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Fall 2013

Recology Yuba-Sutter is Trashing Cancer to the Curb!

2Peach Tree Health | 5730 Packard Avenue, Suite 500, Marysville, CA 95901 | (530) 749-3242

Health care that meets the needs of women at every stage of life.“As an OB/GYN Physician at Peach Tree Health, my patients have a wide range of needs during all stages of their life. From annual check-ups, to pregnancy care or menopause management, I am there to listen and provide the best possible solutions for all gynecological and obstetrical needs.”

—Penny Larson, MD, FACOG

Pick Peach – We’re in your neighborhood!Marysville: Marysville Immediate Care 724 Fifth Street, Marysville, CA 95901 Hours: Open everyday 7:00 AM to Midnight

Linda: 5730 Packard Avenue Suite 500, Marysville, CA 95901 Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Yuba City: 1445 Veterans Memorial Circle, Yuba City, CA 95993 Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Live Oak9980 Live Oak Boulevard, Live Oak, CA 95953

Peach Tree Health wants to help you and your family – from infants to grandparents. At Peach Tree Health, we put your family’s health first!

I Pick

Find out more at: pickpeach.org

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

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

Me and Mine Magazine, LLC, © Copyright 2013

6 Three Simple Tips for a Healthier You

8 Little Changes

10 Hollywood Pony How To

12 Get Involved!

18 Speech and Language Developmental Milestones

20 Meet the “New” Gabe

3 Pink Purpose, Passionate About Pink!

16 Kason’s Story

22 Starting Over...and Over Again

25 Meet Nicole Riley

35 Getting To Know Karen Hackett-Villalobos

27 Birds of a Feather Flock Together

28 Are You Ready For Some Football?

4 From ME & Mine

Alyssa, Susan and YolandaCover photographedby Moments to Remember Photography

on the cover

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Meet Alyssa, Susan, & YolandaMy name is Alyssa Fukumoto. I was 30 years old and about 13 weeks pregnant when I found the lump in my breast and brought it to the attention of my OBGYN. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (after a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy) at 17 weeks pregnant. It was Stage 2, as my lump was about 3.5 cm in diameter. I had a mastectomy on November 26, 2012 at 18 weeks pregnant and started chemotherapy treatment by 21 weeks pregnant. I, along with the baby in my belly, endured 8 doses of chemotherapy over 16 weeks. My treatment was over by the end of March, and Charlotte June Fukumoto was born on April 15, 2013, three weeks after my last chemotherapy treatment ended. She is a healthy, beautiful, normal baby girl, and is our little miracle!

I would like other women to know in regards to detection that if you feel a lump, get it checked out. Being young(ish!) does not guarantee that it is nothing; it could be something.

My name is Susan Miller. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in May 2007 at the age of 50. After my normal annual mammogram, I received a letter that said the radiologist thought he saw something, and so they wanted me back in to have a second mammogram. After that mammogram, the radiologist was confident that there wasn’t anything to worry about, but just to be on the safe side he decided to do an ultrasound. Thank God for his over cautiousness, because they found my cancer in a completely different area than they had originally looked at.

I guess I would tell other women that you can’t be too cautious. You have to go with your gut instincts. However, if you are diagnosed, just know there can be a happy end to the incredibly long journey of cancer, and someday it will be only a memory.

My name is Yolanda Caratachea and I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 54, at my annual appointment. My doctor felt a lump during my breast exam and sent me to have a mammogram.

I want women to know the importance of taking time for their annual exam. I feel lucky to have found my lump in an early stage. Even if you don’t have insurance, find a way to make it happen and take advantage of the low cost mammogram services during Pink October. Early detection is key in the fight against cancer.

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Passionate About Pink!Cyndi Shatswell honors her mother, Carol Kennedy, every day. Her mother had

breast cancer and fought it for nearly six years, but passed away in 1984 when

Cyndi was just 18. Cyndi hates needles and was never going to get a tattoo, but

thought if her mother could go through the pain of cancer, she could suffer a

little needle in her honor. Her daughters, Jessica Smith and Kaley Shatswell, also

got the matching art to honor the grandmother they never met.

Pink Purpose! Stacy Meagher has been a hairdresser for 20 years.

After having several clients undergo treatment for

cancer, she was inspired to open her shop, Wiggies.

She knew it was hard for women to find help with wigs

within the community, so she was inspired to help

them out. She also offers Xtreme Lashes, which are

lash extensions for fuller and longer lashes. All wig

clients are by appointment only, so that clients get the

privacy and service they deserve.

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Thank you to our contributors!

h fall, how pleased we are for your lovely arrival!

Me & Mine

Brandi Schwartz Design & Photographybrandischwartz.com

Farmhouse Photographyfarmhousephoto.com

Moments To Remember Photography by Michelle Chandlermymomentstoremember.com

Jennifer Jaeger Traynham Publisher

Rona Desmond Marketing & Advertising Executive

Fritzie RhodyMarketing & Advertising Executive

Rena Mathews Marketing & Advertising Executive

Jessica JaegerEditor

GENERAL INVISIBLE BRACES

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

1275 Tharp Rd Suite A. • Yuba City • 530.673.4614www.tomgibsondds.com

Dr. Tom Gibson’s Dental Spa is the Ultimate Choice for your Dental Care!

Equipped with state of the art infrastructure, a knowledgeable and caring team,

and the highest quality of dentistry. Dr. Gibson’s Dental Spa provides

the utmost dental care to enhance the quality of your life. Complete dental

care in one convenient location, Yuba City’s only Dental Spa is for the patient

who won’t compromise care, comfort, or quality.

In this issue, as we welcome autumn, we have embraced a deep

gratitude for a much greater purpose. We adore the start of

something new and trust the magic of beginnings!

Pursuing what we are passionate about may seem like a

dream for some. However, we believe that every human

being has value and purpose, and that there is a true calling

for all of us. The real work of our lives is to become awakened by

our own passions…brilliant, irresistible, and maybe even

life-changing, these should be our great purpose in life.

To really pursue your unique purpose, you need to know

first, deep down in your beautiful soul, what really makes your

heart sing. With true passion, anything is possible.

