Enjoy Magazine: Northern California Living — July 2025
Dr. Nick Gabriel General Surgeon
Dr. Nick Gabriel is a Board Certified General Surgeon by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery with over two decades of experience. He is an authority in his field, with Ivy League training from Yale University. He has taught surgeons nationally and internationally and served as Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery at various hospitals in New York. He has appeared on the Discovery Health Channel, CNN ‘Anderson Cooper 360’; and ABC Eyewitness News. Dr. Gabriel has also been featured in Newsweek, as well as other newspapers and magazines for “first of its kind” laparoscopic procedures in various institutions. With all his academic, professional and humanitarian achievements, he was one of the first Osteopathic Surgeons to be awarded the status as Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (DFACOS).
Surgical solutions to live your fullest life.
Having surgery is a big decision. That’s why Dignity Health’s experts treat a variety of health conditions with personalized care and attention for each and every patient we see. Our minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical procedures allow our team to access delicate areas with optimum precision through small incisions for easier healing and faster return to normal function. If you’ve been putting off treating a hernia, gallstones or other condition, talk to us. Dignity Health’s North State hospitals are here to help you on your path to wellness. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/north-state/surgery Mercy Medical Center
LOCAL LEGENDS FEATURED STORIES
20 | A Dazzling New Tour Experience at Shasta Caverns
40 | Behrens-Eaton House Unveils Restored Victorian Garden
46 | Mentor, Educator, Leader: The Legacy of Charlie Menoher
52 | Justin Bond’s Mission to Heal America’s Heroes
68 | Maria Miller Brings Nature into Focus
GOOD FINDS
76 | Maiyaj Asian Bistro Delivers Bold Flavors to Montague
GOOD TIMES
26 | Junior Drag Racing Creates Family Connections
34 | Hands-On Learning Comes to Life at Chico Children’s Museum
INTEREST
60 | Mt. Lassen Trout Farm Leads in Responsible Aquaculture
IN EVERY ISSUE
16 | What I Enjoy Kathy Garcia
82 | Recipe Well-Seasoned and Tasty Grilled Tri-Tip
8 6 | Enjoy the View Frank Kratofil
88 | What’s Cookin’ Mixed Berry Shortcakes
91 | Local Events Calendar
98 | Giving Back Sacramento River Discovery Center
Healthy Hearing Habits
hearing ability can naturally decrease. While this is common, you should still manage hearing loss so it doesn’t affect your communication, social mental health.
RECONNECT WITH EVERY SOUND
Life’s most beautiful moments aren’t just seen… they’re heard.
healthy aging is taking care of your physical, hearing health!
If you’re missing out, it’s time to reconnect.
At Redding Hearing Institute, now part of Gold Country Hearing & Balance, we make hearing care easy, affordable, and lifechanging. With personalized solutions and compassionate experts, your better hearing journey starts here.
Don’t wait to hear what you’ve been missing. Call (530) 806-0214 or visit goldcountryhearing.com to schedule your hearing check today!
FREE Hearing Screening &
Consultation
* Expires 8/31/2025. Cannot be combined with other offers.
Welcome to Hearts of Hope
A support group for grieving parents with young children
If you’re a parent grieving the loss of a partner while raising young children, you’re not alone. Hearts of Hope is a free, ongoing support group offering a compassionate space to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of parenting through grief.
Whether your loss is recent or still part of your daily life, Hearts of Hope is a place for healing, encouragement, and honest conversation. Come as you are—when you’re ready.
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month | 6:30-7:30PM | Shasta YMCA
No registration required Childcare and snacks provided:
Contact Mercy Hospice at (530) 245-4070 for more information.
T he M c C onnell Found a tion
Helping build bet t er c ommunities th rough phila n th ro py
Today Decides Tomorrow
Today, we’re shaping tomorrow by investing in the heart of Redding. Dedicated efforts in downtown revitalization are fostering a thriving environment where businesses flourish and people love to gather. It began in 2008 with the City of Redding taking the roof off the covered mall, the first step in redeveloping downtown Redding. Market, Butte and Yuba streets became pedestrian and bike-friendly. The McConnell Foundation began investing in downtown’s community vitality in 2017, acquiring the IOOF Hall, improving it and welcoming Viva Downtown, an accredited Main Street America Organization, to activate the space. Viva’s been a catalyst for revitalizing Redding’s core by supporting residents, diverse businesses, arts, culture and events. By working together, we’re building a future-ready Redding, ensuring the community remains a place to live, work, learn, and play with enthusiasm and pride.
Did you know?
A Few Faces Behind the Pages (and the Wheel)
Our team is full of storytellers and road warriors who help Enjoy Magazine shine—and show up right on time. Meet a few of the amazing humans who write the stories and hit the road to deliver them.
• Megan Peterson is our globe-trotting wordsmith—just as comfortable chatting in Italian as she is solving a crossword in ink. She’s written her way across six continents (yes, six!), gathering stories and inspiration as she goes. When she’s not crafting features for Enjoy Magazine, you’ll find her outsmarting bridge opponents—or chasing her next passport stamp.
• Ben Adams was practically born with a steering wheel in hand—okay, maybe not literally. This East Street native racks up 35,000 miles a year delivering Enjoy Magazine far and wide. Proud of his Native American roots and even prouder of getting the job done, Ben’s likely already been down your road—probably twice, and with your favorite issue in tow.
• Melissa Mendonca is Enjoy Magazine’s resident adventurer—with a pen in one hand and a packed travel list in the other. She’s on a mission to visit all 50 states, every Presidential Library, and more national parks than she can count. Whether exploring history or hiking a hidden gem, she’s always chasing the next great story—and a solid cup of coffee.
• Kimberly Bonéy brings a playful spirit and a fierce Scrabble game to the Enjoy crew. At home, family game night is serious business—complete with “The Good Book,” their beloved battle-worn dictionary. On the road, the Bonéys trade game boards for detours, laughter and the kind of adventures you just can’t plan.
From puzzle battles to passport stamps, coffee quests to cross-county deliveries, this crew brings more than just talent to the table—they bring stories, spirit and a whole lot of adventure.
ON THE COVER:
Special thanks to our arm and hand models; Terry, Melinda, Sean, Marjan, Matt and Kimberly
Photo by Melinda Hunter
YVONNE MAZZOTTA publisher
MICHELLE ADAMS publisher
RONDA ALVEY editor in chief
KERRI REGAN copy editor
CATHERINE HUNT event calendar/website
JAMES MAZZOTTA advertising sales representative/ photography
MICHAEL O’BRIEN advertising sales and marketing manager
CONNIE BLANC
JEN VERMAAS
KEVIN GATES advertising sales and marketing consultants
BEN ADAMS
BETH HUBNER
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ISABELLA SCHOPFLIN
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Welcome to our July issue, where we celebrate Local Legends – and in the North State, you’ll never find a shortage of people, places and endeavors that make this place so special.
First, meet Justin Bond, a combat veteran who transformed his own experience of injury and recovery into a powerful mission to help fellow heroes heal through his organization, Our Heroes’ Dreams. His work focuses on getting veterans back into purposeful civilian life, often alongside their families.
We also chat with Charlie Menoher, who retired after a decades-long career as an educator and administrator, but still holds a deep commitment to building a strong future for all students.
You’ll find some legends in the making among the Jr. Dragsters at Redding Motorsports Park. We met a couple of 10-year-olds who love to get behind the wheel of very fast cars, and their sport has created some unforgettable family bonding experiences.
Of course, Lake Shasta Caverns is one of Shasta County’s most well-known legendary destinations - and even if you’ve been there before, you might want to check it out again. They’ve replaced their old lightbulbs with more than 1,000 LED lights, providing an entirely new and enhanced experience for visitors.
You’ll also find some Local Legends in this month’s calendar, and we’re pretty sure that nobody does Independence Day quite like the North State. We’ve got the details of the awe-inspiring Freedom Festival in Redding, along with the fun annual celebrations that are the hallmarks of the Fourth of July in places like Mount Shasta, Weaverville, Anderson and more. Enjoy!
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
—Coretta Scott King
OCCUPATION
Executive Director, Expect More Tehama
WHAT I ENJOY
KATHY GARCIA
HOW LONG IN THE NORTH STATE FAMILY
Three best kids in the world, plus a few bonus ones.
I was born in Santa Barbara while my dad was in the California Highway Patrol Academy. He was first stationed in Jacumba near the border, then transferred to Red Bluff when I was a year old. After high school, I left for college and lived in Davis, Sacramento, Long Beach and Portland before moving back to Red Bluff in my mid-20s.
M.C.
What do you enjoy most about living in the North State? I love the connections rural areas foster. I enjoy walking into a store or restaurant and seeing familiar faces. In urban places, those connections were fewer. Here, knowing people and their stories builds trust—and that helps us get things done.
What was your very first job? Did it teach you anything you still use today? When I was 11, we moved to five acres in Dairyville. I worked in our almond orchard with my dad and took odd jobs cleaning for elderly tenants at a nearby mobile home park. I learned that I value variety, the satisfaction of a good project, and being trusted to do a job well.
What’s a talent you have that not many people know about? I ask questions. I used to be nervous about it, but realized if I’m wondering something, others probably are too. The more you ask, the easier it gets—and better questions follow.
If you could invent a holiday, what would people celebrate? Today, I’d go with a Hometown Clean-Up Day—where families help refresh parks, sidewalks, and parking lots with weeding, planting, and fresh paint. There’d be music everywhere and a big community BBQ to celebrate.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Two come to mind: 1) Leave things better than you found them, and 2) Everyone is going through something you know nothing about, so be kind always.
If you had a time machine, would you visit the past or the future? I’d visit the past to spend time with my grandparents and great-grandparents in their younger years. We miss out on really knowing our extended family—I’d love to see my grandpa as a young man.
If you could swap lives with any cartoon character for a day, who would it be? Phineas from Phineas and Ferb (who came back in June!). I love summer, and he takes full advantage of his vacation—he’s creative, fearless, sings great songs, and enjoys his friends. I think he’d enjoy tackling one of my July projects!
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be? I’d love to have dinner with Jesus. And I’d hope for many courses as I have some questions, and this might take a while.
What’s something simple that always makes you smile? Dry humor, the first glimpse of the lake, a favorite song, creme brulee, my kids when they’re loud and all together, unexpected free time, arriving at Disneyland.
