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South Valley Living
NOVEMBER 2017
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contents N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 7 // I ssue #37
South Valley Living
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pg
har pergr ayce custom wood cut signs
Photo Courtesy of HarperGrayce
be au t y tr en ds
in ev ery issu e
loca l s
13 Helpful Tips to Prepare Skin for Cooler Weather
10 Mâche Puts a Whole New Spin on Meal Prep
on the m a p
Cr a f ting
40 DIY: Gold Ring Wreath
Good finds 31 Custom Wood Signs with HarperGrayce
16 Susana Figueroa and the Shinzen Friendship Garden
show ti m e
holiday
7 Tulare County Office of Education’s Theatre Company Presents Elf Jr. The Musical
34 Fun and Unique Holiday Gifts
specia l section
36 Enjoy the View— Ralph Chojnacki 38 What’s Cookin’— Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with Lemony Sage Butter Sauce 42 Calendar of Events 45 Giving Back—The Visalia Emergency Aid Council’s Race Against Hunger
19 Hometown Holiday Heroes
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editor’s note
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SOUTH VALLEY Living
NOVEMBER 2017
HOPEFUL. With Thanksgiving almost upon us, we are reminded once again that there is so much for which to be thankful. And when we are thankful, we tend to be more hopeful. Hope, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “to expect with confidence.” Gratefulness changes our mindset, helping us to be more hopeful. It changes our perspective. It causes us to look forward with eager expectation to the new things to come. How can Enjoy help you be hopeful? By reminding you of the amazing people, beautiful places and fantastic events that make up our region. We love to share these things for our sake, as well. It’s good to be reminded. Do you know that when we first started, we were concerned that we wouldn’t have enough of these types of stories to write about? Well, finding those encouraging stories has never been a problem. People constantly pitch ideas about incredible things happening in our area. So don’t be swayed by the naysayers - we’ve got plenty more of the good stuff to write about. Feel free to send in more ideas - we love to hear about things we (and our readers) might be missing out on. With each issue that we share with you, we as a team are more hopeful for the changes that are coming because of the individuals, groups and businesses that are working tirelessly to bring about something positive. Just look at our stories each month to get an idea of what you can do when you set your mind to it. People are hopeful that they can make an impact on the world around them, whether through music or writing, reminding or caring. It takes one hopeful, passionate person to cause a ripple (or a tidal wave) to bring about positive change. We are hopeful that together with our advertisers and our readers, Enjoy can continue to bring the encouraging message of what the South Valley is really all about. Thank you for joining us on this journey and for being hopeful of what is to come.
Yvonne Mazzotta publisher Michelle Adams publisher Ronda Ball-Alvey editor-in-chief Kerri Regan copy editor kendra kaiserman marketing & sales assistant LJ Lara MICHELLE ADAMS contributing graphic designers monica fatica consultant VALERI BARNES advertising sales representative Ed Boling advertising sales representative kelly dada advertising sales representative Alex Pujol Danielle Colesberry Austin Reynolds Dadrien Keene deliveries www.enjoysouthvalley.com Enjoy Magazine 115 N. West Street Visalia, 93291 (559) 804-7411 Email General: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net
on the cover Erin Ludlow
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Sales and Advertising information: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net © 2017 by Enjoy Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission are strictly prohibited. Articles and advertisements in Enjoy Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management, employees, or freelance writers. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake. The businesses, locations and people mentioned in our articles are solely determined by the editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising. Enjoy and Enjoy the Store are trademarks of Enjoy, Inc.
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BY JORDAN VENEMA
A Happy Holiday
T U L A R E C O U N T Y O F F I C E O F E D U C AT I O N ’ S T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y presents elf j r . the musical Charlotte Garcia De Rosa loves the Christmas season, which is fortunate, since the vocal director for the Tulare County Office of Education’s Theatre Company has been living, breathing and singing Christmas cheer since the summer. This fall, the company will perform “Elf Jr. the Musical,” an adaptation of the movie “Elf ” starring Will Farrell, from Nov. 16-18. “It felt like a fun kick-off into the winter holiday season, but I’ll probably be fine to not see elves for a little bit,” De Rosa says with a laugh. “I’ll definitely be very ready for Christmas.” One thing is for sure, as fans of “Elf ” can agree, this musical should be an antidote for any Christmas Grinch.
The Theatre Company is a yearlong program that began in 1998, and which performs a fall, spring and summer show. First grade through graduating high school students, as well as home-school students, can participate as long as they are Tulare County residents. De Rosa splits directing duties between Bethany Rader, the Theatre Company director, and Nicole Zweisel, choreographer and costume coordinator. De Rosa began working for the Tulare County Office of Education in 2002, but also has extensive experience as a private voice instructor, having worked with various choral programs in Visalia. 4 continued on page 8
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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“I was brought in to co-direct at the Ice House for the last five years, for the Visalia players,” adds De Rosa, who is also a board member for the Fourth Wall Theatre Company in Visalia. “So I’ve been onstage and behind the scenes.” So while De Rosa has worked every facet of theatre, she says there’s something special about working with kids, and this year things have come full circle. “This past year was a major, major year,” says De Rosa, who has been working with students since 2002. “The class who graduated in 2017, many of them started at 6 years old, and went through the whole program. We felt like moms who sent their kids off to college. We even have kids who grew up in our program and now they work for the company.” Clearly “Elf Jr. the Musical” is an adaptation of the film starring Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel, but it is further an adaptation of a full stage, national-touring musical. “Elf Jr.” is a 70-minute version of the Broadway show. “The musical is based on the movie, and it’s lot of the fun and silly innocence. It’s all in this show, too. It’s a happy uplifting show,” says De Rosa. “In short, it’s the story of Buddy the Elf and a lot of funny chaos ensues,” she continues. “We’ve got some wonderful kids performing in the show. Buddy is played by Logan Lancaster, a really talented young man.” And of course, the music captures the mood of the original film, which, De Rosa adds, couldn’t come at a better time. “It’s really catchy, fun, jazzy, uplifting music, and it’s just a real good, feel good musical. It’s the right time to do something like that. This is definitely a show for all of us to take a break and enjoy ourselves.” Plus, it’s a great way to celebrate all the hard work and preparation of local students. Auditions began in June, though students were still rehearsing and preparing for the July performance of “Hello, Dolly!” • Elf Jr. the Musical Nov. 16-18, 7pm; Nov. 18, 2pm L.J. Williams Theater, 1001 W. Main St., Visalia www.tcoe.org/theatreco • (559) 651-1482 General admission $12; tickets are available at 6200 S. Mooney Blvd. or the L.J. Williams Theater box office an hour before showtime
Jordan Venema is a freelance writer and California native. He’s a fan of wild stories, impetuous traveling, live music, and all the food. But mostly, he’s a fan of his seven-year-old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan.venema@gmail.com.
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www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2017
Photos courtesy of Tulare County Office of Education’s Theatre Company
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M Â che puts a w hole ne w spin on meal prep Meal prepping is one way to save time during the week, unless you’re Kelli Black, who is prepping hundreds of meals a week – and not even for herself. But she does it willingly. A couple years ago, Black started Mâche, a farmto-table meal prep and catering company. Not pronounced mash or match or matcha, like the tea, but mosh. Black named the company after a kind of lettuce. “I always grew up loving salads and eating greens, and when I started going to Whole Foods, I found it there and fell in love with it. It’s just a beautiful green, and hard to find,” says Black. Unlike the lettuce, Black’s Mâche is a little easier to find, thanks to the World Wide Web and the nature of her company, which is centered on making meals accessible. “We are a locally sourced, soy-free, preservative-free, gluten-free, and sort of an Old Testament style of eating by keeping it from the ground and within season,” Black says. Mâche’s goal is simple: to sell the highest quality, most natural, organic meals possible. For some, meal prepping means a peanut butter sandwich and a side of baby carrots, but Mâche puts those go-to meals to shame.
