Central California Life magazine
A Day in El Dorado County Yosemite Gateway Guide Looking for Lainey Artist John Rupe ... and more
Summer 2015
Running in the Valley Fresno’s unlikely ascent
Volume 2, Issue 3
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA LIFE
SUMMER 2015
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Reflections
“T
he grass is always painted greener on the other side of the fence” is a local twist on a famous idiom that points out how we often don’t appreciate what we have. Instead, we yearn
for something or somewhere else. The severe drought has affected us all. The practice of painting a brown lawn back to green has been around for many years; however, it is now gaining in popularity as we strive to revive some of the beauty that an absence of water has robbed from us. We are surrounded by national parks that visitors travel from all over the world to visit. Even though these destinations are affected by the drought, they still represent some of the very best that nature has to offer. Fortunately for us, they are within an hour’s drive. In this issue we reacquaint you with one of our region’s crown jewels: Yosemite National Park. Our special 12-page insert that is a whimsical yet practical guide to this beloved destination and its gateways. From our cover story about the thriving running culture in Central Valley, to a legacy piece about the Wilson family and their long history of being the “good motorcycle guys” in Central California, we also fulfill our regular mission of introducing you to things old and new that make the heart of the Golden State so fascinating. We hope you enjoy what you discover. A final note: When you do connect with our amazing national parks that surround us, please be mindful that nearly 90 percent of all wildfires in California are caused by people. Visit www.preventwildfireca.org to learn how to prevent wildfires and help protect these natural resources for future generations.
Cover Photo
Nate Nagatani, who is a running aficionado, gets an evening workout in as the sun sets at Hidden Valley Park on a cool June evening in Hanford, Calif. Nagatani, who is also an 8th grade teacher for the Hanford elementary school district, considers running a healthy hobby for anyone looking for one.
Photo by Gary Kazanjian 2 |
Central California Life
Enjoy! Karen Maroot Karen@CenCaliLife.com
Our Mission “The mission of Central California Life magazine is to spotlight what makes this region a unique and integral part of the Golden State. We do this by telling the stories of the people who live, work and play here—artists and entrepreneurs, farmers and elected officials, educators and athletes, and so many others who call California’s heartland “home.” From short profiles of ordinary individuals who are making extraordinary differences to in-depth stories about our history and more contemporary matters, our team of experienced writers produces content that is informative, relevant and interesting. Their work is complemented by talented photographers and graphic artists. We also provide comprehensive event listings, restaurant reviews and art and entertainment news. We are the only magazine that covers the central San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast, and count among our targeted readers those who live both within and outside the region.”
CenCaliLife
For subscription info or advertising opportunities visit CenCaliLife.com or call 559.691.1004
Sheila’s compassion. Your hospital.
Like all our people, registered nurse Sheila Guansing’s approach to treating patients is remarkable. This means delivering personalized care and the kind of understanding you’d expect from a friend. Sheila loves knowing she’s surrounded by peers who value teamwork, compassion and going the extra mile for patients. We love having her. Learn more about our remarkable team at samc.com.
22 Looking for Lainey
18 Valley Wood Turners
What’s Inside Reflections
2 Publisher’s Letter
Contributors
8 Getting to Know Us
A Few Cool Things
10 What to Do in Central California
Keeping the Faith
14 Turnips and how I grew to love them Faith Sidlow
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Central California Life
50 Glamping
Stories from the Heartland
18 Valley wood turners continue ancient tradition Bud Elliott 22 Looking for Lainey Madeline Shannon 28 The legacy of Wilson’s Motorcycles Valerie Shelton 34 Honor flight brings together parents, children Bud Elliott
The Wish List
38 Summer Gift Ideas
Destinations
46 El Dorado County Amy Guerra 50 Glamping: Camping gets glamorous Bradley T. Wadja
76 Paul Pearson Culinary artist 68 John Rupe Preserving history through art
62 Sports
Fresno’s running scene
Health and Wellness
72 Book Review: Steven Church’s “Ultrasonic” Jeffery Williams
Spotlight
60 The keys to staying fit Rhonda Murphy & Madeline Shannon
Sip and Savor
Calendar of Events
Sports
76 Culinary Artist: Paul Pearson Katie Fries
58 Medication and the summer months Dr. Bradley T. Wajda
62 Fresno’s dynamic, growing running scene Katie Fries
Arts and Entertainment 68 Artist John Rupe Andrew Veihmeyer
74 Campagnia Amy Guerra
80 Sip: The Landmark Richard Melella and Donna Howard
84 Milestones and Events in Central California 92 Summer Happenings
The Backstory
99 Editor’s Reflections Kelley Campos McCoy
Central California Life
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Contributors
PUBLISHER Karen Maroot karen@cencalilife.com ADVISORY BOARD Bud Elliott, Karen Maroot, Kelley Campos McCoy, Richard Melella, Faith Sidlow EDITOR Kelley Campos McCoy kelley@cencalilife.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Madeline Shannon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bud Elliott, Katie Fries, Edgar E. Dunn III, Amy Guerra, Donna Howard, Richard Melella, Rhonda Murphy, Madeline Shannon, Valerie Shelton, Faith Sidlow, Andrew Veihmeyer, Dr. Bradley Wajda, Jeffery Williams CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bud Elliott, Amy Guerra, Gary Kazanjian, Pamela Leeds, Dan Minkler, Roberta Minkler, Faith Sidlow, Marty Solis DESIGNERS Beth Greene, Gary Hoffman CREATIVE CONSULTANT Edgar E. Dunn III
Copyright © 2015 by Central California Life magazine. All rights reserved. Central California Life magazine accepts or assumes no liability for the material contained herein. This magazine is for entertainment only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any product or service. All statements and expressions are the sole opinions of the writers. Central California Life magazine reserves the right to edit any editorial, photos or ad submissions for the purposes of clarity and space.
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Central California Life
Katie Fries Writer
On the last day of the school year when I was a child, I most looked forward to … my birthday! My birthday always fell near or on the last day of school and we usually held my birthday party the first weekend school was out. My strategy for surviving Central California’s sweltering summers includes … running early, before the sun comes up, and staying close to the pool with my kids and a Mai Tai. And when all else fails, a quick trip to the Central Coast or Bay Area provides some relief from the heat. The most important lesson I learned from my father is … finish strong. He specifically meant in my high school cross-country races, but it’s good advice that can be applied to most projects. Of all my material possessions, the ones that mean the most to me are … hard-to-replace items with sentimental value, like my kids’ baby books and the hats they received in the hospital after they were born, the medals from the marathons I’ve run and notes and cards my husband and kids have given me over the years. People would probably be surprised to know that I … have a dog. People who
have known me for a long time know that I’m a cat person and I don’t really care for dogs. But my family got a puppy a few months ago and now he’s my constant companion.
Valerie Shelton Writer
On the last day of the school year when I was a child, I most looked Andrew forward to ... Veihmeyer staying up late and sleeping Writer in each day. On the last My strategy for surviving day of the Central California’s sweltering school year summers includes ... crankwhen I was ing up the air conditioning, a child, I finding a pool to jump in most looked and escaping to the mounforward to tains or the beach as often as ... overnight hangouts with possible. friends — on weekdays! The most important lesMy strategy for surviving son I learned from my father Central California’s sweltering is ... that you have to work summers includes ... drinking hard to be successful and you mass quantities of water, vishave to be patient. iting the coast once or twice, Of all my material and no strenuous outdoor possessions, the ones that activity between the hours of mean the most to me are 11 a.m.–8 p.m. ... a keychain my husband The most important gave me as a gift on our first lesson I learned from my date, a necklace my parents father is ... to learn how to bought me for my college fix as much of your own car graduation, and a warn-out as possible before taking it to the shop. Mechanics strip cabbage patch doll, Irma, that I’ve had since before I bolts. can remember. Of all my material People would probably possessions, the ones that be surprised to know that mean the most to me are ... I ... seriously considered handwritten notes from close majoring in music. I’m a friends and family. mezzo-soprano and as a People would probably teen I dreamed of being on be surprised to know that I ... have never owned a smart Broadway. I do everything by ear, so the music theory phone. classes scared me off and led me to pursue my other passion, writing. •
Central California
Lifemagazine
A Few Cool Things
New bus route links Fresno and Yosemite Central California residents longing to spend more time in one of the nation’s most beautiful parks have been given a golden opportunity, thanks to a two-year pilot program for the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) that started in May. For only $30, riders can purchase a round-trip bus ticket from Fresno to Yosemite National Park. The new route goes through several Valley and mountain towns running up to the park entrance, including communities surrounding Highway 120 and Highway 140. The timing of the bus route opening was chosen to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Yosemite National Park. A map of all the routes included in the new YARTS line can be viewed on the bus system’s website. For more information, visit yarts.com.
Tropical Mondays at River Park Shopping Center The Starline Salsa Club’s increasingly popular Tropical Mondays are from 7:30-10 p.m. and feature local bands performing salsa, merengue, bachata and urbano in the large area between Yoshino’s and Teazer World Tea Market. This fun-for-the-whole-family music and salsa dance social will end the middle of August, so grab your congas and get out there while you can. The remaining dates are July 20, Aug. 3 and Aug. 17. Admission is free to all. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit facebook.com/starlinesalsa
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Central California Life
Hot August Daze Car and Bike Show in Clovis This year’s Hot August Daze Car and Bike Show will be hosted by the Clovis Elks Lodge in Old Town Clovis on Aug. 21-22. The two-day event will present locals with some of the most unique and exquisite luxury and antique cars and motorcycles in Central California. The festivities begin Friday night with a sock hop and dinner. The car and bike show on Saturday runs from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Proceeds from the weekend’s events will go towards the Elks Purple Pig Project, a local
organization that provides therapy, equipment and other resources for disabled children across the state. Registration is mandatory for show participants, but admission is free to the public. For more information, go to VisitClovis.com.
Get your tickets now:
The Monterey Jazz Festival The annual event that iconic crooner Tony Bennett has called “the greatest jazz festival ever” may be a couple months away, but now is the time to get your tickets if you want to get in on the action. The 2015 Monterey Jazz Festival will be held Sept. 18-20 on nearly 20 acres of beautiful beachside property. The many musical artists performing this year include crowd favorites like Crescent City Gumbo, Jaco Pastorius and Snarky Puppy. The 2015 Jazz Legends Gala will kick off the weekend with Chick Corea playing as the showcase artist. Tickets to the Gala are $290 a person and are sure to sell out quickly. Tickets to the festival range from $50 for the 3-Day Grounds Package to the $605 3-Day Arena Package. • For more information, visit montereyjazzfestival.com. Central California Life
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Keeping the Faith
Turnips
and how I grew to love them Story and photos by Faith Sidlow
T
Faith Sidlow teaches broadcast journalism at Fresno State. She spent the last 28 years as a news reporter and morning anchor at KSEE-TV, where she produced a series called Extreme Faith.
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urnips may look innocent enough, but I detest them. My husband used to try to sneak them into the mashed potatoes, but I could tell every time. They have a distinctive, bitter turnipy bite to them that ruins even the most flavorful dish. He finally gave up and accepted that turnips were banned from our house. I don’t know when this aversion to turnips began. I assume it was when I was a child. I must have had a traumatic experience with a turnip, similar to the trauma I’m sure I suffered with lima beans, which is one of the only other foods that I despise. In fact, I never expected to have to eat another turnip, ever, until I was confronted by them during a recent trip to the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens. The “hidden gem of the Morros,” as the gardens are fondly called, is in El Chorro Regional Park off Highway 1, halfway between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. The gardens were founded in 1989 but didn’t open to the public until 1997. They’ve grown into a beautiful collection of plants from the Mediterranean climate zone: California, Chile, South Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean basin. “My main goal is to connect people with the natural environment to create a whole new generation of environmental stewards,” says Lindsey
Central California Life
Collinsworth, education director at the Botanical Gardens. Collinsworth began working at the gardens five years ago as a member of AmeriCorp. She started a cooking class to make use of all of the vegetables that were planted and harvested in the community garden, and she began a partnership with students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The day of my visit, the Cal Poly Health Ambassadors, a group of nutrition and kinesiology majors, were leading an event called Garden Fresh Family Cooking Day. Throughout the year the Health Ambassadors teach children and adults that eating healthfully can be fun and delicious. Each month they hold cooking demonstrations showcasing the vegetable of the month and other recipes. For the garden event they planned a four-course meal to demonstrate the farm-to-table concept first hand. “The prep starts a month ahead of time,” says Colleen McConnell, a nutrition science major who is in charge of the event. She’s standing in a sparkling clean commercial kitchen in the children’s garden, where she has laid out the ingredients for today’s meal. McConnell and Collinsworth worked together to plan the meal from a list of fruits, vegetables and herbs that are in season and growing in the garden.
Colleen McConnell, a nutrition science major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was in charge of the event that teaches adults and children how to eat more healthfully by using vegetables grown in a community garden.
You’re not sure how the kids are going to respond, but you kind of hope for the best. Front and center: turnips. I have to admit they looked almost pretty, like large globe-shaped white potatoes with a slight purple tint at the crown. They appeared to be harmless enough, but I was skeptical. I didn’t mince words. “I hate turnips,” I told McConnell, who smiled sympathetically. She says this is a common reaction to many of the vegetable items they introduce to people. “We do some questionable things like asparagus fries and broccoli fitters,” McConnell says. “You’re not sure how the kids are going to respond, but you kind of hope for the best.” The menu for the day: Crispy turnip fries, kale salad with herbs and vegetables that the children would pick from the garden, pizza with vegetables from the garden, and strawberry pound cake with whipped cream. The rest of the Health Ambassadors, six in all, arrived to help prep, but McConnell had done all the work, prepar-
ing the pizza dough the night before and laminating all of the recipes for families to take home. At 11:30, 20 children and adults arrived for the four-hour hands-on demonstration. Collinsworth welcomed the group that had gathered by the outdoor pizza oven. “We’re going to be harvesting a lot of the food that we’re cooking today from the garden,” Collinsworth says. “We’re going to be learning about those plants, we’re going to be cooking with those plants and then we’re going to be planting more of them.” She turned the children loose into the garden of raised beds full of herbs and vegetables and explained each one. They filled bowls full of chard, fennel, rosemary, basil and kale. Then Collinsworth led them up a path and showed them wild strawberries. She explained that these strawberries were too small to use for the pound cake recipe, but they were fun to
Crispy Turnip Fries INGREDIENTS 3 pounds turnips 2 T olive oil 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tsp. garlic salt 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. onion powder
DIRECTIONS Preheat over to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease. Peel turnips and cut into French fry-sized sticks. Place into a large bowl and toss with the olive oil. Add the cheese, garlic salt, paprika and onion and toss with turnips until evenly coated. Spread turnips onto the baking sheet. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes, until outside is crisp and inside is tender. Serve immediately. Central California Life
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Usually young kids are really willing to try new things. It’s fun to see them eat their vegetables. And even grumpy, old kids can have a change of heart. Perhaps it’s time to allow turnips back into the house. Health Ambassador Mallory Soares of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo oversees the preparation of turnip fries with children participating in Garden Fresh Family Cooking Day.
pick and eat fresh from the garden. “I want people to come here and explore,” Collinsworth says. “I want them to pick the flowers and to smell the plants and to taste things in our herb garden and our kitchen garden. So really, it’s just giving people that first chance to explore nature.” Once the vegetables were harvested, the Health Ambassadors brought the cooks to the kitchen where they donned chef ’s hats and aprons. Twelve children lined the stainless steel counter, where the Ambassadors had set up twelve cooking stations. The children started by preparing the batter for the pound cake, which went into the outdoor pizza oven. Then they peeled and sliced the turnips, prepared the salad, and rolled out the pizza dough that McConnell had prepared the night before — all under the watchful eyes of the Health Ambassadors. Slowly, the meal began coming together. Each child made his or her 16 |
Central California Life
personal pizza — some topped their pizza with kale or herbs and spices. Others went with just cheese. Soon, the fries came out of the oven, and the pizza went in. I watched as the children gobbled up the turnip fries as though they were French fries. Reluctantly, I tried one and was pleasantly surprised. They definitely weren’t crispy, but they also didn’t taste like the bitter turnips that I remembered. These were delicious. Soft potato like pieces that were salty with a hint of cheese. I have to admit I ate several more and didn’t mind them one bit. “We’ve had a lot of success,” McConnell says. “Usually young kids are really willing to try new things. It’s fun to see them eat their vegetables.” And even grumpy, old kids can have a change of heart. Perhaps it’s time to allow turnips back into the house. •
The San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens offers weekly events for children and adults. Check the website slobg.org/events-classes for upcoming events. For more information about the Health Ambassadors, go to stride.calpoly.edu/content/ programs.
