You just won a jackpot, or even better Rolling Hills Casino’s $52,000 Get Away With a Year’s Pay Give Away! Here’s some tips for celebrating the occasion with a photo that makes you look like the lucky winner you are.

Smile!!!! How can you look like a winner if you have a serious look on your face?

Smiling for the camera doesn’t come naturally for everyone. Many people are intimidated when smiling for the camera, because they are afraid of looking goofy. However, smiles are attractive, and show how happy you feel inside.

1. For a natural looking smile, skip the “cheese.” “Money” is a better word to say if you don’t want to risk smiling like a Cheshire cat. Words ending in an “uh” sound, such as banana, are especially helpful for softer smiles; and they are fun to say.

2. Pretend like you’re smiling at someone you love enough to share some of your winnings, and your smile will sparkle.

3. You don’t need to give a big toothy grin, but showing some teeth will brighten your smile. If you smile with your mouth closed you may look more serious and less happy than you really are.

4. You might try putting your tongue behind your teeth when you smile to avoid a goofy, too-wide grin.

5. Practice your pose in the mirror to find your good side.

6. Tilt your face slightly at an angle, with your forehead out a bit and your chin slightly down. This is a more flattering pose than looking straight into the camera.

7. To look thinner, twist your torso with one shoulder toward the camera and the other away from it.

8. Ask the person taking the photo to take more than one, and try a few poses. It’s your moment in the spotlight.

9. Have fun with it.

Employees of three businesses owned by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians raised over $5,494 to make the holidays more joyous for families in Tehama and Glenn County.

Rolling Hills Casino, Rolling Hills Clinic, and MD Barnmaster each donated prizes for the 12th annual Rolling Hills Employee Holiday Raffle. The fundraising effort enabled the employees to adopt three families in Tehama County, and two families and two seniors in Glenn County.

The Human Resources department shopped, wrapped, and delivered the presents on behalf of the employees. “We spent $100 on each child and gave the adults $100 gift cards for groceries. We spent $50 each on the seniors and gave them $50 gift cards for groceries,” said Gretchen Allen, Human Resources Director of Rolling HIlls Casino. The remaining $3,514.83 was distributed to following charities: Corning Christian Assistance, Just for Children, Tehama County Reading Council, Alternatives to Violence and Wings of Eagles.

“I am very proud of the Christmas Spirit of our employees,” said Tribal Chairman Andy Freeman. “Their enthusiastic dedication to the community made this fundraiser a success every year since we opened the Casino, and this has been the best year yet.”

There’s something about March that brews excitement. Maybe that’s why this is the designated month to celebrate employee spirit, expecting success, ideas, awesomeness, optimism, kites, lucky charms and pots of gold, happiness, youth art, girls education, and the accomplishment of women. This month, we look forward to spring; and even our clocks spring forward. For those of us who need an extra boost getting up before the sun, it’s also National Caffeine Awareness Month.

Some of us prefer to get our caffeine from Coca Cola. If that is you, bring a friend to the Casino this month and get a free 12-pack of a Coca Cola product if your friend becomes a new Shasta Club member. Friends who sign up for a Shasta Club Card in March get $15 free play, and you both get a ticket to enter our drawing for a snowboard or bike. The more friends you bring, the more caffeine you can take home with you.

Don’t forget to pick up a free entry to spin the wheel for your share of our $12,000 Pot of Gold Giveaway Drawings on Saint Patrick’s Day. To enter, stop by the Shasta Club every day you visit the Casino and then be here March 17 at 7 p.m. to hear if your name is drawn. The more you visit, the more chances you have to win. It’s even more fun when your name is called more than once, and that can happen if you have more than one entry in the drum!!!!

The weekly slot league tournaments continue on Wednesdays, with players competing for cash and prizes, and a chance to represent Rolling Hills Casino in the $500,000 tournament of Champions in Las Vegas. It only costs $50 to join the league, which includes 50% off your buffet dinner on tournament nights.

The entertainment lineup this month is another reason to feel a touch of spring fever. Get out with friends and dance with your special someone March 8 with Urban Legend, March 15 with Jackson Michelson, and March 22 with Chad Bushnell.

By the way, if you suddenly feel the urge to spruce up your surroundings, you are not alone. “Organize your Office Day” and National Cleaning Week are in March. That’s probably why National Procrastination Week is also in March. However, a person should never procrastinate having fun! As we say at Rolling Hills, “It’s better to play”

The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians celebrated the rich ranching heritage of Tehama County by opening The Rolling Hills Equestrian Center on New Year’s Eve.

“The Equestrian Center offers a world-class equestrian experience right here in the heart of Northern California,” said John Crosby, Economic Development Director. “It’s a wonderful facility and we are very proud of the excitement it has generated already.”

According to Crosby, every detail of the facility reflects the high level of attention paid to ensure the safety, comfort, and high performance of horses and their owners.

“Kiser Arena Specialists designed all of our arenas,” said Crosby. “Kiser is renowned for innovations in arena design, and it was important to us to provide the best footing available.”

The facility features 200 stalls manufactured by MDBarnmaster, a company also owned by the Nomlaki Tribe. “Our stalls have a national reputation for being kick-proof and chew-proof with a 0% fire spread rating,” said Crosby. “They are also easy to clean, which reduces the risk of disease to horses.”

The spacious vendor and spectator area provides bleacher seating for up to 500 people, and standing room for hundreds more. A state-of-the-art sound system in the announcer stand ensures participants can hear every detail of the program.

For those wanting to camp on the premises near their horses, there is an onsite RV parking area for dry camping only. The park includes a lawn area and fire pits.

