| What A Ride It’s Been!Wow!It’s been a fun, if somewhat bumpy ride over the months since I joined the ranks of Mountain Valley Living Magazine. Drawn to the publication out of the simple pleasure of pouring over its’ pages month by month, I decided to toss my hat in the ring as an advertiser. To my surprise, the first ad brought a call from a pleasant gentleman in Chico wanting me to give him a price opinion on his lakefront property at Almanor. Oh, did I mention my day job is as a realtor?
Speaking of real estate, I am so proud to announce that this issue includes our premier Real Estate Section! Inside you’ll find full color features on selected home listings, plus agent profiles, REO properties, fixer-uppers, hot buys, and more.
Just for fun, check out all this and more on our website, mountainvalleyliving.com, where you can take a virtual tour of the listings, and click on links to individual realtor’s websites. Be sure to also check out our link to shopnorcal.com for even more listings! Apologies to all the realtors we haven’t had the opportunity to talk to yet. Certainly no slight intended!
As a native of this area, it gives me great pride to share in producing a publication dedicated to the good in our intermountain area. Having worked with publisher Eileen Majors in the past, I knew and appreciated her special talents and ethics. Her focus on exploring the simple pleasures that abound throughout the Nor Cal, and Northeastern Nevada areas bring so many kudos from our readers. Like them, I am always pleasantly surprised to find out about people, places, and activities I hadn’t known about in a lifetime here.
This, of course, makes my job in advertising for the publication a breeze. Businesses already know and enjoy the magazine before I get there. I don’t have to tell them that their customers are among the thousands of readers that enjoy our stories on outdoor adventures, home and garden, family fun, good health, great food, travel, entertainment and more. It doesn’t seem to matter whether readers are young or old, newcomers or oldtimers, or vistors, the magazines fly off the stands, keeping us on our toes refilling them.
In these times of uncertainty, we tend to return to the simple pleasures. That’s what we’re all about, whether it’s sipping a cup of coffee by a crackling fire, or bundling up the family for a weekend outing, it’s taking time to savor the moment. So tuck a copy of our magazine next to your favorite chair, or in your knapsack. I think you’ll find it’s good company. |
Reno Film Festival Announces Annual Oscar Shorts Screenings
The Oscar-nominated and winning live action and animated short subjects will be screened in Reno Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27. Evening shows at 7:30 pm will screen at the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR and a 2 pm Saturday matinee will be shown in room 108 of the Sierra building on the TMCC Dandini campus.
Tickets are available at the door or in advance at www.renofilmfestival.com or from Neil in the TMCC library. Ticket prices are $8/general and $5/student. Bring two cans of food to benefit the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and take $1 off. (Those purchasing tickets in advance will be reimbursed at the door.)
Festival organizers are currently accepting entries for three contests: March 12 is the deadline for both this year’s annual poster contest and the Reno Indie competition. The Indie competition has a late deadline in April and the synopsis contest has April and May deadlines. Information on all three contests is at the festival’s website, www.renofilmfestival.com
This year’s 10th annual Reno Film Festival is slated for June 13-20 and will feature the annual Indie Shorts competition with short films in a variety of categories, classic films, educational sessions, parties and more. A complete Reno Film Festival schedule and ticket information will be posted at the festival’s website as this year’s program is finalized later this spring.
Festival sponsors for the 2009-10 season include the City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Commission, E.L Cord Foundation, DP Foundation, Terry Lee Wells Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts. Media sponsors include Yellowbook, KTVN-TV, Americom/Reno Radio Representatives, Bea-Design for Marketing, H & A Productions, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia and the Reno News & Review.
Last month we told you about how easy it is to provide phone cards to members of the military serving around the globe. Now we have received information on how folks who want to help can provide a little of the extras these soldiers might enjoy. Individuals and organizations can also show their support to deployed troops and their families with gift certificates. The Gift of Groceries program allows anyone to purchase commissary gift certificates at http://www.commissaries.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. The Armed Services Exchanges offer the Gift From the Homefront gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange web sites: http://www.aafes.com and http://www.navy-nex.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. Gift certificates may be purchased to be mailed to servicemembers and family members or will be distributed to any servicemember. Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the globe.
From the Publisher, Eileen Majors
Looking back on this second anniversary of Mountain Valley Living, one thing rings true: Our readers have made this dream my reality. I mean by so many reading it yes, and because It was a few of our readers who jumped on board, literally becoming the creative staff who makes the magazine.
Melissa Wynn called me one day after she got the first edition. “I want to write for the magazine,” she told me. After two months of 17 hour days put in, I was thrilled. Every month she searches out great places to stay and comes up with some really fun stuff for our readers. I quickly called my old friend Mary Hasselwander, who agreed to help us make some sense of it all. My neighbor Rhonda Sanders hustled through local businesses to win the support we needed to continue.
Like magic, beautiful photography from good friend Jack Coverdell soon followed. Ben Graham, our wise webmaster worked days and nights to design a website that does absolutely everything! It took him several months to even get me to look at it, let alone use the amazing features including his unique tag system which has resulted in as many as 430,000 website hits in a single month. He also set up an online Nor Cal store where readers can buy things easily from our local merchants. I am shocked when I think of how far we’ve come because of the talent that showed up to take part in this plan, obviously bigger than mine. John and Jan Cox also jumped on board and are now a vital part of our team.
Greg Marankie of Marankie Concepts, now a regular design contributor called me last year to tell me he liked the magazine but he thought we needed his help. I listened to his ideas, as each was an answer to a problem I was completely aware we had. He has been helping us ever since. We can’t wait to grow into becoming a big consumer of his amazing talent.
Teresa Majors who had taken a professional break to enjoy being a full time, stay-at-home-mom voluntarily jumped on board to help me some time back. She now designs every page in the magazine, pretty beautifully too, I think. Her dedication and talent is fun to watch and it’s fun to have kids popping in our office from time to time. Speaking of kids, we love the opportunity Sedona brings to the communities with her Kidzview page. Kim Poggi, who joined the drive early on, continues to help and distribute magazines throughout the Nor Cal region.
