES:
Spring’s Unwelcome Guests Spring is arriving and brings with it beautiful blooming tulips, bright yellow forsythia, and unfortunately, the not so bright or beautiful stink bug. What are these alien looking creatures, why are they invading, and how on earth do we make them go away? The stink bug gets its name from the noxious odor it produces when crushed or disturbed. Some say squashing a stink bug releases its odor as a call to arms, resulting in an influx of the pests. Others say that’s untrue. The lingering odor, reminiscent of rotten cilantro, is pungent enough making it a bad idea either way. In addition to their noxious odor, these insects feast on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, tomatoes, squash, nuts, and various landscaping trees. The brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) as they’re officially known have established themselves in Butte and surrounding counties much to the chagrin of home gardeners and professional orchardists. These large, almost two centimeter long, shield shaped insects are adept fliers who hitchhike their way on cars and trucks enabling them to make their way across the United States. They’re an invasive species, introduced in the 1990s from Eastern Asia, and have migrated to California from their first US location in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In their native environment, the stinkbug is not a huge threat to horticulture because they have a natural predator in the samurai wasp. Here, however, they have no wellestablished natural predators to keep 34
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their numbers down. While scientists researched the effects and plausibility of an orchestrated introduction of the samurai wasp in California, the wasp had already begun its trek across the globe to find its prey and has since made its way to heavily infested areas in Southern California. But, for those of us without a legion of samurai wasps at our disposal, what other options are available to rid our home and gardens of this pest?
PREVENTION:
• Stink Bugs like to hide under decaying leaves and decomposing logs, so if you can eliminate or reduce these areas in your garden it will be less hospitable to the stinky creatures. • Check for gaps in siding, windows, and crevices and then seal them, as these are prime spots for the stinkbug to enter into the home to spend the winter. Once they find a cozy spot, they’ll release an aggregation pheromone that will let other stink bugs know they’ve found the perfect hideout. As the weather warms up, these adults will then migrate out of their overwintering spots into the garden where they will feast on available plants.
BEAT THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME:
• Apparently, the stinky bugs can’t handle what they dish out and seem to avoid strong smelling plants like garlic, catnip, lavender, and thyme. Try
• Remember those samurai wasps? Evidently they aren’t the only parasitic wasps that prey on stink bugs. There are some 1,900 different species of tiny wasps that lay their eggs onto various types of prey, including stink bugs. The stink bug acts as an incubation chamber for the growing wasp larvae and will eventually die as the wasps mature. Try planting some flowers that attract these predators such as marigolds, purple tansy, sweet alyssum, and rosemary. These wasps are natural enemies of many pest insects and are also active pollinators for the garden so bringing them in is a win-win for everyone, well everyone except the stink bugs. • While most birds find the taste of stink bugs unpalatable, bluebirds and wrens enjoy snacking on the crunchy insects. Setting up a mealworm or suet feeder may help draw these birds into your yard and encourage them to stay for seconds.
TRAP THEM:
• Sticky traps with a stink bug pheromone placed four feet off the ground next to trees will lure stink bugs onto their surfaces and entrap them. • A pan filled with dawn dish detergent and water set under a light at night will draw the insects towards the light and into the soapy water to kill them.
Remember, don’t grab that fly swatter and smash the unwelcome stink bug unless your spring allergies have settled into your nose. Now, when the stink bugs emerge from their winter trance and begin stumbling about you’ll have an arsenal of weapons to battle alongside the samurai wasps and drive them out of your home and garden.
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON
planting some of these herbs around the house and in the garden.
Finds That Are Easy To Upscale Whether it’s a table made out of an old door and some 2 x 4’s or a dog bed made out of a used suitcase, garage sales are full of opportunities for DIY projects. With new neighborhood sales popping up on Craigslist every week, there’s plenty of chances to find materials for your next home project. Sure, you can buy a new, self-assembled Ikea table, but if you really want to get crafty this Spring, here’s a few couple garage sale items that are easy to transform into new household appliances.
1. DRESSER INTO A BAR CART
2. A SUITCASE INTO YOUR PET’S NEW BED
This can be as simple as finding a suitcase at a garage sale and putting a blanket in it for your dog or cat to sleep in.
3. WOOD PALLET INTO A SMALL GARDEN
From makeshift outdoor tables to creative indoor bookshelves, wood pallets are extremely versatile items that can be used for a wide range of DIY projects. If you’re looking to start a small herb garden this spring, a single wood pallet can be a perfect start. First, you’ll want to get some weed fabric which can be as simple as plastic trash bags or as complex as using an old tarp. Place the pallet face down and staple your weed fabric to fit snugly against the whole backside. Be sure to cover the sides of the pallet except for the one side that you’ll use for the plants. Once done, flip the pallet over and fill the gaps with planting soil. Then you can start placing plants in the slots of the pallet and in the one side you didn’t cover with weed fabric. Be sure that the plants are compressed snugly into the soil and then water right away. Leave the pallet in this position for a few weeks to ensure all the plants root into the soil. Then once they’re rooted, you can lean the pallet against any wall outside your house and you’ve got yourself a tiny herb and/ or flower garden!
Garage sale to easy upscale is not only cost friendly but also a challenging and creative way to add to the sustainable nature of any given items. Hope you have happy hunting and even more joyful results.
WRITTEN BY ALEX GRANT
After you’ve bought your garage sale dresser or shelving unit, bring it home and take out the drawers. Then sand the unit down until it feels smooth to the touch. Always remember to sand in the direction of the wood’s grain. Once smooth, you can either paint it your favorite color or keep that natural wood. If you decide to go with the natural look, you’ll need to pick up some pre-stain wood conditioner, wood finish stain and some fast-drying polyurethane. You can get all these wood stains and finish products at any hardware store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Once you’ve decided between the painted or natural look, you can start decorating the unit. If you go to an arts and craft place like Michaels or Joann’s, you can buy some patterned sheets of aluminum that you can easily cut and fit into the back of the dresser or shelving unit. Next you’ll want to buy a wine glass rack which you can find at Bed Bath and Beyond. Lastly, you can take an old cake pan or buy a new one and paint it with some aluminum spray paint to match the aluminum décor inside the unit. Then simply place the cake pan on top of the unit and voila, you’ve got yourself a homemade bar cart!
If you want to get craftier, you can buy some foam and cut it to the size of the bottom of the suitcase. Then add some patterned fabric by cutting it to the same size and tucking it into the suitcase. If you do this option be sure to secure the fabric to the sides of the suitcase with staples or glue so that your pet doesn’t tear or eat the foam below.
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N E W AGA I N K I TC H E N REMODELING PRESENTS HOUSE CALL:
Kitchen Blues & A Bath Refresh
The Huycks researched contractors, visited big box stores, and spoke with friends before they decided on New Again Kitchen Remodeling. They had gone into the showroom three years earlier, spoken with Ric Powers and began planning the remodel but decided to hold off at that time. This year they were ready to begin. They went back to Ric and were welcomed with “open arms and no pressure at all.” He listened to what they wanted and asked great questions in order to help Mike and Connie conceptualize their design style. They decided they were going to do both the CONNECT
Once the Huyck’s decided on cabinetry, surfaces, and finishes the work in the house began. The kitchen was demolished and a gas line was run from the garage to the location of the new gas stove. White shaker cabinets were installed with Jeffrey Alexander cabinet and drawer pulls, including an entirely new console, which creates a natural extension of the kitchen. New Again’s resident tile contractor, Victor Cabrera, installed Bedrosian Cloe gray 2 ½ x 8 inch tiles as the backsplash. The Galaxy River Quartz countertops have bits of silver with deep blue streaks scattered throughout which are beautifully drawn out by the vibrant navy blue walls. Connie was considering painting the walls a gray or white, but the designers at New Again urged her to try something different in the blue. She feels that’s one of New Again’s strengths; they listen as you describe your style while helping to “push your design boundaries in a comfortable way.” The dated fluorescent light fixture was replaced with recessed can lighting and three sculptural glass pendant lights over the peninsula. Connie has created a sitting area between the main kitchen and the new cabinet console, which she sees as the perfect spot for having morning coffee with Mike.
