tag:www.stylemg.com,2005:/categories/in-print?page=871In-Print | Style Magazine Page 871Community, Dining, Home Design, Shopping, Local Events2019-05-21T16:18:18-07:00urn:uuid:2036bac5-57eb-4584-aef6-5dd4f782847f2014-04-18T20:29:08-07:002019-05-21T16:18:18-07:00Dean-o-Holics2009-04-30 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminDean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.; everyone has loved at least one of them, and together they were unstoppable. Throw in a little Liberace and Nat King Cole, however, with a sprinkle of Tom Jones, and then you have the Dean-o-Holics. Named as the best “Frank Sinatra band” and the best “Dean Martin Tribute band” for two consecutive years, the Dean-o-Holics are a live homage to the days of martinis, lounge performances, and living the good life. And it’s the “real deal,” according to the band’s leader.“You won’t find any karaoke or iPods at this show, and this is much more than a regurgitation of something from the 60s,” says Bob Caudle, a.k.a. Dean Martin. “We become the characters; we interact with the crowd and throw in a lot of shtick with a modern twist. We answer the question of what these guys would talk and joke about today if they were still alive.”Caudle is joined onstage by fellow locals Mike Martis as Frank Sinatra, Andre Williams as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Nat King Cole, and John Wilder, who’s a dead ringer for Liberace. Marlene Ward and Liz Nunn, as the gold-digging Marilyn Martini and Jessica R. Abbit, round out the singers. They’re usually backed up by a live “lil’ Big Band” with a baby grand piano, upright bass, sax and drums, but for some shows they’ll bring in a full 17-piece orchestra comprised of some of the top musicians in the country. The caliber of talent I get to perform with is pretty humbling,” Martis says, who grew up singing Sinatra with his father. “Bob does a phenomenal Dean Martin, and Andre (who also sings with MC Hammer) is the consummate professional. He really is one of those guys who could sing the phone book and it would sound amazing.”Together, they travel all over the country putting on a show unlike anything you’re likely to find anywhere. They’re even regulars in Frank’s very own “Sinatra Showroom” at the original Cal-Neva Resort. Perhaps the only real difference between these guys and the original Rat Pack is that they can still be bought. They do customized packages, featuring everything from one performer to the whole troupe, for everything from vintage parties to weddings, birthdays, Italian festivals, and casino nights to straight-laced, black-tie affairs. “What I’m always amazed at is just how much love is still out there for this special era out of America’s song book,” Caudle says. “We get standing ovations from every gig, whether it’s a wedding for a couple of 20-somethings or a 50th anniversary.”“When you come to a show, you’ll definitely experience a performance and hear music that you don’t get to hear anywhere else in town,” Martis says.For more information about Dean-o-Holics and their upcoming performances, visit dean-o-holics.com.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8174dc8a-1a93-4da8-95d6-f92901810b972014-04-18T20:29:25-07:002019-05-21T16:32:10-07:00Carmel-by-the-Sea2009-04-30 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminThe name “Carmel-by-the-Sea” conjures up visions of storybook cottages
with fragrant flowers, cozy cafes and beguiling back street bistros.
