Morgan Balavage is a Redding native and University of California Santa Barbara graduate attempting to navigate her way through the “real” world as fearlessly as possible.
Posts by Morgan

Kathryn Barker Kathryn Barker has never met a child, a tea, or a baby animal she didn’t love. With her Sweet Husband of 43 years, she has: raised three extraordinary children, doctored all manner of farm animal, driven a team of horses, made soap, spun wool and opened a tea room. An avid photographer, Kathryn has had tea in a ger in Mongolia, viewed the Three Gorges Dam in China and waved to the Queen of England. She maintains a tea booth at the Oregon St. Antique Mall. Visit her at www.tea4kate.com or on Facebook and Twitter at tea4kate.
Posts by Kathryn

Dugan Barr has practiced law in Redding since 1967, primarily in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death. He has tried more than 200 civil jury cases to verdict. He is married and has five children. He can be reached at Barr & Mudford, 1824 Court St., Redding, 243-8008, or dugan@ca-lawyer.com.
Posts by Dugan

Marge Beck owns and operates Affiliated Benefit Services, where she is a licensed CLU, ChFC and CEBS. She works at 1348 Market St., Suite 208, in Redding, and can be reached at (530) 225-8583 and mrb1348@gmail.com.
Posts by Marge

Lauren Brooks lives in Bellevue, Washington. She is a CSU, Chico alumna who graduated with a B.A. in journalism in spring 2006. She can be reached at lmbrooks.work@gmail.com.
Posts by Lauren

Candace Brown has been a newspaper and magazine reporter and editor since 1992, including eight years at the Redding Record Searchlight. She lives in Redding and can be reached at candace.freelance@gmail.com.
Posts by Candace

Michael Burke of Redding is a photographer and former newspaper photojournalist who has been seeing the North State through his camera lens since 1988. He specializes in commercial photography, editorial and North State stock photos. He is also available for senior portraits, family portraits, head shots, wedding and all types of photography. See his stock images and samples of his work at www.burkephotography.biz.
Posts by Michael

Shannon Calder is a freelance writer, consultant, inspiration specialist and book reviewer. To read more go to postcardscalder.blogspot.com.
Posts by Shannon

Shayna Carroll has lived in beautiful Northern California all of her life. She received her Bachelor's degree in English from National University and would love to be able to go back to school again. She enjoys the simple pleasures in life, including reading, writing, being outdoors, and playing with her kittens Clementine and Daisy. Her dream is to one day travel to Ireland and frolic around the Cliffs of Moher. Shayna can be emailed at sgrace87@yahoo.com.
Posts by Shayna

Doni Chamberlain Independent online journalist Doni Chamberlain founded what’s now known as anewscafe.com in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke of the Czech Republic. Prior to 2007 Chamberlain was an award-winning newspaper opinion columnist, feature and food writer recognized by the Associated Press, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and E.W. Scripps. She lives in Redding, CA.
Posts by Doni

Bethany Chamberlain is a Napa Valley marketing consultant, writer, beekeeper and bee lover.
Posts by Bethany

Andrea Charroin is a trained baker and pastry chef. She worked in San Francisco before she, her husband, Westley, and their two sons moved to Redding. They fell in love with Redding’s downtown and opened a little pastry shop, Rene-Joule Patisserie.
Posts by Andrea

Dave Christensen has Best Choice Home Improvements Inc. of Redding, CA. Contact: (530) 276-9261, bchi@BestChoiceHome.net, or BestChoiceHome.net.
Posts by Dave

Joshua Corbelli likes to write stuff on paper, and that makes him a happy little jellybean. Reach him at joshua.corbelli@gmail.com. Or don’t. Your call.
Posts by Joshua

Doug Cushman is a former Redding artist/author who now lives and works in Paris. He was born in Springfield, Ohio, and moved to Connecticut with his family at the age of 15. In high school he created comic books lampooning his teachers, selling them to his classmates for a nickel apiece. For more information about his books or to contact him, visit doug-cushman.com.
Posts by Doug

Josh Domke Josh Domke is a Marine Corps veteran who works as a full-time REALTOR® with Real Living/Real Estate Professionals and co-owns Domke & Buick Construction with his long time friend Judd Buick. He, his wife Kat and their son Austin are proud to call Redding their home. (Josh is also Doni's son.)
Posts by Josh

Joe Domke is Doni's son and the creator of donigreenberg.com, now anewscafe.com. He was born and raised in Redding and now enjoys traveling with his beautiful wife, Marie. They live in the Czech Republic.
Posts by Joe

