Nashville instrumentalist Tom Smith will be playing his guitar and banjo, as well as telling his stories at Music Max. Smith, who says he has been playing “for a while” and performing for “nearly that long” has performed with such notables as Tuck and Pattie, John Fahey, Michael Hedges, Odetta, and John Hammond. He

Professional writing consultants George Winship and Sharon Owen will discuss what motion picture producers look for in a screenplay. Writers will hear about Clarity Entertainment, a film company coming to the Redding area looking for projects from local talent. The speakers will cover screenwriting basics, from formatting t

This week In a North State Garden had the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie Elliott, her two year old son, Collin, and Laurie Niles - all participants in Cultivating Community, a Chico-based project working to encourage the learning about and growing of good food, locally and on small, home garden and community scales wit

SHASTA COUNTY – Uninsured Shasta County residents now have more options for health care thanks to a federal waiver allowing California to bring the benefits of healthcare reform to rural communities early. Path2Health – a new Low Income Health Program - expands Shasta County’s CMSP health coverage by raising income th

The Burlap Harlot Show wants YOU!  The Burlap Harlot Show is currently seeking all Creatives!  Calling all Artists, Designers, Aromatherapists, Vintage & Antique Peddlers, Soap Makers, Candle Makers, Textile Designers, Ceramists, Vintage, Antique, and Artisan-Made Goods!  Join us for a beautiful and spectacular show

Presented by Shasta Public Libraries Literacy Program. A FREE presentation by Susan Barton, leading dyslexia expert from San Jose, California. Come learn about dyslexia, the most common reason a bright child will struggle with reading, writing, and spelling. Find out why they struggle, and what you can do to help. An intern

It's a sad day for community college journalism. The Shasta Collage Lance won't be published this semester. The class that produces it, Newspaper Production, has been cancelled. What's significant about the loss of this course is that first, it's the foundation newspaper production lab that supplies talent to feeder journa

Shasta Land Trust is highlighting local food, local wine and beer, local artists, and local businesses at the annual Wildways Kickoff party, scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. on February 25 at the Redding Senior Citizens’ Hall. Tickets for the event go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, February 6, at the Shasta Land Trust [...]

Today I speak with Dan Fehr, formerly a warden with the California Department of Fish and Game, someone who had many years' exposure to the negative environmental impacts of homelessness near Redding's waterways. Fehr intentionally refers to occupants of "unlawful encampments" as "transients" rather than the term "homel

Written by William Inge Directed by Donna Stobie Set in the cramped, cluttered Midwestern house of Lola and Doc Delaney, the plot centers on how their life is disrupted by the presence of a boarder named Marie, a college art student with a strong lustful appetite. Overweight and slovenly, the housebound middle-aged Lola eng

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.  As part of the American Dental Association’s “Give Kids a Smile” campaign, Shasta Community Health Center, along with other local dentists and community supporters, will once again be offering FREE dental care to UNINSURED, low income children ages 0 to 18 on Fr

The 2nd Annual Cupcakes for Caregivers competition, a fundraiser for Mountain Caregiver Resource Center of Passages, will take place February 4, 2012. The theme for this year’s competition is “Hollywood” and all proceeds will go to helping local family caregivers. Entry categories include a professional division, open

I heard the woman before I saw her. "Get some chicken nuggets," came a raspy female voice behind a clump of manzantia bushes that poorly hid a pop-up tent, a heaped shopping cart and a bearded man. The man spoke softly and then ambled off, away from her, the campsite, out of the brush and in the direction of the st

It was financial necessity of one Yoshiaki Shiraishi that morphed the traditonal sushi bar from a tiny space with few seats into a novelty production that coincidentally involves food. The owner of a sushi restuarant on the outskirts of Osaka in the 1950s, Shiraishi was going broke paying master sushi chefs during times of

I cannot waste food, even soured milk, which many sane people pour down the drain. Sour milk is a valuable (well, maybe that's a slight stretch) ingredient. It comes to mind this week because my half & half and whole milk both soured before I could use them. No matter. Make batter. I already knew sour milk is feat

The McConnell Foundation is pleased to announce that William W. (Bill) Cox has been elected to serve on its Board of Directors. His directorship becomes effective in February when Richard J. Stimpel, who joined the Board in 2000, retires. Stimpel will become a Director Emeritus and remain closely associated with the Foundat

Randy Smith's descriptions of discovered illegal encampments are what planted the seed of the idea for this series. Full disclosure: Smith is a long-time friend. Q: Randy, thanks for taking time to talk with me today. Can you please start by sharing with readers a list of the various facets of volunteer work that have given

Winter seemed to finally arrive toward the end of January this year, bringing needed rain and snow to the North State. While the driving was a bit tedious, to watch the view change right in front of me was powerful. The rains came filling the plains and grasslands, the snow recovered our surrounding Mountains overnight [...

