Me & Mine Magazine | Spring 2017

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A Free Local Publication

Me & Mine Staff Jennifer Jaeger Traynham PUBLISHER MEET THE STASSI'S

Rona Desmond

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MARKETING & ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE SUNSWEET GROWERS INC. CELEBRATES 100 YEARS STRONG 7 RIDEOUT HEALTHY KIDS ARE ON TOUR!

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MEET ALLIE ROLLINS

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LOCAL WINE? TELL US MORE

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WE LOVE SHARING A NEW FIND WITH YOU

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Fritzie Rhody MARKETING & ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

Jessica Jaeger EDITOR

on the cover BROCK & JANA STASSI

PROTECTING ASSETS FROM A CHILD'S DIVORCE MAKE MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL

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PHOTOGRAPHY: STUDIO LOVEJOY

www.meandminemagazine.com Me and Mine magazine is an LLC and its information, format and designs are protected by copyright laws. Any reproduction of content, photography or arrangement is not permitted unless written permission is granted by the publisher of the magazine.

Contributing authors and photographers are responsible for content and accuracy in their submissions and Me and Mine Magazine, its founders or members assume no responsibility for errors or omissions.

Me and Mine Magazine, LLC, © Copyright 2017

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Meet the

We love a good love story, and this one hits it out of the park!

Stassi's Photography by Studio Lovejoy

How and when did you meet?

Brock: Jana and I met in 2003 at the annual Mel Good Basketball Tournament at Yuba City High School. I first saw her when I was selling tournament t-shirts as a freshman basketball player and she was in 8th grade. Later that night, a mutual friend introduced us.

What was your first date like?

Brock: I was rolling around in a ’78 El Camino and I kept asking Jana to go to lunch with me, but she kept saying no. When she finally agreed, I took her to Carl’s Jr. for lunch. I tried to be cool while parking the El Camino and I hit the curb. The rest is history!

Tell us a bit about your love story.

Jana: Brock and I have already experienced so much life together, and we haven’t even made it out of our twenties yet!

As you can imagine, when you start dating someone at age 15, there’s a lot of growing to do both individually and as a couple.

We had two short-lived break ups, but found our way right back to each other. We went to college at the University of Nevada Reno, and then Brock got drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011. While he began his professional baseball career, I went to graduate school at Arizona State University to pursue my own career working with young children and families.

This was the beginning of our long-distance relationship, and while I'm so thankful for all of the opportunities that have come our way, I will say that it is has not always been easy. I’m a planner, and I have learned that you cannot plan anything when it comes to baseball, so I struggle with the uncertainty of not knowing where we will be in a year from now or even next week.

The distance has certainly made us stronger and proven that our relationship can withstand anything. I’m Brock’s biggest fan, and even though I miss him like crazy, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. He’s living out his dreams and I couldn’t be prouder.

How long did you date before getting engaged?

Jana: 10 years!!!

How did he propose?

Jana: We were on our annual Jelavich family vacation in Carmel, and Brock’s brothers joined us for the weekend. Little did I know while we were driving down to Carmel, sitting right in front of me in the glove box was my grandmother's wedding ring that she had left for me when she passed away. I was totally oblivious and now I understand why all three Stassi brothers were quiet for the drive -- they were praying I didn't open that glove box!

I truly had no idea that Brock was going to propose, but my sisters had a hunch that he was up to something. Maybe it was because of the expensive champagne, or how he talked to my

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parents that week, or the fact that the night before, Brock stayed up until 3a.m. talking to my brother-in-law and his brothers. Maybe it was simply because we had been together for ten years and everyone had been waiting for this day to come.

The day of the proposal, my siblings and I had scheduled family pictures as a gift for my parents. The photographer, who had no idea what Brock was about to do, asked Brock and I to walk down a trail so he could get some pictures of us. Somewhere in all of the chaos of family pictures, I missed the hand-off of the ring from his brother Jake. As we were walking, Brock dropped to one knee and I was so surprised that I don't even remember what he said. I just kept saying “Are you serious? Are you serious?” and then the tears flowed, and of course I said, “Yes!” Needless to say, we got some awesome pictures of the proposal and loved them so much that we used the same photographer for our wedding!

What do you love about him/her?

Brock: I love that Jana is always so organized and on top of things.

That's not my strongest suit, so she keeps me in line and I love that about her. Jana is the realistic one when I get crazy ideas, always keeping us grounded. She really does bring out the best in me.

