Upgraded Living August 2022

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Q&A

WITH DR. HODARI HYDRAFACIAL™ What is HydraFacial™?

The HydraFacial™ is a first-in-class procedure that improves the texture, tone, and radiance of the skin.

What can HydraFacial treat or target?

The HydraFacial™ can decrease pore size, enhance one's complexion, and hydrate the skin - all culminating in a bright, brilliant, and glowing complexion.

How does HydraFacial™ technology work?

It works by applying technology that removes skin debris and impurities while simultaneously infusing the skin with hydrating and nourishing ingredients that are healthy for the skin.

HydraFacial™ treatments use Vortex Technology™, a patented approach that thoroughly nurtures and hydrates the skin with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and peptide-rich formulas.

How often should I get treatments?

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While hydration and "dewiness" of the skin are noted immediately after one treatment, sustained results are best achieved when a series of three or more monthly HydraFacials™ are received. Even better results can be achieved when ongoing monthly treatments are received. In fact, our monthly HydraFacial™ club is an excellent way to achieve such results.

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“My skin glows after I have had a HydraFacial™. I get compliments on how good my skin looks even without makeup. It’s a treat that I give myself, I consider it important in an overall skin care regimen.”

- Marilyn B.

BEFORE

AFTER

HydraFacial Appointments Now Available in Oroville!

Limited same-day appointments available, call now to schedule.

1178 LIVE OAK BLVD. YUBA CITY, CA 95991 (530) 329-8511

80 DECLARATION DR. CHICO, CA 95973 (530) 342-8295

672 ORO DAM BLVD E. STE. 202 OROVILLE, CA 95965 (530) 533-3571 3

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FROM THE PUBLISHER For those who have followed Upgraded Living over the past 15 years, it probably comes as no surprise when I say I absolutely LOVE our slice of Northern California.

Like anywere else, there are certainly items that could be addressed and things which could be bettered, but it's a conscious decision to decide which side of the coin to focus on. Indeed, there are plenty of reasons to love the area, and we do our best to highlight those reasons month-after-month in Upgraded Living.

One of the many things I adore about this area is the abundance of family-owned and operated businesses, many of which span multiple generations. Each carries with it a history full of challenges and stories on how those trials were met and overcome. The tales are heartwarming and uplifting, serving as potent reminders that everything isn't perfect all the time and few successes arrive without considerable effort. A number of the businesses highlighted in this issue are certainly proof of that.

As we barrel through the summer months, it's important to remember to support these businesses, as they tend to be the slower ones of the year business-wise.

With the temporary decrease in population due to the extensive list of summer breaks, and the increased costs from temporary heat waves that accompany it, many businesses struggle to make it through to the fall months.

They could all use our support during these times, so make a point of going out of your way to shop local whenever possible. It makes a far larger positive impact on the local area that any of us are likely to imagine.

We hope you learn something new in this issue and perhaps discover a story about a local family-owned and operated business you didn't already know. It was incredible interviewing and getting to know each one ourselves. We're looking forward to further highlighting a number of these businesses in our second annual, and completely tongue-in-cheek, Worst of Chico awards issue which arrives next month. Alongside the worst places not to do something, we'll reveal our editorial picks for the "Best of Butte." We hope you have as much fun with this issue as we did putting it together!

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF AVEED KHAKI Owner/Publisher JASON CORONA Sales Director BEAU VANDERMATE General Swiss Army Knife

SHELLY BRANDON Writer TIM MILHORN Writer MADDIE RODRIGUEZ Writer ERIK BROWN Cover Designer DIANE CLIFFORD Cover Story Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS DOUG LOVE Real Estate

SWEENEY & MICHEL Finance

HRiQ Human Resources

DERM BAR Beauty

RYAN STEFANELLI Taco Tracker

JESSICA WILKERSON Mental Health

For editorial or general magazine inquiries, please contact: Aveed Khaki, 530.519.5683 aveed@upgradedliving.com

Aveed Khaki Owner/Publisher

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For sales inquiries, please contact: Jason Corona, 530.591.2634 jason@upgradedliving.com

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CONTENTS | AUGUST 2022

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COMMUNITY

FOOD

10 Pure Hydration sets its official launch date for Meriam Park!

45 Cheesecake queen, Dawn McGaffick, builds one of Chico's sweetest enterprises.

12 Nurses and Professional Healthcare (NPH) helps healthcare providers navigate an often chaotic industry.

46 Taqueria Don Sammy delivers south of the border flavors in Orland.

14 Cordi Winery proves a family-owned business can be incredibly fruitful.

48 The mein event takes us on a tour of Oroville's favorites in Chinese cuisine.

16 Bradley & Son raises the bar in responsible beef.

50 Millions of peaches—peaches for thee

28 New Again Kitchen Remodeling is invited back to a client's home for their second renovation.

32 Italian Cottage continues to provide visitors with equal servings of delicious Italian food and nostalgia.

34 Caring for our community comes first with father-and-daughter duo Brad Jacobson and Kelly Gibbons.

36 Chico Gleaners make high-quality food and produce accessible for residents across Butte County.

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38 Paradise Art Alliance brings The Ridge's artistic community together under one giant umbrella.

40 Orland's own Bruce Roundy proves one human can do it all.

45 Feather River Recreation & Parks District invests heavily in keeping the community cool this summer and far into the future.

51 Chico Summerfest presents an August lineup you won't want to miss.

52 Local band, Rigamarole, takes center stage.

54 Cool kid Zoe Miller proves twins can be just as different as they are similar.

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POTPOURRI 22 The housing market is finding a bit more balance, but will it translate to better pricing?

30 Estates and trusts for the rest of us 37 How to survive being a business owner

FEATURE 19 Finds design provides a framework for successfully owning and operating a family-run business across multiple generations.

ON THE COVER: TIA, BRIAN, AND ANNA AUSTIN OF FINDS DESIGN & DECOR IN CHICO PHOTO BY: DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN BY: ERIK BROWN

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therapy with Chico. As her passion for the practice has grown, so has her clientele— folks come from as far away as Yuba City to get a drip at Pure Hydration. Pretty quickly, the original clinic outgrew its space, and Tracy decided a change of venue was needed. Her decision was to open a new location at Chico’s Meriam Park, in a space that would offer a beautiful spalike experience in a relaxed environment, complete with pristine furniture, beautiful plants, and a subtle scent of eucalyptus to welcome customers in. She also wanted to expand their offerings to an even-broader clientele, and her new medical director, Dr. Isaac Barthelow, shares the same vision. He is excited to head up the business and its expansion, and the pair have big plans for the future.

All set to hydrate! they’re able to drink to stay hydrated.

“When we drink sports drinks or take supplements, they go into our stomach and then are filtered through the liver and kidneys. If we’re lucky, half as much goes into the bloodstream, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a great way to maintain those items’ benefits throughout the month, but it isn’t the most effective means of delivery,” Tracy said. “When you get an IV, your body is going to get 100% of what we’re giving you when we give it to you.”

For those who are wondering what IV hydration is, it’s basically exactly what it sounds like. A trained nurse inserts an IV catheter into your arm, and you receive a drip containing vitamins and other beneficial supplements. You may be wondering, why would I want to do this?

Pure Hydration’s ​​customized IV infusions and boosters deliver fluids, vitamins, medications, and other supplements that can help complement an active, healthy lifestyle. Tracy Riddle, one of the owners of Pure Hydration, said IV hydration can be beneficial for people who are experiencing the after-effects of a hangover, are jetlagged after a long flight, or have a chronic condition that affects how much water

IV hydration is just one of the services that Pure Hydration will be offering as it prepares to open its new office in Meriam Park. There will also be an oxygen bar where customers can sit and take in purified oxygen through a nasal cannula. Oxygen therapy is said to help with headaches, and it can even give you a pleasant feeling of euphoria. The new 14-foot oxygen bar will feature six barstools, which is ample, considering each treatment takes only 30 minutes.

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Tracy had the idea for Pure Hydration after attending Bottlerock in Napa and visiting hydration therapy centers in large cities across the country. After these experiences, she knew she had to share IV hydration

In recent years, Meriam Park has begun to reach more advanced stages of completion and is skewing heavily toward health and wellness. Tracy is pleased there are so many great places nearby that jive so well with the ethos of Pure Hydration, which is to help customers feel their best. Dr. Barthelow is also opening his new North Valley Eye Care campus just a few blocks away. “Having the two businesses so close together will open up another door of possibilities for our patients at North Valley Eye Care,” Dr. Barthelow said. “There are IV therapies that could be beneficial to a number of ocular conditions.”

The mood of the new Pure Hydration spa is a bit bougie, and we love a good bougie atmosphere. When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a light and airy feel—all white countertops with a beautiful waterfall edge and swanky bar stools at the oxygen bar.

There are considerably more zero-gravity chairs for IV hydration than the old location, and their pure white color only amplifies that light and airy feel. The space has even

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

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When we last checked in with certified registered nurse anesthetist Tracy Riddle and Dr. Isaac Barthelow at Pure Hydration, the finish line for their new spa was in sight and inching ever closer. Now, they’re proud to announce the grand re-opening of Chico’s premiere IV hydration spa is set for September, and from what we can tell, it’s going to be incredible. Pure Hydration was previously located on Salem Street in Chico until late this spring, when it began the move into a new space in Meriam Park.

In the meantime though, the Meriam Park location has a list of amenities a mile long that Tracy says will be a hugely beneficial change from her old location. “Meriam Park is clean and safe, it’s beautiful, and all the buildings are brand-new,” Tracy said.

“Parking is completely free, and it’s just a beautiful community which will only get better as time goes on. The office space itself is much bigger, with lots of natural light and big windows on each side. It’s much more relaxed and spa-like.”

been outfitted with a projector so those who are receiving IV hydration can watch a movie. Headsets are provided for those who also want to hear the film, maintaining that perfect level of peace and serenity for those who don’t. Of course, people can also just hang out, catch up, or work on their phones while getting hydrated. Pure Hydration will also provide a beverage center with water from all over the world and, of course, coffee and tea. It feels almost as if you’re getting refreshed in a movie theater, and it’s clear they’ve taken no shortcuts in making sure it’s the most relaxing space possible to get hydrated and reset.

