October 2010 by Taylor Vaughn

SAVE MONEY!

15-20

During Our

Harvest Savings Mention this ad when booking an appointment between now and the end of October and SAVE BIG!! Dr. Miroslav Stanic, DDS

(discount applies with or without insurance coverage) Discounts do not apply to

and Implants

Sequoia Dental Office | 5601 W. Hillsdale | Visalia | 559.635.7186

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

INSIDE OCTOBER 2010 PUBLI S HE D BY

DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 BUS IN E S S M ANAG E M E N T

Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JeffREy Malkasian EA Bookkeeper Marilyn Harris ADMIN I STRATI ON & E DI TO R I A L

Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Office Administrator MARIA GASTON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

C. S. WYATT TERRY L. OMMEN CRYSTAL R. R. EDWARDS CRAIG WHEATON WARREN GUBLER Lisa Lieberman Cheryl Dieter ADVE RT I S I NG SA LE S

Advertising Director Bridget Elmore 559.739.1747 Advertising Sales DARLENE MAYFIELD 559.739.1747 SALES OFF I C E

801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • fax 559.738.0909 email: direct@dmiagency.com

Direct Magazine is published twelve times a year and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 50,000 homes between Visalia and Tulare. An additional 1,500 magazines are circulated at distribution points around Visalia and Tulare. Views expressed in columns are those expressed by the columnist and not necessarily those of Direct Magazine. We are dedicated to serving the community. Please call us for questions, comments, article suggestions or for information about local events at 739-1747. Fax us at 738-0909 or email us: direct@dmiagency.com.

Circulation of this Issue: 51,500

DIRECT MAGAZINE

6 Waste Management Making Recycling Happen in Tulare County

12 Pet of the Month 22 Culinary 25 VUSD 28 Direct from Warren 30 Goings-On

10 Virtual Valley Nurturing the Valley’s Tech Economy

14 From Out of the Tules Tulare County Shows It’s Stuff

16 Humanitarian Haiti: The Needs are Great and So is the Love

20 Well, THAT Was Fun Tricked Out 24 Tips for a Safer Halloween

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

WHEN IT’S IMPORTANT…

care of yo e k a t u. ll ’ e W

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

waste management

Making Recycling Happen in

Tulare County

Recycling is one of the great success stories in America’s crusade to protect our environment and preserve our natural resources. In the past 30 years, we have undergone a fundamental change in our attitude about recycling. People across the country now recognize the importance of recycling and have made it a part of their daily routines. There is even a national day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products – America Recycles Day. 6

DIRECT MAGAZINE

But have you ever wondered what happens to the cans, paper and plastic bottles after they go into the recycle bin? You may not realize that there is a state-of-the-art recycling facility right here in Visalia that handles 10,000 pounds of materials, such as glass, cardboard, aluminum cans and paper, each month. Tulare County Recycling may not be well known, but it’s a local operation that employs 30 permanent employees, contributing more than $3 million to the local economy every year.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

The facility processes waste and recyclables for the cities of Visalia and Tulare, as well as unincorporated areas of Tulare County and selected Fresno residents. As part of its commitment to the community, Tulare County Recycling offers special rates for drop-off days at the facility as well as rolloff containers for cleanup days for Visalia and Tulare residents. Tulare County Recycling handles “single-stream” recycling, meaning that all of the recyclables are mixed together by residents and businesses, and separated at the facility. Tulare County Recycling serves several well-known local companies, including Moore’s and Jostens. Once they’re sorted, recyclables are sold to companies such as Anheuser Busch (aluminum cans), Weyerhauser (cardboard), Levi Scrap Iron and Strategic Materials (glass), while paper fibers and plastic containers are usually exported abroad. Plant manager Bill Corrao, who came on-board two years ago, brings his background in education to this role, considering himself a coach and mentor to his six-person leadership team, who is responsible for every aspect of the facility’s operations: • As operations specialist, Jesse Garcia oversees administrative tasks, including timekeeping and regulatory compliance for the more than 15 agencies that have oversight of the plant’s operations. • Betsy Munoz handles all aspects of the facility’s finances, including accounting and operational analyses. • Efrain Mercado, who has more than 10 years’ experience with the company, is the maintenance lead and ensures all of the equipment is in good working order. • Myra Jauregui is responsible for managing the scales for incoming deliveries. • Carlos Cruz is the foreman for the processing line and handles all day-to-day operations for the sorting lines. He began as a sorter himself and worked his way up to his current role over nine years with the company. • Lena Rivera manages temporary staff at the facility along with safety training and other Human Resource related duties. The leadership and employees at the facility are committed to safety and have a perfect record for 2010 so far with no

recordable injuries or accidents. In addition, as part of Waste Management’s recent company-wide safety week, the site held daily trainings on various safety topics, including equipment operations and safe sorting of materials to minimize harm from medical needles (also called sharps) and other materials. In 2011, Tulare County Recycling will also publicize its Mediwaste program, to promote safe disposal of sharps and other medical waste. But sharps are not the most unusual item sorters have encountered in their daily jobs. Workers on the line occasionally find guns or ammunition, requiring a call to the sheriff’s department and safe removal of these items by trained personnel. Despite these surprises, employees at the facility enjoy their jobs and many of them have worked at the plant for years, including a husband and wife team who recently retired after working together for 14 years! To ensure that the facility continues to have state-of-the-art operations, the facility will also soon install $1.5 million in new equipment. DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

“For nearly 20 years, Tulare County Recycling has served the Central Valley by supporting recycling and contributing to the local economy,” said Bill Corrao, plant manager. He continued, “We encourage the community to celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15 by reducing, reusing and recycling.” Learn more at www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org Tulare County Recycling 26951 Road 140, Visalia (559) 741-1766

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Fun Facts Two out of three aluminum cans are recycled each year. ecycling one ton of cardboard saves over nine cubic R yards of landfill space. Glass never wears out – it can be recycled forever!