It’s been a long struggle as taking time to sell ads could not always take first priority. Hearing from my old boss of 15-plus years, I thought was sheer luck. Her extensive experience is in sales management locally and in the Malibu area and she too wanted to help. There we have Eve DeVeir, the latest miracle to arrive on board.
We are equipped and ready to grow into the original dream project as we currently seek out qualified candidates to put together a strong sales team. We have tens of thousands of readers and hundreds of thousands of online visits each edition, but we are still well on our way to becoming successful. I cannot wait to be able to reward all of these ordinary people WELL for their extraordinary efforts.
We are still looking for sales people to complete the team here. I have no doubt as we celebrate our second anniversary that just the right people will arrive so the magazine can prosper the people who work here and help the communities we serve. Thanks for reading on.
A Wild Ride With The
BUTTE MEADOWS HILLSLIDERS
By Eileen Majors
Ever wonder what goes on in the wild back roads of Nor Cal when the snow piles up? I contacted Tim Adkins, President of the Butte Meadows Hillsliders, just one of the snowmobile clubs in the mountains of northern California, to find out. This adventurous group has a great time riding in the Jonesville Snow Park and they take a great deal of time to make sure others can do so as well.
The Butte Meadows Hillsliders are the guys who groom the trails for Jonesville Snow Park where the group also built a warming hut for snowmobilers to stop in and enjoy. The place is equipped with a wood stove, tables and benches and two barbecues folks can use. The building was built by the club with grant funds on US Forest Service property, then given back to the forest service, who manages the land. The club takes care of the warming hut where Adkins told me it is not uncommon to see 50 sleds out front.
The club grooms over 70 miles of snowmobile trails in the Jonesville Snowmobile Area of the Lassen National Forest. The grooming season begins when the gate on Humboldt Road at the Jonesville Snowmobile Park (N 40^06.845 & W 121^28.700) ((4970′)) closes. All roads and trails above the gate, extending to HWY 89 and all areas above Snag Lake, are then closed to wheeled traffic until Spring when the gate is re-opened. These areas are groomed each winter by volunteer groomers for snowmobile use. It should be noted… a SnoPark permit is NOT required to use this area.
The club has a groomer of their own and also operates the county’s groomer as part of a contract agreement. I forgot to ask which was more fun, riding or grooming! The photos of groomers grooming looked to be a wild ride in itself.
The club welcomes new members. Dues are $30 per individual or $35 per family. To join, visit their website at hillsliders.com. You can print out the membership form and mail it with your check. Also at their website you can click on current weather conditions at the exact location of the warming hut. You can also access the CalTrans road reports. Each year the Hillsliders also host a sanctioned snowmobile poker run. This year’s event takes place on January 30, 2010.
The Jonesville Snow Park can be accessed through Humboldt Road which is off Highway 32 near Forest Ranch. Take Humboldt Rd. and travel past the Bambi Inn and The Outpost. The US Forest Service ranger stations have snowmobile trail maps as do the groomers you may meet on the trail.
The Sierra-Stanford Partnership is now offering Breast Cancer services in the Portola, Graeagle and Loyalton areas. They are offering an 8 week therapeutic/educational support group session led by an experienced, licensed clinical social worker. There is no charge to participate. Contact Susan Ferrier, Community Coordinator at (530) 274-0292, Ext. 2 or email: susan@one-in-eight.org for more information.
Now there is no excuse. As of January 9, 2010 you can schedule that mammogram at Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC) for a Saturday. They will accept appointments for their regular weekday hours and now also for the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
While a physician order is required for screening mammograms, it is not necessary for your doctor to be an EPHC provider. Their full service imaging department will send the results to your doctor. Appointments can be made by calling (530) 832-6516.
With so many of our neighbors struggling financially it is more important than ever to donate to charities organized to assist those hardest hit by tough economic times. Crossroads Ministries in Susanville, Ca is my pick for this holiday season. This dedicated organization offers a wide variety of assistance to the needy and homeless on a year round basis. Manager Cheri Farrell and her devoted staff do so much with so little, I was amazed.
Crossroads Ministries offers a once a month food pantry that will also give out Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to families in need who sign up Nov 2-20 at 2410 Main St. in Susanville. A hot and nutritious breakfast and lunch is also served Monday-Friday at 7:30 a.m. and noon along with a 6:00 p.m. Saturday night dinner. Crossroads Ministries will also host a Christmas dinner and gift giveaway December 19th for those who might otherwise go without this year. A 1$ a bag clothes closet is another great service offered. Coats, gloves and snow boots are super donations this time of year but of course cash donations are best to keep all programs running.
Not only does Crossroads Ministries help feed and clothe their community they also house the homeless in 3 separate semi-permanent shelters; Philemon House for men, Grace Gables for women and Transitional House for those re-entering society from rehab and incarceration situations. A new overnight shelter, to house the homeless on an overnight basis to be named Samaritan House, is currently in the works. Also offering an outstanding careers program directed by Lorne Brown, Crossroads Ministries truly gives a hand up. You can learn more about all they give and do at www.crossroadsministries.com. Let’s follow their admirable lead this holiday season and donate what we can to this deserving cause. Donations can be mailed to 2410 Main St Susanville, Ca 96130.
It’s that time of year again to reserve your Ski Lease for the upcoming 2009-2010 winter season!  We have properties in Tahoe City, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley and Truckee River corridor. For more details, please visit www.alpinerentalgroup.com in Vacation Rentals and Ski Leases. We are available to show everyday except Wednesdays and Sundays. Please stop by our office (150 Alpine Meadows Road) or make an appointment.If you have any questions, please contact (530-583-3550 or rentals@alpinerentalgroup.com).
We look forward to seeing you soon.
 A celebration of life for Lloyd Taylor will be held Saturday Sept. 5th 2009 at 1:00 o’clock in Seneca, CA. at the Gin Mill
A pot luck lunch will be served please bring a covered dish or dessert.
We can all remember Lloyd Taylor who performed on many occasions in Seneca including our trip for the article Golden Summer Fun by: Melissa Wynn.
He will be greatly missed
we hope you will join us.