Pure Hydration is operated daily by trained and licensed health care providers in a safe and healthy manner. All IVs are inserted by registered nurses (R.N.s) who have, at minimum, several years experience under their belts starting IV drips for patients in critical care, emergency rooms, operating rooms, and in recovery rooms.

Tracy, herself, is IV nutrition certified and a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). She is also a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the National Board Certification of Nurse Anesthesia. Dr. Barthelow is an M.D. and surgeon, as well as a board certified ophthalmologist. Together, they form a team whose credentials and experience are second to none in the North Valley’s IV industry.

Pure Hydration is setting the bar high for excellence, making sure everything is done in a manner that best benefits the customer and adheres strictly to guidelines put out by the State of California as well as the federal government. All vitamins and supplements come from a Class B pharmacy and have been FDA approved. The purity of these vitamins and supplements is of significant importance when you consider these items are being pumped directly into your bloodstream.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

In addition to offering IV hydration to clients in the spa, Pure Hydration will also offer a number of options to provide services to clients offsite when needed. Tracy said the trend of offering IV hydration for large groups is gaining in popularity, and she is already booked for several weddings in the fall. She mentioned brides and grooms are looking for things outside of the box these days, and everyone wants to know what they can do for their wedding party that goes above and beyond. They have several off-site visits booked where the brides and grooms want to have brunch the morning after the wedding at the venue, and Pure Hydration will set up a tent nearby with IV hydration to help them get rid of their hangovers so they don’t waste the day after the wedding feeling exhausted. The process is so quick and easy, they’ll feel right as rain within 30 minutes.

From immune boosts to athletic recovery and headaches to hangovers, IV hydration can benefit many people. Pure Hydration even offers vitamin B12 shots, vitamin D shots, and beauty boosts to help make skin glow—which is great for those wedding photos! Both Tracy and Dr. Barthelow hope if you’re on the fence, you’ll come in and take a look at their beautiful new space when they hold their grand opening next month. Details are forthcoming and will be posted on Pure Hydration’s website at www.PureHydration-Chico.com and their Facebook and Instagram pages. This is an event you won’t want to miss.

Pure Hydration was Chico’s very first IV hydration spa, and with its new expansion and the plans its owners have for it in the future, it’s sure to continue setting the bar higher and higher for the Northstate. We can’t wait for their grand reopening at 2275 Springfield Drive, Suite 120, next to Nutrishop in Meriam Park and look forward to seeing all of you there!

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something of an HR nightmare. “You’re sending people to different facilities, and there are different rules, mask requirements, and vaccination tracking requirements at each one,” Sis says. “It was something else staying on top of everything, and I want to say how much we appreciate the contributions of our nurses and all they do for these different facilities.”

We last checked in with Sis Gilmore in the May 2017 issue focusing on women in business. Since then, much has happened with her business, Nurses and Professional Healthcare.

For those who may need a bit of a refresher on what it is that NPH does, not to worry.

Nurses and Professional Healthcare is a nursing registry that provides medical facilities with the staff they need. “We supply nursing staff all over California,” Sis says. “Whether it’s a hospital, skilled nursing facility, assisted living center, or medical facility, and they’re in need of a C.N.A., L.V.N., or R.N., our employees fill in for their staffing shortages.” Since we last spoke with Sis, her business has grown dramatically.

“We’ve grown by 35 percent overall,” she says. “There are now 115 facilities and 425 employees that work through NPH. Back in 2017, we were much more specific to 12

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Northern California, but we now serve California in general. We have as many facilities to the south as we have to the north.”

NPH has also expanded their physical footprint, moving from their location on Forest Avenue to a custom-built facility in Meriam Park. “We love it,” Sis says. “It’s a secure, progressive, upbeat little section of town, and it’s nice to have our own place.”

With growth comes new challenges, and the last few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the business.

When COVID hit, the demand for nursing staff increased by 30 percent, and the paperwork and hoop-jumping increased tenfold. It seemed that each of the 115 facilities NPH works with had its own regulations, and since one nurse could be at several facilities in a week, that created

NPH has recently become a significant sponsor of the Butte Humane Society, and Sis has a special connection to a particular wing of the organization’s new facility.

“One of their new wings for the education of young people has been named Katie’s Korner,” she says. For those that know Sis, you may know that she had a beautiful, ambitious, strong-willed daughter named Katie Christofferson. She had recently become an R.N. herself, right before she was tragically taken in an accident last year.

Katie, who was much beloved by her family and friends, also had an incredible passion and heart for animals, whom she loved to rescue and care for. With the help of NPH, the legacy of Katie’s vibrant life and her love for animals will live on in Katie’s Korner.

NPH is doing so much for so many healthcare professionals who give tirelessly of themselves to our communities. If you’d like more information, visit NPH online at www.nph.company

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

Healthcare in the Time of COVID

More recently, the employment shortage of the last year or so has had both an equal and an opposite effect on NPH and its facilities than it has on every other industry.

California has been experiencing a nursing shortage far longer than it’s been facing an employment crisis, so the demand for nurses at the facilities contracted with NPH, which has always been extremely high, has stayed about the same. That keeps the nurses who work for NPH on the hop, but the benefits they reap from being employed

by Sis Gilmore, and not by the facilities themselves, allow these hard working folks a much better quality of life. Instead of being placed on a rotation, as a nurse might be in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, NPH nurses’ time is their own. They provide NPH with their desired hours and locations, and NPH places them accordingly. “It’s a big draw for nurses to come here,” Sis says.

“You can go where you want, work the hours you want, and pretty much have your own schedule.”

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

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Phil

The Beauty of Wine in the Buttes

Reece and Teresa Cordi are pleased to see you as well. Along with daughters Juleah and Emily, they founded the winery in 2009, soon after the big storm of 2008 came through and toppled thousands of their almond trees. For over a decade, they have hand-crafted farm-tocork style estate wines that started with perfect soil and climate, and a dream to make wine. Throughout that time they 14

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The Cordi family hand planted the first 1,100 Primitivo vines themselves in the summer of ‘09. Over the next few years, they expanded into a 15-acre vineyard with 12 grape varietals. Cordi is a fullproduction facility, from the vine into the bottle, and it is all done by hand, a fact the family takes great pride in. Each member contributes to the making of these award-winning wines. Founder and owner Reece is the head winemaker and viniculturalist; he’s also responsible for coming up with the transition from almonds to grapes. Founder and owner Teresa is the heart of the operation.

She created the “Cordi atmosphere”— relaxing, hospitable, and generous. Emily is the assistant winemaker working in the cellar, office, and vineyard. Juleah is the harvest logistics coordinator, pours in the tasting room, and works special events.

The whole family helps in the vineyards during harvest and throughout crush.

Cordi Winery specializes in 100% single-varietal wines, meaning only one variety is used and that’s the grape on the label. They utilize low-intervention winemaking techniques to illuminate the true characteristics of each grape, and many of their estate wines are unfined and lightly filtered to keep those characteristics intact. We could say their wines are of the highest caliber, but others with far more sophisticated palates have already done that for us.

Cordi Winery has garnered numerous awards from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, California State Fair Wine Competition, Orange County Wine Competition, and Sunset Magazine Wine Competition. Though that certainly sounds impressive, it’s even more so when you consider those awards are in 2022 alone.

The Cordi Family welcomes you to come and taste during their summer schedule of July 15-17, August 19-21, and September 16-18. They are a family-friendly, petfriendly, and picnic-friendly winery, so bring the whole family and enjoy your own picnic under the marvelous willow tree. For details, look them up on Facebook or visit cordiwinery.com. You can also reach them by phone at (530) 695-1785.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO COURTESY RYAN CRUSE

Here, you’ll find Cordi Winery nestled in its pastoral surroundings. The first thing you notice when entering the winery grounds is the simple beauty of the setting: a huge willow tree on the left, oak trees studding the hillside on the right, and the wood-planked buildings just ahead. Getting out of your vehicle, you’ll notice the loud silence, broken only by the twitters, whistles, and tweets of the local bird population. As wine club member Bill Dixon so accurately describes, Cordi Winery is home to “good wines, a family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful views of the Buttes, and all only an hour away from Chico.” You’re also sure to notice you are pleased to be here.

have remained passionate and committed to being thoughtful stewards of the land.

Part of that commitment has been sharing the Sutter Buttes with those near and far while encouraging agricultural tourism throughout the North Valley. They also give back to and support their local communities wherever possible, just as those local communities have been so instrumental in supporting them.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TIM MILHORN

As you delve into the center of the Sacramento Valley, the Sutter Buttes act as your guidepost. About the time you think you’re lost, you see the sign “Winery” with its arrow pointing the way.

BLADELESS LASER-ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY The first LenSx certified laser cataract surgeons north of Sacramento

Phil Smith, M.D.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO COURTESY RYAN CRUSE

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TIM MILHORN

The LenSx brings a new level of precision to cataract surgery with treatments that are tailored for each patient and deliver a remarkable degree of accuracy.

Life is beautiful...See it!

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raising responsible beef

Nick’s grandparents had six children, all of whom helped move the cows from winter to summer pasture and helped out with other chores as kids. But it was Francis’ three sons who expressed the most interest in following in their dad’s footsteps and who formed Bradley Brothers Cattle as young men. One of these brothers is Jerry, Nick’s dad, who came to the Chico area from Lincoln in the 1970s to major in agriculture at Chico State. At that time, the family’s cattle herds were grazing primarily in Lincoln and the Sierra Valley, but once Jerry graduated and began leasing land locally, the family started wintering some of the cattle in Chico and Yuba County and summering them on the lush grasses of Plumas County.

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The brothers managed their herds together for over forty years, and in 2010, Jerry and Nick formed Bradley and Son to keep the legacy alive for another generation. Bradley and Son operated primarily as a commercial herd until 2015, when they began to get requests from family and friends for beef.

They began selling direct-to-consumer beef products shortly afterward, as Bradley Grass-Fed Beef. “The thing about selling direct-to-consumer is you need to jump in all the way. If you’re only doing it halfway, it’ll never work,” Nick says. Although it took a little while for the enterprise to get off the ground, Bradley and Son’s grass-fed beef is now available for purchase on their website, in a variety of stores, at farmers markets, and in restaurants across Northern California and Western Nevada. Locally, Bradley Grass-Fed Beef can be found on the shelves of Chico Natural Foods Co-op and New Earth Market, as well as on the menus of restaurants such as the Red Tavern and Sierra Nevada Brewery.

