Enjoy Magazine: Northern California Living — November 2025

HOMETOWN HIGHWAYS

Where cattle roam, neighbors wave, and every mile feels like home.

On our hometown highways, slowing for a herd on the move is part of life out here. Sharing the road with ranchers and their cattle is what makes our region special. These roads connect us—to our land, our livelihoods, and each other. Caltrans is proud to help keep them safe for everyone—drivers, livestock, and the communities that call Northern California home.

Before you go, check QuickMap.dot.ca.gov or call (530) 225-3426 for current road conditions.

INFORMATION: 530. 225. 3426

E-MAIL: D2PIO@DOT.CA.GOV

FOR ROAD CONDITIONS VISIT: QUICKMAP.DOT.CA.GOV

CONTENTS

GRATEFUL GIVING

—featured stories—

20: Tulelake Honors Veteran Homesteaders with Living Park

40: Project Linus Delivers Handmade Security Blankets

44: Tehama Couple Turns Figs Into Mission

78: Five Ways to Help Our Public Lands

88: Nation’s Finest Helps Veterans and Neighbors Thrive

GOOD FINDS

52: Viva Downtown and John Truitt Lead Redding Revival

60: Bill Robberson’s Jefferson Bike Company in Yreka

70: AhHome Chocolate Builds Community in Weaverville

LOCALS

24: Sam Story is Red Bluff’s Modern Victorian

INTEREST

66: 250 Years of Service: U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps

IN EVERY ISSUE

18: What I Enjoy: Josh Barker

96: Recipe: The Easiest, Most Versatile Breakfast Casserole Ever

98: Enjoy the View : Frank Kratofil

102: What’s Cookin’ : Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole

105: Local Events Calendar

114: Giving Back: Noel Bookout, Tehama Together NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE 230

T he M c C onnell Found a tion

Helping build bet t er c ommunities th rough phila n th ro py

Today Decides Tomorrow

Architects, contractors and landscapers were busy putting the final touches on Lema Ranch during the summer of 1997 so it could open to the public on Labor Day weekend. Sundial Bridge architect Santiago Calatrava, a guest for the opening, observed the setting and landscape. “I see you are planning for the future – olive trees, they grow slowly and live long,” he said.

The McConnell Foundation is grateful to our Land Management staff who care for the Foundation properties.

You’re not alone

Welcome to Hearts of Hope

A support group for grieving parents with young children

If you’re a parent grieving the loss of a partner while raising young children, you’re not alone. Hearts of Hope is a free, ongoing support group offering a compassionate space to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of parenting through grief.

Whether your loss is recent or still part of your daily life, Hearts of Hope is a place for healing, encouragement, and honest conversation. Come as you are—when you’re ready.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month | 6:30-7:30PM | Shasta YMCA

No registration required

Childcare and snacks provided:

Contact Mercy Hospice at (530) 245-4070 for more information.

YVONNE MAZZOTTA publisher

MICHELLE ADAMS publisher

RONDA ALVEY editor in chief

KERRI REGAN copy editor

JAMES MAZZOTTA photography

PAUL DAVID website & social media

CATHERINE HUNT event calendar

MICHAEL O’BRIEN advertising sales & marketing manager

KEVIN GATES advertising sales & marketing consultant

CONNIE BLANC advertising sales & marketing consultant

JEN VERMAAS advertising sales & marketing consultant

BEN ADAMS deliveries

MICHAEL KELLY deliveries

DIANE MORGAN deliveries

ISABELLA SCHOPFLIN deliveries

PAUL LINDBERG deliveries

BETH HUBNER deliveries

www.enjoymagazine.com

530.246.4687 office | 530.246.2434 fax Email General/Sales and Advertising information: info@enjoymagazine.com

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©2025 by Enjoy Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission are strictly prohibited. Articles and advertisements in Enjoy Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management, employees, or freelance writers. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake. The businesses, locations and people mentioned in our articles are solely determined by the editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising.

Enjoy is a trademark of Enjoy, Inc.

6th Annual Nov 21 - Jan 4

PACKAGE INCLUDES: Sheraton Redding Hotel Stay: Double Queen Room with Club Lounge access

Dining Out: $150 Mosaic + $50 Branch House Riverfront Bistro

Garden of Lights Premium Experience, 4 Flex Tickets and Souvenir Perks

Turtle Bay Fun! 4 Museum and Train Tickets

Total Prize Value: $916

Breaking News

WHEN PIE MEETS BREAD TURNS 5!

REDDING The story began at a local farmers market, where Nathan Maupin (Sourdough Baker) met Adrienne Tirri (Pastry Chef). With 25+ years of combined experience, they’ve always shared a love for artisan bread and homemade pie. Now, 5 YEARS LATER, their brickand-mortar shop blends these delicious worlds.

REDDING It’s no surprise they were voted Best of the North State in both 2023 and 2024. For five years, they’ve been serving up delicious food that enriches lives while celebrating the flavor and spirit of Redding, California. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and espresso drinks, plus offering a welcoming event space for your next gathering.

note from our team a

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, our thoughts naturally turn to gratitude, and this month’s issue focuses on the spirit of “Grateful Giving.

True gratitude doesn’t just sit; it acts, and we celebrate the individuals and organizations whose giving builds the foundation of the North State. We take a moment to honor the legacy of our military, celebrating 250 years of service by the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and spotlighting the community-built veteran homesteaders memorial park in Tulelake, a living tribute to those who helped found the city.

We’ll also introduce you to the local coordinator for Project Linus, who works with volunteers to deliver handmade security blankets to traumatized youth—a heartfelt act of comfort.

Giving back also means keeping our dollars local. Our Grateful Giving holiday advertising section is filled with festive foods, unique local finds and direct ways to support our neighbors. And because the holidays can be busy, we’ve included tips for easy holiday planning and fun to-dos to help you focus on small, meaningful practices.

May this season be filled with warmth, connection, and the joy of giving. Enjoy!

ON THE COVER:

WHAT I ENJOY

Josh Barker

Real Estate Broker

Family: 4 children, married to my beautiful wife for 28 years.

How long have you lived in the North State? Moved to Redding in 1975.

If houses could talk, what do you think the house you live in now would say about you? I’m a happily married man who enjoys spending time with friends and family. I thrive on structure and routine. And of course, I believe laughter is the best medicine – mostly because my dance moves aren’t covered by insurance.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT LIVING IN THE NORTH STATE?

It’s the amazing families and great outdoors that keeps us here. Our community has been so good to me and my family. Grateful to call Redding “Home”

Which movie or TV character would you want as your roommate? Phil Dunphy from “Modern Family” would make an awesome roommate. Between the epic pranks, spontaneous Frisbee challenges and plenty of real estate talk, life would never be boring.

Would you rather explore space or the deep ocean?  Exploring space would be absolutely incredible. Imagine stepping onto another planet, feeling that otherworldly ground beneath your feet, and then looking back to see Earth glowing in the distance—that’s definitely on my bucket list. Until then, I’d say the next best thing is visiting the Kennedy Space Center. If you ever get the chance, it’s an experience you won’t forget!

What’s the most unusual talent or party trick you have? My superpower? Making other people look better at golf. Just one tip, though—always stand behind me. It’s definitely safer that way!

Which fictional world (from books, TV, movies or games) would you want to live in? Moana’s world would be amazing — a place filled with voyaging, discovering new islands, and living in harmony with the ocean. The sense of adventure, community and connection to the sea make it a world I’d love to be part of.

Would you rather have a pause button or a rewind button in life?  I’d hit the pause button every time. Today is a gift—and maybe that’s why it’s called the ‘present.’ Slowing down makes it all the more meaningful.

If you could trade jobs with anyone, past or present for just one week, who would you choose? I’d choose to be Walt Disney during the opening week of Disneyland in 1955. Experiencing his vision and leadership at the very start of his empire would be incredible. It’d be the ultimate masterclass in brand, culture and innovation.

If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be? At the very top of my list would be Jesus Christ at 25 years old, just before the start of His ministry. To see how He lived, interacted with others and prepared for what was to come would be life changing. A distant second would be Aristotle at 50 — a chance to experience firsthand the mind of one of history’s greatest philosophers, right in the middle of his most impactful years of thought and teaching.

If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? What would your name be?I’ve always dreamed of flying — no cape or tights required. Whatever the world decides to call me, that’s their choice.

LUNG CANCER AWARENESS

YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE APPROVED LUNG CANCER SCREENING?

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE APPROVED LUNG CANCER SCREENING?

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that recommends annual computed tomography (CT) screening. This non-invasive diagnostic test is covered by Medicareand most insurance companies.

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE APPROVED LUNG CANCER SCREENING?

ARE YOU BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 77?

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE APPROVED LUNG

3 2 1

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that recommends annual computed tomography (CT) screening. This non-invasive diagnostic test is covered by Medicareand most insurance companies. ARE YOU BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 77?

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that recommends annual computed tomography (CT) screening. This non-invasive diagnostic test is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies.

ARE YOU BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 77?

ARE YOU ASYMPTOMATIC?

CANCER SCREENING?

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that recommends annual computed tomography (CT) screening. This non-invasive diagnostic test is covered by Medicareand most insurance companies.

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as: DO YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE APPROVED LUNG CANCER SCREENING?

ARE YOU ASYMPTOMATIC?

2. ARE YOU ASYMPTOMATIC?

ARE YOU BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 77? ARE YOU ASYMPTOMATIC?

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as:

• Persistent cough

• Chest pain

ARE YOU BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 77?

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as:

• Shortness of breath

Shasta Regional Medical Center offers Low Dose CT. Why is that important?

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as:

YES NO YES NO 3 2 1

• Unexplained weight loss

• Hoarseness

• Chronic bronchitis

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE APPROVED LUNG CANCER SCREENING?

ARE YOU ASYMPTOMATIC?

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as:

If you answer YES to these 3 questions, you meet the criteria set by the U.S.

3 2 1

DO YOU CURRENTLY SMOKE OR DID YOU QUIT SMOKING WITHIN THE LAST 15 YEARS AND HAVE OR HAD A TOBACCO SMOKING HISTORY OF AT LEAST 30 “PACK YEARS” — AN AVERAGE OF 1 PACK A DAY FOR 30 YEARS?

At Shasta Regional Medical Center, our CT scan services utilize advanced CT technology to deliver high-resolution images for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Low Dose CT: Less exposure with high accuracy when getting your screening.

3. DO YOU CURRENTLY SMOKE OR DID YOU QUIT SMOKING WITHIN THE LAST 15 YEARS, AND HAVE (OR HAD) A TOBACCO SMOKING HISTORY OF AN AVERAGE OF 1 PACK A DAY FOR 20 YEARS?

DO YOU CURRENTLY SMOKE OR DID YOU QUIT SMOKING WITHIN THE LAST 15 YEARS AND HAVE OR HAD A TOBACCO SMOKING HISTORY OF AT LEAST 30 “PACK YEARS” — AN AVERAGE OF 1 PACK A DAY FOR 30 YEARS?

DO YOU CURRENTLY SMOKE OR DID YOU QUIT SMOKING WITHIN THE LAST 15 YEARS AND HAVE OR HAD A TOBACCO SMOKING HISTORY OF AT LEAST 30 “PACK YEARS” — AN AVERAGE OF 1 PACK A DAY FOR 30 YEARS?

ARE YOU BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 77? ARE YOU ASYMPTOMATIC?

DO YOU CURRENTLY SMOKE OR DID YOU QUIT SMOKING WITHIN THE LAST 15 YEARS AND HAVE OR HAD A TOBACCO SMOKING HISTORY OF AT LEAST

DID YOU SAY YES TO ALL 3 QUESTIONS?

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as:

Show NO signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as: ?

“WE DID A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE PAINTED THERE. ELEANOR WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A GREAT PICTURE OF HER, AND SHE WAS FAMOUS IN TOWN. BUT WE ALSO TRIED TO GATHER SUGGESTIONS FROM GROUPS LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL KIDS. THEY DID DRAWINGS OF WHAT THEY’D LIKE TO SEE, AND SO THINGS LIKE THE SUNDIAL CAME FROM THEM...”

LAKEBED LEGACY "

TULELAKE HONORS VETERAN HOMESTEADERS WITH LIVING PARK

n the small hamlet of Tulelake, nestled in a remote part of Northern California, a memorial park in the center of town pays tribute to the veterans that helped found the city.

“Tule Lake used to be a giant lake bed that was developed by the Klamath Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation.

And, when they drained the lake in the early 1900s, that’s when farm ground became available. They started having land lotteries for potential homesteaders, as they were known back then, and to qualify, you had to be a war veteran with an agricultural background. They drew a certain number of land parcels between 80 and 160 acres, depending on how the land was mapped out,” explains Jenny Coelho, chief resilience officer for the city of Tulelake.

