Upgraded Living July 2022

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Q&A

WITH DR. HODARI MICRONEEDLING What is Micorneedling?

Microneedling is a procedure to gently and effectively remove superficial layers of skin in order to improve the overall texture and tone of the skin.

How many sessions does it take to see results?

Results are seen as quickly as one treatment, but best results occur after a series of at least 3-5 treatments. Treatments are typically done monthly.

What areas can be treated and is there any downtime?

Microneedling is typically performed on the face. In addition to improving one's texture and tone, it can also improve hyperpigmentation and scarring. Acne scarring responds particularly well to a series of microneedling treatments. Because microneedling helps with scars and texture, it can also be applied to other areas like the arms and legs, under certain circumstances.

Can I add this treatment in addition to BOTOX® and fillers?

Absolutely. Microneedling pairs well with many procedures like BOTOX® and fillers. I especially like to pair it with fillers because you get the immediate benefits of lip or cheek enhancement, along with the delayed and ongoing benefits of the microneedling treatments.

In addition, it pairs well with BOTOX®, especially in a patient with acne scarring on the cheeks. In this case, patients benefit from a smoothening of forehead lines from BOTOX® and smoother, brighter cheeks from microneedling. It's a powerful one-two punch for either BOTOX® or fillers. It's really one of my favorite treatments, especially during the summer, because sunlight does not significantly limit its usage.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER Growing up in Chico, the summer months were always my favorite. It probably comes as no surprise considering, as a child, those months were full of adventure, a complete absence of responsibility, and unbridled enjoyment.

Those care-free characteristics of summer seemed to be everything worth looking forward to during the nine months of the year preceding them, but as an adult I've come to realize they meant so much more. Those few months gave each of us the opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, and though we likely didn't realize it at the time, unconsciously practice a level of self-care whose value we often take for granted as adults.

Without recess, summer break, and the now long-lost art of napping, life can often feel like a hamster wheel— we're constantly running to accomplish the next task, take the next step towards the neverending list of goals we've set for ourselves, and find whatever time we can to squeeze in a little entertainment to achieve momentary decompression. I'm sure you can identify and agree it can be exhausting; reading that last sentence certainly was.

This issue speaks to that realization—it's important to take some time and reconnect with yourself, and your overall health and wellness is a great place to start. Physical and mental hurdles can quickly do a number on our quality of life, and minimizing or removing those hurdles can open the door to enjoying life in a way we may have written off long ago. There are countless providers throughout the Northstate who have devoted their lives and careers to helping each of us do just that, and we couldn't be happier to shine a light on a few of them. We hope their stories, and the others in this issue, help guide you towards a better quality of life, even if you're just encouraged to visit The Forebay Aquatic Center in Oroville for a little peace and quiet on the lake. We'll be working on doing the same.

With that in mind, we're heading into this next month beginning work on our upcoming second-annual, doublenegative, Worst of Chico issue. With it, we'll also deliver our new Best of Butte list. For all of us at the magazine, the issue feels a bit like recess all over again, and we can't wait to share our selections with all of you.

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 | JULY 2022 HEALTH & WELLNESS

FOOD

10 North Valley Eye Care welcomes Dr. Smith to its ever-growing list of eyecare professionals.

46 Taco truck, El Centenario delivers a family legacy with each and every bite.

13 Women's healthcare specialist, Julia Cruse, expands Mangrove Medical Group's community offerings.

14 Primary care provider, Dr. Mark Schwab, helps ease the strain on Butte County's over-taxed healthcare system.

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15 Nurse practitioner, Laura Schiff, provides ongoing care for individuals managing chronic disease and more.

16 We reconnect with Dr. Kevin Sorensen—E.R. trauma doctor turned primary-care provider at Mangrove Medical Group.

17 Jessica Wilkerson helps explore the root cause of what lowers quality of life.

28 A tranquil space can soothe the soul.

New Again Kitchen Remodeling helps the Juneys create just that in this month's remodel.

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34 Family nurse practitioner, Lauren Sanchez seeks to heal body, mind, and soul.

36 Hypnotherapist Ian Anderson explores the role our minds play in our wellness.

38 Treat your taste buds to something delicious. Finding a paradise of flavor is easier than you think—proof in Noble Orchards.

42 Discover hundreds of ways to reconnect with yourself at Forebay Aquatic Center in Oroville.

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48 Take the hassle out of lunch or dinner with two ready-to-go options.

50 Milhorn's mad for melons!

POTPOURRI 23 The real estate market's been hot as can be for the past few years. Are there signs of cooling off?

30 A constant eye on your investments can send you into a tailspin. Sweeney & Michel offer advice rooted in history.

FEATURE 19 The tractor-practor, Dr. Shane Smith of The Specific Chiropractic Centers of Chico, is so much more than you'd expect. Discover his refreshing philosophy on caring for the whole person.

ON THE COVER: DR. SHANE SMITH OF THE SPECIFIC CHIROPRACTIC CENTERS OF CHICO PHOTO BY: DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN BY: ERIK BROWN

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want to make sure patients have the best treatment option, whether it’s surgical or medical, and we always try to stay on the cutting edge of technology.”

Dr. Smith is a comprehensive ophthalmologist, which means he does a little bit of everything, but he shares that he has more of an emphasis on cataract and refractive surgery. “I spend a lot of time honing my surgical skills and doing high-quality cataract surgeries using a lot of intraocular lenses, so patients have many options to choose from for the best refractive outcome.” Cataract surgery used to offer one type of lens for replacement, but there are so many new technologies and lens options available that have revolutionized the field. Patients now have the option to undergo surgery and “essentially have their prescription lenses put directly into their eyes. After surgery, they can have great distance vision without requiring glasses or potentially have lenses that give distance, intermediate, and near vision without any glasses at all.” Dr. Smith states the outcomes from surgeries like these are tremendous. “That ‘wow’ factor when a person goes from being legally blind and totally dependent on others to being able to function without glasses at all a few days after surgery is the most rewarding.”

Dr. Phil Smith was always interested in going into medicine but hadn’t considered ophthalmology until one summer during college. He worked with his father, a now retired general contractor, on remodeling an ophthalmologist’s office. Dr. Rush knew Phil was interested in medicine and invited him to observe a cataract surgery he was performing. Dr. Smith says, “I sat in the operating room and watched him perform cataract surgeries for the day, and I was really fascinated by it.” Once Dr. Smith completed his undergraduate degree, Dr. Rush invited him to join the practice as an ophthalmic technician where he worked between undergrad and medical school.

He continued to visit Dr. Rush’s practice to learn about ophthalmology throughout his time at Texas Tech University. By the 10

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middle of medical school, Dr. Smith was sure ophthalmology was the specialty he wanted to pursue.

Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Dr. Smith returned to his hometown to complete his Internal Medicine Residency through Texas Tech University. He then went on to continue his studies at Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore, where he completed a fellowship in ophthalmology.

While practicing in Sacramento, he met Dr. Barthelow of North Valley Eye Care. Dr. Smith says, “I really like the fact that Dr. Barthelow and North Valley Eye Care are very progressive when it comes to treating patients and using the technology that’s available. Our philosophies on care are very similar; we are very patient-centric. We

When he’s not in the office, Dr. Smith takes time to enjoy traveling with his wife and experiencing new restaurants, cuisines, and music. He plays the cello, the trombone, and the Scottish great highland bagpipes, and he’s always looking for live music venues to explore.

If you’re experiencing issues with your vision, call (530) 891-1900 to speak to the concierge at North Valley Eye Care and set up an appointment with a doctor near you.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO COURTESY NORTH VALLEY EYE CARE

Taking time with dr. smith

Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of time. During the initial surgical consultation he says, “I’m not in a rush. I want to make sure the patients are educated.” He takes the time to explain the specifics of their condition, what the options for care are, and then explains the agreed upon treatment plan. He ensures he has ample time to answer any questions or concerns they may have. “You don’t rush things; the less you rush, the better outcomes you have whether it’s education or surgery.”

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO COURTESY NORTH VALLEY EYE CARE 11

Beat the heat Prevention VS Correction!

ZOMBIES, MONSTERS, DINOSAURS, AND MORE !

This is the North Valley; we know that the heat is on its way! What can we do to prepare our skin for the sunny weather?

Preventative care in the form of SPF is readily available to prevent damage to our DNA, which can alter our skin's ability to repair itself as we age. Sunscreen has come a long way since the days of white zinc on our noses! Most sunscreens are now lightweight, non-greasy, and don't smell bad. An SPF of 30 to 50 is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and should be worn daily.

The active ingredients in sunscreen break down easily, so re-applying every 2 hours during prolonged exposure is essential.

The rate of melanoma diagnosis has tripled over the past 20 years, so being aware and taking preventative measures can reduce your risks.

After-sun care is important too. Moisturize, don't use very hot water in the shower, and don't peel off burned skin, as this can lead to infection, hypo or hyper-pigmentation, and skin sensitivity. Prevent, rather than correct sun damage before it happens!

