Coming&going

Downtown

The Downtown Chico Business Association has announced the seven new and returning members of its 21-person board of directors. Elected were: Kathy Barrett, DCBA president and general manager of the Chico News & Review; Jerry Brayton of Brayton’s Hallmark; Debra Austin of Bob Linscheid & Associates; Farshad Azad of Azad’s Martial Arts; Tom DiGiovanni of Heritage Partners, Bill Fishkin (pictured) of The Synthesis and Chuck Mahar of Sound Source.

Education

Reta Rickmers, who teaches art at Pleasant Valley High School, has been accepted into the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art and Design. She will study will artists there from June 23 to July 7.

Professor Al Jackson, along with Chico State University’s Department of Recreation and Parks Management, was honored April 28 with the National Society of Parks and Recreation Educators Innovating Teaching Award. Jackson is retiring this year.

Civil Engineer Professor Russell Mills has been chosen by his fellow Chico State faculty members’ Recognition and Support Committee as the Outstanding Teacher for 2000-01. Mills himself graduated from Chico State, with a bachelor’s in civil engineering, back in 1974, and he also holds a master’s and a Ph.D. in structural engineering from Stanford University. He’s been teaching at Chico State since 1982 and was especially praised for his creativity and involving students in hands-on learning.

Chico State students took home several awards at the 15th annual CSU Student Research Competition held April 27 and 28 in San Jose. Cary Coburn and Francine Dickie earned outstanding presenter awards, Sadie Smith was a runner-up in the undergraduate Biological and Agricultural Sciences and Sara Plummer was a runner-up in Humanities and Letters. They won cash prizes and can move on to higher-level competitions.

Technology

WebConnectUSA, a San Francisco-based Internet Service Provider that allows subscribers to designate a charity to receive $5 of their $16.99 monthly subscription, has become available locally. Fundraising Director Barry Higgins of Paradise said churches, schools and other nonprofits will benefit from the arrangement. Its Web site is www.webconnectusa.net.

Health care

The Breast Care Center of Northern California, operated by Enloe Medical Center and North State Imaging, has earned prestigious accreditation by the American College of Radiology, proving its high standards in the stereostatic breast biopsy unit.

Charity

The Clothes That Work program, which outfits people returning to the work force from public assistance, is moving from its Mangrove office to 3881 Benetar Way, Suite F, in Chico. The program is operated by Northern Valley Catholic Social Service and continues to seek donations of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories.