Skip to main content

Style Magazine

In-Print

Last Updated: Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM • Subscribe via RSSATOM

The Driver’s Permit

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

My feet brace against the floorboard. My heart sounds like a galloping horse inside my chest. I grip the dashboard with both hands, which is dumb because if the airbag deploys, my arms will be snapped like brittle little branches. But I can’t help myself – I am experiencing one of the most underrated terrors of parenting: the learner’s permit.  For 15 and-a-half years, we’ve only cared about the safety of our children. From Mr. Yuk stickers on cleaning products to practically encasing them in bubble wrap before letting them ride a bike or skateboard, we have exercised a remarkably okay, sometimes excessive, degree of control to help our kids remain unscarred.    But all that “control” ends the day they get their driver’s permit. It’s the first real whiff most of us get in learning that from here on out, our teen’s fate will lie less with us, and more with their own developing judgment skills. And, with this particular milestone you get to sit right there with them and share the consequences of any momentary lapse of reason.       The child is my daughter, Emma. For most of her life we maintained that she would never drive until she turned 18. But, that changed when she hit high school and we suddenly found ourselves serving as her personal chauffeurs for her increasingly busy school and social calendar. She’s a lousy tipper to boot. So she spent much of the summer whittling away at her online driver’s test, proudly reporting that she’d scored 88 percent on the final exam. “What about the other 12 percent?” I asked. “Oh it was something about merging onto the freeway, and what you do if your brakes fail,” she responded. Great. “I’m joking, dad.” Ha. Ha.They say there are no atheists in foxholes? I would also add “or in passenger seats next to someone with a learner’s permit.” In fact, barreling down Roseville Parkway with your inexperienced 15 year-old is pretty much the definition of faith: faith in God, your kid, other drivers, and your vehicle’s air bags. You suddenly appreciate the preciousness of life, and how fast 45 mph really is.I am by nature a fairly excitable individual. I can’t help it. I cheer when my team scores. I applaud good news. I scream at oncoming headlights. So it’s been a challenge these last few months to maintain a consistent level of calm in certain driving situations. I have found that politeness helps.  “Dearest daughter, you almost cut in front of that speeding cement truck.”“I had my blinker on.”“My lovely first child, did you know he was even there?”“After he honked, yes.”“Reflection of your mother’s beauty, if you do that again you’ll be riding public transportation until you’re 80.”Truthfully though, she’s getting better. She’s learned that yellow does not mean “punch it,” the radio is best left on dad’s station, and a good left turn means all four tires remain in contact with the pavement. She’s even learned to use her blinker. In a few scary months, it will be like setting a baby duck free to paddle across a pond that you know is filled with voracious, duckling-loving bass. Comforting, right?   I know 2009 is going to be an interesting year for all of us: a new president, an uncertain economy, the Kings. But unless you’re in the same passenger seat as my wife and me, count your blessings. And if you see a red Passat with a starry-eyed teen behind the wheel, and Dad with his eyes closed in what looks to be prayer, please, give us room. Especially if you’re driving a cement truck. Catch Tom on the Pat and Tom Morning Show on New Country 105.1.