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R
Stories from the Heartland Jack Schwartz, 100, of Hanford has been a wood turner for as long as he can remember.
Valley wood turners continue an ancient tradition Story and photos by Bud Elliott
I
t is entirely possible that among the wooden goblets, bowls and plates arrayed on the table set for Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples at The Last Supper, some of those utensils were fashioned by craftsmen who created them on a wood lathe. Wood “turning,” as it is called, is the process of scraping, gently chipping or carving a block of wood with razor-sharp chisels or gouges as it spins rapidly between two holding points. Artisans in the time of Christ knew the process well, having learned it from the Egyptians, who developed the lathe around 1,300 BC and often buried their royalty with exquisitely wrought wooden vessels. The Egyptian lathe most likely evolved from the potter’s wheel and the bow drill, which may have been used to bore holes even before fire was discovered. In fact, fire may have been accidentally discovered by someone trying to drill a hole in a piece of wood. Skilled craftsmen have been fashioning “turned” wood objects ever since and the same basic technique has carried 18 |
Central California Life
through to the present day. Woodworkers, or more precisely, wood turners, can be found throughout the Central Valley creating beautiful and original works of art in wood imported from exotic locations all over the world, and from our own native trees which grow in abundance right here in the Valley. Today they use specialized power lathes and incredibly sharp tools to fashion exquisite art pieces for the high-end collectors’ market as well as utilitarian items like rolling pins and candlesticks at very reasonable prices. A top-end expert power lathe can cost upwards of $5,000, the tools another $2-$3,000, and all the necessary odds and ends like tool grinders, drill presses, band saws, finishes, waxes, sealers — another $5,000. A beginner can acquire a used lathe for as little as $300 and some tools for about $100. IT’S A TREASURE HUNT Then there is the wood. Rare and exotic woods imported from Africa, Asia, or South America can cost hundreds of
The club was formed in 1997 by a group of artisans who specialize in this unique and challenging form of expression. Valley wood turners create original works of art in wood from trees that grow all over the world, many in Central California.
dollars for what the uninitiated might view as a mere scrap. Yet, in the hands of an experienced wood turner, that scrap of Bolivian Rosewood could yield a $500 vase or a $1,000 bowl. “You never know what you’ve got until you cut into the wood,” says Tye Putman of the Sequoia Woodturners Association. “It’s a treasure hunt.” The club was formed in 1997 by a group of artisans who specialize in this unique and challenging form of expression. Two thousand years ago, in the Roman Era, some of those bowls, plates, cups and goblets would have been carved from wood native to the Levant and Middle East such as olive wood, sycamore maple, cedar, pear or almond. Those very same woods grow right here in the Valley, as well, and there is more, much more — pistachio, walnut, pecan, cherry, peach, apricot, oak, carob, maple, elm, mulberry and dozens of others. “South American and African woods such as purpleheart, cinnamon wood, Cocobolo, Bubinga, and the mahoganies are rare and desirable and
beautiful woods,” says Putman, president of the Sequoia Woodturners Association. “But we live in the Central Valley and we are so fortunate to have access to some of the world’s most beautiful woods right here. “My favorite woods to work with are walnut and olive. Olive is an ancient tree, an easily-turned and carved wood with incredibly beautiful grain running through it.” A DYING ART The club membership stands at about 50. It includes long-time hobbyists with years of experience who turn out exquisite bowls and other items that find a ready market at galleries and craft shows, along with beginners who receive valuable advice and lessons from the veterans who are anxious to share their expertise. At 52, Putman is actually the youngest member of the club and is currently serving his second term as president. “I learned from Jim Mathias, one of the truly great teachers and craftsmen
in the Central Valley. What he taught me about tools and technique and respect for the wood is what I try to pass on to my students. But, it’s a dying art,” he says. “Young people today who have the talent and desire to create something beautiful from wood, or stone, or clay or steel now have the option of designing it on a computer and creating it on a 3-D printer or laser cutting machines. It’s not the same. We find great satisfaction in using our own hands to fashion beautiful artifacts the old fashioned way.” Putman currently gives private lessons to several students at a rate of $25 per hour. According to the National Association of Woodturners, the average age of those who take up the hobby of wood turning is 62. Club member Jack Nelson wrote the book on wood turning, literally. At a recent demonstration inside his wellequipped workshop in Coalinga, Nelson shared his wood turning expertise with a group of eager Sequoia Woodturners students. “It’s hard to describe the satisfacCentral California Life
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“It’s hard to describe the satisfaction a person can derive from making something beautiful with their own two hands.” Jack Nelson shares his wood turning expertise with students in his workshop in Coalinga.
tion a person can derive from making something beautiful with their own two hands,” Nelson says. “I’ve been doing this for many years and I’m still learning.” Members are as eclectic as there are types of beautiful wood in the world. Their common passion is the urge to create something beautiful and useful from a chunk of wood that might otherwise go into the fireplace, or worse, the wood chipper or a farmer’s field-clearing pyre. Jack Schwartz of Hanford has been turning wood for as long as he can remember. And, at 100 years of age, there is a lot to remember. He still vividly recounts his service in the U.S. Navy in World War II; being captured by the Japanese near Guam, three days after the attack on Pearl harbor; and spending almost four years as POW at the Kawasaki 2B camp near Tokyo. He and his good friend, Don Wilcox, recently flew to Washington, DC together as part of the Honor Flight program for World War II veterans. And they spend hours together in 20 |
Central California Life
Don’s Hanford area garage, turning beautiful artifacts for the art show crowd. “The goal isn’t to get rich. Most of us just hope to cover the cost of wood and supplies, tools and sandpaper, and what have you,” Putman says. Nevertheless, members are always happy to sell an item of their own work. Putman’s biggest sale? “A large sycamore bowl, $475.00 at a craft fair on the coast.” Master woodworker, Gordon Bone of Shaver Lake, has studied all forms of carpentry and woodworking for decades. After retiring from a successful career designing freeways for Cal Trans, he spent the next several years building a dream home for his wife and children in the mountains. Inside, everything you see upstairs has been fashioned by Bone in his basement wonderland of saws, joiners, routers, drill presses, lathes — every tool known to man and nearly every kind of wood available on the market today. His expertise runs from exquisite small boxes of teak or ebony to custom-designed furniture, paneling, carved art, and turned items. Wood turners are always looking for wood to transform into something useful or beautiful. Farmers or homeowners who happen to have tree trimmings or dead wood that would otherwise go to the fireplace or wood chipper are invited to call the Sequoia Woodturners Association. Tye Putman can be reached at (559) 281-8499. • Bud Elliott retired in May 2014 from a broadcast journalism career that spanned 49 years, including 27 years at KSEE-TV in Fresno. He is currently a freelance writer.
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Stories from the Heartland
Bring Lainey Home Thousands rally to help a Clovis family find their lost dog by Madeline Shannon
A
pril 14 was one of the windiest days Jaimy Gaines had seen all year. A Clovis resident for a decade, she had experienced weather like this before, so she wasn’t worried as she let her two Miniature Schnauzers, Paisley and Lainey, into the backyard to go to the bathroom. She went back to cooking dinner. Twenty minutes later, her neighbor, Marsha, knocked on her door with Paisley in her arms. “Paisley was across the street,” Marsha said. “He was just standing in the neighbor’s yard.” Jaimy’s stomach dropped. “Did you see Lainey?” “No. Paisley was by himself.” Panicked, Jaimy and her husband, Richard, took off running down the street, calling for Lainey. A neighbor further down the street saw them running and asked, “Are you looking for the little black dog? She took off down to the park.” That was a good sign. That was the park Jaimy often took Lainey and Paisley to. She would definitely be there. The park was empty. By now it was getting dark. Jaimy and her husband went back to the house, got in the car, and drove all night looking for their little black dog, hoping she was still in the area. The hourslong search yielded no results. Lainey was gone.
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Central California Life
AN EMPTY SPOT AT THE FOOD BOWL Several long weeks have passed. Jaimy and Richard, along with Richard’s daughter, have made hundreds of signs to post to telephone poles at major intersections in Clovis and Fresno. Yard signs, door hangers, a social media campaign, several large banners, a digital billboard and a door-to-door search have not brought Lainey back home. A less committed pet parent might have given up by now. But as Jaimy Gaines sits at a table at La Parisien in Fresno at the beginning of June, it is obvious that there is still some hope left for Lainey’s safe return. “We’re hoping, of course, that we have a good outcome,” Jaimy said. “There’s no possibility that she can’t come back.” Jaimy and Richard got Lainey five years ago as a companion for their first dog, Paisley. Since they both worked all day, Paisley would be left at home by himself a lot, and the couple knew that their dog was lonely. The search for their second dog began. From the moment Lainey was taken in by her new family, she ruled the roost. Ever the Queen Bee, she spent most of her life on her back wanting belly rubs from her parents and to be groomed by Paisley. He didn’t seem to mind playing second fiddle to his new furry sister; he would gladly groom her for hours on end every single day. He would lick her from head to toe. He would clean her eyes, her ears, her teeth — everything. “It was kind of gross sometimes,” Jaimy said of the pair’s daily routine. “She would never have anything in her eyes. It’s
Jaimy Gaines, pet parent to Lainey, spends much of her time making yard signs with Lainey’s picture and information to give to local residents who want to help find the lost dog.
When traditional street signs didn’t work, Jaimy and her family moved on to yard signs and door hangers, all the while supplementing their efforts with a social media campaign. literally hours out of the day that he grooms her every day.” It wasn’t their only ritual. Every night, when Jaimy and Richard fed the dogs their dinner, Paisley would wait for Lainey to come to her bowl and finish eating dinner before he even started. He wouldn’t take a single bite until she was done. After dinner, the dogs would get two milk bones each, scarfing them down, happy to get the treats. Lainey’s disappearance took its toll on little Paisley. The first few weeks she was gone, Paisley still sat at his food bowl, waiting for Lainey to come and eat before he did. Although he has started eating again, he didn’t eat the first few weeks, it seemed, out of respect for Lainey. He still gets his two milk bones after dinner. Only now, Paisley doesn’t eat one. “I give him his two, and he only grabs one of them and drops the other
one,” Jaimy said. “He’s been waiting, I guess, to give Lainey one of the milk bones even though we always gave each of them two. There’s a growing pile of milk bones in our house now.” THE DOGS WHO AREN’T LAINEY It is not uncommon to see lost dog signs around Clovis. When traditional street signs didn’t work, Jaimy and her family moved on to yard signs and door hangers, all the while supplementing their efforts with a social media campaign. “I set up the Facebook page the first couple of days Lainey was missing,” Katie Golden, Jaimy’s stepdaughter, says. “I began sharing it with every lostand-found pet group we could find on Facebook.” Golden’s efforts to help in the search drew in a lot of supporters who love their animals just as much as Jaimy’s
family loves theirs. Over the next several weeks, people posted to the Facebook page: “I am looking for her everywhere I go.” “I pray that Lainey is safe and warm in someone’s bed.” “I feel so bad for Paisley.” Members of Bring Lainey Home, the Facebook page Golden set up, have been instrumental in not only getting the word out about Lainey being missing, but have drawn in local animal lovers in the area who have gone out to potential Lainey sightings all over town. “The amazing part of our group is that there have been so many people involved in going out to lost dog sightings,” Jaimy says. “I just have to put one post on the Facebook page to tell everyone that there’s been a sighting in a certain location. Central California Life
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A local animal shelter called Animal Compassion Team, or ACT, was able to help the Gaineses score one of their biggest victories: a digital billboard on Herndon and Shaw with Lainey’s picture and information on it. “There have been days where there has probably been about 30 members of our group that went out to a location because there was a stray dog out there.” On one such day, there was a sighting on Barstow in Clovis of a dog who looked similar to Lainey. Jaimy was contacted by people who were sure it was Lainey. People texted photos of the dog to Jaimy, telling her, “Your dog is over here!” Jaimy and multiple members of Bring Lainey Home went out to help the dog. Animal Control and Clovis police came out to try to catch the poor animal, to no avail. Later, Jaimy received another call about another black dog in Clovis and went to see if it was finally Lainey. “I turned around and traffic was backed up for four blocks, so I knew the dog was over there still,” Jaimy said. “I knew there were a bunch of people from our group who were stopping traffic.” The scared and lonely dog wouldn’t come to anyone trying to help him. No one could catch him, either. An hour after the rescue ended, there was a post on Facebook from a resident of a nearby apartment complex who saw the dog lying outside on the grass. “The dog was lying on the grass by 24 |
Central California Life
my apartment complex and I went and sat on the grass too with some Vienna sausages and the dog eventually came to me so I took care of him,” the post read. “After all that!” Jaimy said, laughing at the lengths she and the others went to trying to help these dogs. “It’s frustrating because we want to help them, and they’re so scared.” That dog had a happy ending; the woman who approached the dog on the grass outside her apartment adopted him. The Bring Lainey Home Facebook group, because his fur was so long and messy, named him, “Shaggy.” A COMMUNITY GATHERS A local animal shelter called Animal Compassion Team, or ACT, was able to help the Gaineses score one of their biggest victories: a digital billboard on Herndon and Shaw with Lainey’s picture and information on it. “Through ACT, we were able to get in touch with OutFront Media, the company that owns the billboard,” Jaimy said. “They allow ACT to use the unused advertising space.” When she first contacted the company, Jaimy had no idea how much it was going to cost to get Lainey’s face and
information on the digital billboard. She only hoped that it was reasonable enough to get Lainey’s face out there more. She didn’t have to wait long. After a discussion about acquiring graphics for the digital billboard, the space was secured. Jaimy didn’t have to pay a thing. “They told me, ‘No, we’ll take care of it. We want to help you,’” Jaimy said of the conversation. “They said they would take care of everything after getting the graphics from Lainey’s banners. Not even a week later, the billboard was up.” Along the way, others have come through for the Gaines family. The Clovis Police Department allowed Lainey’s street signs to stay long after receiving complaints about them. (The city of Clovis has since asked Jaimy to remove all the signs posted on utility poles because they violate the city’s sign ordinance.) California Highway Patrol officers call Jaimy, telling her they are on the lookout for Lainey. Cheryl Weber, a real estate agent, often saw Lainey’s street signs on her way to work. A pet parent of dogs herself, the idea of a family going through what the Gaineses were going through tugged at her heartstrings. She felt compelled to do something.
Jaimy’s stepdaughter, Katie, set up the Bring Lainey Home Facebook page, which was instrumental in rallying the community together to try to find Lainey.