DERM BAR MED-SPA 85 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530.342.2672 12

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LittleRedHen.org

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO COURTESY RYAN CRUSE

UV rays are still present even on cloudy and rainy days. Some quick sun facts: 90% of UV rays reach the earth on overcast and cloudy days, water reflection intensifies UV rays by 10-20%, sand reflection intensifies UV rays 15-25%, 50% of UV rays can pass through glass, and 60% of UV rays can penetrate car windows!

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After working for Enloe Women’s Services for a few years, Julia moved over to Mangrove Medical Group in early 2022.

“I love Mangrove Medical Group because it’s physician-owned, and that makes a big difference in how things are run administratively,” she says. “A big hospital has a lot of administration, and people making the decisions aren’t necessarily the ones who are providing the care. At Mangrove Medical, the services we offer and how we offer them are dictated by the physicians who provide the care.” Julia also notes many of the patients at Mangrove Medical enjoy coming there because they can get many of their needs taken care of in the same building. “Our patients love that they can get labs, imaging, and primary care all in one place,” Julia says.

Her role at Mangrove Medical is to provide women’s care and gynecological health services, including annual exams and cancer screenings, along with helping women through their menopausal transitions.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO COURTESY RYAN CRUSE

Advocating for women's healthcare Julia Cruse, a physician’s assistant at Mangrove Medical Group, grew up in Texas and, like most teens, couldn’t wait to get out and discover what was happening in the rest of the world. She received her undergraduate degree from a small college in Massachusetts before moving to Butte County with some friends from Texas. While here, she had every intention of finishing her medical school prerequisites at Chico State, but after some introspection, decided she’d rather be a physician’s assistant than an M.D. Julia enrolled at Butte College and, while she worked on her prerequisites for P.A. school, worked as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood. “Coming from Texas and being given an abstinence-only

education, I didn’t know there was any other form of contraception except for the pill,” she says. “It was definitely an eye-opening experience.”

Julia was accepted to Baylor College of Medicine and moved back to Texas with her husband and daughter to complete her P.A. training. “We lived through Hurricane Harvey, and we were not looking to stay in Texas after that,” Julia says. “We knew Chico, loved Chico, and I’d had so much fun here before, so we came back.” Julia and her husband now have two children, and they enjoy a hurricane-free lifestyle playing in Bidwell Park and the great outdoors.

“We love that there are a couple of national parks close by,” Julia says.

It’s this experience that Julia says exposed a flaw in her education. “Baylor is a great program,” she says. “We had an OB rotation and lots of instruction on contraception, but when it came to menopause, crickets. 20 percent of women will show no symptoms, but 80 percent will, and they’ll most likely want treatment.” Julia has taken it upon herself to learn as much as she can about menopause so she can have meaningful conversations with her patients and give them the care they deserve. “Making space for women who want to have a better quality of life is very important to me,” Julia says. “I think we’re afraid to take up space and time, and women don’t feel they can ask their providers about things they have concerns about. I’ve realized that I have to ask patients specific questions, otherwise they will just say, ‘I’m fine!’”

Creating a space for women to be able to share their concerns about their health is integral to the approach Julia takes in the care she provides. She would like every woman who comes to her for care to feel confident they will be heard and will have their needs met with compassion and understanding.

To set up an appointment with Julia, call Mangrove Medical Group at (530) 345-0064.

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Dr. Schwab appreciates that Mangrove Medical has been around for a while. “It’s a well-established practice with a good track record of patient care that’s well received in the community,” he says. “They’ve been really welcoming to me, and I feel at home here—really at ease.” One of the things that Mangrove Medical is known for is providing a plethora of care under one roof. A patient can schedule a visit with their primary care doctor and get lab and imaging all taken care of at the same visit. They have a highlyqualified staff of doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants who are known for their care, compassion, and an ability to create a safe space for patients. “I really see a lot of satisfied patients, where they feel they’re being heard, seen, and taken care of,” Mark says. “I hope to be able to match that standard. That’s my goal anyway.”

Mark has two young children, and in his spare time enjoys all the wonderful features of Chico and its surroundings. “I enjoy all the aspects of outdoor living that Chico offers,” Mark says, “especially Upper and Lower Park. I like working out and being outside. I enjoy the sunshine, and I enjoy working at Mangrove Medical. It’s busy, but I have a good work/life balance with this job.”

A few years later, Dr. Schwab found himself working in an emergency room in San Diego, before coming to Chico for a job.

Last year, he got out of working in the E.R. altogether. He decided to go into primary care, and found a professional home at Mangrove Medical Group. “I’ve found that 14

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the transition from E.R. to primary care is pretty seamless,” Mark says. “In the E.R., there’s no patient base, so you don’t see the same people. The connection you make resolving a problem for a patient is really satisfying, and it’s something I’m really enjoying here at Mangrove Medical.”

For Mark, the connection with his patients is what he has always enjoyed most about being a physician, and it’s ultimately why he left the emergency room. “The E.R. has its pros and cons,” Mark says. “You get the fancy new procedures, and I did that for a good 10 to 15 years, but the novelty was no longer there. The connections I made with patients, and the personal interaction is what I found I liked a lot in the E.R., and I get that a lot here at Mangrove Medical.”

To set up an appointment with Mark, call Mangrove Medical Group at (530) 345-0064.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO COURTESY RYAN CRUSE

Although Dr. Mark Schwab has only lived in California for ten years, he considers it home. “I grew up in a town about the size of Chico, so it feels comfortable in that respect,” he says. Mark completed medical school in West Virginia before fulfilling his ER training in Alabama and moving to the East Coast. “It was a nice place to be for four years. I had family in the area, and it was good for buckling down and going to med school,” he says.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUE

Connecting with the community

Mark particularly appreciates the stability that working in general medicine provides his family. Working in the E.R., one is subject to working varied shifts, and Mark found that was difficult for him to manage with young children. “You get into a day shift, mid-shift, night shift routine, and it’s hard to get coverage for kids,” he says. “But now I’m on the kids’ schedule, and things are more balanced. It’s nice.” Mark has also found that the camaraderie at Mangrove Medical is something he values. “It’s a close-knit community of providers and staff that work well together and seem to enjoy doing what they do,” Mark says. “It’s a fun place to work.”

nurse practitioner and provides primary health care services to patients of all ages, focusing primarily on ages 10 and up. Her practice involves working with a wide variety of issues, from general health checkups to managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Laura also has experience treating individuals with anxiety and depression, and can offer medication assisted therapy for opioid disorders. One of the most challenging aspects of her profession is ensuring the chosen therapy is appropriate for each particular patient. She said, “I always keep that in consideration when I’m prescribing something. I want to, first of all, make sure that it’s the best thing for you and then is it going to be affordable? Is it going to fit with your lifestyle? Is it going to be easy?”

Laura says once the patients have begun treatment, being able to see how they progress over time is such a rewarding experience. “Say someone comes in with absolutely crippling anxiety or their diabetes is way out of control—you talk to them, decide on some therapies, and have them come back in a month. Then seeing things are on the right track for them, that they are on their way to getting healthier, is the best.”

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO COURTESY RYAN CRUSE

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUE

Laura’s connection to her patients is rooted in her belief of seeing people first, then the condition. “You’re not an obese person, you’re a person with obesity. You’re not an addict; you’re a person with an opioid abuse disorder,” she said.

See the person You might catch Laura riding her bike to work, or running in the park with her Bichon Frisè, or maybe out with her husband taking her two boys to soccer practice. Or, maybe, you’ll run into her as your new primary care provider at Mangrove Medical Group.

Laura Schiff was born and raised in Chico and started out as an English major at Chico State, but as she moved through school, she decided she needed another focus. At the age of 19, she began working as a health aid at an area nursing home, and that was the first time she really felt drawn to healthcare.

“It was great—a nice balance of science related stuff but also with the human connection,” Laura said.

She graduated from Chico State’s nursing

program and began working as an R.N. at Enloe hospital in the cardiac catheterization lab. While she enjoyed her time there, she found she wanted more. Laura said, “I mean, I really enjoy learning.” So, she started working towards her nurse practitioner degree in 2008, but as the Great Recession hit, she realized she wouldn’t be able to complete all the clinical hours required and switched gears temporarily to attend Sonoma State University, where she earned a masters degree in leadership and management.

“In 2017 I was thinking I could go back and finish up what I had started.” She received her nurse practitioner license in 2019 and has been practicing at Mangrove Medical Group since. Laura is a family

She believes it’s so important to see the whole person instead of the set of diseases that you’re trying to treat. She’s able to meet people of all ages and from all walks of life who have experienced a myriad different life journeys, and she enjoys listening to their stories. It's evident in her demeanor that Laura is truly invested in her patients.

She wants to understand what they’ve been through and where they’re coming from in order to help them improve their health and move into a better life.

To make an appointment with Laura Schiff, call Mangrove Medical Group at (530) 345-0064.

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surgeries like shave, punch, and excisional biopsies. “If patients need something like that done, it’s nice to be able to offer it here.