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“Our clients hire us to prep their meals for the week, and we have a wide selection of options on our website. We do all the work. We’re sourcing and preparing, and their role is just to heat and eat. That isn’t a tag line,” adds Black, laughing. “I just happened to say that.” Mâche offers more than 20 different meals, from grilled ground bison to stuffed bell peppers with organic beef, and almost every meal includes proteins, vegetables and carbohydrates. Mâche meals range from about 450 to 500 calories. While Black wants to keep ingredients simple, that doesn’t stop her from creating gourmet options, liked the stuffed portabella mushrooms. “It’s grass-fed beef filling, which is sautéed with onions and shallots and fresh garlic, and we add medium-grain brown rice and a little bit of kosher salt,” says Black. “That’s it. Typically each item we make is looking at five ingredients or less.” A typical Mâche meal costs about $9 or $10, with options to save significantly when ordering 10 or 20 of the same meal. Plus, “we’re not just serving great food, we’re saving you time.” While Mâche might make obvious sense from a standpoint of saving time and money, Black’s idea for the model was rooted in health. “A lot of people are suffering with chronic health issues, so they have specific diets. Our meals can be designed to fit whatever your need is. Hence the tag line: Feed the need,” says Black, for whom the need was especially personal. “When my daughter was born I knew something was different. She had trouble feeding, discomfort if I held her, and throughout her formative years she seemed disconnected. Touch was really hard for her.” By the time Black’s daughter entered the school system, she was diagnosed with autism, and one doctor suggested bipolar disorder. Black wasn’t convinced. “After years of shoving medication down her, I was fed up,” says Black. “I disagreed with the diagnosis, and I finally found a physician who tested for food allergies, and he said she had a high tolerance to dairy, eggs and mustard. So I took those three things out of her diet, and within two weeks I literally had a brand new kid. Within a couple weeks she didn’t need medication. All the ailments, stomach pains, fatigue – it all went away.”
This was more than a decade ago, before gluten had become something of a household word. The adjustment, Black says, was difficult. “Eating out was very hard for us. We were a waitress’ nightmare. So we just didn’t eat out a lot.” Instead, Black cooked, and the years of cooking with dietary restrictions paid off when she had the idea for Mâche. “A friend of mine was working in sales, and he was eating fast food pretty much three meals a day and he never felt good and it was costing a substantial amount of money,” explains Black, who then offered to prepare his meals if he provided the food. “In a week, he lost several pounds, he had more energy, he saved money, and the next week six of his coworkers called me. Before I knew it, we were prepping 200 meals on a Sunday.” Mâche continues to prep Sundays, and pick-ups for orders are from 5 to 8pm on Sundays, and 8 to 11am on Mondays at 5533 West Perez in Visalia. Orders can be made in advance on the website. “Meals are prepared the day of pickup so they are as fresh as can be,” says Black. “If you take them home and put them in the refrigerator they can keep up to five days.” Black hopes to expand Mâche to include a storefront. She recently launched a Kickstarter fundraiser to acquire a permanent commercial kitchen. And maybe, just maybe, Mâche will eventually incorporate delivery for meals, though Black says clients enjoy picking up their meals. That means the meals aren’t just organic – so is her relationship with her clients. • Mâche www.gomache.com (559) 901-5085 Find her on Facebook and Instagram
Jordan Venema is a freelance writer and California native. He’s a fan of wild stories, impetuous traveling, live music, and all the food. But mostly, he’s a fan of his seven-year-old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan. venema@gmail.com.
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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at our table.
The Visalia Republican Women Federated club meets the 2nd Thursday for lunch at the Visalia Country Club. Find us on Facebook or at visaliarwf.org.
Exeter Republican Women Federated meets the first Thursday of the month for a lite dinner and speaker, 6 p.m., at Exeter Courthouse Gallery, 125 S. B Street. See us on Facebook
Join us in November when our guest speaker will be nationally recognized political commentator Allie Stuckey, The Conservative Millennial. This special event will be held Thursday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Visalia Country Club. For more information go to visaliarwf.org.
Please join us November 2 for our speaker, Dr. Steven Tootle with a synopsis of Pres. Trump’s first year. We will also have our elections and installation of officers to be announced soon. ERWF will not be meeting in December. Email erwfsecretary@yahoo. com with any questions. All are welcome!
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BEAUTY TRENDS
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BY MELISSA GULDEN
Skin Caring H E L P F U L T I P S TO prepare skin for cool E R w eather
Whether the heat is still going strong or it officially feels like fall, autumn is the perfect time to prepare a new skincare routine, since cooler weather is on the way. Situated between the hottest and coldest seasons of the year, fall is a great time for skincare and beauty transitions. Summer is one of the most damaging times of year for
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skin: the combination of seawater, chlorine and sunscreen can really take a toll on the skin, which means it’s essential to repair and prepare skin for the chilly season. As fall progresses and creeps into winter, make a few changes and do a few things to care for your skin and promote a healthy glow.
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Gentle Cleansing Now is the time to use a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of vital oils. Harsh cleansers will only add to dry skin, causing it to look older. Select a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a gel-type cleanser for oily skin. And stick with warm water, which will help loosen dirt from your pores without damaging your skin. And always remove your makeup before you go to bed each night.
Daily Sunscreen Don’t retire your sunscreen. Skin is still susceptible to UV damage during the fall and winter seasons. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, rain or shine.
Exfoliate Many people skip exfoliation in their skincare routine, but adding this step can show immediate results in brightening your complexion. Athome facial scrubs and microdermabrasion kits make it easy: these products remove the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. Retinoids are also a favored skin booster. They work by removing the top layer of dead skin while encouraging the production of collagen, the skin’s structural fiber. As we age, production of natural collagen decreases, so encouraging it can plump up the skin and help diminish the look of wrinkles and fine lines. Exfoliating your skin is an important step in any season, but especially as your skin becomes drier. Using a scrub or mask two or three times a week will slough away dead skin while polishing the surface of your skin. This process also increases cellular turnover and allows your other skincare products the opportunity to be more effective. 4 continued on page 14
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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Moisture While you may have been able to get away with an easy-breezy daily routine over the summer, your skin is going to need a bit more protection and moisture when the weather cools, and that tinted moisturizer probably isn’t hydrating enough. Pair a lightweight daytime moisturizer with a richer nighttime formula to keep your skin comfortable when temperatures drop. If your skin is on the oily side, don’t forgo moisturizing products—even oily and acne-prone skin gets drier in the winter. In fact, if your skin doesn’t get the moisture it needs your skin might actually start to overproduce oil to make up for it.
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Omega 3s Adding an omega 3 supplement to your diet encourages healthier cell functions. Not only has this essential fatty acid proven to be extremely beneficial for your health, it has also been shown to promote improved skin. Omega 3s are important for keeping your cell membranes strong and supple, which in turn shows in the reflection of your skin.
WATER Don’t forget to drink plenty of water during the day, which will assist in maintaining plump cells and will keep dehydration at bay. If your cells become dehydrated it will show in your skin as your lines and wrinkles become more pronounced.
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Seasonal transitions are a great time to make positive changes in your skincare routine, so take this time to decide what your skin needs. When in doubt, ask your dermatologist to recommend a specific product, especially if you have sensitive skin that reacts to environmental changes like cold weather. Small changes and consistent care can make a big difference in skin appearance. The overall appearance and health of your skin will be your reward. •
Melissa Gulden grew up in Redding, and worked as a makeup artist for years before going into teaching. She is currently working on her doctorate in English Education. She loves USC football, the SF Giants, and all things summer.