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

VIRTUAL VALLEY Tex t by C. S. Wyat t

Nurturing the Valley’s Tech Economy “What can we do to improve, or even create, Tulare County’s tech economy?” a local teacher recently asked me. There is no quick and easy way to nurture a high-tech economy. Sadly, there are more examples of failure than success. Driving across the Midwest, one finds empty business parks, faltering science-focused charter schools, and cities with uncertain futures. Tax breaks, special incentives, and substantial federal aid have not produced rivals to Silicone Valley. However, this summer I visited Texas, where high-tech is expanding at an amazing pace. Two Dallas County educators, a college dean and his wife, gave me a tour of the area. Socially engaged African-American educators and life-long Texas residents, my guides were familiar with areas much like our Central Valley. Texas has created state colleges and universities that are convenient and affordable, even in a difficult economy. Campuses that were once two-year community colleges are now affiliated with universities, allowing students to complete bachelor’s degrees. Texas A&M oversees programs at Northeast Texas Community College sites. The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) oversees programs at Texas Southmost College, primarily serving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The tuition is set at the community college rate, making a four-year degree affordable. These schools have invested in computer and media labs. The bachelor degree programs are limited to those fields considered “high demand” based on surveys of employers. Students can obtain degrees in health care, science, engineering, and some teaching fields. The general education requirements at these schools include foreign languages and world cultures because businesses want employees ready for international markets. While I was in Texas, Samsung announced a $3.6 billion manufacturing center. The Korean manufacturer found that Texas was an ideal location to design and fabricate computer chips. Affordable real estate, competitive wages, and an educated workforce made the project possible. The Central Valley could have all these features. We already have affordable real estate and our salaries are among the most competitive in California. What we lack is the large pool of potential employees with science and engineering degrees. Florida has also converted several two-year colleges to fouryear universities. The theory is that such conversions are cheapest, and most essential, during a recession. The University of North 10

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Florida was a two-year “specialized” campus, for example, focused on teaching certification. Now, it is a full four-year university undergoing renovations and expansion. Cities and counties, often in the face of resistance by state legislatures, advanced these conversions. For undergraduates, Texas A&M at Texarkana offers only 11 majors and enrolls fewer than 1600 students. The university offers a handful of graduate degree majors. The annual operating budget for a small, specialized college ranges from $3 million to $10 million, depending on location and staffing. Texas has mastered cost controls. In Texas, universities and affiliated colleges have converted “dead malls” and strip centers into classrooms. Bankrupt properties are renovated and reborn. Administrative tasks are online, so satellite campuses require no offices, only classrooms and labs. Investing in education is the only way to nurture a hightech economy. We have to rise to the challenge of investing in education, even during this economic downturn. Texas adopted the Texas Research Incentive Plan, legislation that matches private donations with state and local bond funds for universities in underserved areas. When Germany’s Bayer CropScience donated $5 million for an agrichemical program, a new high-tech academic major was born. Bayer also built a corporate facility near a college satellite campus. Private companies donated $17 million to create programs at UT satellites, leading state and local governments to pledge $15 million in matching bond funds. The university system had hoped for $2 million for expansion in rural North Texas, but instead has $32 million available. Best of all, Bayer and other employers are offering internships and mentoring programs. That’s creative problem solving. Many of the best students with whom I attended Golden West High School in the 1980s have moved away from the Central Valley. They felt they couldn’t reach their potentials as engineers or scientists remaining near home. We simply haven’t created the foundations for the industries of tomorrow. A high tech future requires investment now and will take years to become a reality. The alternative is continued high unemployment and the departure of our best and brightest students from the Central Valley. That’s not acceptable.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

NMLS #284902

S ave Up To $600

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

PET OF THE MONTH

October is

National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month

Valley Oak SPCA encourages Tulare County to “Make Your House a Home…Adopt a Shelter Dog!” The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®) declares October to be Adopt-a-ShelterDog Month. Each year millions of people find a devoted housemate at their local shelter. The ASPCA and Valley Oak SPCA encourage citizens to “Make Adoption Your First Option”™. This October, “Make your house a home…adopt a shelter dog!” Nothing says “welcome home” like a wagging tail and a pair of warm brown eyes. You can help your new friend settle in - and minimize wear and tear on your abode - by making some strategic interior design choices. A tip sheet prepared by the ASPCA offers dog-lovers solutions to their dog vs.

décor woes (available online at www.ASPCA.org). There are also additional tips at www.VOSPCA.org. Whether you are a fastidious housekeeper or a more casual one, adoption counselors can help you select a suitable canine for your lifestyle preferences.

VALLEY OAK SPCA 29016 HIGHWAY 99 VISALIA, CA 93277 Phone: (559) 651-1111 Web: www.vospca.org

MEET JEFFERY Why Jeffery: This fella has a lot of character. He’s a black and red shepherd mix, approximately one year old and previously neutered. He has an abundance of energy and would do best with an active family. (#22896)

MEET MISSY Why Missy: She is a short hair muted calico kitten. Besides being adorable and very sweet, Missy is a polydactyl cat, which means she was born with an extra toe. (#32560)

Visit Jeffery and Missy and all their friends at Valley Oak SPCA shelter or online at www.vospca.org 12

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Tulare County

Shows It’s Stuff One of the original postcards used to market the Fifth Annual Tulare County Citrus Fair.

The fair organizers were committed to making this the biggest event ever in Visalia’s history. They sent out 20,000 postcards, 3,000 lithograph posters, 300 billboard sheets, and they even placed ads in 30 different California newspapers. There had been four citrus fairs previously, but this time they were determined to go the extra mile to showcase Tulare County’s agriculture. They intended to make the Fifth Annual Tulare County Citrus Fair scheduled for December 5-10, 1910, the best one ever. Everyone living in the county knew that agriculture was king, but Tulare County was far from California’s population centers and many outside of the area really had no idea what the fertile soil could produce. So the marketing literature let 14

DIRECT MAGAZINE

it be known that Tulare County had 20,000 acres planted in citrus, over one million dollars was received annually for dried fruit, over a half million dollars was received annually for green fruit shipments, and two of the largest fruit canneries in the state were in Visalia. J. Sub Johnson, president of the Fair Association, was in charge that year, and Secretary Fred Balaam was at his side. Both were prominent men with considerable clout and when they needed countywide support, they got it. Unfortunately, the exact location of the fair pavilion is not known, but the main entrance faced Mineral King Ave. Although it was huge, it was a temporary structure. It was 300 feet long and there was a stage at one end for entertainment