Carmel’s a great walking town, so book your room in the heart of town
and begin to explore on foot beneath a canopy of majestic Monterey
pines and giant cypresses that rustle in the breeze. You may begin to
wonder why most houses in the square-mile village are named, not
numbered. Many years ago, Carmel’s founding fathers of Bohemians and
artists decided to ban home delivery of mail because they thought
having numbers on their houses was a sign of being “citified.” The
tradition continues today as neighbors gather at the post office to
gossip and pick up their mail.For an early morning coffee and a
decadent pastry, stop in at Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Company on
Ocean Avenue to chat with the locals and other visitors. Stroll past
the high-end shops of Ocean Avenue to where it ends at Carmel Beach, an
enchanting crescent of silky white sands set off by the sparkling blue
waters of the bay. Ringed with bluffs and showpiece homes, it is one of
the few beaches where dogs are allowed to run without a leash.When
you return from a brisk sunset walk on chilly days, a crackling hearth
awaits you at one of many dog-friendly inns and restaurants. (My
current favorite is the historic La Playa Hotel and Cottages, just two
blocks from the sea.)On the quiet streets that surround Ocean
Avenue are art studios, galleries and antique stores tucked away in
secluded courtyard gardens. The small Cima Collina Art Gallery also has
a tasting bar of handcrafted local wines. Be sure to include a visit to
the Carmel Art Association’s gallery, a cooperative that exhibits and
sells affordable pieces by local contemporary artists. In the
evening, a walk through the town’s quaint residential neighborhoods (no
sidewalks and few streetlights) leads to one of Carmel’s wonderful
theaters. The Pacific Repertory Theatre has everything from
Shakespearean drama to Tony Award-winning musicals and plays. In the
summer, the intimate Sunset Center hosts the Carmel Bach Festival, as
well as jazz greats and contemporary pop performers. At the Forest
Theater you’ll find films and live productions, often accompanied by
picnics in the summer. At the south edge of the village, Carmel Mission
Basilica still stands beside Father Serra’s burial spot and hosts
regular Catholic masses.On Fridays and Saturdays there are
docent tours of Tor House, poet Robinson Jeffers’ stone home. The poet
lovingly hand-gathered the stones from nearby Carmel Beach. You’ll
need your car again to visit two other special places nearby. The
entrance to the winding 17-Mile Drive begins at the bottom of Ocean
Avenue. Synonymous with golf and gorgeous scenery, it wanders north
through Pebble Beach. For a hike and a close-up view of otters and
other sea life, Point Lobos is just two miles south of the village on
Highway One. A jewel of California’s coast, Carmel is a great get-away for kids big and small.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:de46b7f2-453f-4f59-9701-c0760a5e1be92014-04-18T20:46:11-07:002019-05-21T16:32:16-07:00Snapshots from Area Happenings2009-04-30 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminGrand Opening, Cameron Park Community CenterMarch 21For more local
Outtakes, be sure to pick up this month's copy
of Style-El Dorado County Foothills. Click on the "Get Your Copy"
link on the bottom
of this page for some of our newsstand
locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue,
please email info@sierrastyle.com,
or call 916-988-9888.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:3fa9239e-71a5-4d9e-9458-f781218645ce2014-04-18T12:48:52-07:002019-05-21T16:15:22-07:00Food Allergies2009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super Admincool present for the guest of honor.
cool present for the guest of honor.
cool present for the guest of honor.
cool present for the guest of honor.
e guest of honor.
to swell and she’ll likely start vomiting.
<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:55274c79-21a9-406d-b97e-6018dc9a97d92014-04-18T12:55:48-07:002019-05-21T16:29:26-07:00When Stress Knocks2009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminHere we are in a challenging economic time. Pressures and problems seem to arise daily, bringing forth questions that weigh heavily on the hearts and lives of us all. So, how do we preserve the peace and happiness of our homes in stressful and trying times?I believe that there is a fundamental aspect to truth and that is, it never changes. Truth will always be true regardless of the conditions that surround it. Jesus said that how we hear and what we do will determine the foundation that our lives and homes will be built upon (Matthew 7:24-27). He also said that the same storms come against every life and home. There are foundational truths that apply to every life and to every home and they can work to preserve us even in the most difficult of times.Here are just three of the 10 Keys to Building a Happy Home that I think can be helpful to remember when we are facing the storms of adversity. I believe that these foundational truths can work to preserve and protect our homes and our marriages.ONE: Make your husband or your wife your companion. Never allow