Enjoy Magazine: San Joaquin Valley Living — November 2018 by Enjoy Magazine: Northern California Living

San Joaquin Valley Living

November 2018

G AT H E R

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contents november 2 01 8 // I ss u e #4 8

San Joaquin Valley Living

bringing the magic of broadway to fresno

Photo courtesy of Broadway in Fresno

Cr a f ting 42 DIY: Jewelry Display

Editor s’ pick s 13 Welcome to Fresno, California

good fin ds 10 Oak Street Studios in Visalia

Good ti m es

holiday 7 Host a Fabulous Friendsgiving

INTER EST 32 Tulare County Museum Veterans Project

speci a l section 17 Hometown Holiday Heroes 2018

in ev ery issu e 38 Enjoy the View— Ralph Chojnacki 40 What’s Cookin’— Aunt Keri’s Santa Fe Chicken & Rice Soup 44 Calendar of Events 47 Giving Back—Simple “No Pressure” Ways to Give Back

34 Broadway in Fresno at the Saroyan Theatre

Enjoy magazine is not affiliated with JOY magazine or Bauer German Premium GmbH.

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

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151 SOUTH “E” ST. EXETER, CA 93221

W W W . C A F E L A FAY E T T E . C O M

Photo by Megan Welker

editor’s note november 2018

As we gather with loved ones, we’re reflecting on the simple things for which we are grateful – a sprinkle of rain, comfort food at our favorite restaurant, stealing a few moments to catch up with a friend over coffee. What makes your heart happy? Friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and if you’re planning to host a Friendsgiving celebration, we have some tips to share. It’s a beautiful way to create a new tradition. It’s the season of gratitude, and we’re honored to introduce you to some hometown heroes who are making indelible imprints on our community. Their stories will inspire you. It’s also the month we pay tribute to our veterans, and the Tulare County Museum makes it easy. Their interactive exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of the end of World War II, and it’s well worth carving out time for a visit. This month’s Editors Picks center on the city of Fresno – and since there’s so much to do and see, we’ve divided it into three distinct areas. Explore them all, or do it one at a time – there’s plenty to entertain you there. And if you’re a Broadway fan, the Saroyan Theatre is staging its 25th Broadway in Fresno season, which runs from now through April. Season tickets make a lovely gift… Wherever you gather for Thanksgiving, we wish you a celebration rich with delicious food, unconditional love and memorable moments. We are grateful for you. Enjoy!

on the cover Cover models (in order from left to right): Katie Kalender, Lauren and Daniel Westra, Adam Bravinder, Shelly and Tim Wolff Style & Design: Ribbon and Leaf Events Florals: Beard and Bloom Floral Design

San joaquin VALLEY Living

Yvonne Mazzotta publisher Michelle Adams publisher Ronda Ball-Alvey editor-in-chief Kerri Regan copy editor Emily Miranda marketing & sales assistant MICHELLE ADAMS contributing graphic designer monica fatica consultant VALERI BARNES advertising sales representative ed boling advertising sales representative Holly Vandergriff advertising sales representative Amanda Moreno accounts receivable representative Danielle Colesberry Austin Reynolds Dadrien Keene deliveries www.enjoysouthvalley.com Enjoy Magazine (559) 804-7411 Email General: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net Sales and Advertising information: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net © 2018 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.

Photo by Megan Welker NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

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HOLIDAY

BY KIMBERLY BONÈY

for the love of f r iend s h o st a fa b u l o u s friendsgiving The season of fall colors, cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice everything is upon us. As the holidays draw near, many of us are preparing to host loved ones from near and far at our table. Sometimes, circumstances just don’t allow for everyone to go home for the holidays. At times like this, it’s wonderful when there is a friend waiting with open arms – and a seat at the table. We can’t pick our family – but if we could, chances are we would pick the friends who have shown us that sometimes, water is just as thick as blood. Friendsgiving is an opportunity to bring the family we choose into our holiday traditions. Here are some ideas for hosting the perfect Friendsgiving celebration. Send an invitation Whether you prefer to send invitations through the mail, issue a modern evite, send a text message or offer a more casual “swing by the house around 3pm” face-to-face interaction, extending that invitation to your loved ones lets them know that you have held a space for them not only at your table, but in your heart.

Before you send a single invitation, though, write a list of who you’d like to have in attendance and make sure you’ve got enough space, seating, dishes, glasses and serving-ware to host everyone on that list. Your guests may also want to have a plus one, so plan accordingly. Ask your guests to bring a dish and to-go containers There is something beautifully nostalgic about food. Eating a dish we’ve grown up with can transport us back to a longago happy place. Have each guest bring a dish they’ve always enjoyed during the holidays. Know what dishes will be coming ahead of time and prepare a placard that shares the name of the dish, its ingredients and the name of the person who prepared it. It’ll be an incredible opportunity for each guest to share a bit of their culture and family history with everyone gathered at the table. It’s also a way to make sure that anyone with specific dietary restrictions can enjoy the festivities worry-free.4 continued on page 8

please join us for our annual friendsgiving! NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

Be sure to let guests know that the dish needs to be fully prepared before they get to your house, so you don’t end up with gridlock in the kitchen. Do, however, be prepared for dishes that will need to be heated just before the meal. There will, no doubt, be leftovers. And what’s a good Friendsgiving without a built-in next-day meal? They get some delicious food to take with them, and you get to keep your storage containers and the space in your refrigerator. Create a signature cocktail Knock it out of the park with a festive Friendsgiving drink. Garnish it to perfection and serve it in a glass that fits in with your party theme. Have a few classics available, like red and white wine, your favorite house beer and a nonalcoholic option. If friends have their own drink preferences, ask them to bring along a bottle of their favorite to share. You won’t break the bank paying for the drinks and might help to keep overdrinking at bay. Make it personal In a perfect world, all of your guests would be old friends with years of connection to bind them together. But the world isn’t perfect. You may very well have a mix of friends from different circles at your Friendsgiving – and that’s a chance to help build new friendships. Engage party guests with an “ice-breaker” question. Ask them what their favorite holiday memory is, to describe the best meal they’ve ever eaten, or where they would travel to if they had to leave immediately. Be considerate with the questions you ask. Questions should be light-hearted and pressure-free. It’ll be a lovely way to have guests get to know each other better. You’ll be amazed by how much even complete strangers have in common. Type up each question on a cardstock that coordinates with your color theme for the party, place it in an envelope with the guest’s name, and set it on the place setting you have prepared for them. Ice: broken! Make it beautiful You don’t have to be an interior designer to set a table in style. It just takes a little bit of planning, time and love. Decide whether you want a formal or casual experience and let that be your guide. Set on a formal dining experience? Look online to find the perfect configuration of a place setting. If you are open to a more free-flowing table, let your creativity direct your steps. Pro tip: The casual experience will likely be the most inviting for your guests. Use as many coordinating dish sets as possible, even if you have to mix and mingle several sets to accommodate your guests. If you need more dishes than you have available, ask a friend to loan you a set. Stick to a color theme so it creates uniformity, even if the styles are different. Photo by Megan Welker 8

