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FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Hearing voices See Inside Select TV RED BLUFF SOAR scores Sports 1B Weather forecast 10A Sunny 95/65 DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Back to smiles By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer With just days before the Great Shopping Day, the countdown is on to see that the motto of the Back to School Project is ful- filled. The mission of the pro- ject, started by Kim Berry, is to send every child back to school with pride, dig- nity and a feeling of self- worth. “We have 543 children on our list this year and we have 380 of them funded,” Berry said. “We need about $16,000 for the 163 children on the waiting list, but really this thing is funded one child at a time.” Started in 2004, the project allows each child who applied and was accepted to have $100 to spend on new clothes, shoes and a back pack for the start of school. Families applied months ago for the trip that is set for Aug. 13, but the need is so great that the calls are still coming, including a family who called Tuesday, Berry said. “There’s such a tremendous need,” Berry said. “The families that applied — the economy has just really hit these families hard. A lot of them are unemployed and have been living on unem- ployment for a while. They had no way to buy clothes for school. They’re just barely mak- ing it.” The project, which already has over 100 vol- unteer shoppers who will be paired with a student or two, has been fundraising for several months with support from residents and the business commu- nity alike. “The little mini back- packs we put in business- es raised about $1,400, which is 14 kids spon- sored,” Berry said. “That’s a phenomenal thing from our local busi- nesses who put them out.” Money has also come in from fundraisers like the pancake breakfast held July 30 and has trick- City and fair show PDA By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer The city, reluctant in showing public display of affection for the Tehama District Fairground, was finally wooed into a mutual relationship with the fairground Tuesday after sev- eral rounds of flirting with the concept. Though the city and fairground have long had verbal commitments to work together, it was the Red Bluff Rebound group’s matchmaking skills that helped put the relationship on the record. The rebound group sought to bring the city and fair- ground together in hopes of creating a friendship that would foster economic benefits. Rebound’s first draft of the con- tract that was rejected by both groups, who have since met to draw up their own version. Short of going down on one knee, Fairground CEO Mark Eidman told the council this is the third time he has been before the council to discuss the proposal. He has never spent so much time in a warm, fuzzy group hug, he said. “I thought it was just a warm, fuzzy, I love you, you love me group hug,” Eidman said. “I don’t know why we’re making such a big production out of this.” The Red Bluff City Council was not immediately swooned. The commitment was not entered into lightly as council members again weighed the benefits and drawbacks of part- nering with the fairground. Both partners enter the relationship on unsound financial footing. Courtesy photo Hair Stylist Lisa Townley participates in the 2010 Back to School Pro- ject Cuts For Kids event. The 2011 Cuts for Kids is 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, in Red Bluff River Park. led in a bit at a time from community donations. “We’ll get checks in the mail for $100, $800 and other amounts,” Berry said. “My husband, who serves as our accountant, said his favorite was a $10 one.” Berry’s husband received the check from a woman, who by the hand- writing appeared to be elderly, she said. “That’s what she could afford to give and that’s what she gave, which is why it meant so much,” Berry said. Another person that really touched her was an elderly gentleman with a cane who came down to the basement of the church where the pancake breakfast was held. “We were all cleaned up and he came down just to give us a donation,” Berry said. “He looked at me and said I remember I was teased and the words just trailed off like he couldn’t finish the sen- tence. That meant a lot because that’s exactly what this is about. So kids can go back to school and not be teased. So they can be ready for school instead of thinking only about what the other kids will think of them and the way they’re dressed.” The project is a success because people can relate to the need these families have, Berry said. “The hardest part is raising the money, but the payoff comes when you see the kids and every year there’s at least one if not more that are so excit- ed to get their new shoes on,” Berry said. The children will be shopping at Walmart in Red Bluff, which will help the local economy, Berry said. See BACK, page 9A Cops show their lighter side Much of the fate of the fairground’s future operation is dependent on state funding. The city faces closing a $300,000 budget deficit while trying to keep intact the relationships it has with other groups relying on the city’s financial support, such as the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce and employee unions. Councilman Wayne Brown, a Budget Committee mem- ber who keeps close tabs on the city’s pocketbook, said he wanted to know if the agreement was a facade for the fair- board to come back and look for financial support from the city six months from now. Fairboard Director Tonya Redamonti said the relation- ship was not about money but rather a commitment to working together in the “spirit of cooperation.” Eidman said he would not be reluctant in asking for financial support and would come to the city, as well as the county and state, if he needed money. “Will I be here to ask for funding? You bet I’ll be here,” he said. During a previous meeting, councilman Rob Schmid said he wanted to make sure the commitment did not exclude other groups who might take over operation of the fairground should state funding be cut. There had been talks about a Friends of the Fairground group helping support the fairground. The council could not just give hugs and kisses to one group, Schmid said then. His concern about the future of the fairground and how it would be managed remained Tues- day. Redamonti said the city should support the fairground regardless of who is running it. Mayor Bob Carrel agreed, and gave his kiss of approval on the contract, saying he supports the fairground. Blessing of the Grapes today VINA — New Clairvaux Vineyard, the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux and hundreds of wine enthusiasts will gather at 5:30 p.m., today to take part in the annual “Blessing of the Grapes” harvest celebration. The event will be at the Abbey’s St. James Vineyard, 26240 Seventh St., and is free and open to the public. The ceremony will begin with a captivating procession of the monastery’s white-robed monks chanting and singing through the vineyard. Abbot Paul Mark Schwan will then conduct the cen- turies-old European tradition where workers and vineyards are blessed to ensure a robust harvest and winemaking sea- son. The ceremony starts promptly and lasts about 15 minutes. Winery tours, barrel tastings and complimentary wine sam- pling will follow the ceremony. This year’s harvest promises to be our largest and most fruitful ever, said Aimee Sunseri, a fifth generation wine- maker who crafts the vineyard’s premium wines. “We’ve had a wet year and late summer, but our grapes held strong and we’re looking forward to another great year of wine,” she said. For those who miss today’s event, the winery’s tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with complimen- tary tastings. Visit www.newclairvauxvineyard.com for information. Who’s 40 Uh Oh did I blow your cover? Look ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Police Officer James White and his partner Maylena Smith- Saechao compete in a balloon toss contest Tuesday at the Cabernet Apart- ment Complex National Night Out Celebration. Residents and staff also enjoyed getting to see a fire truck up close. Happy Birthday Liz M.F. Love Dad 2011/2012 SCHOOL YEAR FREE Public school with small classes (15 students avg. per class) SAFE, CARING learning community for GRADES 6-12 1660 Monroe St., Red Bluff CA. or Call: 530-529-1650 for an application or visit us on the web at: www.discoverycharterschool.org Established August, 2001, WASC accredited Visit us at