Profile Articles
Profile: Set In Stone
Published in September 2010 - story: Melissa Mendonca photo: Brent Van Auken Daniele Degli Esposti’s Art of the Old World Italian stone mason Daniele Degli Esposti has a habit of tapping fine handmade items – anything from crystal goblets to salad bowls – for a familiar ting, a comforting sound that speaks of care and attention to detail in creation. It is a sound, he says, only emitted through items made by hand...
Profile: Racing to Work
Published in August 2010 - story: Kallie Markle photo: Mia Sullivan PRO-CYCLIST CHRIS JONES' UNCONVENTIONAL CAREER There’s China for the Tour of Qinghai Lake (943 miles over altitudes varying 6,500 feet), then on to the Tour of Britain (eight days, 759 miles, and skirting the Pope’s visit to London), and maybe the Tour of Ireland somewhere in between. That’s Chris Jones’ work schedule for late August-..
Profile: Breaking New Grounds
Published in August 2010 - story: Billy Brown photo: Brent Van Auken LISA LANGSTON'S FRESH PERSPECTIVE Upon opening the door at Breaking New Grounds on Yuba Street in Redding, customers find themselves lured inside by the scent of espresso and jazz music. Owner Lisa Langston welcomes everyone who wanders in, taking orders and giving recommendations with the wink and smile of a lifelong acquaintance. This relaxing atmosphere and fri..
Profile: Blues Man
Published in July 2010 - story: Jon Lewis photo: Photo By Sheryl Crow and Frank Vigil Photography JOHN LEE HOOKER JR. MORE THAN A BLUES ARTIST Even if he dreamed it as a kid growing up on the tough streets of Detroit, John Lee Hooker Jr. says he never would have said a word about being an animated blues superhero. “People would have laughed.” There’s no laughing now. Hooker is “Bluesman,” a c..
Profile: Downtown Buzz
Published in July 2010 - story: Kallie Markle photo: Brent Van Auken BARBER MIKE HERNANDEZ An old brick building and iconic red and white barber’s pole may be as traditional and Rockwellian as it gets, but Mike Hernandez, downtown Redding staple and barber extraordinaire, is hardly conventional. Hernandez’s single-chair shop is a curious study in proportion. The floor space is barely the size of a walk-in clos..
Profile: On Que
Published in July 2010 - story: Kerri Regan photo: Kara Stewart Q-97 AND THE NORTH STATE’S DYNAMIC DUO, BILLY AND PATRICK The sun hasn’t yet peeked over the horizon, but Billy Pilgrim and Patrick John are fully caffeinated, updated on the latest news and ready to give the North State a friendly wake-up call. They know you’re counting on them to roust you from slumber, tell you what happened while you slept and..
Profile: Be Hooved
Published in May 2010 - Story: Kerri Regan Photos: Kara Stewart FARRIER RYAN GARBE If Ryan Garbe doesn’t do his job correctly, he could render a $50,000 investment worthless – or he could end up knocked into next week by the rear hooves of a 1,000-pound mare. Fortunately, Garbe’s second language is “horse.” The Redding farrier trained at a prestigious school, apprenticed with one of the best h..
Profile: Summer Love
Published in May 2010 - Story: Teresa Wilson Photo: Kara Stewart SIXTEEN–YEAR–OLD SUMMER SCHAPPELL ROCKS COUNTRY MUSIC Sitting cross-legged in a chair at a local coffee shop, Summer Schappell appears to be a typical teenager, although not many young girls can claim they were the opening act for country music star Josh Turner. While taking a sip of her hot chocolate, she pauses. A smile curls about her lips, and..
Profile: Come Sail Away
Published in April 2010 - story: Sandie Tillery photos: KaraStewartPhotography.com THE REDDING YACHT CLUB'S MIKE STRAHLE An eager group of fifth-grade students from Rocky Point Charter School has gathered to learn the principles and pleasures of sailing. Divided into four boats, they call to each other with delight, clinging tightly to the port or starboard of the hull as they glide through the water. Mike Strahle sits at the st..
Profile: In Good Character
Published in April 2010 - story: Kerri Regan IMAGINATION COMES TO LIFE AT EDMONDS STUDIOS He’s one of Hollywood’s most widely recognized actors, but you won’t find the paparazzi stalking him on Oscar night. In “The Lion King,” Russ Edmonds brought the newborn cub Simba to life, when Rafiki lifted him up for all the kingdom to see at Pride Rock. He created Prince Naveen the frog, Stella the dog a..
