10 Great Chef and Winery Gift Ideas

These gift ideas won’t hold you up with supply chain problems and will support our Great Chefs and Wineries community partners!

Alley & Vine

New Years Eve: Glitz & Glamour Gala

Alley & Vine is a warm, welcoming place to enjoy yourself and the company of those you love. Their team is a family and look forward to caring for you & yours.

Two seatings available starting at 5pm December 31, 2021. See website for reservation details. $95-$240 per person.

www.alleyandvine.com

1332 Park St STE D, Alameda, CA 94501

510.227.5006

Brooks Note Winery & Tasting Room

Pinot lovers dream

Brooks Note is a small, family winery focused on making balanced, elegant wines from the hidden corners of California Wine Country.

Their Marin Pinot displays notes of bing cherry, leather, tea, floral notes and subtle hints of baking spice. 200 Cases Produced $38

www.brooksnotewinery.com

426 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952

707.981.8470

il davide

Il Davide has been serving fine Italian cuisine in San Rafael for 27 years. They offer warm, welcoming service and always give back to the community. Grab your loved ones and enjoy a meal that will not disappoint this holiday season.

Gift cards are available via their website or at the restaurant.

www.ildavide.net

901 A St, San Rafael, CA 94901

415.454.8080

Keenan Winery

Wine that’s a family affair

The Keenan Family offers ultra-premium wines produced from this historic Spring Mountain vineyard estate, which has been planted in grapevines since the late 19th century.

Their 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon scored 90 points in Wine & Spirits Magazine. “With its sweet cherry spice and supple espresso-roast tannins, this is a rich, round cabernet with density and length. Pour it while grilling a sirloin steak.” $60 per bottle

www.keenanwinery.com

3660 Spring Mountain Rd #9677, St Helena, CA 94574

707.963.9177

Red Whale coffee

the kick we all need for the holidays

Sourcing and selling the highest quality coffee masterfully roasted in Marin County, California.

The Red Whale Coffee 2021 Holiday Blend is sweet, spicy and chocolatey with hints of red fruit. This is a delicious must have for your holiday season! Starting at $19.50 (12oz)

www.redwhalecoffee.com

169 Paul Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903

855.906.6277

piazza D'Angelo

a taste of southern Italy

This lovely family-owned trattoria is a familiar home away from home for so many Mill Valley residents. Enjoy an elegant meal this holiday season with the ones you love most.

Gift cards available online or at the restaurant.

www.piazzadangelo.com

22 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941

415.388.2000

merry edwards winery

Terroir-Driven Winemaking

The Terroir Tasting illustrates the broad range of terroir found in the Russian River Valley. During this approximately hour-long tasting, you will enjoy several single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from across the Russian River Valley. These wines speak to the diversity of the region and the commitment to creating exceptional wines of depth, evoking a true sense of place. In addition, you will sample the Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Cost: $45 per person / one fee waived with 3-bottle purchase

www.merryedwards.com

2959 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, CA 95472

888.388.9050

Insalata's

Christmas eve dinner 2021

Since 1996, Insalata’s has brought the warm spirit of the Mediterranean to Marin County. As an integral part of the community, their Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant has become a place for every occasion, including once-in-a-lifetime celebrations. Gather with the family this Christmas Eve for their superb special menu. Cost: $68 per person

www.insalatas.com

120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960

415.457.7700

Thirty-Seven Winery

wine collector’s dream

The Thirty-Seven Wines top scores reserve pack is the perfect addition to any wine collector’s cellar. The pack includes two bottles each of their top scoring wines, 90 points 2015 Reserve Merlot 90 points 2015 Reserve "The Hermit". Cost: $164

www.thirty-sevenwines.com

3000 Sears Point Rd, Sonoma, CA 95476

707.939.8648

left bank brasserie

Bonne Année-New Year's Eve 2021

Make the last meal of the year your best! Say au revoir to 2021 and ring in the New Year with a festive 4 Course Prix Fixe meal for 92.00 per person, including a glass of Champagne to start.

www.leftbank.com

507 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, CA 94939

415.927.3331

A Full-Life

Dear Friends of Lifehouse,

It’s hard to know where to begin in our praise of Lifehouse. There’s much good to share.

Our 33-year-old daughter Tamsin has been supported by Lifehouse for 8 years. After false starts at a Supported Living Services (SLS) program in Napa and a return home for a year, Tamsin became a resident at Sweetwater Spectrum, a community in Sonoma for young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Tamsin was one of the first of sixteen residents. Our family was lucky that Tamsin’s house was managed by Lifehouse from the start. On seeing the extraordinary care Tamsin was receiving, Lifehouse soon became the sole service provider for all residents at Sweetwater.

