The Granholm Family – (from left to right) Kaycee, Danny, Katie and Ben – will be recognized at the Nevada County Fair as the Family of the Year. Credit: Photo provided by Shaffers Originals

 By Wendy Oaks

The Danny Granholm Family of Grass Valley has been named the 2011 Family of the Year by the Nevada County Fair’s Board of Directors. The Board chose the Granholm Family because of their ongoing participation in the Nevada County Fair and their commitment and efforts in supporting Nevada County agricultural youth programs.

Danny and Katie Granholm, who were both raised in Grass Valley, have been attending the Fair since they were children.  As a teenager, Katie worked at the concerts hosted at the Fairgrounds, and grew up watching her grandparents square dance each year at the Fair. Danny also attended the Fair as a child, and remembers “being unable to sleep the night before the Fair because it felt like it was Christmas Day.”

Most recently, for the past eight years, Katie and Danny have been active in youth agriculture programs. In addition to showing animals with their own children, Danny is currently the President of the Nevada County Ag Youth Boosters and Katie is a past director of the Nevada County Livestock Producers.

As owners of BK Powder Coating, which they started in the garage of Danny’s parent’s home in 1996, Danny and Katie volunteer to donate the powder coating on all Ag Mechanic projects for students from both Bear River and Nevada Union High school.

“It is such a pleasure to work with these students,” said Katie. “They work so hard all year on their Fair projects, and it’s great to be able to come alongside these kids and help them and encourage them.”

Their children, Ben and Kaycee, have also been actively involved in the Fair for many years. Both began exhibiting animals about eight years ago. At the 2011 Fair, Kaycee will show sheep, and Ben will exhibit a hog.

Both Ben and Kaycee have gone on to pursue agricultural education. Ben, 19, graduated from Nevada Union in 2010. He recently completed a year of service to the FFA, where he served as the California FFA State Treasurer. In this role, Ben recently testified at the Senate’s Joint Fairs Committee on behalf of the network of California Fairs. In August, Ben will begin his studies at Fresno State, majoring in Agriculture Business. Kaycee, 17, is a senior at Nevada Union and involved in FFA. She is currently serving as the Superior Region President for FFA, and is preparing for college, where she will major in agriculture.

“Year after year, Danny and Katie dedicate countless hours to the Fair and the agricultural community,” said Sandy Woods, CEO of the Fairgrounds. “They are such a gracious and humble family, with a selfless attitude, and a willingness to give – and they do it all with kindness. They are a nice family and so deserving of being the Family of the Year!”

About being named the Fair’s Family of the Year, Katie says, “We are thrilled and so surprised. It’s a huge honor and we are humbled because there are so many other families who also deserve this recognition. We love being part of the Fair and seeing the community come together to support our community’s youth – and we are honored to be part of that.”

The Granhom Family will be honored at opening ceremonies of the Nevada County Fair, which runs August 10 – 14.  They will receive a Fair package of tickets, as well a family portrait created by Shaffers Originals of Grass Valley.

For more information about the Nevada County Fair, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

Wendy Oaks

Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds

(530) 273-6217

wsoaks@gmail.com

Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com

Facebook: Nevada County Fairgrounds

For all your real estate needs
Call or email:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

Sierra Nevada Medical Group Building

By Wendy Oaks

Grass Valley, CA (August 2011) – Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (SNMH) and Sierra Nevada Medical Group (SNMG) are teaming up to present Senior Involvement Day at this year’s Nevada County Fair on Thursday, August 11^th, from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the Special Events Tent.

Join healthcare professionals for various presentations to learn about caring for a wide-range of health topics like diabetes management, heart health, wound care, and the importance of annual health screenings and check-ups. Experts from Sierra Nevada Medical Group will include: Dr. George Rice, Family Medicine; Dr. Kesha Hughes, Internal Medicine; and Dr. Ryan Smith, Cardiologist. Also hear what Dr. Evans – from Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital – has to say about the hospital’s one-minute, radio health segment, Your Health Report, as well as Emergency care and house calls.

While visiting the Special Events Tent, take time to visit SNMH’s and SNMG’s healthcare tables for additional information.

For more information about Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, visit www.snmh.org. For information about Sierra Nevada Medical Group, visit www.sierranevadamedicalgroup.org.