Jana: Brock balances me out perfectly. He’s calm, patient, confident, hard-working, and a family man. I think everyone who knows him would agree with me when I say he’s literally the most easygoing person I’ve ever met. He takes life one day at a time and reminds me that it’s okay to not have a plan for everything. No matter what curve ball life throws our way, I love that Brock gives me comfort in knowing that everything will work out the way it’s meant to be.

Tell us about some special details about your wedding.

Jana: Our wedding day was truly perfect and so sentimental. It was everything that we had dreamed of and more. I had so much fun with all of the planning leading up to it, so I was over the moon when I saw everything come together. My sweet aunt is a wedding coordinator, so between her and the on-site coordinator, they took my vision and made it a reality. We couldn’t have asked for better vendors (hence the stunning photos!), who made our day stressfree. The venue, Folktale Winery and Vineyards in Carmel, was magical and we even lucked out with a sunny December day.

We picked the venue the weekend after we got engaged. We were in a bit of a time crunch since Brock was leaving for baseball season. Brock and I decided that we wanted to do somewhat of a destination wedding so that we could keep the guest list small (for us this meant around 200 people). That was definitely the hardest part considering we both have such big families and so many important people in our lives. We also knew our wedding window was limited to sometime between November and January because of baseball, so we had to be mindful of the climate for that time of year. I happened to drive by Folktale Winery with my mom and sisters on our way to look at a different venue, and I loved the appearance of it from the outside, so we decided to stop and take a look. I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous property and all that it had to offer. It fit the vibe I had always wanted for our wedding – casual yet elegant. After taking Brock and my dad back to see the winery, we all agreed it would be a perfect spot.

Since we were having a winter wedding, I knew I wanted it to be formal but also suit our laid-back personalities. “Rustic glam” is

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how I liked to refer to the style – lots of natural beauty and simple décor, with a few glamorous touches and black-tie optional attire. The color scheme was black and white with gold and silver accents, and our florals consisted of greenery with hints of blush and nude.

A few crowd favorites from the evening were the live band (the Mixx Band knows how to put on a show!), the donuts (requested by my dad), late night taco cart (who doesn’t love Mexican food?), and cigar bar (my surprise to Brock, because let’s be honest, he didn’t care much about the chandelier and other details that I swooned over). Although we didn’t get married in Yuba City, we still wanted to support our local businesses and bring a little bit of our roots to Carmel. We had my dad’s walnuts at all of the tables, got our favors from Sweet Thing Caramels by Teresa Larson, and I bought my dress from Always Elegant Bridal. It was also important for us to have our wedding be a reflection of our families, so we incorporated a lot of my grandmother’s belongings in the decor, and Brock’s grandma even made my veil.

The most special part of our wedding day was the ceremony and the people who were there to celebrate with us. Since Brock and I have been together for so long, our families are very close and all of our guests pretty much knew each other, which made it fun for everyone. Our wedding party consisted just of family. I had my two sisters, Natalie and Paige, and my brother’s girlfriend, Kristin. Brock had his two brothers, Max and Jake; my brother, Brad; and my brother-in-law, Jeremy.

Our siblings are our best friends and they have always been right by our side, so it meant the world to us to have them stand by our sides on our big day. The cutest of all were my nephew and niece, Reed and Londyn, who were the ring bearer and flower girl. Last but certainly not least, our wedding would not have been half as special if it wasn’t for our officiant and great friend, Gabe Foster.

The ceremony was so personal, heart-felt, and emotional.

We cried, we laughed, and Brock even dropped the ring!

It really was the best day ever.

What do you remember most about your wedding day?

Brock: The thing I remember most about our wedding day is when the doors swung open and I got my first glimpse of Jana. I couldn’t believe how stunning my wife looked.

What do you look forward to in the rest of your life together?

Jana: For starters, I look forward to actually living together 100% of the time! Just getting to be in the same place and live our day-to-day lives together will be amazing (and normal, right?!). I am so passionate about my career, but I’m ready to put it on hold and experience the crazy baseball journey with Brock. Now that we are married, saying goodbye for long periods of times is even harder than before. I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I sure can’t wait to see! I hope that we always continue to encourage and support each other throughout all of life’s endeavors. I'm excited to build a family together and create many more memories as husband and wife.

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CAR SEAT LAWS CHANGE ON JAN 1ST ATTENTION PARENTS! On January 1, 2017 a new California law goes into effect. Your child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they are one of the following:

✓ 2 years old, or ✓ 40 lbs., or ✓ 40” tall For more information or to schedule a car seat check-up, call us today!