The_Dude is a guy from town. His column aims to flip the traditional love advice column on its head, spin it around a few times, then knock it over with a roundhouse kick. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DudeWise or email your relationship quandaries to dudewisdom@gmail.com. Remember, this dude abides.
Posts by The_Dude

Donnell Ewert , MPH, is director of Shasta County Public Health. While at Wheaton College, he participated in a Human Needs and Global Resources program, which included a seven-month internship in Honduras - an experience that sparked his interest in public health. He worked briefly as a health educator with migrant farm workers in Virginia before becoming an epidemiologist in Los Angeles and Indiana. He came to Shasta County Public Health as an epidemiologist in 1999 and has been the department director since 2007. He and his wife, Mary, have two daughters.
Posts by Donnell

Meredith Fisher Meredith Fisher has 21 years of experience in the travel industry, most recently as a Vacation Sales Specialist with AAA Travel in Redding. When she graduated from Chico State she took a job at a small travel agency thinking it would be her 'fun job' for a few years with full intentions of moving on to her 'real job.' Since then she's done corporate travel, training, incentive and group travel, and everything in between, but now finds herself back where she started, living vicariously through her client's vacations. Meredith is still having fun and finally putting her journalism background to work.
Posts by Meredith

Chris Fontana -- a.k.a. "the Old Forecaster" -- started his career as a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Sacramento. After four years as a weather officer in the USAF he transferred to the NWS office in Redding. He was the meteorologist in charge of the Redding office from 1976 until it closed in 1996. From 1996 until his retirement in 2005, he was the meteorologist in charge of the USFS Predictive Service Unit. Chris and his wife Jane have been married over 40 years and he works as a window covering installer in her business, Westwood Window Coverings.
Posts by Chris

Phil Fountain is a cartoonist and writer a based in the far reaches of Northern Californey.
Posts by Phil

Todd Gandy is a sixth-generation Shasta County resident who attended UC Davis and worked as a mechanical engineer before he realized dentistry was his true calling. He graduated from UOP School of Dentistry and settled down in Redding with his wife and two daughters to start his practice, Todd T. Gandy Comprehensive Dental Care. His office is at 2950 Eureka Way, Suite B, in Redding. He can be reached at 243-1855.
Posts by Todd

Becky Gilmer grew up in Northern California but crossed state lines to attend college in Southern Oregon. A communications major at Southern Oregon University, Becky is studying journalism and anthropology. Her goal is to work as a travel journalist for National Geographic.
Posts by Becky

Steve Goedert is a fourth-generation optometrist who has practiced in Redding for 30 years. Shasta Professional Eyecare Center includes Drs. Steve Goedert and Curtis and Janet Newcomb, optometrists.
Posts by Steve

Darcie Gore earned a master's degree in social work and enjoyed working with diverse populations for over 30 years. She is a stroke survivor and is assisted by Bailey, her service dog. Darcie has been married to Jim since she was 17 years old. They have two grown children.
Posts by Darcie

Jeff Gore was born and raised in Redding. A jack of all trades (master of none), he spends his free time contemplating the exact number of trees found in an acre.
Posts by Jeff

Jim Gore has been writing computer programs since 1970, and is still debugging them. The first modem he used was as big as a washing machine but not nearly as useful. He is an avid anewscafe.com supporter and continues to refine this website.
Posts by Jim

Matt Grigsby is a Redding native who has learned how to tell the difference between fresh gelato and machine-made. He owns a beautiful imaginary six room villa in the hills above Florence as well as a very real cottage on the West Side of town. By day he’s a computer analyst toiling for the public good and he dreams of one day owning a robot servant. Matt only uses the fancy ketchup.
Posts by Matt

Melissa Gulden earned her B.A. in journalism and her M.A. in English from CSU-Chico. She spent time in Las Vegas working as a college English instructor and a magazine writer and editor. She teaches at University Preparatory School in Redding, performs in local theatre and writes for Enjoy Magazine.
Posts by Melissa

Brian Hazle Reporter Brian Hazle is a Shasta County freelance journalist.
Posts by Brian

Monty Hight is a retired California Highway Patrol officer and public information officer. He is the North State AVOID Campaign’s spokesman. He lives in Redding.
Posts by Monty

Budd Hodges is a retired disc jockey, newsman, talk show host and lives with his wife, Nancy, in Redding.
Posts by Budd

Valerie Ing-Miller Valerie Ing-Miller has been the Northern California Program Coordinator for Jefferson Public Radio in Redding for nine years and can often be found serving as Mistress of Ceremonies at the Cascade Theatre. For her, ultimate satisfaction comes from a perfect segue. She's the mother of a teenage daughter and a 7-year-old West Highland Terrier, and can't imagine life without them or music. Valerie wakes up with a song in her head, she sings in the shower and at the top of her lungs in the car.
Posts by Valerie

