The Sages Among Us

Host Keith Porter talks with Jo Ann Rebane about her rich and varied life experiences, and her motivation and drive to improve her community.

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Kimberly Clouse, founder of the Nevada County Playwrights Collective.

Ernesto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the field of social work. He is also currently a member of the Grass Valley Police Department as a sworn Officer and, separately, provides clinical crisis intervention as a Psychiatric Response Team member at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.   He was born and raised in Butte County, where he lived on an almond farm helping his parents tend to their family owned and operated Almond and Walnut farm until he relocated to the Pacific Northwest in late 2001. During his teenage and early adult years, he was a performing musician where he spent a significant duration of his time playing locally as well as nationally while on tour. In early adulthood, he was employed as direct care service provider at a Residential Treatment Facility supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. This began his long journey within the social work field.   He graduated from California State University, Chico with his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2010 and obtained his master’s degree in social work from California State University, Chico in 2012. In his post graduate degree he worked in various social work settings including Transitional Age Youth homeless services as a case manager and therapist, the Child Welfare Services system as a clinical case manager, the Adult Protective Services system as a clinical case manager, and Clinical crisis intervention in a hospital setting. The most influential moment in his career began when he took part in the development of the Nevada County Sherifs Office Mobile Crisis Team pilot program as a mental health clinician before deciding to attend the Yuba College Police Academy in 2022. He completed the Police Academy in 2023 and obtained full clinical licensure in 2025. Over the past few years, Ernesto has had the role of Patrol Officer, crisis specialist, Crisis Negotiations Team negotiator, and is also a certified Child Forensic Interviewer. Recently he has been appointed as an Outreach Liaison Officer, specifically assisting individuals in the community in need of homeless outreach, mental health, and substance abuse related services and recipients of the Post Release Community Supervision program, which is supported by Community Corrections Partnership Funding.   In his free time, he enjoys spending quality time with his son and spouse, traveling, reading, continuing to learn, playing, and watching soccer with his family, and creating music with friends.  

Tonight on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing talks and connects to Tina Basich about her professional snowboarder career that led her to civic engagement and community life. 

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores and guest Sarah Souza discuss living life to the fullest regardless of the challenges that may come your way.  Souza was born with a degenerative disease that left her legally blind before she was 20, but the Nevada County native did not let that stop her from raising two boys, being an active volunteer at their school and later traveling the world among other adventures.  Sarah "sees" life as not many others do -- give this inspiring half hour a listen!

Host Keith Porter brings us the fascinating details of the life and times of Guy Stilson, an attorney from the Bay Area with a wide variety of experiences including representing Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, and now focusing on photography and new adventures in his Nevada County community.

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Lynn Hodson, Executive Director of Sammie's Friends, Entrepreneur, former school board member in Southern California, and community volunteer.  Lynn lives on a mini-ranch with her human family and nine rescue dogs and cats a myriad of hogs, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks and turkeys.

Alex is a Registered Professional Forester with nearly 20 years of experience in the fields of Forestry, Forest Conservation, and Wildfire Management. He is a Program Manager at OES where he's responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of wildfire mitigation projects. Alex was raised among the pine and oak trees in Tuolumne County California. He moved to South Lake Tahoe in the early 2000's where he took an interest in Ecology at Lake Tahoe Community College. In addition to the ample recreation opportunities in the Tahoe Basin, Alex took a strong interest in wildland fire management when the Angora Fire of  2007 burned 242 homes in his community. This event catalyzed his academic and professional trajectory and he used the momentum of the wildfire to study Forestry and Natural Resources at Humboldt State University and intern with the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station.  Following the acquisition of his B.S., Alex practiced forestry across the western United States including Oregon and Washington. Upon his return to California, he served the State of California with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and earned his Registered Professional Forester's license from the California Board of Forestry in 2023. When he's not spending his free time talking about forestry and wildfire in California, Alex enjoys international travel, exploring the Sierra Crest, and trying to convince his toddler that land stewardship is a perpetually evolving discipline much like parenthood. Her agreement is still pending...

Host Kimberly Ewing has a vigorous discussion with Nevada City Councilmember and community activist Daniela Fernandez.

