C-2013-05-16

Page 1

GLASS O’ ALMONDS See CHOW, page 30

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WITHDRAWAL See NEWSLINES, page 8

COOL TOOLS See GREENWAYS, page 16

Local

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CHICO AFTER

pe y t o e r e t s y z a le s e Defying th BY JAIME O’NEILL

Chico’s News & Entertainment Weekly

Volume 36, Issue 38

PAGE 22 Thursday, May 16, 2013

DARK See ARTS FEATURE, page 26


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Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor Robert Speer Managing Editor Melissa Daugherty Arts Editor Jason Cassidy Calendar/Special Projects Editor Howard Hardee News Editor Tom Gascoyne Greenways/Healthlines Editor Christine G.K. LaPado-Breglia Staff Writer Ken Smith Contributors Catherine Beeghly, Craig Blamer, Alastair Bland, Henri Bourride, Rachel Bush, Vic Cantu, Matthew Craggs, Kyle Delmar, Meredith J. Graham, JoVan Johnson, Miles Jordan, Leslie Layton, Mark Lore, MaryRose Lovgren, Jesse Mills, Mazi Noble, Jerry Olenyn, Jaime O’Neill, Anthony Peyton Porter, Shannon Rooney, Claire Hutkins Seda, Juan-Carlos Selznick, Willow Sharkey, Alan Sheckter, Evan Tuchinsky Interns Stephanie Geske, Melanie MacTavish Managing Art Director Tina Flynn Editorial Designer Sandra Peters Design Melissa Arendt, Priscilla Garcia, Mary Key, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Services Coordinator Ruth Alderson Advertising Consultants Brian Corbit, Jamie DeGarmo, Laura Golino Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay

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Send guest comments, 400 words maximum, to gc@ newsreview.com, or to 353 E. 2nd St., Chico, CA 95928. Please include photo & short bio.

Courting disaster The news last week that the amount of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere produced by the burning of fossil fuels had passed the symbolic milestone of 400 parts per million was a stark reminder that global warming poses the greatest long-term challenge facing humankind, and that we are failing to meet it. As it turned out, the reading later was revised, as CO2 readings often are, downward to 399.89 ppm, but the point was made: We are courting planetary disaster. At the beginning of the industrial era, in the 18th century, when humans began burning fossil fuels in earnest, the level was 280 ppm. For the previous 800,000 years, CO2 levels never exceeded 300 ppm, and there is no known geologic period in which rates of increase have been so sharp. In 1958, a scientist named Charles David Keeling began measuring CO2 levels at the Mauna Loa Observatory, high up on an extinct Hawaiian volcano where local sources have little effect on the air. His initial reading was 313 ppm. Since then, Keeling and his successors have been charting the increases in CO2 on a daily basis. “I wish it weren’t true, but it looks like the world is going to blow through the 400-ppm level without losing a beat,” said Ralph Keeling, a geochemist who has taken over the measurements from his late father. “At this pace we’ll hit 450 ppm within a few decades.” Most scientists believe that, while life on Earth can survive an overheated planet, many of its creatures, including humans, will suffer the consequences of drought, disease, conflict over resources such as water, rising sea levels, heat waves and other forms of extreme weather. Right now we’re in denial about global warming. Even those of us who accept it as reality aren’t changing our ways. But if we don’t change them, nature will change them for us. Ω

Going ‘all in’ M her last day as a supervisor for the Butte Community Employment Center after a career in social work for the last y mother, Wendy O’Malley, recently worked

28 years.

by

Sarah Pape The author is a writer working on a poetry manuscript and a collection of essays. She teaches English at Chico State University, where she is managing editor of the literary journal Watershed Review. She also serves on the board of the 1078 Gallery, where she curates literary collaborations, readings and workshops.

I was 7 years old and my brother was a tow-headed infant on her hip when my mom graduated from Chico State with a degree in social work and gerontology. I remember her saying, “Because I love elderly people,” when I inquired about her choice of profession. But what really led her there was her grandmother, whom she helped care for before her death. It was her love for Grossi that first revealed her calling. As the years went on, her career became crucial to our family’s survival; she became a single mother and raised us solely on her income. We didn’t have the newest, brightest or best things, but we never went without. After a grueling day at work, Mom would come home, take a power nap, get up and make us a wellbalanced dinner. She anchored us, adored us and helped us through the times in our lives when we suffered most. This, I assume, was a version of what she performed each day at work. Exuding

4 CN&R May 16, 2013

an undeniable light and energy, my mother has a gift for making people feel seen and heard. She always looks for what’s possible in a situation, for some corner of hope. For those who have nothing and can’t see a way out of their hardship, having someone who can be present and take on some of the burden has life-saving potential. Even as the hum of the bureaucratic machine grows deafening in these years of ruthless cuts to assistance and services, my mom has maintained the belief that the most important element of this work is the people they serve. My mom, and those who worked alongside her, work tirelessly to change the lives of those whom many of us disregard. The wounded, traumatized, abused, impoverished, unemployed, addicted, unprotected— these are the ones my mother gave her working life to. She chose to retire now so she can be closer to my grandfather, who needs her light and hope as he is treated for cancer. What I know from my mother’s example is this: Love is exponential in the measure that it is given. She has gone “all in”—a gamble worthy of imitation and celebration. Ω

My mother has a gift for making people feel seen and heard.

Vapors of tyranny The First Amendment notwithstanding, politicians and the

press are natural enemies. Three recent events, two of them local, illustrate this. On the national level, the Justice Department secretly obtained the call records for 20 phone lines owned by The Associated Press, an action that could put the sources for as many as 100 AP reporters at risk. By using journalists’ private records to go after criminals and rule breakers, the administration is compelling those journalists to become arms of the law. That destroys the trust they have with sources and greatly diminishes their ability to do their jobs. Here at home, as Ken Smith reports in two stories in Newslines this week, politicians are similarly thwarting reporters’ effort to do their jobs. In one case (see page 11), the district attorney in Glenn County, Robert Maloney, subpoenaed confidential notes taken by the Sacramento Valley Mirror’s Tim Crews while he was reporting a story involving the arrest of a couple. We’re happy to report the judge quashed the subpoena. And then there’s the case of Karl Rove. Rove, a major figure in Republican politics, was scheduled to speak in Chico on Saturday in an event sponsored by a group raising campaign cash for state Sen. Jim Nielsen. The speech was advertised on the radio. Smith phone-ordered a ticket and arrived prepared to pay for it. He was then told Rove’s speech was closed to the press. This is illegal. You can’t advertise an event and then forbid members of a certain group from attending. If you want it to be private, send out invitations. Citizens should be outraged by these actions. Our democracy depends on openness and transparency. When politicians try to thwart reporters who are just doing their jobs, they exude vapors of tyranny. Ω


by Robert Speer roberts@newsreview.com

Chico’s lack of leadership

Re “Is the council losing control?” (Letters, by Emily Alma, Mark Sorensen and Scott Gruendl,” April 25): A letter writer [Alma] accuses the City Council of losing control of staff, and two councilmen respond in a joint letter, insinuating “a subversive whisper campaign emanating from City Hall” against their newly hired city manager, Brian Nakamura. They want us to think everything downtown is copasetic. Councilmen Scott Gruendl and Mark Sorensen claim Nakamura has the support of “a council supermajority.” But not the “unanimous council” that hired the guy? Gruendl and Sorensen claim “reorganization has not resulted in layoffs”—what about the wrongful-termination suit that was filed against the city on Feb. 1? I wonder if the hostile atmosphere downtown could be one explanation for the $10 million missing from the development fund, or the $50 million “structural deficit” attributed to “unfunded pension liabilities.” And how does raising department-head salaries save money? Gruendl admitted at a council meeting that we would not see the savings from this reorganization “for years.” How many years? Gruendl and Sorensen insist that “far higher levels of transparency and communication are being demanded and achieved,” but, at a morning meeting I attended, Nakamura actually used the Brown Act to keep citizens from discussing the true motives behind “surplusing” a downtown parking lot—possible transfer to a developer. Alma is right to be asking questions. More people should.

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Why the freak-out? Re “Put your hands up!” (From This Corner, by Robert Speer, May 2): The cop on the scene may or may not have been responsible for the misidentification of Tom Steele’s car, but in any event the cop should have been gracious and apologetic for the understandable mistake. I have been “victimized” by a small-town rogue PD back in the mid ’80s, including having a gun rammed into my head by an out-of-control loser thug cop after surrendering, prone on the ground face down with hands behind my back and not moving, and I had done nothing worse then intimidate a bouncer at a pub that I often frequented and never got into any trouble at. While the barrel was painfully pressing into my head, I was counting every fraction of a second wondering if it would be my last. Steele’s experience seems pretty mild to me, and he got his apology from the police chief, so what’s the fuss? The real story is: How did Mr. Steele manage to survive so long and be so shockingly emotionally fragile and sheltered

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Questions sorely needed

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Does it seem strange to you that Chicoans have been arguing about the Saturday farmers’ market for 20 years or more? Granted, the two principal parties in the dispute— downtown business owners and the market’s vendors and management— are dug deeply into their opposing positions, but 20 years? That’s pathetic. The issue is clear enough, though the evidence is mostly anecdotal. The business owners believe the market’s patrons use so many parking spaces and create such congestion around the Second and Wall parking lot that other shoppers—their shoppers—choose not to come downtown on Saturday mornings. The market folks are convinced, however, that many of the people they attract also go shopping or have breakfast or lunch downtown, and that on balance the market is good for downtown businesses. During last week’s City Council discussion of the issues surrounding the farmers’ market, Mayor Mary Goloff urged the parties to try to put the community’s interests first—a laudable but ultimately hopeless notion, given the intransigence on both sides. What’s missing here is leadership. Compare this piddling disagreement in Chico to the years-long effort in Sacramento to build a new arena and keep the Kings basketball team there. The key figure was Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player who was determined not to lose the team to Seattle. At a time when the effort looked hopeless, he kept pushing, locating investors, raising hundreds of millions of dollars, working with the NBA, convincing the City Council to get on board, pushing the media to keep the effort front and center—leading, in other words. Johnson has been able to lead because he’s a smart and charismatic guy, but also because his position enables him to do so. He’s not what’s known as a “strong” mayor—Sacramento city government is run by a city manager, not the mayor, as is Chico’s. But he does have a staff, has been voted in by a majority of city voters, and receives a salary in return for working full time. Most important, he is perceived as the city’s leader, someone who is expected to solve problems. For more than a decade I’ve been arguing that Chico’s mayor—the position, not the person—is too weak to enable real leadership. Chico mayors are not elected at large, they don’t have an office or staff, they are paid only slightly more than the pittance City Council members receive, and they are not expected to lead. No wonder they can’t solve long-festering problems like the farmers’ market. Pleading with people to be nice, as Mayor Goloff did last week, accomplishes nothing. What’s needed is the kind of active, concerted leadership that brings stakeholders together to brainstorm ideas and gets the public and media involved. The farmers’ market issue should not be solved by a vote of the City Council, which picks winners and losers, but rather by the very people involved, the downtown business owners, the market vendors and the thousands of customers who shop in both venues. They need to work it out. But that won’t happen without effective leadership.

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from reality? My experience with the cops that night was traumatic, but it was nothing compared to, say, breaking up with my first girlfriend, nor was it much worse than the countless times I was threatened with death from homicidal drivers while riding my bicycle from California to Alaska and back. Part of the problem here is that there is this mystique about guns from both sides—both “gun nuts” and gun haters. There is an almost magical aura about guns created by the media, news, movies, etc. One may be threatened by dangerous punks driving three-ton cars and trucks “aimed at our heads” every day on the road and then freak out about having a firearm pointed at us for the first time in our lives. BRENT GRAY Chico

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Re “Firing the big talent?” (Downstroke, May 9): I was so shocked to hear of Rob Blair, our morning coffee man, being let go. He made all of us laugh in the morning. It is just downright sad that, with all the sadness in the news, they would remove Chico’s little bit of joy on the news show. I for one will not be supporting KHSL in any way any longer if Rob does not come back to work, and I know of many others who feel the same way. Maybe we will not be enough to change their minds, but maybe, just maybe, we will be a strong enough force to help them to understand they have done a grave injustice to someone we love named Rob Blair. KATHY FARRELL Chico

This is so sad! Everyone I know loves Rob! I don’t understand what could have possibly motivated GOCOM Media to fire such an immensely popular public figure! LANA KITCHEL Los Molinos

KHSL/KNVN has cast a dark cloud over Chico with the sudden decision to terminate a wonderful weatherman, Rob Blair. Not only did he deliver a lively morning newscast, but also he often shed a little needed midday sunshine to the noon broadcast. He was someone who was always cheerful and smiling, “weather” he be on air or out at community events. I also liked and appreciated his recent efforts to educate pet owners to the risk of heart worms. Looks like the future weather forecast

will be dry stale air. We sure can use a refreshing downpour of common sense. ANITA ALLBEE Chico

I really looked forward to watching Rob Blair; he will truly be missed. Does anyone know of a way to help Rob get his job back? I want to jump on that wagon!! DEDE STERLING Chico

Moreover, people who purchase items online drive less, pollute the air less, endanger other drivers less, have fewer collisions, and require less service from police, courts, hospitals and road crews than those who patronize local retailers. Accordingly, they are rightfully entitled to not pay sales taxes that are presumably collected to compensate for these burdens. Notwithstanding these realities, taxation isn’t supposed to be a tool

“I was so shocked to hear of Rob Blair, our morning coffee man, being let go. He made all of us laugh in the morning.”

—Kathy Farrell

Toby and the Republicans Re “Why attack Chico?” (Letters, by Laurel Heath, May 9): Laurel Heath wrote, “Toby [Schindelbeck] actually lived in Paradise, but after being lobbied by local Republicans, including the Tea Party and Larry Wahl, he moved to Chico in March 2012, registered to vote, and then ran for City Council, losing badly.” Toby entered the race against the wishes of the core groups of conservatives because they already had their slate of candidates. His entry and one other late entry diluted the conservative vote, and as a result they lost seats on the council. She continues: “These are the same Republicans who argue that Chico State students (more than 500 of whom are veterans) who are in Chico just “four to six years should not be allowed to vote.” The original issue was to change the voting date in order for a better turnout and to save money by combining municipal elections with the state primary. Nobody can deny the vote to any qualified U.S. citizen; it’s silly to think otherwise. JACK LEE Chico

Sales tax system is fair Re “Fairness on taxes: Let’s pass the Marketplace Fairness Act” (Editorial, May 9): The advantage online retailers have over brick-and-mortar stores is economies associated with not having to pay high rents for prime retail locations. However, this is countered by the distinct disadvantage online retailers endure paying a much higher per-unit cost of shipping to customers.

for manipulating markets. When a government uses taxation in this way, it smacks of communism, and we all know how that turns out. NATHAN ESPLANADE Corning

For the record: As the editorial stated, the issue isn’t whether to tax online purchases. Many states, including California, already do so. Customers are supposed to pay these taxes, but almost none do so. The national legislation discussed in the editorial would require online retailers to collect the taxes already levied, just as brick-andmortar retailers now do.—ed.

The real ‘homeless issue’ It’s astounding that a daytime ordinance eliminating sitting on public sidewalks is front and center in the rancid war of “blame the homeless.” I recently heard Mike the political-science guy remark, “Anyone out after dark south of Chico State campus is insane, even at dusk.” His view is eerily consistent with the police officer who posted the very same observation in a press release, only to have his hand slapped for bringing emotion to the press-release process. In talking to a dozen downtown business owners, I learned the most significant daytime “homeless issue” is filth in front of their storefronts when they arrive to open for business. Perhaps a duskto-dawn ban on puke and litter would be more impactful? BILL MASH Chico More letters online:

We’ve got too many letters for this space. Please go to www.newsreview.com/chico for additional readers’ comments on past CN&R articles.


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Yes, I have. I pawned my stereo when I got back from the Philippines when I was in the military. Sometimes I pawned some tools when I was working, just to get me through. I don’t pawn anymore; I don’t got nothing to pawn no more.

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ATTACKED, NOT HACKED

The Chico Unified School District was the target of a cyber attack last Friday (May 10) that disrupted Internet connectivity at area schools and disabled public access to district websites, according to a CUSD press release. “It is important to note that the CUSD system has not been ‘hacked’ and that all student and personnel data have not been compromised,” the release reads. The attack came in the form of a Distributed Denial of Service, which blocks user access to a machine or network. District websites were taken offline for two days while information-technology staff worked on the issue and returned to service Tuesday (May 14). The sites are being closely monitored and may be subject to further interruptions while CUSD and Butte County Office of Education personnel ensure everything works correctly.

Alcohol withdrawal

LATER, BROS!

Days after Chico State University’s two-year suspension of the Sigma Chi fraternity over allegations of brewing beer in its Chico annex, the Greek organization’s national headquarters announced it will continue to operate independently of the university. Sigma Chi officials announced via press release Monday (May 13) that they agree with the university’s attempts to curb bad behavior related to drinking, but “feel that the administration’s stance of requiring perfection in every case is unjust, unrealistic and does not lead to true learning opportunities for its student body.” Sigma Chi was on probation prior to the May 6 suspension for allegedly hosting a party in August 2012. The fraternity plans to continue recruiting and operating as normal, but will not be allowed to participate in Chico State-sanctioned events.

LAST CALL FOR THE LOUNGE

After 47 years, Chico’s venerable Towne Lounge is shutting down. Owner Woody Sjostrom (pictured) has been trying to unload the Main Street bar for a couple of years. In January, he sold the liquor license to Scott Baldwin, who’s looking to open a bar on Second Street, next to the El Rey Theatre. But that process was stymied when the El Rey’s owner, Eric Hart, filed a protest with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Hart said he didn’t think it was a proper location for a bar. Others suggested Hart was feuding with his brother, Michael, who owns the building in which Baldwin wants to set up his bar. Last week, Hart dropped his protest, allowing the license transfer to go forward. Sjostrom, who expressed relief, said the Lounge’s last day will be May 31. Baldwin said he is looking to open his bar, The Argus, on Sept. 1. 8 CN&R May 16, 2013

Will Brady stands in front of the storefront he is remodeling as an oyster bar.

Downtown restaurant owner says city is targeting him unfairly

W 40-year-old Boston-to-Chico transplant opened The Banshee bar and restaurant on Secill Brady is frustrated. The

ond Street seven years ago. Now he wants to see if he can expand the success he’s had there by opening an oyster story and photo by bar in a vacancy around the corTom Gascoyne ner on Broadway, next to Collier Hardware. tomg@ newsreview.com “There are not enough places for the 40- to 50-year-olds to hang out,” he said during a tour of the space’s renovation. “The entire downtown is a playground for college kids.” He wants to serve alcohol with the food, which according to a tentative menu will include shrimp, grilled fish, scallops, vegetables, and other items served a la carte. But to serve good food and make a profit, Brady said, he’s got to sell booze. Brady began the project last June and said he has sunk more than $300,000 into the remodel, including a renovation of the basement and a cleanup of the back patio. The space has a high ceiling and the exposed interior brick wall common to so many downtown businesses. He purchased the liquor license of the old Black Crow Grill and Taproom, which was located on the corner of West Second and Salem streets before closing a few years ago. There’s been a moratorium on granting new liquor licenses in the downtown Chico area for the last dozen years because there are so many relative to the city’s population. The Black Crow license is known as a

“47,” which allows the on-site sale of food, beer, wine and spirits. Brady has the same type of license for The Banshee, where he can offer alcohol until 2 a.m. But on April 25, Brady and his business partner, Sebastien Tamarelle, received a notice from Katherine Skuris, licensing representative for the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), telling them she was investigating their application for a license. The investigation was triggered by the Chico Police Department, and particularly Chief Kirk Trostle, whose concerns were reportedly triggered by Chico State’s recent “Call to Action” asking citizens, merchants and booze peddlers to become more responsible. There are 13 conditions listed in the ABC notice, including that the “premises shall be maintained as a bona-fide food restaurant and shall provide a menu containing an assortment of foods normally offered in such restaurants.” It also says the gross sales of alcohol should not exceed the gross sales of food and that there will be no live entertainment, including music, disc jockeys, karaoke, topless entertainment or fashion shows. Brady said he is OK with such restrictions. What he questions is the ban on a happy hour offering reduced drink prices and the allowance of alcohol sales only between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.

“Just serving food … is just not profitable,” he said. “It needs to be sustained by selling alcohol.” He said The Banshee makes money off of alcohol to help pay for the food it serves. “We try to be profitable,” he said. “We charge what the market will bear. We don’t want to be the most expensive restaurant in town, and without alcohol we just can’t have a restaurant. I want people to have good food, and as such we don’t make money off the food. I don’t think the people in Chico are going to go for San Francisco prices.” Brady said he believes he’s being used as a scapegoat for Chico’s drinking problem. Chico police Capt. Ford Porter,

speaking on behalf of Trostle, said when the ABC gets a request to either issue or reissue a liquor license, it asks for the local police department’s input. He said ABC has broken the state down into “census tracts” that it uses to determine its recommendations. He said ABC recommends six “on-sale establishments” for the area that includes downtown. Currently there are 63. “The biggest concern is that we are already a thousand times over what their recommendation is,” Porter said. “Regardless of how the establishment hopes things will turn out, every time


you open a new one it does impact how things work at night.” He said the recommendation to ABC was to limit the time of sales so that such establishments have to clear out before the more-traditional bars do. Porter said another bid to use an existing liquor license has also been brought to the department’s attention. That is the transfer of the Towne Lounge’s license to a new bar called The Argus to be located on Second Street near the El Rey Theatre. That transfer, which had been held up since last September, is finally a go because Eric Hart, owner of the El Rey, has dropped his protest of the bar’s location (see Downstroke, page 8). But in fact, conditions for the new bar allow it to serve alcohol from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on all days except Halloween, Labor Day, César Chávez Day, and the weekend of Chico State graduation, when in each case it will stop serving at 11 p.m. City Manager Brian Nakamura

said there have been some communication problems surrounding the issue. “I’m not sure that we are all on the same page,” he said. “I’ve been in contact with Mr. Brady, and his concerns clearly share that he is trying to open a fairly upscale restaurant, which is fine.” He said the license Brady has allows the sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits. “The issue is the restaurant has to be operated and maintained as a bona-fide eating place,” Nakamura said. “So I think the issue [for Brady] is, when does that mean [he] cannot make alcohol a primary item of sale? The type of license he is in possession of means that he has to continue to serve food as the primary source of revenue.” He said the city is still trying to work things out so that Brady can have a successful business. “From a community perspective, a lot of the issues related to alcohol sales and consumption are critical for our downtown,” Nakamura said. “At the same time, we are not trying to be unduly harsh on the implementation of the license.” For his part, Brady remains frustrated. He said the oyster bar will be no different than The Banshee in terms of operation. “We are a bona-fide eating place,” he said. “To say we are anything different is absurd. More than half the staff works in the kitchen.” Still, he holds out hope that he can convince the city that he needs extended liquor sales to run the type of high-end eatery he has in mind. “I get the sense we are close to getting it done,” he said. “I’m trying to guide these guys with my philosophy on how to run a restaurant. I’m gambling on whether or not there is a need for this, which is going to be a foodie kind of place with a little less reliance on cheese and butter.” Ω

Media bias

Karl Rove PHOTO BY CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA VIA FLICKR

CN&R reporter barred from Rove talk

I

spent a lot of time last week doing things I don’t normally do, like tripping around the conservative blogosphere, listening to Rush Limbaugh, and reading anything I could find about Republican political strategist Karl Rove, down to the book reviews he occasionally posts on his website. This uncharacteristic behavior on my part peaked Saturday morning (May 11), when I rose with the sun, donned a polo shirt, slacks and a suit coat generally reserved for funerals and weddings, and pulled out of my driveway before 8 a.m. My destination that morning was a breakfast with Rove hosted by Taxpayers for Jim Nielsen, a fundraising organization for the conservative state senator, at Manzanita Place, aka the Elks Lodge. For $75, attendees who’d bought tickets or RSVP’d—as I had the previous day—would receive breakfast, a signed copy of Rove’s book, Courage and Consequence, and the opportunity to hear Rove and Nielsen speak. I left the venue less than hour after my arrival with no signed book, no bacon-andeggs breakfast, and not so much as a distant glimpse of Rove or Nielsen. I never even made it past the welcome desk because, as a Nielsen staffer told me, I was a member of the press and therefore not welcome to attend. I can’t claim they hadn’t warned me. An attempt to obtain press credentials earlier in the week was met with an email from Nielsen’s office that read, “Thank you for your interest in Mr. Nielsen’s event with Karl Rove. Unfortunately, this is a private event and is not open to press.”

This was puzzling, as the function had been advertised on conservative talk-radio station KPAY. The ad advised getting tickets before they sold out, and didn’t specify the need for a special invitation, nor did it say people of certain professions—journalists, plumbers, chimney sweeps or otherwise— weren’t allowed. The exclusion of press from a public appearance of someone as newsworthy as Rove seemed at best irresponsible, at worst possibly illegal. The organizers’ choice to charge us for the event seemed reasonable, though, so we decided to go through public channels to secure a ticket. This was no simple feat. The link to purchase tickets online was broken (“This is a ticket to nowhere,” read the message from online service TicketLeap), and links to Taxpayers for Jim Nielsen led directly to the state senator’s homepage. A call to Nielsen’s office yielded a second number, at which a

SIFT|ER Not quite 400—but close enough Although scientists at a 2,000 Years of Carbon Dioxide Measurements Hawaiian observatory (annual CO2 readings in ppm) have revised their 400 recent reading that carbon-dioxide levels had passed the symbolic milestone of 400 350 parts per million—the accurate reading was 399.89 ppm, they now 300 say—the reality remains the same: The planet is warming up 250 precipitously. Current 1 500 1000 1500 2000 ratios of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere remain at levels not seen in more than 3 million years, when sea levels were as much as 80 feet higher than current levels. This chart dramatizes the rate of increase in the past 2,000 years.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

friendly man named Corey added me to the RSVP list and said all I had to do was show up with a check for $75 or cash in hand. Not so. When I gave my name at the welcome desk, it was passed among the staff, one of whom asked me to wait and told me someone would be out to talk to me. A man named Ryan, who said he was “with Jim Nielsen,” walked directly up to me and, in no uncertain terms, reiterated the content of the email: As a member of the press, I wasn’t welcome to attend. I pleaded my case from different angles— I’d gone through public channels and would pay; that it was ridiculous to exclude me based on my profession; that I understood the format of the event and was there simply to observe like everyone else. Then they threw a few alternate excuses into the mix— I’d RSVP’d too late, there was a miscommunication with the staffer who’d added me to the list, the house was just too gosh-darn full for one more. But it inevitably came back to the original reason: Press not welcome. I left hungry, unable to do my job, and with a growing cabal of increasingly concerned conservatives watching me through closed glass doors. On Tuesday (May 14), I followed up

with a call to Terry Francke, an expert on journalism law and co-founder of Californians Aware, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing press and citizens access to public information. Francke said the situation reminded him of a case from several years ago, in which an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department sued the American Civil Liberties Union after the ACLU ejected him from a conference they were hosting on police surveillance. Francke said the appeals court saw some merit in the officer’s case, which was eventually settled. “There’s not much question that a political group can conduct private ceremonies, fundraisers or whatever,” he said, explaining these groups make events by invitation only as much as possible. “But that’s a little hard to square with media advertisements of the event. “The bottom-line lesson is, if you’re going to say it’s by invitation only, or it’s for Republicans or Democrats only, it tends to weaken that position if you take out ads, which leaves the impression that you just want the bodies and the cash. “The inconsistency there is at least worth a news story,” Francke ultimately advised. He also jokingly suggested that, when buying tickets in the future, I use a pen name. —KEN SMITH kens@newsreview.com

NEWSLINES continued on page 10 May 16, 2013

CN&R 9


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have grizzlies in Montana and Canada is that it’s mostly too cold there for agriculture, but that will change, and these places will soon be suitable for growing wine,” said Lee Hannah, the

Napa Valley wine country. PHOTO BY iSTOCKPHOTO/THINKSTOCK

study’s lead author and a UC Santa Barbara-based climate specialist with Conservation International. Hannah points out that the presence of national parks, like Yellowstone, Glacier and Banff, and other protected areas is not on its own enough to preserve large mammals. These creatures may be migratory and depend largely on corridors connecting the parks. These open areas are the lands into which farmers, including winemakers, may be planting their own roots in 30 years. In California, Hannah says,

increased wildlife conflicts with species such as black bears could result if winemakers push upslope out of the hot valleys to utilize cooler growing regions. Redwood trees in unprotected parts of Mendocino County may also lose ground if farmers decide they want the land. But in the Central Valley, future water shortages are the hottest topic. Louise Jackson, a professor and extension specialist with UC Davis’ Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, says the Sierra Nevada snow pack will probably shrink by between 60 percent and 90 percent from today’s average volume. Farmlands downstream could go dry. “But this isn’t a disaster,” she says. “We just need to plan for it.” Jackson says farmers must diversify their crops, planting new varieties and seeing which ones show signs of resistance to greater heat or drier conditions— an evaluation process that can

take many years. Cherries and other stone fruits that depend on periods of cold temperature for their buds to go dormant in a healthy way could prove especially vulnerable to warming climate trends, she says. Hijmans, meanwhile, speculates that since rice does very well in warm tropical regions, the Sacramento Valley’s rice industry could benefit from climate change. “But that’s only if we still have enough water,” he said. Jackson agrees with her colleagues’ study—that wild areas in Canada, Idaho and Montana will probably become important agricultural regions. But she says California’s unique mountain and valley topography may mean that local farmers will have no choice but to adapt. “It’s not like we can just move everything due north several degrees,” Jackson said. “We have a unique climate here. We have the Delta breeze, so it’s actually hotter if you go north to Redding.” Plant experts are already thinking about bolstering food crops now grown in the state with genetic resistance to diseases and extreme environmental conditions. To do this, breeders likely will turn to the Wolfskill Experimental Orchards in Winters, home to thousands of varieties of tree fruits, including walnuts, stone fruits, persimmons, figs and grapes. The site, operated jointly by UC Davis and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, serves as a genetic library for preserving rare cultivars, while providing plant breeders with the material they need to create new varieties and hybrids—possibly with natural resistance to increased moisture, dryness and heat. —ALASTAIR BLAND


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Amendment battles regarding reporters’ rights to information. “It’s great to be validated in that forum for what we do rather than for some kind of personality thing,” Crews said. “One of the most important things we can do as journalists is to keep filing these freedom-of-information requests. Usually, there’s a good story at the end of the trail.” Awards and small victories, while encouraging, mean little to Crews, who’s determined to keep fighting the good fight. “The older I get the more I find it’s just irrevocably broken, this whole damned system. Even when these things are uncovered, there’s virtually no one prosecuted for misconduct. The state never does a thing, and the Department of Justice is playing the same game. “People fear exposure more than anything, even more than they fear prosecution, and that’s part of the problem. It’s a goddamned shame.” —KEN SMITH kens@newsreview.com

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spending or other wrongdoing in Glenn County. In his duties as editor and publisher of the Willows-based Sacramento Valley Mirror, he’s no stranger to courtrooms, like the one he was ordered to appear in last Thursday (May 9). Crews is currently involved in an ongoing battle over $56,000 in court costs a Glenn County Superior Court judge last year ruled he must pay, the result of a 2009 suit he filed against the Willows Unified School District for not properly and promptly responding to requests for public records. He also served five days in jail in 2000 for refusing to name a confidential source for an article he wrote involving a California Highway Patrol officer charged with stealing a gun. This latest court appearance was in response to a subpoena from Glenn County District Attorney Robert Maloney, ordering him to turn over notes related to his reports on the case of Lonnie and Lena Forbes, who were arrested on the drive from Rolling Hills Casino to their home in Stonyford in September 2011, after celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary. “The thumbnail version of the case is they pulled this couple over and arrested Lena because she’s a Prop. 215 medical-marijuana patient,” Crews explained. “Her husband, Lonnie, was arrested for allegedly assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, and for the crime of not being deeply appreciative of cops.” Crews said the subpoena was delivered after normal business hours on a Friday and ordered him to appear in court and turn over his notes the following Thursday—a clear attempt to keep him from obtaining proper counsel and preparing a defense, he charges. “I’ve been to jail over something like this once before, but I’m a lot smarter now than I was then,” he said. Crews obtained the services of San Francisco-based Duffy Carolan, with whom he’s worked before and calls “one of the top four or five media lawyers in California.” Carolan prepared and delivered an objection to the subpoena to Maloney’s office before the court date. It detailed past relevant legal rulings and the reporter’s protection under the California Shield Law, which assures journalists don’t have to reveal their sources or share unpublished information with law enforcement or other organizations.

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Crews said Carolan’s objection was ignored. “It was obvious in court they hadn’t even bothered to look at it,” he said. Judge Donald Cole Byrd quashed the demand for Crews’ notes. “I’m just glad I had a rational judge and good counsel,” Crews said of the decision, “Because I just don’t really have the time to deal with this kind of bullshit. I’m grateful the Shield Law did what it is designed to do, which is keep them out of my pants.”

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HEALTHLINES Love Dalal says he was determined to go into medicine, despite warnings from his physician father about the long hours and heavy workload.

HIGH MARKS IN OROVILLE

Oroville Hospital has been recognized for its safety practices aimed at protecting patients from serious preventable complications. Healthgrades, an online resource that helps patients evaluate and compare hospitals and physicians, awarded Oroville Hospital a Patient Safety Excellence Award, placing it in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationally for patient safety, according to an Oroville Hospital press release. Patients treated in hospitals ranked in the top 10 percent are 81 percent less likely to experience a hip fracture following surgery (compared to hospitals ranked in the bottom 10 percent) and 80 percent less likely to develop pressure or bed sores during their stay (compared to hospitals ranked in the bottom 5 percent). Oroville Hospital’s president and CEO, Robert Wentz, credited the recognition to the hospital’s dedicated patient-safety director, Dr. Matthew Fine, who “has been a pioneer in this effort.”

TOO SOON TO MOVE INMATES?

Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration said it’s too early to move more than 3,000 prison inmates at risk of contracting valley fever from two state prisons, despite a federal order. In a May 6 court filing, the Brown administration argued that federal receiver J. Clark Kelso’s order to move black, Filipino and medically risky inmates from Avenal and Pleasant Valley state prisons—which have been the sites of a valley fever outbreak responsible for nearly three dozen inmate deaths—is premature, according to The Associated Press. In the filing, the state urged U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson of San Francisco to wait for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to complete a study of valley fever at the two state prisons before enforcing Kelso’s order. State officials also said Kelso’s order would be hard to comply with as the state continues to grapple with a federal court order to reduce prison overcrowding and improve conditions for sick and mentally ill inmates.

TYPHOID FEVER AT S.F. CAFÉ

A cook at Nordstrom Café at the Stonestown Galleria mall in San Francisco may have spread typhoid fever to customers. Anyone who ate at the restaurant on April 16, 17, 18, 20 or 27 are at risk of contracting the illness, the San Francisco Department of Health warned, according to SFGate.com. The restaurant employee contracted the sickness during a trip outside the country. Symptoms of typhoid fever typically appear eight to 14 days after exposure and include fever, weakness, stomach pains, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite; some patients develop a rash of flat, rose-colored spots. Gone untreated, typhoid fever can be fatal.

Send your health-related news tips to Howard Hardee at howardh@newsreview.com. 12 CN&R May 16, 2013

PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Scoping out the future India-born doctor Love Dalal loves practicing gastroenterology in Oroville

by

Evan Tuchinsky

I father’s advice, he’d not be Oroville Hospital’s newest gastroenterologist. In

f Dr. Love Dalal had followed his

fact, he wouldn’t have been a doctor at all. He might have followed his twin brother’s path into chemical engineering, or some other line of work. It’s not that his father has something against physicians. He, too, became a Dr. Dalal and had a busy practice in India. He just knew the sacrifices involved in a medical career. “My father was a very successful physician in his days,” Dalal explained, “but he thought this particular profession is not an ideal profession with the calls, the late nights and the lifestyle.” Dalal was undeterred. “I told him I was interested only in medicine,” Dalal said. “He said, ‘If that’s what you want to do, go ahead.’” Dalal studied in India, then began practicing in his home country. It was only when he was 43, with a wife and two teenage children, that he decided to come to the United States to complete a gastroenterology fellowship at Rhode Island’s Brown University. He can tell you the exact date of his trip: Sept. 11, 2001. “The first stop on the flight was the Middle East,” Dalal recalled, “and they said, ‘U.S. airspace is closed; you cannot go farther.’ So I went back to India, spent

10 more days, then took another flight.” He had no hesitation. Dalal viewed the 9/11 attacks as “an isolated incident” and wasn’t dissuaded from following through on his plans. He and his family moved to Rhode Island, and he completed his fellowship in 2004. Next stop: Bakersfield. Why Bakersfield, of all places? Partly he made the decision to join a private practice he liked, at the Bakersfield Digestive Disease and Endoscopy Center. Partly he made the decision because of the warm temperatures, after enduring several Northeast winters. “I interviewed at a lot of places—I interviewed in Michigan, I interviewed in Oregon, I interviewed in Florida,” he said. “This was a good opportunity, and in India we come from a tropical climate, so that probably made me decide not to go to the colder areas of the country.” Dalal spent nine years in Bakersfield.

But as the health-care landscape changed, he began looking for hospital-based employment, which he thought would be more stable than private practice. He also believed he’d have more room for advancement in a larger organization. Once more, he interviewed at multiple places before deciding Oroville was the place for him. He started working at Oroville Hospital in late March. “Obviously I like the area,” Dalal said. “I’ve always loved to be in smaller towns and smaller areas. If someone asked me to go to Los Angeles or some other city, I would never go there. I don’t like commuting. I’m looking for a small place with nice people, and I think this fits.” During his interview, Dalal

learned that Oroville Hospital had recently HEALTHLINES continued on page 15

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CN&R 13


The Highest Level of Care to Beat Cancer CanCer is a life-Changing and terrifying event for anyone who gets this diagnosis and everyone who cares about them. Nearly every family has experience with cancer and according to a report by the President’s Cancer Panel, 41% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, thanks to medical science and early detection, the vast majority of people with cancer survive the ordeal, according to the American Cancer Society’s 2013 report. Faced with a diagnosis of cancer, we naturally seek the best care possible. In Butte County, The accreditation we are extremely places the Feather River fortunate to Hospital Cancer Center in have Feather the most elite echelon of River Hospital’s cancer treatment facilities Cancer Center, across the country accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACOS), right in Paradise. The accreditation places the Cancer Center in the most elite echelon of cancer treatment facilities across the country, and Feather River Hospital is the only hospital in Butte County to be accredited by the ACOS. To earn the accreditation, the hospital voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of cancer care and regularly undergo evaluations and reviews. In

5974 Pentz rd 14 CN&R May 16, 2013

addition to Feather River Hospital’s work in earning the accreditation, patients of the Cancer Center have access to clinical trials, state-of-the-art technology, new treatment options and lifelong follow up. The Cancer Center recently upgraded their radiology department, with treatments that are shorter, more accurate, and provide patients with less treatments overall. Their next generation machine has the ability to focus on a tumor in real time, which greatly lessens the damage to non-involved tissue. Feather River Hospital has long had an institutional focus on the holistic health and well being of its patients, and the oncologic specialists at the Cancer Center are dedicated to developing a treatment plan that is designed to meet their patient’s individual needs. They employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates therapies to focus on medical, nutritional, physical, psychological, and spiritual needs. Research has shown that the most effective treatment of cancer includes a comprehensive approach by doctors to the patient’s total life situation. From nutritional consultants to chaplain services, support groups and social services, The Cancer Center’s team is a diverse group of professionals that, together, focus on caring for each patient individually.

P a r a d i s e , C a 9 5 9 6 9 / ( 5 3 0 ) 8 7 7 - 9 3 6 1 / w w w . f r h o s a P. o r g


HEALTHLINES

continued from page 12

purchased a piece of technology called the Endo Capsule. No one had been using it, however; Dalal was excited by the opportunity to be the first. The Endo Capsule is a miniature image recorder used to locate abnormalities in the small intestine. It’s about the size of a vitamin capsule, and it transmits a signal to a receiver worn on the patient’s belt. The patient swallows the capsule, and the capsule’s camera shoots two pictures per second as it works its way through the digestive tract. Dalal has been using the Endo Capsule since 2004. It’s helpful because it goes where standard upper and lower endoscopies can’t reach. “When you put a scope through the mouth, you can only go to the beginning of the small intestine, and when you put the scope through the rectum, you can see the colon/large intestine—but in between there’s about 17 feet that’s not easily visible,” Dalal said. “There are endoscopes that can lead you through the area, but they take three to four hours, they need anesthesia, and it’s more of a research tool and not in regular community practice. “This capsule, I think, is a very powerful tool.” With a battery life of eight hours, the Endo Capsule shoots more than 55,000 images. That’s a lot for the doctor to review, but Dalal explained that the technology includes software that deletes duplicate images, so it takes him

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only around 45 minutes to read the stream of images. The GI doctor looks for any abnormalities. Even with time stamps and physical landmarks as guides, he cannot exactly map where an abnormality lies. Instead, he’ll identify the general area for a follow-up scan with an MRI or more specialized endoscope. It was the opportunity to work with such technology that attracted Dalal to gastroenterology. He sees further advances thanks to highdefinition imaging, multidirectional cameras and new techniques. He’s heading off to a convention next week and is excited about what he’ll see. “I’m a lifelong learner,” he said. “I always like to learn, and through the years my scoping techniques have improved remarkably, just by looking at how [other] people are doing it.” He has a busy practice in Oroville—performing endoscopies in the morning, seeing patients in the office in the afternoon, then making rounds in the hospital. His father was certainly correct about the workload. “I think [medicine] is my hobby, and I’m enjoying my life,” Dalal said. “I’m not tired of what I’m doing. But none of my children are doctors!” Ω

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CN&R 15


EARTH WATCH

GREENWAYS Valley Oak Tool Co. founder David Grau demonstrates the use of the company’s handy soil-aerating tool, the broadfork.

FOX DECLINE LINKED TO TOXIN

Mercury exposure through feeding on marine prey is reducing Arctic fox populations, research finds. Data published in the journal PLOS ONE suggest the toxin—found more in the Arctic than any other part of the planet—has played a significant role in the long-term decline in Arctic fox numbers, according to BBC News. On the small Russian island Mednyi (where foxes prey almost exclusively on ocean birds and seal carcasses), the fox population mysteriously plummeted in the 1970s; researchers believed an infection was to blame, but were stumped as to the underlying cause. Recent analysis of hair samples from foxes and food sources on the island discovered significant levels of mercury. When compared to Icelandic foxes, which live inland and survive on non-marine birds and rodents, the Mednyi foxes had much higher levels of mercury.

FRACKING MORATORIUM ADVANCE

California Democrats are making a strong push toward a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing that would allow for more comprehensive study of the oil-extraction method’s potential effects on the environment. Three bills advanced by a California State Assembly committee—Senate Bill 4 by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), Assembly Bill 1323 by Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), and Assembly Bill 1301 by Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica)—propose to halt the practice entirely for the foreseeable future, according to The Sacramento Bee. Opponents of the bill, including the Western States Petroleum Association, maintain there is no evidence to suggest fracking is unsafe. “We must identify the risks and assure the public that we are doing everything in our control to protect them,” Bloom said, “but to date, the state has failed to do that.”