According to Chief Financial Officer Jeff Realander, the response to the equestrian center has been very positive, including posts such as this one on the Rolling Hills Casino Facebook: “Thank you Rolling Hills Casino for the new equestrian center. We had a great time at the barrel race and can’t wait to see what the future holds for this facility. I’m beyond excited!!!!”

Realander believes the Equestrian Center’s proximity to the Rolling Hills Resort will be an asset to the facility and help drive its success. “Just about anything participants of an equestrian event need is conveniently located on the resort including lodging, dining, RV Park, Sports Club, golf, entertainment, and gas,” he said.

The Equestrian Center is located near Rolling Hills Casino on Everett Freeman Way off the Liberal Avenue Exit on I-5 south of Corning, California. Upcoming events for the facility are listed on www.rollinghillscasino.com. Those wanting to schedule an event at the Equestrian Center can contact mstaley@rollinghillsequinecenter.com

November 14, Rolling Hills Casino hosts the Expect More Tehama Educational Summit, an all day event that brings together leaders in business, community, government, and education to discuss opportunities for improving literacy, increasing high school graduation rates, and providing higher education options.

“The future of Tehama County depends upon an educated and skilled community,” said John Crosby, Economic Development Director for the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. “In order to have a strong economy, we must as a community ensure that every child from pre-school to adulthood have the educational resources he or she needs to be successful. Education will continue to be a priority of our Rolling Hills Foundation, and we are proud to fund programs in collaboration with Expect More Tehama.”

Expect More Tehama is a movement to engage the community about education and raise awareness about the importance of education. It aims to ensure that all students leave high school prepared to have options whether it is in the military, trade, military and vocational schools, apprenticeships, or college.

As part of the Expect More Tehama movement, the Summit hopes to increase communication and collaboration between groups working towards the same goals for a better-educated community. “The summits allow us to tap into a powerful collective brain trust to generate ideas and strategies to ensure students graduate from high school with high expectations for continued development and education,” said Kate Grissom, Marketing Director of Rolling Hills Casino and parent.

Studies show there is a strong link between poverty and literacy as educational levels for success in the workplace continue to increase. Forty-three percent of people with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty. Only 15% of the workplace is composed of unskilled labor. “With poverty in Tehama County at over 20% and unemployment at 14-16%, one in five residents is facing hard times,” reports the Expect More Tehama website stressing the importance of higher education awareness and readiness beginning in elementary school.

The emphasis on early education is supported by recent statistics. 74% of students who fail to read proficiently by the end of the third grade falter in subsequent grades and often drop out before earning a high school diploma. “48% of Tehama County third graders scored proficient to advanced on the third grade CST Reading Test,” said Grissom. “We’d like to see that level increase.”

Programs such as Tehama Reads, SERRF, Head Start, and First 5 and local schools play a vital role in the effort to increase pre-k enrollment and 3rd grade reading proficiency rates. Parent and community engagement with education is also important.

“The Summit gives everyone concerned with the education of our community a voice and the opportunity to get involved,” said Grissom. “We expect a large turnout of educators, organizations, parents, and community members.”

The Tehama County Educational Summit is scheduled for November 14, 2013 in Carlinos Event Center, Rolling Hills Casino from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about Expect More Tehama and how you can get involved in the future of our community, visit www.expectmoretehama.com.

Fall seems to have arrived early this year. Chilly nights and windy days always make me think of Halloween and Monday Night Football, both of which are big deals at Rolling Hills Casino. My food cravings seem to reflect the change of seasons as well. Fall spices liven up the specialty coffee drinks in Aromas, and they’re serving up plenty of warm comfort foods in the Buffet to satisfy my appetite. No wonder October is one of my favorite times of the year.

Nothing warms up a night better than a good laugh: Friday, October 4

“Relaxed, likable and funny,” says the SF Examiner about Dave Anderson, the featured comic at this month’s Comedy Club. A nationally touring comedian, Dave Anderson has performed at the country’s premier comedy clubs, including the world famous Improv in Los Angeles. He has appeared on numerous television shows such as: “Star Search,” Showtime’s “Comedy Club Network,” and “An Evening at the Improv.” His comedy is heard around the world on Sirius and XM satellite radio. Most recently Dave was a contributing writer for the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Dave is currently an Emmy award winning co-host of the long running morning television talk show “AM Northwest” on KATU TV and co- host of the highly rated “Mark and Dave Show” on 1190 KEX in Portland. For more about Dave, visit his website at http://daveanderson.net.

Mark Pitta has numerous credits to his name as well. Mark Pitta is a national headliner coming from the fervent San Francisco comedy scene of the 1980s. He’s appeared on The Tonight Show, hosted Totally Hidden Video and hosted Friday Night Videos for NBC. He made guest appearances on Mad About You and Third Rock From the Sun, and has appeared on Premium Blend; The A-List; Dr. Katz; and Make Me Laugh.

Doors open at 7:30pm. Show starts at 8:30 pm. Tickets available on www.ticketforce.com, by phone at (877) 840-0457, or at the Coat Check within the Casino.

Every Monday night, games on in Carlinos Event Center.

Watch the game on our gigantic 14-foot screens. We’ve got two of them, so no matter where you are in the room you are sure to have a great view.  The $12 admission includes our delicious all-you-can eat stadium food/appetizer buffet, $5 free slot play, and a chance to win prizes. The doors open at 5 p.m., and the game starts at 5:30 p.m.

You need a Shasta Club Card to redeem your free play coupon. If you aren’t a member, signup for your free membership and get even more free slot play. It’s easy, free, and takes only a few minutes to sign up.

Is your costume ready for our Annual Halloween Party and Costume Contest?

