Rolling Hills Casino

The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, owners of Rolling Hills Casino, continued a tradition of giving back to the community in 2011 with over $637,000 of grants and donations to programs benefitting public safety, health care, education, and economic development in Tehama County. 

“We are very proud to be able to give back to the community that we live and work in,” said John Crosby, Economic Development Director for the tribe. “The contributions we make to non profit organizations, fire departments, education and health care programs, and Tehama County government benefit us all, and make our communities safer, healthier, and more prosperous.

The Tribe made education a priority in its charitable giving program this year. According to Marketing Director Kate Grissom, the Rolling Hills Foundation donated $70,000 to educational programs. Donation recipients included SERRF, Expect More Tehama, Sacramento River Discovery Center, Tehama County Department of Education, Exploring Music, and College Options. Education is vital to the future prosperity of Tehama County,” said Grissom.  “We need a highly educated workforce in order to attract strong, growing companies to our area and provide more employment opportunities.”   

The Tribe also earmarked funding for local economic development initiatives and contributed over $26,000 programs such as the Tehama County Branding project. “The Tehama County Branding Project is an ambitious effort to promote tourism and put more cash into the local economy,” explained Grissom. “Increased tourism will provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and create more jobs.”

The tribe donated over $300,000 to Tehama County for the general fund and district attorney’s office, $40,000 to public safety agencies, and $21,000 for health care programs. 

Other organizations and programs that benefitted from major sponsorships and grants include CASA of Northern Valley Catholic Social Services, Girls Inc., Connecting Circles of Care, Inc., and Shasta Cascade Wonderland.

Hundreds of organizations benefitted from smaller donations, including prizes such as dinner for two at Timbers, golf passes, and a night at the Inn. “We donated almost $160,000 in prizes for charity raffles and silent auctions,” reported Grissom. “These donations helped organizations raise even more money for their charities.”

Grissom anticipates the Rolling Hills Foundation will focus most of its grants on community development and education in 2012, with sizable contributions to public safety and health.  “We make an effort to support the programs we believe will make the most long-term impact on our community,” said Grissom. 

Christmas was a lot brighter for many families and service organizations thanks to the generosity of Rolling Hills Casino employees who raised over $8,000 for charity through raffles and recycling programs.

An employee raffle raised almost $6,000, while a recycling program organized by Food and Beverage Department employees raised $2,500.  The money raised enabled employees to purchase gifts for needy families and individuals through the NCCS Northern California Catholic Social Services, Glenn County Adopt a Family, and Salvation Army Angel Tree programs.  Employees also donated part of the raffle proceeds to the Corning Christian Assistance, Corning Fire Department, Northern Valley  Catholic Social Services, Alternatives to Violence in Red Bluff, Just for Children in Orland, and the Family Service Agency of Tehama County.

“We have awesome employees, “ said Gretchen Allen, Human Resources Manager for the Casino. According to Allen, community involvement and charitable giving doesn’t’ begin and end with the holiday season. Many casino employees are volunteers for Relay for Life, Expect More Tehama, and other programs dedicated to the health, safety and education of our community.  

Just heard that Ronald “Ron” Kuwata of Sevillano Links at Rolling Hills Casino is the recipient of the Northern California PGA President’s Plaque, a coveted award given for exemplary contributions to player development and promotion of the game. Kuwata, a Vietnam Veteran (and whose tenure with the PGA of America extends 26 years), accepted the honor at the Nor Cal PGA Annual Awards Banquet & Membership Meeting held recently at Marin Country Club.

"We are extremely proud to present PGA Section Member Ron Kuwata with the

Presidents Plaque for his enthusiastic efforts in helping grow the game of golf,” said NCPGA Awards Chairperson Cathy Jo Johnson. “Ron and his staff serve as excellent role models for others, not just within our section but throughout the entire country."

Kuwata’s dedicated efforts in growing the game are based from Sevillano Links. His outreach efforts include junior golf, assisting veterans and golfers with disabilities, plus hosting the nationally-recognized Golf Fore A Cause Clinic that introduces women to the game in a fun and welcoming environment. According to Kuwata, the event also serves as a fundraiser for Girls, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps educate and empower young women.  

“I am humbled to receive this award, an honor I share with our entire staff at Sevillano Links,” said PGA Head Golf Professional Ron Kuwata. “Reaching out to the community is a great part of our mission, and we do so by providing quality golf programs for local golfers as well as for our resort stay-and-play guests.”