By Jan Cox
There are many forms of community: our neighborhoods, churches, the towns we live in, or even a group of like minded people coming together with common interests. In the last few years, a strong community has formed around the One Stop Centers in Herlong, Beiber, and Westwood.
Here in Westwood, the One Stop Center is a partnership between the Westwood Family Resource Center, Lassen Aurora Network, and Lassen County Department of Health and Social Services. While the Lassen Aurora Network supports wellness through peer support services, self-care workshops and groups, Lassen County Department of Health and Social Services provides mental health and drug and alcohol services.
The Westwood Family Resource Center (WFRC) also wears many hats. In talking with Elizabeth Krier, director of the Westwood One Stop Center, she explained that the Family Resource Center concerns itself with educational, community and social service work. This center is for the entire community. Here residents may receive emergency food from a food shelf or buy natural foods from the WFRC Natural Food Store. The emergency food shelf has been especially important during these lean times and they always welcome food donations. Residents may also bring a toddler to a play group, borrow toys, or sign up for parenting or childbirth classes. Every so often, you will read a notice in the newspaper about their mystery baby showers where community members can attend and/or leave unwrapped baby gifts for a family in need.
This center also offers internet, copy machine, and fax access, computers, and application assistance for Medi-Cal and other social services. LassenWORKS now has a case worker on site every 4th Wednesday of the month to serve the residents of Westwood, Pine Town, and Clear Creek. This case worker helps residents complete the application process for CalWORKS cash assistance, Food Stamps and Medi-Cal and is available to answer questions.
As a retired educator, one thing that excited me about the Westwood Family Resource Center was the Jack PAC After-School Program which takes place during the school year from the time school lets out until 6 pm daily. This is the time when the juvenile crime rate climbs due to children of working parents being home alone. The Center was established in 1992 and soon evolved into a non-profit organization under Communities United for Children and Families. Family Resource Centers work under that umbrella. Jack PAC (Partners in After School Collaboration) is primarily funded by California Department of Ed, Prop 49 funds while groups such as the Chimney Fund, Rotary, Fletcher Walker Elementary School (building), Westwood Community Services (use of park) and many local businesses help them meet the demand for matching funds. Elizabeth noted that they are always grateful for this necessary community funding.
During the school year, Jack PAC has an average of 90 children enrolled with a daily average attendance of 70 children. Desiree Naseath is the new activities coordinator for the WFRC, while this year, the JackPAC coordinator is a separate position and will be a new face on the first day of school. Volunteers also teach various activities such as cooking and beading clubs, town history, community awareness, theater production and other areas of skills or interests that engage children.
 Playground Fun for JackPAC kids A typical afternoon at Jack PAC includes a nutritional snack, physical education, homework tutoring and specific clubs and activities. The Family Resource Center makes it a point to connect to teachers over lunch to keep open lines of communication about the children that attend the program.
Watch for the center’s Light’s on After School open house October 22, 2009. At this open house there is usually a dinner, raffle, Power Point presentation and demonstrations of activities. Or come in and find out more for yourself. The Westwood One Stop Center is located at 463-975 Birch St., Fort Sage One Stop is located at 17 D.S. Hall Avenue, Herlong, CA., and Beiber One Stop meets in the Bieber Library. Visitors are always welcome.
 There is definitely room in the world of professional homemakers in the media for this clever and talented young lady. Susie Baston of Susanville is the new crafts and food editor for Mountain Valley Living Magazine. Her ideas will be featured in the magazine and on our website found at mountainvalleyliving.com and shopnorcal.com. She enjoys creating and we are excited to have her as part of the Mountain Valley team. She will be preparing seasonal crafts and recipes to feature in each edition. Don’t miss her special MOUNTAIN VALLEY HOLIDAY CRAFT AND COOKBOOK coming as an insert to our big holiday edition which publishes November 1st.
Rock and Roll Rebels, John Kay and Steppenwolf
Perform Classic Rock Hits at Silver Legacy
-Show Takes Place in Grand Exposition Hall, September 26-
RENO, Nev. — Classic 1960s rock and roll band, John Kay and Steppenwolf bring their electrifying show to Silver Legacy’s Grand Exposition Ballroom, Saturday, September 26 at
8 p.m.
John Kay and Steppenwolf will perform classic rock hits “Magic Carpet Ride,” “Rock Me,” “Monster,” the rock rebel anthem “Born to Be Wild” and dozens of other chart topping songs. The bands music embodies the social, political and philosophical unrest of the late 1960s.
John Kay and Steppenwolf has emerged as one of rock’s most enduring and respected bands, delivering hard-hitting, personally charged music for more than three decades. Since the ‘60s, the band has produced edgy, uncompromising rock ‘n’ roll that has retained its emotional resonance for more than three decades.
John Kay and Steppenwolf have recorded and released seven Top 40 rock classics with over 30 million records sold worldwide. The classic rock kings have 28 albums to their credit featuring several number one hit singles. The band’s music is in over 50 motion pictures and 70 TV programs.
Tickets to see John Kay and Steppenwolf are available for $65, $45 and $35. Tickets are also available online at silverlegacy.com and ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by phone at 1-800-MUST-SEE or 775-325-7401.
By Eileen Majors
Go Greenville! It is exciting to see one little community working together to bring positive changes to their town. As one group moves forward steadily with plans for a wellness center, another group has been busy installing Nuksa Te Park and Playground, a Maidu Indian playground, on Greenville’s Main Street in the downtown area. Grant funding from the Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council was awarded to Plumas Rural Services for this project.
We were contacted by Josie Litchfield, Project Coordinator for Nuksa Te (‘Jolly Child’ in Maidu) playground. She and a local group of parents got the ball rolling on this idea. They began fund raising last year and raised approximately $5,000.00 through rummage sales and silent auctions. They soon teamed up with Plumas Rural Services to write the grant and then became partners with the Indian Valley Recreation and Parks Department who are building a community center downtown. They generously offered up a nice space behind the community center, yet visible from the street, for the playground/park. Unique aspects of the playground will be the 6X6 recycled plastic posts, a climbing wall, and lots of natural landscaping.