stress to move you apart. One of the main reasons we marry is for companionship. In hard times, don’t drift apart and push away from each other. These are the times we need to draw close and receive strength from our partner. TWO: Learn to Communicate. Keep building the bridge!Lack of communication is the number one problem in distressed marriages. To communicate means to know each other. We communicate when we both “know” what we are talking about. In addition, each person needs to know when to speak, and when to listen; there cannot be two speakers at the same time. Communication involves, work, sensitivity, care, intimacy, pain, patience and being naked physically and emotionally. The supreme goal in marriage is to “know” and “be known” and still love. Remember, deceit will destroy communication and connection in any marriage, so for this reason, the truth is always the only answer. THREE: Learn to deal with problems. This is directly connected to communication. Your problem is not unique or unsolvable. All marriages have problems. So, the problem isn’t the problem. The problem is in the problem solving.Illustration: man driving a car. The oil light comes on – problem. All attempts and efforts to correct it fail, so man gets hammer and breaks the light.The first thing in problem solving is to identify the true problem, not the symptoms on the surface (oil light). Talking can help. Counselors can help. There must be true communication. The second thing is the solution. Talking is a start but not a solution. There must be a corresponding action or step taken. It will take some compromise on both sides; companions must work together to find the place of agreement (Amos 3:7).Some of your problems will involve anger and how to handle it, the unique differences between male and female, in-laws, money, sex, offers of infidelity, selfishness, the “good ol’ days,” and looking back instead looking forward, just to name a few. But, with the right foundation under your marriage, no problem can bring your commitment down. A happy home is something you must work at and build, and most importantly, maintain. Every relationship we have could become better if we would work at applying these truths and principles daily. The best is yet to come!Don Pritchard is the founder and Senior Pastor at Solid Rock Faith Center in Shingle Springs. He can be reached at 530-642-2038, or info@solidrockfaithcenter.com.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:6bb9fb88-a4ea-4cc9-b5b6-430dcb09862c2014-04-18T12:56:06-07:002019-05-21T15:53:04-07:00Acupuncture2009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminDo you want to increase your energy, end pain, or just feel better overall? How about without prescription drugs and their possible side effects? Then maybe acupuncture is for you. Although no one really knows the story, one legend suggests the origins of acupuncture thousands of years ago. During battle, a Chinese soldier was shot with an arrow. He discovered that the stone projectile in one part of his body made the pain in another part go away. Since ancient times, instruments and techniques have changed; however, the theory remains constant. Energy continually flows throughout the body and if the energy is interrupted or blocked, illness or disease can occur.This vital energy flow is known as “Qi” (pronounced “Chee”). The Qi travels through the body in a network of channels known as meridians. Each meridian flows to a specific organ. Imagine a series of rivers and creeks – if the water currents are blocked, the stream is disturbed or stopped. The same theory applies when energy is disrupted, distressing symptoms can appear. These blockages can occur for many reasons such as trauma, poor diet, stress and side-effects from medications. For thousands of years, Asian culture has relied on this medical art form for their health needs. Not only is this practice excellent to relieve pain and other symptoms; it is used to preserve health and prevent illness. It is just in recent history that acupuncture has been accepted by the mainstream of the Western world. The acupuncturist places nearly invisible, hair-thin needles (don’t worry, it is painless) into acupuncture points along the meridian to restore the proper flow of Qi. This helps return the proper energy balance and aids the body in healing itself.Dr. Jennifer Jarrett, OMD (Oriental Medical Doctor) of Placerville has been practicing acupuncture for more than 27 years. She loves her practice and sees some patients arrive skeptical, however they usually leave pleasantly convinced. “Jarrett says, “They feel better and it trickles down into all aspects of their lives.”Roseville-based Dr. David Cherry’s office specializes in female infertility. He said in the last 15 years his practice has been able to help more than 200 women have healthy babies. “It is exceedingly rewarding to help women have babies,” Dr. Cherry says. “The joy is boundless.” Dr. Cherry, an OMD, has been practicing this ancient medical art for more than 26 years and has no plans for retiring. “I love my work so much, I never want to retire,” he says. Folsom L.Ac (Licensed Acupuncturist) Wendy Stedeford agrees, “Helping people is totally addicting.” Through her five years of practice, she has been able to help many people eliminate pain and other medical related issues that restricted their life. “I will be around treating people,” Stedeford says, “until I am 85 years old.”This ancient practice focuses on the entire body. It does not simply treat symptoms. Since daily suffering can be unnecessary, it may only be a matter of trying something new – painless needles – to find relief.