With so many places to choose from, it’s likely you’ve had Bradley Grass-Fed Beef before and perhaps didn’t know it, though you may have recognized the quality of the beef in the dish you ate and marveled at its rich taste. The Bradley’s cattle are grassfed and grass-finished, which means they

eat a steady diet of grass and other plants year-round. Often, if a product is labeled “grass-fed” it doesn’t necessarily mean that the cattle were grass-finished. They may have been finished on grain, which is not a bad thing; it’s just a differentiator from the kind of product that Nick sells.

Nick’s family has been raising beef cattle in Butte County and the surrounding areas for over 75 years. They steward the land and appreciate the bounty of native grasses that allow their cattle to thrive. Each summer, when the thermometer starts creeping up into the 80s and 90s, the Bradley and Son cowboys move the cattle from Chico to the cool, water-filled meadows of the Sierra Nevadas, where they feed on the lush mountain grasses until fall. When it comes time to harvest the animals, the Bradleys use Foothill Meat Company, a USDA-certified butcher located in Oroville.

“They’re family owned and do all of our cut and wrap items for us,” Nick says. “We work well together and they always do a great job.”

The legacy three generations in the making is going strong, and the Bradleys intend to continue bringing the best beef right to their customers’ doors. For more information or sales inquiries, visit their website at www.bradleygrassfedbeef.com.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

“If you see a cow in Chico, it’s probably one of ours,” Nick Bradley jokes. He is referring, of course, to the many head of black angus cattle that graze the native grasses on either side of town, from Hicks Lane to Richardson Springs and out to the Skyway. Nick is the “Son” in Bradley and Son Cattle, a Verified Grass Fed and Non-GMO Compliant beef herd. He is the third generation of his family to be involved in raising cattle, and he follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, Francis Bradley, who swapped his dairy herd for a beef herd in the 1940s.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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5th Generation of Furniture and Family at Finds Design and decor by brian austin WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Brian Austin comes from a long line of furniture purveyors that goes back nearly one hundred years. It all began with his great-grandfather, who opened a furniture store in Southern California in the 1920s called Weatherby and Austin. In 1962, Brian’s grandfather, Earl, and father, Norman, moved to Chico and opened Austin’s Home Furnishings on the corner of 8th and Main Streets, now the home of Eighth and Main Antiques.

Chico was kind to the Austins, and in 1964, they opened a second store on the corner of 6th Street and Broadway called Austin’s Maple Shop. This store was geared toward providing specialty furniture

popular during that era and evolved over the years to become a shop known for a little bit of everything. After Earl passed away in 1972, Norman began thinking about expanding. In 1985, the Austin family closed both downtown shops and moved their enterprise to the corner of the Skyway and Notre Dame Blvd., where they built a gigantic new 55,000 square-foot store complete with 25,000 square-feet of offsite warehousing and delivery space on nearby Meyers St. Brian Austin began his career at the downtown furniture shop as a boy, cleaning and dusting the showroom. Over time, he and his siblings began to take on more

responsibility until, eventually, Brian was heading up the enterprise himself. When his father Norman passed away in 1999, Brian was the only Austin kid still heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of the business, and he continued to run it successfully with help from his siblings. In 2006, Brian began to realize Austin’s was more his dad’s dream, not his own, and the scope of its operation was starting to feel overwhelming.

He also felt Austin’s was losing sight of its values, and the things that had made the business special back in the day. “Austin’s was known for its incredible customer service,” Brian says. “As you grow, you lose that to a certain degree. My grandfather and father knew every customer. They were 19

with the name Finds Design and Decor, we added ‘by Brian Austin’ underneath it for the name recognition.” Occasionally, customers will come into the store who remember buying furniture from Brian’s father and grandfather. “We had a customer come in recently who remembered buying furniture from Grandpa Earl,” Brian says. “And once, we had a customer who said he had come in to shop when it was still downtown and was being helped by my dad. He and his wife had their two little kids with them, and the kids were being rambunctious. Grandpa Earl took the kids over to Shubert’s for an ice cream so the couple could concentrate on furniture shopping. That’s something we’ve always strived for: that outstanding customer service. We really aim to go the extra mile for our customers, and I think people are amazed sometimes at what we are willing to do for them.”

Many of the vendors from Austin’s, and a couple of the employees, made the move over to Finds, and Brian began adding new vendors who fit with his renewed vision of excellence in customer service and quality products. “We have two main seating products in our store,” Brian says.

“Flexsteel is American-made and US-based, and Stressless (Ekornes) is out of Norway.

We’ve been dealing with Flexsteel for over fifty years and Stressless for close to forty years now. We have great relationships with our vendors because we’ve been dealing with them for such a long time. It’s also a reason we’re able to be very competitive with our pricing. I want to be able to pass those savings on to my customers, so that they can keep buying quality products at an affordable price.”

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friends, not just customers, and I really missed that.” For Brian, business isn’t just business. It’s a way to connect with your customers, to really get to know them and understand their needs. He decided it was time for a change.

around with different ideas and did a little soul searching to figure out what I really wanted. I still loved the business and the community, but I wanted something more manageable and unique to the furniture industry.”

With the rest of his family's blessing, especially his mother’s, Brian decided to close Austin’s Furniture in 2006. “I sat back for about a year after that, making sure I really wanted to move forward with something on my own,” Brian says.

“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing it because it was all I really knew, so I played

In 2007, Finds Design and Décor opened its doors on Mangrove Avenue with Brian at the helm. Over the years, many people have asked him why he didn’t just call it “Austin’s,” and the answer is simple: “I really wanted the store to succeed or fail because of me and my efforts and not the family name,” Brian says. “A year after we came up

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At Finds, you can buy a piece of furniture for a room, or you can buy a whole room’s worth. They’ve even dressed whole houses for customers. Tia, one of Brian’s two daughters, is part of the fifth generation of furniture-selling Austins and the one in charge of helping customers with their interior design needs. She books design appointments with clients, measures their space, and makes suggestions based on their desires. The clients then come into the store to pick pieces from the showroom or to place special orders. “We have a wide range of styles,” Tia says. “Whether your style is modern or traditional or somewhere in between, we have something for everyone.”

One of the most intriguing things about Finds is the amount of options that are available. If they have the couch you want, but it’s not the right size, color, or fabric, they can customize it to suit your needs.

“Many of our vendors have a wide range of upholstery and configuration options far beyond what we are able to display on the sales floor,” Brian says. “We have access to so much more than we show. If we don’t have what you’re looking for in the showroom, we can usually ‘find’ it for you.”

Finds also offers delivery on both in-store purchases and special orders. They make deliveries to Chico and the surrounding areas on a regular basis, and will even go out of state. “We really try to accommodate the customer as best we can,” Brian says.

Anna, Brian’s other daughter, also helps sell furniture, but she prefers to stick to the business management side of things. “She focuses more on back-end paperwork and receiving, tagging, bill paying, and officetype stuff,” says Brian. “Even though both of my girls are capable of doing anything in the business, the things Anna really thrives in and enjoys doing are the things Tia doesn’t, and vice versa. They really complement each other, and I feel really blessed. They bring a lot to the business, and I love working with my daughters.” Both young women began visiting Austin’s as children, following in their dad’s footsteps.

“They came down to the Notre Dame store when they were little and did what they could depending on their age and what they were capable of: filing, dusting, answering the phones, and helping Dad and Grandpa,” Brian says. They also grew up going to the furniture market when it was in San Francisco, helping with the buying decisions.

Brian Austin is proud of his family and of the work he’s done with Finds over the last fifteen years. He was able to bring back all the things he felt were missing at Austin’s and refocus on the days when the customer was more than just a customer—they were friends.

Visit Brian, Tia, and Anna at Finds Design and Decor, located at 1341 Mangrove Avenue in Chico. You can also find them online at www.furniturechico.com or reach them by phone at (530) 892-1905.

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SPEED LIMIT “We’re beginning to see signs of a more balanced housing market with fewer homes selling above list price and homes remaining on the market a little longer than in previous months,” said C.A.R. President Otto Catrina. “What this tells us is that there is slightly more supply, fewer and less-intense bidding wars, and those who've experienced ‘buyers' fatigue’ may now have a window of opportunity,” he said.

But prices have not dropped. The June price was 1.6 percent higher than the May median price and 9.9 percent higher than June of last year.

The high-end market continues to outperform the more affordable market segments. The share of million-dollar home sales in California increased for the fourth straight month and reached the highest level on record at 35.3 percent.

Home prices could be leveling off though, as the monthly gain in price appears to be moderating. The June median price was higher, but only slightly above the long run average of 1.1 percent.

“Pending home sales declined 30.6 percent in June—the biggest drop since the first month of the pandemic—likely due to eroding affordability, rising mortgage rates and home prices, and the increased risk of a recession,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist 22

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Jordan Levine. “The combined effect resulted in a record increase in the average monthly mortgage payment for a typical home by more than 40 percent.

With the Fed expected to raise rates further in the second half of the year, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage could surge past 6 percent by year's end and lead to more affordability challenges for potential homebuyers.”

At the county level, home prices continued to rise across the state, 15 counties in California set new record median highs in June. Forty-five out of 51 counties tracked by C.A.R. increased in their median prices in June, with 31 of them rising 10 percent or more from a year ago. Here, in Butte County, prices went up over 12 percent.

Houses are still selling fast and high. The average number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was 12 days in June, averaging full price.

So far, analysts agree that our Real Estate market, which was speeding along like a car going 100 miles per hour, has slowed to a calmer pace of 75 or so.

We’re keeping our hands on the wheel.

Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail.com.

Call or text 530-680-0817.

"Effie's knowledge and skills are unsurpassed in her field. She is a true professional.

