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South Valley Living
JANUARY 2017
Well Wishes
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Enjoy the magazine It’s on the house
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contents JA N UA RY 2 0 1 7 // I S S U E # 27
South Valley Living
18
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HEATHER DUMAIS’ THER APY PILLOWS
IN EV ERY ISSU E
CR A F TING
LOCA L S
25 DIY: Rope Plant Basket
6 Experience Spring Hill Ranch in Exeter 18 Corn Bag Therapy Pillows from Heather Dumais
GOOD FIN DS 9 Find a Good Read at Clovis Book Barn
IN TER EST 12 Gemboree Exeter Rock and Gem Show 15 Downtown Visalia is Transformed from Mundane to Artsy
STOR E FRON T 26 What’s in Store— Gifts for All
20 Enjoy the View— Mark Bouldoukian 22 What’s Cookin’— Breakfast Banana Oatmeal Muffins 28 Calendar of Events 30 Giving Back— Able Advocates of Fresno Aids Families with Special Needs Children
Heather Dumais’ Therapy Pillows Photo by Amber Smith
Enjoy magazine is not affiliated with JOY magazine or Bauer German Premium GmbH.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 3
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editor’s note
®
JANUARY 2017
YVONNE MAZZOTTA publisher
Happy New Year! For us, welcoming 2017 brings a sense of renewal, as we reflect on the year that’s now behind us and look forward with new vigor to the exciting challenges ahead. Meet Dan and Peggy Dunklee, who overcame the odds when they opened the Book Barn in downtown Clovis and proved that finding a niche is a recipe for success. Bibliophiles relish the treasures found within their walls, and the Dunklees invite you to grab a book, make yourself comfortable and stay a while. CHAD SMITH Speaking of gems, the Tule Gem and Mineral Society by Amber Smith can’t wait to show off an impressive assortment of jewelry, games, rocks and minerals during the annual Gemboree. Learn to wire-wrap, paint a fossil or buy a grab bag full of rocks and see what you find. Are you overdue for some rejuvenation after the whirlwind holiday season? A fitness and relaxation retreat at Spring Hill Ranch in Exeter incorporates elements of healthy living and active lifestyle, and Lilly Hart delights in creating a holistic experience that is unique to each guest. Or you can take some relaxation home with you, thanks to Heather Dumais’ Sacred Space Aromatherapy, which hand-makes therapy pillows that customers swear work like magic. The next time you’re in downtown Visalia, you may notice something unusual – ordinary items like trash enclosures and electrical boxes have been turned into colorful art pieces, thanks to Urban Artworks. It’s a reminder that even the mundane can become beautiful with a little love and attention. And you’ll be inspired by Katrina Oh, who turned her child’s medical condition into hope for other families facing the same fear and uncertainty. Today, Able Advocates provides connections and resources to parents in unknown territory. “Giving back is huge, and I couldn’t see another family go through the torture that I went through,” Oh says. We hope you are diving into 2017 with a rejuvenated mind, body and soul. Enjoy!
MICHELLE ADAMS publisher
5
SOUTH VALLEY LIVING
RONDA ALVEY editor-in-chief KERRI REGAN copy editor KENDRA KAISERMAN marketing & sales assistant JERED MILLER STEPHANIE GIMLIN MARY GENDRON MICHELLE ADAMS contributing graphic designers MONICA FATICA consultant VALERI BARNES advertising sales representative KELLY DADA advertising sales representative ALEX PUJOL WILLIAM MCCAFFERTY JOSH LOPEZ DADRIEN KEENE 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
THINGS WE ENJOYED WHILE MAKING THIS ISSUE...
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COFFEE. COFFEE. DID WE MENTION COFFEE? MULTIPLE CUPS FROM MULTIPLE SHOPS IS A MUST DURING DEADLINE.
NEW BEGINNINGS. FRESH STARTS. WE LOVE KNOWING WE CAN SET A NEW TONE FOR THE NEW YEAR!
SWEET TREATS FROM HAPPY CUSTOMERS... THESE ALSO MAKE FOR A MUCH HAPPIER DEADLINE.
4 WORKING WITH AMAZING PEOPLE WHO GO THE EXTRA MILE. NOT EVERYONE CAN SAY THEY’VE GOT PEOPLE LIKE THAT ON THEIR TEAM, BUT WE CAN!
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© 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.