(530) 822-7505

1531-A BUTTE HOUSE ROAD YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA 95993

(530) 822-7505 www.sutterkids.org

Sunsweet Growers Inc. Celebrates 100 Years Strong The world’s #1 prune brand reflects on a successful centennial

or over 100 years, Sunsweet has been supporting and inspiring consumers to eat right and enjoy a healthy and well balanced lifestyle. In celebration of its monumental birthday, today Sunsweet launches #Sunsweet100Celebration – a social-media driven content series that will run for 100 days, highlighting key Sunsweet milestones, innovations, surprising facts from Sunsweet growers, vintage advertisements, and more.

Sunsweet Growers Inc., today Sunsweet is a leader in providing prunes to 25 percent of the global market.

Sunsweet Amaz!n Prunes are an all-natural source of fiber, with 3g of fiber per serving, and only 100 calories. In fact, research shows that eating 5 to 6 prunes a day can help maintain bone mineral density in women. Prunes contain potassium, magnesium and vitamin K, all of which play a vital role in bone health.

“This is such an exciting time for all of us here at Sunsweet,” explains Jeff McLemore, Vice President of North America Marketing for Sunsweet. “It really all started in 1917 as a prune and apricot co-op in California and today we are 250 growers strong, producing 40,000 cases of high quality fruit and juice every single day!”

All Sunsweet dried fruit products are available nationwide in grocery stores, in the dried fruit aisle or baking aisle.

In tandem with the #Sunsweet100Celebration social media campaign, Sunsweet has created a visual infographic, (see next page)that celebrates the heritage and innovation of the brand over the years. Sunsweet’s history and commitment to its customers is rich – from where it all started with the “father” of California prunes, Louis Pellier, importing prune orchard stock from France to California, to the moment when Sunsweet first introduced the pitted prune to the market, to the latest paramount research that links prunes and bone health in postmenopausal women1.

Founded in 1917 as the California Prune and Apricot Growers Association and later changing its name to

About SUNSWEET Sunsweet Growers is a grower owned Prune Cooperative based in Yuba City, CA. For 100 years we have been committed to providing the highest quality products around the globe. Sunsweet strives to help make it easy to for consumers to make healthy choices by offering a full range of delicious dried fruit and juices. Sunsweet Amaz!n Prunes and Prune Juice are favorites around the world providing the nutrition you need, to keep your body feeling good and energized. Enjoy The Feel Good Fruit!

For more on Sunsweet products, visit www.sunsweet.com.

1 Hooshmand, et al. The effect of two doses of dried plum on bone density and bone

biomarkers in osteopenic postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis Int. 2016. Jul;27(7):22719. doi: 10.1007/s00198-016-3524-

Please Join Us! “Sunsweet 100 Year Anniversary Celebration & Summer Stroll” on June 17, 2017 2pm-9pm. This free event will include live entertainment, Kid’s zones, shopping and food.

In addition, Sunsweet will be celebrating it’s 100 Year Anniversary with the Yuba City community!

Visit the Sunsweet Gift Shop for a wonderful variety of dried fruit, confections and local gourmet food products as well as gift items.

It is really a one stop shop. The staff can process mail orders they ship daily - and gift baskets are a speciality.

901 N Walton Ave, Yuba City CA 95993. Monday - Friday 8am-4pm.

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New Class!

NO CONTRACT & $79 ENROLLMENT FEE MENTION THIS AD | EXPIRES 5/31/17

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Present this card for offer. New members or alumni only. Local residents only.

Limit one pass per year.

Pass valid for 7 consecutive days.

Must be 18 or older with a photo ID.

825 JONES RD, YUBA CITY• (530) 673-6900 WWW.YCRC.COM NEW -- SIGN-UP ONLINE!

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#Sunsweet100Celebration

1850

1917

1932

1965

1975

A study conducted at University of Arkansas showed that prunes can enhance the flavor and moisture retention in meat —perfect for a marinade!

The “father” of California prunes, Louis Pellier, imports prune orchard stock from France to California.

Sunsweet’s pitting process is patented, resulting in the most delicious pitted prune!

Sunsweet was founded as the California Prune and Apricot Growers Association and later changed its name to Sunsweet Growers Inc.

Sunsweet launches international headquarters in Yuba City, California.

