That's Life

Guests Kim Neilsen and Elaine Lytle share information about how to use various WIOA services in Yolo county.

"The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [WIOA] is the primary United States federal workforce development legislation designed to bring about increased coordination among federal workforce development and related programs." (according to Wikipedia.)

While the law is national, implemetation is through local agencies and partners.  Here WIOA is thru Yolo County's 'Employment Services' which "provides employment resources; offers workshops regarding interviews, resumes, and job search tips; and provides public access to the One-Stop Career Centers at the Woodland, West Sacramento, and Winters locations. It also assists CalWORKs recipients participating in the Welfare-to-Work program." (per the County website)

On today's episode of "That's Life" Lois Richter spends some time with Chris Dewees, a local gyotaku artist. From the intricacies of fish printing to his poetry about the election, this interview will keep you listening! The beginning of the show is spent discussing the detailed nature of fish printing -- you, too, can fish print after a good listen. Then, the conversation ebbs and flows between his many ventures throughout his fish printing career as well as the history of fish printing, which is humorously referred to as a "new form of art." One exchange sums up the fun in this show when Lois asks about Chris printing an octopus, "How do you print something so squishy?" And Chris responds immediately, "Carefully!"

Chris also has a new book coming out this spring called “About Gyotaku — Japanese Fish Printing”. Ask at the local bookstore for it.

On today’s episode of “That’s Life” Lois Richter interviews Julie Cotton, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for the California Raptor Center (CRC), which is located on the UC Davis campus and works in collaboration with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The objectives of the CRC are many: from educational outreach to rehabilitating wild raptors back to health for re-release.  Additionally, the CRC provides a sanctuary for injured birds who cannot return to the wild, which affords the opportunity for the public to interact and learn about these majestic creatures. Speaking of raptors—what are they? The term conjures up Jurassic Park for many but Julie explains it was bogarted by producers to refer to dinosaurs—but the term actually refers to birds who hunt with their feet, specifically.

Today on “That’s Life!” we meet Mel Russell, a retired Yolo County archivist, who is organizing the project “Lest We Forget,” which is a four part, two year commitment to discuss, explore, preserve and remember WWI. The date of the episode has meaning—it is the 100th year anniversary of WWI’s start date. Mel’s work ebbs from the local aspects of WWI to considering battle plans and America’s entrance into the war. Starting with Esparto, Lois and Mel discuss 6 boys, the term Mel uses to describe soldiers from WWI. All the information currently on the 6 soldiers from Esparto is their names. Mel hopes that by going to the community she will find more information—perhaps a photo or an old postcard.