Photo by
Hunter Photography
A NATURAL WONDER GLOWS UP
A DAZZLING NEW TOUR EXPERIENCE AT SHASTA CAVERNS
orthern California’s jewel of an attraction, Lake Shasta Caverns, relaunched its tours with improved speleothem lighting, providing an entirely new and enhanced experience for visitors. They replaced 180 old traditional lightbulbs with more than 1,000 LED lights known as “luminaries,” cutting power usage by 80 percent and illuminating parts of the caverns never seen before. While becoming a designated National Natural Landmark in 2012 is a huge accomplishment (as it shows their protection and stewardship of the land), this is Lake Shasta Caverns’ largest capital improvement project to date. ▶ continued on page 22
Photo courtesy of Lake Shasta Caverns
On a sunny, warm and calm Northern California day, Lake Shasta Caverns General Manager Matt Doyle and Jessica Doyle climb aboard the patio boat from the bottom of Shasta Caverns Road to go across the lake to caves. On the ride over, Matt explains that the previous lighting system was nearing the end of its lifespan, and it was time for a major upgrade. In working with Cave Lighting (a company headquartered in Germany run by a bunch of world-class spelunkers), the newly installed Luminaries are not only more efficient in leading a tour and decreasing power consumption, but are reinstating the natural environment – helping the bat habitat and stopping the invasive growth of lampenflora. This moss grows on the cave formations when given the unnatural heat and light sources provided by the outdated incandescent bulbs.
A small control room outside of the caverns has a box which acts as a fiber optic backbone of the caves that is VoIP-activated with realtime security cameras.
“We will know immediately if there’s an emergency. It adds security and safety, a huge improvement from the 1964 switches to this touchscreen,” he says. It has 1.5 hours of trail lights inside in case the power goes out and uses a fraction of the electricity.
Lake Shasta Caverns has two generators; they can run one at a time on 1,500 watts
(compared to the 7,000-watt previous system), but only use about 500-600 watts on any given day. The caverns use about as much power each day as a slow cooker. They are the second in the United States to upgrade their lighting to this level (behind Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio), but the caves are impressively preserved. They opened in 1964, and you can still see fossils embedded in the rocks outside the entrance left over from thousands of years ago.
Inside the naturally air-conditioned caverns, subtle light guides the well-built walkways. Tour guides can now turn certain lights on and off whenever they want, so all of them don’t stay on all the time like before.
“It helps guide the tour as we can focus on certain features,” Matt explains. Improving the lighting helps create a more immersive experience – drawing attention to the depth and dimension of specific features.
Matt points out the soda straws, elephant’s trunk, stalactites, stalagmites and cave bacon, illuminating it with a remote control as the rest of the cave stays dark. Drawing attention to the depth and shadows has allowed guides to notice new things growing inside the cave, such as the white mineral deposits – the more natural state of the formations helping the lampenflora recede.
Photo Photo by Kayla Anderson
Photo by Kayla Anderson
“I NEVER SAW THIS CEILING BEFORE,” MATT SAYS AS WE WALK INTO THE CRYSTAL ROOM. “THERE’S SO MUCH GOING ON; IT’S EXTREMELY UNIQUE IN EACH LEVEL YOU GO UP, YOU SEE A DIFFERENT CAVE.”
“The lighting helps enhance the natural colors of the cave, helps the white pop,” Matt says. He points out the flow stone, deflected stalagmites, the small vessels growing every which way in the rock.
“That’s why I say this cave is alive,” Jessica adds. Matt points out the rimstone dams, cave pearls, and different accents in the room making the cave seem bigger than it is as they walk by dogtooth spurs, cave popcorn and cave coral.
“I never saw this ceiling before,” Matt says as they walk into The Crystal Room. “There’s so much going on; it’s extremely unique in each level you go up, you see a different cave.” Now with the enhanced lighting system, each visit is like unlocking a new treasure. “Where water flows, crystals grow,” he adds.
The Basement Room is originally the lowest point in the caverns, and it sounds different. They walk by an inscription from J.A. Richardson, the guy who first came into the cave on November 11, 1878, and the Odd Fellows chimney.
Then comes the grand finale – the Cathedral Room. Sitting on bleacher seats looking out into the dimmed rough rock wall with a 180-foot ceiling, the room goes dark and completely silent before multi-colored LEDs and choreographed music fill the room. The cave formation that looks like a pipe organ now sounds like a pipe organ. The light bounces along with the dramatic music in an awe-inspiring display. It’s common to hear cheers after the show, and every visit to the caverns is a one-of-a-kind experience. •
Lake Shasta Caverns
www.lakeshastacaverns.com
Kayla Anderson is a freelance writer, marketer and action sports enthusiast who grew up wakeboarding on Lake Shasta and learning to ski at Mt. Lassen. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Chico State University and loves to visit her parents in Redding.
Photo courtesy of Lake Shasta Caverns
Photo courtesy of Lake Shasta Caverns
Photo by Kayla Anderson
Sunshine & Good Times
Make the most of long days and warm nights with help from these local businesses. From outdoor adventures and backyard fun to everyday essentials and trusted local services, these community favorites are here to make your summer smoother, brighter and a little more joyful. Let the good times roll!
Just a short drive to Whiskeytown Lake and Oak Bottom Marina— where adventure meets relaxation. Camp under the stars, boat serene waters, kayak scenic coves, and hike beautiful trails.
Whether you crave excitement or a peaceful escape, Whiskeytown Lake is the
Gather Home in Lake Almanor
Recreational Activities for the Whole Family
Welcome back to beautiful Lake Almanor! Rachelle McNutt and her team at Gather Home would love to see you this season. Stop by to pick up something special for your home, a gift to share, or a piece of apparel to remember your trip. Warm smiles and lake-town charm await— they can’t wait to welcome you in!
Just a short drive to Whiskeytown Lake and Oak Bottom Marina— where adventure meets relaxation. Camp under the stars, boat serene waters, kayak scenic coves, and hike beautiful trails. Whether you crave excitement or a peaceful escape, Whiskeytown Lake is the perfect getaway close to home!
Recreational Activities for the Whole Family
Just a short drive to Whiskeytown Lake and Oak Bottom Marina— where adventure meets relaxation. Camp under the stars, boat serene waters, kayak scenic coves, and hike beautiful trails. Whether you crave excitement or a peaceful escape, Whiskeytown Lake is the perfect getaway close to home!
JUNIOR DRAG RACING CREATES FAMILY CONNECTIONS
he racer grips the wheel with anticipation, his focus on the lights that tell him when to go. Any moment they will flash to green, and he watches to catch that perfect split-second to hit the gas and blast his dragster off the starting line. Yellow, yellow, yellow, green! His engine roars and G-forces pin him to his seat, lifting his gaze over the dashboard a tiny bit higher.
Which is helpful, because this driver is only 10 years old.
Welcome to the Jr. Dragsters at Redding Motorsports Park, where children as young as 5 pilot real race cars at really high speed on a real race track. But they can’t go too fast. This is bracket racing, which means that they submit a time, measured in seconds, before the race, basically predicting when they will hit the finish line. In contrast to classic racing, bracket racing effectively sets a speed limit.
Junior drag racers win by finishing closest to their dialed-in time. But if they finish that eighth-mile too soon, they lose. It’s called “breaking out.” ▶ continued on page 28
AT FULL THROTTLE
SORTED is a personalized, organizational business that understands the chaos of life. These two hardworking ladies are ready to provide their expertise in decluttering, organizing and restoring calm to physical spaces. The gals at SORTED are dedicated to transforming homes and businesses into welcoming, peaceful, stress-free environments. Follow them on social media for inspirational ideas!
Scenic Chair Lift Rides & More
The Mt. Shasta Ski Park is nestled in the mountains below the iconic peak of Mount Shasta, offering a stunning alpine setting with unforgettable views. Treat yourself to scenic chairlift rides, mountain biking or disc golf. Enjoy snacks and drinks at the Black Diamond Grill— this destination adventure is one to remember.
Life is hard. Life is filled with chaotic storms. Karate can be the tool to navigate those moments. Most students fear being defenseless or disempowered. Some believe fitness is an obstacle to success. Students gain confidence as they progress in their practice. KMA brings 400 years of wisdom, from its birthplace in Japan, to the North State. Empower yourself - join us. Best of the North State Winner 2024. Redding, California
“ Our first year, we had about 15 boys and girls learning the difference between electric cars and gas cars with combustion engines.”
to do with conditions of the weather, wind and track temps and track prep.”
to do with conditions of the weather, wind and track temps and track prep.”
With lasers focused on a car’s tires to capture the seconds at start and finish, drive timing is precise. Blake Waller, 10, recently lost by a thinly-sliced second. “I got to the line too quickly because of a tiny wind gust. I barely gave it a little nudge, then the wind pushed it from behind,” he recalls. “It sped up, and I broke out. I lost by one thousandth of a second.”
Having recently grown out of the 6-9 age group, Waller qualifies for a faster car. His first two years he raced restricted to an 11.90 dragster (pronounced eleven ninety), referring to its capable finishing time on an eighth-mile pass, an estimated speed of about 55 mph. Now he drives an 8.90, capable of arriving three seconds sooner, which means he has to recalculate for more like a 75 mph track speed.
Though bracket racing sounds like each racer is racing their own clock, Jr. Dragsters launch from the starting line in pairs, in sideby-side lanes, but not necessarily at the same time. If an 11.90 car runs against an 8.90, the more powerful car’s starting lights are timed with a compensating three-second delay, so both cars are likely to reach the finish at about the same time.
It looks like a race. But getting there first means nothing in bracket racing, and your racing day can end in disqualification if you break out. That day, Waller took a minute to process his disappointment, then returned to the track to cheer on Team Redding.
Teammate Brinley Chelonis, also 10, finished closest to her dialed-in time for her first race, her opponent chosen by drawing a chip, color coded to determine in which lane they each start. “And then second round I won,” she says in fluent dragstrip. “Then third round I pulled a chip of somebody that is really, really hard to beat, and sadly, I lost going into third round.”
Her father, Cole Chelonis, says this was only the second time Brinley had driven this 8.90 car, so she and he were still learning it. “When we dial in the car, we’re dialing in pretty much what we think the car is going to do with conditions of the weather, wind and track temps and track prep.”