The master bath renovation with its Calacatta Venus quartz countertops, white oval under mount sinks and gray shaker cabinets are set off beautifully by the Zebrino Bluette tiles on the shower floors and the Winter Bianco tiles on the shower wall. Connie loved the bathroom counters, which were done first, so much that she was worried she wouldn’t like the kitchen. She was wrong. She and Mike are so happy with the results of both renovations. They felt very comfortable with everyone at New Again and were impressed that they did all the work themselves and were finished so quickly. Their double renovation was completed in just three weeks!
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Connie and Mike Huyck have lived in their home in north Chico for over twenty years. The house is situated on a quiet cul de sac and has a generous backyard with a pool. This, combined with the open floor plan, made it the perfect place to raise their children. But even twenty years ago, Connie remembers thinking “this is absolutely perfect…. except for the kitchen.” It was a typical ‘80s kitchen with oak cabinets, a fluorescent light box, and four-inch square tile countertops edged with dark brown grout.
kitchen and the master bath this time around. Connie laughs and says, “Ric has to be part designer and part marriage counselor” in order to help couples navigate the combining of styles and contrasting opinions.
New Again Kitchen Remodeling continues to set the standard for kitchen and bathroom renovations with this dual renovation of kitchen and master bath. If you’re interested in starting a home improvement project and are looking for a designer who listens to you and a company that works with you and your schedule, call New Again Kitchen Remodeling at 530.899.2888 or stop by their showroom at 2502 Park Avenue in Chico.
NEW AGAIN KITCHEN REMODELING | 2502 PARK AVE, CHICO, CALIFORNIA 95928 | 530.899.2888
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THE SPIRIT TO HELP E V E RY S T E P O F T H E WAY with all types of paperwork. "That's the key. We have the technology, but we still have the human interface and people that back up that technology,” Richard Graeff, Sales Manager at Caliber, said. People come last but are definitely not least. Tim is proud of every member of his team. Caliber-Lakeside is made up of a talented group of operation staff and loan consultants. With their attention to detail, pride of ownership, and “can do” attitude, CaliberLakeside is a joy to work with. They are also a part of the fabric of the community. "I am very proud of our Loan Consultants, as several are recognized as Top 10 Producers in Butte County largely fueled on the model of Trust. More importantly we thank our Clients, Realtors, Builders & Affinity Professionals for the continued support & referrals" says Tim. Caliber Home Loans—Lakeside Branch is ready to help each and every step of the way, whether it is the purchase of your dream home or a necessary refinancing of one of your existing home loans. With over 220 years of experience in the mortgage industry, there is not much this dedicated group of professionals have not encountered when it comes to the Home Loan Process.
To deliver excellent customer service to their clients, they utilize the principles of the 4–P’s. Price, Products, Processes, & People. Price centers around the understanding their clients want a good deal. Therefore, they remain aware of the marketplace ensuring a competitive rate & fee.
Processes at Caliber-Lakeside are set up to perform timely and efficient transactions by investing into technology and, furthermore, by also developing our their operating system called H2O. It’s functionality has allowed them to streamline the loan process to flow like the systems namesake—Water. Their system turns two days in an assembly line method into as little as two hours. Clients reap the benefits of the technologically advanced system. For those who aren’t tech savvy, Caliber welcomes clients to come in and talk with a loan consultant who can assist
No matter your background or needs, CaliberLakeside is confident they will be able to help when it comes to purchasing or refinancing. Richard adds, “The spirit of Caliber Home Loans is wanting to help each other. Every layer of the transaction, everybody is trying to reach the same common goal. With the number of loans we've done over the years, there's very few things we haven't seen. Whether it be someone who has several partnerships and corporations all the way down to the elderly lady who's just getting social security income. I wouldn't say we've seen it all, but we've seen a lot.” If you are thinking of buying a home or refinancing an existing loan, make the right move by contacting Caliber Home Loans to guide through the entire process, 530.781.1700.
WRITTEN BY BRIAN LUONG PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Now in his 20th year, Tim Cooper, Branch Manager, has prepared his operations and production teams to take great pride while assisting and taking control of the customer experience. Tim clearly understands a mortgage loan is likely the biggest financial decision you'll ever make. Therefore, they treat each one with ultimate care by making themselves available along the way. They want clients to be educated so they can make the most informed decisions. In their world, there is no such thing as a bad question.
Products are another strength at CaliberLakeside because lenders today offer a very similar but limited menu of products. Caliber offers portfolio products with specific and unique scenarios to satisfy all of their clients.
Building a Better Future Being named President of Build.com presented a twofold dilemma for Devin Van Hout. Not one looking to be in the limelight, Devin struggles over what people want to know about him and why they are not curious about Build itself. One place he does feel comfortable answering personal questions is in front of each ‘new hire’ class. He knows their questions—“How did you become President of Build? “What does that look like? “How did you even get there?” The way he answers each of these questions shows his passion for Build, his energy focused on discovering the next Greenfield (the continued pursuit of excellence), all the while satisfying the curiosity surrounding the new leader. After Devin finished high school, he admittedly felt “a little bit lost and uncertain of what I wanted to do.” He took a job at Lowe's managing the appliance business and learned a great deal about the wide product category. Not long after, Devin was offered an opportunity to go into retail management. The store manager pulled him aside in the parking lot and asked Devin to enroll in the store manager training program. Though intriguing, it just was not for him. Instead, he found his way into kitchen design. Lowe’s kitchen design center was located adjacent to the appliances where Devin gained valuable information. He saw the new role as an opportunity to sit with customers for three, four hours at a time. The finite details he gathered in appliances led Devin to get what these clients were going through, leading to an actual relationship with them. He loved to create this vision of their kitchen or bathroom from scratch. He found it fun, including the use of a CAD (Computer Assisted Drafting) program, ironically called 20/20 Technologies, where Devin actually produced a 3-D print out of what each kitchen would look like. At this point, Devin shows the “newbies” at Build a personal side, with a hint of humility. Devin relays that through his time at Lowes, he was also putting himself through college. With some support from family, coupled 40
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with a bit of financial aid, it was on Devin to figure the rest out. Understandably, these struggles made it difficult for him to take college seriously. Then Devin shares a gem. He met a Lowes’ cashier named Sarah. He points out a clear understanding of himself “pre and and post Sarah,” now his wife of 13 years. “Before her, I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do. After meeting her, it felt like I met a human compass. I suddenly got it, and was like, OK, I'm going to get back to college.” Here is where the story takes another turn. “Just so you know, if I fast forward a little bit, we dated for a couple of years and then got married. After we got married,
I had decided that Lowe’s was not going to be my long term path. I had always thought of myself moving to the Bay Area or L.A. doing something bigger in business.” In the meantime, Devin was aware of some mutual friends involved in a startup company, at the time called, Improvement Direct. They got their start selling faucets on the Internet. These friends of his were computer programmers and developers and were amazing at that craft. Devin admits, “I always thought, well, do they know the products? Do they know about home improvement?” Devin found all of this thought-provoking and pursued a position in the growing company.
WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN DESIGNED BY NERISSA QUINN
Devin could tell the business was doing well as they had moved into a new building and their employee base grew to 70. He decided to make the jump, and for him, the jump was risky, cutting his pay in half. However, to Devin, the intrigue remained. In addition, he loved Chico and the surrounding area but Devin just never thought there would exist this type of career opportunity for him. He found that it not only existed, but appeared as a favorable circumstance for him to grow and to stay in the place he loved. Improvement Direct emerged as a company where people were excited about working. His first two weeks found him in this little room answering customer questions with the other new employees. Though he started at the bottom, he felt like he could work his way up. From January 2008 to 2019, the rest of the story moves rapidly and so did Devin in what is now known as Build.com. A year later, he was promoted to category manager of hardware. Two years after that, he moved to the largest division, plumbing. After five years, Devin was promoted to Vice President of operations, which included serving on the leadership team. In 2018, Devin was moved to Executive Vice President of sales and marketing. And then October, 2019 he took over in his present role. As Devin puts it,
“It was a hell of a ride.” To each new hire class, he feels strongly about the employee take away. “The first is the employee base over the years, the people I’ve gotten to know and work with. I’ve watched them build families, watched them put roots in the community, and buy homes.” To Devin, that has probably been one of the biggest driving factors. Devin knows the people here and marvels at how committed they are to this company. “I walk around the building sometimes and know stories and know the background of people. That's been exciting for me to see that growth.” The other takeaway comes from Devin’s discovery in the 20 years tackling the problems of home improvement. “Our customers are pros; they are taking the difficult challenge of trying to make their house a home in a way that makes sense to them. It's really hard and complex, and
anyone who's ever done a remodel knows that it’s not an easy feat. There's the budget, stress, and the timing is often disrupted. I continually feel that throughout the journey, there's got to be an easier way to solve each problem. That is also my driving force, outside of the people, is from an opportunity perspective, there is still an untapped opportunity.” Not hard to understand, from a new hire perspective, both Build and its new President make for a really good place to work. Of course, through the rapid rise, hard work, and countless hours, even perspective can get lost. However, life, in its own inimitable way, can bring the reality of perspective square into your face. Devin has had a pair of such run-ins with life, one personal, and one personally shared with a plethora of other folks. Devin and Sarah have two boys, Porter, eight and Hendrik nearly five. No better centering than a Dad with a family. No worse experience for a young Dad to have his second child be born two months early. A hurried helicopter ride from Chico to Sacramento brought the grim reality that both mother and child were in danger. Mom pulled through with honors and Hendrik was born on, of all days, Devin’s birthday. The precious baby fit in the palm of Devin’s hand and the grueling days and weeks crept by, until finally the safe journey home
and the realization of a perfectly well child would be emerging. Perspective indeed. Devin’s human compass, Sarah, was now his barometer as well. Life extended itself into an entirely new reality with perspective of a different kind. The Campfire hit, not only Devin’s hometown, but in a big way for the Build family. As Devin remembers, “I watched the employees of Build and Chico come together. I've never seen anything like it. We essentially set up a little war room in our main conference area and literally dropped everything to figure out what's best for 100 or more employees affected. It wasn't a question of how fast—we just sent people to Target to buy as many gift cards as they could and we'd figure it all out later. Getting the cards into the hands of the employees in need mattered most. Build locals started hollering out—‘I've got a room, I can host this person, I can do this for that person.’ ‘We can keep track of everyone.’ That experience was something I've never, ever experienced in my life.” Though Devin understands no one wants to go through anything like this, he really gets that it brought everyone together. The Build culture included the awareness that this is a family unit itself and family is family. Whatever it takes.
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There is no way to have a Chico presence without including the University. After Devin learned of a group of business students assisting Enloe hospital by making their emergency room more efficient, he reached out to see what ideas they had for Build. A group of Chico State students recently made their first appearance in the large conference room, known affectionately as the Bidwell room. Devin knows these students are, “generally more humble, hungry, and they're smart. I believe it's what we need to start invigorating that passion of not thinking bigger of just ourselves but rather asking, how do each of us actually help support and drive what we need to get done with bright optimism.” 42
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So, what is the takeaway? For Devin The Chico community now can celebrate with Van Hout, it's the constant search for the excitement and optimism with the knowledge next Greenfield. The concept lies in many of the Build workforce reaching out to disciplines as a project, one that lacks make their community shine brighter. Their constraints imposed by prior work. Devin courageous customers, taking the difficult knows that Amazon can sell faucets cheaper challenge of trying to make their house a and quicker than Build. He believes in the home, can go online or take to the phone, knowledge and time spent by the Build allowing the experience and knowledge of employees with each customer can somehow Build’s salesforce to provide a redeeming emerge as the next promoted Greenfield experience for each ‘pro’ on the other end, prediction. What a boon this would be for the helping them on their way to making their 600 plus souls who come to work everyday house the home of their dreams. One toilet, to make people’s lives better. Their mantra sink, faucet, light fixture, and drawer pull should be—Do good. Be good. Feel good. at a time.
PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO AND PROVIDED BY ASHLEY CARLASCIO & BUILD
Devin feels the excitement and senses the optimism as together they collectively look to build a better future. What that looks like is bigger than Devin, bigger than Build itself, and must include Chico and its surrounding community. It did indeed begin with a much needed million dollar remodel of their existing building. With multiple conference rooms sprinkled around with an amphitheater-style space featuring tiered seating in the center to accommodate large groups when necessary. The combination has already proven effective. After sprucing up within, Build took a hard look outside and kicked off their “Build Gives Back” campaign. The outreach to Chico included a Comanche Creek cleanup, volunteers working weekends on a Habitat for Humanity home, painting/learning activities at a local elementary school, and serving at one homeless shelter. Build knows this can be nothing more than the tip of the iceberg, ensuring a greater Chico presence in the future.
Forgot to grab a magazine? All of our previous publications can be found on issuu.com!
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if the owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation, or a limited liability company in which at least one member is a corporation. If this is you, the only necessary step is to provide your current residents with a letter saying the property is exempt from this regulation. This form can be found with membership to NVPOA. If you do not fall in the exempt property category, which would be any units not owner occupied of two units or more, you will be regulated under the new legislation. The first step is to look back at each unit and see what their March 15, 2019 base rent was and if between then and now, the rents increased to 10% per the max allowed for the anti-price gouging ordinance. As of January 1, 2020 you need to do a rent reduction to the new rent control amount of 5% plus CPI which is about 3.3%. Therefore, the maximum allowed would be around 8.3%. The new legislation states that rents can be increased annually 5% plus CPI, but no more than twice in a 12 month period and not exceeding the cap. You also have to factor in the declaration of emergency that went into place for the City of Chico and Butte County stating rents no matter if occupants or owners change can’t rise higher than 10% of whatever the rent was on November 7, 2018.
Benefiting The Community The North Valley Property Owners Association (NVPOA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and resources to enhance, protect, and educate the rental industry for the benefit of the community. In short, we are a one-stop resource center for anyone offering rental housing. When a housing provider joins NVPOA, they will receive access to forms that are up-to-date with changes to California laws. We offer screening products for owners to be able to make informed decisions about prospective applicants. We provide support, with best practices, to educate owners and residents on their rights and responsibilities. Our members enjoy regular communications, educational events, and referrals to vendors keeping them informed of the best practices and newest trends. In October 2019, Governor Newsom signed into law The California Tenant Protection
Act of 2019, otherwise known as AB1482. This legislation brings two elements both very new to our community where anyone with rental housing should become familiar. One of the components is a state wide rent control, the other is ‘just cause’ termination protections. This new law is complex but the North Valley Property Owners Association would like to offer guidance to area housing providers on how to navigate these changes as it relates to their rental properties. Let’s first start with the rental homes that are exempt from this legislation. Those exempt properties are; transient/tourist hotel properties, dormitories, hospitals, elderly care facilities, affordable housing properties, owner-occupied housing sharing a kitchen or bathroom, owner-occupied duplex, owner occupied parcel with two-units on one parcel, new construction 15 years or newer, or single family homes/condominiums
The next step is if a resident living in a regulated property has resided in the home for more than 12 months. They now have ‘just cause’ termination protections. This means that the resident can provide the owner with a voluntary notice to terminate and vacate the property or the owner must provide a notice of termination for just cause or no fault reasons listed in the legislation. For more information about this topic and other educational workshops, visit nvpoa.org. As you can see every rental situation is unique and we would encourage you to discuss your situation with your legal counsel prior to a rent increase or termination notice.
