Taylor Wolfe speaks with Julie Thornberry, Executive Director of The Food Bank of Nevada County

Host Keith Porter traces the life journey of Antonio Ayestaran, a professional chef and decorated caterer who learned to cook from his grandmothers in Mexico City and Redding, California. He went on to study culinary arts, gather awards at international culinary competitions and become an executive chef. A desire to have a more balanced family life brought a transition to catering, where his services are highly acclaimed and his skills are appreciated by many individuals and organizations in our community.   

Lori Burkart Frank speaks with the Nevada County Sheriff’s office, Undersheriff, Alicia Burget.

She was appointed Undersheriff in 2019 and during her 23+ year career she has held positions in patrol, Court Security/Bailiff, Search and Rescue Coordinator, detective in Major Crimes Unit, investigator in Narcotics Unit and as Jails Commander, overseeing all operations at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility and much more.

On tonight's The Sages Among Us, with host Kimberly Ewing, we talk with Greg Cameron, a man of music and talent in sound and motion. Once a touring and recording drummer and member of SST Records (Black Flag's record label), he now is a recording and live sound engineer all over Nevada County for over thirty years. He also has a background in film and TV editing and currently works as a QA engineer at AJA Video Systems in Grass Valley. Greg is often at The Miners Foundry and the Nevada Theatre for sound design gigs, aiding in community theatre and cultural events. 

Among the fascinating people in our area is former U.S. Ambassador to both Australia and the African nation of Namibia, Genta Holmes.  As the U.S. Deputy chief of Mission in South Africa around the time of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, to serving in Haiti during a time of intense conflict and upheaval, she has had a front row seat to major events on the world stage.  Retiring after decades in the public sector with the Foreign Service (including servings  the Agency’s Director General) Genta Holmes is this week’s guest on The Sages Among Us.  Tune in this Wednesday at 6:30 to hear the inspiring story of this pioneering diplomat.

Hollie Grimaldi Flores interviews Kimberly Parker about her past positions in a variety of roles including the Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento Zoo before taking the helm as the Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation which she recently left after 22 years to take a new position at the county.

Find out how this PhD's career started first in nursing but evolved into corporate leadership. What brought her to Nevada County? And what's on her bucket list? And what does AAUW offer members and the community at large?

Host Taylor Wolfe brings us the inside story of Jeff Goldman, Nevada County’s Chief Probation Officer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he calls his childhood “poverty with a view” as the family prioritized outdoor activities and moved often to communities that focused on outdoor recreation. He attended 13 different schools and graduated from high school in South Lake Tahoe. Working at the juvenile hall while in graduate school exposed him to the field of probation for which he grew an appreciation for.  Jeff discusses the increasingly complicated range of tasks and responsibilities that a probation officer faces each day, making the job much more than “law enforcement” or “social worker with a badge.” Jeff, his wife, and their two kids live in Nevada County, enjoy the outdoors, and support several community philanthropies, including providing a scholarship through the Nevada Union High School District. He’s chairing the course committee for the “Heart of Gold” gravel bike race starting at the Rood Center on October 8.

Host Keith Porter helps uncover the fascinating life story of Natalie Adona, Nevada County Clerk-Recorder elect. Growing up as the granddaughter of immigrants in Vallejo, Natalie loved the arts and spent several years as an actor, dancer and teacher in local theaters. A desire to find her true life’s work and make a good living took her back to school, where she worked her way to a law degree and a Master’s in public administration. Experience as a poll worker ignited her interest in elections, which led to work with a variety of nonprofits focusing on elections and then to appointment as Assistant to Clerk-Recorder Gregory Diaz in 2019. In June, Natalie received a majority of votes in the primary election and will soon become Nevada County’s Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters. 

Melissa Coneley has been the Supe in the Penn Valley Elementary School District for a little over one year and joins Scott Lay in discussion about how she got here and her vision, goals and plans for the 2022-2023 school year.