She is patient, kind and always has her clients interest in mind. I can't say enough good things about her to do her justice except you are in good hands if you're lucky to have her as your agent." -Pamela Fuller

This beauty is located on the Stamar Terrace section of Colusa Street among the newer homes! Your jaw will drop as you saunter through the front door and marvel at the cosmetic upgrades this home has to offer. Immediately, your senses will awaken to the scent of the roses and citrus tree in the backyard. Your eyes will be captivated by the great room with its vaulted ceilings, its gas fireplace, and the ample sunshine that pours through the generous-sized dual-pane windows. Next, your taste buds will tingle as you dream about the feast you will prepare using all of the gas appliances in your fully-equipped kitchen. You will savor every morsel of your meal while gazing out the sliding-glass doors that lead from the dining room to a quaint backyard with covered dining patio. Relaxing in your primary suite, you will appreciate the expansive walk-in closet and warmth of your soaking tub, along with the walk-in shower and dual vanity in the adjoining bathroom. As you wake up to the sound of chirping birds outside your window, you will realize that this home is your dream come true.

Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,439 Price: $359,000

SOLD Skinny dipping allowed!! The sliding glass doors of the master bedroom open onto a private sparking pool, making keeping fit fun. Here, you will love the rich wood flooring, the light and airy rooms, the freshly painted walls, and its charming vintage bathroom. From its cozy kitchen with center island to its central heat/air and sliding glass windows, this darling home offers everything you have wished to have in your starter home and more. The oversized yard offers a pool, a welcoming dining patio, a fire pit, a chicken coop, and provides a plenty of space for gardening. The single-car garage is equipped with work benches and is perfect for your wood-working hobbies. This home is ready for you to move in and enjoy the hot summer days of Chico in your own private pool! Bed: 3.0 Bath: 1.0 SqFt: 1,192 Price: $389,000

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"Sherry Calbert exceeded all my expectations for an agent. Her energy and knowledge of the area and market were the determining factors.

Communication was excellent. If I need another agent, she'll be the first one I'll contact." -Bruce Votaw, Chico

This is it!!!! This wonderful GORGEOUS custom home is a one of a kind property: Check out the OWNED solar, INGROUND sparkling pool, 3 Car Attached Garage +++++ shop with a studio to boot!!!! The home is 2296 according to county records and a permitted 868 sq.ft. shop and studio make up the rest of this perfectly manicured spot! The floor plan is both entertaining friendly and also lends itself to tuck away quietly and privately to read, nap, or ponder. The wall of windows in the back of the home, not only offer alot of natural lighting, but it draws the outside in and is a beautiful sight while sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a meal. There are alabastar hand plastared walls, Milano Olivewood flooring, vaulted ceiling and recessed lighting. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and they will even throw in the refrigerator!!! The master suite has a music system, rear covered patio access and walk in closet! This home has high efficiency windows, and a newer roof. The detached studio/shop has central HVAC, full bathroom, HDTV, mini fridge, stained cement floors and an outdoor shower to boot! RV access, bring your toys!!! Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!!!

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 3,164 Price: $1,100,000

We are back and better than ever!!!! Owned Solar!!! Check out this great oppportunity to live in Durham on just under 1 acre in this peaceful setting. Backing up to an orchard and having a great soil makes this a perfect spot for gardners with rich soil!! Newer carpet in living room and bedrooms, refinished hardwood floors in some rooms, ceiling fans, fireplace and a wood stove!! There is an added on sunroom with lalrge windows to the backyard. New dual pane windows to be installed soon!! The detached shop/garage area has a very great ADU or mother in law unit sheetrocked and plummed out for a bathroom and living areas!! Check it out!!!

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 2,500 Price: $499,900

#2 in Production for 2021 and a consistent Centurion Award winner!

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"Sherry Landis was referred to us by our cousin, Vikki Reimer who has been our agent with our homes that we bought and sold in Chico, CA. Sherry is the greatest agent and we put our trust and faith in her and she completely delivered. Not only is she a great agent but also a wonderful and thoughtful person. We live in Arizona and when we arrived in Chico in dealing with this home, she was always there for us. There were some hurdles to get through and she always kept us informed and updated on the sale of our home. Sherry Landis is an asset to Century 21 and we were Blessed and Honored to work with her and have her as our agent.

We would definitely recommend Sherry Landis." - Rod and Bev Siemens

Owned solar! There are outbuildings with electricity and covered patios to enjoy the large shade trees and established yard, auto sprinkler & drip systems. 3 gates for entrance into the back!! Inside you'll find freshly painted rooms, carpets that were just professionally cleaned and a perfect floor plan for family or the professionals with 1 bedroom/1 bath downstairs for privacy. Dining room has french doors leading to the back yard. All appliances are included refrigerator x 2, freezer, washer & dryer. Newer HVAC installed approx. 6 years ago. High ceilings in living room with open concept and ceiling fans plus newer tiled floors in many rooms!

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 1,828 Price: $499,900

The spacious entryway draws you into an open concept living and dining area, which boasts vaulted ceilings, updated ceiling fans, woodstove and lots of natural light!! There is a custom "copper wall" that is a must see! The kitchen has been updated with newer appliances and a garden window! The Master bedroom has 2 sliding glass doors that draw the outdoors in. Enjoy plenty of storage with the walk-in master closet, walk-in kitchen pantry and 2 car-garage. Additional features include updated flooring throughout (2019), and OWNED solar (2020) All new Dual Pane Windows installed approx. 2 years ago. New central AC unit on the way!

Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,672 Price: $499,000

Owned Solar! A contractor's own home, and it shows! This beautiful 4 bedroom home situated on a cul-de-sac with a gorgeous yard for entertaining has not been available for over 2 decades! Separate living areas, yet pulled together like a tapestry, make up this easy-living lifestyle for the entertaining of family and friends! The large covered patios invite peaceful moments to appreciate all the flowers, trees and the sounds of the birds. The kitchen is large and oversized with an island as this is the melting pot where everyone always seems to reside!!!

Walk in pantry, and indoor laundry. Seller has coverage on the home warranty too!

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,274 Price: $649,900

Call or text me regarding these homes and others

(530) 514-4855 SherryLinnCalbert@gmail.com 25

Upgrade to a sweet new home this summer!

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Call one of our 5 start real estate agents today!

r e !

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Sprucing Up an Empty Nest

In 2017, they decided to take the plunge and remodel the kitchen. Andy and Lorretta began obtaining quotes from various designers, contractors, and suppliers throughout the Northstate.

One day, as they rode on the bike path along Park Avenue, they saw New Again Kitchen Remodeling. They entered and met with New Again’s general manager Ric Powers, and their decision was made. Andy says, “It’s great that they are basically a one-stop shop.” Both he and Lorretta were becoming anxious thinking about how they would hire, organize, and coordinate with countertop manufacturers, tilers, painters, and designers all on their own. So the fact New Again handled everything at such a reasonable price was a welcome relief.

Their kitchen was a total success, so they decided to hire New Again, once more, to 28

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remodel their bathroom this year.

Lorretta enjoys scrolling through Pinterest and had a good idea of what she wanted in the new bathroom. She and Andy went into New Again and said they “spent hours behind the computer with Ric looking at designs, and he was always very patient.” Ric has a talent for understanding the client’s style and needs; he is able to work that into the room they’re designing. Andy mused, “He really helped fine tune it to fit our space.”

New Again removed the bathtub, drain, cabinets, and an unnecessary deep wall to open up the room. The new shower now encompasses the length of the room with new plumbing relocated to the back wall, allowing for easy access to the faucet while still out of the water stream.

The walls are lined with 12x24 Zebrina/ Calacatta tiles laid out in a unique vertical pattern. The stonelike shower floor of Hemisphere/Kona Sand tile offers a warm contrast to the striations in the wall tiles, eliciting a feeling of showering in a creek surrounded by beautifully-barked trees.

In the bathroom entry alcove, New Again installed a natural maple vanity with Shaker-inspired doors. They used

Jeffrey Alexander oil-rubbed bronze hardware and topped it with a white quartz countertop. The floors are a luxury waterproof vinyl in Beige Oak which complements the natural feel of the shower’s tile and tastefully ties everything together.

Lorretta and Andy were struck by the speed, consideration, and adherence to budget demonstrated by New Again’s team. Loretta says, “It felt like there were workers in the house one day and the next, they were gone.”

Andy was impressed with the excellent communication and willingness to make last minute changes. When asked what they like most about their new bathroom, Lorretta says she loves the vanity and countertop while Andy loves the big shower and how roomy it feels without the tub. But they both agree that, “It’s just new again. It’s not wear and tear anymore, but brand new.”

If you’re thinking about an empty nest—or full nest—remodel, stop into New Again and see what they have to offer.

New Again Kitchen Remodeling is located at 2502 Park Ave in Chico. They can be reached by phone at 530-899-2888.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

Empty nests are ripe for remodeling, and that’s just what Andy and Lorretta Martinez decided to do with their forever home. The house was built in 1991, and for a time it was perfect, but as years passed, the high-use areas like the kitchen and bath began to show their age. Lorretta says since this was the home they intended to grow old in, they wanted to begin updating it.

Where you gather is

Traci Cooper R EA L T O R ®

home.

family.

Who you gather with is

Call Traci today to find the right home for your family.

"Moving in the Right Direction" Phone: 530 - 520 - 0227

Email: traci@teamcooper.net

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

*If your property is currently listed for sale, please disregard.

It is not our intention to solicit the listings of other brokers.

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LICENSE #0G55496

To us, it's not just insurance—

it's a relationship.

Insurance & Risk Management Services for: Farm & Business • Home & Auto • Life & Health

www.Dahlmeier.com Chico

Oroville

Willows

1368 Longfellow Ave

2080 Myers St

530.342.6421

530.533.3424

305 N. Culver Ave. (Lambert Insurance Agency)

530.934.3361

Estates and Trusts for the Rest Of Us

BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ®, FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT SWEENEY & MICHEL, LLC

“Estate Plan” really is a terrible term. I’ve got images of marble busts, a dusty map, and wrinkly rich people leaving a fortune to their chihuahua.

accessed, and why.

Still, “Do you have a trust?” is probably a question you’re asked when meeting with your CPA, advisor, or banker. In short— they’re asking about your estate plan, because if you don’t have one, California will, and it’s not pretty.

Many people assume their children and/or beneficiaries will read the words in their trust and simply follow through on their wishes with kindness and love. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Estates are contested every day in our state for one reason or another.

Modern estate planning deserves some respect and attention; it’s so much more than “who gets your bucket when you kick it?” Having a plan in place is the first step in making sure your wishes (during and after life) are carried out as you’d like. Some keys points are: Who: Who will sell the house or speak for you when you can’t?