Profile: Perfect Illusion
Published in March 2010 - story: Sandie Tillery photo: Brent Van Auken Roby Baer, PSA— Picture–Perfect Pastelist Among wildlife and conservation groups, one local artist’s work stands out among the throng. She has earned accolades from such groups as Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited and the Dove Sportsman’s Society. More than 100 of her works have been donated to fundraising efforts including Upland Game,..
Profile: Clear Focus
Published in February 2010 - story: Sandie Tilery photo: Jim Arnold FRANK KRATOFIL'S LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY Sometime around 3:30 to 4 am, Frank Kratofil eagerly hunts for the perfect shot where first light frosts the horizon. As the earliest rays of sunlight broaden their line along the landscape, this hunter hopes to capture in vivid focus with his camera what he sees through eyes that once were legally blind. He waits patiently for ..
Profile: Automobile Art
Published in February 2010 - photo: Todd McBain story: Nikole McBain THE ART OF RESTORING CARS WITH KEVIN KAY RESTORATION Kevin Kay Restorations creates automotive art for the European classic car connoisseur. Its mint masterpieces have won and placed in prestigious concours d’elegance throughout California. Across the States and around the globe, there are Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Jaguars and Rolls Royces that have ..
Profile: Awesome Entrees
Published in January 2010 - Story: Gary VanDeWalker Photo: Monica VanDeWalker MICHAEL'S RESTAURANT IN MT. SHASTA Nick Kobseff knew how to promote his restaurant. He purchased an ailing racehorse and fed it ravioli from his Rancho Nicasio restaurant in Marin County. Not only did the horse flourish, it attracted the local press, and the previous owner asked for his horse back. Nick consented and was pleased when the horse won a few ..
Profile: Art Strings
Published in December 2009 - story: Jim Dyar photos: Brent Van Auken James Russell and Jason Schroeder Build Beautiful Guitars Anyone can view the guitars made by Jason Schroeder or James Russell and see that they’re gorgeous. But the assessment gets really interesting when expert players and serious guitar aficionados get their hands on them. Here’s what Neale Heywood of Fleetwood Mac had to say about the Schroeder..
Profile: The Library That Went Home For The Holidays
Published in December 2009 - story: Kallie Markle COTTONWOOD COMMUNITY LIBRARY’S CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR There aren’t many ways to blend Christmas, libraries and the penchant for peeking into your neighbor’s house, but the people of Cottonwood manage to pull it off with panache. Every December, the Cottonwood Community Library presents its Christmas Home Tour. The self-guided tour, now its 10th year, features five Cotto..
Profile: Uniting Cultures
Published in November 2009 - story: Kerri Regan photo: DevenCarter.com MEY CHAO-LEE, CULTURAL COMPETENCY COORDINATOR Meycho (Mey) Chao-Lee takes nothing for granted. Not the car that she drives to work, nor the carpet that she walks across in her living room, nor the ability to speak her mind without fear of death at the hands of Communists. In the country where she was born, bombs rain down on villages. There is no electricity..
Profile: Golden Touch
Published in October 2009 - story: Beth K. Maxey photo: KaraStewartPhotography.com TEHAMA COUNTY'S PACIFIC SUN GOURMET Tucked away on a rural Tehama County road is a golden treasure – richly flavored Pacific Sun extra virgin olive oil pressed from locally grown, hand-harvested fruit from trees that have been in the area for decades. Pacific Sun Gourmet is part of Pacific Farms and Orchards, Inc., a family business owned..
Profile: Pangia Power
Published in October 2009 - story: Sandie Tillery PANGIA PERFORMS AT EVERYDAY FITNESS Dramatic contrasts of color and function greet visitors and members to EveryDay Fitness, one of 2nd Saturday ArtHop’s regular venues. The work of local artists graces the walls and reflects the owners’ efforts to “expand things that bring us joy in life.” This month, EveryDay Fitness will host dancers Denise Mannion and A..
Profile: Amped On Music
Published in September 2009 - story: Jim Dyar photo: Kara Stewart MARVIN ALLEN’S PASSION FOR MUSIC Marvin Allen remembers the exact moment he heard the sound that set his life’s course in motion. It was Jimmy Page’s guitar solo on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Allen, a fourth grader at the time, was riding in a car with his father on North Street in Anderson in front of Duffy’s Liquor..
Profile: Canvas Calling
Published in August 2009 - story: Sandie Tillery BEV CORFORDS PASSION FOR ART Al Pacino, playing a blind character in “Scent of a Woman,” expressed the sensuous rapture of dancing with a beautiful woman… their movement on the dance floor, their elegant oneness with each fluid step, the very fragrance of her being. True artists feel similar sensuality throughout the process of creating. Bev Corford often feels her..
