Tomaj Trenda is a real estate broker and owner of the Better Homes Realty office in Lafayette, the top-producing office in California. His passion is helping people buy and sell homes, and assisting them to increase their net worth through investing in their primary residence and in other investment properties.
Working as your real estate agent and broker, Tomaj is completely dedicated to your Service, Satisfaction and Success. He educates, coaches and supports his clients all the way through their home selling or buying process. He’s an expert in real estate contracts and is focused on the details of every transaction. He has extensive experience in Regular Sales, Short Sales, Foreclosures, Trust Sales, 1031 Exchanges and Commercial Real Estate.
Tomaj says, “Thank You, Local Happenings readers, for choosing me as the ‘Best Real Estate Agent’ in the 2015 reader’s poll!”
3701 Mt Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549
415-505-3536
www.tomajtrenda1.com
Buying or Selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions that most of us will ever engage in at any one time, and while we have become a do-it-yourself type of world, it sure is nice to have a trusted professional at your side at that critical time in your life. Juan Gomez with RE/MAX Gold is just that person to help you. If it is your first house ever or your first house this week he is ready to meet your needs. Having grown up in Solano County he is extremely aware of the market and its pitfalls so he is able to help safely navigate his clients through them. He has also embraced the advanced technology that is available today to homebuyers and sellers and he will help employ those to your advantage. Juan is extremely fond of helping people with their first home and loves to be a part of that experience with the people he helps. That enthusiasm, we are sure, is the reason our readers have selected him, for the second year in a row, as our Local’s Choice Realtor for Solano County. Give him a call and learn why people trust him with one of the largest most important transaction in their lives…their home.
723 Amador St., Vallejo, CA 94590
707-980-3634
www.myhousehuntonline.com
In this festive holiday season, many well-meaning platitudes about brotherhood, goodwill and the power of love are being easily exchanged. That’s why it’s so remarkable to discover that in just one small corner of our Bay Area these special phrases spring to life, not only during this festive time, but literally year-round enriching so many kids in need both educationally and emotionally.
Indeed as Local Happenings saw in person recently, the main clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley literally hums from one corner to the other and top to bottom with the warm excitement of engaged, bubbly and just downright happy youngsters and teens who seem truly appreciative of their rare opportunity to learn and be counseled by a staff that is deeply dedicated to their successes at every level.
An intense, well-designed and executed program of learning and growing, both in Napa and at the American Canyon clubhouse, is seen daily. These centers are open to any Napa County resident from 5 to 18 for a good part of the day, but the organized after-school enrichment begins too at the 9 other extension programs just as their own school day ends.
“Essentially what we’re in business for is mentoring young people, particularly those who need us the most,” explains the club’s Executive Director Mark Kuhnhausen. “Our primary way to do that starts and continues when the kids are out of school, after school, during Christmas break, holiday breaks and through summer programs.”
“We offer a wide variety of programs staffed with paid professional role models,” Kuhnhausen continues. “It’s their job to make sure these kids are taken care of and feel safe with people they can look to; somebody other than their parents who can care about them when they’re not around, make sure they can get their homework done, high-5 ’em when they’re doing great things, and let them know when we’re disappointed with them if necessary. We try to be an extension of the family, an extension of the community.”
For the satellite sites, often the principal will provide a recommendation list of those students who he feels will benefit the most, but all enrolled Napa can apply and the two centers accept any student from the Napa Unified District. “In fact, no student is ever turned away for financial need,” explains Area Director Anja Elidi-Stubbs. “As a non-profit having the community support really helps with that. When a family shows up at our door and asks, ‘Can you help me?’ not only can we say, ‘Don’t worry about the money,’ but we can add, ‘Guess what? Your kid’s going to have a great time and learn amazing things so we can’t wait for your child to start!’ And the look on the parent’s face is amazing.”
So what is the magical mix of study, learning and fun things that comprise a typical day at the Clubs? While possibly a little reversed at the other participating school sites depending on available resources, the Napa Clubhouse begins with a snack for the kids. Then come the ‘Choices Hour’ where the kids can pick from a whole bunch of exciting learning activities, which can range from extensive arts & crafts projects, fine arts opportunities, tending to the garden, cooking & baking sessions in the kitchen, time in the gym to learn a new sport, working out in the fitness center, learning to do more advanced computer activities that can range from the basic skills to even movie making and Claymation. In fact, many students do projects on Chrome books that often are in sync with their regular teacher’s curriculum. At scheduled times however there are required-all-kids sessions. These are mini-courses lasting for multiple days and they are held during these times too. They are conducted particularly for those kids needing to learn the nuts and bolts of a sport or other activity that might be new to them.