This fall, we’re delighted to inspire you with an issue filled with

extraordinary people sharing their passions, purposes,

and game-changing experiences. We predict for this season

a few fabulous gatherings with friends,

a slower rhythm as the days become shorter, and a whole

lot of pink in this great community!

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GENERAL INVISIBLE BRACES

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

1275 Tharp Rd Suite A. • Yuba City • 530.673.4614www.tomgibsondds.com

Dr. Tom Gibson’s Dental Spa is the Ultimate Choice for your Dental Care!

Equipped with state of the art infrastructure, a knowledgeable and caring team,

and the highest quality of dentistry. Dr. Gibson’s Dental Spa provides

the utmost dental care to enhance the quality of your life. Complete dental

care in one convenient location, Yuba City’s only Dental Spa is for the patient

who won’t compromise care, comfort, or quality.

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Weight lifting, running, swimming, yoga, Paleo, Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers…. Ughh! Help! There are so many diet and exercise programs out there promising I will get healthy. Which one do I do? Well, the answer is that they all might work…or none of them might work. Instead of obsessing about these various methods of getting in shape, let’s take a look at three areas we can focus on to improve our quality of life and fitness levels.

by Dan Duran

3 Simple Tipshealthier youfor a

Exercise: The definition of exercise is “movement with force.” If force is mass x acceleration, how do we create force? Easy! Our body provides the mass (maybe more than we want) and gravity provides the acceleration. So the answer is…JUST MOVE! Take a look at your average workday and weekend and see where you can create some “interventions” and move more. This is particularly important if you have a job requiring you spend many hours in a seated position. Make it a point to get up every 15 to 30 minutes and MOVE. If you have a TV watching regimen, get up and move at every commercial. This may not seem like much but if you add up sixteen 3-minute breaks at work and eight 3-minute commercials, you exercised for 74 minutes that day! Planned workouts are certainly a great addition to your lifestyle, but when all else fails, just MOVE MORE.

Overtraining: The flip side to trying to move more is exercising too much. This is often accompanied with eating too little. More of a good thing is better,

right? Wrong! Exercise (cardio and strength training) “stresses” the body, just like lack of sleep, poor nutrition, emotional stress, dehydration, and being overweight. When the stressors are added up, it places a great demand on the body. When our bodies are stressed in this fashion, they emit more of a hormone named hydrocortisone,

or “cortisol.” Cortisol is a necessary hormone and it helps keep our blood sugar and other functions in balance, but too much is very detrimental. Excess cortisol levels cause suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar

imbalances such as hyperglycemia, decreased bone density, decrease in muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, lowered immunity, inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, injury, lack of motivation and increased abdominal fat. Does any of that sound familiar? The best thing to do is have a fitness professional help you design a program that fits your lifestyle, but if this isn’t feasible, listen to your body. It will tell you if it’s tired or overworked if you just listen to it. Keep in mind that what doesn’t seem like much exercise to someone else can easily be far too much for your body. We are all at different fitness levels and capable of stressing our tissues at different levels. Regardless of whether you don’t exercise a lot or you are doing too much, we MUST spend most of our time on number three…

Nutrition: Diets don’t work! Our country is currently sitting at just above 66% overweight and obese and the forecast is for us to be at 75% by 2018, which is only five years from now. We have more diet plans and diet foods

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Dan Duran was voted Yuba Sutter’s Best Fitness Trainer for 2012. He is the Fitness

Director and a Professional Trainer at the Yuba City Racquet Club and owner of

Duran Health Solutions Inc. He is currently training to compete in

an Ironman Triathlon in Cozumel this December. He can be reached at

(530) 624-2965 or yubahealth@gmail.com.

3 Simple Tips than ever, but we have made zero impact on obesity. Over two thirds of people who start a diet “fail” within the first month. Instead of going on a diet, start thinking of food as “fuel.” If you want your engine to perform at an optimal level, you have to make sure you put the right fuel in it. We also don’t want to run our fuel tank empty or over-fill it, so eat every 3-4 hours throughout the day. We have the basic fuel needs of protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and water. All of these nutrients are found in REAL FOOD. You do not need a shake, powder, bar, or juice to get them. That means avoid the packages, boxes, cans, drive-thru’s, and convenience foods. You’ll also want to avoid trans-fats and sugar while cutting back on saturated fats to complete the recipe for success. When in doubt, ask yourself this question:

Did this food exist when my great-grandmother was feeding her kids? If the answer is no, it isn’t REAL FOOD, so avoid it. Good nutrition isn’t about “passing” or “failing,” it’s about making the best choice at any given time and being consistent.

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She calls herself the “Director of Household Consumerism.” She challenges our Standard American Diet (SAD) of sugar, salt, fat, and chemicals. She asks very important questions all of us should be asking, such as...

“Why [have] toxins entered my home, my body, and my children’s bodies without me having a say in the matter?”

She asks us to... “Think about what we add to our plate when we are trying to save a dime.”

She asks us to simply Choose Wiser, not just for ourselves, but for our children and our future.

Who is this wise, spirited, driven woman who has connected the dots between our health and the products we eat and use?

She is Kristi Marsh, a breast cancer survivor, mother, wife, and pioneer author of Little Changes: Tales of a Reluctant Home Eco-Momics Pioneer and founder of www.choosewiser.com.

I had the great pleasure of hearing Kristi speak at the Natural Foods Expo in Anaheim this past spring. When Kristi started telling her story you could hear a pin drop in the room. Folks put down their smart phones and slid forward in their seats to listen as Kristi took us though her life’s journey. Although she spoke for an hour, it really only seemed like five minutes. After she spoke, I went up and introduced myself and talked about my journey that led to building New Earth Market. I bought a copy of her book, which I was planning to read when I got back to Yuba City.

However, when I got back to my hotel room that night I cracked open Little Changes and could not put it down. In fact, I was planning on meeting some friends for dinner and going to Disneyland but I was having too much fun being wrapped up in Kristi’s book - ear marking page after page, highlighting section after section that had me saying out loud, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I forgot all about eating dinner and going to the park. In fact, for not being a fast reader, I read the entire book in one sitting.

Kristi puts into words what took me years to discover. Her book gives us lessons about:

• Products with which we smother our skin.

• Foods we devour.