LEADING GREEN DESIGNER DIES

Kevin Kurtz Pierce, a Chicago-based sustainablebuilding designer who was raised in Chico, died on May 2 at age 55 after a fight with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumor. Pierce (pictured) designed the Chicago Center for Green Technology, the Windy City’s flagship green building and the first U.S. municipal structure to earn a Platinum certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), according to his obituary on Tributes.com. He served as sustainability consultant for the Green Exchange, a sustainabilityfocused business group, and also designed more than 300 affordable, sustainable housing units in Chicago and Indiana. Pierce and his wife, Annie Morse, shared a modest brick house in Chicago, and their devotion to reusing found materials and recycling was well known. Several of his family members, including his mother, artist Ann T. Pierce, still live in the Chico area.

Send your eco-related news tips to Howard Hardee at howardh@newsreview.com. 16 CN&R May 16, 2013

PHOTO BY CARLA RESNICK

Tools for the job David Grau’s Valley Oak Tool Co. makes rugged, practical tools for backyard gardeners and farmers by

Meredith J. Graham

Ttool business, Valley Oak Tool Co., was planted out on a field, along with potahe inspiration for David Grau’s

toes and watermelons and countless other organic crops, about 30 years ago. As a commercial farmer, Grau used many tools, and he worked them hard. “Toward the end of my time farming, I bought a wheel hoe that was made in Switzerland,” Grau recalled during a recent phone interview. “I was disappointed by it because it worked well but it fell apart in about a year. So I thought, I can make one better.” The seed had been planted. Grau, who was among the founders of what’s now the Chico Certified Farmers’ Market, quit farming, went to Chico State and became a psychotherapist. But he couldn’t stop thinking about that wheel hoe. And in 1990, he set to work building upon the blueprint that had been germinating for so many years. “I made one, and I sold it,” he said. Then he made more wheel hoes, and sold them as well. For a while, the tool business was mostly a hobby, and the tool he focused on was the wheel hoe—basically a hoe attached to a wheel that can be rolled through rows of crops for easier weeding. Grau is a strong believer in organic gar-

dening, and in buying locally grown produce. In fact, if they don’t know him from the farmers’ market, Chicoans might remember Grau’s popular organic-gardening speaker series held in 2011 at the Chico Grange. In that same vein of staying local, all his tools are built in Chico, with the help of his small staff at Valley Oak Tool Co. “Having been a farmer, I know that farmers are hard on tools. I built these tools to be, as I call it, farm-tough,” Grau said. “They’re tough enough to stand up to work on the farm all day, month after month, year after year. I also keep redesigning the tools. When I find a weak point, I strengthen that; then I find the next weak point and strengthen that. We make them here in Chico, so I control the manufacturing process.” And he’s not the only one who believes in his product. “I really like David’s stuff; it’s superrugged and well-made,” said Lee Callender, farmer at GRUB CSA Farm on West Sacramento Avenue. Callender has been using Grau’s wheel hoe for the past five years and, more recently, started using the

Tool time:

Go to www.valleyoaktools.com to find out more about Valley Oak Tool Co. and to sign up to receive Valley Oak’s gardening-tips e-newsletter.

broadfork. “They’ve saved us hours of work,” he said. The tools that Grau has created are

more sophisticated than something you might find at, say, Tractor Supply Co., but in all actuality are quite simple. The wheel hoe, for example, has a snap-release mechanism for the easy use of different attachments and also is height-adjustable, so it doesn’t matter if you’re short or tall—you can always make sure it fits you just right. “We use the wheel hoes weekly on the farm,” Callender said. “I love them. They’ve got different blade widths, so we can put a different blade on based on the width of our rows.” Callender compared the wheel hoe to a Hula-Ho, which he said is offered in only one width—about 5 1/2 inches—and is pulled, rather than pushed like the wheel hoe. “We mainly use the wheel hoe with a 14-inch blade,” he said. “Not only is it three times the width [of the Hula-Ho], but the way you’re doing it is more ergonomic[ally correct].” All the tools are made of high-quality heavy-gauge steel. And, true to the company’s belief in its own craftsmanship and design, they all come with a two-year warranty.

GREENWAYS continued on page 18


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GREENWAYS

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Aside from the wheel hoe, Valley Oak Tool Co. also offers the more versatile broadfork. While the wheel hoe might be an excellent addition to any serious farmer’s tool shed, it might be a tad too much for the average gardener, Grau admitted. The broadfork, on the other hand, makes life in even the backyard veggie patch a bit easier. Available in four- or five-spike varieties, this tool aerates the soil— taking the place of a rototiller—and makes double-digging unnecessary. The company’s newest tool is an attachment to the wheel hoe called the hiller, designed for vegetables like potatoes and corn that benefit from having dirt poured on top of them. The hiller, like all of Grau’s other inventions, was very much a labor of love that began with the study of existing tools. “With the hiller, my starting point was a horse-drawn moldboard plow,” he said. He hoped to accomplish much of the same thing as the mold-board plow, which takes dirt from the path and throws it to one side, only without the horse and with a push rather than pull technique. “It took about a year and a half,” he said, to go from idea through the various stages of prototypes and testing to final product. “I made lots of failed attempts. I’ve got probably eight or 10 prototypes lying around that don’t work.” But in the end, he was able to

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Run for a good cause on Saturday, May 18, during the annual Oroville 5K River Run, a benefit for the Oroville Police Officers Association’s Shoes for Kids program. The course starts at the Oroville State Theatre (1489 Meyers St.) and continues up the levee and along the Feather River, ending at Centennial Plaza. Entry fees range from $10 to $25; go to www.under thesunevents.org to register.

turn all those failed attempts into something that he hopes will help his fellow farmers and gardeners be more efficient. “The reason I do this is I believe that we have to change the culture to become more ecological,” he said. “A big component of that is growing food locally, sustainably and organically. To do that you need great hand tools. I saw a lack and I thought, ‘I can make these tools. I can spread the word.’” Ω more GREENWAYS continued on page 20

UNCOMMON SENSE Pesticide-in-produce guide Eating a healthful diet with plenty of fruits and veggies seems complicated when factoring in that conventional-farming practices often involve the use of chemical pesticides. Helping arm consumers with purchasing knowledge, the Environmental Working Group has produced a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, which includes those to avoid (or buy organic) and those that are least contaminated. The Dirty Dozen (plus two) Apples Celery Cherry tomatoes Cucumbers Grapes Hot peppers Nectarines (imported) Peaches Potatoes Spinach Strawberries Sweet bell peppers Kale/Collard greens Summer squash

The Clean 15 Asparagus Avocados Cabbage Cantaloupe Sweet corn Eggplant Grapefruit Kiwi Mangos Mushrooms Onions Papayas Pineapples Sweet peas, frozen Sweet potatoes


May 16, 2013

CN&R 19


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FOOD-SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE Back in January, I announced in this column that Cultivating Community Advocates (CCA), a sub-organization of Cultivating Community NV, was seeking applicants for its 2013 Food Security Competitive Grant Program. The program, as Sue Hilderbrand, CCA’s program coordinator, pointed out, awards mini-grants to chosen applicants as part of a larger Specialty Crop Block Grant from the California Department of Food & Agriculture. Well, those grant awards have been made, Hilderbrand said in a recent CCA press release—to the tune of $44,000 in all. Five local nonprofit organizations were chosen, from 21 applicants, as recipients during the program’s first grant cycle: • Jarvis Gardens Senior Apartments, Chico: “Jarvis Gardens will establish a large garden, including fruit trees, to be used by its elderly population,” Hilderbrand said. “The building of the gardens will be done in a workshoptype format in order to teach residents and surrounding community members how to develop gardens.” • Second Baptist Church, Chico: “A large community garden will be built and used to provide fresh vegetables to participants, and educational workshops about growing, processing and canning will be offered to community and congregational members.” • Love Chapmantown Community Coalition, Chico: “A marketing director will work within the Chapmantown neighborhood to get more local participation in the [neighborhood’s] weekly farmers’ market. The marketing director will also help facilitate more farmers and local vendors in participating in the market.” • African American Family & Cultural Center, South Oroville: “AAFCC will expand the existing community garden and establish a vegetable stand to offer low-cost, fresh produce in the area’s ‘food desert.’ Workshops for processing fresh foods will also be offered to the community at no charge.” • Westside Domestic Violence Shelter, Glenn County: “A large garden will be built on-site, and the existing orchards will be tended in order to offer residents healthy food as well as providing educational workshops on cooking and processing food,” said Hilderbrand. “Residents of the shelter will be required to learn these skills as part of their residency.” Hilderbrand points out that “the purpose of the CCA Food Security Competitive Grant program is to encourage food localization and to support food security within the Butte County farming area, and specifically within communities with historic barriers to access. ... “In the United States, more than one out of five children lives in a household with food insecurity, which Iyanah Blackshire (foreground) and Madison Rickert means they do not always help Marie Dillon (at rear) plant vegetables during a recent garden work day at the Second Baptist Church. know where they will find their next meal. According PHOTO COURTESY OF CULTIVATING COMMUNITY ADVOCATES to the United States Department of Agriculture, 16.7 million children under 18 in the United States live in this condition—unable to consistently access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for a healthy life.” In September, the next CCA grant cycle will be announced, offering another $40,000 to $45,000, said Hilderbrand. Each award ranges from $3,000 to $10,000. All applications are welcome and awards will be made on a competitive basis using specific rating criteria. Stay tuned… For more information, contact Hilderbrand at (602) 481-9506 or sue@ccadvocates.org. “The average person is still under the aberrant delusion that food should be somebody else’s responsibility until I’m ready to eat it.” — famous farmer Joel Salatin, on food security EMAIL YOUR GREEN HOME, GARDEN AND COMMUNITY TIPS TO CHRISTINE AT CHRISTINEL@NEWSREVIEW.COM

20 CN&R May 16, 2013


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CN&R 21


Forget what you see on ‘reality’ TV and meet some local pawnbrokers

W

hen I was in high school, I saw a movie called The Pawnbroker. It left a powerful impression, telling the tale of an aging Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who ran a gritty pawnshop in New York City. The pawnbroker was played by Rod Steiger as a deeply embittered man whose heart had hardened because of the horrors he’d experienced, leaving him utterly indifferent to the poor, the desperate and the lonely people who showed up in his store, looking for money or for a moment of compassion from a fellow human being. It was an unrelentingly bleak movie, filmed in black and white, and for those of us who had our impressions of pawnshops and pawnbrokers shaped as we watched it, it came as a bit of a shock a half-century later when pawnshops became the settings for several very popular “reality” shows. Pawn Stars, the most popular of those shows, has even inspired a slot machine you can play right here in Butte County, at Gold Country Casino, where for wagers up to $2.50 a spin you can hope to line up winning combinations of Chumlee, Big Hoss, the Old Man or Rick, those four “pawn stars” whose images adorn the reels and lure slot players to take a chance on getting the bells to ring and the winnings to rack up. I tried it. It ate a hundred dollar bill in about 15 minutes, money that would have been far better spent at a pawnshop not far away.

Some stories just refuse to go the direction

you want them to take. I pitched this piece thinking it would provide the opportunity to write a hard-edged slice of Oroville noir focused on pawnshops where down-and-outers went from the Indian 22 CN&R May 16, 2013

That symbol is thought to have been derived from the heraldic image of the Lombard region of Italy, where the origins of European pawning were associated with the Medici family in Florence. But according to that very old joke, the three balls mean there’s “a two to one chance you won’t get your stuff back.” It’s that kind of folk humor that makes it difficult for people in the pawn business to overcome centuries of accrued bad publicity, some of which has roots in the fact that pawnshops were traditionally associated with usury, the practice of charging exorbitant interest on short-term loans. Think of Shylock, in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, and you will have one of the clouds darkening the image of pawnbrokers. Anti-Semitism has always been fueled by the image of Jews as money lenders. There was a time when Jews engaged in that activity almost exclusively because, in preReformation Christianity, lending money at interest was considered a sin, leaving that business opportunity to Jews. They too took a dim view of charging interest, but made an exception when lending money to Gentiles. That practice gave birth to an enduring stereotype, one that is still alive even after Gentiles moved back into banking and money-lending big time, at usurious levels that would have shamed those ancient Jewish moneylenders. But ethnic stereotypes formed centuries ago persist. The fact that the owner-operators featured on Hardcore Pawn are Jews has sometimes rekindled the old stereotyping. They’re the Gold family, three people who run American Jewelry and Loan, a Detroit store that seems more like a combat zone than a commercial enterprise. This definitely is not an operation run on the notion that the customer is always right. And the customers are, all too often, entirely whack, borderline violent, and

The

n w a P Real Stars

casinos to the pawnshops to hock their dead mothers’ wedding rings for a few pennies on the dollar, hoping to get enough money to return to the casinos and feed the slots once more, chasing the chimera of winning their money back so they could make the rent. Though it may be true that such scenarios get played out somewhere in the nexus between hard times and pawnshops, that wasn’t the story I found when I sat down to interview Danielle Batha, Chris Daniels and Gary Besser before business hours on a recent Thursday morning. Batha is so pretty you might consider hocking your watch just for an excuse to talk with her. In fact, everyone who works at Chico Cash Exchange is better looking than any of the “stars” found on reality-TV shows that often take liberties with reality. If you’re in the market for a $5,000 Stetson hat, I know where you can find one, size 7 1/4, and at a very sizeable markdown. It’s got gold and diamonds in the hatband and a fancy leather hatbox to keep it in when you’re not showing it off on your head. Or, if a really pricey hat doesn’t interest you much, but you’re jonesin’ to own a wooly-mammoth tusk, I know where you can find one of those, too. You can check out the hat on the corner of Park and East 20th in Chico, where Batha manages Chico Cash Exchange, a pawnshop that might not be what you expect a pawnshop to be. And the wooly-mammoth tusk is

BY JAIME O’NEILL

on display, and for sale, at Oro Jewelry and Loan, which is Chico Cash Exchange’s sister store over in Oroville on the corner of Oro Dam Boulevard and Lincoln Street. Daniels is the operations manager at that Oroville store, and she’s way more tender of heart than you might expect, especially if your idea of a woman in the pawn trade is drawn from Ashley Broad, that rather bitchy woman who works at her father’s pawnshop in Detroit, an enterprise featured on Hardcore Pawn, another of those now ubiquitous pawnshop “reality” shows. I put “reality” in quotation marks as a way of suggesting that reality isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be on these shows. For instance, you’re not likely to hear the exchange of expletives so commonly found on Hardcore Pawn, where family and mercantile dramas are acted out in every episode, along with tidbits of physical violence, leaving the impression that making loans on mer-

chandise is an enterprise requiring the constant attention of beefy bouncers. Were there other general misconceptions about the pawn business, or were there things seen on those “reality” shows that didn’t reflect the way the pawn business is conducted here in Butte County? Batha responded with alacrity, almost as if she was eager to clear up a few myths that bothered her. “People come in and they say: ‘This is a pawnshop?’ They’re surprised because it’s not what they expect. It’s not dingy. The merchandise is good quality. It’s clean. We smile. And we’re kind to people. “Some people seem to have the idea that pawnshops are seedy places. They expect to find a sleazy environment where you can’t trust the people behind the counter.” Her description of the shop was consistent with what I saw—lots of cases filled with jewelry, guitars of various descriptions hung from pegs on the wall, power tools on

shelves, and various other items, all attractively laid out for sale.

Besser works alongside Batha at the Chico

store. He has two kids and a degree in psychology, and it probably never occurred to him when he was taking classes that he would find himself working in a pawnshop. But that’s what he’s doing these days, managing the online and eBay side of the business, in addition to negotiating with customers on things that come through the door. Though it may not have been the career he anticipated when he was in college, he genuinely seems to like his work. “Customers are pleasantly surprised,” he said. “We have a beautiful showroom with lots of beautiful stuff.” They also have an immediately noticeable security buffer between employees and customers, some very thick plexiglass the employees sit behind when negotiating trans-

Gary Besser, above, has two kids and a degree in psychology, but he genuinely enjoys working at Chico Cash Exchange. “We’re out to help people,” he says, “and we want everyone to come out a winner.” Danielle Batha, right, manages Chico Cash Exchange. The hat she’s wearing has gold and diamonds in the hatband, comes in a fancy leather hatbox, and cost $5,000 new. PHOTOS BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

actions with customers. What was all that about? “We’re putting out the message that we’re not victims, and not about to be victimized,” Daniels answered. “We want customers to know that this is a very safe and secure place, and that stuff they pawn with us will be here when they come back to get it.” That put me in mind of a joke about the traditional symbol of the pawn business—the three balls that hang outside of most traditional pawnshops, especially in Europe.

“Some people seem to have the idea that pawnshops are seedy places. They expect to find a sleazy environment where you can’t trust the people behind the counter.” —Danielle Batha

always expecting a great deal more for the stuff they want to pawn than the Gold family wants to pay them.

Ethnic prejudice and the connotation of

shady dealing aren’t the only image problems modern-day pawnbrokers seek to overcome. “There’s also a popular misconception that we deal in stolen goods,” Daniels said. “But less than 1 percent of inventory in pawnshops gets past our screening for stolen goods. We take thumb prints and we get ID, so if something you’ve pawned turns out to have been stolen, the police know where to look for you.” “Let’s go do some paperwork” is a phrase heard on every episode of every one of those pawnshop reality shows. That line is uttered whenever a deal is consummated. The “paperwork” they’re talking about is all about keeping track of the goods, complying with regulations that have made it difficult for pawnbrokers to be used as fences for stolen property. So, if you’ve got a hot guitar or a stolen amplifier, you’re going to face a problem trying to offload it at Chico Cash Exchange, or any pawnshop like it. “There are so many laws that we have to abide by,” Daniels continued, “and compliance can make the process a little complicated. If somebody comes in and we do all the paperwork—fingerprints, signatures, etc.— we give it to the Police Department and they have 30 days to check our records. Sometimes people come in and tell us they had something stolen, and we refer them to the police to see if there’s a match.” “We’ve even had a couple of stings conducted through our store,” Batha added. “Pawnbrokers throughout the country joined together to encourage the passage of reporting laws on flea markets and thrift stores, too, all to make it more difficult for legitimate businesses to be used to fence stolen goods.” The pawnshop Batha manages opened two years ago, just as cable television was building an audience of people suddenly curious about what goes on in these stores. Business, she says, has been good, some of it brought in by people whose curiosity about this branch of retail trade has been awakened “PAWN” continued on page 24 May 16, 2013

CN&R 23


Forget what you see on ‘reality’ TV and meet some local pawnbrokers

W

hen I was in high school, I saw a movie called The Pawnbroker. It left a powerful impression, telling the tale of an aging Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who ran a gritty pawnshop in New York City. The pawnbroker was played by Rod Steiger as a deeply embittered man whose heart had hardened because of the horrors he’d experienced, leaving him utterly indifferent to the poor, the desperate and the lonely people who showed up in his store, looking for money or for a moment of compassion from a fellow human being. It was an unrelentingly bleak movie, filmed in black and white, and for those of us who had our impressions of pawnshops and pawnbrokers shaped as we watched it, it came as a bit of a shock a half-century later when pawnshops became the settings for several very popular “reality” shows. Pawn Stars, the most popular of those shows, has even inspired a slot machine you can play right here in Butte County, at Gold Country Casino, where for wagers up to $2.50 a spin you can hope to line up winning combinations of Chumlee, Big Hoss, the Old Man or Rick, those four “pawn stars” whose images adorn the reels and lure slot players to take a chance on getting the bells to ring and the winnings to rack up. I tried it. It ate a hundred dollar bill in about 15 minutes, money that would have been far better spent at a pawnshop not far away.

Some stories just refuse to go the direction

you want them to take. I pitched this piece thinking it would provide the opportunity to write a hard-edged slice of Oroville noir focused on pawnshops where down-and-outers went from the Indian 22 CN&R May 16, 2013

That symbol is thought to have been derived from the heraldic image of the Lombard region of Italy, where the origins of European pawning were associated with the Medici family in Florence. But according to that very old joke, the three balls mean there’s “a two to one chance you won’t get your stuff back.” It’s that kind of folk humor that makes it difficult for people in the pawn business to overcome centuries of accrued bad publicity, some of which has roots in the fact that pawnshops were traditionally associated with usury, the practice of charging exorbitant interest on short-term loans. Think of Shylock, in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, and you will have one of the clouds darkening the image of pawnbrokers. Anti-Semitism has always been fueled by the image of Jews as money lenders. There was a time when Jews engaged in that activity almost exclusively because, in preReformation Christianity, lending money at interest was considered a sin, leaving that business opportunity to Jews. They too took a dim view of charging interest, but made an exception when lending money to Gentiles. That practice gave birth to an enduring stereotype, one that is still alive even after Gentiles moved back into banking and money-lending big time, at usurious levels that would have shamed those ancient Jewish moneylenders. But ethnic stereotypes formed centuries ago persist. The fact that the owner-operators featured on Hardcore Pawn are Jews has sometimes rekindled the old stereotyping. They’re the Gold family, three people who run American Jewelry and Loan, a Detroit store that seems more like a combat zone than a commercial enterprise. This definitely is not an operation run on the notion that the customer is always right. And the customers are, all too often, entirely whack, borderline violent, and

The

n w a P Real Stars

casinos to the pawnshops to hock their dead mothers’ wedding rings for a few pennies on the dollar, hoping to get enough money to return to the casinos and feed the slots once more, chasing the chimera of winning their money back so they could make the rent. Though it may be true that such scenarios get played out somewhere in the nexus between hard times and pawnshops, that wasn’t the story I found when I sat down to interview Danielle Batha, Chris Daniels and Gary Besser before business hours on a recent Thursday morning. Batha is so pretty you might consider hocking your watch just for an excuse to talk with her. In fact, everyone who works at Chico Cash Exchange is better looking than any of the “stars” found on reality-TV shows that often take liberties with reality. If you’re in the market for a $5,000 Stetson hat, I know where you can find one, size 7 1/4, and at a very sizeable markdown. It’s got gold and diamonds in the hatband and a fancy leather hatbox to keep it in when you’re not showing it off on your head. Or, if a really pricey hat doesn’t interest you much, but you’re jonesin’ to own a wooly-mammoth tusk, I know where you can find one of those, too. You can check out the hat on the corner of Park and East 20th in Chico, where Batha manages Chico Cash Exchange, a pawnshop that might not be what you expect a pawnshop to be. And the wooly-mammoth tusk is

BY JAIME O’NEILL

on display, and for sale, at Oro Jewelry and Loan, which is Chico Cash Exchange’s sister store over in Oroville on the corner of Oro Dam Boulevard and Lincoln Street. Daniels is the operations manager at that Oroville store, and she’s way more tender of heart than you might expect, especially if your idea of a woman in the pawn trade is drawn from Ashley Broad, that rather bitchy woman who works at her father’s pawnshop in Detroit, an enterprise featured on Hardcore Pawn, another of those now ubiquitous pawnshop “reality” shows. I put “reality” in quotation marks as a way of suggesting that reality isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be on these shows. For instance, you’re not likely to hear the exchange of expletives so commonly found on Hardcore Pawn, where family and mercantile dramas are acted out in every episode, along with tidbits of physical violence, leaving the impression that making loans on mer-

chandise is an enterprise requiring the constant attention of beefy bouncers. Were there other general misconceptions about the pawn business, or were there things seen on those “reality” shows that didn’t reflect the way the pawn business is conducted here in Butte County? Batha responded with alacrity, almost as if she was eager to clear up a few myths that bothered her. “People come in and they say: ‘This is a pawnshop?’ They’re surprised because it’s not what they expect. It’s not dingy. The merchandise is good quality. It’s clean. We smile. And we’re kind to people. “Some people seem to have the idea that pawnshops are seedy places. They expect to find a sleazy environment where you can’t trust the people behind the counter.” Her description of the shop was consistent with what I saw—lots of cases filled with jewelry, guitars of various descriptions hung from pegs on the wall, power tools on

shelves, and various other items, all attractively laid out for sale.

