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FROM THE EDITOR October welcomes our valley home with a promise of warm days and evenings offering chill, both literally and figuratively. Deemed
UPGRADED LIVING STAFF
“sweater weather,” there’s a need for shorts during the day and a sweater or light sweatshirt toward dusk. Leaves us valley folks with
AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner
relief knowing we no longer have to sit on the deck at 9:00 at night with a 90 degree temperature, convincing ourselves it is comfortable.
KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief
October begins with a festival for beer and ends with myriad tricks and treats. In between is the best barbeque season. October also welcomes the holiday season, ensuring smiles with anticipation of the coming gatherings. Marking the tenth month, we feel the stunning realization another year is here. Our October issue is filled with a different reality. The reality of what cancer can bring to families’ lives. Emotion aside, the presence and substance of its disturbance bears telling. As a result, we did not write a cover article celebrating a recovery or trying to make sense of a senseless loss. Our cover story delves into the fastest growing cancer, adolescents and young adults. The statistics are alarming and disconcerting. The story, itself, both raw and moving, is nonetheless uplifting. The parents of two teenage victims of cancer tell their story. Mark and Susan Chrisco relay the narrative of their daughter, Clara, and her bout with cancer nine years ago. Patrick and Teresa Doyle disclose an intertwining and mesmerizing version of their son, Tate, who is battling his ordeal at the moment. Dubbed “Then and Now,” it brings you into the living rooms, doctor’s offices, and hospitals, and also into the minds and hearts of the people. You will not want to miss it. We also reached out to our readers and ask them “what they would
NERISSA QUINN
KRISTINA MORENO
Production Director
Writer
JASON CORONA
SHELLY BRANDON
Sales Director
Writer
DARREN MICHELS
EMILY TEAGUE
Product Integration & Mobility Strategy
Photographer
BRIAN LUONG Writer EMILY LEBLANC Writer JESSICA DOLAN CLARENDON Writer
FRANK REBELO Photographer MICHAEL MEJIA Photographer MICHELLE CAMY Photographer
say to someone now they lost to cancer earlier.” Their responses run the gamut and are beautifully haunting. The Backpage captures this same theme of cancer and its unwavering carnage. It begins with a five line poem, titled Tears, Idle Tears. I read this with my senior classes each fall, all 30 years I taught. The last
CONTRIBUTORS
two lines read, “In looking on the happy autumn fields, and thinking of the days that are no more.” We read so, when they looked out across the campus in the fall, they should realize these days will soon be “no more” and make the most of every one before graduation. The poem serves the Backpage as how cancer is related to the use of the absolutes ‘never and always.’ As usual, I came with an intent and came out stunned by the end product. Read it with your mind and eyes wide open. On to November and the promise of full stomachs.
BARBARA HILL
MARY LOU LIM
Garden
What Are You Comprised Of?
CAROL KOENIG
NERISSA QUINN
Garden
DIY
CHICO BREAST CARE CENTER
RENEE MICHEL
Health
& JOE SWEENEY Finance
HRIQ Human Resources JASON CORONA Cocktails
STACIE BEDFORD Interior Design DR. VIMALI PAUL, M.D.
JENNIE WOLFE
Skin Care
Beauty KEVIN DOLAN Backpage
Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief
For advertising or editorial inquiries, please contact: Upgraded Living at 530.591.2634 Sales@UpgradedLiving.com
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CONTENTS OCTOBER 2019 COMMUNITY
FOOD & DRINK
10 Meet Cool Kid Joshua Corona and
52 Be ready for all things pumpkin spice and
delight in his balance of academe and outside participation.
12 We hope you are ‘Inspired’ as much as we were in learning about our featured teacher, Mary Lou Lim.
63 Our Editor-in-Chief deals with the prospect of the uses of absolutes and turns to cancer for assistance.
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55 One of our favorites, Roots Catering and Restaurant, offers an intriguing recipe for apple pie pancakes.
22 Discover the benefits and certain cautions
58 Shhh, don’t tell Bernie Vigallon, but he’s
self breast exams.
26 What a wonderful look at the elegant necessity of a tattoed areola.
HOME & GARDEN 38 Everlasting, eternal, and entertaining entryway essentials.
48 The plentiful benefits of installing an indoor herb garden.
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ON THE COVER: THE MANY FACES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY CANCER. DESIGN & CREATION BY: NERISSA QUINN PHOTO BY: MICHELLE CAMY
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the month is the venerable pumpkin. The read, however, is filled with surprises.
ART
24 So much more than just the ins and outs of
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54 Not surprisingly, our ingredient of
HEALTH & BEAUTY surrounding the use of CBD oil.
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we mean all things pumpkin spice.
our artist-of-the-month and we could not be more delighted!
FEATURE 42 Our cover story offers a glimpse into the world of adolescent cancer diagnosis through the eyes of the parents of the patient—a must read.
47 Have a tissue at the ready as you read the words our readers would say now to a lost loved one to cancer.
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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTO BY MICHELLE CAMY
Aiming High A quiet, collected high school Senior sits across the table. His composed energy appears set to propel him forward towards the amazing things he is aiming for in his future. Josh Corona attends Chico High School and is active in both extracurricular activities as well as advanced educational classes. He is currently enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses: Macroeconomics, Spanish, Physics, English, Calculus, and Chemistry. His AP Spanish class will enable him to graduate with a Seal of Biliteracy on his diploma following four years of foreign language, which is no small feat considering his heavy class load. When asked about a favorite teacher from his high school career, he answers, “Mr. Kennedy.” Josh’s early Chemistry instructor was a “super cool guy” and was readily available to answer any questions the students might have about anything within the realm of science, even out of normal class hours. He says that his labs were “always engaging” and the fact that they were working with substances which required safety equipment made the labs that much more exciting. This year, Josh expects AP Calculus to be his favorite class in part because of the instructor, Mr. Sours, but also due to the fun group of individuals in the class with him. 10
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With all those Advanced Placement classes, it’s hard to believe that there is any time in Josh’s schedule for extracurricular activities, but somehow he is managing to find time to join the cross country team for the first time this year as well as participate in his fourth year of track. Outside of school, Josh is an electronic music producer. This music uses digital instruments, circuit based tech, and electronic musical instruments to create songs in over 200 genres. Some of Josh’s experience with these genres range from “trap, which has a lot of heavy base in it” to “future base, with fluttery melodic (sounds)” to “synth wave, the music of the 80’s but with a modern flair using all original sounds.” As many of his family members have done in the past, Josh plans on enlisting in the Air Force following graduation. He looks forward to the travel opportunities the Air Force can provide along with the assistance available through them in regards to college tuition. He sees himself focusing on the technology side of electrical engineering and hopes the Air Force will guide him through the necessary steps to achieve this career goal. We celebrate Josh’s commitment to education and his devotion to his outside pursuits. We look forward to just how high he will aim!
DIY BY NERISSA QUINN PHOTO BY MICHELLE CAMY
With fall in full swing, it is time to start decorating for Halloween! From pumpkin carving to scary movies there is no shortage of holiday fun. Here’s a quick Halloween DIY for everyone in the family to enjoy creating together. I hope you relish the experience! What you’ll need: • Spider webs • Fake spiders (assorted sizes) • Embroidery hoop • Black paint • Paint brush • Ribbon • Hot glue gun + glue Instructions: Paint both sides of your embroidery hoop and let dry. Tightly spread the spider web across the hoop and secure to the back of the hoop with hot glue. Add the spiders to the web by gluing them on, or weaving their legs through the webs. Securely attach ribbon to the top of the wreath and hang!
DIY: CREEPY CRAWLY
Spider Wreath
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I am comprised of early mornings with coffee, journaling, and lots MORNING ROUTINE
of prayer. I am comprised of 47 years with my husband, four grown P E O P L E W H O H A V E TA U G H T M E A G R E AT D E A L
kids and their spouses, and nine amazing littles! I am comprised of helping my students learn to trust and to use all that is in them. FAV O R I T E T H I N G A B O U T T H E T E AC H I N G P R O F E S S I O N
I am comprised of hugs and “thank you for believing in me”. S T U D E N T S ’ R E A C T I O N S T H AT S T I C K T O M E
What are you comprised of? MARY LOU LIM Inspire School of Arts & Sciences Music & Theatre 12
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WRITTEN BY KRISTINA MORENO PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Quilts to the Rescue The members of Annie’s Star Quilt Guild (ASQG) are passionate about what they do! Here are a group of very talented women who are not only artists, but also devoted community service advocates who provide quilts and other handmade items to those in need. ASQG began in 1981 with a small group of Chico women and has grown to nearly 200 members who have been sharing their quilts and artistic talents with their community since day one. Apart from sharing and supporting the love of quilts and the art of making them, they are also a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to offering educational programs to their members while giving back to the community. Their biggest fundraiser is through raffle ticket sales for their “Opportunity Quilt” which the guild makes as a collective effort. This beautiful quilt was meticulously organized by about 25 quilters, comprised of small teams of seven women. Teams are responsible for picking the pattern, picking the fabric, assembling the quilt, and selling raffle tickets to win the quilt. After it is completed, members spend about 18 months selling raffle tickets to raise money that will support the guild’s programs. Want to see this beautiful quilt up close and in person? Be sure to see the “Opportunity Quilt” at the 2019 Annie's Star Quilt Guild Show–"Harvest of Quilts X". This biennial 14
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event takes place the first weekend of November at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico and will feature 250 quilts made by guild members. Attendees can also visit the many vendors who’ll be selling quilting related merchandise. Stop by their community service booth dedicated to sharing information about projects they support throughout the year. You can also see the quilt and buy raffle tickets at the Saturday Chico Farmers Market. Two projects, the “Camp Fire Survivor Project” and the “Comfort Quilts Project”, were created in the wake of the devastating fire. Speaking about the unprecedented support ASQG received, Beth Carlson, a leading member shares, “Quilters and guilds from all over the country sent us quilts, fabrics, quilt tops, and various parts of quilts that we’ve assembled, and put together.” ASQG has donated about 3,000 quilts to those who have been displaced. The guild has distributed to Enloe hospital, and to more than 600 children at three local charter schools. These two projects are ongoing and ASQG continues to hold giveaways at Enloe Hospital to those who have been displaced. A touching project the guild is constantly working on is one that serves children who are fighting cancer. The guild makes brightly colored pillowcases, dolls, and bead bags for young patients in the pediatric oncology department at Sutter Children’s hospital in Sacramento. The pillowcases add a personal
touch to their rooms, and social workers use the dolls as a sort of tool helping to explain to the child how the medical team are going to treat the child. Members send the hospital over 100 dolls every year. Young oncology patients can receive a drawstring cloth bag for beads they collect throughout their stay at the hospital. “This gives them something personal–it’s theirs and they can take it home. It’s very colorful, so it adds color to their room,” says Beth describing how these items can help young patients. ASQG also gives quilts to young adults who are aging out of the foster care system. Don’t miss out on the quilting events that are held on the first Friday of the month. These workshops and lectures are open to members, and nonmembers if there are spots available. Membership is open to everyone and costs $35 a year. “We contract with teachers and lecturers from all over the country. Our meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at the Mason Center and the next day we have a workshop,” Beth explains. Interested in quilting and joining in on ASQG community service efforts? Join the ladies of ASQG for their guild meeting. Visitors are welcome!
IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE TO ASQG AND BUY RAFFLE TICKETS FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY QUILT, VISIT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AND CLICK ON THE “CONTACT US” BUTTON. VISIT ANNIESTARQUILT.BLOGSPOT.COM TO LEARN MORE.
FICO:
Why You Should Understand & Manage Your Credit Score The FICO scoring system was created in the 1960s by the Fair Isaac Corporation, and is used by lenders, employers, landlords, and utility companies to weigh the risk of lending, renting, or employing you. It is a scoring system that ranks you as a consumer; using a numeric scoring system that ranges from 350–850. Those who represent the least risk can secure credit at lower interest rates (typically scores of 720 and above). Scores less than 680 represent higher risk to lenders or creditors, which in turn means consumers with a lower score will end up having to pay higher interest on loans and debt. Check out the example below. Using the myFICO.com loan savings calculator, here’s how much you’d pay in today’s rates for some credit score ranges. Examples are based on national averages for a 30-year fixed loan of $200,000.
BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ®, FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT SWEENEY & MICHEL, LLC
Here are a few tips from myfico.com on managing credit responsibly: • If you have been managing credit for a short time, don't open a lot of new accounts too rapidly. Rapid account buildup can look risky if you are a new credit user. • Request and check your credit report. Every year go to annualcreditreport.com and request your free credit reports from all three major credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experian, & Equifax. • Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Don't open accounts just to have a better credit mix—it probably won't raise your credit score. • Have credit cards but manage them responsibly. In general, having credit cards and installment loans (and making your payments on time) will build your credit scores. Someone with no credit cards, for example, tends to be higher risk than someone who has managed credit cards responsibly. For more info, visit myfico.com.
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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SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW
Yo-Yo
Gentry’s goal is to take the skill that he’s worked so hard at learning and be able to teach it to others, thereby sharing his love of yoyoing. He wants to encourage others to find whatever it is they are passionate about and to go after it, no matter what those on the outside may say. “If you believe in yourself, you can do anything.” This certainly seems true for Gentry. He’s turned his passion into a way of life, traveled to 25 different countries from Peru to Japan to share his love and knowledge of the yo-yo industry. He is sponsored by the Yo-Yo Factory and has designed quite a few signature yoyos that are sold around the world. He’s established a business instructing both basic and advanced yo-yoing and he’s met and befriended people from around the world. He’s accomplished all this by taking his passion and focus and centering them on his goal.
