Central California Life July/Aug2014

BOB AND CAROLE MARCOTTE: Love in the Final Hours The Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival

Donnie Arax and the Valiant Bullard Knights

Central California Life Magazine

JUL/AUG 2014

$3.95

Dancing with the Stars with Jeanne Randall

Bud Elliott Behind the Headlines

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Reflections

A

sunny, warm welcome to the inaugural issue of Central California Life magazine!

While looking for a quote to explain why becoming a publisher has become my passion, I never expected my inspiration would come from a Roman philosopher born in Como, Italy, centuries ago: “True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written, in writing what deserves to be read, and in so living as to make the world happier and better for our living in it.” Pliny the Elder, who lived during 23-79 A.D — and often escapes recognition for another famous quote, “Home is where the heart is” – articulates perfectly what Central California Life magazine is all about. Your stories deserve to be told.

This passion for publishing has been life-altering. When you read the stories in this first issue, you will understand why. I first encountered Bob Marcotte via email nearly a year ago, and we finally met in person in April of this past year. He is a remarkable man, and his story about his wife’s battle with cancer, “The Final Hours,” will give you an inside view of what hospice care and love is all about.

Bud Elliott, who is on our cover, became a part of many of our daily lives while he anchored KSEE 24 news. He sat down with our editor, Kelley Campos McCoy, to talk about his years as a newsman, his views on the state and business of journalism, and his plans for retirement. You may be surprised.

Faith Sidlow will inspire you as she shares her first triathlon experience. Faith also writes about one of my favorite chefs and artists, Roy Harland, who graciously allowed us to publish his famous recipe for angel hair sundried tomato pasta.

Food lovers will enjoy this issue, too. We were invited to the world-famous Pebble Beach Food & Wine show and sent our food editor, Amy Guerra, to cover the event. We have dedicated several pages to food in this issue.

Mike Scott, who is truly the voice for anything to do with our beloved pets, shares the story of PAWS, a motherdaughter team rescuing some very special animals in Fowler.

Nick “the Pagmeter” Papagni, our high school sports expert, talks with Bullard coach Donnie Arax about how he turned the school’s football program around. Papagni 2 |

Central California Life

also helped us set up the story about Jeanne Randall, who has truly danced with the stars. Monica Prinzing wrote that beautiful piece.

Reflecting our publication’s mission to cover stories across Central California, we have two correspondents, Mallory Soares and Judith Menezes, who will report on events happening along the Central Coast and in Kings and Tulare counties (respectively). Their stories – on the Farmers’ Market in San Luis Obispo and Star Restaurant in Hanford – appear in this issue. In the near future, additional correspondents will write about the people, places and events in other parts of the region.

In our Spotlight section, you will see highlights of noteworthy events, milestones and more.

Information about events coming up in the Central Valley, including the mountain areas, and along the Central Coast can be found in our Calendar of Events.

We have so much to share, and not everything can fit within these 100 pages. For an enhanced experience with more photos and more events, visit our website: www.CenCaliLife.com. If you are a social media junkie like me, you can also like us on Facebook or Twitter and get real-time information on events and happenings in Central California. Reach us at facebook.com/CenCaliLife or @CenCaliLife.

My commitment is to tell stories from Central California that are worth telling, in hopes that, by sharing these words, we will be inspired to engage with and become more connected to each other.

I am honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful writers, photographers and graphic artists.

Please see our featured contributor’s page to learn more about some of the many talented people who have helped in making this publication. I also want to personally thank our editor, Kelley Campos McCoy, for putting into words our vision and mission. With her guidance and that of our editorial board, I bring you Central California Life magazine!

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

For subscription information or advertising opportunities visit CenCaliLife.com or call 559/355-0378

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

CenCaliLife

Valley and Central Coast, and count among our targeted readers those who live both within and outside the region.”

@CenCaliLife CenCaliLife

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20 Bud Elliot

Behind the Headlines

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 My First Triathlon Faith Sidlow

Our Kids

16 The Summer Balancing Act Dr. Amanda Nicholson Adams 6 |

Central California Life

26 Jeanne Randall Dancing with the Stars

Our Furry Friends

34 The Gift of the Final Hours

Bob Marcotte

Behind the Headlines 20 Anchorman Bud Elliott Kelley Campos McCoy

42

Stories from the Heartland

Our Valley

18 A Passion for PAWS Mike Scott

26

32

Jeanne Randall: Dancing with the Stars Monica Prinzing

Fresno Dental Professionals: Keeping it All in the Family Christi McKinney

Hinds Hospice: Filling a Need to Help the Terminally Ill Dr. Don Simmons

44 Hanford’s Star Restaurant: Where History and Community Meet Judith Menezes

50 Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival

72 Roy Harland Culinary Artist Central Coast

48 Home Sweet Slome’s Farmers’ Market Mallory Soares 50 Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival Amy Guerra

Health and Wellness

54 Information Fatigue Syndrome Dr. Bradley Wajda 56 Music and the Disabled Jami Hamel De La Cerda 58 Experiencing What’s Possible Through Adaptive Sports Monica Prinzing

34

The Gift of the Final Hours

62 Training After an Injury Rhonda Murphy

78 Sip: Kuppa Joy Kendra Gilbert

Sports

80 Water-Wise Gardens Susan Stiltz

64 Donnie Arax: Bringing the Bullard Knights Back Nick Papagni

Arts and Entertainment 70 Book Review: Mark Geragos’ ‘Mistrial’ Amy Guerra

Sip and Savor

Spotlight

81 Milestones and Events in Central California

Calendar of Events

88 July, August and September Happenings

72 Roy Harland: Culinary Artist Faith Sidlow Central California Life

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Contributors PUBLISHER Karen Maroot karen@cencalilife.com PUBLISHER/SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Alyssa Boyles alyssa@cencalilife.com EDITOR Kelley Campos McCoy kelley@cencalilife.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Alyssa Boyles, Karen Maroot, Kelley Campos McCoy, Richard Melella, Faith Sidlow CREATIVE CONSULTANT Edgar E. Dunn III CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Amanda Nicholson Adams, Kendra Gilbert, Amy Guerra, Jami Hamel De La Cerda, Bob Marcotte, Kelley Campos McCoy, Christi McKinney, Judith Menezes, Rhonda Murphy, Nick Papagni, Monica Prinzing, Mike Scott, Faith Sidlow, Dr. Don Simmons, Mallory Soares, Susan Stiltz, Rachel Taylor, Dr. Bradley Wajda CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rob Barbery, Alyssa Boyles, Bill Clough, Victoria Flores, Bill Grabe, Amy Guerra, Paul Lebby, Bob Marcotte, Judith Menezes, Dan Minkler, Roberta Minkler, Mallory Soares, Marty Solis, Melissa Wedekind, Robert Wilson DESIGNERS Beth Greene, Gary Hoffman INTERNS Rachel Taylor VOLUNTEERS Brooke Allen, Hannah Allen, Octaviana Rodriguez Copyright © 2014 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.

8 |

Central California Life

Monica Prinzing Writer

What I like best about living in Central California is … the cultural diversity; great year-round weather; close proximity to the mountains, major cities and ocean; outdoor recreation; and most of all, feeling at home.

As a child, I loved … to read, write, explore new places, spend time with my family, people-watch, play sports, experience nature – and dream about the future.

My favorite part of summer … is enjoying the warm evenings, attending family picnics, barbecuing, going to the lake, and savoring the abundance of fresh fruit (I’m a “fruitaholic”).

I am most inspired by … the challenge to consistently improve in everything I do while striving to achieve the ultimate goal: to make a difference.

People would probably be surprised to know that … although I don’t eat processed sugar, I’m actually OK with that!

Bob Marcotte Writer and Photographer

What I like best about living in Central California is … its proximity to everything the world thinks of when they think of California.

As a child, I loved … sports, all kinds of sports.

My favorite part of summer … is air conditioning.

I am most inspired by … underdogs who ultimately win.

People would probably be surprised to know that … I never wrote a word before I started blogging about my wife’s cancer in 2011.

Judith Menezes

Writer and Photographer What I like best about living in Central California is … the ethnic diversity. Also, my roots are here.

As a child, I loved … to ride my bike all over Fresno.

My favorite part of summer … is Fourth of July and the summer nights.

I am most inspired by … the unexpected goodness of people and the kindness of strangers.

People would probably be surprised to know that … at one time I wanted to own a restaurant.

Dan Minkler Photographer

What I like best about living in Central California is ... that it offers so much—a variety of good foods; great restaurants; excellent theatre and other forms of entertainment on both small and large scales; small towns with interesting events that most people don’t even know about; the ability to go to the mountains or coast in a relatively short time; and diverse cultures. Caring, heartfelt, real people are what make the Valley what it is.

As a child, I loved ... living in the Ozarks in Missouri. I love that country living.

My favorite part of summer is ... having family and friends over for a barbecue.

I am most inspired by ... God! I love to read the Bible and spend time just meditating on what I read, then sharing what I learn with others.

People would probably be surprised to know that ... even though I love photography, I have been a full-time pastor for 33 years. •

Inaugural Release Party Thursday, July 10 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

@

9455 N. Fort Washington Rd. Fresno, CA 93730 559.434.3638

Silent Auction to benefit:

KYJO Enterprises

A Few Cool Things

by Rachel Taylor

Full Moon Paddle

on the San Joaquin River

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the San Joaquin River at night? If the thought has crossed your mind, then you’re in luck. The San Joaquin River Stewardship Program is offering monthly Full Moon Paddle sessions from June through September.

Participants will kayak from Lost Lake Park to Cobb Ranch under the moonlight as they take in the serene beauty of the River’s nightlife during a guided tour. Challenge your senses during this once-in-a-lifetime adventure where beavers, deer and egrets are right around the bend.

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Central California Life

Don’t have a kayak? No worries! The Stewardship Program will provide kayaks and life jackets.

To participate in the event, the Stewardship Program requires that attendees be at least 16 years of age and in good physical condition. Previous kayaking experience is necessary.

Tours start at about 7 p.m. and last until about 11:30 p.m.

For more information, visit sanjoaquinriver.org or call Steve Starcher at (559) 289-8874.

Natalie Clark, Scott Miller, Dianna Shafer

Garden Parties

at Gazebo Gardens Nursery Photos by Dan Minkler

The Gazebo Gardens Nursery in Fresno has been bringing fresh, local horticultural supplies to the Central Valley since 1922. Now, the nursery is adding gourmet food carts, entertainment and beer to the mix every Friday and Saturday during its hyper-local garden parties.

From 5-9 p.m., attendees can get down to local bands, enjoy about 60 choices of craft beer and purchase food from several local gourmet food carts, all while taking in the beauty of the nursery’s two acres of roses.

Regular food vendors include Dusty Buns, Eat Street Bistro, Casa de Tamales, Summertime Pies, Gorilla Gurt, Benaddiction and Raw Fresno.

The nursery features seating for about 150 people.

Space fills up quickly for this in-demand event, so be sure to grab a spot while you can.

For more information, visit gazebogardens1922.com.

Scats on the Sly featuring vocalist Mallory Moad Central California Life

| 11

Warbird Adventure Rides Over the Beach

Calling all daredevils! If you’d like a bird’s-eye view of the stunning landscape of Pismo Beach, Banner Airways in Oceano Beach can make your dreams come true with its Warbird Adventure Rides.

Patrons can hitch a flight in an open-cockpit World War II biplane and choose from two different tours. One flight highlights the Pismo Beach Pier, and the other includes the impressive Oceano Dunes. Listen to the roar of a 1943 Boeing

Super Stearman as you fly over the Pacific Ocean and imagine a day in the life of a World War II cadet pilot.

For this sky-high adventure, Banner Airways provides passengers with a leather jacket, helmet, googles and life jacket so they can have a safe, authentic experience. Best of all, these scenic flights are good for all ages.

For more information, visit bannerairways.net.

Golden Chain Theatre Summer Shows If you didn’t think it was possible to travel back in time, think again. Established in 1968, the Golden Chain Theatre brings 19th-century theatre to the present day with its old-fashioned shows that are fun for the whole family.

Located off of U.S. Highway 41 in Oakhurst, the nonprofit community theatre also performs melodramatic theatre, musicals, original productions, historical dramas, mysteries and much more. But the Golden Chain Theatre 12 |

Central California Life

doesn’t limit itself to the stage alone.

Each year, the theatre pairs with the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad to present a special outdoor melodrama among the pines at the Lewis Creek Canyon Amphitheatre. The event also features dinner and gives patrons the opportunity to ride on an old steam train. For 2014, this special event will take place on July 20 and Aug. 10.

Future shows at the Golden Chain Theatre include “Song of the Mounties,” “The Boardinghouse,” “Gas Light/ Angel Street” and an all-new original production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” • For more information and show times, visit goldenchaintheatre.org.

Bullard & West www.pavilionwest.com S H O P P I N G D I N I N G C O M M U N I T Y Pavilion West is one of Fresno’s most attractive and well-maintained neighborhood shopping centers.

It is a unique collection of thirty-eight merchants who have a passion for their business and an uncommon dedication to customer service.

Pavilion West is home to a family of merchants who support one another, support the community and know their customers on a first name basis.

Our upscale ambience and beautiful architecture are enhanced by warm, friendly atmosphere. Stop by and experience this wonderful shopping center for yourself today, you will be glad you did!

Apparel & Accessories A. Feliché 449-0286 Designer Fashions for Women

Kid Dreams 439-4210

Clothing & Gifts for Young and Young at Heart

Bouquet of Fruits 432-9135

Rosa Linda’s 448-9912

The Patio Place 435-4333

China Bistro 447-8399

Yodigity Yogurt 439-5449

Crème de la Cake 431-1343

Gifts & Hobbies Bead Artistry 435-6605

Services Chateau Cleaners 439-0779

The Gift for All Occasions Where East Meets West

Custom Cakes and Confections

Nonnie’s House Boutique 432-4990 Fresno Breakfast House 431-1385 Full Service Shopping Experience

Premier Fine Jewelers & Gemologists 439-8600

Premier Service, Quality and Value

Stephan Cori 224-4222 High Fashion and Accessories

Food & Drink Amir’s Shish Kebob 431-6666 Mediterranean Food and Kebobs

Breakfast, Lunch, Banquets and Catering

High Sierra Grill House 435-8500 Finger-Lickin Fare at Great Prices

Maddie Cakes 261-2253 Special Occasion Cupcakes

Maroo 449-0166

Creative Japanese & Korean Cuisine

Fine Mexican Dining You’re Gonna Dig It

Everything to bring out the Bead Artist in You

Jude’s Fantasy Land 549-6700

All your seasonal, year-round Christmas and entertaining needs

Merle Norman 431-5000 For A More Beautiful You

Home Design Rollf’s Gallery 261-2427

Fine Art & Custom Picture Framing

Decorate Your Life

For All Your Dry Cleaning Needs

Pamela Leeds Photography 435-3614 Premier Wedding and Family Photographer

San Francisco Floral 449-1109

Curves 447-5058

3rd generation family owned and operated

Henry’s Salon 435-0943

The Travel Address-GalaxSea Cruises 432-8747

30 Minute Fitness and Weight Loss Center For Those That Desire the Best

Nails Plus Beau 431-9530 Creative Nail Art

Pack N Ship Authority 436-5255 Packing Services

Cruise & Vacation Experts

Tresorle Salon & Spa 439-9006 Hair, Spa, Tanning, Facials

United Local Credit Union 227-8329 Specialty Nature’s Nutrients 432-1424 Naturesnutrientllc.com

Cruzin’ the Pavilion, Car Show and Wine Tasting every Wednesday 6 pm to 9 pm at the Pavilion West Shoppng Center on the corner of Bullard and West!

Central California Life

| 13

Keeping the Faith

My First Triathlon

by Faith Sidlow

Photo by Captivating Sports Photos

Race Director Mark Wilson leading the pre-triathlon prayer.

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.

14 |

I

t’s 5 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day, and I’m standing chest-deep in Millerton Lake. The water is so cold I can’t breathe. Yes, I’m wearing a wetsuit.

This is a defining moment for me in my quest to tackle yet another item on my bucket list. Should I continue training for a triathlon and possibly fail or give up now and never know whether I would have succeeded?

How exactly I got myself into this predicament, I’m not certain. It all started one day in October, after a particularly endorphin-filled bike ride with a couple friends from Women on Wheels, the cycling group that trains through the summer and fall for the Valley Girls Ride. One of us (they blame me) came up with a harebrained idea to try a triathlon. After all, we enjoyed bike riding together, why not take it to the next level? Truth be told, I didn’t think we were serious, but just for laughs we met at a pool to test our swimming skills.

I’m a mediocre swimmer, and I knew it would be difficult. I set out to do my first lap and was wiped out halfway through the first length, gasping for air after just 25 meters. My two friends, Kristine Walter, 55, and Kristin McIntyre, 47, fared much better, speeding through 750 meters with

Central California Life

seemingly little effort. As we finished our workout, McIntyre snapped a “selfie” of the three of us in the pool and posted the photo on Facebook. She tagged all of us and announced we were training for a triathlon. We were committed.

We began researching triathlons and found plenty to choose from. The sport has been gaining popularity. The number of participants nationwide has doubled during the past five years, reaching 1.99 million in 2011, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. We searched for a “sprint” distance that agreed with all of our schedules and chose the HITS Napa Valley triathlon—a half-mile open-water swim in Lake Berryessa, followed by a 12.4-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run.

Over the next 13 weeks, we met to swim, bike and run—sometimes doing all three on the same day. In March, we donned wetsuits and began training in Millerton Lake. On St. Patrick’s Day, I got in the water, took three strokes—and immediately got out.

Let me tell you something: Swimming in a cold, murky lake in a wetsuit is entirely different than swimming in an 80-degree, clear pool. I was starting to think I might not be able to do this thing.

I realized I needed help. A triathlon can be a tricky thing for a first-timer. Fortunately, we found the Triathlon Club of Central California—known as TC3—and a group of insanely adventurous athletes who call themselves the Catfish Crawlers. TC3 has about 200 members who train several days a week throughout the year. They are an amazingly supportive and compassionate group from all walks of life and fitness levels. They welcomed us with open arms, teaching us the finer points of open water swims and swim-to-bike and bike-to-run transitions. Immediately I began to feel more comfortable with the process.

Race day came fast. McIntyre, Walter and I met in front of our cabins at Markley Cove on Lake Berryessa, about 25 miles east of Napa. I woke

Photos this page by Robert Wilson

up Sunday at 4 a.m. and sprang out of bed. The plan was to leave at 4:30 for the 45-minute drive to the northwest side of the lake.

I started to get a little nervous as we pulled into the parking lot, joining more than 800 other participants who were calmly pulling bikes off of racks and assembling their gear bags. We found our spots in the transition area and set up our gear for the race, laying out our bike helmets and shoes exactly the way the TC3 coaches taught us: helmet straps unbuckled, shoe laces untied, gloves in the cycling jersey pocket—anything to cut down on the time it takes to switch from swimming to biking and biking to running.

At 6:30, it was time to put on our wetsuits and walk down to the boat ramp.

We listened to last-minute instructions and squeezed together to say a prayer with Race Director Mark Wilson. Then it was time head into the cold, 65-degree water.