Rahlene Weeden is the founder and manager of the DIY venue Stardust Station, a co-founder of the Honey Hills Fest, and serves on the Board of Directors at the Grass Valley Museum & Cultural Center. She speaks with Sages host, April Glaser.

Host Keith Porter takes us on a deep dive into the life experiences of a true polymath, Bill Trabucco, an engineer who has overwintered in Antartica, spent a career in research at Stanford, now runs a 900 acre ranch with grass fed beef and Peruvian Paso horses and built and operates his own private concert hall which houses his self-built pipe organ. 

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Hilary Hodge, a woman who dedicates her life to public service, civic engagement and cultural engagement.  She is Mayor of Grass Valley, Board member of KVMR and recently joined Foothills Compassionate Care as Director of Development and Marketing.

Lorie Hennessey was born and raised in Southern California and later attended Northern Arizona University, where she earned her degree in public relations. Her career began at the Phoenix Zoo, launching what would become a long and meaningful journey in the nonprofit sector. Lorie spent much of her career engaging and mobilizing the entertainment industry in support of the missions of both the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America/Make-A-Wish International and the USO. She also worked directly with wish families, leading the Make-A-Wish program for the Northeastern and Northern Nevada region. In 2019, she served as the director of the Nevada County Animal Shelter under Sammie’s Friends who operated the full operation, which was also her first big introduction to Nevada County. That same year, Lorie completed the Nevada County Citizens Academy, an experience that sparked her interest in local government and ultimately led her back in 2023 to support the county’s animal shelter contract and Homeland Security–related grants. She now serves as the Administrative Services Officer, overseeing the Animal Shelter Program, the Community Spay and Neuter Program, and supporting discussions around a prospective new animal shelter. Outside of work, Lorie enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, exploring the outdoors with her dogs (including occasionally carrying one in a backpack), and spending time with her husband, two sons, and close friends throughout Nevada County.

Tonight on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing speaks with Hannah Mosby, Programs & Membership Coordinator with Nevada County Arts Council about her Midwestern childhood and her deep passions and careers in the Arts.

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores chats with Barb DeHart about events causing great transitions in life, be it unexpected and unplanned or expected and intended.  Making the most of life after the transitions and a path forward. 

Host Keith Porter brings us the story of  Patrick Eidman, a native who has travelled, lived and worked in other areas. Like many locals, Patrick decided to return home, first to run the Nevada County Fairgrounds, and last year to become Nevada County's Assistant CEO

Dr. Deborah Chong is a holistic physician and formally trained as an OB/GYN.   She believes that true health exists when mind, body and spirit are all balanced and healthy.  She understands how trauma affects health and can cause both physical and mental disease.   Deborah was born in Jamaica and grew up both in Toronto, Canada and Kingston Jamaica.  She went to undergrad at Columbia University, medical school at Boston University and residency at University of Miami.  She then moved to Northern California in 2003.  Her first job was as assistant clinical professor at UC Davis.  Her love for travel and adventure resulted in work in Tanzania and Jamaica. She eventually moved to Oakland CA in 2008 where she became Chief of GYN at the safety net Hospital in Oakland.  While mothering young twins, her own childhood traumas started surfacing.  As she started the work on healing these traumas, she now had the resources to integrate these tools into her own practice of medicine to help other women do deep healing work.  Along with her Western Medical training, she has further training in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, herbal medicine, psychedelics and death and dying.   Separating from the father of her children and seeking a peaceful life, she moved to GV in 2020 with her twins.  She has been practicing medicine now for 25 years and has developed her own unique style focusing on deeper healing and how trauma affects health.  She still practices acute care OB/GYN and delivers babies.  In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, yoga and evenings out with her partner.  She is active in the community supporting both kids programs and women’s health. 

Tonight, on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing chats with Executive Director of North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center Aubrey Puetz about her journey in leadership on the Ridge and life as a mother, a teacher, a dancer, and an involved community member of Nevada County.

Host Keith Porter guides us through the life and times of Howard Wilson, someone with a wide variety of involvements in our Western Nevada County community. A retired trust and estate attorney and long-time Rotarian, Howard is currently Vice President of the board of Foothill Compassionate Care, formerly Hospice of the Foothills. 