They should come up with a new name for what Gentry Stein does with the spool shaped disc split by a deep groove and wound with string. It is a true performance of art and sport. The way he choreographs his moves, punctuates his tricks to coincide with specific beats in the music, and draws the crowd in with his artistically crafted music mixes is worlds away from what most people know of yo-yoing.
When you hear the word yo-yo, your mind immediately goes to your childhood attempts at perfecting simple up and down movements with your yo-yo. Or perhaps you mastered that skill and were moving on to tricks like “walk the dog” or “around the world”. While this may be how Gentry started out in the yo-yo world, it’s definitely not where he is now. He received his first yo-yo as a birthday gift from his Mom when he was just eight years old. He remembers heading to the National Yo-Yo Museum inside Chico’s Bird In Hand and taking classes where he learned the basics of yo-yo movement. He lost interest for a while but then revisited the hobby in middle school and discovered he could compete in yo-yo contests. He was excited to find that he could combine his love of art and creativity with the challenge of competition, thus his passion for the yo-yo competition circuit was born. 16
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STAY TUNED TO WHAT GENTRY IS DOING AT GENTRYSTEIN.COM
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Twenty three year old Gentry Stein has won the World YoYo Championship twice. The first time, at age 18, in Prague, Czechoslovakia and the second time earlier this year in Cleveland, Ohio. Yo-yo competitions are judged much like figure skating. Judges have clicker counters that they use throughout the routine to keep track of points for the technical execution, which accounts for 60% of the score. The clickers are used to assign points for difficulty, succession, risk, and variation of each individual trick performed. In addition to these clicker points, the remaining 40% of their score is based on the freestyle evaluation which grades on originality, style, choreography, and uniqueness of the tricks. Gentry loves the preparation as well as the performance itself. The process of building and creating the routines as he strategizes his approach to various tricks engages his artistic side while the act of performing in front of the audience feeds his competitive character. He trains an average of four hours a day, but sometimes he may not even touch a yo-yo during this time. He could be selecting and arranging his music or choreographing his movement across the stage. Other times he will be working exclusively on his yo-yo throws, designing and perfecting his tricks to correlate perfectly with his music selections.
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But Good Sleep There’s nothing better than waking up well rested, rejuvenated, and ready to face whatever life decides to throw at us. Often, it’s those very things that make it seemingly impossible to “get a good night’s sleep.” Let’s take a look at what’s happening during our nighttime slumber. There are four stages of sleep. Stage 1 occurs as you are just transitioning to sleep from your wakeful state and lasts about ten minutes. Stage 2 brings a drop in body temperature, a slowing of the heart rate and lasts about 20 minutes. Stage 3 results in muscle relaxation, decreases in both blood pressure and breathing rates, and is the deepest state of sleep. REM sleep is the last stage and the brain is much more active while the body becomes more relaxed. Dreaming occurs during this stage, which coincides with that increased brain activity. Our sleep cycles through these phases throughout the night, usually four to five times before we wake up. Sleep problems can occur with any of these stages. They can range from not being able to get to sleep, to waking up in the middle of sleep, to just not getting good sleep. So, how can we get that restorative rest that is essential to our health and well-being? 18
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Set the Space:
Just as you have your workspace organized in order to maximize your efficiency, you should also set up your bedroom for maximizing sleep. It shouldn’t be a place where you work, exercise, or watch TV. It should be a relaxing space dedicated to sleep and everything else should be relegated to another room. Dim the lights, quiet the noise, and adjust the temperature to your comfort level. Try some lavender scented linen spray or a diffuser by your bed that gently infuses your room with a relaxing scent to help lull you to sleep. Essential oils have long been used for their therapeutic effects. Lavender, ylang-ylang, and bergamot oils have been shown to help reduce stress and lower blood pressure. If after 20 minutes, you’re still tossing and turning, get out of the bedroom and move elsewhere for a quiet activity. This way your body and brain won’t associate anxiety and sleeplessness with the bedroom.
Unplug:
This seems simple enough to say, but can prove extremely difficult to put in place. The barrage of information that comes through our portable devices can easily stress our
minds and increase our anxiety. By creating a bedtime for your devices, you allow your mind to disconnect more easily from the stressors of the day. Those bright glowing screens don’t invite sleep into your brain. The blue-white range of light produced inhibits the production of melatonin, a chemical essential for inducing sleep and setting our circadian rhythm. So, switch to old-fashioned paper books at bedtime, or if you can’t do that, then dim your screen as much as possible. You could also use a smaller screened device, or use an app that allows for subtle color changes towards the yellow/orange spectrum in order to allow for better melatonin production.
Eat Smart:
Eating at least three hours before bed will allow enough time for your body to digest those large meals and avoid possible upset stomach and reflux. You also should avoid beverages and products that can lead to sleep disruption, such as alcohol, caffeinated beverages, nicotine, and chocolate. While alcohol may allow you to fall asleep faster, it actually decreases your REM, which is said to be the most restorative stage of sleep. This could result in loss of concentration, daytime sleepiness, and mood fluctuations. By preparing the body for sleep through gentle routines and avoiding physiological and physical stressors at bedtime, you should be predisposed to getting that much needed good sleep.
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON
N O T J U S T S L E E P,
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WRITTEN & PHOTO BY STEVE K.
It’s All in the Details Keeping a personal calendar organized and top-of-mind may be one of the most trying day-to-day tasks in the time-sensitive world we live. Managing someone else’s calendar is a different matter altogether, and anyone who has worked in an administrative or assistant role knows just how cumbersome it can be. Though scheduling may not be everyone’s forte, the surgery coordinators at North Valley Eye Care (NVEC) make the undertaking look like child’s play. In a given year, the three surgeons at North Valley Eye Care perform over 2,400 surgeries across five surgical centers for cataracts, glaucoma, eye muscle surgery, blepheroplasty, nasolacrimal duct obstructions, to name a few, on top of their usual workload of diagnosing and treating patients. They are assisted throughout these surgeries by members of North Valley Eye Care’s surgical team. In total, each surgery requires the perfect coordination of five separate schedules to provide the standard of surgical care that NVEC guarantees. At over 2,400 surgeries with one patient, one doctor, and two surgical team members present, each year’s surgical calendar is the culmination of nearly 10,000 separate and successful points of scheduling. The amount of time and effort that goes into ensuring each surgical appointment goes off without a hitch is incredible, and even more impressive, when you consider how often people’s time commitments change. Making sure the doctors’ schedules remain free of gaps provides the greatest number of patients in need with an opportunity to be treated. 20
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In June, Emmy Lembeck (center) took over as director of surgery services at NVEC and has been putting new measures in place to achieve even more effective scheduling going into 2020. Having been a member of the North Valley Eye Care family since 2016, she has spent a considerable amount of time observing and operating within the practice. The experience has given her a unique insight into the business and what can be done to take an already stellar department to the next level. As director of surgery services, Emmy oversees the work of surgery coordinators, Katy Rae (far left) and Vanessa Phanor (left); lead surgery coordinator, Samantha Marshall (right); operating room technician, Amelia Murillo (far right); and Teresa Martin (not pictured). Together, the team coordinates all surgical appointments, manages the surgery team, acts as a liaison between the five surgery centers, and schedules all appointments with drug and instrument reps throughout the company’s five practices. Over the years, Emmy has been given one unifying piece of advice through countless conversations with patients—never wait when it comes to your eyes. At the first sign of changes, regardless of whether they present themselves as a simple inconvenience or an absolute safety issue, see your doctor. The sooner you are checked, the better the outcome in the end. If you’re experiencing changes in your vision, call North Valley Eye Care today at 530.891.1900.
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CBD OIL: WHAT IS IT + WHAT DOES IT DO?
What is CBD oil and what does it do? CBD oil has popped up in shops, local retailers, certain foods, and, sometimes, even in your coffee. With its prevalent space in our culture, you may be wondering, what is CBD oil and what does it do? Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two main cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. The two strands of cannabis plants grown by farmers produce either a high concentration of CBD or delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Capitalizing on the “high”-causing effects, certain farmers have selectivelybred cannabis plants to increase the concentration of THC, creating what we call marijuana. The plants that contain 0.3 percent or less THC are considered hemp plants and produce CBD oil. The body naturally produces endocannabinoids, which bind to cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system and combat occurrences like pain or anxiety. When THC is introduced to the body, the cannabinoid connects with CB1 receptors in the brain, affecting coordination, movement, pain, emotion, mood, thinking, appetite, and memory. The naturally-grown hemp plants are used to create CBD oil, which is not psychoactive and does not alter the state of mind like THC. CBD, rather, assists the body in increasing its natural production of cannabinoids which bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB2 receptors are involved with inflammation and pain, so when CBD is introduced to the body, it assists with 22
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inflammation and pain as well as the wide variety of factors that the CB1 receptors handle. Although CBD is not yet certified for treatment of a variety of issues, it is currently undergoing many studies. As of right now, it is only an FDA-approved treatment for two types of severe epilepsy, with a doctor’s approval and subscription, however, users have also reported other benefits. The most common benefits reported are pain relief, reduced inflammation, and relief from anxiety disorders. People who are trying to quit smoking or other substance abuse report that CBD oil reduces cravings, anxiety, pain, insomnia, and mood-related symptoms. CBD could also be a natural alternative to chronic pain, could help with neurological disorders like schizophrenia, could prevent and treat the inflammation of the pancreas that causes type 1 diabetes, could cure inflammation and sebum-related acne, could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, and could even combat cancer by stalling cell growth. Speak with your doctor before using CBD as a treatment option due to the reported side effects. The most common side effect is tiredness, though some people report a change in diet or weight. CBD could also interact negatively with certain over-thecounter (OTC) medications so be sure to ask your doctor what is the best plan for you. With the current trend in CBD oil uses, you might be seeing a lot more CBD oil in the future—stay informed on the latest studies by checking in with your doctor for updates.
WRITTEN BY EMILY LEBLANC
YOUR HEALTH
Are you or a loved one struggling to pay your Medicare costs?
WE ARE HERE TO HELP! ‣ Extra help for Medicare Part D ‣ Medicare Savings Programs ‣ Medicare Preventative Services ‣ Part D Plan Comparison & Medicare Counseling ‣ Enrollment Assistance For more information, call HICAP (530) 898-6716
UPCOMING EVENTS
WHAT'S NEW WITH MEDICARE: October 17 & November 14 10 am to 12 pm Lakeside Pavilion 2565 Lakeside Drive, Chico November 7 10 to 11:30 am Oroville Senior Nutrition 1335 Myers Street, Oroville December 2 9:30 am to1:30 pm Enloe Conference Center, Room 101, Chico Registration Required call 530.898.6716
"This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0052-02-01 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy."
YOUR HEALTH BREAST CANCER SCREENING
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when pink ribbons and “pink” fundraisers seem to be everywhere. But what does it all mean and why is it important? The goal of this popular campaign is to increase awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, as well as to raise funds for research into the cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and hopefully a cure for breast cancer. So, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here are some facts about breast cancer screening that we should all be aware. A mammogram is a non-invasive x-ray used to check breasts for breast cancer and other abnormalities. Mammography can detect cancer early—when it is small and more likely curable. It is the only test shown to reduce breast cancer deaths. In fact, before mammography was invented in the late 1950’s, one-half of breast cancer patients died from the disease. With current screening rates in the U.S. hovering around 65%, the death rate from the disease has dropped by one-third. Better yet, when breast cancer is detected early, before it has spread, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. While it is always a good idea to look out for certain changes in your breasts such as a lump, pain, redness, or swelling, many of the symptoms of breast cancer are invisible and not noticeable without a professional screening mammogram. 3D Mammography, or “Tomosynthesis” as it is also called, can 24
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detect cancer long before it can be felt. This newer technology also reduces callbacks due to false-positives by up to 40%. It is clinically proven as superior to traditional 2D mammography and is quickly becoming the “gold standard” of care. Although there are conflicting guidelines about when and how often to undergo screening, major health organizations all agree that starting annual mammography at age 40 saves the most lives. 1 in 6 breast cancers occur in women aged 40–49 and younger women of screening age are more likely to develop aggressive breast cancers than older women. Also, 75% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease and are not considered high-risk. Having a clean family history does not protect you from the risk of breast cancer, however if you do have a family history of breast cancer, your physician may recommend that you begin screening at an earlier age. If you are a woman over 40 and haven’t had your annual mammogram yet, please be aware that early detection is the best protection against this disease and call Chico Breast Care Center at 530.898.0502 to schedule your screening mammogram today. It could save your life!