Perhaps the most impressive challenge these junior drag racers meet is found in the cockpit of their dragsters. Or, better stated, not found: no speedometer, no clock. Waller shrugs. “We can’t have any sort of gauge other than an RPM gauge in our dash,” he says. “I can’t look at any time. I have to rely on the counting in my head.”▶
continued on page 31
Northstate Powersports in Chico has the equipment to fuel your family fun this summer!
northstatepowersports.com
Mt. Shasta City KOA Holiday
It’s always a great day at Mount Shasta KOA. After all, their grounds are designed for your pleasure. From their 11 cabins with breathtaking views of Mt. Shasta to RV sites and even tent plots, Mount Shasta KOA is the perfect place to get out of Redding for a weekend or spend longer with family and friends.
900 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta 800.562.3617 koa.com/campgrounds/mount-shasta
Safari RV is a true family-run business, proudly operated by sons, dads and grandads. With over 10,000 parts in stock and more than 25 years serving the community, their knowledge of coaches and towables is second to none. Jeff and his family team are committed to offering expert service, honest guidance and dependable support to keep you rolling with confidence.
Scoop Into Summer
At When Pie Meets Bread, they are now serving ice cream—just in time to cool down on these hot summer days. They are still your goto spot for breakfasts, flavorful lunches and expertly crafted espresso drinks - 7 days a week. Come in and see why they were voted Best of the North State in both 2023 and 2024. Great food, good vibes and now—ice cream! Stop in for a scoop (or two).
Trout Fishing in Dunsmuir
Ted Fay’s Fly Shop is the perfect place to start your fishing adventure. They welcome both seasoned fly fishing pros and curious beginners to their well-stocked shop and the pristine waters surrounding Dunsmuir. Conveniently located in the heart of town, they are always happy to share local tips, scenic spots to explore and the most productive waters to cast your line.
whenpiemeetsbreadbakery.com whenpiemeetsbread
Rare Air Trampoline Park is a family owned and operated indoor family entertainment center. They have over 10,000 square feet of trampolines. Their courts consist of an open jump area, junior zone, slam dunk lanes, an airbag pit, trapeze swing, trampoline dodgeball and a new obstacle course.. They have a brand-new redemption arcade, a full service snack bar and indoor climbing wall. They are the premier birthday party destination in Northern California and look forward to serving your family!
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“It really became a really good family project,” she says. “Whether work was really heavy, or school was tough, we could all work on the car together and have a goal that was something we could all achieve together as a family.”
In between races or overnights between race days, these kids who can count milliseconds in their heads gather together in an RV camp in Redding Motorsports Park. Grown-up drivers have brought them from other drag racing communities such as Sacramento or the Bay Area, and each gathering is like a reunion where often two dozen children enjoy a strong common interest.
Blake’s mother, Tiffany Waller, says this is a lifestyle that can bring individual family members together, as well. “It really became a really good family project,” she says. “Whether work was really heavy, or school was tough, we could all work on the car together and have a goal that was something we could all achieve together as a family.”
And that kind of project can bond communities. Back at home in Concord, the Wallers contacted their local 4-H Club to offer members a chance to help build Blake’s dragster and learn in the process. “Blake leads a group of kids,” his mother says. “Our first year, we had about 15 boys and girls learning the difference between electric cars and gas cars with combustion engines.”
Both the Waller and Chelonis families express glowing appreciation for Redding Motorsports Park owner Tony Trimp. Tiffany
“MY LIFE MOTTO IS ‘GO FAST AND DON’T SUCK.’” “MY LIFE MOTTO IS ‘GO FAST AND DON’T SUCK.’”
Waller says while few tracks in North State run Jr. Dragster races, Trimp makes an effort to include them. Cole Chelonis, who saw the Sacramento Raceway close a couple of years ago, says he’s thankful for Trimp providing a safe place for Brinley and all the others to race safely.
Though Jr. Drag racers Blake and Brinley now enthusiastically embrace the lifestyle, both aspiring to the Junior National Finals in Las Vegas, the two young speedsters respond to the question of their futures in different ways. Blake, following the example set by his former-drag racing father, sees reducing his involvement as adult responsibilities arrive. He plans to pursue a career in marine biology. Brinley, at this moment, seems to not see beyond the track. Parents Cole and Kaitlin have formed an LLC around their daughter’s passion, naming it KBC Racing, using all three of their initials. Their junior driver is
ready to go, experienced in gathering sponsors and other required fundraising. To announce her intent to the world, Brinley declares her racing name is “The 530 Kid.”
She adds, “My life motto is ‘Go fast and don’t suck.’” •
Redding Motorsports Park
6750 Old Oregon Trail, Redding (916) 895-1566
www.reddingmotorsportspark.com
Find them on Facebook
Richard DuPertuis is a Redding grandfather who writes. His stories and photographs have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online. He strives for immortality not by literary recognition, but through diet and exercise. He can be reached at dupertuis@snowcrest.net
Get Motorcycle Licensed Now!
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Where We Always Offer Our Service With a Smile
Michelle Tegerstrand, a 4th generation Moule, is the proud owner of Moule’s California Glass, Inc. A woman-owned business since 1994, mother and daughter, Laura and Michelle, have been doing business in Shasta County providing services for residential and commercial glass needs. Moule’s California Glass in Redding, serving Shasta, Tehama and Siskiyou counties. Voted Best “Window Company” in Best of the Northstate 2022 and 2023. Celebrating 30 years in business!
Luxury in the Forest
Now in its 10th year, Highlands Ranch Resort on Childs Meadow in Lassen National Forest offers rustic chic décor and premium amenities in its beautiful cottages. Surrounded by enchanting mountains and ever-changing meadows, the lodge, restaurant, and guest accommodations provide a peaceful retreat in every season—from drifting winter snow to golden summer days. The magic of this place draws visitors back time and again.
HANDS-ON LEARNING COMES TO LIFE AT CHICO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
he doors to imagination are wide open at the Chico Children’s Museum, where children can engage in a wide variety of play, from a tent in the camping room to a fantasy launch into the cosmos in Starkid Command. The interactive museum prides itself on being a safe, nurturing space for children and families to let their imaginations soar and connect with each other in any weather.
“The whole point of imagination is to engage a whole other world in your child’s mind,” says Jessica Melear, creative director at the museum. “And it’s fun! On rainy days, we’re an indoor park. When it’s 113 degrees, we have air-conditioning.”
The Chico Children’s Museum, opened in 2019, includes nearly 9,000 square feet of play area with a “please touch” philosophy that encourages children to explore a wide variety of exhibits that include a dentist’s office, veterinary clinic, agricultural area, nautical ship, glow wall and much more. “If you want to be a farmer, you can go plant carrots and potatoes,” says Melear.
While each exhibit has its proponents, she says the supermarket is by far the most popular with its young patrons. They love to grab a child-sized shopping cart or handbasket and fill it with an ever-rotating stock of plastic fruits and veggies, stopping by the flower bin for bouquets. “We’re always trying to change things there to keep it fresh,” she adds, noting that artichokes may be available one day but replaced by tomatoes during the next visit. “We constantly move things around.”▶
continued on page 36
“Iloveitwhenmoms bring theirbabies inwalkersand they arejustcruising
throughthemuseum. ” sheadds .
The museum was developed for children 0-12 years, but they won’t turn away a teenager accompanying a younger sibling with a parent. Melear says she’s seen reluctant teens almost embarrassed to be seen in the museum eventually connect to the play at hand. “Within 10 or 20 minutes, that teenager is in an apron serving their mom an ice-cream sundae,” she says with a laugh.
On the other end of the spectrum are the littles that find their own enjoyment. “I love it when moms bring their babies in walkers and they are just cruising through the museum,” she adds.
“We provide a great facility for you to come in and engage with your child. We are a safe, clean, fun, nourishing environment.”
A key concept of the museum is the connection that can happen with adults and children when they put down electronic devices and engage together. “We aren’t a daycare,” says Melear. “We provide a great facility for you to come in and engage with your child. We are a safe, clean, fun, nourishing environment.” All adults must be accompanied by a child, with a maximum of three children to one adult.
A hallmark of the museum is its extensive Art in the Park area that has a selection of seasonal art activities rotating on a monthly basis. Staff member Esperanza Tuel often
creates her own designs for the projects rather than relying on digital cutouts from the internet. “A child can leave with a completed art project at every visit,” says Melear. The museum also holds monthly scavenger hunts for children at four levels of difficulty.
“This is like a second home for some families,” says Melear, who says she always wants the place to have fresh new elements for them to explore on each visit.
While walk-in play is a standard, the museum has also become a popular place for children’s birthday parties, with options during regular hours or after the museum has
closed to the public. In both scenarios, a special birthday room with kitchen is available to the celebrated child and friends. After hours, a larger number of guests have exclusive run of the whole museum.
The museum also hosts field trips throughout the school year, and is a popular destination for schools from across the North State. A dedicated Snack Alley allows visitors to bring in their own snacks. Guests can leave and return when they purchase a day pass.
In its commitment to being available to all, the museum has a dedicated sensory room with low lights and bean bags, and other
calming elements to support visitors when they are feeling overstimulated. Other areas support stimulation and a wide range of movement for those with extra energy.
While the museum’s bright yellow and white façade on Main Street in downtown Chico are hard to miss, Melear doesn’t believe enough people know about the Chico Children’s Museum and the magic of what’s inside. “People exclaim that it’s like Disneyland when they enter,” she says. As the weather heats up and children who are out of school begin to claim boredom, it’s good to know there’s an air-conditioned area where
Chico Children’s Museum www.chicochildrensmuseum.org 325 Main St., Chico (530) 809-1492
an imagination can fly free. •
Melissa Mendonca is graduate of San Francisco State and Tulane universities. She’s a lover of airports and road trips and believes in mentoring and service to create communities everyone can enjoy. Her favorite words are rebar, wanderlust and change.
www.chicofootandankle.com
Specializing in managing complicated foot and ankle problems.
• Specialist in painful arthritis of the foot and ankle.
• Ankle replacement procedure. • Heel and arch pain.
• Minimal pain techniques for bunion and hammertoe repair.