• Surroundings in which we immerse ourselves.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book include:

“Whether my life offered me one day or forty more glorious years, I suddenly had direction. I wanted my actions to be

guided by one priority: health.” (page 12)

“‘It’s just what we do’ was no longer an acceptable reason for me to use a product or perform an action — I would make decisions based on awareness and not manipulative marketing. I would choose wiser for my family and myself.” (page 19-20).

Talking about her friends: “These were intelligent, caring, amazing women. I understood it was easier — choosing to remain unacquainted with the facts does make life simpler. Because once we know something, we can’t not know it. Which leaves us with two choices: make positive changes to our lifestyle by switching up what we use and purchase, or continue using products with full knowledge of what they contain and could possibly do to our health. Not knowing was effortless. But I truly felt that if my friends really

knew what I knew, they’d be willing to join me on this journey.” (page 77-78).

“I came across an encouraging study that helped give me direction. The study found that children who ate an organic diet for just five days reduced their circulating pesticide endocrine disruptors to undetectable levels. For me, that study sealed the deal — I was going organic.” (page 104).

Everyone should read this book.

Be well!

Kevin Cotter

Managing Partner New Earth Market

Little Changes can be purchased directly from www.choosewiser.com, on Amazon, or locally at New Earth Market in Yuba City. Kevin Cotter is Managing Partner of locally owned and community based New Earth Market and Deli in Yuba City. Kevin was born and raised in Yuba City.

Little Changes Book Review by Kevin Cotter

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How ToBy Melissa Poma Photography by Monica Green

HollywoodPony

Melissa Poma shares with us how to transform our

everyday ponytail into the Hollywood Pony.

It’s quick, easy, and fabulous!

Step 1: Prep HairAfter shampooing,

work a flexible hold mousse

through towel-dried hair. In the crown area & top of the

head, spritz a volume spray for extra lift.

Step 2: Blow DryUsing a medium ceramic round brush, blow dry hair, lifting at the roots for volume and smooth ends.

Step 3: The BumpCreate a circular section at the top of the head, around the sides, and down to occipital bone in the back of the head. Back comb or quick tease this entire area and clip away.

Step 4: First PonyPull the sides back in a low ponytail (right under the

occipital bone) and secure with a clear thin band.

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Melissa Poma is the owner of Melissa Poma Hair in Yuba City. She has worked in Beverly Hills with top stylists and celebrity clients. She has extensive training and continues her celebrity style in Northern California. Melissa specializes in color correction, the latest haircuts, hair extensions, and the Keratin Smoothing System. Follow melissapomahair on Instagram.

Spray, lipstick, & you’re it!

Step 5: Final PonyLightly smooth out the top into the sides & into a pony. Be careful not to flatten out the bump. Smooth the sides tight so it accentuates the bump and secure with clear thin band over existing pony tail. For extra bump lift, use a rat tail comb and lift from the middle.

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The Acting Company is Yuba-Sutter’s only non-profit community theatre. It began in the early 80’s as Theatre 86, but its name changed to “The Acting Company” a few years later. The current location, at 815 B Street across from Yuba City High, was extensively remodeled nine years ago and now holds 74 patrons. We estimate that between the box office volunteers, actors, directors, stage crews, and others, we have more than 175 people involved each year. The Acting Company really has two focuses. One is our “Main Stage” productions for adult shows, of which we have seven each year. The other “division” is the Magic Theatre children’s programs, which include monthly Saturday acting classes for youth ages six to sixteen, summer Youth Acting Workshops, and six children’s plays each year which are staged on Saturday afternoons.

Because this is community theatre, everything is totally volunteer-based. Many of the actors, especially in the children’s shows--get their start at The Acting Company. The theatre also has volunteer opportunities in the box office on weekdays and during the performances, as well as opportunities to distribute posters and flyers, fundraise, help in theatre cleaning, stage managing, set construction, and lots more! The other opportunity to be involved is to support the theatre through your attendance at shows and by providing donations (The Acting Company is a non-profit 501 c3).

Complete information on show times and tickets can be seen online at www.actingcompany.org. You can also call or stop by the box office at the theatre weekdays between noon and 2:00. (530) 751-1100.

Get Involved!Photography by Brandi Schwartz Design and Photography

We hear about all of the activities for kids in the community,

but what about us? So many times we hear someone say, “I

need a hobby,” and we’re here to tell you that our community

is full of great organizations to join. Go for it! Get Involved!

get involvedPhotography by Brandi Schwartz Design and Photographyand Divino San Pedro DSP PhotographyBy Bob Harlan, Lou Binninger, and Margaret Evans

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BUILDING FOR YOU

Rideout Regional Medical CenterA modern State-of-the-art healthcare facility to serve you better

P r e s e n t i n g

Good MedicineR i g h t H e r e a t H o m e

For more than a century, the physicians, nurses and staff of Rideout Health have been committed to delivering quality

healthcare and services to the people of Yuba-Sutter.Caring for our community is our highest calling.

Several years ago, we set a course to transform our organizationinto a regional model of integrated medical services — including

emergency, acute, primary and specialty medicine, from maternity to senior living. We’ve made major investments in infrastructure,

technology and people that is already delivering a variety andquality of care rarely found in the community of this size.

Our footprint in historic Marysville is expanding dramatically.We’ve already doubled the size of the Rideout Cancer Center,

one of our partnerships with UC Davis Health System and greatly enlarged the Rideout Emergency Department. Our ED is a certifi ed

Level III Trauma and a STEMI-receiving center, able to handle the most serious forms of heart attacks. In spring 2015, construction of the

six-story addition to the hospital will be complete and the newRideout Regional Medical Center will be fully operational.

In Yuba City, the Rideout Surgery Center houses a variety ofspecialty clinics, including orthopedics, thoracic oncology, pain

management and ENT; and Rideout Senior Living has facilities forskilled nursing, assisted living and Alzheimer’s/dementia care.

RideoutHealth.org | f/FremontRideout

Photography by Brandi Schwartz Design and Photographyand Divino San Pedro DSP Photography

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The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) is a simple idea that produces a profound outcome. At every emergency incident there are people who may be unharmed physically, but who are emotionally traumatized.

TIP sends specially trained citizen volunteers to respond to emergency scenes within 20 minutes of dispatch in order to provide emotional and practical support to those people affected by the event. Volunteers are available 24/7.