Sunsweet Prune Juice is introduced

Since their launch in

Puréed prunes can be used to replace the fat in baked goods.

Sunsweet packages products in over 20 foreign languages and exports to 45+ countries around the world.

2007 more than one billion individually wrapped Sunsweet Ones™ have been enjoyed.

From snack packs to juices, Sunsweet produces more than 40,000 cases of labeled products per day!

In Japan, prunes are prized for their properties for beautiful skin. In

2015

they were also recommended as an important inclusion for the home emergency kit in the country’s Disaster Prevention Day.2

Research suggests eating 5-6 prunes per day may help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women.1

1 Hooshmand, et al. The effect of two doses of dried plum on bone density and bone biomarkers in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Osteoporosis Int. 2016. Jul;27(7):2271-9. doi: 10.1007/s00198-016-3524-8 2 “Asa Ichi”, NHK on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 (Disaster Prevention Day)

2017

Sunsweet is the world’s preeminent prune supplier, providing 25% of the global market.

www.sunsweet.com/100years

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Rideout Healthy Kids are on Tour!

Eat Well. Move Well. Feel Well. Be Well. hought-provoking and fun, Rideout Healthy Kids — The 8 Healthy Habits is an interactive and musical theater style school assembly that uses light-hearted skits (think Nickelodeon or Disney Channel) to show students it’s cool to be healthy through humor and music all aimed at teaching students how poor health habits will affect them later in life. They’re on tour now!

Actors in the assembly sing, dance, act, and show kids that it’s fun to be more active, watch less TV, and make better choices to eat healthy. This 50-minute assembly is designed for kids in grades K-6. Rideout Healthy Kids is presented at schools throughout Yuba and Sutter counties. As part of the Rideout Healthy Kids school program, schools receive a live theater assembly, which is typically performed for 100-500 students per audience. Smaller schools in the community sometimes combine with other nearby schools at a single location. In addition to the assembly, schools will receive follow-up materials for students, teachers, parents, and health staff to help extend the nutrition and health messages throughout the year. Each school will receive a Rideout Healthy Kids Resource Kit which provides fun, hands-on lesson plans and reproducible activity sheets to follow up on the enthusiasm generated by the show.

Photography by Mark Bradley

RIDEOUT HEALTHY KIDS WILL TEACH THESE IMPORTANT HEALTH INITIATIVES: Eat Well Making healthier food choices that are full of nutrients can improve memory, boost creativity, and build overall health.

Move Well Everyone needs regular physical activity for stronger muscles and to increase energy, regardless of their shape, size, health, or age.

Feel Well Happy. Secure. Content. Peaceful. Healthy. Thriving. This is what we want out of life. This is what we want for our children. We want to spend more time in these places of well-being and less in stress, worry, sickness, and sadness.

Be Well Rideout Healthy Kids resources will offer a full range of information and tools to help young people manage their health.

Back L-R: Steven Sprout, Technician; Kristen Tanon-Dougherty, School Liaison; Ada Scmidt, Actor; Alex Samay, actor; Kaylee Starr Poppinga, Actor; Paul DeMeritt; Director; Haley Warta, Technician; Front L-R: - Whitney, Hunter, Allison; Larry Badger, Tech Director

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students in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties.

Paul is active in the Yuba-Sutter community, has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Yuba-Sutter Arts Council, and serves as a creative consultant in theatre, public relations, special events, marketing, the arts and in Boy's and Men's personal growth and support work throughout our area, California and the United States, especially with the ManKind Project. Paul and his wife Anne are also the founders of the FCS Players Young People’s Summer Theatre Program, one of the region’s most successful children’s summer drama camps, now in its 20th year. Paul and Anne live in Yuba City and enjoy spending time with their four children and their spouses and twelve wonderful grandchildren!

How long have you been part of this show?

Meet Paul DeMeritt Paul DeMeritt is the founding artistic director of the FCS Players, Faith Christian High School's award-winning theatre arts department since 1992-93. Prior to coming to Yuba City, Paul was Director of Theatre Arts for Bethany University in Santa Cruz, California for 9 years. With over 40 years in theatre, education, special events, and creative consulting, Paul brings a wide range of credentials and life experience to the classroom and to the community. Paul holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from San Francisco State University, is listed in "Who's Who of American Teachers," is a published author, and during his 24 years at Faith Christian has produced a dynamic, awardwinning, and locally acclaimed company of young actors. Under Paul’s direction, the FCS Players have received over 45 "Elly" nominations from the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance, and Paul and the FCS Players have won 8 of the prestigious "Ellys." Paul also serves as a Senior English Instructor at FCHS and as Coordinator of the FCHS Senior Project program.