The community is hopeful that its location on Main Street will attract passers by to stop and enjoy their friendly community and some of the quaint shops the area offers as well. The local grocery Evergreen Market has donated to the project as has the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce and Gray’s Flower Garden of Quincy, who provided trees for the park. Josie said “This has truly been a homegrown effort!” Several businesses have been supportive. The playground is located on Main Street across from Sierra Sunrise Coffee House in Greenville.
 
 ENERGY SAVING MEASURES
If the sound of saving energy is appealing to you, you will love our upcoming fall edition. We will have all the latest information on ways to get ready for winter around the house and ways to save energy.
From wind and solar power to comparing heating options, this special supplement to Mountain Valley Living will offer great information to hold onto.
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS
If your business offers energy saving measures or other items for the upcoming winter, call about our great rates on advertising. Your ad in this special edition will include year round web advertising on our very popular site (with over 425,000 hits in one month alone!) and as an extra bonus, we are offering you a chance to sell any products you may offer at shopnorcal.com.
You may also offer year round coupons on our newly developing coupon page at shopnorcal.com and mountainvalleylivingmagazine.com.
Call us today if you have ever thought about advertising with us. The value-added packages we offer are definitely worth considering. Call Eileen at 530-256-2800 or email mountainvalleyliving@gmail.com.
Submitted by: Leslie Wall, Plumas Rural Services
Community Connections…It’s About Time
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CELEBRATING HOME!
We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful, diverse area of Northern California where there are four gorgeous seasons, lakes, wildlife, and some of the best friends and neighbors found anywhere.
One of the great ways of celebrating our unique location is at the 2nd annual Homegrown Festival. This year the Homegrown Festival is on Saturday, August 29th from 3:00pm to dusk at the historic Thompson Valley Ranch just outside of Quincy.
The Homegrown Festival is a celebration of local food and farming where residents, growers and local chefs come together for an afternoon and evening of food, fun and music. Participants have an opportunity to meet local food producers face-to-face, tour the historic Thompson Valley Ranch where grass-fed beef is raised, and enjoy a lavish meal of locally grown foods and regional beer and wine at a no-host bar.
One of the greatest benefits of living in a small, rural community is the opportunity to know first-hand where our food comes from and the farmer who grows it. Most growers in our region who market their products locally practice small-scale, sustainable agriculture. When we support our local farmers we are strengthening the local economy, using less energy for transportation and storage of food products, and preserving agricultural lands and rural lifestyles!
Locally-grown fare includes fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, and eggs. Besides learning more about and appreciating all the healthy foods, the Homegrown Festival offers entertainment by local musicians, ranch and garden tours, and a few fun-filled surprises.
The Homegrown Festival is a collaborative effort between Plumas Rural Services, Quincy Natural Foods Co-op, and a wide variety of local restaurants and businesses. Tickets go on sale August 1st. For more information call Elizabeth Powell at 530-283-3611 or visit the Plumas Rural Services website at www.plumasruralservices.org.
Plan to join the celebration and see how much fun can be had right here at home!
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NANA’S MASHED TURNIPS…mmm good!
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 large turnip, peeled and cubed
- 3 white potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon white sugar (optional)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Place turnip and potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook 25 to 30 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat, and drain.
- Mix milk, 2 tablespoons butter, and sugar with the turnip and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Mash until slightly lumpy.
- Transfer turnip mixture to a small baking dish. Dot with remaining butter. Cover loosely, and bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove cover, and continue baking about 8 minutes, until lightly browned.
July 2002
From the Publisher
By Eileen Majors
Big Changes at the Magazine
What a year and a half it has been here at Mountain Valley Living Magazine! We have gotten to know so many of the great businesses in our area and we look forward to promoting our region with great vigor. We couldn’t be more excited about the number of readers our magazine has attracted.
With our website going crazy too, as it has been, we have added an online store at shopnorcal.com. There, readers can take advantage of shopping for retail items from the outstanding merchants of Nor Cal. Visitors to the site can also browse through real estate listings or take advantage of special offers on travel to the north-state. It is brand new but the list of items offered is growing fast and we expect that most businesses with knowledge of the internet will see this as a win-win situation. We foresee outstanding potential for Nor Cal merchants to attract new online business and for extending the opportunity for their seasonal customers to shop them year round.
That’s not all that’s different around here. We will now be publishing eight magazine editions per year, instead of twelve. Inside each issue, besides our usual, local magazine, we will be adding a special section to explore deeply one aspect of our fascinating area. We have some very informative and exciting editions planned for the upcoming year, so don’t miss out on a single issue.
We will continue to publish monthly during the summer months, with bi-monthly editions planned for September through April. The magazine will contain all of the usual stuff, adding pages for special featured themes. The September/October edition will feature our fabulous fall and contain a special section with all kinds of great ideas for winter preparation and energy conservation. November/December will be our holiday exclusive with a special section of holiday recipes, crafts and traditions shared, plus a holiday gift guide.
If you have a business, you can benefit greatly from advertising in our new keepsake editions and by taking advantage of our web services. We have another big year planned and our new, larger magazines will cover a wide variety of themes. In the upcoming issues, we will have a winter sports guide, a comprehensive dining guide, a fabulous pullout on spring gardening, fishing, golf, lodging and more. We can’t thank you enough for picking up our magazine. We hope you enjoy all the new editions we have planned.
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT WELCOMES YOU.
The Chester Hoops 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament returns to Chester Park Saturday July 25th. Benefiting the Chester High School Basketball Program, this local competition will offer a division for anyone that wants to play. Do you have the team that can school the rest with nothin’ but net? I’m sure everyone will have a ball.
- Men’s, Women’s, Co-Ed, JV, Varsity, 4th-6th grade. Everyone is welcome to enter.
- $80 entry fee per team
- Maximum 4 players per team, 16 teams per division
- Entry forms are online at www.chesterhoops3on3.com
- Register by July 15th and receive a Hoops 3 On 3 T-Shirt for each member of your team.
- Guaranteed 3 game minimum
- Awards will be given to the first place winning team of each division.
- KJDX Radio Reno will be broadcasting live.