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

with plenty of room for audience seating. Adjoining the pavilion was an “enclosure” designated for carnival attractions and amusements. As the exhibitors began arriving, each had their space designated. Strathmore, Porterville, Lemon Cove, Dinuba, Orosi, Lindsay, Three Rivers, Visalia and virtually all the communities of Tulare County began setting up displays. Oranges, lemons, apples, grapes, raisins and nuts began to appear in a variety of interesting forms and patterns. Most vendors were working secretly, being careful not to reveal their decorative schemes prematurely. There was an air of friendly competition. Non-food displays began to take shape as well. Arts and crafts, farm implements, photography, electric appliances and many other products were proudly showcased. The Tulare County Free Library had a section where they showed their books and issued “borrower’s” cards as well. There were also public school and church exhibits. Visalia’s commercial district was also getting ready for the big day. Electricity was slated to be the centerpiece that year with 5,000 light bulbs in strings arranged along streets and illuminating signs. Over 60,000 feet of orange, green and white bunting was draped throughout town, and merchants were decorating their store windows. The Sweet & Co. store alone used almost two miles of bunting and the Visalia Morning Delta rated Sweet’s interior decoration the best in the city. The Delta reported, “It is safe to say that Visalia will be decorated and illuminated as never before.” A few days before the fair’s opening, the organizers received reliable information that the fair could expect 30,000 visitors. Special excursion trains were bringing in large groups from the big cities. This new information made event officials nervous. They were satisfied that Visalia had good hotels and lodging houses, but with the larger crowd estimates, worry set in. Three days before opening, the Delta publicized the concern and announced, “Rooms Wanted.” The article asked for help, “Every householder therefore who has a spare room is earnestly requested to register address together with statement of accommodations they offer.” Visalia lawmen were also alerted as it was common for pickpockets and petty thieves to follow large crowds. When opening day arrived, everything was ready. Displays were all set up, the town was beautifully decorated and San Francisco’s well-known Golden Gate Park Band was in place

on the pavilion stage. They had been hired to entertain the crowds with their classical music concerts. The midway section was ready with a huge Ferris wheel all decked-out with dazzling lights and adorned with oranges and lemons. A merry-go-round was also decorated in lights, gleaming as it turned slowly to the delight of the children. The entire midway area was “swarming” with side show attractions including a snake charmer claiming to have the largest live snake in the United States and “Mable, the Strangest Girl on Earth.” By the end of first day, 2,500 people had visited the fair. The Delta, obviously pleased, reported on opening day, “Today Visalia is the proudest city in the country and justly so, for it is harboring one of the most elaborate fairs ever attempted and one of the largest crowds that has ever been gathered together for such a purpose.” But Visalia’s lawmen were taking no chances. During the early morning hours on the second day, they arrested 17 hoboes who had been living in a nearby barn. The fair was Visalia’s chance to shine and the officers did not want any incident to tarnish the image of the town. For six days the fair dazzled visitors, and each day the crowds marveled at what they saw. Visitors from San Francisco and Los Angeles were extremely impressed and their assessment was especially welcome, as oftentimes the bigger cities had more exposure to extravagant events. After the six-day run, the Delta summed up their feelings of the event when it reported: “With the last day a record breaker for attendance and receipts, the Fifth Annual Tulare County Citrus Fair came to a close last night, the most successful of any that has been held in the past and one that it will be hard to beat, let alone duplicate in years to come. Never before in Tulare County have such beautiful displays of fruits been seen; never before have exhibitors taken such care with the booths and never before has fruit of such quality been placed on display in such quantity.” Just three days after the fair was over, Visalia began to revert back to pre-fair days. “The sudden cessation of all the fun and excitement attending the citrus fair has left Visalia suddenly still and seemingly tired after the great exertion,” the Delta noted.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Humanitarian Text by Cheryl L. Dieter | Photos by Peter Amend

Haiti: The Needs are Great and So is the Love Everyone loves a happy ending, but sometimes there just aren’t many to be found. On January 12 a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing an estimated 300,000 people, leaving 50,000+ orphans and most of the country living in tent cities that sprouted from the barren earth like weeds. Several months later the rainy season began, followed by multiple hurricanes. It was into this chaos that members of Visalia’s Radiant Church and Livermore’s Cornerstone Church found themselves this July – after spending months selling T-shirts and giving concerts to raise funds to make the trip. Both Visalia’s Peter Amend and Jerrod Turner had visited several “third-world” countries prior to their Haiti trip. Both thought they were ready for what they would find. But they weren’t. “Like many third-world countries there is a lack of readily accessible food and water, lots of people in small spaces and no trash disposal or other governmental services,” said Turner. “[But] the Haitian people are born into a survival mode and that is all anyone has really ever known. People live day-to-day instead of planning for the future.” Initially assigned to the capital city of Port-au-Prince, the group quickly learned to adapt when they found themselves in the back of a truck headed to the rural town of Leogane instead. They would be working with the orphans at The 16

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Dezman Fleury Foundation (www.fleuryfoundation.org) and building a new roof that had been destroyed three weeks before during a hurricane. Prior to the earthquake, the non-profit Florida-based foundation had built the orphanage for girls, a medical clinic, school and a bakery that taught skills needed to earn a living wage. Everything the girls knew and loved was destroyed during the quake. But perhaps the most devastating loss was that of their housemother who died on that day. As the team traveled to Leogane, they were stunned into silence as the shock and horror of the catastrophe was rapidly revealed. Mile after mile of rubble, the remnants of destroyed buildings and the lives they once contained lay where they had fallen. Hills of trash lined the streets. Good nutritious food and sparkling clean water were the exception, not the rule. And then there were the people, some with both broken spirits and limbs, living out in the open or in tents made of pieces of scrap plastic. Children were quickly losing their childhoods to the overwhelming demands of adulthood. Trapped in a child’s body with adult concerns on their minds, some were forced into lives of exploitation and deprivation.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

“Frankly, when we first got there, nothing was going as we had planned and it rattled us,” explained Amend. “We had all these ideas of what we were going to do and what needed to be done and here we were building a roof, yet, none of us had any building experience. I think the most important thing we learned was that we needed to take care of the kids’ physical and emotional needs through action; actions in which they could see love working firsthand through our love of Jesus and his love for us.” Needless to say, team members found themselves drawn to “their own” child who “taught” them what they needed to learn about themselves and others. One special child, Monica, inspired all the team members. After the disaster she became a mother to her little brother, and tears were shed by the adults as she shared that on the day of the quake, as she ran, she looked back only to witness the collapse of her home resulting in the death of eleven family members. “Here in the states we have so much emotional poverty in contrast to Haiti where there is so much monetary poverty,” Amend said. “And yet these little kids who were versed in both forms of poverty were teaching us how to respond with love in the midst of their own personal tragedies. Humility knocked us over the head and I developed a true inkling of all the things that humility encompasses that I had not considered before.” After spending eight days surrounded by kids, both men returned home believing that the best way to help the children of Haiti is not necessarily for Americans to adopt them but to provide support in the form of shelter, food and an education. If this is done, both Amend and Turner believe that the country’s future leaders can be developed from within, which