Having TIP on the scene relieves pressure on emergency responders attempting to resuscitate someone, do an investigation, clear an accident, or stop a fire. Victims are assured that their needs will be met and questions answered. Resources and literature are provided to clients for immediate and ongoing care. Emergency personnel are then freed to take the next call sooner.

Wayne Fortin, a psychologist for San Diego Mental Health, developed TIP in 1985. His dream of “Citizens Helping Citizens in Crisis” has seen chapters established throughout the United States.

Locally, TIP people serve all law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hospitals, and ambulance services in Yuba, Sutter, and South Butte counties. Forty to fifty volunteers respond to 35-40 calls for service per month.

Citizens 14 years of age and up can join TIP by completing a 55- hour training academy and passing a Department of Justice background check. Each volunteer then agrees to be on call for three 12-hour shifts per month and attend a monthly 3-hour continuing education meeting.

More information about TIP can be obtained at www.yubasuttertip.org.

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get involved...

The Sutter Buttes Garden Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification of the Yuba Sutter communities. Their goal includes continuing education, not only for their members, but also for the general population. It is their hope, through their efforts, that the community will grow as gardeners and enjoy the beauty of their endeavor.

They take on projects that the public can enjoy. For example, they just finished the patio at the Sutter County Museum. They also care for the front of the museum and the rose garden around the back. Other projects include the Sutter County Library, Sutter County Veterans Memorial, Yuba -Sutter Chamber of Commerce - Madden House, Yuba City fire department planters, Yuba-Sutter fair administration building planters, and the Yuba- Sutter courthouse memorial garden. They also give two to three $1000 scholarships to local high schools, as well as donations to local garden projects. The members of this club value the friendships they have made through the club and enjoy taking trips together to nurseries, garden, and flower shows.

The Sutter Buttes Garden Club is open to anyone who would like to join. They welcome guests to see what they are all about. If you are interested in attending a meeting or considering membership, contact the membership chairman, Libby Haraughty, at 530.673.5587.

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Visit DowLewisMotors.com

2913 Colusa Highway, Yuba City (West of WalMart)

(530) 674-2000Open Mon-Fri 8am to 7pm

Sat 9am to 6pm

With Every Eligible New and Pre-Owned Vehicle Purchase

Included at no additional cost! Just follow the manufacturer

required maintenance schedule, or our recommendation on eligible

pre-owned vehicles!

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As a parent, you’re excited to hear your little

one’s voice move from babbles and coos to

words, and of course one day to conversations

with you. We look forward to these milestones,

and when our child isn’t hitting them, we can’t

help but question why.

Kason’sPhotography by

Brandi Schwartz Design and

Photography Story

Kaylee Garramore was concerned about her two year old son, Kason. As a baby he did not coo or babble, so when he was two years old and not talking, Kaylee expressed her concerns to their pediatrician. At first, they chalked it up to the fact that he was the second child, and a boy. But after Kason’s continued silence, his grunting and pointing, and the fact that he was growing frustrated by not being able to communicate, Kaylee contacted the pediatrician with urgent concern. As a mom, she just knew something wasn’t right.

Kason was connected with Alta Regional, where he went through multiple screenings. They ruled out autism, and were then referred to Stanford. At Stanford, the neurologist ruled out many medical fears, but Kason was ultimately diagnosed with Childhood Verbal Apraxia of speech, which is a motor planning disorder. After receiving the diagnosis, Kason began to learn sign language to help bridge the gap of communication. He was very responsive and excited to have people finally understand him. He also started speech therapy with Andrea West. With Andrea’s help, Kason is making great progress, and can now put 3-4 words together.

Kason has had a great team of caring people to help encourage him on his journey. Norcal Def, Alta Regional, Family Soup, and New Adventures preschool have all been instrumental in his progress. They have all teamed up to help make a difference and provide the care Kason and his family needed. Kaylee encourages all mother to trust their intuition and to be their child’s advocate. After all, “a mother understands what a child does not say.”

By Jennifer Jaeger Traynham

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Visit DowLewisMotors.com

2913 Colusa Highway, Yuba City (West of WalMart)

(530) 674-2000Open Mon-Fri 8am to 7pm

Sat 9am to 6pm

With Every Eligible New and Pre-Owned Vehicle Purchase

Included at no additional cost! Just follow the manufacturer

required maintenance schedule, or our recommendation on eligible

pre-owned vehicles!

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By Andrea West

Andrea West has been a practicing speech/language pathologist for 18 years. She has a private practice in Yuba City, specializing in early language development. Her primary goal in therapy focuses on improvement of functional speech/language skills within the areas of receptive and expressive

language skills, articulation, and social skill development.

Birth-3 Months, coos, produces varied cries, smiles or quiets when spoken to

4-6 Months: laughs, babbles, responds to changes in tone of voice

7 Months-1 Year: produces a few words, uses gestures to communicate, recognizes some common words, understands simple routine requests

1 Year Olds: understands simple directions and questions, produces more words each month, uses jargon, identifies some body parts

2 Year Olds: understands 2-step requests, understands simple action words, produces many 2-word sentences, speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time, can name most common objects

3 Year Olds: answers who, what, where, and when questions; produces 3-word sentences most of the time; understands complex sentences; uses words ending in –ing (i.e. eating), plurals (i.e. cows, books), pronouns (i.e. he, I, my), and simple prepositions (i.e. in, on, by)

4 Year Olds: uses complete sentences with details, communicates easily with other adults and children, pays attention to short stories and can answer questions about them

SpeechLanguageand

Developmental Milestones

If your child is grunting and pointing to communicate their wants and needs, encourage them to use verbal language by giving them a model of what to say. For example, if they are pointing to an apple while grunting, provide them with the word and pause before giving it to them to encourage verbal imitation.

Expand on your child’s verbal productions. For example, if they say, “mama,” you may respond back with, “Mama go.”

Comment on what your child is saying or doing throughout the day.

Read books. Read, look at, and talk about the pictures.

Encourage pretend play and play along with your child.

Gesture when you speak to your child to increase their under-standing of what you are saying.