For more information please contact long time local coach Dale Keefer at (530)258-3689 or (530)258-7900 or write to Hoops 3 on 3 at P.O. Box 954 Chester, Ca 96020. You can also get more details online with your entry form at www.chesterhoops3on3.com.
A Mountain Valley Healing
  On Sept. 3 2007 I stood on my porch in Westwood, Ca and watched as flames crawled over the mountain into Moonlight Valley. Over the next several days, news media flocked to our small mountain community as those few flames grew into the mega
forest fire known as the Moonlight Fire. Reporters from many local and national news programs came to show the thousands of firefighters working to put out this blaze that consumed 65,000 acres of Plumas National Forest before it was finally contained on Sept. 15. Once the fire was contained, the media was gone. I was left wondering, what causes a mega fire and what happens after it is contained? I decided to find out.
My journey began with a ride through the burn on April 8 2008. Jason Moghaddas, Fire Ecologist of the Mount Hough Ranger District, was my guide on this educational tour. I thought the two of us a unique pair to share this ride. As I said, the fire started just outside my home town; however, Mr. Moghaddas was at the other end of this scenario. He and his wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time, were evacuated from their home in Indian Valley on Sept 5 as the fire threatened to consume their neighborhood. Our homes are about 20 miles apart through the woods, about 35 miles by highway. Jason’s home did not burn and he was allowed to return home on Sept. 12, when the evacuation order was lifted. Obviously, we both found the inferno far to close to home for comfort.
 As Mr. Moghaddas explained it me, this fire was the “perfect storm,” having many of the conditions that caused it to become so enormous and out of control. The main factors were: an abundance of fuel to feed the fire and dry hot weather with strong winds. Drought-like conditions in the 1980’s and the ever warmer and dryer trends in climate were contributing factors. Many groups and government agencies are working on ways to reduce the threat of these mega fires. Prevention, using defensible fuel profile zones, is a technique that is has been successful in some areas. You  can read about defensible space and the efforts to implement these zones at www.qlg.org. Mr. Moghaddas also explained that fire has always played an important role in the overall health the forest. Some forest plants, including the Manzanita shrub and Lodgepole pine tree, actually need fire to regenerate their species. The Lodgepole pinecone is tightly sealed by resin with the seeds inside and will only open when heated by fire.
Meandering around Indian Valley, we came across a crew of men removing the burnt dead trees from a private lot. I asked Mr. Moghaddas if the same kinds of clean-up would be used on the public lands of the National Forest. His answer was yes and no. Once a fire like Moonlight has been contained, the real work begins. First, the trees that present a hazard to roads, campgrounds and private property are removed. For reasons of limited accessibility, not all areas will be able to get cleaned-up. Some areas will only be accessible by helicopter, limiting what can be removed and replanted in those areas. The outer perimeter of the burn, where the loss of plant life and burn severity was minimal, will heal on its own with little or no intervention from the forest service. The areas where removal and replanting will occur won’t be visible for some time. Mr. Moghaddas explained: “You can’t just go to Lowes and buy 250,000 seedlings of Lodgepole and Ponderosa pine trees.” Seedlings are not somewhere in storage, but seeds are. While the Moonlight Fire was still burning, seeds were being planted to grow the seedlings to replant this area. The seedlings need to be two years old before they can be planted in the burn area. In the meantime, fighting soil erosion is a primary concern. Mr. Moghaddas showed me several areas where rice straw was spread to prevent whole hillsides being washed away by the spring thaw run-off. In these areas, the severity of the burn was high and everything burned clear to the dirt, leaving nothing in these natural watersheds to prevent erosion. It became obvious to me that the healing process will be slow and that parts of the burn area will remain changed for centuries. I parted company with Mr. Moghaddas, feeling like I had just seen my own backyard for the first time. I have since spent many hours reading about fire suppression, defensible space and the human role in forest fire. I suggest anyone, who lives in or visits forested areas, take the time to read a few things at www.fs.fed.us and at www.qlg.org. There is also a very informative movie available called The Greatest Good, produced by the U.S. Forest Service, that is available for rent or sale at pbs.org.
The Plumas Fire Safe Council is an organization whose mission is “to reduce the loss of natural and manmade resources caused by wildfire through pre-fire activities.” This organization meets monthly and the minutes and agenda can be read on their website at www.plumasfiresafe.org. I encourage everyone to visit this site. Homeowner consultation forms are available on the site. This organization helps homeowners answer critical questions about fire safety and fire insurance, such as: If your home is saved but your entire yard or acreage burned, will your insurance cover the cost of removing and replacing the dead trees? If lightning started the fire, is it an “act of God”, and therefore not covered by your policy? As a forest resident myself, this site really showed me how much I didn’t know about my own fire safety. Fire is, after all, the biggest natural disaster we face here in our Northern California home. Please visit your local fire safe council and protect yourself and your property.
I took a second ride through the burn, this time going the back way by dirt road. I just wanted to drive through the heart of the burn and take it all in. This roughly 20 mile drive from Westwood to Indian Valley is by far the best cruise to take to see the burn. It is a drive I will make again and again to monitor the healing of my forest home. You get a clear view of the difference in the severity of the burn in different areas. Seeing for yourself helps you have a clearer understanding of why fuel accumulation and fire suppression are such concerns. I found it interesting that Mr. Moghaddas’ new daughter will be able to take this ride throughout her life and see the new forest that will always the same age she is.
 I ran into Theresa Winningham and her two grandsons, Sage age 3 and Cole age 5, that day, out for a first ride on their new Rhino 660. Adorable little Cole pointed up at the mountain and told me that “a big fire burned the mountain up.” Mrs. Winningham and her family lost about 7 acres to the Moonlight Fire. She was out that day showing and teaching the boys about fire. I was touched by the fact that it isn’t only the forest that is healing…..the people are healing too.