will lead to a stable and promising future for a nation whose prospects have always seemed dim compared to the vital and enthusiastic people who live there. “Here were these kids not complaining about food or clothes or even basic choices that we are used to. Those kids taught us that life is messy, but within all this mess there is still love, we all need each other, and everyone is valuable,” said Turner. Both men hope to return to Haiti in December with more church/team members where they believe that longterm monetary and emotional investment is needed. Amend, a professional photographer, hopes to use his photographic images to inspire individuals to give of their time, money or talents to help meet the incredible needs of a people decimated by natural disasters. To view Amend’s photos, go to: www.Facebook.com/LifestyleMag. Information about joining or giving to the Visalia and Cornerstone teams can be found at www.haitireliefvisalia. blogspot.com . DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

read for life Text by Lisa Lieberman

Studies show a strong link between children who learn to read at an early age and their future academic success. The problem is that in Tulare County there is a whopping 41 percent illiteracy rate. To deal with this, Tulare County nonprofit “Read for Life” has been educating parents and community members about the importance of reading to children from an early age. The organization has given away 110,000 books in the past 20 years. Joy Sakai, one of Read for Life’s founders, got the idea to form the organization when her daughter started kindergarten and she noticed that the school didn’t have a library. Sakai and other volunteers began collecting books and distributing them to teenage parenting programs, homeless shelters, health organizations and county offices around the county. Today, Read for Life also gives new or gently used books to preschool children countywide. Some books are bilingual. In addition, Read for Life gives out 350-400 “baby packets” a year to new parents, which include books, nursery rhymes and games. Kay Clarke, coordinator for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services department at College of Sequoias, gives out 50-100 books a semester from Read for Life at her office. “I work with a lot of first generation college students, many of whom have young children,” Clarke said. “When parents are waiting to see me at my office, I’ll hand a book to the children and it immediately catches their attention. They’ll stop whatever they’re doing and just sit down and look at the book. Often when the parents come back to see me, they tell me that the book has become their child’s favorite and they want to read it over and over.” George Pilling, district librarian for the Visalia Unified School District for grades K-6, said that Read for Life has become an important part of Tulare County’s efforts to increase literacy. 18

DIRECT MAGAZINE

“Many homes in Tulare County don’t have any books or have very few. This is a good way to get books into the hands of kids, because they’re not going to learn to read unless they have something to read outside of school as well as in school,” Pilling said. Deborah Lagomarsino, who runs the teen parenting program division at Read for Life, said working with teenage parents is also a critical aspect of the program. According to Lagomarsino it’s important to expose teen parents to books since many of them were not read to when they were children. As a result, they may not understand the best ways to read to their children. “We teach these parents how to read to their children – what to read, and to read with excitement in their voices. It gives children the ability to have imagination versus TV which just puts the images out there for you,” Lagomarsino said. Lagomarsino teaches teen parents that it’s important to read to their children at least once or twice a day. “It’s like brushing your teeth. If you do it once a day, good. If you do it twice a day, that’s better,” she said. Another important part of reading is that it gives parents a way to bond with their children. “You have the closeness of the child sitting with a parent or an older brother or sister reading a book. It helps bring parents and children together while developing a love of reading,” Lagomarsino continued. “Ideally, you want to read to your children for 20 minutes a day. The longer the better. Parents will find that if they keep reading consistently to their children, eventually their children will start bringing them books and asking to be read to. “It’s important as a parent to role model many different things for your child and literacy is one. If you watch nothing but TV, your child is going to want to watch nothing but TV. If you smoke, then your children will probably smoke when they get older. If you read, then your children will probably grow up to be readers,” Lagomarsino said. For more information about Read for Life or to volunteer or donate, please call (559) 798-2105.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Visalia First Assembly W E L C O M E S Mike and Karen Robertson, Lead Pastors of Visalia First Assembly are passionate about reaching out to the people of this great valley. Every event and all services at VFA are made with the people of Tulare County and the surrounding areas in mind. VFA takes its message of being a “Church for the Community” to heart with events and services designed for all aspects of the family and of life. VFA is a place for you. If you have yet to experience VFA, you’re invited to come see what’s here for you. Each weekend you are welcomed to church with smiles and handshakes. Services then begin with uplifting and modern praise worship led by Pastor Karen followed by a message by Pastor Mike that is real and responsive to the needs people are facing today. It is this combination of worship and God’s Word that is bringing change and transformation to the lives of thousands. As VFA continues to grow, now reaching 3,000 people every weekend, it’s important that the people of this area know VFA has something for everyone! The church has a non-threatening and warm environment for you to explore the meaning of relationship with God without feeling singled out as newcomer. You are free to participate as much or as little as you are comfortable with. At VFA, there are a large variety of ministries available:

YOU

from the youngest of kids through college students, singles’ and couples’ ministries, men’s and women’s groups, a Celebrate Recovery program, and a mission ministry which supports local and foreign missionaries. Our Christian Schools offers a great education for pre-school through 12th grade. In May 2010 VFA opened LIFE Bible College, a three-year academic and apprentice training school to equip and release Christ-followers for leadership in ministry. To serve the large Hispanic population of this region, VFA also has a Spanish Service at 12:30 p.m. at its Walnut campus located at 3737 S. Walnut Ave. If you desire change in your life and are searching for a place to worship and call home, we invite you to come and experience VFA. Pastor Mike often says, “Give us a year and see what God does in your life.” Visalia First Assembly, Weekend Experiences

3737 S. Akers Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday at 8, 9:45 and 11:30 a.m.

Spanish Service

Walnut Campus, 3737 S. Walnut Ave. Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

For More Information: | Visit V1AG.com or call (559) 733-9070

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

WELL, THAT WAS FUN

I suppose at this point it is considered an uneasy truce. For the past several years Halloween and I have stared glumly at one another across a table littered with fabric scraps, glitter and classroom party directives. He, all orange and black and full of sugar and overspending, cannot understand why I don’t know how to sew yet. I, with bleeding fingers and sequins stuck to my forehead like some sort of fabulous acne condition, cannot understand what happened to the simplicity of the holiday that I enjoyed in my own childhood. When I was five, I was a witch. I look at the photos now and chuckle, recognizing my mother’s apron and gardening hat. She had put me in a dress of my own, then started layering things atop me until I resembled a small lumpy gypsy. Two dark spots of rouge on my cheeks and some drastic dark stuff smeared across my eyebrows transformed me from a bright-eyed little girl to a dark, shriveled garden gnome-shaped creature. When I was eight, I was Tom Sawyer. We lived along the Mississippi River, so it seemed a natural choice. We had a straw hat from somewhere or another, and I already had the boy’s shirt 20

