Enjoy Magazine: South Valley Living—March 2016 by Enjoy Magazine: Northern California Living

South Valley Living

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MARCH 2016

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Contents ®

South Valley Living MARCH 2016

CR A FT I NG

44 DIY: Metallic Dessert Stands

GOOD T I M ES

29 Igniting Tastebuds at Downtown Visalia’s Wine Walk

I NSPIR AT ION

I NT ER EST

LOCA L S

32 Making Music With Pianist Gina Leneé 19 Finding Best Management Practices with River Ridge Institute

15 Zack Follett’s Road to a Good Roast 24 The Locke Family’s Top O’ The Morn Farms

ON THE M A P 8 Fine Dining in a Sandwich at Sierra Subs

SHOW T I M E

SPR I NG T I M E

I N EV ERY ISSU E

12 Professor Chris Mangels and College of the Sequoias Theatre Arts Department

6 Spring Things to Do

36 Enjoy the View—Ralph Chojnacki 38 What’s Cookin’—Thai Chicken and Noodle Salad 40 Spotlight—Calendar of Events 42 Store Front—Welcome Spring 46 Giving Back—Making an Impact with Laugh for Life Benefit

Top O’ the Morn Photo by Brittany Wilbur

Enjoy magazine is not affiliated with JOY magazine or Bauer German Premium GmbH. MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 3

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COV ER PHOTO

Plant in the Air succulents and airplants by Tamara Orth

A wonderfully wet winter has paved the way for a glorious spring, and we’ve got plenty of ideas for helping you immerse yourself in this season of rebirth. Buy yourself a ticket to a high-caliber performance by the College of the Sequoias’ theatre department, which has been a launch pad for numerous students who have transferred to the country’s most prestigious, competitive conservatories. Learn about the path that converted a Clovis man from an NFL player to a coffee entrepreneur, who now shares unbridled joy with every cup he brews. Then meet biologist Gary Adest, the founder of the educational nonprofit River Ridge Institute. He and his wife “accidentally” bought it in 1998, and they have been offering workshops, tours, classes and volunteer opportunities to demonstrate best management practices for sustaining the land. They’re bringing back the milkman at Top O’ the Morn Farms, which specializes in farm-to-table dairy delivery. What’s more convenient than glass bottles of milk arriving at your doorstep? Hungry? Allison and Dane Millner are having way too much fun creating unique and surprising sandwiches at Sierra Subs and Salads in Three Rivers. Try the chipotle cream cheese bacon cheddar, Vietnamese duck, watermelon and pork – or choose your own culinary adventure. Be sure to join the Downtown Visalia Wine Walk, where you’ll find your fill of wine, but also cheese, olive oil, chocolate and more. It’s the perfect excuse to stroll down Main Street, greet your neighbors and support local businesses. And since laughter is the best medicine, the 17th annual Laugh for Life event is an easy way to give your health a boost. The comedy show and catered dinner grows in popularity each year. Celebrate spring, and enjoy!

SOUTH VALLEY LIVING

YVONNE MAZZOTTA publisher MICHELLE ADAMS publisher RONDA BALL editor-in-chief KERRI REGAN copy editor MICHELLE ADAMS graphic design JERED MILLER STEPHANIE GIMLIN contributing graphic designers MONICA FATICA consultant/ advertising sales representative LYNN LEARNED advertising sales representative VALERI BARNES advertising sales representative JENNIFER SAECHAO sales assistant/event calendar/website AMANDA NAMBA event calendar/website

In the February 2016 issue, Mary Beth Shearson’s name was listed incorrectly in the p.s. I love you story. The year round flower bouquet in the Creating Your Wedding Color Story was done by Brown Bunny Flowers. Traci Farias Photography took the photo of Stephanie Gimlin in the Side Notes. Enjoy regrets the errors.

HAYDEN MCCAW JOSH LOPEZ AUSTIN REYNOLDS deliveries www.enjoysouthvalley.com 505 W. Center Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 559.804.7411 Email General: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net Sales and Advertising information: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net

© 2016 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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KuppaJoy Photo by Tamara Orth

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 5

SPRING TIME

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade. Charles Dickens

Spring Things To Do MARCH Birth Flower: Daffodil Birthstone: Aquamarine National Reading Month National Nutrition Month Women’s History Month DATES TO REMEMBER 2nd: Dr. Seuss Day 13th: Daylight Saving Time 14th: Pi Day 17th: St. Patrick's Day 20th: Spring Begins 25th: Good Friday 27th: Easter

•Start a DIY project •Visit the library •Go on a farm tour •Go on a nature walk or hike •Spend a day at the zoo •Go on a picnic at a park •Make a bird feeder •Go for a bike ride •Visit a farmers’ market •Plant a container herb garden •Read a book •Take a yoga or Pilates class •Barbecue

FOUR U.S. PRESIDENTS WERE BORN THIS MONTH: Andrew Jackson James Madison Grover Cleveland John Tyler

•Host a game night •Play tennis •Go to a craft fair •Attend a baseball game •Spring clean your house •Go fishing •Bake cupcakes •Go antique store shopping •Volunteer your time

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F I N E D I N I N G I N A S A N D W I C H AT S I E R R A S U B S

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THE SANDWICH, or any variant of a bit of cold meat pressed between bread, predates its 18th century namesake, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu. Even if we’re only counting the years since John popularized the handy repast, the mobile meal has had more than two centuries to redefine itself, and yet the sandwich is about the same today as it was then. A sandwich is a sandwich is a sandwich, right? Well, married couple Allison and Dane Millner might have some thoughts on the subject, as well might their faithful customers. In 2009, the couple relocated from San Diego to Three Rivers, where Allison grew up, and purchased the existing Sierra Subs and Salads off Sierra Drive. But to call it just a sandwich shop really misses the mark. “Our motto,” clarifies Allison, “is fine dining in a sandwich.” One might wonder if a sandwich legitimately can push culinary boundaries, especially when those boundaries are a couple slices of bread. Like most things in life, the devil is in the details. But when considering the type of sandwiches the Millners enjoy dishing out, it might be nearer the truth to say something like “the deviled egg is the detail.” That’s because the Millners specialize in creating unique and surprising sandwiches, like transforming the common egg salad sandwich into a deviled egg salad sandwich (which isn’t yet on their menu, but it should be). The ol’ Earl of Sandwich may have been an aristocrat, but even he would think Sierra Sub’s specials fit for a king: like the chipotle cream cheese bacon cheddar, or Vietnamese duck, or maybe throw in some wild boar, or watermelon and pork, and of course jerk goat. That’s right. This isn’t your run-ofthe-mill choose-your-own meat and cheese sub sandwich.4 continued on page 10

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 9

“We want to push people’s boundaries,” Allison says, though at the end of the day, “we just want people to enjoy food and be happy.” With prices hovering around $6.99 a sandwich, they’re nailing the happy part, and by circulating intriguing weekly specials, with names like “the mere mortal” and “the vegetarian goddess,” they’re also continually pushing boundaries. By keeping their food fresh and homemade, the taste naturally follows. Dane guesses about 95 percent of everything they make is homemade. “There isn’t much we purchase,” Allison says, though Dane interjects, laughing, “other than the mayonnaise.” They make their own sauces and soups (they serve three out of 85 rotating recipes, though they believe the persimmon chipotle is their most unique), and have more than 18 options for vegetarians. And if subs aren’t your thing, they serve burgers, quesadillas and take-andbake pizzas. On a summer day, you’ll probably want to eat “in.” The shop has six indoor picnic tables, with six more outside under a large mulberry tree, overlooking the river. Plus, you can always expect friendly, local service. “One of us is almost always there, and that’s huge, because our customers coming in, they want to be recognized,” says Dane. “That’s important to us.” Whether it’s a classic ham and cheese or something a little more intriguing that you’re craving, the Millners can put it together. Sierra Subs has something for everybody, and nothing that John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, wouldn’t be proud to attach his name to. • Sierra Subs and Salads 41717 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers (559) 561-4810 www.sierrasubsandsalads.com Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30am-6pm; Sunday, 10:30am-5pm; closed Monday Find them on Facebook

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-yearold son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan. venema@gmail.com.

