Don't be afraid to cross the bridge

People are like icebergs in that you really only get to see a small facet of what they truly are, and what you know about them depends on what face of the iceberg you’re oriented towards. Teri Tata’s work in the Oroville community is extremely diverse, often done behind the scenes, and mammoth in its undertakings. What you think you know about her is just the tip of the iceberg.

Teri was born in an Italian community in Argentina but lived most of her life on the East Coast. On holiday from medical school in Argentina, she traveled with a neighbor with intentions to visit New York. Fate would have her meet her future children’s father at a tattoo show in the city and thus her new life trajectory began. Years later, her older daughter moved to California, followed by the younger. Health issues and a desire to be close to her children led Teri to move from Long Island to Oroville ten years ago. What lies hidden from view to many in the community? Teri laughs and says, “Noone really knows Teri because I have done so much in my past.” She finished highschool at the age of fifteen and became a teacher at nineteen. Teri learned many languages growing up because Argentina is full of settlements from all over the world. So, in order to connect with her community, she learned to speak their languages. She studied medicine for three years and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She’s been an office worker, a business owner, and always a world traveler, even in her own town. She shares, “There is so much to see in the world, here too. Oroville is a beautiful place to live.”

Her first foray into community involvement was through the neighborhood watch program. She went on neighborhood walks with friends, sat in on monthly meetings, and later helped organize community coalitions. Now, she manages her own neighborhood watch program and has become the point of contact for people who don’t know what to do or who to call. Many times, an elderly community member will call, and Teri will head over to help them contact the appropriate organization, staying with them until the situation is resolved.

The neighborhood watch led to the development of her Oroville News Live Facebook page. A community member asked if she had gone to a city council meeting and if so, what she learned there. She hadn’t, but looked for a taping of the meeting. After experiencing the difficulty in finding a video of it, she took it upon herself to start attending every meeting and streaming it for the public. In addition to those meetings, Teri is also the videographer for many other community happenings; from grand openings and celebrations, to updates on the dam. “Mostly, I don’t speak. I don’t have to explain anything because it’s all self explanatory. I speak many languages—but all with an accent.” She laughs as she shares that when she knows that many people are watching and listening, she tends to talk with what sounds like a Russian accent. So she prefers to do all she does behind the camera.

Teri is also a city docent and lead docent for one of the many museums in Oroville, The Feather River Nature Center. She says while she loves all the museums, the nature center is special to her because it’s the lost child, left behind in the woods, and has such a beautiful place right next to the river.

The most rewarding aspect of everything she does for the community is when people don’t have any idea that she did it. “I like to do things behind the scenes. It’s the best when no one knows it was me.”

When she lived in Long Island, she met a woman who didn’t have a car. The woman said, “I don't need one. There’s a grocery store, a Walmart, and I walk to work. Everything I need is right here.” Teri couldn't fathom why she never crossed the bridge off the island to explore what lay outside her small confines. She doesn’t want that for people in the community of Oroville. She wants them to ‘cross the bridge’, to get out and explore the beauty and resources that surround them; the lakes, the river, the parks, and museums. She wants them to step away from their comfort zone, from what they’re used to, and see what new opportunities can be seized. She says, “Live everyday the best you can and take any opportunity with two hands.” That’s what she’s done all her life.

Home for the holidays

Here's a look back at a holiday season of years ago, in the days of Auld Lang Syne, as it were:

Christmas music wafted through the office, emanating from the radio on the front desk counter. I was “on floor” taking phone calls.

KDV slipped through the front door in a blast of wind and rain. He fired up one of his hand-rolled cigarettes, blew a smokestream, and said, “Check out my ad.”

He unfurled the classified section of the newspaper and pointed to a display ad with a picture of a vintage house for sale and a photo of his face. The top line in bold read “There’s No Place Like (a new) Home for the Holidays.”

Just then ‘There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays’ by The Carpenters played on the radio, which I took to be a new cheesy version of the original song. KDV stood and belted out the words in his finest baritone… “If you want to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home!”

A floor call came in. A guy asked me about houses for sale, and he mentioned KDV’s ad. “Very clever ad,” he said. “And my wife and I do want a new home for the holidays!” He was an incoming professor to Butte College, transferring from the Midwest, and sounded serious.

Within minutes I met that professor, Greg Blunt, and his wife, Karen, to show them the tall, narrow vintage home on 14th street. Christmas lights of red, blue, and green outlined the high-pitched roof eaves. A wreath hung over the front door glass pane.

Inside, the sellers were gone, but the stage was set. Christmas music played lightly on the stereo. A fire crackled in the fireplace, and the place smelled of cinnamon and cedar. A big orange cat stretched and rubbed against our legs as we stood taking in the feel of this home.

Using my best sales technique, I said nothing. Greg looked at Karen and said, “Home sweet home.” She smiled and held his hand as they strolled through the house.

In the background was playing my new favorite Christmas song, “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” by The Carpenters.

Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. Call or text 530-680-0817.

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