GI Bill is a good start

I was dashing in and out of the hardware store a few months ago when I bumped into a woman I’d first met a number of years ago at a Families Honoring our Troops meeting.

Our sons were both Marine Corps combat veterans in the Iraq War. The last time we’d talked she said her son wasn’t “adapting” well to civilian life.

He’d lived at home a while, but that didn’t last because she and her husband asked their son to move out. He drank too much. He stayed up late and slept all day. His temper flared. He was rude and sullen. He wouldn’t help around the house.

Locals join 3,000 in 100-mile Lake Tahoe bike ride

Note from Doni: This Q&A features answers from Nick Webb, who works for Shasta County Public Health. On June 1 Webb led a group of 20 north state residents who’d trained for months to prepare for the 17th annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake…

Mexican food & funny stuff

La Cabana Mexican Restaurant will open its second Redding restaurant at 2640 Bechelli Lane. (You may recall that space most recently held The Whole Enchilada. Before that it featured Bartels Giant Burger. Before that, I don’t remember)

Wanted: Outsourced newspaper writers

You’d think if the Record Searchlight wanted to cast a worldwide net for newsroom writers, it would start with an ad in its own paper.

After all, the RS has ads in its classifieds for an RS forklift operator, RS ap/accounting clerk, RS contract home-delivery paper carriers, RS…

Time to plant!

By now, hopefully you’ve read my first column about selecting a good garden site, incorporating lots of good compost and weeding it bare!

But, even if you are still in the process of soil preparation, lets talk about what to plant.

One smart dog,
By Darcie Gore

What a joy to present this column by Darcie Gore, my good friend and one of the fine minds behind Food for Thought. Darcie’s an inspiration to me, and I trust she will be to you, too. Doni

Bailey, a whippet, has been with me since she was 10 weeks old. She is my second whippet service dog. I had a stroke, and as a result of that brain trauma there are a number of medical issues that Bailey is able to mitigate.

These are common things people say when I am out in public with Bailey:

Andrea Charroin
Food Goddess
Summertime, when the eating is easy

Aaaah. Summer is almost here.

Our wonderful farmers market has opened and I can sense the anticipation of the future harvests finding their way to my table.

The invasion of creepy, crawly caterpillars

Every few years the north state endures an abundance of caterpillars, especially around oak trees. Today I finally looked up their name: Malacosoma californicum, commonly known as the tent caterpillar.

Here in the country, I don’t mind snakes. And I’m intrigued by mountain lions, coyotes and even bear.

But these fuzzy caterpillars are driving me crazy.

Aging and Caring: Senior disability issues,
By Victoria Bernet, Licenced Occupational Therapist

I’m happy to introduce Victoria Bernet, a licenced occupational therapist who’s joined Food for Thought as a contributing writer. Each month she’ll share her passion and knowledge about topics related to her field of expertise. Join me in welcoming Victoria.…

Why is Andy Green gone?

Andy Green, the Redding Convention Center manager, is out of the office.

Indefinitely.

Where is he? Why did he leave? Will he return, and if so, when?

Reached on his cell phone, Green confirmed he was on leave from his job. 

Green said he would be gone ”a while” but…