10 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

“We want to push people’s boundaries,” Allison says, though at the end of the day, “we just want people to enjoy food and be happy.”

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PROFESSOR CHRIS MANGELS AND CO L L E G E O F T H E S E Q U O I A S T H E AT R E A R T S D E PA R T M E N T

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AN IRONY ABOUT THEATRE, though every play and musical is a kind of an onstage pageant, is it needs neither stage nor pageantry to be done well. Still, we judge books by their covers, and the biggest-budget productions can become blockbusters from hype alone, before a critic could ever convince us otherwise. But good theatre, real theatre, can happen spontaneously anywhere – in an alley, on the street, dressed down, without all that pomp and circumstance. And that performance could be the greatest theatre you’d ever see. “The arts” suffer from a sort of stigma, which is evident in the dismantling of creative departments across the country, and the pressure put on students to pursue more practical educations. So with a bias already against it, some unwittingly overlook good art, and especially theatre, even when it’s staring them in the face. If it’s not hanging on a wall in the National Museum or performing onstage off Broadway, it probably didn’t get a fair shake. College of the Sequoias Professor of Theatre Chris Mangels recognizes the prejudice against the arts, as well as against kids becoming artists, though that hasn’t stopped Mangels and department faculty from cultivating a conservatory atmosphere as well as producing high-caliber performances. This semester alone, the department will stage three performances: The musical The King and I, and plays Sylvia and Animal Farm.

The King and I (March 11-20) represents “the first time we’ve done one of the golden age musicals, I think, in 12 years,” says Mangels, who expects the other performances to push audience’s expectations. Sylvia (April 8-10) is a family story told through the eyes of the household dog, Sylvia, and will “be produced, directed, designed, and acted by the Artistic Company, which is our core student body.” The third play, Animal Farm (April 2230), is a product of the “experimental theatre ensemble,” which challenges traditional interpretations with reimagined direction and perspective. “It’s always fairly out-there stuff,” Mangels says with a chuckle, admitting their interpretation of Animal Farm will be the kind of theatre you’d expect to find in New York. Considering the quality of the theatre, prices for tickets come at a bargain, but if you doubted COS Theatre Arts Department’s performances were worth the ticket, just look at its other productions – its students. That the program has exported students to some of the most prestigious and competitive conservatories in the country, as well as internationally, is the proof in the pudding. Danielle Behrens, a current cast member of the Broadway national tour of The Wizard of Oz, graduated from Marymount Manhattan, Adam Rodriguez and Cassidy Kipp both graduated from one of the nation’s top conservatories, NYU Tisch, and Sarah Gallegos is enrolled in England’s Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Other students have attended programs at Fresno State University, UCLA and Syracuse. Magnels doesn’t take much credit for their success. “Honestly, a lot of it comes out of the students,” Mangels says. “We’ve had a long run of really ambitious students and they were hungry, and really, if you don’t have the students to begin with, it doesn’t matter how hard you’re pushing.” Even if his students weren’t hungry, one gets the impression that faculty would push regardless, striving to create a program with both “a level of community and accountability” for its students. Unlike most university

programs, a junior college can upstage traditional prestigious programs by offering a real-world environment. Mangels jokes that a four-year university can be something like a summer camp. “You don’t have to deal with the real world if you don’t want to,” he says, “but that’s not the case with a community college.” Not only are students closely tied to their community, as opposed to living in the campus bubble, but also often work to pay for their own tuition. Many former COS students (like Mangels himself) return to the COS program in some capacity, whether as an audience member or even actor, meaning students commonly act alongside “real” actors. Some students might find the additional competition a nuisance, but Mangels also believes it becomes a training opportunity as they work alongside community members. Beside the quality of its faculty and students, Mangels says the support of the COS administration has contributed to the department’s creative freedom. “We have a lot of autonomy to work on things,” says Mangels, as the department maintains financial security through fundraising and ticket sales. That autonomy translates to creative stability and credibility, which ensures that students will continue to challenge their audience – and themselves – with performances that would make many conservatories proud. That might be why these schools are accepting students from the COS Theatre Arts Department, and why you should catch their performances while you still can. • www.costheatre.org The King & I, March 11-20

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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Z A C K F O L L E T T â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S R O A D TO A GOOD ROAST

BARELY A YEAR AFTER being drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2009, linebacker and Clovis native Zack Follett sustained a careerending neck injury during a game. At the time, Follett had only ever played football, only ever wanted to play football.4 continued on page 16

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 15

And I was drinking this cappuccino and was like, this is the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. This is a cup of joy. “I told my dad when I was a kid that my first job would be an NFL football player,” he recalls. “I never worked before. My first job was football player.” The injury didn’t just end Follett’s career, but led to existential questions, like “what am I going to do with my life?” So Follett, who had become a Christian in 2008, followed a friend’s recommendation to participate in a mission trip to England, exactly one year after his injury, where he taught kids how to play American football while sharing the gospel. On a free evening, Follett went to the British chain Costa Coffee to “spend some time in the word,” and opened to Romans where he read a verse declaring there is no condemnation for those who live in Christ. “As somebody who lived a life that had built up a lot of condemnation, I was just filled with joy,” explains Follett. “And I was drinking this cappuccino and was like, this is the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. This is a cup of joy.” From that moment, Follett felt providence leading him to open a café back home in Clovis, where people could connect over a cup of coffee while experiencing the same peace and joy he had experienced. One year later, in December 2012, Follett opened Kuppa Joy, which has been so successful that a second Kuppa Joy is opening in Fresno early this year.