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:3b588ac7-d816-4e86-bf7f-abc2efc4c66f2014-04-18T13:24:56-07:002019-05-21T15:53:24-07:00Camping 1012009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminReferring to his limited camping experience, a good friend once said, “Man spent 25,000 years perfecting shelter, who am I to turn my back on it?” But even he has been known to occasionally rough it in the wilderness (or, in his case, the state campground with showers). And he does it for the same reason as the rest of us: fresh air, tranquility, s’mores. Most of us really do get a sense of reconnecting to our past on some primal, subconscious level once the tent is up, the campfire has been stoked and the stars come out. And when we wake in the morning, all kinked up because the foam sleeping pad didn’t quite perform as advertised, we renew our appreciation for the aforementioned shelter our ancestors worked so hard to perfect. There is no question that camping is a lot of work, especially with kids. In fact, my wife and I cut back when our kids were younger because we realized that all the packing, unpacking, and packing up again was being done by us, while they seemed to spend most of their time running around the campground stomping in poison oak, complaining about the potties or getting stung. They’re older now and we’ve eased back into it, but when it comes to camping with young kids, it can be a lot of work and part of you really has to want it. But want it you should, because in the Sierra, within easy reach of the 80 and 50 Corridors, are quite simply some of the best places to camp in America.“Roughing it” is a relative term, and a lot of camping hassles can be mitigated with one word: planning. The first order of business is to only pack what you truly need. Check the forecast, toss in an extra blanket or two if it looks particularly chilly – but leave the comforters at home. A good sleeping bag should be enough for most summertime conditions in the Sierra, especially if your SUV is parked five feet away. Clothing is another over-packed item. This isn’t a business trip. A change of clothes is fine but for the most part, it’s okay to wear the same hoodie a few days in a row. And plan out the menu ahead of time, you can get as fancy as you want – and plenty of people do – but know going in what your meals will be, so that you’ve used most of it up by the time you’re heading out.Cooking gear is another facet that is easy to overdo. Again, there are people who take their great outdoors gastronomy very seriously, and truly, I hope to camp next to them. But most of us don’t really need titanium-lined Dutch ovens or battery-operated margarita makers. Generally speaking, a small propane stove, a pan, a pot, a few cups and some simple utensils are fine. As for any rum drinks, serve them on the rocks. You’re already surrounded by them anyway, so it kind of fits with the theme.As for the rest of your gear, the world of camping equipment can be as humbling as the wilderness itself. So, if the only sleeping bag you have is the one with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle lining that you took to camp back in ‘87, your next step is to find the right gear. To do that, don’t rush out to the local big box discount store the night before and buy up everything in aisle 344. You want quality, and the first time your waterproof tent is hammered by a cloudburst that the forecast didn’t call for, you’ll thank yourself. Of course, costs for quality can rise up faster than a Sierra thunderhead, so consider renting at first, rather than buying. Places like REI, Sports Chalet and locally-owned outdoorsy shops in the high country should have all the gear you need, and the rates are often quite reasonable. After a few trips you should have a pretty good idea of what works for you and what doesn’t. And by that time, it’s the off-season and the prices are lower! So let’s say you’ve got all that taken care of. Now comes the fun part: where to go. Within a few hours of Roseville or Folsom there are literally more places than you could visit in a lifetime: Crystal Basin and Desolation Wildernesses, the American River Canyon, the Alp-like Sierra Buttes...it can quickly get confusing, so do a little research. The Forest Service and State Parks have invaluable resources online and links to still others. There are a lot of good books too, one of the best is by Tom Stienstra, an outdoors writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. His book, California Camping, is by far the most useful I’ve found on the subject. Granted, he lists a lot more than just places to camp in the greater Placer/El Dorado region, but from primitive to lavish, he