H E A LT H A D V I C E VIA CHICO BREAST CARE CENTER For more information, visit Chico Breast Care Center located at 1720 Esplanade in Chico, call 530.898.0502, or visit chicobreastcare.com.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY JENNIE WOLFE
BEAUTY Q&A REBUILDING SELF CONFIDENCE
Hyper realistic areola tattoos are changing the lives of breast cancer survivors. Areola/ nipple tattoos are becoming an increasingly popular option among women who have undergone breast reconstruction surgery after cancer. While breast reconstruction typically does not include the areola or nipple, a restorative hyper realistic areola tattoo is the way to go in order to achieve the most realistic end result. Restorative areola tattoo procedure is incredibly personal and highly rewarding for both client and artist. This procedure creates a tremendous opportunity in the recovery process. The primary purpose of breast reconstruction is not only to enhance the aesthetic appearance, but also to provide mental relief, improve the sense of wellbeing, and raise the quality of life. A successful reconstruction procedure can minimize virtually all imperfections and help a client steadily forget about the disease, regain functional disposition, rebuild self confidence, as well as a positive body image. Similar to semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos, areola tattoos are made by depositing pigment just beneath the outer layers of the skin. While brows last one to two years, areolas last much longer. There is a great deal involved, such as shapes, sizes, color theory, light, scars, the angle and pressure of the needle, and the tightness of the skin.
The Process:
Prior to starting restorative tattoos, scars are assessed and treated if they’re in the area. 26
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Color tone includes choosing pigments matching the existing areola on the healthy side, or follow reference color of the skin and birthmarks. Size of nipple can vary. The areola needs to harmonize with the shape of the entire breast, taking into account its size and position. Always make certain the restorative work of art matches the client’s appearance and age. As a result, the phenomenon of optical illusion is frequently used in both cosmetic and medical makeup. By playing with form, color, and pattern, it is possible to create the most beautiful areolas, achieving remarkably realistic effects with a highly convincing illusion of reality. The traumatic experience of breast loss is often the beginning of a difficult recovery, and physical appearance can have a powerful impact on people’s lives. It can enhance your self-confidence or destroy your self-esteem. In the case of areola nipple restoration clients have a sense of the physical and mental wellbeing improving and normalizing the physical appearance. The procedure reclaims what the disease has deprived a woman, thus gaining back what was taken and empowering one's self confidence and self esteem.
BEAUTY ADVICE
VIA
JENNIE WOLFE
Jennie is the owner of Microblading Chico Cosmetic Tattoo Studio located on 1731 Esplanade #4 in Chico. For more information visit microbladingchico.com or call 530.717.3968.
Don't Compromise
your Skin's Health! Healthy, natural skin cell turnover takes about two weeks when we are babies, 3–4 weeks as a teenager or young adult, and then slows down to every 45–90 days after age 50. So, it is no wonder that our skin cells would be affected by serious illness, such as cancer, or injuries to the skin caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Skin that is compromised due to illness or injury can take a very long time (months) to function normally. Cells can be damaged during chemotherapy, radiation, and when taking anti-cancer medications post-treatment. Each can cause the skin to be thinner, bruise more easily, and be discolored or exceptionally dry and flaky. Radiation treatments can actually burn and blister, much like a bad sunburn, and generally take longer to heal as they are usually deeper and more tissue is affected. We recommend the use of very gentle products like Avene and Obagi to replenish the moisture barrier on the skin to prevent irritation. Gentle, creamy cleansers, alcoholfree toners, and hyaluronic acid-based moisturizers will help to get the skin back to normalcy and get the cell turnover rates back to optimum levels. The gentler, the better when it comes to choosing products during recuperation, and always consult your doctor for their recommendations. We at the DermBar Med-Spa understand that during the healing process, it is important to look and feel like yourself, and we are happy to do free consultations to get the best products for your individual needs. DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530.342.2672
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2019 OPEN ENROLLMENT IMPORTANT DATES
Enrollment opens: October 15, 2019 Deadline: December 7, 2019 Coverage Begins: January 1, 2020 For more information on Medicare changes for 2020 or to schedule an appointment call HICAP
(530) 898-6716 "This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0052-02-01 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy."
questions about your Medicare? Visit mymedicare.gov and the Medicare app!
Why create a MyMedicare.gov account? • Manage personal information • Check enrollment status • Pay Medicare premiums • View Medicare claims • Improved ability to get assistance for prescription drug coverage choices For additional information contact HICAP at (530) 898-6716. 28
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The hairstylist, who works from the comfort of her Chico home, continues to be a pillar of hope for those going through the same scare. “Cancer is just a word,” Nicole said confidently. “We give it power because it’s such a negative thing, but cancer is not always a death sentence.” She chose not to focus on what cancer took from her (hair, breast, and energy) but rather on what she gained during this tense time. A beautiful bond was built between Nicole’s loved ones, and her desire to combat breast cancer has poured into the Chico community. She started a Facebook group called NorCal Survivors, a forum that welcomes all survivors of any cancer and provides a safe place where people can openly share their journey.
"The Daddy Haircut" Nicole Cable Scoubes became familiar with cancer early on. At the age of 12, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, but she fought it mercilessly. After beating cancer at such an early age, Nicole was sure it was out of her system and life for good. As the years went by, she lived a happy and healthy life. She fell in love, opened her salon, and got married—nothing was holding her back. When Nicole turned 30, and shortly after the birth of her first child, she found a lump in her breast. Her biopsy returned positive for breast cancer. Through a genetics test, Nicole was diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare, inherited genetic cancer disorder that significantly increases her risk of developing cancer again. As a result of a mutation in
the p53 gene, which regulates cell cycle and tumor suppression, Nicole can’t block tumors growing in her body. Those tumors can eventually turn into cancerous cells. It was understandably difficult finding her footing after receiving the news. Nicole had to step-up and be the source of strength for her family, especially for her two little girls who were so young at the time. During her treatment, Nicole struggled with finding kid-friendly literature, or material that helped explain to her young children that she was sick and would be looking a little different for awhile. With a nudge from her nurse, Nicole created “The Daddy Haircut,” a children’s book illustrating ways to tell your kids a loved one has cancer. The title of the book is a nod to Nicole’s husband
“I have this major drive to help other cancer patients,” Nicole said. “I just want to help people get through this process without it being so devastating like it can be for some people.” “THE DADDY HAIRCUT” CAN BE FOUND AT MADE IN CHICO, APPLE BLOSSOM BABY, AND ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM.
PHOTOS BY EMILY TEAGUE
who rocks a shaved head; Nicole’s brother, Joel T. Cable, lent his artistic abilities to illustrate the children's book. Working on this project sparked something inside Nicole and, deep down, she knew she was meant for something greater, so she fought harder. Through humor and a strong support system with family, friends, and those at her church, Nicole came through stronger than ever. Her bubbly personality wasn’t squashed through the emotional and physical turmoil cancer brought to her and her family.
Imagine a woman who’s just learned she’s pregnant, and the pregnancy is unplanned. Offering services to help these women navigate the stresses and the myriad decisions that come with this sudden ‘new reality’ are what the Women’s Resource Clinic (WRC) is wholly passionate. The clinic is a medically licensed Christian ministry offering services and resources for pregnant women. Their intention is to advocate for them by honoring each individual with the necessary agency to make decisions regarding parenthood. Services available run the gamut and include: free pregnancy tests, confidential consultation, ultrasound imaging, referrals to physicians and/or midwives, community resources, education on options, which are also are wide and varied including: parenting, adoption, abortion, and abstinence. Additional selections are Post Abortion Counseling and Education (PACE) program, judgment-free support, an “Earn While You Learn” parenting program, and a 24-hour hotline. Dr. Scott Mellum, the clinic’s OB/GYN doctor, has been the WRC’s medical director for over 15 years. With his office caddy-cornered to the WRC facility, he’s been offering his services and expertise free-of-charge for WRC’s clients. “We’re pro-life, but that being said, if you came in and you were pregnant, whether you wanted to be or not, I would tell you, you have three choices. You can carry and parent, you can carry and adopt, or you can abort, and here is the information for all three of those choices. The woman is the one who makes the choice, not us. We have a nonjudgmental atmosphere. We’re not here to tell a woman what to do. We’re here to give her support. We’re here to give her scientific facts,” says Brenda K. Dowdin, WRC’s Executive Director. The resources at the WRC are vast ranging from medical support to lay-counseling. The “Earn While You Learn” program helps those women who face financial hardship earn “Baby Bucks” which they use to exchange for baby related items the WRC supplies. Explaining the program, Brenda says, “We have educational videos on topics from nursing to how to discipline a child to how to potty train a child, and how to be a good parent. Anything you want to know about parenting, you can watch through this curriculum. Once you watch these, you have homework. Parents can come in as often as [they] want. The more you come, the more points you get. And the more points you get, the 30
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The WRC has seen about 26,000 women over the past 23 years. Everything they offer is at no cost to the WRC client. How do they do it? They receive donations from individual donors and organizations that believe in their mission. The WRC also holds two annual fundraisers. In the spring they host a “Walk for Life” event and later, in the fall, they host a banquet. Their upcoming banquet fundraiser will be on Friday, October 25th, 2019 at Chico State University in the BMU Hall where special guest Melissa Ohden, an abortion survivor, will be speaking and sharing her story. Be on the lookout for their brightly colored green and blue mobile clinic. They’re on the road Tuesday through Friday and offer free pregnancy testing from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The mobile clinic travels to Corning, Orland, and Chico in locales where there is a need for their services. You can also speak with WRC representatives at the Thursday Night Market–stop by their booth to have a chat! “Our whole premise is to love people right where they’re at, not to judge,” says Brenda. Newly pregnant women will get the non-judgmental emotional support they need through the caring staff at the Women’s Resource Clinic where their mission is to advocate for women who seek their services.
THE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CLINIC IS LOCATED AT 115 W. 2 ND AVENUE IN CHICO. CALL THE CLINIC AT 530.897.6101 OR VISIT THEM ON-LINE AT WOMENSRESOURCECLINIC.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR SERVICES AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS.
WRITTEN BY KRISTINA MORENO PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Here to Help
more “Baby Bucks”, the more you have purchase power.” She continues, “Recently, Third Love donated 300 nursing bras!” Not long ago, Heavenly Blue, another Chico lingerie company, also donated their products to the WRC for their clients in the “Earn While You Learn” program.
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A Dream Come True In the evergreens of Magalia lies a family home with a calming and serene aura matching the forest surrounding it. The 27 acre property was purchased in 1982 by the Gates family, and from then on forward they got to work. The entire land was just forest, leaving the property a space for creativity and the ability to make whatever the land would allow it. "There was absolutely nothing here when we bought the property,” Dan Gates said. The initial home, sizing at about 3,000 square feet, was completed in 1985, three years after the Gates family had purchased the land. A majority of the wood used for the infrastructure of the house was cut from trees from the property itself, making the home a true piece of the land. The second home comes in at 7,934 square feet and is as grand as the land upon which it stands. The design was led by Dan, who had no previous experience in interior design or architecture before taking on the project. Priscilla, sister of Dan, described him as a prodigy. "If you have a passion to do something, you figure out how to do it. That's all,” Dan said. "But God wired you pretty special," Adds Dan’s mother Betty. "If anything quits working, he has the ability to get it working again. Doesn't matter what it is,” Betty continues. 32
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The design of the house hadn’t began to take form until the Gates family had the chance to acquire a 1928 4-manual theater pipe organ from their local church. Afterwards, Dan began to plan out the house with the acoustics of the pipe organ in mind. "It came from a neighborhood church, so when that became available, it turned into a pipe dream," Priscilla jokes. However, that dream soon became a reality, with Dan taking on the project almost entirely on his own. The room was meticulously designed, with pipes intricately placed and held with chests, ladders, and structural frames—all hand-made by Dan himself. Building the room was a long process; it took over four years from start to finish. Dan did everything from computerizing the organ to
releathering over 1,900 pneumatics. The room itself sits behind a set of double walls in order to contain the volume, and sound flows from the room out to the rest of the home from two-inch thick oak shutters which are controlled by the console pedal. “The pipes play only one volume in here, they're loud," Dan said. Betty states that when the NorCal Theatre Organ Society had came to view the organ and design system, they described it as one of the best installation’s they had ever seen. The house was created with an open design to allow for sound to flow throughout the entire home. The house’s double door entrance opens up to a 20 foot rock wall waterfall with a staircase that leads to the upper floor. On
WRITTEN & PHOTOS BY BRIAN LUONG PHOTOS ALSO PROVIDED BY LESLIE MOLLER
the second floor, a balcony space allows for an open view of the ballroom and organ down below. Upstairs are the two master suites, each equipped with beautiful views of the woods outside. Downstairs are the three other bedrooms, a small library, and an open kitchen with galaxy granite countertops. The high ceiling has a 12 x 20 foot skylight with retractable panels and the ability to change lighting colors in order to match any occasion. One of the most unique features of the home is a third floor which is only accessible by a secret staircase, uniquely hidden behind an unassuming bookshelf. The open design also allows for the home to be extremely versatile. Betty states that the home has not only been used for musical events, but for a variety of other celebrations and purposes as well. The home has been used from everything from weddings, full on fashion shows, or even transcendental meditation classes for victims of the Camp Fire who have suffered from PTSD. "That was kind of part of our dream was to have that extended sense of family and friends. A lot of people came together to help us in different places, too,” Priscilla said. Although building both of the homes took a lot of hard work, Priscilla states that it was all worth while. “We enjoyed the process. it wasn't just like ‘Oh, I can't wait until we're done.’ We enjoyed what we were doing.” Priscilla said. What made the house special to Priscilla was that the entire family got to work together to create something beautiful, with each member being able to provide their own unique, creative touches on various parts of the home. “At the end of everyday, there's something else done. It's just really rewarding and fun to be in that creative process where you have this blank canvass, so to speak.” Betty states that her favorite part of the home itself was the ability to share it with so many friends, families, and groups throughout the years. “It gave people an opportunity to experience this [space] without stretching the budget or ruining their budget. By doing that, it makes me feel good that we were a part of bringing something happy to them,” Betty said. TO VIEW THIS HOME FOR YOURSELF CONTACT LESLIE MOLLER (DRE# 01109119) AT 530.893.9700, STOP BY MOLLER REALTY GROUP LOCATED AT 2889 COHASSET ROAD SUITE #1 IN CHICO, OR VIEW IT ONLINE: WWW.MLSLISTINGS.COM/PROPERTY/ CRSN19109505/170-CASIERRA-DR-MAGALIACA-95954 33
WRITTEN BY EMILY LEBLANC
Sell Your Car Choose the Right Path to
Before you start the selling process, get your paperwork in order. You are most likely not a car expert, and nobody expects you to be, so get a proper valuation for your car online. Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds are reliable online estimators. Once you have your estimate, keep it on hand to show anyone who asks, either retail or wholesale. You will also want to make sure you have all the proper documentation. Collect your car’s title and any paperwork from the DMV to transfer ownership such as a bill of sale. Also, check with the DMV to see if your car will need new license plates before beginning your selling process—a knowledgeable salesperson is a good salesperson. After you have all your paperwork, you can choose one of two options: sell retail or wholesale. If you sell wholesale, you are selling to a dealer and taking a lower valuation in exchange for the ease of the sale. If you choose retail, you are willing to spend a little more time to get a better value for your car. If you choose to go to wholesale, you can either trade-in your car or sell it to an outside dealer. Trading in your car is the easiest way to get rid of your old clunker and drive off the lot in a new car. However, if you choose this route, be wary—your dealer 34
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will not be on your side when valuing your car since he needs to be assured he can make a profit. Selling to an outside dealer allows you to shop around and see which dealer gives you the best price for your car. If you’re willing to spend more time on advertising, sell to a private party. Advertise your car any way you can—register on all the free listing sites, create flyers to hang around town, and put a sign on the car itself. You might want to set your asking price just a little bit higher than your estimate so you have room to negotiate with potential buyers. Impress potential buyers by cleaning both the interior and exterior and taking high-quality photos. Drive to open area around sunset to take lots of photos of your car at different angles, both interior and exterior. If your car is dented, be sure to include the area in photos so your potential customers won’t be shocked when they see it. Check your listing often and call or email interested parties. When you meet with interested parties, be sure to choose a safe public space both for your safety and your customer’s trust. To sell to private parties, you will have to be patient and be persistent. Whichever way you choose to sell your car, we wish you luck! You will sell your car in no time if you follow these tips.