How: How should we direct assets in a blended family or provide to the charities we love during and after our lives?

It also outlines where the assets are, when they can be

The why is where it’s really valuable.

Sharing with family as you build or revise your estate plan goes a long way with heirs. We’ve seen it firsthand. It’s an opportunity to have meaningful discussions about your journey, values, legacy and lessons learned along the way. The conversation costs nothing but is worth its weight in gold.

If you’ve got questions about how estate plans impact your finances, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to discuss them with you and help you find a great attorney if you don’t have one already.

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 196 Cohasset Road, Suite 100, Chico CA 95926 (530) 487-1777 | renee@sweeneymichel.com | joe@sweeneymichel.com | www.sweeneymichel.com This is not tax advice. | Sweeney & Michel, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser. This brochure is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sweeney & Michel, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Sweeney & Michel, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.

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Independent & Assisted Living • Memory Care

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530.894.5429 theterracesofchico.com *Move in or deposit by 08/31 for this special offer *Terms and Conditions Apply

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Good times for a long time

Bert and Judy Katz opened The Italian Cottage in 1965. Brian Katz joined his mom, Judy Katz, in the early 90’s to help with the family business. “My folks came to Chico and saw what a beautiful community it was,” Brian said. “They thought it seemed to need a really good ‘red sauce joint’ with checkered tablecloths, candles, and pasta—a place where you could get a nice glass of Chianti and a cold beer!” Brian remembers helping out in the kitchen of the restaurant from around the age of nine, standing on a milk crate to wash dishes. “I grew up there,” Brian said.

Robyn shared, “In the beginning, we started out with a good meat sauce (red sauce), pizza and sandwiches—pastrami and beef dips being among the favorites.”

Brian continued, “Our original recipes have 32

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become staples over the years. Our pizza dough is handmade fresh every day, as is our ‘Valley Famous Lasagna’, blue cheese dressing, and our meatballs! The list of our house-made favorites goes on and on.

Consistency and taste is a big part of what we do to make sure our customers are getting the quality they desire. We taste the food daily to make sure everything is right.”

Even though the dishes are still the same amazing, high-quality food you remember, there have been many menu additions at the Cottage over the years. They began serving their famous breakfast in the 1970’s.

When Brian came on in the early 90s, they opened two more restaurants: one in Red Bluff, and a second location on the Skyway in Chico. Brian’s wife, Robyn, joined the family business in 1999 to help with advertising and catering.

When I asked Brian and Robyn what has made the restaurant so successful over so many decades, they pointed to the relationship they have with their employees, customers, and vendors—all of whom they consider to be part of their extended family. “We are fortunate to be surrounded by great employees that have helped us throughout the years,” Brian said. “Many of our employees have been part of the

cottage family for decades, and we’ve even had staff marry one another and start their own families. We are a family business run by family and supported by families.” Brian attributes the continued life of the restaurant to the support the Italian Cottage received from its family of employees and customers who kept the doors open and the lights on during the pandemic especially. When many businesses were fearing the future, the Cottage was comforted to see so much support from their staff and community.

Eventually, Brian and Robyn decided to focus solely on the Esplanade location.

Now that the worst of the pandemic is, hopefully, behind us all, Brian and Robyn are looking to the future. They hope to put in a full bar with seating and get their front patio up and running soon. Until then, they’re just going to keep focusing on what’s important: serving great food and promoting “Good Times for a Long Time!”

Drop by The Italian Cottage at 2234 Esplanade in Chico and give them a try for yourself! Monday through Friday, they serve breakfast from 8am to 11am, along with lunch and then dinner from 11am to 8pm. On Saturday, they serve breakfast from 8am to noon, and begin their lunch service at that time, remaining open for dinner until 8pm.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

For almost sixty years, Italian Cottage Restaurant has been putting quality food and top-notch customer service at the head of their menu. The interior of the restaurant still has its quaint charm, and if you haven’t visited for a while, stepping back inside is like getting a hug from an old friend. The cozy wooden booths, low lighting, and tantalizing scents of Italian food wafting from the kitchen welcome you back to one of the oldest restaurants in Chico.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

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“We love to know about the good things and help them celebrate.”

On the flip side, you can also count on them to be there when things aren’t so great.

Brad and his family moved to Paradise in 1991, and both Kelly and her sister, Kim, graduated from Paradise schools before moving on to Chico State. When the Camp Fire swept through the town in 2018, the family home was lost. However, it soon became clear Brad and Kelly were going to be able to fill a vital role for their customers who were also their friends and neighbors.

“Normally we have one fire claim every other year, meaning a garage fire or a kitchen fire,” Brad said. “We had 588 claims in just 12 hours that day.” In the weeks and months that followed, Brad and his team worked long hours, doing their best to get their customers’ claims paid. “We worked a lot of weekends,” said Kelly. “It was a crazy time.”

Almost four years later, the dust has finally begun to settle. “I actually just had a meeting with a customer who’s finishing up her rebuild from the fire,” Kelly said.

“She was just saying how thankful she was that she was with Farmers because a lot of her friends and neighbors had so many complaints about their insurance. She said that Farmers made it so that she got her money and didn’t have to fight for it.”

Brad Jacobson has been a Farmers Insurance agent since 2002 and celebrated his 20th anniversary with the agency in June. His daughter, Kelly Gibbons, recently celebrated her 10th anniversary working alongside her father. “She’s my right hand man,” Brad joked. “Right hand woman,” Kelly corrected him. The father-daughter duo are as playful and fun as they come, and they both enjoy the work they do.

Sitting down with a local insurance agent is something that many people don’t do anymore, but it’s a personal relationship that only becomes more important over time. Brad and Kelly understand that better than most. “Insurance is first and foremost 34

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a service industry,” Brad said. “And it’s one that is not just a one-off experience. I could be selling solar, as an example. I could really get to know the customers, go to their house, meet with them, learn about their family, and then help them with their sale.

Then we say goodbye, and for the most part, that’s it. With this industry, we still get to go through all of that, but instead, since we’re a service and a policy that they’re going to need forever, we get to take care of them for years to come and really build good strong relationships.” When a wedding takes place, a child is born, or a new home is purchased, your insurance team celebrates along with you. “We genuinely care about the families we serve,” Brad said.

If you’re looking into insurance for business, home, auto, or life, and want that family touch, call Brad and Kelly at (530) 891-7900.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY BEAU VANDERMATE

"people" people

Brad and Kelly enjoy working together for many reasons, including the fact they both love coffee and sweets, and that’s how they connect when their days get hectic and they need a moment to slow down and recharge.

They are also involved with several local service organizations, including Reading Pals. “My dad really values that time spent volunteering,” said Kelly. She also noted that there’s a legacy factor that goes along with working for her dad. “I’m going to be able to take over the agency once my dad decides to retire,” Kelly said. “We have customers that have been with him since the very beginning, and they know that once my dad retires, they’ll still be with an agent that they know and trust. They like to know that we’re going to be around if and when they need us. That’s the whole point of having insurance and a local agent.”

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY BEAU VANDERMATE

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It's a feel-good thing

To glean is to gather grain or other food left behind after a harvest. That’s pretty much what the Gleaners do, but since this is 2022, they “glean” food from local farms, markets, and people who drive right in and drop the food off.

The Gleaners also pick up leftover—but not out-of-date or expired—dry goods, canned food, and produce. Whatever usable items they can acquire to feed people is good for the Gleaner’s shelves.

A common myth is the Gleaners only 36

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serve the poorest in our communities.

That is completely untrue. “Anyone over 50 can come in and join the Gleaners,” said Lloyd. “Rich or poor, it doesn’t matter, as long as you pay your 50-dollara-month fee.” In reality, the customers who join the Gleaners' operation are often elderly and on a fixed income. That contributes to the myth. “50 dollars a month breaks down to $12.50 a week,” said Lloyd. He added, “Where are you going to go and fill up a big tote bag of groceries for $12.50?”

Two of the biggest supplies are bread and eggs, but there are a lot more to choose from. You can find canned and boxed goods including soup, condiments, meats, dairy products, bottled water, pastries, and a wide assortment of other foods. A few of the donors are Safeway on Nord Avenue, Grub Farm, Julia’s Fruit Stand in Los Molinos, Chico State, and a number of people who just show up with

a vehicle full of food to donate.

“It’s definitely a feel-good thing all around,” said Lloyd. “It feels good to donate, it feels good to pick up food, and it feels good to volunteer.” And everyone who works for the Chico Gleaners is a volunteer. That’s part of the price of membership. You pay your 50 dollars, but you are asked to donate two hours a week. “We’ve got people up and down the spectrum volunteering, from very wealthy people to the folks who join so they can get food every week.”

Lloyd is complimentary of all of his volunteer staff, and that includes vice president Gary Hull. “Everybody here has one goal: help people out and give back to the community. If you'd like to stretch your dollar for groceries or have time to volunteer and help those in need, call the Chico Gleaners at (530) 895-3006.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

Up until a few years ago, the Chico Gleaners didn’t even have a sign on Nord Avenue indicating where they were.

However, Gleaners’ local president and retired plumber Lloyd Watson rectified that, and now when you travel over to 1436 Nord Avenue, Suite D, you’ll know exactly where to go. Now that you know how to get there, just what the heck are the Gleaners?

Learning to Prioritize Yourself Bill, a small business owner, came into his first therapy session unsure what he was going to talk about. Both his business partner and his spouse had been urging him to go “talk to somebody” for months, and he only showed up because he wanted to be able to say he had tried it, even if it didn’t do anything. He wanted to get them off his back.

In one hour, Bill felt more seen and heard than he has felt in years. He processed how isolating it is to run his business and the immense responsibility he felt toward all the people who worked for him. The fact they all relied on his business being profitable to provide the financial resources for their families was a responsibility he took very seriously, and one that he carried with him daily as he made choices for the business and for his family. Often, he would forgo family vacations so he could ensure his employees could have time off and the business wouldn’t skip a beat.

would have more opportunities to sit for an hour with someone who’s whole job was to give him their undivided attention, use their perspective to help point out patterns, barriers, and strengths, and to help him sort through the little stuff that feels big so he can focus on what’s truly important to him.

