An otherwise close-knit family has become even closer since the loss of their mother last June to breast cancer. The Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital Foundation's fund raisers for Digital Mammography has inspired them to hold a "Tickled Pink Breast Cancer Walk," Saturday, October 23, 2010, starting and ending at the hospital.
    Sisters Tamie Rodke, Michele Dewsnup, Sam Kilian and Jayne Barrow, daughters of Norman and Verda Jensen have already raised over $4,000 and they haven't even held the walk yet. Of course their bubbly personalities and big smiles don't hurt, but it's their personal story that pulls the heart strings.
    Sam was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and had her last treatment in 2006 after enduring chemotherapy and radiation treatments and losing all her hair. She said she thought she was considered low risk, until her mother, Verda, was diagnosed in 2007. Jensen had surgery in October of 2007 and died a year-and-a-half later, in June 2009.
    The sisters all believe strongly in digital mammography. They are all considered high risk, as their cousin Betty Barrow also had breast cancer, along with their cousin Rhonda Thomas. With regular mammograms each of the sisters have been called back in for more films because of the history in their family, but when they have had a digital mammogram they have not been called back because the results can be seen better.
    With their doctors retiring a few years back, two of the sisters had gone four years without a mammogram in the past before Sam was diagnosed.
    "Sometimes tragedy has to to hit before women go in," Jayne stated.
    The term "Tickled Pink" was explained as in, "I'm tickled pink, I'm cancer free."
    "Any woman is excited, or "Tickled Pink," when they are waiting for results and get the call that everything is fine," Michele said.
    With the $25 each registration for the October walk, a t-shirt is being furnished with $250 cash donations and higher sponsors names on the back.
    A light breakfast of muffins and fruit will be included and for just $5, a balloon launch will be done. Balloons purchased in memory of a loved one who has battled any kind of cancer will be set off together prior to the walk. Prizes for the best pink hat and the largest group registered will be given out. Final registration will be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and there are many different raffle prizes that have been generously donated by local merchants and other supporters. Just a few of the prizes include two Dooney and Bourke purses, his and hers Disney watches, massages, a photography package and a Dell pink Inspiron mini laptop. Tickets for the larger raffle items will be sold at Gridley High School home football games in advance of the walk to give everyone a chance. The raffle prizes will be drawn after the walk. Need not be present to win for the larger ticket items. Manzanita 4-H members have offered their assistance for the walk.
    The two mile walk will begin at the hospital at 9:45 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. Registration can be done online at www.tickledpinkbreastcancerwalk.com. Registration forms are available at Children's Hope Foster Family Agency, Gridley Medical Center, The Ice Burgie,  Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital. ACE Hardware and The Wishing Corner.
    The sisters emphasized that this is not just a walk, but a way to feel that a loved one has been honored and say the name they are walking for, paying tribute to. Businesses are encouraged to get a team together of employees to help support a very worthy cause.
    "Come participate, even if you can't walk," Tamie said.
    Checks can be made out to BGMH Foundation and registrations can be sent to 179 Little Avenue, Gridley, CA 95948.

This year's Butte County Fair will have almost constant live music in Goldies as the popular hangout will once again be the place to visit, dance and enjoy the sounds of many different types of music. 

Friday and Saturday nights Goldies will be transformed into a "Cantina" with disco balls, fog machines and smoke machines, turning it into a dance club on those nights with music starting at 3 p.m. and going non-stop until 11:30 p.m.

With Brian Bassett of "Legend" gathering the talent, it is sure to be bouncing with great music starting the Wednesday shows at 4 and 6 p.m., with music by "Kimmy and the Diamondbacks." At 7:30 p.m., "Karaoke Idol" will begin and at 8:30 and 10 p.m., the country music of "Amanda Gray" and "Whiskey Savage" will be enjoyed by many.  This is all in the first day.

When driving by the Butte County Fair it looks as if the ghrounds are ready for the fair to begin immediately and while walking through the grounds, you get the same feeling.  The grass is luscious green, the sprinklers are going, the buildings have been painted and there is a noticeable good mood in the fair office.

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The Annual Biggs/Gridley Hospital Ice Cream Social will be held on the front lawn of the hospital on Thursday, August 5, from 7 until 8:30 p.m.  The BGMH Auxiliary will be serving a wide variety of homemade cakes as well as several flavors of ice cream and cold drinks.  Sugar-free ice cream will be available as well.
This is the Auxiliary's most popular fundraiser of the year and is always a chance to meet with your friends while helping support the local hospital.  Tickets are only three dollars and can be bought that evening.
The drawing for the beautiful summer basket will also be held at the social.  The huge basket contains a wide variety of articles useful for your summer activities-and ice cream maker, barbeque supplies, a fabulous cookbook and many other things.  Tickets for the basket are $1, or six for $5.  All profits from the drawing will also go toward the support of the local hospital.
Be sure to get the date on your calendar-Thursday, August 5.  Hope to see you all there!