FOR MORE INFORMATION THE NORTH VALLEY PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION IS AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR AREA HOUSING PROVIDERS AND CAN BE REACHED AT 530.345.1321 OR ONLINE AT NVPOA.ORG.
How Do Viral Outbreaks Affect The Stock Market?
BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ®, FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT SWEENEY & MICHEL, LLC
Just when 2020 looked to be off to a good start with a partial trade deal, low interest rates, and strong corporate earnings, the Coronavirus put the brakes on stock market growth. Anxiety over the outbreak hit financial markets around the world Monday, sending stocks from Japan, Germany, and the U.S. into their worst days in months. The viral outbreak originating in Wuhan, China, has infected thousands and spread to the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and other countries. The disease threatens to hamper an already-slowing Chinese economy, in turn potentially jeopardizing the global recovery that many investors had counted on this year. Morgan Stanley projects a global growth reduction of about 0.25% if the virus peaks by February or March. The Coronavirus outbreak reminds us of recent global health scares, and we wanted to research how markets have responded in the past to epidemics. Thankfully, Dow Jones and Marketwatch did some digging and compiled this table below:
Surprisingly, this puts the historical average S&P 500 12-month return at 14.15%.Obviously, this data should be taken with a giant grain of salt. It would be a crime to assume viral outbreaks are universally going to lead to above average returns. The data does, however, remind us that there is a lot more information the market won’t ignore in the face of a crisis. There are potentially thousands of data points from earnings, economics, demographics, politics, sentiment, interest rates etc... which can determine short- and long-term returns. Time will tell how impactful this virus is. But if history is any indication, outbreaks are not a great sell signal for stocks and portfolios. *https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-the-stock-market-has-performed-during-past-viral-outbreaksas-chinas-coronavirus-spreads-2020-01-22
Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 196 Cohasset Road, Suite 100, Chico CA 95926 (530) 487-1777 | renee@sweeneymichel.com | joe@sweeneymichel.com | www.sweeneymichel.com Advisory services also offered through Sweeney & Michel, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sweeney & Michel, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Sweeney & Michel, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.
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WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
addition to her responsibilities at Rock ’n’ Oak, she spends nights as an EMT. Serena grew up on a walnut farm in Red Bluff and enrolled at Chico State with the intent of becoming a veterinarian. Her time spent as a tech in a veterinary clinic proved enough training for her next step. She, too, took one summer to work at Mountain Meadows. That time together was all that was needed for the two of them to establish a life-long friendship. Serena’s passion for the health of horses combined with Breanna’s evident role as the ranch’s ambassador and her attention to details marks a win win for the ranch. Oh yeah, the fact Serena is a self taught violinist doesn’t hurt either.
Opportunities Abound The sharp right turn leading to a narrow and steep asphalt driveway belies the sheer beauty and vast splendor of the Rock ’n’ Oak ranch. The ranch’s moniker however, is spot on as a bevy of rocks lay scattered throughout the landscape, or are stacked majestically, forming a grand entrance. The valley’s ubiquitous scrub oaks, with their twisted branches and haphazard clusters add a necessary softness while promising shade on the pending blistering hot days. Ken and Raye Lynn Dixon are the proprietors and gatekeepers of the ever expanding parcel of land. Raye Lynn is quick to note that Ken “loves this land.” He not only hunted here as a kid, he also treasures its rich history. With its archaeology sites of once Indian camps, along with random deep cuts from wagon wheels, Ken clearly understands the land reveals a vastly different “lifestyle from the city folks.” His intent remains the honoring of the land’s past by recognizing how it openly begs for varied opportunities. Raye Lynn emphasises her husband's intent “to preserve the land” and widens her smile when sharing the fact “every time another parcel opens up, he 46
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buys it.” Beyond preservation, the Rock ’n’ Oak Ranch began with the vision of a place connecting people with horses. For Ken, this proved nothing more than an engaging opportunity. To his delight and fortune, a fortuitous pair of experienced ranch hands answered the call. Breanna Becker and Serena Robinson are a combined bundle of energy, dedication, and a huge dose of caring. They knew right away that combining Ken’s skill set along with their background, made for a match born somewhere in horse heaven. Due to the pair’s combined knowledge of horses, one of the benefits of accepting this opportunity was the trust immediately bestowed on them. Their smiles brightened when sharing Ken’s proffer, “Show me what you know.” And with that, the initial phase of Rock ’n’ Oak’s purpose took flight. Breanna is a Southern California gal who grew up around horses. In her years at Long Beach State, she spent much time each summer working for Mountain Meadow in Susanville as the Director of their camp. In
First and foremost, an impressive equestrian facility was designed and built, adding to the aura and beauty of the property's natural landscape with its central location. Two sets of stalls were juxtaposed in close proximity to the training grounds consisting of a smaller round pen adjacent to the larger arena. Bre and Serena are thrilled with this “gem of a facility on land so close to Chico.” They add the fact it gives off the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere only adding to the ambience and tranquil feeling of being safe. As a result, “Things have been happening so fast.” Right now, the boarding facility is full and has a wait list. Bre recognizes, “Folks want to be here, and we will make it happen.” All of this points to the success of the people’s connection to the land itself. Having families from the community come up for trail rides and the exposure to the vast expanse and attraction of the natural world around them. Most clients are families wanting something special. A recent example was an evening ride for a father and his daughter who wanted this to be her 8th birthday present. Bre and Serena cannot emphasize enough the joy gained from disconnecting visitors from phones and screens and refocusing them to all five senses in 360 degrees of attention. This critical disconnecting led the way for the ranch to host three day camps every week starting in June. The camps are for youth 7 to 15 years of age and are held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Each session is limited to ten or fewer kids, often including ones who do not have a solid family. Each day begins with the same morning routine and features a different activity each afternoon. The mornings are all about teaching patience and perseverance by having the campers
care for the basic needs of the horses, including grooming and saddling. Once that is complete, they go for a morning ride. The afternoons range from archery, working with ceramics and leather, to swimming, relaxing in the jacuzzi, or paddle boarding on the creek. The time by the pool is eye opening. Bre and Serena relish watching the campers respond to someone making cookies for them, asking how the morning went with the horses, and sitting down to eat meals together. They also marvel each and every week at the noticeable change in the kids in such a short period of time. Rock ’n’ Oak is gearing up and looking forward to this summer’s camps. When it's all said and done, Ken delights in contributing to “people having a place.” The concept varies from Ken providing a shop for a talented woodworker named Christian Sapp to readying a wonderful camp site facing the bluff overlooking Mud Creek Canyon, Richardson Springs, and “all of Chico.” Christian now has room to work his magic in exchange for contributing to the needs of the ranch and visitors have a space to be together in an awesome setting. The new vision for Rock ’n’ Oak is a complete recreation site for families of the wider Chico community. The entire team knows there are lots of ways to share the ranch with folks such as weddings and receptions, as well as other opportunities for the community, including musical events. Perhaps one evening the venue may host Serena in a violin concert. In a moment of reflection, Ken relays, “It all fit together; we didn’t plan.” He believes strongly in “letting things happen.” However going forward, “will always be about getting back to patience, getting back to awareness.” All under the umbrella of an acute understanding that “discipline is a need.” The opportunities will continue to abound in the form of horses as a form of therapy, yoga, and trail rides colliding in peace and increased awareness. There exists an unending combination of matching the ranch with mindfulness. Bre sums up the current place for Rock ’n’ Oak in this insightful way. “All the recent changes make Chico small again. Feels like all we have to do is take all the good and bring it up here.” CONTACT ROCK ’N’ OAK RANCH AT 530.424.8108 OR AT ROCKNOAKRANCHCHICO@GMAIL.COM. 47
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Top O' The Morning at Bidwell Perk
LEAPIN' LEPRECHAUN LATTE A “Shoren Begorrah” delightful idea to get you dancing the jig. Combine espresso with equal parts Irish Cream and vanilla. Add steamed milk and top with whipped cream (extra if desired) and "go leor" green sprinkles.