With a recurring appointment at the same time and same day each week, Bill did something he previously hadn’t done: prioritized himself. It was easier to think of setting an hour aside each week to focus on himself when he knew he would have someone skilled to help him sort through all the things on his plate. The idea of setting that time aside once a week at his desk to read or work on himself never seemed to manifest; it was a big task to do alone while many other things are more pressing. But with the help of his therapist, he began to fall in love with his business, family, and life again.

Bill processed how much he missed spending time with his spouse and children, and he realized that he had several people at his business who have been wanting to grow and take on more responsibilities. He left that session feeling a little bit more in control of his current state, and feeling hopeful that he

Jessica Wilkerson, MA, LMFT 104464 is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Chico, CA. She is an EMDR clinician as well as the owner/operator and clinical supervisor of Inspired Life Counseling. For more information, visit www.jessicawilkerson.com and www.inspiredlifechico.com. Jessica can also be reached via phone at (530) 809-1702

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

Back to school at Little Red Hen

959 East Ave, Chico (530)894-1300 littleredhen.org 37

Human Resilience Through Art

David Leon Zink, who sits on the board of directors of the Paradise Arts Alliance as the vice chair says that the community “recognized a need to help increase awareness of Paradise as a burgeoning, 38

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arts-engaged community as The Ridge recovers and grows.” Their mission is to raise the profile, support communication, educate, and encourage art appreciation and collaboration in the arts community.

Perhaps the best way to understand what the Paradise Arts Alliance does is to take a look at the occasion which fostered the organization. It began with the idea of planning several events around the one-year commemoration of the Camp Fire. During that initial gathering, organization after organization stepped forward for the opportunity to join in, resulting in a weeklong roster of activities. One such event was Joy Will Find a Way: Experience Butte County’s Resilience Through the Arts at the Paradise Performing Arts Center. The twohour-long show ran twice and consisted of 29 different acts. Over 150 artists of various types of media performed including poets, musicians, dancers,

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY BEAU VANDERMATE

Prior to the Camp Fire, the town of Paradise very likely had more artists per square mile than any other neighboring community. A thriving arts scene had established itself in the town long ago, and many of these artists persevered and were determined to revive it in the community following the fire. This effort to overcome often insurmountable obstacles to continue to create was noticed by a number of art organizations in Paradise. They also witnessed collaborations happening amongst artists and recognized a new opportunity to help lend leadership to the community on public art issues. The Paradise Arts Alliance was born from this desire to support artists and the town of Paradise.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY BEAU VANDERMATE

photographers, and videographers.

Songwriters collaborated with the Paradise Symphony Orchestra, and poets from Paradise High School offered a mixed media performance combining film, spoken word, and music. There was an art gallery in the lobby. David says of the extravaganza, “It said, ‘look, we’re recovering.’”

The process of putting together those events for the one-year commemoration brought all the arts organizations together for the first time. They were able to begin to talk about how they could help with the recovery of Paradise. It was out of the community working together towards one shared goal that the Paradise Arts Alliance was born.

Following the fire, the landscape of Paradise was dark and black, then after the early rains, green shoots began poking up from that sea of darkness, and that’s how David views the art spirit in human beings. “It’s the first sign of human resilience, when a human begins to create. The spirit of that event was to hold a mirror up to the community and say, ‘look, this is you in the act of the recovery.’” It was a narrative of hope which addressed the tragedy head on, but then pointed to a great new future that the community could look forward to.

David Leon Zink says, “The art we create is our way of saying, ‘I exist.’ The enjoyment of the arts is a way of catching each other in the act of living.” Paradise Arts Alliance members see engagement and involvement in the arts as a great way of catching the community in the act of being alive, being well, and creating a bright new future.

To find out more about the Paradise Arts Alliance, visit their new website at www.ParadiseArts.org

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a man of many talents Bruce Roundy’s résumé is an astounding list of service and accomplishment— Glenn County Grand Jury member, Orland City Council member, four-time Mayor of Orland, and head of the Regional Education Investigation Unit. As a teacher, he taught drama and theater, social science, health, and physical education.

He was one of the last public education driver’s training instructors left in Northern California. As a coach he guided Orland Little League, was the head track coach at Orland High, the girls varsity basketball coach, and spent 27 years as an OHS football coach. To put it mildly—incredible.

After three years in the U.S. Army, Roundy came back to Chico, finished his degree, and earned a teaching credential. He student taught in Durham and later got hired in Oroville. While working as a lifeguard at the Lake Oroville Forebay, he met his future wife, Pam. A teaching and coaching job opened up at Orland High, and Roundy was hired.

“When I got into the classroom at Orland High, there were no civics books for the class,” said Bruce. “We eventually scrounged some up and teaching became a lot easier.” He began coaching immediately, and the football team went 1-4 in the preseason, but turned it around and went 4-1 in league. “We played large schools in the preseason, and we were 40

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Roundy went on to have success in every sport he coached and coached both his kids, John and Brooke. He developed a top-notch theater program, staging such plays as “Death of a Salesman.” While Roundy’s educational career was great, he’s especially proud of helping turn the City of Orland around economically.

“I always believed in the motto ‘Keep the small town feel and values but look ahead to expand,’ and that’s what we did,” said Roundy. “When I came onto the city council, the city reserves were down to $130,000. We were on the brink.”

He helped devise a system where each division was held accountable for their own spending.

Additionally, after years of keeping businesses out of town, Roundy helped spearhead economic growth by encouraging new businesses to open up in Orland. The Pilot Center is a prime example of job creation, especially for teenagers in Orland.

He’s also proud of his presidency of the League of California Cities, Sacramento Valley Division. He established the city publishing an annual audit where people can see where the money goes. A crowning achievement is the establishment of the Orland Art Center, which is widely known as one of the best galleries in Northern California.

With such accolades, it’s no surprise we tip our hat to Bruce Roundy and all he has done for our communities.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

This list could have been even longer if that little war in Southeast Asia hadn’t occurred, but luck sent Bruce to serve in Germany for a few years. That didn’t stop people from calling him a “baby killer” when he came back to the States. Yes, people really said that.

lucky we had enough players going into league. We got pretty banged up.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

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FALL

The Feather River Recreation and Park District (FRRPD) is, according to the Butte Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), the largest recreation service provider in Butte County, encompassing approximately 631 square miles. If you’re from Oroville, or even if you just visit occasionally, you’re probably familiar with some of the FRRPD facilities, which include Riverbend Park and the Nelson Sports Complex.

This year, work began to transform and update the Nelson Pool with the addition of a new splash pad water feature complete with marine animals, sprinklers, and big dump buckets. Other updates to the pool area include new decking, shade structures, slides, and a complete resurfacing of the pool itself. The renovation was funded by a grant from the Supplemental Benefits Fund, which receives funding through the licensing of

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the Oroville Dam. “This project has been on the list for some time,” Victoria Anton, the executive administrator at FRRPD, said. “Funding is one of the biggest things moving this project forward at this time.”

Many local organizations, such as the Oroville Orcas swim team and the Oroville High swim team, use the pool.

“We’re thrilled to be offering an updated facility because we partner with so many agencies,” Victoria said. “Not only do we offer public swim lessons and water aerobics, but we partner with the local middle school next door, and they do a few months of PE classes there.”

Upkeep of a public pool is expensive, and the maintenance can quickly become overwhelming. “People don’t realize the cost associated with pools,” said Victoria.

“Without everyone coming together, one agency alone can’t afford to maintain it, at least in our area. We can all work

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTOS COURTESY FRRPD

Saturday Evening Events September 10th - October 22nd Riverbend Park, Oroville Local Vendors 2pm - 6pm Live Music 4pm - 6pm

Fun With Feather River Parks and Recreation district

together to have one great facility.”

Nelson Pool’s reopening date is still to be determined. Shortages of needed parts for the splash pad, as well as concrete shortages, have kept everyone guessing.

Victoria recommends keeping an eye on the FRRPD website for updates.

As work on Nelson Pool continues, Victoria and the rest of the FRRPD are gearing up for the fall Concert in the Park series, which begins on September 10th.

Each Saturday afternoon at Riverbend Park until October 22nd, visitors can bring out their picnic blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy free music by the river. There will be food trucks selling a smörgåsbord of eats to satisfy any appetite, and the party-like atmosphere is sure to please adults and kids alike.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTOS COURTESY FRRPD

During the concert series, the FRRPD is also partnering with the Forebay Aquatic Center to offer a very special new activity: kayaking runs from the fish hatchery back down to the boat launch at Riverbend Park. This will be the first time the FRRPD has partnered with the Forebay to offer river tours of this nature, and they’re doing it to highlight the autumnal return of the salmon, who’ve got spawning on their minds. “We want to educate people about the salmon spawning, and that’s something we’re very excited to do,” Victoria said. “You park, sign up, pay the fee, someone from the Forebay shuttles you and the kayak up to the hatchery, and you can actually be in the water when the salmon are spawning right beneath you.

It’s beautiful.”

At the end of the run, you can park your kayak at the Riverbend Park boat launch and join friends and family for the live music and food trucks. This event is sure to be a lot of fun, and offers a unique opportunity to learn all about the salmon, who are native residents of the area and absolutely fascinating. “I really think it’s important for people to understand how important the salmon spawn is and how important our area is for that,” Victoria said. “It’s also important for people to come and experience it for themselves.”

If you’re interested in all this incredible opportunity has to offer, visit FRRPD’s website for more information at www.frrpd.com or call (530) 533-2011 43

Presents:

Mental Health Wellness What Works, What Doesn’t

Sunday, August 7th

the future of Skin science The skincare industry is bringing in billions of dollars every year, and all the celebrities are developing their new skincare and makeup lines. People are living longer and are looking for ways to turn back the clock on aging. We would love to have non-invasive treatments that don't involve scalpels and down-time.

There are a lot of new options on the market becoming available all the time. The use of traditional lasers, fillers, and BOTOX® are becoming commonplace and are costeffective enough to fit most budgets. Those that are looking for more cutting-edge treatments are looking into microneedling, radio-frequency plasma technology, new variations of fat reduction, and creative usage of existing dermal fillers. There are so many options today, and new technologies are being approved by the FDA all the time.

Topical skincare products have also evolved.

