Editor's Note: Cafe Sierra is a new eatery that opened Monday inside Club Sierra Sports and Fitness Center, in Grass Valley. It's open to the public.

What goods or services do you offer?

• Food: We offer healthy fare: Baked goods (including gluten-free), organic fruit, organic fresh-roasted coffee, juices and homemade soups. Our menu will expand as Cafe Sierra grows.

We support the “buy local” theme and will feature baked goods from Stone House Hospitality Academy, coffee from Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters, produce from Produce Express, Bubba's Bagels and more.

• Fitness: Cafe Sierra is inside Club Sierra Sports and Fitness Center, with wireless Internet.

• Friends: We have a heart for encouraging others, and want to see people reach their personal goals. We also hope to engage gym clients with an interactive, on-line blog.

What makes you different from others who may do the same thing?

We are operating in an all-encompassing gym. People of all ages talk together and help each other. The owners, Mike and Margie Blackston, wonderful trainers, and the mutual encouragement of fellow gym attendees has made a difference in our lives.

We will serve our in-house clientele and welcome people in neighboring businesses and the Berryhill Apartments. We also want drivers caught in the lunch rush hour around East Main Street to know they have a quick and nutritious option.

What's new?

We are! We are opening today, in time to help people with New Year's resolutions get a great start.

This last year has been uncertain for so many. Now we can focus on becoming stronger, healthier people.

What do you love about your work?

It is a healthy, happy place to work. We could not have better business partners. We have had tremendous encouragement from local businesses.

We will receive ongoing coaching from Nevada County Economic Resource Council, and we get tremendous support from Club Sierra gym owners Mike and Margie Blackston.

We are thankful for all of the help!

What do you find most challenging?

Deciding what items best will serve our customers. We are looking to our customers for lots of ideas.

What is your background?

Cheryl Precivale: Cheryl is a special education teacher and advocate. She has additional background in the field of development for nonprofit organizations, including the San Francisco Symphony and the California Historical Society.

Dale Sayles: Dale has 30 years of accounting experience, including Northrop B-2 Division, Hospice of the Foothills, and other nonprofit organizations. She has also worked in a children's camp setting, cooking for large groups.

Laurel Wallace: Laurel has been cooking and baking gluten-free for 20 years. She has had experience catering, teaching cooking classes and working in a bed and breakfast. She graduated from Nevada Union High School.