However, aside from just these fun choices and basic instructional courses come the ones that have also been patterned after national programs or developed in-house where the entire student body is presented with exciting and invaluable material.
Says Elidi-Stubbs, “We are just actually wrapping up a program we developed internally and have now been asked to share not only with the district but with Boys and Girls Clubs across the Pacific region, which is called ‘Bullying Hurts Everyone.’ It includes some role-playing and they actually do an outreach petition to encourage everyone in their community to agree to be bully-free. We also have ‘Members of the Month’ at every site recognizing those who step up, make good choices and help others, and now we have leadership groups and junior staff at each school that also do volunteer hours within the club for a teacher there.”
The Choices Hour is followed in the afterschool schedule with what they call ‘Power Hour,’ which is a required homework session with program and teen assistants there to help. The kids are broken down by grade level and sent to separate classrooms where program assistants circulate to assist kids with their questions. While the session usually lasts from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, kids are welcome to seek out assistance from available staff at other times of need. Afterwards follows the final social rec time where kids of all ages are able to mingle together, and where some of the best non-planned bonding between staff and their students takes place.
Down in the basement of clubhouse 2, they run a parallel and highly successful program for those aged 14 to 18. Teen director, Michael Tillotson, explains, “There’s a lot less structure with our teen center even though a lot of the same programs are actually offered.”
The night run begins at 7 p.m. and all choices for the participants are voluntary, but many are designed to be useful as well, like cooking and baking classes for home-alone adolescents or with extensive college planning help offered for kids at every stage along the way. But for many of the regular attendees it may be just cool to hang out and develop friendships as the kids grow into adulthood via video and computer game playing, doing art projects, having a pick-up basketball game here and there, working out at the fitness center or simply just chilling out for that evening with a good new buddy.
Along with helping spread the word about the Bullying Hurts Everyone campaign, and assisting in Power Hour’s homework help, these giving teenagers are even seen actively lending a hand at special events like the recent Halloween party. Michael explains this continuing giving spirit. “A lot of kids sign up and they run carnival booths,” he reveals. “They’ll be stationed there for most of the night, handing out candy to the kids playing the games, and helping with setting up and decorating everything because it’s good for them to give back for the greater good of all.”
Hoping even more to encourage and reward those already demonstrating outstanding character development, there is the chance to excel beyond the 8 walls of the two clubhouses via the Youth of the Year award; a nationwide program open to kids 14 to 18 which can eventually lead them all the way up to national recognition for their community, school and home service as they demonstrate outstanding leadership and high character traits.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America has been around since the late 1800’s and now sports over 4 million members in some 4,000 locations. Here, it started with a group of concerned citizens when they realized there wasn’t enough for kids to do in their down time after school. So, they got together a super committed group of caring folks and started a club for Napa youth. It has evolved in big ways since and the goals of benefitting first young males and females has since long been surpassed. Currently the Napa clubs serve 1,200 young and teenage boys and girls every day by creating and running wonderful and valuable programs. In 1991 they officially changed their name from Boys Clubs of America to Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and this local branch in Napa County sees now a nearly equal male/female split in enrollment. There are so many proud success stories, with many kids whose folks never had the chance to go to college, now seeing their children reaching beyond expectations at their local JC’s and even beginning to secure some very good jobs in the local community.
Says Lana Tillotson, Napa Clubs Program director, “To illustrate the point, there was one teen volunteer with many previous problems who came though looking to really change his ways. Up to then he was not hanging out with the best of friends … even getting behind in school. But then things suddenly began to change. Before too long he had started actively volunteering here and really started turning his life around, becoming more and more involved. He ended up graduating and even became our ‘Youth of the Year’ and he is now even employed with us at one of our school sites doing beautifully.” That giving warmth of soul and spirit is permeating the interaction between the driven staff and eager kids.
Asked why the club’s profound believing blend has made this so much more than a day-to-day career vocation, Elidi-Stubbs sums up what many other now regularly say about this very special spot in our green Napa growing country: “When you are allowed to spend every day working from your heart and working around people who are focused on the same thing as you, it builds an unquenchable fire in you that keeps you going. So why would you ever turn away from that? It has given back more to me far more than I think I could ever have given myself and it keeps allowing our young enthusiastic participants new and more amazing and positive ways to learn, prosper and grow while we continue to learn and grow in new ways too at the very same time!”