The winning homesteaders weren’t all men. At the homestead drawing on March 13, 1947, a woman named Eleanor J. Bolesta, an ex-WAVE for the U.S. Navy, ended up as number 51 out of 86. “She was a gorgeous lady, with a lot of gumption from what I’ve heard,” says Coelho.

Now, Bolesta is among one of those veterans prominently honored on a large mural that commands one side of the park. A historic photo of her is featured among other elements of civic pride. “We did a lot of community engagement to understand what people would like to see painted there. Eleanor was chosen because it’s such a great picture of her, and she was famous in town. But we also tried to gather suggestions from groups like the high ▶ continued on page 22

“TULE LAKE USED TO BE A GIANT LAKE BED THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE KLAMATH BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FOR IRRIGATION. AND, WHEN THEY DRAINED THE LAKE IN THE EARLY 1900’S, THAT’S WHEN FARM GROUND BECAME AVAILABLE.”

school and grammar school kids. They did drawings of what they’d like to see, and so things like the sundial came from them. We also tried to represent other parts of the community, like the farming, hunting, some of our important local annual activities like the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair, the Art of Survival Bike ride, and the Modocs, who were here first.”

The mural is just one of the many artistic elements of the park. “There are plaques and memorials. There is also a lot of metalwork, including a sundial, benches and the emblems on the archway that were created by an artist named Jesse Small. Finding him was a great story. We knew we wanted metalwork but couldn’t figure out who we wanted, so I called the museum curator at Bend’s High Desert Museum and asked for any recommendations. He said he knew just the person, and he turned out to be right. Jesse had studied at Kansas City, and he also did work in New York, but he was willing to do the work at a minimal cost for us, which was amazing. He also did stuff for the Whiteman Air Force Base near Kansas City, where my son-in-law happened to be stationed at the time.”

The park was essentially created in two main phases, and the result of a longtime community effort to revitalize downtown. “The first portion was in around 2005 or 2006. The community, mostly made up of veterans and homesteaders, got it together with just donations, and they ordered all the plaques in memory of the World War and Korean War veterans. It was one lot, something like a 50-foot strip. In the meantime, we started the Tulelake Revitalization Committee and ended up going out for a State California Parks grant where we received $425,000 in funding to do an expansion. We then got another grant for $177,000. So that’s what got it expanded to where it is today,” notes Coehlo.

She also observes that the park has helped renew interest in downtown, with even more exciting changes to

come. “We’re going to be putting in a Tulelake Cultural Visitor Center across the street from the park. Right now, we’re in the design development, and by next year we’ll have construction docs, so we’re actively looking for construction funding. With that project, we have a number of partners, including the Modoc Nation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife for the surrounding Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges, the Modoc National Forest, the National Park Service for the Lava Beds, the Klamath Water Users Association, and the agricultural and Hispanic community.”

Due to its remote nature, visiting Tulelake does take some effort to get, but that also preserves its charm and scenic beauty. “We’re really what you’d call small-town friendly, with a couple of quaint restaurants and cafés. We have a Christmas Tree Lighting, a Halloween Spectacular, and, of course, the high school football games. There’s also no traffic to speak of, which is nice. You can get away from it all.”

And for the adventure lovers and historians, there is no shortage of experiences. “There is the Lava Bed National Monument. We also have the new Fish and Wildlife Visitor Center where you can take kayaks out onto the Wildlife Refuge. We have the Japanese Internment Camp Museum, right off Highway 139. There are also Clear Lake and Medicine Lake. And if you like birdwatching, we’re pretty well known for that, and we have a lot of birds this year, which is lovely.” •

www.cityoftulelake.com

Megan Peterson is a freelance storyteller who loves her family, her pets, and Northern California. Her favorite part of writing is finding flow, and she always relishes a touching human story. Aside from Enjoy, she’s typically busy writing and producing for television, having created more than 220 hours of on-air content on networks ranging from National Geographic to Netflix.

“WE’RE REALLY WHAT YOU’D CALL SMALL-TOWN FRIENDLY, WITH A COUPLE OF QUAINT RESTAURANTS AND CAFÉS. WE HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, A HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR, AND, OF COURSE, THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES. THERE’S ALSO NO TRAFFIC TO SPEAK OF, WHICH IS NICE. YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM IT ALL.”

SAM STORY IS RED BLUFF’S MODERN VICTORIAN

tyle is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it,” said renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Twenty-seven-year-old Red Bluff resident Samuel Story has certainly found his style, and a substantial Instagram following, in American 19th Century clothing, which has become his daily wear.

“I wish there was a deep reason why I like to dress Victorian, but it’s just that I like it,” he says, noting that he’s become a keen consumer of sites on Etsy and eBay that help him build his period wardrobe.

“My grandma used to watch over me a lot when my parents were working,” he says of his childhood. “That was probably the start of the influence. She would take me to antique stores.”

Once at Red Bluff High School, Story was asked to dress in period costume as a caroler. He realized he could pull off the look and actually enjoyed it.

From there, he began researching fashion of the era and picking up pieces to create outfits. “It’s been 10 years of just slowly increasing my collection, adding to it,” he says. While he has taught himself embroidery to embellish such pieces as a late 1800s-era anchor shirt, he relies on the skills of others to construct the garments he wears. “I’m not patient enough to sit down and create a full garment,” he says.

He does have patience, however, to research the history of top hats and has amassed quite a collection. “That’s a fascinating little history, the evolution of them,” he says. His collection can tell a decade by decade story of preferred styles of hats men wore in the 1840s up to the 1900s.

From his detailed daily period outfits to his house filled with antiques and old books, it’s almost as if Story is from another era. But he says he fits well into this one because he also ▶ continued on page 26

“I’ve always been theatrical,” says Story, adding that he enjoys the aesthetics of an eccentric 19th century gentleman. “They were a lot more fun,”

has a penchant for modern amenities, especially in technology. Travel is easier and Instagram allows him to enthusiasts the world over. He enjoys creating electronic music and is working on a soon-to-be-

Story says he is inspired by movies such as Guillermo Del Toro’s “Crimson Peak” and “The Pale Blue Eye.” “I love all the costume direction in the movie ‘The Gangs of New York’,” he adds. “There are lots of costumes I want

Story has a particular interest in American, as opposed to English, styles of the era. “To the untrained eye it all kind of looks the same,” he says. He will occasionally venture into cowboy styles of the American frontier but says they require a lot of buckskin. And he has a more

In fact, his Instagram handle is @im_dapper_sam and he has amassed 127,000 followers. He has created sets for photo shoots in his home that range from simple to elaborate and has learned photo editing to give them an old-time patina. A reel he created getting ready to see the remake of the film “Nosferatu” gained significant attention. His look includes period grooming, including permed hair and a handle bar mustache. “It was more of a process to learn,” he says. “It was a lot of trial and error. I do use a lot of mustache waxes, poms and the like.”

Customers of Umpqua Bank have become accustomed to seeing Story in his period clothes – “I’m a bank teller, which is oddly fitting,” he says – and others may find that he fits in quite well with the architecture of historic

There’s no doubt that his look creates curiosity from all who see him. “It’s gotten to the point where I don’t really notice it anymore,” he says. In fact, he’s incorporated the aesthetic so much into his daily routine that he’s started to wear period loungewear. “Occasionally I will dress in

what I call incognito mode, which is modern clothing.” Although, he adds, “modern clothing at this point just feels like I’m not wearing anything.”

Story will be presenting his knowledge and top hat collection to visitors of the Kelly-Griggs House Museum in Red Bluff at 2 pm Saturday, November 15. The title of his talk is Sam Story: Vintage Men’s Clothing. A $5 donation will benefit the museum.

“I’ve always been theatrical,” says Story, adding that he enjoys the aesthetics of an eccentric 19th century gentleman. “They were a lot more fun,” he says. In the end, there’s no deeper meaning other than he likes it. Gratefully, he’ll be sharing that fun with the community at the Kelly-Griggs House Museum this month. •

Find him on Instagram

Melissa Mendonca is a graduate of San Francisco State and Tulane universities. She’s a lover of airports and road trips and believes in mentoring and service to create communities everyone can enjoy. Her favorite words are rebar, wanderlust and change.

Specializing in managing complicated foot and ankle problems.

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5. BEHAVIOR – Are they more anxious, irritable or forgetful? Do they seem confused, withdrawn or uncomfortable outside the home?

6. MEDICATION – Can they manage medications properly— dosage, timing and refills? Do they understand what each one is for?

7. FINANCES – Are they handling money wisely? Are bills paid on time? Do they keep some cash on hand and avoid suspicious offers?

8.

or signs of

Grateful Giving

Holiday magic is coming to the North State. In the spirit of Grateful Giving, our holiday gifting advertisers offer festive food, unique finds, experiences and ways to give back. From craft fairs and wellness to jewelry, ski days and local dining, these ads spotlight gifts that delight and support neighbors. Shop local and keep our community strong.

It Feels Good Tallow Lotion

Locally handcrafted tallow lotion from grass-fed suet is available in several scents, with 100% organic and designer fragrance options for all. Sample any of the ten varieties at these retailers: Holiday Markets in Redding, Palo Cedro, Cottonwood, Weaverville, Farmers Marketplace, AndersonRX Pharmacy and Elmore Pharmacy. Suitable for face and body, a single 4 oz. jar covers all your skincare needs.

Give the Gift of Pizza

Whether you’re hosting a party or shopping for Grandma, pizza and gift cards are always a hit. With a delicious treat from Pizza Factory, you can enjoy the celebration without stress. Spend time with family and friends or show appreciation to your employees. Pizza Factory offers more than pizza—wings, salads and more—making it an easy, tasty choice all festive season.

Your Indoor Family Fun Destination

Rare Air Trampoline Park is family-owned and locally operated, with over 23,000 sq. ft. of trampolines, ninja courses, climbing walls, arcade games and more. Our Redding location is adding a brand-new ropes course, rock walls, play structure and slides this winter—making us Northern California’s top spot for unforgettable fun!

Redding: 530.221.1206

Chico: 530.433.5557

rareairpark.com rareairredding / rareairchico

HOLIDAY GIFTING Grateful Giving

Simple, Meaningful, Made to Last

Bluebird Permanent Jewelry creates timeless, high-quality pieces in 14K gold, sterling silver, and more. Founded in Rocklin/Roseville in 2023, they proudly expanded to Redding a year later. Whether you visit them in-store or at a pop-up, they love crafting jewelry that becomes part of your story—simple, meaningful and made to last. Buy a gift certificate for holidays and receive 15% off your purchase.

1620 E Cypress Ave., Redding @bluebirdpermanentjewelry

Memories are Made to Shine

For 58 years, Gaumer’s Jewelry has helped celebrate life’s special moments. From bridal jewelry to birthstones and custom pieces, they’re here to make every occasion unforgettable. Beyond fine jewelry they offer crystals, fossils, geodes and minerals—perfect for gifts and stocking stuffers. Open Monday–Friday with added Saturdays in December before Christmas. They look forward to celebrating the season with you!

Holiday Craft Fair

Holiday spirit shines at the 28th annual Holiday Craft Fair at College of the Siskiyous. Friday, December 5, 5–8 pm and Saturday, December 6, 9 am–3 pm. About 60 local and regional vendors offer handmade gifts, jewelry, woodcrafts, metal art, hand sewn or knitted items and more. Admission is $3. Santa visits Saturday, December 6, 11 am–1 pm.

COS Weed Campus Gym, 800 College Avenue, Weed siskiyous.edu/foundation/events.htm#craftfair

@College of the Siskiyous (COS) & COS Foundation @siskiyous_eagles

EASY HOLIDAY PLANNING

Simple Steps

olidays feel lighter when the plan is simple and visible. A countdown calendar turns two busy months into a calm rhythm of small wins. Tape this page to the fridge, circle what matters, and skip what does not. You will move from turkey to twinkle lights with ease and still have time to enjoy the moments in between.

November: set the tone

Week 1: Finalize your guest list and set a realistic budget. Decide what kind of season you want—quiet and cozy, lively and social, or a blend—then let that guide every yes and no. Check serving dishes and bakeware so you are not hunting for the right pan on the big day.

Week 2: Plan the Thanksgiving menu and assign potluck dishes early. Ask guests for one contribution each to share the load. Order the turkey or main if needed. Make a short list of make-ahead items that hold well: cranberry sauce, pie dough, compound butter, freezer rolls. Add one to your weeknight cooking so prep becomes part of daily life.