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

f r iend s make the world be aut i f u l

Linen tablecloths and napkins can be rented easily, and most second-hand stores have cool napkin rings on the cheap. Add greenery from your yard, pinecones, candles or charming decor to bring the story to life. Set the mood with some good tunes. Create your own Friendsgiving playlist or pick a station you love and let the good times roll. Buffet style is best With a table full of people, it’s always easier if the food sits separately in its own space. Not only will it make room for guests to navigate the table without spills, but it’ll give the grub a place to shine – as it should. A large island, kitchen counter or even a folding table can serve as the perfect vehicle to display the food. Create risers at different levels by inverting sturdy bowls, and using stacked books (or even bricks) to create cool layers. Drape a tablecloth over the layers and place the dishes into the display as they arrive. Splash in greenery and décor to create cohesion with the dining table. Don’t forget the placards to identify the dishes. Bon appétit! Have a kids’ table If you are hosting some tiny guests, they will thoroughly enjoy their own, special dining experience with other littles. Use white butcher paper and crayons as the tablecloth to keep them entertained. Skip the fancy china and opt for high-end plastic or paper plates, so their parents won’t be panicked at the thought of breakage of your family heirlooms. If possible, have some kid-friendly food available, in case you have picky eaters who aren’t game to try what’s on the main menu. If you have an extra room without breakables, fill it with toys. Play a movie they’ll love or make them their own playlist of kid-friendly tunes. It’ll give them a chance to bond while their parents get a much-needed break with other adults. Don’t forget the entertainment A few good party games can carry your Friendsgiving into the night with joy and laughter. Have a few of your favorites at the ready, or ask a few friends to bring theirs. If your crew is more into music than games, consider a karaoke machine, or having a few musical instruments in the mix – like a piano or keyboard, a guitar, maracas or a cymbal. If you’ve got a friend with a particular musical talent, ask them to share it with everyone, ahead of time, so you don’t put anyone on the spot. Make some music – and some lifelong memories together. • Kimberly N. Bonéy, proud wife and mom, is a freelance writer, designer, up-cycler and owner of Herstory Vintage. When she’s not working, she is joyfully wielding jewelry-making tools and paintbrushes in her studio. Antique shops, vintage boutiques, craft stores and bead shops are her happy place. NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

GOOD FINDS | BY JORDAN VENEMA

BEYOND

THE ORDINARY o a k street st u di o s in visalia Jeannee Young and Michelle Miller have a long history promoting fitness in the Visalia area, but when they opened Oak Street Studios in November 2016, they wanted to offer the kind of classes that couldn’t be found anywhere else in town. “We were both fitness managers and personal trainers at a gym previously. I’ve been in fitness nine years,” says Young. “And I’m going on 13 years,” adds Miller. Their studio, which is celebrating its two-year anniversary, offers the kind of classes and fitness opportunities you’d

expect to find at a studio, from yoga to free weights, barre and Pilates, but the two instructors who met while pregnant also offer classes that incorporate infants, as well as yoga or toddlers. “Yoga is probably the smallest part of what we do here,” says Young, with Miller adding, “but nobody else in town actually offers those kind of classes.” “We were both pregnant when Jeannee and I met,” Miller continues. “Jeannee actually came into the gym to cancel her membership because she was pregnant, and I was a pregnant trainer.”

Photos courtesy of Oak Street Studios

“When you’re a new mom, it’s important to meet other moms. And that’s part of our mission statement, to be social. Our goal with these classes is to bring people together, to meet new people and make connections,” says Young.

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

But the problem with most gyms, says Miller, is that daycare is only offered for children older than six months of age. “Well, what does the mom do if she wants to get back in shape? So Jeannee was the brains behind these classes. She had a passion for Mommy and Me yoga, and Toddlers Music in Motion,” which are classes offered at Oak Street Studios. “That was a big deal for us to be able to offer because nobody else offers those types of classes for moms,” says Miller. The class, explains Young, “is for moms to gain back strength, relieve stress and do yoga poses for the baby to help with their development and digestion, and all those kinds of things that come along with being a baby.”

The class is offered once a week, and for infants to participate they must be at least six weeks old. The studio also offers free childcare. While the class is helpful physically and emotionally, Young says it’s also important socially for mothers. “When you’re a new mom, it’s important to meet other moms. And that’s part of our mission statement, to be social. Our goal with these classes is to bring people together, to meet new people and make connections,” says Young. In addition, she says it’s to create a comfortable space for new visitors who might not be familiar with the machines, like the Pilates reformer. “The majority of people who use them are women, but we laugh to ourselves because men are always the ones nervous about using them, even though it was a man that created the apparatus,” says Miller, referring to Pilates founder Joseph Pilates. In addition to their Pilates classes and yoga for mothers and children, the studio offers regular yoga classes, barre, TRX and even one-on-one sessions for $35 an hour. Keeping with their mission to create community, they also partner with BarrelHouse Brewing Co. on East Main to bring yoga and Pilates classes once a month. “We do beer and yoga, and alternate it with Pilates and pints,” says Young. “The class is on a Saturday, and happens the hour before they open. People can sign up online.” The day of the class, participants receive a ticket for a free beer, which is included in the $15 price to attend. “They can bring their kids and dogs, and it’s a relaxed environment. They have a beer after, they talk, they’re connecting,” says Miller. “It’s just a great way to connect on a Saturday morning.” “Because that’s part of our mission,” adds Young. “To be a part of our community. We are proud to be part of a thriving downtown.” In addition to offering classes once a month at BarrelHouse Brewing Co., Oak Street Studios also offers a toddler yoga class once a month at the Visalia Branch Library as well as the children’s museum ImagineU. • Oak Street Studios • 309 W Oak Ave., Visalia (559) 901-5402 • www.oakstreetstudiosfitness.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 nine-year-old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan.venema@gmail.com.

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

BRADSHAW HONEY FARMS Local Love For Local Honey RAW • UNFILTERED • FRESH Family owned and operated since 1958 @bradshawhoney www.beebotanical.com

Honey Glazed Turkey 1. Place your 14 to 16 lb. turkey in a roasting pan with wings tucked under and drumsticks tied together. Bake for 2 ¼ hours (add 30 minutes for an 18 to 20 pound turkey). 2. Mix ½ cup honey, ¹∕³ cup dijon mustard, 1 tsp. dried rosemary, 1 tsp. onion powder, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and brush over turkey. 3. Bake for another 2 to 2 ½ hours, basting occasionally. Cover with foil if it browns too quickly. Thermometer should read about 170º. Remove from oven and garnish with rosemary sprigs!

Sold in Visalia at: Naturally Nuts Naked Nut • Letter & Grain p.s. I love you too.

Urologist joins VMC Joseph Ford, DO, served his urology residency and general surgery internship at Detroit Medical Center, and completed a fellowship in urological oncology at the Carolinas Medical Center. This program focused on training in the diagnosis and treatment of complex cancers of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs.