Boys and Girls club of Vacaville
100 Holly Lane
Vacaville, CA 95688
Phone: (707) 452-0480
annaeaton91@yahoo.com
Continentals of Omega Boys and Girls Club
1 Positive Pl
Vallejo, CA 94590
Phone: (707) 643-1728
Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley
1515 Pueblo Avenue
Napa, CA 94558
Phone: (707) 255-8866
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley
1301 Alhambra Ave
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 228-3896
ttruong@bgcdv.org
West Contra Costa Salesian Boys & Girls Club
2801 Moran Ave, Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: (510) 215-4646
info@bgcrsp.com
The East County Boys and Girls Club
1001 Stoneman Ave. Pittsburg CA 94565
Phone: (925)439-5933
Les Honig is a features freelancer and former journalism teacher from back East who relocated to the OC before landing in Benicia to savor the joys of Northern California living.
“To me, the coolest thing about the human eye has got to be just how much it says about the rest of the body,” says ophthalmologist Anthony Agadzi, M.D., perhaps proving the old adage about eyes being the window to your soul. “The fact that you can actually see into it and actually see internal blood vessels and nerves—it’s amazing.”
Agadzi, along with his colleagues Roger Carlson, M.D., and Thomas Cushing, O.D., are the doctors of Redwood Eye Center, Vallejo’s oldest ophthalmology center. When it was founded in 1938 by H. Randall Madeley, M.D., it was the only ophthalmology practice between the Bay Area and Oregon. The practice was then passed down to Carlson and they have since expanded there twice, both times choosing to stay in their hometown of Vallejo.
“Vallejo has always been very good to us,” Office Manager Kathleen Castanho says. “Dr. Carlson has always been very involved with the community of Vallejo and his patients.”
Redwood Eye Center is a well-rounded eye practice. They do comprehensive eye exams, which include dilation, as well as minor surgeries, and cosmetic and therapeutic botox. More complicated surgeries are done by the doctors at nearby hospitals off-site, says Castanho, an optician by trade. They also distribute glasses and contacts and have an in-house lens distribution center, equipped with fancy, shiny, high-end fashionable glasses, as well as others that are designed to be more affordable.
“Lens technology has changed drastically in the last 10 or 15 years,” Castanho says. “You would never see ‘coke bottles’ anymore, unless it was for someone with an extraordinarily high prescription.”
Castanho says there are also easy steps people can take to protect their eyes and avoid getting cataracts or other problems down the line. Diabetes is a big issue too, since it affects the eyes, and is becoming prevalent throughout society.
“Just like you put sunscreen on your skin to help prevent skin cancer, you have to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes,” Castanho says. “It helps to prevent cataract formation.”
For years Carlson headed the practice himself, but then he brought Agadzi on board, and the two have worked together for eight years. To deal with the growing demand for eye care, they have also brought Cushing on board, meaning there’s no end in sight for the center that has thus far survived for more than 75 years. It’s a specialty field, and many who choose it have seen firsthand the ill effects of eye problems.
“I’d say that a lot of ophthalmologists have a personal connection to why they started in this field; I had a family member who was born cross-eyed, and they had to get work done to straighten their eyes out when they were born,” Agadzi says. “So that was my first calling that I’d want to do something like this.”
Since 1938, the field of ophthalmology has expectedly changed quite a bit, beyond the obsolescence of coke-bottle glasses. This has meant that Redwood has had to adapt and change with the times. But, it’s great news for patients, Agadzi said, since the ability for doctors to help people has gotten a boost in past years.
“I’d say a lot of the changes that are happening have to do with refractive correction and being able to give people back not just their distance sight, but also their reading sight, with multi-focal lenses, as well as other treatments,” Agadzi said. “The field has come a long way from where it was before.”
Along those lines, the recovery time for eye surgery is typically a fraction of that for intrusive surgeries on other parts of the body.
“There’s very little downtime for eye surgery in this day and age,” Agadzi said. “People are usually able to get back to work within a day or two.”
Agadzi also said it’s important to remember to get your eyes checked, just like you check other organs, because sometimes people can have afflictions, even when they think they don’t.