The Nevada County Fair is August 10 – 14. Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information or call (530) 273-6217. The Fairgrounds are located on McCourtney Road in Grass Valley.

Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217
wsoaks@gmail.com
Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com

 
For all your real estate needs
Call or email:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

Outside seating in Diegos - Photo by John J. O'Dell

By Sherri L. Reynolds

Diego’s located in Grass Valley,Ca. at 217 Colfax Ave, (530) 477-1460

Hours:  Monday 4 pm to 9 pm , Tuesday – Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday 11 am to 9:30 pm, Saturday 12 pm to 9:30 pm, Music provided on Friday nights.

For an authentic style of South American flavor, ” Diego’s “  restaurant in Grass Valley, Ca. provides an experience for family and friends to gather for a very special meal of Chilean cuisine. Established in 2004, the owners, June and Diane have put together a place where dining is comfortable, affordable, fun and charming.

Their style of food ranges from starters, such as Empanadita’s (these are small fried empanada’s filled with mozzarella, jack and feta cheese) breaded and fried calamari to homemade mushroom soup. The salads are made fresh with organic greens and grilled seasoned veggies. The local favorite is the Ensalada Diego, served with your choice of grilled chicken, steak, pork, tofu or barbequed vegetables. All salad’s are served with homemade dressings. My favorite is the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette…very tasty !

Sandwiches are made with fresh baked pan bread and served with seasoned grilled veggies or you can order a side of garlic or sweet potato fries.One I like is the grilled chicken breast with guacamole, tomato, mozzarella or you can choose to spice it up with their traditional South American spice paste with smoke and pepper flavors. They also have anything from grilled steak, Portobello, roasted pork, veggie, bratwurst to burgers ( Nevada County, Ca grass-fed/naturally raised).

Specialty dinner entrees include a diverse selection of filet tilapia, crab relleno’s, stuffed Portobello with sautéed tofu and savory crepes filled with chorizo pork with grilled pineapple. All fish dishes are wild caught and meat dishes are range-free with no hormones or antibiotics added. All breads and corn tortillas are house made.

Specialty dinner entrees include a diverse selection of filet tilapia, crab relleno’s, stuffed Portobello with sautéed tofu and savory crepes filled with chorizo pork with grilled pineapple. All fish dishes are wild caught and meat dishes are range-free with no hormones or antibiotics added. All breads and corn tortillas are house made.

Thursday’s are fish taco day and these are absolutely delicious ( a sure winner) and a choice I recommend highly. For drinks/beverages they have organic teas, coffee, sodas, wine and beer. They are known for making Sangria’s and their house favorite is the “Electric Lemonade” made with rice distilled vodka or agave wine.

There is an outdoor covered patio for dining and a chalk board that welcome’s you with a quote for the day. One quote I happen to read said ” God bless is all, everyone of us” by Tiny Tim. The patio is decorated with a water fountain, chimes playing in the breeze, soft colored red clay walls imbedded with flower planters, an evening light in the shape of a star to make it an inviting and pleasurable experience.

Diego’s provides great service, good quality food and friendliness. It makes you feel like you’re somewhere else having an authentic experience. As Diego’s puts it ” Love is everything” and they do put a lot of love into their cooking. Try it out and explore a whole new taste in exceptional food.

” Enjoy life and the taste for it ”

Bon appétit,
Sherri L. Reynolds
sreynoldsjb@yahoo.com
freelance/poet/creative writer

Want a list of bank owned properties?
Call or email:
John J. O’Dell Realtor®
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
9530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

Dan Simpson - Photo courtesy of Nevada County Fair

By Wendy Oaks

Grass Valley, California – Join the beautiful Draft Horses for the 25^th anniversary of the Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair, happening September 22 – 25, 2011 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.

The Draft Horse Classic has grown to become the premier Draft Horse show in the western United States, and features six majestic performances with the beautiful Draft Horses delighting fans with their pageantry, elegance, and strength.  In between classes, enjoy showcase specialty acts, including some returning favorites like Clay Maier and Ramon Becerra, as well as some new acts.

To celebrate our anniversary, we’re offering discounted pricing on morning performances and children’s tickets. All tickets are on sale now!