LEARNING ABOUT THE THINGS PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES DO IN THEIR AREAS TO MAKE THEIR COMMUNITIES BETTER.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 5
LOCALS | BY JORDAN VENEMA | PHOTOS: MICHELLE SMEE
ballerina cowgirl EXPERIENCE SPRING HILL RANCH IN EXETER
THE FIRST THING you should know: don’t call it a spa. Lilly Hart explains, “To me, that indicates somebody who wants to come and be indulged.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but the retreats offered by Hart at Spring Hill Ranch in Exeter are intended to incorporate elements of healthy living and an active lifestyle. “That’s what I want to do: make a fitness and relaxation retreat for women in the valley that’s affordable, so we can have a place that, I would argue, has a world-class trainer and dancer, and that’s in a natural environment,” says Hart. Hart isn’t only a certified yoga and dance and Pilates instructor, though. The third-generation Exeter native had a professional dancing career in Las Vegas, where she also operated a horse ranch in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon. Just call her the Ballerina
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Cowgirl. “I love Vegas because it’s a cowboy town and a dance town, so it was the perfect place for me,” she says. At 65 years young, Hart admits, “I thought this time of my life wouldn’t be this exciting.” Even after 25 years of dancing in Vegas, having moved back to Exeter seven years ago, Hart hasn’t missed a step. Drawing on her experience and desire to continue an active lifestyle, five years ago, she began offering fitness and relaxation retreats at her Spring Hill Ranch. Hart has a long history of teaching yoga – more than 40 years, she says. “I taught ballet and yoga and Pilates at the University of Nevada for 20 years, and I have two degrees from there: a Bachelor of Science in dance education and a Bachelor of Arts in dance performance. I even created a program there in the late ‘80s called Ballet Fit.”
Hart now brings her expertise to a very different environment from the bright lights of the Vegas Strip, though the setting is no less spectacular. Nestled in the foothills with a wide view of the Sierra Nevadas, Hart invites guests to Spring Hill to stretch or ride or dance or swim in the solitude and privacy of a natural setting. Hart describes the ranch as “natural, very organic. We have our own chickens, and garden, and beef, and I make breakfast, and I encourage people to go and explore.” “The reason this place is called Spring Hill,” she continues, “is because there are natural springs when it rains, and we converted our pool into a pond, like a lake with a concrete bottom that fresh water flows through all the time.” It’s all part of a holistic lifestyle that Hart wants to encourage, without charging typical spa rates. “We do individual and private fitness retreats,” says Hart. “Half-day, full-day, overnight and weekends. You can be fit and healthy and engaged in this world no matter what your age. Our lifestyle today is making us sick, and it doesn’t have to be that way.” One end of the spectrum is the half-day retreat for $125, with guests receiving a massage and fitness class of their choice. At the other end is the overnight retreat for $295, which includes lunch or dinner, and breakfast, two classes and a massage.
Classes range from kettle bells to Pilates, and aqua aerobics to yoga. Hart also raises Missouri Fox Trotter horses and created “a program that I call equine enrichment therapy, which basically uses the horse to explore different areas of your life that you feel you need to have a better handle on.” Spring Hill Ranch currently has a small studio, though Hart is building a larger studio that “will have most gym equipment, all the Pilates equipment, a beautiful yoga and dance studio with a deck all the way around it so we can do yoga outside.” Inside or outside, the choice belongs to the guest. The point besides a healthy, holistic workout is to create a retreat that is unique and specialized to each individual guest. Also, something nearby, “so when someone comes for a half day, she can take a hike with me, get a massage, take a class, and then be home in time for dinner.” • Spring Hill Ranch • 31359 Dahlem Drive, Exeter (559) 589-4143 • www.lillyhart.com 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-year old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan.venema@gmail.com.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 7
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GOOD FINDS
StorIes Stories
| BY JORDAN VENEMA
OF
F I N D A G O O D R E A D AT C LO V I S B O O K B A R N TIMING CAN BE EVERYTHING, but it wasn’t everything for investors in 1928, a year before the market crashed, or for new homeowners in 2006, a year before the bubble burst. Signposts suggest that another bad-timing move would have been to open a used bookstore in the early 21st century, right as technology threatened to put print to rest, but that didn’t stop Dan and Peggy Dunklee from opening Book Barn in downtown Clovis. “The Internet was just starting to take off and most bookstores went out of business because they couldn’t make the transition,” Dan says. “The only way that you could really stay in business was to embrace the Internet and use it. So a lot of bookstores either closed or went
online, but we’ve always been a little contrary, so as other stores closed, we decided to open.” Technology can never replace the experience of the senses, like the sound of a turning page or the smell of an old book, which is why Stephen Fry is probably right: “Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.” Print is probably here to stay, and Book Barn’s popularity could be the proof in the pudding, which could also be attributed to its geographical niche. Visalia has long been without a general bookstore, and even in Fresno “they have a few half-priced bookstores, but nothing with collectibles,” says Dan.4 continued on page 10
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 9
Photos courtesy Clovis Book Barn
But in Clovis, the Book Barn is your typical mom-and-pop bookstore – “well, not typical anymore,” Dan adds, “unless you want to consider 8,000 square feet typical.” These days and around here, Book Barn is anything but. In fact, Dan’s wife Peggy adds, “We’re probably bigger than some of the libraries around here, too.” Book Barn has about 160,000 titles in store, but also a 7,000-square-foot warehouse with about a million and a half additional titles – basically, every bibliophile’s Room of Requirement. With so many titles, Book Barn has a section for just about every genre, and according to a nifty interactive map on its website, the store even has a “Chamber of Secrets.” Other sections include staples like fiction, poetry, art, history, and sci-fi, but the store also stocks antiquarian books, westerns, California-related titles and even locally published authors. Two stories of stories, or as Dan puts it, “everything from books that came out the day before yesterday to – I think the oldest book in the store is 1560 or so.” Other than offering a world of and in books, the store also hosts events from book clubs to writers groups, as well a Mother Goose who reads for children, and Gracie the therapy dog, who visits every other Saturday for an hour in the afternoon. “Kids can read to her, or if they can’t read, they can just pet her and hang out without feeling pressure,” explains Peggy. Other than hosting events at their bookstore, the Dunklees also manage the website Wildaboutbooks.org, which has a calendar of other literary events in the Central Valley “and everything that we’re trying to promote about literacy,” says Dan. As if all this weren’t enough, the Dunklees even started HBE Publishers, a publishing company that offers editorial, design, layout and marketing services. “It’s not like we’re busy or anything,” Peggy says with a laugh. Yes, the Dunklees are breaking the mold of the sleepy, armchair book lovers. They may not even have much time to sit down with their favorite book, though they are happy when other people do. While it’s wonderful to have a bookstore with thousands of books at your fingertips, the real trick is finding just the right one. Neither Peggy nor Dan mind fingers running down the spines of the product at Book Barn, even if it’s just to take a tale from the shelf and read in one of the store’s many chairs. “We don’t have issues with that,” says Dan, even if the guest doesn’t end up buying a book. “We just want to get people reading. That’s what it’s about.” •
10 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
Clovis Book Barn • 640 Clovis Ave., Clovis (559) 297-9052 • Monday - Saturday, 9 am - 6 pm www.clovisbookbarn.com • www.hbepublishing.com Find them 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.