If your child does not understand your requests, help them to un-derstand by giving the request, pausing to see if they understand, and if they do not, show them or help them do it. For example, you may ask your child, “Go get the ball and give it to me.” If they do not understand, point to the ball and then hold out your hand. If they do not understand the request even with cues, point to the ball and walk with them to get it. Then, hold out your hand and help them place it in your hand.

Provide pauses and reasons for your child to communicate. If you know your child is hungry, wait for him/her to communicate that they are hungry. For example, wait for them to point to the refrig-erator and then you can provide the word “eat.”

8 Tips to Enhance Speech and Language Skills

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When your whole life has been one day, you want it to be a very good day.

P r e s e n t i n g

Good MedicineR i g h t H e r e a t H o m e

At the Women & Infants Center at Fremont Medical Center in Yuba City, you will fi nd

everything to make your baby’s fi rst day a good one.

Things like: Spacious, private bedrooms; as much time as you like with your baby in your room; and the same

helpful nurse for mother and child.

To learn more, visit us online at RideoutWomenInfant.org. Or, to sign up for our free childbirth

classes call, 751-4165.

WOMEN & INFANT SERVICES at Fremont Medical Center

970 Plumas St.,Yuba City, CA (530) 751-4165

www.RideoutWomenInfant.org | f/FremontRideout

G I F T O U T L E T

Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm

901 N Walton AvenueYuba City CA 95993

800-447-5218www.sunsweet.com

Providing Healthy Products

to Our Community

Dried Fruits Gift Packs

Nuts • Confections

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abe was born eight weeks premature and had struggled with illnesses and allergies

his entire life. He regularly had ear infections, problems with his ears, and very high fevers. When he was an infant, Gabe’s doctors told his parents that he had allergy issues and that they would start him on medications when he was old enough. At age 2, Gabe started taking daily medication. Over the next eight years, he saw at least 5 or 6 medical specialists in the region. Every time he saw one of these doctors, they were concerned about his swollen nasal passages and tonsils, and added a new medication to combat his allergies.

Gabe’s parents, Bo and Tamara, Gabe often having struggles in school. Bo recalls him getting in trouble often, as he would have trouble listening, paying attention, and understanding information when the teacher (or one of his parents) wasn’t looking directly at him. Tamara says it was also very difficult to get Gabe to wake up and get ready for school. She had to start waking him up 45 minutes before he had to get up, otherwise it was almost impossible to get him going in the morning. Gabe would struggle physically in school, as well. He says, “I couldn’t run in P.E. class like the other kids could. They could run

a whole mile, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t breathe and would have to quit, and they would give me a hard time about it.” His parents also say that getting him to go to bed was never a problem. He was always tired and would ask them if he could go to bed early, always before 8:00.

In the summer of 2012, Gabe met Dr. Tom Gibson. Dr. Gibson vividly remembers the first time he met Gabe. They had a nice visit, but Dr. Gibson could tell right away that something wasn’t right. Gabe had

telltale dark areas under his eyes, and his voice just didn’t sound right; it didn’t have a normal resonance. When Dr. Gibson looked in Gabe’s mouth, he saw that his tonsils were grossly enlarged and the airway space between them was inadequate. His upper dental arch was abnormally narrow and had a high vault to it. This abnormality is a developmental skeletal defect resulting from his tongue being forced forward and upward by his enlarged tonsils, a condition which had probably been present his whole life. Dr. Gibson

Gabe is a healthy, happy 11-year-old who enjoys doing the same kinds of things that other boys his age like to do. He is the youngest member of an energetic family that enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, fishing,

and trips to the mountains. Unfortunately, in his early years, life for Gabe was not as wonderful.

By Dr. Tom Gibson, DDS &

Dr. Nancy Haley Appelblatt MD, FACS, FAASMMeet the “New” GabeHow a dentist, a doctor, and a medical procedure gave a boy a new start in life.

Photography by Brandi Schwartz Design and Photography

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asked Gabe if he could breathe through his nose. Gabe responded that not only could he not do so, but that he had never been able to… ever. Upon further questioning, Gabe told Dr. Gibson that he always snored loudly, and that his family always complained about it. When Dr. Gibson asked him if he did well in school, his face sank a bit, and he responded, “No, not very well.” Gabe was then asked if he would be interested in seeing a new doctor that could help him change everything, and he excitedly agreed.

When Dr. Gibson told Gabe’s mother, Tamara, about Dr. Nancy Appelblatt and how she could help Gabe, Tamara was ecstatic. Two days later, Gabe and Tamara walked into Dr. Appelblatt’s office in Sacramento. It was the beginning of a new life for Gabe.

Over three months after Gabe’s surgery, Dr. Gibson sat down with Gabe and his parents to find out how Gabe and the family were doing. Gabe was much taller, having grown 2 or 3 inches, and had been eating at least twice as much as he had been before the surgery. Dr. Appelblatt attributes Gabe’s growth to improved sleep and a hearty appetite. She explains, “Kids with breathing disorders don’t get the high quality REM sleep they need, and they often don’t have a healthy appetite either.

Both of those are essential for the normal release of growth hormones.”

Physically, Gabe said he feels like a new person. Now he can run a mile in P.E. and even beats the other kids! Tamara said he stopped snoring not long after the surgery and has not snored since. Sleepwalking and talking in his sleep has stopped as well. Gabe is doing better in school now, too. The message that Tamara and Bo want other parents to learn from Gabe’s story is to be tenacious and never give up if you know something isn’t right with your child. They say they always felt they should trust Gabe’s doctors because they were doctors, but were very frustrated

when Gabe continued to have problems. It was really hard at times, but now they know that if a parent knows something is wrong, they shouldn’t give up until they get answers!

Gabe still has months of healing ahead of him and the full level of his medical procedure’s success is yet unknown, but it is clear that he is a remarkably different person. His eardrums will always have some permanent scarring, and he will need full orthodontic treatment to correct his skeletal deficiency, but his future is much brighter now. The sky is the limit for the “new” Gabe!

Treatment When Dr. Appelblatt first saw Gabe, he looked so bad that she actually checked him for cystic fibrosis and immune deficiency, which thank goodness he did not have. She says that she still has a hard time believing his condition did not get treated for so long, as it was easily treatable.