Joseph Ford, DO

Dr. Ford’s practice focuses on helping both men and women retain their quality of life, and he evaluates and treats patients of all ages (children to adults). Dr. Ford joins Dr. Marty Prah and Dr. Joseph Chidi in VMC’s Urology Department.

Jason Mihalcin, DO Family Home Agency

Be Well

www.vmchealth.com

Visalia 5400 W. Hillsdale Ave., Visalia • 559-739-2000

Medical Clinic

EDITORS’ PICKS

BY KERRI REGAN AND RONDA ALVEY

FR ESNO, CALIFORNIA FAST FACTS

• Fresno was founded in 1872 as a railway station of the Central Pacific Railroad, and was incorporated 13 years later. • Bankamericard – the first successful credit card – was launched in Fresno in 1958. It later spun off into what is known today as Visa. • “Walking into Fresno,” a song written by guitarist Bill Aken, reflects the hardships faced by migrant workers he saw as a child. • Some of the famous folks who have called Fresno home include Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, actor Slim Pickens, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, Pulitzer Prize- and Oscar-winning playwright and novelist William Saroyan, and “Werewolves of London” singer Warren Zevon.

downtnoown fres Cultural

Play ball!

experience

If you’re inclined toward the theatrical, you’ve got some options downtown. Volunteers have been working to make Warnors Theatre a world-class venue, and the Saroyan Theatre has become a premier cultural arts destination (if you haven’t heard the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra here, might we suggest that you mark your calendar?). Or take in a concert at the Fulton 55 – they’ve always got an impressive lineup of artists waiting to take the stage.

Photo courtesy of Warnors Theatre

Photo courtesy of Fresno Futbol Club

The Fresno Grizzlies are the Triple-A affiliate for the Washington Nationals, and it’s a fun, inexpensive way to watch some great baseball. Is soccer more your speed? Check out the Fresno Futbol Club Foxes. Both teams play at lovely Chukchansi Park.

A night (or day) at the museum Explore art, history and more at various museums scattered throughout downtown. The Legion of Valor Museum honors the military, the Meux Home Museum pays tribute to gothic Victorian architecture, Arte Americas is the valley’s largest Latino cultural arts center, and Bitwise Industries bills itself as “the mothership of technological education, collaboration and innovation” in Fresno.

Crowd pleasers Downtown Fresno almost always has something going on to draw a crowd. There’s the Taco Truck Throwdown in July, a huge taco-eating party that features music, competitions and more. The springtime Grizzly Fest is billed as Central California’s premier music and arts festival, and spring is also when

Who’s hungry? Downtown has you covered. HoP PK married House of Pendragon Brewing Company and Pita Kabob and Grill, and created a gastropub. You can also enjoy a craft brew and some fantastic food at Tioga Sequoia Brewery. CArthop is another solid spot to get your grub on – it’s downtown’s biggest food truck event, and it happens every Thursday, rain or shine, at Mariposa Plaza. Or check out the urban cafeteria, Tree of Life Café and Bakery, which celebrates renewal and restoration not just in their carefully prepared menu items, but also in their commitment to hiring staff who are recovering from addictions.

Photo by Juan Verduzco

you’re invited to join a huge block party for FresYes Fest, which includes beer, food trucks and music. If you’re a beer fan, grab your Ale Trail passport and visit downtown’s breweries, collecting a stamp at each stop for a chance to win some swag. If art is your thing, the Fresno Arts Council hosts ArtHop on the first and third Thursday of each month – chat with the artists and enjoy a reception and music as museums, studios and galleries open their doors to visitors.

Photo by Jesus Sepulveda

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

Things to do in tower / districtg old fi garden

FRESNO

The heart of the district

Old Fig Garden’s Christmas Tree Lane tradition dates back nearly 100 years, when North Van Ness Boulevard becomes a one-way street lined with trees and homes decked out for the holidays. The Rogue Festival celebrates independent performers in a “First Amendment Zone.” The Swede Fest film festival showcases Hollywood movies or TV shows that have been recreated on low budgets, and the St. Peter Serbian Food Festival has been a tradition in the valley for more than 20 years.

Historic markers This section of Fresno boasts plenty of historic places – the Porter Tract Historic District was the city’s first official historic district. Fresno High School still operates in its original location built in 1920, and Fresno City College has been standing since 1915. Wilson Island encompasses 80 historic properties that include examples of Period Revival and Prairie architecture, and the Tower Theatre opened in 1939 as a movie house.

Photo courtesy of Old Fig Garden’s Christmas Tree Lane

Dinner and a show

Photo courtesy of Ampersand Ice Cream

Treat yourself The Spokeasy Public House serves craft brews that you won’t find in most places, or check out The Library at Detention, where a reservation gets you the password to this quiet, unmarked bar that’s reminiscent of a speakeasy. Feeling less gangster? The Italian-inspired Annex Kitchen creates culinary artwork from farmers’ harvests for an unforgettable feast. Wrap up your meal with a scoop from Ampersand Ice Cream, a small-batch creamery made by hand (and heart).

If you’re looking for a truly memorable evening, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre has the hook-up. Each show features its own special menu and drink specials – and if you’re not sure which show to choose, take advantage of season tickets.

Photo courtesy of Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre

Foodie paradise Creative themes and intimate guest lists set the scene for truly unique culinary experiences through Underground Suppers. Membership in this themed dining club feels more like an adventure than a meal. Photo courtesy of Underground Suppers 14

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

Things to do in

FRESNO

woodwk a–rd par k river par

Mark your calendar

Woodward Park and River Park play host to several popular annual events. Food, fashion and fun are the name of the game at the annual Taste of Riverpark, where guests sample food and beverages while enjoying a fashion show. Meanwhile, the Fresno Margarita Madness 5K is a nighttime run where participants celebrate crossing the finish line with a margarita (don’t worry – you’ve already burned off the calories!).

All the world’s a stage

Photo courtesy of Fresno Margarita Madness 5K

Grab a bite Enjoy a steak at historic Yosemite Ranch, sip a spot of chamomile in Teazers Tea Room, or sample a rich merlot or a pint of beer at The Tasting Room – it will hit the spot.

The Woodward Shakespeare Festival presents classic works by The Bard on its Festival Stage in Woodward Park from June to September each year. The best part? All the shows are free!

Photo courtesy of Shinzen Friendship Garden

Hello, friend Shinzen Friendship Garden includes about six acres of manicured trees and shrubs, as well as a bonsai collection, ceremonial tea garden and tea house. This cultural destination is a delightful place to bring a guest, and it’s part of the picturesque Woodward Park. Photo by Kailyn Julianna

Shop ‘til you drop The River Park outdoor shopping center features retailers, dining and movies, but also hosts a variety of community events. A senior walking club, Salsa Night, Farmers Market, yoga and more are among the offerings. Photo courtesy of River Park Farmers Market

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

Photo courtesy of Tower Theatre

On the map: FRESNO 2. The Tower District is Fresno’s dining, arts and entertainment district. It has a wide variety of locally owned restaurants, theaters, galleries, bakeries, and many specialty retail shops all within walking distance of each other.