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores talks with Andrew Klein on a variety of topics from non profit construction projects in Africa to challenges faced while on the school board,  to working to help the county airport run efficiently and more! 

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Dr. Anya Stanger, professor of Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies at Sierra College and conflict studies at Syracuse University in New York, as well as college advisor to Forest Charter School in Nevada County.

Val Camp was Born in Oakland and grew up in Union City and Williams California. He graduated Jame Logan High School and then attended San Francisco State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film in 1990. He then moved to LA in 1991 and began working at Panavision Hollywood where his introduction to Hollywood began. After leaving Panavision in 1993, then began working as a Camera assistant in Hollywood on Feature Films, Commercials, Documentaries and Music Videos. In 2004, he returned to northern California and landed in Grass Valley. Val now works as a Director of Photography locally in our community and does work in the Bay area and internationally. Clients include independent filmmakers, Ford Motor Company and Microsoft. Val works primarily locally at Riparian Studios with Kit Kohler and theywork with a wide variety of clients including Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Nevada County OES, Sierra Harvest, Community Foundation of Nevada County, Nevada County Superintendent of Schools and The Nevada County Resource Conservation District.

Tonight, on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing chats with local music and performing arts talent, Dalrymple MacAlpin, about his journey into music, puppetry, and his local contributions in Nevada County. He speaks of his life in Detroit and his mystical traditions and how he brings his heart and soul into his albums and performances. 

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores and Melissa discuss the prevelance of scams on the internet and other tactics and things we can do to avoid being separated from your money.  

Host Keith Porter brings us the story behind the life and work of author, leadership coach and serial entrepreneur Machen MacDonald, who founded the  ProBrilliance Leadership Institute and supports the community by volunteering with Bright Futures for Youth, The Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada County Economic Resource Council.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Paula Gleicher Greenstreet, President of Broadstreet Financial Group and Powerhouse Volunteer.  Paula says yes to whatever is needed and happily steps into leadership roles to support organizations she feels drawn to.

Fire Chief Brian Estes of the Nevada Yuba Placer Unit and Placer County Fire Department will retire at the end of 2025, concluding a distinguished 35-year career with CAL FIRE. Chief Estes began his fire service journey in 1991 as a Firefighter I at a busy station in southeast San Diego County. His early passion for fire aviation led to a four-year assignment on a CAL FIRE helicopter crew in Tuolumne County, shaping his expertise in rotor-winged operations. Over the years, he served as a Military Helicopter Manager and Liaison Officer with the California National Guard. Promoting through the ranks, Estes became a Fire Apparatus Engineer in 1998, Captain in 2000, and Battalion Chief in 2005, overseeing training and emergency medical services. In 2005, he joined Incident Command Team 10 as a Type I Operations Section Chief, managing over 30 complex emergency deployments. By 2013, he was selected as a Type I Incident Commander, leading Incident Management Team 6 through 14 major incidents across California. As Unit Chief, Estes has led over 450 personnel across 1.7 million acres, managing a $100 million budget and deploying resources from fire stations, air attack bases, and fire crew camps. As Placer County Fire Chief, he has transformed the department into a top-tier organization, serving 70,000 residents across 1,000 square miles. His leadership has enhanced advanced life support, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and tactical medic services in partnership with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Beyond operations, Estes played a key role in rebranding CAL FIRE in 2006, designing the department’s patch, logo, and fleet identity. He has chaired the statewide uniform and standards committee for over 15 years and earned three Directors Superior Accomplishment Awards. His contributions extend nationally and internationally, including mentoring new incident commanders, aiding Maui’s 2023 wildfire recovery, and speaking at a major fire symposium in Germany. Brian is a also a huge Dodgers fan, an accomplished artist and can shred on the drums.  Chief Estes’ dedication to public safety and professional excellence leaves a lasting legacy. The community thanks him for his service and wishes him well in retirement. 

Tonight, on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing chats with Ariel Elliott,  a native to Nevada County as well as part of the Kumeyaay Nation. She works with Indigenous Futures Society as an Ecological Knowledge Community Associate, as well as an Executive Board member of newly formed Sierra Theatre Company. She talks of her journeys of growing up in North San Juan and, recently going to University to receive her Native American Studies degree, while  still pursuing her passions in the arts.