Dr. Appelblatt found that Gabe’s nose was full of pus, as were his sinuses, due to enlarged adenoids. His eardrums also did not move when they were examined. She found that he had a chronic infection, which can be silently dangerous. His infection was so bad that had his hearing loss been nerve loss, he would have needed a hearing aid. Before treatment, Gabe was hearing at only 40 decibels due to the fluid in his ears.

Gabe was much improved after specific treatment for his infection with antibiotics and steroids, but still had persistent obstruction, infection, and an element of sleep apnea. Dr. Appelblatt recommended to his parents that he have a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, as well as an opening of his sinuses and a drainage of his ears with tubes placed, as his hearing loss had been ongoing.

By Dr. Tom Gibson, DDS &

Dr. Nancy Haley Appelblatt MD, FACS, FAASM

Dr. Tom Gibson DDS is a general dentist practicing general and cosmetic dentistry with offices in Yuba City and Colusa, and his website is www.tomgibsondds.com.

Dr. Nancy Haley Appelblatt MD, FACS, FAASM is a dual board certified physician specializing in otolaryngology (ENT), and pediatric and adult sleep medicine. She practices with Sacramento ENT and their website is www.sacent.com.

Their goal in working together is to raise awareness in our area of the critical value of quality sleep in childhood development, and to help children in our area who have sleep disorders get the help that they need to become healthy, thriving members of our community.

Photography by Brandi Schwartz Design and Photography

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s a mother of two with a full-time job, I admit that though I love my children so much it terrifies me, there are nights that my two hours with them feels like seven. Other nights, I could spend seven hours

watching them do nothing, while crying tears of sentimental joy. But the one thing that never changes is my certainty that two children is a perfect number for me. So, when I watched my best friend—over a twenty-one year span—give birth to four children, create a blended family that included a stepson, and celebrate her fortieth birthday by watching her fifteen-month-old son play with her seven-month-old granddaughter, I had to get her take on parenting.

Suzi Ramsey had her first child at eighteen and her second child fourteen months later. She embraced parenting—and her new little miracles, T.J. and Jordanna—with open arms, a little fear, and a lot of help from her parents. As a single parent, times were difficult, financially and emotionally, but she found her strength easily just through being a mom. At 26, her heart was captured by Wade Ramsey, an acquaintance from high school. Wade had a son named Cameron who was the same age as TJ. Wade and Suzi were soon married and welcomed their fourth child, Owen, two years later. As Suzi approached her fortieth birthday, she received another visit from the unplanned child fairy and welcomed her newest son, Henry, in February 2012.

As I sat down with Suzi to get her insight on her last twenty-two years, I think some of the things she told me even came as a surprise to her:

Q: What do you remember most about being a new mom at a young age?

A: Honestly? I remember coming home from the hospital with TJ thinking someone, at some point, was going to realize I was unworthy or didn’t deserve him, and come and take him away from me. I did everything the best way I could, but when I heard someone knock at the door, I truly thought they were coming to get him.

Q: Really?!

A: [Laughing] Yes!

Q: What do you recall about the years when it was just you, TJ, and Jordanna?

A: It was truly one of the best times of my life! I remember having Little Caesars ‘Pizza Pizza’ in the fridge because eating it together at the little bar in the kitchen on Friday nights was an event. I remember our backyard being overgrown with weeds, but turning it into a play area for them, and when Jordanna got a fish for her birthday and took care of it all on her own. I remember setting up TJ’s race track by the fireplace on Christmas Eve, and being so excited to see their faces when they came out Christmas morning. Now you’re making me cry!

by Michelle McCormack Brooke

Photography by Moments to Remember Photography

Starting Over…

againandover

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[Through tears] What’s weird is that I remember feeling like all we needed was the three of us. That all I needed to do was be their mom and just doing that made me feel like I was in my place.

Q: Now you’re making me cry. Let’s lighten it up. When you married Wade, what was it like to go from a single mom of two to a blended family of five?

A: It was easy at first because it was new and everyone was on their best behavior, but it became more challenging. It’s hard to watch someone who doesn’t know your child’s every quirk and who wasn’t there all along make decisions and enforce discipline. I always wanted Cameron to feel happy, comfortable, and like our home was permanent for him. All the kids pushed buttons and crossed boundaries, but eventually things smoothed out and we had fun together.

Q: You and Wade were excited when you became pregnant with Owen. How was parenting different that time around?

A: I still worked full-time, but this time I wasn’t doing it alone—not only because of Wade, but the big kids were helpful too. I guess I felt like a grown-up. I had a lot more patience with Owen at this stage of my life, and I was much more focused on what he was doing than what I was doing.

Q: So, in 2011 you were living a life that finally had a little more of Suzi in it, and you were definitely finished having children. Talk to me about that.

A: I loved all the kids the same, in completely different ways, but I looked forward to living with Wade and Owen in a quiet, less chaotic household as the older kids moved on to their independent lives, and I was excited for the one-on-one experience with Owen. I started Pilates and lost 20 pounds. I was feeling healthier and things were going great.

Q: Then came the positive pregnancy test. Talk to me about that.

A: Oh my gosh (laughing). My reaction to that was not exactly magical. It took me awhile to come to terms with starting over again. I don’t even know if I fully embraced the news until he was born. But when they laid him on my chest he didn’t even cry. He just looked at me with his huge, brown eyes and I fell in love with him and all of my apprehension was gone.

Q: You became a grandma this year. How has that been for you, and how is it to watch little Michelle play with her “big” (nearly same-age) Uncle Henry?

A: It’s surreal, but I love it. I don’t know if I have the feeling you’re supposed to have when you’re a grandma. Traditionally, you become a grandma when you’re all grown up and long to have another baby in your life. I have my own baby in my life, so having Michelle around feels completely natural. The feeling of being able to ‘give her back when she cries’ is pretty much non-existent because I don’t escape to that freedom. I can give her back, but I have another one waiting and crying [laughing]. Even though he’s little, Henry definitely takes the position of the “uncle” by trying to dominate her and love her like an equal at the same time

Q: How is parenting at forty different from parenting in your teens?