WRITTEN BY KRISTINA MORENO
A LT E R N AT I V E S T O
TRICK-OR-TREATING It’s the fall season and now is the time to prepare for all the holiday festivities. There is so much to look forward to, from harvest celebrations to Christmas, there will be lots of sweet treats to be had. That puts smiles on many faces and can be stressful for parents who are trying to keep excessive sugar from their little critter’s mouths. First up is...Halloween! But don’t get spooked over the sweets. Here is a list of alternatives to trick-or-treating to kick off this festive time of year, focusing more on the celebration and less on the treats.
A Halloween Costume Party
This is a great way to tailor your party spread. Need some creative ideas? Head over to Google and type in “Halloween appetizers” and “Halloween drinks for kids”, and you’ll find a plethora of inspired recipe ideas that are both super cute and low in sugar. Throw in a few Halloween party games and a thoughtful goody bag, and you’ve got a perfect alternative.
Trick-or-Treating: Scavenger Hunt Style
Kids will love this! It will keep them busy, and you can customize it to be a low-sugar activity as well. Never mind the hocus pocus of knocking on neighborhood doors. Instead, hide goodies throughout your backyard, or in your home. Make things extra special by dressing up and decorating the space to create a magical Halloween
scene. Kids can find Halloween stickers, glow sticks, small boxes of raisins, kid’s Clif Zbars, small packs of graham crackers, and a few pieces of candy too. The hunt provides the fun.
Decorate Mini-Pumpkins
It’s time to bring out the paint, glue, glitter, buttons, scissors, felt, and googly eyes for this hands-on activity. Invite some friends over to decorate pumpkins. You can use the mini pumpkins that kids love or some of the smaller varieties that are abundant this season. Offer some Halloween inspired treats and this trick-or-treating alternative is a winner.
Bake & Decorate Seasonal Treats
What little one doesn’t love to help when it’s time to bake? And with all the pumpkins around, it’s easy to find a healthy, low-sugar recipe to work with. From cutout cookies to muffins, little hands can get busy with this two-part activity. Opt to keep things simple by baking with your little ones ahead of time. Then, invite a few friends over to help with decorating the goodies. Decorate with sprinkles, frosting, small pieces of fruit and berries, chopped nuts, and shredded coconut. The best part is, of course, getting to eat your creepy creation! Children, and your entire family, will enjoy these great alternatives to traditional trickor-treating, and you won’t have to put a spell on them. Happy Halloween! 35
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N E W AGA I N K I TC H E N REMODELING PRESENTS HOUSE CALL:
What's New? New Again Kitchen Remodeling opened in June of 2010 and has been providing personalized service and amazing kitchen and bath transformations since.
The Key Players The business is locally owned by Jin Bo Li, a licensed contractor who works onsite at every job they undertake. Jin, an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, immediately fell in love with Chico and decided it was the perfect place to work while enjoying all that Chico’s great outdoors has to offer.
Gina Lane recently joined the company and is an integral part of their team as their showroom assistant. If someone plans on completing their project’s installation themselves, or has a friend that installs, they can visit the New Again showroom, and Gina will help them in selecting and ordering new countertop material, tile, sinks, or other needs. Jessie and Junior, along with Victor, New Again’s resident tile contractor, handle the company’s installs alongside Jin. It is one of the most important aspects of New Again’s business model—they do not hire out or search for available subcontractors to work on their jobs. They have everyone ‘built in’. This means no work stoppage at the job site while waiting for a hired subcontractor to finish another job. They do everything themselves— demolition, electrical, plumbing, as well as installation of cabinets, flooring, and tile. They are truly a local one-stop shop. CONNECT
The Process Once a client has decided to renovate their kitchen or bath, Ric and his staff will set up a series of two appointments. During the first visit, Ric will go to the worksite to measure and get a feel for the space. This will allow him to have a better idea of what will work best in the area as far as flow and design goes in order to advise the client on what will look best in their home. Once all the measurements are taken, and the space surveyed, they’ll have a second meeting to select materials. Ric and Gina will help guide the client through the process, and the client will choose everything from cabinetry to tile and knobs—nothing is left out. In this manner, when they give the client a bid, it is absolutely complete and includes all product, labor, and installation costs. Ric acknowledges that any remodeling process can be scary, and New Again wants to make the process as easy and comfortable as possible.
The Time Frame Another benefit of employing an in-house team, is that New Again continues to
consistently complete their kitchen and bath remodels in two weeks or less. Even with the Camp Fire affecting all construction businesses, New Again has been unaffected in terms of project time, as there are no subcontractors to speak of—a welcome surprise considering they now complete remodels in areas as close as Chico and as far away as Colusa, as people have relocated and want to renovate the homes they’ve moved into. New Again’s client base has quadrupled since they opened nine years ago with many repeat customers. This is a testament to their hard work and dedication. The word is out, and New Again is ready and willing to help turn your house into your dream home. Product preferences will always change and flow with time; from granite countertops to quartz, classic subway tiles to modern, and tile flooring to vinyl planks. However, the locally owned New Again Kitchen Remodeling will always be at the forefront of style and the highest commitment to each endeavor.
NEW AGAIN KITCHEN REMODELING | 2502 PARK AVE, CHICO, CALIFORNIA 95928 | 530.899.2888
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
Ric Powers is the lead designer and general manager at their showroom on Park Avenue in Chico. He has been in the interior design business since 1985, when he began working for a design company in Los Angeles. He joined New Again Kitchen Remodeling in 2011 after returning home to be near his parents and family who live in the Corning area.
Entryway Essentials Mirrors
Seating
Surface Area
Rugs
Mirrors are an entryway must! Your entry is also the exit so it makes the perfect spot to give yourself one last look-over check before you head out for your day. Mirrors can also be beneficial in smaller, narrow entryways to reflect light and give the appearance and feeling of a more open space.
Entryway sizes and layouts can vary greatly, but it is extremely helpful to have a surface for setting down your keys, phone, or purse right when you come through the door. If you have a larger entryway you can use a console table, chest, or cabinet. This would also give you extra storage, and of course, a great decor placement opportunity. If you have a narrow or limited space, you could add floating shelves placed at a comfortable height to set these items.
Hooks/Hanging Racks
Make your mornings a little easier by having your jacket, purse, and the kids backpacks hanging in the same, easy to grab spot each day. Having some type of hanging system in the entryway is also great for guests to easily place and find their belongings.
Lighting
Adding a lamp to your entry not only gives a cozy, ambient feeling, but it’s the perfect place to quickly flip on a light for the evenings when you don’t want that bright, overhead light. If you do not have a table or place for a lamp you can add stylish wall sconces that will also double as decor. 38
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If you have a ‘no shoe rule’ in your home, then a form of entryway seating will be essential. Not to mention, taking off shoes is tough standing up. You can tuck a bench or a couple of footstools under a console, flank chairs on each side of an entry table, or if you have the space you can even add a fun accent chair.
Adding a rug will help define the entry and work as an anchor to make it feel completed. A rug will serve for both decor and function. Rugs will help to avoid dragging in debris from shoes and everyday traffic.
Decor & Art
This is the first impression of your home so it makes the perfect place to set the tone for the overall feeling you want your home to convey. If you are limited on space, or do not have an entry table, you can use artwork and incorporate shelving to place functional decor items such as baskets or small trays for keys. If you have a table, add some of your favorite books with a fresh floral arrangement. For function, add stylish bowls or baskets that can store your keys or phone.
DESIGN ADVICE
VIA
STACIE BEDFORD
For more design inspiration, visit Stace at The Address for Home Interiors located at 2444 Cohasset Road in Chico or call 530.898.9000.
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THEN AND NOW A STORY OF ADVOCACY & HUMILITY Cancer is not a singular diagnosis. Once the patient receives the diagnosis, the entire family, each in their own way, takes possession. Increasingly in today’s world, adolescents and young adults hear this grim report. About 70,000 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year, which accounts for five percent of the total diagnoses in the United States. This about six times the number in children 0 to 14. In addition, young adults will be diagnosed with certain cancers, such as Hodgkin lymphoma, testicular cancer, and sarcomas. Not difficult to understand the notion of the diagnosis spreading throughout the entire family. Nine years ago, Mark and Susan Chrisco, and their younger daughter Grace, shared such bad news with Clara, the big Sis. Currently, Patrick and Teresa Doyle, and their daughter, Hannah, are sharing such 42
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a diagnosis with the baby boy, Tate, who is about to turn 17. You will hear each story through the eyes, ears, hearts, and souls from each set of parents. Remarkably, the Chrisco’s “Then” and the Doyle’s “Now” are not only enchantingly connected, but both remain raw and uplifting at the same time.
THEN
As told by Mark Chrisco (with occasional help from wife, Susan). Clara was off to USD in 2010, as a freshman joining both a sorority and crew team. She returned after the semester and said, “Hey mom, I've got this lump on my right hip at the bikini line.” It was probably the size of a walnut and needed checking. She was due back in early January. Her pediatrician said, “it's probably nothing to worry about, we'll examine in the summer.” Before going back, Clara also had appointments with her
dentist and gynecologist. When walking away from her gynecologist, Dr. Whitney Dixon, she relayed that my mom wanted you to take a look at this lump. Dr. Dixon looked and said, “This doesn’t look right, we should examine further” and referred us to Dr. Schneider, a local general surgeon. Dr. Schneider’s opinion was similar but gave Clara the option of having it removed. Since it was visible and above the bikini line Clara opted to have it taken out. On the 28th of December the lump was removed and sent off to pathology. We figured we’d hear something in a week and weren't worried. (Susan chimed in, a week or so later Dr. Schneider called my classroom and said, “The pathology came back atypical. I’m not saying it’s this or that but we’re going to send it to Harvard Medical School.” I replied, “Are you telling me my daughter has cancer?” he said, “no, I'm not saying that at all but we do need further analysis.”)