Paul has also served as Director of Theatre for Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, California, where for over 30 years he directed one of the nation's largest Passion Plays. He is currently the director of Rideout Healthy Kids.

The Rideout Healthy Kids team tours regional elementary and middle schools, having brought the message of healthy living to over 50,000

Linda Plummer and I pioneered Rideout Healthy Kids (RHK) in 2013.

Tell us why this show is such a gift to our community.

For many reasons! RHK fulfills a vision on the part of Rideout Health to gift children, families and educators in our communities with fun,

factual and important information and "life tools" for healthy living at every age. Kids see and hear the show, then take the message - and the free handouts and study guides - home to families and friends and share the word! In addition, RHK is an incredible opportunity for our region's professional actors and theatre technicians to practice their craft in a supportive, professional and rewarding environment - and to make a difference in the lives of kids, families and school staff members.

What is the response from your audiences?

Incredibly positive! Students don't want to leave the assembly and love to talk with our team, both at school and then often in the community outside of school. Teachers, administrators and other staff are universally positive and always want us to return to their school to partner with them in helping their kids lead healthy lives; in addition, when RHK performs in the community, kids and adults are entertained, encouraged, and inspired to learn and live healthy!

What's special about your crew?

It is my privilege to work with an amazing team of dedicated health and artistic professionals,

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s U n i o ComethJe Ranch! on

8807 S. Butte Road | Sutter CA | 530.755.0154 | buttestarranch.com

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starting with our foundation - the Rideout administration, creative and support teams - and then with our wonderful and talented actors, technicians and directors. It was my hope from the beginning that we could cast and crew the show with primarily Yuba-Sutter area talent - and with only one exception, that has been the case over the past 3+ years! We have partnered with 21 actors, technicians, and directors and with only a few exceptions, all are the products of Yuba-Sutter-Colusa schools and colleges. It's a great reminder to area actors, musicians, and technicians that you don't always have to travel outside our area to act, sing, dance, direct, and showcase your tech skills, make an industrycompetitive wage AND make a huge difference in the lives of kids and their families. Finally, our unsung heroes and partners are Yuba-Sutter school teachers, administrators and staff members; without their partnership, encouragement and support - plus all they do day after day and year round for our area kids - we could not do what we do!

If you have any questions or would like more information about our Rideout Healthy Kids assembly performances, contact Paul DeMeritt at 530-713-4793 or Linda Plummer at 751-4268.

You can also send an email to lplummer@frhg.org.

Meet the Cast Alex Samay - Over the years, Alex has managed to leave a small footprint into the acting world of Yuba City, but is making quick plans to pursue acting in even higher places. Alex has participated in over 15 plays, has received an Elly Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (for playing 7 characters in The Acting Company's Bully Crummond), and has toured with the Rideout Healthy Kids for 4 seasons.

Ada Schmidt - Ada Schmidt recently returned home from living six years in San Diego; studying Broadcasting, French, Italian and proudly serving in the U.S. Navy.

She is a stellar vocalist and talented actor who loves performing for the community.

She entertains for various organizations and events and when she has free time she likes to garden and hike. She is mother to her beautiful daughter, “Hero”.

Kaylee Starr Poppinga - As a singer, songwriter and actor, Kaylee Starr Poppinga is no stranger to the stage. She has performed in various musicals, stage productions and live band performances. For the last 11 years Kaylee has worked with the agency "That's Entertainment International" and has traveled throughout the western United States as the lead singer for various stage acts. She recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with her Bachelors in Theater and Communication Studies.

Lindsay Roberts - Assistant Director/Tour Manager Kristin Tanon-Daugherty - School Liason Larry Badger - Tech Director; Asst. Tour Manager Steven Sprout - Technician Hailey Warta - Technician

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MEET ALLIE ROLLINS Owner of Rollins Goldendoodles

Photography by Heather Smith

How did you begin breeding Goldendoodles?

What variety of dogs do you breed?

My family has always loved Golden Retrievers. Our first dog was a beautiful red golden retriever. We loved everything about about her…except the dog hair! After seeing a Goldendoodle for the first time, I fell in love. It was the perfect mix: the temperament of a golden, the non-shedding coat of a poodle, and the cutest face on the planet. We quickly decided we wanted to breed our retriever to a poodle to have our first litter of Goldendoodles.