Spring Hi Hillll Ranch New designs now available at Enjoy the Store, plus more availability online Locally Cut Custom Metal Home Decor @vintagemetalco Vintage Metal Co www.etsy.com/shop/vintagemetalco
S p r in g H ill R a n ch Fitness and Relaxation
Pilates • Yoga Dance • Cardio Retreats Hiking • Biking Strength • Step Swimming & more!
Call: (559) 589-4143 lillyhart41@yahoo.com
www.LillyHart.com
! N O K C O R INTERST
| BY KENDRA KAISERMAN
GEMBOREE EXETER ROCK AND GEM SHOW
Photos courtesy Exeter Rock & Gem Show
THE TULE GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY is taking an ancient concept and making it relevant and interesting for everyone involved. The Society puts on the Gemboree Exeter Rock and Gem Show each year, which includes jewelry, games, and of course, rocks and minerals. “The goal of the Gemboree is to have fun, share our love and knowledge of rocks and minerals and raise money to keep the club going,” Gemboree Chairperson Laura Manser says. The Gemboree is going on its 61st year, and members know what they’re doing. They have 21 committees for putting together the Gemboree, each with at least one chairperson. “They know exactly what needs to be done and how. It certainly makes my job as chairperson much easier,” says Manser. Vendors sell beads, rough rocks, slabs, polished rocks, minerals, gift items, jewelry, lapidary supplies and more.
12 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
The club runs a Wheel of Fortune game (every spin is a win), fossil painting and mining for gems. They sell grab bags that are full of rough and polished rocks, and there’s a free treasure hunt for kids. Demonstrations in several lapidary arts are also planned, such as wire wrapping and faceting gemstones, Manser says. Members from this club and others will display their handiwork with lapidary arts in approximately 35 display cases, which are “a great educational source,” says Manser. The Gemboree has changed over the years and they “are always looking for ways to keep the show fresh and interesting,” Manser says. “We have two and three generations that have been coming to our show. Last year we added fossil painting and mining for gems. Both were a hit.” Admission and parking are free. While vendors pay
for a spot at the show, they keep their proceeds. The money that the club makes helps fund its workshops, rock talks in local schools and a donation to the College of the Sequoias for a scholarship for a student in the geology or earth science field. The rest of the year, you can find the club participating in the Diggins Productions Gem and Mineral Show in Hanford, organizing field trips, going on a yearly trip to collect rose quartz or out to the desert to collect rocks such as silver lace onyx, petrified palm root, strawberry onyx and butler onyx. The Tule Gem and Mineral Society is a nonprofit whose goal is “to collect and study minerals and rocks, to provide an opportunity for the exchange and exhibition of minerals and gems and to promote public interest in the lapidary arts and earth sciences,” says Manser.