405 South St. Suite F, Redding 676 E. 1st Ave., Suite 9, Chico 530.342.5621 D O N ’ T L E T F O O T A N D A N K L E PA I N K E E P Y O U F R O M W H AT Y O U L O V E
More Sunshine, Less Stress - Let Us Help At Home
Spending time with family this summer? Watch for signs Mom or Dad may need help at home.
2608 Victor Ave., Suite C, Redding 530.226.8350
1. MEDICAL CONDITION – Has your loved one been diagnosed with an illness that affects daily living? Is it limiting their abilities now—or likely to in the future?
2. DRIVING – Do they still drive? Consider their vision, reflexes and response time. Are they at higher risk for accidents or prone to getting lost or panicking?
3. NUTRITION – Are they eating balanced meals and maintaining a healthy weight? Can they still cook, shop and keep fresh, varied food on hand?
4. HYGIENE – How is their personal care? Do they bathe regularly and wear clean, appropriate clothing? Are towels and bedding fresh? Can they do laundry?
5. BEHAVIOR – Are they more anxious, irritable or forgetful? Do they seem confused, withdrawn or uncomfortable outside the home?
6. MEDICATION – Can they manage medications properly— dosage, timing and refills? Do they understand what each one is for?
7. FINANCES – Are they handling money wisely? Are bills paid on time? Do they keep some cash on hand and avoid suspicious offers?
8. MAIL – Is mail piling up? Are there late notices or signs of financial scams?
For more information, or to schedule a complimentary in-home assessment, give us a call
BEHRENS-EATON HOUSE UNVEILS RESTORED VICTORIAN GARDEN
celebration of Redding’s olden days and, in keeping with the late Hon. Richard B. Eaton’s wishes, the Victorian era. Its weed-choked back yard? Not so much.
That’s now all in the past. The back yard, fittingly, is home to a Victorian garden that is, well, a museum piece in its own right.
The idea for a garden began to germinate after a four-year project to restore a pair of 100-year-old cottages behind the museum, says Mike Dahl, one of three trustees appointed to oversee the museum and its grounds.▶ continued on page 42
Built in 1925 by the Bass sisters (members of a prominent Shasta County family), the cottages had fallen into disrepair. But to Dahl and fellow trustee Denny Mills, they still had plenty of intrinsic value. “Denny and I are both past presidents of the Shasta Historical Society; the thought of tearing them down was a non-starter. We’re preserving the history of the neighborhood,” Dahl says. “They were built during the Roaring Twenties and offered a contrast to the (1895-vintage) Victorian home. Plus, those bungalows were there when Judge Eaton was a kid.”
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth, You are nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
I have found a quiet refuge In the flowers' gentle grace, And the hush of heaven's whisper
Dwells in this holy place.
Dorothy Frances Gurney
One cottage serves as the offices for the Eaton Gift, the official name of the nonprofit organization that operates the museum. The second cottage provides secure, climatecontrolled storage for artifacts that rotate in and out of the museum.
For the garden installation, museum staffers enlisted docents, volunteers, neighbors, engineers and landscape architects to help with the design. Dahl says key contributors included Danielle Arendt with design.of.thought landscaping; Semingson Architecture & Engineering; Sharrah Dunlap Sawyer; and McEntire Landscaping.
A peaceful Victorian fountain surrounded by benches centers the garden and a symmetrical pattern of stamped concrete walkways and smaller pathways of decomposed granite guide visitors through a mix of shrubs, herbs, plants, trees and vines.
“It’s just a very special project,” says Hannah Sweeney, a lead horticulturist with McEntire Landscaping who assisted with the garden design and installation and now takes care of weekly maintenance. “The fountain really adds to it. It was really fun to install. There are so many birds and pollinators that come to the garden.”
Sweeney and Alexis Easley, the lead designer with McEntire Landscaping, selected a variety of drought-tolerant plants and shrubs, including the long-blooming catmint, “which is something you don’t see often. It grows really fast. We installed it in late September and to have it explode like it has has been fun to watch,” Sweeney says.
The garden’s plants also were chosen with the goal of having something in bloom yearround, Dahl says. That colorful feature came into play in May when the Victorian garden was the centerpiece of the annual AAUW Redding Branch garden tour.▶ continued on page 45
In addition to beautifying the museum grounds, the Eaton Gift Board of Governors used the garden project as a springboard to spruce up the neighborhood as well, adopting the city-owned strips adjoining the sidewalks on Chestnut and Butte streets, installing irrigation systems and planting roses and other flowers.
“We wanted the garden to enhance the neighborhood and the museum experience,” Dahl says. Neighbors and workers on break from the neighboring law offices and the Shasta County Administration Center on West Street frequently comment on the improvements. •
Behrens-Eaton House Museum www.eatonhousemuseum.org 1520 West St., Redding (530) 241-3455
Hours: 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 to 4 pm Saturday; private and school tours available by appointment
Jon Lewis is a Redding-based writer with more than 40 years of experience. A longtime San Francisco Giants fan, his interests include golf, fishing and sharing stories about people, places and things. He can be reached at jonpaullewis@gmail.com.
lifelonglearner
MENTOR, EDUCATOR, LEADER: THE LEGACY OF CHARLIE MENOHER
eing an educator isn’t just a profession. It’s a mindset, a state of being, a passion and a lifelong commitment to building a strong, secure future for every student you encounter, long after that school bell rings. But being an educator isn’t just about being a strong teacher. It’s about being a strong student, too. While Charlie Menoher learned a lot being a classroom teacher in the Bay Area for six years, the bulk of his learning came from watching other teachers as a school administrator.
The Anderson High School and Shasta College graduate continued his education at Chico State University and ultimately pursued a Masters and Education Administration Credential from San Jose State. When he moved back to the Redding area in 1973 at age 29, he became the principal at Project City School, now known as Grand Oaks School. In 1982, Menoher graduated with a Doctorate in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from Brigham Young University, a degree he pursued alongside his life partner, Judy. Two years later, Judy received her Doctorate in the same program.
The Mehohers will celebrate 60 years of marriage this September, a journey that has been solidified by a shared commitment to public education and caring for the community. “Judy has been the foundation of my life – supporting and encouraging me along our path together,” says Menoher.
For more than three decades, Menoher worked as a teacher, principal and district superintendent, and retired after 12 years as Shasta County Superintendent of Schools in 2002. Even after his first retirement, Menoher continued to pass the educational torch to aspiring school administrators as an adjunct faculty member for National University, retiring in 2011.
“Education is a profession built on relationships, whether as a teacher or an administrator. You have to work at building those relationships. Realizing what and how you say things is critical. Every interaction is important – being visible and available and listening,” says Menoher.
Public education, Mehoher says, has been one of the most meaningful aspects of his life: “One enters the field with a strong desire to work with and help prepare our youth to lead successful and meaningful lives. Working with parents, teachers and the community – there is no better feeling than to see children thrive and move on in their lives. One of the great benefits and joys of a career in education is having former students share their careers and families with you.”
His work has gained him the Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect Civil Rights Social Justice Award. He is a Shasta College Distinguished Graduate. He has won a California School Leadership Academy Regional Award, Milpitas School District Teacher of the Year, and an award from Northern California Society of American Foresters for support and development of the Forestry Institute for Teachers. Anderson Union High School awarded him “Best Looking Legs” on the basketball team.
Menoher is a distinguished educator, but insists he still had a lot to learn with only six years of in-classroom experience. His education continued through graduate school, countless training courses, and, most importantly, watching teachers in action.
“There is something magical watching our very best teachers at work…a melding of the science and art of teaching,” says Menoher. “As an administrator, supporting, encouraging and providing resources and growth opportunities for teachers, administrators and staff and watching them excel was very meaningful to me.
Menoher’s mother had a saying: “Life is not about being but about doing.” His mother was the foundation of his family growing up, and she modeled a life of doing. “She was very active in her community,” he says. “I enjoy ‘doing’ and I have been involved in many organizations over the past 50 plus years in Shasta County.”
His spirit of “doing” has led him to many pivotal roles and causes over the years, including past local and regional president of the Association of California School Administrators Association, past president of United Way of Northern California, past president and current member of Redding East Rotary, past president of Shasta County Mental Health Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board, past president and current member of Riverview Golf and Country Club, and past board member of One SAFE Place. Menoher is currently on the board of Sierra Pacific Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, a role he’s held for 25 years. He has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer and currently sits on Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s Board of Regents. ▶ continued on page 48
“One enters the field with a strong desire to work with and help prepare our youth to lead successful and meaningful lives. Working with parents, teachers and the community – there is no better feeling than to see children thrive and move on in their lives...”
a legacy of service
Menoher spearheaded the Youth Violence Prevention Council, now known as Youth Options Shasta. What started in a “closet” in the Shasta County Probation Department has grown into a vibrant system that includes Youth Peer Court. Developed in 2003, the Youth Peer Court helps divert kids from the Juvenile Justice system. This Restorative Justice model takes a different approach to changing the trajectory for children who find themselves in trouble.
“When children get involved in the justice system, they don’t come out better for it,” says Mehoher. “With Youth Peer Court, they come in front of a court of their peers and receive a ‘disposition’ instead of a sentence. Youth courts are across the nation and truly make a difference in young folks’ lives, with recidivism rates well below children who enter the juvenile justice system,” says Menoher.
To date, more than 3,000 kids have been kept out of the local juvenile justice system due to the Youth Peer Court. Some kids who have previously received a disposition have later come back to be a part of the peer court, helping other kids make better choices. Local judges volunteer their time to preside over the cases and local attorneys provide training to youth volunteers, a learning experience that has given kids a chance to support other young people and, perhaps, even provide a glimpse into a possible career opportunity.
“ Mentoring is one of the most powerful things that can happen to a child who is having issues,” says Menoher
Menoher acknowledges that Shasta County faces plenty of concerning issues, including addiction, abuse and neglect, poverty, mental health issues, lack of jobs with a livable wage and more. He hopes to see the community focus more on local children, fellow citizens and local needs and issues.
“Before there were ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, there was a precursor we called Developmental Assets – the positive things that can set a kid on the right path. A mentor can be that for a child in need,” says Menoher.
With a firm belief in the power of mentorship, Menoher co-founded Plus One Mentors with his wife. Although the organization is no longer operational, the Menohers’ legacy of mentorship continues.