I knew the swim was going to be the most difficult part of the race for me. I had been having panic attacks in Millerton during training and I was expecting the same to happen at Berryessa. Mads Schroeder from TC3 suggested I start at the rear and outside the wave (the pack

of swimmers). That was my plan, but when the race started, I was in the front and inside. I started swimming my slow, methodical stroke and suddenly realized women were all around me—pulling on my legs, kicking me in the face and churning the water. I started to panic and had to stop to catch my breath. I swam over to one of the kayaks and grabbed a flotation device, clinging to it like a barnacle to a rock. I watched as the pack swam off into the distance. I wondered if I would be able to compete in the rest of the race if I didn’t finish the swim but forced that thought out of my mind. I concentrated on one stroke after another and caught up with the stragglers at the back of the wave.

I made it to shore, ran up the boat ramp and found my bike in the transition area.

The wetsuit came off easily and within minutes I was back out the gate, on my bike and headed out on the 12-mile ride. My husband and I had driven the route the night before and I was concerned about the grade. In the dark, the hills looked steep. As I pedaled up the first incline, I was relieved that it wasn’t as bad as I expected. My difficulty with cycling has always been letting go on the downhill. Normally, I brake most of the way.

This time, I let if fly and pedaled downhill, reaching speeds of 25 to 30 mph—really fast for me. Four miles into the ride, I saw McIntyre and Walter on the other side of the road, on their way back. We cheered for each other and kept going.

I arrived back at the transition area, pulled off my bike helmet, took a pebble out of my shoe, and started the run. The first half was uphill. My legs felt like lead weights and my calves were cramping. I tried running but had to walk. Women running in the opposite direction shouted words of encouragement: “Good job!”

“You’ve got this!” and “Almost there!” I huffed and puffed my way up to the aid station at the turnaround where a volunteer handed me a cup of sport drink. It tasted delicious and within minutes the cramping stopped in my calves. I felt a second wind and picked up the pace as I headed downhill. In just minutes I rounded the corner and headed down the homestretch. As I crossed the finish line, McIntyre and Walter were there to greet me while all of our husbands snapped photos. We hugged and congratulated each other and marked another item off our bucket lists.

After it was over, I realized I really enjoyed the triathlon—the training, camaraderie, and feeling of elation when we conquered it. Although it is my first triathlon, it won’t be my last. I want to improve my swimming, train more seriously and try again.

•

Triathlon Club of Central California:

http://www.activitynut.me/go/tc3.go?club Women On Wheels:

http://www.clovishillswow.com/ Central California Life

| 15

Our Kids

The Summer Balancing Act

by Amanda Nicolson Adams, PhD, BCBA-D

S Dr. Amanda Nicholson Adams has a Ph. D. in psychology and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is the CEO and founder of The California Autism Center and Learning Network, a company that serves the needs of children with autism and other learning challenges.

She has lived in Fresno for 8 years and is the mother of two beautiful children.

16 |

ummer is underway! For most kids, that means no school, water play to escape the heat and lots of free time. Although parents also look forward to vacations and extra time with the kids, some may be anxious about what to do with their children’s wide-open schedules. Fear not.

There are many activities available that will leave kids feeling like they can enjoy a well-deserved break, while still stimulating the brain and body.

Kids can focus on things such as improving academic skills, honing athletic moves, developing new interests – all while enjoying a few months off from tests and homework. And with a summer schedule of activities all mapped out, parents can enjoy the extra time with their kids.

During the weeks you’re at home with your kids, consider setting up a kind of “camp” schedule that can help engage your children and offer a gentle structure to their summer days. Kids usually do better with structure and expectations; even the most simple of guidelines can help.

Your family’s summertime days may include the following:

Central California Life

One chore for the day that can be consistent or rotated (picking up room, taking out trash, caring for pets, assisting with laundry).

One academic-oriented activity each day.

Many fun and easy science projects can be found online or at novelty shops, and it’s always a good idea to continue regular reading (maybe with a sticker chart for summer books read).

A larger scale project such as a garden, a scrapbook or recycling can be part of the summer routine that delivers a sense of accomplishment at the end.

Physical activity every day. This can consist of a romp in the park, a game of catch or a mommy and me yoga video. Anything that gets your kids moving and expending some energy. The goal is to create a schedule for three to five days of the week that provides established, yet flexible, time periods for each activity. Kids will know what to expect and you will know what to plan for.

Each family’s schedule will determine how many outside activities are possible for kids in the summer. Several organizations offer swim lessons in

addition to dance, martial arts, art, music, drama and more. A summer class offers a chance to focus on developing an interest with fewer competing demands. This may be a great opportunity for a child to take a skill or talent to a higher level. Weeklong camps are another method of presenting a chance to really dig into a specific skill. The Fresno area has programs available through the county, Fresno State, various school district programs and local organizations.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding which program is best for your kids.

How much time will it take out of your child’s and family’s schedule?

Does your child wish to “try it out” or take a skill in this area to a higher level?

Are the instructors well trained and invested in the program?

Does your child need a break from the rigor of the school year, or is he or she ready for another kind of vigorous instruction that a one-track camp could offer?

Can your child participate in more than one kind of camp or activity in the summer?

Sometimes your children’s ages will determine how you schedule their summer activities. Here’s a breakdown: Ages 10 years or older: Sit down and discuss summer plans with your child, including the points above and his or her interests and ideas for summer.

Friends and peers will play a big role with older kids. Of course, preteens require more parental input than older teens. It’s appropriate to consider preteens’ suggestions – they may or may not be ready to make full decisions about their activities and schedules. Provide options and help

them plan a great summer with your guidance and support.

Ages 5 to 10: This is such a fun age because kids are old enough to explore, but usually not old enough to focus on only one thing. This is a great time to choose more than one activity – some time at home, some time at a multi-activity camp. Look for a camp with an energetic staff who bring fun, and skill, to the activities they lead.

Ages 5 years or younger: Even for parents who can be at home, a camp for a week or two may provide some peer opportunities and a break for mom and dad. When choosing an outside class or camp, look for a schedule for younger children that includes two to three structured activities per day with time for snacks, free play and napping. Also look for flexible pickup times and a friendly, child-oriented staff. For younger kids, it’s more important that camp staff have skills working with young children over skills in the particular area or sport.

For siblings, summer programs can

be such a great opportunity to participate in activities together, which is rarely possible at school. Your family dynamics and the ages and genders of your children will determine the details of these decisions.

Consider finding summer activities that will allow your children to have some time together in a way they don’t normally get to experience during the regular school year. An added bonus is that you may have time to go for a yoga class or cup of coffee yourself, which can also be very therapeutic.

As tempting as it may be to spend every minute of the summer with your children, it might be healthy for everyone to have small breaks from one another.

You may be an even better supermom or dad when you recognize and balance your own needs. • Central California Life

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Our Furry Friends

A Passion for PAWS in Fowler

by Mike Scott

Photos by Dan Minkler

“I

Mike Scott was an Emmy award-winning anchor/ reporter for Channel 47 for almost 30 years. World traveler. Animal lover.

Central California Life Magazine columnist.

18 |

’ve always had a passion for animals.”

That’s how Krystle Rivera begins telling the story of how she started her nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter Fowler PAWS (Precious Animals Worth Saving).

Rivera works as an accounting technician for the City of Fowler.

For many years, when stray animals would be picked up in the area, Rivera grew more and more frustrated watching the city shell out money to euthanize those dogs.

Fowler didn’t have any budget for an animal shelter, so strays were simply turned over to the SPCA. “It killed me to know the animals didn’t have a chance,” Rivera said.

In 2006, Rivera and her mother, Irene Prieto, finally decided it was time to do something.

Rivera convinced the “powers that be” in Fowler to allow her to take responsibility for all strays (mainly dogs) picked up in the city limits.

Somehow, Rivera scraped together enough money to buy two-and-a-half acres of land along Floral Avenue. She applied for her nonprofit status, and soon Fowler PAWS was up and running. No longer would stray animals in Fowler be put to sleep. They would stay at the no-

Central California Life

Top: Irene Prieto sits with Rex, a pit bull who stayed at PAWS for about seven years before being adopted by the Pennington family.

Bottom: Krystle Rivera gets friendly with Spike, a senior Chihuahua.

and include license, shots and microchipping.

Since Fowler PAWS was founded, more than 1,000 animals have been adopted.

Asked if she’s ever had any second thoughts about all this, Prieto said, “I don’t do it because I have to, I do it because I want to.

My doggies make me happy.”

Her daughter feels the same way.

“I’ve never regretted it. If I wasn’t here, thousands of lives would have been lost. That’s what keeps me going,” Rivera said. “It is worth every minute.” •

Irene Prieto and Kyrstle Rivera with PAWS residents.

kill shelter until they found a home.

“The very first dog I rescued, I adopted,” Rivera said. “I knew I couldn’t find her a home, so that’s why I kept her. To this day, Sasha will only kiss me.”

The first dog officially adopted out to a family (other than to Rivera) was a pit bull-lab mix named Dodger. “When he left,” Rivera said, “he took a piece of my heart with him.”

But eight years into the rescue business and Rivera has developed a thick skin. “I’ve become a stronger person,” she said. “The feeling is now bittersweet. I’m sad when animals leave, but it’s why I’m here, to help them find a life they deserve.”

“We cry when they come in, and we cry when they go out,” Prieto said, describing her family’s emotional attachment to every stray that comes through the facility.

The mother-daughter team puts in countless hours every week, caring for the animals they rescue. Rivera’s long hours at the rescue shelter are on top of her 40-hour-a-week job with the city. “It is very exhausting, but it doesn’t stop me,” she said. “I am here to give the animals

A PAWS resident ready for a new home.

a voice, to give them another chance, and show them what real love is. I could never turn my back on them.”

As many as 150 animals are available for adoption at Fowler PAWS at any given time. Every weekend, some of the dogs are taken to the Clovis PetSmart at Herndon and Willow. Volunteers transport the dogs and walk them around the store in search of the perfect human match. Adoption fees range from $100 to $200 ($65 for senior animals),

Y

our donations would be greatly appreciated.

According to the Fowler PAWS website, key expenses include: gas, toys, snacks, vet bills, pet food, medications, dewormer, roofing, labor for construction projects, cement, pooper scoopers, bowls, dog houses, kennels, fencing, dog pools, grass, trees, fence slats, misters, collars, harnesses, leashes and much more.

The shelter also needs a new van to transport the animals to PetSmart every week, as well as a grant writer to identify and apply for funds available for nonprofits such as Fowler PAWS. Monetary donations can be mailed to: Fowler PAWS, P.O. Box 601, Fowler, CA 93625 For more information about Fowler PAWS, visit facebook.com/Fowler-PAWS. Central California Life

| 19

Behind the Headlines with

Photo courtesy of KSEE 24

Bud Elliott

by Kelley Campos McCoy

T

he landscape of local television news changed significantly with the recent retirement of Bud Elliott, longtime anchor for KSEE 24, the Central Valley’s NBC affiliate. Elliott spent more than two decades at the anchor desk and would still be there, he said, were it not for some medical issues that preclude being able to continue. While he declined to go into specifics about the issues on record other than to say that they are “life-changing” but “not life-threatening,” he spoke at length with Central California Life about a number of different topics, including his experiences in broadcast, his views on the state and business of journalism, and his plans for retirement. An often serious on-air presence with an occasional wry grin and a gleam in his eye, Elliott in person is reflective, warm and funny. For all of his success as a journalist – he has won several awards for his work, including an Emmy – he is also somewhat of a farmer at heart. He even raises his own chickens. “I’m just interested 20 |

Central California Life

in farms, farming and farming people,” he said when talking about how getting hired by KSEE 24, located in one of the richest agricultural regions on earth, was a stroke of good fortune in many ways. “People working close to the earth, getting their hands dirty … I just have an affinity for those kinds of stories in addition to all the other ones.”

Your first job in broadcasting was in the mid1960s, when you were a junior in high school and worked as a disc jockey for a local rock ‘n roll station in Albuquerque. You quickly gravitated toward journalism with successive positions in radio then television.

What was it about covering the news that appealed to you?

I’ve always been sort of a newsie. I was always aware of public events and public affairs. I took my degree in history.

Today’s news is tomorrow’s history. History helps tremendously [to] get a perspective on the stories we’re covering today. Because it does really all repeat, it really does. It

doesn’t matter if it’s national news, international, local, regional, whatever — if you have a grounding and an interest in what went before, and what preceded today’s events, it helps you really put all of it into perspective, and it helps you, as a journalist, add texture to the story you’re covering today.

Once you got into the profession, was it everything you thought it would be?

I’ve been in a lot of newsrooms, big and small, but the common denominator is the interesting, intelligent, creative people who work in newsrooms.

That really gets to you. To be part of that — and to hopefully be as creative, as imaginative and innovative, to be able to put together a quality, informative product, just like all the rest of those professionals — that’s really what I liked and what I’ll miss.

You were hired at KSEE 24 in 1987 after working several years as a broadcast journalist, most notably for CNN 2 in Atlanta and the ABC affiliate in Richmond, Va. What was your impression of Fresno and the Valley when you first got here?

When I flew out, it was Christmastime of ‘86, and it was a bad fog season that year. I didn’t realize it was a bad one; all I knew is that we were lucky to land. When I was picked up by the general manager, he drove me around and I couldn’t see anything. He actually took me down Christmas Tree Lane, and I couldn’t see anything except some blurry lights. So I thought, is this really California? Then, there’s the stark realization that summertime in Fresno is kinda hot — but it’s a dry heat (smiles, mimicking locals).

I’d been through several summers in Atlanta. That will melt you. Jacksonville, Florida is even worse.

Richmond is no slouch. So [Fresno] really wasn’t that bad. It was just different.

It’s difficult for many people to think of Bud Elliott without also thinking of your coanchors, Stefani Booroojian and Faith Sidlow.

What makes a good anchor team?

It’s an accident, first of all, and I got lucky twice. You don’t really have a say in who your [co-] anchor is going to be. Sometimes [management] makes a really bad decision and the anchor team doesn’t work out and it takes them a year or two to realize that and the ratings go you-know-where.

Then they make some changes. You really rely on your co-anchor to help you in the moments when you either get stuck, or confused, or don’t know a fact or just have a complete brain freeze … Stef was the kind of person who would always help. I’m not

Elliott worked for four years for CNN in Atlanta.

Photo courtesy of Bud Elliott

saying every sentence was a blunder; I’m just saying she let me know right away that she was there to help me and she expected it from me — to help her. Once you get that established, it gets much easier. We had that rapport, that chemistry, if you will.

You can’t fake that.

No, you can’t. You can try, but if it’s not there, it’s not there. And the audience can tell. They can perceive that. I don’t know how exactly that comes through the screen, but it does. You want that not to happen because management wants you to be accepted by a whole bunch of people out there in TV Land, and some of them, they hope, have TV rating books — Nielsen books — so that the ratings go up.

There were a lot of occasions when the ratings did go up with Stef and I. When Faith and I were on the morning show, ratings also increased.

You refer to ratings. Were you always aware of the local competition — Channel 30, Channel 47 and Channel 26?

Oh, yeah ... As I understand it, 30 took the ratings race in the early 1980s and became Number One, and so we were always chasing them. It’s similar in a lot of markets: There’s always a dominant station and then those that are trying to catch up … I think that a lot of times, in a lot of instances over the years, our product was just as good as theirs. Meaning that we covered the same stories or other stories quicker, better, faster. When we needed to surround a story, we did. When we had the resources to throw two live teams or even three at a story, we did … And so there were a lot of times we were as good as or sometimes a little better than 30. But most of the time we were just a strong second.

Central California Life

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Photo courtesy of Faith Sidlow

Elliott and Faith Sidlow were co-anchors for the KSEE 24 morning show.

One of the ways television news differs from other forms of journalism, especially if you’re an anchor, is that you come into the homes of your viewers every night. Audiences begin to feel like they know you.

Yeah. The reason you are an anchor should not be because you want to be a performer and a celebrity and be well-known in your little fish tank, but because you want to deliver the news.

But the nature of [the] beast is that the station that presents you on their news set wants you to go into those living rooms and be accepted, and so they promote you, and promote you, and promote you. And they have quite a large investment in making you the person that [audiences] want to invite into their living room every night at 6 o’clock. So it’s a two-edged sword. You become so familiar in people’s living rooms that they’re almost offended when you’re not there, or if you make a mistake, or if you in some way alienate them. Then they’re never going to forgive you.

And that happens. But by and large, what we’re trying to do is sell a product. We’re trying to sell a pretty face and some information that the management hopes will be palatable and entertaining enough that accidentally people will also get informed. I don’t mean it to sound quite as negative or critical as that, but it’s a business.

How do you negotiate that tension — the fact that you went into journalism for one reason, but, because it’s a business, you are pressured to focus on other things like 22 |

Central California Life

selling a pretty face? Did you ever feel forced to compromise?

Yeah. I think you’re asked to compromise all the time. Journalism, just on its face, is a series of judgments every step of the way on every story.

What do you put in? What do you leave out? Am I censoring myself needlessly? Am I showing my bias, my prejudice? Am I not giving a true account of whatever that event was? But on a larger scale, yes, by management you’re asked to smile more, or change your hair. Actually, I think the female anchors probably have more [pressures].

You know, what kind of jewelry [should you wear]? What kind of dress? How much bust line do you show? … That’s the entertainment — the showbiz — side of what we call “journalism.”

Those compromises, yes, I think can be exhausting. They can be fatiguing. They cause unnecessary fights sometimes. But by the same token, I don’t want to sound like I’m whining, because this is the profession I chose. This is the way it is, so deal with it, and quit whining. Quit trying to reinvent it because you’re not going to succeed.

How has journalism changed over the years?

Journalism has changed a lot since 1967, ‘68, ‘69 when I first [got into it]. But the basics are the same: What is the job of a journalist? To go out and go where the public can’t to gather truth — facts — and assemble those facts and then report back to the public what it is you’ve just seen, that they need to know … It’s a hard job. And it’s resource-intense, and the market in recent years has changed in that our staffs have grown smaller, not larger. Journalism has migrated to the net. I guess that’s a natural progression and there’s no way to stop it, and really no way to argue other than I don’t think good journalism necessarily has figured out a way to present to the public the information they need to have. I think the overall amount and quality of news that is now available on different platforms is not as good as it once was, but I don’t think the public realizes or understands that it’s not.

And that’s dangerous, because say what you want about individual newspapers or reporters or TV stations or networks or whatever, [but] our job is to inform the public, and if the public will not be informed through their own insistence on using some new delivery form, I think a free society —

a democratic society — suffers.

When you look back on your work for KSEE 24, what are you most proud of?

I think the entire body of work, that for the most part was created and broadcast under the standards I described: trying to get the story right, trying to get it true and the facts straight, and the spelling and grammar correct, while at the same time trying to turn an elegant phrase once in awhile.

What were your greatest challenges?

To get the story right. There are a whole bunch of reasons why a story, in its first draft, might not be right. The reporter might not know, the producer might not understand, we might have gotten faulty information off a news release or press release. There are any number of ways. But I think the biggest challenge is to get it right.

I think a journalist’s really only ultimate job is to get it right. And that means tell the truth. What does that mean? That means “just the facts, ma’am.” Just give me the facts. If you can do that much, you’ve done your job, and everything else is over and above that.

What would you like your legacy to be as a newsman?