“I thought about doing door hangers because that’s something I do for my business,” Weber said of her idea to help the Gaineses. “I asked my friends, Tony and Jennifer Wiest at CalForms, about the cost of doing these hangers for Lainey.” 1500 door hangers were donated to Jaimy’s family by Weber and the Wiests at CalForms. In the last two months, the Gaines family and the members of the Bring Lainey Home Facebook group have resorted to every idea possible trying to recover Lainey safely. One of these members, Sarah Farrell, reached out to Jaimy hoping that she can use something she loves — crafting — as a means to help Jaimy and Richard find their beloved dog. The resulting fundraiser, in which Farrell is selling her products, is being used as a way to increase the funds available to help find her. “I just figured a fundraiser could help,” Farrell said. “This fundraiser is for Lainey and to help whatever it takes to
One of Lainey’s lost dog signs in a Clovis resident’s front yard.
get her home. I am hoping this will get people who wanted to donate a reason to put a bid on an item.” At the time this issue went to press, the fundraiser had not concluded and the amount raised was not available. Although the money is intended to help search for and recover Lainey, if she is not found by April 14, 2016, the one-year anniversary of her disappearance, the money will be turned over to ACT to help other animals. THE SEARCH CONTINUES When Lainey went missing in April, Jaimy and her family never thought they would still be looking for her. Although she has not yet been found, many other dogs have been and have been reunited with their own families or found new ones through Team Lainey’s efforts. “I don’t even know how many dogs have been picked up and helped and found, but it’s been quite a few that we’ve been able to come across,” Jaimy says.
Bring Lainey Home on Facebook, although created to help the Gaineses in their search for Lainey, have helped countless other animals. When Lainey does come home, Jaimy hopes to continue the Facebook group as a means to help other families and their lost pets be reunited. “We have to keep going to help everybody else, just to pay it forward and make sure that nobody has to go through building this thing that we’ve built from the ground up,” Jaimy says of the Facebook group’s future. Until that day comes, the family’s efforts, as well as those of the group, will be focused exclusively on Lainey’s search and rescue. “The main focus is finding Lainey right now, “ Gaines says. “This is all about Lainey until we get her home.” • Madeline Shannon is a graduate of Fresno State’s journalism program and works as a freelance writer for several publications. She is also an active blogger.
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Stories from the Heartland
The legacy of
Wilson’s Motorcycles rie by Vale
Shelton
photo courtesy of Doug Wilson
E
xhilaration — it’s what all motorcyclists feel when they rev up their bikes’ engines and ride off into the wind. With no smudged window to distort their view, riders see every vehicle, building and tree they pass. They smell every scent intensely, whether it is the sweetness of the Valley’s orange blossoms or the fecal fragrance exuding from its many dairy farms. They feel every shift in the weather, embracing the three-degree drop in temperature in the shade during the summer heat. This was how every ride over the course of 60 years felt to Doug Wilson, now 85. “It was the most fun you could have,” said Wilson, reminiscing about his many cross-country rides with wife Coleen — rides like one up to Pike’s Peak in Colorado and in and around Mammoth Lakes in California. It’s been years since Doug has rode a motorcycle, as old age has taken its toll on his back and a leg which he can 28 |
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hardly move. But he still remembers his riding days fondly. When asked if he missed it, his immediate spirited reply “Oh gosh, yeah” said it all. Although his love of riding is apparent, Wilson and his family are known in the Valley’s motorcycle industry for so much more than their enthusiasm for motorcycles. For nearly 100 years, spanning four generations, the Wilsons have sold all matter of motorcycles from Harley Davidson, Triumph, Bultaco and BSA to Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki in shops in Fresno and now Madera. Doug himself began working at his father’s Harley Davidson shop in downtown Fresno at the age of 12. World War II had started and many of his father’s workers were overseas serving in the military or across town doing jobs that supported the war industry, so Doug and his younger brother stepped up and learned to repair motorcycles at the shop. Little did Doug know that his “fill
in” job would transform into a lifelong career and passion, a passion he would eventually pass on to his own son and grandson. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS It all started when Wilson’s father, Harry D. “Ott” Wilson purchased his first motorcycle in 1913. The tale Doug heard so many times growing up assisting in his father’s shop was this: Ott left his home on O Street one day and paid a visit to the local Harley dealer on Kern. It’s unknown whether he went there to buy a motorcycle or apply for a job, but he came home later that evening with both. Thus, the history of motorcycle riding and selling in the Wilson family began. For four years, Ott Wilson worked at Ben Bresee’s Harley Dealership in downtown Fresno. Then, in 1917, the U.S. Army sent Ott to France, where he spent his tour of duty repairing military motorcycles. Once his tour was over, Ott
Although Doug is long retired and lives in Clovis, he makes the trek to Madera almost every day to assist his son and be amongst the motorcycles he loves so much. resumed his position at Fresno’s Harley shop. Just a few short months after his return, Bresee died in a motorcycle accident and Ott was tasked with taking over the shop. He and co-worker, Claud Salmon, partnered up and ended up opening a new shop — Salmon and Wilson Motorcycles — at 457 Broadway Street. In 1929, Salmon took a job at a Harley dealership in Oakland, leaving Wilson sole proprietor of the shop, which had its name changed to Wilson’s Motorcycles. The Wilson family continued to operate the business until Doug and his brother Harry “Butch” Wilson sold it 60 years later, in 1989. A NEW ERA Selling the famous Wilson’s Motorcycle shop may have signaled the end of an era, but it was far from the end of the family’s legacy in the motorcycle industry. The Wilson family couldn’t stay away from its passion for long and, in 2006, Doug’s son Robert purchased Madera Honda Suzuki at 100 E. 6th Street in Madera. One of Robert’s sons recently began working at the Madera shop, introducing a fourth generation of Wilsons to the industry. “The love for the industry still burns strong for the Wilson family,” Robert Wilson writes on the Madera Honda Suzuki website. “That is the reason we
photo courtesy of Doug Wilson
strive so hard to create a positive buying experience for each customer that walks in the store, whether it’s a $2 bolt or a new motorcycle. We all ride and are ready to share all the great experiences the motorcycle world has to offer.” Although Doug is long retired and lives in Clovis, he makes the trek to Madera almost every day to assist his son and be amongst the motorcycles he loves so much. “He goes to visit with his friends,” Doug’s wife Coleen said. “I just enjoy being down there,” Doug said. “It’s Robert’s shop and he has
a good grip on it, but I like being able to talk to the customers there and share what I know.” 60-PLUS YEARS OF MOTORCYCLES Over the years, Doug Wilson has witnessed drastic changes in the motorcycle industry. The appearance of motorcycles, their functionality and the image held by their riders have all shifted, he said. When Ott first opened up his shop, Doug said, motorcycles still very much-resembled bicycles with motors, unlike today’s “hot rod” custom-made Central California Life
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Coleen and Doug Wilson Photo by Dan Minkler
Harley’s with big bodies and shiny sleek paint jobs and the sports models designed for aerodynamics and speed. While fun, those older motorcycles were created out of necessity, Doug explained. That need was short-lived as cars became more affordable. To cope, Doug said, his father and other dealers had to find new uses for motorcycles. “Motorcycles were created about the same time as cars, but they were much cheaper,” Doug said. “But, when Henry Ford invented the production line, the mass production just killed the motorcycle industry. You could buy a Model T Ford for the same price as a motorcycle, so why buy the motorcycle? We had to create new uses for it. “I remember hearing that one of the Harley founders, Walter Davidson, even visited my dad’s shop sometime in the 1920s and told him he had to create activity for guys buying motorcycles.” 30 |
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According to Doug, Ott took the advice from Davidson to heart, doing all he could to interest Fresnans in riding. One way he garnered interest was by hosting races Thursday nights at the Fresno State College stadium’s speedway track. The races were held from 1934-36. “That was the biggest thing there was,” Doug said. “Every Thursday night as a kid I remember being at that stadium watching these big time racers. Those were world champion-caliber guys. My dad’s friend Sprouts [Lloyd “Sprouts” Elder] became a world champion and he drew all the crowds.” SUPPLYING COMMERCIAL FLEETS Aside from riders who raced, motorcycles also served a purpose in the commercial market. Fresno Bee carriers, for example, would purchase their motorcycles from Wilson’s.
“The newspaper boys used to go all around the county delivering the paper and they each had a huge carrier route — 50 miles a day or more,” Doug said. “One guy went clear to Bakersfield and back each day and those were dirt roads then. They were pretty tough guys and they would have these saddlebags full of newspapers. “They took good care of their motorcycles and knew about repairs and everything. At one point, my dad even hired a couple of them to work at the shop.” Delivery boys from local pharmacies also rode bikes from Wilson’s, though they preferred three-wheelers. Local garages also used three-wheelers to tow cars. “Those three-wheelers were pretty amazing,” Doug said. “They had a tow bar and cars back then all had the same type of bumper that you could put a clamp on to tow. Most of the major
The Wilson family has sold motorcycles for nearly 100 years, spanning four generations. Three of those generations are pictured here, including Lisa Wilson, Robert Wilson, Kyle Wilson, Doug Wilson and Coleen Wilson Photo by Dan Minkler
garages had those and that is one of the main commercial businesses the Harley dealership lived on.” The law enforcement industry also kept motorcycles alive. The Fresno Police Department purchased its fleet of motorcycles from Wilson’s and so did the County Cops, who later became the California Highway Patrol. A “GOOD” MOTORCYCLE GUY The prestige that officers brought to the image of motorcycles is something Doug always strove to maintain, as the image of riders became tainted when he was in his teens. “Motorcycles have a more positive image now, but when I was a kid there were a lot of bad guys out there driving motorcycles,” Doug said. “When I was 16, my friend and I rode down to the San Joaquin River and hung out near the sand dunes. On the way back, we pulled
into this restaurant on Herndon and Highway 99 and they wouldn’t wait on us because we rode motorcycles. “I understood why. A couple days before, some group of motorcycle guys came in there roughhousing, swearing and raising heck. That day I made up my mind that I wouldn’t be a bad guy and ride a motorcycle. To this day, I have never had a beer or smoked a cigarette.” Now, as Wilson sits in his living room surrounded by dozens of black and white photographs and motorcycle memories, he smiles, proud of the decisions he made as a “good motorcycle guy.” “I’ll never forget those days,” he said. “I loved riding and working at the shop. Motorcycles may not be for everyone. Riding can be tiring. The weather can be adverse sometimes. “But, every ride is an adventure and you see and smell things differently. That was fun for me.” •
photo courtesy of Doug Wilson
Valerie Shelton has worked as a reporter and editor for several Central Valley publications. Currently, she is the editor of the Clovis Roundup, a community newspaper covering news and events in the growing city of Clovis.
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Winner of the
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559.432.2466
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Stories from the Heartland
Honor thy father by Bud Elliott
Honor Flight #6 participants at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC in April. Photo by Bud Elliott
W
hen the Allegiant Airlines charter jet carrying 69 members of the Central Valley Honor Flight #6 touched down at Baltimore Washington International Airport at 6:05 in the evening on Monday, April 27, the Sandtown riot was already three hours old. As they landed, those veterans and their guardians sitting on the port side of the plane could have, had they wished, looked 10.6 miles across the flattening horizon and seen smoke rising from a CVS drug store at 3560 W. Franklin St. Fleeting images of a war seven decades past. It is not unusual for a father and son to make the Honor Flight — the father as a World War II veteran, his son serving as his “guardian,” or helper on the trip. On this flight, however, both 90 year old John D’Angelo, and his son, 65 year old John Anthony D’Angelo, were the vets, each with his own guardian. They paid little attention to the rising violence streaming across television monitors in the air terminal coffee bars and fast food joints as the company of World War II veterans moved through the corridors to waiting buses. Soon they would be guests at a Baltimore VFW post for a barbeque dinner, then convoy to the Marriott Hotel overlooking the Pentagon. The Honor Flight program was born 10 years ago when the first group of World War II veterans flew from Ohio on privately donated small planes to Washington, DC to visit the newly-dedicated World War II Memorial. Since then, the Honor Flight network has grown to 127 hubs in 41 states. More 34 |
Central California Life
than 100,000 vets have made the trip, each of which is supported entirely by private donations and private volunteers. THE REBIRTH OF PATRIOTISM — IT’S A GOOD THING A mother and daughter team made this trip, as well. Ninety-year-old Evelyn Harp of Madera served in World War II as a Navy WAVE, treating burn victims at the San Diego Naval Hospital. Her daughter, Marge, was along as her guardian. Marge is a registered nurse and works at the VA Hospital in Fresno.
Marge Harpe and her mother, Evelyn, 90, of Madera were the only mother and daughter participants aboard Honor Flight #6. Photo by Bud Elliott
“I came on this flight to honor my dad and all the other World War II veterans and to be a bridge as the Honor Flight program pivots into the Korean War and Vietnam era.” –John Anthony D’Angelo Bud Elliott (left) interviews John D’Angelo and son, John Anthony D’Angelo at the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Washington, DC. Photo by Gene Day
“This (trip) has been so inspirational,” Marge said. “I only wish that every American could see the reception that these old veterans receive all along the route. It is genuine admiration for their service and their sacrifices. It is deep and heartfelt and completely spontaneous. “I think we are witnessing a strong rebirth of patriotism in America. It is a good thing.” The veterans come from Kerman and Taft, Tulare and Manteca. Seventy years ago they fought and died and cried in places with strange names like Eniwetok and Anzio, Guadalcanal, Corregedor, The Ardenne Forest. Collectively, they
represent all branches of the military and have received hundreds of battlefield awards for bravery and valor. At the side of each vet was a “guardian” — a family member or friend who volunteered to help every step of the way. The Veterans Administration tells us that World War II veterans are passing away at the rate of 650 every day. Soon, there will be none left, hence the urgency to ferry as many as possible to the nation’s capital to see and touch and find closure at the memorials erected for them. John D’Angelo served in World War II and is in a wheelchair. John Anthony D’Angelo served in Vietnam
and also relies on a wheelchair much of the time. Both men, and all the others on this trip, eagerly awaited the next two days when they would tour several war memorials, including the recently completed World War II Memorial, The Vietnam Wall, The U.S. Marine Memorial (commonly known as the Iwo Jima Memorial), Arlington National Cemetery, The Women’s Memorial and the Air Force and Navy Memorials. The elder D’Angelo flew scores of missions as a waist-gunner aboard B-26 Marauders with the Army Air Corps’ 387th bomb group. They chewed up Nazi military and industrial sites all over Europe and, later, in Operation Crossbow, concentrated on the V-1 and V-2 buzz bomb installations which rained such terror and destruction on the British Isles after D-day. His story is revealed on his face and by the long pauses between words. THE LONGEST RANGE BULLET EVER John Anthony tells both stories. “I came on this flight to honor my dad and all the other World War II veterans and to be a bridge as the Honor Flight program pivots into the Korean Vietnam Veteran John Anthony D’Angelo of Manteca chats with reporters at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Photo by Bud Elliott Central California Life
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An unidentified woman points to the name of a loved one at the Vietnam Wall. Photo by Bud Elliott
More than 16 million Americans served under arms in World War II. Now in their late 80s, 90s and early 100s, these men and women are all that remains of what Tom Brokaw called The Greatest Generation. War and Vietnam era,” he said. As a member of the Army’s 520th Crash and Rescue team attached to the 101st Airborne Battalion operating mainly in the A Shau Valley in 1969 and 1970, he flew aboard Huey helicopters, straight into enemy fire to pull hundreds of wounded Americans to safety. He and his chopper were covered with layers of Agent Orange time and time again as they followed the C-130 spray planes into the jungle. It wasn’t until many years later that the toxins stored in his bone marrow would render a terminal prognosis for multiple myelomas. “That’s the longest range bullet, ever,” he joked. John Anthony was among the cadre of American veterans who suffered jeers and insults as they returned from duty in an unpopular war in Vietnam. He might have seen similar images on television screens, then, as now — burning cities, angry scowls on furious faces, policemen cowed and confused 36 |
Central California Life
as open rebellion seemed imminent. Cities and neighborhoods at war with themselves. As the sixth Central Valley Honor Flight flew home late Wednesday afternoon, they left West Baltimore under an uneasy curfew. These men and women had nothing to do with the short war in Sandtown. They had everything to do with preserving the nation’s freedom 70 years ago. More than 16 million Americans served under arms in World War II. Now in their late 80s, 90s and early 100s, these men and women are all that remains of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” The Central Valley Honor Flight organization pays the tab for each World War II veteran’s trip to the Nation’s Capitol. To support the Honor Flights, please visit the website www.cvhonorflight.org. • Bud Elliott retired in May 2014 from a broadcast journalism career that spanned 49 years, including 27 years at KSEE-TV in Fresno. He is currently a freelance writer.