By Eileen Majors, Publisher
I couldn’t help grabbing this quote from noted comedian Larry the Cable Guy, after listening to a radio talk show on a long road trip I took recently. The gentleman speaking had written an entire book about some hero who, with nothing but an ox-goad, killed 600 and saved a whole country in the process. The odd thing was that all of his research material was summed up in less than 50 words available on the subject he had chosen to write about. He knew no more than this and yet he managed to write a whole book, by doing just what his book suggests others do:
1. Start Where You Are.
2. Use What You Have.
3. Do What You Can.
Now that seemed to be a peice of advice worth chewing on. The more I gave it thought, the more I realized just how easily this three step process could really be applied to any situation.
The author talked about how easy it is to say “when I have this….” “I will do this…” It is easy to put our goals and future successes in the back of our minds to think about until we are ‘ready’ to proceed.
His advice….. move! I like that. I admit I usually am the one to run ahead on an idea just a little bit early, and sometime so fast, I could easily sail right past the reason I began in the first place. Luckily, it usually all seems to work out.
I have a friend who says we are always in the right place at the right time, so just enjoy what you are doing now. Live in the moment.
That is all good with me as long as I can be running simultaneously down the sidelines on some big mission. What is it with me? I’m not sure, but I enjoy it and I do like this new version of advice.
The author encourages others to first assess what they have to work with, and to think about how they can best use the resources available to achieve what they desire. That I will try.
I haven’t bought the book yet. Once again, I ran right past that notion with the good intentions I got from the advice on the radio show. I’m still planning to buy the book and the google search sparked my interest all the more. If you want to check it out, It is THE THREE SUCCESS SECRETS OF SHAMGAR By Pat Williams and Jay Strack with Jim Denney.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS by Leslie Wall, Plumas Rural Services
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS… It’s About Time
Community Connections is a Time Banking service. Time Banking was created in the 1970’s by Edgar Cahn. The concept is simple: every member of a society has value and has unique skills and talents that are needed within their community. Members create a list of the types of volunteer services they are willing to exchange with others. One hour of service earns one time credit, regardless of the activity; all members and services are equal.
In Plumas County, Plumas Rural Services is proud of the community-building success of their Community Connections program, and is looking at a multitude of growth opportunities for the future. Offered county-wide, the program is expanding membership and available services every week.
Community Connections is based on four core values:
• ASSETS Everyone has assets. The real wealth of a community is its people. Everyone, regardless of their age, income level, or education is valuable and has something to offer to others.
• RECIPROCITY The impulse to give back is universal. Whenever possible, replacing all forms of one-way acts of helping with two-way transactions, means that “you need me” becomes, “we need each other.”
• REDEFINING WORK We must redefine work to include whatever it takes to rear healthy children, preserve families, make neighborhoods safe and vibrant, and care for the frail and vulnerable.
• SOCIAL CAPITAL People require a social network that is as essential as roads, bridges and utility lines. Social networks require ongoing investments of individual time and talents.
Community Connections is for everyone! Junior members provide such services as pet sitting, garden watering, and computer instruction to adults. There are currently over 170 different services available to members of Community Connections!
When a member requests a service, a Service Opportunity Announcement is sent out. Members respond to announcements and decide which services they are interested in. When a member completes a service, they report their hours and earn one time credit for each hour of service. They now may use their earned time credits to receive a service from another member.
The cost of adult membership is $20.00, with an annual renewal fee of $5.00. Local groups, agencies and businesses can also benefit from member services by becoming a program sponsor. For a donation of a minimum of $100.00, they are eligible to request volunteer services. They receive assistance on their activity or event and the member earns credit for the time they provide.
For other communities interested in starting their own time banking service – Plumas Rural Services recommended using the link to Time Banks USA at www.timebanks.org or www.tbusa.org.They have starter kits and lots of useful information.
To get more information on becoming a member or sponsor in Plumas County, contact the program Coordinator, Leslie Wall, at 530-283-3611, or visit www.plumasruralservices.org/Community Connections.
2009
 A very important meeting was held this past Monday, June 1, and all went very well for the Greenville Wellness Center project (GWC). The local healthcare district board responsible for the old Indian valley hospital (IVH) that we hope to use for the GWC is now solidly behind the project. Getting this support from the board is a huge step forward. We now begin the next phases of the project, which are analyzing the IVH facility, completing the business plan, and beginning to seek funding for remodeling. We are forming a business alliance with Plumas Rural Services (PRS), a local non-profit agency that provides many health & wellness service to local residents. PRS is very interested to conduct some of their programs at the GWC, and brings many resources to the project. In particular, they have an excellent grant writer on staff, and are very skilled with the process of obtaining both public and private funding for community services. GWC and PRS are hoping to obtain federal stimulus and/or healthcare funding to remodel the IVH and create community based healthcare programs. It will be a perfect marriage of non-profit and private enterprises that both serve local the local community, in addition to drawing out of area “health tourists” to improve the overall local economy. Judy and KD are also plan 2 or more trips to Washington DC in the near future to follow up on funding the GWC through stimulus $$. Meeting the right people and taking them to lunch can sometimes make all the difference when fed $$ is in play.
We are feeling a growing mission in this process. We have come to realize that the ultimate goal of the GWC is no less than reform of the American healthcare system. We see the GWC as a model for many other American communities, both rural & urban. Ours is a bottom-up process, not one that is top-down. We hope to be part of a growing movement where all of us work to reclaim control of our individual healthcare with simple, low tech, and low cost processes that focus as much on prevention as treatment. In doing so, we will relieve some of the current stress on the mainstream healthcare system, and this relief may be sufficient for “the system” to initiate it’s own reforms. The best news, is that this is a process we can initiate by ourselves, wherever we are, and regardless of our age, wealth, or current health. While co-operation from the powers that be would be helpful, we do not need permission from these powers to initiate this process. it is a true grass roots movement that can begin one person and one group of persons at a time.
Good Health, simply done!TM
The Greenville Wellness Center will provide health and wellness services to local residents and regional ‘health tourists’. The immediate target clients will be local residents who desperately need more affordable healthcare options, including fitness services, alternative therapies, health education, and thermal baths. The long term target clients will be regional health tourists who want to receive these same wellness services in such a quiet and peaceful location as the Indian Valley. Regional marketing will focus on the Baby Boomer generation, whose enormous purchasing power will bring great financial rewards to any enterprise that offers effective relief from the aches and pains of aging. The GWC may eventually serve as a model for cost effective community health services in rural regions, representing an ideal interface between non-profit public services, and for-profit private enterprise.