1. The 109-foot-tall Old Fresno Water Tower was built in 1894 in the American Romanesque style, and in its heyday, it could hold a quarter-million gallons of water. Today it’s the city’s visitors center.

168

Tower District

2. 180

Photo courtesy of Fresno State University

3. Fresno State University, home of the Bulldogs, is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University system. It serves more than 24,000 students seeking bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Photo courtesy

of Fig Garden

Village

4. Fig Garden Village has been a one-stop spot for shopping needs for more than half a century, and it’s a pleasant place to wander around on a lazy afternoon.

Map is for visual and artistic representation only. Not to scale. 16

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

hometown holiday heroes 2018

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

Gift Certificates Make Great Stocking Stuffers and Gifts!

Find Unique and Charming Gifts in EXETER!

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE Exeter Downtown Shops Open Late Thursday Evenings November 29 & December 6, 13 and 20 5:00 - 9:00 pm

Come see Santa & enjoy FREE Old Fashioned Fire Truck Rides, Refreshments and Family Holiday Spirit! Exeter Gift Certificates make Great Christmas Gifts Employees, Friends, Loved Ones, Teachers, Stocking Stuffers and MORE!

Available at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce all Year Long!

101 W. Pine St. Exeter 559•592•2919 www.exeterchamber.com

For Becka German, moving to Exeter was just a perk of marrying the man of her dreams. Born in Southern California, Becka lived all over the state before she landed in Tulare at age 13, where she remained until after marrying Garrett. He took her on the Exeter mural tour on their first date and told her that he planned to retire in Exeter one day. “It was like a warning—like ‘If you pick me, you pick Exeter,’ kind of thing,” she says with a laugh. They married in 2002 and lived in Tulare until 2006 when they made that dream move to Exeter. Garrett worked as a financial planner and started his own firm. Becka worked at Tulare Western until she had their first child, Bethany. Over the next several years, they had three more children, Ethan, Wyatt and Karis. And Becka had something else on her heart. “I would occasionally bring up the idea of adopting and Garrett would punt that idea,” Becka says. “His concern was that he couldn’t love a child that wasn’t biologically his.” And then, Garrett’s opposition to adoption was challenged on Thanksgiving night 2014 when he dreamed of a brown-haired, browneyed girl with brown skin. She was little, and he was trying to rescue her. In the morning, he cried as he told Becka about the dream. At that very same time, unbeknownst to the Germans, a little girl by the name of Anna, in a Bulgarian orphanage, was having her picture taken for an adoption website. Later that afternoon, Garrett began calling adoption agencies. They didn’t have enough bedrooms to satisfy local adoption rules, but Bulgaria had few restrictions. A social worker told them about the website, RainbowKids.com. On Christmas Eve, Garrett’s eyes landed on Anna, with brown skin and brown hair and brown eyes. He began to cry, and they began the process to adopt her that day. Nine months later, the entire family went to pick her up in Bulgaria. “She was tiny,” Becka says, “malnourished and fragile. She was 4½ years old, but wore a size 12-month clothing. She couldn’t walk. But the children were so excited about their new sister. They fought over who got to play with her.” Four months later, Becka was perusing RainbowKids.com again and saw a picture of another little girl. She showed it to Garrett, who said, “Let’s go get her!” The next day, the sermon at church was on faith. They waited a week. following Sunday, the sermon was on exhortation. The preacher asked them to stand and said to them, “Keep going, keep going, keep going.” “We thought, this is crazy,” Becka says, “but we decided to step out and get her.” They brought the fragile girl home eight months later, in September 2016. The little girl’s name was Faith. Faith was deaf, so Becka and Garrett insisted that their whole family become fluent in sign language. They also wanted to surround their daughter with others who could communicate with her, so they started free sign language classes at the Exeter library and Exeter City Park. “We all have a yearning to be adopted into God’s family,” Becka says. “There are so many parallels between adoption and the ultimate adoption. It’s powerful because it’s modeled after what God did for us. We made major social adjustments to accommodate our little girls, but we’re on a different trajectory now. Our girls have helped keep our perspective on others rather than ourselves. And Faith’s deafness opened a whole new world to us and we love it.” Garrett and Becka currently own a car wash in Visalia where all proceeds go to help families adopt through RainbowKids.com. They’ve also donated and raised funds for Exeter City Park to become more accommodating to unique children.

becka german exeter

jrmeatcompany.com | 24 South Cobb Street, Porterville 559.781.3792 | Owner Kelly Stock 559.798.6345

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NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

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Adversity can be such a motivator. Just ask Marty Kouyoumtjian of Porterville. Born in Montreal, Canada, Marty moved to East Los Angeles in 1972 when he was a toddler. His parents divorced, and during the summer of his freshman year, Marty and his older brother moved back to Montreal with their dad. While they spent just three months in Montreal, that period of time left a huge impression on him. “They threw all the kids of all ages in one big French class,” Marty recalls. “I have such vivid memories of that time, playing Bingo in French with Cambodian children.” What impacted Marty most was meeting his grandparents and his great-grandmother, who had lived through the Armenian genocide of 1915. “Prior to World War I, there were 2 million Armenians in Turkey. Afterward, there were between 350,000 and 400,000,” Marty says. His greatgrandmother had been tattooed during the genocide. “Still, she was so faithful to pray. I would catch her praying for us in Armenian, on her knees, in the dark. And my step-grandfather was so kind to me. He would feed me and take care of me without even being able to communicate. All the good I do in my life is because of Jesus, my great-grandmother, and step-grandfather.” Marty enjoyed playing baseball in high school, but his older brother pushed him to join the wrestling team. “He told me he’d beat me up if I didn’t,” Marty says, laughing. But Marty liked it more than he thought he would. In 1981, he competed in the World Championships and earned a silver medal. He was a two-time junior college Division 2 All American for Rio Hondo and Chico State. After college, he began working odd jobs when someone told him that he had a gift with kids. This encouraged him to go back to school, where he majored in P.E. and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Even before graduating, he was coaching at a high school. Moving his family to Porterville in 2005, Marty secured positions teaching special education and coaching at Granite Hills High School. Marty found time to treat one of his wrestling teams to a trip to Morro Bay, where some saw the ocean for the first time. He’s also taken his special education students to baseball games and other outings. Marty and his wife Tina have three children—Charlotte, Fontaine, and Nico—and when Marty’s daughter, Charlotte, began wrestling, Marty gave up coaching to focus on her. “It’s like fine-tuning for both of us,” he shared. “I didn’t have a lot of credibility with her until she met a kid in Southern California whose coaches were coached by me.”