Carla Jackson is a certified pet dog trainer who has Jackson Ranch for Dogs, a kennel-free boarding and training facility. She specializes in private training and behavior consultations. For a complete introduction to dog training, check out Cari Bowe's and Jackson's "Your Family Dog, Leadership and Training," an interactive DVD featuring local dogs and locations. It is available at many veterinarian offices and through dogwise.com or jacksonranchfordogs.com.
Posts by Carla

Adrienne Jacoby is a 40-plus-year resident of Shasta County and native-born Californian. She was a teacher of vocal music in the Enterprise Schools for 27 years and has been retired for 11 years. A musician all her life, she was married to the late Bill Jacoby with whom she formed a locally well -known musical group who prided themselves in playing for weddings, wakes, riots, bar mitzvas and super market openings. And, oh yes . . . she has two children, J'Anna and Jayson.
Posts by Adrienne

Jennifer Jewell - In a North State Garden is a radio- and web-based outreach program of the Gateway Science Museum, on the campus of CSU, Chico in Chico, Calif. The program is a co-production of Northstate Public Radio and its mission is to celebrate the art, craft and science of home gardening in California’s North State region. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell. To read more from In A North State Garden or to listen to the podcasts aired on KCHO/KFPR radio, visit jewellgarden.com.
Posts by Jennifer

Femme deJoie ’s first culinary masterpiece was at age 4, when she made the perfect fried bologna sandwich on white bread. Since then she has dined on horse Bourguignon in France, stir-fried eel in London, and mystery meat in her college cafeteria, but firmly draws the line at eating rattlesnake, peppermint and Hamburger Helper. She lives in Shasta County at her country estate, Butterscotch Acres West. She is nearly always hungry. Visit menuplease for more or send her a message at femmedejoiefood@yahoo.com.
Posts by Femme

Lincoln Kaye is a forest fire lookout on Ironside Mountain in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. He was a foreign correspondent in Asia for nearly 30 years before retiring to Trinity County.
Posts by Lincoln

Wayne Kessler Wayne Kessler is a local organic farmer, nurseryman and activist for local food security. He is the owner of Shambani Organics nursery in Manton with his wife Laurie. Wayne is also a technical advisor to the Community Teaching Garden.
Posts by Wayne

Jon Lewis is a freelance writer living in Redding. He has more than 30 years experience writing for newspapers and magazines. He can be contacted at bigkatlou@yahoo.com
Posts by Jon

Sarah MaHannah moved to the North State with her husband in 2000. They live on 166 acres with their cat and two dogs. She is a licensed esthetician and has a passion for skincare as well as the environment. Sarah has combined those two interests with her eco-approach at Glow Skincare Boutique, where the focus is on using only organic and non-toxic products. Glow Skincare is located at 1452 Oregon Street-- inside The Spa Shoppes at the historic McCormick Mansion and can also be found online at www.glowskincareboutique.com.
Posts by Sarah

Adam Mankoski is a recent North State transplant who feels completely at home here. He enjoys experiencing and writing about the people, places and things that embody the free spirit of the State of Jefferson. He and his partner are the owners of HawkMan Studios and the creators of Redding’s 2nd Saturday Art Hop.
Posts by Adam

Carllene Marek , a second-generation Californian, has been chasing ancestors for more than 25 years and chasing her muse for many more. She helps with several computer user groups, family associations, and genealogical and historical societies. She compiles indexes for assorted publications and writes book reviews for various historical and genealogical publications. She and her husband live in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Posts by Carllene

Alicia McCauley Alicia McCauley is a first grade teacher and a teacher consultant for the Northern California Writing Project. This gives her ample opportunities to overcome her fear of public speaking by talking with fellow teachers about her passion: teaching kids to love writing. Throughout her childhood, Alicia won awards for her truly magnificent poetry. She’s since stopped torturing people with bad poetry and instead spends her free time endurance cycling. Alicia married her high school sweetheart, who loves her despite her stubborn nature, affinity for candy, and fear of birds. Read more of her work at her blog, Pedals & Pencils.
Posts by Alicia

Karen McGrath is a professional garden designer working out of Redding in the foothills of north central California. Her mission is to bring people outside, which she accomplishes by designing custom-fitted, outdoor spaces for their homes. She also volunteers her time and expertise at the McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Redding CA. Reach her at kmcgrath@charter.net or at (530) 222-4277. Visit her website at karenmcgrathdesign.com.
Posts by Karen