The use of retinols, glycolic acid, Vitamins C and E, and hyaluronic acid have been incorporated into our everyday regimens.

Human growth factors are gaining ground to give us even better results. They accelerate skin cell renewal as our own growth factors slow down with aging. They also improve wound healing and stimulate collagen growth and repair.

Striving to keep up with every new breakthrough is impossible, but researching new technology and products can keep us younger-looking longer!

DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530.342.2672 44

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1-4pm - Elks Lodge

- 1705 Manzanita, Chico

FREE Regional Mental Health Forum. We’ll explore what works and what doesn’t for increasing mental health wellness recovery. Input from peers, who have lived experience with mental health challenges, family supporters, agency representatives, and professionals, make for engaging panel discussions and breakout sessions which highlight:

Issues affecting families and loved ones of those who experience mental health challenges Success stories of people with mental health challenges who are in recovery and their supporters Collaborative discussion with mental health agencies, professionals, and community organizations

To register for this free community event,

contact carolinecarey@att.net for in-person or zoom platform. REFRESHMENTS & SNACKS PROVIDED.

Support provided by:

All hail, the cheesecake queen

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ

According to Dawn McGaffick, she is not a chef; she’s a cheesecake master. She has a sixth sense about cheesecakes, and developed all of her base recipes and flavor combos herself. Dawn started selling cheesecakes during the pandemic, but her story starts a bit further back, as most stories do. A waitress for 41 years, Dawn has been working with food for quite a while. Her first job was at a Corning drive-in owned by a local family.

She loves people and food, and she loves, as she says, selling a product that people need to sustain life. “I serve with love and compassion,” Dawn said. “It’s part of who I am.”

About fifteen years ago, Dawn made a cake for her twin sons’ birthday party.

It was half chocolate, half vanilla, and according to Dawn, wasn’t really anything super fancy. However, she went to her boss at Broadway Heights the next day and said, “Hey! I made this cake, and it went really well!” The boss’ reaction was exactly what you would hope to get from a boss: he enthusiastically asked her to bring something in for him to try the next day, and Dawn’s been doing desserts for the restaurant ever since. “I have been the pastry chef at Broadway Heights for the last fourteen years,” Dawn said. “All the desserts you get there are mine, and I did that solely until COVID hit.”

Like so many others in the food and service industries during the pandemic, Dawn lost her income practically overnight. There were no customers to serve and no desserts to make. She was suddenly in a very precarious position. “A little voice whispered to me a couple of weeks later, ‘Make cheesecake, and they will come!’” Dawn said. “I thought, that’s a good idea! I will!”

She had been making cheesecakes for Broadway Heights’ dessert menu for years, so she was an old hand by then.

She began making cheesecakes and posting them in the Foodies of Chico group on Facebook. After a while, she began experimenting with flavors and making six or seven large cheesecakes each week. She’d post the flavors on Facebook, package the cakes in nice containers, and then spend her weekend delivering the goodies to those who had messaged her wanting one.

Eventually, Dawn went out in search of a commercial kitchen. “Mary Chin of My Oven’s Meals told me about Frank Kennemer and his kitchen at Ready Chef Go,” Dawn said. “I walked in there, and immediately the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I thought, ‘This is my kitchen.’” There was a specialty oven in the kitchen that included a water

bath, and after a couple of months of trial and error, Dawn mastered its use.

Thanksgiving came, and then Christmas, and Dawn was selling cheesecakes like crazy. “I was on fire!” she said. “Every weekend I would create new flavors. My brain was open to the universe and full of bright light energy. I was dealing sugar all over town!”

Then, in April 2021, Dawn was out on a delivery when she was involved in an accident that totaled her car. After two months of terrible anxiety and physical therapy, she returned to work at Broadway Heights and also started making desserts for Wine Time, but her cheesecake dream had to be put on the backburner for a while. Fast forward a year, and Dawn is doing much better.

She’s full of vim and vigor, and she's ready to get back to baking. “I love cheesecake,” she said. “It’s resilient and strong and sturdy, like me. And it mixes well with everything. I’m not like anybody else. I’ve always felt like I’ve got something to bring to the table.”

You can order Dawn’s delicious desserts by following her Facebook page, Dawn’s Desserts, at www.FaceBook.com/ DawnsCheekyCheesecakes. Send her a message and try her delightful offerings for yourself!

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WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TACO TRACKER, RYAN STEFANELLI

Taqueria Don Sammy When I first stumbled upon Taqueria Don Sammy around two years ago, it looked just like many of the small taquerias I often visited in Mexico. I often passed by as I was working in the area and knew I had to give the place a shot. Over the years that have passed, Don Sammy has become one of my consistent go-tos and a personal favorite.

I sat down with the family operating the business as I was always curious as to who Don Sammy actually was. I had assumed he was the soft-spoken man behind the griddle wearing a Don Sammy hat and aviator sunglasses. Little did I know the story of Don Sammy started in 1985, when he opened his own taqueria in Guadalajara, Mexico—a location that is still in operation to this day.

The man with aviator sunglasses behind the griddle is the son of Don Sammy and one of the brothers who grew up working with the man himself at the original taqueria.

He learned the craft of operating such a business by being present day-after-day and making note of all his father had to pass down—like the proper way to prepare 46

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specialty cuts of meat, the slow cooking of every sauce, and preparing the salsas daily. These teachings eventually led him to branch out on his own.

In January of 2017, the three brothers Martin, Aurelio, and Manual opened a market with a large carniceria catering to the local community’s needs. Six months after opening the market, Taqueria Don Sammy opened its doors to the public. Though the opening was slower than expected, due to the brothers being new to the area, the business grew rapidly as residents began to notice they offered many different dishes than the other taquerias around town.

What sets Don Sammy apart from the rest is the true care and craftsmanship they put into making everything in house. Their corn tortillas are made fresh daily and seem to raise the bar just a bit with every bite. The bread for the tortas is also made in house daily. Popular items include the Orland burrito and the Northern California favorite— quesabirria tacos. Their carnitas are made fresh on Saturday and Sunday. Pozole and

menudo are offered on the weekends as well.

Maybe most noteworthy, the family has brought a few popular dishes that are a specialty from Guadalajara alone, such as the torta ahogada. Crispy sourdough bread is dipped in a super spicy fresh salsa and spread with refried beans before being topped with carnitas and marinated onions to prepare this dish. It comes with two flautas topped with lettuce and a homemade sauce too. Trust me, it’s a must try if you are in the area. Finally, do yourself a favor and try the salsa bar. It is chock full of diverse flavors, and the sheer variety sets it apart from most other taco truck offerings in the region. Try them all and find your favorite!

Don Sammy is located at 422 Colusa Street in Orland and is open from 9am-9pm seven days a week. They offer catering services as well. You can order online, call in, take out, or dine in. They can be reached by phone at 530-988-3154 or on Instagram at @Taqueria_Don_Sammy.

Caffeinated Chatter What business would you open?

AL AVA H I C O

OFFEE

ROASTERS

Think Global, Drink Local

Order your beans online! www.caljavacoffee.com

Alex Lotus I would love to open up my own bike/coffee shop that appeals to the local crowd. I live in Hawaii, so Kona coffee is a huge staple and seller. The dream is to have a place you can stop in, get a tuneup and a coffee before your ride and pick up any gear. Tourism is all over, so I want to focus on the local feel and get to know the community I love. What can beat bikes and coffee?

Lucia Gonzalez It is a dream of mine to open up my own beauty boutique that offers a variety of different services ranging from nails to hair and even some bodywork. There’s something about making other people feel and look more beautiful that is truly special, and I think everyone deserves to feel that way.

Todd Gibson Recently, I’ve been seeing the infatuation with the large sprinter vans and the transformation from a van to a camper. I love the outdoors, and it seems people in large are starting to appreciate the outdoors as well. The business would essentially be a showroom of a variety of different layouts and floor plans for the various van models. Clients would be able to design and work hands-on to create the perfect getaway vehicle.

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The Mein

Uncle Pings

I’m a sucker for beef chow fun— something about the way those thicker noodles have a frypan char and the smoky savoriness that sets them apart from other noodle dishes. Theirs are as good as they come—the noodles are light and pillowy, airy and non-greasy, and bursting with flavor. The mung bean sprouts share the flavor of the noodles, and the flank steak is chew-with-your48

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tongue insanity. The thick-cut al dente green onion is complemented by sliced yellow onion that tastes flash-fried, providing a light snap that still tastes well-marinated in flavor. The best part is the lack of heavy starchiness you often feel from noodle experiences. We added cream cheese wontons which came with some of the best sweet and sour sauce we’ve ever had.

The business’ simplicity of decor and counter-order dining experience makes every visit easy; their consistency, diligence, and quality makes you come back for more. As mentioned above, they have an express lunch that allows a quick meal experience at a price that is just as easy to swallow as the meal itself. A short walk to the next block west, you’ll find a well-shaded grassy area behind the Butte County Office of Education building for you to sit and enjoy your lunch, if you prefer the outdoors. Let their family feed yours. I’m sure if you visit, you’ll appreciate this operation and find yourself an instant fan.

WRITTEN BY JASON CORONA

I heard, “Hi, Uncle Pings!” in the most excited voice and was even happier to order than I was before I called. That was my first of many interactions with the He family, who own and entirely operate Uncle Pings on Robinson Street between Myers and Huntoon Streets in Oroville.

This is a mostly to-go establishment—four tables, plus two chairs at their window counter, allow for comfortably-spaced seating. The four family members are tirelessly on display during their greatvalue lunch rush and packaging the mostly to-go orders during dinner. Their bagging is impeccable and deliberate with perfect container placement to ensure satisfaction on your trip home.

Event

Tong Fong Low WRITTEN BY JASON CORONA

Just one block further down Robinson Street, past Marcozzi Jewelers, we find ourselves sitting in an all-too-familiar location for Butte County residents—the business home of the Wong family. The historic, 110-year-old Tong Fong Low has stood the test of time for its continued quality, a huge menu of offerings, and friendly dining experience. Surrounded by ornamental wood and traditional art and decor, we sat among many other happy patrons in one of the two available dining rooms. They also have a bar counter where all the bustle of drink preparation and to-go transactions take place. There’s no shortage of space in this ample dine-in restaurant.