“It’s a good idea to get your eyes checked,” Agadzi says. “A lot of eye-diseases basically are asymptomatic, so it may not be something you know that you have.”
When not heading their practice, working in service groups, or spending time with their families, the doctors at Redwood make time to do a significant amount of charity work. Agadzi has done a lot of work with Doctors Without Borders, including a trip to Haiti to treat people suffering from untreated cataracts and experiencing near blindness. Carlson, meanwhile, has made annual trips to Zanibar for more than a decade and has helped form a compound there dedicated to providing regular care to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to any sort of medical care. He’s been instrumental in arranging for doctors in other fields to come along for trips as well, in order to expand the services provided beyond ophthalmology.
“He’s been doing that for years, and never asks for any pats on the back,” Castanho says. “He’s a phenomenal person.” But, there are also plenty of fulfilling ways to help folks back at home too, Castanho says. “It’s really rewarding to be an optician,” she says. “When you have children who have been having trouble seeing and you put glasses on them, and all of a sudden they can see, it’s very rewarding.”
Redwood Eye Center is located at 2852 Redwood Parkway in Vallejo. For more information, call (707) 553-8222 or visit www.redwoodeyecenter.com.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
The 15th Annual Edwardian Ball and Edwardian World’s Faire is upon us yet again. What is it, you ask?
An elegant, whimsical spectacle of a madhouse slapdashery of costumery and cocktails, circus and storytelling, ribald music and daring exhibitions that promise to entice and enchant—a feast for the senses with the style and panache of the turn of the 19th century.
That’s what they told us! In other words … you sorta really gotta be there to find out.
It all began when Rosin Coven, a band local to the San Francisco Bay Area, collaborated with a club owner, to throw a little party in tribute to the work of the eccentric author/illustrator Edward Gorey. Fifteen years later, it has evolved into a three-day extravaganza that attracts thousands to San Francisco’s four-level historical Regency Ballroom (the third day being a few weeks later in Los Angeles).
The Edwardian Ball now stems from a myriad of influences, including both the late Edward Gorey (1925-2000), as well as King Edward VII’s reign over the United Kingdom (1901-1910), also known as the Edwardian era/period, and then leading up to World War I. There’s no real “rule” to the style of the event, so it really has become their own version of Edwardian times. Hopefully the photos can help paint the picture a bit. If not, there’s a video link to a peek into the festivities at their website.
“It’s almost beyond words,” said Justin Katz, co-host and co-producer of the Edwardian Ball, and member of the event’s founding band Rosin Coven. “Once you’ve entered the halls of the Edwardian Ball you step from the ordinary world into a completely imaginary world; it’s a very immersive experience.” The other co-host/producer is Mike Gaines, who is representing the Vau de Vire Society, an avant-cabaret community of classically trained dancers, acclaimed acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, circus sideshow acts, fire performers, go-go dancers and more, many of which can be seen performing at the Edwardian Ball.
The event is split into two equally whimsical and awe-inspiring nights. Friday night, January 16th, is The Edwardian World’s Faire. This is a very interactive night that includes Barbary-themed Midway Games, bicycle-powered carnival rides, a steam-powered machinery exhibition, circus sideshows, burlesque and a complete circus extravaganza by the Vau de Vire Society. Music by Delachaux and DJ Fact.50 will be ongoing as you peruse their Museum of Wonders or “Edwardian Odditorium”—an entire floor of the Regency dedicated to fine art, living statues, fortune telling, sideshows and haunted mysteries.
Next: sleep.
Then, Saturday, January 17th, is the night of the world-famous Edwardian Ball. Friday’s games and rides are cleared away to make room for the ballroom dancing at 8 p.m., amidst festivities galore. Every year Rosin Coven and Vau de Vire Society bring an Edward Gorey story to life theatrically on stage with an original score, composition and musical narrative; Vau de Vire Society will create a stage show, complete with dance and circus acts to result in the featured performance of the evening. This year they’ll be presenting The Beastly Baby, a small tale concerning a particularly unpleasant infant who is so wicked that … well … you’ll just have to come and see for yourself! Bwahahahah.
During the day on Saturday, before the ball, you can peruse the Edwardian Vendor Bazaar from noon-5 p.m. for only $5 admission. If you’re too distracted to shop during the night, or don’t want to carry your purchases around with you, OR need something special to enhance your character at the Ball, be sure to check out this shopping event. You can browse or purchase from a variety of authentic fashion, costumes, jewelry and rare oddities. You’ll also find fashion shows, strolling performers and a hosted Edwardian Gaming Parlour.