Renee McKean works for the Shasta Historical Society and in her free time, she pursues her passion for local history by writing for fellow history fans. She can be reached at rmckean@charter.net.
Posts by Renee

James Montgomery James Montgomery calls himself a broken-down logger/garbageman who went back to school and got a law degree. His work is in senior services. His interests include hiking, fishing, computers, kayaking, hunting and writing.
Posts by James

Caitlin Moore will always want to play third base for the Giants, but until then she spends her time dancing in the living room, working at Street 14 Coffee, living happily and healthily in Oregon, and hoping she can make childhood last a little longer.
Posts by Caitlin

Debra Moore is a freelance writer who lives in Redding.
Posts by Debra

Doug Mudford is a lawyer and partner at Barr & Mudford, with an emphasis on serious personal injury. He may be reached at Barr & Mudford, 1824 Court St., Redding, (530) 243-8008, or doug@ca-lawyer.com.
Posts by Doug

Tom O`Mara is the owner-builder of a solar home in Olinda, Calif., where he lives with his wife, Alice. He is the former director of the Youth Violence Prevention Council of Shasta County, and he retired from the Shasta County Office of Education. He also managed a $4.5 million federal grant, the Remedy Project, which operated for five years on a three-year budget. Like Guy Noir, he seeks answers to life's persistent questions.
Posts by Tom

Robyn Payne (aka Asmaa Ahmed) was born in Weaverville, California and was raised in Mountain Gate. She graduated from C.V.H.S. in 1988 and has lived all over the country since then but always ended up back in Redding. A year ago she left Redding once again and now lives in Ain Helwan, Egypt, just south of Cairo with her Egyptian husband and his family. She's always enjoyed writing stories and poems and is a "just for fun" photographer.
Posts by Robyn

Alan Ernesto_Phillips is a proud son of Shasta County, a proud father of two daughters and a local musician. He is a parenting educator, chemical-dependency counselor, victim-awareness counselor and developmental-asset builder and trainer. He also is a Clio and Telly award-winning filmmaker who produced and directed political campaigns for congressmen, senators, governors and one president (Ronald Reagan). His clients also included Coca-Cola, NIKE, CBS News and NOVA documentaries. He is a current board member and public affairs officer for the Northern California Hispanic Latino Coalition.
Posts by Alan

Charlie Price divides his time between two homes in Redding and Dunsmuir. He's a business coach, consultant, writer and author of "Dead Connection", "Lizard People" and "The Interrogation of Gabriel James."
Posts by Charlie

Barbara Rice Barbara Rice is a native Igonian. Upon discovering the Beatles at age 9, she picked up an atlas and figured out how far England was and how long it would take to get there (5371 miles, 12 hours). Though gainfully employed, she regards work as a necessary evil to finance vacations. In her spare time she looks up cheap airfares and daydreams about her next trip. She never did meet Sir Paul but she knows where his office is.
Posts by Barbara

Lee Riggs is a Zen priest living in Shasta County who cooked and baked for many years at San Francisco Zen Center. He is a devoted gardener. His simple credo is that butter is better and that you should be able to taste the hops in beer.
Posts by Lee

Robert Rock Robert Rock moved to Redding from Santa Rosa in 2000, soon found the local Writers Forum, and became its President for four years. Was a former Technical Writer for McDonnell Aircraft Corp., published environmental engineering articles as a professional engineer, public interest articles for newspapers and periodicals, and a book of short stories which covers the 1920s to 2001, including WW II. Is presently secretary of the local Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and assists students at the Good News Rescue Mission in earning their GEDs.
Posts by Robert

Kimberly Ross is on aNewsCafe.com's board of directors and is a longtime Northern California journalist. After 10 years reporting news for the Redding Record Searchlight, she is now the proud at-home mama of one crib-climbing, chicken-chasing toddler. Kimberly grew up in San Jose and graduated from Chico State University. She loves hiking and bicycling with her husband Bruce and daughter Sophia.
Posts by Kimberly

Brian Rueb is a north state writer, photographer and educator. A large selection of his images is hanging in the HDR imaging gallery at 2531 Victor Ave. (corner of Victor and Cypress).
Posts by Brian

Paul Shigley has been a professional journalist since 1987. For 12 years, he served as editor or senior editor of California Planning & Development Report, a statewide trade publication for land use planners, real estate development professionals and attorneys. Prior to that, he worked as a reporter or editor at newspapers in Redding, Grass Valley, Napa and Calistoga. Shigley's work also has appeared in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Planning magazine, Governing magazine, California Law Week, National Speed Sport News and elsewhere. In addition, he is co-author of Guide to California Planning, a college text and reference book, and is currently working on a book for the American Planning Association about the Bay Delta and California water resources. A graduate of California State University, Sacramento, Shigley has contributed to A News Cafe since 2009. He and his wife, Dana, live in western Shasta County.
Posts by Paul