As I have found more and more apparent in the previous months, these articles are the best opportunity to try something new, and I managed to find a dish that evolves as you dine. Hong Kong-style chow mein is prepared by frying the noodles, keeping them dry, unexpanded, and ramen-like in appearance. It’s then topped with a mixture of the meat of your choice, a fresh vegetable blend of

bok choy, snow peas, broccoli, water chestnuts, and celery—brought together with a medium-thick traditional savory sauce just before serving. The result is a deliciously fun multi-textured noodle experience that continues to moisten as the sauce softens the dish. It is absolutely delicious! We chose the pork, which became even more tender as we ate.

I’d like to strongly recommend the fried prawns as well; they’re amazing.

While many have mourned the recent loss of the Chico location that opened in 2009, the iconic original is going strong.

A short drive for most residents allows you to sit and dine in a piece of cultural heritage, not only as the first Chinese restaurant in Northern California, but also one of the oldest restaurants in the area in general. We invite you to visit them and take in the beauty that lies among the contrast of traditional and modern in the ever-growing, reimagined, and renovated businesses of Downtown Oroville.

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"Movin' to the country...

Peaches spread to the rest of the world, Persia in particular, wound up a favorite in Japan in 4,700 B.C.E., and made their way to India, then to what is now Italy, on to Central Europe in the 12th Century, and finally to the Americas. Thomas Jefferson even planted a peach orchard at Monticello.

Eventually, peaches became a huge crop right here in the Sacramento Valley, being planted all the way north to the Red Bluff area. In the 1960’s, you could drive to 50

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You can still see hundreds of acres of peach orchards along Highways 99E and 70 if you travel south to Marysville/Yuba City. A large amount of our local supply comes from those orchards. If you drive around Chico, be on the lookout for peach trees. They are everywhere around town—along with nectarine and various plum varities. Yes, there are many peach varieties, but who cares? This isn’t an agricultural testament.

The only testament you need when you eat ripe peaches is the beautiful taste either raw, in a pie, cobbler, or better yet, homemade peach ice cream!

I could tell you The International Peach Genome Initiative announced they had sequenced the peach tree genome in 2010 (doubled haploid Lovell), but NO ONE wants to hear about that. However, August is National Peach Month.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

While “nature’s candy in my hand, or can, or pie” began long before the song, anyone who has tasted a peach in its many forms can agree with the pure goodness of a ripe one. The Chinese certainly did, about 6,000 B.C.E., when they domesticated peaches in the Zhejiang Province of China.

Peaches have been mentioned in Chinese writing and literature beginning from the first millennium B.C.E. Crazy, huh?

Hamilton City and find it surrounded by peach orchards. They were right across the river and on the far side along Highway 32.

My brother got a job picking peaches at the orchard, but “Little Timmy” was too young to work. I vowed to never eat a peach again— until my brother brought home some ripe beauties, and then it was Peach Face Smear City. What kid can eat a peach without their face becoming covered in peach juice?

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

…gonna eat a lot of peaches.” Yes, that song written and performed by The Presidents of the United States and released in 1996.

Lead singer Chris Ballew overheard a homeless man mutter, “I’m movin’ to the country; I’m gonna eat a lot of peaches” under his breath while waiting at a bus stop.

Ballew wrote the song sitting under a peach tree waiting for a woman to come home so he could explain his crush on her. She never showed up, but the song became a big hit.

Come out and play!

With hand clapping music, trucks full of food, and entertainment for all ages, the Summer Music Jam follows on the success of the Spring Music Jam that hosted over 1,300 attendees, 200 entertainers, food vendors, and staff. The mind behind these music fests is promoter Forrest Melton, whose goal is to not only provide quality entertainment, but to be able to donate funds to a number of local organizations.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Melton’s emphasis is to provide people with a safe place to have fun. “I love gathering people together so they can come out and play,” he said. And Melton has a wealth of experience doing just that. He began back in college at Chico State where he organized spring break trips to Mexico, Utah ski trips in the winter, and eventually trade shows and food and wine festivals. These events have culminated into the Spring and Summer Jam Music Fests which are held at the Patrick Ranch on the Midway.

Blue Sky Event Services is the umbrella organization that helps promote and put on the productions.

“I wanted to bring a new look to Chico,” said Melton. “Using successful tribute bands with stages for local music acts will generate money we can donate to local charities.”

The Spring Jam saw the Rotary Chico Sunrise hold an auction for a seven-day Mexico getaway. “A big part of our proceeds go to local groups,” said Melton. “We also get local sports involved like the Pleasant

Valley Wrestling Club and the Chico Mighty Oaks Rugby Club.” Other beneficiaries include Seeds of Love and the Hope Common Church.

One thing is for sure—you will not get bored at the music fests. There will be musical entertainment from local and out-of-thearea bands. The Summer Fest will feature Invincible, a Pat Benatar cover band at 4:00; and Long Time, a tribute to Boston at 6:30. A separate stage will feature local groups over the course of the day including Yurkovic and River Road Band. There will also be demonstrations by Azad’s Martial Arts and the Chico Dance Troupe among others. You can play ping pong, pool, air hockey, bocce ball, and corn hole to your heart’s content. A special Kid’s Zone will even feature a bounce house.

Food trucks will line the festival with a variety of dining options, and there will be craft beer and wine available at select locations around the grounds. Sponsors and vendors will be on hand with tables and booths to show off their services and sell their products. Also, come dressed in your best Hawaiian themed outfit and enter the costume contest!

The Summer Fest will take place on Saturday, August 20, from 1:00 to 9:00pm. For ticket information visit BlueskyFestivalsAndEvents.com.

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Not the Same Ol' Rigamarole

Music can take those individuals and help them fit in and become a part of a program where they can find their niche, their community, and sometimes become the reason they go to school.

The members of Rigamarole get this.

They’ve seen it time and time again.

They are true advocates of their various programs. In these days of education cuts and tightening budgets, these teachers have to speak loud and clear to promote the music program. What is ultimately cool for the band is seeing their music transform their audience members. As keyboard player Nora Hunter said, “We are all using our music degrees in an important way.”

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Rigamarole plays their own compositions, many written by King, and perform covers of a wide variety of music. Decisions are made as a group in a democratic fashion, and a big benefit is they all know how to play. Not just play but play. As Tanner said, “We make music sound better. We can also rehearse once and learn a song to play the next night.” Another factor is they can all read music.

Ryan added, “We enjoy playing together.

Any job can be hard, but this is an amazing job.” The musicians are a part of a bigger social circle as well. “Not only are we friends, but our kids are friends, too,” said Tanner. Not just friends, either.

Many band members are students of Phil, who teaches just about every instrument and all age levels.

Rigamarole is the only local band with a big horn section, and they’ve played many venues in the area. They will be performing at the Downtown Chico Friday Night Concert on August 19th. You can also visit their Facebook page to find out when they will play again.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

The definition of rigmarole not only fits the music the band plays, but it also encompasses each members’ profession: music teachers. While most are public education or college-level instructors, with students’ age groups beginning at preschool and going all the way to 80 years old, the members all agree on one tenet: Music Saves Lives. Ask any teacher who works with kids and who’s been around a music program. Music has no prejudices or preconceptions about a person. You can be the average kid, the brilliant student who aces everything, or, and very importantly, that child somewhere “on the spectrum,” or a kid who just doesn’t fit in the various pegs of our system.

'We' would be Nora; Tanner Johns, sax; Bill Hepworth, guitar; Ryan Heimlich, bass; Austin King, drums; Casson Scowcroft, trombone; Joe West, trombone; and Ayaka Nakamura, trumpet. Most of them met at Chico State in the music program, and after they graduated and ended up in the Chico area, Austin said, “We got together and decided we should form a band.”

Tickets Available at the Main Cage and Online

LATIN

R&B

R&B

LATIN

August 13th

September 9th

September 10th

September 24th

Anniversary Celebration With

KOOL & THE GANG

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

DESSERT BAR

Open Every Weekend Friday: 2pm - 12am Saturday: 2pm - 12am Sunday: 12pm - 10pm

Must be 21 or Older • Management Reserves All Rights www.GoldCountryCasino.com • 4020 Olive Highway, Oroville, California • 800.334.9400

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“First off, it’s free,” she stated. “You can get all, or most, of your undergraduate units taken care of there, and you can focus on a career degree when you attend a four-year college.”

Zoey also pointed out what many students don’t know about the Butte College/U.C. Davis connection. “Our counselors told us that Butte and Davis have a program where we can transfer many of our Butte units right to Davis. If you want to attend U.C., you can’t beat that!”

cool kid double take You’re not seeing double in the picture on this page; you are seeing Zoey Miller, twin sister of previous Cool Kid Riley Miller.

Technically, what you're seeing are mirror twins. They are identical except for their dominant hands, one being left-handed and the other right-handed.

These young women do mirror each other in many ways—members of the national student organization Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, each participated in track and field at P.V., and both are high-achieving students who’ve earned excellent grades and exhibited exemplary behavior. Zoey also participated in the Teens in the Driver’s Seat program, which she saw as extremely beneficial. “Due to Covid, the school had to put off the program, but I’m hoping they bring it back soon.”

The educational similarities begin to diverge at this point. While Riley is headed to Montana, Zoey has decided to stay in Chico to attend Butte College.

She plans to earn a two-year business degree and see where that leads.

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Additionally, Zoey’s boyfriend, Travis Salyer, is staying in Chico. His family runs Tozier’s Fire Support, a company that provides equipment to firefighters in order to help feed and support them in the camps when they are off-duty.

Besides Travis, Zoey has many friends staying in Chico to either attend Butte, go to Chico State, or find a job and work.

“I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do in the future, but I'm hoping going to Butte will give me a better idea,” she said. “I’ve thought about owning my own wedding and event center in the future,” she added. Also, she sees trips to Europe and other locales in the future as well.

As for Riley moving away? “It will be hard at first, but we’ll get used to it, and it might even be a good thing.” But don’t worry about Zoey being lonely. She’s got four dogs, one cat, and one rabbit at home. “My dog, Noodle, is a Doxie,” she said. “I’m definitely a dog person.”

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Apparently, there seems to be a stigma with attending Butte College. You often hear seniors say, “I'm just going to Butte,” like it was a jail sentence.

However, Zoey sees a positive opportunity and experience with attending Butte.

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