Living in a house with three roommates, Tamsin thrived at Sweetwater. Though there were certainly tough times, Lifehouse was always there to support Tamsin, and us. After five years at Sweetwater, Tamsin sought more independence and moved to her own apartment nearby and she continues to receive SLS through Lifehouse. Some of her same Lifehouse staff have been with her since the beginning 8 years ago. They are like a second family. Prior to the pandemic, Tamsin volunteered a day a week in the kindergarten class at Sonoma’s Sassarini Elementary School, and has since been taking online classes in child development at Santa Rosa Junior College. Her goal is to work with children with I/DD.

Tamsin has come a long way and Lifehouse has been an important part of that journey. We can’t imagine life without Lifehouse.

The pandemic has been a challenge for all direct care professionals. More than ever they need our help in these tough times. Please join us in making a gift to Lifehouse so they can continue their exceptional work in supporting those with developmental disabilities.

Thank you,

Bo & Patric Kearns

Parents

Everyone has a story to share. A Full Life is a collection of inspirational videos featuring the individuals supported by Lifehouse telling their own stories and truths as they learn and grow within the community. Hear from Tamsin in her own words here.

"Your Mama Don't Dance"

In an interview with Chuck Hansen, we’re given the behind the scenes look on the re-recording of famous 50-year-old track “Your Mama Don’t Dance” by Loggins & Messina. Hansen has been rubbing elbows and jamming out with music legends like Tower of Power and Huey Lewis, and the News and now Lifehouse will come to benefit from it all.

Chuck Hansen’s passion for music was first sparked by his brother teaching him how to play the clarinet in the 2nd grade. His exploration as a musician soon led him to the baritone sax which would later spark the nickname Chuck “Bari” with close friends and fellow musicians. Although Chuck’s studies took him to UC Berkeley for his BS and UCLA for his MBA, he continued to play brass at night clubs for fun.

While Chuck continued on to a career as an environmental entrepreneur and private impact investor and has founded several successful companies in these fields, he spent all his spare time playing sax for various artists and bands, both live and as a studio musician at his studio, called The Track Shack Studios, in Sacramento.

Fast forward to 2005—Chuck’s relationship with Tower of Power lead guitarist and executive producer, Jeff Tamelier, leads to an introduction to Huey Lewis in NYC. This soon led to Chuck “standing-in” the horn section at several performances from Squaw Creek Olympic Village, to the coveted AT&T Pro Am Band, and parties at Clint Eastwood’s Tehama Golf Club. Chuck was in with the Rock and Hollywood royalty gang, but with a laugh he says, “he was hanging on by a thread.” 

The conversation around a collaboration on “Your Mama Don’t Dance” started in 2008. Despite their friendship that had grown around playing music and golf, Chuck admits that he was hesitant to ask Huey to sing on the track with him and The Shackers. A deal was then brokered with the encouragement of mutual friend Jeff Tamelier. Soon thereafter, Huey flew out from Montana to start recording at The Track Shack Studios. There was not an exchange of funds to make the track happen, so it was decided that a charity should benefit from the sales of the new interpretation of “You’re Mama Don’t Dance”. This is when Huey introduced Chuck to Lifehouse and his work as the Honorary Chair of the annual fundraising gala, Great Chefs and Wineries.

It’s been in the making for 10 years, but the track is now available for purchase with 100% of the proceeds going to support Lifehouse programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The big hearts of these musicians can truly be felt throughout the track! We hope that you will purchase, download, and enjoy this very special version of “Your Mama Don’t Dance” by Chuck Bari & The Shackers featuring Huey Lewis. The track is available on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Beatport, and Spotify. 

LIVE NOW: Lifehouse Virtual Experience

Dear Friends,

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted Lifehouse. Day and work program services have closed, requiring Lifehouse staff to work overtime, now that all the people we provide services to are “sheltered in place” in their own homes.

Therefore, it is with a heavy heart, that for the first time in Great Chefs & Wineries 30 year history we will not be holding our event. Instead, we are offering A Virtual Experience available to all.

We need your help more than ever! Please put your electronic devices to work for Lifehouse. Online Bidding is available! Donations are encouraged.

Thank you for supporting the 360 people that Lifehouse supports and the 400+ wonderful staff who are working diligently to get us through this crisis.