“Mentoring is one of the most powerful things that can happen to a child who is having issues,” says Mehoher. Parents, teachers, and school administrators are expected to be involved in a child’s life, but to have an unattached adult have an impact on a child – that is something special. It helps kids bounce back from tough circumstances. It gives them a sense of belonging, an opportunity to participate, and a chance to develop positive expectations.”
Menoher has been retired from his official roles in Shasta County’s educational system for nearly 15 years. But, true to form, for a good teacher, he continues to share compassion, wisdom, and opportunity for growth with his community, and he never misses the chance to learn along the way. •
Kimberly N. Bonéy, proud wife and mom, is a freelance writer, designer, up-cycler and owner of Herstory Vintage. When she’s not working, she is joyfully wielding jewelry-making tools and paintbrushes in her studio. Antique shops, vintage boutiques, craft stores and bead shops are her happy place.
Photos courtesy of Charlie Menoher
PURPOSE RESTORED
JUSTIN BOND’S MISSION TO HEAL AMERICA’S HEROES
n Good Friday in April 2004, Sergeant Justin Bond’s life changed in an instant. In the chaos of Fallujah, Iraq, the young combat engineer from Hanford was struck by gunfire – an AK-47 round tearing through both knees and costing him his left leg. Severely wounded, Bond was pulled from the battlefield by his platoon and medically evacuated home. But the true battle was only just beginning.
Bond would undergo more than 40 surgeries. Yet it wasn’t just his physical injuries that left deep scars. Like thousands of other veterans, he returned home to face a silent war: one fought in hospitals, in homes, and often, in the solitude of one’s mind.
“When I returned home in 2005, I knew 11 friends who had committed suicide,” Bond recalls. “That number was too high. I couldn’t sit back anymore. I had to do something.”
That “something” became Our Heroes’ Dreams – a nonprofit organization born out of Bond’s determination to help fellow veterans, first responders, peace officers and Gold Star
families find purpose and healing after service. Launched in 2012, the all-volunteer organization now operates year-round programs that have helped hundreds of individuals and families.
At the heart of Our Heroes’ Dreams is the truth that trauma cannot be healed in isolation. Bond and his team have created a four-phase recovery program that gets veterans “off the couch and back into their family unit.” The final phase is the most important: helping each participant discover a new mission in life.
“In the military, you’re trained to fight, to survive, to protect,” Bond explains. “But when you’re discharged, nobody teaches you how to turn that switch off and live as a civilian again. That’s where we come in.” ▶
continued on page 54
Photos courtesy of Our Heroes’ Dreams
“When you give someone a mission, the pills go away. The nightmares ease. The purpose comes back.”
The organization runs monthly Healing Retreats at its facility in Oak Run, which has become a sanctuary for those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma and depression. Attendees are guided through physical, emotional and spiritual exercises – some for the first time since returning from service.
“Humans are not meant to sit idle,” Bond says. “When you give someone a mission, the pills go away. The nightmares ease. The purpose comes back.”
The organization’s flagship site, Camp Freedom, is located in the rolling hills about 23 miles east of Redding. Bond has big plans for its expansion: 26 cabins, multiple service buildings, and enough space to eventually support 80 veterans and families per month.
Currently, Our Heroes’ Dreams helps about 20 warriors monthly. But the demand is growing. Adjacent land is for sale, and Bond hopes to purchase it to expand capacity, making Camp Freedom the largest reintegration center of its kind in the United States.
One of the most unique elements of the program is its inclusion of family members in the healing process. “You can’t heal a warrior without healing the family unit,” Bond says. “When you’re in the military, your squad is your lifeline. At home, your family is your squad. You’d die for your squad. Now you need to fight for your family.”
The retreats include training on how to navigate PTSD as a family, how to recognize trigger points, and how to use “code words” to de-escalate emotional episodes. Families leave with new tools – and a renewed sense of unity.
Bond is no stranger to pushing physical limits to raise awareness. He once bowled 1,000 games over nearly four days. He later rode a Segway from Monterey, California, to Jacksonville, Florida, covering more than 3,000 miles in 60 days. In another journey, he traveled by motorized wheelchair from Canada to Mexico and back to Fresno.All of these efforts were driven by a single goal: saving lives.
“Over 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we lost about 7,000 troops in combat,” Bond says. “But we’re losing 16,000 veterans every year to suicide. That’s the deadliest battlefield we face.”▶ continued on page 57
Photos courtesy of Our Heroes’ Dreams
• Robotics
• Premier Independent Study Program
• Enriching Blended Model
• Tutoring, Including Reading, Writing & Math
• Shasta College Courses
• Site Based A-G Courses Available
• Computer-Based Instruction & Tutorials
• Community Service Provider Electives
• Environmental Education
• Turtle Bay Docent Programs
• A Personalized Learning Innovative Educational Charter School
Phoenix Charter Academy College View
“I was miserable when I had no mission,” he says. “Now I get up every day and know I’m making a difference. That’s what saved me. And that’s what can save them.”
In fact, Bond spent years lobbying Congress to mandate full suicide reporting by all states. While progress has been made, current data still undercounts the crisis. According to a recent study, the real suicide rate among veterans is closer to 44 per day – double the oft-quoted figure of 22.
Bond’s next dream is to take the Our Heroes’ Dreams model national. The organization is preparing a trial program to be launched on military bases, using veterans who have already completed the program to mentor those transitioning out of service.
“We’re going to help these guys shut off the militaristic switch,” Bond says. “We’re going to help them build a new toolbox for civilian life.” It’s a model built on empathy, experience, and the understanding that while wars may end on paper, their impacts often echo for decades.
Bond has received numerous accolades, including the Purple Heart and recognition from Congress and the Senate. One of his greatest honors came when President George W. Bush painted Bond’s portrait and included it in the book “Portraits of Courage.” It now hangs in the Presidential Library.
Yet for Bond, the real reward is in saving lives.
“I was miserable when I had no mission,” he says. “Now I get up every day and know I’m making a difference. That’s what saved me. And that’s what can save them.” •
www.ourheroesdreams.org
Terry Olson loves culinary arts, adult beverages and hiking in the North State wilderness. You may find him soaking up the scenery at one of our area’s many state or national parks or sitting in a barstool sipping a cold locally brewed craft beer.
Our Heroes’ Dreams is fueled entirely by donations and volunteer support. To get involved:
• Make a Financial Donation: Every dollar helps. It costs about $1,200 to send one veteran through the full program. Donate securely online at ourheroesdreams.org/ donate.
• Sponsor a Warrior: Individuals or businesses can sponsor a specific participant and follow their journey. Visit ourheroesdreams. org to learn more.
• Donate Goods or Services: Vehicles, furniture, building materials, and outdoor gear are all welcome. These are used both for daily operations and to help furnish veteran households.
• Volunteer: Whether you’re a contractor, counselor, chef, or someone with a big heart and a bit of time, the organization needs you. Visit ourheroesdreams.org for current opportunities.
Photos courtesy of Our Heroes’ Dreams
James Mazzotta Enjoy Magazine
Ronda Ball-Alvey Enjoy Magazine
Carl Bott Man Up
Linda Bott KCNR
Michelle Slade Heroes of the Northstate
Ted Lidie Man Up
Celebrating Excellence
Kimberly Pedersen
2024 Top Performer
Congratulations to Kimberly Pedersen awarded Top Sales Volume 2024 at the Select Summit Gala on May 14, 2025, held at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Her remarkable achievement reflects a legacy of hard work and client dedication during her time with Coldwell Banker C&C Properties.
Coldwell Banker C&C Properties is now Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate
We are proud to announce that Coldwell Banker C&C Properties has officially become Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate. This name change marks an exciting new chapter under new ownership, following the retirement of Steve Craft, who led the company with distinction for 43 years.
As we move forward, our commitment to delivering exceptional service remains unchanged. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients and Northstate communities with the same dedication and integrity that have defined us for more than four decades.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
MT. LASSEN TROUT FARM LEADS IN RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE
aving recently celebrated its 75th anniversary raising trout and steelhead in its spring waters surrounding Mt. Lassen, the family-owned Mt. Lassen Trout Farm knows a thing or two about sustainable aquaculture.
The all-natural spring water is the lifeblood of the business, with millions of fish swimming around in various North State creek water/ snowmelt ponds every year. Eighty percent of the fish are then moved to recreational ponds all around California (one site is three miles away from Disneyland), and the other 20 percent are mostly sold in high-end restaurants.
“Chefs love our story and process,” says Mt. Lassen Trout Farm General Manager Katie Harris. “It’s such a compliment from these chefs for them to be so excited about our product. We give tours sometimes and I’m always humbled by their response. It’s a testament to the mountain and our fish being raised in a good environment. It all leads to the taste and texture of the fish, and that’s why it’s our job not to mess it up,” she adds. ▶ continued on page 62
“People think farmed fish is bad, but I see how far aquaculture has come and folks like us are good stewards of the land...”
Mt. Lassen Trout Farm is the largest private trout farm in California – it produces 800,000 to 900,000 pounds of fish per year – and at one time it was the largest trout egg supplier in the United States. Since the mountain spring water is so centric to everything they do, it is committed to nonconsumptive aquafarming. That means the water comes out of the ground, is run through the facilities, then can go toward something like generating electricity or fighting wildfires.
“This industry is heavily regulated. There are strict water quality standards, so in utilizing the water we’re trying to not do too much with what we’ve got,” Harris says. She explains that several ranches around them have water directly reclaimed from the trout farm, and that water was especially vital to have during the Park Fire, allowing firefighters to draft it out of the trout farm’s raceways.
“The spring water is the lifeblood of everything we do, so being a nonconsumptive user is critical for us,” Harris says.
There is negative press about farmed fish, but Harris says that in the economics of supply and demand, if we relied on just the ocean for fish, we’d deplete it fast – much like if we were out there trying to hunt our own chicken and pork.
“People think farmed fish is bad, but I see how far aquaculture has come and folks like us are good stewards of the land,” Harris says. She is a big proponent of U.S. aquaculture and believes fish are a wonderful protein used to feed the world.