Week 3: Shop pantry staples before crowds arrive. Think stock, flour, sugar, spices, sparkling water, coffee. Clear space in the fridge and freezer. Chop and freeze aromatics. If you bake, pre-measure dry ingredients into labeled bags. Pull out linens and check for stains. Iron napkins while watching a favorite show.

Week 4: Thaw the turkey, confirm headcount, and set the table the night before. On Thanksgiving Day, tape a simple timeline to a cabinet: oven temps, dish order, rest times. After dishes are done, take ten minutes to sort leftovers into containers sized for lunches and a simple weekend supper. That small habit turns post-holiday days into easy comfort.

Weekend after: Take a short walk, then batch wrap any early gifts. Make a quick list of décor gaps—fresh candles, a strand of lights, new hooks for stockings—so December errands are short and focused.

December: keep it steady

Week 1: Mail cards and schedule small gatherings. Pick one anchor event you love—a movie night, an ornament swap, a cookie exchange—and let the rest be optional. Stock a small basket for guests with cocoa packets, tea, and a few treats.

Week 2: Shop local gifts and ship early. Ask shops to box and ribbon when possible. Keep a small stash of universal gifts on hand—candles, local honey, coffee beans—so last-minute visits feel easy.

Week 3: Plan the Christmas menu and confirm headcount. Choose one showstopper and keep sides simple. Label platters with sticky notes so helpers can find what goes where. If you host breakfast, assemble a casserole the night before and set your coffee routine before bed.

Week 4: Bake, set a serving plan, and hold space for rest. Choose one evening for lights and cocoa. Choose one morning for a slow start. After the big day, plan a simple New Year’s brunch with a fruit platter and a frittata, then refresh calendars for January.

Small steps add up. A countdown is not about doing more. It is about doing the right little things at the right time so the season feels generous and calm. •

Little Moments

A WINTER BUCKET LIST TO MAKE THE SEASON SHINE

inter asks us to notice the glow in small places— steam from a mug, a quiet street after dark, a song that fills a room. A bucket list brings those moments into focus. Keep it simple, keep it local and let the season unfold with easy joy. Use these ideas as a start, then swap in what suits you best.

Try one new cookie. Pick a simple recipe and invite a friend to bake. Package extra for neighbors. Add a handwritten tag for charm.

Night drive for lights. Choose a nearby neighborhood and make a short playlist. Bring your coffee or hot chocolate and take turns calling out favorites. Vote for best porch, best window and best surprise.

Handwritten thank yous. Keep stamps, cards and a good pen in a small tray. Write two notes a week. Gratitude feels bigger when it is ink on paper.

Craft-fair treasure hunt. Set a small budget and look for one handmade piece with a story. Ask the maker about their process. You will carry that story home with the gift.

Game night potluck. Pick two easy games and invite friends to bring a dish. Keep the main table for food and use a card table for play to reduce clutter and stress.

Sunrise walk. Start at first light. Pour a hot drink to go, step outside and take a slow ten-minute walk. Notice the frost on the grass and the color in the sky.

Local live music. Look for an early set and make it a weeknight treat. Order hot tea or a simple snack. Cheer loud. Musicians lend courage to a room.

Donate a warm coat. Clear one shelf and one hanger in your closet. Choose one coat, one scarf and one pair of gloves to pass along. Simple action meets real need.

Print this year’s photos. Choose twelve and make a grid on the fridge. Pick one favorite from each season. You will see the year at a glance and remember what mattered most.

Add your own ideas to the bucket list— a puzzle night, a library day, a cookie swap or a backyard fire pit with blankets and stars. A bucket list is not a task list. It is a small promise to notice, to share and to enjoy the season right where you are. •

HOLIDAY GIFTING

Buy Your Season Pass Now

There is more to a season pass at Mt. Shasta Ski Park than endless fun on the slopes! Enjoy unlimited skiing and snowboarding without black out dates. Your Season Pass allows access to 20+ Resorts. That’s 60 days of free skiing at other ski resorts around the globe. Adventure awaits, conquer the mountain today.

Wellness Wrapped in a Bow

Give the gift that lasts—wellness. Rooted Vitality Cryo & Wellness Center helps you relax, recover and recharge with therapies that support your body’s healing. Choose cryotherapy, red-light therapy, PEMF, leg compressions and more—each designed to restore balance and vitality. Perfect for anyone who deserves self-care. Give the gift of health and help them feel vibrant, grounded and restored. Gift cards available.

All Year

Give the gift of Enjoy. Surprise someone with a 12-month Enjoy Magazine subscription filled with local stories, events and inspiration delivered to their door each month. Easy to give for holidays, birthdays or thank yous. Subscribe for yourself or gift a friend in minutes online and keep North State stories on the coffee table all year. Give Enjoy

Thankyou Thankyou

The Beauty of Gratitude

SMALL PRACTICES THAT MAKE THE SEASON FEEL FULL

hankfulness is not a grand gesture. It is a series of small looks up and small looks around. It is steam rising from a mug, a text that arrives at the right moment, a neighbor who waves from the sidewalk. When we pay attention, the season expands. Here are easy ways to build a quiet rhythm of thanks you can keep past December.

Start a thank-you bowl

Place a small bowl on the counter with slips of paper and a pen. All month, write one line a day and drop it in. Name the ordinary: a warm coat, an extra hour of sleep, a call with a friend. On New Year’s Day, read them out loud. You will hear the year you actually lived.

Write two notes a week

Keep stamps, cards and a good pen in a tray. Each week write to one person who helped you and one person who shaped you. Short is fine. Thank you for the ride. Thank you for the advice. Thank you for teaching me how to do the hard thing. Handwritten words land softly and last.

Make a practice of noticing

Pick a daily cue that already happens and tie gratitude to it. First light through the window. Keys on the hook. Kettle on the stove. Every time the cue occurs, say one silent thank you. Habit pairs best with something you already do.

Share the mic at the table

Before a meal, pass a wooden spoon or a sprig of rosemary. The person holding it shares one small thing they are grateful for today. Keep it light and specific. A fixed bike tire. A kind cashier. A clean pair of socks. When thanks is simple, everyone joins in.

Do one neighborly thing

Gratitude grows when we move it forward. Choose one act that fits your week: rake a yard, carry a package, bring soup to a friend who is tired. If you want to give more, ask a local nonprofit how to help for two hours this month. Short, clear commitments make follow-through easy.

Keep a photo of enough

Print one picture that says enough to you. A full table. A well used backpack. A pair of muddy shoes by the door. Tape it inside a cabinet. Look at it when the list feels long. Gratitude sets a weight down.

Say thanks out loud

Tell people while you can. Tell the barista who remembers your order. Tell the teacher who stayed late. Tell the kid who tried again after a hard day. Spoken thanks changes the room. It also changes us.

Gratitude does not ask for perfect days. It asks for presence. This month, choose one practice from this page and let it run quietly in the background of your life. You will notice more, hold more, and give more. And that is enough.

Spend the Holidays With Us

No place better than The Post Office Kitchen & Spirits to enjoy holiday cheer and celebrate the season! Book your holiday party now. Open 7 days a week, with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Our fresh, all-new menu has something for everyone. Post Office gift cards make great Christmas presents! Follow us on social media for our upcoming events.

1636 Market St., Redding 530.605.1271

@thepostofficedowntown

McCloud’s Historic B&B

McCloud River B&B offers warm hospitality and timeless charm. Nestled in the mountains, this bed and breakfast features cozy rooms, personalized service and unforgettable experiences. Guests can relax by the river, explore the outdoors and savor gourmet breakfasts and fresh-baked treats. A historic vault has been transformed into a private dining room—ideal for holiday dinners and intimate gatherings.

mccloudriverbnb@gmail.com

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Aquarium Pets has a little something—or a little someone— for everyone! Birds of all sizes, small animals, lizards, snakes, fish and aquariums. Or maybe something special for your furry friends to say ‘Merry Christmas’? For over 40 years, Aquarium Pets in Red Bluff has been the go-to place for all things pets. Merry Christmas from Aquarium Pets!

345 S. Main St., Red Bluff 530.527.4588

Holiday Magic Starts Here

At Orchard Nutrition Center discover everything for a festive feast: organic turkey, cranberry sauce, fresh cranberries, fresh chestnuts, stuffing and seasonal organic vegetables. Shop unique gifts too—hand-poured soy and beeswax candles, sparkling crystals, artisan jewelry, luxurious beauty aids, fun knitted hats and Orchard tie-dye T-shirts.

Orchard Nutrition Center—discover the magic of the holidays and rare and remarkable gifts.

Get Away and Stay

Steelhead fishing is hot—and so are our holiday gift certificates. Strawhouse Resorts is a unique resort, cafe and event center on the beautiful Trinity River, surrounded by the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area. Stop in for organic coffee roasted on-site or stay in inviting accommodations or RV sites. On scenic Highway 299, midway between the coast and Redding.

The Eagles Nest Resale Shop

Find quality new and gently used clothing, shoes, household items, furniture and more at The Eagles Nest. Open Monday–Saturday, 10 am–4 pm. Daily sales on holiday items, décor and unique finds. Discover that one-of-a-kind piece you have been looking for— there truly is something for everyone.

123 Main Street, Weed 530.938.4663

siskiyous.edu/eaglesnest @eaglesnestresaleshop

Grateful Giving

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.”

— Cicero

Thank you for reading, for shopping close to home and for cheering on the people behind these pages. Your support keeps creativity alive and doors open. May your season feel warm and light. See you in December.

wrapped in kindness

added to that, so now her chapter can be found on her Facebook group page Project Linus of Shasta, Butte, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity Counties.

With that reach, Childs regularly delivers security blankets to hospitals in Chico and Red Bluff. She works with Enloe Health Mother & Baby Care Center in Chico and Ampla Health, both in Chico and Yuba City. She teams out west with Columbia School District, which covers Hayfork and all the surrounding areas. Nearer to home, she drops blankets off at hospital neonatal wards and community health agencies.

Naturally, meeting that level of demand requires a lot of product.

Childs’ volunteer force makes her a monthly average of a couple hundred blankets, which she processes through her home. “I used to have a spare room that had a bed and everything for company. Now I have a spare room that’s full of blankets and everything it takes to bag them up,” she says with a laugh.

PROJECT LINUS DELIVERS HANDMADE SECURITY BLANKETS

ou’d be hard-pressed to find any American member of a living generation today who has never heard of Charles Schultz’s venerable comic strip “Peanuts.” Even before they can read, kids recognize the faces of its characters, like Charlie Brown and Lucy and her younger brother, Linus, the child serenely snuggling his blanket.

As “Peanuts” reaches its 75th birthday, a nonprofit called Project Linus looks back at a prolific 30 years of its own, beginning with one person’s idea to request use of Linus’ name and face to identify an effort to supply a free security blanket needed by every infant, child and teen in the country. Today, Project Linus distributes such care and comfort to traumatized youth in all 50 states. They accomplish this through local chapter coordinators who organize volunteers in their counties. Our local Project Linus coordinator is Redding resident Debbie Childs. When she took over two years ago, the chapter was Project Linus of Shasta County. She

On the fourth Monday of every month, she meets with a group of her volunteers to sew, label and bag blankets. They rendezvous at Blue Iris Quilt Shoppe in Palo Cedro for a few hours, and from that get-together Childs gathers about half of the month’s expected blankets. Shop owner Kimber Rickey says when she heard Childs was looking for a place to meet and sew, Rickey offered her quilting classroom.

“I extended the invitation because Blue Iris is really a community space, and I wanted to continue that legacy,” Rickey recalls. “I’m born and raised in this area, third generation; my grandfather helped build the Shasta Dam. So this is how I build relationships and community. I give them a place to come together with a common theme, and they’re learning from each other.”

A recent fourth Monday get-together draws 16 blanket makers, with ages ranging from 10 to 87. Most here are volunteers wellacquainted with sewing and with each other. They follow the rule laid down by the Project Linus national headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.: handmade only. Starting with new ▶ continued on page 42

fabrics, seasoned seamstresses sew together sheets of cotton or fleece and/or flannel, and bind the edges, by hand or by machine. They finish by stitching on an official Project Linus label.

Their hands knowing the way, volunteers are free to engage in conversations, filling the room with the chatter of camaraderie. Ask any one of them why they are here, doing what they do, their answers tend to overlap.

Betty Dickerson’s response is a good summation. “Your families grow up, you’re having a lot of time on your hands and so you try to find something that’s worthwhile,” she shares. “I was looking on Facebook one day and saw an advertisement. So I came and started and got hooked. It’s very rewarding that you know you’re giving your time and your efforts to help little babies and children.”

Looking back, it seems Coordinator Childs was destined to lead these efforts.

