Host Taylor Wolfe welcomes Liz & Steve Heinen, volunteers at the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. Learn how they failed at fostering, why they relocated from the Bay Area and about the fabulous facility for animals.

Host Mari Weaver talks with Rob Ferguson about his life and experience with civic engagement. From a childhood in the Bay Area where his best friend’s family served as a “shelter” when times were tough in his own dysfunctional family, Rob met his wife in high school and converted to Judaism prior to their marriage. His early experiences spawned a life-long interest in human rights, the environment and peace. Rob and his wife raised their family in Walnut Creek, eventually moved to Sacramento and ultimately established their home in Dutch Flat in Placer County in 2017, where their children and grandchildren are helping create a family “compound.” A whole-grain bakery business in Colfax didn’t survive the Covid pandemic. Rob has consulted extensively helping businesses facing bankruptcy find a path to survival. Experiencing his own health issues with obesity, Rob lost well over 100 pounds and became passionate about counseling and coaching others to make more healthy choices on eating habits and other personal issues. He is also passionate about his volunteer work with dogs at Sammie’s Friends in Grass Valley.

Host Keith Porter helps us walk the long and fascinating life path of Anita Wald Tuttle, who has lived in Nevada County for 33 years and has had a role in over two dozen community organizations and projects. Among other notable achievements, she co-founded the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Mountains here. From humble beginnings in depression-era Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, Anita worked her way through a degree in Occupational Therapy and worked in many--and created several--occupational therapy departments in the Midwest and California. She met and married a Physical Therapist who had been held in a German POW camp, and they had four children.Following her move with her second husband to California and eventually to Nevada County in 1989, she and her daughters co-created fantasy elves and fairies and shepherded the Tanglewood Forest Gallery for 28 years.  In our community she quickly got involved in a multitude of community organizations and projects, and continues to be active in many today. Anita and her daughter Marci were members of the founding board of The Center For The Arts in Grass Valley.

Host Brian Buckley takes us on a journey into the life and times of retired Superior Court Judge Frank Francis. Born in Ogden, Utah, Frank’s family moved to San Mateo through 7th grade, where he experienced the impacts of WWII. Frank’s mother was pretty controlling of his two siblings, but for some reason as the middle child he was able to roam pretty freely. Frank met his wife, Francis, in grade school where the two were kidded about eventually marrying and her becoming Frances Francis. Years later, the joking proved prescient and they were married. After law school at USF he worked as an attorney for Southern Pacific in San Francisco and the couple decided to move to rural Northern California. He applied and was hired as Assistant District Attorney by long-time Nevada County D A Harold Berliner. As a Trustee of the William and Mary Ghidotti Family Foundation, Frank and the other Trustees have overseen this cherished institution as it has awarded millions of dollars in hundreds of scholarships. Frank fills his post-retirement years with travel and photography, even selling a photo from time to time, and is participating in a gallery showing in Sacramento opening on May 11. 

Host Lori Burkart Frank brings us the story of Karyn Packard, Board President of Hospice of the Foothills. Following her career as a hospital chaplain, she and her husband sailed their sailboat all around the world for two and a half years, and sold it in New Zealand before settling in Lake Wildwood. Born in southern California, she changed schools often and was positively impacted by wonderful teachers who helped her through the travails and insecurities of always joining new schools and classrooms. She sang in churches starting at a young age, and her family helped her learn to work hard without complaint. At age 15, she became her father’s co-driver in unlimited class racing boats. Karyn met her husband and opera singing partner in Hawaii, and returned to California where he was treated for what became a fatal illness. She studied medicine and theology and became an ordained pastor in 1990, and continued on to become a clinical pastoral supervisor in a hospital in Long Beach. She was instrumental in developing a document and processes for easing end-of-life concerns for patients, family members and medical professionals. She retired in 2011, and after her sailing adventure, found her way to Nevada County and was led by her interests to take on the position as President of Hospice of the Foothills.

Host Hollie interviews Coach Brad Sparks.

Host Taylor Wolfe takes us on a journey of discovery into the life of Syd Brown, a retired geologist with California State Parks, where she helped protect and enhance the mountains, rivers, beaches and watersheds in our precious natural resources. Growing up with parents who often went camping, she became very familiar with the back country. With geology degrees from CSU Sacramento, she was based in Sacramento until she began commuting after moving to Nevada City in 1983. She and husband Jesse raised their two children here. After retiring from her professional position in 2012, Syd jumped into many community engagement activities, including theater, film and performing groups, and is a director for Sierra Gold Parks Foundation which supports our three local State Parks. She also is a board member for South Yuba River Citizens League and Production Director for the Holt Ballet Conservancy 

Host Keith Porter takes us on a journey of discovery into the life of Tom Last, Community Development Director for the City of Grass Valley. We learn how a youngster from the deserts of far Southern California came North to Chico to pursue his interest in Rural and Regional Planning. Professional positions in Southern California, Butte and Sutter Counties led to a position with Grass Valley that’s lasted 19 years. Tom discusses the joys, tribulations and  diverse challenges of overseeing the complex and many-faceted ways in which a small city changes and adapts to the future.

Host Mari Weaver introduces us to Dan Kennerson, who along with friend Jon Dorfman, was doing research for a Department of Defense contractor on ethanol purification. When they had the opportunity to purchase the laboratory in 2017, they faced the choice of producing highly purified spirits or hanging around dairy farms to develop ways of harnessing methane from cow manure. They found the decision to manufacture craft Vodka to be a slam dunk. Covid precipitated a quick pivot into manufacturing hand sanitizer. The first few hundred gallons were provided to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, which sparked requests from many other organizations and agencies. An example of the first sanitizer deliveries in a “vodka” bottle will end up in the American Museum of Natural History. South Fork has become the most awarded Vodka in California. The pair are now creating a community-driven marketplace to offer a series of additional products supporting philanthropic organizations. 

Host Keith Porter explores the life and times of Matt Muellenhoff, DO, founder and Medical Director of Sierraderm in Grass Valley. As a boy, Matt attended kindergarten with this grandmother and mother as teachers, grew up in Corvalis Oregon and Lafayette California, and studied Studio Art at UC Davis. Medical School at Western University of Health Sciences for his Doctor of Osteopathy degree led to a residency in Tampa, Florida, where beyond completing his training in dermatology, he learned the basics of owning and operating a medical practice. Married to a Nevada County native he met in school at Davis, the couple located a dermatology practice for sale here and established and grew Sierraderm into a modern and thriving clinic. Learn about the joys and challenges of operating a medical practice and helping keep a community healthy.