Whether you participate or just watch, you don’t want to miss the parade of costumes in Carlinos Event Center, Saturday October 26, 2013. There are prizes for the top 15 contestants:

First Place = $1,500
Second Place = $1,000
Third Place = $750
Fourth Place = $500
Fifth Place = $250
Sixth through Fifteenth place = $50 Timbers Gift Certificate

To participate in the contest, register between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and then be ready for the preliminary costume judging parade at 10 p.m. At midnight, the final round of judging begins for the costumes that received the top 15 scores.

Wednesdays are Harvest Bowl Hot Seat Nights

Play with your Shasta Club card between 9 a.m to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays in October, and you just might win a Harvest Bowl gift basket for being in a seat randomly chosen by our computer.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, age has its privileges

You can still be young at heart and qualify for senior discounts at the Buffet and Sevillano Links. Those of us who aren’t whippersnappers anymore get a 50% discount at the Buffet and save $14 on golf on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Thursdays, live dinner music in Timbers Steakhouse from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Laurie Dana celebrates one year of playing music for fine dining in Timbers Steakhouse on Thursday nights this month. Her repertoire spans decades including piano blues from the 1920s, jazz standards from the 1930s and 1940s, golden oldies from the 1950s, folk ballads, soft pop, and adult contemporary tunes from the 1960s through today.  She also performs some of her originals. No matter what type of music you like, you’re bound to hear something you know.

Saturday Nights for Dancing

Free admission. Great live music from 9 p.m. to 1 am.
October 5:  All Fired Up
October 12: Northern Traditionz
October 19: Jackson Michelson
October 26: Halloween Party – Costume Contest, DJ- Brad Bonar

This month ends with “Inspire Your Heart with Art” day.  We often take art for granted, yet art enhances our homes and businesses, and plays an important role in society, in education, and even our community’s ability to prosper.  Art can be found in the creative details of architecture, in the paintings on our walls, in the stonework of our fountains and fireplaces, in the weavings of our tapestries, and in the meticulous carvings of stone and wood sculptures. Our art represents who we are, and what image we want to portray.

When Rolling Hills Casino opened its doors ten years ago, its artistic details generated a sense of pride to our visitors, employees, and the community.  The maple beams, the stonework of the pillars and the fireplace in Timbers, the classic light fixtures, the beautiful murals, the stone carvings and sculptures in the Lodge, the majestic stairways in our hotels, the meticulous landscaping, and the magnificent fountain continue to impress visitors to Rolling Hills. Our image as a premier Tehama County venue is dependent on our commitment to beauty, fine craftsmanship, and attention to every detail.  It communicates to our guests and our neighbors that we care about our business, our guests, and our community.

Art is just as important to the image our community projects as well, and we are all dependent upon a positive local image for the future economic prosperity of Tehama County. This is why Rolling Hills and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians supports The Tehama Country beautification efforts and Branding Project initiatives that enhance the curb appeal of and promotes art in our local communities.  Rolling Hills showed its support for all arts recently by granting $15,000 to the State Theater for the Arts, historic treasure and a cultural anchor for Tehama County.

Art is also important in our children’s education, and supporting education and the goals of Expect More Tehama is the Rolling Hills Foundation’s biggest priority.

Art classes provide students a chance to develop both cognitive and creative skills, and to develop their imaginations. It builds up the levels of self-confidence, self-esteem, motivation, cooperation and communication in children.

You can see art created by local students and professionals at the upcoming Corning Rotary Wine, Food, and Art festival on February 23rd. Posters for the festival were created by Corning High School students mentored by Scott Chandler, a member of our creative marketing team.

We are proud to be able to offer opportunities to encourage the artistic endeavors of local students and hope you join us at this fantastic event, which raises money for local charities.

Rolling Hills Casino showed their support for the arts in Tehama County by granting $15,000 to the State Theatre for the Arts (STFTA) to help pay off the mortgage of the Red Bluff State Theatre.

The Red Bluff State Theatre is a historic treasure and a cultural anchor for Tehama County,” said Kate Grissom. “It provides diverse entertainment opportunities for all ages, and it plays a vital role in performing arts education. The values of the theatre are also in line with the Tehama County Branding project and Expect More Tehama, both of which Rolling Hills Casino has played proud leadership roles. Our donation will help ensure that the theatre continues to play a vital role in our community, and we urge others to contribute to this worthy cause as well.”

“The theatre is a designated historical building that has embodied the spirit of Tehama County for generations,” said Bill Cornelius, President of STFTA. “We would lose an important piece of our environment if it were gone. We cannot thank RHC enough for being a partner in our community as well as supporting our theatre, the arts, and education.”

State Theatre has been a beloved part of the Tehama County community since 1946. STFTA, a non profit corporation, purchased the theatre for $441,000 in 2011.  They obtained a two-year interest only loan, and have raised $375,000 towards paying it off through donations and events at the theatre. Once the loan is paid off, STFTA will focus on completing restoration efforts, including the murals and the outside sign.

According to Cornelius, around 80 events have been held at the 750 seat theatre in the past 18 months including concerts by Merle Haggard and the Glen Miller band, dance recitals, school celebrations, children’s theatre performances, and special film showings.

Donations to STFTA may be made on the State Theatre website, http://www.statetheatreredbluff.com, or by calling 530-529-2787 or 527-3485.

Santa came early this year loaded with enough books to give away to several hundred local children for the next seven years, thanks to the Los Molinos Booster Club, a $1,500 grant from Rolling Hills Casino, and the First Book and Heart of America organizations.

“The grant from Rolling Hills Casino enabled the Booster Club to establish Santa’s library, and provide each child who visited Santa during our annual Breakfast with Santa with a book of his or her choosing,” said Jill Botts.  Children did not need to participate in the breakfast to visit Santa and receive the book. Books were also provided to the Rancho Tehama SERFF program.