What makes this event especially unique, in addition to all the fantastical things we’ve already mentioned, is the factor of the attendees playing such an integral role to the magic of the night. “We work really hard to put on good stage shows, but the real show is the participants throughout,” Katz explains. “People outdo each other and they work hard to outdo themselves—in terms of costume and character—and it’s astounding.” It really is like you’re in a whole new world, sure to be unlike any event you have ever attended. “The level of costume and character is unparalleled,” says Katz. “When you look around you are not in San Francisco in 2014. I’m not sure where or when you are, but it’s not where you woke up.”
Now if dressing up in costume doesn’t quite suit your fancy, that’s quite all right. You are still welcome to attend the ball. However, it is a “ball” after all, so, take that as you will. Costumes are not required and nobody will be denied entrance because of it, but it is highly recommended—and upon arrival, once you see the myriad spectacle of everyone all dressed up, you’ll be glad you made an effort to do the same. Remember, this is an imaginary world that you’re helping to create, so, use your imagination; it doesn’t take much.
“We strongly suggest that people consider dressing up in some manner that allows them to feel special, like they’re stepping out of day-to-day life,” says Katz. “For some people that means they’re designing their own handmade costumes 8 months before the event, for others that means at the last minute they find a fancy hat or gown or something that says ‘I’m out for a special night on the town.’” It can be just that simple, or that complex. This is your night to express yourself and leave the world you know behind. And best of all, you’re free to interpret your flair however you like. “We don’t tell people to come in and look a certain way,” says Katz. “It’s not about a specific accuracy or historic nature; people have a lot of room to be themselves.”
If you’re still stuck for ideas, the most popular costume choices for the event include: elegant Edwardian period fashion; wacky, bizarre and macabre costumes inspired by Edward Gorey’s work; creative Goth; and steampunk attire.
The Edwardian Ball may sounds like an extrovert’s dream come true, and it certainly is! But it is fun for all personality types, and all ages as well. “No one demands anything of you, even if you just quietly wander the halls, you will be inspired,” Katz assures. Even children are welcome to attend. And if you’re unfamiliar with the work of Edward Gorey, this is the time to see what it is about him that has spawned one of the most iconic events the San Francisco Bay Area has ever seen.
“[Gorey’s] a master,” says Katz. “His wit and his understated observations of humanity are endlessly entertaining. He sees the way of the world with such a unique high and delivers it back to you in a way that really makes you think. It’s an understated storytelling that leaves most of the story in your own mind, and we can never get tired of that.”
You have two options for attending the ball: both General Admission and VIP tickets are available. General Admission provides access to all three levels of the Regency Center including the Grand Ballroom, the Vendor Bazaar on the Sutter level, and the Museum of Wonders on the lodge level, as well as full bars and hot food menus (limited, first-come first-served seating available). VIP tickets include all of the above plus access to the seated balcony for the best views of the main stage performances. A VIP ticket also provides one inclusive Edwardian Drink Special at any bar at the event, such as absinthe, specialty cocktails and more.
So take a break from the mundane and experience the insane! Maybe not insane … it rhymes with mundane, so, we can’t not say it … our words not theirs. ANYway, you get the idea! Step into a world of wonder painted by the prolific master of ominous storytelling Edward Gorey himself. Be a part of something wild and spectacular, let your guard down and experience the wonders of the Edwardian Ball. “I encourage people to just have a good time,” says Katz. “You’re not judged, you’re not right or wrong. Put on something fun to wear, show up and just sink in.”
The 15th Annual Edwardian Ball and Edwardian World’s Faire presenting The Beastly Baby will be held on Friday & Saturday, January 16 & 17, 2015 at the Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness, San Francisco. (It is also held on February 7th in Los Angeles.) Doors and show at 8 p.m. All ages welcome. Friday ticket prices are $48 general admission and $95 VIP; Saturday ticket prices are $55 general admission and $100 VIP. All prices increase $5 at the door. 2-day Discount Tickets are available for both General Admission and VIP if purchased in advance, while they last. For the aforementioned video, general information, ticketing outlets and more, visit www.edwardianball.com or email queries@edwardianball.com.
Native to Vallejo, Matt Larson is living in Greater LA to pursue all that is good in the entertainment world. Support his career and follow him on Twitter @mattnstuff.