Nancy Dow Moody, President & CEO

Photo By David Charnack

Photo By David Charnack

Photo By David Charnack

Photo By David Charnack

Photo By David Charnack

To Register for Online Bidding

Go to gcw2020.givesmart.com or

Text "gcw2020" to 76278

The Lifehouse Virtual Experience

Open until 5:00 PM, April 18, 2020

Premier Silent Auction The Lifehouse

Wine Room Hand-selected by Great Chefs Wine Committee

Fine Jewelry & Art

Specialty Items

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You won't be spending $350 for a ticket to Great Chefs & Wineries this year. Instead, please consider purchasing 5 tickets for $300.

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Huey Lewis Honorary Chairman

Photo by Deanne Fitzmaurice

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR NEXT YEAR

GREAT CHEFS & WINERIES 2021

Saturday, April 17, 2021

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#lifehouseagency #GCW2020 #greatchefsandwineries

lifehouseagency.org | greatchefsandwineries.org

marinautism.org | greatexpecationsmarin.org

sharpening Our Edge

Meet Our New Quality Assurance (QA) Team

Lisa Ann Carbone, QA Specialist

With a robust staff development program in place, Lifehouse is now establishing an internal Quality Assurance (QA) Program this fiscal year to guarantee consistency, quality, and assurance that services are in accordance with program designs, contracts and Title 17 regulations. The program is to be headed by two QA Specialists, Lisa Ann Carbone and Claudia Silva, to accommodate our growing programs.

Claudia Silva, QA Specialist

The mission of the QA Team is to teach, assist, and support both our individuals that we support as well as our direct support staff.

In addition to QA Training, Lifehouse continues to provide comprehensive training for staff and weekly training on a variety of topics as part of employee orientation and enrichment. The Lifehouse Training Room in the new Lifehouse building, with flexible seating structures, will provide ample space for classes that will benefit our Lifehouse staff and established colleagues in the special needs community. We look forward to sharing Lifehouse’s expertise and experience to assist other organizations serving similar populations.

The new Lifehouse Training Room will be versatile and adaptive to a range of different applications to accommodate different training situations, from classroom to breakout style.

This feature and other happenings around Lifehouse can be found in our Annual Report and bi-annual Newsletters. To receive your copy in the mail subscribe here.

Lifehouse Residents at Work

Lifehouse Residents at Work is an ongoing series exploring the people we support at their places of work and how they got to where they are today.

Jeanna Eriksen, Lifehouse Resident

Q: WHERE DO YOU WORK?

A: I have been working for the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities for the past three years.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION?

A: I currently work on the SAC Committee (Sacramento Advisory Committee), which is a regional committee of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. I do advocacy work for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR STRONGEST SKILL THAT YOU BRING TO THE WORK PLACE?

A: I am motivated, tenacious, and I get things done.

Q: WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

A: Tackling challenges and making change happen.

Q: WHAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN FINDING A JOB?

A: People not believing in me.

Q: HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR CURRENT POSITION?

A: I started with Area Board 4, the Sonoma regional office of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, back in 2009. I was asked to be on a local committee and I did that for five years. Then in 2017, the opportunity came up for me to be on the SAC committee. I applied and got the job!

Q: WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

A: I recently became the Chairman of the SAC committee.

Q: HAS LIFEHOUSE BEEN HELPFUL IN REACHING YOUR CAREER GOALS?

A: Lifehouse empowers me in my role as an advocate. They provide me with the staffing needed for personal care, transportation, and assistance with resources.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO OTHERS ABOUT HIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES?

A: We have had conversations about this in the council. I would encourage them to hire us because we are very dependable and reliable. We show up on time and we do the job well. People with developmental disabilities are just as equal and beautiful as those without disabilities and work just as hard.

This feature and other happenings around Lifehouse can be found in our bi-annual Newsletters. To receive your copy in the mail subscribe here.

Shining Lights in the Dark

a letter from the president & ceo

Nancy Dow Moody
President & CEO

Hello Everyone,

In appreciation to our Lifehouse staff during the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) here are a few highlights of staff contributions that demonstrate how many people went above and beyond their basic job duties. We know the list is not comprehensive, and want to share our appreciation to all Lifehouse staff and send our wishes for everyone’s safety.

North Bay Evacuations

Tran Van and Jonathon Hurst have teamed up to support Michele Selzer. Michele needed to evacuate late Saturday night and Tran, who was on shift, never wavered in her commitment accompanying Michele to Wilson House in Novato, not knowing when she would return to her home, also in Santa Rosa. She remained by Michele’s side until Tuesday to ensure safe transfers and care for Michele. Jonathon responded to the need for a second staff to assist with transfers and has come 2 times a day since to assist Tran and has offered his skill, strength and gentle nature to make what is a scary situation for Michele a bit more tolerable.  Thank you also to Carmen Kinney and the Wilson House team for welcoming Michele.