GREEN TEA MIMOSA For the mellow Lassie out there, lookin’ to relax a wee bit. Carefully combine Citron Green Tea with Arte Latino Champagne. Then, just for taste, include pear, strawberry, or coconut flavoring. To get a coy smile, watch as it is served over ice. BIDWELL PERK IS LOCATED AT 664 E 1 ST AVENUE IN CHICO. STOP BY FOR A DELICIOUS DRINK OR TWO!
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IN G REEN
GLA
SS
GOLD It wasn’t until well into my 10th year of bartending that I learned how St. Patrick’s Day came to be. Don’t get me wrong, I knew that the day wasn’t meant to celebrate a cheap plastic clover and bead necklaces, “Kiss me, I’m Irish” t-shirts, and being pinched for not wearing green. To many, it’s another “drinking holiday” where you can find folks roaming the streets in a frenzied, colored unison. Let’s face it, a man captured and enslaved before converting his faith sounds, more like a show you’re currently two, maybe three seasons in than looking for any reason to yell cheers over a Lucky Charms shot. There are many false facts and accepted ambiguities in our drinking holidays, but one thing’s for certain: Jameson's has benefited and continued to evolve. Irish Whiskey has seen immense popularity in the past 10 years, none more than Jameson’s, which makes up roughly 70% of the market share. I really enjoy Redbreast and Tullamore Dew is a favorite to many, but none can touch Jamo, the Irish gold in a green glass bottle. Fun Fact: Jameson’s is a French owned product made by a Scotsman. Chew on that for a while. John Jameson married into the family of Dublin’s Bow Street Distillery, and Pernod, a dominant French liquor company, has owned the product since 1988, while still produced in Cork, Ireland since the mid 1970’s. The eco conscious drinker can delight in the local sourcing of grains, all grown within 50 miles, to make the product. Jameson’s, like many Irish Whiskeys, are known for being smooth and sweet, generally offering fruit, spice and vanilla notes with a 50
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whisper of smoke. Jameson’s begins with a nose of pear, apple, and clove and finishes with a kiss of butterscotch and cocoa, and its diverse notes has made it an easy to down shot and quality mixer of the masses. Many companies have two tricks to keep their product fresh and competitive: aging and flavors. While an aged series can release a deeper set of flavors like caramel, toffee and leather, most flavors, in my opinion, dumb down the base product such as apple, cinamon, honey or the like. While Jameson’s discontinued a 12 year but continues an 18 year release, their flavoring game is next level. Jameson’s introduced the opportunity to try a variety of blended flavors with their appropriately named “Caskmate” series. Since the brand uses one-off rather than virgin barrels, it has found an exciting way to appeal to those discerning of taste. Whiskey casks are shipped to initially barrel age one product, then returned to provide an enhancement to a fresh batch of Jameson’s. Caskmates IPA edition infuses crisp, hoppy, and citrus notes allowing a fuller mouthfeel. Their Caskmates Stout provides a lingering of coffee, malt, and citrus to their classic flavor blend. Charring the inside of a whiskey barrel caramelizes the wood sugars and yields a smoother, more mellow finish. Prior to their Caskmate series, they had produced their Double Barrel, which provides a darker, toasted oak flavor by torching the inside of the barrel a second time. Taking it a step further, they recently released Coldbrew, a mixture of whiskey and coffee, their only below 40% ABV bottle and a bold, distinctive take on cold brewed coffee. Sure, you could remake a shamrock shake, or enjoy the simplicity of a green beer, but you won’t need the luck of a clover to find this dram in every bar in town. Whatever you’re into this St. Patty’s Day, enjoy the flavors of the Irish! Including the one that is a French owned product made by a Scotsman.
COCKTAIL ADVICE
VIA
JASON CORONA
For more cocktail tips, give Jason a call at 530.591.2634.
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THE NEED TO EARN A
Proper Wage Anyone who has grown up around the agricultural industry, knows how important employees are to farm owners and their businesses. In today's society, the ability to create a flexible work schedule for laborers plays a major role in a farmer’s success. The clear need for flexibility is why not only understanding the agricultural specific labor law updates, but how to maneuver them is the key to having a successful operation.
HRIQ–HUMAN RESOURCES + PAYROLL 236 Broadway Suite #B,Chico, CA 95928 Shelby@upyourhriq.com | Upyourhriq.com 530.680.4747
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KALE Kale has seen a huge resurgence in recent years. From 2012–2017, kale acreage across the United States rose 145%, marking a large increase in growth compared to other leafy vegetables like spinach, which only saw a 51% increase according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although it has a leafy texture similar to lettuce and chard, it is actually part of the same family as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Although no one is sure of kale’s origins, its first appearances in text appears to be in early Roman manuscripts, in which they refer to the vegetable as “brassica”, a term for leafy vegetables. Through the middle ages, its popularity began to spread throughout Europe and Asia with a variety of different shapes and colors beginning to emerge as well. In Russia, they even produced kale with the ability to grow through the snow. Kale is a forgiving vegetable, as it can be grown during every season. When growing, kale seeds should be planted about a half inch into the soil and spaced evenly at least eight inches apart. Kale should be planted in full sunlight and well drained soil while being watered daily.
In about 70 days, the kale should be fully grown and ready to be harvested and eaten. When cooking kale, one of the most popular ways is sauteed. With the help of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, kale can be cooked down from its original bitter-form to a perfect side dish to go along with something simple such as white rice. To add a bit more kick to your kale, add a squeeze of lemon and red pepper flakes if you enjoy a little spice. If you find kale itself a bit hard to eat, it’s a healthy ingredient in pesto pasta. Paired with olive oil, pine nuts, basil, and a hint of mint and lemon, all these ingredients blended together with a bit of kale makes a light and refreshing sauce that could easily be made in a few minutes for a quick weeknight meal. Kale, as a food, has made its way into a variety of different food products, ranging everywhere from baby foods, dietary supplements, and even protein powders. Kale isn’t just known as a superfood for no reason, as it is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. The vegetable is packed with a ton of Vitamin A, C, and K, which helps with things such as healthy hair and skin, collagen production, and blood clotting. Kale also contains lots of minerals that aren’t found in many other foods, such as potassium and calcium, both of which help with heart health. More than just being a tasty vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways, it’s an extremely nutritious food that should be on your list for the next time you go grocery shopping.
WRITTEN BY BRIAN LUONG
2020 brought a number of changes in regards to agricultural worker employment laws, one of which changes the definition of overtime altogether. Time and a half is now considered 9 hours in a single workday, and 50 hours in a single workweek. California determined that agricultural laborers engage in back breaking work, and need the ability to earn a proper wage in overtime hours. AB1066 intends to lower the requirement for overtime hours more and more over the next four years, and is reinforcing this bill through hefty fines in order to ensure compliance.