I wanted to provide more services to my patients and be a better health resource in the area,” Dr. Sorensen explained. “It’s easier to receive care in one place where you already feel comfortable than having to get referrals and jump from one office to the other. Getting into a gastroenterology office can take between four-to-six months right now. We can take care of those needs here in a month normally—even sooner if it’s an emergency.”

evolving with dr. kevin sorensen Chances are Dr. Kevin Sorensen looks somewhat familiar. If you haven’t seen him enjoying the great outdoors in Butte County or frequenting one of our area’s many golf courses, it’s entirely possible you read his first profile in the April 2021 issue of Upgraded Living. A once-E.R. trauma center doctor in Cleveland, Ohio, he returned to his hometown of Chico to pursue a life of preventive and primary-care medicine over the jarring experiences in the emergency room. In the short year since we last interviewed him, a considerable amount has changed, and we reconnected to get the details.

“Since returning to Chico, it’s been a growing experience, to say the least,” Dr. Sorensen said. “Learning to be a physician in a community rather than being an emergency room doctor takes some getting used to. I still find myself surprised when I get cards and gifts from people saying, ‘Thank you for saving my life,’ or ‘Thanks 16

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for caring and helping make my life better.’

The feedback reminds me I made the right decision. Oftentimes, I’ll send some of those images to friends across the country still working in emergency medicine who don’t get credit and remind them that what they do matters. Emergency room work is such a thankless job, and I have nothing but admiration for those who do it, but what I’m doing now is wonderful in that you feel the community likes you back. It makes you want to do this for a long time, and stick around to make sure people get taken care of. It’s exactly what I plan to do.”

In an effort to make well on that promise and continue to provide the greatest level of care possible for his patients, Dr. Sorensen didn’t waste any time in expanding his own scope of offerings. In July of 2021, he traveled to Houston, Texas to complete his training in colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), while also training for minor dermatologic

Wanting to make the biggest impact possible, he not only trained to expand his knowledge and offerings, but dove into administration last year as well, joining the board of directors at Mangrove Medical Group. “There are five of us focused on guiding the business,” Dr. Sorensen said.

“I became a member last September and wanted to assist in getting the practice ready for a new generation of patients.

We’re slowly upgrading the facility and making sure we are increasing our level of involvement within the community. Dr. Avila and myself are the next generation of faces representing the business, and we both plan on continuing to be those faces for the next 30-or-so years. When you work in a field that means as much as medicine does to me, you want to do everything in your power to ensure you’re delivering the best to your patients and always aiming to take things one step further.”

He and Dr. Avila aren’t the only faces of the next generation at Mangrove Medical Group. The three faces you met in the pages preceding this one are part of that group as well, and Dr. Sorensen couldn’t be more thrilled to work with them. “We have all of these new providers, and I’m excited to see them taking on patients just like I did a year ago,” he smiled. “It means the world to see them grow in their own practices, and I feel blessed to be able to help guide them and be part of their journey.”

Dr. Sorensen recently increased his availability to open up room for more patients and would love to help you achieve the level of health and wellness you’ve been searching for. Schedule an appointment to see him by calling Mangrove Medical Group at (530) 345-0064.

Looking Within You can have a big, big house, and still be sad.

You can take fabulous, luxurious vacations and still feel lonely.

You can grow a family with well-behaved children, and still have anger management struggles.

You can love your spouse deeply, and still fear your lack of trust for them.

We can build lives that look great on paper and lives we have worked hard toward achieving, but if we don’t also focus inward on our own inner journeys, then when we arrive at our destinations, we may struggle to enjoy them.

The human experience is one filled with joyful moments along with painful experiences. We don’t escape the pain, but sometimes we cope by pushing it down and covering it up through great achievements and goal-oriented thinking. We become very successful professionally, socially, financially, and it feels like if we can cross the next finish line then we’ll fight the inner battle on the other side of the ticker tape. We keep moving up, but there is always another race, and another goal, and another… and while all the positive milestones are

important, the undercurrent in our emotions, the inner whisper condemning us and pointing out the failures and what-ifs is also important to address as a goal toward healing and enjoying a beautiful life.

Paying attention to these painful and sabotaging innerworkings is a financial investment of which each of us is worthy. We often prioritize tangible goods and experiences over our own healing (it feels more altruistic that way), but the people who love us and whom we genuinely love would rather skip a vacation right now so that all future vacations are spent with their person feeling at peace.

The healing of our emotional and mental health is not without its own barriers, struggles, and milestones. Digging down to foundation when a house has already been built is no small feat, but straightening a foundation affects the whole building and the family living within it. The same theory applies to ourselves. You deserve to live the rest of your life having the pain excavated, processed and realigned, and to enjoy your successes and relationships from a place of healing and peace.

We can help.

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

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Expect the unexpected specific chiropractic centers of chico WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

One of the first things that strikes you when sitting down to talk with Dr. Shane Smith of The Specific Chiropractic Centers of Chico is just how relatable and down to earth he is. Wearing a baseball cap, jeans, and boots, Dr. Shane’s approachable demeanor invites conversation. When you hear he lives on a piece of land up in Paradise, and his perfect afternoon is spent on his tractor in the fields, it all just makes sense. This warm and accessible personality lends itself expertly to his mission of helping individuals who have felt lost and alone in their search for health.

Dr. Shane wanted to create a shelter from the storm of pain, self-doubt, and

hopelessness that often surrounds individuals facing chronic pain. Where do you go when you’ve exhausted all your options—when your doctor says you’ll just have to learn to live with your pain or, perhaps, it’s all in your head? He built a place for those who feel like they have nowhere else to go, The Specific Chiropractic Centers of Chico.

Dr. Shane is originally from a little town called Tehachapi, in the mountains of Southern California, but made his way to Chico after being accepted into the exercise physiology and kinesiology programs at Chico State. Shane and his wife Toni, his fiancé at the time, hopped in their truck and

drove into Chico, during Halloween of 1999.

“We had no idea what Chico was all about, got lost, and ended up downtown,” Shane said. “We fell in love with it.” They enjoyed the people and the community so much on that first day, they extended their visit, slept in the back of their truck to save money so they could stay longer, and continued to explore the Chico area before heading back home to pack up for college. He started attending Chico State in January of 2000, while his wife Toni worked as a veterinary technician, and they have been in the area ever since.

When asked what spurred his interest in chiropractic, Shane says it was more of 19

to pinpoint the cause. The typical patient often has experienced chronic pain from either migraines, long-lasting fatigue, scoliosis, brain-gut issues, or fibromyalgia; essentially the harder to manage diagnoses.

Dr. Shane said, “We are the first to admit we may not be the end-all-be-all by any means, but we can help provide another piece of the puzzle to move patients forward in their health.” If the body is hyper stressed, and the nervous system is trapped in a chronic fight-or-flight response, it can’t slow down to heal and repair itself. The doctors use non-invasive thermal imaging to detect the presence of the fight-or-flight response and will use adjustment to move patients into a parasympathetic or rest-and-digest state.

This is a place of calm, where the nervous system can slow down and begin healing the tissue. The clinic also employs the use of 3D and motion x-ray so they can observe how the bones move around the spinal cord to determine how to adjust the patient based on their individual morphology.

an evolution over time as opposed to an immediate revelation. His first exposure to the field came from a doctor, Dr. Jerry Marquez, who took care of both Shane and his wife in Bakersfield. “He was a great and wise human being who mentored me a little bit as he knew I was interested in health.

He took the time to explain the philosophy behind what chiropractic was, and I became more interested.” When Shane moved to Chico, he met Dr. Scott Joyce who continued the philosophical conversation that had begun years ago with his early mentor in Bakersfield. Shane said, “Even though the two doctors didn’t know each other, their messages were very congruent, and it was appealing to me as far as understanding the body can heal itself. I was intrigued by it, and that’s what prompted my decision.” He attended Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, California and graduated in 2006.

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Dr. Shane opened his practice in October of that year with his wife Toni, who had become a licensed massage therapist, changing the name to The Specific Chiropractic Centers of Chico in 2010.

His good friend, Dr. Shawn Dill, started the first Specific Chiropractic, and the two created a licensing group in 2009 which has now franchised to 14 offices across the country. The name stems from a quote by B.J. Palmer, who is known as the developer of chiropractic. In the quote he said, “Chiropractic is specific, or it is nothing.”

Dr. Shane remembered, “We decided we wanted to be specific.” In 2010, Dr. Jason Gonzales joined the practice, and in 2021 he added Dr. Jeremy Handley.

Specific Chiropractic serves those who have been pushed through the typical medical system, may be on multiple medications, and still don’t feel good. They often know something is wrong but have been unable

The Specific Chiropractic’s tagline is “Get hope. Get well. Live life.” Being sick can be extremely lonely. The patients who are in chronic pain live in a smaller and smaller world as they become unable to join in family events due to the limitations their pain places on them. “It’s crushing. The emotional weight of being sick is really heavy. I think that goes underappreciated with chronically ill patients.” He then teared up while continuing, “Being able to watch a patient’s eyes light up once they are offered a solution to their chronic health issues is so rewarding. A lot of people cry in this office—not just me. They’ll start tearing up a little and they say, ‘I have hope. I think I see a way out.’”