Two weeks passed and no results. Late Friday afternoon, from my office I called the pathology office to see if they heard anything. A friend, who managed the office, told one of the doctors to speak with me. Turned out she knew the results had come in. Shortly after, a doctor calls and says, “the results labeled the growth as an unclassified, high grade, myoepithelial carcinoma. A rare form of cancer.” I replied, “Do me a favor and fax me over those results.” I printed the results, scanned them, and headed home to tell Susan.
about your test. Clara said, “Okay Mom I gotta call my coach, let my professors know and, yeah, can be on a plane in two hours.” My phone rings five minutes later, “Mom is everything okay?” I told Clara, “You just have to have trust and have faith that everything’s going to be okay.” One of my best friends took me to the airport. I'll never forget that moment seeing Clara standing there like she’s the healthiest person, waving with just a big smile, and I have to tell her she has cancer. She greets me with the question, “What's really going on?” I tell her, “It's cancer.” She handles the (Susan added, “you came home and told news better than I did having to tell her, and me, then you called a close friend for his started texting her friends. We get home, thoughts and advice. After the conversation, Mark grabs her and they start bawling. you emailed him a copy of the lab results From that moment on we took it day by and report.” day, navigating the plan with our army of supporters.) We knew it wasn’t good and broke down, then started calling those close to us. We contacted our close friend, Brett Jones, Within three hours, we assembled a group the 49er, who married my cousin knowing of friends, including Dan Thomas, a local Brent is well connected with Bay Area plastic surgeon, our pastor and his wife, and medical institutions. Brent followed up several other friends. We decided not to tell and said, “I've got you an appointment at Clara anything until a plan was in place. Stanford next Monday.” In the meantime, my high school buddy was trying to refer us to (Susan shared—Clara called that night a renowned pediatric surgical oncologist, and Mark could not talk so I lied, saying Dr. Andrea Hayes Jordan (Dr. AHJ). we’re just hanging out. She knew something was up.) After some tests and appointments in Chico with a local oncologist, we felt it That weekend we formalize a plan. It best to get Stanford’s opinion before required Clara getting back home as deciding our next move. The following soon as possible for more tests. On Monday we went to Stanford, did the Monday morning Susan called Clara. evaluation and consult. Susan had her “Mother’s intuition” kick in and said we (Susan reminded Mark the plan was to needed another opinion. On our way call after crew on Monday, telling her we back, two amazing things happened. gotta get you home, something unusual
1. As we were leaving the parking lot at Stanford, my buddy called and said he sent Dr. AHJ the pathology reports and she contacted him requesting copies of the follow up scans and reports. We had copies and raced to a FedEx and sent them 2. On our way to Chico, our plan was to stop by Danville, have dinner with the Jones’ and thank them. We get to the restaurant and Dana said, “Ok, what’s the next step?” I replied, “We’re trying to get an appt with a well known surgical oncologist.” Dana looked at Brent and said, “Isn’t that where Andrea works?” I turned to Dana, “You mean Andrea Hayes Jordan?” She replied, “Yes, she’s a good friend of ours. Her husband played with Brent and we’ve stayed in close contact.” I shakily said, “Dana, that’s who we’re looking for.” Brent says, “Mark come with me to the parking lot.” He gets on his phone saying, “Hey Darren, I need to talk to Andrea.” He tells her my cousin Mark, is trying to get in touch. He puts me on the phone with Dr. AHJ. She says, “I’ve reviewed Clara’s reports and I’m happy to assess Clara’s situation. My clinical hours are Wednesday, can you get here by the afternoon?” I replied, “We’ll be there.” We got home at 1:00 am. Tuesday morning, booked flights, and settled into Houston by 11:00 pm. Clara’s appt with Dr. AHJ the following afternoon went well. She suggested surgery as the best course of action. She explained her team approach (referred to as a tumor board) where a surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, and others all collaborate and decide the best approach. We knew this was where Clara needed to be. Dr. AHJ had a cancellation for the following Thursday, we booked it and flew back to Sacramento. Clara had surgery on February 16th. What we remember is when Dr. AHJ came out and said, “The Sentinel node is clear, we have clear margins and I feel really good about this.” That was just a really comforting, as you can well imagine. We love the clear word. Clara spent a couple days in recovery and the Tumor Board felt her best course was not chemotherapy but a six week course of daily radiation. They wanted her to recover for two weeks before starting so we went home. Another twist: Clara was supposed
to start radiation on Tuesday, so we flew to Houston the Thursday before, spent some family time getting situated. Unfortunately, Susan’s dad suffered a stroke and was in the hospital. He told Susan, “You have to go back to Houston and take care of Clara.” We flew out Thursday morning and arrived in Houston to get word Dad has taken a turn for the worse. He passed that night. We flew home, attended to all funeral services over the weekend. Clara arrived on time Tuesday for her first radiation appointment. Clara completed radiation and every three months for the next two years we’re back at MD Anderson for follow up scans, MRI’s and other tests. Then every six months for the next two years, with an annual check up at year five. At the year five check up, a spot on her lung was identified which needed to be checked in four months.That check up turned out ok, now back on schedule. A year ago March, at Clara’s year six checkup, the doctor said, and we were not expecting this, “All looks good. You’ve been coming here every year for the past six years with clear results so I don’t see a need to come back again.Get yourself a good internist, get blood work done twice a year, and unless something changes, no need to see me.” We went, “Really? Wow! (Susan relayed, I do remember for some reason saying, “Can we come back if we want to make sure?” Clara started but doesn't say anything and I didn't really catch on. As soon as we left she says, “Mom there's no effing way I ever want to come back here,” and then broke down. I told her, “You're absolutely right, we’re not coming back.” You know, every time she gets sick, every time she has a headache, I get worried. On that note, a takeaway for us is to never quit advocating for yourself.) Can I just add one more thing? Mark states, “The most impactful thing to me, the one thing nobody ever prepares you for, the moment you walk into that pediatric oncology office for the first time. You witness 20 kids hooked up to IVs, no hair. You think you're just going into a doctor's office with your daughter. What you see really leaves you taken a back. You find yourself asking, what is my kid doing here? She’s fit and tan and healthy and these children are sitting in the same waiting room. It is so shocking, so hard.”
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NOW
Teresa Doyle (with occasional assistance from husband, Patrick Doyle) Before going forward, our family has been intermingled with the Chriscos for some time now. Our daughter Hannah, at age 11, was diagnosed with a non-cancerous teratoma in her chest which was successfully removed. At the time, I was teaching at Chico High in the same wing as Susan. Susan connected Hannah with Clara prior to the surgery. It was a really a good thing for both these girls, especially for Clara coming off her ordeal. Clara took her out to ice cream, talked about the situation, what would happen, and showed Hannah her scar. Hannah is now 19 and doing very well, interesting to note that Clara was 19 when she received her diagnosis. Now on to Tate Hampton—his story is also a message to all the parents to follow up on all of the forms, and follow up on all the doctors. I refer to this as the ‘power of one,’ finding that one person you end up with on the other end of the line, the one who is going to be a problem solver. They exist, especially if you refuse to take "no" for an answer. Teresa began, “Tate is an amazing athlete, super good at school, we're just cruising along as a family. Tate was the fastest freshman in all of the North State on the PV Varsity swim team, just missing the Masters by a hair. One of the most amazing things about Tate is this close group of friends he has since Shasta Elementary. They grew up together, are all going to PV together. More amazing is the fact that it is not just the kids, but all the parents of these kids, who are friends. We leave the kids at home and hang out together. It is a really unique, wonderful situation. Despite all the ebbs and flows within friendships over the years, the parents still just stuck together. What is really, really touching is these guys have stood by Tate and now, here are 16 year old boys and they’re actually saying, truly I love you. They truly care about each other.” On November 5th, 2018, Tate turned 16. As we all know, November 8th the campfire hits. As an employee at Butte College, we were all-consumed with helping colleagues and students impacted by the fire.
(Patrick gently shifted the focus by saying that in the midst of all of this, on November 13th, Tate gets out of the shower about 4:00 p.m. and says to me, “Hey, what do you think this is?” I tell him, “I don’t know, let's go ask your mom.”) Only teenage boys take showers at 4:00 p.m. Tate is tall and lean so it was not difficult to see at the bottom of his rib cage a lump, the shape of the nose of a football. Teresa’s first reaction was frustration, “Tate, why haven’t you come to me before now to show me this?” Then I realized it was a blessing that his physique was causing him to see it so soon. What became instantly frightening was the fact he had just played an entire football season. Double Days, practice everyday, never complained once. The real question is what to do next? His pediatrician made the connection with Hannah’s tumor and told us to go to Prompt Care for an x-ray. The doctor on staff that evening recommended that we take him to the emergency room because every kind of test will be run, like a CT scan. Here we go, the ‘power of one,’ it could have taken us weeks to have this done. We waited for hours in the ER to get the CT scan which was done in five minutes. After that, it took awhile for the doctors to read the scan and report back to us. During that time, the ER doctor was on the phone with Stanford and Sutter. He told us, “Tate has a malignancy.” I was shaking and stifling tears but he never used the “c” word, and Tate, not really knowing what malignancy meant, remained calm. We decided that night to have him treated at Stanford.
WRITTEN/TRANSCRIBED BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTOS BY BRIAN LUONG.
The next morning, I find myself on the phone with Lucile Packard from the Children’s Hospital at Stanford. I sent a jumbled text to Susan, asking, “How in the hell do I tell my son he has cancer?” She immediately jumped on board to help, giving me language to use with him, telling me, “He will take his lead from you. Scream and cry in the shower, but not in front of him.” We went down to Stanford that Friday, saw the oncology team there and they set up surgery for November 20th. (Patrick remembered he got sick with, of all things, pneumonia, and was unable to go down for the surgery.) On the next Tuesday, they performed surgery, took a biopsy, and stitched him back up saying, “this is big.” The CT scan revealed how large. At this point, I tell Susan, “I can't believe I've got a kid with a sarcoma.” So she becomes really involved and starts asking specific questions. Finally she said, “You know Mark has this cousin who played on the Niners with this guy who's married to this amazing pediatric oncology surgeon, Dr. Andrea HayesJordan.” Stanford reached out to Dr. AHJ, and cautioned us, “you know with people of her stature, it's really hard to become a patient.” I talked to Susan. She's like, “I'll text her right now.” Susan relays, “I got a friend, her kid has gotten this diagnosis. Would you take him as a patient?”
So here are these Stanford doctors going through the official process to get a hold of this specialist as Susan is over here proving the ‘power of one.’ All it takes is one person to make things happen. Susan said that besides being an amazing surgeon, she's an amazing human being. Dr. AHJ texted, “tell your friend everything's going to be OK. I will take care of them.” She was very specific. “You need to do this chemo protocol for four months, get another CT scan and then come out to North Carolina. We'll do the surgery because that's going to give him the best options.” So it’s kind of a long story because, at the time, we were in Palo Alto at Stanford at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital getting the first rounds of chemo. Then we transferred care to UC Davis Pediatric Cancer Center. When those rounds were completed we went to North Carolina. The first surgery was for a biopsy to see if it would be telltale. They immediately could see what it was. They placed a port because he was going to need chemo right away. I was in with the oncology team and they were telling me about all the chemo, he was going to be hospitalized like 10 to 13 days every single month for the next four months. The goal really wasn't to shrink the tumor so much as to kill it. January through March, Tate's in this intensive chemo regimen and then in late March we did scans and Dr. AHJ said he's ready for surgery. We flew out ahead of time and took Tate to a Duke lacrosse game, and Tuesday the 9th, was the surgery. Dr. AHJ said the incision would be the length of his abdomen, they took out the five pound tumor, and it came out much easier than typical for this big of a tumor. She went on to explain a lot of times these surgeries will take 12 to 14 hours. Tate went in at 9:00 a.m. and she was done by 2:00 p.m. She said, “I couldn't be happier. As of this moment, he is tumor free!” Yeah, so that's where we are. We got back and he waited a week or two and then got him started with a whole abdominal radiation and pelvic radiation and the radiology team was like “this is unusual, you've got this rare and aggressive deal going on.” That’s the recipe. He goes in there and gets his permanent tattoos, where everything lines up right. He does that for 20 days and at the end of four weeks, his platelets went up and he had gained two
pounds. The doctor exclaimed, “Nobody does this! Nobody gains weight after 20 days of radiation and nobody's platelets go up.” He said to Tate, “You are a rock star.” He is a rock star. His body is amazing. This success led to Tate’s goal of going back to school. He has three morning classes at PV and is completing the rest of his classes in Home and Health schooling. Teresa, I have some last thoughts. Teresa states, “We were flooded with kindness and friends, colleagues, and even strangers wanting to help. Like most people, at first, we felt awkward accepting help. But this is the way people show love at a time when no one knows what to do or say to make things better. When somebody wants to bring you a meal, you just say yes. It is a blessing to those who are providing the meal or bringing in our trash cans or taking Tate to chemo—an act of service is how they can show their love and support. We learned to say yes to every offer of help. We’re all used to being the one giving, it's really hard to receive.” (Patrick agreed. “It could be something as simple as a cup of coffee, you say yes.” ) And, of course, the complete understanding that you're probably going to have the opportunity to pay it forward, makes accepting the help now a wonderful reality.
Cancer, if nothing else, is a battle. These two brave stories highlight such a claim. Battles are not won with a village. It takes an army. Eager participants not willing to let up or lose their resolve. It begins with the patient and his or her mindset. It is in the directed leader with a clear plan and much needed, highly developed warfare to match. It lies in the foot soldiers, with boots on the ground, willing and able to do the unseen and unnoticed. It is in the rally cries like, “No Viking Fights Alone!” It is the absolute clarity of the intimate loved ones, with their adamant approach to question and challenge and confront each new twist or turn. These two stories epitomize this much needed approach to such an awful pronouncement of a word no human being should ever have to hear. It remains rather amusing though, to realize, a little fortuitous spin never hurts.