T H E B I T T E R LY V E R S A T I L E
INGREDIENTS:
PHOTO BY FRANK REBELO
• Bread (Of Choice) • Hard Boiled Egg (Without Yolk) • Avocado • Salt & Pepper • Cayenne Pepper • Sprouts • Tomato • Pesto
DIRECTIONS: Toast bread and add pesto to taste. After mixing together the egg white and avocado, add next. This will be followed by adding both sprouts and the tomato. Finish up with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Eat & enjoy!
FRESH TWISTED CAFE IS LOCATED AT 156 E EATON ROAD SUITE #E IN CHICO.
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Sustainability TH E ACU M E N O F
Since 2001, Butte College has amassed Mimi grew up in Northern California during 27,000 solar panels and is noted as the the 1960s, noting it was, “A heady time of first college in the nation to go completely rancorous social change, social justice off the grid. The campus rests on a wildlife movements, and the Vietnam war." As she refuge, and has been recognized as a puts it, “I went to high school for a minute in national community college leader in Berkeley in 1973 and earned 10 credits on sustainability, winning the grand prize 2008 my High School record.” At the time, there National Wildlife Federation's Chill Out were other things happening in the streets Contest and the 2009 National Campus and Children’s Park that, quite frankly, Mimi Sustainability Leadership Award. In addition, was more interested in than the classroom. the California Community Colleges Board of 12 years later, she reluctantly enrolled in Governors has honored Butte College for its Palomar College in Southern California work on an energy and sustainability project. mainly concerned about being a high The picturesque campus in the center of school dropout. In the first semester, she Butte County has amassed other awards enrolled in a class called Social and Political in sustainability and received a $75,000 Philosophy and it changed her life. Mimi grant in 2018. Butte College planned on became a full time student there for three using the grant funds to research the years and then transferred to U.C. Berkeley, conversion of agricultural waste into a majoring in Sociology and graduated with renewable, carbon-negative biochar, honors. From there, she went on to UC San maximizing carbon sequestration in the soil Diego earning her PHD in Sociology. Mimi to improve water retention and agricultural realized much of her being “hellbent on productivity. This brilliance and awareness the Degrees” stemmed from not knowing epitomizes the ingenuity and vision “what happened to the movement?” After propelling the remote community college her successful completion of the PHD, Mimi into the nation’s spotlight. It also provides felt like, “a rocket was launched,” and was the necessary insight on just how Mimi Riley left wondering, now what? She was told to made her way to the ‘far out’ college with teach, and not just teach, but “teach the a Paradise address, Oroville zip code, and truth,” and not be afraid to go deep into it. Chico phone number. So, where does a person like Mimi pursue her teaching career? Of course it would be at a junior college as she wants everyone to know California Community Colleges are an amazing place to begin your education and career opportunities. She was hired by Butte College as a full time Sociology Instructor. Not long into her tenure at Butte, Mimi almost missed an opportunity of a lifetime. Not that she knew it at the time, but a last minute decision to join a group of fellow Butte colleagues to attend a conference at Arizona state University, Mimi walked into another life changing experience. The conference was dubbed AASHE, standing for the association and advancement of sustainability in education. AASHE’s mission is to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education including from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach. AASHE defines sustainability in an inclusive way, encompassing humans 54
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and sociological health, social justice, and a better world for all generations. Further, they envision higher education taking a leadership role in preparing students and employees to build a sustainable society. Mimi’s reaction to this was nothing short of someone coming up behind her and saying, “Tag, you're it.” As a result, the first night of the conference Mimi and a colleague stayed up all night writing everything from curriculum to any supporting ideas to ensure Butte College had their very own sustainability program. The conference was in 2006. In January of 2007, the Butte College President signed a pair of integral things. The first, the Tallois Declaration, "to provide sustainability on campus thus stating, we are committed now.” The second was signed along with two university presidents, making Butte College a climate change community. The end result was the introduction and adoption of the Sustainable Studies Program in Butte’s Sociology Department. Like Mimi’s post degree rocket launch, a second took off as Mimi termed “in heroic condition.” The initial class, one that had heretofore not existed, came straight from her brain, along with the message “to teach climate change and don’t pull any punches.” From there, she was joined by an army of instructors from a wide range of departments including: economics, biology, philosophy, agriculture, and psychology. Each came with an instructor with the design and implementation of a class to add to the fledgling program. They not only wrote classes but helped pave the way for each to “sail” through the approval of the curriculum committee and school President. Hence, Sustainability Studies, a 17 Unit Certificate Program, justifiably launched by taking the acumen of sustainability, that is, placing a bright spotlight on the concept in an academic setting thus making it reachable and understandable through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. So, just how is this accomplished? No need to go further than the words of the program itself.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to: • Identify how current social, economic, and environmental problems affect their individual lives, the lives of people in other parts of the world, and the lives of future generations. • Define sustainability, evaluate the sustainability of particular systems and practices, and analyze the political and cultural challenges of sustainability implementation. • Recognize the fundamental impacts of humans, including commerce and attitudes, on the earth's systems. • Evaluate the interdependencies and long-term thinking necessary to grow the world economy while also protecting environmental resources.
• Develop ideas to create common ground and promote the principles of sustainability to diverse groups of people. • Develop a knowledge base to enable them to choose lifestyles and careers that will promote sustainable principles. The required classes include: Biology 7: Sustaining Life on Earth, Sociology 5: Our Sustainable Future, Philosophy 5: Environmental Ethics, Economics 35: An Introduction to Environmental Economics, and a Sustainability Seminar providing students a forum to integrate and critically evaluate the various content of these courses. In addition, students can choose from one of the following courses: Psychology 11: Peace Psychology and Agriculture 10: World Food & Hunger Issues. All of this leaves no doubt that Butte College is in the cutting edge of this transformation and little wonder has been recognized as a national leader in the field of education for sustainable development. What happens when the students complete the program and move on? Mimi offered a glimpse. One of the earliest students, when studying for his degree, noticed all the green lawns in the neighborhood front yards. His study concluded these lawns must be eliminated resulting in a “community supported agriculture” campaign. Quite simply resulting in “farms” in people’s front yards. He now has an understandably high position in the Sierra Club. Another student was hired as a
youth director leading ‘hands on’ lesson in sustainability. A third student transferred to San Jose State where, upon graduation, discovered the university wanted to keep her, resulting in her having to write her own job description. This glance is not only eye opening but certainly speaks to the nature of academics with the end result of success in the real world surrounding us. The real world with job opportunities ranging from Green building construction and alternative transportation to community organizing as a social justice activist and eco tourism. The 17 unit certificate program paves the way for students to go in myriad directions and endless possibilities, perhaps ones that have not yet been considered Mimi Riley is no longer asking what happened to the movement. She delights in teaching not only the truth, but her truth as well. Mimi cannot emphasize enough the importance of, “teaching about climate change without pulling any punches.” As of now, the program has more students than ever, Mimi has four sections for the first time. However, to the woman who stayed up all night writing and planning the very program she now leads, it will never be enough. She will continue to look for the next rocket to launch. For Mimi, Alan Atkisson’s quote may say it all—“The World needs an enormous number of new innovators, change agents, and transformers dedicated to turning development in the direction of sustainability. People like you!” People like Mimi who is entrusted with the acumen of sustainability at her far out’ college with a Paradise address, Oroville zip code, and Chico phone number. What’s her message? “Tag, you're it.”
WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTO BY MICHELLE CAMY & PROVIDED BY MIMI RILEY
About the Program: The Sustainability Studies Certificate program is designed to broaden and deepen students' understanding of the interconnected nature of the comprehensive social, economic, and environmental transformations of the 21st Century. This course of study will provide students with an interdisciplinary body of knowledge that focuses on the problems human civilization faces as well as the solutions and strategies that will lay the groundwork for a sustainable future. Students will develop leadership skills that inspire cooperation and mutual respect, and facilitate innovative, durable, and sustainable pathways for social and personal change, economic security and prosperity, and environmental restoration.