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BY Melissa Mendonca
www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2017
hello friend S usana F i g ueroa and the S hin z en F riendship Garden
Photos courtesy of Shinzen Japanese Garden
Of the many images of home in her head during a nine-year stay in Los Angeles, Susana Figueroa holds those from Fresno’s Shinzen Friendship Garden dear. A snapshot from a second-grade field trip jogs her memory. She and her sister sit on the deck of the garden’s koi pond. “It almost seemed like a faint memory, like a dream,” she says. Those images were brought back to clear focus when Figueroa returned to Fresno and presented herself to the Cultural Arts Rotary Club as a child of the area who had gone off to UCLA, gotten some professional experience, and was ready to reinvest in her home town. That presentation led to a volunteer opportunity at the garden, which in turn developed into paid opportunities that have brought her to her current position as director of operations. Each day can bring a visit to the koi pond she and her sister once enjoyed so readily. As she comes to work each day, she passes through the entryway, called a mon, that reminds her of the purpose of the garden. Constructed through Japanese carpentry and design, it is a beautiful gift from Fresno’s sister city of Kochi, Japan, which provides a warm welcome to the garden that sets the intention of friendship, beauty, contemplation and reconciliation. “The conversation about building the Japanese garden began in 1967,” says Figueroa. “We needed to reconcile with Japan. At the time, it was common to establish Japanese gardens and sister cities.” That conversation found payoff in 1981 when the garden opened in Woodward Park. “Its purpose was to establish and forge relationships with Japan,” she adds. Continuing to this day, representatives from each community travel every year or two to deepen the mutual respect between the cities. “We host them for events,” says Figueroa of the garden’s Kochi kin. “We have had a ceremony of planting a tree in their honor.” It’s all an intentional effort, she says, “to be present in each other’s lives.”4 continued on page 18 NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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For the general public, the garden has something to offer beyond the opportunity to participate in this friendship and reconciliation effort. “You are able to walk through it and have your own reflections and feelings and thoughts about it,” says Figueroa. “It’s a serene space. It’s a place to leave the city feel. You can escape the rush-rush lifestyle. “A typical Japanese garden is supposed to be very mute of colors. So, green upon green upon green,” she says. The Shinzen garden was designed for all four seasons, offering an opportunity to see something new as the weather and plants change throughout the year. In November, she says, “Our leaves really change color and it changes the entire feel of the garden.” December lends itself to what she describes as the winter silhouette. “The trees that do lose their leaves are completely bare,” she says. “In the bonsai garden it’s called the winter silhouette because it’s when you can really observe the branches and how they flow.” Indeed, the bonsai garden, a small yet vital segment of the garden, has become the crown jewel of Shinzen. “The collection came to us through the Golden State Bonsai Federation,” says Figueroa. “There was a lot of effort from the Fresno Bonsai Society to develop the display. It could have been placed in a variety of different places.” Donated from the private collection of Willard and Elizabeth Clark at the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture in Hanford, the offerings include legacy bonsai
that were tended to by friends and neighbors of Japanese Americans forced to leave their plants while interned during World War II. “Some of these reflect that part of our history,” says Figueroa. “Once our visitors understand that, it really is a full scope of events that took place within our garden.” The garden grows on five acres of land owned by the city of Fresno but maintained by a nonprofit organization. While the city provides a part-time gardener, the need is for at least three full-time gardeners. Each third Saturday of the month, volunteers descend on the garden to keep it maintained and help bridge that gap. The garden is popular for photographers as well, and is a well-loved location for weddings and private events, as well as quinceanera photos. “I would love to share it with everyone in Fresno,” says Figueroa with determination, noting that tours can be arranged for schoolchildren and private groups, such as Master Gardeners. There are many scenic areas for them to capture photographic memories. The koi pond may just be the best. • Shinzen Japanese Garden (559) 840-1264 114 W. Audubon Drive, Fresno www.shinzenjapanesegarden.org Find them on Facebook and Instagram October-March: Saturday, Sundays and Holidays 10AM-5PM April-September: Monday-Friday 4PM-7PM; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 10AM-7PM
Melissa Mendonca is a graduate of San Francisco State and Tulane universities. She’s a lover of airports and road trips and believes in mentoring and service to create communities everyone can enjoy. Her favorite words are rebar, wanderlust and change.
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SPECIAL SECTION
HOMETOWN HOLIDAY
HEROES
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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Armondo Apodaca — Visalia’s 2017 Hometown Holiday Hero When asked why Armondo Apodaca is Visalia’s hero, Deanna Saldana of Habitat for Humanity says, “As someone who is in community outreach for my job, if I can achieve half of what he’s done as a person who’s given back to the community, I will feel very accomplished.” Born in Bakersfield in 1947, Armondo laughingly shares that one teacher couldn’t say his last name and called him “Avocado” for a whole year. “Raised poor, I’ve worked all my life, starting at the age of 5,” Armondo says. “We’d work the crops and go to school. Then, in the third grade, my teacher, Mrs. Waller, showed me the library and said, ‘This is where you’ll learn.’ I spent most of my free time in the library after that. I was very literate and wanted to succeed.” He soon found out that racism was going to be an issue in his early career. At 15, Armondo tried to get a job at a restaurant and was told they “don’t hire Mexicans.” Undaunted, he began working in eateries around town. It’s no coincidence that one day he would be the CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “I helped them pull out of a tough time,” he says. “We went from 10 to 371 members. But in ‘Little Oakie Bakersfield,’ I saw so much degradation and drugs. I didn’t want that for my life. I had no need of help—I picked myself up by my bootstraps. But
THE PATIO PLACE VISALIA 3729 S. Mooney Blvd. 559.739.7723 Mon-Sat 10-6; Sun 11-5 www.thepatioplacevisalia.com 20
www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2017
I also saw there were those who could not.” In 1971, he heard that a man was opening The Depot in Visalia. He applied, got the job and moved north. His years there as general manager taught him how to run a corporation. Ultimately, he worked in hospitality for 44 years. His desire to help people with a “hand up, not out” led him to nonprofit organizations, using his marketing and people skills to raise money. The Visalia Emergency Aid Council, Visalia Rescue Mission, United Way, Arts Visalia, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, several Chambers, the Creative Center Foundation and the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County are just some of the organizations that have benefited from Armondo’s abilities and generosity of time and energy. He has served on scores of boards and committees. For his numerous contributions, he’s been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Habitat for Humanity, Intercontinental Hotel Groups Award for Community Service, Visalia Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award by Nancy Lockwood, Certificate of Appreciation by Kiwanis International, President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2009, Ambassador of the Month many times for Visalia Chamber and the Hispanic Chamber, and he’s been nominated several times for Man of the Year by the Visalia Chamber. Armondo continues to live in the house he’s had for 40 years. He retired this year, so now he volunteers, teaches etiquette classes through the school district and county, serves on several boards— whatever is needed. “I continue to try to help improve my community. And I still spend time at the library.”
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2017 Visalia Nazarene Presents
HOLIDAY MARKET T h i r t e e n Yea r s o f E x c e l l e n c e Friday, December 1 6:00-8:00 PM Live music, finger foods, raffles, silent auction and a first chance at unique specialty vendors - $5
HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR NOVEMBER 4, 2017 • 8 AM TO 3 PM
All Handmade Items! Over 30 Vendors and Different Craft Art to Choose From!! Jewelry • Dichroic Glass and Wire Art • Driftwood Planters and Succulents Bath and Body • Metal Arts, Wood Crafts • Holiday Décor & Wreaths Unique Wood Furniture, Clocks and more Fabric Arts- luggage, purses, table runners, pillow cases and more! Children’s gifts • Something for everyone on your list!
FREE ENTRY 5718 W. Laura Ct., Visalia, CA 93277 • In Gold Creek Subdivision
Saturday, December 2 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Over sixty vendors for six hours – FREE! Visalianaz.org 559-734-1117 info@visalianaz.org
5113 W. Goshen Ave • Visalia 559-733-4575 Pedro Mendez - Owner
exclusive showing december 14th
We are thankful for our Hometown Heroes
316 W MAIN VISALIA 559.734.7079 Tues. - Fri. 10:00am to 5:00pm MICHAELSCUSTOMJEWELRY.COM
Fresno, Kingsburg, Porterville, Visalia, Yuba City
vintage, home decor, gifts, & refurbished furniture custom painted pieces Wednesday-Saturday 11-5 158 E Pine Street, Exeter • 559-592-3960 owners: Jodi & Stefanie
Gift Certificates Make Great Stocking Stuffers and Gifts!
HOURS MON-FRI 9AM - 5:30PM SATURDAY 9AM - 2PM
Jim Morris – Exeter’s 2017 Hometown Holiday Hero You’ll know that Jim Morris has had a huge impact on his hometown when you take a walk through Exeter and see his face on the mural entitled “Freedom Fighters.” Dedicated to all veterans, Jim crouches with several others in front of a huge B-17—he’s the tall guy on the right. Jim was born James Junior Morris on February 18, 1923, on the family farm in Exeter. He’s lived all his life in Exeter except his time in the military, and both his parents and grandparents owned land and farmed there. Jim graduated from Exeter High School in 1941 and went to Cal Poly for one semester before enlisting in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the U.S. Air Force. Jim was at a livestock show in Los Angeles when he heard about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. “I drove back home that day,” Jim recalls. “It took me 10 hours.” He was called into duty and made a staff sergeant gunner on a B-17. Jim recalls being debriefed after each mission, and he remembers one quite clearly. “When you were debriefed, you had to tell them everything you saw from the air. One plane was hit by a German fighter plane and we watched as it went down, to see if anyone got out. Some did get out, but not the tail gunner. Thought he was lost. But there were boxes of ammunition around him that protected him. The plane had hit the ground at an angle against a tree. He wasn’t hurt! The Yugoslav Partisans rescued him. It really was a miracle. That plane was cut in two.” Jim came back to his unit in Italy three days later and that tail gunner was there. Ultimately, Jim served in 52 missions “and I lived through it.” Back in the states, Jim served the rest of his time in Army bases in Laredo, Texas, and March Field in Riverside, teaching aerial gunnery. Jim left the military in 1945 and two years later married Margaret Zeser.
Together they raised three children, Michael, Tim, and Michelle (LeClerc). His dad needed help, so Jim went back to ranching with him. He started the Broken Arrow saddle shop on Mooney in 1949, and he introduced the first Wrangler jeans to the Central Valley. He left the shop and was a buyer of peaches and grapes for a cannery. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and the American Quarterhorse Association, and he raised and sold horses. He also co-wrote a book on thoroughbreds called “The Driftwood Legacy.” The third edition is still in print. Margaret passed away in 1994, after 47 years of marriage. An interesting tidbit: Jim's brother Chuck is married to Margaret’s youngest sister, Dolores. “Jim Morris has been a fixture in Exeter as long as I can remember,” says Robyn Stearns, former mayor of Exeter and lifelong resident. “He’s what I consider the salt of the earth.”