16 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

The former NFL player marvels at his personal transformation over a short time. “I wasn’t just called to be an employee, but to be an owner, to be a janitor, to be all these things that I’ve never done before,” ponders Follett. For a 24-year-old, he admits that took tremendous faith. For somebody who only began drinking coffee in college, and then only Folgers, opening an artisanal coffee house definitely took a kind of leap. “My motto,” says Follett, “is if you’re going to do something, do it right.” He attended a week-long school in Portland, Ore. – a coffee mecca in its own right – where he attended barista and business classes while visiting local coffee houses. On the trip, Follett gleaned from the best of his experiences, and built a spot in Clovis that resembles something from the big city. “It’s not a typical cookiecutter coffee shop,” Follett says. “A lot of people have said it feels like they’re in San Francisco or Portland.” With warm, reclaimed wood furniture and a brick façade, the minimalist Kuppa Joy echoes popular San Francisco cafes like Four Barrel and Haus. But it doesn’t just look the part; Kuppa Joy also brews craft roasted coffee, Seattle’s Victrola, while offering single-cup pour overs. Follett says part of his job is educational in nature, explaining to the dark roast-drinking Clovis cowboys why his coffee costs a dollar more. “It’s better and it costs

a little more,” Follett says, but the former Folgers drinker also knows that once you’ve tried good coffee, you can’t go back. “You really can’t. Once you’ve tasted a good product you can’t drink anything else.” It wasn’t until he visited England that Follett discovered the nuances of coffee. “I saw the steaming, the tamping,” says Follett, “It was an art form.” While Kuppa Joy offers some of the best-roasted artisanal coffee in the area, that’s just one aspect of Follett’s business model and mission. “The initial statement is loving the customers,” explains Follett.

Officially, the mission statement is “Love God, Love People, Love Coffee,” and while the café’s logo is a large throne, representing the seat of Christ, Follett says it doesn’t have to be an overt ministry to the people who prefer just a good cup of coffee. Of course, Follett hopes people will experience at Kuppa Joy the same peace, comfort and joy that he experienced that evening in England. He wants to operate the best business possible, and Follett also expects Kuppa Joy to eventually roast its own beans. “But I’m more interested in making an impact in the community,” he says. In his effort to continue bringing a cup of joy to his community, Follett is opening a second café across from Fresno High at 1900 Echo Ave. It will have its own vibe and style, says Follett, but also its signature throne, and the same quality cup of coffee – which you can take with cream or drink black, but the joy is in every cup. • Kuppa Joy • 518 Clovis Ave., Clovis 1900 N. Echo Ave., Fresno www.kuppajoy.com • (559) 298-7234 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7am – 9pm; closed Sunday Find them on Facebook & Instagram

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 17

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eco-purpose FINDING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH RIVER RIDGE INSTITUTE YOU MAY NOT STUDY ECOLOGY, but that won’t prevent you from belonging to one. Ecology is a branch of biological science observing the relationship between organisms within their physical surroundings, like a big ol’ scientific tug of war. Ecologically speaking, what happens over here can have lasting effect over there, as seen in the current drought, where dwindling snowpack and watersheds result in dried-up wells across the state. It’s through an understanding of the relationships that tie together our ecology that we can be better prepared to maintain and preserve it. That mentality has motivated biologist Gary Adest since childhood, and lately became a mission when he and his wife began the educational nonprofit River Ridge Institute.4 continued on page 20

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 19

“The quality of the air you breathe, the water you drink and the food you eat all depends on people interacting with nature in a thoughtful, longrange vision,” says Adest. “And that’s what we’re trying to teach.”

“The quality of the air you breathe, the water you drink and the food you eat all depends on people interacting with nature in a thoughtful, long-range vision,” says Adest. “And that’s what we’re trying to teach.” The Institute organically grew out of Adest’s approximately 700-acre ranch along the north fork of the Tule River in Springville. He and his wife “accidentally” purchased the ranch in 1998, and spent the next 15 years turning it into a profitable business raising organic grass-fed beef. Last May, Adest, who has a Ph.D. in biology from UCLA, turned his attention to developing the educational branch of his ranch, through planning workshops, offering tours and classes, and facilitating volunteer opportunities to demonstrate best management practices for sustaining the land.

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Why did Adest feel the need to pick up this mantle? “We work in an unusual place,” he explains, “below where the rangers work.” And between the park and urban areas is “this belt that stretches almost throughout the entire Sierra Nevadas of California – so 400 miles – with millions of acres of privately owned land that is under nobody’s management except the individual property owners.” The reality of land management practices, Adest continues, is that “whatever the landowner is doing with the land becomes the best management practices.” Many of these practices, which can range from fencing to brush and pest removal, or just how the land is cultivated, are handed down generationally, or done through common sense or propriety. But when a field researcher and biologist purchases a ranch, you better believe he’ll immediately begin putting those existing methods to the test.4 continued on page 22

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Adest instantly began cataloguing and creating an inventory of how to improve his land. For the sake of resiliency, “you want as much complexity as possible,” explains Adest. “What do people usually do with branches? Stuff them into a plastic bin and they go away. Or,” he proposes, “let’s take these branches and build wildlife habitats with them” – for rabbits, quail, squirrels and snakes, all kinds of creepy crawlies. “Plus, we’re not putting particulate matters into the air through burns or using fuel to drive to the landfill.” They may be small practices, but a minor shift in habit can have a positively lasting impact on the land. Over the years, Adest has continued to challenge his own practices. “My training as a research scientist would never let me just do something and then walk away. You continue to observe (the changes over time).” As both researcher and owner of a working ranch, Adest has partnered both locally (through tours and workshops) and nationally (through organizations like Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife) to model these practices. “We work cooperatively to create and install habitat improvement, grazing improvement, water quality improvement – fixes, if you will,” says Adest, which begin here at his own River Ridge Ranch. “Imagine the idea of one little institute causing federal institutions to take a second look at their regulations. I don’t think that happens very often.”

“We work cooperatively to create and install habitat improvement, grazing improvement, water quality improvement – fixes, if you will.”

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Like any good ecologist knows, the small can impact the large, so during the spring, the Institute is offering its Trout in the Classroom program for third through seventh graders. By partnering with local Kaweah Fly Fishers and the California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, students learn embryology by raising trout eggs in temperature-controlled tanks. Once the trout have grown, students release the fish into the north fork of Tule River. The institute also offers a hands-on, how-to workshop about techniques for watershed management and preventing soil erosion. Adest hopes his stream and restoration workshop, which will be offered in October 2016, can be repeated throughout the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. As Adest puts it, “We’re all faced with the current circumstances that we’ve inherited from past circumstances.” It falls on us to take care of what we’ve been given. • River Ridge Institute • (559) 539-0207 www.riverridgeinstitute.org

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PRONG RETIPPING FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH PURCHASE

697 S Plano St, Porterville • (559) 781-3487

LOCALS

| BY FACHE DESROCHERS | PHOTOS: BRITTANY WILBUR

24 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

T H E L O C K E FA M I LY ’ S T O P O ’ T H E M O R N FA R M S AS A GENERAL RULE, people tend to think of nostalgia and practicality as incompatible. One is form, and one is function. One prioritizes aesthetics, and one holds ease of use and return on investment as the highest law. Essentially, nostalgia is the flighty artist and practicality is the rigid technician, and never the twain shall meet. Until they do. And when you think about it, whether it’s a machine that is both beautiful and efficient, or an idea that appeals both to the heart and the mind, the greatest triumphs in innovation are nearly always the result of a successful marriage between form and function. For the Locke family, form and function come together in the eye of a perfect storm that hovers right over their dairy, Top O’ the Morn Farms, which specializes in the oldfashioned method of farm-to-table dairy delivery. Not only was it an appealing, nostalgic idea for the Lockes to bring the milkman back from near-obsolescence, but it also made undeniable business sense. At the top of this list of practical pros are the many benefits of the use of glass. “We are able to reuse our bottles about 24 times each, so it’s a very sustainable container,” says owner and operator Ron Locke. “And glass truly is a quality package. It really preserves the flavor of whatever you put in it.” Locke is one half of the couple who have opted for a fresh take on a return to basics. He and his wife Evie boast long-standing family dairy pedigrees, and were both motivated to depart from the usual big-ag pursuits of most Central Valley farms in favor of a smaller operation that would afford them a greater hand in the quality control of their product. As one of the only farmstead dairies in California, the Lockes felt uniquely placed to experiment with returning to this more localized method of dairy distribution. “We’re a farmstead, which means that our cows, our bottling plant and our home are all on our dairy,” explains Locke. Farmsteading has a lot of implications, but for consumers, the main takeaway is that the Lockes’ dedication to living with and overseeing every part of their dairy production process means one thing: uncommon quality.