Just that I tried to get it right and had a darn good time doing it. I think the thing that possibly sets me apart is that I’ve always tried to see the humor in some of this stuff. It’s a serious business mostly, and usually most of the news that gets on air is bad news — the plane crashes, and the train crashes, and the corruption, and the mass murders, and the this and the that. You can’t really joke about those things, but occasionally we do get stories that we can joke about and present in a little bit lighter light. And I’ve always tried with those ones to take the liberty to have a little twinkle in my eye, and a little wink, and grin and say, “Stef, are you listening? This is about you.”

I imagine that one of the misconceptions about you is that you’re a very serious guy.

It’s funny — a lot of [my humor] came out when I moved to mornings with Faith. Faith actually brought [that] out. We really had a good

Photos courtesy of Stefani Booroojian

Elliott’s longest professional partnership at KSEE 24 was with Stefani Booroojian, his coanchor on the evening newscasts.

time. And I joined into having that good time willingly. A lot of it was stuff that was inside me and had been for a long time but just didn’t have a way to come out. But she kind of loosened me up a little bit, and I wasn’t afraid to take the risks of laughing once in awhile. I mean, I’ve always done that in sort of a wry way, but not a lot, and I can see where the public probably thinks I’m just a serious, mean old man (laughing). Actually in my writing — in the packages, my reporting — I tried to get a lot more of that in. Where there [was] an opportunity to grin or to wink, I would.

A little irreverence doesn’t hurt once in awhile, especially if it doesn’t change the overall effect of the story. It just colors your delivery a little bit, and possibly makes it a little more palatable for the public.

You’ve said elsewhere that now that you’ve retired, you have some household projects you want to catch up on, you’ve got a new grandson you want to spend time with, and you have written screenplays, inCentral California Life

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that if you think you’re going to be a writer, you have to make it a business.

That means you need to go to the office every day at the same time and spend whatever amount of time it’s going to be — three hours, four hours, eight hours. You’d better show up at the office at either 5 o’clock in the morning or 2 o’clock in the afternoon, but sit your butt down and write and make it a business and don’t skip a day.

In this issue of the magazine, we ask four of the writers and photographers who provided content to complete this sentence about themselves: “People would be most surprised to find out ...”

If I hadn’t done this for 50 years, I probably would have been a farmer. I think it was just blind luck that I wound up in this Valley, which is the most productive agricultural district in the world. So, if I wasn’t doing this, I would have been thankful to have landed in the Central Valley to maybe get a little farm or a little orchard or whatever.

Does this interest in agriculture explain the chickens you’re raising?

(Laughter) I think that’s the farmer in me. I just wanted to have a little taste of farm[ing] in the backyard, and so I did. I built a little coop. The breed is Ameraucana. There are two breeds of Elliott raises Ameraucana chickens, a breed that he says lays “the best eggs.” Photo by Dan Minkler chickens that lay blue eggs, Araucanas and Ameraucanas. Those are the only cluding one you want to convert into a book. two; all the rest lay white or brown eggs.

What kind of writing do you do?

They’re the best eggs.

Creative writing. I’ve written five screenDid you name the chickens? plays … One, “Seasons of Saul,” did very well in No. No, I haven’t named them. I got some several contests. That’s kind of how you judge advice years ago: If you’re going to have farm your writing: If you enter these contests — and animals, don’t name them in case you have to ... there are quite a few different, legitimate con(makes a motion across his neck). tests — and do well out of thousands of entries, Eat them? then you maybe you have something worthwhile, Yeah. Exactly. It’s much harder if you do. something you can pursue. I’ve got a couple ideas for some other ones and I’m going to get started This interview has been edited for length on those soon. and clarity. • Are you a disciplined writer?

I’m pretty disciplined, yeah. Some of the best advice, and I don’t know where I read it, is 24 |

Central California Life

Ask Yourself…

I often feel fat even though friends keep telling me I’m thin.

Often I eat to make myself feel better emotionally, but then I feel guilty about it.

The first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning is food.

If I got on the scale tomorrow and found that I’d gained two pounds, I’d be very upset.

I haven’t had a menstrual period for at least the past three months.

If I can’t exercise to compensate for food I’ve eaten, I panic.

I often eat when I’m not hungry.

I often eat until I’m uncomfortably full.

My greatest fear is that I will gain weight and become fat.

I prefer to eat little in public, and then I binge secretly in private.

I can’t go through a day without worrying about what I can or cannot eat.

I don’t believe I will find happiness until I am thin.

I have had an out-of-control eating binge at least once during the past year.

I sometimes feel dizzy, lightheaded, or have difficulty concentrating.

I sometimes push food around my plate to make it look like I’ve eaten.

Family and friends are always asking about how much I ate and that makes me angry.

I

f you answered yes to five or more questions, you are probably struggling with an eating disorder.

If you are concerned that you, or someone you care for, may be suffering from an eating disorder, call us today.

Our professional staff will answer your questions and help you determine what your next step should be..

(559) 224-8408

WWW.EDCFRESNO.COM

Accreditation by The Joint Commission (TJC)

Stories from the Heartland

T

Jeanne Randall

here’s nothing like a little bling to attract a young girl’s attention. For professional dance instructor Jeanne Randall, whose illustrious career spans an impressive 66 years, it was a pair of gold, sparkly tap shoes that captured her heart and changed her course forever.

“I was 8 years old and never saw anything like that in my life,” said Randall, 76, as she recalled setting eyes on her neighborhood friend’s magical shoes. “It was like Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Those shoes opened up a whole new world for me.”

In that moment, Randall knew dance was her calling. She 26 |

Central California Life

began studying all forms of the craft, eventually taking classes and dancing with many of the industry’s greats, as well as opening her own dance studio.

“Life has literally been one step at a time,” Randall said.

“It’s a process.”

Creating a dream

Born in Paris, Ark., to James and Robin Redding, Randall came from less-than-modest means.

“This is why I never thought I’d make it as a dancer,” Ran-

Dancing with the Stars

by Monica Prinzing

Photo by Melissa Wedekind

dall said, flipping through old photos of herself as a toddler and her family’s run-down home with outdoor plumbing. The little girl was fortunate, however, to take piano lessons.

“Both sides of my family had a lot of musical ability and talent; we didn’t have a cooking pot but we always had a piano,” Randall said with a chuckle.

Her family eventually moved across the country and settled in Fresno when her father completed his service with the U.S. Navy and accepted a job at the Port Hueneme shipyard. Her mother worked as a secretary at Jefferson Elementary School where Randall attended.

At 10 years old, Randall began taking lessons downtown at the Jimmy Powell Dance Studio. Powell, Randall’s uncle, was a natural teacher who had danced with stars such as musical film sensation Vera-Ellen, known for her pairings with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and other legendary performers.

“I loved everything to do with dance–acrobatics, hula, tap, ballet,” Randall said.

The quick study with a lean, flexible body conducted her first professional performance that same year at the former White Theatre in Fresno. Randall did a solo acrobatic number and then an adagio routine with her 12-year-old partner, Lewis Central California Life

| 27

Vintage photos courtesy of Jeanne Randall

“I was skinny and tall, and often felt out of place. When I went to L.A., I found my people.”

Schulte. The two youngsters gained the title “Fresno dancing marvels” in the media.

Two years later, the preteen began teaching at Powell’s studio, earning 25 cents a half hour. “I thought that was pretty good!” she said.

As a Fresno High School student, Randall continued teaching and honing her skills by participating in various youth theater and dance clubs, the state fair and talent shows. While dance remained her passion, the class of 1955 graduate planned to attend college and become a school teacher.

But Randall’s path, initially inspired by a pair of glittery shoes, took a different turn.

Randall befriended a student at a Los Angeles dance convention who convinced her to stay in the city that summer after graduation. “And I didn’t go back,” Randall said. “I was skinny and tall, and often felt out of place. When I went to L.A., I found my people.”

Professional dance portraits of 19-year-old Jeanne Randall.

Jeanne Randall dances with Bob Turk in the play “At The Grand,” a lavish adaptation of Vicki Baum’s novel, “Grand Hotel.” Turk later became the creator and director of the popular Ice Capades.

28 |

Central California Life

Dancing with the stars

Eugene Loring, a world-renowned choreographer, founded the American School of Dance in 1948 in Hollywood. The school was housed in the basement of the Garden Court Apartments, a historic building built in 1919 that early on became home to many celebrities, including starlet Clara Bow, MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer and actor/director Mack Sennett.

“Mack took my girlfriend and me under his wing,” Randall said of the man who discovered Charlie Chaplin. “He always wore a suit and a fedora hat, and watched us dance from the windows outside.”

“All of us hung out in the lobby around the TV and got to know people in the building,” she continued. “We became like family.”

Randall blossomed. She studied ballet, freestyle, modern, jazz and tap dance with Loring for hours each day, sometimes well into the night.

“Mr. Loring,” as his students called him, choreographed and danced in “Billy the Kid,” credited as the first American ballet.

“I knew two Mr. Lorings,” Randall said. “He was a funny man; he had a lot of contacts and helped a lot of people. He was also a focused man; when he came into the room you couldn’t hear a pin drop. Everyone respected him.”

Randall had access to other well-known teachers, from George Balanchine (“father of American ballet”), Charles Weidman (a pioneer of modern dance) and Merce Cunningham (innovator of abstract dance

Jeanne poses for her role of the Countess in the play “At The Grand.”

Sixteen-year-old Jeanne Randall and a group of dancers at a DADA Dance Convention.

Jeanne Randall (second from left), Madame Kathryn Etienne (third from left) and Mitzi Gaynor (fourth from left)

movement), to box-office star Mitzi Gaynor, acclaimed ballerina Madame Kathryn Etienne, and renowned dancers/choreographers/directors Ernie Flatt and Todd Bolender.

“I especially admired Mitzi Gaynor.

She was such an enormous influence on me,” Randall said of the superstar who continues to perform, including most recently in her live, one-woman show, “Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins.”

As the students strived to perfect their technique, famous actresses and dancers in their prime such as Cyd Charisse, Carmen de Lavallade, Juliet Prowse, Debbie Reynolds and Ginger Rogers dropped in periodically to take a class or receive private tutoring.

“I could watch Juliet Prowse all day,” Randall said. “Her ballet training in South Africa was impeccable.”

During this time, Randall also met actresses/dancers Maria Jimenez Henley and Yvonne Craig, two of her closest friends still today. Later, Henley was handpicked to play the role of “Shark” dancer Teresita in the motion picture “West Side Story,” and Craig portrayed Batgirl in the hit TV series “Batman.”

“I was having the time of my life,” Ran-

dall said. “We were muscle and bone. All we did was dance. Our goal in life was just to dance.”

In addition to dance classes, Randall studied dance history, character theory, choreography, music theory and more. “Mr. Loring was really ahead of his time. His school was like a college,” she said.

The more Randall learned, the more Loring sent her to auditions–and the jobs rolled in. The long-legged, 5-foot-8-inch Randall with a 19-inch waist appeared as the lead dancer at premier hotel casinos, including with the Dorothy Dorbin Dancers at The Mapes in Reno–where she celebrated her 18th birthday–and later at The Sands in Las Vegas.

“I used the back of my dressing room chair to do pliés to keep up my skills. The other girls laughed at me–they were showgirls, I was a dancer,” Randall emphasized with a smile.

Randall toured with Bob Hope’s Mid-Pacific United Service Organization’s Christmas shows unit to entertain U.S. troops, as well as the Eugene Loring Dance Players, which included the production of the popular musical comedy “Show Boat” in Dubuque, Iowa.

“Bob Hope was such a nice guy,” Randall said. “He walked up and down the airplane just thanking us. I didn’t tell him I would’ve done it for free.”

Randall also performed in Los Angeles and San Francisco productions of Broadway musicals through the Civic Light Opera. After a grueling audition process for “At the Grand,” she landed a coveted dancer spot and her first professional acting role during the show’s lobby scenes.

About 300 young women auditioned for the play’s four remaining dancer positions. When 14 prospects were left standing, the requirements intensified.

“They made us do one pirouette in so many seconds, then two, three, four, as a way to weed us out,” Randall said of one of the most classic ballet moves. “I did Central California Life

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“Dancing is freedom and pure joy, the ability to physically express what’s in your heart” it. I got lucky that day.”

The lavish adaptation of Vicki Baum’s novel, “Grand Hotel,” featuring opera star Joan Diene, famed actor Paul Muni, baritone/actor David Atkinson and actress/singer/ dancer Neile Adams (wife of Steve McQueen), premiered in Los Angeles followed by San Francisco.

“Dancing is freedom and pure joy, the ability to physically express what’s in your heart,” Randall said, pausing on a glossy image of herself waltzing in “At the Grand” with Bob Turk, who later created and directed the Ice Capades. “There’s nothing like it.”

“At the Grand” would be the carefree Randall’s last big gig on the professional circuit. She decided to go back to school to become a physical therapist, perhaps for a ballet company, and settle down. While she traveled between taking college courses in Fresno and performing with Loring’s dance group, she eventually returned to Fresno for good when she married a local dentist.

The new bride’s dancing shoes didn’t rest for long.

Taking the next step

Photo by Dan Minkler

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Soon Randall’s family grew to include three daughters, all gifted in their own way in the performing arts.

Randall kept her foot in the business by teaching part time at the Powell Dance Studio.

When Randall’s marriage ended in the mid-‘70s, she found herself at another crossroads. She fell back on what she knew best to support her young children. Long before Facebook and Twitter, the determined mother distributed flyers advertising her new Fig Garden Dance Studio to gauge interest.

“After three days, I had 250 replies,” Randall said, recalling the flood of phone calls and inquiries. “The response was incredible.”

Randall’s successful venture, open to anyone age 3 and up, expanded to 1,200 students and multiple locations. She brought the first “turns-only” class to Fresno; taught ballet, tap and jazz at California State University, Fresno; and enjoyed carting van loads of her students to Los Angeles dance events “so they could experience what I did,” she said.

A decade later, the lights of L.A. called Randall’s

Photo by Dan Minkler

name again. She sold her business and took a job directing a dance center for children run by Roland Dupree, the accomplished dancer/choreographer/teacher. She taught the kids of numerous celebrities such as Vanessa Williams, Jeff Bridges, Ruth Pointer, Paul Michael Glaser, William Sadler, Ted Bessell and Fred Segal.

“It was such an exciting time,” Randall said.

Life circumstances altered Randall’s path when her mother became ill. Like Dorothy, Randall clicked her enchanted shoes one more time and found herself back home in Fresno.

Keeping the dream alive

“I have so much admiration and respect for Jeanne,” said Sue Sampson-Dalena, owner of The Dance Studio of Fresno. “I’ve known her all of my life.”

Sampson-Dalena met Randall when she began learning ballet and tap at 8 years old at the Powell Dance Studio. “I felt like a giraffe but Jeanne made me feel amazing,” she said. “She was the first teacher to get me on point and show me L.A.”

The two reconnected and Randall has been teaching at her former student’s dance studio for nearly 20 years. Throughout Randall’s teaching career, many of her students have also gone on to Broadway and The Julliard School and received college scholarships.

“What’s unique about Jeanne is that she’ll always come get me during class to show me something wonderful about a child – the light in their eyes, pretty feet, a new accomplishment. She truly cares about each student,” Sampson-Dalena said.

Now a grandmother, Randall admits she has more physical limitations these days but that doesn’t stop her.

“At my age, I still love it,” Randall, who has retained her remarkable ability to choreograph steps and routines in her mind’s eye, said. “The Valley is a hotbed of talent. I’m doing something I love with people I love. Most teachers here will agree, this is our happy place.”

In the era of reality TV, when competitive dance has become more like a spectator sport, Randall strives to keep the essence of dance front and center.

“First and foremost, dance is an art that needs to be respected, that generations before us created. We try to instill that,” Sampson-Dalena said. “Jeanne’s classical training and influence pass that on. She’s inspired generations of students not only in dance but also in life skills.”

During a recent Wednesday class, as youngsters in one of Randall’s ballet classes practiced their leaps and turns, Randall called out, “Keep your heels together!” followed by, “That’s very, very messy. Let’s do that again!”

“I like Teacher Jeanne because she pushes us to be better,” Valerie Jimenez, 8, said.

“She encourages us and tells us how to correct things,” Mande Puente, 9, added.

When the session ended, several girls gathered around Randall, sweetly telling her, “I love you,” as they hugged her goodbye.

“I love you, too,” Randall echoed, her eyes glistening. “See you next time.”

And so Randall’s gold, sparkly tap shoes keep dancing. And the dance goes on. • Monica Prinzing is a full-time writer in the medical field. A former newspaper reporter and editor, she enjoys freelancing on various topics.

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Stories from the Heartland

Fresno Dental Professionals Keeping It All In the Family

by Christi McKinney

L

ittle did William Grabe know when he began practicing dentistry in 1968 that his practice would evolve to include two friends and three sons.

Fast-forward 46 years and now the sons have become accomplished dentists—all part of the Fresno Dental Professionals group established by their fathers.

Back row: Joseph Moss, Scott Schapansky, Jeremy Grabe Front row: Richard Moss, Weldon Schapansky, William Grabe

It’s rare to have three second-generation dentists at the same partnership, but the Grabes, Schapanskys and Mosses are no ordinary families.

Their story begins in 1976. That’s the year that Grabe spoke to an old college buddy from Fresno State, Weldon Schapansky, who had practiced in the Bay Area and then spent an extended time traveling the world. Schapansky had contemplated a return to Fresno, so they decided to go into practice together.

Richard Moss, who was also raised in the Fresno area and graduated from Fresno State, joined the young practice in 1980. The group expanded over time, with dentists Nooshin Julian and Michelle Asselin becoming valued partners.

Jeremy Grabe and Scott Schapansky knew they wanted to become dentists after spending time with their fathers at work. Jeremy was 18 when he worked for the partnership one summer.

“I was impressed with my father’s interaction with patients and gained an appreciation for what he did,” the younger Grabe said.

After graduating from Bullard High School, the science enthusiast received a bachelor’s degree in biology at San Diego State University and then went on to obtain his dental degree from New York University College of Dentistry. When he finished dental school, Jeremy moved back to the valley and completed an advanced postdoctoral general prac-

tice residency at Community Regional Medical Center. In 2008, he became the first of the second generation of dentists to join the practice.

“I love what I do,” Jeremy said. “I’m able to work with friends and many devoted, long-term employees. We all work well together and make a great team. I also really enjoy making connections with my patients and making an improvement in their dental health.”

Three years later, Scott Schapansky became the second of the sons to join the practice. Born and raised in Fresno, he remembers visiting his dad at work when he was just 6 years old. He realized he wanted to pursue dentistry as a career when he was in high school.

“I wanted to do something that would allow me to have relationships with people,” Scott said. “I felt dentistry was a better fit than medicine because it allows me to work with my hands.”

After graduating valedictorian from Bullard High School, Scott attended University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, where he received his Doctor of Dental Science degree at the young age of 23.

“I’ve done a wide variety of jobs, everything from construction to being a ranch hand, but nothing compares to being a dentist,” he said. “I am excited about getting to work every day, helping my patients and enjoying the relationships I have with my patients.”

Joseph Moss was the third son to join the family practice. He grew up in Fresno and attended schools in Clovis. He earned his bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Barbara, and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with high honors from University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. He completed his postdoctoral training at Fresno Community and Veterans Hospitals as a general dental resident.

“When I went to college, I wanted to become a chemist,” Joseph said.