The Specific Chiropractic Centers focuses on long term relationships with patients, as well as the community, by encouraging meaningful connections. Dr. Shane shared, “It’s a relational experience, not transactional. We aren’t a high-volume office. We have the luxury of time to spend with our patients, and we visit with them if they need us. Whether it’s needing a referral, asking questions, or maybe diving deep into a health question they saw on Google. We do our best to deliver our expertise or refer them where they need to go.”

This relational experience continues with

monthly ‘family gatherings’ where they’ll take anywhere from five to 20 patients out to dinner. It’s here that patients can share stories, frustrations, and successes.

Dr. Shane believes it’s important to just let people listen to one another’s stories as many of their patients feel isolated and unheard as a result of their time searching for answers with other providers. When patients can hear from others going through similar hardships with their health, it helps them feel less hopeless and alone. It gives earlier patients a chance to celebrate their victories and remind themselves what they’ve been through, all while inspiring and giving hope to incoming patients. These individuals, who are at the end of their rope, are the focus of the clinic.

The Specific Chiropractic specializes in creating a program that takes patients from a place of sickness to a place of wellness.

The goal of their technique is to bring a patient to a point where they won’t need to be adjusted. Dr. Shane shared, “If I’m adjusting you every week just because it’s routine, then I’m doing something wrong.

Your body should be self-sufficient.” The clinic empowers their patients to adopt a lifestyle that will sustain what they’re trying to accomplish in the office. One of the ways they facilitate this is through the use of their nap room. Following an adjustment, the clients are encouraged to take a 20-minute rest in order to help maintain that adjusted position longer so that fewer visits are required. They focus on the central nervous system and facilitate the body to become more responsive, pushing the visits out further and further with the confidence they are going to continue to improve and be seen less and less.

The Specific Chiropractic Centers reach out to the community through a variety of different means. They are planning some transformational weeks and weekends with other like-minded healthcare providers.

These retreats will consist of a variety of different therapies along with speakers on diverse health and wellness topics.

The retreats will take place in Chico, Lake Tahoe, and on the island of Kauai. The clinic’s Facebook page will post updates on upcoming availability. The group also offers post-graduate training curriculum to the next generation of chiropractors, where they instruct other doctors across the country in their specialized techniques 21

for upper-cervical chiropractic care. In an even broader scope, The Specific Chiropractic has an international outreach program where 20-30 doctors will travel to El Salvador, Mexico, and the Philippines to examine and adjust those needing it.

Over the course of seven days, they often see thousands of people. Dr. Shane says it’s exhausting but extraordinary, and he is excited to get started again after the pandemic.

Dr. Shane wants the community to understand there are people out there that still care, who they can talk with and feel understood. “I want a real open door.

Please, email, message, or call the office to set up an appointment. I’m not going to try and sell you on something that isn’t for you. I’m going to make sure you’re a good fit for the office and ensure we can meet or exceed your expectations,” he said. The first consultation is on the house and occurs either over the phone, zoom, or in person.

They are an out-of-network provider but are more than willing to provide all the information needed to submit claims directly to an insurance plan. They are also happy to develop a course of payment for your treatment plan.

Dr. Shane is embedded in this community.

He and his wife Toni co-founded the Chico Down Syndrome Connection once their daughter was diagnosed as they noticed an absence of resources and support at the time. He is also president of the local Kiwanis club, an organization that supports leadership and service opportunities for children. They live in Paradise with their three children—Gannon, Ayla, and Ryleigh.

Weekends will find them barbecuing, helping their children care for their chickens and lambs, or replanting the mini orchard that had been lost in the fire. Tractor driving Dr. Shane, from this month's cover, is not what you’d expect in a chiropractor, and that’s an unexpected gift for so many in this community.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shane and the team at The Specific Chiropractic Centers of Chico, call (530) 893-1446 or visit www.TheSpecificChico.com

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Crazy Dan The Man’s Friday video report on the real estate market last week included something like: “Everywhere I go, and in everything I read, people are talking about the coming slowdown in the real estate market, and the country going into recession.”

Dan The Man criss-crosses the country, and California in particular, talking to real estate people and real estate analysts, holding his finger on the pulse of the real estate market. He eats, breathes, and sleeps real estate like no one I’ve known in my time.

“What does it all mean?” said The Man. “Well, I do believe the real estate market will be somewhat slower in the second half of 2022, and I do believe that the country will see a mild recession in 2023.”

On Tuesday, at the office meeting, I posed these questions to our group: “Do you guys think Dan The Man is right, and do you think the predictions made by the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) at the beginning of this year are right?”

C.A.R. had predicted prices leveling this year, and slightly fewer sales than last year.

I asked the group, “Do you think prices will level off, and we’ll see a slowdown in sales?”

“Sales have been at an insane pace,” said someone, “so if the pace slows down it will be from insane to crazy.”

“Properties are taking a little longer to sell, but the pace is definitely still crazy,” said someone else. “Our area is unique.

Our inventory is still way too low!”

Later that day, an agent told me she was excited because it looked like her buying clients had a good chance to buy the house of their dreams. They had lost out in a bidding war on one previously.

“This time we offered full price,” she said, “and the seller countered back $10,000 over asking. We bumped it to $30,000 over, so I think we have a good chance on this one!”

That evening, she texted me some photos of her kid’s kindergarten graduation. The banner said, ‘Class of 2034.’ That’s crazy.

She also texted me a copy of the text she received from the listing agent of her buyer’s dream home: “I’m so sorry, but my clients accepted a different offer. Thanks for all your hard work. We ended up with four offers over yours...”

That’s crazy.

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

Call or text 530-680-0817.

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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

It's Country Living!!!! Over 1 acre, and close into town, you'll feel like you're just miles away!!! This sought after location with rich soil, big trees, and great 3 bedroom/2 bath home is on the market first time in over 50 years! ORIGINAL hardwood floors, separate family/living room areas, fireplace, sunroom/bonus room, dining room and detached outbuildings! Leased solar, attached 2 car garage, and all appliances included (washer, dryer, refrigerator). This 60's vintage home is ready for the new buyer to make this house their home and fill it up with memories with family and friends like it has been used countless times over these years. Bring your RV's, boats, and cars there are places to park them and turn them around in this circular driveway!

Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 1,700 Price: $499,900

Beautiful previous "model" home located close to most everything! Owned Solar, inviting Inground pool with waterfall, spa, outdoor covered entertaining area with privacy no matter where you turn!!! 13 fruit trees: i.e. nectarine, peach, 2 lemon, 2 cherry, plum, pomegranate, orange, apricot mission fig, berry vines, outdoor fountain complete with blooming daffodils!!! Inside looks like it has been staged only this is how the owners live!! Wood floors throughout the living room, entry and dining. Granite counters in the kitchen with stainless steel appliances, large eating bar open to the family room. 2 pantries!!! Vaulted ceilings with fans, plantation shutters on the endless windows it seems -allowing natural light to peer in. Large indoor laundry with sink and loads of storage. Master Bedroom has separate french door leading to your outdoor patio, master bath has large jetted jacuzzi tub and separate shower. 3 car garage with built ins and a unique "screen door" by the push of a button comes down to allow privacy and light if working in the garage. Roof was replaced approx. 6 years ago. Truly a wonderful home!

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

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Bed: 4.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 2,219 Price: $699,900 Call or text me

regarding these homes and others

(530) 514-4855 SherryLinnCalbert@gmail.com

"Our whole family has worked with Effie on many occasions. She always stays on top of things and looks out for our best interest. She is a wonderful real estate agent and most importantly a beautiful person, inside and out. Our whole family loves her and appreciates her truthfulness and her ability to make things run smoothly during the sale of our homes."

-John and Kathy O'Donnell

This home's darling kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, a gas stove and oven, microwave, and a walk-in pantry. The light and airy living room offers gorgeous flooring, a beautiful gas fireplace and sliding glass doors that invite ample natural light into the room. The master suite is conveniently located on the first floor and is equipped with walk-in closet, dual vanity, tile floors and walk-in shower. This home also provides a cozy breakfast nook, indoor laundry, dual pane windows, security system, and a whole house fan. On the second floor you will find the 2nd bedroom, 3rd bathroom, and large office with a closet that can be converted back to a bedroom. The yard is beautiful with its two private patios that are perfect spots for relaxing. So much to see. Call today! Bed: 3.0 Bath: 3.0 SqFt: 1,737 Price: $479,000

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

Sheltered by towering trees on over a 1/3 of an acre lot, this home offers beautiful wood floors, a spacious living room, formal dining room, and a separate family room with its own wood stove. From the updated kitchen with its granite countertops, gas cooktop, dual oven, refrigerator, pull-out drawers, and spacious breakfast nook, this home exemplifies the quality of fine homes. You will love the master suite which provides large closets, a dual vanity, quartz countertops, walk-in shower, soaking tub, and a quaint wood decking balcony. This stunning home is also equipped with owned solar, 2 air conditioners, 2 heating units, 2 water heaters, a whole house fan, and security system.