A: It’s night and day. When I was young, I felt invincible--I didn’t think about home invasion robberies or keeping the

doors locked during the daytime. Now, in most ways it’s easier because I’m older, but all the things I’ve learned to be afraid of over time make it harder. When Henry was brand new, I was terrified of SIDS—I never even thought about that with TJ and Jordanna, and it was fleeting even with Owen. Henry has slept every night for nine hours straight since he was three weeks old—I would have killed for that in my younger days, but now I can’t enjoy the solitude because I sneak in repeatedly

to touch his back for breathing motion. Schedules, bed-times, and consistency are now a daily way of life; at eighteen, I didn’t realize that importance. I remember telling people back then that we had no routine and our life was “chaotic, but it works for us.” That was so absolutely untrue—I have no idea how I did it and stayed sane. I can’t imagine that lifestyle now.

I love watching in wonder and amazement as Henry discovers things. I know that every action of his is fleeting so I cherish every little thing he does.

Q: Be honest: would you change anything?

A: No. The only thing I would change is time. . . then I could go back and do it again.

Michelle McCormack Brooke is a freelance writer, editor and

professional technical writer. Michelle is a lifelong Yuba-Sutter resident and currently lives in Yuba City with her

husband, Ken, and two beautiful boys, Jeremy and Joshua.

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Turkey DriveNovember 22, 2013, an event dedicated to

feeding families in our community this holiday season, supporting Yuba Sutter Gleaners

& River Bottom Ministries

Friday, Nov. 22th 7:00am and 7:00pm.

Sponsored by:Hust Bros. • Dr. Tom Gibson

Me and Mine Magazine • Hilbers Inc. • New Earth Market YC Racquet Club & Rolling Stone Pizza

Serving Starbucks coffee, no need to even get out of the car!This is a great opportunity to bring kids down and show them the benefits of helping someone less fortunate.Every donated turkey will be distributed the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas to a local family in need.

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orn a gymnast, Nicole Riley amazed many with her talent as a young athlete. Her confidence, determination and talent made her

shine. But Nicole was also an academic star and had big dreams of helping children. As a little girl, she wanted to be a pediatrician, and held onto that dream through her teenage years. After high school, she graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biological Sciences and went on to get her Master’s Degree in Physician Assisting from Western University of Health Science. Just after Nicole completed her final year of school, she began to question her passion of wanting to be involved in the medical profession. While she decided to look for the “perfect career,” she began coaching gymnastics again, and realized quickly that it was her destiny.

She explains, “I realized that my childhood dream of working as a pediatrician translated into a different type of doctoring. I find passion in doctoring a child’s self esteem, confidence, and physical abilities.” Although many people thought she was crazy after all the time and money she had invested in her education, she knew she had to instead do what she loved: coach gymnastics. Nicole says that she loves coaching because she loves the raw nature of a child. Their innocence, unconditional love, and their ability to turn a bad day into something spectacular inspires her. Nicole’s hope is to not only create the best gymnasts, but overall her goal is to foster positive children into becoming positive adults one day. Celebrating each success, harvesting every smile, and teaching them to enjoy every moment on the gym floor will ensure such a feat. She says that gymnastics has been a part of her life since the age of three, and she loves it because it has taught her discipline, confidence, perseverance, and dedication.

Walking away from what she thought was the dream job allowed her to follow the path to her destiny: being the owner of Riley’s Gymnastics Academy.

Nicole RileyWe love sharing your journeys to happiness…..

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Birds of a Feather

We love getting the girls together…and of course, adding a little flair by skipping the traditional wine and beer, and springing instead for something a bit more festive! We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite concoctions to sip while you gather with your favorite girls!

Gin Fig FizzINGREDIENTS:

1 part fig-infused simple syrup1 part ginsqueeze of lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine simple syrup, Gin, and lemon juice.Top with soda water.Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

Fig Infused Simple Syrup

1 part sugar1 part water2 figs per 1/2 cup sugarChop fig. Stir water, sugar, and fig in a saucepan over low heat until sugar is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes. Strain and pour in a glass jar.

Cranberry Cream CoolerINGREDIENTS: Whipped Cream Vodka - 100% Cranberry Juice - Soda Water.

INSTRUCTIONS: Pour 1 oz. whipped cream flavored vodka over ice and top with soda water. Add a splash of cranberry juice. Top with decorative drink stirrers.

Flock Together!

The Classic Champagne Cocktail Lovely ladies always call for serious amounts of bubbly. But instead of just serving a glass, why not add a dash of bitters, a slice of lemon, and a sugar cube to create a Classic Champagne Cocktail?! Try this refreshing alternative to plain champagne—and add a little sparkle with fancy drink stirrers!

INGREDIENTS: Chilled Champagne - Sugar cubes - Lemon peels - Angostura bitters

INSTRUCTIONS: Place 1 sugar cube in the bottom of each glass and top with chilled champagne. Add 3-5 dashes of aromatic bitters (to taste), and garnish with a lemon peel. Cheers and enjoy!

Photography by Brandi Schwartz Design and PhotographyBy The Cigar Box, Historical Downtown Marysville

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hile we love the big feasts so

characteristic of the holidays,

we also have a soft spot for

creative, friendly gatherings…

and we especially love a progressive football party!

Team up with your friends & neighbors for football,

food, and whole lot of fun. For a typical progressive

party, a different course is served at each house on

the party route. The host of each leg of the progressive

party coordinates their party menu with the party

theme….in this case, football. We are pleased to

share here, courtesy of The Brick in historic downtown

Marysville, a few of our favorite football foods. One dish

can be served by each host, moving from one house to

another for each quarter of the game!

Are You Ready For Some

Photography by Brandi Schwartz Design and Photography

by Richard Stapp, Chef at The Brick Coffee House Café

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INGREDIENTS: 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

4 teaspoons minced fresh dill

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Dash salt and pepper

1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped

1/4 cup chopped green onions

5 flour tortillas (10 inches), room temperature

1/2 pound sliced deli Black Forest ham

1/2 pound sliced Swiss cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, dill, lemon

juice, mustard, salt and pepper until blended. Stir in

cherries and onions. Spread over each tortilla; layer

with ham and cheese.

Roll up tightly; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at

least 2 hours. Cut into 1/2-in. slices. Yield: about

3-1/2 dozen.