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Photo by Dan Minkler

It’s rare to have three second-generation dentists at the same partnership, but the Grabes, Schapanskys and Mosses are no ordinary families.

“I was working late one night doing research in organic chemistry. I was mixing a large batch of boiling toxic chemicals and I started to think about what would happen if even a tiny drop got onto my skin.

“The chemicals would likely burn through my gloves and skin and cause a nasty burn,” he continued. “I also hadn’t had any human interaction in over four hours. I decided then that chemistry wasn’t for me and started shadowing dentists the next week.”

Dentistry has changed a lot since the “founding fathers” of the dental group first opened their doors.

“Prior to the early ‘70s, the biggest problem of the time was that everyone had cavities,” William Grabe explained. “The introduction of fluoride in drinking water in most of Fresno’s wells, prenatal vitamins, and vitamins for infants and young children brought significant improvements in the fight against cavities.”

Jeremy Grabe said technology plays a significant role in modern dentistry.

“Recently, technology has introduced many wonderful advances in dentistry, including electronic charting and record-keeping; digital X-rays, which cut the exposure to radiation 80 to 90 percent and allow patients to see their teeth and bone; and intraoral cameras, which allow our patients to see their teeth exactly as we see them,” he said.

“Remarkable, new high-tech products can now do everything from finding cavities to making crowns,” Joseph Moss added, pointing out these technological advances are just the tip of the iceberg.

While much has changed in dentistry over the years, the value that the dental practice places on building successful, long-term relationships has stayed constant. The group has many patients who have been clients for more than 35 years. Some were William Grabe’s early patients more than 45 years ago.

“Medicine is not all about making money,” Scott Schapansky said, articulating a philosophy that is no doubt behind much of the practice’s appeal. “It’s about helping people and doing a good job. One of the rewards in dentistry is complete full-mouth reconstruction dentistry.

To restore function and smile doesn’t get any better.”

The high priority the dental group places on helping others extends to an involvement with numerous charities.

“We are committed to giving back to the community that has supported us,” said Rosemary Phieffer, practice administrator. “Whether through charities, donations, food drives, or any number of activities and organizations, we strive to help our neighbors whenever we can.”

Phieffer said that, for the past several years, the practice has

Photo courtesy of Fresno Dental Professionals

Dr. Jeremy Grabe performs dental work on Dr. Richard Moss.

closed its doors for a day each year to provide free dentistry to disadvantaged children through organizations such as Give Kids A Smile, Save and Seal Our Smile and Team Smile.

“Not only do all of our dentists volunteer, but also most of our staff members come in to volunteer,” she said.

The next generation of Drs. Grabe, Schapansky and Moss will soon be complete: William Grabe and Weldon Schapansky are retired, and Richard Moss is working a reduced schedule and is planning to retire in the next year. When Moss retires, his son Joseph will take over his part of the practice.

The second generation is excited to continue the legacy initiated by their fathers and looks forward to many successful years ahead.

“This is just the beginning,” Joseph Moss said.

“The future is coming and it will be amazing.” • Fresno Dental Professionals is located at 6099 N. First St., Suite 104, Fresno. For more information, visit smilefresno. com. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call (559) 431-1400.

Christi McKinney has written for several newspapers, magazines and organizations. She has a degree in business administration and has worked extensively in both finance and mortgage lending. She enjoys freelancing on various topics and volunteers for a number of nonprofit organizations.

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Stories from the Heartland

The Gift of the Final Hours

E

asily the darkest nights of my soul occurred Memorial Day weekend of 2013 when I had to admit to myself that I could no longer care for my wife, Carole. No matter how heroically she and I fought, I could not keep her in the comfort and dignity she deserved after her torturous, protracted fight against a “cancer of unknown origin.” My wife needed the care only hospice could provide.

As the medicine business goes, hospice is a quiet job – no sirens or flashing lights. Often, the hush in the room is magnified by the white noise of humming machines. If you have

by Bob Marcotte

spent more than an hour amid the clamor of a hospital, you might think a reclusive hospice space is the ideal environment for curing all ills, but it is not. The purpose of hospice is to gain control of symptoms and bring comfort to the patient; there is no treatment of the underlying disease.

Barbara Volker has provided physical and emotional comfort in similar hushed rooms to countless patients and their families for the last half of her 44-year nursing career. Her intense blue eyes fill with life as she describes her start in hospice.

“The first 20 years of my nursing career were mostly Photos courtesy of Bob Marcotte

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spent working critical care,” Volker says. “I do think that one thing that ultimately pointed me in that direction [of hospice] was the numerous times I spent using extreme measures to save the ‘un-savable.’

“I particularly remember a resuscitation effort on an elderly woman that went on and on. I finally said to her physician, ‘Are you trying to make her live forever?’ To which he replied, ‘If I can.’ Years later, when I started hospice nursing, I found it a great relief to be able to acknowledge that we couldn’t save every life and that there came a time when it was OK to acknowledge that it was time to change the goal from cure to comfort care.”

The horror for Carole and me began on Halloween Day in 2010 when my wife went to the doctor with a backache. We learned soon after that cancer had invaded her sacrum (lower spine). In March 2011, she had it removed and titanium put in its place. It took 27 hours of surgery performed by five surgical teams over a three-day period at the Stanford Cancer Center, one of only four hospitals in the country capable of performing this surgery. Part of that time, she had to be in a position that placed her face down with her head below her heart, and that caused severe edema (a buildup of fluids) in her head and neck.

The combination of the edema and a heart attack during surgery left her without vision in her left eye, and less than 50 percent remaining in her right. The edema was so bad that I did not recognize her after surgery; her face was easily triple its normal size.

It was 54 days from her first surgery until she returned home. Before the surgeries, doctors told us she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

She defied them by walking unaided in spring 2012.

This victory was short-lived; in April 2013, the titanium that functioned as a critical part of her spine fractured. I was home that day and heard her scream my name from the bathroom; I carried her to bed.

An X-ray of the titanium “construct” that replaced Carole’s sacrum.

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Our home became a collection of wheelchairs, walkers, and recliners as we searched for the combination that would allow her to rest, but to no avail. The painful realization hit me that my wife’s level of care resided far outside my abilities.

The illuminated letter “C” by Carole Marcotte.

The ensuing hospital stay confirmed our worst fear – she would live out her days in semi-managed pain and bedbound. Her condition was inoperable.

I tried to care for her at home, as I had done before, but I could not. No bed, mattress pad, pillow, air mattress or recliner could provide her with even a reasonable level of comfort. Our home became a collection of wheelchairs, walkers, and recliners as we searched for the combination that would allow her to rest, but to no avail. The painful realization hit me that my wife’s level of care resided far outside my abilities. I contacted hospice.

When I called Hinds Hospice, I did not know what to expect. The same morning I called, a nurse arrived at our house to evaluate my wife’s condition. She was admitted into hospice, and a day later, a hospital bed was delivered with a special air 36 |

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mattress that prevented bedsores. Carole decided to reside in the front room instead of the bedroom so she could be more involved with visitors and life.

Her bed was by a window so she could see outside. Next to her bed were two small wire-mesh, four-drawer cabinets I found at an office supply store, one for her meds and the other for her art supplies. Even with only half the vision remaining in one eye, she was able to create remarkable works of art.

Hospice quickly reevaluated her pain management and ordered new prescriptions. They made her as comfortable as possible as quickly as possible. Next, they assigned us a primary nurse, a licensed vocational nurse, a nurse’s aide, a social worker and a chaplain. We were stunned with the amount and quality of care we received, but this led to a question I was afraid to ask: Is this the normal level of care, or was she dying?

Our dogs often jumped on my wife’s bed and napped with her. – Bob Marcotte

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I later learned that this was their typical care and it was not unusual for patients to improve in hospice, as did my wife, but after this scare I wondered: How do hospice workers deal with the constant barrage of mortality they face? Seeing “the end” as inevitable may be a relief from fruitless “extreme measures,” but death is still not a stage of life most people are at ease with.

“Working in the hospice setting is not for everyone,” Volker said. “Probably the question that any hospice nurse gets asked the most often is, ‘How can you do that? Doesn’t it depress you?’ The best answer I can give to that question is that it is all in your perspective. In hospice care, the patient’s death is the expected outcome. The goal becomes to do all that is possible to help the patient and family live their lives as fully and as comfortably as they can. For most of them it means being where they want to be; usually at home with the bed in the middle of the living room so they can be part of life, with their family, where the dog can jump up on the bed and snuggle.

“If the hospice staff is so lucky as to be able to work with the patient and family for a week or more, they usually can get symptoms under control and provide the help the family needs to care for their loved one and be there to answer questions in the middle of the night when needed,” Volker continued. “When those things happen, the peaceful death of the patient is the ultimate goal with a comfortable life until then. That is NOT depressing. That is fulfilling for the hospice staff.”

Our dogs often jumped on my wife’s bed and napped with her. Her physical comfort was almost back to what it was that fateful Halloween, but we still saw signs of disease progression. We both knew the end to this story, but we continued to write as many new chapters as we could. This was still our story.

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She expressed her love for me and said that in our 24 years together, I had never let her down.

Our story lasted 1,224 days.

In late February and early March of 2014, Carole stopped eating and drinking. Her mind was fully engaged, but her body was shutting down. I hurriedly contacted Hinds Hospice and they arranged a bed for her in their intimate, six-bed facility.

Carole was initially going in for a “respite,” a three-day tune-up of sorts to treat her new symptoms, but she never returned home.

On that morning while waiting for the ambulance to transport her, Carole and I shared the most brutally honest conversation of our lives. She was stoic and strong as usual; I was crying into a towel because my tears would not stop. I told her I was so sorry, but I did not know what to do anymore. I could not help her if she would not eat, drink or take her meds. I told her how profoundly I loved her.

She told me she understood why I had called hospice. She expressed her love for me and said that in our 24 years together, I had never let her down.

In hindsight, I realize that her stoicism stemmed from her understanding of what was actually happening. She was actively dying. Soon after being transported to the facility, she said she was tired and wanted to take a nap. She never woke up. Five days later, she took her final breath while I held her face in my hands.

I consider our last conversation as the epitome of our relationship. As much as I tried to prove my love for her through my caregiving, our last conversation will forever stand out to me as the highest point of all our time together. That morning we welded ourselves together in love, a love that even death cannot separate.

Hinds Hospice deserves much of the credit for this. Their caring for her physical body added months to her life and gave her a sense of dignity that I could not, and they prepared both of us for the inevitable, so much so that we had the conversation of our lives shortly before hers ended.

This gift of the final hours is what I will remember the most of my wife, and I will never forget the compassionate strangers who entered our lives and made that possible. •

Bob Marcotte is a musician, photographer, and published author. Bob’s evolution as a writer paralleled his wife’s struggle with cancer.

Initially, his blog (www. besidesthecancer.org) was intended to keep family members on the East Coast informed of Carole’s condition.

It quickly developed into a place to document the difficulty of diagnosing her rare cancer and the cutting edge surgery that prolonged her life, and its great cost.

Bob still makes music and pursues his photography (www.marcottephotography. com), but is most dedicated to addressing cancer support groups about the four years he served as his wife’s primary caregiver.

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      

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   

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Stories from the Heartland

Hinds Hospice Filling a Need to Help the Terminally Ill

by Don R. Simmons, Ph.D

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ancy Hinds had cared for her terminally ill husband and mother before returning to Fresno with her three young sons to be closer to family. An oncology nurse, she wanted to be home more with her children, but saw a need for care of the terminally ill.

Hinds began caring for patients in her home in 1981.

Because of her own experiences and nursing background, she could care for patients and support their families on their end-of-life journeys. However, the State of California forced her to close her doors in 1985 and she spent the next two years lobbying and pursuing legislation to be allowed to open inpatient hospice homes.

In 1987, the current Hinds Hospice Home in Fresno opened. In 1991, services expanded to include outpatient hospice services to serve patients in their own homes. In 1994, services expanded to Madera County, then Merced County a year later.

Hinds Hospice takes a team approach to hospice care, whether in the Hinds Hospice Home or in a patient’s home.

The hospice interdisciplinary care teams composed of nurses, home health aides, medical social workers, chaplains, medical 42 |

Central California Life

Photos by Bill Grabe

directors and volunteers all focus on making sure patients are as comfortable as possible.

PROGRAMS Hinds Hospice Home: The only inpatient Hospice Home between Southern California and Modesto, the six-bed home provides end-of-life care around-the-clock.

Outpatient Hospice Services: More than 150 patients are seen in their homes or in residential care facilities on any given day throughout Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.

Center for Grief and Healing: Support is offered not only to families who have experienced hospice care, but also to anyone in the community who has lost a loved one. The staff includes licensed therapists and counselors who have received extensive training in the areas of grief, loss and healing.

Angel Babies: This unique perinatal hospice and bereavement program assists families to both welcome and enjoy their baby and, when necessary, to say goodbye. Services are available for families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or other infant death.

Pediatric Hospice: Offering the only hospice services to children in the area, this program specializes in the needs of

The hospice interdisciplinary care teams composed of nurses, home health aides, medical social workers, chaplains, medical directors and volunteers all focus on making sure patients are as comfortable as possible. children from infancy through early adulthood who suffer from a variety of life-limiting conditions.

We Honor Veterans: Training received through a partnership with the VA and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization allows Hinds to provide the best end-of-life care for veteran patients, including rural and homeless veterans in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.

Thrift Stores: These stores were created to provide lowcost items while defraying some of the organization’s unreimbursed expenses. Stores are located in Clovis, Sanger, Madera and Chowchilla.

Volunteer: Volunteers are greatly needed for a variety of tasks, including working in the organization’s four thrift stores; preparing bereavement mailings and completing other clerical

tasks; fundraising; serving as hosts/hostesses to visitors at the Hospice Home; and helping with household duties. Volunteers are also needed to provide respite to caregivers in a patient’s home, including sitting with a patient while a caregiver does errands or takes a break. Each volunteer area requires special training. • How to Donate To donate or for questions regarding planned and/or employee giving, visit Hinds Hospice online at www.hindshospice.org, call (559) 320-0308 or send mail to 2490 W. Shaw Ave. Ste. 101, Fresno, CA 93711.

Don R. Simmons, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Lecturer of Humanics at Fresno State.

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Our Valley

Hanford’s Star Restaurant Where History and Community Meet

T

hursday is meatloaf day at Star Restaurant in downtown Hanford and owner and cook Rotha “Roger” Nop has been working the grill since 5:30 in the morning.

Out front, head waitress Christy Cordoba is greeting her lunch regulars, running the cash register and refilling coffees.

Orders go in and food, such as chicken fried steak, cheeseburgers, linguica and biscuits and gravy, comes out of the kitchen in the back.

The cuisine is basic American comfort food. But what makes Star Restaurant unique among Hanford’s eateries, and a fact that many locals are unaware of, is its longevity. Star Restaurant opened in 1901 and is Hanford’s oldest restaurant.

When the historic Star Restaurant opened, people rode horse-drawn carriages down the new town’s dirt roads, the Model T Ford was eight years away and Superior Dairy would not open for another 29 years. The population of Hanford was about 3,000. Located on what used to be Hanford’s main street, then called Front Street, Star Restaurant continues to do a steady business five days a week serving a community of regulars and newcomers.

The outside of the restaurant has pretty much stayed the 44 |

Central California Life

by Judith Menezes

Photos by Judith Menezes

Star Restaurant head waitress Christy Cordoba gives change to a customer.

same as the city has grown around it, said Eddy Funahashi, whose grandparents and great-aunt and uncle started the restaurant. It has survived a succession of restaurants around the corner and the popularity of franchise and drive-through restaurants around town.

Star customers are greeted by a 15-foot-high ceiling, dark-wood paneling and two windows of a now-closed loft where the owners once lived. The eight oak swivel chairs at the counter are smooth with age and the Seth Thomas clock is vintage. There is no glossy color menu or faux antiques on the wall. Star’s atmosphere is authentic.

When it opened, it did so to serve everyone–white, black, Chinese, Portuguese and Hispanic. In those early days of Hanford, most restaurants served whites only, Funahashi said. The early Star was a gathering place, a melting pot where everyone would come to eat.

“They would turn no one away,” he said.

Funahashi owns Ed’s Tick Tock Jewelers, a business started by his father in 1958 and the oldest jewelry store in town. It’s next door to the Star Restaurant, which he owns and leases out.

“When it opened, it did so to serve everyone–white, black, Chinese, Portuguese and Hispanic. In those early days of Hanford, most restaurants served whites only.”

Star Restaurant owner and cook Rotha “Roger” Nop

During World War II the restaurant closed. The Funahashi and Tsutsui families, who welcomed all to their restaurant, themselves became victims of wartime hysteria and racism. The two families were sent to dusty, barren internment camps in Arizona and the Midwest. Several friends cared for the boarded-up restaurant so it could quickly open after the war. Nevertheless, a storage basement with a dirt floor was looted. Ray Funahashi’s prized violin was stolen, something he talked about “til his dying day,” Funahashi said of his grandfather.

Directly after the war, another Japanese family took over the restaurant followed by a succession of other owners. Over the years, six to eight people have operated the restaurant through a lease agreement. Funahashi recalled one memorable owner: Bob Chin, a clothing designer from New York who moved to Hanford looking for a simpler life. He ran the restaurant in the 1990s with his bride from China.

The current owner, Roger Nop, has operated the restaurant for 10 years. He owned a donut shop in Long Beach and was visiting family in Hanford when he noticed the restaurant had closed, the kitchen equipment already moved out back. He had no restaurant experience. As he remembers it, a Fresno Bee reporter was there that day doing a story on the closure of Hanford’s oldest restaurant. He signed an agreement with Eddy Funahashi and instead of announcing the restaurant was closed, The Bee headline read “Star is Reborn.”

Much like the Star’s storied history, Nop has a story of his own. Born in Cambodia, he was 12 when a neighbor found him picking fruit in an orchard and warned

him not to go home. The Khmer Rouge had killed his family. His mother, father and three sisters gone. For two years he survived by selling junk on the street.

He managed to finish high school and was twentysomething when he came to the United States with the help of an uncle after seeking political asylum in Thailand.

Friendly and easy going, he attributes his success to an immigrant’s sense of hard work, a keen knowledge of finances and a menu he has no plans to change. He remembers one morning 8 ½ years ago. The cook quit. Before breakfast. Nop put on an apron and hasn’t looked back. He went online to learn to cook.

The food has always been American, with a nod to local ethnic groups.

In the old days, Swiss steak and beef Central California Life

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Ask head waitress Christy Cordoba why Star Restaurant remains popular and she will unabashedly tell you “the food and me.” tongue were served. Nowadays, roast beef, stew, hamburgers, soups, linguica sandwiches, biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steaks are on the menu. Fish is served Fridays, and the homemade salsa is also a hit, said Nop. A bowl of mashed potatoes is $1.85.

One popular item is the $3.99 breakfast special: a pancake the size of a dinner plate, two eggs and bacon or sausage.

The breakfast regulars are said to be among the most faithful in town and there is reportedly a regular customer who has eaten there since 1945.

Rodger Brasel, downtown carousel operator, brings tours to Star Restaurant a couple of times a week. “They’re friendly,” he said of the staff and customers. “I like it.”

