Christopher Schreur joins the team of financial investment experts at Craig Van Hulzen Asset Management in Jackson. Shown from left are Van Hulzen, president and CEO; Schreur; Mike Gebhart and Brad Nicholson. Photo by: Marcia Oxford Michael Freeman celebrates the 10th year of his Amador Peddler in Sutter Creek throughout August where he features zany merchandise along with a rainbow of brightly-hued aloha shirts. Photo by: Marcia Oxford Chris and Kim Bird are ready to slurp up ice cream cones, some of the delicious cold treats they offer at Ice Cream To Go in Pioneer. Photo by: Marcia Oxford Shannon Lowery Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch Sutter Creek Associates Realtor Mary Mathos has come up with a unique way to help clients and local volunteer fire departments. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

Craig Van Hulzen, president and CEO of Craig Van Hulzen Asset Management and Bardin Financial Services in Jackson, announced the addition of Christopher Schreur to the company.

"Chris will add a lot of depth and experience to our team in Jackson," Van Hulzen said. Schreur, his wife, Valerie, and daughter, Lexy, 2, will soon relocate from Santa Fe, N.M.

Schreur was previously chief bank investment officer at Los Alamos National Bank in New Mexico for five years. He operated their investment management division and has a background in trust services and fixed income investing, Van Hulzen said. "Chris will be doing similar things here," Van Hulzen noted.

Schreur will serve on the firm's investment committee, comprised of Brad Nicholson, candidate for a Certified Financial Planning designation, Van Hulzen and Mike Gebhart, who serves as committee research analyst. Gebhart, who oversees data and information, is currently in an MBA program at University of California, Davis, and is pursuing a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Staff members are Judy Elliott, office manager, and Mary Jane Petrich, administrative assistant.

Van Hulzen's company, which manages about $220 million mostly for individuals and family investors, is in its seventh year, five of them at 711 Court St. in Jackson.

The company also has satellite client meeting offices in Los Altos and San Diego and in Los Alamos, N.M. The Jackson office is open Monday through Friday. For more information, call 223-1225.

Spinetta Family Vineyards inducted into state ag club

The California Exposition and State Fair announce that Spinetta Family Vineyards in Plymouth has been inducted into the prestigious California Agricultural Heritage Club, an honor reserved for California agricultural enterprises in operation for 100 years or more. Spinetta Family Vineyards has been recognized for 150 years of business.

The heritage club originated in the 1940s and recognizes families, farms, ranches and agribusiness operations which have maintained a financial responsibility in agriculture for at least half a century.

"The California Agricultural Heritage Club is a wonderful way to recognize our state's agricultural history," said Charles Spinetta, owner of Spinetta Family Vineyards. "I'm glad that our state fair has maintained this tradition for nearly 60 years."

Spinetta said his family has farmed in Amador County for more than 150 years on his mother's side and more than 130 years on his father's side. "We are quite proud that both sides of my family are early agricultural pioneers in Amador County. Today, my wife, Laura, and I operate our vineyards and winery with lots of help from our three sons."

Spinetta's maternal great-great-grandfather started his farm and agricultural business in the Clinton area during 1852, and his paternal grandfather started his agricultural career in the Clinton area circa 1871. Spinetta established his farm in Shenandoah Valley in 1975 and sold his first bottle of wine during 1984.The family plans to expand their vineyards over the next several years.

Amador Peddler keeps peddlin' along

Michael Freeman invites customers and friends to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Amador Peddler in Sutter Creek throughout August. For his anniversary "party," Freeman will discount everything in his store and will hold drawings for $100, $50 and $25 gift certificates. Freeman opened his "emporium of eclecticism" in Amador City in 1991, before relocating to 71 A Main St. in Sutter Creek.

Eclecticism is a conservative description of much of the items Freeman carries in his shop. "I first opened it because I'm a crazy person," he said, with a huge laugh. "Also, customers couldn't find the kinds of things I carry, like the Hawaiian shirts. The aloha shirts have been my garment of choice for 30 years, and have become extremely popular."

The aloha shirts beckon in vibrant colors and patterns from a rack outside his shop and inside where most are on racks, but many are suspended from the high ceiling. He buys the shirts from shirt makers in Hawaii. Shirts range from traditional to more contemporary patterns and in sizes from small to 4X. He has a 6X-size shirt hanging from the ceiling, one Freeman jested will "fit a party of four." The shirts are available in cotton, rayon, cotton-rayon blends, lightweight silks and heavy textured silks.

One manufacturer, Ren-Sponner, produced a shirt that is high on the "wanted" list for residents and visitors. Themed "Wine country of California," one section shows Shenandoah Valley. Freeman said Bill Hepworth, mayor of Sutter Creek, bought that shirt "right away. He has an assortment of my shirts from wine themes to floral patterns."

The shirts, plastic leis, hats from traditional to totally absurd, lava lamps, mood rings, kaleidoscopes, disco balls and blinking sunglasses are just a portion of the quirky merchandise. "If it's crazy and makes you smile, I'll bring it in," Freeman said. He also carries an enormous selection of "attitude cards," noting, "Hallmark, I'm not. This is a bunch of madness in the middle of the Mother Lode and it's worked for 10 years in Sutter Creek."