I
f you love a beautiful, efficient garden that doesn’t take a lot of work, Eddie, the Lazy Landscaper’s your guy!
For sage advice on how to enjoy nature’s best while taking a rest, please “Like” Eddie’s new Facebook page at facebook.com/lazylandscaper. Enjoy the Lazy Landscaper’s gardening tips and great sense of humus! You already know Eddie can be funny while sharing valuable gardening facts, if you’ve seen him on TV or heard him on the radio. eddie@thelazylandscaper.com TMs are marks of Paradigm Shift Marketing © 2015 All rights reserved
Gardening Made Easy ™ Central California Life
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The Wish List
Summer Gifts Patrick James
Photos by Dan Minkler
780 West Shaw Avenue Fresno (559) 224-5500
Patrick James, purveyor to gentlemen, has been a fixture in quality clothing for men in Fresno since 1962. Now with stores around the west, Patrick James has become a respected symbol to men with discriminating fashion taste in California, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada.
Summer is here, and what better time to visit a Patrick James near you to update your summer wardrobe? Find popular brands there such as Robert Graham, Nat Nast, Tommy Bahama, Scott Barber, 34 Heritage, Agave and more. Think cool, lightweight fabrics, bright colors and a comfortable fit. When only the finest quality and very best styles will do, you only need to remember one name in any season…Patrick James West Coast Classic. To find the Patrick James store nearest you go online to www.patrickjames.com.
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Central California Life
Clovis True Value Hardware 1890 Shaw Ave. Clovis (559) 325-6730 With decades of experience in the hardware store business locally, the folks who own and run their newer, convenient location know what customers want and need, including exemplary service and hard-to-find items. Here are a few of those carefully selected products that distinguish Clovis True Value. The grill of your dreams; just imagine combining the ease of cooking with gas while enjoying the juicy flavors from cooking over a real wood fire and without the waste experienced with charcoal. From ribs and chicken to pizza and vegetables, the new Pit Boss is digitally controlled per your setting, automatically feeding only enough wood pellets as required to maintain a consistent, desired temperature. Set it and forget it. Just $499.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side; but it can be for even the water-conscious. Now your brown lawn can be green again quickly without wasting a drop of water and for just pennies a day. Get it Green ™ is not a paint; but a safe water-based material that instantly penetrates the grass blades and that can be sprayed on your lawn lasting up to months with one application. A proprietary microsphere blend, this environmentally friendly spray-on solution eventually turns to compost that actually benefits your soil for future plant/lawn growth. Just $29 for a quart concentrate or $12.99 for the 24 oz, readyto-use size.
Chalk one up to colorful design. Now you can achieve a vintage, distressed look without sacrificing a variety of custom color choices. Chalked Ultra Matte latex paint from RUST-OLEUM ® is easy to use and dries quickly to a velvetysmooth matte finish on a variety of surfaces. Available at a fraction of the price of many hobby store products at just $16.99 per quart-sized container.
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Summer Gifts Belmont Nursery
7730 E. Belmont Ave. Fresno (559) 255-6860
Photos courtesy of Belmont Nursery
For more than 70 years, Belmont Nursery has been known by home gardeners and landscape professionals alike as a reliable and respected source for quality, locally grown plants and trees, gardening expertise and exemplary customer service. The staff at Belmont take great pride in discovering, cultivating and making available, often before any other grower or garden center in Central California, unique varieties of plants that can do well in our area. As serious as the Belmont staff are about their business, they also have a sense of humor and can be very creative, too, in what they grow. The following new plant varieties are wonderful examples as well as conversation pieces. Ask for them at your local nursery/garden center or visit Belmont Nursery. Grape expectations-Have you ever fantasized about owning your own vineyard? Well now you can right on your own patio in a tiny pot (6 to 8”) or in a small space in the flowerbed. The new Pixie Grapes™ are pint-sized, hardy grape vines that can be grown on tiny trellises, producing miniature grape clusters on mature vines only one to two feet in height. Available in four different varieties; Cabernet Franc; Pinot Meunier Purple, Pinot Meunier White, and Riesling. Give your guests a quick “vineyard” tour and a glass of their favorite wine. Depending on demand all varieties may not be available soon.
California Gourmet Company
2015 W. Bullard Ave., Fresno (559) 432-9135
Asian Pears will be harvested in August starting with the Hosui Asian Pear, followed by the Shinko. Both are excellent varieties — crispy, crunchy and very sweet. The ECO label by Homegrown Organic Farms was developed to make organic California fresh fruit affordable. It’s good for the grower and good for the consumer. Figs are $19 for two pounds, $36.95 for four pounds and $69.95 for eight pounds.
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What’s more popular than the American favorite combo of ketchup and fries? Now imagine a single plant that produces both tomatoes and potatoes! That’s right, this amazing creation is comprised of a grafted cherry tomato and a white potato plant with the tomatoes growing on the top portion and the potatoes developing below ground. You say potato and your friends say tomato. Either way, you’ll all enjoy this most unusual specimen!
A. Feliche
2031 W. Bullard Ave. Fresno (559) 449-0286
Celebrating its 20th year in business, A. Feliche offers fine-designed fashion in a friendly atmosphere at reasonable prices. Featuring wearable treasures from both American and international design houses, owner Karina Khachatourian takes great pleasure in helping her clients “who are, or quickly become, my friends” choose the look just right for them. Enjoy a cup of Armenian coffee or a glass of wine and relax with Karina, your new “bff,” in her colorful boutique. Keep cool while looking hot in this fetching black and white creation. Dress it up or down, depending on the occasion. From Artex Fashions in sizes small to 2x;
$169
Hand-dyed, multi-colored, cool summer dress from Art of Cloth. Each garment is a unique piece of art. Cotton/Spandex blend; washable in sizes small to 2x;
Guaranteed to draw attention is this awardwinning design pendant necklace from Shabana Khan™ Jewelry. The single, large rubycolored stone hangs at just the right length from the sparkling goldplated chain. $184
$178
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Summer Gifts Ara Karkazian Watch & Jewelry Co.
1776 W Bullard Ave, Fresno (559) 431-0900
Clifton 10055 Watch from Baume Et Mercier Tell
Luminox SXC PC Carbon GMT 5020 Space Series
43 MM SelfWinding
45.5 MM
$4950
$495
This watch from the Clifton collection embodies the archetypal masculine elegance of the 1950s. It features a satin-finished, silver-colored dial that displays, in addition to the hours and minutes, the day, month and moon phase. This timepiece is driven by a Swiss-made, mechanical self-winding caliber that is visible through a transparent sapphire crystal case. It is water-resistant up to 50 meters. Determinedly urban, it is worn on a black alligator strap closed by an adjustable, triple folding buckle with security push-pieces.
These watches were made for space. They were designed in partnership with SXC (Space Expedition Corporation) to be worn by the astronauts and passengers of the SXC Space Program. This watch glows for up to 25 years in any light condition. It is water resistant up to 200 meters and features a special HH battery. The case is made of 30 percent carbon-reinforced polycarbonate and 30 percent bezel.
Tacori Engagement Ring, RoyalT Collection Platinum: $14,070 not including the center diamond Gold: $12,370 not including the center diamond Matching wedding band: Platinum: $11,040 Gold: $9,610 We dare you to look away. Graduating diamonds keep the look contemporary yet heirloom, and lead up to the grand finale, a princess cut center diamond. Intricate diamond crescent details make this ring an absolute stunner. RoyalT designs are only available in platinum, 18kt rose gold, and 18kt yellow gold. 42 |
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This engagement ring can accommodate a variety of center diamond sizes, starting at 2 carats, available by special order. It can accommodate Emerald,Oval,Princess,Round diamond shapes, available by special order. Total carats in engagement ring as pictured (not including center diamond) equal approximately 1.65 ctw.
Desti nations
El Dorado County:
A place to return time and again Story and photos by Amy Guerra
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he sunlight filtered through the trees and onto the curvy road in abstract patterns as we drove through El Dorado County. Despite the drought, fields of green grass and meadows of brilliantly colored flowers filled the space between the apple orchards and vineyards that lined the highway. On the outskirts of Placerville, we arrived at Smith Place House, a restaurant housed in a historic building that doubled as a health center. Utilitarian, but rustically elegant. We avoided the main entrance into the restaurant and were escorted down the basement stairs and into a mine where a dark wood table was lined with bar stools and candlelight. Almost two days had passed since our ragtag group of writers and radio personalities had come together to tour wineries scattered throughout El Dorado County. We’d seen the original, historic cellar of Boeger Winery, which sits on a homestead that dates back to 1850s, walked he grassy flowered hills of Wofford Acres Vineyard, and enjoyed wine with a lunch, catered by Allez!, sitting on the weathered picnic tables 46 |
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Miraflores Rose Wine
Tasting room at Wofford Acres Vineyards
There’s a spirit of familiarity in El Dorado, a genuineness and authenticity that goes largely unmatched. that overlook Holly’s Hill Vineyards. We’d eaten hand-fired pizza on the deck of Gold Mountain Winery and Lodge at the very moment the sun sank behind the perfectly manicured vineyard it overlooks. Still, this dinner was the exclamation point to a realization that the wine, food and people of El Dorado are all reasons to return time and again. As we passed the wines — carefully paired with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and sophisticated melon dishes — around the table, it was impossible to ignore the spirit of collaboration among the wineries. Each winery harbors a simple and authentic approach to making wine, but on this night, whether it was the Rose from Miraflores, the Barbera from Mastroserio or the Toscanello from Nello Olivo Wines, individual winemakers poured a second glass of their competitors’ wines, sipped them slowly and complimented them genuinely. Central California Life
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There’s a spirit of familiarity in El Dorado, a genuineness and authenticity that goes largely unmatched. In October, a quiet flush of families mostly from the Sacramento area will come to this quiet place affectionately referred to as “Apple Hill” to enjoy the trails of apple barns that dot the county to tour apple farms and eat homemade apple pies from roadside stands. Some will get the opportunity to stop at a few of the many wineries in the area, sample the hard apple cider (a local specialty) and tour the small shops that line downtown Placerville, once
known as “Hangtown” because of the numerous hangings that occurred in the county square during the Gold Rush era. It’s a county well worth the visit. • For more information about El Dorado County Wineries, visit eldoradowines.org. To learn more about El Dorado County Farm Tours, visit eldorado.com/farm-trails.php. Amy Guerra is a criminal defense attorney practicing in Fresno. She has written for several publications throughout California and enjoys writing about the law, food, travel and all things Fresno.
Vineyards & Wineries BOEGER WINERY 1709 Carson Rd, Placerville 95667 (530) 622-8094 http://www.boegerwinery.com/
CHATEAU DAVELL 3550 Carson Rd, Camino 95709 (530) 644-2016 http://www.chateaudavell.com/
BUMGARNER WINERY 3550 Carson Rd, Camino 95709 (530) 303-3418 http://www.bumgarnerwinery.com/
DAVID GIRARD VINEYARDS 741 Cold Springs Rd, Placerville 95667 (530) 295-1833 http://www.davidgirardvineyards.com/
CEDARVILLE VINEYARD 6320 Marestail Rd, Somerset 95684 (530) 620-9463 http://www.cedarvillevineyard.com/
FINDLETON ESTATE AND VINEYARD 3500 Carson Rd, Camino 95709 (530) 644-4018 http://www.finzinwines.com/
CHARLES B. MITCHELL VINEYARDS 8221 Stoney Creek Rd, Somerset 95684 (530) 620-3467 http://charlesbmitchell.com/
GOLD MOUNTAIN WINERY AND LODGE 7750 Fairplay Rd, Fairplay 95684 (530) 620-6888 http://www.goldmountainwineryandlodge.com/
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GWINLLAN ESTATE VINEYARD AND WINERY Fairplay Rd, Somerset 95684 (530) 723-2879 http://www.gwinllanestate.com/ HOLLY’S HILL VINEYARD 3680 Leisure Ln, Placerville 95667 (530) 344-0227 http://www.hollyshill.com/ LAVA CAP WINERY 2221 Fruitridge Rd, Placerville 95667 (530) 621-0175 http://www.lavacap.com/ MANDROÑA VINEYARDS 2560 High Hill Rd, Camino 95709 (530) 644-5948 http://madronavineyards.com/
Restaurants MASTROSERIO WINERY 7351 Fairplay Rd, Somerset 95684 (530) 417-4321 http://www.mastroseriowinery.com/
SIERRA VISTA VINEYARDS AND WINERY 4560 Cabernet Way, Placerville 95667 (530) 622-7221 http://www.sierravistawinery.com/
ALLEZ! 4242 Fowler Ln, Diamond Springs 95619 (530) 621-1160 http://www.allezeldorado.com/
MIRAFLORES WINERY 2120 Four Springs Trail, Placerville 95667 (530) 647-8505 https://www.mirafloreswinery.com/
SKINNER VINEYARDS AND WINERY 8054 Fairplay Rd, Somerset 95684 (530) 620-2220 http://skinnervineyards.com/
CASCADA 2222 Francisco Dr, El Dorado Hills 95762 (916) 934-0800 http://eatcascada.com/
MOUNT AUKUM WINERY 6781 Tower Rd, Mt Aukum 95656 (530) 620-1675 http://www.mountaukum.com/
WOFFORD ACRES VINEYARDS 1900 Hidden Valley Ln, Camino 95709 (530) 626-6858 http://www.wavwines.com/
OUR FARM TABLE 311 Main Street, Placerville 95667 (530) 295-8140 http://ourfarmtable.com/
NELLO OLIVO WINES 643 Bee St, Placerville 95667 (530) 409-5603 http://www.nelloolivo.com/
SMITH FLATHOUSE 2021 Smith Flat Rd, Placerville 95667 (530) 621-1003 http://smithflathouse.com/
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GLAMPING
camping gets glamorous by Bradley T. Wajda
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icture this: It is the early 1970s and I am on my first camping trip as a Boy Scout. My assignment is to hike in several miles and construct my own shelter from the landscape. I wake up wet from the elements and in the midst of a pile of rubble that used to be my home for the night. By the time I earned the honor of Eagle Scout, I vowed to be done with camping forever. Now, I find myself living in a world that has $250,000 RVs and something enigmatically called “glamping.” According to glamping.com, the term is a contraction of “glamorous camping.” Traditional glamping is characterized by using a tent or other temporary structure along with transplanted comforts of home including rugs, furniture, electricity, formal accouterments and even formal attire. 50 |
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Rebecca Leeds and Matt Wagner play cards in a scene that exemplifies the glamorous camping known as “glamping.” Photo by Pamela Leeds
Glamping exudes a certain luxury, such as a beautifully decorated table. (Marshmallow items, fruit and jams provided by California Gourmet Company, californiagourmetcompany.com) Photo by Pamela Leeds Central California Life
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Anything counts as glamping as long as it is glamorous and provides direct access to the great outdoors.