The stunning yard offers a gorgeous PebbleTec pool, a spa, and so much more!

Bed: 4.0 Bath: 2.5 SqFt: 2,352 Price: $689,000

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A kitchen full of memories, made new again A kitchen centered around family memories—a wall oven like grandma’s, an island for rolling out cookie dough, club chairs made for coffee mornings with sisters—all anchored by a glass cabinet showcasing wedding china from multiple generations. This was the Juneys’ dream kitchen, and New Again Kitchen Remodeling made it a reality.

Georgia and Ron Juney met at Willows High School, married in 1979, and eventually chose this home in North 28

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Chico before it was even built. Ron loved the wide streets boasted by the developing neighborhood, and they both enjoyed picking out special little touches to be included with their build, like an extended patio and three car garage. That was in 1999, and while it was perfect at the time, years later the Juneys decided they wanted a change.

Both had retired from their jobs and as a result began to spend more and more time at home. They considered buying a new house but realized it just made more

sense to ‘jazz up’ the one they already had.

Once they decided on renovating the kitchen, they called around and had trouble getting various architects and contractors to follow up with them. Then, Georgia saw one of New Again’s ads in Upgraded Living and loved “the idea that they could do it in three weeks.”

Georgia and Ron met with Ric a few times in order to determine the best

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

layout for their new kitchen. Ric was current on California’s requirements for appliance placement and could advise the Juneys on where to situate things for the best flow while keeping these state requisites in mind. Georgia says, “I’m kind of a picky person and oversaw a lot of the project. Whatever we wanted, they did.” She was unsure of the countertop material they had chosen at first, so New Again arranged for her to go down to Sacramento to meet with their supplier directly. She was able to pick out each of her quartz pieces individually and remarked, “I’ve seen a lot of countertop veining, but I’ve never seen anything like this.” Owner, Jin Bo Li picked up the pieces personally and Georgia says, “His whole thing is, ‘I want you to be happy.’”

New Again demolished the old kitchen, changing it from a peninsula shape to a center island. They added 10 can lights to the ceiling and a beautiful Tiffany pendant light over the island. The cabinets are Grey Shaker with Jeffrey Alexander Stanton hardware which really blends well with the Cape-Cod-style kitchen Georgia wanted. The tile backsplash is Bedrosian Eclipse Eternity in a linear mosaic style.

The soft grays and whites of the kitchen juxtaposed with the Juneys’ bright yellow accents pull you in and invite you to sit and enjoy the space.

Georgia says, “I wake up and go to make coffee and see my grandma’s china alongside my china. I don’t know what it is, I’m just so happy.” Ron says, “You just walk in here, and it puts a smile on your face.” Both agree they couldn’t be happier with the results.

Georgia wanted a kitchen centered around memories of family. She wanted her grandma’s wedding china to be a centerpiece of the living area, not packed away and lost except for those special occasions. Ron wanted a kitchen that was more usable for enjoying an early morning cup of coffee along with the news. New Again was able to give both what they wanted. If you’re looking to make your kitchen your own again, call New Again Kitchen Remodeling at 530-899-2888 and speak with Ric or stop by their showroom at 2502 Park Avenue in Chico and see what they have in store.

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Count on History to Repeat Itself Dear young investorYou and I are living through a severe bear market for growth stocks. Half of the NASDAQ is down over 50%. The biggest gainers have become the biggest losers. Things suck.

Although we’ve never lived through something like this, that doesn’t mean it’s never happened before. When you’re young, everything seems unprecedented. While this bear market may be a new experience for us, we can take clues from the past about how to successfully navigate it.

Pullbacks are a normal part of investing. Market history tells us to expect a 15% drop every year or so and a 30%+ drop a couple times per decade. The reasons will vary.

No bear market has ever been permanent. This too shall pass.

It’s a great time to be a young saver. Bear markets are a

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

blessing if you’re able to buy stocks. It’s when you get the best prices and highest appreciated share lots. Think of it like a discount—the S&P 500 is 20% off right now. It sounds counterintuitive, but lower prices today could mean higher gains down the road.

Diversification is your friend. High-flying growth stocks got wrecked. But broad indexes are down roughly 20%. Diversifying admits “I don’t know which stocks will do best.” It’s an act of humility (and protection).

The time to re-balance your asset allocation is not during a crash. If you found out your account makeup was too aggressive, make a note, but wait to rebalance after it recovers.

Selling stocks funds while they’re down turns a temporary loss into a permanent one. However, volatility moves in both directions. Hanging in there is the best chance you have of breaking even.

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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Investing in Your Family’s Financial Future Do you believe you deserve to be heard?

We believe in listening to you and understanding your needs before making recommendations.

Do you want financial guidance and services specific to your needs?

We understand. You want knowledgeable, clear guidance and reliable service for a straightforward fee that reflects your vision and goals.

Do you feel your financial advisor places you first?

We realize it’s our privilege to help you work toward your dream of financial freedom. We’re honored to help you pursue your family’s financial future.

We want to be your financial advisor. Please call for more information.

(530) 891-1133 main | (800) 472-3867 toll-free 901 Bruce Road, Suite 280 | Chico, California 95928

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

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Fight the bite The slender long-legged insect that annoys, bites, and leaves you with an itchy welt is not just a nuisance―it’s the world’s most deadly animal. It's known for spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya to name a few. The mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world.

West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common and serious vectorborne disease California has faced recently, with over 300 deaths reported statewide since 2003. Butte County WNV human infections per capita usually places within the top three counties in the state. WNV is a mosquito-borne virus that causes disease in humans, horses, and birds. WNV spreads to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, and it can make people sick, even causing death. The best way to prevent WNV is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

Formed in 1948, the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District is committed to the protection of the health and welfare of the county's residents. The mission of the district is primarily to suppress mosquito transmitted disease and to reduce the annoyance levels of mosquitoes and diseases associated with ticks, fleas, and other vectors through environmentally sound control practices and public education.

There are a number of ways to protect yourself against mosquito bites this season. Start by dumping or draining any standing water on your property, as this is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, use insect repellent, and avoid being outdoors during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

To get more information on how to protect yourself from mosquito bites, or to report mosquitoes and mosquito breeding sources, contact Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District at 530-533-6038 or by visiting ButteMosquito.com.

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positive body image with her patients and help build a gracious relationship with nutrition. She focuses mainly on the goals a person wishes to achieve on their wellness journey rather than the amount of pounds on the scale. “We often focus on what we’re not doing instead of focusing on what we really are doing. It’s about celebrating the wins along the way,” she says. Lauren offers a free 30-minute consultation with prospective clients to assess the person’s goals and needs and to determine what kind of program would be best for them.

Lauren says, "I really try to focus on the mind-body connection via thought work, breath work, decreasing inflammation, addressing trauma and stress management techniques, the importance of gut and liver health, and encouraging openness to other healing modalities like hypnotherapy and Ayurveda.”

Healing: Mind, body, and spirit

Lauren, a Chico local, went to nursing school at Chico State. After nursing school she had a rough time finding her way. Ultimately she learned she could not take care of other people if she did not take care of herself first. She started to build a peaceful connection with nature and learned about nervous system regulation. She deepened 34

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her relationship with food and truly began to believe food is medicine. She learned to find joy in physical movement without putting too much pressure on herself— learning the importance of rest in a busy world. She found her passion in disease prevention and decided to get her masters in nursing at Sonoma State University and ultimately became an FNP. She found the most personal progress with her wellness when she invested in a health coach. She learned not only what her personal barriers to wellness were, but how to address the root cause and learn tools to facilitate longterm behavior change. She ultimately found myriad helpful tools, and she decided to become a health coach herself. She hopes to use the tools she has learned to enhance the care she provides for her patients.

Lauren has a passion for building deep relationships with her patients and guiding them through their personal transformation journeys. Through getting to know people as a whole and not just focusing on their diagnosis, she believes you can get to the root cause of wellness barriers. She thinks it is important to address lifestyle choices that can contribute to specific signs and symptoms. She loves to help enhance

After working with Dr. Emily Hartmann in the operating room, Lauren was honored to share her similar holistic views of health.

Whether the goal is to optimize surgical outcomes or contribute to wellness overall, she hopes to meet patients where there are.

She feels she has found a place where she can enhance wellness for our community.

“I really hope to provide a warm, safe environment for all my patients,” Lauren says. “Everyone is worthy of reaching their optimal wellness.”

You can schedule an appointment with Lauren Sanchez by visiting www.EternalWellnessSpa.com or by calling (530) 487-5061

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Lauren Sanchez believes extraordinary healing can happen when you step outside of your comfort zone. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) and certified integrative nutritional health coach is all about breaking down barriers people experience between themselves and living a nutritious life. “We are not given much nutritional education in western medicine.” Lauren says. “Food is medicine, and barriers need to be addressed in a very open, nonjudgmental space in order for progress to happen.”