The shop is open Thursday through Monday. Call the peddler at 267-5763

Foundation director to speak at Aug. 23 women's network meeting

Shannon Lowery, executive director of the Amador Community Foundation, will be guest speaker at the Aug. 23 meeting of the Amador County Women's Network. The meeting, open to the public, begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Jackson Rancheria Hotel.

Reservations are $14 for members, $16 for guests and are due Friday, Aug. 18 to ACWN, P.O. Box 1513, Jackson, 95642. Reservations must also be confirmed to karenbuell@volcano.net, or call 223-01340, ext. 12.

ACF, which became an official nonprofit organization in 2000, brings together people to make a difference in the lives and future of Amador residents, Lowery said. "We join with others in encouraging private giving, building an endowment and making innovative grants that facilitate community change."

In the last five years, ACF has awarded $260,000 to a variety of organizations and entities in five categories. Recipients include the new animal shelter, as well as A-PAL; funding of the Fine Arts Camp for youth for three years; assisting Mother Lode Friends of Music and providing rest rooms in Pine Grove and Plymouth parks.

ACF has also facilitated awards for school projects, purchased books for the public library, and awarded youth groups, Hospice of Amador and Operation Care, among others.

Lowery will discuss generic donors, anyone from individuals who contribute $5, to families who have set up funds.

Tea Eras in Sutter Creek offers garden setting for evening repose

Tea Eras Tea Room, which has for several years served elegant teas to customers at 73 Main St. in Sutter Creek, is expanding its hours and service. Tea experts Fran Perry and Kristi Winter now offer delectable desserts, French press coffee and a variety of teas each Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.

"We thought this would be a wonderful way for people to experience the tranquility of downtown Sutter Creek during the evening," Winter said. "Customers can relax on our front porch or at tables beneath the trees and enjoy music, candlelight and the ambiance."

Tea Eras also serves lunches daily, except Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chocolate Inspirations and Unique Boutique For You, also at 73 Main St., are open daily, except Wednesday, until 5 p.m.

For more information, call 267-0333.

Chamber mixer

Remax Foothill Property Realtors on Highway 88 in Pine Grove will host the monthly mixer for the Amador County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. The mixer is set for Wednesday, Aug. 9 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Entry donation for members and guests is $10.

Upcountry biz now offers ice cream along with movies

Kim and Chris Bird just opened Ice Cream To Go right next to their Movies To Go at 16401 Meadow Vista Drive, Pioneer, opposite Buckhorn Village Plaza.

"We decided to do something that was missing in the community," Kim said. "We wanted a place where families could come in, hang out and have a treat."

It would be hard to resist a space devoted solely to ice cream. From two freezers, the Birds offer 24 flavors of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream in a range of flavors including pistachio nut, butterfinger, fudge tracks and strawberry cheesecake. Cones are available in child size, single and double scoop. Knowing ice cream lovers want even more choices, the Birds also whip up sundaes, banana splits, root beer floats and milk shakes in the flavor of your choice.

The couple are right next door to their Movies To Go, and Kim said they've experienced d a lot of cross-over. "We've tapped into new video customers who find they can also get ice cream here." Unlike most video rental sites, the Birds carry a lot of VHS videos, having learned that vacation homeowners tend to leave their DVD players home and use VCRs when visiting.

Their new venture draws on past experience. Kim worked at a candy shop in Burlingame where the owner made all the candy and ice cream on the premises. Chris worked at a 1950s-type diner in San Mateo. Both also have extensive experience working in a major grocery store.

"We made a decision to work together in an area where we could be closer to home and the kids," Kim said. They are parents to Tyler, 13, an honor roll student at Jackson Junior High, and Dominic, 10, who attends Pioneer Elementary School. "The kids are pretty excited about the ice cream store and we're enjoying working together," Chris said.

The Birds said anyone who has historical photos of the Pioneer area should give them a ring as they'd like to post the images on the ice creamery walls.

Ice Cream To Go is open Monday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon until 9 p.m. and Sunday noon until 7 p.m. Call 295-7100.

Ayurvedic seminar, dinner set Upcountry Aug. 26

Sunita Maharaj-Vidal will present an evening devoted to an Ayurvedic seminar and dinner on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Upcountry Community Center in Pine Grove. Cost is $29 and advance reservations may be made at 296-5295 or bayleafeateryspiceco@volcano.net.

The program, with demonstrations by local yoga instructors, will detail the relationship of yoga and ayurveda.

Realtor offers donations to local VFDs

Mary Mathos, Realtor with Sutter Creek Associates, has an idea that can help local volunteer fire departments. With any home or property transaction she handles through the close of fire season, Mathos will donate 10 percent of her commission to the client's local VFD of choice.

"People who appreciate the volunteer fire departments don't know how to help them," she said. "They go to every signal call a paramedic goes to and I know they need money." That's based on her own personal experience as the wife of Tony Mathos, captain of the Jackson VFD and a firefighter for 20 years. He is also an EMT with American Legion Ambulance.

"These people go out wearing about 60 pounds of gear and carrying fire-fighting equipment, often in temperatures way over 100 degrees," Mathos said. "I figured this was the best way I could support their efforts through fire season."

Mark Morton, fire chief for the city of Jackson, commented, "VFDs are always looking for funds to buy equipment above and beyond our budgeted dollars from the city, in our case. This is a wonderful idea to help support local VFD."

Sellers or buyers can contact Mathos at 304-7899 or leave a message at the company's Plymouth office, 245-3100.