reviews them all in plain, succinct detail. One of things Stienstra mentions is the five percent rule, and it’s a good one to remember. One of the reasons we get away is to...get away. But we’re like-minded creatures, and that means we can end up trying to get away from it all, together. And that kind of defeats the purpose. The five percent rule, Stienstra writes, is “Ninety-five percent of vacationers use only five percent of the available recreation areas.” Most are heavily visited because of their convenience – either to the valley or to destinations like Lake Tahoe – or because of their amenities like flush toilets and showers. If you can forego either, you automatically increase your odds of enjoying a little solitude. Just be sure to choose from campsites up-wind of any pit toilets, if you can. If you don’t mind crowds or are the impulsive, last-minute type, you should know that the most popular campgrounds fill up months in advance via a reservation system like Reserve America (reserveamerica.com) or recreation.gov, which is for campgrounds on federal land. Reserving a spot in January for a weekend in July is usually necessary. Most public campgrounds, state or federal, designate a certain number of campsites as first come, first served. And plenty don’t take reservations at all: PG&E operates a good number of campgrounds and according to their Web site pg&e.com/recreation – nearly all of their sites are first come, first served, with the exception of group facilities. But it is wise to check ahead, nonetheless. And for backcountry hiking, always check in advance about backcountry permits, which may be required.Of course, the biggest factor in deciding where to go is you. Wide open vistas or tranquil mountain forests? Fishing? Hiking? A pizza joint within delivery distance? Ask yourself and your family what sort of outdoor experience it is you’re looking for and narrow it down from there.Speaking of outdoor experience, one last thing: can you spot poison oak before it spots you? Do you know where rattlesnakes like to hide or where ticks look to hitch a ride? Do you know how to keep bears from getting at your food? Brush up on your knowledge of such things to minimize your chances of such things brushing up against you. Whether you’re looking for something simple with a picnic table and fire ring you can drive to, or you want to go all-John Muir and escape into the backcountry with just a pack and a journal, there are a thousand places in our region that can be reached within a few hours and easily enjoyed over the course of a weekend, if not a lifetime. It undoubtedly takes work, but the pull of nature tugs at most of us, maybe more vigorously now in these tough economic times. So give in. Get out. Roughing it is relative, and you’re the one who defines it. For more helpful Camping tips and insight, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style-Folsom El Dorado Hills edition. Click on the "Get Your Copy" link on the bottom of this page
for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email info@sierrastyle.com, or call 916-988-9888.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:c3207ddf-7aa0-4389-a0e3-818f646b6b492014-04-18T13:25:26-07:002019-05-21T16:15:36-07:00Deadliest Catch2009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminThe best part of my favorite show is during the opening credits. It
happens as Bon Jovi sings, “I drive all night, just to get back home.”
During the first line, the bow of a crab boat plunges down, cleaving a
wave in half. Spray explodes. Over the next line, that image fades into
a tight side shot of Skipper Sig Hansen’s head, and for a moment, the
spray – which is being raked by a fierce gale – aligns perfectly with
Hansen’s blonde swept-back hair, as though one is becoming the other.
As the fade-in continues, Hansen slowly turns and glares into the
camera with eyes as hollow as sea caves. He looks like a Viking ghost.“Lucky
edit!” says Todd Stanley, when asked about the scene later. For some
reason, I don’t believe him. Todd and his brother Doug are the
Emmy-award-winning creative forces behind Discovery Channel’s Deadliest
Catch. Not bad for a couple of dropouts from Roseville High School who
were lured away by the temptation of being river guides. In fact, it
was on the Colorado where they met a fellow guide who shot video in his
spare time; he taught the brothers, and they began their adventure.
Long story very short, a decade later they’re in L.A. freelancing for
tabloid shows like Extra! when Discovery called. Alaska was on the line.The
brothers agree that being raised among the rolling hills of Roseville
and Rocklin prepared them in a way for the rolling nothern seas. “It
was the Wild West back then,” says Todd. “Just wide open fields and
motorcycles, having a good time, learning about being outside and being
on your own.” Doug adds that living so close to world class skiing,
rivers and climbing has nurtured their sense of adventure. It also made
it impossible to forget where they came from, which is why they both
live here now; Doug in Roseville, Todd in Lotus.On the show,
Phil Harris (the Chewbacca look-alike) is one of the captains featured.
It wasn’t easy adapting to a camera crew on board his boat, the
Cornelia Marie. Harris says plainly, “If you don’t like a guy, it can
be a real pain in the [butt].” But Todd, a producer/cameraman, and
Doug, a producer and director of photography, earned his respect. “Doug
is amazing...he can bring things out of people that they just don’t
want to talk about.” And Todd...? “He’s completely different, but every
bit as good. And he helped me when things were looking really bad,”
says Harris. He’s referring to last season, when he became dangerously
ill while still at sea. It became the show’s main storyline. Todd
stayed by his side as Harris navigated through bone-jarring seas to get
emergency medical attention for what turned out to be a potentially
fatal blood clot in his lung. The captain is grateful. “It wasn’t in
his job description to stay with me. He did it because he’s a great
guy, and he cared.”Though, normally neither brother would be
found holed up in the relative comfort of a warm wheelhouse, an example
not lost on their crew. “They’re good mentors,” says Ben Zupo, a
Sacramento native who’s worked two seasons as a cameraman. Has he ever
seen them do something to make him question their sanity? “...All the
time!” Probably not something their parents want to hear.I
asked the guys if they’re ever concerned for their safety. Todd said
he gets too involved with his work to worry. Doug simply announced that
he’s yet to see a wave big enough to scare him. Another nugget their
parents could likely do without.So, what about the folks? “In
the early days they couldn’t really figure us out,” says Doug. “And
they are still quite worried whenever we go to sea because one storm
could take out the whole family lineage!” The brothers chuckle at that
one. But with the boys hauling in Emmys like the Cornelia Marie hauls
in crab, at least the folks are proud. “We’ve finally became bona fide
to them!” says Doug. More chuckles.It’s a long way from the
comfort of my couch in Roseville to the bitter cold of the Bering Sea,
but thanks to Todd, Doug and my cable provider, I’ll be making the trip
again this year. The sixth season of Deadliest Catch starts next month
and I can’t wait for Captain Sig’s glare! Catch Tom on the Pat and Tom Morning Show on New Country 105.1.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:4d7ff5fa-5708-4179-be51-5b8b096c451b2014-04-18T13:36:57-07:002019-05-21T15:53:33-07:00The Hiking Song2009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminOne of my favorite songs is “The Hiking Song.” It’s not on my iPod and you can’t download it from iTunes. You’ve probably never heard of it, but you may have sung it.I learned “The Hiking Song” several years ago from my daughter. We were hiking up Horsetail Falls off Highway 50. The trail wasn’t too difficult for me, but my five-year-old daughter struggled with the climb. Eventually she started singing. We called it “singing” anyway. Actually it was more of a sigh. With every other step she let out a gentle, high-to-low-pitched audible exhale. She didn’t complain. She just sighed. Every other step: “Huhhhh. Huhhhh. Huhhhh.”We called it “The Hiking Song.” It is our family’s way of reorienting a challenge. While our kids were growing up we camped once or twice each summer. One year we camped at Sugar Pine Point at Lake Tahoe where we found a beautiful campsite toward the back of the State Park. We pitched our tent in a nice, smooth place where prior campers had obviously pitched theirs. It was follow-the-leader camping of sorts. Then it started raining. It rained all afternoon and right through dinner. In fact, it rained so much that we skipped the campfire and camped out at McDonald’s. (Can you say Noah?) After Big Macs, we arrived back at the campsite in a driving thunderstorm. We made a dash from the minivan to the tent. As five wet bodies dived through the zipper-door, we noticed the floor of the tent felt strangely like a waterbed mattress. Yes indeed, it was floating on about three inches of water. That “nice, smooth” campsite was the bed of a flashflood river.That’s when we remembered “The Hiking Song.” We needed some way to laugh about our circumstances. Rain is not the worst thing in the world. None of us is the Wicked Witch of the West. We weren’t melting, but we had to reorient ourselves to the challenge. “The Hiking Song.” Huhhhh. Huhhhh. Huhhhh.Years later my wife and I, and our youngest