Today I'm inviting you on a very special trip. A journey into one of my wildest, outrageous fantasies. Join me as we step into the technicolor film loop with surround sound that plays inside my head every time I step into the shower or get behind the wheel.  Get your minds out of the gutter, [...]

I was taught that if the accelerator stuck or the breaks failed to put the car in neutral and use the hand break. Is this correct? A friend turned off the key - and that locks the steering wheel on my car- In big letters, please write an article on what to do. The CHP [...]

Two cities exist in Redding. You know about the first one. It has streets and traffic and stores and parks and hospitals and schools and churches and a library. This first Redding is just a little slice of California, USA, where citizens work hard and play hard. They pay bills and struggle and succeed and raise families 

Redding has a long history of temperature and precipitation records dating back to 1875. However, the observation site has been moved several times. Because the precipitation and minimum temperature can vary dramatically over the area, it is hard to compare the data from the different sites. The intent of this paper is to t

Another renowned instrumentalist and Redding favorite, Scott Joss, will perform with his group the Sidemen on Friday, Feb. 10. For the past three decades, Joss’ primary job has consisted of performing and recording with Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam. It’s placed him on hundreds of stages around the world, on national

(Update: Please note that the correct date for this event is next Friday, Feb. 3. We apologize for any confusion, but hope this gives everyone even more time to plan for the dinner.) Michele Hughes, dental hygienist and single mom, was diagnosed with colon cancer in September. Redding dentist Gary Howland is hosting a driv

Your scrap will help build the Veterans Museum of Tomorrow, Today! Bring all your scrap metal, old appliances and e-waste to the museum! If you need help transporting, please call (530) 378-2280 to arrange for a pick up! Working or not! Anything with a plug! When: Jan 27 through Feb 12 Drop off time: 10am [...]

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the fifth largest health system in the nation, announced today that it has changed its name to Dignity Health as part of a governance restructure that will position the organization to succeed in a changing health care environment. “This name and structure reflect who we are and what we sta

Today we speak with Debbie McClung, director of the Shasta Senior Nutrition Center. She talks to us about one of the SSNC's programs, Meals on Wheels.

Last month Breast Cancer Action attended the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) as patient advocates; the eyes, ears–and mouthpiece–of breast cancer patients. SABCS is an international conference focused on new developments in breast cancer research and treatment. One of the highly anticipated reports at

After the holidays, my thoughts always turn towards spring. Clearing away the decorations of Christmas and making a clean sweep in my home is so refreshing that I add some fresh cut flowers to my table to finish off my January cleaning ritual. One of my favorite fresh cut spring flowers is the tulip. “But [...]

We as gardeners face many dilemmas, some more difficult than others. For many gardeners, pruning falls under the heading of garden dilemma. Every year, I get questions regarding how and when to prune various things in our North State gardens. Recently I’ve had questions regarding hydrangeas and shrub-type salvias. Both of

Billy Dean, Nashville singer/songwriter and number-one smash recording artist will appear in a unique and intimate performance at the historic Cascade Theatre on Monday, January 23, 2012 at 7:30pm. Tickets for this performance are $35 for adults, $15 for students, available at the theatre box office.  For additional inform

Restoration Enterprises, Boy Scouts Venture Crew and Risen King Community Church will be holding an E-waste and  Appliance collection event in Shasta Lake City at 4302 Shasta Dam Blvd (Former Calvary Chapel Building).  Just drive through and drop off your tv’s, computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, small & la

Redding is juuust right. That may be so, but I’m supposing I ought to define “just right” - for what. In my not-so-humble opinion (the one that, along with two or three bucks, will buy you a cup of coffee) Redding is just right for a lot of things. Surely, you must think, she doesn’t [...]