Raised in Santa Rosa, she carries fond girlhood memories of skating at the town’s ice rink, which just happened to be owned by Charles Schultz. Yes, he lived in Santa Rosa and drew daily “Peanuts” comics in an office upstairs over his skating rink, so the girl caught glimpses of him as she grew up. After marrying, she took these beloved memories with her, following her family to Redding.

Childs spent the last 13 years of her working life serving lunch to preschool kids. In her spare time, she crocheted blankets. It was during this time, seven years ago, that she witnessed firsthand the potential of Redding’s rain-scarce summer combined with high winds. The Carr Fire roared up to her doorstep and took away her home and everything in it. Shortly after, she received from a charitable organization a quilt, handed to her at work.

“It made me feel really good, because I had a couple of my grandmother’s quilts that were from her mother, from 1916, that I lost in the fire,” she recalls. “That blanket was very comforting for me.”

So when a friend told her about Project Linus two and a half years ago, it’s easy to see how primed she was to join an effort to give out blankets to others facing trauma, especially through an organization licensed to stitch on “Peanuts” artwork. And it’s not surprising that six months after Childs joined, her retiring coordinator asked her to take over.

When away from the Blue Iris, Childs coordinates her region of Project Linus through her Facebook group, which now numbers around 240 members. She invites anyone interested to join. She also collects donations, which can be blanket-making materials dropped on at the Blue Iris, or cash sent through the national Project Linus website, and marked for her chapter, officially (and alphabetically) titled Project

HEALTH WISE

Nati onal D i ab etes Month

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body uses insulin to regulate blood sugar. More than 37 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and another 96 million have prediabetes—most without knowing it. Without proper care, diabetes can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss. Risk factors include being overweight, over age 45,

physically inactive, having a family history, or being American Indian, Alaska Native, Black, Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.

At Greenville Rancheria, we’re here to support your health through education, healthy eating, and physical activity. You can prevent type 2 diabetes—start your wellness journey with us today!

Linus of Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, & Trinity Counties.

Closing remark for “Peanuts” fans: Now we know why Snoopy drives a Zamboni. •

Project Linus of Shasta, Butte, Siskiyou, Tehama & Trinity Counties www.projectlinus.org/donate (530) 227-3197

Find them on Facebook

Blue Iris Quilt Shoppe 9348 Deschutes Road, Suite D, Palo Cedro www.blueirisquiltshoppe.com (530) 547-2228

Richard DuPertuis is a Redding grandfather who writes. His stories and photographs have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online. He strives for immortality not by literary recognition, but through diet and exercise. He can be reached at dupertuis@ snowcrest.net

Rancheria

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The FRUIT

TEHAMA COUPLE TURNS FIGS INTO MISSION

rive down I-5 into Red Bluff and you’ll see the familiar patchwork of orchards, ranches and open fields that make up Tehama County. You might not expect that hidden among all that farmland is a collection unlike any other in the world: 2,261 varieties of figs, each with its own unique genetic code. That’s the work of David and Priscilla Burke, the husband-and-wife duo behind The Fig Hunter.

Launched in 2019, The Fig Hunter is both a specialty fig nursery and an obsession that has grown beyond expectations. Today, it features the most extensive fig collection on the planet, a living library of flavor and resilience. For the Burkes, it’s more than just a business; it’s a mission.

David, a Marine veteran and construction worker by trade, laughs when he talks about the fig tree that started it all.

“We had a fig tree growing up on our property in Napa. It was huge—the cousins and I would hang out in that tree for hours. We’d throw figs at each other—and yeah, sometimes it stung. Now figs are an obsession and a job. I love ‘em,” he says.

Priscilla, who traded her paralegal career and law school ambitions for farm life, brings a culinary flair to the operation. Her parents worked in the Napa Valley restaurant industry, so she grew up with food prep in her bones. On the farm, she transforms figs into jams, fudge, salsas, barbecue sauces—even fig-infused sausages. They

“WE HAD A FIG TREE GROWING UP ON OUR PROPERTY IN NAPA. IT WAS HUGE—THE COUSINS AND I WOULD HANG OUT IN THAT TREE FOR HOURS. WE’D THROW FIGS AT EACH OTHER—AND YEAH, SOMETIMES IT STUNG. NOW FIGS ARE AN OBSESSION AND A JOB. I LOVE ‘EM...”

“FIGS ARE SURVIVORS,” DAVID SAYS. “THEY CAN GROW IN MOST PLACES IN THE WORLD AND ARE GREAT FOR BEGINNER GROWERS.”

sell through their online shop, in local stores and to restaurants, including Krystyna’s Polish American Cuisine on Main Street in Red Bluff.

“It’s been a rewarding relationship,” says owner Jay Fischer. “My wife, Agnes, is the chef here at Krystyna’s, and she loves using local ingredients in all our menu items. We enjoy using the Burkes’ figs, and think the Burkes are such a positive force in our community.”

If figs seem like an unusual passion, the Burkes will quickly change your mind. “Figs are survivors,” David says. “They can grow in most places in the world and are great for beginner growers.”

They’ve also been around for a while—since 9,000 BC. And “they’re one of the most nutritious foods on the planet,” Priscilla is quick to point out, rattling off a list of benefits: fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants and even possible anti-cancer properties. Archeologists believe figs were the first domesticated crop, predating wheat and barley. For thousands of years, they have served as symbols of prosperity and peace in religious texts. ▶ continued on page 46

“WE BELIEVE FOOD IS A BASIC NECESSITY, NOT SOMETHING FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT,” SAYS PRISCILLA. “AND KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IF THEY GROW THEM.”

All of which is to say, the Burkes are not just selling fruit. They’re reviving a cultural icon.

The Burkes opened The Fig Hunter just months before COVID-19 upended daily life. Surprisingly, the timing worked. “People started worrying about food scarcity,” Priscilla recalls. “COVID gardens were popping up everywhere, and we provided cuttings and trees. It helped us make a name for ourselves.”

That name has grown far beyond Tehama County. The Fig Hunter’s YouTube channel has more than 2,600 subscribers and more than 200 videos—everything from fig grafting tutorials to urban fig hunting tips. The Smithsonian Magazine even profiled them in 2022. Their motto: Find a fig, make a friend; plant a fig, make a friend forever.

But the Burkes’ story isn’t just about figs. It’s also about food justice. Through their nonprofit, One Seed at a Time, they tackle one of Tehama County’s most formidable challenges: food deserts.

Many Tehama families live on tight budgets. Fresh food can be difficult to access in parts of the county and diet-related health challenges are common.

“We believe food is a basic necessity, not something families should have to worry about,” says Priscilla. “And kids are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they grow them.”

One Seed at a Time builds school gardens, plants fruit trees in public spaces, and runs community food stands where neighbors can “give what they can or take what they need.” They partner with groups like PATH (Poor and the Homeless) and Sacred Heart School, and they’re working with the Red Bluff School District to expand even further.

The benefits ripple outward: reduced grocery bills, improved nutrition, stronger community ties, environmental wins and the simple therapy of digging in the dirt.▶

continued on page 48

Spend a little time with David and Priscilla and it’s hard not to catch their enthusiasm. They’re blue-collar, downto-earth, and endlessly passionate about what a small tree can do—for a family, for a town, maybe even for a whole county.

They also prove that sometimes the simplest ideas— like planting a seed—can make the biggest difference. Whether it’s a fig cutting shipped across the country or a school garden in Red Bluff, the Burkes are betting that what grows will matter.

So next time you see figs at the grocery store, think of The Fig Hunter. Or better yet, order a jar of Priscilla’s fig fudge, plant a tree in your yard, or drop a few seeds in the soil with your kids. As the Burkes like to say: Find a fig, make a friend; plant a fig, make a friend forever. •

The Fig Hunter: thefighunter.shop One Seed at a Time: info@1seed.org

SOMETIMES THE SIMPLEST IDEAS —LIKE PLANTING A SEED— CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

Our beautiful and spacious Art Gallery with state of the art lighting offers a wide variety of monthly exhibits featuring quality fine art, by artists from all over the western states.

The First Friday of each month, join us for our Special Presentations from 7 to 9 p.m. or attend our Artists Receptions from 3 to 7p.m. with live music performed on our beautiful baby grand piano.

Regular gallery hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays 12 noon to 5 p.m. 732 Fourth Street, in downtown Orland

For more information visit our website: www.orlandartcenter.com

CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE

VIVA DOWNTOWN AND JOHN TRUITT LEAD REDDING REVIVAL

owntown Redding hasn’t always looked as it does today, with new buildings, restored-to-former-glory ones, and an endless stream of exciting cultural and community-based events. The growth, the public art, the reopening of streets that had been closed for half a century, the new apartments, businesses and greenspaces, and the bustling, effervescent energy that makes Downtown feel like it’s hitting its stride hasn’t come overnight. It’s been hard-earned and has come as the result of many hands, hearts, perspectives – and a collective vision for the future.

Viva Downtown, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing and sustaining cultural and economic vitality and special events to the area, has been one of the organizations at the forefront of Downtown Redding’s forward movement. Viva Downtown Director John Truitt, a self-proclaimed forever Northern Californian, sees himself as “just one member” of a team committed to bringing out the best in the community.

“I am usually not interested in people’s titles. I am always interested in what people actually do, the talents they possess, the knowledge they’ve earned,” says Truitt.

Viva Downtown has been working to make the area a creatively inspired hub for community events for 28 years. In 1997, Viva Downtown was established by a group of people who wanted something interesting to do on a Thursday night.

The group shared an interest in live music, food, and drinks – and gathering with friends.

The group started MarketFest, a live, free summer concert series that has since become a Main Street America organization and a California Main Street member dedicated to enhancing the social, cultural and economic development of Downtown Redding.

“Each individual in the group had to learn many things about the community to keep running a community event. As knowledge grew, the desire to make positive changes in the Downtown Redding district grew,” says Truitt.

Today, Truitt and the Viva Downtown Team continue to work with local organizations like the Redding Cultural District, Cascade Theatre, Shasta Arts Council, Visit Redding, the City of Redding and more to ensure Downtown Redding continues to grow in opportunity, culture and community.

From its offices in the historic I.O.O.F. Hall, originally built in 1888, Viva Downtown works with its community partners to bring events like First Fridays, the Redding Beer and Wine Festival, the annual Juneteenth Celebration, the annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the Fourth Friday Concert Series at the I.O.O.F. Hall and so much more to the Downtown core. The Art Hunger, another of Viva’s partners, is housed in the lower level of the I.O.O.F. Hall as a rotating gallery, drawing community members and creatives alike ▶ continued on page 54

to experience a diverse range of artistic experiences that extend beyond the gallery walls to the streets and alleyways of Downtown Redding. The side of the I.O.O.F. Hall is a work of art in its own right. Eight Arches for Eight Artists, eight large frames built into the side of the building, are adorned with local art curated by Art Hunger and Viva Downtown.

To keep the community connected to the people who enhance Downtown Redding, Viva Downtown launched a podcast series called Downtown Discussion in 2021. Blake Fisher, program coordinator at Viva Downtown and host of the Downtown Discussion, speaks directly with business owners, partners and community members working to make a positive impact in Downtown Redding. Listeners get an intimate look at exciting changes coming to the area from the people with boots on the ground.

The best way to build community, Truitt says, is to recognize and grow community assets. Community assets can be tangible or intangible. Physical structures, natural resources, human resources, organizations, parks, community centers, local businesses and more benefit a community and improve quality of life for the people within it.

“I believe the most important assets are human assets and organized groups with skills and knowledge. The abilities and expertise of individuals within the community, like business owners, nonprofit managers, volunteers, local leaders and residents with cool skills are invaluable,” Truitt says. “And extended from those skills are social networks and relationships – the connections and collaborations between individuals and organizations within the community.” “ I believe the most important assets are human assets and organized groups with skills and knowledge. The abilities and expertise of individuals within the community, like business owners, nonprofit managers, volunteers, local leaders, and residents with cool skills are invaluable...”

Infrastructure like roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, public transportation and utilities are critical elements in any community, but the humans that help power and sustain them are just as indispensable.

Perhaps that’s why Truitt sees teaching and mentoring others as the element of his work he’s most proud of.

“Teaching and mentoring others is not a one-way street. When you help an individual or group, you get access to a new perspective and a whole set of talents you probably don’t have. Confident and informed people ask for advice, so you also get to contribute to the development of future leaders. Helping people nurtures talent and creates a positive culture of giving back and connecting within the community.”

Truitt’s commitment to being a part of the positive changes has garnered recognition from local organizations.

To date, Truitt has been awarded Leadership Redding’s Alumni of the Year, the Redding Chamber of Commerce Virgil Covington Industry Award and Redding Citizen of the Year. Even amid these accolades, Truitt remains humble and focused on the talent around him.