Mary Gerber and Gillie Irwin are a dynamic duo supporting people receiving ILS in the North Bay. When evacuations were ordered for more people we support in Santa Rosa they crawled through stop and go traffic to knock on the doors and evacuate those requiring assistance. In the stressful times, they were a picture of self-control and courage.

Ben Winer, versatile in his ability to respond to the needs of a multitude of people, traveled between counties to provide support to whoever had immediate need. This is a trait Ben exhibits throughout the year, much to the advantage of the people receiving Lifehouse supports. Uwe Harck with Anna Johnson and Chris Snyder with Jeana Eriksen have evacuated and have remained with the people they support throughout. Each have a rich history with Anna and Jeana respectively, supporting them prior to Lifehouse initiated services within the past year.  Meanwhile Barry Taylor has remained by Dillon Scheer’s side, while Rosania Salinas and Inanna LaFevre have been supporting Lisa Barron and Green House in Novato respectively around the clock.

Many members of North Bay management were up around the clock over the weekend fielding texts and calls to coordinate evacuations and staffing support. Many thanks to Sabrina Wilson, Makeylia McCorley, Shelby Gray, Megan Daos, Irish Krings, Essence Cook, Bill Toupal, Jacob Portlock, Anja Hansen, Olivia Vain and Lisa Carbone. Some members of the team continued to coordinate services while undergoing their own evacuation orders. We feel extremely fortunate for the commitment of our team members.

Johanna Schleret was instrumental in monitoring the ever-changing evacuation map and matching it to the map of where all people Lifehouse supports in the North Bay. Thanks to her ingenuity, we were able to move quickly and accurately.

Marin Power Outages

ICF and ILS teams did non-stop follow up to ensure the residents in our group homes were safe and care met regulatory requirements.

Crys Rohmer was relentless going to various homes to check on the well-being of the residents and to deliver supplies after completing her overnight shifts at UCSF ER. She even took the time to put on her nursing cap at Lifehouse and stop by to evaluate someone with a bit of a cough. With all her spare time she arrived at day program to heat up lunches for the people she supports. Crys’ generosity did not stop there, she also donated a mattress to an ICF resident because theirs has deflated.

Kayla Hotchkiss, Sara Holiday and Christine Leider were teaming up early this week to make sure all 3 ICFs had the supplies and staffing supports needed to minimize the effects of the power outage.

In the ILS, Mike Sus coordinated services throughout the power outage. Makayla Moore was busy transporting residents to areas with power to lessen the impact and gather supplies.

Michael Miller, our maintenance tech, went above and beyond by setting up generators, schlepping gas and ice, and fielding questions.

Finally, thank you to the Marin SLS Team, including Mario Newton, Ciara Turner, Holly Skidmore, Felicia Romero, Danita Mazzoleni and Gary Malfatti. Claudia Silva repeatedly made herself available to meet the needs of others. Your diligence made all the difference.

Finally, thank you Kate O’Connor and Michelle Condit. They were at the heart of coordinating all the evacuation efforts, logistics for staffing, delivery of ice, batteries, communications supporting staff and the people we serve. We certainly could not have done this without their outstanding efforts.

Again, we want to express how grateful we are to work with such a dedicated staffing team at Lifehouse. We send our thoughts to everyone for a return to a feeling of safety for each of you and your family.

Thank you to our Lifehouse Team,

Nancy Dow Moody, President & CEO

A Full Life

Meet Sallie

Sallie has called Lifehouse home for eight years and is in the Supported Living Program (SLP). This program is perfect for her since it gives her the tools and life skills she needs to be as independent as possible.  

Sallie is full of life and loves goofing around and making people laugh. Her favorite person to get a smile out of is her boyfriend Mark. They have been together for eight years. Some of her hobbies include hiking, going to the beach, and playing table tennis. She is a total shark on the court, and she was in the winner’s circle at her most recent tournament!

When Sallie isn’t palling around with friends, she is hard at work. With the support of the local non-profit, People with Disabilities Succeeding (PDS), Sallie works two jobs. The PDS Integrated Work and Community Inclusion Program helps her maintain her job at Woodlands Market for the past 11 years, as well as a position as a crossing guard during the school year for the past seven years. She takes great pride in her work, and loves the opportunity to be out and about in her community.

Sallie has lots of goals for her life, including to live more independently and be less reliant on others by practicing the life skills she has learned from Lifehouse. She also wants people to see that she has a warm heart and a good mind. Her message to the community is that people should accept individuals with developmental disabilities and welcome them into their lives.