• Utilize critical thinking to develop a point of view regarding the problems and potential solutions for providing adequate yields of nutrient dense food and potable water for a growing global population, both in developing and developed countries. • Discuss and write about the ways in which fields such as environmental ethics, ecology, sociology, technology, and others interconnect in Sustainability Studies.
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Golden Collie
ran out of material, he decided to move to Italy to continue his work.
Matt Auvinen has worked as a sculptor and educator for over 30 years. He returned to Chico four years ago after living in Italy for 25 years where he worked in the renowned artist's "Mecca" of Pietrasanta. Immersed in the Old World traditions of creating artworks while being employed as an artisan provided Matt with a strong foundation. He is a big fan of Europe's museums where one can view the masterpieces of the past firsthand.
Matt's most recent piece is the bronze Collie in the Chico Cemetery on Mangrove Ave. A big challenge was to capture the appearance and the essence of this breed, the Rough Collie. The client knows these dogs intimately and has been around them all her life. As a symbol, the sculpture needed to look vigilant, loyal, and powerful. To understand the qualities of this subject, the artist needed to dig deep and do some research. After some initial sketching in clay, Matt attended a dog show in Roseville where dozens of exemplars were available to study and photograph. "The passion and enthusiasm that these dog breeders have for their animals was inspirational," he said. As a result, several of the breeders served as consultants to help get the details right.
Matt creates stone and bronze sculptures in all sizes and styles. He was first introduced to marble by his Chico State professor, the late Ken Morrow. Matt enjoyed carving so much that, while still an undergraduate, he purchased two tons of marble in Italy and had it shipped home to Chico where he carved the blocks for the next eight years. When he
Another challenging part of this project was how to represent soft and flowing hair in a solid material such as bronze. "Sculpture is three-dimensional and occupies space. The artist's task is to make the work occupy space dramatically and capture the viewer's attention," Matt explained. "And every viewing angle should be of equal interest."
He continued, "You cannot copy reality, so you need to interpret, or codify, the forms. All art making is an interpretation." The Collie sculpture took over a year to complete. His client considers the finished statue “dignified, yet huggable, and a comfort.” The bronze Collie, named Beau, is located in the Chico Cemetery near a copy of William Wetmore Story's Weeping Angel (1894). This marble angel is an important work from the American Neoclassical Period (the first true American artists) and the final sculpture by Story. Such a unique sculpture in Chico is something Matt thinks should be enjoyed. The two unique artworks are now near one another for everyone to appreciate.
PHOTOS BY JENNY SKIBO
The Artist And The
Matt has the skills to tackle just about any project and any style. His influences for his personal projects come from the Californian artists of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as lessons learned from masters like Michelangelo and Bernini from his many years in Europe. TO SEE EXAMPLES OF MATT’S WORK VISIT MATTAUVINEN.COM OR FIND HIM ON INSTAGRAM @MATT_AUVINEN_SCULPTURE. 57
WRITTEN BY BRIAN LUONG
A CELEBRATION OF PERCUSSIONS, SHINY INSTRUMENTS, & MARCHING UNITY Whether you’re watching a game of football or celebrating at a local parade, marching bands have been able to break through the air and energize crowds on any given occasion. The history of the marching band goes back to ancient times, where percussions and wind based instruments were used not only to give directions to members of the military, but also to provide music that would help boost group morale.
and gratitude. One of the most important moments in marching band history was in 1967, when St. Augustine High School Marching 100 was invited to march at the Rex Parade, the most important and wellknown Mardi Gras parade, making them the first all African American band to do so. This opened the door for many different kinds of bands to play in different celebrations, creating a more diverse Mardi Gras.
Perhaps the most prevalent influence marching bands have had on American culture is in New Orleans. Every single year, hundreds of thousands of people travel down to Louisiana to take part in the annual celebration, enjoying the crowded streets filled with the sound of loud cheering and enveloping instruments. In the late 1800s, freed African Americans in Louisiana began to form their own bands throughout New Orleans, most only including drum and bass instruments. These bands became a huge part of New Orleans culture and would lead the city through important events, most notably the jazz funeral. During a jazz funeral, family, friends, and the marching band would all march together from where the church reception was held all the way to the deceased’s burial place. Along the way, all would sing songs, play music, and celebrate the belief that their loved one is returning to God.
Marching bands in America today are often practiced at different levels, from high school bands to professional competitors. One of the biggest stages for many people in marching bands is either as an opener for college football games, where the band’s main job is to electrify the home crowd and hopefully bring enough energy to fans and the team to bring back a win. Marching bands also play in the NFL, but are usually a part of the half-time show, with different teams often rotating which local marching band gets to play on different game days. Only two teams in the NFL have official marching bands, which are the Washington Redskins Marching Band and Baltimore’s Marching Ravens.
These new bands heavily influenced Mardi Gras, although instead of mourning, bands were now marching in celebration 58
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Although it may look and sound like just another celebration, marching bands have had a deep influence on American culture when it comes to both remembrance and celebration. Be sure to pay extra attention at your next game or parade to the intricacies and unity of your local marching band.
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A picturesque lavender house with a mulberry door holds the personal ceramic studio of local potter, Charlene Abinante. The bright-eyed smiling artist greets us in cowboy boots and matching lavender apron as she ushers us in, ready to share her contagious, creative energy. Charlene has lived in Chico for most of her life, attending high school here and then continuing on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Chico State. She’s worked at various other jobs, even going back to school to get her teaching credential, but she’s always wanted to be able to circle back and focus on her pottery. At Chico State, she concentrated on conceptual based sculpture, but has since found her true love in creating clay tableware. The creative process begins in her home studio. A potter’s wheel set near the window to catch the light while throwing bats hang on the wall, ready to be pulled down when needed. Here she throws her clay and shapes it into cups or bowls or whatever form she’s decided. Once the structure is complete and set, she heads out to the 60
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garage studio she shares with her husband Kyle where she bisque fires it and applies one of her glazes. After the piece is glazed she’ll place it in the electric kiln once again and fire it for the final time. Charlene likes to use a variety of clays rather than just sourcing one type of material. She will rotate between red clays, B-mix clays, and speckled buff clay with iron castings. By using various types, she can achieve a different feel for each piece and have a variety of finishes to share. The clays with the iron castings for instance will react differently when coated with glazes, creating their own unique appearance particular to that glaze. Charlene doesn’t like to create things that are confined to one particular niche. She enjoys developing simple pieces that can speak to anyone and fit any style— a cup for everyone. Looking around the studio, the eye picks up an array of colors and designs. Traditional red clays cups, pale stoneware bowls with dark flecks, darker speckled olive oil bowls with strong splashes of glaze designs, and coffee
mugs with a bee detailed on them. All pieces that would fit and meld with any home décor. When asked about her inspirations, she says it can come from anywhere really, a picture, or another artist, or even a suggestion from a friend. One of her favorite pieces right now is her garlic grater dish inspired by the request of a friend. The nubby teeth in the center of the dish grate the garlic and with a few splashes of olive oil and spices it makes the perfect dipping dish for the table. Her butter crock is another design originating from a customer request. The two-piece decorative crock keeps butter spreadable and fresh on your counter by using cold water to create an airtight seal. Charlene loves creating custom items and embracing the challenge in making something special and unique for her clients. Her advice for other artists who are thinking of branching out on their own, “Don’t compare your work with others. Just keep finding your own voice.” WHEN SHE’S NOT WORKING IN HER STUDIO OR WORKING PART-TIME AT WILD INK PRESS, SHE’S PROBABLY SPENDING TIME WITH HER HUSBAND, HER HORSE, OR HER TWO AUSSIES, YOU CAN FIND CHARLENE’S WORK AT MADE IN CHICO, BIDWELL SUPPLY COMPANY, WILD INK PRESS, AND PATRICK RANCH GIFT SHOP, OR CHARLENEABINANTE.BIGCARTEL.COM.
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY FRANK REBELO
For Everyone A CUP MADE
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CHICO AN TIQ U E SH OW AN D SALE Chico Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, Chico Feb. 28 to March 1, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Twin Bridges Antique Productions is continuing the tradition of promoting this annual event featuring Western States' exhibitors with an outstanding selection of antiques, collectibles, and vintage items.
KAT EDMO NS O N Harlen Adams Theatre, Chico 7:30–9:30 p.m. Possessing an airy, light voice with a sly touch, jazz vocalist Kat Edmonson brings both the songs and the sensibility of the Great American Songbook into the 21st century. Edmonson forged her sound performing in small rooms and clubs before touring worldwide. In less than a decade since, Edmonson has emerged as one of the most distinctive performers in contemporary American music.
2020 BIDWELL C LASSI C Fleet Feet Chico, Chico 8:00 a.m.–noon Get ready and register for the annual Bidwell Classic in Lower Bidwell Park. 5K races start at 8:00 a.m., half marathon at 8:10 a.m. This race is a fundraiser for PVHS and CHS. PV H S MUS IC GA LA Chico Masonic Family Center, Chico 5:30–10:30 p.m. PVHS Inaugural Music Gala Fundraiser, Dinner, Concert, and Silent Auction. Must be 21+ to attend.
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H O O K E R OA K E L E M E N TA RY SC H O O L S P R I N G F L I N G Big Room at Sierra Nevada, Chico 6:00–10:00 p.m. Featuring the live band Decades! An adult evening out with good company, great music, delicious food, and a silent auction. Proceeds from this event go directly toward essential funds needed each year for classroom resources, fine/ performing arts, events and field trips.
DUR H A M CO R N E D B E E F DI N N E R 2 0 2 0 Durham Memorial Hall, Durham 4:30–7:30 p.m. Durham Corned Beef Dinner hosted by Durham Community Women's Club & Knights of Columbus.
ST. PAT R I C K’ S DAY
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H O M E B LO C KS PA I N T & S IP Bidwell Perk, Chico 6:00–8:00 p.m. Transfer the letter outlines and make your choices for changing up the colors on this one to suit your style. Each mini canvas is 6 x 6 and wide enough to stand up as pictured. For your sipping enjoyment, the Perk is giving you a choice between a glass of chardonnay, cabernet, or sparkling wine, included in your ticket.
A R C ’ S 2 0 TH WI N E & B E E R TA ST I N G B E N E FIT Arc Pavillion, Chico 3:00–6:00 p.m. Join local Arc supporters and sip local and regional wines, craft brews, and ciders. This event is a fundraiser that benefits Arc's Family Support Programs that serve individuals with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and other developmental disabilities.
DU F FY 'S DJ DA N C E N I G H T Duffy's Tavern, Chico 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. Two Lady DJs with ridiculously large vinyl collections for your boogie pleasure.
PA N C A K E B R E A K FA ST Chico Women's Club, Chico 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Pancakes, coffee, & OJ will be served! All proceeds go to the support of the Pow Wow.
KI T E DAY 2 0 2 0 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico 12:00–4:00 p.m. Celebrate Spring at the end of a string! Bring the entire family for this free event. Experience the color and excitement of kite flying during the Annual Chico Kite Day.
N O R D CO U N T RY S C HO O L PIE AU CT I O N & T R I -T I P DINNER Chico Elks Lodge, Chico 5:00–9:00 p.m. This year they are celebrating their 15th annual pie auction! Gather with friends and family for a delicious full dinner followed by our sensational live pie auction with auctioneer Kevin O'Callaghan.
2 20 Looking Through A Cracked Rearview Mirror
#GIRLDAD
In light of the recent tragic helicopter crash in the hills outside LA which took nine lives, including three 13 year old girls, I was left with a haunting hashtag. My mind has been a bit cluttered in reflection of that horrible event. I am a father of daughters, now 36 and 33. Curious then to even consider the magazine’s theme this month— “sustainability.” I strongly feel a father daughter relationship is just that, the ability to sustain a relationship. To do so simply by being there. All of those former students who looked at me as a father figure were sorely missing the most important ingredient—me being there. I have never spent any time wishing I had sons. Perhaps witnessing the vicarious relationships many dads of sons have from the sidelines or stands, provides me some relief. I have always believed I was meant to be a father of daughters. To be clear, I am not perfect, not always certain, do not have all the answers, and wonder at the worth of now glancing through that cracked rear view mirror. I guess we’ll find out together. First and foremost, it feels important to recognize the fact that the mother of daughters is an entirely different thing, diametrically opposed to fatherhood. Moms do all the dirty stuff like having the right talk at the right time and then having to clean up the mess after relationships fall apart. Moms also, often joyously, have to be the ones who are hated by their daughters. As it goes, if your daughters do not hate you at some point in their lives, the mom is not doing her job correctly. On the flip side of that coin, when daughters leave home, mom gets the calls from them every single day. At least once. Often intimated, a mom remains the daughter's role model, a truth that can be a load to carry around.
Girls’ hearts beat differently for their dad. It is also common knowledge that siblings are not in any way, shape, or form alike. This truth is played out everywhere. My girls could be the poster children for this. For me, it proves beneficial, advantageous, and useful. Certainly not going to get away with the same advice, scolding, or way to spend time together. Yes that is a distinct advantage and keeps me on my toes, with knees bent. Though different, they both know the unspoken code. The common knowledge they both knew to come to my side of the bed when they woke up scared. The plain fact is, that when mom said no, go to dad to get a yes. And when they were having trouble with school,
talk to dad. Sibling diaprity aside, you can count on dad to overreact, get over it, and move on. Dad will ask less questions, though sometimes with harder answers, and dad, ultimately, will always end up on mom’s side.
Silliness and certainty aside, my girls grew up in a unique fashion. They got to watch their dad work for a living. In elementary school, it was watching him work the sidelines coaching basketball, and all through high school, they sat in his English classes and witnessed him firsthand. In their own way, they both cherish the opportunity and both share, and, of course have their own, memories. One is the moment I threw both of them out of my class. Sarah’s came with more flair as I threw her and her chatty friends out, table and all. Jessica was greeted with a gruff dismissal after having the gall to arrive late to the period following lunch. She was told to go to her counselor and find a fifth period teacher that would allow her to be late. Yes, both made for a rather, uh, interesting parent/teacher conference. They also both share the memory of “getting caught” during their tenure at Chico High, resulting in the fortuitous same “punishment.” It was twofold, first they had to eat lunch in their dad’s classroom for a six month period. With an open campus, that was harsh. The second was they had to choose which weekend night they would go out, with an amended curfew. Of course, they chose whatever game night, which sent them home pretty much right after the game. The fortunate part stemmed from those weekend nights spent with their old fashioned, nerdy parents. The result was, to this day, they cherish spending these nights with mom and dad. My girls maintain a wonderful appreciation of education and their kids are going to benefit from their valued perspective. They also know the game of basketball far better than most anyone they spend time around. I will forever be grateful I was able to share the highs, lows, and reality of both 'jobs’ they grew up witnessing. There remains two things. The first is my accurate and annoying answer anytime they asked for advice. My reply, “Decisions have a way of making themselves.” The second, on both occasions, right before going down the aisle, my girls were asking me if I was ok. I was and I wasn’t. After all, the best part of being a girl dad is it doesn’t come with an expiration date.
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