Read More »
Mantel Décor

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

When I was a kid, there was one sight that instantly reminded me of the holidays and their impending arrival. No, not the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or Santa’s arrival at the mall. I’m talking about mom’s elaborate mantel display. Throughout the years, I enjoyed everything from snowy villages with twinkling lights to giant nutcrackers and glass vases filled with shiny tree ornaments. Just the thought of all that merry décor gets me in the spirit of the holidays. So, you can imagine the enormous letdown when the brown boxes came out of the garage and all the tinsel and trimmings were packed away for another year. Sigh.So how does one cope with the post-season-mantel-blues? Winter mantels need not be as bleak as the weather outside. In fact, it’s a wonderful opportunity to “cleanse the palette,” if you will, and bring in a refreshing look as crisp as the January forecast. Style asked the pros to chime in on the best ways to dress your mantel for the New Year.Go White, Minus the ChristmasJust because the holidays have passed doesn’t mean the winter magic has to go out the door with the tree. In fact, there’s nothing cozier than a roaring fireplace perfectly dressed during those chilly nights. “Mantels are a great place in your home to make seasonal changes,” says Laura Minto of Wild Plum in Historic Grass Valley. “They are normally ‘focal points’ and should reflect what you love and how you want to feel in your home.” She suggests plenty of beautiful greens, snowy scenes, and even bare branches. “We have a lot of customers who like to work with whites and dark chocolate browns in the spirit of winter colors,” she notes. “This, however, does not need to be cold or stark. Lush winter bulbs, such as amaryllis and narcissus in mass could make for a striking display.”Thanks For the MemoriesThe New Year is an ideal opportunity to reflect on the past and anticipate the future. One way to translate that idea into a mantel display is through photography and keepsakes from treasured events in 2008. A collection of images and mementos can be creatively arranged with a beautiful impact. Jane Reed of INTERIORS by Decorating Den suggests leaning framed pictures of different sizes on the mantel instead of hanging them above. “Odd numbers always make better grouping arrangements,” she says. Shadow box frames are perfect for collage-style projects and look fantastic next to nicely framed photographs. “Of course, mantels can always be used to display collections, but try to incorporate changes in texture – metal, ceramics, wood, etc. – for interest,” Jane notes.Real SimpleIf you’re still seeing visions of sugarplums dancing in your head each night, perhaps drastic measures are in order. “After all the pizzazz of the holidays, try going minimalist for a while,” says Jane. “Clear your mantel totally and place one beautiful object, plant or vase of flowers on one end.” Or, why not keep it light with a little candlelight. “Beautiful candleholders are always excellent [because] the most usual time to have candlelight is throughout the fall and winter season,” says Laura. What’s the best part of having a mantel? No matter how you choose to design it, there’s a roaring fire just below for quality moments of warmth and relaxation with those you love.

Read More »
Lucia Rothgeb

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

Lucia Rothgeb, Placerville Arts Association President, is very involved in the art community of the foothills. As a Cameron Park resident since 1999, Rothgeb has since found herself a member of the El Dorado Hills Arts Association, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, a volunteer at Snowline Hospice, and President of the Pacific Scribes Calligraphy Guild in the South Bay.  “I echo what every retiree says; ‘when did I have time to work?’” says Rothgeb. Rothgeb’s interest in drawing and painting began in childhood, and she graduated from San Jose State University with her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, earned a teaching credential, and later completed her Master’s in Organizational Development at the University of San Francisco. Rothgeb enjoys calligraphy, papermaking, watercolor, acrylic, and collage, and her favorite expressions are through light and color, landscape, still life, abstract, and figurative work. “Several years ago I added a studio to the back of my garage and it has been a wonderful place to work and play at my painting and projects,” shares Rothgeb.  She has exhibited work in Italy, West Sussex and the UK, as well as Lake Tahoe and local shows in Placerville and Sacramento.For more on Lucia Rothgeb be sure to pick up this month's copy of FoothillStyle. 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 Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116.

Read More »
Oh Canada!