His favorite place to be when he’s not working is “anywhere I can watch a talented person or group perform something I cannot do.”

With so much to do to continue seeing forward movement in Downtown Redding, Truitt admits his greatest challenge: “There is never enough time.” ▶ continued on page 57

Let us partner with YOU to personalize YOUR child’s education. A California Distinguished School Phoenix Charter Academy College View offers a chance for students to rise. Our TK-12 site-based/Independent study home school charter in Redding provides educational choice for families who wish to educate their children in a blended educational model.

• Premier Independent Study Program

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Focusing on Gratitude with help from Enterprise

Where Home Feels

“Time teaches us that it’s impossible to be certain of anything. I know that things always change – and never exactly according to plan,” says Truitt.

What remains the same, often, are the things that people enjoy. Continuing to bring them to fruition in Downtown Redding will take a concerted effort from “people who think of others,” says Truitt.

Those who think not just for themselves or for today, but for generations they’ll never meet, are the key to securing and sustaining the future of Downtown Redding.

“There are a few things I know about the future in Downtown Redding,” says Truitt. “There will be someone complaining about something. There will be smart and dedicated people making great things happen, and the Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast will be immensely popular.”•

Viva Downtown Redding 1725 Market St., Redding Vivadowntownredding.org (530) 243-7773

Follow them on Facebook & Instagram

Kimberly N. Bonéy, proud wife and mom, is a freelance writer, designer, up-cycler and owner of Herstory Vintage. When she’s not working, she is joyfully wielding jewelry-making tools and paintbrushes in her studio. Antique shops, vintage boutiques, craft stores and bead shops are her happy place.

BETH BIRK’S STORY A Life of Giving

A truly generous soul, Beth Birk dedicated herself as a friend, volunteer, and lifelong donor to Mercy Foundation North. Her unwavering support culminated in a remarkable planned gift, beautifully honoring Hospice upon her passing.

Kristin Duarte, Hospice Manager, met Beth when her husband, Serge, was ill with cancer. Beth utilized the hospice services when her family needed them, and after her husband passed, she remained a passionate volunteer and supporter.

“Beth was unsel sh, kind, and just the brightest spark,” Kristin said. “She really saw the value in hospice, and I don’t know if she wanted to pay it back or what her motivation was exactly, but I know she was so grateful to hospice and the di erence it could make for people going through such a di cult time.”

Pam Washburne, who had been Beth's friend since 7th grade, intimately witnessed Beth's generous spirit, not only after Serge's passing but also through Beth's own long decline,

and spoke to Beth's enduring legacy to Hospice. “I think about her all of the time and smile,” Pam said. “I think she would want people to use her as a model—to recognize the needs around them and act generously.”

This profound spirit of generosity, exempli ed by Beth, underscores the critical mission of Hospice: to ensure no one is denied compassionate care due to nancial hardship. Your donations directly support their ability to provide essential

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SHIFTING GEARS

BILL ROBBERSON’S JEFFERSON BIKE COMPANY IN YREKA

ometimes all it takes is retirement to discover a passion for work. At least, that’s what Bill Robberson learned after opening up the Jefferson Bike Company in Yreka a couple of years ago. “It’s a small-town bike shop for sales and service. The other shop in town left, and there was a need. I love bikes, and I love helping people. And because I’m retired, it wasn’t necessarily about the money as long as I could break even. So far, I’ve been successful and happy with that. So, now I have a line of new and used bikes and accessories, and work on other people’s bikes, which I’m enjoying.”

Robberson’s love of bikes goes back to childhood. “I’m kind of obsessed with them. I built my first bike when I was 10 years old, by just getting parts and putting one together. And, I’ve always been passionate about getting outdoors. Hiking’s great, but a lot of times you have to get in the car and go to a trailhead. With a bike, I just exit my front door and take off, and I can get to where I want to go. And it’s always been that way for me. In college, I went a different direction for a time when I became a runner and played organized soccer. But I got to a point where my body needed something less difficult on me. So I came back to cycling, and did ▶ continued on page 62

a bunch of competitive racing and traveling. It brought me back to all the times when I was a kid and would just get out, go far, and see places. These days I just ride for the joy of it.”

But for all of his traveling for cycling, Robberson holds a special place in his heart for Siskiyou County backroads. “It’s a great area for cycling. I’ve been involved with different groups to put on races, like the Humbug HurryUp. I’m currently president of the Jefferson Mountain Bike Club, which is part of the International Mountain Biking Association. Locally, we have a loose-knit group supporting and promoting cycling, even doing some trail work or maintenance whenever needed at Yreka’s Greenhorn Park.” Robberson also says there are all kinds of surfaces to ride. “Of course, there’s mountain biking, with the easiest being getting a shuttle up to the top and take trails downhill. Mount Shasta has a really good mountain bike trail system with a shuttle. There’s also cross-country mountain biking where you do all the pedaling. Because it’s more off-road, it opens up a lot more trails or experiences. The next level on dirt would be a gravel bike, which is a bike with wider tires that’s built to safely ride out on dirt roads. And then, there’s great road biking, especially in Shasta Valley and Scott Valley. That’s the bike people know with the skinny tire. And in those areas, there are relatively few cars and very courteous drivers.”

For Robberson, the benefits of cycling extend far beyond health and sightseeing. “Once you get into the cycling community, you meet people from all over. For instance, I met a couple of guys from LA a few years back and stayed in contact with them, and they recently came up here to ride. And, when I’m in their area, we ride with them. I’ve made friends with people from throughout Oregon. Even one weekend event you can meet a bunch of

“I’ve learned not to be afraid of trying something different. Even if a ride’s a failure, and you have to get a ride back to town, but still always get back. And, once you’ve done it before means you’ll be successful the next time. So, for me, starting something new like opening a business for the first time, it’s like, well, at least I took off and went on that ride.”

people. There’s something that builds community when you’re cycling like that together because you’re out there for hours together.”

Finding his way onto the seat of a bike has also helped guide Robberson’s direction in other aspects of his life. “With riding, you sometimes just have to go for it and figure it out along the way. You don’t worry about how steep the hill’s going to be because you can always walk. So, with years of riding, I’ve learned not to be afraid of trying something different. Even if a ride’s a failure and you have to get a ride back to town, but still always get back. And, once you’ve done it before means you’ll be successful the next time. So, for me, starting something new like opening a business for the first time, it’s like, well, at least I took off and went on that ride.” •

For more information and a list of area rides, visit www.jeffersonbike.com

Jefferson Bike Company

228 Ranch Lane, Yreka • (530) 643-7649

Megan Peterson is a freelance storyteller who loves her family, her pets, and Northern California. Her favorite part of writing is finding flow, and she always relishes a touching human story. Aside from Enjoy, she’s typically busy writing and producing for television, having created more than 220 hours of on-air content on networks ranging from National Geographic to Netflix.

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1775

SERVICE THROUGH CENTURIES

250 YEARS OF SERVICE: U.S. ARMY, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

ounded in 1775, these three branches of the military have played a defining role in shaping America’s story and defending its people. Two and a half centuries of service stand as proof of their dedication, sacrifice and steadfast commitment to freedom and democracy.

U.S. Army

A Legacy of Service and Resolve

The U.S. Army, established on June 14, 1775, is the oldest branch of the armed forces. From the nation’s earliest conflicts to modern operations, it has been central to America’s defense. Many of its regimental traditions still trace back to the 18th century. Its motto, “This We’ll Defend,” first used by the Continental Army’s War Office in 1778, captures its purpose: to safeguard and preserve the United States. Seen on flags and emblems, often paired with a rattlesnake symbolizing vigilance, the motto reflects a mission rooted in liberty. Born out of the fight for independence, the Army has remained the foundation of land warfare ever since.

A Shared Celebration of Service

U.S. Navy

A Legacy of Sea Power and Courage

The U.S. Navy was formed on October 13, 1775, to protect American waters and support coastal operations against the British. Its guiding words—non sibi sed patriae (“Not for self but for country”) and Semper Fortis (“Always Courageous”)—speak to values of service and courage that have endured for centuries. Today, those ideals continue to guide sailors across the globe. With more than 320,000 active personnel and a fleet that includes 10 aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers, cruisers and support ships, the Navy stands as the world’s largest maritime force and a guardian of international waters.

U.S. Marine Corps

A Legacy of Honor and Valor

The U.S. Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia as a force for amphibious and maritime missions. Its motto, Semper Fidelis or “Always Faithful,” reflects an enduring loyalty to country and to fellow Marines, both in and out of service. The saying “once a Marine, always a Marine” shows how that bond carries into civilian life, where many veterans lead and inspire in their communities. For nearly 250 years, the Marines have embodied courage and adaptability, remaining an essential part of American history and global security.

The 250th anniversaries of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps invite reflection on their common values and contributions. Each branch holds its own traditions and missions, yet all strengthen the security of the nation. These milestones are more than historic—they honor those serving today, those who served before and those who will carry the torch into the future. A quarter of a millennium marks not only sacrifice and duty but also innovation, resilience and hope for the years ahead. •

sacred sweetness

m” (pronounced “aum”) is the sacred syllable in Hinduism and other ancient religions which symbolizes the connection with the world. And “A ho” is a greeting, which several groups of Indigenous people in Omaha, Neb., use to say “hello.”

AhHome Chocolate founder Evergreen Love combined these words to brand her delectable superfood, binding together a sense of community and nourishment.

“The name ‘AhHome’ came in the surrounding days of the first cacao ceremony I served chocolate at. It just popped into my head while lying there. AhHome! Like, ahh...home, the feeling I get when I feel at home. Chocolate brings us together, makes us feel warm and welcome,” Love says.

Love first got into chocolate when she was 3 years old, inviting her dad and grandma to join her exclusive Chocolate Team. “They were the only serious-enough dark chocolate lovers to be members, until I began sharing with the world,” says Love.

Love dabbled in chocolate when she was young but began seriously making it again when she was 18. “I had a friend who couldn’t eat dairy, another who couldn’t have processed sugars, and I couldn’t afford the habit of eating dark chocolate all the time. So, I made some chocolate and gave it to my friends, and they kept asking me for more,” she recalls. Love made experimental batches and hit the road in an Apollo RV with friends, ending up at the Indy Pride Festival in Indianapolis in June 2018. ▶ continued on page 72

“I brought chocolate to that event and accepted donations only for my CBD Chocolate Starfish, what my hand-drawn picket sign said, and people loved it. This was the day that creating chocolate for the world became my long-term goal. The joy, the support and the excitement brought my vision to life,” Love remembers. She came home and immediately got to work, learning the tempering process and alchemy of chocolate, playing with cacao, honey, maple syrup, cocoa butter and how certain ingredients affected temperature, taste and smoothness.

“The joy, the support and the excitement brought my vision to life...”

“I finally figured out my recipe, and there opened the world for me, the science of chocolate,” says Love. AhHome’s simple ingredients make Love’s chocolate more of a superfood than a candy (she refuses to call her chocolate that) and continues to experiment – folding berries and nuts into the mix, and using alternative dairy options like cashew, hazelnut, and coconut milks. There’s no palm oil or genetically modified ingredients in her chocolate – it’s all organic and sourced as locally as possible.

Originally from Washington State, Love worked as a barista at a coffee shop in Redmond, and a couple of times a month she would make chocolate out of the café after it closed. It was then where she found hardcore chocolate lovers like herself who believed in the same values of enjoying wholesome food

that’s sustainable for our planet and ourselves.

Amongst her travels, Love made friends from Weaverville who invited her to come down and make chocolate out of Mountain Market Place. She moved there in November 2022.

“I have to admit, it wasn’t the chocolate opportunity that brought me here, it’s the people I couldn’t stay away from. There’s no place like Trinity County,” Love says. She started making AhHome Chocolate out of The Water Bar at night, spending her days going to the farmers market and networking with the community. ▶

continued on page 75

La Joie Bakery was born from Bryan & Kate Grennell’s dream of blending food, family, and community. What began as flour-dusted counters and

With their six kids, they’re raising the standard in pastry and service—one ‘joie’-filled bite at a time.

“If anything, the chocolate brings good feelings around, and we could always use more of that...”

Then in May 2023, another opportunity presented itself when Susie’s Bakery closed and the building came up for lease. Wanting to expand the AhHome Chocolate factory, Love found out who the landlord was and started leasing the space. Between October 2023 and August 2024, Love and local community members put in close to 1,000 hours remodeling the space. They replaced the flooring; repainted the walls; replaced all fans and light fixtures; installed handwashing sinks; bought locally milled cedar trim; stained, sanded, stained again; bought kitchen equipment; leveled the parking lot; acquired the chocolate display case from the historic Weaverville Hotel Emporium; and more. AhHome Chocolate held a soft opening at the end of August and the community came out with local artists, vendors, sponsors and live music adding to the warm and welcoming chocolate vibe.