PINWHEELS

HALF TIME MANGO BBQ CHICKEN SALAD

Fill each plate with Spring Mix salad, then top with the following:

INGREDIENTS:

5-6 sliced red & yellow bell

peppers

8-10 pieces chopped red onion

Sliced cucumber

4 oz. diced mango chicken

(see recipe)

6 grape tomatoes

Sprinkle of almond slices

¼ sliced avocado

Your favorite Ranch dressing

Mango ChickenINGREDIENTS:

3 cups Fresh mangos

32 oz. BBQ sauce

INSTRUCTIONS:

Blend mangos and BBQ sauce

in food processor.

Using boneless chicken breasts,

brush sauce on both sides

while grilling or baking.

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INGREDIENTS: SandwichFrench Roll

4 oz. cooked roast beef,

cut into sliced strips

Shredded lettuce

Diced tomatoes

Mayo

Herb Sauce (see recipe)

Shredded Parmesan cheese

Olive Oil

Melted Butter

Herb SauceSmall red onion

3 garlic cloves

1 tbsp coarse ground pepper

2 oz. fresh basil

2 oz. fresh oregano

1 1/2oz. dried dill

2 oz. fresh Italian parsley

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine all ingredients in food processor

and blend until smooth. Refrigerate 2

hours before using.

TOUCHDOWN ROAST BEEF SANDWICHBrush open-faced rolls with butter,

then grill. Quickly heat a pan and

grill the roast beef with oil until hot.

Lay the grilled roll open. Spread

the mayo, cover it with lettuce, place

the roast beef on the lettuce, and

drizzle the herb sauce over roast beef.

Top with tomatoes & sprinkle with

parmesan cheese.

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HOMEMADE PEACH ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES

INGREDIENTS: 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

6 fresh peaches

½ cup dried cranberries

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1½ cup brown sugar

2 cups cold heavy cream

1 dozen large white chocolate-

macadamia nut cookies (keep frozen)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Using a food processor, puree skinless peaches, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.

In a medium bowl, stir together the condensed milk, vanilla, and pureed peach mixture.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream on high until stiff peaks form, or about 3 minutes.

Gently fold whipped cream into the milk/peach mix using a rubber spatula.

Pour into a 4 ½ x 8 ½ inch loaf pan.

Freeze until firm; about 6 hours.

Then, spoon ice cream onto the bottom of a cookie, compacting with your hand as you go. After you have your desired thickness, put top cookie on.

Wrap with plastic wrap and freeze for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

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860 HAZEL STREET DOWNTOWN GRIDLEY

530.846.2314MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 10AM-6PM

SATURDAY 10AM-4PM

Unique Gifts & Home Decor

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25% OFFANY 1 ITEM!

Richard StappHead Chef at The Brick Coffee House CaféHailing from Southern California, Richard was first influenced and taught how to cook at a young age by first his mother, then by his older brother Ted, both of whom possessed incredible cooking skills and knowledge. He went on to gain 24 years of restaurant experience. Richard is also a musician, having played the guitar, among other instruments, since the age of 6. “Victor Hugo said ‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’” Being both a musician and a chef, Richard has learned that food is very much the same as music, which is why he believes he is so passionate about what he does.

HARVEST MOON PUNCH(Serves 20)

1.5 liters applejack

2 liters pear nectar

6 limes, juiced

2 oz. honey

2 liters champagne

5 dashes Angostura bitters

12 oz. ginger beer

20 sprigs rosemary

2 pears, sliced thinly

Combine all ingredients except for the pears and rosemary in a punch bowl.

Serve each glass with a rosemary sprig and pear slices.

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Questions? Call Us 24/7!

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n Kitchen & Bath n Tile & Floor Install & Repairn Remove & Replace n Tub Surroundsn Drywall Install & Repair n Countertops

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Serving the North Valley for 40 Years!Your

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Chief Credit Offi cer

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Business Development Offi cer

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BankOfFeatherRiver.com | 530.755.3700 | Harter Parkway | Yuba City

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Dr. Villalobos is the current the Superintendent/Principal at East Nicolaus High School District in East Nicolaus, California. Prior to this position she served as the Tri-County (Sutter, Colusa and Yuba Counties) Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Induction Program Director for 11 years. In this role, Karen worked with thousands of teachers, delivering research-based professional development through an accredited licensure program. Karen began her administrative career as a Superintendent/Principal at Lake School District in Glenn County for three years and has worked as a teacher at the primary school level since 1995.

Karen Hackett-VillalobosPhotography by Farmhouse Photography

Getting to knowME

What did you look forward to the most as a child? Family and holiday traditions were something I loved as a child. My parents, mostly my mom, spent a lot of time on the little things that made holidays so special, like baking, crafts, and parties all celebrated with friends and family.

What was the hardest thing about growing up? Finding who your real friends are was one of the hardest things about growing up. It’s ironic to be back at a high school because there was a lot of angst with friendships during those years. My dearest friends are ones I’ve had since 5th grade. We get together about once a year and I feel so blessed that they have been with me on my journey.

To whom did you turn for advice as a teenager? My mom was our rock. She was able to be a stay-at-home mom and she was always there. She had sage advice and I was blessed to have her as a role model as a mother and a strong woman of faith.

How are your children like you? They are kind and generous, sensitive, and strong-willed.

What is the one trait that you hope you don’t pass along to your children? Please God let the ambition gene skip a generation. Most people would see my drive as an asset, but I hope J.T. and Ava have more patience with themselves to work hard, but to also know when and how to slow down and enjoy the fruits of their hard work. I struggle with this!

What are five things you are grateful for? 1) family, 2) friends, 3) a career I am head over heels in like with, 4) a strong faith, and 5) my family and friends’ good health.

What is something you have dreamed of doing for a long time? I have always wanted to write a book.

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When you have downtime, how do you relax at home? I love writing in our backyard, because it’s peaceful and serene. I do a lot of writing there.

How do you like to spend time alone? I love running, which is funny because I didn’t really find running until after Ava was born. Now I am hooked.

What is one thing about you that surprises most people? I was a mediocre student in high school. People find that shocking since I just graduated with my doctorate from University of the Pacific.

What do you think is the secret to a happy life? Surround yourself with amazing people who support you and encourage you to grow and be better!

Tell us one wish you have for yourself. One wish I have is that I will be able to watch my kids grow up healthy and happy and find their passion!

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