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There are few people in Kingsburg who haven’t heard the name Don Workman. At 85, he’s spent several years as a mover and shaker in this sleepy hamlet, with wife Evelyn by his side. Born in Nebraska in 1932, Don, his two brothers, a sister, and his parents lived on a farm. Don credits that type of upbringing for his desire to serve his community. “It was tough, farm life, but neighbors helped one another—it was a culture of helping,” he says. Graduating high school in 1951, Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He married Evelyn in 1956 and was officially discharged from the Air Force that same year. He then enrolled at Reedley College and went on to USC Pharmacy School, then moved to Kingsburg shortly after graduation in 1963. He was a part-time pharmacist at Model Drug Store, which he purchased and owned until 1989. While he had the pharmacy, he was involved in the Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce, serving on the board and many committees. He chaired the Beautification Committee for many years and spearheaded the process to have the 89 lamp poles installed and painted. “There are lots of givers in this town,” Don says. “It just takes someone to lead the way.” He was also involved in obtaining the banners downtown in 1990, and he chaired the Architectural Review Committee. Kingsburg was home to the first California Welcome Center, and Don was also involved in that. “When you live in a small town, you should be prepared to join groups and volunteer,” Don says. Many of the town’s landmark projects include his fingerprints. He was a Kiwanis member for many years. He painted and maintained the signs north and south of the freeway, helped make the landmark water tower into a coffee pot and cleans Dala Way alley every week with his wife. He also helped restore the old train depot financially, serves on a committee to refurbish the park, raised funds to beautify the corners in town with the city’s help, served on Kingsburg Covenant Church board and more. He was Kingsburg Chamber Citizen of the Year in 1990; Evelyn received that same honor in 2014. The two were honored as Grand Marshals in the Kingsburg Swedish Festival Parade in 2015, and their grandchildren rode with them in the parade. “I have to give a lot of credit to Evelyn,” Don says fondly. “She pushes me and she’s such a hard worker herself.” The two are happy parents, grandparents and great-grandparents to their three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

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When it comes to Melinda Conley, the old adage “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” really fits. Melinda was raised in Visalia by parents who loved children. Along with their two biological children, they adopted five more. They were also foster parents to many children over the years and home schooled them all. “This is in my blood,” Melinda says. “Sure, I would get frustrated when they got into my things when I was growing up, like any sibling, but they were my family. And when one of the foster kids would either go home to their biological parents or to an adoptive family, it was really hard to see them go.” After graduating from high school, she took child development classes and started a daycare in her parents’ home. Lorrie and Terry had adopted a developmentally disabled girl, Cristel, but both worked outside the home, so Melinda helped with her care. She later took a job with the county working with severely developmentally disabled kids, but Melinda, then 26, decided to go back to school to get her teaching credential with the hope of working with deaf children. However, that was not to be. Her parents obtained permanent guardianship over two grandchildren whose parents were unable to safely care for them, and much of their care fell to Melinda. They called her Aunt Mindy until the oldest started kindergarten and saw all the children calling their mothers “mom,” and after that, she was just mom. Soon, three of their siblings were also placed in the care of Melinda and her parents. A few years later, two more siblings joined them. “Now we had seven children,” Melinda says. Melinda and her parents adopted the first five children in November 2011, and shortly thereafter, another sibling was brought to the Conleys. By 2013, Melinda and her parents had adopted eight children, all from the same biological mother, her brother’s ex-wife. But Melinda’s love for others didn’t stop with her children. She and her mother opened the Sequoia Adult Activity Center in Dinuba — they had incorporated under the name Cristel’s House after her developmentally disabled sister passed away at age 19, and ran this center under that banner — for developmentally delayed and disabled adults who have reached age 22 and are no longer in the system. “When you have a disabled child, your life revolves around them. When they’re gone, you do something like this.” Melinda, her mother, and a staff member provide all the transportation, activities, and care for their students. Today, Melinda’s children are 21, 20, 18, 16, 14, 11, 9, and 7. The two oldest no longer live at home, and the oldest is now a mommy herself. She is quick to point out that this was a joint venture — she couldn’t have done it without her parents. “I love them. I’m blessed to be their mom. It wasn’t planned. I never thought I’d be a single mom, but I’m happy. It’s even better than what I would have planned.”

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No one expected an athlete and honor roll student like Joby Jones to join a gang. He had goals, plans to be a professional basketball player, and as the eldest of 12 kids, he wanted to be a good role model for his siblings. That all changed when he was 16. While walking from his grandmother’s house to his uncle’s home, gunfire erupted from two vehicles driving alongside him, and he was hit eight times. Told that he would never walk again, he fought hard against that prognosis and eventually did walk. But angry, bitter and afraid of it happening again, he sought out protection by joining a gang. This led to years of darkness and despair. Joby’s original path was not due to a solid home life. “My dad was a rolling stone,” Joby says, “and he was gone when I was very young. My mother remarried, but her husband was not kind to us. We kids sort of raised ourselves.” He had a younger brother, Eddie, with whom he was very close. “We had gone to prison at the same time, but when we got out, we started going to church together.” Their lives were changing. But one night in 2009, gangbangers shot Eddie in the back of the head twice, and he died. “All I could see was everyone’s pain,” Joby said. He preached at his brother’s funeral with more than 400 gang members there. And he told them, “I’m done with this.” “If they see you’re serious, they’ll let you go,” he says. “Other gangs approached me, but I said no and they knew I meant it. If you want to overcome, you can.” Joby began taking his little cousin to play football on Saturdays. “We played all day,” he says. “I wore him out. He was too tired to go out and get in trouble.” Other kids began asking him to help them, too. “We’d go over to this park and sit down and talk about life. It grew to 15-20 boys

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each week—sort of a support group.” Taking these kids to his church, Joby says, “The church was kind of scared. The way they looked—the way I looked—but that’s a misconception. These kids got a heart and families.” Joby began going into a middle school to mentor kids, and was eventually hired as a counselor. He continues to work there today, meets with them at lunch time, and has Bible study with them. “I had nobody in my corner,” Joby noted. “Coaches had my back until season was over. Kids are left to the streets. Gangbangers and dope dealers are around these kids 24/7. Remember, it’s who you spend your time with that affects who you become. The gangs become their family. They give them shoes and money. We have to go above and beyond with these kids to change their lives.” Joby also began working with the local police and started the first gang prevention and intervention program in the area. He was also positioned as a community liaison for Fresno Police Department’s Police Athletic League (PAL). Jazzmine, Joby’s wife of 11 years, works and goes to school. But they also work together in all of Joby’s ministries and programs. “She’s my better half,” he says. They have nine children, ages 6 to 22. Together, Joby and Jazzmine started Stop the Violence-Fresno. With his vision and her mad business skills, they have grown it into a force to be reckoned with. “You can make a difference,” Joby says. “You can help others have a different life.” Learn more at www.stoptheviolencefresno.com.