From the Garden to the
Pantry
Home vegetable gardens and orchards are beautiful things. Every morning, I fill baskets with zucchini, cucumbers, apples, peaches, and tomatoes. I’ve tried the basic ways of saving produce that most of us are familiar with like canning, freezing, and drying. This year, I am approaching my harvest with a sense of adventure by using new and creative ways to preserve my garden bounty. I’ve started decorating my open kitchen shelves with colorful, shiny jars of pickles, sauces, and jams I have canned. The colors and textures of the preserves make a lovely display, and I get to appreciate the hard work that has gone into producing them. I look at each new jar as a mini work of art. The kitchen mandolin allows me to choose a uniform thickness for each slice, and I can choose a smooth or crinkled cut, depending on the look I want. Carefully placing the vegetables in each jar and creating a pattern driven by color, size, and shape makes each jar unique. I may add a sprig of dill, red pepper, or a garlic clove at a strategic place to add a touch of whimsey and great flavor. Pick a jar shape, size, 46
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and color that accents the preserves you put into it. Carefully consider the color of the pickling brine that you use, since it will be the canvas on which you display your prepared veggies. Unusual recipes give me added incentive to get out the canner, and the results make lovely gifts. I have a recipe for caramel apple jam that tastes like homemade apple pie, and I tried sun gold tomato jam for the first time this year. An assortment of pickled peppers, standing tall in a jar, show off the sizes, shapes, and colors of the pepper family. Gorgeous jars of flavored applesauce are a new addition to my kitchen. You can create chunky or smooth applesauce flavors with cinnamon, or a wide variety of fruits like peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, or berries. Primary applesauce is cooked, and then the flavoring or fruit is blended in, creating a rainbow of colors. Stack those jars up & let the sunshine in!
GARDENING ADVICE
VIA
CAROL KOENIG
Carol Koenig of Butte County Master Gardeners.
As we reflect back on how cancer has affected us. It is inevitable that there are words left unsaid.
If your loved one was still around today what would you say to him or her? I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to tell my son Joseph how much I love him
My father passed from cancer the day before his 84th birthday. He had a stroke due
everyday and what a gift he has been to my life. I would tell him how proud I
to the spread of the disease he was gone in days. Hospice said that it was a good
am of him for his bravery, kindness, and for teaching me the real meaning of
death. Not a lot of suffering for him or his family surrounding him. I know we were
life and love. Unfortunately Joseph died of a rare form of leukemia in 1991 at
luckier than most to have him for so long. He was in great health all his life. I was
the age of 10. I miss him everyday. He would have been 38 years old had he lived.
honored to be by his side to help him pass. With life obligations and distance it's
–Georgia Alvarez
not easy for those fighting cancer and the ones they leave behind. I know my father knows I loved him and just wish I had more time to have fun with him one more
I miss you and I hope I’ve made you proud.
beach trip.
–Danielle Harck
–Brenda Bergland
I love you and miss you Mom. You were taken away much too soon from us.
Dad, I hope you always know how grateful I am for all you do for me, how you
So were you, my sister. I love you
taught me that I can fix anything if I try and how much I love you.
–Lynn Wright
–Shelly Brandon
I miss my grandmother so much. She died on my eighth birthday. I am now
Where’s the money buried? And I would like more potatoes.
66 years old now. She was only 60 when she passed. I still miss her so much.
—Brandon Squyres
I wish I could have known her when I was an adult. She taught me so much in the short time I knew her. I miss you Grandma Mary!
My dad passed away from Stage 4 colon cancer five years ago. We had a very
–Judy Barrier-Donnelly
strained relationship due to his alcoholism, and it had finally broken our family apart four years before he got sick. When I got the call from my uncle that my dad
Miss you Dad! So much you missed out on. You are embedded in my heart forever!
was in the hospital, that it was cancer, and would I consider reconciliation, honestly
–Tina Kangerga
none of our differences or the past mattered. I flew down to San Diego to help him with his chemo treatments. I will forever cherish those drives and talks. At one
My husband of 40 years was diagnosed with melanoma stage 4. He died within
point the conversation got the closest to the apology I had longed for for my whole
seven months. Wish he was here to enjoy his two new great grandsons
life, he stumbled over his words and I had just said Dad, it’s okay. I knew he was
–Julie Sorling
uncomfortable and so I was trying to give grace. I wish now I could’ve said in that moment I understood that we weren’t dealing with him we were dealing with the
I miss my grandfather who passed away from stomach cancer. I was way too
demon of addiction, that I know working hard was his language of love and that
young, but I remember watching movies with him. Me, grandma, and grandpa on
his love for us was undeniable despite how his disease bled into that, and that if he
the couch. I would lay between them with my head on his lap while he brushed my
knew how to heal all that hurt once and for all he would’ve. I wish we had had more
hair (extremely long). I loved the smell of his pipes and his cigars. Very strong but
time to work on that healing. He passed away a year after diagnosis. I love and miss
silent and kind...very German. I miss you grandpa.
you dad and I know without a doubt you loved us.
–Trudy Elaine Hill
–Becky Walker 47
101 INDOOR HERB GARDEN
Consider for a moment the magic of herbs. Sure, they put the pop in our pesto and the “Mmm” in our mojitos. For millenials, they've also cured our ills, perfumed our bodies, and refreshed our homes. They've been donned, burned, and ingested in the sacred rituals of myriad cultures. Herbs were depicted in the ancient cave paintings of Lascaux, mentioned in the first book of the Bible, and even used by ancient astrologers. Today, producing fresh herbs for consumption is one of agriculture's fastest growing industries. Which means that when you've got a craving for sauce Bernaise, you can slog to the store and pay top dollar for a tiny bundle of tarragon. Or you could have the herbs you love at your fingertips, by growing your own! Brown thumb? No garden space? Don't despair. Many herbs are a snap to cultivate indoors with just a bit of potting soil and a few attractive pots. Snipping sprigs moments before use guarantees maximum flavor, which means your salsa fresca will practically scream “Fresh!” Happily, there are many herbs that grow well indoors. To choose, think about the recipes you reach for. Love Mediterranean food? Consider sweet basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and sage. For Mexican cuisine, choose marjoram, bay laurel, and epazote; Thai basil and mint for Asian recipes; and cilantro for both. The French love parsley 48
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and tarragon, and chive's delicate, onion-y flavor adds savor to a wide variety of dishes. Chamomile, lemon verbena, and mint makes relaxing, refreshing teas, and creative mixologists transform cocktail hour by adding rosemary, sage, basil, and lavender to their libations. A planter can be anything that makes you smile, as long as it has a hole in the bottom. Size doesn't matter, either, although the larger the container, the less often you'll need to repot or replace. Set on a non-porous saucer (glass, plastic, or glazed ceramic) to catch runoff and protect surfaces. Nursery and garden centers conveniently offer a variety of pre-bagged soils that are blended specifically for potted plants, including organic and pre-fertilized mixtures. To plant, position the root ball so its surface is an inch below the lip of the container. Fill with potting mix, and press gently but firmly to remove any air holes. Water thoroughly. Your herbs will be happiest with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, so place them on your sunniest windowsill. Not enough sun? Not a problem. Full-spectrum grow lights will do the trick, and can be found at any garden center. Keep soil slightly moist, but not soggy, and feed monthly with houseplant fertilizer. That's it! You are now ready to snip, and sip, and smack your lips. And don't forget to raise a glass to toast those ancient herbalists.
GARDEN ADVICE
VIA
BARBARA HILL
Barbara is a volunteer with the UC Master Gardeners of Butte County. A longtime practitioner of Extreme Gardening, Barbara obsessively hones her skills at the Chico home she shares with her MG husband, three cats, and eight chickens. If you have a gardening question or problem, call the Master Gardener Hotline at 530.538.7201, visit ucanr.edu/sites/bcmg/, or email mgbutte@ucanr.edu.
WRITTEN BY ALYSSA WORLEY
What's in Season and
Where to Find Them WHAT:
Fall is finally here. Leaves will soon crunch underfoot as we tread through local streets and new produce will make its way to the shelves. You’ll now find apples, blackberries, and green beans galore brimming the stands at the Oroville and Chico farmers markets. But that is just a small dent in the list of what’s in season and also will be available fresh from the farm.
The Chico Certified Farmers Market brings fresh quality grown food, and handmade artisan products to Northern California communities at their markets in Chico and Oroville. In addition to the year-round markets on Saturdays and Wednesdays in Chico, the CCFM operates a seasonal market on Saturdays in Oroville.
There is nothing quite like the taste of vegetables pulled directly from the earth. September brings turnips, tomatoes, squash, spinach, potatoes, peppers, olives, okra, lettuce greens, green beans, garlic, eggplant, corn, and cucumbers. That sounds to us like the most perfect Fall harvest medley. Toss any combination of the above together, with some olive oil and vinegar, for the tastiest representation of this new season.
In addition to the farmers market, there are a number of grocery stores that carry local specific produce. Since 1973, Chico Natural Foods Co-op has been loading its shelves with farm fresh products. As a natural foods consumer cooperative, they’re owned by their devout shoppers. Anyone can become an owner, and everyone can shop here regardless of ownership!
The fruit of our local farmers labor will also reveal itself, literally. Pomegranates, plums, peaches, melons, grapes, blackberries, and apples are at their freshest now, and, in many ways, define this time of year. Bobbing for apples, a piece of warm blackberry pie, and plump grapes that burst between your teeth are all classic signs of the season.
WHERE:
We always recommend shopping locally first. The money you put into Butte County farms and businesses directly supports our community, so why not lift up the hard work of your neighbors?
New Earth Market in Chico is another popular spot to shop local. With a rotation of “Featured Local Growers,” their website makes it easy to get to know your vendors. Find the largest selection of natural supplements and craft brews in town here. Every new season brings fresh perspective and offerings, but Fall in Butte County brings magic. Driving down the Esplanade with vibrant foliage as your guide, that vast colorful canyon in Paradise that takes our breath away, and all the farmers with their hands in the dirt bringing love to every bite. We’re ready to welcome the taste of Fall with open arms!
What Is Bereavement Leave? Every person at some point in their life learns how difficult it is to lose a family member. It is often not expected, resulting in hardships on employees as well as their businesses. Bereavement leave is a company benefit offered to employees who have lost a close family member. It is paid time off for them to make funeral arrangements, grieve, and includes travel if needed. Employers typically limit bereavement leave to the loss of immediate family and should outline the policy in their employee handbook. So far, California has no requirement for a business to offer bereavement leave to their employees. However, from an HR standpoint, it is highly recommended, and from an ethical standpoint, a must. From a productivity standpoint, its importance is glaring. Nobody can do their best work when suffering from a death in their family. If you are not already consider giving your employees time off, so they may have the time to properly grieve and come back to work refreshed. HRIQ–HUMAN RESOURCES + PAYROLL 236 Broadway Suite #B Chico, CA 95928 Shelby@upyourhriq.com | Upyourhriq.com 530.680.4747
49
A Littl of He Max’s Miracle Ranch is a quiet little surprise located in the town of Biggs. As you follow the road to the ranch, cross over the train tracks, and open yourself up to the play structures and Chapel of Hope, the beauty of Max’s Miracle Ranch begins to unveil itself. The ranch is named after Steven and Molly Williams’ son, who was born with a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. After numerous trips to various children’s hospitals across the state of California, Steven and Molly wanted to create a place for sick children and their families to relax and escape from all of the stressors that life brings with it. Thousands of families have visited since 2008 when the ranch was first created, with families coming from throughout California and even as far as Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and even Hawaii. Max’s Miracle Ranch is a safe space for families with sick children. Families, at no charge, are allowed to stay at the safe and secure retreat with no costs. The property is home to a petting zoo, a playground filled with swings, tunnels, and slides, as well as a small, fully functional train that circles the property. Steven says that many families often describe Max’s Miracle Ranch as “their little slice of heaven.” Steven not only provides a place for families to stay, but also offers many of the families advice on how to navigate through the medical world, something Steven did not have much of when Max was growing up. “We'll take the time to help someone if they ask for it, if they need it. Advice on what to do or where to go or how to do it, that's what we're here for. Talking to a doctor is one thing, talking to a parent who's been through it is a different thing.” Steven said. “It's one of those things that if you haven't been in their shoes you would never know. So we know first hand, having a sick child and everything that goes with it is kind of overwhelming.” Not only is Steven able to help children and their families through the ins and outs of hospitals and procedures, but Stevens is also well connected to many other groups within Butte County, so that even if he is not knowledgeable on certain conditions, Steven is still able to connect those families with others who can help. “We've been able to find other caring groups that work with us when we send someone their way,” Stevens said. Max’s Miracle Ranch also helps families with children dealing with heart defects, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses financially through profits raised from fundraisers, sponsors, and donations. 50
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le Slice eaven To Steven, providing emotional and financial support to these families is one of the most rewarding things that he has been able to do. "It's hard to put into words because it's such a great feeling for us.” Stevens said. Although Max’s Miracle Ranch is able to help some families, they are limited in how much help they are able to provide to the community. Steven states that although nonprofits such as the Ronald Mcdonald House Charities are great examples of some of the work that is being done to help these families, there is still so much more room for improvement as a whole. “There is some really good programs, but the numbers are astronomical for the amount of kids that are getting sick. A week in a hospital, not including the cost of the actual hospital, but being away from home, staying in a hotel, eating out in restaurants, or feeding your family, can be in the thousands in just one week. A lot of people don't have that extra cushion money to pay for that. Plus, the emotional aspect of it that you're child is sick, they're like what am I gonna do. They're worried about their child, but all the other things of life keep going. The mortgage, the car payments, insurance, health care; everything keeps going. The families should not be responsible for any of the medical costs." Steven remains hopeful that Max’s Miracle Ranch will continue to grow and help more families in the future. His dreams for the ranch include building cabins so that multiple families are able to stay, having camps for children, and to make a space that everyone who is struggling can be able to come and enjoy. However, Steven has to balance between a full time job, Max’s Miracle Ranch, his wife and eight children.