The grant alone would not have sustained the program past this year, had it not been for the discovery of the First Book and Heart of America organizations through an Internet search by Botts for free or low cost books.  Both organizations provide books at minimal cost to schools with a high percentage of low-income children.   According to Botts, who is the President of the Los Molinos School Board, 85% of Los Molinos children qualify for free lunch.

“I was very impressed that instead of using the grant to purchase books at full price, Jill and the Booster Club were able to turn it into an investment for a sustainable program that will encourage literacy for years to come,” said Charles Ward, Superintendent of Schools for the Los Molinos Unified School district.

“Programs such as Santa’s Library that promote literacy are crucial to our school,” said Ward.  “We know that important things happen for children as they transition from the “learning to read” stage to the “read to learn” stage. Children who haven’t learned to read by third grade are at a severe disadvantage, which can affect them for life. For youth to be capable readers they need more than reading instruction at school.  They need to adapt reading habits, which are reinforced by a love for reading. Being able to choose their own book from Santa, instead of being given a book at random, promotes enthusiasm to read it and makes the present even more valuable to the child.”

“Had it not been for the grant, we would not have discovered these fabulous book programs,” said Botts. “We were able to purchase gorgeous, high quality, hard bound books that would have cost at least $18 for as little as 45 cents each.”  The books included popular children’s literature, such as Artemis Fowl and Disney stories.  The Booster Club purchased thousands of books to sustain the program for the future, which will be supplemented by purchases of new titles each year.

Botts credits the Los Molinos Booster Club for their hard work in making the Breakfast with Santa event a success.  Honorary Mayor Kenny Brewer sat in for Santa and the elves included four high school students from the AVID program and an elementary student.  A portable bookcase fabricated for Santa’s Library by Chuck Crossland displayed the books.

“It was such a joy for all of us working with the Booster Club to see the excitement of children, parents, and teachers about the books,” said Botts. “There is no bigger gift for the future than the ability to read, and we were all thrilled to see the look on the faces of the children as they opened the books they chose for the first time. These are books they can treasure for the rest of their lives.”

“Supporting education and the goals of Expect More Tehama is our biggest priority,” said Kate Grissom, marketing director of Rolling Hills Casino.  “We are so pleased that our donation was the seed money for such a valuable program, and applaud the Los Molinos Booster Club for using the Breakfast with Santa event to promote literacy.

Community members wishing to donate to Santa’s Library can email botts@tehama.net. Educators wanting to know more about obtaining high quality books at low cost can visit the websites: www.firstbook.org and http://www.heartofamerica.org/booksfromtheheart.htm.

Congratulations Tom Busta for being this month’s Employee of the month.  Tom not only keeps things in shipping and receiving running smoothly, he also lends a hand to any other Department that asks.  No matter what, he always has a smile and extends a positive attitude toward everyone.  His easy going laugh makes him a joy to be around. He’s one of those 110% guys who do more than is expected. If he doesn’t have an answer, he’ll do the research it takes to get any problem resolved.  He’s a real asset to Rolling Hills Casino.

t’s National Crush a Can Day! Crushing cans is just a small part of the Rolling Hills Recycling Program.

According to Robin Mueller, Housekeeping Manager, Rolling Hills recycles 9.91 tons each month, which includes cans, bottles, plastic, paper, metal scraps, food waste, and grass clippings.

“We save slop from the kitchen for a local pig farmer and we give our grass clippings to a an employee’s goat herd,” said Robin. “We use coffee grounds from Aromas to compost the Rolling Hills tomato and herb garden.”

“Rolling Hills made recycling and waste reduction a priority in in its efforts to be greener and environmentally responsible,” said Wayne McIvor, Maintenance Manager at the Resort. “Six months before beginning our recycling program we averaged 18 tons of trash per week,” said McIvor. “We now recycle about ten tons of recyclable products per month that would have gone to our local land fill.”

Cost savings are an added benefit of going green. Rolling Hills Casino pays $44.80 per ton to haul the trash. By reducing the amount of trash hauled away, the Casino saved $8,602 in the first six months. At the same time, the Casino received $6,498 through recycling. This means, Rolling Hills had a cost savings of $15,099 in just six months.

Recycling is a Casino-wide priority. The Food and Beverage Department employees organized a can and bottle recycling program to raise money for the Community Christmas fund. Last year, the employees raised $2,500, which they used to purchase gifts for needy families.

September is National Literacy Month, highlighting the importance of reading skills in lifelong success. Literacy is not just important for the future of our children; it is vital to the economic health of Tehama County.

“The vision we have of Tehama County as offering safe, caring neighborhoods, quality schools, and thriving employment opportunities depends upon education,” said Kate Grissom, Marketing Director of Rolling Hills Casino. Grissom, a mother of a first grader, is passionate about education and champions the grassroots movement of businesses, families and educators called “Expect More Tehama” with the full support of Rolling Hills and its owners, the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

“Education in Tehama County is a priority of ours,” said John Crosby, Economic Development Director for the tribe. “Education is the foundation of everything we envision for our children and our community.”

Currently, only 13% of our County’s residents hold a Bachelor’s degree, while the state average is 29%. Counties with strong economic development such as Alameda have rates closer to 40%. Tehama County’s graduation rate of 79.7% is close to the statewide average of 80.5%. However, counties with high levels of economic development tend to have graduation rates near and above 90%. From an economic development standpoint, Tehama County needs to raise the skills of its workforce in order to attract strong, growing companies and to retain higher skilled individuals.