Anyone can join this club, even if they aren’t familiar with rocks and minerals. “We have many members who are willing to teach newcomers everything from collecting to creating a one-of-a-kind art piece,” Manser says. • Gemboree Exeter Rock and Gem Show Jan. 21-22 Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm; Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm Exeter Veterans Memorial Building 324 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter www.tulegem.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.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 13
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| BY BEN AINLEY | PHOTOS: KELLY AVILA
n a b r u RT D O W N TO W N V I S A L I A IS TRANSFORMED FROM M U N DA N E TO A R T S Y
WHAT IS ART? A simple question, really, and yet so elusive. Is art the imitation of nature? Is it the embodiment of perfect (or near perfect) forms? Is it the execution of a philosophy and thus the representation of a particular style or genre or school of thought? Must it be deliberately constructed with the intention of being art, or is the observer’s recognition that defines it as so? Is it a universal or is it truly in the “eye of the beholder”? From there come questions of form, truth, beauty, “geist” (real word, real concept and perhaps the best term in art criticism). Alas, the debate continues within all mediums as artists and connoisseurs argue their views on which art is valid and which is not. Rap but not Drake. Painting but not Kincaid. Coke but not Pepsi. David Eggers but not the Twilight Series…well, maybe not Eggers, either. With all these conundrums, it may be easier to simply leave the questions to the philosophers. Perhaps a simpler question for our time is “where does street art fit in?” Some may not have even thought to ask this question, since, for many, street art is not art. For these folks, to call it “street art” does
A
a disservice to both the street and to art. But are they right? Visalia Mayor Steve Nelson simply points to downtown Visalia, where the works created through the Urban Artworks project are on display. If you’re looking for grand facades, epic murals depicting oranges or Sequoias or other Valley landmarks, you’re doing it wrong. On display every day are typical constructs that must be a part of urban landscape: trash enclosures, electrical boxes. But with this project, the mundane is now the canvas. As Nelson explains, that’s the point. “I wanted something eye-catching, something people go, ‘Wow!’” Why street art? Simply put by Nelson: “It’s always colorful.” Period. Murals could have been done, “but that’s been done,” Nelson says. Throughout Valley towns, it seems that one practically can’t have a downtown without murals. But the Valley is more than the agriculture or national parks often depicted in these murals: It’s its people. Urban Artworks is a combined effort by Arts Visalia, Downtown Visalians and the Urbanists Collective. After a call for submissions,4 continued on page 16
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 15
five were selected. The finished pieces can now be seen in the parking lots between Center and Main streets for a minimum of three years. Aside from the immediate benefit of having fantastic, colorful artwork in lieu of the drab facades, Nelson described more long-term benefits, including less litter around the enclosures and evidence that putting art on objects decreases the chance of graffiti and defacing. “So far, that’s held true,” he says. One may argue that street art is graffiti and defacing property, but feedback the project received thus far would not support this. Pictures of the projects were on display at the California State Capitol and the Visalia Convention Center, getting state recognition and even national attention. “It’s kinda evolved, kinda on its legs now,” Nelson says. Indeed, artists from outside the area are now interested in submitting works. The project itself is looking to expand to include more trash enclosures and electrical boxes with the goal of being able to include all the works in a downtown Art Walk. “If we can get that kind of vibe going,” notes Nelson, “it benefits the city and it benefits the downtown area.” Already several projects are in the process of getting approvals to begin, with the hopes of 14 electrical boxes and trash enclosures being used as media for urban artists. And so we return to the question, “What is art?” There may be detractors who say whatever art may be, it is not “urban.” But a counter question may be, “Given the option of looking at a cinder block wall or at a meticulously painted scene, which is preferred?” Do we not paint our walls? Our buildings? Our homes? And so the answer must be that the Urban Artworks project is indeed art, where the mundane becomes beautiful. •
16 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
www.artsvisalia.org www.urbanistscollective.com Visit the works between Main and Center streets and from N. Locust to N. Church streets.
Ben Ralph is a longtime off-and-on Visalia local. Originally hailing from the outskirts of Ave. 328, he now spends his time balancing a career with walking the Earth, like Caine from the TV series Kung Fu. His writing is about the latter.
(formally Paris Flea Market)
Pre-order your chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day Liquidating half of the store in January. Everything must go! Paris market will be liquidating 1/2 of the store at 605 East Main Street and staying on the other half of the store at 601 East Main Street.
601 East Main Street • Visalia, CA 93292 • 559-636-8000 Hours of operation: 11 to 5 Mon-Sat, 12-4 Sun
Visit our new location! Now Serving Intelligentsia Tea and Coffee Stafford’s Chocolates 114 N. Main Street || Porterville (559) 784-6640 www.staffordschocolates.com
214 N 2nd Street, Porterville, CA 93257 559-784-1746 www.harrishomefurnishings.com
LOCALS
| BY JORDAN VENEMA | PHOTOS: AMBER SMITH
Sacred &Science CO R N B A G T H E R A P Y P I L LO W S F R O M H E AT H E R D U M A I S
“IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, people are always busy and just looking for a moment of quiet. And that moment of quiet,” says Three Rivers resident Heather Dumais, “is called our sacred space.” Well, for those of us who aren’t yoga instructors (which Dumais happens to be), we might smirk and call it something else. The phrase can feel a little new age-y, sure, except Dumais isn’t just some crystal-wielding, chakra-charging yogi – she’s also a hard-nosed scientist. “I worked for the National Park Service as an environmental scientist with air and water quality,” she explains, and it was the pursuit of her degree that also indirectly brought her to her own sacred space. “I had just finished graduate school and it was Christmas, and I didn’t have the funds to buy everybody Christmas presents. So I asked my mom what she wanted,” says Dumais, “and she said a corn bag.” Dumais had never heard of a corn bag before, so with scientific vigor she began researching how to make them, but also discovered their application in weight and temperature therapy. She made pillows for her family and even began using them for her own migraines. “The pressure on the head takes that thing right away – it’s like magic,” says Dumais.