"We're grateful for all of the volunteers and helpers we get." Steven hopes that at the end of the day, Max is able to have a space and community where he is comfortable and can enjoy his time with family and friends. “My hope is to secure this place and have it for him. I’m way more sympathetic to people because you never know what they're going through, whether it's minor or major. We should all be more sympathetic and understanding of people and their problems because you never know their underlying issues.”
WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN LUONG
“I don't have enough time. There's not enough time in a day to do everything. That's why my wife and I were talking recently about how to really restructure this to optimize it to where more families can really benefit from what we're offering because it's virtually impossible to work full time and run this place efficiently. There are volunteers that come and help, but we need so many more,” Steven said.
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For a local taste, try Chico’s unique coffee shops and bakeries. Stock up on Flick of the Wrist’s delicious pumpkin bread during Chico’s Certified Farmers Market on Saturdays. If you want a treat, get the amazing pumpkin donuts from Mockingbyrd Coffee. Grab your signature pumpkin coffee from either Naked Lounge, serving up its famous pumpkin pie latte, or Bidwell Perk, with its signature pumpkin latte with oat milk.
Pumpkin Spice T H E P E R F E C T FA L L T R E AT
Grab your wallets and hop on the trending train because pumpkin-spice-everything is back and we are in love with it! Every autumn, our stores, markets, and shops fill up with sweet and savory pumpkin-flavored goodness. Every winter, we are reduced to eggnog and peppermint—so let’s enjoy pumpkin spice while it lasts!
followed by the first-ever pumpkin spice coffee-flavored bean at Home Roast Coffee in Tampa, Florida. By 1998, the trend spread to local coffee brewers across the country. In the early 2000s, brewers realized they could blend this delicious pumpkin spice flavor with the sugar and cream, hence the beginning of pumpkin spice lattes.
In a shocking revelation to your “basic” friends, pumpkin spice did not originate in the brains of Starbucks baristas; it actually originated in the 1950s as pumpkin pie spice. This mixture of popular seasonings was the blend typically added to pumpkin pies, intended for those “lazy” bakers who didn’t want to measure out amounts of seasonings themselves. Some time in the 1960s, pumpkin pie spice simply became pumpkin spice. As the “pie” was dropped from the name, so was the implication that pumpkin spice could only be used in pumpkin pies. The realm of possibilities soon grew to encompass squash dishes, other pies, and vegetable casseroles.
Starbucks tried something new in 2003— seasonal winter drinks such as the Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha. With booming sales, it decided to try a seasonal fall drink as well: the long-awaited Pumpkin Spice Latte was sold for the first time in Starbucks stores across the nation in 2004. After Starbucks released this drink, there was absolutely no turning back. We, as a nation, were hooked.
The 1990s brought with them even more uses for pumpkin spice. The first pumpkin spice candle appeared in 1995, shortly 52
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With an oversaturated pumpkin spice market, we have some hot tips for you to try your favorite treats. If you want to pick up the classic before work, stop by Starbucks for the always-satisfying Pumpkin Spice Latte. Next, head over to Krispy Kreme and fill your mouth (and your taste buds) with a cheesecake-filled pumpkin spice donut. Fair warning—you may go into a sugar coma
If you are a breakfast-at-home person, Trader Joe’s has everything you need for pumpkin-spice-themed mornings. Try the pumpkin or the gluten-free pumpkin spice bagels with pumpkin cream cheese spread (if you can handle that much pumpkin). If you prefer cereal, grab the sweet PumpkinOs or the pumpkin spice granola made with clusters of granola, honey, raisins, pumpkin, and seasonal spices. Trader Joe’s also carries pumpkin spice flavored toaster waffles, muffin mix, gluten-free pancake mix, instant oatmeal, and toaster pastries. Pair any of these delicious breakfast treats with the pumpkin spice coffee beans, made with ground vanilla beans, pumpkin oil, orange peel, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Make some pumpkin spice sangria and pumpkin spice appetizers if you’re throwing a party this fall. Pumpkin spice sangria contains apples, oranges, apple cider, pumpkin spice, spiced rum, and pinot grigio. You can find recipes online or experiment to make your own concoction (with these ingredients, we can’t imagine anything being bad). Find party treats such as pumpkin spice cookies, ice cream, cinnamon rolls, granola bark, and popcorn at local shops or grocery stores. With all of these options, we will leave you with one last tip. Many pumpkin spice treats and drinks don’t actually contain any pumpkin at all—our taste buds identify so heavily with the spices in pumpkin spice that we associate those spices with the flavor of pumpkin. If you’re looking for something that does contain pumpkin puree or pumpkin chunks, make sure you read the ingredients before purchasing!
WRITTEN BY EMILY LEBLANC
directly after consuming these amazing and delicious treats! Wear comfortable clothes to work and prepare for a power nap at your desk.
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WRITTEN BY BRIAN LUONG
The Beloved Pumpkin SO MUCH MORE THAN A JACK O’LANTERN
Whether they come from the grocery store or wheelbarrowed back to the car after a trip to the pumpkin patch, pumpkins can be used for way more than just some Halloween decorations, left to sit out in the front yard to its eventual demise. Pumpkins actually come in a variety of sizes, breeds, and textures, and can be used in recipes. The pumpkin is believed to have originated in Mexico, with seeds dating as far back as 7000 B.C. The pumpkin was used frequently in the Native American diet. The pumpkin was often cut into strips and simply roasted over a fire. They were not only used as food, but also as a tool as well. Native Americans also cut strips of pumpkins which were dried and woven into items such as mats for sleeping. Pumpkins can vary greatly in weight, with some fitting in the palm of your hand while others may need two people to carry. One of the smaller pumpkin breeds available is generically known as the “Sugar” or “Pie Pumpkin,” mainly due to its sweet flesh. This pumpkin generally weighs between 5–10 pounds and is great for dessert dishes. The insides are great to be used in combination in baking recipes, creating desserts such as a warm pumpkin pie that can be used on special occasions such as a Thanksgiving 54
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feast with family. The great thing about the pumpkin is that not only is the flesh useable, but so is the outside and the seeds. When the pumpkin is cut into wedges and layed out along with the seeds, they can be roasted on a baking sheet along with some olive oil, salt, and pepper to create a delicious side dish. The roasted pumpkin wedges can even be made sweet, with the addition of some brown sugar or cinnamon before baking. Another great use for a pumpkin is turning it into butter. The butter can be used either fresh, stored, or canned to preserve for a later recipe. In order to make pumpkin butter, you will need pumpkin puree, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, water, and some spices of your choice. The ingredients can simply be added into a saucepan over low heat, and stirred for about 15–20 minutes or until the texture is thickened. Then, pour the sauce into a glass tray, and refrigerate for a delicious spread that can be used on toast, pancakes, or incorporated into oatmeal. The butter can last up to two weeks in the fridge and even longer if frozen. Pumpkins are certainly not just something that are used for the annual Halloween Jacko-Lantern, but an item that is versatile and can be incorporated into dishes all year long.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE CAMY
Apple Pie Pancakes INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
• 1 Recipe of your favorite buttermilk pancakes
1. Make the batter of your favorite pancake recipe.
• 2 Cups apple butter (store bought or homemade)
2. Blend together apple butter and apple juice in blender or food processor and set aside.
• 2/3 Cup apple juice • 2 Cups sour cream • ¼ Cup powdered sugar • 4 Tbsp milk • ¼ Cup butter • 1 ½ lbs baking apples (diced) note: we get our apples from Noble Orchards in Paradise • Cinnamon sugar (optional) • Shredded cheddar (optional) • Skins from peeling apples • Canola Oil
3. Whisk together sour cream, powdered sugar, and milk—set aside. 4. Heat butter on low medium in a sauce pot on. Add apples and cook for 4–5 minutes. Add apple butter sauce and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes. Stir in sweet cream sauce and heat to a simmer. 5. Toss skins in flour and fry in oil till crisp. Drain & dust with powdered sugar. 6. Make pancakes & top with apples, sauce, and a dollop of sweet cream. Garnish with cinnamon sugar, shredded cheddar, and crisp sweet apple skins.
• Additional powdered sugar for dusting
FOR MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES VISIT ROOTS CATERING & RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 3221 ESPLANADE IN CHICO.
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Finer Things THE CRAFT OF
The Lost Dutchman stands as the consummate example. Robert James, retired Chico State professor, and Gay James, spent the last seven years designing and rebuilding the on-site structures. In this case, they transformed an 56
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old quonset hut into what we know of as The Lost Dutchman Taproom. It is pure beer bar with high tables and stools, lots of wood and metal, and the industrial touch of exposed ductwork. The colorful tap handles add a delightful distraction. However, it is one thing to create the space and an entirely different matter to hire a person who knows what they are doing. Christian Griffith, beer buyer of the Lost Dutchman, honed his knowledge in his 14 years at Sierra Nevada Brewery. Griffith is not only a beer curator but a certified cicerone; craft beer is his passion. Christian is described as having a “big orange beard and looks like a beer guy!” This beer guy is in charge of the 19 rotating taps and he is constantly looking for new craft beers, ensuring there will only ever be true, craft beer (and cider) on tap. The menu, though small, features nothing less than the expected good food: paninis, mac-ncheese, and “the best beer cheese in town”. Robert, Gay, and Jasmine also transformed a dilapidated, rotting garage, into Strong Water. Keeping with the theme of finding the right person for the job, Ryan Hutchins was hired as manager after several years of training as a mixologist in San Francisco. He was critical in the decision making process, selecting a wide variety of craft spirits and inventing a dynamic specialty cocktail menu, featuring the
freshest seasonal ingredients. Cocktails are built with fresh, hand-squeezed citrus, herbs grown on site, and house-made syrups from scratch. Planning for the future, citrus trees have been purchased for a small grove to be planted next year behind Strong Water. The decor of Strong Water is also both alluring and intriguing. Carefully researched and considered, items came from family, antique stores, and Craigslist. From the enchanting chandelier from the grandmother’s dining room to the stuffed antique red couch and matching chairs, every aspect of the interior is reminiscent of an actual prohibition style speakeasy. Even the wallpaper is mesmerizing. The sum total of each place points right back to the family’s passion and fervor. The James’ have a passion for creating environments where community members can come together for a break from the outside world and indulge in the finer things. The idea remains that folks would gather and spend time. They are adamant that any place patrons go, the drinks must be good, the food must be good, and the ambiance must match the experience. Places like the Lost Dutchman and Strong Water. STOP BY THE LOST DUTCHMAN AND STRONG WATER LOCATED 25 & 27 LOST DUTCHMAN DRIVE IN CHICO.
WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOLAN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JASMINE JAMES
The James family believes it is imperative in the food and beverage business that anywhere you go, the drinks must be good, the food must be good, and the ambience must match the experience. Their passion, not surprisingly, is to create unique spaces for community members to gather. All of this was brought to fruition by opening a pair of ‘craft slanted’ establishments, the Lost Dutchman and Strong Water. The names, like the places, originated from vastly different points. The first came from the street name Lost Dutchman Drive. Strong Water came from owner, Jasmine James, noticing it as a repetitive phrase from a book on the history of booze in America; a book she read in preparation for opening her speakeasy. The Lost Dutchman is a 100% craft beer taproom and Strong Water is a 100% craft cocktail watering hole. Both bars are located across from their popular counterpart, Wine Time. The James family is enthusiastic about the addition of these gathering spaces. Their attention to detail is evident at every turn.
THE FRENCH CONNECTION: APERITIF & DIGESTIF
Serving guests for dinner can be both a pleasure and a nightmare. Finding the right meal suitable for guests is a task on its own, but allow me to round my corner this month with before and after dinner drinks.
Drambuie and many are known to have a sweeter characteristic. Even if you hate those liquorice, star anise flavored liquors like Jagermeister, you can love knowing that it has a practical purpose.
The aperitif (ä,perə'tif), before dinner drink, comes from the latin word aperire meaning “to open”. It is any variety of drinks to stimulate the appetite, opening the palette and preparing the taste buds to whatever you might enjoy next. Gin is a more often appearing base liquor ingredient, but other aperitifs include Sweet Vermouth and liqueurs like Campari, Aperol, and Amaro, noted for their bitter, citrus, and spicy notes. Amaro is interesting because of the many varieties, it can be either an aperitif or digestif.
Recipes for digestifs are often the ingredient itself or ____ and coffee, while at this very moment I realize my favorite mixture of all time, Baileys, Kahlua, and Vodka (the original Mudslide) is a digestif. Try these combinations as well:
THE CLASSIC: Negroni • Old fashioned glass • 1 oz Gin • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth • 1 oz Campari • Garnish with an orange peel MY FAVORITE: The Paper Plane • Cocktail (aka martini) glass • 1 oz Bourbon • 1 oz Aperol • 1 oz Amaro • 1 oz fresh lemon juice • Garnish with an orange peel Moving on to the digestif (dēZHe'stēf), designed for after your meal, aiding in digestion. Who needs a rich dessert after dinner when you can have the light and smooth Sambuca with three coffee beans? There are many types of digestifs from fortified wine like Port or Madeira to sweet liqueurs such as Chartreuse, Fernet, or
Cynar and Apple Brandy: • Bucket glass • 1 oz Cynar • 1 oz Apple Brandy • Chilled with a lemon twist Rusty Nail: • Old fashioned glass • ¾ oz Drambuie • 1 oz Scotch • Garnish with a lemon twist Grasshopper: • Cocktail glass • 1 oz green Creme de Menthe • 1 oz white Creme de Cacao • 1 oz cream each, blended • Garnish with chocolate shavings So whether you’re enjoying time with friends and family while the oven is nearing completion of a finely cooked meal or you’re reclining on the sofa, readying yourself for a round of laughs and trivia, you have the right complement at hand. Cheers to health, happiness, and prosperity!