DIRECT MAGAZINE

and coveralls. Walking around barefoot wasn’t a big deal for this redneck kid anyway, and a quick stop alongside the house to pluck a tall grass for my mouth gave me the prop I needed. My hair was cropped short (do you remember the Shag haircut?) and my natural freckles stood out on my nose and cheeks. I was called “son” several times that night, something that absolutely elated me. I’d done it! I’d tricked them! Tricked them all! Other years continued this homegrown costuming trend. We wore what we had, spending only perhaps a very few dollars on face paints or colored hair sprays. What happened? What, what on earth, happened? Halloween now puts my household budget behind several hundred dollars. Costumes, face paints, wigs and hair sprays, shoes, plastic jewelry that doesn’t even hold together for the walk down the driveway ... It’s unbelievable. And the candy – oh! The candy! We actually have to buy double the amount in our house, since my three children are allergic to Red Dye #40. It causes them to go absolutely bat-butt crazy and takes days for them to come down from. So instead of shrugging and letting the kids

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Tex t by Crystal R. R. Edwards

tweak for a week, I have pre-approved and vetted candy here at the house to swap their loot with. The costs of this alone make me want to crawl into a big Jack O’Lantern and pull the lid closed after me. I guess I do know what happened after all. I happened. I cannot tell a child “no” when it comes to playing pretend. I’m hopeless, really. This year, Birdie Sue says she wants to be a black cat. This should be simple. A black leotard, some ears and a tail are standard costume items, right? Right – until a nine-year old gets hold of the idea. Suddenly the leotard must be a specific type, and hey! Maybe we’ll launch off the whole “leo-” thing and be a leopard instead. With sparkly spots. And a tail that can be used as a lasso. Oh oh! And a Moroccan leather collar with rhinestone bangles that spell out her name. I’ve had to reel her enthusiasm in at least five times already, but it’s a losing battle. Her costume alone will cost me over $100, her classroom party will put me out about $50, and then we have a range of get-togethers and parties to attend for church and her friends. We already own a huge black cat who is currently on my bad side. I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time this month wondering if we could cut corners and rid ourselves of the Maine Coon Menace by skinning him and draping the pelt over her shoulders and calling her a black panther. Hedgehog wants to be a fairy for the fourth year in a row. The problem here is that she’s outgrown every last fairy costume item we’ve ever bought, and this year she’s added her own twist to the idea. She doesn’t want to be an ordinary fairy. She wants to be a hummingbird fairy. I don’t yet know if this means I’m required to make a gigantic papier-mâché morning glory for her dad to carry around alongside her. She’s also the one that requires more makeup than anyone else. She discovered early on that my past

years in theater gifted me with the talent of creating a new face out of the old one using colored powders and gels. Photographs of years past show her with ornate fey designs encircling her artificially enlarged eyes and shade-enhanced, pronounced cheekbones. If she recognizes herself in the mirror, I have to start over. She’ll also cost me about $150 by candy time. And then there’s Tapper. My sweet, precious little boy of four years old was Spiderman last year. I couldn’t believe my luck! I purchased the cheapest nylon costume I could find and he still wears it to sleep whenever we let him. This year he wants to be Batman, and I was nearly through my sigh of relief when he added, “... and I really need the car to go with it, Mommy.” Not just no, but heck no. Yet I’ll probably end up buying at least two or three expensive extras just to keep his mind off it all. I’m not above bribing my children, and to be honest I try very hard to keep the costs associated with this kind of thing even. If I spend a lot on his sisters, I am obligated to spend a lot on him. So says my mother’s heart, anyway. Donald will probably once again go as a wizard to lead our small band around the neighborhood. I will probably once again stay home to sit on the front porch in my jeans and flip-flops, holding a bowl of candy and a camera and telling each child how I was amazed at their costume, calling the girls Beatrice and the boys Clyde to see them giggle and squirm, and if they want double candy they have to yell very, very loudly because I’m old and cannot hear well. I think it’s the yelling that makes me happiest. They give it their best in their new and old costumes, in their dads’ shirts and their moms’ sunglasses, little chests puffed out as they inhale and scream “TRICK OR TREAT!” It’s worth every penny to contribute to those smiles.

HH AAPPPPYY HH AALLLLO OWWEEEE

NN !!

3445 S. Demaree St., Visalia 559.733.4478 DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

CULINARY Recipe by Elaine Dekassian of Elaine’s Table

Spanikopita

(Phyllo triangles

Phyllo sheets from the frozen food section of the market, thawed in the refrigerator overnight 2 sticks melted butter parchment paper Ingredients 2 (10 oz.) boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1 medium sized shallot, chopped and sautéed to translucent 1 tsp. chopped dill 1 tsp. chopped parsley 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1 egg 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese

DIRECT MAGAZINE

stuffed with spinach) Preparation Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place spinach in bowl with shallot, dill, parsley, nutmeg, egg and feta. Mix well to incorporate. Lay out 20 to 24 phyllo sheets and cover with plastic wrap and dampened dish towel (the plastic will keep the towel from sticking to the delicate sheets). Take one sheet and lay out on surface or board, brush with melted butter. Continue with three more sheets, each brushed with butter, to make a stack of four. Keep remaining sheets covered. With a knife or pizza cutter, divide the sheets into three long strips. Place about 2 T of filling in the corner of the first strip; fold over to make a triangle. Then pick up the bottom left corner and fold upward, then fold over toward the right, then back up again as if folding a flag until the pastry strip is completely used. Brush well with butter and place on baking sheet with parchment paper. Continue with remaining sheets to produce about 15. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

San Joaquin Valley College

Front and Back Office

Medical Career Training

Smart Move

This 14-month program provides training in both administrative and clinical medical procedures for medical offices and specialty clinics. Curriculum provides a balance of classroom and laboratory student participation to enhance the learning experience. Coursework includes: If you have always pictured yourself in a career in the medical field, there are three big reasons that might make you want to take a step in that direction right now: • Job security created by an ever-expanding and aging population needing medical care, new technology requiring specialized training, and a growing need for medical staff in rural areas, corrections facilities and other non-mainstream areas • High demand for well-trained front and back office medical staff • Prestige of being part of an elite medical team in a professional environment.

San Joaquin Valley College’s (SJVC) Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting (CAMA) program offers the perfect mix of training and experience in both front and back office operations. “Our CAMA program provides extensive cross-over exposure that gives our students a full understanding of how it all works together – the front end of medical office administration and the back end of treating patients,” said Sujana DeAlmeida, CAMA instructor at SJVC’s Visalia campus. “Students come to realize that there is a demand for – and a lot of money to be made in – proficient medical coding and billing. They also discover a real love of working directly with patients and attending to their medical needs,” she said. Both ends of the spectrum provide a lifetime of value and service to the community and a gratifying career.

