https://www.issuu.com/upgradedliving

Upgraded Living Magazine, Chico, CA (2025)

12/17/2025

📖✨When Michelle Anderson-Curran returned home to Chico after years of global humanitarian work, she had a realization that changed everything: the greatest injustice she could fight was right in her own backyard. Too many local kids weren’t reading at grade level—and literacy, she saw, was the key that unlocks opportunity.

That insight sparked Reading Pals, a simple but powerful idea: one adult, one child, one hour a week. No teaching degree required—just patience, encouragement, and belief. The results? Life-changing. Students have quadrupled their reading growth, confidence has soared, and futures have shifted for good.

Today, Reading Pals has served more than 3,700 students across Northern California, powered almost entirely by volunteers and community support. With help from partners like Golden Valley Bank, the program continues to grow—proving big change doesn’t need big systems.

Sometimes, it just takes showing up, opening a book, and changing a life.

Read the full story in Upgraded Living’s December issue available in print at over 600 locations throughout Butte County or online by visiting the link in our bio!

12/16/2025

♥️ It’s been difficult to make a post commemorating the life and legacy of our friend Mick Needham, who sadly left us last month. Interviewing his family, and attempting to tell his story in a few pages in this month’s issue of Upgraded Living was an honor, but certainly couldn’t do justice to the extraordinary life and contributions of one of our favorite human beings. For whatever reason, a post felt more final than the article did, and we honestly don’t know the reason why, but here we are struggling to say goodbye to someone we held in the highest regard and with nothing but the utmost respect.

Mick was a champion of the underserved and a man full of wisdom, wit, and compassion. He always had a kind word, encouragement to offer, and the reminder that though life can be hard, there’s beauty everywhere you look. He was one of the first and most vocal supporters of Upgraded Living and brought as much light to each interaction as his stained glass masterpieces have throughout Northern California.

Though he has moved on and his studio has now closed, he leaves behind a beautiful legacy and a reminder that we can all be better, more thoughtful people. We’ll forever hold his memory close to our hearts, and wish his family peace and love as they process his passing. We hope you were as lucky as we were to know him. ♥️

12/02/2025

🎄 The holidays are finally here, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate them with all of you in our December issue of Upgraded Living Magazine!

Meet local REALTOR, Effie Khaki, who reminds us there’s no place like home for the holidays! Discover the story behind her career in Butte County real estate and her unwavering commitment to her clients and our community.

Join us in remembering Downtown Chico legend Mick Needham of Needham Studios, who brought beauty to the North Valley through his welcoming spirit and work with stained glass.

Read up on Michelle Anderson-Curran and her incredible team at Reading Pals, who are working with Golden Valley Bank to increase childhood literacy in the Northstate.

Explore must-visit events and light displays—along with must-gift items—in our 2025 holiday guides!

Cool Kid Maeve Smith lights up the stage with her aerial silk skills, inspiring everyone with her confidence, humor, and creativity!

Sample Juice Unwind, serving mouth-watering Caribbean flavors in the heart of Chico.

Retire your old gingerbread recipe and kick things up a notch with our new cookie recipe you won’t want to miss!

Get your garden ready for the spring with a bit of pre-planning by our resident horticulturist, Alisa LeRoux!

Finally, we travel to Lodi with our friends from Pajouh Automotive for a tour of the town and a wine-tasting experience at the storied Michael David Winery!

📖 Read these stories—and so many more—in our December 2025 issue, available at any of our 600+ distribution locations throughout Butte County. You can also read it online by clicking the link in our bio or by visiting

https://bit.ly/UL_Dec25

11/03/2025

🍂 November is here, and we’re giving thanks for Chef Kevin Pham, whose new restaurant, Mittsu, is devoted to connecting farm and community.

Also in this issue:

Meet Donna Garrison and learn about the Butte County Local Food Network’s efforts to bring farm-fresh produce to those who need it most.

Run alongside Golden Valley Bank and the Jesus Center for food, grace, and community in this year’s Run For Food.

Discover the Butte County Fire Safe Council and their work to secure Butte County’s future against wildfire through preparation and education.

Amberlynn Avila embarks on an ambitious new project to bring over 1,000 new homes to Butte County.

Local Legend Sheriff Honea continues to lead by example and through some of the most dire of circumstances.

Explore nine of our favorite cafés and their signature drinks in our Fall Café Crawl!

The Gumbo Shop delivers the rich flavors of the bayou to the heart of Chico.

Our Maple Chai Apple Butter Latte recipe is sure to get the new season started off right.

And we travel to Lincoln for dinner and a show!

Pick up the newest copy of Upgraded Living to read these stories and so many more in our November issue! It can be found at over 600 locations throughout Butte County and online at

https://bit.ly/UL_Nov25m er

10/03/2025

🤩 ARToberfest is finally here, and we’re ready to celebrate with all things ART!

Meet painter, sculptor, fabricator, and designer Rouben Mohiuddin, who weaves raw emotion, experience, and travel into every piece he creates!

Discover SkyCave Arts Collective, who endeavor to make art not only more accessible for all, but also more fulfilling.