Rolling Hills and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki believe that literacy and higher education is so important, they have donated over a million dollars to local education programs such as the SERRF After School program and Expect More Tehama. According to Grissom, the Rolling Hills Foundation prioritizes support for programs focused on increasing reading levels of children and increasing college attendance. Rolling Hills also supports initiatives that convene and engage community in meaningful, solution-focused conversations and increase parent involvement in education. Programs funded by Rolling Hills includes Tehama Reads Summer Reading Gap Program, College Campus Visits, 8th grade Leadership Conferences, College Options, NEXT Tehama T-Shirt Project, Tehama County Math Coaching, Parent Club Grants for play structures, Technology Boosts to Classrooms, and much more.

“Rolling Hills is an indispensible partner in the education of the children of Tehama County!” said Larry Champion, Tehama County Superintendent of Schools. “In working with Rolling Hills, there is a “whatever it takes” attitude in helping our schools continuously improve in their mission to provide a meaningful educational experience for all students. Rolling Hills has contributed to the leadership and vision necessary to transform our educational system by supporting broad based community partnerships that have led to the formation of the Expect More Tehama and Tehama Reads programs.

“As a mom and someone who cares deeply for my community, I am proud of the role Rolling Hills plays in promoting literacy and education in Tehama County, and for making it possible for me to contribute to a cause for which I feel so much passion,” said Grissom.

Cindy Teran loves to sing, and her harmonious attitude makes many others around her feel like singing as well.

Here is what her coworkers wrote about her when nominating her for the August employee of the month: “Cindy is an integral part of the drop count team and a valuable employee. Whenever someone needs assistance, whether coworker or guest, Cindy is always willing to lend a helping hand. Cindy’s attitude towards her work and her co-workers is always upbeat and cheerful. She exemplifies our motto: Respect, Fun and a Smile, It’s the Rolling Hills Way!”

Cindy lives in Orland with her fiancé. She has two children and two grand daughters.

In April, Cindy will have worked at Rolling Hills Casino for seven years. Before joining the Drop Count team, Cindy worked in Housekeeping for eight months, and was a slot attendant for three years. While she enjoyed her other positions at the Casino, she loves her current job the most.

“I love my job,” said Cindy. “It’s physical and it’s challenging.”

Cindy starts her day at 3a.m. She empties the money out of all the machines and loads it into pull carts. By 6:30 a.m., she has delivered all the money to the soft count room where a counting machine processes it. The soft count room gets its name from the padding that soundproofs it.

When asked for advice for new employees, Cindy says, “Do your job. This may seem blunt, but it’s the bottom line. Pay attention to the customers, that’s why you are here. Pay attention to the Rolling Hills handbook and the trainings. There is helpful information. Someone is always watching you, if you do a good job, it will be noticed.”

“I like to come to work with a good attitude, because it makes a difference to fellow employees and customers. There are days when I am down, just like anyone else, but I make an effort not to let it show at work.”

“I love my job, and I’m glad to have it,” Cindy reiterated. “It’s great to work for a company that appreciates their employees and provides great benefits.”

Ten years ago today, on July 31, 2002, Rolling Hills Casino opened its doors for the first time.  A steady line of cars — backed up to Liberal Avenue —streamed into the parking lot with people from across the North State wanting to be among the first to play at the new Casino.

Only 30 days earlier, the final stage of construction was still underway, and entering the casino interior required wearing a hard hat.   As finishing touches were completed, excitement grew. The maple woodwork, stone pillars, and lighting fixtures were beautiful. The stone fountain was magnificent. Mature olive trees and other landscaping transformed land that only one year earlier was dry open range. This was the first casino in Northern California that did not originate in a tent, and there was real community pride in its design.   It was evident that Rolling Hills Casino would be a majestic landmark at the gateway to Tehama County.

One week before the casino opened, there was a surge of activity as most of the casino’s newly hired staff began preparations for opening.  A crew of slot technicians furiously filled slot machines with tokens.  Prep cooks chopped food in the Buffet.  Guest Services staff stocked shelves in the gift shop, while housekeepers left no detail unpolished. Excitement grew as employees, many of whom had never worked in a casino, trained for their new jobs.

Almost 80 of the 350+ staff members who worked the first day still work at the Casino. The employee roster quickly grew to 500 employees, most of whom work full time and enjoy 401k and health care benefits.

Opening night was a true celebration as hundreds of people walked through the door with anticipation and enthusiasm. It was both a joyous and chaotic occasion, as employees served guests for the first time. There were many unanticipated challenges for the staff to handle, including carpet shedding. Anyone who attended opening day learned something about new wool carpets. As the opening night progressed, our beautiful flooring became a sea of carpet fiber that rose with the numbers of people wading through it. Fortunately, the shedding was only temporary, but vacuuming shedding fibers kept our Housekeeping staff busy for a week.

The performance of our employees that day and every day since is a testament to our motto, “ Respect, fun, and a smile, the Rolling Hills Way.” A lot has happened in the past ten years, and Rolling Hills Casino is still a great place to work and play.

There has been quite a buzz around Rolling Hills about the physical transformation of the Information Technology (IT) team — Craig Schultz, Donny Stevens, Lance Heinle, and Frank James — in just a few months. Since it was recently Men’s Health Month, I thought it would be timely to get their tips for shaping up and living healthier.

The four-man team handles all the non-gaming technology needs of Rolling Hills Casino and other businesses owned by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, including MDBarnmaster and the Rolling Hills Clinics. In addition to maintaining computers, phones and electronic signage, they designed and implemented the technical infrastructure for the Rolling Hills Clinics, which included a sophisticated x-ray system and software for paperless health records.

While keeping all the computers up and running may be stressful at times, it isn’t physically strenuous and the four men found themselves a little plumper and more out of shape than they wanted to be. However, they still considered themselves healthy.