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

In 1986, my parents took us on the first of what would be frequent big travel adventures. By “big” I mean a motor home, a word that still sends chills up my mother’s spine. While us kids could hardly contain our excitement at three weeks of traveling across states in a house on wheels, my mom was less than thrilled with the bruises she endured trying to cook meals on the road. What was unique about that first motor home trip was the ultimate destination – Canada. Having never left the continental United States before, the idea of going to an entirely new country seemed totally exotic. That year, Vancouver was hosting the World’s Fair, an event that, sadly, has lost popularity on the global stage. But in 1986, it was the do-not-miss family trip of the year. And, while I have fond memories of the Expo, I also have lingering fondness for the city too. Green, welcoming and laid back, it was a pretty amazing place in my young, impressionable eyes (oh, and did I mention they have a monorail?). Today, Vancouver continues to thrive as a modern metropolis, and, fortunately, without losing any of its charms in the process. If you’re planning to head north, with or without motor home, here are a few must-sees in western Canada’s coolest town.Despite a perpetually rainy climate, Vancouver’s a city for getting out in the fresh air. Why? The parks. One of the most lush, nature-loving urban areas in the West, Vancouver offers a wide variety of outdoor spaces that should not be missed. Starting downtown, you’ll find one of the city’s most popular attractions: Stanley Park. This enormous natural refuge, one of the largest on the continent, is often referred to as a “rainforest within a metropolis.” Some of the activities and adventures you’ll find here include beaches, a water park, Children’s Farmyard, Miniature Railway and the Seawall, a 10.5 kilometer stretch popular with rollerbladers, joggers and the like. Plus, the area is home to the Vancouver Aquarium, also one of the biggest in North America. Hosting more than 8,000 marine animals, this entertaining and educational venue is a perfect afternoon stop for both kids and “kids at heart.”At the top of many “best of” lists is Granville Island, only five minutes from downtown. Like Stanley Park, the island offers plenty of outdoor activities, plus water sports like kayaking and canoeing. Grownups will love the shopping, great restaurants, galleries and theatre found here. Be sure to stop by the Granville Island Brewery for a tasty cold one.Also called “Little Mountain” because of its high geographical location, Queen Elizabeth Park will treat you with some of the best views in Vancouver, from downtown to the North Shore Mountains. If you can find some quiet time, it’s also one of the most romantic spots in the city, brimming with beautiful gardens and perfect for gorgeous sunsets.Once you’ve had more than a few breaths of fresh air, head back to downtown’s West End and English Bay, a trendy and colorful destination for fashion, beauty, culture, dining and more. Whenever I go to a big city, I love to find the tallest building and check out the view. Vancouver’s answer to this is the Lookout, a 551-foot climb in glass elevators to the top of Harbour Centre Tower. Once there, you’ll enjoy a 360-degree view of the city and surrounding areas.Accommodations in Vancouver are plentiful and varied. One of the best is the Pan-Pacific, a 504-room hotel at Canada Place on the waterfront. Its desirable location, adjacent to shopping and Vancouver Art Gallery on Robson Street, historic Gastown and the Pacific Centre mall, makes this one a top contender for your Vancouver stay. The Five Sails restaurant sits right on the water and provides fine dining, a superb wine list and great harbor views.If you’re more into the “boutique” hotel scene, then look no further than the Opus Hotel. In the downtown Yale district, the Opus similarly offers convenient access to Vancouver attractions, including Stanley Park, Granville Island and Chinatown. Freshly modern with fabulous amenities, like a fitness center and world-class spa, this hip hotel attracts a cutting-edge crowd.Vancouver is also host to a number of bed and breakfast-style accommodations. One of my favorites is Barclay House, also located in downtown. Comfortable and beautifully furnished with both local and international designs, it’s hard to resist the Barclay’s charms. They even offer two room suites, so bring the kids along!Dining out in Vancouver can be a fun and flavor-filled experience. I suggest you start your day at Sophie’s Cosmic Café. This Vancouver institution typically has a line down the block, so get there early. It’s worth the wait if you like egg dishes served with their signature house hot sauce. The environment is cool and kitschy, with photos and vintage items scattered all over its bright yellow walls. For something a little more upscale, make a reservation at Bishop’s Restaurant. Though small and simply appointed, it also serves some of the highest rated cuisine in town, having served Presidents, celebrities and countless visitors with a gourmet palate. Even if you can’t make it up to Vancouver right away, there’s plenty to look forward to down the road. In just two years they will host the 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games. There are plenty of great things in store for this amazing city…be sure to get in on the action!