A very special evening is being plannd for September 9, 2010, a Pink Polynesian Luau at the home of Mark and Mary Lavy of Biggs.

The purpose of the occasion is to raise money for the Pink Passion for Digital Mammography drive for Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital.  Wonderful entertainment is being planned including Polynesian dancers.

"To see the story in its entirety, call 846-3661 to subscribe to The Gridley Herald."

 Tuesday, August 3 will be a night of much more activity at the Farmers Market on Highway 99.
    Already joined by Max's Miracle Ranch with their train for the young and old to enjoy, this night will have the added attraction of National Night Out events.
    The City of Gridley and Gridley-Biggs Police Department, along with the Gridley Recreation Department are planning a fun night.
    There will be a bicycle rodeo where over 50 free helmets will be given out to children participating in the rodeo and Eddie Eagle will be on hand to discuss gun safety.
    Children who already have helmets are asked to bring them along to wear in case supplies run short.
    Three bicycles will be given away for children ages five and up who participate in the bike rodeo. Sign up at 5:30 p.m.  The bike rodeo will start at 6 p.m. The drawing for the bicycles will be at 7:15 p.m.
    The Gridley-Biggs Police Department will once again be handing out free gun locks to promote gun safety.
    The Gridley Recreation Department will be helping young children with chalk drawings and making candy necklaces.
    Max's Miracle Ranch will be giving away a $300 party package.
    The fun will begin at 5 p.m., so be sure to visit all of the many different vendors, whether it is for jewelry, pistachios, fresh flowers, fresh baked bread, novelty items or fruits and vegetables.

Thunder Volleyball Camp is returning to Gridley High School and athletes are required to sign up by June 11. The camp is open to girls from 7th to 12th grade. It's hosted at GHS, but girls from surrounding schools are welcome to participate if they wish.

A family's home in Live Oak needs to be saved from creditors and friends of Drew, Shaina and Kiley Short are planning a Tri Tip fundraising dinner to help save their family home before September.

The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) will host a series of Open House meetings to share information about its proposed benefit assessment for 44 miles of levee repairs along the west bank of the Feather River.

A Mystery Theatre Dinner is being planned by the Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital Foundation for the "Pink Passion for Digital Mammography campaign."

The 16th Annual Bay Area Brain Tumor Walk will be held Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Golden Gate Park. For many Gridley people, a local connection makes this a special event in the hopes that a cure will be found with proceeds realized by this important walk.

Manzanita 4-H will hold their 52nd Annual Bean Feed & Tri-Tip Dinner (includes drink and dessert) on Saturday, March 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Guardian Building. Drive thru and take out is also available. There will be door prizes and a silent auction.

Representatives of the League of Women Voters of Butte County, Gridley BID, Gridley Library and American Association of University Women (AAUW) are planning different events to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Women's Right To Vote 19th amendment and the League of Women Voters.

This weekend, Gridley High School will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the GHS One Act Plays. The One Act Plays had a great start in 1990, with Mary Ann Jenkins, Cindy Scott, and Patsy Schutz each directing a play. Since then, many GHS students have participated and enjoyed being involved with high school drama.

The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers and teams for the first Relay For Life of Live Oak.  The event is tentatively set to take place at Live Oak Middle School on May 15 & 16, 2010.  Organizers are holding a meeting at 6:00 pm on February 16, 2010 at the Live Oak Boy Scout Building, 2670 Myrtle Street, Live Oak to engage volunteers in recruiting and assembling teams, seeking community support, coordinating logistics, securing donated refreshments and prizes, planning entertainment and lending their support in any way.

February is "Love Your Library" Month at Butte County Library. Each year this month-long celebration provides the perfect opportunity to recognize the important role libraries play in local communities. As we have seen during this past year, the importance of library services is more prominent than ever as libraries become very invaluable resources during tough economic times.

The Gridley Kiwanis Club is trying something new - a different meeting day and time. The club is trying to boost membership along with participation in their weekly meetings, projects and social events.

Dinner tickets will be available at the door for the Appreciation Dinner being held in honor of Bob Hetherwick at the Moose Lodge, this Saturday, January 23, 2010.

Kurt Sheppard, Tanner Smith and Brenden Smith want to invite everyone to the Biggs/Richvale Youth Basketball Program pancake breakfast being sponsored by Les Schwab Tires  on Saturday, January 23 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Biggs High School.

Wisconsin native and Gridley resident Roger Van De Hey has been named one of ten candidates for this years "Packer Hall of Fame Ultimate Fan" contest and voting continues at www.packers.com/fanhalloffame until January 31, 2010.