Lauren is committed to creating that space, a place where people feel heard and where their holistic needs will be met. She is practicing at Eternal Wellness Spa—an all-inclusive, membership-based wellness spa that offers services such as massage, facials, Ayurveda, and hypnotherapy—where she is expanding her role as a functional holistic healthcare provider.

In her approach to wellness, Lauren looks at the person as a unique whole and bases her treatment around their bio-individual needs—a departure from the common model of healthcare where one is often given a diagnosis and issued a prescription.

“I feel our current healthcare model can be really challenging to meet the needs of humans as a whole,” she says. “There are definitely time constraints. All aspects of a person: mind, body, and spirit, need to be given space in order for true healing to occur.” Wellness is comprehensive, and one healing modality doesn’t necessarily work for all. A great amount of healing can happen when you get out of your comfort zone and have the right people on your team to help guide you.”

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Heal with hypnosis

Ian Anderson has been a hypnotherapist for eleven years, joining the staff at Eternal Wellness shortly after the pandemic shut down Southern California, where he was living at the time. “All the things I liked about L.A. were changing,” he said. “Restaurants, museums, and beaches were all closed, and I was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of time I spent in traffic.” Anderson had two offices, one in Encino and the other in Torrance. “The drive to the Torrance office was a 75-to-90-minute commute a good day. On a bad day, it could take up to threeand-a-half hours,” Ian said. “When I had the ability to get out of L.A., I took the chance.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree 36

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in psychology, Ian began his training in hypnotherapy at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in Tarzana. “Their program is probably still the most comprehensive in the country,” he says. Started by Drs. John and Alex Kappas in the late 1960s, HMI’s program was one of the first in the country and, according to Ian, has made the greatest contribution to hypnosis and how it’s used therapeutically. “I just loved it,” Ian said of hypnotherapy. “It fit right in with what I wanted to do. I wanted to explore different states and levels of consciousness and use that exploration to enhance human potential while helping people achieve the kind of greatness they’re here to achieve in their lives.”

At Eternal Wellness, Ian offers a multifaceted approach to hypnotherapy that can help if you’ve suffered a loss, are dealing with chronic pain, struggling to be creative, working through sleep issues, or just want to make a change in your habits. “I use lots of different tools, techniques, and processes that include hypnosis, therapeutic imagery, neurolinguistic programming, EFT (tapping), guided meditation, and different approaches that can help people become receptive at a deeper level.”

So why is this necessary? Why can’t we just

To override that gatekeeper and get to the deeper parts of the brain is the goal of hypnosis. “In a true hypnotic induction, a person becomes hyper-suggestible and much more receptive,” Ian said. “We are overloading the conscious mind—the gatekeeper, the critic. We give it a little nudge and invite the mind to take a break from being on guard all the time. Then, we introduce positive scenarios and work on relaxation and breathing.”

“Everyone is hypnotizable, whether they believe it or not,” Ian said. “It doesn’t have to be a struggle to live the life we want. If we have the right tools and support, it can make it a lot more comfortable to deal with some of the changes in life.”

If you’re looking to find help on a deeper level, visit www.EternalWellnessSpa.com to schedule an appointment with Ian, or call the spa at (530) 487-5061.

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Modern life is fraught with stress, uncertainty, and opportunities for indecision.

We often feel blindsided by change and unable to cope with the emotions we feel.

Many of us seek out therapeutic modalities we hope will help, like therapy, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

But what if we could take the pressure off of ourselves to fix it all and make it better?

What if we could just relax and let our brains work through stress naturally, so we become more focused, less afraid, and more capable of getting through our daily lives?

Enter hypnotherapy.

get better on our own? Ian speaks about a gatekeeper in the mind that divides the conscious and the subconscious parts of the brain. “This gatekeeper is trying to protect patterns, sense of self, habits, and strategies developed early in life—things our mind knows as safe or unsafe. It believes that in doing this, it’s keeping us alive,” he said.

“While that information is important, it also can get in our way when we want to make a change.”

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTO BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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101 Years past. Looking to the future

While they lost their buildings, machinery, and surrounding conifers to the Camp Fire, the fruit trees were spared. They have over a dozen varieties of apples and five varieties of peaches. The Nobles currently bring their nursery plants to Chico’s Saturday Farmers Market as well as the Monday Night Market in Paradise. They’ll also be selling their fruit there once they ripen. Look for apples 38

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and peaches to first appear in July and continue in the months following. The Nobles haven't had any cold storage at their orchard since the fire, so they will be picking and selling the fruit as they go. As fruit comes on, they need to pick first thing in the morning when the fruit is cool, so as not to bruise it and anticipate having early hours to accommodate this.

Laurie says to check their Facebook page for the most current information on updated hours and offerings.

The old garage built to service the main house still stands, although the roof burned and collapsed during the fire.

Its rock façade is made from stones dynamited by Grandpa Noble as he worked to clear the fields for planting of the orchard. Nearby, an old porch hewn of native serpentine frames the entrance to a modern hoop house which holds the young plants lovingly propagated by Laurie. This shift and adjustment to a new normal can be seen in Laurie’s nursery.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS COURTESY NOBLE ORCHARDS

Noble Orchards of Paradise is preserving the past while looking towards the future.

Jim and Laurie Noble currently run the orchard, which was planted back in 1921

by Jim’s grandfather, Perry Noble. Echoes of the past remain on the property, and the Nobles work to preserve these ties to Paradise and their family history. Laurie says that Noble Orchards “continues to produce fabulous fruits and beautiful plants despite fire and weather,” and in its rebuilding will bring a new era to the orchards through production, equipment, and looking forward.

WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTOS COURTESY NOBLE ORCHARDS

She established it after the fire in the area that used to be the side yard of the main house. It once held over 30 conifer trees of different ages and sizes but now offers a bright sunny location for showcasing a variety of plants.

Laurie grew up in a nursery on the coast at Fort Bragg and learned to propagate plants when she was very young. She says of the nursery, “This is easy for me, and fun.” They have no vegetation planted around their house, it’s encircled by gravel and protected with sprinklers, even on the roof. Having this side yard area with its new greenhouse and shade structures allows Laurie to sell and enjoy her plantings with a little more peace of mind. The bright purple butterfly bushes, geraniums, succulents, lilies, and various bedding plants bloom and welcome in pollinators. Laurie says, “You’ll notice I don’t have any rhododendrons or azaleas. Up here, where people are looking at replacing things into home gardens that now have no shade, we’re

focusing on sun loving plants.” She enjoys educating customers about the plants they’re buying and sharing how they can position different varieties to make the most of a small garden space.

Laurie says a lot of people aren’t ready for a big garden, but do want to get some trees in, so she shows them how to plant tomatoes to the west of the new tree, lettuce to the east, and a lot of other things in the spaces in between. Perhaps the most personal vestige of the past is a fire-blackened conifer stump with the edge of a 2x4 embedded within it. It was here, on a bench between two partner trees, that Grandma Noble would sit and wait for the mail to be delivered. Laurie shares, “We left it here because it's a story, and people hang onto stories.”

These pieces, all that remain of more than eleven buildings that once dotted the property, anchor the orchard and the new nursery as it heads into the future.

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The Numbers have it Francisco Avalos’ journey to-and-from the United States began when he was born in Marysville, CA. At the age of two, and due to his mother’s death while giving birth, he and his two siblings moved to Mexico.

Initially, Avalos was placed in the “slow learners” classes because his English skills were low. However, his teachers saw intelligence and potential, and he was soon placed back into mainstream classes. Going back and forth between the countries was common in the late 1960’s. Despite this, Francisco and his surviving siblings—four brothers and one sister—all went on to have successful careers, each earning college degrees and two becoming self-made millionaires.

Francisco was the first to graduate, and he achieved his degree in a remarkable fashion: He graduated from Gridley High a semester early and went straight to Chico State that spring semester.

He graduated in 1982 with a major in business and a minor in computer technology. So, the kid who got beat up 40

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Francisco inherited drive and intelligence from his father, Rafael, who came to the U.S. in 1948, worked hard, and bought a house in Gridley in 1963. In 1989 he bought a peach farm. During this time he founded and was president of the Concilio Mexicano de Gridley and president of the Mexican American PTA in the 1980’s. He inspired his children to achieve and become a success.

Francisco heeded his father’s advice and excelled in high school and college.

He became a CPA in his spare time as a “hobby,” and began doing people’s taxes to supplement the family income. He, too, followed what his father had done, and purchased a home for his family— wife Debbie, daughter Carmen, and son Michael—in Orland. This is also where he established his accounting office, where Michael follows the “like father, like son” credo, and prepares tax returns.

Francisco is also a USSF soccer official who had refereed at the collegiate and professional levels.

As for Orland’s future, he says, “Many Hispanic businesses have returned, and more are on the way. This town has a large and viable Hispanic population, and the businesses are accepted and thriving.”

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTO COURTESY FRANCISCO AVALOS

When Francisco turned seven, he came back to the U.S. and attended elementary school in Gridley, CA. Two years later, he went back to Mexico for five years.