Find Unique and Charming Gifts in EXETER! CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE Exeter Downtown Shops Open Late Thursday Evenings November 30 & December 7, 14 & 21 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Come see Santa & enjoy FREE Old Fashioned Fire Truck Rides, Refreshments and Family Holiday Spirit! Exeter Gift Certificates make Great Christmas Gifts Employees, Friends, Loved Ones, Teachers, Stocking Stuffers and MORE!
Available at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce all Year Long!
101 W. Pine St. Exeter 559•592•2919 www.exeterchamber.com NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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• Lunch on the Deck • Ice Cream • Full Service Florist Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm
Gary Whitney (559) 730-8365
Mike Condon (559) 799-9763
Maureen "Mo” Ann Basham 2017 Three Rivers' Hometown Holiday Hero Maureen, or “Mo,” graduated from Corcoran High in 1975, received a bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1980 and earned a master’s degree in business from National University in 1988, all with honors. Joining the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1981, she was commissioned a second lieutenant in April. She served initial tours of duty as an Air Traffic Control Officer in North Carolina, Okinawa and California. After her promotion to captain in 1986, Mo decided to make the Corps her career. She served most of her remaining years on active duty as an adjutant/staff secretary— an executive assistant to the commanding officer. She finished her career as a Marine at 29 Palms as director of the manpower division, and retired on March 1, 2001 as a lieutenant colonel, having served 20 years and 22 days on active duty. Mo’s husband Bob’s new job, information technology officer for Sequoia/ Kings Canyon National Parks, brought her back to the Central Valley. Mo loved Three Rivers and wanted to raise her boys, ages 10 and 12 at the time, in a small community with a small-town school. The Bashams have lived in Three Rivers ever since. Mo is filled with a sense of duty, commitment, community and dedication. Having been a Marine, it just comes naturally for her. If there is a need and she 24
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can help, she does. For the Three Rivers Women’s Club, Mo was part of the crew for “The Thingerie,” the club’s thrift shop that provides locals with affordable clothing, home décor, housewares and more to raise money to further help the community. She suggested that she take photos of items for sale and post them online in the local Facebook Trading Post, hoping to increase revenue. The venture, now in its fifth year, turned out to be quite successful. Mo chairs the Three Rivers Senior League’s Annual Holiday Bazaar fundraiser. Proceeds help support club programs, services and activities, including “Comfort for Kids,” in which club volunteers make between 1,000 and 2,000 quilts for patients at Valley Children’s Hospital. Using social media, crafting websites, an aggressive ad campaign and finding donations outside of Three Rivers, Mo has increased the number of participating vendors, added a silent auction, and revamped the hourly raffle, resulting in a $2,000 increase in funds raised each year for the bazaar. Additionally, they support many local classes and gatherings. Maureen’s service to her community doesn’t stop there. She has served for the last several years on the board of directors for the Three Rivers Veterans Memorial Building. And when there is a call to help a local family in need, Maureen can always be counted on to cook meals and deliver them to families. “Mo’s a true patriot and lover of community,” says Michelle Lafferty of Lafferty Cleaning Services. “She simply loves to give back.” Mo loves the small-town culture that is prevalent throughout Three Rivers. “So many of the residents are eager and willing to help when the call goes out,” she says. “I just hope that the true sense of community that exists here now will continue with future generations.”
Bryan Patterson– Dinuba’s 2017 Hometown Holiday Hero Bryan Patterson would never consider himself a hero, but his active life and personal devotion to family, his job, friends and community reflect a man who is committed to making his hometown a welcoming, safe and friendly place to live. Father to six children—five girls and one boy, ranging from 6 to 19 years old —he and his wife, Crystal, have roots in this community dating back three generations. More than 19 years ago, Bryan joined the team of Environment Control, a Visalia-based company, where he quickly demonstrated his take-control attitude, genuine customer service skills and business acumen matched by few in the industry. He immediately stepped into a leadership role and today is a seasoned and successful sales/operations manager. His loyalty to the company and its employees is evidenced by his patience in teaching each one and providing the tools for their success within the company structure—and in life. “His dedication and commitment to our customers and employees has made him a vital part of the success of the business today,” says Tim Hofer, owner of Environment Control. Random, selfless acts of kindness define his true nature and the heart he brings to his community. When Bryan was 23, he provided comfort and care for Alex, an elderly widower who lived next door to Bryan’s grandparents. He routinely checked in on him, tended his lawn, made home repairs and took him to scheduled cancer treatments. After Alex’s passing, Bryan himself was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system. After extensive treatment, he beat cancer and today is cancer free. More recently, Bryan devoted his time and attention to an elderly
widowed gentleman, Günter, who lived in his neighborhood. He provided a watchful eye, ensuring Günter maintained a healthy diet, personal hygiene and received the medical care he needed to live a comfortable, peaceful life. Like Alex, Bryan was there for companionship, lawn care, home repairs and friendship. Additionally, Bryan and his family supported two low-income children for more than 10 years through Compassion International, a Christian-based organization. These are just a few examples of his contributions to humanity and those who were unable to adequately care for themselves. After his bout with cancer and caring for Alex, Bryan felt that God had big plans for him and Crystal and blessed them with four more beautiful children. An avid sports fan, Bryan took to coaching girls’ softball with the Dinuba Recreation Department girls softball program, the Tribes girls traveling softball league and continues his coaching career as the coach for the Dinuba High School girls varsity softball team. His ability to balance his passion for sports and coaching, his dedication to his employer and employees, his love of family and friends, and his compassionate contributions to humanity define this man and warrant his recognition as one of many heroes in the community of Dinuba.
www.golfridgecreek.com | (559) 591-7060
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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David Gong – Porterville’s 2017 Hometown Holiday Hero David Gong has had a very challenging life. Born in Porterville 47 years ago, his life was busy and happy until age of 15, when the Monache High swimmer was diagnosed with bone cancer. He endured chemotherapy for nine months until he was given a titanium knee replacement at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, followed by six more months of chemo. And all was well – or so he thought. “At 15, you feel invincible. It wasn’t a big deal to me. I wasn’t scared. My parents were, though. It was terrible for them. The worse part for me was the chemo. It did a number on me mentally.” The second cancer diagnosis was in his tibia. They removed the bone, and it turned out to be the one bone in your body you don’t need. But then nine more times, David was diagnosed with cancer. Between 1985 and 2000, he endured 11 cancer diagnoses. David quit swimming for a time, but “to get people off my back,” he got back in the pool in his senior year. “But, in my high school years, I made bad choices. I was using drugs and eventually became an addict, and I was living in my car, showering at the gym.” In 1990, the cancer came back and his left leg was amputated just above the knee. David decided it was time to go back to school, so went on to Grossmont College in San Diego, and maintained a 4.0 GPA while working part time and
swimming competitively. He knew it would be hard to find work where he could be self-supportive with one leg, so he began taking criminal justice classes, planning to become an attorney like his mom. An insidious disease, cancer was just relentless in its attacks on David’s body. In 1991, he was diagnosed with cancer in both lungs. Doctors believed the tumors were inoperable and David was informed that he might have three weeks or even just three days to live. But he had been reading about healing the body with the mind, and had been focusing his mind on healing his tumor. He told the doctors to check again, and the tumors had shrunk. He had two-fifths of his lungs removed and further chemo. With only one leg and decreased lung capacity, he no longer had much stamina, so he swam in short distance sprints. But the lung cancer came back, three more times, and in 1993, he was told again that he was terminal. David said he was “not raised religious and didn’t go to church,” but this time he cried out, “God, just let me live, and I will become the best person I can be.” He felt he had made a bargain with God, and he lived. Two years later, 1995, David was considered the fastest disabled swimmer on the planet. His fastest sprint was four-tenths of a second off the world record, and the next year was the Olympics. But that year, he was dealt another blow. At the nationals, he began having pain in his right shoulder. While swimming in the 50 meter freestyle, which everyone believed he would win, the pain was so great that he passed out. It turns out that he had bone cancer and had to have surgery to remove his scapula. “Without the range of movement I needed to swim, my career was ended,” David says. “I was 25, and it was over, and I was angry. I yelled at God, ‘Why? I kept my side of the bargain!’ but God told me, ‘No, it’s not about you.’ I realized that it wasn’t about me winning or even swimming. I was to be a better person. It was about serving others. He gave me this verse, Matthew 25:35: ‘For I was
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hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’ All that I had been doing was self-serving—I would get the glory and not God.” David’s next step was to kickboard from Alcatraz to the Aquatic Park, one and a half miles. With one leg. “I’m still very competitive. I have a motor that never stops running,” he says with a laugh. In 1996, David left San Diego and moved back to Porterville. In 1998 he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and two years later he received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. But now he was a man on a mission. He began to serve. And he’s never stopped. He got involved with a Christmas project for homeless children and was soon gathering and providing gifts for 400-500 children. He got involved in Helping Hands and ultimately served more than 1,300,000 meals there over 17 years. David told his mom he wanted to go out and tell his story. “She said, ‘Nobody wants to pay to hear you,’ and we laughed, but I started speaking,” he says. “I spoke at over 40 high schools and other events and places.” All the money he earned, he donated to projects including the Cancer Center, sports equipment for kids, the P-Town Aquatics Academy and more. He taught swimming and diving to underprivileged kids—close to 300 of them. “This was getting kids off the streets,” he says. David orchestrated an effort to save leftover food from three high schools to feed the homeless, and he put together a food pantry in his house. He’s the lone booster in the Booster Club at Alta Vista School. He donated all their sports equipment, and he’s fed students’ families. He donated 200 bicycles to disadvantaged children. Over the years, he’s donated most of what he’s earned to Sierra Valley Rehab Center, the PAAR Center (a recovery home for people with drug and alcohol addiction), the Helping One Woman dinners, and Big Hearts Little Hands childcare center, to name a few. He has provided haircuts,
Est. 1979, 2nd Generation
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS HAPPY NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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nail trimming and shaves for the homeless. He helps with blood drives, water drives and food drives. Everything he raises stays local. And he’s still a head coach with Tule Nation Tritons, coaching children from ages 6-18. And he speaks life into people’s lives who really need a positive message. He’s especially gifted to encourage cancer patients. He makes motivational videos and sends them free of charge to people with cancer all over the country. “I have a unique obligation to help families battling cancer,” he says. “He is inspiring, compassionate and giving,” says Dezara Leslie. “Hearing his story and watching the way he conducts himself today has helped me to get through some of my darkest days.” He still struggles with serious and life-threatening health problems due to the various cancer treatments over so many years, but “life is good,” David says confidently. “My faith has grown stronger. I was given a gift to survive cancer 11 times so I could help others. When I called out to God, He reminded me to help them.”