Glamping has quickly morphed from temporary structures into semi-permanent ones like RVs and even permanent dwellings. These permanent dwellings range from rustic cabins to luxury cottages with comforts far beyond those of home, all designed to pamper you in natural surroundings. This effectively means that anything counts as glamping as long as it is glamorous and provides direct access to the great outdoors. Glamping has spread to every state in the union and prices are as high as $3,000 per night 52 |
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for the most luxurious glampsites. Trying to uncover the history of glamping is a challenge. Some websites point to the extravagant tent cities of Turkish Ottoman sultans as the first
historical evidence of what is now referred to as “glamping.� Others look to the luxurious African safaris of wealthy Westerners in the early 1900s as a starting point. Although it is unclear exactly when and how glamping, as a trend, got started, the popularity of the concept was helped along 15 years ago when two sisters, Becky Clarke and Maurrie Sussman, realized that many women bought their own trailers and campers, renovated them to look fashionable and reflect current trends
DEFENDING YOUR FREEDOM At the Law offices of Amy K. Guerra, we think the most effective representation comes from strength in trial, but also in negotiations and motion writing. For that reason, we practice aggressive and conscientious representation on misdemeanors, felonies and appeals in the following areas (both adult and juvenile): DUIs Theft-Related Crimes White-Collar Crimes Domestic Violence Serious & Violent Felonies Murder and Attempted Murder Gang Crimes Drug Crimes ...and more.
The Law Office of Amy K. Guerra
2014 Tulare Street, Suite #310 Fresno, CA. 93721 (559) 898.2889 (mobile) (559) 264.8872 (office) (559) 264.8875 (fax) Central California Life
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I like to bring my fine china, silver and crystal with me when I go camping. –Keynan Ammons, a Central California glamper
Photo by Dan Minkler
in interior design, and often left their husbands and boyfriends behind to camp with an all-female group. Both women were inspired to start their own organization that reflected this development in camping, and Sisters on the Fly was born. “It’s become really popular with women who are married to very outdoorsy men,” said Janine Pettit, a glamping blogger at girlcamper.blogspot. com, who actively participates in the activity herself. “These are men who go hunting and fishing and want their wives to come along, but a lot of women will only go if they can bring a nice mattress and linens and tablecloths.” While it may sound like a form of camping made popular (or non-negotiable) by women, men have become 54 |
Central California Life
particularly fond of bringing nice things with them on their camping trips. “I like to bring my fine china, silver and crystal with me when I go camping,” Keynan Ammons, a Central California glamper, said. “I don’t think of it as a big deal, though—nice things tend to get toned down really fast when you’re somewhere rustic.” Many people find the charm of bringing luxury items on camping trips appealing. The aesthetic of early 20th century African safaris, especially, has informed not just the design choices of those who renovate their campers — think the tent in the movie Out of Africa — but have compelled people to bring along their best goods from home. “I have an appreciation of nice things,” Ammons says. “It’s important
to take a step back when you have nice things, because you’re around it all the time and you can become numb to it. You have to remove yourself from your surroundings sometimes to really maintain an appreciation of the things you have.” The glamping trend has grown very quickly in the last several years. Sisters on the Fly, now thousands of members strong, has glamping groups in at least five different countries, including England, France and Scotland. Regional groups plan their own trips, and many of them draw large numbers of participants. “I have gone on many trips with Sisters on the Fly — Joshua Tree, Kernville, Hot Springs, Arizona — and they’ve all been interesting,” says local SOTF glamper, Pam White. “I went on a glamp-
Photos by Dan Minkler
ing trip to Ventura earlier this year, and more than 300 women were there. It was a very big gathering.” White got started with the organization after reading an article in Sunset Magazine about Sisters on the Fly several years ago and, after all the years she spent camping with her daughters as they grew up, thought she would enjoy camping with other women who decorated vintage trailers. She liked the idea of these women who glamped doing it right with vintage trailers. “When I first joined the organization in 2008 or 2009, I started looking for a trailer right away and found a 1951 Shasta out in Sanger,” White said. “It was pretty rough and pretty old, but my husband and I bought it and fixed it up. We got it all repaired before we started decorating and painting it.” For more information about places to glamp in one of the country’s most popular and beloved national parks, please see the special Yosemite Gateway Guide. • Madeline Shannon contributed to the reporting and writing of this story.
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Join us this September as we celebrate our 20th year
Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. —Coco Chanel
A Feliche Inc 2031 W Bullard Ave Fresno, CAÂ 93711 Phone: (559) 449-0286
Health and Wellness
Medication and the summer months: “Do not store this medication above 98.6 degrees” by Bradley T. Wajda, D.O.
W During his 25 years of practicing in the Central Valley, Dr. Bradley T. Wajda (aka “Dr. Brad”) has amassed extensive experience in adult and child psychiatry, as well as comprehensive substance abuse treatment. Catch “Dr. Brad” at RadioPsyched.com. You can also read more from “Dr. Brad” at EsanoHealth.com.
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e all know that medications can have many side effects. Consider this common warning in current commercials: “... may cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects.” While we all know that headaches, nausea and rashes can result from taking certain medications, few of us know that sensitivity to the sun and heat can also result in “serious and sometimes fatal side effects.” Let’s look at sun sensitivity first, then we will discuss what side effects the hot summer temperatures can cause in people taking certain medications. Sun-sensitive medications cause rashes on the skin that can be very serious. Medication circulates throughout the body, even in the skin. When ultraviolet rays from the sun react with the medication, it gets broken down causing local inflammation. This is a rash that can damage the skin. Antibiotics, antihistamines, chemotherapy drugs,
Central California Life
heart medication, diuretics, NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), topical medications and psychiatric drugs — especially chlorpromazine and tricyclic antidepressants — are on the list of medications that can cause this phototoxic (light toxic) reaction. Your doctor and your pharmacist can advise you and should inform you if your medication is in this category. Heat-sensitive medications are even more dangerous. Your body regulates body temperature by altering blood flow to the skin to retain or release heat and by sweating, otherwise known as evaporative cooling. Some medications can interfere with this normal process and cause the body to overheat, resulting in heat stroke and organ failure, including the heart. Death can result when your body loses the ability to rid itself of unwanted heat. Early symptoms that your body is having trouble getting rid of excess heat include:
Discussing your medications with your doctor and/or pharmacist should be a part of every doctor visit or medication change.
Weakness Dizziness Headache Nausea Muscle cramps Fast heartbeat Heat stroke symptoms include the above warning signs plus: Confusion An elevated body temperature of at least 104.9 F Red, hot, and dry skin without sweating Unconsciousness and coma If you are on a psychiatric medication, it is best to assume that your medication is heat-sensitive because so many psychiatric medications are. Medications that are heat-sensitive include but aren’t limited to: Psychiatric medications, including tranquilizers and ADHD stimulants Medications for muscle spasms Belladonna alkaloids Migraine medications High blood pressure medications Parkinson medications Anticonvulsants Some over-the-counter medication (e.g., Sudafed) As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Know if your medication places you at risk, stay hydrated, limit your heat exposure (especially be aware of how quickly the inside of a car can heat up), and avoid both alcohol and caffeine. If you feel that you have already developed a heat-related problem then do not hesitate to call 911 for help; get out of the heat (preferably go indoors with air conditioning, but at least get to shade); hydrate; and cool off (use wet towels, remove clothing, etc.). Remember to always educate yourself about your medications. Discussing your medications with your doctor and/or pharmacist should be a part of every doctor visit or medication change. Practice prevention, especially throughout the summer months, and remember to seek immediate attention if you suspect a heat-related problem. •
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Health and Wellness
Consistency, intensity and desire: the keys to staying fit by Rhonda Murphy as told to Madeline Shannon
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As a certified member of AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), Rhonda Murphy is part of the world’s largest fitness education association. With over 25 years of experience, Rhonda has become one of the most sought after fitness consultants in Central California. She is the owner of Rhonda’s Fitness Center and hosts “Workout Wednesdays” on ABC 30. As a personal trainer, she motivates and gives inspiration to anyone who wants to gain a higher level of health and fitness. For more information, visit rhofit.com or call (559) 431-3600.
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ust like most things in life, the hardest part of staying fit is maintaining the discipline necessary to be successful at it. An important key to staying fit is how consistently you work out. Many people believe that in order to stay fit, they should exercise every day. You need to give your body time to rest, though; your muscles need time to repair. To strike this balance, I always tell my clients they should get moving, in some small way, every day, but to alternate high-intensity and low-intensity workouts. One way to give the body rest, but still exercise each day, is to alternate different kinds of exercise. Switching a high-intensity cardio workout, like running, with a low-stress strengthening workout, like yoga, ensures a well-balanced routine that allows you to exercise every day and allows the body time to rest. Working out consistently is not enough; it is also important that you focus with laser-like intensity on whatever you’re trying to accomplish with a particular exercise. Yoga, for example, allows those who practice it to be freer from injury because it is a low-impact form of exercise that works a variety of muscle groups. Running, alternatively, can give someone excellent muscle structure and build up endurance. (An important note: I’ve seen many runners neglect strength training, with dire effects. To continue running effectively and avoid tearing up your body, you must build up your muscles.) The point is, whatever you’re doing, be mindful of
Central California Life
I always tell my clients they should get moving, in some small way, every day, but to alternate highintensity and low-intensity workouts. why you are doing it, and focus. The last and probably most important key to maintaining a certain level of physical fitness is your desire to stay fit. Not letting life get in the way of taking care of yourself is one of the biggest challenges to staying fit. If you really want to get and stay fit, you must make the commitment to do it. It doesn’t require a lot of time; just 30 minutes can make an important difference if that’s all you can spare. When working towards a fitness goal, that’s all it takes: just get moving every day, keep up the intensity of your workouts (whether they’re high-intensity or not) and don’t lose your will to reach your goal. These three things are key to getting you to the level of fitness you are striving for. If you make them each a part of your fitness routine, your fitness goals will be more easily achievable. •
Your “Go To” Source for organic groceries, vitamins, and natural products
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or more than 30 years Kristina’s Natural Ranch Market has been serving the Central San Joaquin Valley with our brick and mortar store located in Fresno, CA. We have long been a “go to” source for organic groceries, natural health products, vitamins, supplements, and natural beauty products. If you are in the area please come in to visit with our knowledgeable staff and learn about our amazing selection. If you live far away please use our online store by going to kristinasranchmarket.com to shop thousands of your favorite products!
Kristina’s Tip of the Month 10 Healthy Tips For Taking Care Of Yourself 1. 2. 3. 4.
Take control and learn to love yourself. Don’t eat just because food’s there. Make sure you’re walking – park far from the entrance. Stop being concerned about aging. You can’t change the fact that you have a birthday every year. 5. Have as much fun as possible. 6. Drink green juice – 16 ounces can contain as much as half your daily vitamins and nutrients. 7. You have to put time for yourself on your calendar. 8. Even if you don’t adopt a raw foods diet, include more of them in your diet. 9. Don’t eat processed foods. 10. If you eat the box, a lot of times you’d actually get more fiber than what is in the product inside.
7 6 1 E . Ba r s t o w F r e s n o, C A 9 3 7 1 0 559-224-2222
K ris tinas Ran ch Market.com
Sports
“A truly great town in which to be a runner”
Fresno’s dynamic, growing running scene by Katie Fries
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he Valley is hot, dry, plagued with poor air quality. Newcomers, visitors and even longtime residents might be forgiven for assuming these conditions make for an inhospitable outdoor recreation environment, especially for runners — those diehard athletes, both casual and competitive, who train and race year-round. It’s true, Fresno is probably not the first city that comes to mind when one makes a list of top running cities (a 2012 report from Forbes Travel Guide ranked Chicago, New York City and Portland tops). The runners who call the Valley home, however, are likely to disagree. With its warm weather (it may be hot, but at least it doesn’t snow), proximity to nearby trails and a firstclass locale that plays host to races throughout the year, Fresno is, if not quite a runner’s paradise, then a truly great town in which to be a runner. Though the popularity of recreational running has seen tremendous growth nationwide in the past five to 10 years, Fresno has always been a bit of a running town if you knew where to look. The annual Father’s Day Run, started in 1965, 62 |
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celebrated its 49th birthday this year, making it the second-oldest community “fun run” on the West Coast. Likewise, the Shinzen Run and Walk, held annually at Woodward Park, just celebrated its 30th year. And although the recent movie McFarland, USA depicted the CIF Cross Country Championship — the annual state meet for California’s best high school cross-country runners — as taking place in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, Fresno’s own Woodward Park has actually hosted the meet since its inception in 1987.
The Valley Runner of the Year Series Many of these early local races were directed by Ken Takeuchi. Talk to almost anybody who has been involved with Valley running for any length of time, and his name inevitably comes up. Takeuchi, who began running competitively in the 1970s, began directing races in 1986 after noticing that many of the out-of-town races he competed in did not start at the advertised time. This, he says, caused frustration for out-of-town racers who had to drive or fly home, as well as elite runners
Aaron and Andrea Samansky are the owners of Fleet Feet Fresno, one of the area’s first specialty running stores. Photo by Dan Minkler
who often have very specific and regimented pre-race routines. “I got to thinking there must be a better way to do this,” he says. A new calling as a race director was born out of this frustration. Takeuchi’s Pro Race Group now sponsors the Valley Runner of the Year Series, a collection of races in which participants accumulate points based on their finishing placement. At year’s end, winners are crowned in six divisions (male and female Open, Masters and Seniors). The Series began with seven races in 1986 and has grown to 15 as of 2014. At first, runners in all age groups participated together in the open competition’s male or female divisions. The “open” category still exists for runners 39 years of age and under; the series added masters (age 40-49) and senior (age 50 and over) divisions as it grew in popularity. Races in the series vary in distance, from one mile up to the half marathon, which, Takeuchi says, “fits the needs of racers of different abilities. Sprinters hate the half marathon but love the one or two-mile.” Runners don’t have to participate in the Runner of the Year competition or enter every race but the year-long contest, with its element of friendly competition, has helped to shape the running community.
Ken Takeuchi began running competitively in the 1970s and started directing local races in 1986. His Pro Race Group sponsors the popular Valley Runner of the Year Series, a collection of races in which participants accumulate points based on their finishing placement. Photo by Dan Minkler
Though taken seriously by participants, many who appear at or near the top of the leader boards year after year, it also fosters a community spirit as runners see the same faces at race after race. “They get out there and they’re all friendly,” says Aaron Samansky, a former Fresno State runner who, along with wife Andrea (who also competed for Fresno State), owns Fleet Feet Fresno (formerly Sierra Running Company), one of the area’s first specialty running stores. “You see runners warming up together, shaking hands, hanging out after the race. During the race it’s all business but after the race everybody is friendly.” “It has gotten so many people interested in running,” he adds. In fact, the Series and its races have proven to be so popular that it has attracted not just Valley runners, but runners from other areas of the state. The male open division winner in 2014, Samuel Silva, came up from Los Angeles to run because, Takeuchi says, “there is nothing like this series down there.” It’s not just elite, Runner of the Year contenders who are toeing the starting line at area races, though. Samansky and Takeuchi are both quick to point out that the area’s running community includes less competitive athletes as well as one group that may not even be considered runners, but are just as visible at races: walkers.