Eventually, he returned to America and enrolled in middle school. “It was tough going back and forth,” said Avalos. “I got beat up in Mexico for being the gringo, and I got beat up here for being the kid fresh from Mexico.”

in elementary school became one of the first to become a college graduate. After earning his degree, he got a job at Duche Nut in 1983 and worked there until 2018.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTO COURTESY FRANCISCO AVALOS

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Aquatic escape

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provided for ages 7 to 14 and are each a weeklong experience. Kids are welcome to attend all summer long, and summer campers will enjoy a variety of activities including kayaking, canoeing, and standup paddle boarding! By the end of camp, children can expect to be sufficiently educated in all those physical activities, and they will also have learned about basic self-rescue, the local wildlife, nature skills, and most importantly team building.

The Feather River Center is a nonprofit group with the main goal of educating, inspiring, and giving a deeper understanding and love for the amazing local waterways and lakes. They offer many opportunities that highlight and inform visitors about Butte County, species of fish, and all things aquatic.

My personal favorite are the salmon tours that take place in September and October; they are commonly referred to as the “floating classrooms” and are a ton of fun for everyone.

Summer doesn’t last forever, so don’t put those plans on hold! Get the most out of your day with the amazing offerings at Forebay Aquatic Center, a place that has something for everyone. Whether you just want to relax or find a bit of adventure, the water is calling, and it’s time you pick up!

A big part of the Aquatic Center’s mission is to not only provide a place for kids to learn about their surroundings but also get plenty of exercise and learn to work in group settings. The summer camps will undoubtedly deliver priceless memories for children while also giving them an outlet to meet fellow campers and form lifelong friendships. Summer camps are

- 4th of July—thousands of people gather and enjoy one another’s company on the Forebay.

Dates you don’t want to miss!

- Every Thursday and Friday from 12-5pm is free water safety for K-12th graders.

- Salmon tours start in September.

For all the latest information, please visit www.ForebayAquaticCenter.com

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

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Now that summer is underway, it’s important to find ways to stay cool during these scorching Northern California days.

What better way to do so than a day on the lake? Forebay Aquatic Center in Oroville offers a variety of services and camps throughout the summer to ensure an enjoyable day for all age groups.

Located just off Highway 70 on Garden Drive in Oroville, it’s a central location we all can easily get to.

Traci Cooper

DRE #01952704

REALTOR®

Considering a move?

Give Traci a call today!

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

Email: traci@teamcooper.net

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

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

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE 43

A calling fulfilled

Galligan’s dad, Tim, ran a catering company and Thomas started out in the family business as a youngster. “My dad was ahead of his time in the food world, very progressive with his ideas,” he said.

“He was my idol back then, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.” Then came the mid-teen years, and Thomas began to formulate different ideas about his future.

But at the end of college, and being employed in the food scene, he thought he’d give it another try.

Galligan started as a sous chef and later became a cook. He worked at the Raw Bar and Red Tavern, where he honed his skills and along the way became a 44

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chef. Eventually, Farwood Bar and Grill in Orland opened up a head chef position, and Thomas got the job. “LeighAnn Byerly and I connected instantly. I just knew Farwood offered the opportunity to become the chef and teacher I wanted to be,” said Thomas.

Farwood’s location in Orland blends a unique mix of locals, people from Chico, and the surrounding areas, and its reputation as a hotspot along I-5 brings people from the Bay Area to stop and have a fine meal on the road. “Being at Farwood has given me the opportunity to be creative with our menu, and at the same time I get to teach staff every day,” said Thomas. “It's fulfilling to pass on my knowledge and techniques to my team, and they’re a great group of people.” He adds that the staff has a lot of passion and drive to create quality, unforgettable dining fare.

Farwood utilizes many local products, from farm-raised pork to cheeses, olive oil, and produce. Galligan prides Farwood

on offering a truly seasonal menu. This summer features a blackberry bourbon pork chop sourced from Rancho Llano Seco. It’s served with garlic mashed potatoes and a grilled peach and basil salad. In the fall, they offer a Brussels sprouts and bacon appetizer with blue cheese crumbles and a pomegranate red wine reduction. In the spring, their chicken balsamico is served with housemade bacon, English pea risotto, and in-house ricotta.

Along with its excellent menu, Farwood offers beer, wine, and a full-service bar.

It has expanded and looks to have a banquet room in the future. “I enjoy working for Leigh Ann and Jim Byerly,” said Thomas. “LeighAnn is a real driving force, and she has allowed me to create and teach.”

Farwood Bar and Grill is located at 705 5th Street, Orland CA. Reach them at 530-865-9900 or check out their website farwoodbarandgrill.com.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

When Thomas Galligan arrived in Chico to attend Chico State, he was set on majoring in political science with a history minor. His plan was to become a teacher, a career he'd been thinking about for a few years. To support himself while pursuing his goal, he worked in Chico’s restaurant industry, something with which he was well acquainted.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEAU VANDERMATE

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El Centenario

Janneth loved to cook for her family and friends, and she quickly found a home working at the taco truck, El Centenario.

After years on the truck, the original owners were looking for a change, and Janneth decided to purchase it in 2020. One evening, she went to her son Pedro, and asked for his help in operating the food truck. Knowing it was his mother’s dream to have her own business and share her craft with the community, Pedro jumped at the chance to help her pursue her dream.

In April of 2020, as the world was shifting within the unknown of the pandemic, The Lopez family reopened El Centenario.

With an updated menu and no shortage of excitement, they set out to fill empty stomachs and put smiles on customers' faces. They succeeded in doing just that!

El Centenario offers a number of unique options not found at many food trucks in Chico. Their breakfast burrito, a customer favorite, is one of them, and I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying one for lunch. After all, a carnitas breakfast burrito is delicious 46

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any time of the day. Fridays are birria day for those of you chasing your next birria fix, and Janneth’s birria has a flavor profile all its own. I recommend trying their special—birria ramen and two tacos for just $13. This dish is an absolute home run, but beware, it gets all over the place. It’s so good you will most likely be wearing some after enjoying the meal.

On the seafood side of the menu, they offer fresh-made fish tacos, and their grilled shrimp tacos are another favorite of mine—crispy tortilla shells overflowing with all of the fixins. Speaking of tacos, their "taco Tuesday" special is five street tacos for five dollars. There are so many amazing offerings on the menu, but what really shines through is Janneth’s care in the preparation of everything that comes through the window. She makes their rice and beans daily to her high standards, and all meat options are cooked as needed in small batches throughout the day so everything is fresh and juicy for every order.

El Centenario is located at 1114 W. First Street in Chico and is open Monday through Friday 11am-8pm. They also offer catering for events, and you can contact them at 530-680-9844 for inquiries or to place a phone-in order. You can find them on Instagram @Tacos.elcentenario. Please go see this family and enjoy some of the great fare they are producing.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TACO TRACKER, RYAN STEFANELLI

Gumption—the Lopez family is the definition of it. In 2010 Janneth and Pedro Lopez relocated to Chico from Tijuana with their two sons Ottman and Pedro Jr. They quickly adapted to a new town and new schools, all while learning English as a second language.

Caffeinated Chatter What is your favorite health fad?

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Yuki Izmi Living on the big island of Hawaii, I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to always be around fresh produce, and I'm sure to take advantage of that. As far as “fads go, I don’t see too many, but I do a couple of things consistently to promote better health. Stopping by the local fruit stands and loading up on papaya, mango, pineapple, and coconut keep me running all week long with delicious smoothies and fruit bowls.

Jake Carroll My favorite health fad would have to be the emphasis on a good gut microbiome, and today there are so many different drinks and foods you can use to help build up your gut health. I always keep a few different kombuchas in the fridge and a variety of pickled vegetables. Paying more attention to my gut has given me more energy, but I also have more mental clarity as well.

Paige Rafferty I am a vegetarian and was vegan for a brief second but couldn't seem to give up the delicious brie cheese and crackers. I can feel the benefits of a primarily green diet and highly encourage everyone to at least try it, or find ways of incorporating vegetarian options, perhaps a “meatless Monday” to start your week.

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You Can Eat It

Diamond Dash

So about this bourbon chicken—I'm a huge fan of chicken thigh meat, and this is cooked with a fantastic outline from the Traeger. A gorgeous smoke ring and smooth spices make this a summer delight in the lightweight category. A generous portion of small-cut, barely-firm sweet potatoes with the lightest olive 48

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oil finish sits opposite the bowl, while roasted zucchini, green beans, carrots, and a touch of mushroom and red bell pepper brighten the center of the dish.

This is a no-frills meal, as in exactly what you would make at home if you had the time to meal prep for yourself and were thoughtful of the nutrients in your dish.

Also, this is unlike most meal delivery services where you choose delicious and convenient over healthy. This checks all the macro boxes, and with just 256 calories, you can easily have your daily meals and dial back your caloric intake, making it optimal for slimming down.

This has the means to keep you going, without weighing you down. What’s better is the menu changes each week, with some options on rotation. They also have their Gold City Blend’s juice line for an added pick-me-up. Orders can be placed at DiamondDashMealPrep.com Monday-Friday for Sunday pick up or delivery.