A few well-known people have patronized Star, including local politicians, musician Alison Krauss and comedian Gabriel Iglesias. Four years ago, Huell Howser, host of the popular PBS series California’s Gold, visited while filming a segment on Hanford. Nop told Howser that the cheeseburgers were the best thing on the menu so people from Fresno started to drive down for a Star burger.

Ask head waitress Cordoba why Star Restaurant remains popular and she will unabashedly tell you “the food and me.”

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Central California Life

She is usually the only waitress on duty and some days she serves 50 people.

She is no-nonsense.

“I’m blunt. I don’t have time to fiddle around,” she said.

To speed things up, Cordoba puts in an order the moment she sees a regular pull up. “I know if they want lemon in their tea or not.” She is attentive and service-oriented and describes her customers as “awesome. I don’t ever wake up and dread my job.”

She loves waitressing, likes her boss, and, if you are a regular, she knows your business. If you are not a regular, you might just become one.

Said Cordoba, “I never let somebody walk through that door without saying ‘Good morning.’” • Star Restaurant, 122 W 6th St, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-7276. Open Monday through Friday. Breakfast served from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Lunch and dinner until 2:30. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Judith Menezes is the coordinator of the journalism program at College of Sequoias. She spent several years working as a newspaper reporter and editor in Southern California and the Central Valley. She can be reached at judy@cencalilife.com.

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Central Coast

Home Sweet Slome’s Farmers’ Market

Photos by Mallory Soares

A

ccording to Oprah, San Luis Obispo is the happiest city in America. The media icon’s declaration doesn’t come as a surprise to residents of this coastal city of charming streets, local boutiques and eclectic restaurants. San Luis Obispo residents love their “Slome,” the term coined by the people who have homes in this city of nearly 46,000.

For visitors to understand what makes San Luis Obispo the country’s happiest place, they need only visit the Farmers’ Market. Every Thursday from 6-9, rain or shine, the Farmers’ Market takes place in the center of downtown SLO. Walk down Higuera Street between Osos and Nipomo streets and you’ll encounter a feast for the senses. Inhale the aroma of freshly baked pizza from Palazzo Giuseppe’s and the sweet scent of fresh strawberries. Listen to the chefs at F. McLintocks yelling their customers’ orders and grilling tri-trip right in front of you as your mouth waters. Look at the sunflowers, the children playing in the street, and the groups of people crowding around the live musician performing by the streetlamp. Watch the Cal 48 |

by Mallory Soares

Central California Life

Poly student community and the San Luis Obispo community come together.

The market has been a downtown tradition for more than three decades. Many of the vendors have been selling their produce and products about that long. One is Paul Petronella of Domingo Farms Arroyo Grande. “I should have read the small print when I married my wife, because I’ve been working for my brother-in-law for 25 years now,” he laughs.

When asked about his experience at Farmers’ Market, Petronella says, “It’s always fun. I’ve been coming here for so long now it feels like dealing with friends, not a job.”

Petronella says he sees the same clientele every week and has developed good relationships with all of his customers.

“The atmosphere is just fun,” he says. “It’s like a special destination, not just another market.”

Cal Poly student Erin Heidenreich visits the market every week.

“The Farmers’ Market in SLO is so unique,” she says.

When asked about his experience at Farmers’ Market, Petronella says, “It’s always fun.

I’ve been coming here for so long now it feels like dealing with friends, not a job.”

“They have a lot of local products and sell things made at Cal Poly, like the cheese and milk, which I think is so cool—to be able to buy from students.”

Vendors come from all over the central coast and as far away as Fresno and Stockton. Fair warning: It is extremely hard to decide what to eat when there are so many choices. The SLO Farmers’ Market is filled not only with fresh produce, but also ready-toeat dinners, sushiritos (sushi burritos) and hummus galore.

Heidenreich gushes about the avocados in particular. “One stand has really inexpensive avocados and they are really fresh and delicious!” she says.

Her greatest enthusiasm is reserved for the fresh barbecued corn, though. “Oh, my gosh,” she laughs. “It’s the best in the winter when it’s really cold outside.” •

For more information about the SLO Farmers’ Market, contact the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association at 805-541-0286 or visit their website at www.downtownslo.com/farmersmarket/.

Mallory Soares is a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nutrition. She can be reached at mallory@cencalilife.com.

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Central Coast

Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival Story and photos by Amy Guerra

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here may be no better way to spend a spring weekend: sampling food and wine from some of the nation’s most celebrated chefs in Monterey with my husband.

The Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival is a four-day celebration in one of the most beautiful coastal areas of California. It is a long weekend of happy hours, dinners, wine tasting and food. When we were there, my husband and I sampled food from the best Caramel Valley, Monterey and San Francisco restaurants, met Food & Wine magazine’s most celebrated chefs, tasted imaginative cocktails and sampled wine and champagne for hours. It was foodie heaven.

Our first stop: Restaurant 1833, a short walk from our hotel. A small pathway led to the double-door entrance into the restaurant and bar housed in a building constructed in 1833.

Our host led us through the bar and up the grand staircase 50 |

Central California Life

into a small, opulent room. It wasn’t long before the rest of our party arrived, along with cocktails and appetizers to share and sample.

The cocktail menu was a collection of clever combinations such as a smoky mezcal with candied ginger and sweet pear nectar with vodka. The menu showcased the subtlety of a sugared rim and the brazenness of a drink called the “Kentucky Waffle,” made of bourbon, lemon, maple syrup and apple cider, garnished with a cinnamon stick.

Among the variety of appetizers showcased were a watermelon gazpacho with herbed oil and The Hen Egg, a soft bread cradling an egg, sunny-side up, and sprinkled with thick, homemade bacon bits. Simple but classic. Soon after, a table was crowded with the aroma and flavors of the main dishes: a tender, perfectly salted, bone-in rib-eye served with a 2012

Food on display, the chefs put out their best recipes, with each restaurant seizing the opportunity to exhibit and prepare food in the most creative way.” bottle of Pinot Noir from Albatross Ridge in Carmel Valley and the restaurant’s pièce de résistance, Truffle Chicken.

The impressions of our table of “foodies” was consistent – the soft, moist meat of the chicken, soaked in its own juices and served whole, was remarkable, a tribute to Executive Chef Abigail Burk’s time as chef de cuisine at Carmel Valley’s Bernardus Lodge. After sampling the decadent collection of chocolates and pastries, we made our way through the house, observing the contrast between the packed bar and the quiet library, all contained within the nearly two-centuries-old house-turnedrestaurant.

The next morning we left the hotel early to drive to The Inn at Spanish Bay for our first wine session, devoted entirely to Australian wine. Eight glasses of Australian wine waited on our arrival, each carefully selected by some of the nation’s best

sommeliers.

We lost ourselves in the moment. The hour-long discussion of length, texture and layers enveloped us as we tried Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Shiraz and the 20-year-old Tawny Port that one of the speakers commented was “best friends” with Australian Sticky Toffee and cream.

No one rushed from the room at the close of the first session, content to hang back and finish the wine samples and enjoy the atmosphere. Eventually, a mix of curiosity and excitement forced most of the attendees toward the white tents that marked the Lexus Grand Tasting, home to 300-plus world-class wines and the 30 celebrity chefs who came to Pebble Beach to participate.

Food on display, the chefs put out their best recipes, with each restaurant seizing the opportunity to exhibit and prepare Central California Life

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Guy Fieri

Linton Hopkins

food in the most creative way—tiny, plastic globe terrariums, filled with moss-like chocolate; hot, toasted s’mores made with gourmet chocolate; and thin, crispy lobster crackers.

We waited in line to eat a burger smothered with macaroni and cheese handed to us by Guy Fieri, star of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” His white Oakley sunglasses sat on top of his signature spiky, platinum hair. We snapped candids with other chefs from the network: Robert Irvine of “Restaurant: Impossible,” Duff Goldman of “Ace of Cakes” and Andrew Zimmern of “Bizarre Foods.”

We walked around the beautiful grounds before heading to the cooking demonstration by Linton Hopkins, owner of Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta, Ga. We watched as Chef Hopkins turned eggs into mayonnaise and, with a few additional ingre52 |

Central California Life

dients, brioche breadcrumbs into crab cakes—emphasizing substituting a homemade mayonnaise in any traditional recipe.

As he spoke about his restaurant, he made jokes and shared his secrets (i.e., always break an egg on a flat surface, make anything you can from scratch, prepare in advance and cut off the ends of the lemon to make cutting easier).

After the demonstration, we accepted an invitation to attend a happy hour hosted by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas at Spanish Bay’s beautiful ocean-view fire pits. Guests were simultaneously impressed and satiated with caviar, fried shellfish in paper cones, and cocktails made with ginger chili syrup and passion fruit purée.

The Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival was fun, over the top and exactly what we all came to experience. We were

Andrew Zimmern

foodies, we liked wine and we were all enjoying it without reserve.

It was a long drive home and, quietly, we enjoyed the drive, content to relive our favorite foods and wines and to look up the wines we’d marked down as favorites. When we arrived home, we drove out of our way to pick up the best tawny port we could find, anxious to hold on to a weekend where delicacies, indulgence and excess reigned supreme. • The 8th Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival will be April 9-12, 2015. For more information, including ticket prices, visit the festival website at http://www. pbfw.com/ 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.

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Health and Wellness

Information Fatigue Syndrome

by Bradley T. Wajda, D.O.

“R

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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ow, row, row your boat.” It is a simple song, for a simple task. Even a child can row a boat and understand the principles behind why it works.

Now look at a modern aircraft carrier. It is a boat; however, its complexity defies the ability of any one individual to fully understand all of the technology on the ship. Certainly, no one individual can operate it alone.

Apply this example to other things in the world around you. Who could argue with the statement “knowledge is power?” Yet, as we learn more, our world is becoming more complex at an exponential rate. It is difficult to stay current in the occupations that are related to science and technology. I see physicians on a daily basis who know the “what” but not the “why” behind the medicine they practice because it isn’t possible to learn it all anymore. We are becoming a society that is forced to scratch the surface of our chosen field— performing only the practical steps that get the job done. Understanding the “why” is simply too much information.

IFS (information fatigue syndrome) is defined as a condition in which the volume of potentially useful and relevant information exceeds the processing capacity of a person. That overload of information becomes a hindrance rather than an asset. We have seen this coming. As long ago as 1987, it was reported that the daily New York

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Times contained more information than a 17th century person encountered in a lifetime.

That’s not all.

According to Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, “Between the dawn of civilization through 2003, about five exabytes of information was created. Now, that much information is created every two days.” An exabyte is 1 million gigabytes.

Ninety percent of all the data in the world has been generated during the last two years (www.

ScienceDaily.com).

BBC News reports that information amounting to the data equivalent of all the movies ever made will pass across the Internet every 3 minutes by 2016.

According to BBC News, in 2012, the average U.S. citizen consumed more than 100,000 words a day, and there were 100,000 tweets per minute.

In 2013, the average American consumed 34 gigabytes every 12 hours OUTSIDE of work (www.

DigitalIntelligenceDaily.com).

In the U.S., people who text, send or receive an average of 35 texts per day, and office workers spend 28 percent of their time dealing with email (www.DigitalIntelligenceDaily.com).

The typical Internet user is exposed to more than 1,700 banner ads per month (Digiday.com).

A Temple University study found that information overload results in counter productivity, bad decisions and careless errors.

Consider these frighteningly impressive statistics in light of Miller’s Law, which states that the maximum number of pieces of information a human brain can handle concurrently is seven. Psychologist George A. Miller of Princeton University published a paper in 1956 in which he asserted that the number of objects that an average human can maintain in his or her working memory is seven, plus or minus two. So, regardless of the amount of information we are exposed to, we can’t process information any faster than our limited capacity to handle it.

Information overload has been linked to increased mental stress and poor physical health. Furthermore, www.

NatureWorldNews.com has reported that spending large amounts of time using social media can lead to short-term memory loss.

Now that you are aware of IFS, you need to take steps to manage the flow of information directed at you in order to avoid it.

Gimme a break! Remember, the Internet is there 24/7, so take a break.

Schedule breaks that allow you to have quiet time and regain your perspective.

Filter. Scan for information using only trusted, high-quality sources, and set limits on how much information you are going to gather—using only what you need.

Turn the tables. Ironically, you can use information technology to take charge of your information flow and manage it. There are many services specializing in gathering and sorting information in various fields of interest. They try to highlight the most relevant pieces of information and make them available to you—though often by subscription.

For example, The New England Journal of Medicine has a service that will “journal watch” and select summaries of the latest advances in medicine, which are broken

down into specialties such as psychiatry. Evernote, eFileCabinet, and Google Docs are known for helping to manage large numbers of documents. Hootsuite, SocialFlow and Sprout Social are popular for social media management (scheduling tweets for your business, posting on Facebook, etc.).

Beware. Internet addiction is a very real illness that deserves substantially more attention than I can devote here.

If you suspect that your need for screen time—whether it be on your smartphone, tablet or computer—begins to affect your

ability to function socially and/or professionally, seek a professional opinion.

Hopefully, you find this information helpful in the sea of information overload. It is certain that this information is obsolete—even as I write it. This fact is not as startling as the realization that the information currently listed on the Internet regarding information overload will be outdated and eclipsed by new data in the time it took you to read this short article. I leave you with the sobering reminder that the World Wide Web is only 25 years old. • Central California Life

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Health and Wellness

Connecting our hearts and our ears through music and wellness

by Jami De La Cerda

T

Photos courtesy of Diamond Learning Center

Jami De La Cerda M.S. SpEd, is the founder/ CEO of Diamond Learning Center. Her work experience in special education spans more than 25 years.

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ake a step with me down the path where music joyously accompanies the components of learning, wellness and communication.

Music is a key factor for learning and communication for all people, especially those with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury.

Recently, this subject was brought to the forefront with the remarkable recovery process of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Music was an integral part of her rehabilitation.

Each component of music affects a different part of the brain. For example, a familiar song activates the left frontal lobe; timbre (tone quality), the right frontal lobe; and pitch, the left posterior. One side of the brain processes the word while the other processes the music.

Activating the entire brain ensures better retention.

Music provides people of all ability levels an outlet for self-expression. Musical therapy is not only recreational, but it is also scientifically shown to have a wide variety of benefits.

In Fresno, the students in the Diamonds in the Rough Band personally exemplify the remarkable accomplishments that music can bring, guiding the students to a higher level of wellness, for a happier, confident and more fulfilling lifestyle. The power of music should never be underestimated.

Music is the art of thinking with sounds.

Musical training helps develop areas

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of the brain related to language and reasoning. It is thought that brain development continues long after birth and far into adulthood. Studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways.

Linking familiar songs to new information also can help imprint information into minds of all cognitive levels. This is vital to people’s self-esteem in education, as well as to their safety and wellbeing.

There is also a causal link between music and spatial intelligence, which is the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things. This kind of intelligence in which one can visualize various elements that should go together is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for

everything from solving advanced math problems to being able to pack a book bag with all that is needed for the day.

Inspirational and factual, music holds a deeper meaning to all those who experience a silence due to a cognitive learning disability and for those still seeking a means of expression and accomplishment.

The value of music in shaping individual abilities and character is evident.

When you hear the magical sounds of The Diamonds in the Rough Band, you will immediately become a believer! This group is a band like no other. When the lights go down and the curtain goes up, rock and roll classics such as, “Ride, Sally, Ride” ring out, and next you are captivated by the incomparable melody of Louie Armstrong’s, “It’s a Wonderful World.” It’s impossible not to be swept away by the

musical talents of these musicians, ranging in age from youth to adult and with a host of developmental challenges.

Typical musicians … I think not!

Join me in our collective journey of instruction, guidance, compassion, and support of musical therapy so that these individuals may achieve pride and self-fulfillment through the gift of music. •

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. -Victor Hugo

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559-237-5297 www.FamilyLawFresno.com Central California Life

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Health and Wellness

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Central California Life

Children’s Hospital Central California:

Experiencing What’s Possible Through Adaptive Sports

by Monica Prinzing

Photos by Paul Lebby

T

he fun and excitement that come from water skiing on a hot summer day, achieving another level in rock climbing or winning a close basketball game can be hard to beat. For many people with a congenital or acquired physical disability, however, such enjoyable activities seem possible only from the sidelines.

“I didn’t think I could do these things, but then I found out it is possible,” said David Moreno of Tulare, who became paralyzed from the waist down at age 17 following a car accident. “There’s a lot I can do. I just do it in a different way.”

Now 19, the former football player gained a new perspective when he joined the Children’s Hospital Central California Adaptive Sports Program soon after his injury. “It opened up a new world for me,” Moreno said.

Located just north of Fresno, Children’s Hospital launched the only program of its kind in the region in 2011 with its first water ski session at Shredder Lake in Sanger. Today the program, with more than 100 participants and numerous volunteers, offers free recreational and competitive activities that also include rock climbing, sled hockey, tennis, golf, kayaking, zip-lining, power soccer, snow skiing, wheelchair basketball and more.

Youth up to age 21 with conditions ranging from cerebral palsy to spinal cord injuries are eligible to take part regardless if they’re a Children’s Hospital patient.

“Our adaptive sports program has quickly grown, thanks to the dedicated support of the hospital, volunteers and community,” said Dr. Jennifer Crocker, medical director of Children’s Hospital pediatric rehabilitation center, who developed and leads the program.

Desiree Vines, a patient with paraplegia, cuts through the water on her wakeboard.

Adaptive sports help people with a physical impairment improve their health and well-being while boosting their confidence and independence. Specialized equipment accommodates various levels of need and ability.

“There’s a misconception that people with a disability can’t be active or competitive,” said Crocker, adding that participants also benefit from using different muscles than those exercised in physical therapy. “We work with each individual to show them what is possible.”

Through a new partnership with China Peak Mountain Resort and California State University, Fresno, the program held its first snow ski session in January.

“Taking the kids to the mountains and snow skiing is something we’ve always wanted to do, but it seemed too overwhelming with everything else,” Crocker said.

Not anymore. The introductory ski event featuring six participants, as well as instructors and volunteers, also kicked off the new China Peak Adaptive Sports Cen-

ter. Open to children and adults, the center aims to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities through outdoor adventures that emphasize family involvement at or near China Peak. The center will also provide those youth involved in Children’s Hospital’s program a place to transition to when they get older.

This summer the center is making mountain biking and rock climbing available. Kayaking, fly fishing, horseback riding and sailing will also be offered eventually.

“We want to help people participate to the fullest extent of their abilities,” Randy Coffman, the Center’s ski patrol director, said. “The most rewarding thing is For more information, or to participate, donate or volunteer, contact: Children’s Hospital Central California Adaptive Sports Program

(559) 353-6130 or AdaptiveSports@ ChildrensCentralCal.org or China Peak Adaptive Sports Center

(559) 593-2504 (Randy Coffman)

Lukas Masse learns to rock climb.

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“There’s a misconception that people with a disability can’t be active or competitive... We work with each individual to show them what is possible.”

Dr. Jennifer Crocker

seeing them do something they thought Desiree Vines, a patient with paraplegia (right), Erin Dueker, a volunteer and adaptive sports committee member (middle) and Robin Heyde-McCoy, an inthey couldn’t do.” structor at Central Valley Scuba Center in Tulare (left).

Recounting his experience at one of the country’s largest adaptive sports programs in Crested Butte, Colo., Coffman mentioned participants from the Wounded Warrior Project. “We had a total amputee—no arms or legs—who learned to kayak and another who was just so grateful there were activities he could do with his family,” he said.