“The wake-up call for me came when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. I wanted to bring it down and live a long, healthy life,” said Lance.

“I had high blood pressure and was taking medication for it,” said Craig, who is only in his early 30s.

“I just turned 30, and that fueled me to stay in shape,” said Frank, who was in fairly good condition from playing sports most of his life, but still wanted to improve his overall health.

In December, the men decided to do something about their health and they began to make lifestyle changes, challenging each other to “stick to the program.” Craig joined a gym, Lance and his wife started working out to P90X fitness DVDs every night, and Frank stepped up his workout program. They changed their diets, eating more fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods. Donny dropped 5 pounds just by eliminating sodas from his diet.

“I found it wasn’t enough to exercise,” said Craig, who lost over 35 pounds within five months. “I had to change my diet.” “I started small by eliminating sodas from my diet and drinking more water,” continued Craig. “It became addictive. The more I saw results and the better I felt, the more I wanted to keep going.”

“Once you see results and start feeling good, it makes you want to drive harder,” agreed Lance, who lost 16 pounds.

Lance and his coworkers admit they might not have been so successful if it wasn’t for the others. “It’s a little harder to go out and get a cheeseburger now with these guys around,” laughed Lance. “We are supportive of each other and that helps us stay focused during the week,” he continued.

Cheat meals are allowed on the weekends and the men joke about what they ate. “Beer is my cheat meal,” said Lance. “I had a candy bar,” said Craig. “More dairy for me,” said Frank.

Developing healthier habits wasn’t easy at first and each man had something that was difficult to give up. For Craig, it was cutting down on bread and dairy products. Frank also had a hard time cutting down on dairy products. “A little dairy is ok, but I was putting cheese on everything,” he said. Lance missed his beer, while Donny longed for sodas. “Soda was my source of caffeine,” said Donny, who does not like tea or coffee.

The men also had to find time to include exercise in their routine. Lance changed his schedule at home to get in an hour workout everyday. Because Craig has two kids to feed when he gets home, he goes to the gym on his way to work. Frank squeezes in his workouts in the evening. Donny cannot fit a formal exercise program into his routine, but points out that the gym is not the only place to use one’s muscles. “I get a pretty good work out taking care of and exercising my horses,” said Donny. “The important thing is staying active.”

“Getting in shape” is not the first health-oriented thing the men have done as a team. “Several years ago we began brushing our teeth together after lunch. People laughed at us at first, but now we see others bringing toothbrushes. Making health lifestyle changes is contagious,” said Lance.

Amy Gonczeruk, Operations Manager of Rolling Hills Clinic applauds the lifestyle changes of the Technology Team. “65% of American men die from five causes: Heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and cancer. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and refraining from smoking significantly reduces the risks for these diseases,” said Amy. “Something else the IT team does that is important is to seek regular medical advice and get early treatment for disease and injury. Regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings can improve health and extend lives,” she added.

Here’s Six Tips From the IT Team to Get in Shape

1. Eat every three hours to keep metabolism high. “Eating less, more times a day means I never feel too full or too hungry,” said Craig.
2. Cook all meals for the workweek in one day and package them to take for lunch. “I use rubs instead of BBQ sauce when I BBQ and I grill everything instead of frying,” shared Craig, whose lunches include grilled meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy snacks such as walnuts and almonds.
3. Diet or exercise alone isn’t enough, you have to do both. “I worked out for two months and saw very little results until I changed my diet,” said Craig.
4. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water, and avoid processed foods and preservatives. “The hardest thing about eating healthy is you have to go to the store more often to get fresh food, but its worth it” said Lance. All the men agreed, the more you eat healthy, the more you’ll enjoy the food you eat.
5. Prepare your house for healthy lifestyle changes before you start. “Get rid of anything in your house that is unhealthy and only buy healthy foods,” said Lance. “If it isn’t there, you can’t eat it,” agreed Frank.
6. Even small changes can make a difference. When you start feeling better from small successes, you’ll want to keep making healthier and healthier choices.

Lydia Whitsett is our June Employee of the Month. Celebrating her 10-year anniversary at Rolling Hills in August, Lydia worked in the Food and Beverage Department before transferring to her present job as Cage Cashier. Customers and employees alike think she is wonderful and love her warm, generous smile.

Here’s what fellow employees say about Lydia: “Lydia is not only a great co-worker, she is our friend. Our jobs would be more strenuous without her there to help and make our days better. She is always willing to go the extra mile to help any co-employee in need. Her attitude is continuously uplifting. Her service is impeccable. She has tremendous knowledge of operations at Rolling Hills Casino, which she readily shares with others. We are grateful to have Lydia as our Cage Cashier.

The Department of Defense’s Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented SevillanoLinks Superintendent, Matt Hoyt, with The Department of Defense’s Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented Sevillano
a Patriot Award for his support of an employee’s participation in the Army Reserve.

“We serve our country when we make it easier for our brave men and women to be part of the Army Reserve or National Guard, without fear of losing their jobs,” said Troy Brimhall, Employer Outreach Coordinator for ESGR.

“This award is special because it is only possible through the nomination from someone serving in the National Guard or Army Reserve,” said David Lewis, Employer Support Specialist for ESGR.

Hoyt’s nomination came from Matthew Goodrich, who is currently serving in the Army Reserves in Afghanistan. Before his deployment, Goodrich worked as an equipment technician at the golf course while also participating in Army Reserve trainings in information technology.

“Matt Hoyt is very supportive of my military service and duty. He never gave me any problems or asked any questions regarding my military duty, even though most of the time I could give him very little notice. He would always shake my hand and say thank you for your service. This is why he deserves this award,” said Goodrich in his nomination.