WRITTEN BY JASON CORONA

Tyler Diamond is an MMA fighter from Oroville. I’m pretty sure none of my other food articles will have the same intro—originality accomplished. These and many other kinds of athletes rely on food intake designed for performance, energy, and health. In 2019, Diamond Dash was created by Tyler and his wife, Kiara. A small operation requiring a professional setting, meals were—and continue to be—prepared and served at Dam Bowls, just north of the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The business was created to provide a healthy alternative to the myriad fast food options and spark a movement toward a better lifestyle.

Here or There

Fresh Cove WRITTEN BY JASON CORONA

Our second visit was Fresh Cove on the corner of Eaton and Esplanade in Chico, a business love affair from Natalie and Russell Lobban. Browsing the menu, there were quite a bit more options as this is not just a macro meal destination but also a lunch and dinner prep walkin establishment. While they also have macro options available, we opted to show variety, and went with the Korean dragon bowl with a base of spring mix and barbacoa beef as our protein. These are made to order, so you have other base options like udon or cilantro lime cauliflower rice and alternative proteins such as seared teriyaki tofu, ahi poke, pork belly, and of course, roasted wyvern aka English dragon.

This is a colorful delight, each corner with greens, cucumber or black beans and edamame. Large round-cut jalapenos offer their spicy appeal under a snowfall of cotija cheese. The fist-sized shape of tender and juicy beef made itself

known, a contrast from the green onion and carrot that made their way in and out of the presentation. The entire dish is dusted with crispy fried onion, mostly the size of thick white rice, and drizzled with the savory sweet Gojuchang sauce.

Besides the no-joke cuts of jalapeno, this is not an in-your-face spicy dish but has a multitude of flavor and spicy notes. This is also a larger meal, and there should be room to share or save for round two if you are looking to hit the ground running after lunch.

In short, Fresh Cove is excellent for so many options. Whether in the mood for a prepped meal to count calories or, a keto gluten-friendly bake, delicious meats from Butte Creek BBQ, or sides like potato salad or mac and cheese, there’s something in one of their refrigerators with your name on it. If you try them out because of this article, let us know on the Foodies of Chico Facebook page.

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Mad for Melons!

Many types of melons are grown in Chico.

One of my first jobs as a teenager was working a watermelon harvest at the Garner Ranch on Garner Lane. Harvesting melons is repetitive, tiring, and back breaking. A tractor pulls a flatbed trailer down the rows.

There are three “tossers” on either side and two “catchers” on the flatbed. You pick and toss the melons as you go along. The best job is the “cutter,” who walks ahead down the rows and cuts the vine of the ripe melons.

The entire harvest took a week, and the best part of the job was at the end of the day, when we could choose a few melons, and cut them open to eat the hearts—no seeds, just a sweet-water chunk that tasted better because we picked them.

The worst part of the week was “the fight.”

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At the end of a hot August day, another worker harassed me because I was the cutter (jealous much?). One comment led to pushing, which led to him spitting on me.

The tractor driver said, “If some guy spit on me, I’d bust him in the face.” I didn’t do that, but I tackled him, and we fell onto a huge pile of melons. I ended up straddling his chest and was about to throw a punch, when he yelled, “Sorry! Sorry!” So I held up.

After all, the guy was my friend—but after that, things were never the same.

One thing, however, is always the same: the health benefits of melons. A surprising benefit is melons can help reduce stress and anxiety. If I’d known that then, I’d have chowed down an entire melon! It is widely known melons are super nutritious, and here is a listing of positives: - Help fight against macular degeneration - Potassium is good for blood pressure - Acts as an anti-inflammatory - A good cancer fighting food - Excellent hydration - Melons can help with sleep and better concentration - The large amounts of sebum are good for hair and skin This is just a partial list of the benefits of melons. The best thing is, you can’t get enough of this fruit, and melons are available all around the North Valley right now.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Melons! Cantaloupe, casaba, crenshaw, honeydew, water—we’ve all heard of these, but have you heard of apollo, camouflage, golden langkawi, horned, Santa Claus, select rocket, or ten me? What about the most expensive melon in the world, the tubari king, found only in a small region of Japan? A pair set a world record price in 2019 at $45,000. Crazy! The flavor is described as a unique syrupy-sweet taste with a delicate, juicy texture. Melons are part of many cultures, and they’re grown all over the world.

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Frat parties, playing LaSalle’s and Riff Raff, and other venues signaled local success for Sartori. “It was cool being recognized around Chico and out on the town,” said DeVoll. “For a while I hardly ever had to buy a drink,” he added. “We were the big fish in the little pond, but we enjoyed it!” After their drummer left the band, the rest of the group traveled to Hollywood and ended up in San Diego. “We rented a garage where we lived and practiced,” said Tyler. “We had some success and played the Viper Room and the Roxy.”

Despite that, Tyler and another member decided to come back to NorCal. Eventually, they formed another band in Oregon, and Tyler transitioned to lead vocals. “I felt kind of naked.” he said. “All the years before I had drums or a guitar to hide behind. Now, here I was, out front.” He worked at the Guitar Center in Oregon and eventually transferred to Chico, where circumstances led to a solo career.

DeVoll Tyler DeVoll’s commitment to music entered a new realm at eleven years old when his band played in a talent show at Central Middle School in Oroville.

Afterwards, when girls came up and complimented him on his drumming, he realized he’d found a new calling, even though he’d been playing drums since he was eight, influenced by his dad, George, who’d played in many bands over the years.

Like most musicians, DeVoll’s career has experienced the highs and lows, 52

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the promise of big success and the disappointment the music gods are happy to dish out. As any musician will tell you, playing music is the easy part; making a living playing music is significantly more difficult.

A musical shift took place when Tyler learned to play the guitar. From there, he learned the bass and keyboards, so the eventual jump to a solo performer was an easier choice. However, the real path to success began when he and a few friends formed the band Sartori.

DeVoll’s “real job” is working with developmentally disabled adults at the 7th Street Center for the Arts. There, they put on choral and dramatic performances locally. The prime mission of the Center is to put the students at a level where they can live a normal life, either alone or in a group setting. “Working with these individuals is rewarding and a big positive for everyone involved,” he said.

To find out where Tyler is playing, check out the Tyler DeVoll Facebook music page. You will enjoy his music and be ready for more.

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

“I married my wife, Nikayla, and we had a son, Nico,” he said. The focus on family and a job outside the music world took precedence, but Tyler still plays music locally, and you can see him in venues such as LaSalle’s in Chico and Union in Oroville. Some positives about a solo career are being able to take a booking with just a phone call, setting up his own playlist—which he gears toward whatever audience he is playing for, and the fact he can make some pretty good money.

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

The "twenty-year" athlete If you’re lucky as a coach, every twenty years you get that “twenty-year athlete,” the one who is faster, quicker, more intuitive, and who has ultimate drive and determination. Kegan Sandberg is one of those athletes. You can just tell, whether it's baseball, the soccer pitch, or basketball—he’s that kid. Additionally, he’s an excellent student who is friendly, outgoing, and caring about his peers.

His fourth grade teacher, Mark Friedman, at Marigold Elementary, said, “Kegan is a pleasure to have in class. He’s polite, helpful, and hard working. He has a great attitude and is well-liked by his classmates.” And while Kegan isn’t perfect academically, he does score in the top percentiles, and his report card is filled with E’s in the Characteristics of Successful Learners. He earns a 3.6 GPA in his core classes and is currently improving on those two B grades.

Of course, when asked about his favorite classes, Kegan said, “I like P.E. the best, and I like art. I really like to write stories at home. My teacher is nice, and he has a lot of sports stuff in the classroom,” he added. He also enjoys the Little Buddy Program with his little buddy, Kastyn.

“We get to hang out for 30 minutes a few times a week and play games and stuff.”

On the athletic front, his Butte United coach, Enrique Tadeo, also a teacher, 54

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had high praise for Kegan. “Kegan is an outstanding kid. He’s always taking a positive approach to the challenges he faces, and he’s willing to sacrifice for his team. Kegan is thoughtful of his teammates and cares about others.”

Sacrifice? Here’s an example: While Kegan could easily be the leading scorer on the team—he can strike the ball as hard as most 12 year olds—he is a tremendous goalkeeper and spends half the game in the net.

However, his grandmother, Donna Sandberg states, “As good as Kegan is at soccer, he’s really great at baseball.

His skills are amazing.” His grandfather, “Papa Joe” Sandberg, who sadly passed away a few months ago said, “As Kegan’s grandpa, I’m not being biased, but for his age he’s one of the best natural athletes I’ve ever seen.”

Kegan’s parents, Ross Sandberg and Rebecca Sandberg, are proud of his athletic prowess, but the importance of education is still the focus. “He’s got to do well in school in order to go to a good college later in life,” said Ross. “That’s what we reinforce with Kegan and his sister Emily.”

School is important, but right now soccer is Kegan’s favorite sport, and his favorite player is Kevin DeBruyne of Manchester City. That’s the focus these days.

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