Good news! The pizza angel is coming again to a Hayfork Cooperative gathering, this year on Wednesday, December 18th from 7-9 pm. Free gourmet vegetarian and meat pizzas with trimmings will be served to all. The Lanziseras are again donating their comfortable coffeehouse at 7091 State Highway 3, in Hayfork for this Pizza Party. Any partiers who would like to provide a song or music are most welcome to do so.

A few days later the winter solstice marks the beginning of the sun’s light increasing in the northern hemisphere and appropriately the Hmong’s New Year, named Myob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab. This festive celebration is open to the public but we are specially invited by Yer Xiong and Choua Yang who spoke with their two Hmong American nieces about their experiences and culture to a packed house at Hayfork Cooperative’s November meeting. Many know them through their ‘Roll On’ café-- within Northern Delights Coffeehouse--and the delicious, exotic Hmong food they sell. This Hmong New Year celebration will be on Saturday December 21 from 10 am to Midnight in the commercial building of the Trinity County Fairgrounds, 6000 State Highway 3 in Hayfork. The morning will mostly be devoted to Hmong cultural traditions and the afternoon and evening to food, live performances, dancing, music and visiting.

In this dark, cold, slower time of year it is so good and wise that we take time to contemplate, act on and celebrate the righteous values and hopes we have for ourselves, humanity and the earth such as peace, kindness, fairness, generosity, love and our bonds with family and friends. Both Yer and Choua’s stories, and the superlative and delightful rendition of the ‘Sound of Music’ our friends and neighbors did helps to remind us to be grateful and to send ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those less fortunate such as the millions of current refugees, especially the children. Choua and Yer arrived in Minneapolis, fleeing war and persecution as children and went on to complete higher education, work for the Red Cross and state human services and now happily live among our mountains and rivers, as they did as children. The actual Von Trapp family, after escaping the Nazis, made it to the Green Mountains of Vermont where they well established near Stowe. Yes, with much to be grateful for and to celebrate, come enjoy a free pizza party!

Abundant Summer to You!

Take a break, don't miss this fun, entertaining and revealing program.

Too often we pigeonhole people: we only think of them in whatever role we meet in. But when we take time to really listen to them we learn they are multifaceted, often in some marvelous ways. As the old Chinese aphorism points out, when a person dies, a whole library goes with them. On Wednesday August 21, from 7 to 9 pm Hayfork Cooperative will take time to listen to our Server, Dorella Nolan, and our Soundman, Jeff Clarke, and be delightfully surprised to learn more about who they are and to witness some of their talents. We will meet them at our usual place, Northern Delights Coffeehouse on 7091 State Highway 3 in downtown Hayfork that the owners, the Lanizsera Family, generously let us use for free. Dorella appreciates and finds our programs interesting and so requests to be on-duty during our programs. Jeff, who volunteers his time, runs the sound-board and gets the odds and ends of set-up and break-down done almost before one realizes it is time to do those chores.

We will hear tales about some of Dorella Nolan’s and Jeff Clarkes’ experiences in Hayfork. Dorella will sing to us and do amazing impersonations of famous singers. She will be accompanied by Jeff on guitar throughout her presentations. Jeff is a fine musician. Stalwart, he has learned to continue playing despite having to overcome some newly developed physical problems. Dorella will also uplift us with some of her heartfelt poems. Additionally she will tell about and show us some of her mountain art drawings, which she made for her grandchildren to teach and show them about her life here.

So do come to know these good community members more-- these essential participants in the Hayfork Cooperative-- and be entertained by them with a fun and uplifting evening. Their presentation is free and open to all.

Tired of the short, cold days? Come and escape for just a bit with Hayfork Cooperative’s meeting with Helen Stone, who is presenting some colorful, gorgeous landscapes of Italy. We will meet on Wednesday, January 16th from 7 – 9 pm at Northern Delights Coffeehouse, 7091 State Highway 3 (‘Main street’), Hayfork. Horticulturist and garden writer Helen Stone will take viewers on a rich and vibrant journey through the landscapes and seascapes of Italy.

“I had the privilege of taking a Backroads hiking tour with a small group that took us through Cinque Terre and Tuscany,” Stone says. “Then we finished with three days on the Amalfi Coast. It was a trip of a lifetime and I’m thrilled to be able to share.”

Learn about vertical grape growing on the rugged coast, plant introductions in Rome and pine trees in Pompeii. Although the presentation will lean toward horticulture, it will also include a little history and some fun food facts. But mostly, there will be many dazzling photos filled with color and light. This will be free, to all.

Out of all the smoke, fire and tragedy come to Hayfork Cooperative’s next meeting to focus with presenter Amanda Barragar on the clear, uplifting Trinity Alps and being safe in wildlands. We will gather at Northern Delights Coffee House, 7091 State Highway 3 in Hayfork from 7 to 9 pm, on Wednesday August 15.

Amanda is the USFS head wilderness ranger in Trinity’s alpine crown. Additionally she is the director of the non-profit Ascend Wilderness Experience, based in Weaverville, CA. Ascend offers experiences in wilderness that encourage personal and social development as well as appreciation for the natural environment. Since the organization’s founding in 2006, Ascend has led hundreds of adventurers into the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area in Northern California, providing all food, gear, transportation and training at no cost. Ascend seeks to make year-round wilderness experiences available to a broad base of youth, adults, families and organizations. Amanda and her coworkers are committed to making wilderness accessible to anyone!

Teaching about being safe in the wilds and respectful of natural treasures like our Trinity Alps are important parts of Amanda’s work as a ranger and as Ascend director. She will share some of these with us delightfully delivered with her own enthusiasm, knowledge and wisdom. This will include helpful instructions of what to do in emergencies, mishaps, or confusion, including getting lost. So, with Amanda Barrager, learn how to stay safe and how to enjoy and be connected to Trinity’s wonderful wilderness. This is a free event.