Get a running start on the New Year with the help of Forward Motion Sports in Danville. Owner and Founder Marty Breen has been facilitating a weekly run, free to the public, every Wednesday night for the past 23 years straight. “We’ve never missed a run! (Though I’ve missed a few.),” he said. “Even if Wednesday falls on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, Fourth Of July—we still continue to run.”
Even if you don’t live near the Danville area, there is still something to be gained from Forward Motions Sports’ Wednesday night runs. “It’s a great motivator,” said Breen. With the social aspect of the run you tend to hold yourself accountable after telling someone else you’ll be there. So if you can’t make it to Danville, start your own weekly community run and hold each other accountable for getting out and staying healthy!
If you do live near enough to Danville to partake in the weekly run, you have no excuse not to go! It’s free and open to anyone of any age. “There are people pushing kids in baby strollers to 80-year-olds out here,” said Breen. “All walks of life—people just beginning running and people that are really experienced runners.” And if you keep coming back, you’ll start to get recognized…
“We started tracking miles,” said Breen. “Once you reach 100 miles you’ll become part of the 100-mile club, then we added a 500-mile club, 1000-mile club, and it’s grown to over 5,000-mile club right now—that means they’ve been coming every Wednesday for at least 15 years.” And yes, t-shirts are awarded when you reach a new milestone. Every Wednesday night begins with announcements for people who are fast approaching new records that evening, they also have manufacturers show up for demos, they test new products, and hold time trials. They even have costume contests on Halloween. It’s a lot of fun and it’s healthy too! If you’re in the area, you should really check it out.
Before you do so, however, make sure that you have the appropriate footwear. Breen will attest that shoes are the most important part of your workout attire. “We’ve worked with some of the best podiatrists and orthopedics over the years, sat down and talked with them about shoes and biomechanics,” he said. “How you control the motion of the foot, or how the foot moves, is going to affect you all the way up through your ankles, your knees, your hips and your lower back.” They are trained professionals at Forward Motion Sports. Even if you think you picked the perfect shoe yourself, stop on by and see what they have to say.
Forward Motion Sports is located at 432 Hartz Ave., Danville. (925) 820-9966; www.forwardmotion.com. The weekly run is at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday night. Get a move on!
Native to Vallejo, Matt Larson is living in Greater LA to pursue all that is good in the entertainment world. Support his career and follow him on Twitter @mattnstuff.
Would I say I have a passion for mushrooms? No … but would I say I love mushrooms? That would be a definite, yes! I cook with them all the time. They add flavor, they finish off a perfect steak and they are great in a salad. Raw, sautéed, cold in an anti-pasta, I have to say I do enjoy the flavor. I know a lot of people do not like mushrooms because let’s face it: they are a fungus. They are a staple for me though and a must have in my kitchen.
My fellow mushroom lovers and I are lucky because most supermarkets and specialty produce stores carry a wide variety of mushrooms. The supermarket foragers are even luckier because they can find both wild and cultivated mushrooms at various times of the year. The wild ones are of course harder to come by (almost like foraging), but you can find a lot of the domestic exotics that are commercially grown. Regardless of what type of mushrooms you are using, choose those that are firm and slightly moist, showing no signs of decay. Warm air and water will cause mushrooms to decay, so keep them cool and dry. Store them in a basket or an open paper bag in the refrigerator and don’t clean them until you’re ready to use. If stored properly, they should last four to five days.
Cleaning mushrooms is something I do I have a pet peeve about. Many times I will see people literally giving them a bath. I try to educate everyone that you don’t actually wash the mushroom because that will make them soggy. I simply wipe them clean with a damp cloth or scrape them with a paring knife. I personally wouldn’t waste your money on those cute little mushroom brushes either; I bought one of those cute brushes and I have found that a damp cloth works best. You will want to cook the mushrooms as soon as they are cleaned because they will start to decay faster at that point.
One can eat a mushroom raw (like button mushrooms), but most should be thoroughly cooked because they have proteins that can be difficult to digest unless you do so. A fresh mushroom is mostly water, which contains a high concentration of flavor. When you cook mushrooms, cook them long enough that all the water is released and then keep cooking them until the liquid has evaporated as well.
Here a list of a few of my favorite wild ones you can find from time to time (if you’re lucky):
Porcini: Wonderful for grilling. Grill the caps and top them with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese
Chanterelles: These golden beauties are in season from early summer through early winter, and they pair very well with game animals or shellfish.