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores talks with Eli Bacon, Executive Director of Sierra Harvest about the importance of fund development and extensively about the mission of Sierra Harvest to have fresh food accessible to our community and some of the barriers needed to be overcome. 

Lori Burkart Frank interviews, Erin Mettler, Deputy County Executive Officer / Chief Fiscal Officer for the County of Nevada.  Erin is a Nevada Union High School graduate who came home after 19 years away at college and working with the City of Stockton.  She shares about the 12 years of awards the County has won in their budget process as well as how she rejuvenates herself with outside activities.

Host Keith Porter interviews the man who is creating Crown Point Venues, a new concert hall, conference center and black box theater in Grass Valley.

Jason Robitaille was born in Walnut Creek, California, and raised in Valley Springs, just two hours south of Nevada County. He graduated from Calaveras High School, where he played football and studied medical science through the R.O.P. program, where he was assigned to the County Coroner’s Office.Public service became a part of Jason’s life early on. At age 12, His father, a business owner and volunteer firefighter, often brought him to trainings and incidents.Jason went on to earn a B.B.A. in Business Management from Harding University in Arkansas, an A.S. in Fire Technology from Modesto Junior College, and an A.S. in Paramedicine from American River College. His fire service career began with the Sylvan Hills Fire Department, a suburb of Little Rock, AR, where he served on rescue units, ladder trucks, engines, and medic squads, as well as a member of the Arkansas US&R Task Force.After returning to California, Jason primarily served in Calaveras County, where he played a key role in consolidating two agencies into one. He holds California State certifications as both a Fire Officer and Chief Officer. In 2015, he was honored with the California State Firefighters’ Association President’s Hall of Fame Award for coordinating a four-year statewide live fire training program.Jason and his wife, Leah, have been married for 21 years and have two sons, Carson (16) and Luke (14), who both attend Bear River. He enjoys traveling with his family, fishing with his boys, and attending local events. In his spare time, he is also restoring his first truck, a 1959 Chevy.

Host Kimberly Ewing talks with Judy Mosely coordinates the annual Children's Festival in Pioneer Park.

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores talks with Dr. Erik Crawford as he begins his second year as the Twin Ridges School district, discussing the challenges and rewards of working in the field of education.  Making an impact and having been impacted to make positive changes with today's youth. 

Host Keith Porter brings us the life story, so far, of the Tyler Hill, Medical Director at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and 3 more of Common Spirit's northern California hospitals. Hear first hand how a young physician becomes a senior executive in a hospital system while still managing to do part-time hands-on clinical work as an Emergency Room doctor.

Anna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the field of social work. She is a member of the Mobile Crisis Team at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and, separately, provides training and therapeutic support to local first responders.  Anna was born and raised in Nevada County and was homeschooled through high school. During her high school years, she joined Campus Life (the local Youth for Christ chapter) where she developed a love of outdoor adventures, and came to understand the positive impact caring adults can have on the lives of youth. It was her experience in Campus Life that inspired her to choose the field of social work as a profession.  Anna graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2007 and obtained her master’s degree in social work from California State University, Sacramento in 2011. She worked within the foster care system for 14 years as a social worker, supervisor, and program manager, before deciding to pursue licensure in 2020. Over the past few years, Anna has held several different roles providing child and family therapy, crisis intervention services for the community, and trauma therapy and training to local first responders. In her free time, Anna enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, reading, learning, working out, riding dirt bikes, backpacking, camping, paddle boarding, and, occasionally, pranking co-workers.  

Tonight, on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing chats and laughs with Beth Moore, a truly passionate community member and retired educator. She arrived in Nevada County in 1980 and has been part of civic engagement ever since, working with Meals on Wheels, Utah Phillips efforts, Haute Trash and Earth Days. She's a huge supporter and producer for local performing artists and musicians as she co-owns Wild Eye Pub in Grass Valley. She has hosted over 1500 events in her seven years of running the venue. 

Host Keith Porter talks with Liam Apple about his role as a financial advisor and his motivation and experiences as a relative young activist in his community.

