CHP Susanville

California Highway Patrol Commissioner Warren Stanley~ "We have a vested interest to serve and protect your community, because we live there too. Our motto of Safety, Service, and Security is accomplished in many ways." "Our officers risk their lives daily to protect those who travel our roadways." Thank goodness for all those folks behind the badge that look out for us. Locals willing to risk it all. God Bless 'em. 

Our Susanville CHP Commander Sarah Richards has worked all up and down the Eastern Sierra and most recently Commanded the Quincy office. She knows all about the importance of taking care of a small community because it's her home too. All those brave men and women are OUR people. One of the tools to connect with the public and help put a face on our local office is social media. The Susanville CHP facebook page is definitely in my top 10 pages to follow and I gotta say, who knew the CHP Commander was such a hoot?!?  I was sure they MUST be using a pro service, but no, turns out it's Captain Sarah Richards and Public Information Officer Kristin Wilburn. I'm telling you, if they ever wanna change careers they could have a future in social media. The posts are engaging, informational and (frequently) hysterical! 

      

But. The whole team is serious about promoting safety. How can we help them best do this? 

• Wear your seat belt. Believe it or not there are still a lot of people that do not. Such a simple thing to do. Captain Richards saw many car crashes in Quincy that absolutely would not have ended in fatalities if they were buckled up.
• HANG UP AND DRIVE. It is illegal to even have that device in your hand. Distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. April is Driver Awareness Month, zero tolerance all month.
• Don't drink and drive. Of course. Sad that this continues to be an issue with so many tragic endings. 

                         

What a wonderful local CHP office we have. Deepest appreciation for these Hometown Proud Heroes! Keep up the great work! 

There is a video on the California Highway Patrol website that makes me wanna break into America the Beautiful. I'll post it on the blog!
CHP video

Crohn's Update~ THANK YOU ALL!

You cannot possibly know how much your continued support for Crohn's and Colitis Foundation means to my family. We understand that supporting a cause every year can begin to feel like a bottomless pit. You might start to have questions like: Do the people affected see a benefit in the here and now? Are they getting anywhere? Where do the funds go? Does my donation make a difference? I want to answer each one. Some I know from experience others I had to talk to wonderful Megan Franks, Community Development Director for CCF and our personal contact.

      
My granddaughter Nikki was diagnosed with Crohns at 8 years old. She was hospitalized and you could see and count all her little riblets, all she could do was lay in a bed. Frightening beyond words. As she regained a bit of strength we tried to get her to go to the kids room where they had games and books and puzzles, even art and craft classes. No way. It must have been terrifying to have her body turn on her like that and become completely unreliable. Crohns takes your confidence and your dignity. As the treatments began to restore her body, CCF began to rebuild her confidence and hope. She went to events funded by your donations to CCF like, Walk at the California State Capitol, Camp Oasis in Southern California (1200 kids attended the 12 camps nationwide!) and by the time she was 10 she was able to stand on the steps of the Capitol building in front of a whole lotta people she'd never met before and tell her story. HUGE. Seeing others with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), sharing with them, having that support system, comraderie can work wonders. As of April 12th Nikki is 13. Growing like a weed, playing basketball but every few weeks still goes to the hospital to be hooked up to her infusion for several hours. A kid at her school was newly diagnosed with Crohns, Nik told him right off he needed to get in touch with CCF and sign up for Camp Oasis. The activities at camp are wonderful, if you ask Nik about her favorite she responds THE FOOD! She also loves camp's fishing, horseback riding and themed dances. So important for these kids. Knowing they're capable and not alone.

Megan's report of the foundation's accomplishments for 2018, all due to your vital support, is impressive. Your donations mean the world to us and every cent counts!
       
My deepest appreciation to all our supporters, those that walk, those that give and those that share. You are all my Hometown Heroes.

Here's a link to our Team Team Uni-Crohns

Melissa Eid

When Todd and Joyce Eid moved their family here in 2001, so Todd could take a position as our Store Director, daughters Jessica and Melissa were just 7 and 4 years old. After all these years the girls barely remember any other home. True LoCaLs, The Eid family brings so much to our community.  It recently occurred to me I've told you all about the whole fam many times EXCEPT Melissa! How could this be?!?  That kid is wonderful. 

                                                                                                 


I was talking to Melissa about what's next after her upcoming graduation from UNR. She wants to be a Math Professor... Wow. After UNR she will transfer to (possibly) Sac State to complete her Masters then she hopes to return home to teach. Brings tears to my eyes. I'm so moved when young people realize what we have here. It's GOOD. And with their help, education, hard work and dedication to our community it will only get better. 

                              

I asked Melissa's mom, Joyce, to tell me about some of her school accolades and anything else. 

• Honor Roll all through High School
• Lassen College Dean's List
• UNR College of Science Dean's List for 2 semesters (all while working at American Eagle)

Then Joyce added the true mom stuff~ "She also has a wonderful sense of humor, beautiful brown eyes, soft brown hair and is single." Aren't Moms the BEST :) 

Great job Melissa! We're so Hometown Proud of you!
                                        

Dinner Team

These are the days I really REALLY need my dinner team. You know, the day when your already full work day schedule has a few extras added. My additions included:

• Cat with recently removed cyst has an e-collar and must be hand fed and watered. Several times a day.
• 9am Cycle/Om class
• Lunch time appointment to have our carpet stretched, move a bunch of furniture.
• After work eye Dr to pick out new glasses (Jolene Arredondo and Linda Robinette were so helpful!).
• Head home to put furniture back.
• Attend to cat. Poor guy. 
• Fix dinner, which is gonna be a snap thanks to my team!

Start with a great recipe, I have TONS I've collected through the years from friends and family that love cooking too. With the addition of FrEsH cut (thanks to our Produce Manager John and Fruit Butcher Marie) the prep on those recipes is a snap. On this crazy day I chose a recipe from Rick's mom and made it in 10 minutes!! Awesome right? Here's the updated edition~

Italian Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches

1lb Johnsonville hot Italian link sausage, cut in 1/2" slices

2 packages John and Marie's FrEsH cut fajita mix

1 tbsp Christopher Ranch chopped garlic 

Italian seasoning (my favorite is Simply Organic)

1 of (Head Baker and Department Manager) Carson's scratch baked Artisan Baguettes
A little shredded Parm for topping. My choice is Sartori with Balsamic

Brown sausage, spoon off excess oil. Add remaining ingredients, simmer until veggies are very limp. Toast baguette in broiler with a little butter. Cuz everything's better with butter. 

In the busyness of the day I totally forgot my baguette so I served it on left over hamburger buns, I always seem to have extra of, still great but the next day we had it on a baguette... even better! 

       
                         
Add a soup or salad the veggies cook and you have a complete meal.  I made a strawberry salad with spinach, arugula, FrEsH cut red onion, FrEsH cut strawberries, crumbled goat cheese and Marie's (brand) Poppy Seed dressing.
                    

Thanks to my Team for making a home cooked, nutritious, delicious meal on a hectic day easy!