The usual dairy process sees milk pumped from cows into a tank, then onto a truck, then into a silo at a processing plant where it is combined with milk from other dairies – all before it has even begun to be processed. “Which isn’t to say that that makes the milk undesirable at all, but it will inevitably lose some of that clean, crisp taste that fresh milk has,” clarifies Locke. “Our milk goes directly from the barn to a processing tank to a bottle, so it’s handled as little as possible. And that, plus our extremely natural fortification process, really seems to make a wonderful difference in the taste.” Although there exists a wide world of dairy products, the Lockes are purists, and prefer to focus on honing their expertise in producing the finest milk and butter. But as a delivery service, they also realize that they have a unique opportunity to offer other local products to their customers. “We have locally roasted coffee beans, vintage cheese made in Traver, honey from Terra Bella, pastries from independent Valley bakers, and we’re adding new inventory all the time. It’s important for us to support our local farmers whenever we can,” Locke says. Although their heart is with their community, the folks at Top O’ The Morn are shrewd enough to realize the importance of a larger test market – particularly as a tick on their quality control checklist. “We use dairy competitions to try and measure our standards against what other dairies are doing,” says Locke. Top O’ the Morn regularly competes – and holds its own – at events around the country. “Wisconsin’s World Dairy Expo is the biggest dairy competition certainly in North America, but probably the world,” says Locke. “And we have won the open division three years in a row with our milk. So it seems that if we can win there, we can truly feel confident in our quality.” Top O’ the Morn Farms is an example of what happens when the nostalgic love of a product meets the capabilities of modern technology. And for Locke, the pursuit of simple quality is the best reward. “We have our cows, we care for them, we have control over the use of the milk they give us, and the way we distribute it,” says Locke. “Honestly, it’s nothing fancy. Just old-school techniques of the simplest, freshest ingredients possible.” • Top O’ the Morn Farms • (559) 688-7515 Drive thru: 1421 E. Prosperity Ave., Tulare • (559) 687-1757 6 am-8 pm • www.farmfreshmilk.com Find them on Facebook and Instagram

Fache Desrochers is a writer, photographer and artist. Her work can be viewed at fachedesrochers.com.

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 25

Find the perfect gift at Embellish & Restore | 115 N. West Street in Downtown Visalia | 559-901-3037 Monday-Friday 10am-530pm | Saturday 10am-4pm

â&#x20AC;&#x153;WILDâ&#x20AC;? Spring Mini Sessions March 19-20

Freida Photography by Tamara Orth visit www.freidacalifornia.com for more info.

Hometown Emporium

For the taste you’ll remember, and the gift you won’t forget

Kristy Alves Owner

Cassi Alves Manager

Established 1996

*Full Service Bakery *Breakfast/Lunch *Catering *Wedding Cakes *Gift Baskets

Stop by and get your latte, cappuccino, iced or blended coffee today. Get your reward card and after 4 coffees you get your 5th free!

145 E. Pine Street Exeter 559-592-1250

Hours Monday - Friday 7a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. www.hometownemporiumexeter.com

Cassandra’s on Pine owned and operated by Hometown Emporium

*Private Parties *Lunch Meetings *Wedding Showers *Baby Showers *Birthday Parties

592-1250 • 165 East Pine Street, Exeter www.hometownemporiumexeter.com

MAD ABOUT MARCH STEP UP YOUR APPETIZER GAME

Vintage Cheese Co. aged sheeps milk Manchego and flavorful Armstrong Olives

Dairy Goddess naked fromage blanc farmstead cheese layered beneath Top of the Hill pomegranate jalapeño jam

Staffords Chocolates Almond Brittle is buttery with a mouthwatering toffee flavor

Staffords white chocolate includes a delicate chocolate aroma and flavor, with a rich cream color and cocoa butter-based, whole milk coating

Plano Jerky Spicy Pepper & Garlic jerky seasoned with an array of spices including garlic, onion and black pepper, with a hint of brown sugar

OUR PRODUCTS T ELL STOR IE S.

505 W. Center Avenue, Visalia • (559) 901-3513 Monday-Friday 10am-5:30pm • Saturday 10am-4pm • Enjoy the Store Visalia

• @enjoythestorevisalia

Take a DIY Workshop at Embellish & Restore March 5 at 9am – Chalk Paint® Workshop Bring a small piece of furniture to paint and learn the correct steps of using Chalk Paint® and Annie Sloan Wax March 10 at 5:30pm – Macramé 101 + Succulent Arrangement Learn how to make a macrame plant hanger and a succulent arrangement to pair with it March 13 at 1pm – Paint Your Cabinets using Chalk Paint® Bring a few cabinet doors to paint and learn all the necessary steps to refresh your cabinets

Embellish & Restore | 115 N. West Street in Downtown Visalia | 559-901-3037 www. embellilshandrestore.blogspot.com I www.chalkpaint.com | embellish.restore@yahoo.com

Perfect Pairings GOOD TIMES

| BY JORDAN VENEMA

I G N I T I N G TA S T E B U D S AT D O W N T O W N V I S A L I A’ S W I N E WA L K

THE DOWNTOWN VISALIA WINE WALK comes to Main Street for its fifth year on April 7. But don’t be fooled by the shortened title. Though no longer called the Wine and Cheese Walk, guests will actually get more from their walk, not less. Downtown Visalians Events and Membership Manager Christi Metzner explains they changed the name “because we’re going to have cheese, olive oil, and chocolate.” And with all those additions to this year’s walk, the full title would have been a mouthful.4 continued on page 30

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 29

GOOD TIMES

The Wine Walk has proven to be one of downtown Visalia’s more popular events, which sold out last year’s 700 tickets. Expecting its popularity to continue, organizers are selling 800 tickets this year, and raising the number of participating stores from 26 to 30, which translates to more wine, more cheese, more fun. The Wine Walk is a pretty straightforward concept, if not a straightforward route between stops. For $35 (price per ticket jumps to $40 after March 27), guests receive a lanyard and pass that can be worn around the neck – to free hands for wine and cheese, obviously. The event begins at the Fox Theater, where participants will be given an empty glass. “All the locations and wineries will be listed on your ticket,” explains Metzner, though tickets do not reveal in which stores the wineries will be found. “You have to figure that out,” says Metzner. “So if you have a favorite wine, you have to go in and out of every store until you find it.” Think of it like a scavenger hunt for adults, where everybody wins, even when they don’t exactly find what they’re looking for. The purpose of the event, other than enjoying good treats, is to encourage Visalians to experience stores that may have flown under their radar. “A lot of times, we’ll walk right past a store and not realize what’s inside,” Metzner says. Plus, events like the Wine Walk benefit local shop owners, who’ve relayed to Metzner that other than Christmas, the Wine Walk is their best day for sales. “I think when you drink a little bit, you don’t think about it as much,” Metzner says with a laugh. New participants include Sierra Bicycle Werks and a downtown tattoo parlor, joining regulars Browns and Pacific Treasures. There will be many participating wineries, but chocolate wine truffles will be supplied by Stafford Chocolates of Porterville, and infused olive oils will be provided by Bari Olive Oil. “The cheese comes from different companies,” explains Metzner, and will be paired with wines, which can be found in every shop. Many stores supply their own food: some appetizers, others a full spread.