18 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
From those first gifts in 2010, Dumais soon began Sacred Space Aromatherapy, hand-making a range of therapy pillows with different designs and fabrics. “They’re something that bring you comfort, and bring you to your sacred space,” says Dumais, not just speaking of a comfy place to rest your head. While Dumais says the pillows work like magic, there’s also science behind the efficacy of those three-pound pillows, and why weight, temperature and aroma therapies can relieve symptoms of anxiety, dementia, hyperactivity, fibromyalgia – and yes, even headaches. Each pillow is made with a special corn with low sugar and high starch content, which better retains heat or cold. The pillows can be frozen or microwaved, and according to Dumais, they will keep the heat for up to three or four hours. Heat can enhance body circulation, which aids relaxation, and cold conversely restricts blood vessels, slowing circulation and reducing swelling. A heated pillow can give that feeling of a warm blanket, “feeling safe and secure and comfortable,” says Dumais. Dumais says her pillows have a shelf life of 35 years. The handmade pillows are about 23 inches long, a length that can rest collarbone-to-collarbone, hip-to-hip, across the belly or back, or even to elevate feet. Weight pressure, explains Dumais, helps release neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which can help improve moods, induce a calming effect and help with insomnia. Lastly, her pillows can use aromatherapy, with the aid of essential oils. “Because there are no chemicals in the essential oil, the scent will go away,” Dumais says, “but I’ve chosen special fabrics that are stain-free, so people can buy their own oils and drop them on the bag. “Aromas bring good memories, positive places – and sometimes bad memories – which is why I give clients a selection to choose from to help find their journey to that sacred space,” says Dumais.
Her website lists a number of scents and their associated healing properties, like sage, rosemary, rose, pine, orange, spearmint, lemon, clove and frankincense. Personally, she uses peppermint and rose for her migraines, though lavender is the most popular scent. Whatever we call that place of peace and calm, and whether it’s sacred or just sleep, people are wanting to go there, and they’re using Dumais’ pillows to get there. Dumais still has the original pillow she made, but otherwise, she laughs, “I can’t keep them in stock. As soon as I make them, they’re gone.” Making these pillows keep her busy – enough that she’s now making them full time. She’s surprised that she’s been able to make a career of the pillows, and even more surprised that people actually love the pillows. “People keep telling me their stories about their aches and pains,” she says, and how the pillows have helped. “They aren’t just Christmas ornaments, but people are bringing them home and it’s helping.” Which really adds a fourth kind of therapy to the pillow – for Dumais, anyway. She calls it her “giving therapy,” because although she can’t make these pillows quickly enough, she’s happy that those she has made have helped people find their sacred place. • Sacred Space Aromatherapy www.heatherdumais.com Find them 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.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 19
ENJOY THE VIEW
| PHOTO: MARK BOULDOUKIAN
20 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
WINTER ON THE LAKE: Mark Bouldoukian is a wildlife and landscape photographer from Clovis and has been into photography for more than eight years. He works as a dental technician, and in his free time he enjoys hiking and exploring, with his camera always ready. His passion with outdoor and landscape photography is to show people how beautiful the world looks from different perspectives and seasons. For more of his work, visit his Instagram account, ‘’i_markian’’.
OCTOBER JANUARY 2016 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 21 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 21
WHAT’S COOKIN’ | BY LANA GRANFORS
recipe JANUARY 2017
BREAKFAST BANANA OATMEAL MUFFINS YIELDS: 12 MUFFINS
The holidays are behind us and our busy lives are back in full swing. With everyone going in different directions, who has time to prepare a healthy breakfast? This great recipe can be made ahead to ensure that your family gets a healthy start to the day. Prep oats Saturday night, bake on Sunday, and kids and parents alike can grab a couple of these and be on their way.
INGREDIENTS 2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats 1 ½ cup lowfat milk 1 large egg, lightly beaten ½ cup chopped walnuts ¹⁄³ cup pure maple syrup 2 T canola oil 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt 1 ripe banana PREP TIME: 8 hours (inactive) – 5 - 10 minutes active COOK TIME: 20-25 minutes TOTAL TIME: 25 -35 minutes active time, 8 hours inactive
LOVE OUR RECIPES? Come into Enjoy the Store (Visalia, Redding or Red Bluff ) each month and ask for your FREE recipe card. 22 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
O AT M E A L T BA NA NA
MU F F I N S
January Recipe B R E A K FA S
2017
GRANF ORS RECIPE BY LANA
O AT M E A L T BA NA NA
MU F F I N S
January Recipe B R E A K FA S
2017
STEWA RT | PHOTO : KARA
DIRECTIONS STEP 1: Combine dry oats and milk in a large bowl and cover. Place in the refrigerator and allow this to soak until much of the liquid is absorbed – at least 8 hours, but no more than 12 hours.
STEP 4: Bake the oatmeal cakes until they spring back when touched, 20-25 minutes. Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, loosen and remove the muffins. Serve while warm, or wrap and refrigerate.
STEP 2: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 12-cup nonstick muffin tin with cooking spray.
Enjoy and Happy New Year!
STEP 3: Combine egg, walnuts, maple syrup, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder and salt into the soaked oats until well combined. Mash banana and add to oat mixture. Fill the muffin cups with ¼ cup of the oat mixture.