Black Trumpets: These look very similar to the chanterelle, except they are black and they have delicious buttery woodsy flavor to them.
Morels: Offering an earthy flavor that pairs well with chicken or veal, these have a very short season, so buy them when you find them in early spring to July. They’re also great in butter or cream sauces and in grain or rice dishes.
These are cultivated ones, which you can find pretty much all year long:
Button: Great for soups and pasta sauces or just sautéed in butter garlic and white wine (and my secret—a few drops of soy sauce).
Portobello and/or Cremini: The portobello is really just an overgrown cremini, and it’s great for grilling, since they have an almost meaty flavor to them. One of my husband’s favorites is a portobello sandwich, which illustrates just how much flavor they have. The cremini is one of my all-time favorites because of the flavor it adds to sauces, on top of pizzas or just sautéed and served hot or cold with an antipasto dish.
Shiitakes: They provide a delightful and distinct smoky flavor. Mostly used in Asian cooking but they can also be eaten raw, I would just stay away from the stems because they tend to be much tougher.
Oyster: Great sautéed and served with poultry or fish; they have a subtle flavor.
Enoki: Resembling long white pushpins or bobby pins, these are great raw in salads or as a garnish for a soup.
I have saved the best tip for last: Just in case you have forgotten, you can always used dried mushrooms when you cannot find what you need fresh. You can always find dried shiitakes, porcini, morels and chanterelles. The flavor of dried mushrooms is concentrated and intense and the texture is good. Like fresh mushrooms, they’re terrific in everything from soups, sauces, and even sautés. You have to rehydrate them, though, even if you are going to use them in a soup or stew. You do this by covering them with boiling water in a bowl and then weighing them down with a small plate so they stay covered. Soak them until they’re plumped and softened, typically for about 20 minutes. Once they’re hydrated, squeeze out the excess water, but reserve the water since it will have tremendous flavor. Then just remove the tough stems and you are ready to go. You can strain the soaking liquid through a coffee filter and use it for your dish or just freeze for future use.
But wait … it gets better! Mushrooms are a low-calorie food with only about 27 calories in a typical serving of fresh mushrooms. Also, a 3.5 ounce serving of mushrooms is an excellent source (more than 20% of the Daily Value, DV) of B vitamins, such as riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid. They are also an excellent source of the essential minerals, selenium (37% DV) and copper (25% DV), and a good source (10-19% DV) of phosphorus and potassium. Fat and carbohydrate content are low as well with an absence of sodium, so not only are they good but they are good for you.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mushrooms, though. I hope this helps serve as a starting place for when you’re not sure what mushroom you should use and you never know, this could be a start of a your new passion for mushrooms!
By Chef K. Marie Paulk
The US Armed Forces have almost 1.5 million active duty members, but that statistic doesn’t tell the whole story. For every two active duty soldiers, there are three immediate family members who also share the sacrifice of a career in the army.
For the nearly 2 million Americans with immediate family members on active duty, their loved ones don’t have to be fighting overseas for them to be dearly missed. Sometimes, they’re simply stationed in far-away places for most of the year with limited ways to stay in touch with folks back at home.
But, since World War II, a national group with chapters throughout the Bay Area and California has existed for the sole purpose of doing what they can to lift the burden on armed forces members, veterans and their families. They’re called Blue Star Mothers of America.
“Our men and women that serve, they deserve to be looked up to, they deserve to have our thanks, and they need to know that we appreciate every single thing they do for us so that we have the rights that we have and we can live the way that we live,” Vintage Valley Blue Star Mothers President Nicole Stinnett said.
Blue Star Mothers—or Blue Star Moms, for short—is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting members of the armed forces and their families however they can. Primarily, this involves sending letters, care packages, holding events, arranging for family meet-ups, and finding ways to honor family members for their sacrifice.
“It’s the family. It’s not just the person being deployed,” Stinnett said. “It’s their mother, their grandparent, their aunt or uncle, their spouse and, of course, their children. It’s everybody that’s in it together.”
Despite their title, Blue Star Moms isn’t just for moms—anyone who cares about helping our armed forces is welcome to join, whether you’re a mother, father, brother, sister, a friend, or just a concerned citizen. Every mother who has a child in the armed services is automatically considered a Blue Star mom, though.