Shelly Shively is Doni's identical twin. She grew up in Redding and attended its public schools, from Pine Street School to Shasta College. She is trained in the art of Re-design, and is IRDN (Interior Re-design Network). Shelly is a freelance artist, illustrator, muralist and mother of three grown children. She can be reached at 276-4656, P.O Box 991568, Redding, CA, 96099 or shelly.shively@att.net
Posts by Shelly

Rocky Slaughter is a political science student at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. He is a wine-country expert, law intern and owner of a Web design company. Read him at rockyslaughter.com
Posts by Rocky

Randy Smith is a retired physician who serves on the Redding Planning Commission, Cal-Tip Advisory Board and Rotary Club of Redding stream team. He lives in Redding with his wife, Judy.
Posts by Randy

Marie Stadther 's life in Coachella Valley was void of trees. In 2001, she packed up and headed north. After a drive through the majestic redwoods, she arrived in Redding, where she immersed herself in horticulture as owner of her own landscaping company and as assistant to an arborist. She is now the lead gardener for Turtle Bay's McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Her love of trees is a way of life, and she shares that passion with the community. Send the Tree Goddess your questions at mstadther@turtlebay.org.
Posts by Marie

Barbara Stone owns Barbara Stone Designs, a full-service tailoring and dressmaking business at 5200 Churn Creek Road, Suite P, Redding, CA, 96002. She can be reached at (530) 222-1340 or bstonedesigns@sbcglobal.net.
Posts by Barbara

Nancy Sutton_Pierce is a Registered Nurse with an extensive background in health education. Together with her husband, Mark Pierce, MD, Nancy owned and operated an outpatient diabetes education clinic for 13 years. Yoga became a passion for Nancy in the early ’90s. With an intense desire for a special place to honor yoga for herself and others, and the need to offer an alternative form of healing, the House of Yoga was born in October 2000. Over the years Nancy was a regular guest on a variety of local Radio shows bringing health education and lifestyle inspiration to the airwaves. Then in December 2009 Nancy started her own weekly radio show, "The Conscious Living Show" on KCNR 1460am every Saturday 11a-12noon (www.KCNR1460.com) You can reach Nancy via email at asyoudesire@ymail.com or from her website at consciouslivingyoga.com.
Posts by Nancy

James Theimer is the principal architect and founder of the Redding firm of Trilogy Architecture. Established in 1990, his firm has been involved in a broad range of projects in northern California. Over the past decade, he has participated extensively in local community service projects and is responsible for Fantasy Fountain in Enterprise Park, Carnegie Stage in Library Park, the Mayor's Plaza Fountain at City Hall, and the restoration of the historic Cascade Theatre.
Posts by James

Marilyn Traugott retired in August 2007 as manager of Mercy Hospice in Redding after a 29-year career that began with the program's inception. With clinical expertise in bereavement care, she has provided professional and community education on hospice and end-of-life issues since 1978. She has an Ed.M. in counseling from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She also has taught special education and developed medical education materials and counseling. She spends part of the year working in hospice in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Posts by Marilyn

Lara Wells_Osborn is a Redding Realtor for Coldwell Banker C&C Properties - Westside, 1801 Buenaventura Blvd., Redding, CA 96001. Reach her at 530-276-3026 or laraosborn@ccproperties.com or larawellsosborn.com.
Posts by Lara

Ed White is a certified personal trainer who has worked in the fitness industry for more than 22 years. He has 12 years’ experience in spine care in physical therapy and three years as a medical clinic administrator. He owns EveryDay Fitness on Athens Avenue in Redding, and can be reached at 530-246-1902 or at his website, edfitness.com.
Posts by Ed

Dean Williams An actor, director, and artist, Dean Williams has appeared on Shasta County stages for over 25 years in nearly 100 different roles. He has collaborated with many theatre groups and is co-founder of The Root Theatre Company. He has also voiced characters for Sega and Playstation video games, and acted for a number of radio, televison and independent film projects. Ever since the first stories were acted out around ancient fires, theatre has held the power to move audiences like no other art form. It remains Williams's focus because live theatre has the potential to tell us every human story, intimately and impactfully. It becomes a magic mirror in which we see our own stories.
Posts by Dean

Joy Yoshioka is a retired high-tech exec who lives in Redding and co-writes anewscafe.com’s Wine on a Dime features.
Posts by Joy