The Greenville Wellness Center (GWC) will provide community health and wellness services, attract regional health tourists, serve as a sustainable healthcare model for other rural communities, and offer health education services to create jobs & stimulate the local economy.
Summary of business development
The GWC development goal is to achieve “occupancy” on or before the time schedules of this business plan. The term “occupancy” includes both overnight and day use of the facilities and services offered by the GWC. GWC will have two separate areas of development:
1. Health & Wellness Center – Will include services that:
a. create and maintain a healthy lifestyle,
b. address physical pain or illness through low cost non-medical, non-invasive “alternative” therapies (both in house and via a outreach program)
c. help educate local residents about healthy lifestyles, and
d. attract regional health tourists who use the GWC facilities and services
e. attract local and out of area students who will study “alternative and preventative” healthcare towards becoming professionals in the field.
The Health & Wellness Center will provide important health services to the local community, which also represents the “low hanging fruit” for initial occupancy and revenue. Regional marketing of Health & Wellness services will focus on attracting health tourists who are seeking pain relief. These health tourists will be traveling from Chico or Reno (2 hours), Sacramento (3.5 hours), and the Bay Area (5 hours). Special events will be an important tool to attract regional clients of all ages and achieve maximum occupancy. As the GWC will be a fully ADA accessible facility, the prime regional target health tourist is a retired, mildly disabled, Baby Boomer who has free time, a reasonable disposable income, and perceives a pain free lifestyle as a high priority.
Health & Wellness services can be developed incrementally, and with minimal capital costs. Operations will begin with basic services, including private hot water soaking, and increase with demand and revenues.
Adding a Recreation Hot Springs to the GWC will require significant capital investment, and will require development within a short timeline to achieve sufficient revenues for a reasonable ROI. Development of a Recreational Hot Springs should occur only after the GWC has its Health & Wellness services operating smoothly, and with a positive cash flow.
Historical
Many cultures, including traditional Native Americans, place a high value on using thermal water to achieve health benefits. The most significant use of thermal water for therapy was the Roman culture, where public thermal baths were a standard urban fixture. Most baths were also attached to gymnasiums for healthy exercise, with massage available on-site. The word “spa” is an acronym for the Latin/Italian words “Salud per Aqua”. In this sense, The Greenville Wellness Center is adopting an historical model for community health services that functioned for over a 1,500 years for the Roman Empire (including the Eastern Empire of Constantine). It is thus a time tested model for sustainable, low technology driven, community healthcare.
Using hot thermal waters for health and recreation continued to be a popular public activity through the early 20th century. “Taking the waters” was a phrase of common usage until the post WWII period of American history. But there has been a recent resurgence in “Hot springing” which is now a substantial, and growing sub-culture in North America (described later in the Marketing sub-section: Recreational Hot Springs – page 7)
IVH Facility:
Background – The Greenville Wellness Center will be located on the grounds of the now vacant Indian Valley Hospital (IVH) that rests on the outskirts of Greenville, CA. The hospital facility consists of an 11,000 sq ft. single story main building, plus one attached, and two detached separate service buildings that collectively total approximately 2,000 sq. ft. The facility will include approximately 2.75 total acres of land including undeveloped lawns and paved parking areas. It is accessed through Hot Springs Road, and is only ½ mile from state Highway 89 that passes through central Greenville The facility is serviced by PG&E for electricity, and for local water and sewer by the Indian Valley Community Services District.
The IVH is a concrete block structure constructed in 1954 having a flat roof and heated with baseboard electrical space heaters. A geothermal well was drilled in 1982 and a geothermal heating system was installed in 1983. Summer cooling is provided by individual window mounted room air conditioners. The IVH was designed with significant disabled access infrastructure. This includes wide hallways with handrails, and wide 42″ doors to many rooms. There is not one stair or ramp in the facility. ADA regulations did not exist when the IVH was constructed. Some infrastructure does not conform to ADA standards and must be upgraded.
Current condition – The IVH facility has receive no regular maintenance during the past 2 years, and maintenance during the final two years of the hospital’s operation (2005 & 2006) was sporadic. In particular, most of the kitchen infrastructure has been removed, with the exception of the range hood and grease trap. The geothermal heating system is reported to have significant problems, and was not functional during the late stages of the IVH operation. Also, the Geothermal heating system was designed as a centrally driven hot water – air exchange, with ducting placed on and entering the facility through the roof. This has created problems with leakage and water damage. Thus, a thorough facility analysis is required to determine what systems are fully operational, what infrastructure can be operational on a cost effective basis once repairs or remodeling is completed, and what infrastructure must removed and/or replaced. The current status of the facility cannot be fully stated until a complete assessment has been made by specialists.
Geothermal Waters – While the geothermal water has previously been used only in a closed loop heat exchange system for heating the facility, chemical analysis of the water indicates a low salinity sodium chloride type composition that is similar to the nearby Indian Valley Hot Springs. This indicates that the waters of the IVH geothermal well should be suitable for theraputic and recreational use. Such applications of these geothermal waters will require a new disposal permit from the CA State Water Control Board, and a rigorous system of testing by GWC staff to monitor pool water quality and discharge water quality to insure safety for GWC clients and compliance with discharge regulations.