• Insurance and computer billing

• Injection administration

• Bookkeeping and filing

• Electrocardiograms

• Appointment scheduling

• Venipuncture and skin puncture

• Medical coding

• CPR and first aid

• Assisting in minor surgery

• Taking and recording vital signs

“With smaller class sizes, our students get to work closely together and especially enjoy the clinical coursework, which includes performing injections, blood draws and EKGs on each other,” said DeAlmeida. Well-trained medical office and medical assisting personnel are able to work in a variety of medical environments, such as medical offices, clinics, hospitals, laboratories, medical supply and equipment facilities, as well as medical sales and insurance billing companies. Graduates earn an Associate of Science degree and are eligible to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) and Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT/AMT) exams for certification. The Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting program is also seen as a great stepping stone to a higher rung up the medical career ladder. “A lot of our CAMA students go on to pursue additional training to become a nurse, Physician Assistant, or physician,” offered DeAlmeida. San Joaquin Valley College is pleased to provide the boost. For more information about the morning or evening Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting program on the Visalia campus, please call (866) 391-3804.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Tips for a Safer

Halloween

1. Young children going door-to-door should have a parent

with them at all times. Older children going with friends should map out their route with parents ahead of time, know what time to be home, and have a cell phone … just in case.

2. Children should be instructed never to enter anyone’s

home or car; avoid cutting through alleys, backyards or dark areas; and always stay with the group. Make sure your kids know how to follow traffic rules and look both ways before crossing a street.

3. Each child should have his own flashlight with new

batteries and reflective strips on his or her costume to make it easier for cars to see them.

4. Make sure those princess dresses or superhero capes aren’t so long that they cause a child to trip. A good pair of fitted shoes and masks that don’t obscure vision are also a must. In place of masks, consider non-toxic make-up.

5. Swords, knives, light sabers and other accessories should be of soft or flexible material to avoid injury.

6. Children should be instructed not to eat any candy until Children look forward to this holiday, the chance to dress up, scare people and, of course, get lots of candy. Make sure all the memories this year are good ones by following some simple safety tips.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

a parent has had an opportunity to inspect it. Avoid homemade treats and anything that looks as if it has been tampered with or unwrapped. Providing a good meal before heading out might curb the temptation to “sneak a piece” early.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

VUSD Text by Craig Wheaton, Ed.D. Superintendent

Students & Schools: More Than Scores The number one goal in Visalia Unified School District is to improve student achievement. Each year, the School Board adopts a set of goals and objectives; and goal number one states, “All Schools in Visalia Unified School District will Meet or Exceed Their Annual Academic Performance Index.” I think everyone, from the classroom to the boardroom, agrees with that goal. Every school is given an Academic Performance Index (API) score, and every student earns an individual score on the California Standards Test (CST). VUSD continues to achieve steady improvement in the state accountability system. Though these scores are important in that they measure our continual growth, we’re about more than test scores. We know our schools are more than a number, and a student is more than a test score. But, we also know as our students increase their academic skills, they are improving their ability to be successful in their lives. As our students become “proficient” in English and math on the state test, this means they are performing on grade level for their age. We know the most important foundation to future success is current success. Teachers work very hard every day making sure students have

the skills and abilities they need to succeed. Our work is important work; it affects the future of our students and our community. A proficient student is much more likely to become a “tax producer” than a “tax user!” In today’s economy, we could use more “tax producers.” Our moral and economic imperative is to strive for every student to achieve proficiency. Since 2002, the state has tracked each school district’s API score. This is a composite score from the combined performance of all schools in our district, and the state target is 800. VUSD has been increasing over the past eight years and grown 135 points since 2002. Our district score this year is 759! What does that number mean? We are about more than a number; we are about kids! Since 2002, Visalia Unified has helped 5,759 more students become “proficient” in English and/or math. In fact, there are 695 more kids on grade level for their age than just one year ago! And that is what we are about, more kids successful in high school, more prepared for college, successful in their careers, families and our community. We are about more than test scores. We are about kids learning, growing and gaining the knowledge and skills to be successful for a lifetime!

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

A REAL FACELIFT FOR JUST $3,999 FOR THE FIRST 50 PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY

LIMITED TIME ONLY:

This includes surgery center fees, anesthesia, follow up, and preoperative exam including blood testing. No hidden charges. You don’t have to drive to Los Angeles or Beverly Hills to have your cosmetic surgery. Los Angeles cosmetic surgeon Dr. Robert Yoho has a surgical center in Visalia as well as one in Pasadena!

Here’s a letter we recently received from one of our patients: Dear Dr. Yoho, I really can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me over the past five years. Everyone who will listen hears about your practice because you’ve given me fantastic results. The procedures you or Jeremy, your P.A., have recommended were spot on. I look years younger without that plastic, fake appearance that can be seen on many of the popular celebrities. In fact, most of my friends just ask me if I’m in love. I don’t tell them that over the years I’ve had Botox, an eyelid trim, CO2 treatments and cheek implants. Aesthetically, my face just looks like I have good skin and I’m healthy. I especially appreciate that you and Jeremy went over everything I could expect before anything was done. Then, afterwards there was no nausea or illness due to the anesthesia. The prescribed medicine was perfect and because I followed the aftercare instructions exactly, I healed very quickly. And your prices are reasonable … wow. Beware, you’re not rid of me yet. Warmest regards and appreciation. (from L.B.)

Se Habla Espanol. AAAHC Certified Surgical Centers in both Pasadena and Visalia. Dr. Yoho has performed over 10,000 cosmetic surgeries. See Dr. Yoho right now for a free consultation to discuss your individual situation. (559) 622-0888 (800) 804-5476 (800) 804-LIPO 805 West Acequia, 1A in Visalia. See DRYOHO.COM – over 1,000 Web pages! NOTE: This patient had other procedures in addition to a facelift. Actual patient. And of course, results vary with an individual’s health, body type and other factors.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Visalia First Assembly: “I wasn’t sure what to expect. We had been coming to church on Saturday nights and that night was ‘The Healing Service.’ The worship seemed more focused and intense. There seemed to be a hope stirring in the people around me. I thought it was just my imagination, but when the guest pastor, Evangelist Tim Hall, began there was something tangible in that place. Folks were invited to stand to be prayed over for specific illnesses, for joblessness, money worries, forgiveness … many things you wouldn’t connect with a healing service. “My daughter had a friend who was gravely ill. She decided to go forward for prayer, in her place. Suddenly nearly two hours had disappeared as if it had been 30 minutes. The one thing I noticed was that my heart and my burdens were lighter. “Sometimes in a situation where it seems there is nothing left, hope and faith are all that we can hold on to. For my daughter’s friend, it was a difficult situation – a needed organ transplant. Sometime later, we received a text that she had received her transplant against all odds and was doing very well. Was it a result of the healing service and the cry of a child’s heart? We are choosing to believe in a miracle! “I didn’t know what to expect at that healing service, but I will definitely be at the next one!” – Ruth Rader (a personal account from June 2009)