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When Curtis Shurtliff was just 2, he climbed out of his crib, found a gun that his father had given his mother for protection, and shot himself in the stomach. Miraculously, the bullet bypassed all the major organs. During his career, he has paid that miracle forward. Curtis spent four years in the U.S. Navy, earning numerous honors, including the U.S. Military Humanitarian Award for rescuing more than 40 Vietnamese refugees from the South China Sea in a small watercraft that was sinking. After leaving the Navy, he became an emergency medical technician and paramedic, then joined the Specialized Trauma and Rescue team (STAR). His paramedic career created new opportunities for him. He lectured at juvenile drug and alcohol programs, published a book and was named EMT-1 of the Year and Paramedic of the Year. Then he completed the police academy and joined the Fresno Police Department, patrolling some of most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. He won numerous awards, including his first Life Saving Medal, and was promoted to Field Training Officer and trained new police recruits. In 2005, he went to work for Clovis Police Department. While working patrol, he became the lead advanced instructor for medical training and response to mental illness, also joining the SWAT team and Honor Guard Team. He earned his second Life Saving Medal there, as well as the Medal of Distinction. In 2010, Curtis married his wife Michele. Their five children, nephew, and niece completed their wedding party. Curtis promoted to detective in the investigation unit, then ascended to corporal, where he educates children and adults about safety, self-defense and making good choices. He volunteers with the BOKS program at Gettysburg Elementary School where he, in police uniform, provides physical fitness courses and teaches healthy eating before school. As the Clovis Police Homeless Liaison Officer, Curtis is credited with cutting the city’s homeless population in half. He’s been able to help veterans get into programs and obtain housing and work. Curtis was able to help place all mentally ill homeless people in the city of Clovis into care or housing. In 2016, Curtis was camping at Dinkey Creek with his family when he heard someone yelling for help. Curtis ran down to aid a five-year-old boy who had drowned, beginning CPR. “After 30 minutes of no sign of life, Curtis whispered into the boy’s ear, “If you survive this, I’ll give you my lucky fishing hat.” Gabriel was flown to Valley Children’s Hospital where he completely recovered, and Curtis and Michele presented him with the hat. Curtis received his third Life Saving Medal. In the past 37 years in uniform, Curtis has seen more than his share of death and destruction. He has suffered a gunshot wound, numerous broken bones, two blown knees, two blown shoulders and has had eight surgeries to keep him alive or put him back together. “I attribute my drive to stopping people who hurt, injure, or instill fear into our community,” he says. “I have seen or been a part of more than one miracle. I want to pass it forward and never quit.”

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Marilyn Meredith laughs today when she thinks about what she thought she wanted to be when growing up and what she actually became. “I wanted to be single and an artist. I don’t know why an artist – I can’t draw,” she quips. Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, circa 1933, Marilyn says she was “writing all the time – short stories, plays for the neighborhood kids to perform and a magazine in junior high school.” She met a cute sailor for a blind date when she was 17. Hap Meredith, 20 at the time, didn’t have a dime in his pocket, according to Marilyn, but they went to Chinatown on a streetcar and walked around before he walked her home. “Dad asked if he was a Christian, and he said he was a Methodist. Dad said good, and Hap was at our house every weekend after that.” The couple married two years later. They moved to Washington, DC, for a time, but Marilyn didn’t like it. They moved to Oxnard, had five children, and Marilyn took a job working in a preschool for children with developmental disabilities. This would set the stage for much of what she did later. The Meredith family moved to Springville in 1981. Marilyn wanted to live on the Tule River, and they found a house for sale that backed up to the river – but it was a residential care home for developmentally disabled women, so the buyer would need to get into the caregiving business. “We put money down on the house, so I had to get licensed quickly,” Marilyn recalls. She educated herself and ended up teaching those licensing classes for a decade. Marilyn loved the residents and would bring them into town every week. “I had a great time with them,” she says. “They were like family. They did everything I did. If I hosted a baby shower for someone, they came and helped.” But both Hap and their son Mark were diagnosed with cancer in 2004, and Marilyn had to let “her ladies” go. She was now taking care of her son and husband, and they were her priority. Hap won his battle with cancer, but Mark did not. One of Marilyn’s ladies spoke at his funeral. Always writing, Marilyn’s first novel, “Trail to Glory,” was released in 1982. She would write when her ladies went to the Sheltered Workshop during the day, all while watching three grandchildren. She taught writing classes and eventually got involved in a writers’ critique group. “It was my social life,” she says. “And I really learned to write well through that group.” Marilyn has written and published some 40 books. She has two series that she adds to regularly—“Rocky Bluff P.D.” and “Deputy Tempe Crabtree Mysteries.” She belongs to several writers’ organizations and speaks all over the country promoting her books. Marilyn and Hap have rarely lived alone. There’s almost always a grandchild or three living with them. She’s very involved in her church where her son-in-law is the pastor. At 85, she does all this and still teaches Sunday school. “My biggest joy is to be around little kids,” she says. Marilyn’s books can be purchased at fictionforyou.com.

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The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on America affected a lot of people in a lot of different ways. For one Reedley man, a new and stronger sense of patriotism resulted, changing the trajectory of his life. Matthew Tuttle, born and raised in Reedley, was 21 when he watched the Twin Towers fall. “I had to do something,” Matthew says. “My friend was joining the Army, and I decided to join, too. I wanted to protect America from that ever happening again.” He enlisted in October 2001 to become an Army Combat Medic. “Looking back, I was thinking of my future. Maybe this would be something I would do when I got out.” Deployed to Iraq in January 2004, he was the only medic assigned to a military police unit in Baghdad—a unit that was attacked at least once a week with improvised explosive devices or rocket-propelled grenades. His job was to get to the injured soldiers, stabilize them and get them to the medical facility. When some military police from his unit were lost, Matthew was trained on the spot to be a military police. “I’d been working alongside this unit awhile. I was ready.” Coming home after four years in the military, Matthew was different. “It changed my life. I had matured. It made some things more important to me and others less. I understood integrity and honor so much more.” A Stars & Stripes reporter used a photo of Matthew and another soldier trying to revive someone who had gotten hit to create a statue for a memorial called “Operation Iraqi Freedom” at Fort Hood. “When I see that statue, it reminds me of what happened that day, when we were losing soldiers. This is a memorial to all the fallen. I’m pretty proud of it.” The names of the fallen soldiers are etched in a granite backdrop to the statue. After coming home from Iraq, Matthew was a security guard, then a federal law enforcement border patrol officer, but he couldn’t see himself continuing with either. In 2009 he moved back home to Reedley and got a personal trainer certificate. He did some training and also some construction, but in 2013, a Crossfit gym opened in Reedley. He was already a fan of the discipline and began helping the owner while saving money to open his own gym. In 2015, Gnardog Crossfit became a reality. “I try to provide a safe and supportive fitness facility for our community,” says Matthew, who was named Health Professional of the Year by the Reedley Chamber of Commerce. “I feel like my job here is more like a life coach,” he explained. “I help them change the way they think, how to change a challenge into a positive.” He’s got paraplegic and quadriplegic people at his gym regularly. He trains them to do as much as possible. He thrives on helping people. He joined with a ministry to help bring gifts to 17 teenage mothers and their children. And his gym hosted a fundraiser for the family of a local firefighter who died battling the Ferguson Fire. Matthew and his wife, Deandra, have two daughters, Harley and Sophia. Matthew says that his military experience helped strengthen his faith. “Life is good here in Reedley,” he asserted. “I get to work seven days a week and help people.”

matthew tuttle reedley

we are honored to be able to share the stories of just a handful of the many selfless, philanthropic and dedicated individuals who make our communities richer.