Community information:
Greenville is located approximately 90 miles dues east of Chico CA, and 100 miles north-northwest of Lake Tahoe. Greenville, with a population of 1,500, is the largest town in the Indian Valley (total population – 3,500). The Indian Valley is 3,500 ft. above sea level, and is surrounded by mountains in the 6-7,000 ft. range. Mt. Lassen (10,500 ft.), is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range is 60 miles north-northwest of Greenville, and is the source for the geothermal waters of the Indian Valley. Greenville is an unincorporated city in Plumas County (total population – 25,000). Quincy, the county seat (pop-5,000), is 23 miles south, and the resort town of Chester (pop-2,500) near Lake Almanor, is 25 miles to the north. Greenville is a two hour drive from Chico and Reno, 3-1/2 hours from Sacramento, and 4-1/2 hours from the Bay Area. There are no elevations higher than Greenville (3500 ft.) when traveling from Chico, Sacramento, or the Bay Area. From Reno, only the 5000 ft. Beckworth pass must be crossed, but this is seldom impacted by winter snow storms (compared to the 7,200 ft. Donner pass on interstate 80, which is frequently closed by storms in winter)
Greenville experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are mild with daytime temperatures seldom reaching 100 degrees F, followed by cool nights in the 50’s. Winter high temperatures average in the low 40’s, with lows averaging in the high 20’s. Winter rain and snow is frequent, but snow accumulations are moderate due to the good solar exposure of Greenville , and the Indian Valley elevation being lower that the surrounding mountains. (significant snow accumulations usually begin at the 4 – 4500 ft. elevation).
Local industries are timber, watershed management, agriculture (mostly ranching), and tourism. Lake Almanor, located 9 miles from Greenville, is the largest recreational and tourist attraction in Plumas county. Lassen National park, 60 miles away, is the largest regional tourist attraction.
By Eileen Majors
You don’t seem to hear much about it these days and in questioning a few folks about it, I found that traditions of May Day have escaped the celebrations of many because they’ve never even heard of it.
The beginning of May has long been an important moment in the astronomical calendar as it marks the end of the winter half of the year in the Northern hemisphere. As the days steadily grew longer, with trees and flowers coming into bloom, and with cattle being led out to pasture again, it is not surprising that this was a time of celebration for agricultural cultures. Indeed, there are many similarities across the  traditions, throughout several countries, including themes of plants, fire, and fertility.
Dancing around a Maypole and leaving surprise baskets of flowers seems to be the most common celebrations existing today. A Maypole is a pole with several long ribbons adhered to the top. Participants grab a ribbon and circle around the pole to celebrate the arrival of the season.
I can remember celebrating as a small child, the tradition of delivering surprise baskets of flowers. On the first day of May we would gather up fresh flowers from the yard and make a basket of some sort to hold them. I can remember using plastic strawberry cartons one year and weaving baskets out of construction paper strips another year, to hold the festive bouquets. We would then leave the basket on the door step of our neighbor, ring the door bell and RUN!
It was fun then and I can only imagine that such a festive gesture would still bring smiles today. You may consider having the kids make a few May Day baskets to take to a nursing home, or you might enjoy giving them to older friends and relatives who probably will remember having made them as children themselves.
Cooking Club – Hands on Culinary Classes are now available at Stella’s, the new cooking and dining facility at The Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee, California. Hands On Classes with some of Tahoe’s best chefs: Chef Johnny McCabe, a private chef at Lake Tahoe for 16 years will offer light hearted, no stress classes, according to organizers. Prices range from $60 to $75 per person.
MAY CLASSES:
5/3: Gourmet Meals in Minutes
5/5: South of the Border Tapas
5/7: Tastes of the Napa Valley
5/12: Introduction to Indian Cuisine
5/14: Introduction to the French Bistro
5/17 Healthy Cooking Your Kids will love
5/19: 1-2-3 Cooking at Home
5/21: Hors d’Oeuvre Boot Camp
5/24: Creative Dim Sum
5/26: Simple Thai Cuisine for Everyone
5/28: Tapas: Spain’s Small Plate Delights
5/31: Breakfasts, Brunches and More!
Cedar House Sport Hotel is located in Martis Valley, a few minutes outside of downtown Truckee, California. They can be reached at 530.582.5655. Please tell them Mountain Valley Living sent you.
Submitted by Lassen Aurora Network -
 Ride for Recovery on Bizz Johnson Trail Capture the wilderness experience of Lassen County; its pine scented forests and fresh mountain air on the Bizz Johnson Trail Sunday, May 17, 2009 in Susanville, California. This fun-filled family equestrian adventure is sponsored by Lassen Aurora Network in partnership with The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Lassen County.
This equestrian trail ride, Ride-for-Recovery fundraiser, takes the rider along the spectacular Bizz Johnson Trail located on the Eagle Lake Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest, from Devil’s Corral Rd. to Goumaz. The ride is a total of 12 miles round trip along a beautiful, pine forest trail with Goumaz being the six-mile mark where authentic Mexican cuisine will be served, entertainment by Sam Williams and Cindy Tamietti, cowboy poetry and prize drawings will be happening for the riders and  participants before heading back to Devil’s Corral. The registration fee is $35 for adults and $25 for children.
For more than fifty years, our country has celebrated May as Mental Health Awareness Month to raise consciousness about mental illnesses and the importance of mental wellness for all. The Lassen Aurora Network, a client-run, nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering the message of hope in recovery needs your help. Through peer support and wellness programs, Aurora is dedicated to battling the stigma, shame and myths surrounding mental disorders that prevent so many people from getting the help they need. Lassen Aurora Network represents a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation – everyday, and in times of crisis.
 On the Trail at Ride for Recovery on Bizz Johnson Trail The Lassen Aurora Network’s program combines prevention services with a full range of support services to treat the whole person, with the goal of self sufficiency for those who may have otherwise faced homelessness or dependence on the state for years to come. Other innovations address services to underserved populations such as traumatized youth and isolated seniors. These successful programs, including prevention, emphasize client-centered, family focused and community-based services that are culturally and linguistically competent and are provided in an integrated services system.
The Ride-for-Recovery challenges participants to raise money for Lassen Aurora Network by acquiring one dollar or more per mile in sponsorship donations. Drawing prize tickets for chances to win items from local merchants will be awarded for every $25 raised. A special participant category – Ghost Rider – has been added this year for people who wish to participate in the donation drive and attend the event, but are not riders. All benefits and criteria apply.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Early registration is encouraged to help with event coordination. To get to the registration point; turn right onto Devil’s Corral Rd., seven miles west of Susanville on Hwy 36, and go across the bridge. Participants must provide their own horses.
To register for the event or for more information call Lassen Aurora Network at 530-257-3864 or email us at HYPERLINK “mailto:lassenauroranetwork@frontiernet.net” lassenauroranetwork@frontiernet.net.
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