Lana Granfors enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking and spending time with her friends and family– especially her grandchildren, Jillian and Garet.
Photo by Kara Stewart
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 23
Cafe Lafayette
Patio Dining • Private Banquet Room Daily Specials • Extensive Wine List Live music every Sunday brunch
NOW FEATURING A FULL BAR
FRED IMBERT Chef/Owner CALL NOW FOR RESERVATIONS 559-592-WINE (9463)
151 South “E” Street, Suite A, Exeter
eatcafelafayette.com | SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM-2PM
TUE-SAT LUNCH 11AM-2:30PM | HAPPY HOUR 4PM-6PM | DINNER 5:30PM-9:30PM
Saturdays should be stress free... So we’re making banking more convenient. Whitendale Branch Drive-up Window NOW OPEN SATURDAYS 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
The NFRW is one of the largest grassroots political organizations in the country with 1000s of active members in local clubs across the nation promoting the principles, objectives and policies of the Republican Party. Become a member to stay informed on legislative and election news and other key issues.
There’s a place for you at our table.
There’s a The Visalia Republicanplace Women Federated for you Join us Thursday, club meets monthly for lunch at the January 12 when our Visalia Country Findtable. us on program will kick-off atClub. our Facebook or at visaliarwf.org.
Tulare •Visalia • Porterville
American Heart Month.
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1/14/2016 10:10:49 PM
www.tucoemas.org Federally insured by NCUA
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CRAFTING
| BY MONICA FATICA | PHOTOS: CHRISTY ZILLGES
Add a personalized look to your décor by creating a natural-looking holder for your plant.
All Wrapped Up ROPE PLANT BASKET
1. Glue your rope around the entire basket in rows, starting at the base.
2. When you reach the top of the basket, cut the rope and glue the end piece to another piece of rope.
SUPPLIES • Basket or container in the size you want • Natural jute rope or thick twine • Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Scissors • Tape (optional) • Craft paint in the color of your choice and a paintbrush
3. You can freehand your paint line or use tape to create a clean line.
TIP: PLAN FOR WAYS TO USE YOUR BASKET WHEN YOU’RE DECIDING ON THE SIZE AND COLOR (I.E. PLANT HOLDER, TOWELS, THROWS, ETC.). WE FOUND OURS AT THE DOLLAR STORE IN THE SAME NEUTRAL COLOR AS THE ROPE, BUT A TIN CONTAINER COULD BE USED FOR A MORE APPEALING INTERIOR.
4. Use your craft paint and brush to paint the base of your basket. This step could take a few coats, depending on how much coverage you’d like to achieve. Using a few spritz of water as needed can help the paint absorb into the rope.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 25
STORE FRONT
|
JANUARY 2017
TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH, SEE... GIFTS FOR ALL
Let the Adventures Begin. SOUTH VALLEY Body & Room Moon Mists, Dried Herb & Flower Bundles and Bath Salts by Angel Gypsy
Wall Hangings by Macrame by Enrique
Walnut Butter Varieties by Crazy Go Nuts
Handcrafted Cutting Boards and Wood Honey Conditioner by Absolution Woodworks
Located inside Embellish & Restore 115 N. West St., Visalia • (559) 901-3513 Winter Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5pm, Sat 10-4pm Enjoy the Store Visalia @enjoythestorevisalia 26 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
FARMERS’ MARKET
It’s where healthy community happens!
OPEN YEAR-ROUND // RAIN OR SHINE SATURDAY FROM 8 AM TO 11:30 AM ON THE CORNER OF CALDWELL AND MOONEY BLVD. IN SEARS PARKING LOT
SEASONAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DAIRY, EGGS, MEATS AND PLANT STARTS • SAMPLES • HAND CRAFTED ITEMS • HEALTHY PREPARED FOODS FROM LOCAL ARTISANS • LIVE LOCAL MUSIC • NEW KIDS CORNER AND FITNESS FOCUS SATURDAYS • MASTER GARDENERS SHARING INFORMATION • ASK FARMERS ABOUT YOUR FOOD
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.VISALIAFARMERSMARKET.COM
COME JOIN US Enjoy one of our new entrées from our new Menu Receive $5.00 Off any new Entrée purchased. Visit our Website swan-court.com
2950 Pea Soup Anderson Blvd. Selma, CA 93662 Hotel (559) 891-8000 Restaurant (559) 891-7000
CALENDAR
|
JANUARY 2017
calendar JA N UA RY 2 0 1 7
FROM FOOD TO FUN, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY
clovis
January 7, 14, 21, 28 • Old Town Clovis Farmers’ Market, Old Town, Pollasky and Bullard, 7-11 am, (559) 298-5774, www.oldtownclovis.org January 15 • Got Miles 5K Birthday Race, Railroad Park, Alluvial and Peach, 11 am, www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/Clovis/ GotMiles5kBirthdayRace
exeter
January 21-22 • 2017 Gemboree Exeter Rock and Gem Show, Exeter Veterans Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., 10 am-5 pm Saturday, 10 am-4 pm Sunday, www.tulegem.com
fresno
