3 Years of Page 4 Articles!

Can you believe they have let me do this for 3 years now?!?! 

I have the best job in the world, filling this ad space with GOOD. Good people, good food, good health and good happenings. I know I get a little too wordy sometimes (most of the time),but this week I just want to share a few pictures from past articles and THANK all of you that have shared so openly your pictures and stories. You make me aware of how lucky we are to live in Lassen County~
The Hometown Proud is real!

Lassen Masonic Lodge Exposé

Before the BIG reveal, here's a few fun facts about the Masonic Lodge taken from the Masonic Service Association of North America. 

Colonial America notable members, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and John Hancock just to name a few.

                      

Today Masonic Fraternity gives about $1.5 million each day to causes ranging from children’s hospitals, providing treatment for childhood language disorder, treating eye diseases, funding medical research and more. 

No one knows exactly when the Masonic Fraternity was formed but some believe it dates back to the middle ages! 

        


Maybe you’ve heard all the ‘secret society’ stuff? Well I am prepared to give away one of their closely held secrets… On the third Saturday of every month….whether the moon is full or not… they participate in a ritual. What is it you ask? If you go to the Lodge on Lassen right across from the Post Office between 8am and 11am and give Ernie your $5 you will be privy to BREAKFAST. Not just any breakfast, delicious sausage, gravy, pancakes, eggs, biscuits, orange juice, coffee! NOM NOM NOM. Cooked by the Masons, served by Job’s Daughters (Masonic youth organization)and enjoyed by everyone! I highly recommend your participation. You gotta try the pancakes!

Thank you to our Lassen Janesville Masonic Lodge for all you do!

Our Voice in the Industry!

I’d like to congratulate Rick Stewart! He was elected to join the California Grocers Association Board of Directors! Here’s a little bit about CGA from their website: 

"Since 1898, the California Grocers Association has been the voice of the California food industry. CGA is a non-profit, statewide trade association representing over 300 retail members operating more than 6,000 food stores in California and Nevada, and approximately 150 grocery supplier companies. Retail membership includes chain and independent supermarkets, convenience stores and mass merchandisers. The Association is recognized as the industry leader in the areas of government and industry relations, public relations, education and communications.” 

 Rick has been attending the Grocers Day at the Capitol for a few years now, tackling issues that effect all of us such as prop 47 (early release), recycling and anything else currently on the state agenda. He brings a fresh rural perspective to their lobbying efforts and we couldn’t be more Hometown Proud of him (I happen to be his biggest fan)!

At the last CGA Board Meeting spouses were invited to participate in a cooking event at Silverado Cooking School! What a blast! I had an opportunity to cook (you KNOW how much I love that) with people from our industry (I love the grocery business) and hear their stories. AND the food. Holy Moly it was amazing. I was on the team making Chicken Paillards, aka known as cutlets :) with Parmesan, Greens and Capers. So DeLISH. Unfortunately I don’t have room here to put all the recipes BUT I will post them all on the Green Grocerette blog! You gotta try the Buttermilk Ice Cream recipe… and the Quince Tart… and the…. you get the idea.

                      

                       

Huge Hometown thanks to my best friend, husband and business partner for taking on this commitment to be our voice in the industry!

Lassen County Dispatch

I have needed to call 911 exactly ONE time in my life. One day at the market we had a very belligerent man making threats to our clerks. I asked him to leave but he continued to be very aggressive. He was still yelling and threatening us as the phone was answered. Imagine my relief when the person answering the call was Cliff Bannister, a LoCaL I had known for years. He knew where my store was and could easily picture the scene since he's a regular customer. The man left and I told Cliff I thought it was alright now but he sent a unit to be sure.



Our dispatchers are LoCaLs just like you and me, that live here and want our community to be the best it can be. Locals that have what it takes to perform this stressful job. They are intelligent and have the ability to remain calm while working through an emergency situation.
   

I asked dispatcher Michelle Wolf if I could come in and see where they work. The command center each dispatcher works on looks intimidating. So much to watch, know and understand while responding to each emergency but that isn’t all, as dispatcher Margie Campbell pointed out their duty is also to make sure every officer gets home to their families safely. Michelle says they need to learn the officers voices and know when a situation is heightened.


How can we help these Hometown Heroes ~
Cliff and Michelle emphasized the MOST important information when calling is LOCATION. If there is no physical address to give, look for landmarks, some way for emergency services to find you.


911 is for physically threatening/life threatening situations. Each 911 call is treated as a life threatening emergency and must be triaged. For non emergency please call the department needed directly.
Susanville Police Department 257-2171
Lassen County Sheriff 257-6121
Susanville Fire Department 257-5152
California Highway Patrol (local) 252-1900


To all the Hometown Heroes at Lassen County Dispatch~ Thank you for all you do!