To match AhHome Chocolate’s mission of uplifting the community by offering nourishing chocolate and a friendly place to meet, Love has recently launched the Chocolate Lounge.

“I see myself motivated to do what I love when I’m feeling good from the food I eat and the people I’m around. I see the lounge space offering that opportunity to folks, to be inspired by food, by chocolate and who we share our time with. Maybe some people will pursue their dream. Or meet new friends. If anything, the chocolate brings good feelings around, and we could always use more of that,” says Love.

Along with the recently opened AhHome Chocolate Lounge at 1260 Main St. in Weaverville, AhHome Chocolate bars can be found at Mountain Market Place, Moon House and the farmers market in Weaverville; Strawhouse and Junction City Store in Junction City; Northtown Coffee in Arcata; Orchard Nutrition Center in Redding; and The Xocolatl Garden in Carmel-by-the-Sea. A variety of truffles, drinking cacao, chocolate bars and more are also available to purchase at www.ahhomechocolate.com. •

From Our Family to Yours

We’re pausing to say how thankful we are for YOU. Your support means the world to us. Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with good food, great company, and warm memories.

KEEP IT

WILD

FIVE WAYS TO HELP OUR PUBLIC LANDS

he North State region is blessed with some of America’s most spectacular public lands. From the deep wilderness of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to the steaming fumaroles of Lassen Volcanic National Park, from the high ridges of Siskiyou County to the oak woodlands of Tehama and Butte, these places are our shared backyard. Today, the future of these lands feels uncertain. According to government data, at least one-fifth of the country’s 433 parks have been severely strained this year by steep staffing and funding cuts. Lassen, for example, was unable to hire custodians, leaving a skeleton maintenance crew juggling trash collection, plumbing, electrical and carpentry duties.

The pressures aren’t letting up. Budgets are shrinking, yet visitation is at record highs. The Park Service reported 331.9 million recreation visits in 2024, surpassing the 2016 record of 330,971,689. More people are coming, but fewer rangers, custodians, and trail crews are on the job.

And yet, there is some good news. Despite funding struggles, these lands remain economic engines for our economy and sources of joy for many Americans. In 2023, visitor spending around national parks pumped $55.6 billion into the economy and supported more than 415,000 jobs.

“The outdoor industry is a trillion-dollar economy nationwide,” said Bob Doucette, public affairs specialist with

the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. “When you recreate near our public lands and spend locally in these gateway communities, there’s a huge economic benefit to the people who live here and watch over the land.”

Restaurants, lodges and small businesses in gateway communities thrive thanks to park and forest tourism.

The question is: How can ordinary citizens help? How can people who live, work and play in Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama and Butte counties ensure our parks and forests are protected for future generations? ▶ continued on page 80

HERE ARE FIVE WAYS:

You can roll up your sleeves and make a difference. National parks and forests rely heavily on volunteers to maintain trails, clean campsites, staff visitor centers and support education programs. Volunteers in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest have helped rebuild fire-damaged trails, monitor wildlife and remove invasive plants. At Lassen Volcanic National Park, volunteer “Trail Ambassadors” help guide visitors and keep paths safe.

Volunteer Your Time

“If you really want to give back, getting involved in volunteer organizations is a huge benefit, not just for the forest, but for you,” Doucette said. “ You get to see more. And, you know, I think it will make you walk a little taller and feel good that you did something positive for your public lands. We all depend on these lands. We all enjoy them. So, taking responsibility seems like the right thing to do.”

Whether you can give one weekend a year or one day a month, your time adds up. And volunteering has its perks—you’ll learn from rangers, connect with fellow outdoor lovers, and feel a more profound sense of stewardship for the places you already love.

The simplest way to help is to respect the land. “Leave No Trace” principles aren’t just slogans. They’re survival rules for fragile ecosystems under stress.

Check out groups such as the Friends of the Shasta-Trinity or Lassen Association for opportunities. 02 Leave No Trace (and then some)

But these days, “Leave No Trace” isn’t enough. With understaffed crews, visitors can go one step further: pick up stray trash, report vandalism and kindly remind fellow hikers about responsible behavior. Every act of care makes life easier for overworked rangers.

“If you pack it in, pack it out,” says Doucette. “Try to leave the place you visit in as good or better condition than how you found it. There isn’t a giant army of people out there to pick up after us — so it’s on all of us to be good stewards.”

Funding cuts don’t happen in a vacuum—they’re choices. One way to help is to raise your voice. Contact your representatives, write letters to the editor, and let decision-makers know you support full funding for the Park Service and Forest Service.

If you’re able, consider donating to nonprofit partners. Groups like the National Parks Conservation Association or California State Parks Foundation work on behalf of public lands. Closer to home, the Lassen Park Foundation funds youth education and trail projects. Dollars donated locally stay local. ▶ continued on page 83

Choose Sustainable Recreation

Our National Parks system often get the spotlight, but our National Forests carry an equally heavy load— sometimes more. Forests have a multiple-use mission: they’re managed not only for recreation but also for timber, grazing, and habitat.

Stick to designated trails to prevent erosion. Avoid overcrowded hot spots by exploring lesser-known areas. You protect ecosystems and ease pressure on rangers and facilities by spreading out and treading lightly.

“Try to leave the place you visit in as good or better condition than how you found it. There isn’t a giant army of people out there to pick up after us — so it’s on all of us to be good stewards.”

WHY IT MATTERS

The North State knows the stakes. These lands are more than vacation destinations and tourism revenue—they’re our water sources, our clean air, our wildfire buffers and our living classrooms.

Support Gateway Communities

Every visit to a national park or forest ripples out into nearby towns. Grab breakfast at a diner in Chester, shop for gear in Mount Shasta, or book a family-owned cabin in Weaverville. In 2023 alone, visitors spent $26.4 billion nationally in park gateway communities, supporting jobs and livelihoods.

When you spend locally, you’re voting with your dollars to keep these communities vibrant.

“Most of our fresh water in Northern California comes from the forest,” Doucette explained. “Even if you’re not in the forest every day, if you live in Redding, the water you drink, cook with, and water your yard with — it comes from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.”

Lassen’s steaming vents remind us of Earth’s raw power. The ShastaTrinity National Forest’s 2.1 million acres give us timber, trails and trout. The oak woodlands of Tehama and Butte shelter deer and raptors.

They are our heritage, and they are under pressure. But the story doesn’t have to end with budget cuts and staffing shortages. It can end with communities stepping up, visitors pitching in, and everyday people realizing these aren’t “public lands” in some abstract sense— they’re ours. We are the stewards, and they are our responsibility.

Walter Stegner, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and lover of public lands, proclaimed, “The national parks are the best idea we ever had.” Keeping all public lands strong in the face of challenges may be the best idea we can carry forward to future generations. ▶

continued on page 84

Economic Impact of Shasta-Trinity National Forest

• The Shasta-Trinity National Forest supports about $117.9 million annually in labor income for wage earners and local businesses. This includes food and lodging services, arts, entertainment and recreation, real estate, rental and leasing, and retail trade services.

• The Shasta-Trinity National Forest supports about 2,420 jobs annually.

• Nearly 1 million people visit the ShastaTrinity National Forest to recreate annually, which represents an economic value of over $71.6 million to those visitors.

• Visitors to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest spend about $48 million during their trips.

• For example, 5,000 visitors annually climb the iconic 14,179-foot Mt. Shasta by purchasing Special Use Permits, totaling $176,21312.

• Visitors to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest contribute more than $15 million towards wages and income of local businesses.

• The economy of California is fifth largest in the world, and California’s National Forests contribute almost $2.6 billion annually in wages and income to small businesses, a critical component of the rural economy of the state. •

“ The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”

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NATION’S FINEST HELPS VETERANS

AND NEIGHBORS THRIVE

he restoration of a 105-year-old home did more than create permanent supportive housing for four formerly homeless veterans: it signals the continuation of a new life for one of Redding’s oldest neighborhoods.

The four-bedroom home at 2104 Waldon St. underwent a top-to-bottom renovation and opened last month. It is operated by Nation’s Finest, a nonprofit organization that provides veterans with housing, counseling, case management and mental health services.

Mike Dahl, a longtime advocate for veterans who serves as an advisor to Nation’s Finest, was the project manager for the renovation. He says restoring the house not only creates much-needed housing for veterans, but has a “cumulative” impact.

“The project had a collective effect including upgrading the neighborhood, creating landscaping based on the concept of crime prevention through environmental design, increasing property values and exposing the 140-year-old St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery adjoining the property,” Dahl says. “We provided a home for our veterans and restored part of old Redding.”

The Waldon Street project is popular with its neighbors as well. Kirkwood Hale, the co-owner of Plantable Nursery & Café, says he’s thrilled to see the improvements adjacent to his California Street business. “I think it’s going to be great. I see it as a good thing,” says Hale, who adds, “I see some opportunities in the future and having some kind of a connection. Maybe the residents will be interested in some gardening.”▶ continued on page 90

“We’re thrilled to see the energy and new businesses on the southwest side of downtown Redding at California and Gold streets. After many years, this little corner of downtown is buzzing with life again, and we’re so grateful for the support and community spirit growing all around us.”

“I love what they’re doing,” says Tyler Faires, a film producer and director of the Sundial Film Festival who lives on California Street near the Waldon Street home. “It’s pretty cool.”

Faires, who is active with the Neighborhood Watch program, says the Nation’s Finest renovation project joins Plantable, Pourboys Tapyard and Riverfront Playhouse as welcome additions to the neighborhood. “The whole block has taken on a transformation.”

Ronda Alvey, president of Riverfront Playhouse’s board of directors, also appreciates the neighborhood improvements. “We’re thrilled to see the energy and new businesses on the southwest side of downtown Redding at California and Gold streets. After many years, this little corner of downtown is buzzing with life again, and we’re so grateful for the support and community spirit growing all around us.”

The permanent housing available at the Waldon Street home adds to the resources Nation’s Finest can offer veterans. The organization, formerly known as the Veterans Resource Center, also operates a 12-bed transitional living facility on Park Marina Drive.

Rebecca Daricek, the site director for Nation’s Finest’s Redding office, says housing is always scarce but “we work with good property managers. We have a lot of hard-to-rent clients and they understand that but inventory is definitely an issue.”

The Redding office, which covers Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas and Lassen counties, currently serves 92 clients.

Daricek says unhoused clients are typically dealing with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, chronic unemployment and often, some form of post-traumatic stress disorder tied to their military service. A typical housed client has fallen behind on rent or utility payments and needs help. ▶ continued on page 93

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“... I’ve got nothing but good to say about the organization. They care about veterans a lot. They’ll help you out, get you lined out and going in the right direction.”

~David Meadows

Case managers at Nation’s Finest help clients build a toolbox of life skills, including creating a budget. Daricek says the three-tiered goal is to move clients from crisis to stability and then to an exit into a sustainable life.

Redding resident Tennille Thomas, who served as a yeoman in the Navy from 1995 to 2005, says she first sought help with her utility bills four years ago and returned to Nation’s Finest recently to get rental assistance.

“I would be homeless if Nation’s Finest didn’t exist,” says Thomas, who relocated to Redding after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Thomas, who is disabled, says she receives $1,600 a month in Social Security benefits and her rent is $907 a month plus utilities.

David Meadows says he had problems adjusting to civilian life after he was discharged from the Army after 12 years of service. The Alturas native, who grew up in Dunsmuir, said the death of his mother, and then the passing of his longtime girlfriend, “put me in a tailspin and my landlord was talking about evicting me.”

Meadows, who lives in a Shasta Lake trailer park with

his dog, Shadow, contacted Nation’s Finest earlier this year “and they bailed me out. I’ve got nothing but good to say about the organization. They care about veterans a lot. They’ll help you out, get you lined out and going in the right direction.”•

Nation’s Finest

153 Hartnell Ave. Suite 100, Redding (530) 223-3211

If you or someone you know is a veteran in crisis, please call the Veterans Crisis Line immediately to reach caring, qualified responders. Dial 988 then Press 1.

Jon Lewis is a Redding-based writer with more than 40 years of experience. A longtime San Francisco Giants fan, his interests include golf, fishing and sharing stories about people, places and things. He can be reached at jonpaullewis@gmail.com.

Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes & Antiquing!

The best gift we receive during the holiday season is our time with family.

And where else can you go to find gifts from 10 cents to 1,000 dollars? Or that perfect White Elephant gift for the office parties? Geri from Memory Lane shared that people actually come in for White Elephants! There truly is something for everyone.

What’s more pleasant than walking around the day after Thanksgiving with the family and grandkids, coffee in hand, indulging your memories? Lower your blood pressure a bit as you remind, reminisce, and find meaningful gifts from these local vendors. Unique gifts for anyone can be found.