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Heather Scott, Infection Prevention Program Manager at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.  Heather's fascinating career started as a charge nurse cardiac care step-down unit, on the front line of the AIDS epidemic in the early 80s, attending law school, attending education at West Point - preparation for biological warfare, practicing law in NYC, and ultimately here at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in the Spring of 2020 as the COVID Pandemic unfolded.

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores chats with Kristen Bardwell about the pure joy of giving back to this community, owning a business, various options for senior care in Nevada County and the rewards of working with seniors as well as valuing employees. 

Host Brian Buckley talks with author and civic engagement consultant Rich Harwood about his life's work in providing tools and advice to organizations to bridge divides, build capacity and overcome shared challenges.

Andrew was born in Grass Valley CA. He grew up here in Nevada County and graduated from Nevada Union High School. Andrew started a family early and soon realized he needed to focus on a direction and career. While he worked as much as possible in various jobs, Andrew was invited on a ride along where he fell in love with the concept of serving his community and doing his part in making this community a better place. Andrew started working at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in January of 2007. Andrew was provided with the opportunity to attend the basic police academy in January of 2008 and started his law enforcement career with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout his career, Andrew worked on patrol, courts, with the USFS as the high-country deputy, field training officer and assigned to the Major Crimes Unit as a detective. Along with those assignments Andrew was trained in Search and Rescue coordination, joined the Critical Incident Negotiation Team as a negotiator, and was the Vice President of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association. In 2021 Andrew was promoted to Sergeant where he supervised a patrol team, became the Community Outreach Sergeant and then was assigned to the Office of Emergency Services as the Emergency Operation Center Coordinator. Andrew earned both an advanced P.O.S.T. and supervisory certificate and obtained Institute of Criminal Investigation specialty certificates in sexual assault investigations and homicide. In 2024 Andrew completed the Sherman Block Supervisory Institute where he learned valuable leadership lessons and skills. Andrew is currently the team leader of CINT and look forward to going back to investigations as a supervisor. In Andrews time off he enjoys spending time with his wife Rhia and on his new property in Chicago Park where he grows various fruit trees, keeps bees, does woodworking, and dabbles in photography. Andrew’s biggest achievements include raising two beautiful children and solving several homicide investigations.

Tonight, on The Sages Among Us, host Kimberly Ewing invites singer, songwriter Michelle Amador back on the air to talk about her new role with Nevada County's newly formed Community Foundation and her passion for arts advocacy and equity and inclusion leadership.

Host Hollie Grimaldi Flores chats with Rondha Sullivan who has 40 years experience working in the senior care realm including running her own in home care business since 2020, with a love of the elderly.  They discuss the challenges and rewards and what makes Nevada County a great place to be a senior. 

Host Keith Porter helps summarize the life, adventures and motives of Jeff Dellis, a long-time educator who now works with Nevada County to help launch the Youth Commission, programs to open channels for Career Technical Education and facilitate the County's Citizenship Academy.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Lynette Vrooman, Professor of English at Sierra College Nevada County Campus and key organizer and visionary of the annual Sierra Writers Conference.

Before her role as the Tahoe-Truckee COAD Manager, Anne served as the Director of Hunger Relief for Sierra Community House for the past several years and has a long history of working with nonprofits and community groups in the Tahoe Truckee area. She has experience with community organizing, operations, and public health programming. She was also instrumental in beginning the Emergency Warming Center and has a deep understanding of local partnerships and support services. Anne holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish & International Studies and a master’s degree in Public Health. When Anne's not working she's snowboarding, hiking, reading, or hanging out with her dog Wrinkles.

Tonight on The Sages Among Us host Kimberly Ewing chats with local retired teacher and well known thespian, Gaylie Bell-Stewart about her career in education and her ongoing community theatre life. She directs and performs each Spring and Fall in Tim O'Connor's Readers Theater, a fundraiser for The Miners Foundry. 

Host Keith Porter discusses the civic engagement program at Ghidotti Early College High School with Counselor and Key Club  Advisor Karla Aaron, and student Ella Lee.

Host Brian Buckley guides us through the life experience of Chris Boyd, from a small town in Washington state to a career in police work including being Chief of a police department built from the ground up, to bercoming City Manager and then, in retirement, back to work as the General Manager of the Lake Wildwood Home Owners Association.