“I was happy to be able to accommodate Goodrich’s Army Reserve trainings to improve his skill set and better serve our country,” said Hoyt. I appreciate his service to the United States, and the sacrifices he has had to make to his family and his career to serve.”

“It’s tough finding a temporary replacement when a good employee is deployed, said Gretchen, Human Resources Director at Rolling Hills Casino and Sevillano Links. “However, we have a military leave policy to reinstate our Reservist employees when they return from service. Goodrich is a very skilled and likeable employee, and we look forward to his safe return.”

His job isn’t the only thing Goodrich has waiting for him when he returns. His newborn baby was born only days before Goodrich’s deployment.

Imagine the simplest tasks — such as brushing your teeth or speaking — becoming increasingly difficult. What if you had to think about swallowing and blinking, because your brain forgot to do these things automatically? These are symptoms of a neurological disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease. According to a United Nation’s health report, nearly one in six of the world’s population, suffer from neurological disorders, from Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, strokes, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy to migraine, brain injuries and neuroinfections, with some 6.8 million dying of the maladies each year. Parkinson’s disease alone affects 500,000 people in the United States, with 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

This week, Bill Waite from the United Kingdom played at Sevillano Links as part of his personal golf challenge to raise awareness about neurological disorders. He is playing a round of golf at 18 courses in May from British Columbia to Stanford University, sharing his story, giving inspiration to others, and collecting donations for research programs.

Bill is a remarkable man who not only taught mathematics and sports for 32 years, he wrote math textbooks that are used in schools around the world. A brilliant scholar and former athlete, the last thing he expected to develop was a condition that affected his brain and motor skills.

In 2008, after developing “niggling health issues,” Bill was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and told he only had a two to four years to live. Faced with a dim future, he decided to live life in the now and went on ten overseas trips, took swimming lessons, and played golf twice a week. When his health began to improve, he learned he was misdiagnosed and that he actually had Parkinson’s disease. Unlike PSP, Parkinson’s could be treated and controlled with drugs. With a regime of drugs, Bill’s general health improved. With improved health came the desire to do something worthwhile with his life, which is why Bill decided to embark on the golf challenge.

The challenge was inspired in part by Bill’s friend and golf partner Derek, who coincidently succumbed to motor neurone disease only four weeks before Bill was diagnosed with PSP.

“People have been so welcoming and supportive on this journey,” said Bill. Bill returns the welcome with a gracious smile and the willingness to listen and give advice to others based on his experience. At Sevillano Links, several people shared stories of themselves or loved ones who are also afflicted with a neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer’s disease.

“People and their family members often downplay their symptoms as the result of normal aging and do not seek help from a healthcare provider,” said Bill. “Sometimes they don’t seek help because they are afraid of the stigma attached to the diagnosis of something like Parkinson’s or Alzheimers. However, in many cases the individual’s health could improve with proper diagnosis and treatment. Getting the word out to help others have a better quality of life is why I am doing this.”

There are two local groups providing support for Parkinson’s disease. For information about these support groups, in Redding call 530-229-0878 and in Chico call Harry at 530-343-1907. For information about Alzheimer’s support programs, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 530-895-9661.

To follow Bill’s journey, like his facebook blog ‘Parkinson’s play Golf”.

This year Rolling Hills Casino and Resort will save enough electricity to power 292 homes. Rolling Hills also put in place a recycling program that reduced 10 tons of garbage from the local landfill. In recognition of these accomplishments, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PGE) recently awarded Rolling Hills Casino and Resort with an Integration Award for its comprehensive resource management programs.

Only five to seven companies get the prestigious PGE award each year,” said Larry Brandon of Pacific Gas & Electric Company. “The award recognizes Rolling Hills Casino and Resort as a leader in energy integration. Rolling Hills has shown great interest in both energy efficiency and demand response over the years and, as stewards of the land, has explored self-generation through solar and wind power.”

“We are committed to doing our part in conserving energy and setting an energy conscious example for others in our community to follow,” said Wayne McIver, Facilities Manager of Rolling Hills Casino, which includes two hotels, three restaurants, Traveler’s Center, and the Sevillano Links Golf Course.

According to McIvor, Rolling Hills was able to significantly conserve energy by replacing heating and air conditioning units and installing a computerized energy management system for monitoring lighting and air conditioning. The Casino also upgraded lighting and the motors used in the kitchen’s walk in coolers and freezers. The fountain has a new energy efficient motor as well. McIver anticipates the total energy savings from all projects will exceed 250 kW and 2,100,000 kWh of annual electric usage in 2012.

Rolling Hills also actively participates in PGEs’ Demand Response Program, reducing electricity use during peak usage times. “When PG&E calls for possible brown outs or when there is a high demand for power by PG&E customers, we switch from PG&E power to our own generators to run the Casino’s facilities.

“On ‘event days’ when temperatures are high throughout California, Rolling Hills is able to shed one megawatt of load, greatly assisting in lightening the load on the grid,” said Brandon.

In addition to energy conservation, Rolling Hills made recycling and waste reduction a priority in in its efforts to be greener and environmentally responsible. “Six months before beginning our recycling program we averaged 18 tons of trash per week,” said McIvor. “We now recycle about ten tons of recyclable products per month that would have gone to our local land fill. These recyclables include plastics, cardboard, shredded paper, aluminum cans, metal scraps, and cooking oils. In addition, we send food scraps to a local hog farmer and landscape cuttings to an employee’s goat herd.”

Cost savings are an added benefit of going green. “We pay an average of $44.80 per ton to haul the trash. By reducing the amount of trash hauled away, we saved $8,602 in six months. In addition, we received $6,498 through recycling. That’s over $15,099 in cost savings in just six months,” boasted McIvor.