Go see what you can’t afford not to buy!

Most dealers know what other dealers have, so be sure to ask where else you need to go.

or

Breakfast of Champions

THE EASIEST, MOST VERSATILE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE EVER

Servings: 8 || Prep Time: 10 minutes || Cook Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

hen November rolls around, many of us start thinking about holiday gatherings, family visits and mornings when a houseful of relatives needs to be fed without stress.

That’s where the humble breakfast casserole steps in. Hearty, comforting and endlessly adaptable, it has become a staple in American kitchens for good reason.

This particular recipe is a lifesaver. It’s simple to prepare, delicious enough to satisfy a crowd, and flexible enough to appease even the pickiest eaters. What I love most about it is that nearly every ingredient can be swapped without fear of ruining the dish.

Don’t care for sausage? Try bacon, ham or even a plantbased substitute. Hash browns not your favorite? Substitute tater tots or leftover potatoes. Not a fan of green peppers? Mushrooms, broccoli, spinach or zucchini will work beautifully. Italian seasoning not your thing? Sprinkle in garlic powder, paprika or even a dash of cayenne for some heat. Prefer Swiss or Monterey Jack to cheddar? Go for it. And if green onions aren’t your garnish of choice, crumble buttery crackers, fried onions or even potato chips over the top for a little crunch. The message is simple: use what you love, skip what you don’t and make it your own.

Another reason to love this casserole is that it’s a host’s best friend. You can prep it the night before, tuck it into the fridge and then slide it into the oven while the coffee brews. By the time everyone stumbles to the table in search of caffeine, you’ll have a piping hot meal ready to serve.

Breakfast casseroles are also wonderful because they don’t require fancy cooking skills or elaborate shopping lists. Eggs, milk, cheese, potatoes, a protein and some vegetables—chances are, you already have most of these things in your fridge or freezer. Unlike delicate pastries or complicated brunch spreads, this casserole embraces imperfection. It’s not meant to be fussy. It’s meant to be enjoyed, preferably with good company and maybe a splash of hot sauce on the side.

There’s also something nostalgic about a dish like this. Many of us grew up with some version of a breakfast casserole at holiday gatherings—maybe grandma’s recipe scribbled on an index card or a neighbor’s contribution to a church potluck. Each casserole tells a little story, reflecting the tastes and traditions of the cook who makes it. This recipe gives you the freedom to create your own story.

So, whether you follow the recipe below to the letter or treat it as a canvas for your own creativity, you’ll end up with something warm, satisfying and just right for a chilly morning. The best part? You don’t have to be a trained chef to pull it off. A whisk, a skillet, and a 9x13-inch baking dish are all the tools you need. •

ingredients

• Butter (unsalted preferred), for greasing the baking dish

• 1 lb. frozen diced or shredded hash browns

• 1 T olive oil

• 1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage or Italian sausage (casings removed)

• 1 cup diced green, red or yellow peppers (I prefer a mix of colors, but you can use one)

• 12 large eggs

• 2 cups whole milk

• 2 tsp. salt

• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning

• ½ tsp. black pepper

• ¾ cup cheddar cheese

• ¼ cup (or to taste) green onions

directions

Step 1: Heat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13-inch ceramic or metal baking dish with butter. Set out the hash browns at room temperature to thaw slightly, breaking up any clumps.

Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and starting to crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, Italian seasoning and pepper.

Step 4: Place the hash browns in the prepared baking dish. Bake hash browns independently for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for about 15 minutes.

Step 5: Add the cooked sausage. Spread into an even layer. Add a thin layer of diced peppers. Pour in the egg mixture.

Step 6: Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread cheese into an even layer on top of the casserole.

Step 7: Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the eggs are set and the casserole is lightly browned at the edges. Cool for 10 minutes, then top with green onions. Cut into squares and serve.

THE HUDDLE

Frank Kratofil enjoys spending time with his family, friends and patients and he enjoys time in the outdoors. As a young man, Frank was legally blind. Two successful corneal transplants encouraged him to photograph the magic in nature... beautiful colors and the delicate balance of nature, animals and humans. Find him on Instagram @frankkratofil

— it’s that popular! The team at Enjoy restocks 3 to 4 times a month at When Pie Meets Bread, and every time, our customers are eager to grab a copy. It’s common to see guests reading it cover to cover while enjoying breakfast, lunch, or one of our espresso drinks. We’re so grateful to partner with such a high-quality lifestyle magazine that truly reflects the spirit of the North State!” Nathan and Adrienne, Owners When Pie Meets Bread

MAPLE PECAN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

SERVES 6–8 || PREP: 20 MINUTES || BAKE: 35 MINUTES

This dish takes humble sweet potatoes and elevates them with warm spices, a hint of maple and a crunchy pecan topping. It’s perfect for fall dinners or Thanksgiving, and it’s as pretty as it is delicious.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE SWEET POTATOES:

• 3 large sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds), peeled and cubed

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

• ¼ cup pure maple syrup

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

• Pinch of salt

FOR THE PECAN TOPPING:

• ½ cup chopped pecans

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 2 T all-purpose flour

• 2 T unsalted butter, melted

• Pinch of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Cook the sweet potatoes. Place cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

Step 3: Add melted butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to the sweet potatoes. Mash until smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Prepare the topping by combining pecans, brown sugar, flour, melted butter and cinnamon in a small bowl. Mix until crumbly.

Step 5: Spread the mashed sweet potatoes evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the potatoes.

Step 6: Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the topping is golden and the casserole is heated through.

Step 7: Drizzle with a little extra maple syrup before serving, if desired.

Tips & Tricks:

• You can make this ahead. Prepare the sweet potato mixture and topping separately the day before. Assemble and bake just before serving.

• Swap pecans for a crunchy oat topping if you need to avoid nuts.

• Add a tablespoon of bourbon or a pinch of smoked cinnamon for a subtle twist.

local events

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 2025

FEATURED EVENTS

anderson

November 1

• Boss of the Toss, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St., 9am-7pm, www.enjoylocalevents.com/events/bossof-the-toss-2025

• Community for Anderson Explodes Steak and Shrimp Dinner, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St., 6:30pm, www.facebook.com/people/Communityfor-Anderson-Explodes/100064705235181

• Shasta County Sports Trading Card & Collectibles Show, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St., 9am-4pm, www.facebook.com/ SomethingOldSomethingNouveau

November 7-8

• Tinsel & Treasures Market, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St., 3-8pm Friday, 9am-4pm Saturday, www.rosesandrustvintagemarket.com

November 4

• Retired Employees’ Association of California, Vittles Restaurant, 2385 North St., 11am-1pm, www.rpea.com November 15-16

• Craft Faire and Swap Meet, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St., 9am-3pm, www.shastadistrictfairandeventcenter.com

November 21

• STEM Career Day 2025: Planting Seeds of Opportunity, Shasta District Fair & Event Center, 1890 Briggs St., 9am-2:10pm, www.stemcareerday. com/2025-stem-career-day

chico

November 1

• Day of the Dead Festival, Silver Dollar Fair Grounds, 2357 Fair St., 12-6pm, www.chicochamber.com

• Dia de los Muertos, Chico Cemetery Association, 881 Mangrove Ave., 1-6pm, www.chicochamber.com

• Gratitude Walk 2025, Bidwell Park, 9am-noon, www.thegratitudewalk.com

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

• Chico Saturday Farmers Market, Downtown Chico municipal parking lot, 2nd and Wall streets, 7:30am-1pm, www.chicofarmersmarket.com

November 5, 12, 19, 26

• Chico Wednesday Farmers Market, North Valley Plaza Mall parking lot, Pillsbury Road adjacent to Trader Joe’s, 7:30am-noon, www.chicofarmersmarket.com

November 23

• Christmas Preview Ice Rink Grand Opening, Downtown Chico Ice Rink, 4-8pm, www.chicorec.gov

• Christmas Preview, Downtown Chico Shops, 4-8pm, www.downtownchico.com

November 29

• Small Business Saturday, Downtown Chico Shops, 11am-4pm, www.downtownchico.com

corning

November 11

• Veterans Day Parade, Beginning in front of City Hall at 3rd and Solano Streets and ending at the Veterans Hall at Solano Street and Houghton Avenue, 11am, www.corningchamber.org

dunsmuir

November 8

• Dunsmuir Second Saturdays, Downtown Dunsmuir, 11am-9pm, www.dunsmuirsecondsaturday.com

etna

November 8

• Etna Veterans Parade, Downtown Etna Main St., 11am-1pm, www.discoversiskiyou.com/event/23rdetna-veterans-parade

fort jones

November 7-14

• The 6th Annual Jewelry Show, Marble Rim Gallery, 11835 Main St., www.marblerimgallery.org

junction city

November 8

• Jills Pysanky Egg Class, JC Community Hall, 71-A Dutch Creek Road, 9am-4pm, www.weavervilleca.org

lewiston

November 29

• Lewiston Bridge Lighting & Fireworks, Lewiston Bridge and Lewistown Shops, 3-7pm, www.lewistonsparkies.com/ bridge-lighting

magalia

November 8

• Magalia Community Center: Madi Gras, Magalia Community Center, 13917 South Park Dr., 6-10pm, www.paradisechamber.com

mount shasta

November 6

• Storytelling with Autie Carlisle, Mount Shasta Sisson Museum, 1 North Old Stage Road, 7-9pm, www.mtshastamuseum.com

November 28

• Winter Magic, North Mount Shasta Blvd., 1-9pm, www.mtshastachamber.com

oroville

November 11

• Veterans Day Parade, Montgomery Street, 11am, www.visitoroville.com/ veteran-s-day-parade

paradise

November 1

• Glazed & Confused Ceramic Show, Paradise Art Center, 5564 Almond St., 5-7pm, www.paradise-art-center.com

November 7-8

• Homespun Holidays Fall Craft Show, Paradise Masonic Lodge, 5934 Clark Road, 10am-4pm, www.paradisechamber.com

• Christmas Preview, Downtown Paradise Shops, paradisechristmaspreview.carrd.co

November 8

• 5th Annual Phoenix 5K, Paradise Stronger, 6848 Skyway Suite P, 9am, www.pinwheel.us/RegistrationInfo/ Event/P5K2025

• Bags and Beans, Terry Ashe Recreation Center, 6626 Skyway, 9am-6pm, www.paradiseprpd.com

November 14

• Friday Night Market, James Square, 59-5 Clark Road, 5-7pm, www.paradisechamber.com

red bluff

November 1

• Santa’s Eves Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair, Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S Jackson St., 11am-6pm, www.facebook.com/ events/1865619294001384

• Art Walk, Downtown Red Bluff, 2-8pm, www.tehamaarts.org

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

• Downtown Farmers Market, River Park, 555 Washington St., 9am-noon, www.redbluffchamber.com

redding

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

• Redding Farmers Market, behind City Hall, 777 Cypress Ave., 7:30am-noon, www.reddingfarmersmarkets.com

• Sipp’n Saturdays, Branch House Riverfront Bistro, 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, 5-7pm, www.branchhouseredding.com

November 1-2

• 10th Annual Shasta EDC Startup Games, IOOF Hall, 1504 Market St., 8am-8pm, www.startupredding.com/games

November 2

• Walking Meditation, Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve, 8-10am, www.horsetownclearcreekpreserve.org

November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

• Trivia Night, Branch House Riverfront Bistro, 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, 5:307:30pm, www.branchhouseredding.com

• Music Bingo, The Tropics, 2555 S. Market St., 7-9pm, www.visitredding.com

November 3, 10, 17, 24

• Music Mondays, Mosaic Restaurant, 826 Sundial Bridge Drive, 6-8pm, www.mosaicredding.com/events

November 5, 12, 19, 26

• Wine Down Wednesdays, Branch House Riverfront Bistro, 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, 5-7pm, www.branchhouseredding.com

November 4, 11, 18, 25

• Step by Step School of Ballroom Dance, Old City Hall, 1313 Market St., 5:30pm and 6:30pm, www.stepbystepballroomdance.com

• Luna Fusion’s Trivia Night, Luna’s Fusion, 2914 Churn Creek Road, 6-8pm, www.visitredding.com

• Karaoke Night, The Tropics, 2555 South Market St., 8pm, www.facebook.com/reddingtropics

November 5

• Bingo Night, All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Dr., 6-7pm, www.episcopalchurchredding.org

November 6, 13, 20, 27

• Country Line Dancing Lessons, Fall River Brewery, 4001 Eastside Road, 6pm, www.visitredding.com

• Trivia Night at the Tropics, 2555 S. Market St., 7pm, www.facebook.com/reddingtropics