“I just want to make a difference. I know it’s hard for kids in the army, being away from their families, and we just want to help them,” Stinnett said. “I just really believe in what we do and I know it makes a difference every year.”
Blue Star Moms is a non-partisan, non-political, and non-discriminatory organization that was birthed from the patriotic spirit that embodied the World War II era. They have chapters all over the country, including multiple chapters that cover most of the Bay Area too. There’s the Vintage Valley Blue Star Moms chapter, which covers Solano, Napa and Yolo counties, and there’s also an East Bay Chapter that covers Contra Costa County, as well as chapters in Sacramento and beyond.
In the past year, the organization as a whole has sent out almost 75,000 care packages to military members all over the world. Additionally, they sent out almost 150,000 letters and held nearly 10,000 veterans events, amongst a multitude of other ways they support the military and their families.
“Having them write letters of thanks and knowing that it’s making a difference … you just want to do it that much more,” Stinnett said. “You just want to do it that much more next year.”
All-in-all, a quarter of a million members of the armed services have benefited from Blue Star Moms’ services somehow, and Vintage Valley has done more than their fair share.
“Last year, we sent out more than 400 care packages, and we donate items to homeless veterans throughout Solano County,” Stinnett said.
The Solano County chapter also holds regular visits to wounded warriors, firstly to deliver care packages, but also to give them someone to talk to, or to see other ways that they can help out. Sometimes, this even involves going to cemeteries and placing wreaths or flowers on the tombstones of the fallen.
Their members sometimes have multiple family members serving at one time—sometimes, they even have multiple children fighting in different wars at the same time. Situations like that are obviously going to be especially stressful, but gathering with folks who are going through similar struggles can often make a big difference, said Stinnett.
Stinnett’s own introduction to the group stemmed from the fact that her son-in-law is actively serving in the military. She learned about the organization through a family friend and started as a volunteer before holding two different board positions, and ultimately becoming the chapter president. She invites anyone interested to follow her example and come out to a Blue Star Moms meeting to learn more.
“Anybody that wants to join us—you can be an associate too,” Stinnett said. “If you care about the military and you want to make a difference, anyone can join us. You can just be a military supporter: come out to our meetings and help us out.”
Understandably, with the celebration of Veterans Day, November was a busy month for the Blue Star Moms. But with the Holiday Season on the horizon, December and January are sure to keep them busy. First off, they’re holding Christmas events and organizing to provide the children of soldiers with Christmas and holiday gifts from the organization, donated by folks around the community.
“We want to let the children know, ‘Thank You.’ They sacrifice a lot, and they may not realize it when they’re young, but when they get older, they might understand, ‘That was a big sacrifice,’” Stinnett said. “We want to give them a little something extra for Christmas, because the whole family is impacted, not just the individual serving.”
Next, not only have they got weekly meetings with wounded soldiers, which includes volunteering their time for meetings on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve, they’ll be holding a gifts and crafts fair on December 6th at Orchard Avenue Baptist Church in Vacaville.
“They’re a great church,” Stinnett said of Orchard Avenue Baptist. “They donate their space to us all the time.”
They’ll also be laying wreaths at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on Dec. 13, as well as a wreath dedication at the State Capitol building on Dec. 8, and who knows what else they’ll plan at their monthly meeting! Also, starting in February, they’re doing their first major “pack” of the year, where they put together care packages to send out across the U.S. and to the far reaches of the world.
“We invite everybody in the community to come out,” Stinnett said. “We encourage people to write letters to a veteran, and to put your address on there; they may not have anybody to write to and it may be nice for them to write a letter back to you, and you may get something going! You may have an overseas pen pal.”
For anyone who wants to donate to Blue Star Moms, know that 99 percent or more of their donations go to helping others. If you want to donate, make your check payable to “Vintage Valley Blue Star Moms” and mail it to P.O. Box 1245, Vacaville, CA, 95696. All donations are tax deductible. If you want to donate care package items, not money, you can visit: http://www.solanobluestarmoms.org/#!needed-items/c1ojo for a list of needed items, or visit: http://www.solanobluestarmoms.org/#!donations/c1unp for ways to learn about donating online.
For anyone who wants to get involved with Blue Star Moms in Solano County, they meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., at Orchard Avenue Baptist Church, located at 301 North Orchard Avenue in Vacaville. They can also visit: http://www.solanobluestarmoms.org/ or e-mail Stinnett at solanobluestarmoms@hotmail.com.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