Draft Horse Classic evening and late afternoon performance tickets are $21 for reserved seating and $18 for general admission. For morning performances, tickets are $15 for reserved seating and $12 for general admission. For children (ages 12 and under), any performance ticket is $13 for reserved seating and $10 for general admission. Ticket order forms are available at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. You can order your tickets by FAX, mail, phone or walk-in. General admission tickets can also be ordered at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. There is a small transaction fee if you order your tickets on-line. For all tickets purchased after September 21, there is an additional $3 charge per ticket.

While at the Fairgrounds, take time to visit the many Harvest Fair activities. Featuring live musical entertainment, lumberjack shows, Treat Street goodies, Art at the Classic, a chance to visit with the horses, and hundreds of community exhibits, the Harvest Fair is an experience that can be enjoyed by kids and adults! Although there is a fee for the Draft Horse performances, admission to the Fairgrounds and Harvest Fair activities are free, so stop by anytime during the four-day event.

“Taste of the Gold” will once again be held on Saturday of the Classic. This fun and tasty event features fine food and drink from some of the Gold Country’s finest restaurants and wineries. For tickets and information, visit www.sierravintners.com or call the Grass Valley Downtown Association at (530) 272-8315.

The Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair is held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, off Highway 49. Visit us at www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217 for information.

By Wendy Oaks
Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217
wsoaks@gmail.com
Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com
Facebook: Nevada County Fairgrounds

Call or email for a free list of bank owned homes in Nevada County
John J. O’Dell® GRI
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

Of course, if you never designed a website, you may need to get professional help, (this is picture of an actual website)

Picture from Design Reviver, The Best and Worse Web Design

by Lisa J. Lehr

In an earlier post, I talked about the importance of auto responders: those little automated messages that your website visitors get when they opt in to (i.e., put their name and e-mail address in the boxes) your website. In doing some outreach to local businesses recently, however, I discovered that not only does the average local business not have an auto responder series…they don’t even have a website!

Grass Valley-area businesses, the 21^st century is calling: you need a website.

These days, getting a website up and running is not a major project that you need to budget thousands of dollars for. You have many options with a range of prices and skill requirements. Check out XSitePro, FrontPage, Dreamweaver, and Godaddy’s Website Tonight. You can even set up your website as a blog using WordPress and choosing from their many free themes; you also have the choice of installing the blog directly on the domain name and forgoing the “Wordpress” extension. If you can’t (or don’t have time to) do this yourself, hire a teenager or someone from Elance.com.

Once you decide which way to go, the important thing is not flashy graphics or the latest technological bells and whistles, but good content. You’ll need plenty of informative material that establishes you as an expert in your niche. Besides making you look like a genius, free content has the desirable effect of making people feel indebted to you. End result: when they need your product or service, they come to you, not your competition.

Articles, down loadable free reports…free content takes many forms. And don’t forget the opt-in—that’s how you stay in touch with your prospective customers and maintain that top-of-mind awareness. [link back to article on ARs]

Now, how many Grass Valley-area business owners reading this will decide that this is the final piece of convincing evidence they needed to put up a website? And how many of them are your competition?

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for the message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

–
Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
www.justrightcopy.com
Visit my website and sign up for my fr~ee marketing tips.
New! No~cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.

Review by Sherri L. Reynolds

” South Pine Cafe”…a local Nevada County establishment, located in the foothills of beautiful Nevada City, Grass Valley and Auburn, Ca. is open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. A place where the community and visitors alike gather to eat and choose off a menu of healthy, zestful and exceptional food items.

The menu consists of anything from omelet’s, egg or tofu scrambles. specialty dishes like  lobster benedicts, huevos rancheros ( a local favorite) breakfast burritos filled with tofu, eggs, brown rice and fresh veggies, pancakes topped with fresh oliberries and real Vermont maple syrup to organic burgers, sandwich wraps, vegan sandwiches like the nut burger ( my favorite),hot homemade soups and salads.

They have an extensive list of beverages to choose as well, such as fresh squeezed orange juice, lemonade-strawberry mimosas, fresh carrot-apple-ginger juice, espresso coffee drinks, soy hot chocolate, local wines, light, dark and organic beer and Fox Barrel hard pear cider.