Downtown Porter ville’s Quilt Fabric Shop
122 N. Main • 559 793-2510 Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 • Sunday 1-5 fabric - classes www.CalicoMermaid.com Follow us on Facebook
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Michael Dunn — Kingsburg's 2017 Hometown Holiday Hero Most often, our heroes are humble and avoid the limelight, not seeking fame or notoriety but reaching out to help and contribute without fanfare. Mike Dunn is such a person. He is a Kingsburg resident, father, loving and devoted husband to Vallerie and a true hero to the Kingsburg community. Mike grew up in Laton, where he met his wife of 44 years. They moved to Kingsburg 25 years ago. He retired two years ago from his position as human resources manager at Fresno State University. He also worked for 24 years as civil servant at Lemoore Naval Air Station. Mike’s educational journey was not traditional, earning his undergraduate and master’s degrees after age 40 and becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He loves to write and indulge in historical research, and that is where his selfless and heroic contributions shine. Immediately after retirement, he became immersed in the physical renovation and development of the Kingsburg Train Depot. His intense involvement led longtime friends Larry and Shirley Esau—the key drivers of the Depot renovation – to invite him to become the train depot historian. His writing ability and historical prowess was immediately put to use, and his historical articles and photos appeared routinely in the Depot Newsletter.
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Upon retirement, you could find Mike around town videotaping events, like the spring car show, and posting them on Facebook. This practice fed into his love of community, local history, writing and photography, and now you can see postings and a community following that promotes the Kingsburg Village Mall, downtown Kingsburg and community events. Laurene Runner, owner of Gypsy’s Attic in the Village Mall—next to Diane’s Swedish Bakery and Restaurant, where Mike and his wife often enjoy the Swedish fare—says about Mike, “I’ll be in my store, and Mike will pop in unannounced, snap a few pics, and immediately update his Facebook page. Mike willingly and without prompting takes the initiative to not only promote Gypsy’s Attic and Diane’s Swedish Bakery, but other retail businesses throughout the community. If anyone ever needs a helping hand, Mike, without hesitation, will ask, ‘Where and when do you need me?’” While traveling, Mike’s generosity led him to go to his car, retrieve a pair of his own shoes and give them to a shoeless person in need. An active member of the Kingsburg Historical Society, he is heavily involved in the traveling exhibit coming to Kingsburg in January 2018, “Courage and Compassion: Our Shared Story of the Japanese American World War II Experience.” Mike is working on stories of local Japanese families interred and Japanese soldiers who fought as part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. You can find Mike’s imprint on the Kingsburg community by visiting “Kingsburg: A celebration of history, architecture and people” and “The Village Mall” on Facebook. More than 10,000 people have viewed Mike’s video, “Living in Kingsburg.”
CarolE Farris — Hanford’s 2017 Hometown Holiday Hero “While we have a large number of fabulous volunteers, Carole Farris is one special lady,” says Shelly Johnson, executive director of Main Street Hanford. “Her willingness to serve so many organizations and her giving attitude is truly inspirational.” Born and raised on the East Coast, Carole moved her family to San Diego close to 20 years ago. She said she had a hard time even leaving her house because of panic attacks. “It was a great day if I could manage the short walk to the elementary school to help in my son‘s classroom. Anything else was out of the question,” she says. Six years later, the family made the move to Hanford. Carole said she knew that if she didn’t start getting out of the house, her kids would grow to hate the small-town life. She began to get involved in the community. One step at a time, she was soon helping out at a small grassroots organization called Hand-in-Hand Family Resource Center. The director invited Carol to a lunch meeting of the Kiwanis, “and I really never left,” she says with a grin. “I grew into a life of service because it worked for me. I found a purpose.” That was just the beginning. Carole found herself up to her ears in community service. She became a committee member and Special Olympics coach. “I can be having the worst day, and when I’m with the athletes, none of that seems to matter anymore,” Carole says. As an advisory board member for the Salvation Army, Carole became a bell ringer, money counter, whatever they needed her to do. Her favorite thing is to spend Thanksgiving Day there cooking for and serving those who come through the door. She’s the district administrator for Builders Club, a service club for middle-school students. “Like Kiwanis, but they're younger and
have a LOT more energy.” Carole oversees clubs in California, Nevada and Hawaii. As Key Club Region Advisor, she serves on a committee that supports the leadership of 46,000 members. “Three times a year, I get to spend the weekend with 100 of the most amazing young people I have ever known.” Carole performs senior exit Interviews at Jamison High School in Lemoore, a continuation school. “I have met some incredible students who have fought many battles to get where they are,” she shares. “It's an honor to be a part of their journey.” She’s also the spelling bee judge. “Usually the ‘light judge’ because nobody else wants to do it – something about making kids cry,” she says. She serves as the Academic Decathlon speech judge, chili cook-off judge, is a paper screener for the Excellence in Education Awards, volunteers at Kings Rehab, United Way, Main Street Hanford events, is an Akton Club advisor and more. With her three children all grown, Carole enjoys time with her five grandchildren. She works as a retail merchandiser, and says, “It allows me the flexibility to do the things that make me whole.”
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Spend the Holidays with Us
Holiday Event Special Book a party Sunday-Thursday and receive 10% off the Holiday menu.
Special Room Rates $98 per night. Includes a $10 breakfast voucher for the Spike N Rail.
