As evident by the nicknames I have given my own children, it is obvious I, enjoy a good nickname. I love it even more when I am a part of bequeathing a nickname – especially when it is for one of my favorite people. In the community, you may know her as Lesandra Rodriguez, however to my family we know her as our “Basagna.”
I first met “Basagna” when she was playing softball for the Lassen College Cougars.
Like all of the pretty softball girls, my youngest daughter often opts to follow them around their practice, instead of hanging with her daddy and the baseball boys.
Lesandra, being the sweetheart that she was, helped watch Peach and Peach loved being around her. Lesandra was too hard to say, so the nickname ‘Basagna” was born.
Since then, Lesandra has babysat for us, and even helped watch little Miss Peach when she worked for Leap Ahead. It was there that I instantly noticed, it wasn’t just my child that loved to follow Lesandra around with adoration, it was all the children. She just has this beautiful, light surrounding her, which attracts everyone.
Through the years, and in the way of living in a small town, I was lucky enough to have my path cross Lesandra’s multiple times through softball leagues, outings at the Pon household, and now recently, she works as a Youth Services Officer for the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office.
In this capacity, Lesandra is able to help our community in a multitude of ways, from assisting at the jail, helping within all of our county school, assisting in emergencies such as the fires, power outages and honestly whatever other random tasks she is asked to do.
When Covid first shut down school Lesandra was one of the main people who worked to help collect food and distribute them to kiddos across the county.
If you get on the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, you will see her 1,000-watt smile illuminating their page, as she happily goes from community event to community event. Offering assistance wherever needed.
Never complaining and always just a pleasant, fun person to be around. In fact today, I believe I saw her donating blood during the blood drive. She is truly the epitome of a public servant.
When she isn’t working, Lesandra is busy being a great sister, daughter to her hilarious parents and a great friend. She even made time to root on Peach as she went on the “scary” Zipcord ride at the fair this weekend, because she is just that much of a sweet person.
The benefit of living in such a small town is that I constantly get to run into my wonderful friend, who always has something positive and kind to say. The world would be a very wonderful place if everyone took after my sweet “Basanga,” who of course, is one of the reasons I love the place we live.