Kuwata and his team endorse the PGA of America’s Golf 2.o Initiative plus Play Golf America which serves as the umbrella for player development programs year-round. Sevillano Links offerings include Golf Digest’s Free Lesson Month, Family Golf Month, Women’s Golf, and Patriot Golf Day. They have also participated in the Savings Stroke Program (in conjunction with the American Heart Association) and are advocates for community wellness evidenced by their fundraising efforts benefiting Mercy North Foundation and St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. 

As winter brings chilly rains and snow, precious traditions warm our hearts and bring holiday cheer. Christmas lights brighten long, dark nights. Smells from the kitchen fill the air.  Friends and family rejoice together in celebration and thanksgiving.  We exchange tokens of love and appreciation.

Traditions don’t begin and end with the Christmas holiday season. Winter, spring, summer, and fall each bring their own special days and customs.   We commemorate historical events such as the signing of America’s Declaration of Independence on July 4^th. We pay tribute to the men and women who served in our military on Veteran’s Day, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day.  We bravely masquerade on Halloween, and wear silly hats and beads on Mardi Gras. From New Year’s Day to Christmas, we celebrate holidays with time-honored traditions as we establish new ones. 

Throughout the year, traditions enrich birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, reunions, and special events.  For every occasion, the foods we eat, the decorations we put up, and even the clothes we wear help engrave the festivities into our memories.

It is an honor that our friends in the North State include Rolling Hills Casino in their traditions whether for holiday dinners, office parties, special occasions, or entertainment.  We are proud that you recommend out of town guests to stay at our hotels, and that you choose to ring in the New Year with us. As we begin 2012, we wish all of our friends and families a safe and prosperous year rich in wonderful traditions and memories.  

The Food and Beverage team knew a gigantic 10-foot tall gingerbread tree was going to be their biggest project yet. However, I think they underestimated how huge of an undertaking it would be! Just attaching the lights proved to be a significant task. The tree has 1,600 lights, and each took 30 seconds to attach. If I did my math right that is 8 hours of painstaking labor. Work on the gingerbread tree continues this week in the Buffet.  You can see its transformation into a holiday masterpiece as our chefs decorate it in their spare time.   

When I took the photos of the Gingerbread tree’s progress, I started to get hungry. Of course, I had to check out what was on the menu.  I snapped a few photos of my favorite foods to share with you.  Looking at the food just made me hungrier, so I had to stay for dinner. The eggplant Parmesan, salmon, and tortellini was as delicious as it looked.  I didn’t save room for dessert.  That doesn’t mean I skipped dessert!

Today is another day, and my mouth is watering for the 4-ounce lobster and filet mignon dinner advertised by Timbers Steakhouse for only $28.  I don’t have any photos of that as each dinner is cooked to perfection when it is ordered, and I haven’t ordered it yet.  Mine will be medium rare.  How do you like your steak cooked?

Next week, we are filming a cooking demonstration by Hobart Vogel.  Can’t wait to share that with you.  What dishes would you like our chefs to demonstrate making? Share your ideas with us on Facebook. 

One of the most wonderful things about Northern California is the Sacramento River. In the fall and spring, fishermen from all over the world come to Tehama County for a chance to catch a salmon.  

Salmon season is over for 2011, but the spring run is just around the corner.  In our first YouTube Cooking Demo, Food and Beverage Manager James Rosenbalm demonstrates how to filet a salmon using a knife found in most kitchens. Click this link to see the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMazoUuvC1s&feature=g-hist

In the background, you can see a little bit of the busy kitchen at Rolling Hills Casino and you can hear vegetables being chopped, pots and pans clanging, and the deep fryer crackling behind me.  We now know to use an external microphone for our demos, but the camcorder's internal microphone was sufficient because Chef Rosenbalm has such a strong clear voice.  He did a great job on the video, and I’m sure you will find his demonstration helpful next time you need to filet a fish!

Our next video will feature Executive Chef Hobart Vogel preparing one of his favorite salmon dishes that are so popular in our Rolling Hills Buffet. 

Of course, if you want salmon for dinner, but don’t feel like catching, fileting, or cooking one, come to the Buffet for dinner.  We’ll even do the dishes.