“This is a local product and most of our fish stays in California. That’s important,” adds Harris. “Our fish is going out to ponds and chefs. Our customers, end users and consumers always tell us how they’re happy with the quality of our fish and that’s something I’m proud of.” ▶
continued on page 64
“We make decisions that prioritize the fish and the people… and we hope to keep this going for another 75 years.”
HEALTH WISE
Summe r Wate r S afet y & C ommunit y Suppor t f rom Gree nv ille R anche r ia
As temperatures rise and families head outdoors, practicing water safety is more important than ever. Whether swimming in rivers, lakes, or pools, it’s vital to stay alert, wear life jackets, and always supervise children near water.
For many Native American communities, water holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. However, Native Americans face disproportionately high drowning rates across the U.S. Access to water safety education, swim lessons, and proper equipment can help reduce this risk and protect lives.
(Indian Health Service IHS)
One often overlooked tip is choosing bright, high-visibility swimwear colors—especially for children. Neon orange, yellow, and bright green are the easiest to spot in water, while dark colors like blue, black, or gray can make swimmers nearly invisible, especially in natural water. For safety, all life jackets must be properly fitted. A well-fitting life jacket should not rise
above the wearer’s ears when pulled up by the shoulder straps. If it does, the jacket is either too large or improperly adjusted and should be refitted or replaced with the correct size.
To provide water safety in our Native communities Greenville Rancheria Tribal Health Clinic is proud to offer free life jackets this summer. This initiative aims to promote safety, raise awareness, and help ensure that all Native community members, especially children, can enjoy the water safely and responsibly. Please reach out to one of the CHR’s to make an appointment to receive a life jacket.
Stay safe, stay informed, and respect the water this summer.
Harris has been involved with Mt. Lassen Trout Farm pretty much her entire life. Her dad, Phil Mackey, has been in the aquaculture industry for more than 54 years, and Harris says she grew up on a “7,000-acre ranch in the middle of nowhere.”
“We had no neighbors, so I hung out with my grandpa a lot. I was pumping fish poop when I was 9, weed eating, and doing whatever else I could to help,” she adds.
She went off to college, not planning to become a fish farmer, but family drew her back to Manton. “The fish farm is a weird sense of home. I love the people I work with, and I love this industry,” Harris explains.
When asked what her favorite aspect of the Mt. Lassen Trout Farm is, she instantly says it’s the people who work for them.
“We’re a small but mighty family company and employ a lot of people in this community, from Hat Creek to Shingletown. Being a small business in California is hard, and we’re
Rancheria
HEALTH PROGRAMS
Family Practice
Pediatrics
Medical Facilities
Dental Facilities
Medical transport within Plumas and Tehama Counties
charged with the care of live animals. We can’t just be done with work after eight hours. The water is the lifeblood, but it’s the folks who make this place go.
“We have such a low employee turnover rate. There are people still here from when I was a kid. We make decisions that prioritize the fish and the people…and we hope to keep this going for another 75 years.” •
Mt. Lassen California Trout & Steelhead www.mtlassentrout.com www.mtlassenseafood.com
Se Habla Espanol
PARTICIPATING IN PARTNERSHIP AND MEDI-CAL MANAGED CARE
AS A COURTESY, WE WILL BILL MOST INSURANCES
NATIVES AND NON-NATIVES
Open for Walk-ins. 8am – 5pm.
Medical - Dental Monday - Saturday 8am-5pm
Kayla Anderson is a freelance writer, marketer and action sports enthusiast who grew up wakeboarding on Lake Shasta and learning to ski at Mt. Lassen. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Chico State University and loves to visit her parents in Redding.
Photos courtesy of Mt. Lassen Trout Farm
Trinity Dam Blvd. Lewiston (530) 778-3878 • pine-cove-marina.com pinecovemarina@gmail.com
Call (530) 221-7380 or visit www.besthearing.us to book today!
Think you or a loved one might have hearing loss? Take our free online hearing screener now, just scan this QR code!
The average hearing loss patient waits seven years before seeking help, which can take a toll on their quality of life.1 The longer someone puts off getting treatment, the more likely they are to face negative consequences for their well-being—hearing loss is linked to several common health conditions.
THE IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH
Your brain makes sense of the sound your ears take in, allowing you to hear. Untreated hearing loss causes your brain to process fewer sounds, leading to some pathways atrophying or being used for other functions, which can contribute to health problems.
PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS:
• Have three times the risk of falling2
• Are up to five times more likely to develop dementia3
• Are at a greater risk of experiencing depression and social anxiety4
• Can struggle to communicate and become socially isolated
HOW TO COPE: GET AN ANNUAL HEARING
TEST
Hearing loss usually develops gradually, making it difficult to notice for many patients. Since early intervention is key, scheduling an annual hearing test with an audiologist is crucial.
Annual testing will help detect any hearing loss as soon as possible, allowing an audiologist to treat your hearing loss more efficiently and effectively to help you maintain a good overall quality of life.
3. Johns Hopkins University. (n.d.).The hidden risks of hearing loss. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-andprevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss 4. Mener, DJ et al. (2014). Hearing loss and depression in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3773611/
Capturing the spirit of beautiful places sacred stillness
MARIA MILLER BRINGS NATURE INTO FOCUS
rom Open Space studio in Mount Shasta, Maria Miller wants to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. “I’ve painted since I was a little kid, and I use it as a way to capture the spirit of beautiful places that transport me, and then try to recreate that opportunity for people within their homes. Of course, I want you to get outside and go on that hike, but I want you to also be able to experience it without having to do that hike every day,” Miller says. ▶ continued on page 70
Photos courtesy of Maria Miller
I relocated from Southern California to Mount Shasta last summer, and it has been an interesting journey of deepening my relationship to the land here and capturing the beauty of the North State, because what we have here is just so spectacular,” Miller says. She likes to paint en plein air, or outdoors, and loves the use of color. “I like to work quickly, so sometimes I work small because I want to see it come together. Often, I’ll bring my gouache
“...it has been an interesting journey of deepening my relationship to the land here and capturing the beauty of the North State, because what we have here is just so spectacular...”
(paint) or my watercolors to the side of the river and hang out or camp somewhere with a view for the day and get a piece underway. From there, I usually finish it back in the studio and work from photographs that I’ve taken on my phone, or that my husband has taken because he’s a landscape photographer. I’m always trying new things. I do have some training, but I’m also pretty rebellious. I really don’t like to be told what to do, especially not by the masters. One day, though, maybe I’ll mature a little bit to be more teachable,” she says with a laugh.
Miller’s journey to Mt. Shasta is the result of several leaps of faith. “I have frequently in my life listened to a call, whether it was to a place or a person. I moved with two suitcases from Pennsylvania to San Francisco because I had just met this guy, and, after three days of knowing him, I had the sense that I’d marry him. But I also knew that if we lived apart cross country, that would never happen. So, I found a way to make it happen, and written the adventure from there. The call of Mt. Shasta was similar in that I just knew that I ▶ continued on page 73
had to go. I had first heard about it when I was around 18 from a customer at my parents’ health food store back in Pennsylvania. She talked about Northern California and her amazing experiences there. Since then, it had been on my radar as a place I wanted to explore. So, when my husband and I got engaged, I wanted my in-laws and my parents to meet on neutral turf and we settled on Mt. Shasta. We spent a long weekend up here, and when we were getting ready to leave, I just started crying. I really didn’t want to go. The next time we came back two years ago, I told my husband, ‘Well, this is my home now, so you’re just going to have to figure it out.’ It took us about eight months to get things in order, but here we are.”
“We spent a long weekend up here, and when we were getting ready to leave, I just started crying. I really didn’t want to go. The next time we came back two years ago, I told my husband,
‘Well this is my home now, so you’re just going to have to figure it out. ‘“
For Miller, being an artist in Mount Shasta is a weighted, but lofty experience. “Living here can be overwhelming because there is so much I feel deserves to be painted and wants to be painted, and so much that I want to paint. It’s kind of like church with the beauty of connection to God through the landscape. There is an urgency I feel to capture the light and the seasons. It’s always dynamic, and it feels like I’ll never be done. But I actually also love that. It’s sacred. Because there’s something about this place that really just beckons me to sit still and be present in the landscape. Even though I have a monkey mind and all these things I want to do, the peace still happens.”
Not only does Miller paint the landscape, she’s also doing whatever she can to protect it, donating 2 percent of her art sales to the Siskiyou Land Trust. “I have been really fortunate to learn about and volunteer with the organization since just after we arrived in Mount Shasta. It’s my intention to support Siskiyou Land Trust not only through donations, but by helping to spread the word about the amazing work they’re doing to help get more people to care about conserving this beautiful area. I realized that without work like theirs, the landscapes that I get to capture on canvas, including Sisson Meadow in the heart of Mount Shasta City, might not be there down the road.”•
Open Space Studio • www.openspacemtshasta.com
Megan Peterson is a freelance storyteller who loves her family, her pets, and Northern California. Her favorite part of writing is finding flow, and she always relishes a touching human story. Aside from Enjoy, she’s typically busy writing and producing for television, having created more than 220 hours of on-air content on networks ranging from National Geographic to Netflix.
it’s the sauce
“I remember when we first opened, it was toward the end of the pandemic, and it was like an old Western movie where the tumbleweeds would blow down the road, and there wasn’t much traffic at all.”
MAIYAJ ASIAN BISTRO DELIVERS BOLD FLAVORS TO MONTAGUE
ontague is a quaint western town located six miles east of Yreka, with a stunning view of Mount Shasta and a single Main Street brimming with historic buildings and an old railroad depot museum. It’s also, perhaps unexpectedly, where Maiyaj Asian Bistro chose to first open its doors in 2021. “I remember when we first opened, it was toward the end of the pandemic, and it was like an old Western movie where the tumbleweeds would blow down the road, and there wasn’t much traffic at all. We were nervous at first, but then we decided we’d make really good food, use our marketing skills to push it out, and that’s what we did. Now, we get a lot of cars that drive through. People come through the backroads during the summertime. There are bikers, cyclists and even tour buses and semis using it as a back way. Now, I feel like it’s truly a downtown,” explains owner Maiyaj Vang.
The original choice of the location was pragmatic. “We’re located in the building that used to be the Dutchman, which had been a really popular and had a lot of history,” Vang says. “Chef Pom, whose full name is Ratanachai Amaritnant, is my fiancé, and he’s been a chef for the last 20 years. Before here, he was a chef in New York where the pandemic really impacted the restaurant industry. During that time, we had friends in Oregon who suggested we open a restaurant on the west coast. We made a trip out here, and our Realtor showed us this space. What really got us was ▶ continued on page 78
Photos courtesy of Maiyaj Vang
“...out here, Chef Pom has had free range to create the menu, and so everything that’s on the menu are things that we love to eat and make at home.”
that the restaurant was turnkey. To find that kind of place at an affordable price was amazing. I also learned about a large growing Asian population in Northern California, so that helped us decide.”
The casual dining restaurant offers a variety of Asianinspired dishes, specializing in Hmong, Thai, Lao and Vietnamese cuisines. They have also added sushi and a number of monthly specials to the menu. According to Vang, every dish is made with love. “Chef Pom decided to name the restaurant after me because he said that it was his love letter to me. Back in New York, he had shareholders to please. But out here, Chef Pom has had free range to create the menu, and so everything that’s on the menu are things that we love to eat and make at home.”
The food is all cooked fresh, so they can customize just about anything. “We actually have an open window to our kitchen so that you can see every dish that gets
ordered being made,” she says. “People always ask me, what’s your favorite thing on the menu? And the truth is, that everything we serve is my favorite. But, if you ask what’s our most popular dish, I can tell you that most of our customers love our pineapple fried rice. And, everyone loves our house-made peanut sauce with pretty much anything. The peanut sauce actually won Chef Pom an award that landed him at job at the Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room in New York. His peanut sauce made him the executive chef for the Asian cuisine, which is a story I always love telling.”
The restaurant’s success has led to a second location in Yreka’s newly expanded Rain Rock Casino, with opportunities to reach a new clientele. “We have different clients, even different hours over there. In Montague, we’re open from 11 am to 8 pm because there’s not much traffic at night, but with the Casino location, we’re closer▶
continued on page 80
Your Health Is Our Priority
REAL WORDS FROM A REAL CLIENT
My health was rapidly declining— for nearly seven years, I experienced anaphylaxis, organ dysfunction, tissue damage in my legs, and even a mild heart attack. Doctors kept dismissing my symptoms until a life-saving procedure revealed my left iliac vein had completely collapsed. My body was in crisis. Then I found Susan at Breathe Hyperbaric Chamber. Since starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy, my inflammation has decreased, my tissue is healing, and my vascular health is improving. I truly believe I wouldn’t be here today without Susan and Breathe.— Chelse a
“We’re still finding our niche, but I think it comes down to being able to create a fast, casual experience with really good, freshly-made food.”
to Interstate 5 and open on Friday and Saturdays to midnight. The late-night crowd is always a different crowd. It’s also dealing with with customers who are just traveling through, versus Montague, where we see the same people every week, which presents a different challenge. How do we create food for people who see us only one time and make sure that they get their best meal? Having a good quality of food and experience is key for us at both locations.”
Given the success of the Yreka location, Vang is optimistic about possible future expansion plans. “The business part of it is how do we maintain this? A lot of times with restaurants, the mom-and-pop place usually dies with the first generation. So, we’d love to create a business that could be generational. We’re still finding our niche, but I think it comes down to being able to create a fast, casual experience with really good, freshlymade food.” •
Maiyaj
Asian Bistro 155 South 11th St., Montague (530) 459-9003
Megan Peterson is a freelance storyteller who loves her family, her pets, and Northern California. Her favorite part of writing is finding flow, and she always relishes a touching human story. Aside from Enjoy, she’s typically busy writing and producing for television, having created more than 220 hours of on-air content on networks ranging from National Geographic to Netflix.
TIP TOP
WELL-SEASONED AND TASTY GRILLED TRI-TIP
It’s not every day that a piece of meat goes from butcher’s castoff to backyard royalty. But tri-tip, that humble wedge of beef from the bottom sirloin, pulled it off. Now, it’s one of our favorite cuts of beef to barbecue, especially in California, where it was first “discovered.”
For much of its early life, the tri-tip wasn’t even worthy of a name. What we now call tri-tip was part of the beef near the brisket and near the ribeye, but was not considered either. When I was a butcher boy in Northern California in the 1970s, my boss used it as ground sirloin or stew meat.
But back in the 1950s, hidden from most of us in Northern California, a butcher in Santa Maria, a sleepy town on California’s Central Coast known more for strawberries than steak, had the bright idea to throw this chunk of mystery meat on the grill. The result? A juicy, smoky revelation.
There are a few contenders for the title of “tri-tip inventor,” as with all great American origin stories. Some say it was Bob Schutz, the legendary Santa Maria butcher. Others whisper the name Otto Schaefer, a Safeway meat manager in Santa Maria. Either way, give the small town on the central coast credit.
By the 1970s, tri-tip had become a full-blown Santa Maria tradition. But while tri-tip reigned supreme in Central California, it remained something of a regional curiosity. Ask a New Yorker what a tri-tip is, and you might get a blank stare. Even in Northern California, it flew under the radar for decades – unless you had a rancher neighbor who grilled.
The beef industry didn’t help, either; for years, tri-tip lacked standardized butchery across regions, meaning the same muscle might be cut differently or not separated at all, depending on geography.
Still, tri-tip had patience. And loyal fans.
Nowadays, the word has spread. Backyard pitmasters from Butte County to Brooklyn are embracing this budget-friendly, flavor-packed slab of goodness. Its modest price tag, quick cook time and satisfying flavor have made it a go-to for anyone seeking a steakhouse-quality meal without the steakhouse bill. And unlike brisket, which requires hours of low-and-slow coddling, tri-tip forgives your impatience.
Give it 30-40 minutes over fire, a good rest on the cutting board and a confident slice against the grain (please, for the love of all things beefy, cut against the grain), and you’ll look like a grill genius.
So here we are – tri-tip, the once-forgotten roast, now firmly planted in the pantheon of California barbecue. It may not have the storied past of Texas brisket or the saucy swagger of Kansas City ribs, but it’s got something better: an underdog origin, a deliciously smoky finish and a place of honor on any grill worth its salt.
•
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. dried rosemary
• ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 ½ lb. beef tri-tip roast
DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Stir salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, rosemary and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.
Step 2: Place tri-tip in a glass baking dish and coat on all sides with spice mixture. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Step 3: Remove tri-tip from the refrigerator. Let sit uncovered at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
Step 4: Preheat grill for high heat; lightly oil the grates.
Step 5: Place tri-tip on the preheated grill. Cook for 8 minutes and flip. Cook and flip for 8 minutes per side until 25 minutes are up. If you have a thermometer, the thickest part of the tritip should read 130 degrees. Grill longer if needed.
Step 6: Place on cutting board and let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
Terry Olson loves culinary arts, adult beverages and hiking in the North State wilderness. You may find him soaking up the scenery at one of our area’s many state or national parks or sitting in a barstool sipping a cold locally brewed craft beer.
Happy 4th of July
Savor
GREAT EATS BEING DISHED OUT IN THE NORTH STATE
★ Drive through ★★ Walk in or curb side delivery ★★★ Free or nominal fee delivery
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Frank Kratofil enjoys spending time with his family, friends and patients and he enjoys time in the outdoors. As a young man, Frank was legally blind. Two successful corneal transplants encouraged him to photograph the magic in nature... beautiful colors and the delicate balance of nature, animals and humans. Find him on Instagram @frankkratofil
MIXED BERRY SHORTCAKES
PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES || BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES || MAKES 12 SHORTCAKES
Sweet old-fashioned shortcakes, fresh berries and homemade whipped cream make for a perfect summer treat. This mixed berry shortcake recipe is easy to make and uses simple ingredients that combine beautifully. Make these shortcakes for a festive Independence Day dessert or for a summer afternoon sweet. Enjoy!
Step 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, add flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk together until fully combined.
Step 2: Cut the cold butter into cubes and add to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture until small pea-sized crumbles form.
Step 3: Drizzle 1¼ cups of heavy whipping cream and vanilla over the flour mixture and mix it together to make thick dough. (If the mixture seems too dry, add 1-2 T of water to help the dough stick together). Once combined, lightly knead the dough 4-5 times so everything sticks together. Be careful not to over-knead.
Step 4: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and pat down with your hands until it is about 3/4” thick. Use a biscuit cutter or the top of a wide mouth jar to cut the dough into circles. Place the shortcakes on the baking sheet with the edges slightly touching each other and brush 2 T of heavy whipping cream over the top of the shortcakes.
Step 5: Place the shortcakes in the oven on the middle oven rack and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. After baking, cool on a cooling rack while you prepare the whipped cream and berries.
Step 6: For the whipped cream, add heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla to a medium-sized bowl. Use an electric hand mixer and beat on high for several minutes until soft peaks form. Slice any large berries into smaller pieces and mix the assorted berries together in a small bowl.
Step 7: To assemble the shortcakes, cut the cooled shortcakes in half and add whipped cream and fresh mixed berries to the middle. Top with more whipped cream and berries if desired.
