Magazine: April 2010 Issue
Blooming With Abandon
Published: 01-Apr-2010
Spring blooms with possibilities so many people to meet and places to explore as clouds turn to sunshine and days get longer.
We have got plenty of ideas to keep you busy this month. Hot rods, cruisers and classics rumble into town for the 21st annual Kool April Nites car show, guided this year by a special light the spirit of Duane Tomei, an event founder who passed away in July. Childrens charities benefit from this event. Meanwhile, down in Tehama County, the historic Red Bluff Round Up draws some 1,000 revelers each year grab your cowboy hat and join the fun.
If you are looking for a leisurely Sunday drive, cruise west on Highway 299 to Trinity County, where delightful galleries, imaginative restaurants and outdoor adventures abound. Or explore Anselmo Vineyards in Inwood, where grapes are harvested by hand and resident cattle and sheep are trained to graze the vineyard without nibbling a single precious grape. The tasting room resides in a century-old ranch house, and the restaurant’s high culinary standards enchant customers.
Some incredible innovations are happening right here in the North State. Have you ever dreamed of swimming with the dolphins? Perhaps the Innespace Seabreacher is the next-best thing. This personal watercraft can roll 360 degrees, plunge underwater and then leap clear of the surface. The hobby of Innespace Marine’s Rob Innes and Dan Piazza has become a global sensation. “It’s the newest extreme sport,” says Innes. “It’s like monster trucks in the water.”
Do you remember the scene in “The Lion King” when Rafiki lifts the newborn cub Simba to the sky so all of Pride Rock can meet him? That was the handiwork of Red Bluff’s own Russ Edmonds, an acclaimed animator who has brought life to many Disney favorites over the past 20 years. He tells us about his fascinating career.
Meanwhile, Jerry Nelson Stuart imparts his wisdom about turning points, drawing new vision from dreams that didn’t materialize. The injured athlete became an inspired artist whose portfolio resonates with creative techniques he applies to walls, ceilings, woodwork and canvasses. “I am continually educating myself,” says Stuart, one of a handful of fresco painters in the United States.
It’s still a little chilly to hit the lake in earnest, but that doesn’t stop Mike Strahle from embracing his passion. From the stern of his Sonar racer, in an adaptive seat that he designed, the founder of Wounded Warrior Sailing channels the wind to explore wondrous Whiskeytown Lake – quite a feat for a man paralyzed from the neck down. Strahle defines success as “waking up with a desire, something to look forward to each day.”
And that is our wish for you. Enjoy!
Featured Articles in This Issue
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..
Interest: History In The Making
Published in April 2010 - story: Melissa Mendonca CIVIL WAR DAYS IN RED BLUFF A scar in our nation’s history once famously known for tearing families apart is now bringing them together. Civil War reenactments have been gaining popularity since the mid 1990s, and they have found a large following in the North State. Many families who enjoy camping and learning together at the meticulously researched, period-correct shows whi..
Enjoyables: How Does Your Garden Grow
Published in April 2010 - TOP 10 FLOWER, FRUIT OR VEGETABLE If you love fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers and enjoy eating and sharing the fruits of your labor, you’ve probably started working – or at least thinking about – your summer garden. What fruit, vegetable or flower do you plant that thrives in this North State heat? Below are the answers we received from our online poll. 1. Tomatoes: The most common f..
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..
Interest: Making Waves
Published in April 2010 - story: Kallie Markle THE REDDING SWIM TEAM BUILDS A LEGACY Mark Wagner and the other coaches of the Redding Swim Team want their charges to develop into healthy, well-rounded individuals. If those individuals also swim fast, it’s a bonus. The real testament to the success of the program may have more to do with a film reel than a lap pool: several former swimmers have taken the initiative to pro..
Interest: Shining Bright
Published in April 2010 - story: Jon Lewis DUANE TOMEI'S MEMORY LIGHTS UP KOOL APRIL NITES With any luck, the sun will be shining on the thousands of folks who will gather to admire the 2,000 or so hot rods, cruisers and classics featured at the 21st annual Kool April Nites car show. Rain or shine, though, there will be a special light illuminating the Redding Convention Center grounds this year. The spirit of Duane Tomei, one..
Interest: Spice Is Nice
Published in April 2010 - story: Jim Dyar photos: Kara Stewart AUTHENTIC INDIAN FOOD SERVED AT PRIYA INDIAN CUISINE Priya is a Hindi word for beloved one. And that’s just how a lot of North State diners feel about Priya Indian Cuisine in Redding. The restaurant has been open just over two years, yet many can’t imagine life without it. It’s the only Indian restaurant in town. “Since we opened, we&r..
Interest: The Fast And The Amphibious
Published in April 2010 - story: Melissa Gulden photos: James Mazzotta INNESPACE TAKES SPEED TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL Imagine a Personal Watercraft that can roll 360 degrees, plunge underwater and then leap clear of the surface. The idea behind the Innespace Seabreacher is to not only swim with the dolphins, but mimic their every move, as well. Like a strange union between a dolphin and an F-16 fighter jet, the Seabreacher is th..