“Protecting our environment and natural resources is important to us, and the legacy we leave to our children,” said John Crosby of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, owners of Rolling Hills Casino and Resort. “We are very proud of this award because it reflects our commitment to be environmentally responsible and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Pictured above: Jeff Realander, CFO, Kate Grissom, Marketing Director, Wayne McIvor, Facilities Manager, Larry Brandon, PGE, Gary Poynor, COO.

Rolling Hills Casino employees raised almost $5,500 last weekend for the first Relay for Life Walkathon held in Corning. The Rolling Hills team was among 16 teams and 168 people that participated in the successful event, which raised over $23,000 for the American Cancer Society.

“We had 17 employees on our team, and they each walked at least an hour,” reported Kristine Raimer, who with Dani Guzman co-captained the team. “Altogether, we walked 408 laps for a total of 102 miles. That’s an average of six miles per person. Several of our team members walked over 10 miles.”

In addition to walking, volunteers staffed a mardi-gras themed information booth sponsored by the Casino to raise awareness about pancreatic, kidney and childhood cancers. A photo of the booth being set up is below.

The Relay for Life is a 24-hour event held in cities across the nation to celebrate cancer survivorship and raise money for cancer prevention and early detection education programs, free services for cancer patients, and research grants to fight cancer and find a cure.

Many of the Relay for Life participants are cancer survivors or have lost a family member to cancer.

“Cancer runs in my family and this walkathon means a lot to me,” said Raimer. “The American Cancer Society gave my entire family a lot of support when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I saw what my mom had to go through with cancer, and I do this so that hopefully my daughter doesn’t have to go through the same experience.”

One of the Casino’s team members, Joann Hall, is a two-time cancer survivor who carried the survivor flag during the Relay for Life opening lap to honor survivors and their caregivers. She is picture above.

According to Raimer, employee support for Relay for Life wasn’t limited to those who walked. Relay for Life is championed passionately throughout Rolling Hills,” she said proudly. “Employees were very generous with donations and they came out to cheer us on. Their support for this cause means a lot to all of us whose lives have been affected by cancer.”

April is almost over, but we didn’t want the month to end without giving extra kudos to Rigo, our April Employee of the Month.  Rigo was nominated by fellow employees for his exceptional teamwork, attitude, service, and knowledge.  Here’s what his fellow employees have to say about Rigo:

“Rigo is always smiling and in a good mood.  He always makes an effort to involve people in conversations and make everyone smile.  At the tables, you can hear him laughing with his customers, while making them enjoy being involved in the game.  He rarely makes mistakes in dealing, but when he does, he quickly fixes any problem with his humor and smile — making sure everything is right with the customer.  We look forward to come to work when we know that Rigo is working that day.”

This week is National Public Health Week. Nothing is more important than our health. We can have all the money in the world, but if our health is poor, so is our quality of life.

“Public Health Week raises awareness about the importance of active living, healthy eating, disease prevention, and mental and emotional well being,” said Amy Gonczeruk, Operations Manager at Rolling Hills Clinic, which is sponsored by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, owners of Rolling Hills Casino.

The Tribe’s commitment to community health began long before the establishment of the Rolling Hills Clinic. Over the past ten years, the Tribe has contributed thousands of dollars to local health care facilities to purchase life-saving equipment and an ambulance.

One area of public health concern that Amy believes doesn’t get enough attention is dental care. “Dental care plays a major role in both a person’s physical and mental health; however, it’s generally not given much attention during National Public Health Week. As we celebrate National Public Health Week, we wanted to raise attention to the importance of dental care including orthodontia.”

According to the American Public Health Association of Dentistry, tooth decay is highly preventable, yet it is a common chronic disease in the United States. Evidence shows that decay and other oral diseases may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other medical problems.

Dentists have this advice for keeping teeth healthy:

• Brush teeth at least twice a day.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
• Floss daily.
• Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Schedule regular dental checkups.
• Orthodontics also has a positive effect on dental care and overall health. Studies show that adolescents who complete orthodontic treatment have fewer oral health-related problems later in life compared to those who have never had orthodontic treatment.

Most patients consider orthodontics for a more attractive smile. However, orthodontics offers other enduring benefits for a patient’s dental and physical health. It can be difficult to brush and floss between teeth that are crowded or overlapping, so orthodontic treatment can help patients do a better job of keeping their mouths clean. Misaligned teeth can wear unevenly, too, because some teeth may be more stressed or pressured during chewing than others. When an orthodontist straightens the teeth, it also corrects this problem, which can have a negative effect on a patient’s nutrition and diet. In addition to straightening the teeth, orthodontics can also correct problems with the jaw’s alignment. This benefit of orthodontic treatment may help to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of TMJ disorders, which can also lead to headaches and neck pain in addition to jaw discomfort, when the patient gets older.

The physical benefits of orthodontic treatment are evident, but the psychological benefits of orthodontics are also important. Those with straighter teeth generally have more self-confidence and feel more at ease in social situations.

The clinic offers a no-cost orthodontic for qualifying youth ages 12 through 17 living in the Red Bluff and Corning areas. “It’s an amazing program with a capacity of 22 youth,” said Amy. The program was made possible by a generous grant from Jim and Veronica Horton.

Those interested in finding out more about the program or needing dental care in general, can call 690-2827 for the Corning Clinic, 740 Solano Street, or 690-2778 for the Red Bluff Clinic, 2540 Sister Mary Columba drive. Rolling Hills Clinic accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, Denti-Cal, California Healthy Families Program and most private insurance. . To learn more about its services or physicians, please visit www.rhclinic.org.