Swan Court Conference Center 2950 Pea Soup Anderson Blvd, Selma 559-891-7000 info@swan-court.com
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BY JORDAN VENEMA
Photo courtesy of HarperGrayce
GOOD FINDS
Signs “ wonders custom w ood si g ns w ith H arperGrayce
It’s amazing what a person can do with a little ingenuity and some reclaimed fence wood. Well, that and a laser cutter. Other than that, Jen Bier, founder and owner of HarperGrayce signs, says everything else just kind of happened by accident. A graphic designer by trade, Bier quit her job after her first son was born, though she continued to design and sell wedding invitations and Christmas cards. She eventually began selling them under the name HarperGrayce. “One word, but with a capital G – it’s my daughter’s name.” Bier laughs when she admits she has three kids, and that someday her two boys are going to realize they don’t
have a business named after them. “Well, they’re boy names, so they’re aren’t as cute. But I struggle with that because when they get older, I feel they’re going to be really mad they were left out.” About two years ago, a friend of Bier’s invited her to sell her invitations at the Old Town Flea Market in Clovis. “Two weeks before, I don’t even know why, I got this idea to make signs. So I asked my husband if his laser cutter could cut wood.” It could, so on a kind of whim, Bier made about 50 signs. “By the first day I was selling out,” she says. “I like them, but I didn’t know everyone else was going to like them, too.”4 continued on page 32
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Photos courtesy of Monica Fatica
The signs sold so quickly that Bier doesn’t even recall what she made. “Oh my gosh, I honestly don’t even remember,” she says. “We were up all night during that two-week whirlwind.” From that moment on, HarperGrayce moved from paper invitations to wooden signs, and Bier’s decision was practical: People liked the signs, they sold for more than paper, and unlike invitations, the signs couldn’t easily be duplicated – at least not without a laser cutter. “Farmhouse is very popular right now,” explains Bier, which is the style of her signs. “And anyone can paint a sign, but not everybody has a laser cutter. My signs are 3D, and my husband has an industrial workshop, so we can cut huge sheets of wood.” True to the farmhouse style, HarperGrayce signs are fairly simple: wooden frames with a wooden back, with an overlaying quote or custom design. Since she uses reclaimed wood, each sign is additionally unique. “For the first year, we were scouring the side of the road,” Bier says. “I had to buy a truck because I’d be driving down the road and I’d stop to pick up stuff.” But since demand has increased, Bier arranged with a local fencing company to have excess wood dumped at her property. “You can’t buy old fence wood, and you can’t make it look old. We tried so many treatments and it just never looked like it had been out for 20 years. So now they just drop it off.” While HarperGrayce mostly works with the natural grain and color of the wood, Bier recently began offering white and black colors as options for the signs. Sizes of HarperGrayce signs do vary. The largest she created was a custom piece that she shipped to Chicago. It was 5 by 9 feet. “But usually 40 by 20 inches is the largest I’ll ship, which is the largest that I offer on my website,” says Bier, adding that her most popular size is 30 by 15 inches, a rectangle that ranges from $90 to $100. Naturally, the sizes of her signs are limited, but not so much the designs themselves. “I have a ton of fonts. We’re talking 20, 30,000. I tend to stick with what works, so I have about 20 fonts on my website that are standard,” says Bier. “But, in theory, if you wanted your name printed in Wingding, you could do it.” Most of her signs include inspirational quotes and phrases, and the most common request is a family’s name. She has standard designs on her website, but since Bier is a graphic designer, she is able to print custom logos and designs. While potential designs for her signs might seem unlimited, the time to order them certainly is not. Bier sometimes receives as many as 20 orders a day. “I stay at home with three kids. I’m a mom. That’s what I do,” says Bier. “I know people like the signs, but I didn’t realize just how much. I wake up every day shocked that I still get orders.” • HarperGrayce Signs • www.harpergraycesigns.com Find her on Facebook and Instagram Jordan Venema is a freelance writer and California native. He’s a fan of wild stories, impetuous traveling, live music, and all the food. But mostly, he’s a fan of his seven-year-old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan.venema@gmail.com.
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2017 Visalia Nazarene Presents
HOLIDAY MARKET T h i r t e e n Yea r s o f E x c e l l e n c e
Friday, December 1 6:00-8:00 PM Live music, finger foods, raffles, silent auction and a first chance at unique specialty vendors - $5 Saturday, December 2 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Over sixty vendors for six hours – FREE! Visalianaz.org 559-734-1117 info@visalianaz.org
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HOLIDAY
l a c o L ove L
F un and U nique H oliday Gifts
Now that the holidays are creeping up on us, do you know what you’re going to get your loved ones? These unique local gift ideas appeal to the food lover, the explorer, the home decorator or the special man in your life. FOR THE FOOD LOVER
Fresno State Salsa and Sauces from Gibson Farm Market (Fresno): Located on Fresno State’s Campus, these salsas, sauces and many other products are made by students at the Fresno State Food Processing lab. The store is also operated by students and offers a wide variety of products including nuts, wine and soaps.
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Stafford’s Chocolates Mug Melts (Porterville) Take your coffee or hot milk to the next level by stirring in homemade marshmallow, creamy caramel and dark chocolate ganache. These and many other confections like sea salt caramels, moon pies, assorted truffles and too many more to name are all handcrafted daily in their downtown Porterville shop. The Naked Nut Dried Fruit and Nuts (Visalia) Locally grown nuts are packaged out of their Visalia storefront and warehouse. Their farm store is also filled with many other high-quality dried fruit and specialty food products that are packaged to fit conveniently inside a gift basket or crate.
FOR THE EXPLORER The Giant Forest Gift Set from Lancaster Creations (Visalia) April Lancaster founded Lancaster Creations because she needed allnatural and chemical-free products for her home. Her Giant Forest collection consists of a spray, bar soap and bath bomb that were made from fallen pieces of Giant Sequoias, Sugar Pine, Ponderosa Pine, White Fir and Incense Cedar collected from the Sequoia National Forest. These handcrafted bath products are available at her downtown shop or you can find her at the Visalia Farmers Market on Saturdays. Sacred Space Aromatherapy Bags (Three Rivers) These bags make the perfect gift for those suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, back injuries, migraines and other muscle ailments. They bring hours of warm comfort or cool relief and are made by Heather Dumais from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. FOR THE ART COLLECTOR OR HOME DECORATOR Iron+Copper+Bronze Canvas and Leather Bags (Fresno) These stylish, durable and multi-functional bags are made by hand in small batches from their home studio. Their collection includes clutches, crossbody bags and totes in different styles and colors. You can find them online or during their pop-up shops throughout the holidays, and they are open at 1821 Gallery & Studios in Fresno during the monthly downtown art walk.
Honey Bee Pottery (Visalia) Melissa Stewart’s whimsical and one-of-a-kind pieces are all hand thrown from her wheel inside her porch studio. She fell in love with clay as a child, and after encouragement from a famous potter, she embarked on her journey as a pottery artist. Her pieces include traditional pieces like mugs and vases to unique items like sponge holders and succulentfilled bowls. FOR HIM Plano Jerky (Porterville) This multi-generational family business makes its jerky using 100 percent beef. It is known for using pure ingredients and original recipes. Its two locations in Porterville also offer an assortment of local grown nuts, olives, dried fruit, candies and more. Basilwood Farms Beard Buster and Beard Oil (Prather) These men’s products were created for great lathering when shaving and for softening the beard, leaving a nice subtle shine. Their various skin care products, including their signature goat milk soap, are handmade on a family farm. They often host handson workshops and even have a farm stay with Airbnb. • Most products can be found at Enjoy the Store, Visalia 115 N. West Street, Visalia • (559) 901-3513 Find them on Facebook and Instagram
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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enjoy the view
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photo: ralph chojnacki
www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2017
Convict Lake, Eastern Sierra Nevada Photo taken with a smart phone Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wis., Ralph has lived in Visalia for the last 35 years. "I feel observation is the key and the camera is just the tool."
NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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WHAT’S COOKIN’
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BY LANA GRANFORS
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PHOTOS: JAMES MAZZOTTA
recipe NOVEMBER 2017
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with Lemony Sage Butter Sauce Serves: 4 – 6
You may recall the enchilada recipe in this year’s May issue – made using pasta shells. Well, I received rave reviews from readers and actually had a couple of you ask what other ideas I might have for using shells. The shells are great for other dinner ideas, and in this recipe, ravioli! Guess you might call them “open faced ravioli.” This recipe calls for butternut squash, but you could easily use sweet potatoes. This makes a great main course, would be a perfect addition for a buffet or a side dish to your holiday meal. I think the lemon zest and lemony butter sauce are key, adding bright flavor and finish to this dish. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS 1 large or 2 medium butternut squash Olive oil Salt and pepper 12 jumbo pasta shells 2 cup ricotta cheese 1⁄3 cup parmesan cheese, plus an additional 1⁄4 cup for topping 1 T minced garlic 1⁄2 cup frozen chopped spinach (thawed, squeezed and all liquid drained) 1 egg Zest of one lemon 1 stick butter 10 fresh sage leaves Juice of 1 lemon
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directions STEP 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut squash in half and remove seeds. Drizzle flesh with olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Place squash, flesh sides down, on a baking sheet and roast for 15–20 minutes, or until the squash is tender. Once ready, remove and allow them to cool. Reduce the heat to 400 degrees STEP 2: While the squash is baking, bring a large pot of water to a boil and then add shells and cook for 9 minutes. While the shells cook, spray a baking dish with a nonstick spray and prepare a large bowl of iced water. Once shells are cooked, drain with slotted spoon and place in the bowl of iced water to chill. Once chilled, drain and place the shells in the baking dish. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and set aside. STEP 3: In a large bowl, add ricotta, parmesan cheese, minced garlic, spinach (remember to squeeze out the liquid and drain), and the egg. Season with a little salt and pepper and mix lightly. Scrape all the cooled squash from their skins into a separate bowl and mash until the squash is no longer chunky. Add mashed squash (about 2 cups) to the ricotta mixture along with lemon zest and mix completely.