daughter – the original singer-songwriter of “The Hiking Song” – planned a motorcycle tour of the Sierras. We laid out the route, including stops in Yosemite and Markleeville. We locked up the house, packed the gear, put on our helmets and jackets, and started the bikes. Actually, only one bike started. The other sat in the driveway and refused to turn over. Huhhhh. Huhhhh. Huhhhh. We never did get that bike started. Eventually we just took the car, but the trip was a blast.I think every family needs a “Hiking Song.” How else do you meet the challenges of life – the rain on your vacation or a dead battery or a mountain too steep – in a positive, creative way? How do you turn around the disaster and make it a memory worth saving, an adventure to savor?We still sing “The Hiking Song” in our family. Whenever something is a little too steep or a little too much trouble, we sing the song. We adjust our perspective and find a new way to do what we originally planned. It’s kind of funny: “The Hiking Song” shows up in most of our family’s best memories. It’s one of my favorite songs. <hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:11b9b973-5dc7-400d-97d1-93f4c7033b9e2014-04-18T13:38:10-07:002019-05-21T15:53:34-07:00All Aboard2009-03-31 17:00:00 -0700Super AdminThe quality of life that we enjoy can mask the fact that the developed area in which we now live was once a hardscrabble patch of unoccupied territory discovered and settled by prospectors with dreams of striking it rich. But today, thanks to organizations like the Folsom, El Dorado and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association (FEDS), which works to promote, restore and preserve the region’s rich rail history – the past seamlessly intersects with present times. The key aim of FEDS, a non-profit organization established in 1995, is education, according to the organization’s president, Bill Anderson. “Our mission is to educate the general public by preserving and maintaining the railroad history in the City of Folsom,” explains Anderson, who adds that Folsom was the first railroad town in the West, and the terminus of the Sacramento Valley Railroad.To achieve this goal, “FEDS members are not afraid to get their hands dirty,” says Anderson. In addition to running the Folsom Railroad Museum, which is housed in a vintage 1920s passenger car located next to Folsom’s Southern Pacific Depot, and partnering with the Folsom History Museum and local schools to assist students with various service projects, FEDS volunteers are actively involved with restoration projects. Among these preservation efforts is the 6,000-hour restoration of the Vail Speeder #30 (Skagit), as well as several smaller speeders. Also included in FEDS accomplishments is the acquisition of two diesel locomotives, one of which was donated by the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Naturally, as a non-profit, fundraising for FEDS’ restoration projects is crucial. As such, the organization established the annual Folsom Handcar Derby Races in 1992 in support of the Folsom History Museum, and specifically to restore the Historic Railroad Turntable, which was originally built in 1856 and can be viewed at Historic Folsom Station along Sutter Street. Now in its 18th year, the Derby will take place May 2-3, 2009. The Derby – located on the tracks along East Bidwell Street at Broadstone Marketplace – is free to the public.Of all FEDS’ successes, Anderson cites its involvement in a 2006 celebration marking the 150th anniversary of both the Sacramento Valley Railroad and the establishment of the City of Folsom, and the extension of light rail service to the latter. “FEDS partnered with the City of Folsom, Sacramento Regional Transit and community volunteers to stage a celebration that culminated in the re-creation of an 1856 ball marking the arrival of the train to Folsom,” remembers Anderson, who credits FEDS volunteers with the organization’s growth, expansion and success. “Thanks to our volunteers, the old Southern Pacific Section Superintendent House has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.” For more information or to volunteer with FEDS, call 916-985-6001 or 916-985-6031, or visit fedshra.org. For rules and more information about the 18th Annual Folsom Handcar Derby Races, visit fedshra.org/handcar.htm.<hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.stylemg.com">Style Magazine</a></small></p>