30 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

Other than the wine and food, the event will include live music by guitarist AC Myles, and for the footsore, the downtown trolley will be rolling to pick up and drop off passengers between locations. Some proceeds from the event will be donated, while the remainder will go back into maintaining the downtown area – to take care of things that are often overlooked or taken for granted. Says Metzner, “When you’re walking around, you’re not noticing all the buildings, and all the lighting, and every little detail that goes on, and the money raised just helps maintain all of that.” Also, says Metzner with certainty, “We have one of the best downtowns in Visalia.” That businesses return each year eager to

| BY JORDAN VENEMA

participate, and guests are always respectful – “it brings in a really good crowd of people,” says Metzner – might just prove her point. • Downtown Visalia Wine Walk April 7, 5:30-8:30pm www.DowntownVisalia.com For tickets, call (559) 732-7737

“ WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST DOWNTOWNS IN VISALIA... IT BRINGS IN A REALLY GOOD CROWD OF PEOPLE.” 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.

THURS DAY, AP RIL 7, 2 016 $35 - $ 40 5:30 - 8 :30PM

in c l u d es

a com m emorative 2016 win e gl a ss

WE ARE CRAFT. pitakabob.com

/pitakabob

@pitakabob

/pitakabob

I’m back to work! PRO-PT helped me regain my strength and flexibility after surgery so I could get back to work.

Terry O’Dell

VISALIA 1870 S. Central St. Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 636-1200 P (559) 636-1260 F

TULARE 1132 E. Leland Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 684-0611 P (559) 684-0612 F

EXETER 134 South E Street Exeter, CA 93221 (559) 592-9000 P (559) 592-9001 F

LINDSAY (at the Wellness Center) 860 Sequoia St. Suite A Lindsay, CA 93247 (559) 562-9040 P (559) 562-9045 F

PORTERVILLE 368 W. Olive Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 (559) 782-1501 P (559) 782-8528 F

www.pro-pt.net • www.facebook.com/proptphysicaltherapy

DINUBA 1401 W. El Monte Way Ste. 107 Dinuba, CA 93618 (559) 315-5203 P (559) 315-5180 F

INSPIRATION

| BY JORDAN VENEMA

LANGUAGE OF LOVE MAKING MUSIC WITH PIANIST GINA LENEÉ EARLIER THIS YEAR, GINA LENEÉ returned to the bench, placed her fingers on the keys, and in front of an audience, did what came naturally. The pianist and composer had taken something of a break from performing – though not from her music – and for the first time since 2012, she returned to the stage to play her original work. The January 15 performance, which benefitted the Art of Life Cancer Foundation, was the first concert (of that size) for Leneé since 2012, when she performed her album “Under the Same Sky” at Fresno’s Tower Theatre. Since then, she has taken a hiatus from performances, preferring to focus on family, though since her youngest child has left the nest, Leneé is returning to the stage to speak a language too familiar. Her music, she says, “is my way to express myself when words aren’t enough.” “I grew up in a very musical family,” she says. Her father played guitar at church, her mother sang, and her brother is a multi-instrumentalist. Leneé may never have learned to read music – which she somewhat regrets – but she is able to play by ear. It’s something of a disadvantage when sitting down to play with other musicians who do read music, she says, but “If I listen to it, I can play it.” Leneé is not a classically trained pianist, excepting those first few years of lessons as a child, but her musical affinity allows her to transform her moods directly into song. She calls her music genre “fluid,” ranging from traumatic to passionate and cinematic, but all directly connected to specific moods, something which can’t necessarily be translated by the notes on a music sheet. Though she’s recently taken a break, music has been a full-time pursuit for Leneé “for, oh gosh, maybe 15 years.” She has written and released five albums, but things really began to “take off” for Leneé in 2010. “I decided to combine the two things that are so close to my heart, really at the core of who I am – helping others and my music,” explains Leneé. With a background in nonprofit fundraising, Leneé has worked with hospitals and organizations like California’s Wish Upon a Star, promoting their cause through music. “I have a heart of a servant to make the community a better place, and the hands of a musician, a pianist.”4 continued on page 34

32 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 33

Like two notes harmonizing into a chord, Leneé took those two passions and brought them together, performing various concerts to benefit different nonprofits. Not only would she donate ticket proceeds to that particular organization, “but I want to be able to magnify their voice in the community about what they do.” Leneé’s 2012 Tower Theatre performance was a fundraiser for Break the Barrier, but the benefit concert was much more than a straightforward piano performance. Knowing there would likely be audience members with hearing impairment, Leneé created a multisensory project “to express the story behind every song through lyrical dance.” She collaborated with Visalia Dance Company Altered Modalities to create original choreography to complement her music, so “even with auditory challenges, people could see the story come to life.” Leneé returned to the studio in January, where she was working on a new album and single, the latter which she wrote for the Art of Life Cancer Foundation. “It speaks to new beginnings. Every day is new,” says Leneé, whose mother and two aunts also had breast cancer. Beyond the personal connection, Leneé is excited to support Art of Life because of the foundations method of working with patients. “It’s bringing the arts into healing,” she explains. “They encourage their cancer patients to really connect and discover the healing properties of art during their journey.” The City of Fresno has donated three acres of space in Woodward Park, which the foundation will use to create an Art of Life garden, “a place to reflect, a quiet place,” and Leneé plans to perform at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Leneé’s next concert is Friday, April 1 at the Valley Music Center, where she will perform traditional hymns. Donations will benefit the Woodward Park Baptist Church youth group’s mission trip to Mexico. At 6pm on Saturday, April 2, Leneé will perform original music and covers at The Palms Restaurant in Fresno, (559) 438-0500. Tickets begin at $25, which can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com or at The Palms restaurant. As for her music, which she’s continually writing, she hopes “it touches people, and I hope it helps them reflect on their life.”• www.ginalenee.com • Find her on Facebook

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.

34 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

lobal Village

Birdhouse Auction

Habitat for Humanity’s 11th Annual Birdhouse Auction Friday, April 1st, 2016 6:30-10:00pm at the Wyndham Hotel Wine tasting, appetizers, custom-made birdhouses, live and silent auction!