Maci Manty is a self taught baker and food photographer. She loves baking desserts, being outdoors and spending time with her family and pets. Follow her on Instagram @lovely_baking_co for more baking inspiration.
local events
CALENDAR
JULY 2025
FEATURED EVENTS
July 4th
anderson
July 3
• Anderson Explodes, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St., 5:30pm gates, 7:30pm concert, 10pm fireworks, find them on Facebook
July 9, 16, 23, 30
• Mosquito Serenade, Anderson River Park, Sierra Pacific Industries Amphitheater, 2800 Rupert Road, 6pm, www.ci.anderson.ca.us
• Chico Wednesday Farmers Market, North Valley Plaza Mall parking lot, Pillsbury Road adjacent to Trader Joe’s, 7:30am-noon, www.chicofarmersmarket.com
July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
• Thursday Night Market, Downtown Chico on Broadway Street between 2nd and 4th streets, 6-9pm, www.downtownchico.com
July 4
• Chico 4th of July Parade, Downtown Chico, 9-11am, www.chicorec.gov
July 5
• Dive-In Movie: Moana 2, Pleasant Valley Pool, 2320 North Ave., 7pm, www.chicorec.gov
July 5, 12, 19, 26
• Chico Saturday Farmers Market, Downtown Chico municipal parking lot, 2nd and Wall streets, 7:30am-1pm, www.chicofarmersmarket.com
July 6, 13, 20, 27
• Chico Farmers Market, Meriam Park, Farmers Brewing Restaurant and Taproom Parking Lot, 9am-noon, www.chicofarmersmarket.com
July 11, 18, 25
• Chico Friday Night Concerts, 418 Main St., 7-8:30pm, www.downtownchico.com
July 11
• Night Hikes, Upper Bidwell Park, meet at Upper Park, designated parking area A off Wildwood Avenue, 9pm, www.chicorec.gov/full-moon-night-hikes
July 12
• Slice of Chico, Downtown Chico businesses, 11am-5pm, www.downtownchico.com
July 24
• Starlight Stories: New Moon Night Hikes, Horseshoe Lake, at the Chico Community Observatory parking lot, 9pm, www.chicorec.gov/ starlight-stories-new-moon-nighthikes
dunsmuir
July 12
• Dunsmuir Second Saturdays, Downtown Dunsmuir, 11am-9pm, www.dunsmuirsecondsaturday.com
July 25
• Pacific Crest Music Festival, Dunsmuir, www.pacificcrestmusic.org/calendar
etna
July 5, 12, 19, 26
• Etna Farmers Market, 514 North Hwy. 3, 10am-noon, www.etnafarmersmarket.org
hat creek
July 19
• 45th Annual Deep Pit BBQ & Craft Fair, Hat Creek Hereford Ranch RV Park & Campground, 17855 Doty Road, 1-5pm, www.burneychamber.com
hayfork
July 10-13
• Trinity County Fair, Trinity County Fairgrounds, 6000 Hwy. 3, www.trinitycountyfair.com
magalia
July 5, 12, 19, 26
• Music on the Green, Magalia Community Park, 13917 South Park Drive, 6-8pm, www.facebook.com/ParkOnTheGreen mcarthur
July 12
• Big Rig Truck Show, Inter-Mountain Fairgrounds, 44218 A St., noon-7pm, www.burneychamber.com
mccloud
July 11, 19
• McCloud River Mountain Music, The McCloud River Bed & Breakfast, 325 Lawndale Court, 7pm, www.mccloudmusic.com
July 26
• The Great Shasta Rail Trail 10k, 30k, 50k, McCloud, www.intermountainendurance.com
• 4th of July Freedom Festival, Montague, www.facebook.com/montagueparks
mt. shasta
July 7, 14, 21, 28
• Farmers Market, East Castle Street, 3:30-6pm, www.facebook.com/ MtShastaFarmersMarket
July 3-5
• Mt. Shasta Fourth of July Street Fair and Festival, Castle Street Stage, 5pm Thursday, 8:30am run/walk Friday, noon parade Friday, fireworks over Lake Siskiyou at dusk Friday, 1pm Saturday-Saturday, www.facebook.com/ mtshastachamber
July 13, 20, 27
• Mt. Shasta Concert in the Park, Shastice Park, 800 Rockfellow Drive, 6:30pm, www.facebook.com/Mt.Shasta.Concerts
oroville
July 4
• 4th of July Fireworks, North Forebay, 930 Garden Drive, 8:15-9pm, www.orovillechamber.com
July 2-30
• Downtown Oroville Farmers Market, Montgomery Street Parking Lot, 8am-1pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays, www.visitoroville.com
paradise
July 2, 9, 16, 30
• Party in the Park: Music and Marketplace, Paradise Community Park, 5570 Black Olive Drive, 5:30-8:30pm, www.paradisechamber.com
July 4
• Paradise Symphony Orchestra Presents: Honoring Our Country,” Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Road, 2pm, www.paradisechamber.com
• Farmers Market and Concert Series, Washington and Pine streets, 5-8pm, www.redbluffchamber.com
July 5, 12, 19, 26
• Downtown Farmers Market, River Park, 555 Washington St., 8am-noon, www.redbluffchamber.com
redding
July 1-31
• Rise and Shine Kayak Tour, Oak Bottom Marina, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 9am Friday-Monday, www.nps.gov/whis/planyourvisit/ rangerprograms.htm
• Whiskeytown Lake Paddle Board Adventure, Brandy Creek Beach Lot B, 14412 Kennedy Memorial Drive, 1:30pm Friday-Monday, www.nps.gov/whis/ planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• Marilyn Miller Market, next to Dairy Queen, 1700 Churn Creek Road, 7:30am-noon, www.reddingfarmersmarkets.com
• Karaoke Night, The Tropics, 2555 South Market St., 8pm, www.facebook.com/ reddingtropics
• Luna Fusion’s Trivia Night, Luna’s Fusion, 2914 Churn Creek Road, 6-8pm, www.visitredding.com
• Plant Talk: Firescaping Your Home Landscape, 10am-noon
July 26
• Art Lab Saturday, 11am-2pm
• Guided Garden Walk, 10am
win-river resort & casino www.winriver.com
July 4-26
• Overtime Live DVJ, Friday and Saturday, 9:30pm
SCAN THIS TO GO DIRECTLY TO OUR EVENTS CALENDAR ONLINE GO DIRECTLY TO OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE GO DIRECTLY TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
HOW TO GET YOUR EVENT ON THIS CALENDAR
If you’d like your event to be listed in this section of Enjoy magazine, please post it on our website www.enjoylocalevents. com by the 1st of the month— one month prior to the next magazine issue. For example, a May event will need to be posted by April 1.
GIVING BACK
SACRAMENTO RIVER DISCOVERY CENTER
ENJOY Q&A, with Board Chairman Ben Hughes, Recreation Assistant Gabriela Gil-Lopez and Interim Executive Director Debbie King of Sacramento River Discovery Center QUESTIONS ANSWERS
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE SACRAMENTO RIVER DISCOVERY CENTER?
HOW LONG HAS THE ORGANIZATION EXISTED?
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS?
Our mission is to empower the public by highlighting the importance of water conservation, sustainable gardening, and the preservation of native wildlife and habitats. Located in the Red Bluff Recreation Area and operated in partnership with the Mendocino National Forest, we are a nonprofit offering educational opportunities, a native drought-tolerant garden, and outdoor experiences that deepen connections with nature. We believe that knowledge leads to appreciation, and appreciation leads to meaningful conservation action.
The Center opened in January 1996, following a planning effort launched in 1994 with broad public-private collaboration. With support from a CALFED grant, a diverse group representing nearly 50 organizations developed the Center’s mission and infrastructure. Community members donated materials and labor to create the Discovery Garden, pond, and trails. Educational programs were developed in partnership with area schools, including Red Bluff Union High School’s natural resources program. Though plans for a large interpretive center were never fully realized, the center has grown steadily and continues to thrive through community partnerships and grassroots effort.
We’re focused on rebuilding after the pandemic, maintaining our Discovery Garden, and reestablishing programs for adults and families. Key ongoing and future goals include:
• Information & Visitor Services: Serving as a welcoming hub for visitors, offering maps, local info, and watershed education.
• Educational Projects: Partnering with local schools and nonprofits to offer environmental education and summer camps.
• Experiential Learning: Providing hands-on opportunities for students, homeschoolers, and community groups.
• Recreation: Enhancing trails and nature programming in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service.
• Long-Term Plans: Building a permanent visitors’ center and a model Native American village, aligned with the Forest Service’s five-year plan.
WHAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DO YOU OFFER, AND WHO ARE THEY FOR?
ARE THERE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE?
WHO ARE YOUR KEY PARTNERS?
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS?
We provide hands-on learning for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students, taught by retired educators and local experts. Programs include bird watching, art, flora and composting, center exploration and water education. Programs last 2–3 hours and cost $4 per student (discounted to $2 for member schools).
Volunteers are at the heart of our success. We partner with Red Bluff Union High School’s Workability program, the Job Training Center, the Department of Rehabilitation and the Day Reporting Center to provide hands-on work experience and mentorship. Whether you’re helping with garden upkeep, supporting programs or guiding students, there are many ways to make a difference.
Our partnerships include the Mendocino National Forest, Tehama County schools, Red Bluff Joint Union High School, local school districts, Tehama County Probation, Job Training Center, Department of Rehabilitation, Chamber of Commerce, and AARP. These collaborations help us offer rich, community-focused programming.
Our vision includes building a permanent interpretive center and model Indian village, expanding educational programming and securing sustainable funding. We aim to keep the center open and thriving as a place that welcomes people of all ages and abilities, offering opportunities for environmental learning, connection, and community growth. •
Service focused
When I graduated high school, I was convinced I’d never go to college. So I enlisted in the Marine Corps right out of high school and served as a Military Policeman.
After completing four years in the military, I still wanted to serve others, so I enrolled in a law enforcement academy and became a sworn police officer. But my body was worn down from the military, and it wasn’t getting better in that line of work. I realized I needed to shift my focus—and find a way to use my mind instead of my body.
My wife suggested Shasta College and, once I enrolled, I found incredible support. I met Rob McCandless at the Veterans Center, who helped me explore career paths. Since I was interested in geology, I connected with geology instructor Randy Reed. He was super excited and invited me on a field trip with his Ancient Life class. I knew I had found my path.
Two years later, I’m graduating with a degree in geology and transferring to pursue my bachelor’s. I’ve found incredible mentors here—Randy Reed, Dr. Harp, Noël Bush, and chemistry professor Alan Beamer,
who helped me turn a class I once failed into one I aced.
There were mental health challenges, especially from my time in the military. But people like Mili Israel and Jessica Knight with MESA helped me through. It’s because of their support that I now plan to pursue a master’s degree in geology.
College success isn’t a solo journey. It took a community—and thanks to the people at Shasta College, I found purpose, passion, and a new direction to once again serve others.
Matt Stout Shasta College Knight
Honoring a Local Legend...
For more than 40 years, Dr. Gallagher has been honored to care for the eyes—and lives—of families throughout the Redding community. Originally from Kalispell, Montana, he earned his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1978 and opened his own private practice in Redding just two years later. What began as a small practice in 1980 has grown into Enterprise Optometry Group, now housed in a welcoming, state-of-theart facility since 1998. Dr. Gallagher is a proud member of the American and California Optometric Associations, and he’s especially grateful for the loyal patients who have trusted him with their care over the years. Serving this community has truly been one of the greatest joys of his life.