Besser works alongside Batha at the Chico

store. He has two kids and a degree in psychology, and it probably never occurred to him when he was taking classes that he would find himself working in a pawnshop. But that’s what he’s doing these days, managing the online and eBay side of the business, in addition to negotiating with customers on things that come through the door. Though it may not have been the career he anticipated when he was in college, he genuinely seems to like his work. “Customers are pleasantly surprised,” he said. “We have a beautiful showroom with lots of beautiful stuff.” They also have an immediately noticeable security buffer between employees and customers, some very thick plexiglass the employees sit behind when negotiating trans-

Gary Besser, above, has two kids and a degree in psychology, but he genuinely enjoys working at Chico Cash Exchange. “We’re out to help people,” he says, “and we want everyone to come out a winner.” Danielle Batha, right, manages Chico Cash Exchange. The hat she’s wearing has gold and diamonds in the hatband, comes in a fancy leather hatbox, and cost $5,000 new. PHOTOS BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

actions with customers. What was all that about? “We’re putting out the message that we’re not victims, and not about to be victimized,” Daniels answered. “We want customers to know that this is a very safe and secure place, and that stuff they pawn with us will be here when they come back to get it.” That put me in mind of a joke about the traditional symbol of the pawn business—the three balls that hang outside of most traditional pawnshops, especially in Europe.

“Some people seem to have the idea that pawnshops are seedy places. They expect to find a sleazy environment where you can’t trust the people behind the counter.” —Danielle Batha

always expecting a great deal more for the stuff they want to pawn than the Gold family wants to pay them.

Ethnic prejudice and the connotation of

shady dealing aren’t the only image problems modern-day pawnbrokers seek to overcome. “There’s also a popular misconception that we deal in stolen goods,” Daniels said. “But less than 1 percent of inventory in pawnshops gets past our screening for stolen goods. We take thumb prints and we get ID, so if something you’ve pawned turns out to have been stolen, the police know where to look for you.” “Let’s go do some paperwork” is a phrase heard on every episode of every one of those pawnshop reality shows. That line is uttered whenever a deal is consummated. The “paperwork” they’re talking about is all about keeping track of the goods, complying with regulations that have made it difficult for pawnbrokers to be used as fences for stolen property. So, if you’ve got a hot guitar or a stolen amplifier, you’re going to face a problem trying to offload it at Chico Cash Exchange, or any pawnshop like it. “There are so many laws that we have to abide by,” Daniels continued, “and compliance can make the process a little complicated. If somebody comes in and we do all the paperwork—fingerprints, signatures, etc.— we give it to the Police Department and they have 30 days to check our records. Sometimes people come in and tell us they had something stolen, and we refer them to the police to see if there’s a match.” “We’ve even had a couple of stings conducted through our store,” Batha added. “Pawnbrokers throughout the country joined together to encourage the passage of reporting laws on flea markets and thrift stores, too, all to make it more difficult for legitimate businesses to be used to fence stolen goods.” The pawnshop Batha manages opened two years ago, just as cable television was building an audience of people suddenly curious about what goes on in these stores. Business, she says, has been good, some of it brought in by people whose curiosity about this branch of retail trade has been awakened “PAWN” continued on page 24 May 16, 2013

CN&R 23


“PAWN” continued from page 23

Is this real? Images from TV’s pawnshops

by what they’ve seen on TV. Even with the exaggerations and the departures from “reality,” the shows have been good for the pawn business. “Pawn Stars, in particular, has definitely helped the industry,” Batha says. “The show has made us more approachable.”

It’s possible, too, that the pawn

PAWN

Stars

business is thriving because the country’s been in a deep recession for a while now, with high unemployment and few wage increases for those lucky enough to have jobs. That’s created greater need for quickie loans using a prized possession as collateral. Did the fact that the two stores opened in the middle of a big economic downturn prove to be a propitious time to go into the pawn business here? After all, in times of economic distress, more people are strapped for cash, perhaps, and willing to let go of family heirlooms or watches acquired in more prosperous times. “I don’t think the pawn business is a litmus for the economy,” Daniels said. “We do make a point of stocking quality power tools, though, and guys are always improving their tools when they have the money. And we’re beginning to see more of that.” Batha wanted to make it known that the emphasis is on high-quality merchandise. “People think we’ll take in anything,” she said, “or that we can offer them loans on things that have no value. But we have to concentrate on good-quality material.” Some of the customers seen on Hardcore Pawn are pretty strange. Is that the “reality” they know in their stores? “Sometimes somebody will wander in who’s clearly off

In addition to being in the pawning business, Chico Cash Exchange offers paydayadvance loans. PHOTO BY MELISSA DAUGHERTY

24 CN&R May 16, 2013

their meds,” Batha said, “but that probably happens in any business.” “Do you have a hostile encounter with customers on a daily basis?” I asked. “Because that seems to be the case on every episode I’ve seen of Hardcore Pawn.” Daniels laughed at the question. “No, we don’t. And we’ve never had anyone get naked in the store, either,” she said, referring to just one of the bizarre encounters seen on cable TV’s version of pawnshop “reality.” Batha agreed. “Sometimes the TV pawn shows make an unfair portrayal of both sides—the brokers and their customers.” “One of the things I’ve liked about working here,” Daniels added, “is how often people are grateful for the help we’re able to offer them.” Batha nodded. “Our women customers tend to be really sweet people,” she added. “Lots of the people we do business with are single moms trying to get to the end of the week. They’ll bring in jewelry or laptops. Sometimes it’s for just enough money to fill the gas tank.” “You don’t know what some of these people have gone through,” Daniels added. “Or are going through.” That reminds her

Chris Daniels, right, is operations manager at Oro Jewelry and Loan, in Oroville. “We want customers to know that this is a very safe and secure place,” she says. PHOTO BY JAIME O’NEILL

of a young couple who’d come to her store seeking to sell their wedding rings. “The wife was pregnant,” Daniels said, and as she told the story her eyes welled with tears. “It wasn’t a ton of money we were talking about, but I hated that they were in a position to have to sell their rings, and I really wanted to see that they got those rings back. I persuaded them to pawn the rings rather than sell them outright. “When people pawn things, they’ve got four months and 10 days to get them, but when we buy items, we hold them for 40 days until cleared by law enforcement to ensure the stuff hasn’t been stolen. Then we can dispose of it. For people like that young family, the pawn option is just a whole lot better. And I always want people to know the full range of options. I’ve been through my own share of challenges, and I try to remember my own humanity when


—Chris Daniels

“Women pawn their rings,” Batha said, “and then when they come back to get ’em out, they’ll want to upgrade.”

Besser hadn’t said much through-

out the interview, so I asked him if he had anything to add from the male perspective. “I think I’ve lost my male perspective,” he joked. “I work in a little room with Danielle all day. And I like to think of myself as a compassionate and reasonable person. We’re out to help people, and we want everyone to come out a winner.” My cynicism asserted itself, and I brought up the fact that they also engage in the business of making payday-advance loans at astronomical rates of interest. “We don’t like the payday advance, either,” Batha said, “and I always tell customers how expensive those loans are, and I try to steer them to cheaper money, especially if they have something they can pawn.” Daniels nodded her assent. “But, don’t forget,” she added, “if you’re just trying to squeak by until payday, and you need a tank of gas just to make it to work, that loan can be worth the interest paid, especially if you pay it off on payday. The problem comes for people when they start rollin’ ’em, taking out a new loan to pay down the last one. That can get people in deep trouble.” “We offer a set of options,” Batha explained. “Some people just don’t have anyone at all they can turn to for help. And we always try

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“You don’t know what some of these people have gone through. Or are going through.”

to steer them to pawning things rather than taking out payday advances. But for some people, when they use it carefully, a payday loan can be a workable solution to a temporary problem.” How about that fancy and expensive cowboy hat? Did they get many items of that kind? “We don’t deal so much in super high-end merchandise,” Besser answered, “but we do get some surprises. We’ve had musical instruments that have been pretty valuable, but we haven’t had that 1953 Les Paul guitar come through the door yet. We did get a very rare clarinet not long ago.” And how much of the stuff that people pawn is never reclaimed? “The number of people who don’t come back to get their stuff is very small,” Daniels said, “something like 5 percent. Most things are redeemed from 10 days to four months after they’re pawned.” And she wanted it known that, though most people don’t think of pawnshop operators as particularly community-minded, the two stores are contributors to community radio and active sponsors of local sports, including the Oroville soccer team.

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I’m dealing with customers.” Working in Oroville, did Daniels see people pawning stuff because of losses at the casinos there? “I just don’t see that as a driving force,” she said. “More often, we see customers coming in who’ve had a win and they’re looking to go shopping. It’s not all tears and sad stories,” Daniels adds. “It’s like a curio shop.”

A historian named Wendy

Woloson recently published a surprisingly interesting book called In Hock: Pawning in America from Independence through the Great Depression. Commenting on that book, a reviewer observed: “Surrounded on all sides by predatory lenders, rapid refund tax shops, and multinational credit card companies charging interest on interest, we might stop to notice the lowly pawnbroker. Unlike those other firms, pawnbrokers provide clear information about loan terms; they are explicit on the interest rate and any additional fees being charged, when the loan will come due, and how much money in total is required to retrieve collateral.” Woloson’s research led her to conclude that “far from being antagonistic and exploitative transactions, exchanges of objects for short-term loans have often been cooperative interactions, rooted in trust between the working poor who were trying to meet their needs and pawnbrokers who were trying to make a living.” That was precisely the impression I garnered after talking to Batha, Daniels and Besser, three local pawn “stars” whose daily “reality” may be similar to, but is quite different from, what viewers may have seen on TV or in the movies. Ω

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CN&R 25


Arts & Culture Loki Miller and Jodi Rives meet up one dark Chico night (or do they?) in Melanie Smith’s one-act, “Anything Your Heart Desires.” PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Local gothic

THIS WEEK

Four fresh and original one-acts delve into the dark corners of Chico

Fhave witnessed untold tragedies to the infamous tunnels beneath the streets of downtown, there rom aging homes whose walls may

are plenty of dark recesses in Chico where the sun doesn’t shine. These are the places four local playwrights were spurred to explore with the return of the Fresh Ink fesby tival of new works to the Blue Ken Smith Room Theatre. kens@ Until the current production newsreview.com began last Thursday, Fresh Ink— once an annual event—has not graced the theater’s stage for five years. At each festival, a group of REVIEW: Fresh Ink , festival local writers is given a theme on of new works, which to base a short play. This showing at the year, writers Melanie Smith, Martin Blue Room, Chavira, Bryce Allemann and Thursday- Christian Lovgren were assigned Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10-$15 the topic of “Gothic Chico,” a potentially fertile theme in a town Blue Room with such a distinct character and Theatre rich, sometimes strange and color139 W. First St. ful local history. The writers’ works 895-3749 www.blueroom were then massaged and made theatre.com ready for stage by four directors: Loki Miller, Erin A. Tarabini, Jeremy Votava and Frank Bedene. Collaborative productions can easily become a convoluted mess, a pitfall the writers and directors managed to deftly avoid. Instead, the quartet of works made for a good night’s worth of entertainment and, whether by chance or planning, effectively showcased some of the theater’s most prevalent styles. First up was “Anything Your Heart Desires,” written by Smith. Miller does double duty, directing and starring as Curtis, a man with incredibly strange mannerisms who scored an after-the-bar rendezvous with an attractive woman named Zoe (Jessica SijanNelsen). They visit a supposedly abandoned old Chico home where Curtis once spent a summer, but their romantic liaison is interrupted by a woman named Diana (Jodi Rives), whom Curtis remembers from his past. The lines between what is real and imagined are blurred as the audience is left to contemplate whether the scene depicts a science-fiction pseudo-reality or the twisted delusions of the mentally disturbed Diana. Next was “Dr. Stansbury’s Monster” (written by Chavira and directed by Tarabini), in which the historic doctor who built the stately home at Fifth and Salem streets (played by Tony Daum) is fictionalized as a booty-obsessed Dr. Frankenstein-esque madman 26 CN&R May 16, 2013

16

THURS

Special Events BEER RELEASE PARTY: Brewmaster Roland Allen

bent on creating an army of reanimated hookers. Getting in his way are the hilarious Deputy Mulberry (Aubry Bagshaw) and his own Igor-esque sidekick, Vladimir (Jeff Patrick). The madcap farce peaks with a dance/chase scene led by one of Stansbury’s creations, the charming golem Bunny (played by a girl billed only as Britny). The Zany “Monster” was followed by “The Devil’s Handiwork,” about an elderly widower known as The Chapman Dowager (played by Eileen Burke-Trent) and her distrust of the modern comforts of the 1920s. This all comes to a head when a telephone technician who may be the devil, an angel or just a regular telephone installer comes to call. Written by Allemann and directed by Votava, this scene unfolds like a classic Rod Serling tale, and is peppered with historical references that make it especially enjoyable. The final act was Lovgren’s “Under the Shadow of the Hooker Oak.” Here another couple heads to a strange place—this time the tunnels under Chico— for a tryst. But one of the two—hapless every-bro Omega (Virgil Ritter) and the seductive Inna (Cat Campbell)—are not what they seem. This scene is given teeth by strange, poetic monologues delivered by a man named Simon (David Orneallas), interesting stage production (the opening is particularly haunting) and, again, plenty of local references for color. Part of the fun of Fresh Ink for audience members is voting, by ballot, for their favorite one-act of the evening, with the winning playwright getting a cash prize. For that reason, I won’t go into the individual merits of the each short piece too much, but will instead say that they altogether form a fantastic program. The first play is strange and obtuse, the second hilarious and silly, the third a classic chiller, and the final a touch avant-garde. To sum it up, it’s all the themes I expect from and all the reasons I most enjoy the Blue Room rolled into a single evening. Ω

presents his latest concoction, Golden Feather Extra Pale Ale, and offers tours of the brewery. Th, 5/16, 6pm. Free. Feather Falls Casino, 3 Alverda Dr. in Oroville; (530) 5333885; www.featherfallscasino.com.

FUNDS 4 FELINES: A benefit for Caring 4 Kittens including dinner, a no-host bar, an auction and live music by the Jeff Pershing Band. Call or go online for reservations. Th, 5/16, 6pm. $35. Tuscan Ridge Golf Course, 3100 Skyway Blvd. in Paradise; (530) 877-1797; www.caring4kittens.com/fundraiser.

THURSDAY NIGHT MARKET: Downtown Chico’s weekly marketplace with local produce, vendors, entertainment and music. This week: belly dance from Sirens in Sanity, traditional and old-time music from Simplewheel and Blooze on the Rocks. Th, 6-9pm. Prices vary. Downtown Chico; www.downtownchico.net.

Art Recptions BELLE APOCALYPSE: A reception for the glass and light installation serving as Chico State art student Crystal Keesey’s MFA culminating exhibition. Th, 5/16, 5-7pm. Free. 1078 Gallery, 820 Broadway; (530) 343-1973; www.1078 gallery.org.

Theater FRESH INK FEST: Fresh Ink returns with four new one acts on the theme of “Gothic Chico.” ThSa, 7:30pm through 5/18. $10-$15. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W First St., (530) 895-3749, www.blueroomtheatre.com.

THE GIVER: The story of a dystopian future—in which pain and struggle have been eliminated at the cost of emotion—adapted for the stage. Th-Sa, 7:30pm; Su, 2pm. $7-$15. Birdcage Theatre, 1740 Bird St. in Oroville, (530) 5332473, www.birdcagetheatre.net.

17

FRI

Special Events COPPELIA: A three-act comedy performed by the Northern California Ballet. 5/17-5/18, 7:15pm; Sa, 5/18, 2:15pm. $12-$20. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunnelly Rd. in Paradise, (530) 872-1719, www.northerncali forniaballet.com.

Art Receptions ART & SOUL: A reception for the gallery’s new exhibit. F, 5/17, 4-8pm. Free. Sally Dimas Art Gallery, 493 East Ave. #1; (530) 345-3063.

LP COOKIE CAMP MYSTERY MIXER: Reception for group show featuring works inspired by a used LP and a mystery fortune cookie. F, 5/17, 7-11pm. Manas Art Space & Gallery, 1441 C Park Ave., (530) 588-5183.

Music EBONY & IVORY MUSIC SERIES: The monthly music series to benefit the restoration of the club’s Steinway Concert Grand Piano continues with Robert Laughlin playing boogie, rag-time and show tunes. Festivities include wine, hors d’oeuvres and dancing. F, 5/17, 68pm. $10. Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St.; (530) 894-1978; www.chicowomensclub.org.

FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES: The summer’s weekly concert series kicks off with familyfriendly dance rock from The Alice Peake Experience. F, 5/17, 7-8:30pm. Free. Downtown Chico Plaza, 400 Broadway St.; (530) 896-7200; www.downtownchico.net.

Theater FRESH INK FEST: See Thursday. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W First St., (530) 895-3749, www.blueroomtheatre.com.

BELLE APOCALYPSE Tonight, May 16 1078 Gallery

SEE THURSDAY, ART RECEPTIONS


FINE ARTS

19

SUN

Special Events RAD FESTIVAL: Live music, a picnic-style lunch, prizes and more to benefit the Recreation and Dreams for Kids with Cancer program. Call for more info. Su, 5/19, 12-3pm. $5. Oakmont Retirement Community, 2801 Cohasset Rd., (719) 221-4832.

Music THE REFORMATION: The Paradise Symphony Orchestra performs Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven’s Prometheus Overture. Su, 5/19, 7pm. $5-$17. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunnelly Rd.; (530) 342-7816; www.paradisesymphony.org.

Theater THE GIVER: See Thursday. Birdcage Theatre, 1740 Bird St. in Oroville, (530) 533-2473, www.birdagetheatre.net.

BETTY BENSON RETROSPECTIVE Saturday, May 18 Chico Art Center

SEE SATURDAY, ART RECEPTIONS

with live jazz from Charlie Robinson, plus refreshments. Sa, 5/18, 7-9pm. Free. Chico Art Center, 450 Orange St.; (530) 895-8726; www.chicoartcenter.com.

Bird St. in Oroville, (530) 533-2473, www.bird cagetheatre.net.

Poetry/Literature NEW BOOKS POETRY READING: Joanne Allred and Deborah Woodard will read work from their new books—The Evolutionary Purpose of Heartbreak and Borrowed Tales, respectively. F, 5/17, 7:30pm. $3 donation. 1078 Gallery, 820 Broadway; (530) 343-1973; www.1078 gallery.org.

18

SAT

Special Events COPPELIA: See Friday. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunnelly Rd. in Paradise, (530) 8721719, www.northerncaliforniaballet.com.

OROVILLE 5K RIVER RUN: The annual run through downtown, along the Feather River and finishing at Centennial Plaza benefits the Oroville Police Officers Association’s Shoes for Kids program. Go online to register. Sa, 5/18, 8am. Oroville State Theatre, 1489 Myers St.; (530) 538-2429; www.underthesunevents.org.

Art Receptions BETTY BENSON RETROSPECTIVE RECEPTION: A reception for the retrospective exhibition of works from prolific local artist Betty Benson

FREE LISTINGS! Post your event for free online at www.newsreview.com/calendar. Once posted, your CN&R calendar listing will also be considered for print. Print listings are also free, but subject to space limitations. Deadline for print listings is one week prior to the issue in which you wish the listing to appear.

Poetry/Literature WORD PLAY: A freestyle poetry reading open mic

Music THE GIVER: See Thursday. Birdcage Theatre, 1740

20

MON

FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT: The North Valley Chamber Chorale performs music by Bach and Mozart. Sa, 5/18, 7pm. $5-$15. Evangelical Free Church of Chico, 1193 Filbert Ave., (530) 343-6022, www.efcchico.org.

HELLO SUMMER! DANCE BASH: A dance party and benefit concert for KZFR featuring live music by Los Caballitos de la Cancion and Walking Spanish. Food and refreshment available. Sa, 5/18, 6pm. $10. Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St.; (530) 895-0706; www.kzfr.org.

PEPPER: An accessible blend of alternative rock, pop, reggae and ska. Sa, 5/18, 8pm. $16. Senator Theatre, 517 Main St.; (530) 898-1497; www.jmaxproductions.net.

SHERWOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Live music from Alli Battaglia and the Musical Brewing Company, Matthew Clough and the Electric Canyon Band, By Default and Dune Buggy Collective along with a raffle, silent auction and refreshments. Proceeds benefit Sherwood Montessori Charter School. Sa, 5/18, 4-8pm. $5-$15. 2500 Estes Rd. at the end of Normal St., www.sherwoodstock.brown papertickets.com.

Theater FRESH INK FEST: See Thursday. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W First St., (530) 895-3749, www.blueroomtheatre.com.

THE GIVER: See Thursday. Birdcage Theatre, 1740 Bird St. in Oroville, (530) 533-2473, www.bird cagetheatre.net.

LP COOKIE CAMP MYSTERY MIXER Friday, May 17 MANAS Artspace

SEE FRIDAY, ART RECEPTIONS

ending in a two-round slam. Third and First M of every month, 7-9pm. Free. Cafe Flo, 365 E. Sixth St.; (530) 514-8888; www.liveat flo.weebly.com.

21

TUES

Music THE BROTHERS COMATOSE: The energetic string band is known for passing out chopsticks for percussive accompaniment from the audience and jumping offstage for acoustic encores. Tu, 5/21, 7:30pm. $15. Sierra Nevada Big Room, 1075 East 20th St.; (530) 345-2739; www.sierra nevada.com.

22

WED

Special Events HARVEY MILK DAY CELEBRATION: The Stonewall Alliance Center hosts this celebration with a proclamation from the mayor, slam poetry, a discussion panel and live music by Amy Scott. W, 5/22, 6-8pm. Free. Trinity United Methodist Church, 285 E. Fifth St.; (530) 893-3336.

for more Music, see NIGHTLIFE on page 36

Art 1078 GALLERY: Apocalypse, a glass and light installation serving as Chico State art student Crystal Keesey’s MFA culminating exhibition. 5/16-6/1. 820 Broadway, (530) 343-1973, www.1078gallery.org.

ANGELO’S CUCINA TRINACRIA: Go Fish: Koi

Games, paintings by Dolores Mitchell of Avenue 9 Gallery. Through 6/30. 407 Walnut St., (530) 899-9996.

AVENUE 9 GALLERY: Waif Mullins Invitational, an exhibition of work by Mullins and seven other regional pastel artists. Through 5/25. 180 E. Ninth Ave., (530) 879-1821, www.avenue9gallery.com.

AYRES HALL: A Domain of Personality, a BFA

culminating exhibition. Through 5/17, 8am5pm. Chico State.

CHICO ART CENTER: Betty Benson

Retrospective Exhibition, a retrospective exhibition of works from prolific local artist Betty Benson. Ongoing. Opens 5/18. 450 Orange St. 6, (530) 895-8726, www.chicoart center.com.

CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER: Banding by Day and Night, a close look at birds in hand with incredible detail. Ongoing. 1968 E. Eighth St., (530) 891-4671, www.bidwellpark.org.

CHICO MUNICIPAL BUILDING: Camera Club

Exhibit, works by the Chico Camera Club on display. Through 7/12. 411 Main St., (530) 8967214.

MANAS ART SPACE & GALLERY: LP Cookie

Camp Mystery Mixer, for this group show artists chose a used LP, picked up a fortune cookie and got inspired. 5/17-6/28. 1441 C Park Ave., (530) 588-5183.

SALLY DIMAS ART GALLERY: Art & Soul, a new

exhibition on display. Through 6/6. 493 East Ave. #1, (530) 345-3063.

UPPER CRUST BAKERY & EATERY: Spring Fling, abstract and realistic works from Avenue 9 painters and photographers. Through 6/2. 130 Main St., (530) 895-3866.

Call for Artists CHICO ICONS: NEIGHBORHOOD: Works in various mediums (using the theme “neighborhood” as a creative springboard) accepted. Go online for complete requirements and submission info. Through 6/29. Avenue 9 Gallery, 180 E. Ninth Ave., (530) 879-1821, www.avenue9gallery.com/call-for-artists.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS ART CHALLENGE: Accepting pieces in any medium that must reference rock, paper, and scissors. Call for more info. Through 6/8. Chico Art Center, 450 Orange St. 6, (530) 895-8726, www.chicoartcenter.com.

THE WRITING LOFT CONTEST: Submit your best writing between 500 and 2,500 words in any genre or style. The grand prize is a gift card to Lyon Books or Barnes and Noble. Contact for more info. Through 5/17. Free. The Writing Loft, 6397 Graham Rd. in Paradise, (530) 354-1155, www.thewritingloft.com.

CHICO PAPER CO.: Northern California Gold, Jake Early’s new six-piece serigraph collection depicting familiar local scenes. Springtime on Table Mountain, a collection of works in oil on canvas by Ellen Heise. Woven Memories, a new series with a painter’s approach to tapestry mofits by Marilyn Jennings. 345 Broadway, (530) 8910900, www.chicopapercompany.com.

ELLIS ART & ENGINEERING SUPPLIES: Student

Works in Watercolor, a display of pieces by students of Ellis Art’s watercolor workshops. Through 5/31. 122 Broadway St., (530) 891-0335, www.ellishasit.com.

GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH: Michael Halldorson Exhibition, about 20 intaglio etchings and collagraphs on display. Through 5/31. 355 Panama Ave.

HAS BEANS INTERNET CAFE & GALLERIA: Judy Macomber Exhibition, nine colorful paintings on display. Through 5/31. 501 Main St., (530) 894-3033, www.hasbeans.com.

HEALING ART GALLERY: Raymond Eastman, oil paintings by Raymond Eastman on display. Through 7/18. 265 Cohasset Rd. inside Enloe Cancer Center, (530) 332-3856.

JAMES SNIDLE FINE ARTS: Tony Natsoulas &

Jeff Nebeker Exhibition, works in clay varying from figurative sculptures to alluring pastries and desserts in wonderful colors. M-F through 6/28. 254 E Fourth St. corner 4th st. & Wall, (530) 343-2930.

Museums BUTTE COUNTY PIONEER MEMORIAL MUSEUM: Antique Firearms Display, an exhibition of firearms designed and manufactured before the beginning of the 20th century. Ongoing. 2332 Montgomery St. in Oroville, (530) 538-2497.

CHICO MUSEUM: This is Our Home, Here We

Remain, a Mechoopda Indian exhibit on display. Through 5/31. I Heart Chico, paintings, poetry, kid’s art, photography, textiles, videos and interactive collaborative exhibits inspired by Chico. Through 6/2. 141 Salem St., (530) 891-4336.

GATEWAY SCIENCE MUSEUM: Secrets of

Circles, an exhibition exploring the properties of a simple shape with powerful applications. Through 9/1. 625 Esplanade, www.csuchico.edu/gateway.

VALENE L. SMITH MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY: Infinity & Beyond, an exhibit tracing early human celestial observation to modern space endeavors with a Russian Sokol Space suit, a moon rock and brand-new footage of deep space on display. Ongoing. CSUC Meriam Library Complex.

Alice Peake Experience

Dancin’ in the park Chico’s most groovin’, jammin’, boogyin’ fair-weather tradition is starting up this Friday, May 17, as the downtown City Plaza again plays host to the DCBA’s Friday Night Concerts series. For the next four months—starting with the EDITOR’S PICK dance-rock covers of the Alice Peake Experience this Friday and ending with the “cool hits and boss beats” of The Revells on Sept. 6—every Friday evening will feature the perfect communal wind-down from the work week and warm-up for the weekend. May 16, 2013

CN&R 27


BULLETIN BOARD Community

DISCOVER

AFRICAN DANCE CLASS: A workout set to the sounds and rhythms of West Africa. Call for info. M, 6pm. $10. Chico Grange Hall, 2775 Old Nord Ave. North off of Hwy 32 and East Ave, (530) 321-5607.

AFFORDABLE

AFRO CARIBBEAN DANCE: Dances of Cuba, Haiti,

Brazil and West Africa with live drumming. Tu, 5:30pm. Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St., (530) 345-6324.

BEGINNING SQUARE DANCING: Led by the Chico

Diamond Dancers. M, 6:30pm through 5/27. $5. Little Chico Creek Elementary School, 2090 Amanda Way, (530) 872-1962.

BIONEERS VIDEO LECTURE SERIES: The annual three-week sustainability video lecture series concludes with three videos concerning “The Roots and Shoots of Sustainability.” Th, 5/16, 7-9:30pm. Donations. Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St., (530) 894-1978.

CHICO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: Chico Friends of the Library weekly book sale. Sa, 9:15-11:30am. Butte County Library, Chico Branch, 1108 Sherman Ave., (530) 891-2762, www.buttecounty.net/bclibrary.

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CHICO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY MEETING: The annual meeting will include an audiovisual presentation of the 30-year history of the Chico Heritage Association and Chico’s historic neighborhoods. Tu, 5/21, 7-8:30pm. Butte County Library, Chico Branch, 1108 Sherman Ave., (530) 342-1904, www.butte county.net/bclibrary.

CTC GOLF TOURNAMENT: A four-person scramble to benefit Chico Theater Company. Call or go online for more info. Sa, 5/18, 1pm. $90. Bidwell Park Golf Club, 3199 Golf Course Rd., (530) 894-3282, www.chicotheater company.net.

DANCE SANCTUARY WAVE: Bring a water bottle, drop your mind, find your feet and free your spirit. Call for directions. Tu, 6:30-8:30pm. $10. Call for details, (530) 891-6524.

DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE: Simple, meditative and uplifting group dances honoring

many of the world’s spiritual traditions. Third Sa of every month, 7-9:30pm. $5-$10 donation. Subud Hall, 574 E. 12th St., (530) 891-8789.

DANCING FREEDOM: A weekly open dance with

the elements. First and Second F of every month, 6-8pm; Third F of every month. $6-$12 sliding scale. Subud Hall, 574 E. 12th St., (530) 532-1989.

FACES OF STROKE: An educational expo on signs of strokes and risk factors with physician presentations, patient and caregiver testimonials, exhibits and snacks. Call to RSVP. F, 5/17, 3-5pm. Free. Enloe Conference Center, 1528 Esplanade, (530) 332-7016.

FANCY FEET DANCE: Beginning to experienced dancers welcome to work on the foxtrot, waltz, swing and more to a live band. Tu, 7:3010pm. $5-$7. Chico Area Recreation District (CARD), 545 Vallombrosa Ave., (530) 895-4015, www.chicorec.com.

FARMERS MARKET - SATURDAY: Baked goods, honey, fruits and veggies, crafts and more. Sa, 7:30am-1pm. Chico Certified Saturday Farmers’ Market, parking lot at Second and Wall streets, (530) 893-3276.

FARMERS MARKET: NORTH CHICO: Farm-fresh produce, hand-crafted wares and entertainment. W, 7:30am-noon through 11/22. Opens 5/22. Prices vary. North Valley Plaza, 801 East Ave.

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*Sky Tower standard room Sunday-Thursday based on promotional availability through May 31, 2013. Management reserves all rights. Circus Circus endorses responsible gaming. If you or someone you know has a problem gaming responsibly, please call the 24-hour Problem Gamblers HelpLine at 800.522.4700.

FARMERS MARKET: OROVILLE: Locally grown produce, homemade goods and entertainment. Sa, 5/18, 7:30am-noon. Prices vary. Municipal Auditorium Parking Lot, Montgomery & Myers in Oroville, (530) 8753039.

FARMERS MARKET: PARADISE: Farm-fresh produce, hand-crafted wares and entertain-

800.648.5010 28 CN&R May 16, 2013

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ment. Tu, 7:30am-noon through 10/15. Opens 5/21. Prices vary. Paradise Alliance Church, 6491 Clark Rd. in Paradise, (530) 877-7069.

SACRAMENTO RIVER RESTORATION TALK Monday, May 20 Chico Creek Nature Center SEE COMMUNITY

FREE HEALTH CLINIC: Free services for minor

medical ailments. Call for more info. Su, 1-4pm. Free. Shalom Free Clinic, 1190 E. First Ave. Corner of Downing and E. 1st Ave, (530) 518-8300, www.shalomfreeclinic.org.

HISTORIC WALKING TOUR: The Chico Heritage Association hosts this guided tour of significant buildings in the south-campus neighborhood. Su, 5/19, 1pm. Free. Old Municipal Building, 414 Main St., (530) 8799369.

JIM NIELSEN PRESENTATION: The California senator speaks on public safety, water issues, employment and the economy with a question-and-answer session to follow. F, 5/17, 3-4pm. Free. Oroville City Council Chambers, 1735 Montgomery St. in Oroville, (530) 5382542.

PARADISE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE:

Used book sale. Every other Sa, 10am-3pm. Prices vary. Butte County Library, Paradise Branch, 5922 Clark Rd. in Paradise, (530) 8726320, www.buttecounty.net/bclibrary/ Paradise.htm.

SACRAMENTO RIVER RESTORATION: Restoration, Management, Monitoring and Research at the Sacramento River NWR with Joe Silveira, wildlife biologist. M, 5/20, 6:30pm. Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 E. Eighth St., (530) 8914671, www.bidwellpark.org.

SAMARITAN FREE CLINIC: This clinic offers free basic medical care and mental-health counseling. Call for more information. Su, 2-4pm. Free. Paradise Lutheran Church, 780 Luther Dr. in Paradise, 872-7085.

SOUL SHAKE DANCE CHURCH: Drop your mind, find your feet and free you spirit at this DJ dance wave to a range of musical styles. No previous dance experience necessary. Su, 10am-noon. $8-$15 sliding scale. Dorothy Johnson Center, 775 E. 16th St., (530) 891-6524, www.chicorec.com.

TRADITIONAL WEST AFRICAN DANCE: All levels of drummers and dancers welcome. W, 5:307pm. $10. Chico Women’s Club, E. Third And Pine, (808) 757-0076.

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP: An instructional workshop with the enthusiastic and insightful Ann Lockett. Call to register. Sa, 5/18, 10am-2pm. Free. Ellis Art & Engineering Supplies, 122 Broadway St., (530) 895-0441, www.ellishasit.com.

For Kids FIT-N-FUN DAY FESTIVAL: The Oroville YMCA is hosting its annual outdoor festival with water games, kayaking, a fishing simulator, obstacle course, crafts and more. Sa, 5/18, 10am-2pm. Free. North Forebay Aquatic Center, Garden Dr. Garden Dr. in Oroville, (530) 533-9622, www.orovilleymca.org.

MORE ONLINE Additional listings for local meetings, support groups, classes, yoga, meditation and more can be found online at www.newsreview.com/chico/local/calendar.


why I ride my

continues to grow

bicycle

“Chico Printing

because of our wonderful customers, our attention to customer service and our

What was your first ride? My first real bike was a Miyata 310 road bike.

advertising relationshiP with Cn&r.” Chico Printing is entering into its 2nd year of business! We would like to thank Jamie (and the amazing staff) at Chico News and Review not only for the professionalism shown Chico Printing, but the attention to detail and valued communication. We are always notified in a timely manner when upcoming events and/or specials are running in the CN&R. In this hectic world of small business ownership, a reminder is always appreciated and knowing that your needs are handled professionally, leaves time for other important business issues. CN&R always strives for quality of print so that our ads look very professional. Chico Printing continues to grow because of our wonderful customers, our attention to customer service and our advertising relationship with CN&R. We appreciate all you do for us CN&R – thank you!

–Penny & tim henderson

ChICo PRINtINg

And today? My commute is only about 1.5 miles each way. But I do most everything around town on my bike. With training I probably ride 75 – 100 miles a week altogether. What’s the best thing about your bike(s)?

The freedom and the feel of the wind in my hair. What would you most like car drivers to know? Do what you’re supposed to do. Just be normal and treat me like any other car. Why DO you ride? Not to take life too seriously. I can’t imagine not riding daily and for the rest of my life!

– Mike Peavy, Cyclesport

125 W. 3rd Street, Suite 210 | Chico, CA 95928 (530) 343–8356

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ORGANICS AND HEALTH & BEAUTY PRODUCTS WINE TASTING THURSDAY MAY 30TH. BENEFIT FOR SYMPHONY GUILD. May 16, 2013

CN&R 29


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why she and her business partner, 21-year-old Ade (pronounced “Ah-day”) Porter, story and named their fledgling almond-milk photo by company “Beber.” Christine G.K. Beber—the word means “to LaPado-Breglia drink” in Spanish—has been in christinel@ existence since September of last newsreview.com year, and has been a fixture at the downtown Saturday-morning farmers’ market since December. Indeed, market-goers appear to be Beber increasingly curious about what Almond milk & goes on at the Beber stand every almond flour Saturday. It is not uncommon of www.beber late to see a small throng of potenalmond.weebly.com tial buyers assembled at the booth, tasting samples of fresh, raw almond milk in creative flavors such as lavendervanilla, Aztec chocolate, green tea-coconut or gingerpear, depending on what Beber’s flavor of the week is. Cups of the refreshing, delicious stuff are available for $3 each; quarts cost $8. “There’s been a different flavor of the week every week since Beber was started,” said Porter proudly. Beber’s honey-vanilla almond milk, which is available every week (by the cup for $3 or by the quart for $7), is my go-to flavor. The crisp taste (and scent) of recently made, raw almond milk sweetened with a touch of local honey and organic vanilla is one of the divine pleasures of my farmers’-market visit each Saturday. Ditto for my 12-year-old daughter. And for more practical tastes, there’s Beber’s plain unsweetened almond milk ($3 per cup, $6 per quart). Commendably, Porter and Danan encourage quart and cup buyers to bring their own containers for a 25-centper-container discount. Danan first got the idea to make almond

milk in the spring of 2012 when she was working on a farm in Israel, the second country she visited on a three-country trip that included Italy and India. 30 CN&R May 16, 2013

“We had a bunch of almonds from a neighboring farm given to us,” she explained. “And a friend taught me how to make almond milk. “I just sort of fell in love with it, the idea that this product that I had previously only seen in stores, I could make myself. I love the freshness of the taste and how you can taste the difference between what came from a box versus homemade.” Porter and Danan source their almonds locally and, while they are not certified organic, the producer, Vanella Farms in Durham, “uses sustainable practices,” said Danan, adding that “we plan to convert to completely organic when the new almond crop comes in.” “We make the milk every Friday morning,” Porter said, “and that way, it’s at its freshest.” He explained the process, which occurs in a commercial kitchen: The almonds are soaked overnight in water (a technique Danan learned in Israel) before the almondwater mixture is pureed in a Vitamix blender and then strained through a fine-mesh “almond-milk bag.” Soaking the nuts in water “removes an enzyme inhibitor in the skins, which makes [the almond milk] easier to digest,” Danan pointed out. “It’s so simple,” said Porter of the whole process, which Danan proudly described as producing “zero waste products.” And the ground-up almond pulp does not get discarded. It is dehydrated and turned into naturally gluten-free flour, which sells for $5 per halfpound, or $8 a pound. (Brownies made from the almond flour are usually available at the booth as well for $2 each—very yummy!) “We strive to keep it as pure as possible, with as few ingredients as possible,” Danan said of the almond milk. “We take what we do to heart,” Porter added. “We listen to really good music and have really good conversations [while we prepare the milk and flour]. We care about what we do. But most important, we have fun with what we’re doing. “Right now, my favorite part of this whole experience is working at the market,” he added. “It’s one of the cheeriest events that happens in Chico, and I love the interactions!” Ω


May 16, 2013

CN&R 31


6701 CLARK ROAD

872-7800

www.paradisecinema.com

Ends sunday! From France

RENOIR Thurs-saTurday 6pm sunday 2:30pm starts Friday dennis Quaid Zac ephron

AT ANY PRICE Fri/saT 8:15pm; sunday 5pm mon-Thursday 7pm

www.PageantChico.com

ALL SHOWS PRESENTED

IN

S HOWTIMES G OOD F RI 5/17 - W ED 5/22

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

IN

IN

[PG-13]

: 12:30 3:45 6:45 *9:40PM 2D: 1:30 4:30 7:20 *9:25PM

THE GREAT GATSBY [PG-13] IN : 1:05 4:00 6:55 *9:50PM IN 2D: 12:30 3:30 6:30 *9:30PM IRON MAN 3 IN IN

[PG-13]

: 12:45 3:35 6:25 *9:15PM 2D: 1:20 4:10 7:00 *9:45PM

THE SAPPHIRES [PG-13]

42: THE JACKIE

ROBINSON STORY

[PG-13]

F-W: 1:00 6:30PM ENDS WEDNESDAY! F-W: 3:30 *10:00PM ENDS WEDNESDAY!

STARTS THURSDAY 5/23: THE HANGOVER PART III *L AT E S H O W S

ON

F R I & S AT O N LY

A L L S H O W S B E F O R E 6PM A R E B A R G A I N M A T I N E E S INDICATES NO PASSES ACCEPTED

OPEN AUDITIONS MAY 18 at 6:30 PM & MAY 19 at 2:00 PM 3851 MARROW LANE, STE. 7, CHICO, CA For more information including audition requirements and roles available visit website. Applicants must pre-register. Show performs Oct 11-17, 2013. This is a volunteer participation performance. CALIFORNIA REGIONAL THEATER www.LESMISinChico.com

The OK Gatsby Flashy new take on American classic looks good but mostly misses the mark

B extravaganza is not nearly as awful as I feared it would be. Actually, it’s the spectacularly crass meraz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby

chandising of the entire enterprise that’s been awful, while the film itself is merely a lavishly upholstered mediocrity that somehow by Juan-Carlos maintains a jittery sort of entertainSelznick ment momentum over most of its 143-minute running time. (It actually

Carraway, Carey Mulligan as Gatsby’s dream girl, Daisy Buchanan, and Joel Edgerton as Daisy’s stolid husband, Tom. All of them look right for their respective roles, but Luhrmann’s razzle-dazzle direction is so relentlessly attentive to flashy surfaces that none of the performances have much depth. The most conspicuous passion in the production is directed toward Gatsby’s mansion. Set designer Catherine Martin (Luhrmann’s wife and co-producer) Two boats against the current.