At the time, we didn’t really plan to start a breeding program, but after our first litter of puppies went home with their new families we began to get a lot of phone calls from people who wanted to purchase puppies from our “next litter.” I really enjoyed everything about the whole process - delivering the puppies, raising the puppies, and providing wonderful new family members for families. So we decided to do another litter and haven’t stopped since. We have been breeding Goldendoodles for about six years now.

Right now, we breed mini and medium Goldendoodles. In 2018, we will have our first litter of standard Goldendoodles. Our minis average 16-22 pounds full grown, the mediums are 30-45 pounds full grown, and the standards will be 5065 pounds. We’re so excited to add the standards to our program in 2018.

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What are the breed’s characteristics?

Goldendoodles definitely get the best qualities from both the retriever and the poodle. They are hypoallergenic, which is probably one of the greatest traits about them. I have so many people come to us that struggle with dog allergies, so it’s really nice for that not to be a concern.

And Goldendoodles are even a great fit for people who don’t have dog allergies, because no one likes dog hair all over their house! We mainly breed red goldendoodles, so the majority of our litters have a variety of red, golden, and apricot puppies. Their temperaments are pretty amazing. They are extremely friendly, smart, full of energy, and very trainable. Goldendoodles love exploring outside

and going on adventures. So if you like to go on hikes, hang out at the lake, or play in the snow, a Goldendoodle would be a great match for you!

Why do you believe that this breed is a good companion to people?

Goldendoodles are total people pleasers! They adore people and would prefer to be at your side 24/7 if they could. The more attention they get from people, the happier they are. If you are looking for a good companion, a Goldendoodle can definitely do the job. We have even had a handful of our Goldendoodles become therapy dogs. Because of their loving disposition and intelligent minds, they can make wonderful therapy dogs.

What is your favorite part about being a breeder?

Meeting all the great people. I love getting to know the families that buy our doodles and staying connected with them. It’s so cool to watch the puppies that were once just tiny, newborn babies in our house become a big part of someone else’s family! We are definitely blessed with an amazing RG family and we are so thankful for that.

If it weren’t for the families that provide awesome homes for our doodles, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

Any advice to people preparing to welcome a puppy into their home?

I always suggest that our new buyers do some research about the breed and buy the “Goldendoodles: The Owner’s Guide from Puppy to Old Age” book. This book is awesome and tells you so much about Goldendoodles! Before we send any of our doodles to their new homes, we make sure that the family is fully prepared and informed so that when the big day comes, they are ready to go.

Puppies do take work, but they are so much fun! Being consistent with your puppy is probably one of the biggest keys to success. We also really encourage all of our new families to find a good vet and puppy training school before taking their new puppy home.

How do people contact you if they are interested in adopting a pup from you?

Our website is usually the best way to get in contact with us: www.rollinsgoldendoodles.com. There is a “Contact Us” page on our website that provides a few different ways that you can get in touch with us.

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Local Wine? Tell us More!

Michael Doherty shares the story behind Grindstone Wine Photography by Brooke Reading grew up on a farm in Southern Colusa County right on the Yolo-Colusa County line.

My parents Michael and Kirsten farmed rice, other grain crops, and almonds. After graduating from Pierce High School in Arbuckle, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fruit Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Fruit Science specializes in Pomology (fruit bearing trees) and Viticulture. All this new knowledge, combined with what my father had taught me, ensured I was ready to start farming with my father and later my brothers in Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo counties.

I started growing wine grapes because I was intrigued with growing high quality wine grapes in the Arbuckle/Dunnigan area. From everything I had studied, I believed that this area had many of the traits (rocky yet fertile soils, afternoon breezes, water from Lake Shasta) that lead to high-quality wine. I pursued planting crops with other wineries to establish our first vineyard. Marc Mondavi of Charles Krug in St. Helena was the first to offer a contract to plant.

We planted our first Syrah vineyard in 1997, followed by a Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot vineyard in 2000.

Since I do not have a degree in winemaking, just growing, we use Del Rio Vineyards in Gold Hill, Oregon to custom crush and produce our Grindstone wine. We night harvest and ship our fruit in a refrigerated truck to their winery, where it is vented. Someday soon, we will build our own brick-and-mortar winery. For now, the winemaker Jean-Michel Jussiaume and the owners Rob Wallace and Lee Traynham are making some great wine with our 100% Colusa County fruit. My niece Tierney Schofield is our brand manager and is doing a superb job marketing our wine and keeping the consumers informed through our website www.grindstonewines.com as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages.