Special Healing Service

Rev. Tim Hall will be ministering through a special Healing Service at Visalia First Assembly, Saturday, October 16 at 5 p.m. You will not want to miss this opportunity! Saved in 1974 at the age of 26, an alcoholic high school teacher and bohemian artist had his life turned upside down by Jesus Christ. Tim Hall was born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called to ministry the same day. He ended up as youth pastor seeing the youth ministry explode and become the largest group in Australia. In 1980 Hall began ministering extensively throughout the South Pacific holding miracle crusades. Since then he has travelled the globe holding revival meetings. Hall’s focus on the miraculous has had a dramatic impact on the body of Christ. His forthright and anointed preaching coupled with a great manifestation of power has seen many saved, healed, drastically changed, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and filled with a fresh touch of revival power. The Healing Service on October 16 at 5 p.m. will be Halls’ third visit to VFA and the first for 2010. For more information visit V1AG.com or call 733-9070. Visalia First Assembly, Weekend Experiences

Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday at 8, 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. (Akers at Caldwell)

Spanish Service

Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Walnut at Deraree)

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT FROM WARREN Text by Warren Gubler, Visalia City Councilmember

Visalia city government provides its citizens with many services, including the senior meal program. This program is run through the Parks & Recreation Department. Lunches are served Monday through Friday at the Senior Center located at 310 N. Locust. These nourishing meals are provided through an outside vendor. Recently, I decided to drop by, sample the food, and visit with some of our seniors. On the day in question, they were serving macaroni and cheese with ham. I was able to purchase lunch for the very reasonable price of $4.50. It would have been only $3.50 had I qualified for the senior’s discount rate (it won’t be too much longer). Not only was the food warm and tasty, but the company was excellent. I learned about the concerns and issues important to our seniors, and heard old war stories and remembrances about Visalia. Our seniors come from all walks of life. After lunch, I didn’t have time to stay for bingo, although it looked like fun. Our seniors are provided with many activities and social opportunities at the Senior Center. Seniors who would like to attend with their spouse, caregiver or guest, should call 713-4481 for reservations or 713-4381 for more information. Certainly, we appreciate Visalia’s seniors for their wisdom, humor and the contributions they have made to our community. Speaking of local treasures, in response to one of my prior articles herein, I received a telephone call from Viola Coppola. Viola wanted to talk a little bit about city politics. She then proceeded to recite for me some interesting local historical facts. She stated that she is 85 years old now. When she was 22, her parents moved their family (nine children) from Boston to Visalia. It was the year 1947, soon after the end of WWII. She indicated that at that time Visalia had a population of about 9,000. Visalia looked like a one-horse town, in comparison to Boston. Her father would be 119 years old if he were alive today. She mentioned that Tony Salierno, whom some of you may know, is her little brother. Most of the family remained in Visalia, raised their own families, and helped populate this town. She let me know that she has seen a lot of changes here and that she has always loved this community. Working on the City Council, I enjoy interacting with delightful people like Vi. She is truly one of our local “gems.” 28

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Changing the topic, we have all been amazed and disgusted by the news coming out of the city of Bell, California, in recent weeks. In that blue collar community of 37,000 people, we have read about exorbitant salaries (as much as $800,000!) being paid to the City Manager and other city staff, along with $100,000 being paid to their part-time city council members. More information keeps trickling in, such as senior city staff receiving up to 20 weeks (five months) paid vacation annually! It is this type of overreaching and misuse of public funds that cause citizens to distrust their government leaders. Visalia officials and staff have attempted to be transparent in this regard. Current salary information for Visalia Council Members, the City Manager, and department heads has been posted on the City’s Web site at www.ci.visalia.ca.us. We believe that local salaries and benefits are in line and consistent with those of similarly situated cities throughout California. A final note. In August, I had the opportunity to participate in National Night Out with the Visalia Police Department. I rode along with Captain Rick Haskill of the Visalia P.D. to visit a few of the neighborhood watch organizations in Visalia. There were 38 neighborhood watch groups participating from throughout the community. These groups met that night to enjoy barbeques, pot lucks and desserts. I was even invited to help judge a barbeque rib cooking contest held by one of the groups, which I was happy to sacrifice my waistline for. I was impressed by the level of organization in these groups, and as a side benefit, how it helped neighbors get to know each other and have some fun. These neighborhood groups are the eyes and ears of our local law enforcement, reporting suspicious activities and possible criminal conduct. They help make their neighborhoods safer, and help extend our police department’s ability to canvas the city and fight crime. I would encourage anyone who would like to start their own neighborhood watch organization to contact Angie DeAlba at the Visalia P.D. at 713-4370. If you have questions or topics regarding the city that you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us, or call 713-4400 ex. 3313.

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

GOINGS-ON 1st Saturday in Three Rivers – “Something to Crow About!”

Come celebrate the 1st Anniversary of this delightful experience. Pick up your map and follow the purple flags to art galleries, studios and gift shops. Visit the Web site to see who’s participating and to find discounts. When: Saturday, October 2, 11a–5p Where: Maps at Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers (after 9am) Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or www.1stSaturdayTR.com Tulare County Symphony

The season opens with a spectacular All-American program featuring two classics: Copland’s moving “Lincoln Portrait,” narrated by Milt Morrison, and Grofe’s, “The Grand Canyon Suite.” When: Saturday, October 2, 7p Where: Visalia Fox Theater, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1379 Photography Contest – “How Do You View Your Landscape?”

Contest sponsored by Sequoia Riverlands Trust, with prizes awarded in five categories in two age brackets. Winners will appear at Arts Visalia gallery in November. Send an email to receive a full list of contest details, rules and prizes. When: Monday, October 4 entry deadline Contact: Email photocontest@sequoiariverlands.org or visit http://tinyurl.com/SRTPhotoContest Annual Taste of Downtown

Participants are invited to walk from restaurant to restaurant savoring the many mouth-watering samples. Wine/beer tasting ends at 8p. Tickets: $35/person. Hurry – they go quickly!

DIRECT MAGAZINE

When: Tuesday, October 5, 5-9p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: Order by phone 732-7737 (Visa | MasterCard).