3 The Great Gatsby

FRIDAY 5/17 – TUESDAY 5/21 42 (Digital) (PG-13) 1:15PM 4:10PM 7:05PM 10:00PM BIG WEDDING, THE (Digital) (R )

3:05PM 7:45PM

CROODS, THE (Digital) (PG) 11:40AM 2:10PM 4:35PM 7:00PM 9:25PM

GREAT GATSBY, THE

(2013) (3D) (PG-13) 12:40PM 1:45PM 3:55PM 7:10PM 8:15PM 10:25PM

GREAT GATSBY, THE

(2013) (Digital) (PG-13) (10:30AM*) 11:35AM 2:50PM 5:00PM♥ 6:05PM 9:20PM

IRON MAN 3 (3D) (PG-13)11:00AM 2:00PM 5:00PM 8:00PM IRON MAN 3 (Digital)

(PG-13) (10:15AM*) 11:45AM 1:15PM 2:45PM 4:15PM 5:45PM 7:15PM 8:45PM 10:20PM

OBLIVION (Digital)

PAIN AND GAIN

(Digital) (R ) 1:35PM 4:30PM 7:25PM 10:25PM

PEEPLES (Digital) (PG-13) 12:45PM 5:25PM 10:05PM

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton. Directed by Baz Lurhmann. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13.

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (3D)

(PG-13) (10:00AM*) 12:25PM 1:20PM 4:40PM 6:55PM 8:00PM 11:05PM♣

STAR TREK INTO

DARKNESS (Digital) (PG-13) 11:20AM 2:30PM 3:40PM 5:50PM 9:00PM 10:10PM (SNEAK PREVIEW) THE HANGOVER PART III (Digital)

(R ) Wed. 5/22 10:00PM 12:01AM (Late night Wed.)

(SNEAK PREVIEW) FAST & FURIOUS 6 (Digital) (PG-13 ) Thur. 5/23 10:00PM 12:01AM (late night Thurs.)

(PG-13) 11:00AM 1:50PM 4:40PM 7:30PM 10:30PM

Showtimes listed w/ ( *) shown Friday – Sunday only Showtimes listed w/ ♣ shown Fri. & Sat. only Showtimes listed w/ ♥ NOT shown Sun. 5/19

32 CN&R May 16, 2013

1

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3

Good

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seems longer than that, and yet it never really drags.) Some of what I like about it is just the simple fact of a visualization of the characters, the settings, and the celebrated events of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. The story and the period (the 1920s) have their own built-in magnetism. More substantially, Luhrmann deserves some special credit for staying true to an aspect of the novel that often gets neglected: Gatsby is the title character and the story’s “star,” but the narrator of the novel—young Nick Carraway—is more truly the central character here. His account of Gatsby’s fleeting “greatness” is a catalytic phase in the story of his own rise and fall—an ostensibly innocent dreamer’s journey toward tragic maturity. The cast is a good one—Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as

has dreamed up a spectacularly metamorphic interior arena for the party scenes therein. The expanding and contracting phantasmagoria of those scenes goes way beyond anything in the novel, and that says a lot about this production’s carnivalesque priorities. All in all, Luhrmann’s approach to the story seems weirdly divided against itself. The Carraway-centric structure bespeaks fidelity to the Fitzgerald original, but the lavish production values run counter to the wary perspectives (of the novel and the script) on the gaudy materialism of Gatsby and the so-called “Roaring Twenties.” The Luhrmann-ized Gatsby makes plenty of eyecatching moves, but for all its apparent good intentions, artistically and otherwise, it never really achieves any dramatic depth. When Carraway waxes poetic about the exceptional qualities in Gatsby’s smile, Luhrmann gives us a close-up of DiCaprio smiling in routine, non-committal fashion. Typically, the film illustrates an important moment from the novel, taking note of it, but hardly bothering about the feelings and issues that go with it. Ω


Opening this week At Any Price

Critically acclaimed indie filmmaker Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo) wrote and directed this story of a father (Dennis Quaid) trying to leave the family farming empire to a rebellious son (Zac Efron) who wants to become a race-car driver instead. Pageant Theatre. Rated R.

Star Trek Into Darkness

J.J. Abrams is back to direct the sequel to 2009’s Star Trek, the massively popular reboot of the film franchise. The whole young crew is also back—Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and the rest—to boldly go into outer-space battle once again. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13.

Now playing

4

42

A lively and moving account of how Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers broke the color barrier in major-league baseball in 1947. As a baseball movie, it’s above average, convincing in specific detail and refreshingly free of fakery. As a social drama in a period setting, it’s evocative and intense even though condensed in ways that leave little room for thematic complexities and depth of character. Chadwick Boseman is excellent in the Robinson role. He delivers a nice sense of the man’s dignity and intensity, and the physical resemblance extends even into the way he swings the bat in the game-action scenes. And Harrison Ford is on point as Branch Rickey, the Dodgers’ owner/general manager who masterminded the whole breakthrough and handpicked Robinson to lead the way. Cinemark 14 and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13 —J.C.S.

The Big Wedding

An ensemble cast stars in this comedy about a divorced couple (Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton) who are asked to pretend they are still married while attending the wedding of their foster son. Also starring Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams. Cinemark 14. Rated R.

The Croods

3

The Great Gatsby

See review this issue. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13 —J.C.S.

3

Iron Man 3

This time around übercapitalist and Iron Man alter ego Tony Stark (the always entertaining Robert Downey Jr.) and his faithful companion Pepper Potts (the everannoying Gwyneth Paltrow) have their domestic bliss disrupted by yet another supervillain’s personal vendetta. Things

Renoir

2

Oblivion

Essentially a reboot of Battlefield Earth with the camp and Scientology removed, Oblivion plays like one of those copy/paste spoof movies, just without the smirk. It’s a Whitman’s Sampler of ideas and iconic moments lifted from better movies and wrapped in a shiny new CGI package, yet it can’t be bothered to explore those ideas and instead goes with some truly boneheaded narrative choices. Nothing adds up and the twist is scientifically absurd, but the scenes of post-apocalyptic New York look swell. Unfortunately Oblivion represents the new paradigm of contemporary filmmaking, where narrative integrity is irrelevant as long as the CGI delivers. Granted, it does deliver on the pretty spectacle, but offers about as much depth as Tom Cruise’s mirror. Cinemark 14 and Feather River Cinemas. Rated PG-13 —C.B.

Pain & Gain

Director Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, Transformers) scales down a bit with this buddycomedy/action/crime flick about three Florida bodybuilders—Mark Wahlberg, The Rock, Anthony Mackie—who team up to kidnap and rip off an obnoxious rich dude. Based on a true story. Cinemark 14 and Feather River Cinemas. Rated R.

Peeples

Craig Robinson (The Office) stars in this Tyler Perry production as a bumbling young suitor who crashes his future fiancé’s family retreat in the Hamptons to seek their blessing. Cinemark 14. Rated PG-13.

4

Renoir

More idyllic period piece than artworld biopic, this leisurely episode from the last years of the great impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir offers up an enchanting mixture of art history; the summer of 1915; the lush countryside of the South of France; sensuality of a particularly French sort; and a glimpse or two of incipient film history. Middle Renoir son and future filmmaker Jean, home from duty in World War I while his wounds heal, gets besmitten with the brash charms of fledgling actress Andrée Heuschling, a new addition to the small host of models, maids, and female aides that populate his widowed father’s bucolic estate. The richly colored atmosphere created by director Gilles Bourdos and cinematographer Mark Ping Bing Lee takes precedence over the big dramas occurring just off screen and leaves us quite content to hang out with the Renoirs in a Renoir movie that seems inspired by the elder Renoir’s paintings. Pageant Theatre. Rated R —J.C.S.

The Sapphires

Finally released in the U.S., this 2012 Australian musical-comedy tells the story of a 1960s group made up of four Aboriginal Australian girls who, with the help of an Irish talent scout, travel to Vietnam to entertain the troops. Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13.

YOU’RE WELCOME, NATURE.

Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone and Catherine Keener provide voices for this computer-animated feature about a prehistoric family on an adventure through uncharted territory. Cinemark 14 and Feather River Cinemas. Rated PG.

blow up and people die until Iron Man jumps back into action and resolves things in an interminable maelstrom of CGI pixels. The 3D is fine, and the scheiss hits the fan with a liquid consistency. But IM3 isn’t very complicated, and the villain’s motivation for all that subterfuge and destruction in pursuit of destroying Stark is kind of absurd. But the banter is amusing, with a couple of gags that nail it out of the park. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13 —C.B.

RECYCLE THIS PAPER.

Reviewers: Craig Blamer, Rachel Bush and Juan-Carlos Selznick.

Featuring: John Prine �Angelique Kidjo �Taj Mahal

Marianne Faithfull �Greg Brown �Iris Dement Irma Thomas �Madeleine Peyroux �Dave Alvin

Rebirth Brass Band �Paul Thorn Band �Brothers Comatose Perla Batalla �Red Molly � Poor Man’s Whiskey Rani Arbo � Alice Stuart & The Formerlys � Alice Di Micele Elephant Revival � Achilles Wheel � Wavy Gravy � and many more…

SPRINGTIME PRICING ENDS MAY 27TH AT BEAUTIFUL BLACK OAK RANCH • LAYTONVILLE

Tickets & Info. 415-256-8499 (Inticketing) www.katewolfmusicfestival.com

JOURNALISM STUDENTS:

Got the write stuff? Apply for an internship with the Chico News & Review! We’re looking for journalism students who want to build their résumés and gather great clips. The CN&R’s summer internship program offers an opportunity to take college skills to the professional setting. We are seeking newshounds, features writers and savvy photographers who are currently enrolled in college (spring 2013 graduates may also apply). We’re also looking for a writer with social media skills. Interns are paid per assignment. For application information, contact Melissa Daugherty at melissad@newsreview.com with “summer internship” in the subject line.

Application deadline is Friday, May 17.

May 16, 2013

CN&R 33


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The Laxson stage was pushed to capacity with two choirs and the North State Symphony during rehearsal for Beethoven’s Ninth.

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InvItes You to JoIn us In the BIg Room

T u e s d ay, J u n e 1 8 , 2 0 1 3

Rock on, Beethoven North State Symphony plays Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in full grandeur

Ithe way one might a particularly compelling rock show, but the North State Symphony’s rendition of

t may be inappropriate to describe a symphony

D

ella Mae pushes the tried-and-true marriage of fiddle, fretboard, and voice to the height of versatility. The band’s lineup is a who’s who of promising young pickers: lead singer Celia Woodsmith, guitarist Courtney Hartman, bassist Shelby Means, mandolin player Jenni Lyn Gardner, and two-time National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker. Each is a seasoned performer, and they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Del McCoury, Leon Russell and Laurie Lewis. Della Mae’s 2011 release, “I Built This Heart,” was an impressive debut, a delicate balance between bluegrass grit and singer-songwriter sensitivity. Check out a Della Mae song on YouTube, and come see one of the fastest-rising acts in the Americana/bluegrass genre.

Tickets $17.50 On sale Saturday, 05/18 in the Gift Shop or online at www.SierraNevada.com Doors open at 6pm • Music starts at 7:30pm Special concert Dinner available for $12.50 Join the big room e-mail list by visiting www.sierranevada.com 1075 E. 20th StrEEt • ChiCo • (530)896–2198 All Ages Welcome At Each Show 34 CN&R May 16, 2013

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Laxson Auditorium on May 11 was badass. by Such a sentiment might not be so Howard Hardee far-out—Beethoven’s four-movement, hour-long masterpiece as perhowardh@ newsreview.com formed that evening was exhilaratingly loud and more muscular than I previously knew classical music could be; similar to a standout rock concert in its sheer awe-factor. With a REVIEW: preposterously massive chorus (a North State Symphony combination of Chico State’s Univerpresents sity Chorus and the Shasta College Experience Joy, Chorale) at its back, the North State Saturday, May 11, Symphony created crescendos that at Laxson were spine-tingling and powerful. Auditorium. For those unfamiliar with the Ninth, which animated NSS conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett described as “perhaps the most iconic work in the Western classical music repertoire,” there are a handful of sections and phrases throughout that we have all heard, but maybe didn’t recognize as Beethoven. The stabs of violin and timpani opening the second movement, for instance, have been used out of context so many times that it was surprising to hear the phrase as part of a larger work. And the instantly recognizable melody of “Ode to Joy” in the fourth movement is so deeply engrained in the Western consciousness through use in TV, radio and movies, it came as a surprise to learn that one of the world’s all-time greatest composers made more than 200 attempts to nail such a seemingly simple tune. While listening to the Ninth, I couldn’t help but marvel at how enormous an undertaking composing such a piece would be. That one man—a deaf man, at that—could painstakingly arrange dozens of instru-

mental parts down to the finest subtlety with such a grandiose vision in mind is truly a testament to human potential. Indeed, singling out the various NSS musicians and noting the sheer technical proficiency necessary to play each of their parts added to my admiration of the work as a whole. And for an hour-long piece of music with so many twists and turns, the Ninth is relatively easy to follow. There are enough recurring musical elements to remind the listener that it is, in fact, the same piece all the way through. The uplifting fourth movement, often described as a “symphony within a symphony,” introduces the melody to “Ode to Joy” with cello and bass alone at first, then repeating the tune several times with varying dynamics and four solo vocalists (two sopranos, a tenor and a bass) at center stage. Though the soloists’ operatic vocal style wasn’t my cup of tea (as a symphony newbie, I assume it’s an acquired taste), the overall effect was captivating— the anticipation of knowing the symphony would repeat the “Ode to Joy” melody at full power, with all choral hands on deck, was exciting in itself. The performance concluded with all the pomp and grandeur of a parade of whinnying, high-prancing royal steeds, with an appropriately celebratory flurry of cymbal-strikes and brass and woodwind flourishes. And after about an hour and a half of polite silence, the full-house audience erupted into a roughly threeminute standing ovation. Clearly, many in attendance shared my appreciation for the music and were similarly moved. I look forward to the North State Symphony’s schedule for the 2013-14 season, which is set to include: The Composer’s Palette (featuring Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” among others) on Sept. 22; New American Portraits on Nov. 16; An Embrace of Romantic Masters (including “Romeo and Juliet” works of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev) on Feb. 16, 2014; and Harmonic Landscapes (highlighted by Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8) on May 10, 2014. Ω


Tomorrow Andy Poxon Ellersoul Records If you like Duke Robillard, there’s a chance you’ll be interested in Andy Poxon. Robillard is a giant to blues and jazz guitar fans, and he produced Tomorrow, Poxon’s second album for EllerSoul Records. Robillard also passes the torch on the album’s last cut, a blues jam with the young Poxon that singes and stings with the razor-sharp licks the two men lay down. There’s a traditional rock ’n’ roll sound here, kicked off with the album’s opener, “Too Bad,” a song that could make a casual listener think it was written in 1959. Poxon’s first album showed him to be a boy possessed of rather stunning guitar chops, especially for one so young. This sophomore album is less blues-based, and that’s disappointing, though the wizardry of his skills is apparent. And it’s growing. He’s only 18, after all, and as Robillard says in his liner notes, “to say Andy has a bright future is an understatement.” But, those of us who ain’t 18 will have to wait a bit for this talented guitarist’s sensibility to catch up with his skills. The album is Justin Bieber with a little more heart and a lot more soul, but it’s still an album for adolescents, if they’ve got a bit of a retro streak.

THINK

FREE.

MUSIC

—Jaime O’Neill

Norm Macdonald Live www.videopodcastnetwork.com Ever since his early days on Saturday Night Live, Norm Macdonald has tickled me pink. His dry, dry humor, his ability to laugh at his own failed attempt at a joke, his utterly deadpan delivery: It all hits me right in the funny spot. So, when good ol’ Norm launched his podcast in March, I immediately subscribed. Available as both a video (on the Video Podcast Network, YouTube and iTunes) and an audio podcast (iTunes), Norm Macdonald Live is an exercise in discomfort. Macdonald, along with his sidekick, Adam Eget, hosts the weekly show that features a celebrity guest—ranging from fellow comedians Kevin Nealon, Tom Green and Russell Brand to, of all people, Larry King—who gives the host interview advice. Macdonald is as self-deprecating as ever, referring often to PODCAST his recent weight gain and difficulty with the ladies. The loosely segmented hour-long show includes guest interviews, discussion of current events, and a closing bit during which everyone takes turns reading really bad jokes. I’m optimistic that, with only a handful of episodes under his belt, Macdonald will continue to find his rhythm, especially if he keeps attracting such an eclectic mix of guests. —Meredith J. Graham

Based on a True Story … Blake Shelton Warner Bros. Listening to the start of his new album, fans may worry that Blake Shelton’s become too comfortable in his spinning chair. The opening track, “Boys ’Round Here,” bounces between a great chorus and a mess of synthesizers, a mini-rap, and the underutilized featured trio, Pistol Annies. The next track, “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” could be just as annoying, but Shelton saves this one by ditching theatricalities and relying on his laid-back drawl and simple, but enjoyable, music. It’s the perfect song for an all-day beer party along the water during a Northern California summer. The rest of the album is solid, but doesn’t always live up to Shelton’s previous hits (e.g. “Austin” and “She Wouldn’t Be Gone”). Two of the songs here—“Do You Remember” and “I Still Got a Finger”—are in familiar territory for country-music fans, but they don’t add anything to the discussion. The former sounds too much like Alan Jackson’s “Remember When,” and the latter’s “take this job and shove it” theme has been done better. While these songs suffer from comparisons to other artists’ tracks, the album’s best song, “Country on the Radio,” references and thrives off country music’s thematic staples.

MUSIC

—Matthew Craggs May 16, 2013

CN&R 35


NIGHTLIFE

THURSDAY 5/16—WEDNESDAY 5|22 FLO SESSIONS: Flo’s weekly music show-

HELLO SUMMER! DANCE BASH

Chico’s friendly neighborhood communityradio station is already in the summer spirit and ready to say hello to the hot season. Providing the soundtrack for KZFR’s dance party are Sacramento eclectic rockers Walking Spanish and Chico’s nine-member, acoustic, Latino-dance-music crew Los Caballitos de la Canción. Saturday, May 18, at the Chico Women’s Club.

16THURSDAY CHICO JAZZ COLLECTIVE: Thursday jazz.

Th, 8-11pm. Free. The DownLo, 319 Main St.; (530) 892-2473.

IRA WALKER: Roots- and blues-based

soul on the back patio. Th, 5/16, 6-9pm. Free. LaSalles, 229 Broadway; (530) 893-1891.

KEITH MOODY: The Nashville-based Southern rock and blues player appears in support of his latest album, Dreaming Out Loud. Th, 5/16, 7pm. Tackle Box Bar & Grill, 375 E. Park Ave.; (530) 345-7499.

LAST STAND: A stand-up comedy open-

mic. First and Third Th of every month, 8-10pm. Cafe Flo, 365 E. Sixth St.; (530) 514-8888; www.liveatflo.weebly.com.

LOCAL ROCK SHOWCASE: Rock ’n’ roll with locals Nude and True, Bats for Cash,

Frontier and SOCORRO. Th, 5/16, 7:30pm. $5. Dex, 167 E. Third St. Next to the Crazy Horse Saloon; (530) 3278706.

OPEN MIKEFULL: Open mic night to share your music, poetry, comedy, or other talents in a 10-minute slot. First and Third Th of every month, 7pm. $1. Paradise Grange Hall, 5704 Chapel Dr. in Paradise; (530) 873-1370.

17FRIDAY BASSMINT: A weekly electronic dance party with a rotating cast of local and regional DJs. F, 9:30pm. Peeking Chinese Restaurant, 243 W. Second St. 4; (530) 895-3888.

COUNTRY NIGHT: Live country music with Rancho Mars. F, 5-8pm. Free. Towne Lounge, 327 Main St.; (530) 896-0235.

DOOM & NERD VIOLENCE: Metal dorks rejoice! Doom-metal outfit Usnea appears alongside fellow Portland acts Venkman and Jedi Scum and local noisemakers Amarok. F, 5/17, 8pm. $5. Monstros Pizza & Subs, 628 W. Sacramento Ave.; (530) 345-7672.

EBONY & IVORY MUSIC SERIES: The monthly music series to benefit the restoration of the club’s Steinway Concert Grand Piano continues with Robert Laughlin playing boogie, ragtime and show tunes. Festivities include wine, hors d’oeuvres and dancing. F, 5/17, 6-8pm. $10. Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St.; (530) 894-1978; www.chicowomensclub.org.

case continues. F, 8pm. $5. Cafe Flo, 365 E. Sixth St.; (530) 514-8888; www.liveat flo.weebly.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES: The summer’s weekly concert series kicks off with family friendly dance rock from The Alice Peake Experience. F, 5/17, 7-8:30pm. Free. Downtown Chico Plaza, 400 Broadway St.; (530) 8967200; www.downtownchico.net.

IRISH MUSIC HAPPY HOUR: A Chico tradition: Friday night happy hour with a traditional Irish music session by the Pub Scouts. F, 4pm. $1. Duffy’s Tavern, 337 Main St.; (530) 343-7718.

JOEL: A Billy Joel tribute band in the

Oroville; (530) 533-3885; www.feather fallscasino.com.

TERRY SHEETS BAND: Country influenced by Clint Black, Willie Nelson and Dwight Yokam. F, 5/17, 8:30pm. Free. Gold Country Casino, 4020 Olive Hwy in Oroville; (530) 534-9892; www.gold countrycasino.com.

18SATURDAY BYRN LOOSLEY & THE BACK PAGES: Sa,

5/18, 8pm. $5. Café Coda, 265 Humboldt

Ave.; (530) 566-9476; www.cafe coda.com.

THE CASH TRIBUTE: A Johnny Cash tribute band in the brewery. Sa, 5/18, 9:30pm. $5. Feather Falls Casino, 3 Alverda Dr. in Oroville; (530) 533-3885; www.featherfallscasino.com.

CHAD BUSHNELL: Live country music

from the local singer-songwriter. Sa, 5/18, 9pm. Free. Rolling Hills Casino, 2655 Barham Ave. in Corning; (530) 528-3500; www.rollinghillscasino.com.