Photo credits- Thank you Jeremy Couso of Susanvillestuff.com for the photo of Cliff Bannister. Thank you Lassen County Sheriff Facebook page for the K-9 photo.

Healthy New Year

As the New Year approaches I always want to see how I can be a little better, a little kinder, a little more conscientious of others and certainly a little healthier. Many of our LoCaLs have joined Weight Watchers group leader Theresa Phillips in changing their lifestyle for the better. Here’s what Theresa said about our LoCaL group~

"On May 15, 1963, Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch, invited a group of her friends to her New York home to discuss how they could support each other in their efforts to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. From that group of friends grew the Weight Watchers we know today.

The current Susanville Weight Watchers group was organized early this year when my friend and co-worker, Karen Rollings, said to me, “I wish there was a Weight Watchers group in Susanville, we should see if we can start one.” Even though I may be the “face” of our local Weight Watchers group, Karen is the driving force. It was her determination to bring the group back to Susanville that got me motivated.

During our first meeting, we had nearly 50 people enroll in the program. Since then, more have joined, and our group is now about 70 strong. Our meetings are held each Monday, at noon and at 5:30pm in the Susanville Mall community room.

The “community” of the meeting room is key to success in the Weight Watchers program. The support and accountability that the members provide to each other is amazing! Our motto is, “If you want to fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together!”

“When I heard that my friend Theresa Phillips was starting a local Weight Watchers group I thought I'd give it a try. I wanted to lose about 15 pounds,” says member and local health guru, Kristen Volberg. “Our first meeting was March 15, 2017. I have been very pleased and rather amazed at how well this program works for me. Tracking the food I eat has been key. Our members are all so motivating and supportive. Everyone has been quite successful. I was able to achieve my goal weight in five months and have maintained it since then. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to lose weight and be healthier.”

The basis of the Weight Watchers program is tracking food, incorporating exercise and increasing self-awareness. No food is “off-limits.” Members eat what satisfies and nourishes our bodies. There are no requirements of pre-packaged foods or dietary restrictions. The Weight Watchers web site is full of recipes, tips and success stories. One of my favorite recipes is a southwest breakfast scramble.



¼ cup frozen corn kernels

¼ cup black beans

1 cup fresh spinach

A handful of grape tomatoes

2 eggs

Spray frying pan with non-stick cooking spray, add the corn, beans and tomatoes. Sauté until warm, add spinach, sauté ingredients until they are well mixed. Mix eggs in a cup until blended, pour over mixture and stir until the egg is done. Remove from pan, sprinkle with ¼ ounce of shredded cheese and a splash of taco sauce or salsa. All of this is only 1 Weight Watchers Smart Point! (I get 23 Smart Points a day!)

We have several members who have hit their goal weight, and at least four members who have lost in excess of 50 pounds! Whether you want to lose 15 pounds or 150 pounds, Weight Watchers will work for you!”

HaPpY New Year everyone! Your Susanville Super family wishes you success in all your 2018 endeavors!

HaPpY 90th Birthday Dick Bendix

I’ll never forget my first time at the Susanville Symphony. I had no idea we had so many talented musicians in our community but clearly I was just about the only one that didn’t know! It was held in the Methodist Church, we all sat surrounded by the lovely stained glass. The music hooked me right away but it was even more than that, there was humor and stories and LoCaL folks filling every pew. Part of the humor is just fun camaraderie and a big part of that seems to emanate from the percussion section.

In that percussion section you’ll find Dick Bendix, sometimes in a hat reflective of the piece being played. Sometimes it’s even a gladiator helmet? You just never know. This uber talented timpani player is also a retired Brigadier General who spent the last 8 years of his career at the Pentagon. I was lucky enough to get to know him a little bit better recently when I was invited to his 90th birthday party! 90! You would never guess this. He attributes it to “good genes and living right”. Prior to his party most of my contact was on behalf of the Symphony, which he tirelessly devotes his time to. He is loved and respected (rightfully so) by so many.
        
Brigadier General Bendix also LOVES to dance. He can Rumba, Samba, Waltz, ChaCha, and Jitterbug..as a matter of fact, years ago he and his wife went on a cruise to Bermuda and were asked to teach the dance class! Maybe the Susanville Symphony can have a demonstration of his skills one day.

                

If you’re still looking for that special gift why not give tickets to an upcoming Susanville Symphony or even a season pass!

HaPpy Birthday General! Seems someone else has a birthday soon too~

Merry Christmas everyone!