Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/554144
ByJulieZeeb jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com @DN_Zeeb on Twitter VINA TheSt.JamesVineyardat Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina saw 800-900 people in attendance Friday evening for the ninth an- nual Blessing of the Grapes cer- emony. Traditionally the event is held as a kick off to the harvest sea- son for the vineyard, in which 12 types of grapes are grown to cre- ate the 18-20 different wines and blends made through a partner- ship between the monks and the Sunseri family, said Aimée Sun- seri, the fifth generation in her family to make wine. "I started as a volunteer in 2000 and was hired in 2003," Sunseri said. "Volunteering def- initely changed my path. I got a taste of it and fell in love. I knew it's what I wanted to do with my CEREMONY Abbeyholds Blessing of the Grapes RED BLUFF The Tehama County Air Pollution Control District warns again Monday that air quality is expected to reach un- healthy levels due to smoke from wildfires in the region. Those at risk, including chil- dren and adults with respiratory disease, should stay indoors and avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Intense physical activity should be avoided. Sensitivity to poor air quality can result in coughing, scratchy throat, watery and itchy eyes and difficulty breathing. Persons ex- periencing questionable or se- vere symptoms should seek pro- fessional medical advice. Fires burning in the region in- clude the 36 Fire, near Paynes Creek in eastern Tehama County, which has burned 110 acres and is 100 percent contained, accord- ing to Cal Fire. The Rocky Fire in Lake, Colusa and Yolo counties east of Lower Lake has burned 69,636 acres WILDFIRES Air quality to reach unhealthy range By Heather Hoelscher hhoelscher@redbluffdailynews.com DN_Heather on Twitter RED BLUFF The Tehama County Mosquito and Vector Control Dis- trict reported Monday that two sentinel chickens with the West Nile virus have been found and confirmed in Corning. The two chickens were con- firmed to have the virus by the California Department of Health after the routine West Nile virus test, according to a Monday press release by district manager An- drew Cox. The West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Accord- ing to the release, the best way to avoid the disease is to reduce ex- posure to mosquitoes and elimi- nate their breeding ground. Cox recommends county resi- dents help reduce the risk of mos- quito-borne diseases by avoiding time outside when mosquitoes are active, wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts when outdoors, applying insect repel- lent that contains DEET, making sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens and eliminat- ing all sources of standing water. Call the district if there is a mosquito problem in populated areas at 527-1676. For more information about the West Nile virus, go to www.west- nile.ca.gov/. HEALTH ChickenshaveWestNileVirus TehamaCountyVectorControlDistrictsaysanimalsarefromCorning By Julie Zeeb jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com @DN_Zeeb on Twitter RED BLUFF The number of vol- unteers nearly equaled the num- ber of shoppers Saturday in the first round of shoppers as the Back To School Project took a total of 203 children shopping at Walmart for its 12th year. 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, fulfilling its mission, which is to send every child back to school with pride, dig- nity and a feeling of self-worth, said founder Kim Berry. The number of applicants was down for 2015 and Satur- day saw everyone who applied in June get the opportunity to shop with no one left on the waiting list thanks to the various spon- sors and members of the com- munity. "We raised $21,000 this year," Berry said. "We couldn't do it without the community. It is because of their support that we are able to do this. It's a very generous community and they totally get what we do. I wish everyone could come take a look and see for themselves. It's awe- some to watch." Cuts for Kids, the second part of the two-day Back To School Project event, almost didn't hap- pen, but thanks to a volunteer who stepped in and helped or- ganize the event eight local hair stylists set up at the Red Bluff Community Center to give free hair cuts to school-age children who were also getting school supplies at the event. "There's such a tremendous need," Berry said. "The fami- lies that applied — the economy has just really hit these families hard. A lot of them are unem- ployed and have been living on unemployment for a while. They had no way to buy clothes for school. They're just barely mak- ing it." The project pairs volunteers with a student or two and their families and is primarily sup- ported by residents and the busi- ness community alike with the Ultimate Spelling Bee in March as the only big fundraiser. The program has sponsored as many as 600 children such as the year the Tehama County Department of Social Services was able to secure a $40,000 grant for it, Berry said. Over the next year, her goal is to establish a 300 club in which 300 people donated $100 each in sponsorship, which will allow them to focus on the fundraiser and using its proceeds for addi- tional children and incidentals throughout the year, she said. The program is a far cry from the first year when through car washes and an ice cream social Berry took 18 children shopping. She started the project as a way to give back for the help she had received as a single mother while raising her children. Red Bluff resident Carina Campos also identifies with liv- ing in a single-mother house- hold, but as a child of a single mother she said. "I love volunteering and be- BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT GREAT SHOPPING DAY SEES 200 LOCAL CHILDREN SERVED PHOTOSBYJULIEZEEB—DAILYNEWS Volunteers Paige Gonczeruk, third from le , and her mother Amy Gonczeruk, fourth from le , help a family shop for Back To School clothes Saturday during the Back To School Project's Great Shopping Day at Walmart in Red Bluff. Volunteer Carina Campos of Red Bluff, right, helps a family shop for Back To School clothes Saturday during the Back To School Project's Great Shopping Day at Walmart in Red Bluff. Community.....A3 Weather ..........B8 Health..............A4 Lifestyles........A5 Sports.............. B1 Daily Break......B3 Index............... ## INDEX Everyday Cheapskate offers things that will pay for them- selves in money saved in less than a year. PAGEA5 LIFESTYLES Money-saversthatpay for themselves If we knew what lies ahead, would we batten down life's hatches and brace ourselves for the worst? PAGE A3 COMMUNITY Columnist: Not all storms are forecasted The Navajo Nation declares an emergency as contaminated wastewater flows down the San Juan River. PAGE B5 CONTAMINATED WATER Navajo Nation declares emergency a er spill The main super PAC backing Hillary Clinton accepted a $1 million contribution that can- not be traced. PAGE B4 PRESIDENTIAL RACE Group gets $1 million from anonymous donors SHOPPING PAGE 7 AIR PAGE 7 BLESSING PAGE 7 » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, August 11, 2015 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD Good morning, thanks for subscribing John Murphy ANNIVERSARY Hamils celebrate 50 years of marriage Community A3 CORNING Expo connects veterans, benefits Lifestyles A5 FollowtheDailyNews on Twitter to keep pace with breaking news and events @REDBLUFFNEWS FOLLOWUS ONTWITTER Volume130,issue188 7 58551 69001 9 P/sunny High: Low: 89 62 » PAGE B8