This sense of accomplishment often carries over to other aspects of participants’ lives.

Children’s Hospital patient Ally Woodyatt, 12, of Exeter, for example, felt her world caving in when a metabolic Wheelchair basketball has become increasingly popular in the disabled comdisease suddenly left her paralyzed and munity since its inception in the early 1940s. wheelchair-dependent three years ago. firsthand the difficulties of maneuvering curbs, hills “I was a lot shyer,” Ally, whose conand bridges. For his Eagles Scout Service Project, dition has greatly improved and no longer requires a he proposed raising funds for and building a large, wheelchair, said. “The adaptive sports people know outdoor mobility course at Children’s Hospital to how much to push me to try things because they help patients with all forms of disabilities, from paknow me; I trust them. I’m different since I’ve had this program in my life, family support and friends. I ralysis to traumatic brain injury, better navigate their environment. wouldn’t be who I am today. I like me.”

A local architect and general contractor gener“So many things weren’t possible anymore,” ously volunteered their assistance for the hospitalJoanna Woodyatt, Ally’s mother, recalled. “Children’s approved project, charging only $35,000 total for adaptive sports program opened us to a support the cost of supplies. About $2,500 has been raised to network and other kids with disabilities – a whole date. new family.”

“Don’t let an injury or disability stop you,” Liam Niewohner, 14, diagnosed with a mild Liam encouraged.

“Anything is possible.” • form of cerebral palsy at age 6 and later juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, agreed: “It was an opportunity Monica Prinzing is a former newspaper reporter to feel normal and to forget about what I can’t do.” and editor. She is currently the Senior Writer of Communications and Marketing at Children’s Hospital Now Liam wants to give back. When the Central California.

Fresno teen needed a wheelchair periodically while attending a Boy Scouts of America camp, he learned 60 |

Central California Life

Creating loving and lasting memories in honor of a very special young boy.

Hendrix Wille

Rotary Storyland Playland developed the Helicopter Project to give children with a life-threatening illness and their families a unique opportunity to take a respite away from their worries and enjoy a day filled with sweet smiles and precious moments.

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Central California Life

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Health and Wellness

Training After an Injury

by Rhonda Murphy

A

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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critical issue to be aware of when beginning to exercise after an injury is recognizing how you’re dealing with the situation psychologically. People often become fearful because they worry they will reinjure their body and do not want to go backward. As a result, they may stop exercising or limit their movement.

So when you start an exercise routine after a major injury, it’s very important to go at your own level and pace. Take it slowly and really concentrate on basic movement, range of motion, posture, balance and proper form.

Men and women are motivated to exercise for different reasons. Typically, women want to lose weight and men want to build muscle. But after an injury, the whole game plan changes. The focus becomes, “How can I prevent this from happening again?” “What do I have to do so it doesn’t happen to another body part?” or even, “Am I ever going to be the same?”

One of the most significant problems I see when I’m training clients after an injury is they tend to protect the affected part of their body, as if they’re guarding it. When they do this, they lose their range of motion.

Flexibility, therefore, is the first thing you need to work on, to try to get that length back in that injury. Most injuries are at the joint. The joint has given out rather than the ligament or tendon.

The muscle is very strong and powerful, but it’s the joint that fails you. An essential step is gaining flexibility back in that joint.

Balance is another key piece of the rehabilitation process. Following an injury, the body often favors the opposing muscle, causing loss of balance. The next step is to work on getting your body even again, whether it’s right to left, front to back, or the upper body to the lower body. When you work on all phases of balance, that’s when you start to build your confidence. That way, when you bend over to pick something up or reach to get something, you have that power of balance.

Central California Life

Posture is also a fundamental element, which relates to balance. When you become injured, again we talk about the act of protecting or guarding because of potentially reinjuring yourself.

This pattern can greatly alter posture. You end up slumping over a little bit more, making you appear injured. To address this problem, it’s vital to do exercises to open up the chest cavity, for example, to increase range of motion and regain good posture.

This boosts confidence because once you expand the cavity, you naturally stand taller and hold your chin higher. Don’t forget to keep strengthening your core as well to improve posture.

Consistency is the primary component of rehabilitation. It’s the key to getting better after an injury. And the more you implement these elements on a regular basis, the stronger and healthier you will become–including reducing the possibility of another injury. •

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Pagmeter on Sports

Donnie Arax: Bringing the Bullard Knights Back

by Nick Papagni

D

When it comes to sports, the PagMeter is the newsmaker. if you love high school, junior college, college and professional sports then join the PagMeter Nation. the PagMeter serves as the headquarters of the high school sports scene. www.thepagmeter.com twitter.com/PagMeter

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onnie Arax is a born coach. He knew when he was 17 that he wanted to coach football. Deep inside, it was the Bullard Knights he wanted to lead, because nobody bleeds Bullard Blue like Arax.

His older brother Mark, who wrote the book, “In My Father’s Name,” says, “Our dad Ara coached Little League by day and ran his nightclub in Fresno at night. Our dad was a great coach and he loved it. Donnie was only 7 years old when our father was murdered in 1972, but that love of coaching had been passed down.”

The Arax brothers’ Uncle Navo says that Donnie looks like his father when he’s walking the sidelines on Friday nights.

By 1999, the Bullard High School football program was at a crossroads. Bullard had a rich winning tradition from 1958 to1981 and was not used to mediocrity. Many people had lost interest in the program because it had no real leader. To make matters worse, the northeast was growing.

Clovis West High School was becoming a powerhouse, nipping at the heels of Clovis High. The Cougars were still the dominant football program in the Valley, though. Tim Simons and his longtime coaching staff had built a dynasty.

With the head football coach position open at Bullard, alumni were adamant and vocal about whom they wanted for the job. Arax was the overwhelming favorite. In spring 1999, Arax was named the new Bullard Knights football coach.

After coaching in Kerman and Reedley, Arax was finally back in the same northwest Fresno neighborhood where he grew up.

Most Bullard football fans consider Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, to be the most significant date in the Knights’ history. That rainy night at McLane Stadium, Bullard overcame 54 years of frustration and defeated Centennial High School by a 42-31

Central California Life

Photo by Dan Minkler

score. Bullard won its first valley championship in school history.

Arax points to another game as being the most important in Bullard history. Reflecting on his coaching career at Bullard, Arax said, “The 2000 victory over Clovis may be our biggest win.

Without that win, and that team, 2009 never happens.”

The Bullard Knights were playing Clovis at Lamonica Stadium, home of the Cougars, on Sept. 15, 2000. It was a warm fall night and Clovis had beaten Bullard every year since 1981. In those years, Lamonica Stadium was an intimidating place for opposing teams. Clovis was the premier program in the Valley. The Knights had not been relevant in almost two decades, back when Arax was a standout lineman on the Bullard team that beat Clovis in 1981. Arax’s senior year was star-studded and the team was one of the best

in school history, finishing 10-2. Arax’s teammates that year included quarterback Kevin Sweeney and wide receiver Pete Sartini, both state record-holders; former Chicago Bear Votie Patterson; ex-Fresno State lineman John Turner; and hardhitting linebacker Karl DeKlotz.

Jason Huss, quarterback on that 2000 team, has fond memories of that season and the match that kick-started the Bullard program. “I remember that week, game, like it was yesterday,” Huss said. “To show you where the football program was during that time, we got kicked off our own field during practice so that the band could use the field. I’ll never forget how upset Donnie got that day. It even carried over into the pre-game speech by him smashing a guitar in front of us to fire us up.”

I met with Arax to discuss Bullard’s past and present and his thoughts about the future of Knights football.

Pag Meter: Looking back, when you started in spring 1999, did you honestly think you could walk into Lamonica Stadium with the fire trucks, the Cougars’ cannons firing, and win?

Donnie Arax: To be honest, Nick, no. We were coming off a season-opening loss to Central where we were physically dominated. We did, however, have a great practice the Wednesday night before the game. On their own, the kids made “doubter cards” that they placed in their socks, jocks, helmets, wherever. The doubters were names of people who had doubted them in the days leading up to the game. I remember a secretary at school mocking our kids about the loss to Central.

I’m sure her name was on plenty of the kids’ cards. After we won the game the student body poured out of the stands and joined parents and alumni in a mass celebration. I saw grown men crying. It’s one of those moments that never leaves you.

PM: After that game was it easier for the parents and administration to buy into the Donnie Arax System?

Photo by Dan Minkler

Arax speaks with Bullard Knights football players.

Photo by Marty Solis

Arax is now in his 15th year at Bullard and has won 105 games.

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B

DA: No question about it. I was working those kids so hard we might have lost that entire team had we not done something special that game. I may be overstating a bit, but I may not have made it through the first couple years without that Clovis win. It got me instant credibility. The principal never liked what I was doing and he didn’t want to hire me in the first place and he certainly did not want a Northwest rebel causing problems. It took about five or six years to change the culture of our parents and kids. I used to hear constant feedback that we were overworking the kids and burning them out. I rarely hear that now.

PM: You had some success in those early years. Bullard got to the Valley Championship, but lost to Bakersfield. That 2005 team was pretty special. Did you see that team coming?

DA: That 2005 team was the most talented team we’ve had. I looked back a couple months ago at those films and I couldn’t believe the size and speed on that team. A guy like Anthony McCoy [McCoy is currently a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks] is a once-in-a-lifetime player. But we had a ton of guys on that team who were men. We put 50 years of frustration on the backs of those kids.

PM: On that epic night in 2009, the Bullard Knights won the first Valley. What did you do differently from the 2005 experience?

DA: Well, game preparation we did completely different.

No speeches, no alumni, but the key is we were much better 66 |

Central California Life

Photo by Dan Minkler

Arax was named the new Bullard Knights football coach in the spring of 1999.

defensively in 2009. Our linebackers that year were special – Caleb Justice, Daniel Snelling and Kyle Staples. I have to imagine that was the best core of linebackers in school history.

My defensive coordinator Brandon Gilbert did a great job that year and Kevin Coughlon was, by that time, the best OC in the Valley.

PM: People tell me that you have built up this reputation of being Mr. Northwest Fresno. You are always talking about CUSD. What do you have against Clovis Unified?

DA: Actually, when I started, we modeled our program after what CUSD was doing. I’m a guy with a chip on his shoulder from the beginning. I wanted the kids to play with a chip on their shoulder. The two seasons prior to me taking over at Bullard, Clovis outscored us by about 90 points. Our kids were afraid to play Clovis schools. I used community pride as the focal point for my program. Every day in the weight room and on the field, it was about beating Clovis schools. To me the fight was so appealing because they had every advantage over us – better facilities, district support, more coaches – all those things make a successful program. What’s so special about what we have been able to do is we’ve done it through sweat equity.

It’s like any great rival, you hate them, but at the same time you respect them. You think Woody Hayes didn’t hate everything about Michigan football?

schools, Central and Edison. Bullard and Edison are getting the short end of the stick. We have three division teams in our league. I know section commissioner, Jim Crichlow, would tell you that the league representatives cast the final vote on league placement and league organization, but as the leader of the section he has to step up and do what’s right for kids.

PM: I hear your dad wanted to be a coach. Did that influence you to enter the profession?

DA: Maybe in some subconscious way. The great tragedy of my dad’s life was that he had to leave the USC football Photo by Marty Solis team to return home to help the family.

I still have people from his Little League According to Arax, the Bullard team now has close to 70 players on its varsity roster. and Pop Warner teams come up to me and PM: Speaking of Clovis, they beat you from 1982 to say how much of an influence he was on their lives. I guess 1999. They beat you 75-0 to 2006 then Bullard wins three in you could say I am living out his dream. I still love coming to a row and they cancelled the series. Are you upset that they work each day, and enjoy serving my community even if it’s in ended the series? a small way. In the scheme of things, high school football is not DA: What ticks me off is Bullard played that game for such a big deal. But it has provided me with a great life. The fact 18 consecutive years and got thumped each time, and still we that my son, Ara, hangs out with me at school every day and continue to schedule the game. I’m pretty sure the cancellation has to do with the fact that in consecutive years, two prominent interacts with my players and coaches – it’s priceless.

Arax is now in his 15th year at Bullard and has won 105 Clovis kids transferred to Bullard. It seems to me that CUSD games.

In 1999, Bullard hired the right person to bring Bullard is fine when our neighborhood kids jump across Herndon to back.

It took a while, but parents now understand what it is go to their schools, but when the roles are reversed, they flip. all about. And maybe Arax’s dad is looking down and is very I’ll never forget during my third year at Bullard I was jogging proud of his son because ... Bullard’s back! • down Van Ness, deep in the heart of Bullard area, and I see the

Clovis West Golden Eagle pump-up tunnel in someone’s front yard. They are having a fundraiser right in our backyard. Can you imagine if we did the same thing on Cole? Now, Rich Hammond has a done a great job at Clovis High, so there’s little chance that a kid would leave there. Bottom line, that game needs to be scheduled. The Bullard-Clovis game dates back to 1959, it’s a no-brainer.

PM: Where do you see Bullard in the next 10 years? Does it hurt Bullard playing in the CMAC? DA: We have a great mix of kids – very high numbers and a good, young coaching staff. I don’t know where these numbers of kids came from. The Valley team had under 40 players; right now we have close to 70 guys on our varsity roster.

Photo by Marty Solis On the league issue my desire is to be in Bullard won its first valley championship in school history back when Arax was a standout a football-only conference with the Clovis lineman on the Bullard team that beat Clovis in 1981.

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Arts & Entertainment

Book Review

Mark Geragos’ ‘Mistrial’

by Amy Guerra

Photos by Dan Minkler

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Amy Guerra (shown here, with the author) 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.

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ark Geragos is a criminal defense and civil attorney from Los Angeles. Well known for representing celebrities and clients on highly publicized cases, in 2004 he represented Scott Peterson, who was accused of killing his wife in Modesto. Addressing a crowd of community members and attorneys in Fresno, Geragos spoke about his life, his most recent adventures and his book, “Mistrial,” which focuses on the many cases he’s had as a successful defense attorney.

Asked what case he considers his greatest loss, Geragos said that however unpopular the opinion may be, he still believes Scott Peterson is innocent. “I’ve seen nothing to convince me otherwise,” he said at the March event, which was held at Pardini’s.

Geragos has many ties to Fresno. His mother was born and raised in Fresno and he visited his grandparents here as a child twice a month. (His father was a district attorney in Los Angeles.)

Geragos’ career choice was shaped by his desire to help other Armenian Americans. While his clientele list includes names such as Michael Jackson, P. Diddy, Nate Dogg, Nicole Richie and many other celebs, he said his most rewarding work has been taking on difficult cases like the $37.5 million class-action settlement he negotiated with two insurance companies that issued insurance

Central California Life

policies during the Armenian genocide. He’s currently involved in a class-action suit against the Turkish government to obtain reparations for the victims and their families.

In his book, which he originally wrote for young lawyers, Geragos discusses his most popular cases and proposes changes to the problems he sees in the criminal-justice system.

The first change he’d make would be to have judges appointed, rather than voted in, so their political preferences wouldn’t affect their decisions. Geragos writes, “…removing politics from the judge’s decision gives the judge the freedom to do the right thing rather than the politically convenient thing.” He notes judicial review boards could address any misconduct.

Geragos practices in Los Angeles with his father at the law firm of Geragos and Geragos.

For more information about Geragos or his book, “Mistrial: An Inside Look at How the Criminal Justice System Works… and Sometimes Doesn’t,” visit www.geragos.com. •

Savor

Savor: Roy Harland: Culinary Artist

by Faith Sidlow

Photos by Dan Minkler

S

tanding over the stove in the small kitchen of his condo, Roy Harland is about to create something out of nothing.

“Oh, I was supposed to prepare a pasta dish, wasn’t I?” he asks with a sheepish grin.

He opens the refrigerator door and begins pulling out ingredients. “We have some Chinese noodles. This will work.”

Within minutes, the 72-year-old chef who has made a name for himself as one of the most gifted culinary artists in Fresno, has whipped up something that looks and tastes like one of his signature dishes: Angel Hair Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese.

“What I like about food is not what a test kitchen guy would like about food,” Harland says. “I like the art of food. I like the art of music. I like the phrasing. I like jazz.

Improvised music.”

Many of Harland’s creations are improvised—from cooking, to playing his trumpet, to his latest artistic passion: making visual art.

Good food was part of his upbringing.

“We were poor,” Harland says. “But there was always plenty of food and it was always delicious.”

He was born in Oklahoma shortly after the Dust Bowl. His family moved to the Central Valley in 1944. As a child, he enjoyed drawing but didn’t take it seriously until high school. His art teacher tried to convince him to attend the California College of the Arts in Berkeley, but Harland joined the U.S. Air Force instead.

In the military, he honed his skills as a musician, playing concerts with the U.S. Navy 72 |

Central California Life

band. He got his start in the kitchen as a volunteer prep cook for Frenchtrained chefs in the Officers Club, where he says the military brass “ate like kings.”

When he returned to California, he took a job as a busboy in Yosemite and fell in love—with the beauty of the mountains and the woman who would become his wife, Joanne.

The Harlands lived in Yosemite for 12 years. He managed the Yosemite Lodge Cafeteria and Mountain Room Broiler under Chef Fred Pearson. He went on to the Ahwahnee and Wawona hotels, two restaurants in Palo Alto and a resort restaurant in the Tehachapi Mountains. He attended Wolfgang Puck’s Ma Cuisine Cooking School in Los Angeles in the early ‘70s, training under leading gourmet chefs Jonathan Waxman, Patrick Touraille and Ken Frank.

Harland moved back to the Valley in the late ‘70s and began working for the Depot in Visalia and Vallis in Kingsburg. When Chef Rudy Liebl opened the Ripe Tomato in Fresno in 1977, he recruited Harland, who worked for the upscale restaurant until investors convinced him to open his own place—a 10-table restaurant on Maroa and Shields.

“We got discovered there by Ruth Reichel, the food writer for The New York Times,” Harland says. “She was on her way to San Francisco to do a radio show, and she spent the whole time talking about our restaurant.

‘Finally, there’s a place to eat in Fresno.’ We started getting calls from all over

Recently, Harland has begun to create a different type of art.

During a trip to the coast, he stopped at a Target, bought some colored pencils and paper and began drawing.

the place and it just took off.”

New investors wanted Harland to open a “real restaurant.” Harland’s in Fig Garden Village was born.

“We got into Gourmet Magazine,” Harland says. “Designers West Magazine did a seven-page spread with a centerfold and we won all the awards. It almost killed me. It was 12 years before I was ready to throw in the towel.”

Harland decided to get away from the business end of restaurants, but he didn’t want to stop creating innovative dishes. He continued to cook for other restaurant owners at Upstairs Downtown, Max’s, Slates and Bentley’s. He has spent the past four years as corporate chef at the Elbow Room.

Recently, Harland has begun to create a different type of art. During a trip to the coast, he stopped at a Target, bought some colored pencils and paper and began drawing. His friends were impressed with his sketches, and he got the bug. He subscribed to ArtTutor.com, started taking tutorials and began turning out a painting a week. But he’s not ready to give up cooking, yet.

“I’m fascinated with art at this point,” he says. “But food is so much art after so many years. That’s one I have confidence in. Art never wears out. Food I can kind of step back and know it’s always there. Painting is a new discovery, so that has a new excitement. But food still has that, too.”