Thanks to all who give of themselves to create a better world.

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

INTEREST | BY MELISSA MENDONCA

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AN HONOR

Photos courtesy of Tulare County Museum

T u lare c o u nty M u se u m V eterans Pr o ject With paper cutout poppies hanging from the ceiling as part of its newest exhibit, the Tulare County Museum envisions a new way for people to engage with history past and present. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, museum staff have developed an interactive way to teach essential elements of the war while gently reminding young people that military members continue to serve for our freedoms today. The new exhibit, developed by museum curator Amy

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

King, is an effort to engage more deeply with young visitors by making them active participants in its creation. The poppies on display are not mere pretty paper cutouts, but rather letters written by children to active service members. Each year, more than 5,000 schoolchildren pass through the doors of the museum to learn the county history through exhibits featuring basketry of the Yokut people, a pioneer village, Sequoia Field, an extensive gun and saddle collection, and much more. This new exhibit,

celebrated with a grand opening on Veterans Day, is the first that connects lesson plans within schools prior to the visit, and offers students an opportunity to contribute to the display. Inspired by a similar project she learned about at a conference in Texas, King quickly reached out to the Tulare County Office of Education for support in developing the interactive idea. The connection quickly led to a series of essential learning questions being developed in alignment with each grade’s framework of history. “For all of the lessons, the culminating activity will be the letter on the poppy,” says King. “We’ll have them do the project in advance of the visit so they can see their work on display.” The essential learning questions developed by grade level, as well as additional resources, are available on the internet for teachers to access easily. Questions range from “What does it mean to be an American?” for kindergartners to “What does it mean to be a citizen?” for high school seniors. Additionally, King has met with veterans’ groups to bring speakers into classrooms to share their experiences. “I’m really hoping that the students can see that they can have a large impact on their community by being part of this exhibit and then another impact by sending these letters to strangers who are working to protect our freedoms,” says King. She’s very interested in “getting the kids to see how far their reach can go with their appreciation.” This new project is an extension of King’s work with American Legion Post 18 cataloging an extensive collection of documents, photos, uniforms and other artifacts from a storage room in the Veterans Memorial Building. “They’ve just been so great to work with,” says King. “We all have a passion for history.” True to the enormity of the impact of World War I, the opening celebration of the new exhibit will be a grand, patriotic display featuring a color guard, high school band and remarks from District Attorney Tim Ward, a veteran of the US Army. Events start at 11am in recognition of the fact that “the treaty that ended the war was signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” says King. These initiatives to include more community members, from schoolchildren to military veterans, is all part of a grand effort to transform the museum into a sense of being a community center where people come to learn and share rather than simply absorb from fixed exhibits. “This whole project is just all about connecting our community,” says King, excited about the opportunities ahead. “Instead of just throwing away the display, it’s going to be passed on by being sent to active service members. I feel like if I were a service member and I got a letter from someone far away thanking me, I would feel it was worthwhile.” The public is welcome to attend the exhibit’s opening ceremonies on Veterans Day and to keep an eye on its website for more activities. “We’re trying to do more events,” says King. “The great majority of our collection has been donated. We’re lucky to have what we have and we want to share it with everybody.” • Tulare County Museum • 5953 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia www.tularecountymuseum.org • (559) 624-7326 Find them on Facebook and Instagram Melissa Mendonca is a graduate of San Francisco State and Tulane universities. She’s a lover of airports and road trips and believes in mentoring and service to create communities everyone can enjoy. Her favorite words are rebar, wanderlust and change.

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

GOOD TIMES

BY JORDAN VENEMA

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

Magic in

the air Essentially synonymous with New York, Broadway has roots in the city dating back to 1750, when Thomas Kean and Walter Murray opened a theater company on Nassau Street. For more than 250 years, Broadway has produced the biggest shows and the most grandiose musicals, but theatregoers don’t have to travel to the Big Apple to get a glimpse of the big stage. Its run may be a bit shorter than Broadway’s 250 years in New York, but this year marks Broadway in Fresno’s 25th season, and this year it really promises to start with a roar. On November 28, Broadway in Fresno continues its 2018-19 season with “The Lion King,” the winner of six Tony Awards, including best musical. After that, the Saroyan Theatre in Fresno’s Convention Center will host Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” in January, “Rent” in February, “Wicked” in March and conclude with “Something Rotten!” in April. Though part of the convention center, the Saroyan Theatre can seat 2,300 guests, and according to Broadway Across America spokeswoman Brittany Smith, “The Saroyan Theatre is what we call full-scale, premium theatre.” 4 continued on page 36

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

B R OA D WAY I N F R E S N O at the S ar oyan T heatre

And a premium theatre deserves high quality actors and productions, which is exactly what Broadway in Fresno brings to the stage. “We’re really proud to bring these full-scale shows to Fresno five or six times a year,” continues Smith. “And you don’t have to worry about the hassle of traveling or the price of Broadway.” According to Smith, the shows produced for Broadway in Fresno are the only Broadway-scale shows in the area. “People will be really happy with the quality of the show,” Smith says. “They’re full-scale, really lavish sets and costumes, and the music is the same, as well as the choreography and direction. You’re really going to get the experience of Broadway in Fresno, and it’s a much more accessible way to see shows in your own backyard.” Tickets for “The Lion King” are now on sale and range between $39 and $119 a ticket. A season subscription, which includes a ticket to each show excluding “Wicked,” starts at $140. “Depending on the day of the week and where you’re seated, the subscription package can range anywhere from $140 for all four season shows to $320 for the top ticket price for what we call the prime performances, which includes Friday night, Saturday matinee, Saturday night and Sunday matinee,” says Smith. Not only is Broadway in Fresno bringing theater and culture to Fresno, but the productions are also an opportunity for creating local work. “We hire local stagehands, and the series employs a lot of people behind the scenes, like hair and makeup and wardrobe, as well as staffing at the convention center,” says Smith. Ultimately, these plays are bringing classic and new Broadway to the local stage. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning “Rent” is on its 20th year anniversary tour. “Something Rotten!” is a recent hit about two brothers in 1595 who set out to write the world’s very first musical. • www.broadwayinfresno.com • (888) 255-9363 Find them on Facebook and Instagram

Photo by Joan Marcus

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

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

Photos courtesy of Broadway in Fresno

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

enjoy the view

photo: RALPH CHOJNACKI

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER NOVEMBER2018 2018

Yokohl Valley

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.”