STEP 4: Stuff the shells with equal part of the mixture and place each one back into the prepared baking dish.. STEP 5: Place your filled shells in the oven and allow the shells to heat through, around 20–25 minutes. STEP 6: While the shells warm through, make the butter sauce by melting the stick of butter in a saute pan until golden brown and bubbly. Add the sage leaves and fry, turning them once, until slightly crisp. Turn off heat and add the fresh lemon juice. STEP 7: Spoon the warm, lemony sage butter sauce all over the filled shells and top with a sprinkle grated parmesan cheese.
Lana Granfors enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking and spending time with her friends and family– especially her grandchildren, Jillian and Garet.
prep time: 15 minutes bake time: 35-45 minutes Total Time: 50-60 minutes NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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CRAFTING
| By MONICA FATICA | PHOTOS: Kelli Avila
Ring True
D I Y: G O L D R I N G W R E AT H
TIPS:
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www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2017
Spray paint a silver or green finish ring in gold or brass if you cannot find one readily available.
In lieu of live flowers and foliage, use artificial and attach them with a glue gun for permanent use.
Get creative with your foliage by using fragrant herbs, berries or textured greenery like lamb’s ear, dusty miller, ferns or pine varieties for the holidays.
Dress up your wreath by using flowers like peonies, dahlias, or magnolia for special occasion decor.
supplies • Gold metal ring or macramé hoop in the size of your choice (we used 10-inch) • Seasonal flowers and foliage (we used pineapple guava stems [Feijoa], seeded eucalyptus sprigs and rosemary. Flowers: Roses, red celosia and yellow craspedia) • Floral wire and wire cutters • Pruning shears to trim stems • Leather string or twine • Scissors Flowers provided by Fresh Cut Florist, Visalia
1. Cut the pieces of your plant wire so they are readily available as you begin attaching the foliage and flowers to your ring.
2. Trim your flower or foliage branches, then wrap the foliage around the bottom half of your ring.
5. Use your smaller flowers or sprigs to fill empty spaces and to add texture.
6. Cut a piece of your leather string or twine, then wrap it around the top of your ring.
3. Secure the foliage with your floral wire pieces, then trim any protruding branch ends that won’t wrap along your ring.
7. Tie a double knot at the end of the string and trim off any excess length.
4. Begin adding your larger flowers by tucking them between the foliage stems, then attach them with your floral wire.
8. Hang your wreath above your desk, on a door or anywhere you’ll enjoy. At this point, you can still add in any leftover foliage sprigs if needed. NOVEMBER 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com
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CALENDAR
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NOVEMBER 2017
calendar N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 7
From Food to fun, something for everyone to enjoy
auberry
November 12 • Kids’ Ride and Wrench Camp, Rich Oliver’s Mystery School, 33940 Sterling Lane, 9 am-4:30 pm, (559) 855-3089, www.richoliver.net
bakersfield
November 7 • Philanthropy On Tap, Imbibe Wine and Spirits, 4140 Truxtun Ave., 5:30-7 pm, (661) 325-5346, www.bakersfieldchamber.org
clovis
November 4-5 • The Old Town Flea Market, Clovis Rodeo Grounds, 748 Rodeo Drive, 10 am-4 pm Saturday, 9 am-4 pm Sunday, www.oldtownflea.com November 4, 11, 18, 25 • Farmers Market, corner of Pollasky and Bullard Avenues, 8-11:30 am, www.oldtownclovis.org November 11 • Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast, Clovis Veterans Memorial District, 808 Veterans Parkway, 7-11 am, www.visitclovis.com November 16 • One Enchanted Evening, Old Town Clovis, 5-8 pm, (559) 298-5774 , www.oldtownclovis.org
exeter
November 7 • Exeter Women in Business Luncheon, East Meet West, 224 N. Kaweah Ave., noon, (559) 592-2919, www.exeterchamber.com November 14 • Exeter Helping One Woman Dinner, Exeter Veteran’s Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., 6 pm, (559) 731-7304, www.exeterchamber.com
November 2 • Art Hop, Tower District, E. Olive Avenue and N. Wishon, 5-8 pm, (559) 237-9734, www.fresnoartscouncil.org/arthop November 4 • Party for the Parkway: Science, Salmon and Rafting on the San Joaquin, San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, Inc., 11605 Old Friant Road, 10 am, (559) 248-8480, www.riverparkway.org • Party for the Parkway: Olive Crush on the San Joaquin River, San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, Inc., 11605 Old Friant Road, 10 am, (559) 248-8480, www.riverparkway.org November 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 • Cherry Avenue Auction, 4640 S. Cherry Ave., 6:30 am-3:30 pm, (559) 266-9856, www.cherryavenueauction.com November 4, 11, 18, 25 • Vineyard Farmers Market, 100 W. Shaw Ave., 7 am-noon, www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com November 6, 13, 20, 27 • Carthop, Historic Fulton Mall, 11 am-2 pm, www.downtownfresno.org/events/carthop November 11 • Gardening Angels Work Day, 11605 Old Friant Road, 8:15 am-noon, (559) 248-8480, www.riverparkway.org November 12 • Party for the Parkway: Bottles and Brushes at the River Center, San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, 11605 Old Friant Road, 11:30 am, (559) 248-8480, www.riverparkway.org
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hanford
November 21 • Hanford’s Third Tuesday Takeover, 202 W. Lacey, 6-8 pm, (559) 772-2317
kingsburg
November 24 • Julgranfest, Draper Street, 6 pm, (559) 897-1111, www.kingsburgchamber.com/events
madera
November 4 • Madera Pomegranate Festival, Madera Fairgrounds, 10 am-5 pm, www. pomegranatefestival.com
porterville
fresno
November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • Vineyard Farmers Market, 100 W. Shaw Ave., 3-6 pm, www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com
Enjoy a leisurely lunch with mimosas and wine under the shade arbor at the River Center, then let your artistic juices flow as local artist Elaine Blake helps you paint a river scene. Blake, the artist/instructor for the Bottles and Brushes program offered through the Madera County Arts Council, will guide you through the process of creating your own painting. No artistic talent is needed, just a desire to have fun with friends in support of the Parkway. November 18 • Walk with a Doc, San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, 11605 Old Friant Road, 8:30-10:30 am, (559) 248-8480, www.riverparkway.org November 19 • Cherry Avenue Auto Swap, 4640 S. Cherry Ave., (559) 266-9856, www.cherryavenueauction.com
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November 3 • First Friday Coffee, Galaxy 9 Theatre, 7-8:15 am, www.portervillechamber.org November 6, 13, 20, 27 • Porterville High School Boosters Bingo, Porterville High School cafeteria, 4:30 pm, (559) 535-0408 November 11 • Veterans Day Run, downtown Porterville, 7:30 am, (559) 782-7521, www.portervillechamber.org November 30 • Children’s Christmas Parade, 7-9 pm, www.portervillechamber.org
reedley
November 1-4, 6-11, 13-18, 20-25, 27-30 • “A Century of Yuletide Memories - 1840-1940,” Mennonite Quilt Center, 1010 G St., 9 am-3 pm, (559) 638-3560, www.mennonitequiltcenter.org November 9 • Ladies’ Night Out, downtown Reedley, 11th and G St., 6-9 pm, (559) 856-1222
three rivers
November 4 • First Saturday in Three Rivers, 11 am-5 pm, (559) 561-3463, www.1stsaturdaytr.com November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • Story Time at the Library, 42052 Eggers Drive, 10:30-11:30 am, www.threerivers.com
visalia
November 4 • 4th Annual Holiday Craft Fair, 5718 W. Laura Court, 8 am-3 pm, (559) 280-1176 • Fall Flashback: ‘80s Party at the Ballpark, Visalia Rawhide Baseball, 300 N. Giddings St., 6-10 pm, (559) 732-4433 November 10 • Winter Carnival, Sons of Italy Hall, 4221 W. Goshen Ave., 6:30-10 pm, (559) 734-4040, www.hfhtkc.org/2017/winter-masquerade Through November 11 • Arts Visalia Fall Art Classes for Children and Adults, 214 E. Oak Ave., noon-5:30 pm Wednesday-Saturday, (559) 739-0905, www.artsvisalia.org November 16 • Sip, Soup and Shop, 410 E. Race Ave., 5-7 pm
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The Jon Ginsburg Gallery presents its annual fundraiser, where attendees enjoy free gourmet soups donated by restaurants around Visalia and listen to live holiday music. Artists from the Creative Center sell their handcrafted gifts and fine art. All proceeds support the Creative Center - a nonprofit art center for adults with developmental disabilities - and its artists. November 4, 11, 18, 25 • Visalia Farmers Market, Sears Parking lot at Mooney Blvd./Caldwell, 8-11:30 am, www.visaliafarmersmarket.com
woodlake
November 11 •Crown Valley Youth Ranch Fall Festival, 19880 Avenue 376 (Highway 201), 11 am-3 pm, (559) 564-2897, www.crownvalleyyouthranch.org
11 This family-friendly festival includes activities such as horse rides, horse care, hay rides, a photo booth, face painting, horseshoes, cornhole, races, roping, a petting zoo and more.