January 1 • Resolution Run, Woodward Park, 7775 Friant Road, 9 am, www.runsignup. com/Race/CA/Fresno/ResolutionRun1 January 21 • Kastner 5K/10K NFL Dream Run, Woodward Park, 7775 Friant Road, 8 am, www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/fresno/ Kastner5k10kDreamRun
21
Dress in your favorite football fanatic attire or as your favorite player and run through the park catching footballs at the last 50 yards of the race. The fee is $27.50 and all proceeds go toward Kastner Parent-Teacher Council for academics, arts and athletics. • Central Valley Orphan Care Summit, The Well Community Church - North Campus, 2044 East Nees Ave., 8:30 am-3 pm
28 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
January 28 • 3rd Annual Pirate 5K Booty Run, Woodward Park, 7775 Friant Road, www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/Fresno/ Pirate5KBootyRun
hanford
lindsay
madera
January 19 • Wine vs. Beer Showdown, Hanford Civic Auditorium, 5:30-midnight, www.kcfb.org
January 6 • Three Kings Day, www.maderachamber.com
porterville
tulare
visalia
January 14 • Winter Trout Derby, Plaza Park Pond, 700 S. Plaza St., 8-10 am, www.visaliachamber.org
January 28 • Chamber Awards Banquet, www.thelindsaychamber.com
January 9, 16, 23, 30 • Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Tulare First Baptist Church, West Campus, 695 East Cross Ave., 6-9 pm, (559) 786-5183, www.perspectives.org/tulare January 20 • 133rd Annual Banquet, Heritage Complex at the International Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina St., 6 pm
January 6 • First Friday Coffee, Galaxy 9 Theatre, 7-8:15 am, www.portervillechamber.org
14
January 5, 19 • Speech Conductors Toastmasters Club, noon-1 pm, Tulare Chamber Trade Room, 220 East Tulare Ave., (559) 685-2350, www.speechconductors.org Through January 8 • Global Winter Wonderland, Tulare County Fairgrounds, 620 S. K St., 5-10 pm Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 pm Friday-Saturday
The fish are jumping and ready for the 3rd Annual Winter Trout Derby. Children 15 and under are invited to Plaza Park Pond to compete for a catch of their own. Prizes will be awarded to the top three total stringer weights in each category. Admission is $7 in advance and $10 the day of the event. Participants need to bring their own fishing poles, bait and tackle.
barn theatre - porterville
8
Guests can “travel the world in one night” at Global Winter Wonderland’s Circus of Light with multicultural acts. Enjoy a carnival filled with family-friendly rides and games, try delicious international cuisine and visit with Santa. Admission is $16 for adults; $14 for children and seniors.
www.barntheater.porterville.com
January 13-29 • A Tuna Christmas
cellar door - visalia www.cellardoor101.com
January 7 • Blunt Force Drama and Dismal Dog, 8 pm January 21 • Cate Le Bon and Tim Presley (of White Fence), 8 pm
January 27 • Seratones with special guests, 9:30 pm
the fox theatre - visalia www.foxvisalia.org
January 10 • Fame: The Musical, 8 pm January 14 • Tulare County Symphony presents Fiddling Fun, 7:30 pm January 18 • “The Searchers” (1956), 6:30 pm January 21 • Charlie Chaplin’s “The Circus,” 4 pm January 24 • Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 7:30 pm January 26 • “Weird Science” (1985), 6:30 pm January 28 • Nelson Illusions, 7 pm
fresno pacific university music www.fresno.edu/events/music
January 21 • Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra, McDonald Hall Atrium, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., 7:30 pm, (559) 453-2267
roger rocka’s dinner theatre - fresno www.rogerrockas.com
Through January 8 • A Christmas Story: The Musical, 5:30 pm Thursday-Saturday, 11 am Sunday, (559) 266-9494
saroyan theater - fresno
www.fresnoconventioncenter.com
January 18 • How Curiosity Changed My Life: Mars Rover by Adam Steltzner, 10:30 am, www.valleytownhall.com January 22 • Fresno Philharmonic Presents Symphonie Fantastique, 3 pm, www.fresnophil.org
save mart center - fresno www.savemartcenter.com
January 13 • Harlem Globetrotters, 7 pm
13
www.visaliaplayers.org
rabobank arena - bakersfield www.rabobankarena.com
January 5 • Annie, 7:30 pm January 20-21 • Traxxas Monster Truck Destruction Tour, 7:30 pm
January 14 • Bostyx: All the Hits of Boston and Styx, 7 pm January 17 • Miranda Sings Live, 8 pm January 18 • Psychic, medium and author John Edward, 7 pm January 21 • Comedian Keith Alberstadt, 7 and 9:30 pm January 27 • Jim Messina and his band, 8 pm Event times and dates are subject to change without notice. Please check event phone number or to verify dates and times. Enjoy Magazine is not responsible for any inconvenience due to event changes.
GET YOUR EVENT ON THE CALENDAR!
ice house theatre - visalia January 13-29 • Doublewide, Texas, 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday, 2 pm Sunday
the tower theatre - fresno www.towertheatrefresno. com
The Globetrotters’ one-of-a-kind show is unrivaled in the world of family entertainment. Every game will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rimrattling dunks, trick shots, comedy and unequaled fan interaction. Tickets range from $26.50-$106.50.