All burgers, tofu and coffee are organic, eggs are range free, little use on cooking oils, no GMOS are used. You can purchase the South Pine Coffee Blend at both SPD market locations in Nevada City and Grass Valley and at Caroline’s Coffee in Grass Valley. South Pine Cafe also makes their own Blackberry-Mango Jam and you can buy a jar at either of their locations. They also make their own ketchup and sell memorabilia t-shirts with their logo and theme ” Feel the Joy” .

South Pine Cafe has been owned and operated by George Dyer since 1995. Doug Huntington is the general manager of both locations and has been managing for about 9 years now. They employ several chefs, cooks, waiter and waitresses. They always have an upbeat, friendly, good energy feel and your meal is always served with a smile

The Nevada City location has a Bohemian feel to it. There are local artists paintings on the wall to observe and sell . Also, there are crayon drawings on posted on the walls that children have drawn. I, especially like the framed  “Ketchup” drawings, as it illustrates how to properly get the ketchup out of the bottle. At one time this location was once called “Misty Hot Tub” and when South Pine Cafe started, it still had a hot tub in the dish room area.

The downtown Grass Valley location opened approximately 7 years ago. At one time it was a local bar called ” The Office” and local musicians performed there on occasion. You can feel the warm and welcoming atmosphere here and a waiter named Todd can take your order without writing it down. This guy will always put a smile on your face and get you to laugh with his wit and humor. In general, everyone here gives you a home town welcoming feel.

So, I suggest giving these two locations a whirl for an exhilarating experience and save some space for a great cup of organic coffee and a slice of homemade cheesecake to top your day off with. ” Feel the Joy” and be surprised !

Bon appétit,

Breakfast and Lunch served from 8 am to 3 pm seven days a week.

( catering, holiday parties, birthdays, weddings and business lunches also available)

Visit their website for locations and more information

Sherri L. Reynolds

( a frequent patron)

Mark your calendar for the event voted as “Nevada County’s Best Event” for 11 years in a row – the 2011 Nevada County Fair, August 10 – 14, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in beautiful Grass Valley.

“Gold! Rush to the Fair” is this year’s theme and we have five days of excitement and fun planned for Fair-goers of all ages.  The Nevada County Fair is the perfect opportunity to enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, carnival rides, animals, and exhibits – in a community-friendly environment and at affordable family prices!

Live entertainment will be available every day at five different stages throughout the Fairgrounds. There’s carnival rides and games, barns full of livestock, thousands of community exhibits, special contests, an Idol Competition, nightly arena events, daily demonstrations, gold panning, and food contests.  As always, Treat Street will be serving an array of delicious food and drinks – corn dogs, pasties, tacos, corn on the cob, beer, tempura zucchini, nachos, hamburgers, funnel cakes and caramel corn – just to name a few!

Long-time crowd pleasing events will soar into the Fair’s arena Wednesday through Sunday, presenting thrills ranging from a rodeo to Monster Trucks to the Demolition Derby.

The Ag Mechanics Auction will be held on Friday of the Fair, and the Junior Livestock Auction will be held on Sunday, August 14.

For those interested in entering competitions and projects for judging, the Fair’s Competition Handbook will be available June 1. At that time, all of the categories, as well as online entry information, will be listed on the Fair’s web site at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Gates open each day at 10 am, and close each evening at 11 pm. Admission this year will be $9 for adults, $6 for seniors (65 and older), $4 for children 6 to 12, and free to children five years old and younger.  Additionally, active and retired military, with ID, will receive free admission.

At one of the most affordable fairs in California, take advantage of discounts and pre-sales on tickets, which begin June 1. At that time, there will be discounts on daily admission and carnival ride tickets, and the popular “Be A Kid Again” promotion, with $4 admission tickets for Thursday, will be available. Additionally, Kids Day will once again be held on Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm and during that time all children 12 years and under are admitted for free.

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, off Highway 49. For directions, event details or general information, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217. You can follow the Fairgrounds on Facebook at “Nevada County Fairgrounds.”

Source:
Wendy Oaks
Publicist Nevada County Fair

For all your real estate needs, call or write:
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

Pictures taken by John J. O’Dell

These are pictures that I took on the way to Grass Valley.  Click on the pictures to enlarge them and view them with Pic Lens which is the best way to see these pictures.