THE RUGS Friday, May 17 Café Coda SEE FRIDAY

brewery. F, 5/17, 9:30pm. $5. Feather Falls Casino, 3 Alverda Dr. in Oroville; (530) 533-3885; www.featherfallscasino.com.

JOHN SEID TRIO: John Seid, Steve Cook and Larry Peterson play an eclectic mix of The Beatles, blues and standards. F, 5/17, 6-9pm; F, 5/31, 6-9pm. Free. Chicoichi Ramen, 243 W. Ninth St.; (530) 891-9044.

THE RUGS: Touring indie/Americana crew Rusty Maples is supported by The Rugs, Jack Knight and Casing the Promisedland. F, 5/17, 8pm. $5. Café Coda, 265 Humboldt Ave.; (530) 5669476; www.cafecoda.com.

SLY FOX: Live classic rock and country in the lounge. F, 5/17, 8:30pm. Free. Feather Falls Casino, 3 Alverda Dr. in

renewals any doctor

$

80 Chico Only Not Valid With Other Offer Exp 05/23/13

36 CN&R May 16, 2013


NIGHTLIFE

THIS WEEK: FIND MORE ENTERTAINMENT AND SPECIAL EVENTS ON PAGE 26

BRYN LOOSLEY

19SUNDAY 22WEDNESDAY

Those who’ve been around Chico long enough to remember groovy Americana crew Buffalo Creek already know about twangy-voiced Bryn Loosley. He’s living in Santa Cruz these days, but the singer/songwriter is still making music, now with his backup band, The Back Pages, and he’ll be in town Saturday, May 18, to celebrate the release of his new solo album, Blood Year, at Café Coda. Also, The Amblers will be coming out of hibernation to make an opening appearance.

THE REFORMATION: The Paradise

Symphony Orchestra performs Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven’s Prometheus Overture. Su, 5/19, 7pm. $5-$17. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunnelly Rd. in Paradise; (530) 342-7816; www.par adisesymphony.org.

21TUESDAY AARON JAQUA: An open singer-song-

CHUCK EPPERSON JR.: Chico’s soulful R&B singer and guitarist performs with Eric Weber. Sa, 5/18, 8:30pm. Free. Farwood Bar & Grill, 705 Fifth St. in Orland; (530) 865-9900.

GARRICK DAVIS & BIGGS ROLLER: Fingerpickin’ acoustic blues and soul from Garrick Davis and electric Gothy-tonk from Biggs Roller. Sa, 5/18, 8:30pm. Maltese Bar & Taproom, 1600 Park Ave.; (530) 343-4915.

GUITAR PROJECT: A semi-regular guitar showcase hosted by Warren Haskell with Tobin Roye and his Chico State guitar students. Sa, 5/18, 7:30pm. $5$10. 1078 Gallery, 820 Broadway; (530) 343-1973; www.1078gallery.org.

HELLO SUMMER! DANCE BASH: Sa, 5/18, 6pm. $10. Chico Women’s Club, 592 E.

METAL SHOWCASE: Local metal acts Taunis Year One, Engraved in Armor, Oracle of Delusion, Lords of Perdition and Black Tie Hero offer bowel-shaking riffage for your pleasure. Sa, 5/18, 8pm. $7. Dex, 167 E. Third St. Next to the Crazy Horse Saloon; (530) 3278706.

PEPPER: An accessible blend of alterna-

TERRY SHEETS BAND: Country influenced by Clint Black, Willie Nelson and Dwight Yokam. Sa, 5/18, 8:30pm. Free. Gold Country Casino, 4020 Olive Hwy in Oroville; (530) 534-9892; www.gold countrycasino.com.

tive rock, pop, reggae and ska. Sa, 5/18, 8pm. $16. Senator Theatre, 517 Main St.; (530) 898-1497; www.jmaxpro ductions.net.

RETROTONES: Live classic rock. Sa, 5/18,

9pm. Free. Kings Tavern, 5771 Clark Rd. in Paradise; (530) 877-7100.

SLY FOX: Live classic rock and country in

NTS POST EVE BY E IN L N O G AT IN R E T REGIS ico

om/ch newsreview.c

the lounge. Sa, 5/18, 8:30pm. Free. Feather Falls Casino, 3 Alverda Dr. in

Third St.; (530) 895-0706; www.kzfr.org.

Natural Wellness

writer night. Tu, 7-9pm. Free. Cafe Flo, 365 E. Sixth St.; (530) 514-8888; www.liveatflo.weebly.com.

Oroville; (530) 533-3885; www.feather fallscasino.com.

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AN EVENING OF SKA & PUNK: Locals Brass Hysteria, Big Tree Fall Down and Frankie Doppler’s Nuclear Sunrise appear alongside Flip the Switch! from Fresno. W, 5/22, 7:30pm. $6. Dex, 167 E. Third St. Next to the Crazy Horse Saloon; (530) 327-8706.

FULL HOUSE BLUES JAM: An open blues jam with a pair of sets from the house band, The Growlers and special guest player Big Mo. W, 5/22, 7-11pm. $5.

OPEN MIC: An all-ages open mic for musicians, poets, comedians, storytellers and dancers. W, 7pm. Free. 100th Monkey Books & Cafe, 642 West Fifth St.

WAY OUT WEST: A weekly country music

showcase with The Blue Merles. W, 79:30pm. Cafe Flo, 365 E. Sixth St.; (530) 514-8888; www.liveatflo.weebly.com.

THE BROTHERS COMATOSE Tuesday, May 21 Sierra Nevada Big Room SEE TUESDAY

THE BROTHERS COMATOSE: The energetic string band is known for passing out chopsticks for percussive accompaniment from the audience and jumping offstage for acoustic encores. Tu, 5/21, 7:30pm. $15. Sierra Nevada Big Room, 1075 East 20th St.; (530) 345-2739; www.sierranevada.com.

SHIGEMI & FRIENDS: Live jazz with keyboardist Shigemi Minetaka and stand-up bassist Christine LaPadoBreglia. Tu, 7-9pm. Free. Farm Star Pizza, 2359 Esplanade; (530) 343-2056; www.farmstarpizza.com.

save!

$10,000 (That’s what a DUI could cost you. Not to mention losing your license and spending time in jail with mean, hardened criminals)

2261 St. George Ln., Ste. G

hop collective The Holliganz makes his live solo debut. Yung Doejah, Lynguistix, Big Slim and Tre Jones open. W, 5/22, 7:30pm. $3. LaSalles, 229 Broadway; (530) 893-1891.

with BellySutra. Tu, 6-7pm. $8. 100th Monkey Books & Cafe, 642 West Fifth St.

with this coupon

$

B. LEE: B. Lee of the party-centric hip-

Feather Falls Casino, 3 Alverda Dr. in Oroville; (530) 533-3885; www.feather fallscasino.com.

C H I C O ’S BIKER BAR

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1x3 (1/20 V)

May 16, 2013

CN&R 37


Call For submissions – oFFiCial entry Form

ARTS DEVO Jason Cassidy • jasonc@newsreview.com

the City of Chico Bike Hitching Posts Design Competition WHINING Monday: There’s nothing that quite caps off a day spent

staring at a computer and typing to the rhythm of engine blocks dropping from the sky (which is what I assume PG&E was doing on the street outside CN&R H.Q. all day) than coming home to a fridge full of warm food. Turns out shoving several pounds of cherries on top of the groceries you just bought might make the refrigerator door stay open, which in turn sends moist fuel to your refrigerator coils for creating an arctic wasteland in the back of the freezer, shutting down all other cold production. Thankfully the Summerfest was safe in the mini fridge. And another thing … After 35 years of serving the west side, Burger Hut’s flagship location on Nord Avenue will be closing its doors on May 31 (the other two Chico stores will be staying open). First Rob Blair, now Burger Hut?! If bad things come in threes, what Chico icon is going to be next?

More Entry Forms and further details available at www.ci.chico.ca.us

design guidelines:

Categories:

The City of Chico is seeking new bike post designs that will be installed in various locations in conjunction with the Downtown Couplet Project. The four design categories are: 1. Single hitching post 2. Group (3-5) of themed hitching posts (separate submission for each themed post) 3. Ed McLaughlin (Memorial tbike advocate, activist, and pioneer) single hitching post 4. Kids (14 and under) single hitching post

timeline:

Design should represent Chico’s unique aesthetic and cultural identity. Design must fit within the parameters of attached form. Select width of metal tubing (1”, 2”, or 3”). Winners will be presented color options.

FabriCation:

City of Chico will fabricate and install winning designs. Modifications may be necessary to comply with the City’s safety code. City of Chico owns copyright of winning designs.

seleCtion oF Winners:

Finalists will be chosen by a design review board consisting of bicycle advocates, community stakeholders, Chico Arts Commissioners, and City engineering staff.

Submission Deadline: June 3, 2013 Winners Notified: June 17, 2013 Installation: August 2013

submission guidelines:

Maximum of three submissions. Open to all Butte County residents. Design Entries must be dropped off at City Hall 411 Main Street, M- F, 8a.m – 5p.m along with your name, title of work, address, phone number, age and parent/guardian signature if entering the Kids Category, and a contact email.

attribution:

Designer’s name will be displayed on a minimum of one of each of the hitching posts

Prizes:

Winners will receive a bike helmet or gift certificate from Chico Velo Cycling Club, Valley Oak Children’s Services, Pullins Cyclery, Cyclesport, or Campus Bicycles.

City ContaCts: tracy Bettencourt, 879-6903 or tbettenc@ci.chico.ca.us or Mary Gardner, 896-7214, mgardner@ci.chico.ca

And another thing … I really enjoyed spending this past Sunday morning with Mrs. DEVO and Honey dog harvesting the cherries (to be crammed into the fridge) from the two big Bing trees that we inherited in our back yard, but it wasn’t all sunshine and pink fingers. Did you know cherries can be an extremely effective diuretic? I did. But that didn’t stop me from eating the fresh, sweet fruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner Cherries with Honey. all day long and then capping it off with a healthy serving of homemade cherry cobbler. Let’s just say that my Monday was even noisier than I let on earlier in this column. (I regret nothing!) And another thing … I purchased the vinyl version of the new Vampire Weekend album, Modern Vampires of the City, online early this morning, which included a free digital download of my most anticipated album of 2013, and eight hours later my order has yet to process. I’ve had to type this column without any sunny Afrobeat-influenced preppy pop to guide me. (You can see why I’m so cranky.)

PARTY LIKE BOB Regular readers already know that CN&R O.G. Editor Bob Speer is retiring at the end of this month, and by the time many of you read this we will have had our official company send-off, which in true News & Review fashion means we drank and danced in the sunshine and maybe raised a glass or three to the man of the hour. In preparation for the party I’ve been compiling an mp3 mix filled with the kinds of music I think Bob would enjoy. My criteria for the bulk of the play list is: groovy dance music, funky dance music, and worldly dance music. You see the pattern? Bob loves to dance. And that’s one clue into the thing I admire most about the guy who I’ve worked with for most of the past 10 years: He enjoys life. He has a few decades on me and is way more active than me, is as plugged into the community and local culture as I’ve ever been, and is 10 times braver than me on the dance floor. I have no clue how old he actually is. He doesn’t seem to have aged at all in the time I’ve known him, and I’m sure that his zest for life is part of what’s kept him from aging. And I’m convinced that the sharpness that comes from that kind of active and open world view has served the CN&R and its readers well for the 36 years (give or take a year or two) that he’s been committed to our community’s newspaper. To be continued … Canyon Bob, hunting and pecking.

38 CN&R May 16, 2013


Find Us Online At:

www.chico.newsreview.com

BUTTE COUNTY LIVING Open House Guide | Home Sales Listings | Featured Home of the Week

Free Real Estate Listings Find Us Online At:

www.chico.newsreview.com

RECYCLE

6545 ROCKY LANE - STUNNING PARADISE HOME! Tremendous 3+ BD 3 BA custom home is nestled on nearly half an acre of serene centrally located property. This custom home boasts a well thought out floor plan with so many extras it will astonish even the most discerning of buyers. From the entryway soaring ceilings and finely crafted woodwork immediately take notice. Updated kitchen w/granite countertops, appliances and intimate dining area. Amazing covered deck area. Adjacent to the dining area is a large room with a separate ramped-entrance, full bath & kitchenette. The room is easily segregated by shutting the double doors. Two guest bedrooms, one with a fashionable built-in cabinet and seating area, guest bathroom with built-in linen center, laundry room with deck access. Master suite with walk-in closet master bathroom with tub/shower. Downstairs family room area with access to rear yard & abundant storage. The front and rear yards have both been nicely landscaped and have ample room for RV parking, a shop or gardening.

THIS PAPER.

LISTED AT: $279,000

YOU’RE WELCOME, NATURE.

Chari Bullock | www.charibullock.com 530-872-6818 | cexum@c21selectgroup.com

Open Houses & Listings are online at: www.century21JeffriesLydon.com NEW LISTING Well maintained 3 bd/2 ba home, 1419 sq ft., close to schools & shopping. Custom features include: 9 ft ceilings, wood & slate flooring, new carpeting, custom designed soffit in kitchen, master bath w/ walk-in shower, a shop & much more! $258,500.00 Call me for a showing 530-518-4850

2 Knotts Glen. 3 bed, 2 bath home w/ spacious floor plan, high ceilings, located on quiet cul de sac.

5 Acres, 3 bd/2 ba. Garage w/ art studio. Forest Ranch

Paul Champlin

Realtor/E-Pro

$225,000

$275,000

Steve Kasprzyk (Kas-per-zik) (530) 899–5932

Frankie Dean

(530) 828-2902

Homes Sold Last Week ADDRESS

TOWN

PRICE

BR/BA

19 Stansbury Ct 1520 Laburnum Ave 37 Burney Dr 13279 Taylor St 867 Coit Tower Way 208 Estates Dr 861 Skylark Dr 18 Woodside Ln 2816 Cussick Ave 1287 E Lindo Ave 2735 Esplanade 914 Netters Cir 2417 Guynn Ave

Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico

$402,000 $379,000 $360,000 $350,000 $325,000 $305,000 $285,000 $269,000 $265,000 $262,000 $260,000 $255,000 $251,000

4/ 3 3/ 2 3/ 3 4/ 4 4/ 3 2/ 1.5 3/ 2 3/ 2 2/ 1.5 3/ 2 0/ 2 2/ 2 3/ 2

SQ. FT.

2514 1906 2130 2911 1927 1638 1730 1502 1632 1656 3430 2096 1415

#01767902

530-717-3884

Making Your Dream Home a Reality

Call or TEXT for more info.

Sponsored by Century 21 Jeffries Lydon ADDRESS

620 Acacia Ln 1080 Madrone Ave 2129 Zuni Ave 2624 Tuolumne Dr 2861 Vistamont Way 2809 Ceanothus Ave 2772 Revere Ln 931 Karen Dr 1120 Chestnut St 1220 Stewart Ave 2176 Nord Ave 4330 Rancho Rd 55 Ponderosa Way

TOWN

PRICE

BR/BA

Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Cohasset

$251,000 $248,000 $240,000 $230,000 $230,000 $220,000 $215,000 $195,000 $187,000 $172,000 $155,000 $110,000 $374,000

4/ 1.5 4/ 1.5 3/ 2 3/ 2 4/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2.5 3/ 1 2/ 1 2/ 1 2/ 1.5 3/ 2 3/ 3.5

SQ. FT.

1426 1521 1784 1615 1603 1571 1516 1192 1002 780 1310 1531 3744

May 16, 2013

CN&R 39


OPEN

hOuSE

Century 21 Jeffries Lydon Sat. 2-4 & Sun. 11-1

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 & Sun. 11-1, 2-4

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 & Sun. 11-1, 2-4

144 West Frances Willard (X St: Esplanade) 4 Bd / 2 Ba, 2889 sq. ft. $659,000 Brandi Laffins 321-9562

5 River Wood Loop (X St: Glennwood) 3 Bd / 2 Ba, 1915 sq. ft. $344,000 Ed Galvez 990-2054

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 & Sun. 11-1, 2-4

Sat. 2-4 & Sun. 2-4

1822 Bedford Drive (X St: Springfield) 3 Bd / 2 Ba, 1842 sq. ft. $265,000 Sandy Stoner 514-5555 Anita Miller 321-1174 Johnny Klinger 864-3398

3131 Willow Bend Drive (X St: Bay Avenue) 4 Bd / 3 Ba, 3624 sq. ft. $630,000 Emmett Jacobi 519-6333 Michael Prezioso 514-1638 Sherrie O’Hearn 518-5904

16 Shari Lane (X St: Springfield) 3 Bd / 2 Ba, 1846 sq. ft. $315,700 Alice Zeissler 518-1872

3913 Aruba Court (X St: Carribean) 4 Bd / 3 Ba, 2,830 sq. ft. $589,000 Jim Aguilar 519-4714 Brenda Stryker 519-8338 Heather DeLuca 228-1480 Kimberley Tonge 518-5508

Sat. 11-1 & Sun. 2-4 615 Windham Way (X St: Rogue River Mine) 4 Bd / 3 Ba, 3166 sq. ft. $449,000 Anita Miller 321-1174 Heather DeLuca 228-1480

2637 Ceanothus Avenue (X St: Viceroy) 3 Bd / 2.25 Ba, 1419 sq. ft. $258,500 Lindsey Ginno 570-5261 Steve Kasprzyk 518-4850

Sun. 11-1, 2-4 64 Pauletah Place (X St: Floral) 3 Bd / 2 Ba, 1668 sq. ft. $289,500 Sun. 11-1, Lindsey Ginno 570-5261 Sun. 2-4, Sherrie O’Hearn 518-5904

www.newsreview.com

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 & Sun. 2-4

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 & Sun. 2-4

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 852 Wisconsin Street (X St: Martin) Corner Lot & Garden Beds! 2 Bd / 1 Ba, 816 sq. ft. $159,900 Dustin Wenner 624-9125

Sun. 11-1, 2-4 9474 Lott Road (X St: Dayton Hwy) 3 Bd / 2.5 Ba, 1678 sq. ft. $279,000 Saeed Khan 916-705-6977

Sat. 11-1, 2-4 & Sun. 11-1 2551 Banner Peak (X St: Bruce Road) 3 Bd / 2 Ba, 1603 sq. ft. $269,000 Saeed Khan 916-705-6977 Alice Zeissler 518-1872

www.century21JeffriesLydon.com Ask the Professionals at Century 21 — 345-6618 VERY CUTE!

NEED A WAREHOUSE & OFFICE SPACE?

1 acre, garage, lg . shop, ready for a home! Chico $174,500

3 bed 2 bath with a darlingDkitchen ING

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571–7719 • joyce_turner@ymail.com

The following houses were sold in Butte County by real estate agents or private parties during the week of April 29, 2013 — May 3, 2013. The housing prices are based on the stated documentary transfer tax of the parcel and may not necessarily reflect the actual sale price of the home. ADDRESS

12333 Concow Rd 13345 Astoria Way 1847 Oro Chico Hwy 9536 Jones Ave 9731 Lott Rd 14432 Carnegie Rd 6185 Firethorn Cir 6212 Shoup Ct 14759 Vassar Ct 5547 Old Olive Hwy 14 Northview Dr 3466 Ashley Ave 104 Valley View Dr 40 CN&R May 16, 2013

TOWN

PRICE

BR/BA

Concow Concow Durham Durham Durham Magalia Magalia Magalia Magalia Oroville Oroville Oroville Paradise

$549,000 $145,000 $399,000 $298,000 $256,000 $212,500 $200,000 $165,000 $130,000 $200,000 $132,000 $130,000 $369,000

3/ 3 3/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2 2/ 2.5 3/ 2 3/ 2.5 1/ 1 3/ 1.5 3/ 1.5 4/ 3

SQ. FT.

2772 1568 2630 1736 1376 1893 1879 1503 1738 1296 1100 1998 2657

ADDRESS

2206 Demille Rd 5772 Black Olive Dr 1598 Gate Ln 5519 Paloma Ave A 430 Plantation Dr 549 Hillcrest Dr 6262 Forest Ln 5465 Princeton Way 3768 Neal Rd 6439 Gregory Ln

TOWN

PRICE

BR/BA

Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise Paradise

$323,000 $255,000 $251,000 $179,000 $173,000 $160,000 $159,000 $130,000 $114,500 $108,000

4/ 3 4/ 2 3/ 2 1/ 1 2/ 2 2/ 2 2/ 1.5 2/ 2 2/ 1 2/ 2

SQ. FT.

2021 3414 1836 1752 1560 1602 1085 1940 900 1725


Print ads start at $6/wk. www.newsreview.com or (530) 894-2300 ext. 5 Phone hours: M-F 9am-5pm. 8am-5pm. All ads post online same day. Deadlines for print: Line ad deadline: Monday 4pm Adult line ad deadline: Monday 4pm Display ad deadline: Friday 2pm

Online Online adsare are ads

STILL STILL

FREE!* * FREE!

*Nominal fee for adult entertainment. All advertising is subject to the newspaper’s Standards of Acceptance. Further, the News & Review specifically reserves the right to edit, decline or properly classify any ad. Errors will be rectified by re-publication upon notification. The N&R is not responsible for error after the first publication. The N&R assumes no financial liability for errors or omission of copy. In any event, liability shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by such an error or omission. The advertiser and not the newspaper assumes full responsibility for the truthful content of their advertising message.