bakersfield fox theater www.thebakersfieldfox.com
November 3 • Flics International Cinema Society presents: “Frantz,” 7:30 pm November 4 • Luis de Alba, 8 pm November 11 • Bob Zany, 6 pm November 15 • Shopkins Live! Shop it Up!, 6:30 pm November 17 • Flics International Cinema Society presents: “Julieta,” 7:30 pm
barn theater - porterville www.barntheater.porterville.com
November 18 • Comedy Night at the Barn, 8 pm
fresno convention center
www.fresnoconventioncenter.com
November 1-3 • Truth Tabernacle Church hosts the 2017 West Coast Conference
ice house theatre - visalia www.visaliaplayers.org
November 3-5, 10-12 • “Driving Miss Daisy,” 7:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 2 pm Sunday
lindsay community theater www.lindsaycommunitytheater.com
November 3-5 • “Shrek the Musical,” 7:30 Friday and Saturday, 2 pm Sunday
rabobank arena - bakersfield www.rabobankarena.com
November 1 • Condors vs. Manitoba, 6:30 pm November 2 • Condors vs. Texas, 6:30 pm November 3 • Air1 Positive Hits Tour, 7 pm November 4 • Condors vs. Manitoba, 7 pm November 9-12 • Disney on Ice, 7 pm Thursday-Saturday, 3 pm Saturday, 1 and 5 pm Sunday November 18 • The PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour, 7 pm November 21 • Condors vs. San Antonio, 6:30 pm November 25 • Condors vs. San Antonio, 7 pm November 30 • Condors vs. Stockton, 10:30 am November 30 • Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, 7:30 pm
river city theatre - reedley
www.reedleyrivercitytheatre.org
Through November 5 • “Route 66,” 7 pm Thursday, 8 pm Friday-Saturday, 2 pm Sunday November 18-19 • “Jeremy ‘Elvis’ Pearce,”8 pm Saturday, 2 pm Sunday
roger rocka’s dinner theatre - fresno www.rogerrockas.com
Through November 12 • “The Drowsy Chaperone,” 6:30 pm Thursday, 5:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 11 am Sunday, (559) 266-9494 November 16-January 14 • “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” 5:30 pm Thursday-Saturday, 11 am Sunday, (559) 266-9494
saroyan theater - fresno
www.fresnoconventioncenter.com
November 4 • Ballet Hispanico, 7:30 pm
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November 12 • Fresno Philharmonic presents Homage, 3 pm November 25-26 • The Nutcracker presented by Valley Performing Arts Council, 1 pm November 28-29 • A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, 7:30 pm
save mart center - fresno www.savemartcenter.com
November 1 • Jay-Z, 8 pm November 2 • Bruno Mars, 8 pm November 11 • Fight For Water, 5 pm November 12 • Winter Jam 2017, 6 pm November 29 • Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 7:30 pm
tachi palace - lemoore www.tachipalace.com
November 2 • Tachi Palace Fights 33, 6 pm November 16 • 98 Degrees at Christmas, 7:30 pm
the tower theatre - fresno www.towertheatrefresno.com
November 1 • The Unexpected Journey of Mr. B in the Colorful Underwater World of Bubblelandia, 7 pm November 4 • 78th Anniversary Festival Celebration of the Tower Theatre, 2-10 pm November 16 • Volkswagen presents Warren Miller’s “Line of Descent,” 7:30 pm November 18 • Jazz Vocalist Kevin Mahogany, 8 pm November 25 • Black Cat, 8 pm
valdez hall - fresno
www.fresnoconventioncenter.com
November 4 • International Holiday Fest, 10 am-6 pm
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Central California’s population represents the seven continents of the world. Its 10 counties are home to 128 different languages and vivid cultures. Bring the family and enjoy food, great music and shop the world. Kids Fun Time from 11 am-3 pm.
visalia fox theatre www.foxvisalia.org
November 2 • Stephen Stills and Judy Collins, 7:30 pm November 4 • G.I.S of Comedy, 8 pm November 9 • “Back to the Future” (1985), 6:30 pm November 11 • Tulare County Symphony presents “Behind the Czar: Protest and Praise,” 7:30 pm November 15 • “Saturday Night Fever” (1977), 6:30 pm
Event times and dates are subject to change without notice. Please check event phone number or website to verify dates and times. Enjoy Magazine is not responsible for any inconvenience due to event changes.
HOW TO GET YOUR EVENT ON THIS CALENDAR If you’d like your event to be listed in this section of Enjoy magazine, please post it on our website, www. enjoymagazine.net, by the 5th of the month—one month prior to the next magazine issue. For example, a December event will need to post by November 5. Thank you.
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by KENDRA KAISERMAN
Photos courtesy of the Visalia Emergency Aid Council
GIVING BACK
TURKEY — TROT — T he V isalia E mer g ency A id C ouncil’ s R ace A g ainst H un g er Step back in time to the 1930s. Imagine you are living in the South Valley. You have heard about the recent Dust Bowls in the Midwest on the radio, and maybe even on a television. Dust Bowl refugees are fleeing to this area and all over California. This is when the Visalia Emergency Aid Council emerged, as a group of concerned Visalians organized the relief efforts in 1931. Today, the Visalia Emergency Aid Council is a food pantry that supplies supplemental groceries to 1,100 families a month who come to the pantry an average of three or four times a year. It also helps 150 seniors on a fixed income who come to the pantry every month. The Aid Council also holds events, such as the Evening on the Red Carpet, which just wrapped up its second year in October. Local and national celebrities alike attend this event. “It’s an 4 continued on page 46
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opportunity to raise money for the food pantry and have a good time,” says Liz Wynn, executive director of the Visalia Emergency Aid Council. Other events include holiday drives, canned food drives and the Turkey Transit Singers, in which singers take the city transit trolley and perform funny Thanksgiving songs at different businesses. Some 800 Thanksgiving baskets and 1,200 Christmas baskets are given out each year to “let families eat together and kind of do the things many of us kind of take for granted,” says Wynn. Perhaps the biggest and longest fundraiser put on by the Visalia Emergency Aid Council is the Race Against Hunger, which is in its 13th year and occurs each Thanksgiving morning in downtown Visalia. “It was the brainstorm of a local DJ, who thought it would be fun to do something to educate the public on hunger,” Wynn says. “Every year it’s just grown and grown and grown.” Last year, about 5,300 walkers and runners participated. “There are families that have been going for 13 years,” says Wynn. The event has evolved into an event for the whole family, and includes a kids zone, food trucks and booths. “It’s a party atmosphere – it’s a lot of fun,” Wynn says. The chipped, official race begins at 8 am at Garden Street Plaza and is a loop. The race could not be put on without the help of more than 200 volunteers. “We have a crew that starts in March. A lot of businesses participate, and almost 700
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teachers and their family members participated last year,” says Wynn. People can run in the race, put together a team or bring canned food “to help us pay for a new pantry that will include an extra 60 square feet of space,” Wynn says. And if you can’t participate on the day of the race because you’re preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, the Visalia Emergency Aid Council is looking for volunteers throughout the year. “Our thrift store is a really critical part of our program,” says Wynn. “Gently used items would be appreciated.” They even do free pick up. Wynn’s favorite part of the Race Against Hunger is “it’s an opportunity to see a lot of old friends, the atmosphere is so upbeat, people don’t mind the crowds. There are people walking their dogs, people pushing their strollers – it’s a wonderful event and all for a good cause.” • Visalia Emergency Aid Council (559) 732-0101 • www.veac.org Race Against Hunger 5k and 2 Mile Walk, November 23 from 8am-11AM in downtown Visalia. www.visaliaturkeytrot.com Kendra Kaiserman is a recent graduate of Simpson University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism. Originally from Manteca, she enjoys trips to Santa Cruz, writing, reading and playing soccer.
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