COCKTAIL ADVICE
VIA
JASON CORONA
For more cocktail tips, give Jason a call at 530.591.2634.
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CAMY
VIGALLON’S BIRDHOUSE BENEFIT
Takes Flight 58
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Bernie Vigallon’s paint enameled apron bespeaks the artistry that thrives in his tightly packed shop. The bird houses hanging from the ceiling and stacked on tables, the tools lining the walls and cabinets, every nook and cranny tooled into a creative space. This is the workshop of a true craftsman. Meeting Bernie or “Vig”, as he’s been called by his past students and mentees, you immediately feel welcomed and eager to learn the story of how one birdhouse, built to fill a fence hole, evolved into hundreds of birdhouses built to fill a multitude of needs.
Bernie has been in education for over 44 years as a teacher, an administrator, and a director of alternative education. His love of teaching and his dedication to the students he encounters remains even after his retirement. He says it’s easy to feel a loss of purpose upon retiring and there’s a need to fill the void that is often left. He volunteers 10–15 hours a week at the Model Continuation School workshop at Fairview teaching kids how to make Adirondack chairs and other wood projects. He is also actively involved in helping current teachers reach their students by providing
woodworking projects, bee houses, or just being a sounding board for ideas. When Bernie is not helping out in the classroom, he’s more often than not listening to MoTown in his garage while designing and building his birdhouses. Like his father, Bernie has always been a woodworker, a tinkerer. He speaks of the legacy of furniture and hardworking values left by his dad and hopes to pass that on to others through his hobby. His father’s presence whispers in the shop. The sculpture-like assemblage of his old tools hanging on a wire rack and the gentle swaying of the curtains in the absence of a breeze remind Bernie of their time together. Those moments working in the same vocation as his dad allow for a lot of thinking on his past and other’s futures. More than twenty years ago, a hole in the Vigallon’s fence, an old lookout point for their dog Max, stood empty. Bernie’s wife asked him if he could build a birdhouse to fill that space. Once made and erected over that hole, a friend saw it adorning their fence and asked if Bernie would make some for a sale she had coming up. He delivered a pick-up truck full of them and was shocked when he sold every single one. Bernie’s hobby grew and evolved and his search for a way to help kids out financially ended and his birdhouse fund took wing. Today, about 90% of the profits from his birdhouse sales go to provide nontraditional scholarships to students. This could be money for vocational school, tires for their car, or even money for rent. One special story Bernie shares is that of a young girl named Maria. She was just turning 18 and moving out on her own in order to lift herself up and out of difficult home-life. Bernie had a show that weekend and on one particular birdhouse he says, “I put a $100 {tag} on there and a sign that read, This money will help Maria pay her first month’s rent.” The show hadn’t even opened and a woman came in who owned a Victorian home in San Francisco that looked just like the birdhouse. She wanted to buy it. She read the price, then read the note and said “Oh, absolutely I’ll give you the money for that!” And that was essentially how it all began. Bernie sells his birdhouses at three shows he’s invited to each year. The first will be on October 5th and 6th of this year at the Art In The Garden’s show held in two
beautiful gardens in the East Avenues here in Chico. The second is the Omega Nu fundraiser at the Elks Lodge on Manzanita Avenue held in mid November and the final show is the Patrick Ranch Holiday Fine Arts and Gift show held in early December. Vigallon will also build special order birdhouses occasionally. It may be a replica of the first school someone taught in, or a well loved house they grew up in, or perhaps a church that reminds someone of their life before the fire. Eighty percent of the materials used to construct the houses are recycled or repurposed. People will often drop off items found when cleaning out a parent’s garage or working in their backyard. All sorts of knick-knacks scatter out of boxes left at his garage; doorknobs, hinges, spoons, screws, and gauges, just waiting to be reborn as a perch on a newly imagined birdhouse. Bernie often gifts the giver a birdhouse with something incorporated from their old
finds. A way of thanking them for the wood or metal curiosities they brought and a remembrance of the place it came from. He wants to let people know about his birdhouses, not for personal recognition or gain, but because it’s “about getting the word out so I can help more kids.” Bernie, with his pencils peeking out of his top apron pocket waiting to scribble down ideas says, “I’m not an artist, I just make birdhouses.” However, once you see his beautifully crafted works; his houses adorned with bright butterflies, or with antlers as perches, or his dollhouse-like replicas, you’ll tell him he’s wrong… he is the epitome of an artist. And even better, he’s an artist with heart.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH BERNIE, YOU CAN MEET HIM AT ONE OF THE ART SHOWS HE ATTENDS OR HE CAN BE REACHED AT: BVIGALLON@GMAIL.COM OR 530.521.8255 59
WRITTEN BY BRIAN LUONG
Music Makes
Oktoberfest Move
Every single year, German citizens come together in Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest with copious amounts of beer, music, and festivities. The first Oktoberfest dates all the way back to 1810 when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Back then, Oktoberfest acted as a celebration of marriage between the newly wedded couple, with many locals gathering on the lawns outside of Munich’s gates, locally named the Weisn, to celebrate and drink together. Year by year, the festival began to evolve and look more like the Oktoberfest we know today. In 1811, an agricultural fair was added to highlight Bavarian culture. In 1816, carnival booths and games were introduced. In 1818, food booths and beer tents made their first appearance, forever changing the course of history for the event. The same year, two large swings and a carousel were added as well, a rare source of entertainment at the time. To this day, the beer served is brewed by the same six Munich breweries that have been poured since Oktoberfest’s inception. What began as a local event grew into a worldwide phenomenon, with millions in attendance during the three-week long event, beginning in September and ending on the first Sunday of October. Throughout the event, traditional Bavarian music is played throughout all of the tents, uplifting the spirit and energy of those who may be in a sluggish, alcohol-induced haze. Many 60
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of the songs played and performed have different functions for the large crowds. In the beginning of the festival, many Bavarian classics can be heard throughout the festival. The opening ceremony includes marching music and homeland chants, celebrating Bavarian culture and traditions. One of the main types of music heard is known simply as, oompah, named after the sound of the deep brass instruments used in this style of music including the clarinet, bass, and tuba. Later in the evening becomes more upbeat, as German classics are played to get the audiences dancing and singing together. Although the time is always fun and upbeat, officials in 2005 had introduced a new rule called “Quiet Oktoberfest” in order to preserve the earlier traditions, as the festival at the time was known for its intense party culture and rowdy crowds. Now, music inside of the tent must remain under 85 decibels in order to keep the environment more friendly for older folks and families, with music being allowed to be played louder after 6:00 p.m. This is when more Schlager music, a type of music with catchier instrumentals and sentimental lyrics, are played, as well as pop hits that get crowds dancing. One of the most famous songs that will be played every 20 minutes or so throughout the beer tents is Ein Prosit, a favorite German drinking ballad. During the song, gatherers at the table rise. Together, everyone swings, sways, and toasts the cheerful beat. When the song ends, everyone takes a big gulp from their beers, keeping the spirit of Oktoberfest alive and well. What a fitting culmination of the three week celebration.
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ART & WIN E WALK 5:00–8:00 p.m. Downtown, Chico The month-long art walk begins on Friday, October 4th. On opening night, over twenty complimentary receptions will take place, with tastings from 10 local wineries and breweries, refreshments, appetizers, and musical accompaniment.
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S IERRA N EVADA OKTOBE R FE ST 4th & 5th, 5:00–10:00 p.m. Sierra Nevada Hop Field, Chico Celebrating with Sierra Nevada beer including the new Oktoberfest collaboration, German-inspired food, musical performances, live glassblowing demonstrations, and auction, Chicken Dance contest, Flash Your ‘Stache competition, and more!
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A N E V E N I N G WI T H J A K E S H I M A B U KU R O 7:30 p.m. Laxson Auditorium, Chico Jake Shimabukuro, a modern ukulele master, is coming to Chico. Shimabukuro brings a modern twist to ukulele music.
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2 0 1 9 H O P H A RV E ST F E ST I VA L 3:00–7:00 p.m. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico Celebrating all things hops with more than 100 featured beers. Meet brewers from across the country (and world!), listen to live hop-talks, jam to music, savor food from area food trucks, and more!
JO HN N Y APPLESEE D DAYS 2 0 1 9 5th & 6th, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Terry Ashe Park, Paradise The 2019 two-day fall festival will celebrate Paradise’s apple heritage with apple pie and ice cream. Local businesses will give demonstrations and display their wares, and Paradise will host artisans from all over the state and beyond selling a variety of handicrafts.
T WO PU MPKIN PA I N TI N GS 6:00–8:00 p.m. The Commons, Chico Get together for a 12 x 12 pumpkin painting session and drinks at The Commons. Your first brew or glass of wine is included in your ticket.
OP E N ST U D I O S 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CSU, Chico Art Department Chico State BFA Students present their work to the public. The community is encouraged to meet the artists.
P UL L FO R A CU R E 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Chico Mall, Chico Pull for a Cure Family Fun Day & Car Show is a fun and unique event that raises funds to fight breast cancer. It features teams of 10 people pulling a 42,000 pound Chico Fire Truck.
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2 ND A N N UA L V I L L I A N S B A L L 2 0 1 9 7:30 p.m. Argus Bar + Patio, Chico Come out to the Villians Ball featuring local and out of town drag performers.
WO M E N 'S R E S O U R C E C LINIC 2 3 RD A N N UA L FA L L B ANQ UET Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Dinner & Program at 6:15 p.m. CSU Chico BMU Hall, Chico Fall Banquet with guest speaker, Melissa Ohden. Call 530.897.6101 to reserve your table or purchase your ticket(s) or stop by the clinic located at 115 W. 2nd Avenue in Chico. Table of eight is $245. A single ticket is $32. The last day to purchase tickets is October 22nd, 2019. For more information, please contact Jenifer Rodriguez or visit womensresourceclinic.org
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H A L LO WE E N T R E AT ST R E E T 2:00–5:00 p.m. Downtown, Chico Treat Street is a safe and fun adventure for children 12 and under. It's simple... wear a costume, bring a parent, and get ready to stroll Downtown Chico Halloween-style.
Never & Always Tears, Idle Tears (from the Princess by Alfred Lord Tennyson) Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean Tears from the depths of some divine despair Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes, In looking on the happy autumn fields, And thinking of the days that are no more.
Not surprising I would resurrect these lines appearing in last October’s cover story. These lines, and the grim nature of a cancer diagnosis, go hand in hand. Poetry is meant to be read aloud. I wish there were a way for that to happen. The last two lines remain the key, as too many victims of the end result of a cancer diagnosis will be doing just that. As summer gives way to fall, those tortured souls will live the first two lines, often over and over. It can be as simple as waiting through a red light. Both the car and the driver are idling. Then a song comes on the radio or from a playlist and those ducts, full of tears, get prompted from an aching heart and, you instantly are gasping for air and weeping as the light turns green. These tears are real and come from a deep place of the heart, and though it is true they spill out of your eyes with despair, that hopelessness and anguish stemming from this complete loss, they also arrive from a place of spiritual peace. For some reason, the fall, autumn if you will, becomes the launch pad for this reflection and remorse. The searing heat of summer steps aside, paving the way to cool mornings and cooler evenings. This welcome change allows both nature and people a path to properly go through changes. Not the stark, bleak changes of winter, but rather the gradual transformation from the spirited energy of summer to the vibrant and electrifying changes fall brings. The beauty and awe in autumn changes also signal the shift towards bareness. When we look at “happy autumn fields” and its altering light and colors, we invariably see the past through the changing present.
We then, often regretfully, are reminded of the “days that are no more.” Those days that are no more, expose the ‘never’ and ‘always’ nature of the beast representing the devastation left behind by cancer. In a world where avoiding absolutes is widely encouraged, such as the phrase “never say never” joined by the avoidance of stating, “I always do my best.” Absolutes at their worse. Cancer and absolutes become naturally paired, connected as necessary companions. The whirlwind temperament, and immeasurable undoing cancer leaves behind, makes for the perfect outright partnership begging for the usage of never and always. It offers complete permission. The infinite ‘nevers’: see you again, sit and coffee, watch you blow out candles, introduce you to your grandson; are as harrowing as the ‘always’: think of you—watching a father daughter dance, when Oklahoma football is on TV, when my son squints his eyes the exact same you did, when I cross the bay bridge. Those five lines from Tennyson’s lengthy tribute to a love he could never possess became the summation of the victim left behind by cancer’s manner of taking possession over one we once were blessed. The tears, the depth of despair, the heart complicating the head, and those triggering memories revealing days never to get back combine to humble and haunt. You just never believe you will hear the word ‘cancer’ spoke out loud. When the word enters your life, you will, forever, always look at the happy autumn fields contrastingly.
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