The toughest part of growing wine grapes is the sleepless nights worrying about frost in the spring. Freezing temperatures can wipe out a grape crop before it has truly started. We have helicopters on standby that time of year to be able to warm up the crops by moving warm air down into the grape vines. Harvest can also be challenging because we night harvest and we are also harvesting almonds in the daylight hours. Everyone that time of year is running on adrenaline.

My goal is to be the best grower that I can while making wine that I can be proud of, and continuing the family farm in the next generation. My daughters Molly (19) and Emma (15) are both interested in farming.

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You can find Grindstone Wine at the following locations: Yuba City New Earth Market Chico New Earth Market Wine Time Mangrove Bottle Shop S&S Organic Produce & Natural Foods Sacramento Tallac Bottle Shop Colusa County Granzella’s Rocco’s Bar & Grill Country Stop Louis Cairo’s Colusa Made Tap Room Arbuckle Food Center You can also purchase our wine through our website, www.grindstonewines.com, our new wine club, or through Amazon.com.

661 Plumas Street • Yuba City • 530.673.8800

Now Open Sundays

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Visit the Sunsweet Growers Outlet

Deliciously snackable dried fruit, gi� packs, confections and more!

Monday - Friday 8am to 4pm

901 N Walton Avenue • Yuba City CA 95993

800-447-5218 www.sunsweet.com

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We love sharing a new find with you!

Photography by Brooke Reading

There’s a new food truck in town and it’s already created quite the buzz in the city of Colusa !

Jessica Andreotti, owner of Blue Collar Food Company has customers raving about her amazing food, so we had to check them out.

And we agree.....IT’S SO GOOD! We think you’ll love the fun and fresh menu, so be sure to cruise over and check it out !

I am originally from Vacaville, CA but have lived in New Mexico, Arizona, and other cities in California including San Luis Obispo and Sacramento. I was living in Sacramento and had just finished my BA from Sac State when I met my husband, Vincent Andreotti.

After dating for awhile, I made the leap to move to the place I now call home: Colusa, CA. I love it here and have had the best time making friends and getting closer with my new family.

Most of my jobs have been in the food industry and have ranged from being a hostess at a Mexican restaurant in New Mexico to an assistant pastry chef at a fancy restaurant in Granite Bay. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Foods and Nutrition from Sac State, and needed to decide where to turn my career. I love food - I love eating it, making it, and hearing that others enjoy my food as well. With the urging of my husband, I decided to start my own business and opened Blue Collar Food Company food trailer in February 2017.

My menu consists of sandwiches (grilled panini style), salads, and loaded fries. I have some pretty good staples like the Roast Beef and Pesto Chicken sandwich. More adventurous eaters enjoy the crazier concoctions like the soba fries, which is spam and a fried egg with nori seasoning and hot sauce on top of a pile of fries. Customers are in love with the Italian Grinder, the Turkey and Brie Sandwich, and the Chicken BLT Salad. Unsurprisingly, the Tuna Melt is also a huge hit and

isn’t your regular tuna mix (it has capers, roasted red peppers, and artichoke hearts…yummy!).

Our most popular menu item is probably the Cubano sandwich. I marinate the pork overnight and cook it until it falls apart. It’s served on a Ciabatta with mayo and mustard, sliced ham, swiss cheese, and pickles. It was originally a seasonal sandwich, but it’s so popular that I’ve decided to leave it on the menu permanently. I am currently working on the spring seasonal additions to the menu, and am looking forward to using some fresh spring ingredients to mix things up!

Come check us out!

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11-2 we are located at: 2963 Davison Ct. (next to Chamber of Commerce) On Thursdays and Fridays from 11-2 AND 5-8 we are located at: 121 8th Street (across from Tap Room and ColUSA Made) We also take some catering requests based on availability!

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PROTECTING ASSETS from a child's divorce

By Paulla Hyatt-McIntire

child’s wedding day is one of the happiest occasions in life for most parents, especially when they approve wholeheartedly of the child’s choice of mate.

Sometimes, however, the choice is not always welcomed, and parents become concerned about how to protect assets they plan to leave their children in case of a later divorce. Or other times, there simply is concern that a child would leave everything – including an inheritance from parents—to a surviving spouse, who could turn around and leave it to a subsequent spouse, cutting grandchildren out of the legacy, or inserting another family into the closely held property.