Surprisingly, Harland doesn’t care to paint pictures of food— “to paint food, you’re missing the taste and the smell,” he says—although one Central California Life

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of his first pieces was a still life of tomatoes and figs in colored pencil.

His artwork is whatever moves him. Animals, people, landscapes, musical instruments. He uses colored pencil, charcoal, watercolor and acrylic. He tries to paint every day.

In addition to his duties as corporate chef at the Elbow Room, Harland continues to create art with food during his monthly wine dinners at the restaurant. The dinners have become so popular that, on request, Harland will create special 74 |

Central California Life

meals for private groups of 15 to 20 people.

“That’s my thrill,” he says. “It’s my chance to do a piece of art. Because that’s what it is.

“It’s the same thing as the painting—to put together something that’s balanced and beautiful. And of course you can eat it,” Harland chuckles.

Harland says he and Elbow Room owner Mike Shirinian have worked hard for four years to keep the menu and restaurant fresh and updated. “I’m proud of the crew that we’ve put

In addition to his duties as corporate chef at the Elbow Room, Harland continues to create art with food during his monthly wine dinners at the restaurant. together,” Harland says. “They’re so capable, consistently preparing high quality food. We’ve brought in excellent chefs and improved the ingredients.”

At age 72, Harland says he has no plans to slow down. His wife of 42 years won’t let him.

“If I’m working, he’s working!”

Joanne Harland shouts from the kitchen. “It keeps the brain going.”

“If I reach the day that I can’t produce,” Harland says. “I don’t want to be there hanging on to get my paycheck.”

Until that day comes, Harland plans to stay in the kitchen. “One of the biggest joys is working with all the young people,” he says. “The young servers and the kitchen staff. They have things going on, and it keeps me younger. It really does.” • Roy Harland will be showing his work along with artists Brenda Allison and David Howard Martin at the KJWL Gallery during ArtHop on the first Thursday of August. He was recently honored by the Foundation for Fresno County Public Library for lifetime achievement.

Angel Hair Pasta with Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Makes 6 servings Ingredients ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 3 tbsp minced fresh garlic ½ cup sundried tomatoes packed in olive oil, roughly chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 12 oz Laura Chanel Goat Cheese (to garnish finished pasta) 1 lb dried Cappellini pasta Fresh basil leaves and Parmigiano-Reggiano for garnish

Instructions Bring 1 gal water to a boil and add 4 tbsp Kosher salt.

Meanwhile, heat oil in sauté pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook briefly, about 1 minute, DON’T BROWN THE GARLIC. Add the sundried tomatoes and 2 tbsp of the pasta water and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and season with a little salt and pepper. This can be done ahead of time.

To finish, cook the pasta in the boiling salted water or until just tender. Don’t overcook. Drain pasta and add to pan with garlic-tomato mixture over low heat. Toss pasta to coat well with the oil. Use tongs to pull out the pasta onto warmed plates. Spoon remaining tomatoes, garlic and oil onto the pasta and top with crumbled goat cheese. Top with a few shavings of ParmigianoReggiano. Tear a few basil leaves and add as a garnish.

Recipe courtesy: Chef Roy Harland, the Elbow Room Central California Life

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I N T R O D U C I N G …

THE CALIFORNIA AUTISM CENTER & Learning Group

Imagine new possibilities for children with a diagnosis on the ASD spectrum!

T

he new California Autism Center originated in the central valley to offer families a home for comprehensive, flexible, and scientificallyproven behavioral treatment for children and youth on the autism spectrum. The heart of our program is a center based ABA program, but our comprehensive mission includes much more. Our CEO and clinical director, Dr. Amanda Nicolson Adams (formerly with Fresno State) has over 20 years of experience training and researching the latest breakthroughs in autism treatment. The California Autism Center’s state-of the-art model combines all the rigor of science without losing sight of what really makes it all work; a tender and caring approach.

• Our Team consists of highly experienced and extensively trained therapists. Our multi-disciplinary dream team of consultants includes a credentialed teacher, a school psychologist, a speech therapist, a marriage/family counselor and our own developmental pediatrician.

• Center-based programs: provide expertly delivered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment with constant supervision and support.

• Parent seminars and sibling programs create a wraparound model of care and fun for the whole family!

• Comprehensive programs blend evidenced-based teaching strategies in careful balance to ignite each child’s potential.

• Potty Training Clinics: Our group seminar followed by individual consultation in home will get your child preschool ready!

• The Enrichment Program is our approach to social skill development. Through activities like sports, art, music, drama, and drum circles we will capture every child’s interests in the context of natural social interaction with peers.

A new kind of center – a new kind of hope!

www.calautismcenter.org Amanda@calautismcenter.org

(559) 385-3954

Regency Investment Advisors Taking Care of You

1312 W HERNDON, SUITE 101 FRESNO, CA 93711 PH 559.438.2640 FAX 559.438.2694 In business since 1993, Regency Investment Advisors is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Adviser.

All Foreign and Domestic and Diesel.

Free WiFi Need a ride?

We offer free shuttle service!

Open M-F 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

90 W. Herndon Ave. • Pinedale, CA 93560

Conveniently located near NE- Herndon and Blackstone / Off Frontage Road

559-437-0999

Family owned and operated since 2002.

We pride ourselves in the best in customer service and automotive repair.

Our technicians are certified and well trained with more than 22 years of combined experience.

Specializing in BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover

Add your business to our Business Listings FREE! Central California Life

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Sip

Kuppa Joy

by Kendra Gilbert

A

fter hearing nothing but raves about Kuppa Joy in Old Town Clovis, I had to check it out for myself.

On a sunny Wednesday (then again, what day isn’t sunny in the Valley?), I stepped into the crowded (but not offensively so) coffee shop on Clovis Avenue and ordered my first cup of joy.

Literally.

“I’ll have the Almond Joy,” I said to the barista. See, it’s right there in the name.

I took a stool at the bar at the front of the shop looking out onto Clovis Avenue. It was the perfect spot to enjoy my first sip.

Ahhhh! Made with espresso, chocolate, almond-and coconut-infused steamed milk and microfoam, it tasted much like the candy bar with which it shares a name.

Poured over ice, it was refreshing and enjoyable to sip as I watched the cars go by.

Kuppa Joy is possibly the hippest coffee shop in Clovis, if not Fresno. A quick check of the coffee shop’s Facebook page will reveal that your friends have been liking its posts and “checking in” regularly since it opened back in 2012.

The exposed brick walls and masculine wood furnishings inside Kuppa Joy give it an urban vibe usually found in big-city coffee shops in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

Unlike in the big cities, at Kuppa Joy, your organic fair-trade coffee is served without a side of hipster.

Do yourself a favor. Go. Drive, pedal, walk, skip or, better yet, run!

The only thing healthier than a little bit of exercise is a heart full of joy. And this place serves that up by the cupful. • Photos by Dan Minkler

Kuppa Joy manager Kevin Lindholm

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Winner of the

• People’s Choice Award • The Best of the Best Wedding Photographers, Central Valley • Bride’s Choice Awards • The Knot Magazine

Pamela Leeds Photography & Company Premier Wedding Photography Bullard & West – Pavilion West Shopping Center

559.435.3614

Pamela.Shootproof.com Driven by the Lord, powered by Canon

Water-Wise Gardens

by Susan Stiltz

C

olor, sounds, scents and year-round interest define my water-wise garden. This morning, I see California poppies, knife acacia, daffodils, wild garlic, and flowering almond. I hear the wind rustling through the beefwood tree and smell rosemary, sage and sweet olive – delightful!

People often associate a water-wise garden with cactus and succulents. While these can be attractive and intriguing, they are not the only drought-tolerant plants from which we can choose. The Clovis Botanical Garden is a demonstration garden of water-wise plants from the Mediterranean regions with climates similar to ours – hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

What is a water-wise plant? Plants that require moderate to low amounts of water and/or can survive periods of limited water are considered to be water-wise. Plants vary in their water needs from regular/ample water (e.g., hydrangeas, gardenias and azaleas) to those that require little/moderate water (manzanita, butterfly bush, lantana, heavenly bamboo). The “Sunset Western Garden Book” lists the water needs of each plant and is an invaluable resource.

What about native plants? Our region originally consisted of grassland; in its natural state, trees and shrubs existed only along waterways. Being “native” to California doesn’t ensure that a plant is water-wise. Coastal redwoods come from the mountains of northern California, where they enjoy 100 inches of rain annually, along with cool, foggy summers.

Still, there are many colorful and interesting plants from the surrounding foothills that do very well here with good drainage: think California lilac, sulfur flower, California fuchsia and yarrow.

Should I take out my lawn? The answer is more complex than, “Yes,” or “No,” but making a wise decision about what kind and how much of a lawn to have is important. In our

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area we see two general types: cool season (tall fescue) and warm season (Bermuda, buffalo grass). Tall fescue stays green through the winter, but it takes about 50 percent more water than a warm-season lawn. Bermuda and buffalo grass go dormant during the winter, which allows us to embrace the change of seasons and stop pretending that we live in a tropical paradise.

You’ll need to consider what to do with the space if you remove your lawn. Replacing it with plants may sound exciting but brings with it increased maintenance demands and weeds as new plants mature. Maybe reducing size and replacing a cool-season grass with a warm-season one is the best answer.

Irrigation. The biggest challenge is proper, efficient irrigation. Most spray systems water more soil and concrete than plant. Drip systems are ideal but are prone to damage and clogging. The new subsurface drip systems with in-line emitters seem to work well, particularly for a new installation. Make sure your irrigation is properly maintained: fix leaking sprinklers and valves and inspect the system weekly.

Investigate, consider, weigh your options, and whatever you decide, remember to mulch! A 2-to-4-inch layer of mulch will suppress weeds, reduce evaporation, and provide nutrients for plants as it breaks down. • For more information, visit the following websites: www.treesusan.com www.fresno.gov/water then go to Conservation, then Landscaping www.clovisbotanicalgarden.org Susan Stiltz is a landscape designer and consultant specializing in water-wise, low-maintenance plants. A certified arborist and master gardener, she is a landscape specialist for the City of Fresno’s Water Conservation Department and the volunteer garden consultant for Clovis Botanical Gardens.

Spotlight

Photos by Judith Menezes

Daughters of the American Revolution Honor Hanford’s Chinese School Hanford’s early Chinese immigrants and their families have been recognized by a prominent organization for their commitment to preserving their cultural heritage through education. The California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution placed a historical marker at the town’s Chinese School in early June. The school, established in 1922, offered a curriculum that included Chinese customs, culture, language and literature. Children went to classes there during the weekdays after attending local public school and on Saturdays. Over time, the Chinese population diminished in size and the school closed.

In 1964, the building became the home of the King’s Players at the Temple Theater.

Fifty years later, the site is still providing live theater to the community. It also serves as a reminder of the rich Chinese history in the area.

Sylvia Sue Lum, a former student of the Chinese School.

Fred Wing, Amy Lee and Stanford Lee. Wing and Stanford Lee are former students of the Chinese School.

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Spotlight Fresno Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Service Renaissance Dinner The Fresno Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Service held its annual Renaissance Dinner at the Simonian Fruit Company in Fowler. Guests, board members and volunteers dressed up in Renaissance costumes and enjoyed food catered by Food For Thought as they listened to Cathy Garner, executive director of FWRRS, speak about the nonprofit’s achievements and future plans. Attendees also had a special opportunity to interact with several different types of birds brought by FWRRS volunteers, including hawks, owls, a falcon and a raven. FWRRS is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to caring for orphaned or injured wildlife native to the Central Valley. All proceeds from the May event will help support the care of wildlife and wildlife educational programs.

Photos by Dan Minkler

Top: Dave Rogers, Debbie Rogers, Everett O’Keefe, Summer Rogers, Bonnie Rogers

Judy and Chris Patin

Fresno Relay For Life Celebrates 25th Anniversary Fresno Relay For Life celebrated its 25th anniversary in May at Kastner Intermediate School. Since its inception, Fresno Relay For Life has raised more than $2 million to combat cancer. Donations raised from the event support patient services, education, advocacy and research. Ninety-eight teams participated in this year’s event and raised $123,524. To kick off the event, survivors lined the track in purple shirts and took a victory lap. Many teams dressed up and held signs of support as they walked around the track.

The survivors also had their own tent where they received breakfast and lunch and enjoyed a raffle, bingo and more. Other activities included a kids’ zone, entertainment and games.

Photo by Alyssa Boyles

Participants at the 25th annual Fresno Relay For Life event prepare to start the walk.

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Spotlight Run with the Heroes Drug Prevention 5k Performing Above the High Project (PATH) and Community Youth Ministries (CYM) hosted the first “Run with the Heroes” run/walk event in May at Reedley College to support drug prevention efforts in the community. Runners dressed up in their best superhero attire and broke a sweat for the cause. After the race, attendees enjoyed music from DJ Kay Rich of B95, a costume contest and entertainment. The event also featured several raffles, all of which were made possible by donations. The Fresno County Sheriff ’s Office donated four bikes, and each vendor present at the event also donated a prize. Proceeds from the event will fund CYM-led drug prevention efforts in the Reedley and Orange Cove communities.

Photos by Victoria Flores

Right: Maria Gutierrez, McGruff the Crime Dog, Miguel Lopez

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Spotlight Central Valley Cancer Survivorship Conference More than 100 cancer survivors, caregivers, health professionals and friends attended the Central Valley Cancer Survivorship Conference in May at Children’s Hospital Central California.

The Central California Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosted the event with support from an educational grant from Novartis Oncology.

Other supporting sponsors were Susan G. Komen Central Valley, Community Regional Medical Center, cCare, and Sisterhood of Survivors. Jody Jo Mize, a DJ for KISS Country 93.7 and breast cancer survivor, emceed the event and shared her inspirational story. The event also featured discussions about cancer research updates, the Affordable Care Act, care giving, strategies for self-care, cancer and public policy, financial health and sexuality/intimacy.

Photos by Bob Marcotte

Bob Marcotte Photo by Melissa Wedekind

Allison Torres, Senior Manager, Pennies for Patients Program, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Becky Brown, Senior Campaign Director, Corporate Development and Team in Training, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Left: Xee Her, Volunteer, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Patti Lucchesi, Volunteer, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Korina Mendoza, Patient Access Coordinator, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Middle: Jody Jo Mize Right: Sharon Johnson, Executive Director, Susan G. Komen Central Valley

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Spotlight Ani Guild “Cirque de Fun” Fundraiser Ani Guild held its annual fundraiser with the theme “Cirque de Fun” in May to benefit the California Armenian Home in Fresno. Held on the grounds of the California Armenian Home, guests dressed up and enjoyed delicious Armenian Mezza (Armenian appetizers) and a traditional Armenian dinner, all prepared by members of the Guild.

After dinner, partygoers danced to the Marie Wilson Band and enjoyed games, raffles and a silent auction.

The California Armenian Home, a nonprofit organization established in 1952, provides a safe, caring environment to the aged who can no longer care for themselves. Event proceeds will be used to modernize the Home’s nursing stations, enabling staff to work more efficiently and to better serve their residents.

Sue and Bob Garabedian

The Marie Wilson Band

Janet Hovannisian, Janice Maroot, Madeline Arakelian, Tammy Chooljian, Patti Sarabian, Sandy Papazian, Cathy Cholakian, Mardene Jones

John Arakelian, Jeanette Maroot, Miriam Kapreilian, Janice Maroot, Phil Maroot

Paulette Kalebjian

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Spotlight Regency Investment Advisors Earns Major Distinction Regency Investment Advisors, a Fresno-based independent financial advisory firm, was recently ranked No. 10 on CNBC’s inaugural list of Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Management Firms for 2014. The list includes firms from throughout the nation and was developed in collaboration with Meridian-IQ, using its database of all Registered Investment Advisors. Scores for several measures were weighed according to a proprietary formula and combined to produce the firm’s final rank: assets under management, number of staff with professional designations such as CFP Photo by Dan Minkler or CFA, average account size, growth of assets, years in Daniel Ray, Chris Comstock, Marci Deck, Stephen Guinn business, number of advisory clients, client segmentation, the ability to provide advice on insurance solutions and experience in working with third-party professionals such as attorneys or CPAs. Regency Investment Advisors, which was founded in 1993, has more than $250 million in assets under management and focuses on providing unbiased, professional advice to its clients. “It’s a great acknowledgement for our staff and we are very proud,” said Stephen Guinn, Vice President and Client Advisor for Regency Investment Advisors. Guinn believes the rank validates Regency’s hard work and said the firm will continue to strive for excellence.

Fresno State Vintage Days Draws Thousands Fresno State welcomed more than 50,000 people and nearly 250 vendors to its campus in April for its largest event of the year, Vintage Days.

The three-day festival began in 1975 and is a well-known Fresno State tradition, drawing a wide range of attendees from Fresno and its surrounding communities. The student-planned event features local food, live entertainment, bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, a crafts faire, game booths and more.

This year, the university partnered with Pepsi to create the Pepsi Wild Cherry Vintage Challenge, an event in which students competed against one another to win VIP tickets to the Blake Shelton concert on Sept. 11 at the Save Mart Center as well as a $500 Wild Cherry Pepsi Grant. Challenges included a mini-bike race, bowling and a pie-eating contest. Next year’s Vintage Days will be held April 17-19.

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Photos by Dan Minkler

Thousands of people from Fresno and the surrounding communities attended this year’s Vintage Days, including representatives from Central California Life magazine.

Spotlight Harmonies for Horse Therapy Benefit Concert Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch hosted its Harmonies for Horse Therapy benefit concert at Peoples Church in Fresno. After being greeted at the door by real-life cowboys, guests enjoyed live music

by Sons of the San Joaquin as well as Wilbur Daniels and the Chordsmen. Attendees also had a special opportunity to listen to a few patients speak about their experiences with the horses and how it benefits them.

Special guests Alan Autry and Jim Franklin emceed the March event, which garnered about $26,000. Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch is a nonprofit organization that offers therapeutic riding to those who suffer from physical, mental or emotional disorders. All proceeds generated by the concert will allow the Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch to continue offering its services to those in need.

Alan Autry, Dr. Jennifer Crocker

Photos courtesy of Rob Barbery Photography

Sons of the San Joaquin

Back row: Tatum Crocker, Elliott Crocker, Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch owner Guy Adams Front row: Adam Hill, Megan McKeon

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Calendar of Events

JULY For more events, visit CenCaliLife.com FRESNO Good Company Players Presents West Side Story: Ongoing July 17Sept. 14 The Good Company Players (GCP) troupe is bringing West Side Story to Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater in Fresno. The classic American musical about love and loss is the GCP’s most requested title. For more information and tickets, visit gcplayers.com.

Central Valley FRESNO Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents LEGENDS: July 3-6 Watch as mysterious and mythical creatures come to life at the Selland Arena during LEGENDS, the all-new show presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Tickets go on sale May 23. For showtimes and tickets, visit fresnoconventioncenter.com.

FRESNO KYJO BIG B.A.N.G WEEKEND: July 11-12 Keeping Youth Journeying Onward (KYJO) presents the second annual BIG B.A.N.G. WEEKEND. Designed to help at-risk students reach their full potential, the event includes a Celebrity Bowling Challenge at AMF Sierra Lanes in Fresno and a Believe and Achieve football clinic at Fresno State’s Bulldog Stadium. All proceeds benefit funding for mentoring, education, mental health services and more. For more information and registration, visit kyjo.org/bigbang.