Information at www.downtownvisalia.com

Oktoberfest 2010 – Beer & Brats at the Ballpark

Come celebrate the fall season with excellent food, wine and beer from local restaurants, a little business to business networking, and live entertainment by Merle Jagger. Tickets: $20 concert/ vendors or $35/VIP – includes food, beer & wine tasting, special VIP hour 4-5p, in the Hall of Fame Club. When: Friday, October 8, 5-9p. Where: Recreation Park, 300 N. Giddings, Visalia (Home of the Visalia Rawhides) Contact: Visalia Chamber of Commerce, 734-5876 “Free to Laugh” with Nazareth

A family-friendly evening of comedy with Nazareth, who performs a routine for all audience types. Advance tickets: $10/general, $15/premium, or $15 at the door. When: Friday, October 8, 7:30p Where: First Church of Nazarene, 333 W. Caldwell, Visalia Reservations/Information: online at www.visalianaz.org 4th Annual Denim and Diamonds

Happy Trails Therapeutic Riding Academy proudly hosts this annual benefit, which includes an evening filled with delicious food along with a live and silent auction. When: Saturday, October 9, 6p Where: HTTRA Ranch, 2773 East Oakdale Ave., Tulare Contact: Melissa Ellis, 799-1003 or happytrailsridingacademy@ yahoo.com

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

6th Annual Art a’FAIRE

The Phantom Tollbooth, Directed by Robert Langarcia

Free family celebration with live performances, artisan booths and an interactive children’s corner. When: Saturday, October 9, 10a-3p Where: Visalia United Methodist Church, 5200 W. Caldwell, Visalia Contact: Diana Mattoon, 627-1660

The story of Milo’s journey to rescue Princess Sweet Thyme in the Land of Ignorance, where King Araz and his brother the Mathemagician argue over words and numbers. When: Friday/Saturday 7p – October 15-16, 22-23, 29-30; Sunday Matinees 2p – October 17 & 24 Where: The Main Street Theater, 307 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: Box Office 739-4600 or www.enchantedplayhouse.org

Exeter’s Fall Festival

The Exeter Chamber of Commerce sponsors this family-friendly festival. Includes arts & crafts, food booths, live entertainment, parade (10-11 a.m.), car show, and 10k run and two-mile walk. When: Saturday & Sunday, October 9-10, 8a-4p Where: Exeter City Park-Chestnut and D Street Contact: Exeter Chamber of Commerce, 592-2919 or www.exeterchamber.com Mom Connection – Topic: Blended Families

A safe and fun place for moms with children (0-12) to meet once a month for a variety of topics and crafts, with a purpose to help moms connect with God and other moms. Cost: $5 When: Friday, October 15, 9a Where: Visalia First Assembly Lobby – 3737 S. Akers Ave., Visalia Contact: Eliza Borjon, 733-9070 30th Annual Springville Apple Festival

Family event with over 200 craft booths selling arts, crafts and food. Free entertainment with clowns, music, kids’ rides, a Pie Eating Contest, Apple Baking Contest, and more. Plus, Apple Run 5K, 10K, and Kids’ Runs; the two-mile walk on Saturday morning, and the Annual Fat Tire Classic mountain bike race on Sunday morning. When: Saturday & Sunday, October 16-17, 9a-5p Where: Downtown Springville (Take Highway 65 South to Highway 190 East) Contact: 539-0619 or www.springville.ca.us/applefest

Comedian - Gabriel Iglesias

Known as the “fluffy” comic in a Hawaiian shirt who often riffs about his large size, Gabe’s clean animated comedy style has earned national crossover appeal. Tickets: $32-$37 When: Sunday, October 24, 7p Where: Selland Arena, Fresno Convention Center, 700 M Street, Fresno Contact: 485-8497 “Earth, Moon & Sun”

A FULL DOME experience! Discover how the Earth, Moon and Sun work together and what the myth and science is behind it. Explore space travel to our moon and beyond. Tickets: $4 adults, $3/children under 12 sold 2-4p weekdays, and 30 minutes before the show. When: Friday, October 29, 7p Where: Pena Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia Contact: Impact Center 737-6334 or www.tcoe.org/impactcenter Our Town @ the Ice House

Play by Thornton Wilder and directed by Leeni Mitchell. The essence of this classic play is that life is both mundane and magical. Tickets: $12 adults, $6 students. When: October 29-31, November 5-7, 13 & 14 Where: Ice House Theatre, Race and Sante Fe, Visalia Contact: 734-3900 or email visaliaplayers@wirelesstcp.net

If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Goings-On” section, please email your submission to direct@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, Attention Goings-On. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions must be received six (6) weeks prior to publication.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y

Where do you take your car for service and repair and why? Where do you take your car for service and repair, and why? Hopefully, it’s a place where you have developed a trust. Two questions to ask are: Do you have the latest service information and technology? What happens if I need a repair while on the road? On the roadways of California, I personally recommend the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) (www.ascca. com). Here you will find the best shops in California. ASCCA has been around since 1940, and my shop has been a member for 25 years. ASCCA not only promotes honesty, integrity and knowledge, but members are locally owned, independent repair shops that live in and support their communities. Our chapter alone has given away $25,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in automotive classes. We also are vigilant in keeping off excessive automotive regulations. Recently, the state of California tried for a third time to put a “tax” on automotive repair labor. Without our association you could have easily found yourself with an added $25-50 on each visit for repair, tires, brakes, belts, hoses and the list goes on. Ask your repair shop if they are members of ASCCA. If not, suggest they look into it. If you are ever on the road and break down, feel free to give me a call @ (559) 734-2886 and I can direct you to the ASCCA shop nearest you. My daughter recently had a blowout on a busy LA freeway off-ramp. I found the closest ASCCA shop and called the owner. Within 15 minutes he had a tow truck to her car, then gave her a ride to work, replaced the tire and serviced her vehicle. For peace of mind as you travel, stick with proven records, great service and value. Be safe and remember ASCCA.com Jim Barlogio

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Know Why Your Check Engine Light is On? We Do!

GIVE US CALL.

Does your repair shop warranty your repairs for 12 months or 12,000 miles nation wide? We do -- get your Napa Peace of Mind Warranty Here!

V I S A L I A F I R S T A S S E M B LY I N V I T E S

Y O U

T O

healing S P E C I A L

S E R V I C E

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

Tim Hall O C T O B E R 1 6 AT 5 P M

v1ag.com/direct

A CHURCH FOR THE COMMUNITY Akers and Caldwell, Visalia, Ca 559.733.9070