The growth and impact of running clubs At one time, when races like those Takeuchi directs were in their infancies, the field was limited to elite runners who trained to race, like Fresno’s Jesus Campos, who usually leads the pack at local races and has Central California Life
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FRESNO’s running scene
The Bad News Bears Runners started as a workplace fitness support group with six core members in 2011. It now has a membership of almost 200 runners and walkers. Photo by Dan Minkler
stood on the winner’s podium at marathons throughout the state. Samansky says he has seen the running population explode in the past four to five years. Now, “it’s not just for people who want to race the clock, but people who want to be better involved, better their fitness and have fun.” “The club aspect has really exploded in the past three years or so,” Samansky says. “Now there are four or five organized running clubs [in the area]. The new clubs, especially, are different than clubs used to be 10 years ago. They promote fitness and being active.” One such club is the Bad News Bears Runners (BNB), which started as a workplace fitness support group with six core members in 2011 and has grown to a membership of nearly 200 runners and walkers. Co-founder Michelle Alexander says the team adopted the name “Bad News Bears” after running their first race together “because of our less than professional running image and attitudes. We didn’t look like your typical athletes; we were a hodge-podge group with different levels of experience and different medical issues.” Still, she says, as their endurance grew and fitness levels increased, their competitiveness increased as well. Now it’s not unusual to see runners, identifiable by their bright green shirts emblazoned with a picture of a running bear, representing BNB at races throughout the Valley and beyond. Alexander notes that many of their members are not fast, and some even walk. The diversity of the community and a growing number of race entrants who only walked led Takeu64 |
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chi to push for changes in the awards structure at the races he directs. For years, he says, walkers paid the same entry fees to enter the same races but were shut out of the awards categories, which he thought was unfair. “A lot of people can’t run, but everybody can walk,” he points out. Now, many local races have added awards categories to acknowledge and reward those who choose to walk either because they want to, or because they may not be ready or physically able to run a 5-or-10k. In the walking category, walkers must walk the entire race to be considered eligible for the awards. People who have never been involved in any type of running or walking sports, says Takeuchi, have gotten involved because of this extra incentive.
A runner-friendly environment The Valley’s recreational areas also make for a great training environment. Runner of the Year races are held throughout the Valley, from college campuses to Bass Lake, but six of the 15 races scheduled for 2015 take place on courses at Woodward Park. The venue’s trails provide a home for dozens of other local races — cross-country meets at the elementary school through college levels, 5 and 10ks unaffiliated with the Runner of the Year series, and untimed “event” fun runs like Color Me Rad (in which runners are “bombed” with neon dye as they run through “color stations” placed throughout the course). Thus, many local runners are able to train on the very trails they race on. “Trail systems are expanding and linking areas like
“Conditions in the Valley are not great. You acclimate to that. In college I couldn’t understand how people ran in it [the heat]. But your body gets used to it.” —Aaron Samansky
Clovis to North Fresno,” says Fleet Feet’s general manager Kyle Cirrincione, who started running when he was in the 6th grade, competed for Buchanan High School and Fresno State, and now trains for ultra marathons. “You don’t have to get in your car and drive to train.” The Lewis Eaton Trail, Clovis Old Town Trail, Dry Creek Trail and San Joaquin River gorge trail system are all local favorites, says Alexander. While weather conditions may not be the greatest, Samansky says local runners adapt. “Conditions in the Valley are not great,” he admits. “You acclimate to that. In college I couldn’t understand how people ran in it [the heat]. But your body gets used to it.” “You do have to pay attention to hydration and nutrition. There is definitely a point where it is too hot and you should probably back off, or go to the gym and run indoors,” he adds. “The air quality is hard but I don’t let that stop me. This is a beautiful place, I don’t want to be confined because I have asthma.” The Runner of the Year Series races and the establishment of longer endurance events like the Two Cities Marathon and Half and Central California Classic (now Valley runners don’t have to travel out of town to run a marathon or half marathon), the growth of clubs that train people to run and race, the addition of walking categories, and a runner-friendly environment have led to an explosion in race participation, but Takeuchi points to another reason for running’s popularity in the Valley: local races are affordable. “Our entry fees,” he says, “com-
pared to the rest of the state and nation, are very reasonable. I hear from the families that they are lucky to be able to run as a family here because they can afford it.” Indeed, many half-marathon entry fees begin at $75, with major destination races like the Disneyland Half Marathon topping out at $199. Comparatively, the Two Cities Half Marathon has an early bird entry fee of just $65. Many 5ks in larger cities start at $25 or $30, while local 5ks are often priced in the $20$25 range. For a family of four or five runners, those differences are significant, Takeuchi stresses. “In Fresno you can run two or three times a month because it’s affordable,” he says. “Every year we discuss it [the fee structure] and decide to keep it as it is. We want to get the families who have been coming. It’s very important.” He adds that some races, like Sanger’s Blossom Trail Run and Reedley’s Fiesta Run, are tied in to other community events that encourage runners to stick around after the race and enjoy family-friendly activities like car shows, food vendors, and parades.
A family affair, a tight-knit community On a sunny spring afternoon, it’s not unusual to see area high school tracks crowded with young racers competing for their schools, many of whom, like Cirrincione, are introduced to running through elementary school cross-country and track programs. Kim Wilson, whose three daughters have participated in Fresno Unified’s
running programs, says her family also enjoys participating in local and out-oftown races, with oldest daughter Madeline (13) now running longer distances like the 10k. “We actually started with the Angel Babies Walk/Run in 2009. That’s what kind of got the ball rolling,” Wilson explained, when discussing her family’s involvement in the sport. “My husband and younger daughters have done one of the color runs, and Madeline did the California Classic Kid’s Marathon program one year. My husband and I run half marathons together. But we all participate in that one together [Angel Babies] every year, if the scheduling works out.” Indeed, Samansky says, many families have made running certain races together an annual tradition, particularly those that benefit a cause close to a family’s heart or the ones centered around holidays like the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. “People seem to want to come together on holidays and do something. In all of those races you get to see everything — beginners, runners and walkers, the Jesus Campos’ of the world,” he says. “Fresno to me is a place where family and community is very strong in every aspect and I feel that trickles over into the running community,” he continues. “Running groups are more tightly knit in Fresno than in other cities.” Like BNB Runners, Destination Adventure Racing (DAR), another local running club, has several weekly training opportunities and offers coaching for local runners of all levels but, because Central California Life
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FRESNO’s running scene “Working at the running store, I recognize a lot of people and I know a lot of people through running. Those who enjoy the social aspect of running can have a good time but those who are more competitive can train with other runners. Everybody wants to see you succeed.” That refrain is echoed again and again by local runners. “We all pull together at local races whether we’re running, volunteering, or being a spectator,” says Michael Hess, one of DAR’s co-founders. Hess is a friendly fixture at Valley races, if not as a racer then as a pace group leader or course volunteer. Alexander also gives credit to the very vital part of the community — the race directors, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators — that provides support for the runners. “Many of the out of town races that we have experienced are not as organized, cheerful, and friendly,” she says. “Fresno seems to have plenty of spectators that are really supportive.”
“Run this town” many of its members enjoy spending time together off the trails and tracks, also offers organized opportunities to get together socially and travel together to out-of-town races and running retreats. “Whether you are a seasoned runner or just starting out, you have friends out there who want you to do well and show up for the workouts. The camaraderie among runners is unlike anything I have experienced,” says DAR member Samantha Jaramillo, of Kingsburg, who qualified to run the Boston Marathon training under the tutelage of DAR’s coach and co-founder, Farshad Oreizi. “Most people who run in general, but especially in Fresno, are very close and encouraging,” agrees Cirrincione. 66 |
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She also appreciates Fleet Feet Fresno and Sole 2 Soul Sports, another specialty running store with locations in Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield. “We have two great running stores that are supportive of our needs. They keep us well-informed about techniques, gear, and races. And they host events where we can get to know other runners and sometimes see them on a weekly basis, which helps creates these ‘running families.’” Anyone can buy a pair of running shoes, run a couple of miles a few times a week and call herself a runner. But it’s people who really make a community and that’s what has grown as more and more Fresno-area runners have laced up their
shoes and encountered like-minded athletes on the trails and at races. It may not receive the recognition of running cities like Chicago, New York and Portland, but Valley runners are proud to call it home. “We are able to train all year long,” enthuses Alexander. “We are proud to be Valley runners who have trained in the Valley heat, bad air and freezing winter mornings.” As music artists Jay-Z and Rihanna might say, Central Valley runners really know how to “run this town.” • Katie Fries is a Fresno native and graduate of Fresno Pacific University. Formerly based in Chicago and the Bay Area, where she wrote and edited for several publications, she returned to Fresno in 2013, where she continues to write on various topics. She is an active member of Fresno’s running community.
Local resources for runners: FLEET FEET SPORTS FRESNO 9447 N. Fort Washington, Suite 106 Fresno 93730 fleetfeetfresno.com SOLE 2 SOUL SPORTS sole2soulsports.com Three locations in Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield PRO RACE GROUP proracegroup.com Has information about the Valley Runner of the Year Series, participating races, and current standings. CENTRAL VALLEY RUNNING cvrunning.com Provides calendar of local and in-state races of interest to Valley runners, links to race results, and running news.
Arts & Entertainment
John Rupe:
Preserving history through art
by Andrew Veihmeyer photos by Dan and Roberta Minkler
I
n the right hands, some cardboard, acrylic paint and a little glue can help transport a city into the past and uncover histories long forgotten. Fresno artist John Rupe does just that. His intricate model work of downtown Fresno landmarks propels us into exciting new territory to both remember and physically preserve where we came from. Born in Auburn and raised in Fresno, Rupe’s fascination with Fresno architecture began at a very early age. At 11 years old, he explored the many old abandoned buildings on Fulton Street with his older brother. Their true destination was their aunt and uncle’s home nearby, but their many side adventures in between proved to be formative for him. They started unearthing some interesting finds. “I actually went into the Fresno Brewery Company,” Rupe said. “In the 68 |
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John Rupe with a few of his models on Fulton Mall, including, from left to right, the Grand Central Hotel and the Fiske Block, Helm and Griffith buildings.
1920s and ’30s, it was used as a storage area during Prohibition. We found boxes people never claimed and a bar stool from a diner.” What became of the building or any of the items since then, he doesn’t know. AN ARTIST AND HISTORIAN IS BORN
Five years later, his interest in old buildings materialized into hands-on model projects that began with a historical recreation of a Victorian home. In 2010, he began work on modeling the Fresno Water Tower. Rupe decided to share this first piece with the community and displayed the model in the Water Tower Art Gallery, but when it didn’t sell or attract much attention, he brought it back to his home. In the years following, more structures grabbed his attention. “I decided to do the [Fresno
County] Courthouse and then try to do the buildings up to it,” he said, but this required much more research to depict it accurately. “I started leapfrogging everywhere, looking at older photos, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps and local library archives.” Rupe got his hands on Sanborn Maps, a commonly used historical resource that dates back to the mid1800s. His research gave him glimpses of what the layouts and features of these buildings were like before the turn of the 20th century. “Then I discovered a lot of them were still here,” he said. This eventually led to a more dramatic finding. In October 2014, led in part by Rupe, The Fresno Bee reported on the discovery of the Expositor building. The structure housed the city’s first newspaper, the Fresno Daily Expositor, until 1898. It is also currently the
The old Fresno County Courthouse was demolished in 1966 but survives as a prominent feature in Rupe’s cardboard city.
“I decided to do the [Fresno County] Courthouse and then try to do the buildings up to it.” But this required much more research to depict it accurately. oldest known commercial building in the city. “Once I found it on the Sanborn map,” Rupe said, “I found it was still there, covered over. Now I know the parapet was removed, the windows were bricked in, stucco was placed over it, and tension rods were put in to support a wooden structure.” He continued to model more sections of the building as he went along in the research. He knew this was an important finding that needed to be handled well. Earlier this year, the Historic Preservation Commission proposed to the Fresno City Council that the building be recognized by the Local Register of Historic Resources. Today, the building holds this distinction as a historical building. Rupe has since talked
with the Downtown Fresno Partnership to lead the way in the restoration plans that will run concurrently with the Fulton Mall Corridor project. “He almost single-handedly exposed the Expository building,” said Karana Hattersley-Drayton, historic preservation project manager for the City of Fresno. “He has become the super-sleuth along with others,” she added, referring to Rupe’s invaluable research work that led to the restoration. In April, Rupe received a Horizon Award, which is given annually to individuals who have done significant and outstanding work to enrich the community of Fresno. “It’s much bigger than the models he is building,” said Craig Scharton, former downtown and community
revitalization director for the City of Fresno. “Not only is it a cool thing for our city, but it’s an interesting journey for him.” “A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALING FOR THE COMMUNITY”
Scharton, owner of Peeve’s Public House and Local Market in the Fulton Mall, currently displays several of Rupe’s models in his business. Among them are the Fulton Hotel, the Fresno Undertaker Parlor and The Fiske Block. “I’m such a fan of his,” he said. “It’s a big psychological healing for the community.” The city is like a person, Scharton added — when it’s still growing, it tries to avoid being too ethnic, too distinct, and attempts to blend in and assimilate instead. But with age, it Central California Life
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starts to become proud of who and what it is. Scharton attributes this change to people like Rupe, who have recognized the potential in the city and have boldly gone forward in making it a tangible reality. The Downtown Fresno Partnership has recently begun gathering resources and volunteers for the preservation, Scharton said, and plans are underway for an interior facade demonstration during the summer to begin physically assessing the work needed to be done. “John’s a perfect example of someone jumping in and getting it started,” he said, something that he feels is one of Fresno’s strengths — the freedom of individuals to start community-driven projects. The ambition Rupe demonstrates is a rare quality, Scharton said, and a great asset to the future of the city. This determined spirit is also apparent in the models themselves. Salvaging materials is routine, said Rupe about his process. As a retail manager, he has easy access to the heavy cardboard pieces that best suit the structures he is trying to depict.
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“For the fine painting, I use an X-Acto knife,” he said. “I don’t think they make fine enough brushes for what I need.” In his home office, a desk is dedicated to construction, his computer is nearby for referencing, and another table holds his models in progress. Among the upcoming models are the Helm Block, Temple Bar, Fresno Savings and Loan, and the Farmers Bank Block. He’s even begun work on a building in the Tower District, none other than the historic Tower Theatre. “It’s a very tiny office, getting smaller everyday, he said.” Rupe hopes his work will make researching Fresno’s history easier on the next explorers. For him, the models are more than a way to complete the vivid images in his mind, they are also a way to give back to the community. • Andrew Veihmeyer was news editor of the campus newspaper while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in communication at Fresno State. Most recently, he has worked as a marketing intern for several companies and nonprofits in the Central Valley.
Arts & Entertainment
Book Review
Steven Church’s Ultrasonic by Jeffery Williams
Photos courtesy of Steven Church
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teven Church can take a curiously simple subject such as sound, explore it from a variety of angles and create a collection of essays teeming with insight. Church, a professor at Fresno State since 2006, has crafted a series of such essays in his latest book “Ultrasonic” (Lavendar Ink). Church opens the book with his 2011 Best American Essay, “Auscultation,” a work that connects the significance of sound with listening for a baby’s heartbeat in the womb or hearing the desperate tapping of trapped miners. He illuminates onomatopoeias such as “thud,” “hiss” and “drum.” Church’s voice blends the scholarly with the streetwise, mixing elegance with bluntness. Each essay leaves the reader pausing to appreciate his craft and power of reflection. In the essay “All of a Dither,” he notes how when a child enters a man’s life, it awakens him to the reality that “fatherhood resets all your meters.” Specifically, the vibrations, trembles and echolocations of a child’s movement triggers the radar of parental protectiveness.