We are still a nation of meat-and-potatoes men and fish-and-salad women... I can't even tell you how many women have told me that the one thing they'd like to change about their man's eating habits is to get him to put down the hamburger just once and take her to a seafood joint. So guys, [...]

Updated Thursday a.m., January 19 -- The cold air is still trapped in the valley from Redding northward and snow levels this morning north of Redding continue near the 1,000 foot elevation. Redding is currently in the upper 30s with calm winds while to the south in Chico it is in the mid 40s with south [...]

If you’re a smoker, make this the time to quit. Mercy offers another free Quit for Good Class in January. You may already know that smoking causes lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and many more health related illnesses, but have you considered the additional benefits of quitting? A few days after the last cigarette,

Yesterday I spoke with Jesse Rosten, the uber-talented Redding director and cinematographer, about a recent film project of his that's created quite a buzz, not just in the North State, but around the world. I could describe it as a spoof on beauty advertisements, but I think our conversation will make more sense if you [..

Alfonso Franco, at-risk missing person. Update from Redding Police Department press release, Tuesday a.m.: On Monday, January 16, 2012, at approximately 10:52 PM, Alfonso Franco, 75 years, of Redding, was located in the area of Churn Creek Road and Harpole Road in Redding. He was reported missing earlier in the day from an

Tuesday's forecast: A very cold and dry airmass is over Northern California. Out in the Pacific a series of wet storms are lining up to march across the North State. Today will start off mostly sunny and cold with increasing clouds in the afternoon. The clouds will help keep temperatures up tonight so minimum temperatures [

While our North State Gardens have not had much of a winter just yet, one of winter’s particular pleasures is that of bringing spring in. Having bright, fragrant spring bulbs or dramatic branches of spring flowering trees and shrubs bloom inside our homes during the cold dark winter months does just this. This technique �

Aaron and Rachel Hatch are modern-day prospectors, sifting through the community in search of interesting and provocative ideas. When they strike gold, they don’t take their treasure to the bank—they take it to the World Wide Web. The Redding couple, and their support crew of fellow Catalyst Redding Young Professionals

“Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”-Mahatma Gandhi As the ball drops and we kiss the nearest cutie, it begins, a New Year. The New Year brings new promises t

The California Legislature mandated (Assembly Bill 1358) that all 58 counties implement a one-time amnesty period that allows a lump sum payment of 50 percent of the outstanding balance on certain violations to fully satisfy that court ordered obligation. Only traffic tickets that were due to be paid before January 1, 2009,

While having lunch with three friends, we invented a new (to us) game... “Conversation Starters That Stop Conversations.” We listed 50 or so but the one that stuck with me was, “I’m only telling you this as a friend…” No! You’re not. Stop. This is going to be embarrassing, intimate and unsolicited. A true frie

Love to sing? The Redding Community Choir started its spring session. Rehearsals are every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at First Christian Church, 3590 Placer Street, Redding, near the corner of Placer St. and Buenaventura Blvd. No auditions are necessary, just a desire to sing a variety of popular and international choral mu

Learn the basics and "fun"damentals of floral design in each four-week session. Design styles, color, current trends fresh-flower projects every week. Photos will be taken of all students' work. After completion of all three sessions the participants will receive a certificate of course completion. Session #1 Projects are C

Amy Goodman is not a well-known name in Redding,  but to many, the progressive broadcast journalist, syndicated  columnist, investigative reporter and best-selling author is a kind of hero. The host of Democracy Now!, an independent global news program broadcast daily on radio, television and  the internet, including K

Michele Boylson Erickson of Redding died Wed., Jan. 4 after after a 20-year battle with breast cancer, and two years with Stage IV cancer. She was 62. In addition to leaving behind scores of mourning friends, colleagues, community members, acquaintances and extended family, Michele is survived by husband David Erickson;

WE Multimedia Theatre Group brings to Redding the Tony Award winning musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown". Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and the whole gang are here. USA Today says "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" is great for kids, and even better for grown-ups. FREE PUBLIC ADMISSION to the WE Multimedia Theater

Unleash your creative spark by attending these 13-week, 1-hour classes for an opportunity to look at what excites you in life; a time to re-discover your creative nature. This class will give you the creativity to find a publisher, create an on-line business, teach a Thai cooking class, improve your current business, or any