Please visit www.enjoymagazine.net or email info@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, a February event will need to post by January 5. Thank you.
JANUARY 2017 www.EnjoySouthValley.com 29
GIVING BACK
MORE THAN ABLE
| BY JORDAN VENEMA | PHOTOS: BRITTANY WILBUR
A B L E A D V O C AT E S O F F R E S N O A I D S FA M I L I E S WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
Able Advocates www.ableadvocates.org ableadvocates@gmail.com Find them on Facebook
PARENTS KNOW. Besides the obvious connection that hospital calls me and they see a need, we’re there. a mother shares with her child, parents just know when We try to fill the gap. We want to make sure that something isn’t right. those families are receiving services during that When Katrina Oh’s son began showing signs of delayed wait period.” development, she wasn’t being hypersensitive. Oh knew In addition to running support groups something was wrong. Her third child would later be at various locations, hosting guest speakers diagnosed with agenesis of the corpus callosum, meaning and helping families get in touch with the the middle part of his brain was missing. services they need, Able Advocates offers the But on paper, under existing insurance codes, there was equipment closet. no way to classify his condition. So for the first two years, “That’s pretty much my baby now,” says Oh. the Ohs paid out of pocket for equipment, treatment, even “For families that are waiting for authorizations horse therapy. through insurance, which literally can take “For about a year and a half, there was a period that we a year, or for families that have been denied, were making payments, doing what we could,” says Oh. “It we’re getting them the equipment and fitting took a toll on the whole family. It got to the point that we them with a licensed physical therapist.” couldn’t afford it.” “when you drop off a piece of equipment Ultimately, a cerebral palsy diagnosis allowed to a family, and see the face of that insurance to cover expenses, but through her experience, Oh realized that many other families child light up, that’s everything for me. were facing similar issues with insurance red tape. giving back is huge, and i couldn’t see In 2011, Oh began a support group. another family go through the torture “Anytime that I was in clinics, I ended up in that i went through” waiting rooms and saw other distressed parents, and I reached out and finally decided to do a potluck at my According to Oh, an electric wheelchair can house. So for about a year, I’d have a potluck with these cost up to $30,000, so through donations and ladies and we would just vent,” says Oh. “But it got to the sponsorships, Able Advocates has gathered a point that we were having the same discussion every month collection of walkers, standers, wheelchairs and about being denied services, denied equipment, and that’s other equipment that can be “molded for the when I decided to file for a nonprofit.” specific child.” Most equipment is donated, so In 2013, Able Advocates became an official 501(c)3 much of the money raised by Able Advocates nonprofit that is unlike any other. It isn’t modeled off of goes back to repurposing equipment for an existing organization, but rather grew organically from children in need. parents’ experiences and children’s needs. So what keeps Oh going? “Passion,” she says “It grew out of being a special needs parent,” Oh states firmly. “When you drop off a piece of equipment simply. “There is nothing like us.” to a family, and you see the face of that child light Looking back, Oh never imagined that the first potluck, up, that’s everything for me. Giving back is huge, which included six families, would serve more than 1,000 and I couldn’t see another family go through the families throughout California in the last year. torture that I went through.” • Think of Able Advocates like Google, a search engine for parents with special needs. As an aggregate of personal Jordan Venema is a freelance writer and experiences and information, Able Advocates offers California native. He’s a fan of wild stories, connections and resources to parents who find themselves impetuous traveling, live music, and all the in unknown territory. food. But mostly, he’s a fan of his seven-year old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by “A lot of the time, when you’re newly diagnosed, you don’t email at jordan.venema@gmail.com. know where to go, so we just make sure families get what they need,” explains Oh. “I don’t have a lot of red tape, so if the
30 www.EnjoySouthValley.com JANUARY 2017
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Visalia Branch 501 W Main St. | 559-802-1000
*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs accurate as of 12/1/16. Rates may change after account is opened. Minimum to open is $50.*If qualifications are met each monthly qualification cycle: (1) balances up to $25,001 receive APY of 1.50%; and, (2) balances over $25,001 earn 0.40% interest rate on portion of balance over $25,001, resulting in 1.50% - 0.58% APY depending on the balance. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.01% APY. Qualifications during each monthly qualification cycle are as follows: at least 10 debit card purchases must post and settle the Kasasa Cash account, account must be enrolled and receive e-statement notice, and at least 1 bill pay or ACH automatic debit transaction must post and settle the Kasasa Cash account. Transactions may take one or more banking days from the date transaction was made to post to and settle the account. ATM-processed transactions do not count towards qualifying debit card transactions. Transfers between your accounts with us do not count as qualifying transactions. “Monthly Qualification Cycle” means a period beginning one day prior to the first day of the current statement cycle through one day prior to the close of the current statement cycle. Limit one account per SSN. Available to personal accounts only. Nationwide ATM fees waived up to five times per statement cycle. Nonsufficient funds fees and miscellaneous fees apply to all Kasasa accounts. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Kasasa and Kasasa Cash are trademarks of BancVue, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.
TULARE-KINGS COUNTIES