If the does not work for you try this slide show.

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We're about to sail off, soon as we start the engines

For all your real estate needs, call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

Photo courtesy of Blog.Autoshopper.com

By Lisa J. Lehr

What’s wrong with this picture?

The fictitious Modern Widget Company in Grass Valley has a small staff of reasonably capable people who do pretty much everything. One day, Bob notices a leak in the restroom. “I can fix that,” he says, “and I’ll save the company a ton of money.” He goes the hardware store, buys some parts, and fixes the leak…or so he thinks. Next morning, when the staff comes to work, the toilet has crashed into the basement. You see, Bob didn’t know water was leaking under the floor, rotting out the floorboards.

Sally arrives, late and breathless, wearing a hat. Embarrassed, she confesses she’d cut her own hair. With an important presentation coming up, she didn’t have time to go to the beauty parlor. “It’ll grow out eventually,” she says, red-faced.

Jeff and his carpool buddy Jenny call to say they’re going to be late. They were on their way when they heard a strange racket coming from under the hood of Jeff’s pickup truck. “I can deal with that,” says Jeff. “Who needs AAA?” They might not make it in till afternoon.

What do all these people have in common? They tried to fix a problem themselves when they really needed the services of a professional. They ended up with problems far more serious and expensive to fix than their original problems. They suffered embarrassment, wasted time, and inconvenience.

Then one day the staff at Modern Widget Company is ready to launch their new Super Widget.

“I’ll do a website,” says Bob. “I’m a pretty geeky guy.”

“I’ll write a sales letter,” says Sally. “I majored in Creative Writing.”

“I’ll send out some e-mails,” says Jeff. “I like to do e-mail.”

“I’ll make a brochure,” says Jenny. “I’m a pretty good artist.”

So they did. How did their cobbled-together marketing program do, you ask?

It bombed. You see, Bob, Sally, Jeff, and Jenny made the same mistakes twice: they thought they knew what they were doing—but they didn’t.

If you’re offering a product or service, you need a professional marketing program to reach your audience and make them buy. Even the best product or service is only as good as your marketing plan. Run, don’t walk, to find a professional marketing writer—before you waste time and money, before you suffer embarrassment and inconvenience. And definitely before your business crashes into the basement…figuratively speaking.

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

–
Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
www.justrightcopy.com
Visit my website and sign up for my fr~ee marketing tips.
New! No~cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.

Sergio Martignago

By Sherri L. Reynolds

One of my favorite places to eat is Sergio’s Caffe, a charming and quaint eating establishment located in downtown Grass Valley. (Yes the name Sergio’s Caffe is spelled with two f’s)

It is owned and operated by Sergio and his wife Lena , eight years running now and serving up delicious food from salads, sandwiches, soups, grilled chicken, salmon, tri-tip, vegetarian and lasagna ( a homemade specialty) prepared by his head Chef, Troy. All food is freshly made daily and there are local wines, coffee, teas and assorted beverages. Save room for dessert, as there are a variety of melt in your mouth sweet treats to be had.

Left to right - Rene Medina, Jordyn Chapman, Sergio Martignago

Sergio uses the finest high quality ingredients available, cooking without MSG, margarine and no hydrogenated oils. Lunch prices are reasonable.

This is one of the most welcoming and friendly places to sit and enjoy a good meal. There is always pleasant music in the background, anything from French, Italian, Russian, Spanish to Norah Jones. The tables are sweetly decorated with fresh flowers, soft light, and the service is always friendly and impeccable, Sergio employs two chefs, Troy and Renee (on occasion his wife Lena cooks too) and waiter Jordan and waitress Jordyn, whom are all very delightful. So, sit and relax under the beautiful green palm plant tree and have a pleasurable experience. As Sergio say’s ” Eat, Drink and Be Merry”…..

Bon Appetite…

” Sergio’s Caffe” a charming and quaint eating establishment is located downtown Grass Valley, Ca on 154 Mill St. ( across from the Del Oro movie theater). 530-274-2600, lunch: Monday-Saturday 11:00 am to 3:30 pm and dinner; Wednesday-Saturday 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Sherri L. Reynolds

(Just one of the many regular patrons)

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For all your real estate needs call or write:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
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