But I digress… sequels are tough. They rarely live up to the first film. For every Godfather II, there is an Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. I didn’t know what was ahead and I was worried.

The movie hit all the right places. From the nostalgic nods and memories to the soundtrack that honored the past with updates for the present. (I still think Lady Gaga should have remade “Take My Breath Away” instead of “Hold My Hand.”)

One of my favorite scenes is when Maverick visits a bar and reconnects with an old flame.

As he leaves, he looks though the window and sees the new bunch of pilots gathered around the piano while one performs “Great Balls of Fire.”

Just as I started to remember the same scene with Goose and Meg Ryan, Maverick does too and it is so perfect.

That happens more than once in this film. The line between viewer and protagonist is blurred and it works somehow. Maverick’s memories are ours, as are his conflict, reflection, and resolution. It is one of the most satisfying movies I’ve ever seen.

Just go see it! And while you’re there, wish a Happy 25th Anniversary of the Uptown Cinemas to Mike and Carolyn Smith. I had graduated from college, waiting to do my student teaching when Carolyn called and asked me to help open the new theatre. Get there early and check out the hand-painted sconces.

On a related note, Landon told me that the theme of Summer 2022 is 80’s. It’s on Tik Tok so it’s official. Between the nostalgia of Top Gun and the retro vibes of Stranger Things, it only makes sense. In order for the post millennials to get it right, I’m offering these suggestions from the summer of 1986:

That’s all I can divulge for now. See you next week!

Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to shelleybennett24@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”

“LMUD does not anticipate any issues from these events, however, as with any islanding event, we want our customers to be informed and prepared,” explains LMUD Public Relations Manager Theresa Phillips.

LMUD will post updates to their Facebook page and to their website, www.lmud.org.

“If an outage should occur, we will be using our text alert system to inform customers. To enroll in the text alert system, please text the letters, LMUD to 877-754-7697.”

Heat health impacts are possible, especially for vulnerable populations and those outdoors for extended periods. Now is a suitable time to ensure that cooling systems are in good working order.

Winds are expected to increase for the upcoming weekend. While not a major wind event, widespread gusts of 30 to 40mph are possible each afternoon Saturday and Sunday.

This would cause rough water on lakes, tricky travel for high profile vehicles, and increased turbulence for aviation. With dry air expected, these winds could also cause increased concern for rapid fire spread in vegetation that dries out due to the upcoming heat.

The hot temperatures will also result in minor rises on creeks and streams in the Sierra from snowmelt. Slightly higher flows of cold water could impact recreation and camping near streams, however levels will be well short of any flood stages.

A party consisting of J. L. Brambilla, Justin Feher, Alexander Sifford, George Olson and Harry Kaul, has just returned to Susanville from Drake’s Springs, seven miles southeast of Mt. Lassen, from which point they went direct to the active crater of Mt. Lassen, leaving here Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock.

After going through the violent thunder and lightning storms they arrived at Chester at 8:30 p.m. at 8:05 of the morning of June 1, the second eruption took place. This they witnessed and photographed from Chester.

They left immediately for Drake’s Springs arriving at one o’clock that afternoon. They visited Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Lake, fining the usual activity there. Boiling Lake is only one of its kind known, it being a lake of boiling water. Devil’s Kitchen is a mass of geysers, boiling mud and springs.

The morning of June 2, they left Drake’s Springs at five o’clock and started for Mt. Lassen, 10,640 feet high and seven miles northwest, arriving there at 10 o’clock. This trip was over snow that sometimes attained a depth of 15 feet and was made on horseback and on foot until the foot of the summit was reached, at which point the horses were abandoned.

The party spent three hours and a half taking photographs and noting conditions in general.

The crater is about 325 feet in length and 75 feet in width. Its depth unknown.

J. L Brambilla was held over the edge of the crater by other members of the party while observations were made and photographs taken, this being very difficult owing to the gases, steam and dust at the crater’s edge.

The edge is cracked for some distance outward. Volcanic mud, ashes and boulders, which range in size from those weighing a few ounces to tons, cover an area of over 1,000 acres, this area extending more to the northeast.

The ascent consumed some two hours, while the descent was made in 35 minutes, members of the party sliding down the snow from the summit to the point where the horses were tied.

The return journey was then commenced, arriving at Drake’s Springs at 4:30 in the afternoon and leaving there this morning at five o’clock for Susanville. The party has valuable photographs as they are the first ones actually to visit the crater since the eruption.