Read More »
East Meets West

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

Jerry is a retired fireman in overall great physical condition for a man in his late fifties. He is active and dynamic, has no notable bad habits and he watches his food intake, yet in the beginning of November he was taken to the hospital with embolisms affecting the function of his heart.As we grow older, maintaining and improving heart health is an ever-growing concern. Sedentary lifestyles in combination with poor eating habits contribute to premature physical decay, which the heart and circulatory systems are among the first to experience; but maintaining good heart health may not be difficult. Western science has a great deal of advice to offer those concerned about heart health, as does traditional Eastern medicine. Style talked to five health professionals from varying disciplines in order to gain some well-rounded insights on establishing and maintaining good heart health, and here is what they had to say.Curtis Fowler, MPT, PA-C, works with the practice of Dr. Roy Greenberg in Folsom. His approach is that of Western medicine with a clean and scientific approach to heart health. Fowler sees a large number of patients with diabetes, hypertension and obesity. He says that, contrary to popular myth, Western medicine does not necessarily consider each system of the body in isolation.“A one size fits all answer would have to start with diet,” says Fowler. He also says that, ideally, you want to maintain as close to your recommended weight as you possibly can. When you make food choices, try to go with foods that are low in saturated fats and that contain no trans-fats. Better yet, stick to olive oil. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Paint with your food – the more colors on your plate the better. Fiber is your friend, so when the option exists, grab the whole grain version of whatever you’re cooking. Eat fish twice a week, or if you don’t like fish, supplement with a fish oil capsule. Do not drink sodas or other beverages that are filled with empty calories. “Exercise is fundamental. Thirty minutes a day of walking is inexpensive, and it's easy on the joints,” explains Fowler.  “Nationally, weight still continues to rise, with the expectation that over the next 10-15 years, upwards of 45 percent of Americans will be classified as obese,” states Fowler. And, Fowler’s opinions are not unusual in the medical industry. On November 11, 2008, New York Times printed the results of a study demonstrating that those who are overweight in their youth are demonstrably more prone to heart health problems in their 40s and 50s. By allowing our children to develop sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits, we are, in effect, fating them to a high likelihood of heart disease and, potentially, shortened life spans.Dr. Parhar of Parhar & Associates in Roseville counsels that “for a healthy heart one needs to make sure that blood pressure is well controlled, body weight is optimal, and absolutely no tobacco use.” Tobacco irreverisbly damages the lining of the blood vessels. Parhar goes on to say that regular moderate exercise and yoga are beneficial for healthy blood vessels and stress reduction.  Eastern medicine focuses on the overall health of the patient rather than the health of individual systems. It has gained the name “holistic” in western culture. Cindy Swan (nutition and wellness coach) and Dr. Holthouse, both of the Center for Functional and Integrative Medicine say, “Eastern strategies have long focused on the impact of a person’s vitality, emotional health and spiritual wellness, as they relate to the development of disease.” They also note, “Western practitioners are becoming more aware of the need to move beyond prescription drugs, and address the patient’s lifestyle as the core cause of a vast amount of heart disease.”  We are a complex array of systems, all of which interact with and depend upon one another. True heart health, therefore, cannot be attained unless the patient is mentally and spiritually well. Dr. Lin Pan of Pan Acupuncture and Herb agrees, he emphasizes that heart health cannot be fully achieved unless the whole patient is taken into consideration.For more Healthy Heart tips and resources, be sure to pick up this month's copy of FoothillStyle. Check out the Distribution tab on this Web site for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116

Read More »
Darci Egan

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

This year’s recipient of a $2,500 scholarship from Folsom Patrons of the Arts, 18-year-old Darci Egan, has seen first-hand the positive role music can play in life. Darci started singing at the age of five, and had voice lessons throughout her childhood. At Folsom High School, she was a member of both chamber and concert choirs, and worked at Nicholson Music Company in her spare time – literally surrounding herself with music whenever she could. Her passion for music did not go unnoticed by her choir director, who encouraged her to send her vocal CD to the scholarship foundation. Now a music major at California State University, Northridge, Darci admits that the road to success has not always been an easy one. A self-proclaimed “band geek,” she often struggled to fit in during high school, and considered home schooling. “The only thing that kept me there was the choir program,” she says. “Some of my best friends came out of choir. [We were] like a little family.” After college Egan plans to shift from performing in front of an audience to working behind the scene in the music industry. She is also considering a future as a high school music teacher, and emphasizes the crucial role of music programs in schools. “Music is extremely important. It provides a social life for kids...a place for the kids [who] don’t belong anywhere [else].”For more on Darci Egan 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 Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116.