Call Habitat at 734-4040, email info@hfhtc.org or check out the website at www.hfhtc.org LIKE-Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County PROCEEDS BENEFIT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GUESTS MUST BE 21+ WITH VALID ID

183 North Main Street, Porterville • 559.781.2575 #soglovelygifts

ENJOY THE VIEW

| PHOTO: RALPH CHOJNACKI

36 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

VALLEY OF GREEN, EXETER FOOTHILLS OF YOKOHL VALLEY Photo taken with a smart phone

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wis., Ralph Chojnacki has lived in Visalia for 35 years. “Just as owning a keyboard does not make you a writer, having expensive equipment does not make you a photographer. I feel photography is 90 percent observation and 10 percent using the tools you have to capture it.” MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 37

WHAT’S COOKIN’

| BY LANA GRANFORS | PHOTO: KARA STEWART

March Recipe

We all love connecting with friends. It may be going to a movie, having fun at a party or laughing over dinner. One of my favorite ways to catch up with a group of former coworkers is to meet at dinner. We all love Thai food, so we made it easy to pick our dinner of choice and started meeting at a local Thai restaurant, calling it our “Thai One On” night. Characterized by refreshing seasonings and spicy flavors, Thai dishes usually include ingredients like garlic, lime

38 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

juice, lemongrass, chilies, coconut, peanut, ginger, and fish sauce or shrimp paste. With this recipe, the Thai flavor combinations aren’t as complex, but still tantalize the senses. This salad is easy, delicious and perfect for lunch or dinner. Experiment with this recipe and add your own touch with other Thai ingredients. Call your friends over for this one!

Enjoy!

THAI CHICKEN AND NOODLE SALAD INGREDIENTS 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 3 T olive oil 6 oz. uncooked whole wheat pasta, fettuccine or spaghetti 2 large carrots, julienned ¹⁄³ cup chunky peanut butter 3 T honey 3 T lime juice 2 tsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. ground ginger 2 minced garlic cloves 2 tsp. rice vinegar 2 tsp. sesame oil Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes 3 cup shredded Chinese or Napa cabbage 4 lime wedges ¾ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro ¼ cup chopped peanuts ¼ cup thin red pepper strips, cut into halves ¼ cup slivered green onion

DIRECTIONS STEP 1: Cut chicken breasts into one-inch pieces. Heat the oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook and stir chicken in hot oil about 5-8 minutes until chicken is browned on the outside and no longer pink in center. Remove to a platter and allow it to cool. STEP 2: Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the julienned carrots during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time. STEP 3: While pasta is cooking, combine peanut butter, honey, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil and pepper flakes in medium bowl until blended and smooth. STEP 4: Drain pasta and carrots and place in large serving bowl. Add cabbage and chicken, and toss with enough dressing to coat. STEP 5: Squeeze a bit of lime on top and add cilantro, chopped peanuts, pepper strips and green onions.

PREP: 20 MINUTES COOK: 22-25 MINUTES TOTAL: 42-45 MINUTES

Lana Granfors enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking and spending time with her friends and family– especially her grandchildren, Jillian and Garet.

LOVE OUR RECIPES? Come into Enjoy the Store (Visalia, Redding or Red Bluff ) each month and ask for your FREE recipe card.

ING RE DIE

ICKEN THAI CH

NT S

4 boneles s skinless D chicken brea LA T oliv S3 A e oil sts 6 oz. uncook ed whole or spaghe wheat pas tti ta, fettucc ine 2 large carr ots, julienne ¹⁄³ cup chu d nky peanut 3 T honey butter 3 T lime juic e 2 tsp. soy sau 1 tsp. ground ce ginger 2 minced garlic clov es 2 tsp. rice vinegar 2 tsp. ses ame Pinch of crus oil 3 cup shre hed red pepper flak dde es 4 lime wed d Chinese or Nap a cabbag ges e ¾ cup coa rsely cho pped fres ¼ cup cho h cilantro pped pea nuts ¼ cup thin red pepper ¼ cup slive strips, cut red green into halves onion

DLE AND NOO

March Recipe 2016

PRE P: 20 min CO OK : 22- ute s 25 min ute TOTAL: 42- 45 min s ute s

GRANF ORS RECIPE BY LANA

STEWA RT | PHOTO : KARA

DIRECTION

STEP 1: Cut chicken bre oil in larg asts into e skil one-inch pieces. Hea and stir chic let over medium -high hea t the ken in hot t until hot is browne oil about . Cook d on the outside and 5-8 minutes until Remove to chicken a platter and allow no longer pink in center. it to cool. STEP 2: Coo adding the k pasta accord ing julienned of cooking carrots dur to package directio time. ing the last ns, 2-3 minute s STEP 3: Wh honey, lime ile pasta is cooking , juice, soy oil and pep sauce, ging combine peanut but er, per flakes ter, smooth. in medium garlic, vinegar, ses ame bowl unt il blended and STEP 4: Dra in pasta and bowl. Add carrots and cabbage place in larg dressing and chic e serving ken, and to coat. toss with enough STEP 5: Squeeze a bit of lime chopped peanuts, pepper stri on top and add cila ps and gre en onions. ntro,

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 39 THAI C

LE SALAD ING OD ODIE NRE N D4 bon NT S HICKEN A eless skin less chicken 3 T olive oil breasts 6 oz. uncook

DIREC

SPOTLIGHT

MARCH 2016

in the march spotlight FROM FOOD TO FUN, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY Antiques & Collectibles Fair

FresYes Fest

(CLOVIS)

(FRESNO)

OLD TOWN CLOVIS MARCH 20 | 7:30 PM

A biannual event with more than 90 dealers who will assemble their antiques and collectibles. A variety of vendors offer a plethora of items: colorful jewelry, pots, pans, toys, books, old magazines, records, musical instruments, Army memorabilia, furniture, glassware, clothes and much more. Free appraisals are offered by Kathy Osterberg-Sobelman from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm. For more information, visit www.oldtownclovis.org.

St Patrick’s Day Parade

(VISALIA )

DOWNTOWN VISALIA MARCH 12 | 10 AM - 1 PM

Spring Kids Fest

(HANFORD )

HIDDEN VALLEY PARK MARCH 19 | NOON - 3:30 PM

Join the parks and recreation department for its second annual spring kids fest celebration. Admission wristband price includes: bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo, trackless trains rides, rock wall, reptile show, food and info booths, local performances and photos with characters. Purchase child’s (ages 2 - 12) wristband at the parks and recreation office. For more information, visit www.active.com/hanford-ca/classes/ kids-fest-wristband-spring-2016.

19 40 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

TIOGA SEQUOIA BREWING COMPANY MARCH 26 | NOON - 11 PM

Join the festivities of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Visalia beginning in front of The Enchanted Playhouse. The parade will feature marching bands, prancing horses, floats, community groups and more in their St. Patty’s Day best. For more information, visit www.visaliabreakfastlions.org/event/st-patricks-day-parade.