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more services online

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as INTEGRITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF CHICO at 950 W East Ave, Apt 1 Chico, CA 95926. KARL DELMATIER 950 W East Ave, Apt 1 Chico, CA 95926. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: KARL DELMATIER Dated: March 5, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-000318 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as BROWN AND GAMBOL ENTERPRISES, CHICO TAR HEELS BASKETBALL FAMILY at 1617 E Lassen Ave Chico, CA 95973. RONALD BROWN 1617 E Lassen Ave Chico, CA 95973. Marlon Gambol 1617 E Lassen Ave Chico, CA 95973. This business is conducted by a General Partnership. Signed: RON BROWN Dated: March 18, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000398 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as AUTO FINDER at 728 W 1St Ave #3 Chico, CA 95926. JOSHUA JERICK LOVIE 728 W 1St Ave #3 Chico, CA 95926. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: JOSHUA LOVIE Dated: April 15, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000540 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as KNOCKOUT COLLISION REPAIR at 3225 Esplanade Chico, CA 95973. KNOCKOUT COLLISION REPAIR, INC 3225 Esplanade Chico, CA 95973. This business is conducted by a Corporation Signed: KAREEM ABOUZEID, CEO Dated: March 13, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000376 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as BOAT & RV STORAGE at 15 Pepsi Way Durham, CA 95938. JESS FREDDIE PRICE 3788 Clements Ridge Rd Butte Valley, CA 95965. SHERRIE RENE’ PRICE 3788 Cllements Ridge Rd Butte Valley, CA 95965. This business is conducted by a Married Couple. Signed: SHERRIE RENE’ PRICE Dated: April 10, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000520 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as TRINITRONIC at 1450 Springfield Drive #9 Chico, CA 95928. MICHAEL BABCOCK 1450 Springfield Drive #9 Chico, CA 95928 This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: MICHAEL BABCOCK Dated: April 17, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000560 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16,2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME - STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT The following person has abandoned the use of the Fictitious Business Names: WILD MOUNTAIN MOCCASINS, THE ANTLER WORKS at 5509 Longview Drive Paradise, CA 95969. CRAIG STANTON 5509 Longview Drive Paradise, CA 95969. This business was conducted by an Individual. Signed: CRAIG STANTON Dated: April 16, 2013 FBN Number: 2011-000175 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as THE BUTTON WORKS at 4133 Yellow Wood Road Oroville, CA 95965 CRAIG STANTON 4133 Yellow Wood Road Oroville, CA 95965. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: CRAIG STANTON Dated: April 16, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000555 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as GRANDMA’S SPECIAL SAUCE at 877 Nunneley RD Paradise, CA 95969. WILLIAM J MCNALLEY 206 Foothill RD Paradise, CA 95969. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: WILLIAM MCNELLEY Dated: April 11, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000532 Published: April 25, May 2,9,16, 2013

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as MATCHBOX MEDIA at 9081 Stanford Lane Durham, CA 95938. ROBERT AUSTIN LARKIN 9081 Stanford Lane Durham, CA 95938. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: ROBERT LARKIN Dated: April 18, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000566 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as IWORLD REPAIRS at 100 Penzance Ave Apt 5 Chico, CA 95973 Casey New 100 Penzance Ave Apt 5 Chico, CA 95973. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: CASEY NEW Dated: April 19, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000570 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as ANDERSON KIM ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN at 234 West Third St Suite D Chico, CA 95928. DAVID T KIM, ARCHITECTURE, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION 234 West Third St Suite D Chico, CA 95928. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Signed: DAVID KIM Dated: March 15, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000395 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as H AND A HYBRID SEED CO. at 3030 Thorntree Dr #4 Chico, CA 95973. STEEN HENRIKSEN 100 Wine Blossom Dr Chico, CA 95973. TAMERA HENRIKSEN 100 Wine Blossom Dr CHico, CA 95973. This business is conducted by an Married Couple. Signed: STEEN C HENRIKSEN Dated: March 19, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000403 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as AIRPORT STORAGE at 3158 Thorntree Drive Chico, CA 95973. AIRPORT STORAGE, LLC 588 Cormorant Circle Newport Beach, CA 92660. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company Signed: KATHLEEN DUNCAN, MEMBER LLC Dated: April 2, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000488 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as GMH ENTERTAINMENT at 463 Posada Way #11 Chico, CA 95973. NATHAN A CARTER 463 Posada Way #11 Chico, CA 95973. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: NATHAN CARTER Dated: April 25, 2013 FBN Number: 2013:0000591 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as OZZIE’S BMW MOTORCYCLES at 2438 Cohasset Road Chico, CA 95926. AUER ENTERPRISES, INC 2438 Cohasset Road Chico, CA 95926. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Signed: JESSEE R. AUER, PRESIDENT Dated: April 2, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000487 Published: May 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as RON’S RV SERVICE at 3199 Plummers Lane #6 Chico, CA 95973. JUANITA PAULENE ADKINS P.O. Box 488 Durham, CA 95938. RONALD LEE ADKINS P.O. Box 488 Durham, CA 95938. This business is conducted by a Married Couple. Signed: JUANITA PAULENE ADKINS DAted: April 24, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000585 Published: MAY 2,9,16,23, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as MK DESIGNS, MK MEDICAL INTERIORS at 1165 Dog Leg Drive Chico, CA 95928. MELINDA KENNEMER 1165 Dog Leg Drive Chico, CA 95928. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: MELINDA M KENNEMER Dated: April 30, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000621 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as NORTH STATE LEVELING at 9242 Holland Ave Durham, CA 95938. KMT INDUSTRIES LLC 9242 Holland Ave Durham, CA 95938. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Signed: KENNETH TOZIER, CEO Dated: April 19, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000569 Published: May 9,16,23,30 , 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as CHICO HOMES at 2571 California Park Drive, Suite 200 Chico, CA 95928. CHICO HOMES REAL ESTATE SALES, INC 2571 California Park Drive, Suite 200 Chico, CA 95928 This business is conducted by a Corporation. Signed: SANDI BAUMAN, CEO/PRESIDENT Dated: April 17, 2013. FBN Number: 2013-0000558 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME - STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT The following person has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name: CHICO HOMES at 2571 California Park Drive Suite 200 Chico, CA 95928. SANDI BAUMAN 288 Idyllwild Circle Chico, CA 95928. This business was conducted

this legal Notice continues

by an Individual. Signed: SANDI BAUMAN Dated: April 17, 2013 FBN Number: 2011-0000741 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as A TASTE OF MAIDU at 52 Orchardcrest Drive Oroville, CA 95965. CIARRA BURLEY 52 Orchardcrest Drive Oroville, CA 95965. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: CIARRA M BURLEY Dated: April 15, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000538 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as LOCKSMITH CHICO at 12 Marydith Ln Chico, CA 95926. MICHAEL D MEYER 12 Marydith Ln Chico, CA 95926. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: MICHAEL D. MEYER Dated: May 6, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000652 Published: May 16,23,230, June 6, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as TOP TIER CAKE DESIGN at 2500 Floral Ave #10 Chico, CA 95926. EMILY L BROWNFIELD 5 Morga Drive Chico, CA 95926. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: EMILY BROWNFIELD Dated: April 4, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000499 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as SJS CARPET CLEANING at 312 Otterson Drive, STE O Chico, CA 95928 SELECT JANITORIAL, INC 312 Otterson Drive, STE O Chico, CA 95928. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Signed: LEAH WILLS Dated: April 29, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000613 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as HANDYMAN IN PARADISE at 1221 Wagstaff Rd Paradise, CA 95969. CHRISTINE MCCALLY 1221 Wagstaff RD Paradise, CA 95969. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: CHRISTINE MCCALLY Dated: April 24, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000586 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as JOHNNY’S TEXAS STYLE BBQ at 551 Shasta Ave Oroville, Ca 95965. JOHN T WILLIS 551 Shasta Ave Oroville, CA 95965. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: JOHN WILLIS Dated: May 8, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000663 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as CALI LOVE CLOTHING at 666 E. 20TH Street Chico, CA 95928. TONI FISHER 666 E 20TH Street Chico, CA 95928. This business is conducted by an Individual. Signed: TONI FISHER Dated: April 25, 2013 FBN Number: 2013-0000595 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013

NOTices CITATION FOR PUBLICATION UNDER WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 294 To ( names of persons to be notified, if known, including names on birth certificate): MOLLEY A. INSHCO and anyone claiming to be a parent of (child’s name): KI born on (date): December 23, 2010 at (name of hospital or other place of birth and city and state): KAISER HOSPITAL SANTA ROSA CALIFORNIA A hearing will be held on Date: July 11, 2013 Time: 8:30 AM Dept: TBA Room: TBA Located at: Superior Court Of California County of Butte 1 Court Street Oroville, CA 95965 At the hearing the court will consider the recommendations of the social worker or probation officer. The Social worker or probation officer will recommend that your child be freed from your legal custody so that the child may be adopted. If the court follows the recommendation, all your parental rights to the child will be terminated. You are required to be present at the hearing, to present evidence, and you have the right to be represented by an attorney. If you do not have an attorney and cannot afford one, the court will appoint an attorney for you. If the court terminated your parental rights, the order may be final. The court will proceed with this hearing whether or not you are present. Signed: WILLOW ANSTAD Dated: May 7, 2013 Case Number: J-36105 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner CHERI LYNN ROCKWELL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: BRYSON ALLEN TIEDEMANN Proposed name: BRYSON ALLEN ROCKWELL THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition

classifieds

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without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 28, 2013 Time: 9:00am Dept:TBA The address of the court is: Butte County Superior Court 655 Oleander Ave. Chico, CA 95926 Signed: SANDRA L. MCLEAN Dated: April 30, 2013 Case Number: 159426 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner CHRISTINA ALINA SIERRA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: CHRISTINA ALINA SIERRA Proposed name: CHRISTINA SIERRA GEBHART THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 07, 2013 Time: 9:00am Dept:TBA The address of the court is: Butte County Superior Court 655 Oleander Ave. Chico, CA 95926 Signed: SANDRA L. MCLEAN Dated: April 12, 2013 Case Number: 159349 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner SAMANTHA JOSEPHINE KALSO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: CRISTIANO ABERNATHY Proposed name: CRISTIANO KALSO THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to

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show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 14, 2013 Time: 9:00am Dept:TBA The address of the court is: Butte County Superior Court 655 Oleander Ave. Chico, CA 95926 Signed: SANDRA L. MCLEAN Dated: May 1, 2013 Case Number: 159443 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner MELISSA STEVENS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: MELISSA DARLENE STEVENS, RANDALL DEWAYNE PERKINS ALAVAZO Proposed name: MELISSA DARLENE PERKINS, RANDALL DEWAYNE PERKINS THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 21, 2013 Time: 9:00am Dept:TBA The address of the court is: Butte County Superior Court 655 Oleander Ave. Chico, CA 95926 Signed: SANDRA L. MCLEAN Dated: April 30, 2013 Case Number: 159442 Published: May 9,16,23,30, 2013 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner JULIE DE LAIR filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: NOLAN REED BELOATE Proposed name: NOLAN REED DE LAIR THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described

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above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 14, 2013 Time: 9:00am Dept:TBA The address of the court is: Butte County Superior Court 655 Oleander Ave. Chico, CA 95926 Signed: SANDRA L. MCLEAN Dated: April 18, 2013 Case Number: 159381 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner STACY MORAN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing petitioner’s name as follows: Present name: HEATHER ROSE MORAN Proposed name: SHAWN LOVANCE MORAN THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted NOTICE OF HEARING Date: June 14, 2013 Time: 9:00 A.M. Dept.: TBA The address of the court is: 655 Oleander Ave Chico, CA 95926. Signed: SANDRA L. MCLEAN Dated: April 22, 2013 Case Number: 159404 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013

SUMMONS SUMMONS NOTICE TO RESPONDENT DELORES MILLER You are being sued. Petitioner’s name is: JONATHON MILLER You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-120 or FL-123) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter or phone call will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. If you want legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately.

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You can get information about finding lawyers at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp) at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), or by contacting your local county bar association. The name and address of the court are: Butte County Superior Court One Court St. Oroville, CA 95965 The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney, are: JONATHAN M. MILLER 6593 Rosewood Dr. Magalia, CA 95954 Signed: Kimberly Flener, B NICHOLS Dated: February 19, 2013 Case Number: FL043230 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013 SUMMONS NOTICE TO RESPONDENT MELVIN J. BORBA You are being sued. Petitioner’s name is: MICHELLE P. BORBA You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-120 or FL-123) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter or phone call will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. If you want legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. You can get information about finding lawyers at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp) at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), or by contacting your local county bar association. The name and address of the court are: Butte County Superior Court One Court St. Oroville, CA 95965 The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney, are: MICHELLE P. BORBA PO BOX 803 PALERMO, CA 95968 Signed: Kimberly Flener, R GARCIA Dated: April 3, 2013 Case Number: FL043491 Published: May 16,23,30, June 6, 2013

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the alternate universe created by Marvel comic books, there is a mutant superhero called Squirrel Girl. She has the magic power to summon hordes of cute, furry squirrels. Under her guidance, they swarm all over the bad guy she’s battling and disable him with their thousands of tiny chomps and thrashing tails. She and her rodent allies have defeated such arch villains as Dr. Doom, Deadpool, Baron Mordo and Ego the Living Planet. Let’s make her your role model for the coming weeks, Aries. The cumulative force of many small things will be the key to your victories. As in Squirrel Girl’s case, your adversaries’ overconfidence may also be a factor.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have arrived at the edge of reality. Or rather, to be precise, you have arrived at the edge of what you think of as reality. Here’s where things could get very interesting. Just on the other side of that edge you’re brushing up against, there is much, much more reality—a vast territory you have barely imagined, let alone believed in or explored. Are you feeling brave? If you’re willing to find out about stuff you didn’t even realize you would love to experience, I suggest you slip across the border and wander around on the other side. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A character

in Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel A Game of You delivers this speech: “Everybody has a secret world inside of them. ... No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside, inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid worlds. Not just one world. Hundreds of them.” As a Gemini, you are not, of course, dull and boring on the outside. That may have something to do with why your secret inner worlds are often even frothier and sparklier than most people’s. But lately, I’m afraid, some of those secret inner worlds of yours have gotten a bit shabby and dank. It’s time for a deep cleansing. To be thorough, don’t just wash your own brain. Wash your wild heart and funky soul, too.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “You begin

saving the world by saving one person at a time,” said writer Charles Bukowski. “All else is grandiose romanticism or politics.” I invite you to make that thought one of your guiding principles in the coming week, Cancerian. Translate your high ideals into actions that make a practical impact on particular human beings and animals. Instead of merely talking about what good things you want to do, actually do them. As much as possible, be sure that every detail of your daily life reflects your vision of ultimate truth and beauty.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you were a fledgling savior, now would be a propitious moment to begin your messianic mission. If you were a musician hoping to leap to the next level of career success, this would be prime time to plan an extensive tour. If you were the inventor of the “next big thing,” I’d suggest that you get your marketing campaign in gear. And if none of those descriptions fits your personal situation, regard them as apt metaphors for your use. How can you spread the word about what’s most important to you?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): As frontman

of the band Queen, Virgo singer Freddie Mercury made use of his four-octave range with flamboyant showmanship and breathtaking technique. Many critics regard him as one of the greatest vocalists in the history of pop music. Mercury joked that he was perfect except for one glaring flaw: his overbite. Because he had four extra teeth in his upper mouth, his top jaw protruded. But he chose not to alter his appearance with surgery because he suspected it might change his singing voice in unpredictable ways. Is there a comparable situation in your own life, Virgo? A so-called imperfection that seems to be entwined with a beautiful asset? I urge you to be like Mercury. Accept the paradox—embrace it and celebrate it— and move on.

Up and away

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The 14th-

century poet Dante was a major influence on 20th-century novelist James Joyce. “I love Dante,” wrote the author of the epic novel Ulysses. “He is my spiritual food.” And yet Joyce felt he had to absorb Dante in small doses. He said, “Dante tires one quickly; it is as if one were to look at the sun.” Is there any influence like that in your own life, Libra? Judging from the astrological omens, I’m guessing it’s a fine time for you to get as much sustained exposure to that glorious source as you can bear.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Greek poet Sappho was renowned in antiquity. The nine books she wrote were so esteemed that the historian Strabo wrote, “in this whole span of recorded time we know of no woman to challenge her as a poet even in the slightest degree.” And yet little of Sappho’s work survives. As of 2004, there were just 264 fragments and three complete poems. But then a fourth complete poem emerged. Its text was written on papyrus that had been wrapped in the casing of an Egyptian mummy. The mummy had been stored for years in a backroom at the University of Cologne in Germany before someone discovered its hidden treasure. Your assignment, Scorpio, is to seek an equivalent recovery. Search for a part of the past that’s still beautiful and useful, even if that quest leads you to unlikely and obscure places. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When I turn my psychic attention in your direction, I smell smoldering smoke. Here’s how I interpret that: Your internal fire is burning with less than maximum efficiency. Do you agree, Sagittarius? If so, do you know why that might be? Did you not provide enough kindling? Is the wood too green? Is the ground wet? I urge you to find out what the problem is. You can’t afford to have sputtering flames and sooty light and spotty warmth. You need a steady blaze that radiates brilliant light and strong heat. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Very

few of us are completely uninhibited about expressing who we really are. Most everyone is shy about revealing at least one facet of his or her identity. Why? Maybe because we’re afraid that people will judge us harshly for being different from what they think we should be. Or maybe our secret side is at odds with our self-image, and we hesitate to acknowledge it even to ourselves. What is this part of you, Capricorn? In what sense are you still in the closet about a truth or quality or event that’s central to your character? I urge you to have a conversation with yourself about it. You aren’t necessarily ready to tell the whole world about it, but now might be the right time to start considering the possibility that you can give it more room to play.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

I absolutely forbid you to be a slave of happiness, a victim of pleasure or a prisoner of love. Wait. Sorry. I take that back. What gives me the right to forbid you from doing anything? It’s your life. You’re the boss. So let me reframe my previous advice: Dear Aquarius, I beg you not to be a slave of happiness, a victim of pleasure or a prisoner of love. None of the good things in life will give you what you need if you make yourself crazy or sick while pursuing them. That’s the cautionary news. The encouraging news is that in the next five weeks, I think you will have a knack for cultivating a graceful relationship with happiness, pleasure and love.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t be

like the ducks that are floating on Phoenix Lake a short distance from where I’m sitting. They’re feeding entirely on the surface, happy to skim a few insects from the top of the placid waters they’re drifting on. No, Pisces, be more like the frogs that are diving to probe for morsels down below. This is a phase of your astrological cycle when the quest for more variety can deepen your perspective and provide better nourishment.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES and DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

by

Ken Smith kens@newsreview.com

For Brann Smith and Marie Klemm hot-air ballooning is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of life. They recently started Chico-based Skydancer Balloon Company to offer tours of the local skies, and plan to wed this August at a balloon festival. And where did Smith propose? In a hot-air balloon, of course. Go to www.face book.com/balloon.skydancer for more information about the company’s balloon rides.

How did you get into ballooning? About 15 years ago I took a balloon ride and thought it was such an amazing, unique experience that I decided right then I wanted to be a pilot. I was a corporate guy, so I planned for a while, quit my job, sold my home, bought a big motor home and traveled across the country taking lessons from different instructors. I trained for four years with 18 different instructors and really made an adventure of it. Now I’ve flown thousands of people, am an instructor myself, and formerly owned balloon companies in Bend, Ore., Phoenix, Ariz., and Las Vegas, Nev.

What brought you to Chico? This is where I grew up. I went away for 30 years and now I’m very happy to be back.

Tell me about your fleet of balloons. We currently have three balloons and are having another built. The reason for differentsized balloons is to carry different numbers of people. We have balloons for just two and a

PHOTO COURTESY SKYDANCER BALLOON COMPANY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In

by Rob Brezsny

15 MINUTES

BREZSNY’S

For the week of May 16, 2013

pilot, like for couples, and some that carry four or five, for trips with family or friends. We even have a balloon with a special seat built in [so that] people in wheelchairs or older folks or those with other disabilities can enjoy a balloon ride.

What is a typical ride like? We usually fly in the mornings, so we meet shortly after sunrise, or we also do some sunset flights. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare the balloon, then we have a nice ceremony with some breakfast, and we toast the trip with champagne or sparkling water. This is a tradition very important to the history of ballooning because in 1783, when people first started flying these things, [ballooners would] sometimes land on farms and the farmers would rush out with pitchforks to “kill the monster.” They’d never seen anything fly before and were scared. So after a bunch of balloons were destroyed, it became tradition to carry wine or champagne on board so that when you landed, you could greet people and offer them a drink to toast the magnificent flying machine rather than destroy it.

FROM THE EDGE

by Anthony Peyton Porter anthonypeytonporter@comcast.net

Group I can hardly believe it, but I’m thinking of joining another bereavement group. I like being around people who know what I’m in, and another round seems the simplest way to go. At our last meeting we all exchanged contact information and agreed we ought to get together again. That was weeks ago, and so far not a peep from anybody. I’ve thought often of making the first move, but one of the things we laughed about was how people would want us to respond to them and do things we didn’t want to do, which is almost everything. I especially didn’t want to come over all pushy because at the first meeting we had to promise not to hit on anyone in the group until it was over. No funny business, and definitely no hanky-panky. A friend of mine had even told me about a widower friend of his who became involved intimately with a member of his grief group. I’m not surprised, with all those tender hearts in the same room. The other man in our group didn’t come to the last few meetings, and without him it’d be me and three unstable women. I didn’t want what little testosterone I’ve got left to confuse things—a hopeful fear—so I hemmed

and hawed and didn’t call anybody. I still wanted another widower around, so I called to sign up for another bereavement group. It turned out that I just missed the beginning of the group after mine, and the next one wouldn’t start for seven weeks. In seven weeks I could be greeting each day with a glad cry and sailing effortlessly from success to triumph, loved and joyful every moment with no need or desire for a bereavement group. I signed up anyway. I joined the first group because I was determined not to react habitually to life and to avoid my kneejerk aversion to touchy-feely groups in general. My initial goal was simply to go to all of the meetings and participate as much as I could manage. I ended not wanting an end at all, and the first couple of groupless weeks seemed to be missing something, namely my group. I had gotten used to that weekly space when everybody in the room had some idea of the gutwrenching changes that were going on with me and all the others, and yet had no compulsion to ask me how I was doing, a perfectly understandable question with no meaningful answer. Seven weeks is forever, though, so I’m gonna call the old group and see what happens. May 16, 2013

CN&R 43


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