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Church’s voice blends the scholarly with the streetwise, mixing elegance with bluntness. Church’s collection circles around several of his life experiences — the death of his brother in an auto accident, the drowning of a friend, the injured neighbor who needed assistance, the shoulder injury that required attention, the raising of his young daughter. His introspections around these sorrows and challenges intersect seamlessly with his unique interpretation of commonplace words, providing both depth and illumination. He tackles subjects of public interest, as well, looking into law and order and art and freedom. He takes an unexpectedly absorbing look into Elvis Presley’s decision to take up racquetball in his last months of life. The fact that the King of Rock called his racquet “Red Guitar” is a terrific bit of trivia we learn. Church’s focus while pursuing an MFA at Colorado State University
was initially fiction writing. “But I realized I was not that good at it,” he says. “By a gradual process, I realized that essay writing suited my tastes. The essay is a lens to see larger ideas.” Church says he enjoys “exploring aspects of pop culture” — for example, “researching people who jump into cages with predatory animals” and taking a journalistic look at Parkfield, California, the earthquake capital of the world. These explorations will be included in a new booklength project which will be released in fall 2016. “Ultrasonic” is available for purchase at Fresno State’s Kennel Bookstore, Barnes and Noble and online at Amazon.com. • Jeffery Williams has been a high school English teacher for 27 years. He is also a freelance writer and the award-winning author of the novel “Pirate Spirit.”
Savor
Campagnia
Story and photos by Amy Guerra
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ummer is upon us. The temperature has risen and Fresno’s beautiful spring days have long disappeared, replaced with a type of heat that pushes us poolside and towards the barbecue where locals know food can be cooked without contributing to the oppressive heat. We’ve mastered other ways of dealing with summer. We know where the best iced tea can be found, we know the location of every ice cream and yogurt shop in the Greater Fresno area, and we know that the summer heat can’t reach you inside a cool movie theater or dark restaurant. We also eat salads. Lots of them. With that in mind, my husband, a colleague and I found ourselves at Campagnia during lunchtime on one of the hot days that Fresnans are so familiar with. Earlier in the week, we learned the restaurant was offering a special farm-to-fork summer salad menu. This new addition, combined with Campagnia’s impeccable service, refreshing iced tea (our waiter noted it was brewed with Peet’s tropical tea) and shaded patio made the 74 |
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(left) Fresh mozzarella and sun-dried tomato bruschetta (above) The Southeast Asian Grilled Beef and Shrimp Salad
north Fresno establishment an easy choice. On the day we arrived, bright green succulents in shiny white vases sat on each patio table. We happily took our waiter’s suggestion that we try the fresh mozzarella and sun-dried tomato bruschetta. When it came, we were not disappointed. The thick, toasted bread and pecorino cheese perfectly matched the sweet and spicy sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic syrup. We tried all three salads on the new menu. A favorite was the Crisp Eggplant Caprese Salad, made of a medley of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and crispfried eggplant with pesto and capers, all drizzled in a sweet balsamic. The Southeast Asian Grilled Beef and Shrimp Salad had fresh herbs, bean sprouts, pickled carrots and cucumber and came with a peanut sauce and a lemon grass sauce. The Mediterranean Chicken Skewers Salad sat on a bed of romaine mixed with cu-
Summer or not, Campagnia’s creative menu and inviting, upscale bistro atmosphere make it a Fresno must-try — and must-try again.
cumbers, tomatoes, Kalamata olives and feta cheese and was topped with a red wine vinaigrette and lemon aioli. Each salad was distinct and delicious. The Chicken and Walnut-Stuffed Tomato Salad is a regular menu item but no less impressive — a bright red tomato stuffed with chicken salad on a bed of field greens with fresh berries and walnuts and topped with a honey-Dijon dressing. Campagnia has extensive menu options during both lunch and dinner — a fact our waiter wanted to make clear when he brought out their cheese steak sandwich, which features pepper
jack cheese, sautéed onions and peppers on a country French roll with spicy mayonnaise. Even the salad-goers couldn’t resist a taste. Summer or not, Campagnia’s creative menu and inviting, upscale bistro atmosphere make it a Fresno must-try — and must-try again. • Campagnia is located at 1185 E. Champlain Drive in Fresno. To make a reservation, call (559) 433-3300 or visit campagnia.net. Amy Guerra is a criminal defense attorney practicing in Fresno. She has written for several publications throughout California and enjoys writing about the law, food, travel and all things Fresno.
Campagnia’s cheese steak sandwich
The Crisp Eggplant Caprese Salad The Mediterranean Chicken Skewers Salad
The Chicken and Walnut Stuffed Tomato Salad
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Savor
Culinary Artist: Chef Paul Pearson
I
t’s Wednesday afternoon and there’s a line out the door of Chef Paul’s Café in downtown Fresno’s historic Chinatown. Downtown workers on a quick lunch break, families and even out-of-towners have come to get a taste of what many have called “the best fried chicken in Fresno.” Yes, the best fried chicken in Fresno — as well as other comfort food standbys like meatloaf, greens and macaroni and cheese — is served out of a small soul food restaurant in Chinatown. Owner and chef Paul Pearson always knew he was meant to work in a profession where he served people. “When I was in grammar school, I would get up in front of the classroom and say I was going to be either a chef or 76 |
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Paul Pearson (back row, second from the right) and a few of the family members and friends who help make Chef Paul’s Café the area’s hottest soul food restaurant.
by Katie Fries photos by Dan Minkler
a minister,” he says. Pearson chose the former and began working in area restaurants at the age of 13, first as a bus boy at Wonder Valley Dude Ranch in Pine Flat and eventually as head chef at restaurants like the old Hacienda in Fresno. In 1981 he started his own full-service catering business, which he still runs. It was the catering business that inadvertently led him to open Chef Paul’s Café, which specializes in home-style soul food, the sort families might enjoy together at a Sunday night dinner or a summer picnic. Originally, Pearson says, he had no intention of opening a restaurant. He initially acquired the space on downtown Fresno’s F Street to use for the catering
business. But, he says, people kept asking him to open a restaurant in the space instead. He opened Chef Paul’s Café about three years ago but shut it down shortly thereafter, feeling that with his catering business he wasn’t able to put in the time the restaurant required. After many requests to reopen, he says, he decided to give it another go. Since reopening in April of 2014, it has garnered a loyal following. “We get calls all day Monday and Tuesday asking if we’re open,” Pearson says. The restaurant is actually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow Pearson time to concentrate on his catering jobs. By the time he’s ready to open late on
“People told me I would never make it work down here. I told them, ‘I think we can, if we choose to.’ They bet me I couldn’t but I did it anyway.” Wednesday mornings, people are lined up outside, waiting. “People told me I would never make it work down here,” Pearson says of his downtown Fresno location. “I told them, ‘I think we can, if we choose to.’ They bet me I couldn’t but I did it anyway.” He is assisted in day-to-day operations by his wife Rose (“Pinky”), whose influence extends beyond the kitchen. “She is the backbone of the operation,” Pearson says of Pinky. “Without her, there would be no restaurant.” The large Jazz Age-inspired mural on the wall, for example, was Pinky’s idea. They hired a local homeless artist to design it and Pearson describes it as a continual work in progress, with the most recent addition being the saxophone player. That they have been able to not just run a successful restaurant in downtown Fresno, but do it solely on word-of-
mouth advertising, is nothing short of remarkable. “I’m amazed,” he says. “We have people come from Porterville, Hanford — you name it.” They come for his famed fried chicken, though Pearson says the braised oxtails are actually his biggest seller. Other best sellers include fish and grits, meatloaf and ribs. “There’s nothing unique about it,” he says of his homestyle soul food. “We just try to give people quality product at a
Fried Chicken Salad SEASONING MIX
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon Sea Salt 1 teaspoon ground red pepper (preferably cayenne) ¾ teaspoon gumbo filé powder ½ teaspoon white pepper ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon sweet paprika ½ teaspoon black pepper
1 pound boneless chicken (cut into bite-sized pieces) 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup milk vegetable oil for frying ¼ pound butter ¼ cup minced fresh parsley
Makes 4 servings 2 quarts iceberg lettuce torn into bite-sized pieces 1 cup julienned zucchini 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped green bell peppers 1 cup chopped red cabbage 1 cup chopped green onion Vidalia onion salad dressing 4 romaine lettuce leaves 8 garden-ripe tomato wedges
DIRECTIONS Thoroughly combine the seasoning in small bowl. Add 2 teaspoons of seasoning mix to chicken and toss until well coated. Mix the flour with the remaining seasoning in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs together with milk. In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat ¾ inch of vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, coating thoroughly. Drop chicken, one piece at time, into the milk mixture. Let chicken soak for a couple of minutes. Drain, then dredge chicken for a second time in the flour mix, coating well. Carefully drop each piece in hot oil and fry until golden brown and very crispy and well done. Drain on a paper towel. In a skillet, melt butter over high heat—cook until bubbles are brown. Immediately add parsley and garlic. Remove from heat and drizzle over the chicken. Toss with a spoon until coated. Set aside. In a large bowl, toss lettuce pieces, zucchini, celery, bell pepper, red cabbage and carrots. Stir in chicken. Add onion dressing. Serve in individual bowls lined with a large lettuce leaf and garnished with one or two tomato wedges. Central California Life
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Chef Paul’s Café 952 F Street Fresno (559) 312-4553 chefpaulpearson.com facebook.com/ChefPaulsCafe
Mural with Booths: Navarro, a local homeless artist, created the mural that runs along the length of the wall in the café. It is a work in progress, with the saxophonist being the most recent addition.
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 11:30 am – 6 pm Sunday 11:30 am – 5pm reasonable price and we serve it hot, when it’s cooked. We don’t mind throwing something out if it’s not right.” “There are so many different things that go into a good meal,” he adds. “The weather, the time of day, the ethnicity of the people you’re cooking for — all of that plays a big part. People’s tastes change throughout the day. You wake up in the morning with one thing on your mind, then by the evening you decide you want something else.” He tries to anticipate the needs of his customers by tak78 |
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ing all of these factors into consideration, whether he’s catering or planning the day’s specials at Chef Paul’s Café. Chef Paul has generously shared his recipe for fried chicken salad, perfect for summer barbecues and potlucks. • Katie Fries is a Fresno native and graduate of Fresno Pacific University. Formerly based in Chicago and the Bay Area, where she wrote and edited for several publications, she returned to Fresno in 2013, where she continues to freelance on various topics.
The Camp Recovery Center For 30 years, The Camp has been a leader in the field of drug and alcohol treatment. It’s nestled on 25 acres in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. In such a majestic setting, the healing is wholesome, holistic and fun. Our substance abuse treatment program combines experienced counseling and medication management with 12-step recovery principles, art therapy, recreational and experiential therapies to facilitate change and build a base of recovery. Our clinical team creates individualized treatment plans as everyone has unique circumstances which have led them to their addictions. Fully accredited, we have built a national reputation and long-standing relationships with the medical and therapeutic communities. The Camp’s affordable treatment is covered by most insurance plans.
3192 Glen Canyon Road • Scotts Valley 800-924-2879 • www.camprecovery.com
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Sip
Miriam Widenham has been mixing drinks at the Landmark for 13 years. Her specialty is finding fresh Valley ingredients to use in her craft cocktails.
The Landmark
Handcrafted drinks Central Valley style
by Richard Melella and Donna Howard photos by Dan Minkler
W
e’ve been dating for almost seven months now and, despite all the typical ups and downs that can come with “Dating at Age 50,” things between us are progressing very well, thank you. All the formalities are being checked off. Meet the kids? Check. Meet the friends? Check. Are the dogs compatible? Check. Introduce each other to our favorite Fresno eating and drinking establishments? Check and double check. There is a bit of a territorial preference that is emerging between us of late, though, especially when it comes to where to dine or have a drink to celebrate another week coming to a close. Donna is a bit more partial to Old Fig Garden — Patio Café, Elbow Room, Max’s Bistro. Richard leans more to the north of Herndon — Yosemite Grill, Pismo’s, Slates. Realizing that compromise can be a good thing, especially at the seven-month mark in the relationship, we decide to do something different. Plans are made and text messages exchanged, and we find ourselves walking hand-in-hand down Olive Avenue in the Tower District. We stroll past small cafés, nightclubs, art galleries and a coffee shop where a few hipsters hang out smoking clove cigarettes discussing the death of
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Richard Melella and Donna Howard
Blockbuster Video. We continue to walk east on Olive past a bakery, a deli and few thrift stores until we arrive at our destination: The Landmark. The Landmark has been in operation since 1985. This is the place where the “grown ups” in the Tower go to get their drink on and order their traditional Basque dinners. But of late, with the weekly Wednesday night PubQuiz games and the
The result is beautiful. Its dark, luscious currant color lends itself to a cocktail drink enjoyed in an era long since passed that can fit right at home now. restaurant’s Friday Night Live Music venue, the Landmark, like the Tower itself, is becoming a mix of Old School meets New School. Hipsters sit at the bar next to old money farmers coming in for their traditional pour and to order their traditional beef tongue appetizer plate. As we sit down at the bar, we feel like we’ve stepped into another era. The room still retains a lot of that old-fashioned “dark wood and dimly lit” charm it had decades ago. While some undoubtedly won’t appreciate it, it is refreshing to see an old Fresno establishment that is well-preserved and unwilling to conform to the newer trends. The long wooden bar has hundreds of bottles behind it. The dark green upholstered booths and carpet match nicely with the old fashioned ceiling fans. It reminds Donna of the 1940s. We decide to try a unique cocktail Donna has heard about: The Kearney Boulevard. The bartender serving us is Miriam Widenham. After spending only a few minutes bantering with her about specialty drinks, you get the impression that she is a mixologist who not only has a passion for her craft — she also has a desire to bring the art of mixing specialty drinks to Fresno. “We are definitely behind the times when it comes to handcrafted signature drinks,” she tells us, adding that there is a group of local bartenders that meets at the Downtown Club to share ideas as to promote professionalism and creativity behind the bar counter. Miriam is friendly and engaging — the perfect person to have behind the bar. All the bar stools are full with regulars and a few newbies and she is in command. We explain our mission to her: We are here to try the Kearney Boulevard and whatever specialty drink she has concocted for the Thursday night crowd. We ask Miriam how long she has been mixing drinks at the Landmark. “Thirteen years,” she tells us. “Barbara Johnson taught me how to mix and Jason Franklin taught me how to banter with the customers.”
The Boysenberry Thyme Smash
Miriam’s specialty is finding fresh Valley ingredients — fruit, vegetables and herbs — to use in her craft cocktails. She explains that the Kearney Boulevard is only made when blood oranges are in season. The drink blends Templeton Rye — or, if you want to keep it local, Corbin Cash Rye from Atwater — sweet vermouth, Campari, a dash of rosemary and simple sugar. It is a tasty drink. The blood orange juice leaves a slight raspberry citrus overtone to the profile of each sip. Miriam creates a new drink every Thursday night and, on this night, she mixes Donna a Boysenberry Thyme Smash. She first crushes ice cubes by hand, then she mashes Valley-fresh boysenberries and adds a healthy dose of Makers Mark. She finishes off the drink with simple syrup and infused thyme. A few additional berries and a sprig of thyme are added as garnishment and there you have it — a perfect Fresno summer cocktail. The result is beautiful. Its dark, luscious currant color lends itself to a cocktail drink enjoyed in an era long since passed that can fit right at home now. It’s a drink that Marilyn Monroe or P!nk would enjoy, a cocktail that a Tower hipster or local farmer could sit at the bar and raise a toast to. But on this night, it was truly a drink that Donna and Richard enjoyed. • Donna Howard is involved in a number of nonprofits throughout Fresno. She is expected to graduate in December with a master’s degree in peacemaking and conflict studies from Fresno Pacific University. Richard Melella is a member of the Central California Life advisory board. He has worked in higher education for more than 25 years and is currently the chief academic officer for Institute of Technology Inc., which has campuses in California and Oregon.