Fortunately, several estate planning devices allow parents to shield assets from those who marry, and may divorce, their children.

Revocable living trust. One of the most common ways to pass assets to children, a revocable living trust provides asset protection if what a child has inherited remains in trust. While assets are in trust, children benefit from the assets but are not the outright owners of the assets.

The Trustee manages the property for the child’s benefit according to terms the trust-maker has laid out in writing. If assets are not held in a child’s name outright, the assets are not on the table to be divided up between spouses upon divorce or given to the spouse upon death.

Irrevocable trust. Like a revocable trust, an irrevocable trust provides similar asset protection, again if trust assets are not mixed with a child’s personal or marital funds. A trust is irrevocable when the trustmaker specifically says so in the trust document. Typically, irrevocable trust planning is used to minimize or eliminate estate tax in the right circumstances.

Post-marital agreement. While many parents are unsuccessful in negotiating a prenuptial agreement before the wedding, they find it easier for children to accept the drafting of a post-nuptial or postmarital agreement later to protect family assets.

In either case, these agreements can establish clear ownership of various assets and who is permitted to inherit those assets or manage those assets in case a spouse becomes incapacitated or disabled. These are particularly important in community property states like California.

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Paulla is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law* and provides quality legal counsel for all levels of complexity in estate planning, trust administration, probate, special needs trusts, elder law, and business succession and tax planning. In addition to Paulla’s experience in law, she spent nine years as an elementary and middle school teacher for the Yuba City Unified and Franklin Elementary School Districts. Paulla is married to Brad McIntire, and their family includes daughters Jackie and Katie and son Zach. *State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Make Mother's Day Special with overnight stays, dining and spa treatments... because your mom deserves the best!

Give Mom the Ultimate Gift of Relaxation Mom's often don't take time out for themselves, so Mother's Day is the perfect excuse for you to treat her to the "me time" that she deserves. Image Salon & Day Spa is an Aveda concept salon located in Yuba City. Guests come to relax, re-energize, rejuvenate and transform.

Their stylists offer a wide range of hair services such as haircuts, color and highlights.

Spa packages are available or you can create your own package that you feel suits her best. Facial, massage, pedicure, manicure. Can't decide? Not to worry. Gift cards are available and she can choose exactly how she would like to pamper herself.

Image Salon & Day Spa 1548 Starr Drive • Yuba City • 530.673.6773

Indulge in Food and Wine Surprise mom by making a reservation at Pasquini's for a special Mother's Day dinner. The restaurant is not typically open on Sundays, so this will be an extra special treat of fine dining to celebrate the lady you love.

Paquini's specializes in homemade Italian food, fresh seafood and juicy steaks. You'll enjoy the impeccable cuisine, as well and its wonderful and extensive wine list and full bar. Mother's Day hours are 3pm-8pm. Reservations encouraged.

Pasquini's | 6241 Highway 99 Live Oak 530.695.3384

Make Her Glow One of the easiest and fastest ways to feel good about yourself is having the perfect tan. Beautifully Bronze can make mom look like she just stepped off the beach, with a healthy glow of a spray tan. A tanning package will brighten moms day and keep her looking gorgeous throughout the upcoming summer months. Visit their location to purchase a gift card and check out their full line of products and additional services they offer.

Beautifully Bronze | 91 Del Norte Avenue • Yuba City 530.712.7644

Gift Her with Bonding Time Spending quality time with her is something that you will both treasure. Invite mom to join you for a painting class at the Beauty of Paint. All of your supplies, a light appetizer and a non-alcoholic beverage are provided in your class fee. But feel free to bring your own bottle of wine to share with mom that day. You'll have fun together in this class as you create your masterpieces, as well as create an everlasting memory together.

The Beauty of Paint | 984 Gray Avenue • Yuba City 530.218.7552 • www.thebeautyofpaint.weebly.com

Plan an Extra Special Event Colusa Casino Resort combines first class services and amenities with sweeping landscapes and breathtaking views. We as a team strive to create a superior customer dining and event experience, a service that meets the individual needs for a memorable experience with excitement of possibilities. It is our goal to make your event a dream come true. Sweep mom away for a night filled with fun. Dine at the Wintun Steakhouse, catch a show, spend some time at the tables and stay overnight at the River Valley Lodge.

Colusa Casino Resort | 3770 Hwy 45 • Colusa 530.458.8844 ME AN D MIN E MAG AZINE | S P RI NG 2 01 7

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