Join us as we celebrate another great year of brewing beer and celebrate everything great in Fresno with beer, live music, food trucks and great people. Music by Let’s Go Bowling with AC Myles, 51 ACES and Cloudship. Food by Dusty Buns Bistro, Benaddiction LLC, El Premio Mayor, La Elegante, Meltdown Bistro, Taste Kitchen, LoCAvoria559: Flat Bottom Grills, RawFresno.com, Lumpia Hut, Cowboy Shaman, Jays Specialty Ice Cream and Bosca Wood-Fired Pizza. For more information, visit www.foodona.com/fresno-fresyes-fest2016-tioga-sequoia-brewing-company.

26 South Valley Artists’ Studio Tour

Rocky Hill Triathlon

(TULARE COUNTY)

EXETER HIGH SCHOOL MARCH 6 | 8 AM-NOON

Over the course of three days, numerous Tulare County artists will open their personal studio doors to the public, demonstrating their individual creative processes and sharing different phases and facets of their work. For more information, visit www.artsconsortium.org/svast.

(EXETER)

The second annual Rocky Hill Triathlon includes a fun and challenging course to push you to new limits. Race day features two distances: a sprint distance and an Olympic distance, both of which are USAT sanctioned. For more informaiton, visit: www.active.com/ exeter-ca/triathlon/ races/rocky-hilltriathlon-2016.

MARCH 18, 19, 20 | 10 AM

CALENDAR

Clovis

March 5, 12, 19, 26

• Old Town Clovis Farmers’ Market, 521 Pollasky Ave., 8:30-11 am, (559) 298-5774, www.oldtownclovis.org March 19 • Spring Into Your Garden Festival, Clovis Botanical Garden, 9 am-2 pm March 20 • Antique & Collectibles Fair, Old Town Clovis, 8 am-4 pm

Coarsegold March 12

• 3rd Annual Handmade Craft/Art Fair, Coarsegold Community Center, 9 am-3 pm

Dinuba

March 9 • Good Morning Dinuba, 8 am March 26 • Library for London 5K & Kid’s 1, 8:30 am www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/Dinuba/ Library4London Exeter March 5 • March Madness Market, Church of Christ 320 E. Firebaugh, 10 am March 6 • 2016 Rocky Hill Triathlon, 8 am-noon, www.rockyhilltriathlon.com March 24 • Exeter Friends of the NRA Annual Dinner, Exeter Memorial Building, 7 pm March 27 • Kiwanis Club Easter Pancake Breakfast, Exeter Memorial Building, 7 am

Fresno

March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • Vineyard Farmers’ Market, Blackstone & Shaw, 3-6 pm, www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com March 2 • In the Mood: A 1940s Musical, Tower Theatre, 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm showings March 2 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 • Carthop: Local Arts, Local Eats, Local Music, The Fulton Mall at Merced, 11 am-2 pm, www.downtownfresno.org March 3-6, 10-13 • Good Company Players presents: 9 to 5, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre, www.rogerrockas.com March 4, 11, 18, 25 • Live Jazz at the Standard, The Standard, 6-8 pm, www.standardfresno.com March 7 • Hunter Valentine’s “So Long for Now Tour,” Audie’s Olympic, 7 pm, (559) 233-3733 March 11 - 19 • Malpractice, or Love’s the Best Doctor, The Woods Theatre Fresno State, www.fresnostate.edu March 12 • Tapped Brew Fest Fresno, Fresno Fairgrounds, 7-10 pm March 15 - 16 • Ragtime, Saroyan Theatre, 7:30 pm March 17 • [Modern] Classic Film: The Big Lebowski, Warnors Center for the Performing Arts, 6-9:30 pm March 17 - 31 • Good Company Players presents: The Little Mermaid, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre, www.rogerrockas.com March 19 • Touch-a-Truck Fresno, 1744 E. Nees, 11 am - 2 pm • Altan: The Hottest Group in the Celtic Realm, Tower Theatre, 7:30 pm March 26 • FresYes Fest, Tioga - Sequoia Brewing Company March 31 • Marlon Wayans, Warnors Center for the Performing Arts, 8 pm

Hanford

March 11 • 5th Annual Everybody’s Irish, Downtown Hanford, 6-9 pm March 19 • Spring Kids Fest, Hidden Valley Park, 11 am-3:30 pm March 26 • Citizen/Business of the Year Banquet, Hanford Civic Auditorium, 6-9 pm Porterville March 4 • Chamber’s Auction and Dinner: Havana Nights, Veterans Memorial Building, 6-10 pm March 5 • Zonta Evening of Art and Wine, Nuckols Ranch, 6-9 pm

Reedley

March 4 - 18 • Reedley River City Theatre presents: Anything Goes, www.reedleyrivercitytheatre.org

Sanger

March 5 • City of Sanger Blossom Trail 10K, 7 am • Annual Blossom Days Festival and Car Show, Downtown Sanger at 7th and N Street, 9 am-4 pm

Selma

March 19 • Dave Aguallo & Mariachi Universal, Selma Arts Center, 7:30 pm Three Rivers March 5 • 1st Saturday in Three Rivers: Find Your Heart, 11 am-5 pm March 12 • Francesca de Pascuale, violin, Community Presbyterian Church, 7 pm March 12 • Bird Banding, Eastman Nature Center, 9 am-noon www.threeriversparks.org March 16 • Walk with a Photographer, Silverwood Park, 8-9 am www.threeriversparks.org March 19 • Bird Banding, Lowry Nature Center, 9 am-noon www.threeriversparks.org March 20 • Raptors in the Yard, Lowry Nature Center, 2-4 pm www.threeriversparks.org March 26 • Annual Picnic and Bathtub Race at Lake Kaweah, Lake Kaweah Recreation Center, 11 am-4 pm, (559) 561-4270 Tulare March 12 • Flower Arranging Class, The Gardens at Tulare, 10 am March 19 • Spring’s Sweetly Scented Herbs with Kathy Stevens (RSVP), The Gardens at Tulare, 10 am March 24 • Kids’ Easter Craft (RSVP), The Gardens at Tulare, 10 am Visalia March 1 • Visalia Rescue Mission’s 7th Annual Empty Bowls, VRM Community Center, 5:30-7:30 pm March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • Farmers’ Market at Quail Park, Quail Park Retirement Village, 10:30 am-1:30 pm March 2 -25 • Paintings by Paul Busman, Arts Visalia, www.artsvisalia.org March 3 • Q Commons: How to thoughtfully engage our city and our cultural movement, Pipeline Church Linda Loma Ranch Campus, 7 - 9 pm, Qcommons.com/Visalia March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 • Thursday night Downtown Farmers’ Market 5pm at Church St. & Main St. www.visaliafarmersmarket.com

MARCH 2016

March 4 • Tulare County Office of Ed Teacher’s Fair, Visalia Convention Center, 9 am-3 pm March 5 • California Native American Culture and Resource Fair, 1401 W. Caldwell Ave., 10 am-3 pm • Imagine U’s Dreambuilder’s Bash Masquerade, Visalia Country Club, 6 pm, www.imagineumuseum.org March 6 • Rusty Roots Show: Vintage Market, Sears Parking Lot, 10 am-4 pm, www.rustyrootsshow.com March 11 - 20 • The King and I, COS Theatre Arts March 12 • St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Downtown Visalia, 10 am • Visalia Irish Fest: A Celebration of Craft Beer, Visalia Rawhide Ballpark, 1-5 pm March 19 • The Looking Glass Crafter’s Fair, 242 E. Caldwell, 10 am-4 pm March 29 • Pizza with a Purpose, The Planning Mill, -8 pm www.vrmhope.org