November 7

• First Fridays in Downtown Redding, Downtown Redding stores, 5pm, www.visitredding.com

• Starry Night of Art and Wine, North Valley Art League Carter House Gallery, 48 Quartz Hill Rd., 4-7:30pm, www.aauwredding.org/ activities-special-events/starry-nightof-art-and-wine

November 8

• Practicing Curiosity through Nature Journaling, Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve, 10am-noon, www.horsetownclearcreekpreserve.org

November 8, 15

• Sausage Making & Savory Feasts with Furnari Sausage Co., Sizzle’s Commercial Kitchen and Event Space, 1440 Placer St., 6-9pm, www.furnarisausage.ticketbud.com

November 14-15, 21-22

• “Frozen the Musical,” David Marr Theater, UPREP Auditorium, 2200 Eureka Way, 7pm Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday, uprepmusical.com

November 14

• Performing Arts Society of Redding presents “Sheine Nechome” Klezmer Music Ensemble, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2850 Foothill Blvd., 7:30pm, www.pas-redding.org

November 29 & 30

• Saturday 10-5

• Sunday 11 - 4

• 3 Buildings of craft booths

• Free Admission

• Parking $3

• Glenn County Fairgrounds

RIVERFRONT PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS Sponsored by the Orland Historical Society

December 18–20, 2025

7:00pm (Dec 18, 19, 20) · 2:00pm (Dec 20)

November 15-16

• California Chocolate Expo, Red Lion Hotel, 1830 Hilltop Dr., 12-6pm, www.californiachocolateexpo.com

November 19

• Open Night Poetry Night, IOOF Hall Conference Room, 1504 Market St., 7-8:30pm, www.visitredding.com

November 21

• Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, Shasta College Health Sciences Building, 1400 Market St., Room 8220, 8:30am–4pm, www.enjoylocalevents.com

November 27

• 2025 Turkey Trot, Redding Senior Center, 2290 Benton Dr., 8am-noon, www.runsignup.com/Race/ CA/Redding/thanksgivingrun

shasta lake

November 8

• Veterans Day Parade, Shasta Dam Blvd., 7-10am, www.cityofshastalake.gov

November 3-26

• Yoga, Larry J. Farr Community Center, 4499 Main St., 5:30-6:30pm Mondays and Wednesdays, www.enjoylocalevents.com

November 15

• Holiday Bazaar, Larry J. Farr Community Center, 4499 Main St., 8am-2pm, www.cityofshastalake.gov

weed

November 29

• Olde Fashioned Christmas, Heritage Plaza on Main St., www.weedchamber.com

weaverville

November 1

• First Saturdays and Art Walk, Downtown Weaverville, 5-8pm, www.trinitycountyarts.org/art-walk.html

November 8

• Annual Festival of Light Art & Crafts, Veterans Memorial Hall, 109 Memorial Dr., 10am-4pm, www.weavervilleca.org

November 28

• Mountain Magic Christmas, Downtown Weaverville, 5-8pm, www.weavervilleca.org

yreka

November 22

• Holiday Gift Faire, Siskiyou Golden Fair, 1712 Fairlane Road, 10am-4pm, www.sisqfair.com/p/events/holidaygift-fair

anderson library

www.shastalibraries.org

November 4, 11, 18, 25

• Color Your World, 10am

November 6, 13, 20

• Knitting Club, 10am

November 19

• Adult Board Games, 4pm

burney library

www.shastalibraries.org

November 7

• Yarns at the Library, 2-4pm

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

• Mixed Media Art Class, 11am-1pm

November 27

• Adult Book Club, 11am

cascade theater

www.chicoperformances.com

November 5

• The Robert Cray Band, 7:30pm

November 6

• An Evening with David Sedaris, 7:30pm

November 20

• Manual Cinema’s The 4th Witch, 7:30pm

chico performances

www.cascadetheatre.org

November 1

• AJ Lee & Blue Summit, 7:30pm November 7

• International Fly-Fishing Film Tour, 7pm

November 9

• An Evening with Judy Collins & Special Guest Tom Rush, 7:30pm November 21-30

• A Cascade Christmas, 7pm FridaySaturday, 2pm Sunday

chico theatre company

chicotheatrecompany.csstix.com

November 27-29

• “Holiday Inn,” 7:30pm FridaySaturday, 2pm Sunday

feather falls casino

www.featherfallscasino.com

November 15

• Fiesta Nights, 8pm

redding library

www.shastalibraries.org

November 1-30

• Storytime in the Courtyard, Wednesdays, Fridays, 11am

redding civic auditorium

www.reddingcivic.com

November 9

• Golden Girls The Laughs Continue, 5pm

November 19

• The Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, 7pm

November 30

• Jo Koy, 7:30pm

redding performing arts center

www.reddingpac.com

November 1

• “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” 7pm Thursday-Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday

November 13-22

• “A Year with Frog and Toad,” 5pm and 6:30pm Thursday-Friday, 3pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm Saturday

November 28-30

• “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,”5pm and 7pm Friday, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm Saturday, 3pm and 5:30pm Sunday

schreder planetarium

www.shastacoe.org/programsservices/planetarium

November 7

• Kids Night: Up in the Air (Take Flight; Zula Patrol: Under the Weather), 6pm

November 14

• Amazing Stars (Black Holes; Secrets of the Sun), 7pm

November 28

• Violent Origins (Birth of Planet Earth, Incredible Sun; NASA Future of Human Exploration), 7pm

state theatre red bluff www.statetheatreredbluff.com

November 15

• Chad Bushnell 4th Annual Honky Tonk Throwdown, 7pm

theatre on the ridge

www.totr.org

November 6-23

• “The 1940s Radio Hour,” 7:30pm Thursday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday

the dip

www.thedipredding.com

November 4

• Flagman, 8pm

November 7

• Crooked Teeth, All Hype, and Hannah Duckworth, 8pm

November 8

• Super Cassette, JustMakeMeCry, 8pm

November 14

• Blü Egyptian, 8pm

November 15

• The Sextones, 8pm

November 20

• Nekromantix, and The Rumours, 8pm

November 21

• Authority Zero, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Venomous Pinks, 8pm

trinity alps performing arts center

www.tapaconline.org

November 15

• Tapacapolooza, 3-10pm

turtle bay exploration park

www.turtlebay.org

November 1-30

• Water Wonders, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30am

• Sea Monsters Unearthed, Museum Hours

• The Art of Ezra Tucker, Museum Hours

• A Woodworker’s Toolkit: Tools from Turtle Bay’s Collection, Museum Hours

• Selections from the Collection: Picturesque California, Museum Hours

• Fall Plant Sale Extended, Turtle Bay Garden Nursery, Wednesday-Saturday 9am-1pm

November 1

• Mosaics with Angie, 10am-noon November 1-2

• Charlie Rabbit & Friends, Turtle Bay Garden Nursery, 10am

• Tales at Turtle Bay, 10:30am

• Mosaic Gallery: Angie James, Mosaic Hours

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

• Creature Feature Encounters, 11:30am

• Predator vs. Prey Indoor Animal Show, 2pm

November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

• Reptiles Alive!, 2pm

November 6, 13, 20, 27

• Little Explorers, 10-11am

November 7, 14, 21, 28

• Talon Talk, 2pm

November 8

• Plant Talk: Small Garden Design, 10amnoon

• Family Second Saturday, 11am-2pm

November 15

• Science Saturday, 11am-2pm

• Plant Talk: Garden Bones & Garden Structures, 10am-noon

• Paint Night at the Museum: Pumpkins, 4:30-7pm

November 22

• Art Lab, 11am-2pm

November 29

• Guided Garden Walk, McConnell Botanical Garden, 10am

win-river resort & casino

www.winriver.com

November 15

• Fight Night, 7:30pm

November 1-29

• Overtime Live DVJ, Friday and Saturday, 9:30pm

SCAN THIS TO GO DIRECTLY TO OUR EVENTS CALENDAR ONLINE GO DIRECTLY TO OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE GO DIRECTLY TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

HOW TO GET YOUR EVENT ON THIS CALENDAR

If you’d like your event to be listed in this section of Enjoy magazine, please post it on our website www.enjoylocalevents.com by the 1st of the month— one month prior to the next magazine issue. For example, a May event will need to be posted by April 1.

Thanksgiving Interfaith Service presented by Shasta Interfaith Co-sponsored by Reciproka Anti Racism Task Force

Shasta Beloved Community Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect All are welcome!

~Interfaith Choir~Prayers~Readings *Buddhism *Native American *Judaism *Others

Sunday, November 23, 2025

6:00 - 7:30 PM Free family-friendly event

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3410 Churn Creek Rd, Redding

Refreshments by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Contact (530) 243-8862 or ShastaInterfaith@gmail.com

Donations Benefit Reciproka

Want to be a Volunteer? Sign-Up at www.signup.com For all the Trotting Details visit our website www.ShastaRegional.com We are proud to support this Thanksgiving Day community tradition!

Sign up for a 2-Mile walk/run or 6-Mile run, and bring the kiddos down for the Diestlehorst Dash!

shastaregional.com

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BRIEFLY TELL US WHAT TEHAMA TOGETHER IS ABOUT.

Our mission is to work with citizens, businesses, government and nonprofit partners to identify and find solutions for unmet needs of Tehama County residents.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS YOU PROVIDE?

The programs we provide are:

givingback

• Garden mentoring program to raise awareness and build skills for fresh food for schools and residents

• Community Food Alliance/Food Share, which coordinates food drives and runs monthly meetings to connect over 15 emergency food and meal providers

• Nonprofit roundtable, with events and monthly meetings of more than 50 nonprofit organizations across the county enabling them to share resources and optimize their results

• Sher Wintle Dog Park, taking donations to upgrade the park facilities

• K9s for Veterans, which offers free monthly canine obedience trainings for veterans and the general public.

WHEN WAS TEHAMA TOGETHER FOUNDED?

The first meeting of Tehama Together was held on January 19, 2009, the National Day of Community Service, and was attended by approximately 25 people.

Tehama Together is neighbors helping neighbors—linking people with food access, senior support and community resources so Tehama County grows stronger, kinder and more connected.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS RIGHT NOW?

One focus of Tehama Together is promoting food programs that alleviate food instability. In 2025, our fifth summer voucher giveaway provided approximately 135 $25 food vouchers for families at the local Saturday Farmers Market. We will provide approximately 210 turkeys to local food pantries for Thanksgiving dinners. In December, we will provide five-pound bags of mandarins for 273 families at the local Children’s Christmas Festival. These endeavors are made possible through local donations. During the year, we attend approximately 20 events providing the community with food distribution, emergency preparedness, 211 resources and recycling information. Another area of focus is bringing the local dog park up to ADA standards and bringing potable water to the parks. We are also selling commemorative bricks to dog owners who have lost their pets.

WHAT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY DO YOU SERVE?

We serve all Tehama County residents, regardless of age, income or location, depending on need.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU SERVE IN A TYPICAL YEAR?

With a county population of over 60,000, we directly and indirectly help approximately 20,000 people.

HOW CAN INDIVIDUALS GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR WORK?

Volunteers are always welcome, as are new board members to table events, participate in giveaways, help with office work and grant writing and help promote Tehama Together throughout the community.

Fearless explorer

I faced significant challenges in high school and nearly didn’t graduate. After years of unfulfilling jobs, I needed a change. With support from my family and help from a Shasta College counselor, I was able to register.

At Shasta College, I discovered what education could be when it’s rooted in community and support. I found spaces that embraced neurodivergent, queer, and firstgen students like me. Through programs like MESA, TRIO, EOPS, and PACE, I didn’t just survive—I thrived. I became involved not only as a student, but as a peer mentor and employee, helping others find their own sense of belonging. I’m especially grateful to educators and mentors such as Mr. Vanek, Tim Shelton, Professor Grondahl, Jen McCandless, Matt Evans, Jessie Knight, Megan McQueen, Nikki Raymond, and many more who have been invaluable in my growth.

Through Shasta College, I discovered AvenueM, the UC Davis specific branch of the California Medicine Scholars Program, and was thrilled to be accepted into their competitive cohort. This initiative provides a structured pathway to medical school for non-traditional students. I’ve enjoyed connecting

with medical students, UC Davis faculty, and practicing physicians from various specialties. The AvenueM mentorship program is also an amazing benefit that will help me on my path by providing me with a tailored mentor that will accompany me the entire way.

Looking ahead, I plan to transfer to one of AvenueM’s partner universities to complete my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. From there, I will prepare for medical school with a special focus on clinical pathology.

My favorite piece of advice is, “If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared.” Fear was always part of my academic journey, but if I had let it stop me, I wouldn’t be where I am today!

Benjamin Pringle Shasta College Knight