Profile: Catch A Ray
Published in July 2009 - story: Todd McBain Ricky Ray Starts His 7th Season With The CFL's Edmonton Eskimos Ricky Ray has been a Wolf and a Hornet, a 49er and a Jet, a Knight and an Eskimo. He spent time on a roster in the NFL and is a champion in the CFL. Born in Happy Camp and raised in Redding, the 29-year-old has traveled a whirlwind journey in football that has led him to Canada, where he is a star. Now in his seventh se..
Profile: Guilty Pleasures
Published in June 2009 - story: Jim Dyar Dave Alvin And The Guilty Women Last October, Dave Alvin looked like the picture of relaxation as he rode jeans and boots sprawled in front of him on the back of a small flatbed transport through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Officials were driving him to one of the stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. There, he would meet up with seven women with whom he’d..
Profile: One Funny Lady
Published in May 2009 - story: Phil Fountain Acclaimed Redding Cartoonist Benita Epstein If you were to play a word association game with your average cartoonist, the word “bugs” would probably elicit the response, “bunny.” Should you try the same word on acclaimed Redding cartoonist, Benita Epstein, you would likely get, “Do you mean from the phylum class, such as a Dictyoptera Blattaria?” ..
Profile: Pedal Power
Published in April 2009 - story and photo: Gary VanDeWalker Dr. Ron Fritzke Goes The Distance The last 12 minutes of this bike race make all the difference. It is a steady uphill climb to the finish line. Among the 60 competitors, who began shoulder to shoulder with back and front wheels only a little more than a foot apart, four riders have gapped the rest. One is a power climber who can push his bike beyond the limits by sheer s..
Profile: Dojo with Mojo
Published in February 2009 - Scott Halsey's Kenpp Karate in Downtown Redding story: Kerri Regan photo: Kara Stewart Scott Halsey is a study in symbolism. His karate uniform is cinched with a black belt that represents more than 30 years of dedication to an art. On his hand, a gold band represents his commitment to his wife of 14 years and their two children – the grounding force in his life. Around his ankle, a he..
Profile: Green and Golden
Published in February 2009 - Redding School of the Arts is More Than Green story: Jon Lewis The new Redding School of the Arts will not just be the home of teachers helping to prepare students for the future. The school itself—with its cutting-edge design—will be a teacher. Students in the K-8 charter school, as well as their parents, community members and the country, courtesy of the Internet, will learn how a buildi..
Profile: Braver than the Rest
Published in January 2009 - THE MYRIAD'S RANDY MILLER Story: Todd McBain A note from the editor: Some of you may remember the feature story we did on Randy Miller in our February 2007 issue. We were so excited for him as the newest member of The Myriad and have had the pleasure of watching the band gain international popularity. We were awestruck watching them perform at the Cascade Theatre in March and then again in October. Our ..
Profile: From a Village to the World
Published in November 2008 - North State Novelist Tony D'Souza Author of the critically acclaimed novels Whiteman and The Koncans, Tony D’Souza loves living in Dunsmuir because it feels like a village. “I miss village life from Africa,” he says. D’Souza lived in Ivory Coast, Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer where he taught AIDS education. D’Souza has traveled to more than 50 countries, but most of the ..
Profile: American Roots
Published in October 2008 - Journalist Morphed into Musician, Jim Dyar Story: Sandie Tillery Photo: Kara Stewart Loving music… it started there. Since he quit his day job, Jim Dyar now has time to give himself over to his passion… making music. A decade of interviewing some of the best musicians in the industry as the entertainment editor of the Record Searchlight “worked up this buried love that I had for musi..
Profile: Dutch Love
Published in July 2008 - Story: Kerri Regan The Resners Serve More Than Just a Cup of Joe Chris and Erin Resner know it’s not tough to make a cup of coffee. Grind some fresh beans, brew up a steamy cup, maybe fancy it up with a little milk, soy or flavored syrup. Lots of places do it, cup after cup, around the clock. But their coffee has a special ingredient – an ingredient that hooks people and keeps them coming..
Profile: Music Man
Published in June 2008 - Story: Wyatt Olson Nick Ciampi's Passion For Music For Nick Ciampi, music is life. He hears music where there is none, and he shares his love of music with everyone he encounters through teaching, performing and storytelling. It all began with the King. “When I was in second grade, I saw Elvis Presley on TV and all these girls were going nuts. It was from that point on that I wanted a guitar,&rd..
Profile: Rockin Ron
Published in April 2008 - Tales of Meteor Music Story by: Kerri Regan Rockin’ Ron Sullivan is well aware that in today’s world, many folks tote their music collection around on a device that’s no larger than a credit card. But if they haven’t heard their favorite song spinning on a turntable, they haven’t truly experienced that music. “The bass is bassier, the highs are higher. It’s ha..