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Home gardening: Water-wise options for a water-thirsty region by Ed Dunn
T
he current drought is the worst that many of my fellow gardeners and I can recall. We are desperate to find remedies, both short- and long-term, for this predicament. Are there viable options for gardeners and other homeowners facing this water shortage? Absolutely. As you know, many communities have imposed watering restrictions limiting the watering of yards to, in some cases, as few as two days per week during the hotter months. Some of these same communities are also offering incentives to homeowners to replace their grass lawns with synthetic lawns or drought-tolerant landscapes. The city of Fresno has made it possible for residents to go to its website to learn about myriad water-saving options, from micro irrigation conversions and soil moisture sensors to smart irrigation controllers and sprinkler nozzles. (Visit fresno.gov, go to the highlights section and click on “Water-saving Rebate Programs.”) Before you take advantage of these and other water-saving incentive programs, it is important to first get an inspection and file an application with “before” photos. In the case of Fresno, residents are urged to request a free water-wise landscape consultation from the city’s Water Conservation Program Representative. From that point, an applicant will be guided through the process, get some recommendations from the inspector, and hopefully be approved for a rebate once the individual’s application is processed. There are many educational resources for those seeking water-wise options 82 |
Central California Life
that don’t involve local government rebate programs. I recently attended a Saturday morning “water-wise” event at Belmont Nursery in Fresno. To my surprise, approximately 250 mostly home gardeners packed the outside venue. We were there to hear experts from as far away as San Diego speak about drought-tolerant plants and water-saving irrigation alternatives. Intermountain Nursery, in the central foothill town of Prather on Highway 168 on the way to Shaver and Huntington lakes, regularly offers classes on a variety of topics germane to the Central Valley, including native plant species that have been known to propagate for more than 35 years. Customers come from throughout Central California to stroll among several demonstration gardens on the five-acre property and learn about water-wise native plants and how to create habitats for native
pollinators. Unlike most nurseries, Intermountain “grows the plants we sell,” says nursery founder and owner, Ray Laclergue. The
distinction of being locally grown rather than imported from another region and state is often critical in predicting the survivability of plants and trees, especially during drought conditions. Other valuable information resources for home gardeners include the various County Master Gardener Associations scattered throughout the state. Janet Cangemi, master gardener program coordinator for Fresno and Madera counties, says local master gardeners host classes for the public “featuring topics to equip the home gardener with skills to cope with the drought. Topics include drip irrigation, lawn conversion, and native and drought-tolerant landscaping.” (To find a county organization closest to you, go online and enter “master gardeners” as your search term. Another useful resource for water-saving tips is ucanr.edu/drought.) When considering the best trees and bushes to plant in the dry heat of the
central San Joaquin Valley, one need look no further than Visalia, which has been recognized as a Tree City U.S.A. by the National Arbor Day Foundation for several years running. Tyson Carrol, a landscape architect and project manager for the Urban Tree Foundation in Visalia, says that over just the last decade, “We’ve planted several thousand native and drought-tolerant trees and shrubs.” The trees and shrubs have been strategically planted along public waterways and trails throughout the area, and in many cases have name plates identifying the particular species, allowing passersby to not only enjoy the scenery but to also learn what they might plant in their own yards. Drought-stricken gardeners and other homeowners need not feel alone during these challenging times, thanks to potential financial assistance programs and dependable information sources.
There are also many attractive options to converting your landscapes to be more water-efficient and earth-friendly. As Annie Gallagher of Belmont Nursery puts it, “You can be a good steward to the environment and have a beautiful landscape.” • Ed Dunn is a contributing writer, media personality/spokesperson, nursery industry marketing consultant and master gardener. He can be reached at his Facebook page, The Lazy Landscaper, or at eddie@thelazylandscaper.com.
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Spotlight by Madeline Shannon
Fresno gets two new poet laureates
C
entral California resident Juan Felipe Herrera has been named the nation’s 21st poet laureate. He is the first Latino and second former Fresno State professor the Library of Congress has selected for this honor. (The late Philip Levine was given this distinction in 2012.) Herrera, 66, grew up Fowler. His experiences as the son of migrant farmworkers and college student during the Chicano civil rights movement heavily influenced his writings and other creative works, which include more than a dozen published works of poetry, plays and books for children and young adults. Herrera was chair of the Chicano and Latin American Studies department at Fresno State from 1990 to 2004 and left to become the endowed chair of creative writing at UC Riverside. He retired from academia in March. He recently concluded a two-year appointment as California’s poet laureate. Lee Herrick was named Fresno’s new poet laureate in April. The Fresno City College English instructor has since performed at local events like ArtHop, reading some of his latest work. “I was thrilled and very humbled and surprised but very excited to get to work and immerse myself even more with the poetry,” Herrick said of being awarded the new title. “One of the things I want to do is highlight poets and poetry here in the city, whether that’s in colleges, schools, community centers or other institutions. I want to get poetry woven into the city’s fabric.” Herrick is the author of two books. Several of his poems have been published in literary magazines and anthologies.
Juan Felipe Herrera
Lee Herrick Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe
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Central California Life
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Spotlight
Dinuba teen performs at Carnegie Hall
E
lijah Nichols, a 13-year-old choir singer from Monson-Sultana Elementary School in Dinuba, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 24. A choir singer since the 5th grade, Elijah has had no shortage of impressive performances. In February, he sang with his choir at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Following that performance, his choir teacher nominated him for the Carnegie Hall honor. He was required to submit a recording of his singing to the prestigious organization and found out within six weeks that he was selected. Jason Nichols, Elijah’s father, said the 8th grader spent every spare moment practicing for the occasion. “We are so excited for him and so proud,” he said. Elijah funded his trip through Gofundme.com.
Local film has been cast and started filming
F
ormer Fresno mayor and veteran actor Alan Autry is preparing a new film through his company, Autry Entertainment Group. Casting started on May 2. Autry and Ted Williamson, Lee Major, Rachel Hendrix and Britt Prieto are among the local actors who will be playing major characters in the film. The film, written by Autry, is about a man who sets out to become an MMA Fighter and has some struggles along the way. Issues with his relationships, including a wife who is trying to convert him to Christianity and an estranged father who is trying to come back into his life, almost derail his plans to be the fighter he wants to be. “It’s a story about a man who knows exactly what he wants to do, but different issues keep popping up in his life,” said Ryan Gilmore, the associate producer. “We have about half the cast in place,” Gilmore said. “We started filming at the beginning of June, and we expect the finished product to be released in about a year and a half.” 86 |
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Spotlight
Clovis East High School Alum Wins NCAA Title
C
lovis East alumnus Bryson DeChambeau, now a junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, has received a prestigious golfing title: winner of the 2015 NCAA Championship Tournament. DeChambeau took Individualist Medalist Honors at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf National Championships after finishing the tournament 8-under par. He is now SMU’s first individual national champion and Arnold Palmer Individual Champion. He set a four-day overall score of 280, a program record.
DeChambeau has collected several other honors over the course of his career, including PING First Team All-American, PING All-Central Region Team and GolfWeek Magazine’s First Team All-American. He recently tied for third at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Event in Columbus, Ohio, which qualified him to compete in the prestigious tournament. He has also earned exemptions to compete in a couple more PGA events, including the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis. •
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Spotlight
Keeping Youth Journeying Onward (KYJO)
F
resno-based organization Keeping Youth Journeying Onward (KYJO) addresses the needs of the Central Valley’s foster children through six group homes in Fresno, Clovis and Hanford. These homes not only give foster children the opportunity to live in a stable, supportive environment, they provide academic assistance, arrange field trips that encourage personal and academic growth and help to match each child with long-term, loving homes. Two of the organization’s efforts to help the children in their care involved other prominent leaders in our community. On July 11, KYJO’s Big B.A.N.G. Weekend held a free football clinic for young players in the 4th through 8th grades. Children participating in the event were coached by Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Robert Golden, linebacker Lance Briggs and Denver Broncos Wide Receiver Isaiah Burse. The event was held at Fresno State’s Bulldog Stadium. KYJO kicked off the weekend the day before with a fundraising gala held at Porsche of Fresno, with all proceeds going to helping the children KYJO benefits. Alumni of Fresno State’s football team and current NFL players with connections to the organization were in attendance. A silent auction, wine tasting and a PACE Exotic Car showcase were part of the festivities. For more information about KYJO and to help the children they assist, go to kyjo.org.
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Calendar of Events
AUGUST
Central Valley
Central Coast
FRESNO Woodward Park Shakespeare Festival Presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona: August 1st, 8 p.m. The same theater company that brought you June’s performance of Richard the III brings you Shakespeare’s first romantic comedy. The entrance fee into Woodward Park is $5 a car, and attendance at the performance itself is free. For more information, go to woodwardshakespeare.com.
MONTEREY Monterey Car Week: August 10th-16th Classic automobile enthusiasts will be very excited to attend the Monterey Car Week festivities between August 10th and August 16th. Shows and events are scheduled to take place in various venues and locations around Monterey, so check seemonterey.com to get more information about where your favorite classic cars will be displayed. For more information, visit Monterey.com.
A Flea In Her Ear: August 1st-16th, Various times Good Company Player’s Second Space Theater wraps up seasonal performances of A Flea In Her Ear, a comedy set in Belle Époque Paris and features a series of misunderstandings and mix-ups involving spouses, friends, lovers and acquaintances that audiences are sure to find delightful. For more information, visit 2ndspacetheater.com. Kids Invent! Robotics Lab: August 3rd-7th, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. One of two kid-friendly programs hosted by Fresno State’s Lyles Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, this camp teaches children from kindergarten through the sixth grade how to work with robotics parts and write code. All the children participating in the program get to keep the robots they build at the end of the camp so they can continue their interest in robotics and computer programming! For more information, visit kidsinventca.com. Premier Bride Showplace: August 16th, 10 a.m. For those about to get married, this is the show for you. Come to the Fresno Convention Center early Sunday to meet local wedding vendors, meet other brides and grooms, and gain information and inspiration for planning your wedding. Fashion shows are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and there will be Grand Prize giveaways after each fashion show. Admission tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, go to fresnoconventioncenter.com. Stop the Violence Fashion Show: August 16th Stop the Violence Fresno, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing domestic and relationship abuse and violence, is hosting its first annual fashion show benefit at Valdez Hall. The show will feature Monisha “Mo” Mann and Marques Anthony as the show’s formal hosts. Tickets are available at fresnoconventioncenter.com. 92 |
Central California Life
SCOTTS VALLEY Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival: August 15th-16th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Some of the Central Coast’s best vintners, brewers and artists will be out at Scotts Valley’s Art, Wine and Beer Festival. Art displayed at the event will include a mix of photography, painting, sculpture and other fine and photographic arts. Hotels and inns near the event are within walking distance, providing a safe way for event participants to get back to their hotel in one piece. For more information, visit scottsvalleychamber.com. SEASIDE Sand City West End Celebration: August 21st-23rd, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. During this weekend of funky and artsy festivities, Sand City’s streets are closed off to make room for vendors to sell their unique and artistic works. This outdoor showcase is free to the public. For more information, visit Monterey.com.
Mountain Areas MINERAL KING - SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK Wild and Free: A Yoga-Inspired Backpacking Trip: August 10th-14th This four-day yoga and backpacking tour will take hikers through Sequoia National Park’s Mineral King area to view some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the country. Activities included in the yoga-and-backpacking tour include meditation sessions and quiet time to reflect and journal before the day’s hike through the mountains. For more information, visit sequoiahistory.org. Perseid Meteor Shower Astronomy Program: August 16th Central California astronomers will dig this astronomy program at Sequoia National Park’s Wuksachi Lodge. Multiple-colored flares traveling at up to 37 miles a second will pass by the earth and can be viewed from one of the highest points in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. For more information, visit sequoiahistory.org.
OAKHURST Mono Museum Indian Day Fair and Pow Wow: August 1st Oakhurst’s local Mono Indian Museum hosts their Indian Day Fair and Pow Wow at the North Fork Recreation Center. Festivities will honor the local Mono Native American tribe. For more information, visit sierramonomuseum.org. The Odd Couple: August 14th-30th, Various times The Golden Chain Theater in Oakhurst debuts its late summer drama, The Odd Couple, directed by Peter Clark. Based on the beloved play of the same name, the story takes a different turn as Unger and Madison, two female friends, invite several friends over for a game night of Trivial Pursuit. The new story is just as humorous and witty as the original play.
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Calendar of Events
SEPTEMBER
Central Valley FRESNO Walk With A Doc: September 19th, 7:30-9:30 a.m. This summer-long event to get valley residents out of the house and moving comes to a close with the last Walk With A Doc on Saturday, September 19th. Come walk with health-minded friends in the community, talk to a doctor and enjoy the early morning air. Arrive early to register and remember that the walk is completely free. For more information, go to walkwithadoc.org.
Pistachio Party: September 25th, 5-9 p.m. Come out to the last Old Town Clovis Farmer’s Market of the season and enjoy the late summer crop pistachio farmers have been working so hard to produce! Cooking demonstrations from culinary students at the Institute of Technology involving pistachios will be free to the public, and pistachio growers will hand out free samples of their crop. For more information, visit oldtownclovis.org.
Central Coast
Nights in the Plaza: September 25th, 7 p.m. Arte Americas ends its seasonal Nights in the Plaza events at the end of September with an end-of-season fundraiser. Per the usual schedule, doors open at 7 p.m. and live music begins at 8 p.m. Local food trucks sell their usual delicious fare and event attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs (there will be a very large Bring-Your-Own-Chair section). For more information, visit arteamericas.org. CLOVIS Clovis Fest and Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly: September 19th, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. This completely free event is fun for the whole family! Come out to Old Town Clovis to see the balloons lift off at 6 a.m. and stay to watch the balloons fill the skies as well as get breakfast from the various restaurants and shops in Old Town who will be opening to serve breakfast to event attendees. For more information, go to oldtownclovis.org. 94 |
Central California Life
GROVER BEACH Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series and Farmer’s Market: All Summer, 3-6 p.m. Local bands, food vendors and the greater Grover Beach community will be out in droves for Grover Beach’s Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series and Farmers Market. Band selection for the season has just ended and some great performers are lined up for your entertainment! For more information, visit grover.org.
VENTURA C Street Longboard Classic: September 13th-14th This local surfing contest features competitions and heats between contestants in different age groups—there are competitions for men, women, girls and boys split up by gender and age group. Some heats, like the Old Log event, is only open to the first 30 who register, so if you want to compete, register soon at venturasurfclub.org.
Mountain Areas SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK Dark Sky Festival: September 11th-13th This unique event in Sequoia National Park’s Wuksachi Way will feature constellation tours, telescope viewings, solar observations, lectures about space given by astronauts and other amazing and fun activities suitable for adults and children alike. For the astronomy buffs in your life, get more information at exploresequoiakingscanyon.com.
OAKHURST Run for the Gold Classic Car Show: September 11th-12th Sierra-Oakhurst Kiwanis Club is hosting its annual Classic Car Show the weekend of September 11th. The kickoff party is on the 11th, and will have music performed by a DJ, local entertainment and a dinner. The car show is on the 12th, and registration is at 7 a.m. Cars will be judged at 9 a.m. All proceeds raised from the car show participants will go to towards the local Kiwanis club, and the event is free to the public. For more information, go to oakhurstchamber.com. Smokey Bear Run: September 26th This race includes a 10k run, a two-mile run and a two-mile walk for all age groups and levels of fitness. This is a great race for families with children—no matter what you prefer, come out to this fun race that is sure to get Oakhurst residents moving. For more information, go to oakhurstchamber.com. • Central California Life
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