ARToberfest wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Chico Art Center, and they have some exciting news to share about their upcoming expansion in this issue!

Artist Jedrek Speer’s dreams turn to reality thanks to a new creative studio designed and built by HIWA Builders.

Golden Valley Bank breathes new life into the Oroville State Theater with a $20,000 grant to bolster their community art efforts.

Explore Julianne’s in Meriam Park, where life’s most important events and memories are turned into wearable art.

Cass Family Dentistry opens its doors in Chico, blending art and compassionate care.

Cool Kid Bridget Stelle crafts arts for man’s best friend with her business Bridget’s Barks and Bandanas.

The Great Feather River Mosaic Mural takes shape in Oroville, beautifying the city and giving a home to numerous works of local art.

Pick up the newest copy of Upgraded Living to read these stories and so many more in our ARToberfest issue! It can be found at over 600 locations throughout Butte County and online at

www.issuu.com/upgradedliving

09/05/2025

🍻 There is a quiet strength in what happens when locals unite to build something lasting. For Chico natives Byron Hetherton and Jesse Grigg, community runs in their blood. Byron, a third-generation Chicoan, and Jesse, a descendant of the Moorehead family—one of Chico’s founding lineages—carry forward legacies of history and devotion.

Together, with longtime friend and co-founder Garth Archibald, they envisioned not just a business but a cultural anchor. The Commons Social Empourium, now celebrating its seventh anniversary, has grown into a welcoming third space where every guest—local or newcomer—is embraced as part of the community.

The partnership was born from shared childhoods, soccer fields, and a self-pour bar Byron and Garth experienced together in San Diego. With Jesse’s fabrication skills, the trio transformed a forgotten location into what is now one of the Chico’s most vibrant gathering places.

Since opening in 2018, The Commons has continually evolved—adding food trucks, then a kitchen and pizza program, followed by outdoor expansions featuring shipping-container bars, live music, and family-friendly green space. Today, it offers 24 rotating taps, a full kitchen, national touring acts, and community fundraisers, all while remaining true to its grassroots spirit.

This September 20th, the community is invited to celebrate its seventh anniversary—a milestone for Chico, and for the vision of three lifelong friends.

Pick up the newest copy of Upgraded Living and read their heart-warming story for yourself in its entirety. It can be found at over 600 locations throughout Butte County and online at

www.issuu.com/upgradedliving

09/02/2025

🥳 Our September 2025 issue marks our 18th anniversary, Butte County’s 175th anniversary, and countless other anniversaries throughout the Northstate!

Join us in celebrating seven years of community, mouthwatering food, delicious drinks, and music at The Commons in this month’s cover story!

Discover the origin story of Butte County through the work of General John Bidwell, Captain Ralph Bird, and numerous other individuals.

Travel back in time to the early 1900s and meet Dr. J.O. Chiapella, the father of eye care in Chico, and the beginning of a legacy that led to North Valley Eye Care.

Watch history unfold! Butte County earns the name Hollywood North as the film industry moves in.

Chico’s historic flower shop—Chico Florist—opens its doors in 1937, delivering smiles throughout the North Valley.

Leonard Shubert escapes the Midwest cold and finds Chico in 1938. He decides to stay, opening Shubert’s Ice Cream and creating a legacy of joy for residents and visitors alike.

Nat and Tomasa Ibanez arrive in 1948, bringing with them delicious Mexican recipes and opening Chico’s iconic restaurant, La Hacienda, now celebrating 77 years of business.

The Oroville Dam is built and quickly becomes one of the most ambitious construction projects in the United States.

Our special Anniversary Issue reveals a treasure trove of events and businesses that have helped shape Butte County into what it is today!

📖 Read these stories—and so many more—in our September 2025 issue, available at any of our 600+ distribution locations throughout Butte County. You can also read it online by clicking the link in our bio or visiting

https://bit.ly/UL_Sep2025

Awesome People of Chico!

08/01/2025

👨‍⚕️ 🚜 Discover the ever-evolving world of medical aesthetics and how agriculture has shaped Butte County in the August 2025 issue of Upgraded Living!

Fall in love with Amour Medical Aesthetics and learn about the myriad technologies they’re using to deliver health and beauty to Butte County and beyond.

Explore the living labs at the Chico State Farm and see how they prepare students for a career in agriculture.

Hop in and join us for a farm stand tour of Butte County with stops at some of our favorite purveyors.

Farm-to-table isn’t just a popular phrase; it’s a way of life in Northern California. Read about local farm and restaurant partnerships you have to try!

Wi******er Goose delivers a farm-forward sandwich that ranks as one of the best we’ve had in Chico.

Try your hand at one of our delicious recipes that make the most of peaches, currently in season throughout the North Valley!

Finally, travel back in time to the Gold Rush with a weekend trip to Downieville!

📖 Read these stories—and so many more—in our August 2025 issue, available at any of our 600+ distribution locations throughout Butte County. You can also read it online by clicking the link in our bio or visiting

https://bit.ly/UL_August25

Upgraded Living Magazine

12/17/2025

12/16/2025

12/02/2025

11/03/2025

10/03/2025

09/05/2025

09/02/2025

08/01/2025

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