Ice House Theatre

visaliaplayers.org March 17, 18, 19, 20

• Top of the Evenin’ to Ye — A Cabaret Tachi Palace Casino March 31 • REO Speedwagon, 7:30 pm

Visalia Fox Theatre

March 9 • Classic Flicks at the Fox: The Quiet Man, 7:30 pm March 10 • In the Mood: A 1940s Musical, 7:30 pm March 19 • Tulare County Symphony presents: Locals Nights, 7:30 pm March 23 • The Reunion Beatles tribute band, 7 pm

RaboBank Arena - Bakersfield

March 12 • Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 pm March 13 • 106.1 Spring Fling featuring Cage the Elephant, 7 pm March 25 • Slayer, 7:30 pm

Save Mart Center - Fresno

March 5 • TobyMac: Hits Deep Tour, 7 pm March 11 • 104.1 Spring Fling featuring Cage the Elephant, 7 pm March 26 • Justin Bieber Purpose World Tour 2016, 7:30 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.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE CALENDAR! Please visit www.enjoysouthvalley.com or email infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine. net to post your calendar events. If you’d like your event to be listed in this section of Enjoy magazine, it must be posted on our website or emailed by the 5th of the month—one month prior to the next magazine issue. For example, an April event will need to post by March 5. Thank you.

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 41

STORE FRONT

SPRING 2016

TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH, SEE... WELCOME SPRING!

Let the Adventures Begin. SOUTH VALLEY

Cracker and appetizer trays by River Water Pottery

Watercolor painted cards by Laurie Gorman

Handcrafted soaps by Believe Soap 42 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

Geometric wooden airplant holder by Pink Vespa Vintage

All natural skin care line by Lancaster Creations

Teething necklaces by Soheeshop Spreadable cheese and feta by Dairy Goddess

505 W. Center Avenue Visalia â&#x20AC;˘ (559) 901-3513 Monday-Friday 10am-5:30pm Saturday 10am-4pm Enjoy the Store Visalia @enjoythestorevisalia MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 43

CRAFTING

| STORY AND PHOTOS BY TAMARA ORTH

make some bunny happy D I Y: M E TA L L I C D E S S E R T S TA N D S

44 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

SUPPLIES

• White ceramic plates • Wooden candle holder base (available at many craft stores) • Copper gilding wax (or a metallic of your choice) • Paintbrush • Super strength glue, such as E6000

INSTRUCTIONS 1. “Paint” your wooden candle holder base with the copper gilding wax until it is completely covered. 2. Once dry, apply a good amount of the super strength glue to one of the ends of the wooden candle holder base. 3. With the plate turned upside down, attach the candle holder base glue side down onto the center of the plate. 4. Following instructions on the glue packaging, allow glue to dry for recommended time. 5. Decorate with your favorite desserts and enjoy! •

MARCH 2016 ENJOY | 45

GIVING BACK

| BY JORDAN VENEMA

more than a good laugh M A K I N G A N I M PA C T W I T H L A U G H F O R L I F E B E N E F I T

THE CARE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER’S 17th annual Laugh for Life Event promises to be, as the name suggests, a night full of both laughter and life. Jessica Warkentin, development director at the Care Pregnancy Resource Center, describes the event as “a full comedy show and catered dinner,” but when an event outgrows its 400-seat venue, one must assume there’s a lot more offered in that small descriptor. Warkentin says with a laugh, “Yeah, we were getting to the point that we had outgrown the Holiday Inn, where we had held it for the past several years.” Now that they’ve moved the show to Visalia First, they expect to host upwards of 700 guests. This year, the Resource Center has invited performer John Crist – “a clean comedian,” says Warkentin, known for his bit poking fun at the imagined and exaggerated dating rules tied to the Christian Mingle website. While Laugh for Life promises to be a lighthearted event, its purpose is serious – to continue the Resource Center’s ability to care for local women who find themselves in pregnancy crises. “A crisis pregnancy can happen to anybody,” explains Brenda Fernandes, the center’s executive director. “We’re just here to serve whoever needs our services.” Since it was established in 1983, the scope of the center has grown to include everything from pregnancy tests to counseling, as well as incentivebased parenting classes that allow its students to exchange credits for baby items, like clothes and car seats.

“We are here because we care about women,” says Fernandes. “They need to have all their options so they can make an informed decision.” The Care Pregnancy Resource Center is a faith-based nonprofit that offers women information on the options besides abortion, like adoption. “Even though we’re religious, we consider ourselves a life-affirming organization and we’re here to affirm life and not debate the politics,” Fernandes says. The Resource Center is there to help women through whatever decision they make, she says. The Laugh for Life event will also be a way for people to learn more about the center. “We will be highlighting one of our clients who is using our services,” says Warkentin. “And we believe that if we show who we are and what we do, people will want to partner with us,” adds Fernandes. Last year’s event helped the center raise about $30,000, which helped keep the center open and free to people who need its services. Warkentin hopes this year’s event will bring about $40,000, which could help the center to increase its medical scope of services to potentially include testing for sexually transmitted infections. “It’s what keeps us going,” she says, “and if we didn’t have this banquet we wouldn’t be the center that we are.” The Laugh for Life event will offer attendees an opportunity to offer donations of either money or time, but even without a donation, the event remains free – a full comedy show and dinner, catered by Fugazzi’s. Warkentin only asks people to RSVP through the center’s website. “Bottom line, it’s going to be fun,” says Warkentin. “You’re going to find out about the heart of the ministry, and what we’re here for and why we exist. Just come and enjoy a night with your friends, and it’s free.” And that, she assures, is no joke. • 17th Annual Laugh for Life • March 31, 6-8 pm Visalia First Assembly Church • 3737 S. Akers St., Visalia Care Pregnancy Resource Center • 1710 W. Walnut Ave., Visalia Monday-Thursday 10-4pm • (559) 625-5550 www.carepregnancycenter.com 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.

46 | ENJOY MARCH 2016

p o T

200 Healthiest Banks

2015

by DepositAccounts.com

Growth is good. Healthy growth is even better. In 2014, Suncrest Bank was in the top 1.5% of fastest growing banks in the country*. We’re proud of that growth, but we’re even prouder of the way we’ve grown—staying strong through good times and bad. In fact, for the second year in a row, Suncrest Bank was named one of the 200 Healthiest Banks in America by DepositAccounts.com and is one of only 49 banks in the United States to receive this distinction for two consecutive years. Suncrest Bank: where Growing is Great and Growing Strong is even better!

Visalia Branch 400 West Center Ave (559) 802-1000

Kingsburg Branch 1580 Draper Street (559) 802-1070

Yuba City Branch 700 Plumas Street (530) 674-8900

Porterville Branch 65 West Olive Ave (559) 306-1300

*based on % growth in totals assets

www.suncrestbank.com

MARCH 26-27

3737 S. Akers street visalia, ca 93277

service times sat. 5p sun 9a/10:45a/12:30p

visaliafirst