FRESNO Saint Agnes Men’s Club Summer Sizzle: July 12 Love helping your community? Join the Saint Agnes Men’s Club for its annual Summer Sizzle at the Fig Garden Golf Club in Fresno and give back. Enjoy silent and live auctions, food from local restaurants and live music. This year’s theme is “Night on the Range.” Proceeds will help support Saint Agnes Medical Center patient care programs and services. For more information, visit samc.com/summer-sizzle or call (599) 4502040.

VISALIA Rodney Atkins: July 13 Put your boots on and grab a cowboy hat because American country music artist Rodney Atkins is rolling into the Visalia Fox Theatre for one night only. To grab your tickets, visit foxvisalia.org.

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VISALIA Summerland 2014 w/Everclear: July 20 Rock out to your favorite 90s tunes during the Summerland Tour 2014 as it rolls into the Visalia Fox Theatre. The concert will feature bands such as Everclear, Eve 6, Spacehog and Soul Asylum. For more information, visit foxvisalia.org.

FRESNO Fresno Food Expo: July 24 If you’ve ever wondered where your food comes from, the Fresno Food Expo is a good place to find out. The expo will feature local food growers, producers, brewers and winemakers all under one roof at the Fresno Convention Center. For more information and tickets, visit fresnoconventioncenter.com.

Photo courtesy of Gilroy Garlic Festival

GILROY Gilroy Garlic Festival: July 25-27 Welcome to garlic heaven! If you love all things garlic, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is a must. With great food and live entertainment, this event is sure to make your taste buds water. For more information, visit gilroygarlicfestival.com.

FRESNO Neon Night Run: July 26 Put on your best 80s disco outfit, grab a glow stick and get ready to run, because the Neon Night Run is coming to Fresno. The electrifying 5k course will make its home at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds. For more information and registration, visit neonnightrun.com.

FRIANT An Evening with Styx: July 29 Rockers rejoice! American rock band Styx is coming to Table Mountain Casino. With top hits such as “Mr. Roboto,” “Come Sail Away,” “Lady” and “Babe,” Styx is sure to give a performance that you won’t want to miss. For more information and tickets, visit tmcasino.com.

42nd Annual Sierra Nevada Arts & Crafts Festival, Bacon & Barrels Festival, Yosemite Valley Moonlight Tour

LEMOORE Rockin’ the Arbor: Ongoing through Aug. 29 Hosted by the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce, the Rockin’ the Arbor concert series brings live music to downtown Lemoore. The event also features food, a bounce house and more. For more information, visit lemoorechamberofcommerce.com.

MOSS LANDING Moss Landing Antique Street Fair: July 27 Love antiquing? Browse through thousands of antiques and collectibles during the Moss Landing Antique Street Fair. Shoppers can find art, glassware, furniture, books and more. The fair provides support to several local nonprofits. For more information, visit mosslandingchamber.com or call (831) 633-4501.

FRESNO Nights in the Plaza: Ongoing through Sept. 19 Relax and enjoy great music every Friday evening at Nights in the Plaza, a sunset concert series held by Arte Américas in Fresno. For more information and tickets, visit arteamericas.blogspot.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO Concerts in the Plaza: Ongoing through Sept. 5 Come rock out with friends and family while you enjoy more than 60 bands at Concerts in the Plaza. This free summer concert series is held in San Luis Obispo’s Mission Plaza. The event also features food and drinks. For more information, visit downtownslo.com.

Central Coast SALINAS ENI FIM Superbike World Championship: July 11-13 Calling all adrenaline junkies! Hear the roar of high-performance motorcycles when the ENI FIM Superbike World Championship, GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round hits the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, Calif. This high-intensity event is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. For the event schedule and more information, visit mazdaraceway.com.

SALINAS California Rodeo Salinas: July 17-20 Yee-haw! California’s largest rodeo is back.

The California Rodeo Salinas is one of the top 20 professional rodeos in the U.S. and gives Photo courtesy of Richard Field Levine Photography back more than $350,000 each year to local nonprofits. Events include bull riding, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and much more. For more information and tickets, visit carodeo.com.

LOS OLIVOS Bacon & Barrels Festival: July 18-20 Love bacon? Enjoy an occasional drink? If you said yes to either one of those questions, the Bacon & Barrels festival in Los Olivos, Calif. was designed for you. The outdoor festival features chefs who create recipes incorporating bacon and also highlights craft barrel beverages such as beer, wine, bourbon and scotch. For more information, visit baconandbarrels.com.

Mountain Areas ARNOLD 42nd Annual Sierra Nevada Arts & Crafts Festival: July 5-6 The Sierra Nevada Arts & Crafts Festival is back in Arnold, Calif. for its 42nd year. Come enjoy live entertainment and music as you look through more than 60 booths of fine arts and crafts. For more information, visit afterthegoldrushfestivals.com.

YOSEMITE Yosemite Valley Moonlight Tour: Ongoing July 8-12, Aug. 6-10, Sept. 4-8 Explore the beauty of Yosemite’s world-famous landmarks by moonlight during the Yosemite Valley Moonlight Tour. Participants will see Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and more all by open-air tram. For more information and departure times, visit yosemitepark.com/moonlight-tour or call (209) 372-4386.

MARIPOSA Yosemite Music Festival: July 11-12 If you love camping and live music, then the Yosemite Music Festival was made for you. Grab a tent, head over to the Mariposa County Fairgrounds and enjoy bands such as Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, Once and Future Band, Yawning Man and New Tomorrow. For more information and tickets, visit yosemitemusicfestival.com.

YOSEMITE Moonlight Melodrama: July 20 & Aug. 10 Enjoy an outdoor melodrama under the moon at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Fun for the whole family, this event takes place at the Lewis Creek Canyon Amphitheater and is presented by the Golden Chain Theatre. Reservations are recommended. For more information, visit ymsprr.com or call (559) 683-7273.

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Calendar of Events

AUGUST Photo courtesy of Fresno Greek Festival

Central Valley FRESNO Hot Fun in the Summertime Motown Concert: Aug. 2 Get ready to boogie and jive, because the annual Hot Fun in the Summertime Concert Series is back in Fresno.

Hosted and held at the African American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley, the Motown portion of the series will feature soulful music from the 70s and 80s. For more information, visit aahcmsjv.org or call (559) 268-7102.

FRESNO The Cultural Arts Rotary Club Presents Storyland and Jazz: Aug. 16 The Cultural Arts Rotary Club of Fresno presents its annual fundraiser Storyland & Jazz at Storyland in Roeding Park.

The event, which benefits local youthserving organizations, will feature food from local restaurants, wine, a silent auction and live jazz under the stars. For more information, visit culturalartsrotary.org or call (559) 905-9118.

FRIANT Lynyrd Skynyrd: Aug. 18 Get ready to party and having a roaring good time, because rock legend Lynyrd Skynyrd is coming to Table Mountain Casino. Tickets go on sale July 7. For more information and tickets, visit tmcasino.com.

Photo by Heather Davis/Fresno Chaffee Zoo

FRESNO Producers Dairy Ice Cream Zoofari: Aug. 9 Escape the heat during the Producers Dairy Ice Cream Zoofari at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The all-you-can-eat ice cream fundraiser will feature unlimited sherbets, ice cream, frozen yogurt, sundaes and smoothies. Guests can walk through the Zoo and look at their favorite animals as they enjoy their ice cream during this family-friendly event.

For more information and tickets, visit fresnochaffeezoo.org or call (559) 4985921.

CLOVIS Fig Party: Aug. 15 Celebrate figs and learn how to use the fruit in creative recipes during the second annual Fig Party in Old Town Clovis. Watch as chefs cook up mouthwatering dishes and sample their creations. For more information, visit oldtownclovis.org.

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Photo courtesy of Save Mart Center

FRESNO Rascal Flatts Rewind Tour 2014: Aug. 21 Award-winning country music group Rascal Flatts is rolling into Fresno. The band will take the stage at the Save Mart Center in Fresno for their Rewind tour.

Special guests include Sheryl Crow and Gloriana. For more information and tickets, visit savemartcenter.com.

FRESNO 54th Annual GreekFest: Aug. 22-24 Opa! The 54th annual GreekFest will return to St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno. Don’t miss this weekend of traditional Greek food, fun and festivities. For more information, visit fresnogreekfest.com.

Photo courtesy of Tower Theatre

FRESNO Bobby Caldwell: Aug. 23 Renowned singer-songwriter Bobby Caldwell is making his way to Fresno.

Caldwell, known for his hit single “What You Won’t Do For Love,” will perform at the Tower Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit towertheatrefresno.com or call (559) 485-9050.

FRESNO Woodward Park Shakespeare Festival Presents the Tempest: Ongoing Aug. 28-Sept. 20 Directed by Julie Ann Keller, the Woodward Shakespeare Festival will bring Shakespeare’s popular play “The Tempest” to Fresno as a part of its 10th Anniversary Season. The play will be held at the outdoor theater in Woodward Park. For more information, visit woodwardshakespeare.org.

VISALIA Frampton’s Guitar Circus: Aug. 29 If you like to rock out and love guitarshredding tunes, don’t miss Frampton’s Guitar Circus when it hits the stage at Oval Park in Visalia. The concert will feature Grammy-winning guitarist Peter Frampton and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy. For more information and tickets, visit framptonsguitarcircus.com.

Salinas Valley Half Marathon

Central Coast

Mountain Areas

SALINAS Salinas Valley Half Marathon: Aug. 2 Enjoy the beautiful mountain landscapes of the “Salad Bowl of the World” during the Salinas Valley Half Marathon. Run through lush vineyards near the base of the Santa Lucia mountain range and receive a glass of wine at the end of your trek. The event also features a post-marathon festival. For more information, visit salinasvalleyhalfmarathon.org.

NORTH FORK 44th Annual Indian Fair Days & Pow Wow: Aug. 2 Celebrate the culture and heritage of several Native American tribes at the 44th annual Indian Fair Days & Pow Wow at the North Fork Recreation Center. Sing, dance and make friends at this all-ages event hosted by the Sierra Mono Museum.

For more information, visit sierramonomuseum.org or email monomuseum@gmail.com.

PASO ROBLES Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff: Aug. 9 Enjoy an evening of wine, food and fun at the 16th annual Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff. Held at the Paso Robles Event Center, the event helps benefit local youth. Must be at least 21 years of age to attend. For more information and tickets, visit winemakerscookoff.com.

YOSEMITE National Park Service Birthday: Aug. 25 Enjoy the beauty of Yosemite National Park sans entrance fees during the National Park Service Birthday. Yes, that’s right--no entrance fees. On this day, all National Park entrance fees are waived. For more information, visit nps.gov.

SOLVANG Wheels ‘N Windmills Car Show: Aug. 23 Love classic cars? View more than 300 cool rides on display at the Wheels ‘N Windmills Car Show in downtown Solvang.

Proceeds generated at the event will be donated to local and national charities. For more information, visit wheelsnwindmills.com.

GROVER BEACH Annual Stone Soup Festival: Aug. 23-24 Listen to the sounds of Latin, African, Australian, Scottish, jazz and country music during Grover Beach’s two-day music festival. The event also features shopping, ethnic food from around the world and homemade crafts. This event is fun for the whole family. For more information visitarroyogrande.org.

MARIPOSA Mariposa County Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Get ready for a day full of family fun, because the annual Mariposa County Fair is back. Enjoy food, entertainment, agricultural exhibits, a carnival and more at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit mariposafair.com COARSEGOLD Peddler’s Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Acres of antiques, food and collectibles await your discovery at the annual Coarsegold Peddler’s Fair. Stop by and see what treasures you can find. For more information, visit coarsegoldhistoricvillage.com.

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Calendar of Events

SEPTEMBER Clovis Fest

Central Valley MADERA Madera District Fair: Sept. 4-7 It’s almost that time of year again. Hailed as one of the most popular events in Madera, the Madera District Fair is returning to the Madera District Fairgrounds and bringing concerts, rides, food, games and more with it. Get your tickets fast, because this familyfriendly event is always popular. For more information, visit maderafair.com, FRESNO Rods on the Bluff: Aug. 1, Sept. 5 Hot rods and classics, oh my! The Hot Rod Coalition and Fresno TAP Recycling bring Rods on the Bluff to the Park Place Shopping Center in Fresno. The event will feature more than 500 of the Valley’s best hot rods and customs alongside stores, restaurants and much more. For more information, visit hotrodcoalition.com.

FRESNO Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival: Sept. 6 Come join Mickey Mouse and friends as they rock out to classic Disney hits for the Disney Live!

Mickey’s Music Festival at the Saroyan Theatre in Fresno. This family-friendly event will feature more than 25 Disney stars and is a rockin’ good time. For more information and tickets, visit fresnoconventioncenter.com.

TULARE Pops in the Park: Sept. 6 Listen to songs from Broadway and film soundtracks as well as traditional Americana during the annual Pops in the Park outdoor concert in Tulare. The concert will be held in Zumwalt Park. For more information and tickets, visit tularecountysymphony.com.

TULARE St. Rita’s “Last Days of Summer”: Sept. 6 Come out and enjoy dancing, drinks and a live auction during St. Rita’s Last Days of Summer Dinner & Dance in Tulare. Held at the International AgriCenter Heritage Complex, all proceeds from the event will benefit Saint Rita’s Catholic Church and the construction of their new church building. For more information, visit stritasnewchurch.com or call (559) 686-3847.

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FRESNO Children’s Hospital 18th Annual Harvest Ball: Sept. 12 Dress up for a night of charitable fun and enjoy a black-tie gala dinner, wine, live auctions and more at the 18th annual Harvest Ball hosted by Children’s Hospital Central California. Proceeds from the event will benefit Children’s Hospital Central California. For more information, call (559) 353-7100 or email Foundation@ChildrensCentralCal.org.

FRESNO The Central California Women’s Conference: Sept. 16 The Central California Women’s Conference is coming back to the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center to empower women of all generations, ethnicities and backgrounds. The one-day conference will feature Valerie Bertinelli as its keynote speaker in addition to warm-up keynote Elizabeth McCormick and cool-down keynote Judy Carter. For more information and tickets, visit ccwc-fresno.org.

FRESNO Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival: Sept. 17-21 Fresno’s premiere gay and lesbian film festival, Reel Pride, is back for its 25th year. Reel Pride, which is the sixth oldest gay and lesbian film festival in America, will take place in Fresno’s Tower District. For more information, visit reelpride.com.

FRESNO Safari Night: Sept. 19 Enjoy a night among the animals during Safari Night at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The event will feature food Photo by Craig Kohlruss from Valley restaurants, wine, live entertainment, a casino area and more. For more information and tickets, visit fresnochaffeezoo.org.

CLOVIS Clovis Fest: Sept. 20-21 Watch as colorful hot air balloons float through the Valley sky during Clovis Fest. The event, which starts at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds, will also feature food, live entertainment, a family carnival and more once the balloons are out of sight. For more information, visit oldtownclovis.org.

TULARE Crush Party: Sept. 26 Enjoy wine and cheese tasting, a raffle and much more at the first annual Crush Party hosted by the Tulare Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and the College of the Sequoias Foundation. Held at the COS Tulare College Center, the event will benefit the COS Foundation and the Tulare Chamber Ambassador Program. For more information, call 559-686-1547 or email lrosen@tularechamber.org.

Smokey Bear Run/Walk, Blazin’ Hog BBQ Competition

Sierra Sampler Road Bicycle Tour

LINDSAY Lindsay Community Theater Brewfest: Sept. 27 Enjoy more than 40 varieties of beer at the Lindsay Community Theater Brewfest held at the Sweet Brier Plaza in Lindsay, Calif. Held the last Saturday in September from 2 to 6 p.m., the brewfest will feature food, music and more. For more information, visit lindsaycommunitytheater.com.

MONTEREY Monterey Jazz Festival: Sept. 19-21 Get your jazz hands ready, because the Monterey Jazz Festival is back for its 57th year. The festival will feature more than 500 artists on eight stages and also offers food, exhibitions and shopping.

For more information, visit montereyjazzfestival.org.

FRESNO Bachelor’s Ball: Sept. 27 Bid on eligible bachelors for a chance to win a hot date during this year’s pirate-themed Bachelor’s Ball, Pirates in Storyland. The event will be held at Storyland in Roeding Park. Attendees will also enjoy live entertainment and dinner. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Storyland Playland “Helicopter Project,” which aims to offer fun opportunities to children who are fighting a terminal illness. For more information, visit bachelorsball.com or call (559) 222-7366.

FRESNO Fresno SOSL’s 12th Annual Fun Run/Walk Courage & Strength...Side by Side: Sept. 27 Fresno Survivors of Suicide Loss’ annual fun run/ walk “Courage & Strength...Side by Side” will return to Woodward Park in Fresno for its 12th year. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the nonprofit’s mission of bringing hope to those in need. For more information and registration, visit fresnosos.org.

Central Coast MONTEREY 81st Annual Santa Rosalia Fisherman’s Festival: Sept. 5-7 If you enjoy Italian cuisine, music and live entertainment, head on over to the 81st annual Santa Rosalia Fisherman’s Festival in Monterey. The 3-day festival, which honors the fisherman of Monterey, will take place at the Custom House Plaza in downtown Monterey. The event is hosted by the Festa Italia Santa Rosalia Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes the Italian heritage, tradition and culture. For more information, visit festaitaliamonterey.org.

MORRO BAY Morro Bay Avocado and Margarita Festival: Sept. 13-14 Save the date for the 8th annual Morro Bay Avocado and Margarita Festival. Enjoy refreshing margaritas, mouthwatering avocados, shopping, entertainment and more. For more information, visit avomargfest.com.

Mountain Areas OAKHURST 12th annual Run for the Gold: Sept. 5-6 Hosted by the Sierra-Oakhurst Kiwanis Club, the 12th annual Run for the Gold car show is cruising in to the Oakhurst Community Center. Awards for best roadster, best of show and people’s choice will be distributed. For more information, visit oakhurstkiwanis.org.

MARIPOSA Blazin’ Hog BBQ Competition: Sept. 20 Fire up your barbecue and grab your favorite dipping sauce, because the 8th annual Blazin’ Hog BBQ Competition is coming back to the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. Enjoy barbecue, drinks and live Zydeco music while benefitting the John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation. For more information, visit blazinhog.com.

SIERRA NEVADA AREA Sierra Sampler Road Bicycle Tour: Sept. 20-27 Experience the landscapes of the Sierra Nevada while challenging your body during the Sierra Sampler Road Bicycle Tour. Stops range from Lake Tahoe to Mammoth Mountain along with an optional visit to Yosemite National Park. For more information, visit adventurecycling.org.

BASS LAKE Smokey Bear Run/Walk: Sept. 27 Enjoy the scenic route during the 27th annual Smokey Bear Run/ Walk in Bass Lake, Calif. All proceeds generated from the event will go back to the local community. For more information and registration, visit smokeybearrun.com.

YOSEMITE National Public Lands Day: Sept. 27 Honor our national public lands while you enjoy free entrance to Yosemite National Park and other National Parks during National Public Lands Day. On this day only, the park will waive its entrance fees for all National Parks. For more information, visit nps.gov.

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1312 W Herndon Ave, Suite 102 Fresno, CA 93711

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