Read More »
Simple Heroes

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

Anyone who has witnessed a homeless child receive a warm winter coat, or an elderly woman be helped up the stairs by an individual far more agile, knows that simple acts of kindness are indeed heroic. Uncomplicated but generous acts of heroism prove that each of us have transformative special powers. Because seemingly insignificant action can have a life-long impact, there is the Simple Heroes Initiative, which encourages community residents to support underserved foster youth by providing them with basic needs they have been denied. In order to connect these individuals with resources, the Initiative was established in 2008 in conjunction with Generation Fate, a nonprofit also dedicated to assisting local foster youth. After meeting with countless social workers, foster parents and foster children, Generation Fate’s Founder and Director Nick Cunningham continually heard the same story. “I was told that there were little things foster children missed out on like high school prom, extracurricular activities or driver's education courses because of a lack of resources,” he explains. “I knew there were resources in the community, but there was just no conduit to put two and two together.”Until, that is, the Simple Heroes Initiative, which predominately serves Placer County youth, but continues to branch out and assists children throughout the greater Sacramento region and Yolo County. In 2007, the year Generation Fate was founded, the organization was openly exploratory and unsure of how to effectively reach the targeted demographic. “This mentality does not make it easy to get funding from larger foundations and organizations,” admits Cunningham, who adds that because Generation Fate’s mission, at that point, lacked focus, the organization did not receive crucial monetary funding to support the Initiative or its beneficiaries, forcing the team to identify alternative ways to operate and help others on a shoestring budget. Consequently, individual donations were responsible for 80 percent of overall revenue.“During the process our eyes were opened to the vast amounts of people in our community that were ready and willing to help these children,” Cunningham says. “And with the network of volunteers and supporters that slowly built up, we have been able to connect with and help hundreds of foster youth.” Assistance comes in different ways, which might be a new pair contact lenses or a computer, to art supplies or admission to an exhibit.“Some foster youth do not experience much of a life outside of the system, and allowing them to play baseball, go to prom or attend a class field trip gives them something positive to attach to; it brings a little balance into their often chaotic lives,” Cunningham explains.  Among the ambitions of Generation Fate, Inc., and its organizers and supporters, is to secure long-term monetary funding and to create models of the organization that can be scaled and duplicated in other communities.To learn more about Generation Fate, Inc., and the Simple Heroes Initiative, upcoming fund-raisers, and how you can help, please visit the organization online at generationfate.org and/or simpleheroes.com, email [email protected], or call 916-987-2889.

Read More »
Gold Rush Barbershop Chorus

Dec 31, 2008 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

Barbershop music has been around for nearly 100 years. Being a century old usually means out-dated, old-fashioned, and antique...right? Wind up the Victrola, put on some 78 rpm records and start those toes a tapping. Sit back, twirl your waxed handlebar mustache and sing along: Daisy Daisy, I’m half crazy all for the love of you! It won’t be a stylish marriage, I can’t afford a carriage, but you’ll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.To many this music is current, vibrant, and brings joy to those who hear it and sing it. Ask Gary Washburn, president of Gold Rush Barbershop Chorus and he will tell you that thousands of area residents love this a cappella type of four-part harmony. “It is amazing,” Washburn explains, “the sound [that] the human voice can make without any assistance.”The non-profit chorus, a local chapter of the International Barbershop Harmony Society, is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Their mission statement says it all: Spread the joy of singing throughout El Dorado County. Two charter members still perform with the chorus. George Spanos, 90 years young, and Neal Sisson at 84 years, join with 32 other members to share their love of singing with sold-out crowds twice each year at the Holy Trinity Church in El Dorado Hills. The majority of their ticket revenue helps young singers travel. “We have been able to donate nearly $7,000,” Washburn explains, “to help youth quartets and choruses pay for transportation to competitions.” Bringing barbershop music and singing to young people is what the chorus is all about. The group performs throughout the year at local high schools to introduce students to the beauty of singing. “We have been able to demonstrate barbershop singing,” Washburn says, “to about 18,000 area high school students.”These performances are not only inspiring to the young people hearing them, but to all the singers too. “We are able to give kids,” Washburn says, “something that will last a lifetime.” And that is just what happened to Brandon Dyer, a senior at Ponderosa High School. He became hooked on singing when he first heard the chorus perform. “I heard the chorus when I was a freshman,” Dyer says, “and I simply fell in love with the music.” He is now the chorus’ youngest member. “Joining the Gold Rush Barbershop Chorus,” he says, “was a life-changing experience.” He is also involved in his high school choir. “All my friends are there,” Dyer says, “[and] choir is the best class of my day.”Washburn says he loves the thrill of making beautiful chords of music, the camaraderie of members, making friends for life and the fulfillment of giving back to the community. It seems barbershop music also brings modern values to the stage.The Gold Rush Chorus practices in Placerville every Tuesday night. They invite anyone to come and listen, or join in. For more information, visit goldrushchorus.org.

Read More »
Upcoming Events Near You

No Events in the next 21 days.