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

WHAT’S COOKIN’

BY LANA GRANFORS | PHOTOS: KARA STEWART

recipe november 2018

Aunt Keri’s Santa Fe Chicken & Rice Soup Serves 4-6

This month, we are featuring another recipe submitted by one of our readers. Jordan Atwell, my personal trainer, is sharing a recipe that has been in his family for a very long time and was passed on to him by his Aunt Keri. It is perfect for cold November evenings, easy and ready in no time. He says it is supposed to serve 4 - 6, but is more often finished off by him and his wife in one sitting. It’s easily doubled, which could leave you with leftovers for lunches or another dinner. So, the challenge is on – can you stop at one bowl? Enjoy!

ingredients: 2 T vegetable oil 1⁄2 large onion - chopped 1 clove garlic - chopped 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 cups rice, uncooked 6 cup chicken broth 1⁄2 tsp. cumin 4 whole fire roasted canned green chilies, chopped or one 7-oz. can chopped Ortega chilies 1 whole chicken breast, cooked and shredded (Jordan’s tip: Hand beater works great for shredding) Up to 3 cups water 8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 1⁄2 inch cubes (Jordan says Sonoma Garlic Jack is the best, but the garlic or peppered jack cheese is good too) 2 avocados cut into lengthwise slices Pepper to taste Optional garnish: Chopped cilantro, green onions, tortilla chips and sliced jalapeños

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

Directions: STEP 1: Heat oil in large soup pot. Stir in onion and garlic. Cover and sweat the onions about 5 minutes over low heat. Uncover and raise heat to medium. Stir in rice. When the rice grains look milky or opaque, add the chicken broth and cumin and bring to a boil. Boil gently for 25 minutes, or until rice is quite tender. The soup can be set aside at this point until 15 minutes before serving. STEP 2: Bring the broth back to a boil and add the chilies, shredded chicken and pepper. When the soup is heated through, check consistency and add some of the remaining liquid if is it seems too thick. It should resemble hearty chicken and rice soup, not a stew. Also, more onion, garlic, chilies and seasonings can be added to spice it up.

STEP 3: Place cheese cubes into individual serving bowls, pour soup over the cheese and garnish with avocado slices and any of the other listed garnishes. The cheese is gooey good and even a crusty bread works well for scooping up the goodness. Lana Granfors enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking and spending time with her friends and familyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially her grandchildren, Jillian and Garet.

total time: 45 minutes - 1 hour

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

CRAFTING

By monica fatica

PHOTOS: kelli avila

On Display

D I Y: J e w elry D is p lay

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

supplies • Two 48-inch wooden dowels • Hobby board • Wood glue • Measuring tape or ruler • Handsaw • Picture hanger • Hammer • Wood pencil or tape to mark where to apply the glue • Craft paper to paint on • Sandpaper (not shown – optional) Tip: We found a 24-inch precut walnut hobby board, but thin plywood or any other type of wood sheet will work. You can personalize it by using a stain of your choice. Be sure to choose the right size of dowel for your jewelry.

1. Mark where you will cut each dowel. You will end up with one 24-inch dowel, two 18-inch dowels and two 12-inch dowels.

2. Cut one of your dowels in half so you have two 24-inch pieces, then cut one of the 24-inch dowels in half so you have two 12-inch pieces. Cut the other 48-inch dowel into two 18-inch pieces and discard the excess.

3. Cut the ends of your hobby board at an angle if you want a modern style. Use sandpaper to smooth any rough edges of the dowels or hobby board.

4. Place your 24-inch dowel at the center of your hobby board, then the two 18-inch dowels spaced at each side of the center dowel and the 12-inch dowels on each side of the 18-inch dowels. We spaced our dowels 4 inches apart. You can mark a line where each dowel is placed, or move onto step 5.

5. Apply your wood glue where your dowels will go.

6. Place your dowels onto the glue. Let the glue dry.

7. Measure and level where your picture hanger will go.

8. Use your hammer to tap the picture hanger into place. NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

calendar N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 8

From Food to fun, something for everyone to enjoy

bakersfield

November 1 • Heroes and Helmets for Hope, Make-a-Wish Foundation, 2120 L St., 7am-1:30pm, www.visitbakersfield.com November1 - 7 • October Fun-Fest, Murray Family Farms, The Big Red Barn, 6700 General Beale Road, noon-8pm Monday-Thursday, noon-10pm Fridays, 8am-10pm Saturdays, 8am-8pm Sundays, www.visitbakersfield.com November 2 • First Friday ArtWalk, Downtown Bakersfield, between 19th and Eye St., 5-9pm, www.visitbakersfield.com November 4 • Dia de los Muertos 2018, Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave., 2-7pm, www.visitbakersfield.com November 7 • 12th Annual Kern County Energy Summit, Doubletree by Hilton, 3100 Camino Dl Rio Ct., 7:30am-noon, www.visitbakersfield.com November 10 • 2018 Zero Prostate Cancer Run/Walk, CSU Bakersfield Amphitheater, 9001 Stockdale Hwy. #62, 8am, www.visitbakersfield.com November 17 • Sister City Garden Festival, Mill Creek Park, 606 21st St., 10am-3pm, www.visitbakersfield.com November 23 • November Full Moon Bike Ride, Beach Park, 21st Street, 7pm, www.visitbakersfield.com

clovis

November 3, 10, 17, 24 • Farmers Market, corner of Pollasky and Bullard Avenues, 8-11:30 am, www.visitclovis.com November 3-4 • The Old Town Flea Market, Clovis Rodeo Grounds, 748 Rodeo Drive, 10am-4pm Saturday, 9am-4pm Sunday, www.visitclovis.com November 11 • Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast, Clovis Veterans Memorial, 808 Veterans Parkway, 7-11am, www.oldtownclovis.org 44

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

November 7 • Agricultural Awards Luncheon, Fresno Convention Center, 848 M St., 11:30am, www.fresnochamber.com November 7, 14, 21, 28 • The Market on Kern, Kern Street between November 10 M and N Streets, 10am-2pm, • Pioneer Days, Railroad Museum, www.downtownfresno.com 289 South K St., 10am-2pm, • Vineyard Farmers Market, 20 West Shaw Ave., www.dinuba.org/historic-preservation3pm-6pm, www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com commission • Farmers Market, Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center, 7300 North Fresno St., 8-1:30pm, www.playfresno.org November 1 November 8 • K-Jewel Art Hop, 1415 Fulton St., 5-8pm, • Veterans Week Celebration, University of (559) 497-5118, www.downtownfresno.org Phoenix, 45 River Park Pl. Suite 200, 4pm, November 1, 15 www.playfresno.org • Art Hop, Tower District and Downtown Fresno, • First Armenia Presbyterian Church’s Merchant’s 5pm, www.fresnoartscouncil.org/arthop Lunch and Country Store, 430 South First St. at November 1-3 Historic Huntington Blvd., 11am-2pm, • “Just Like Us,” Fresno State University Theatre (559) 237-6638 - Woods Theatre, 5201 North Maple Ave., November 10 7:30pm, www.fresnostate.edu • Draggin’ the Main “Cruise Nights,” Fulton St., November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 3-7pmpm, www.downtownfresno.org • CArtHop, Mariposa Plaza, southeast corner of November 14 Fulton Street and Mariposa Way, 11am-2pm, • “The Birds” free screening, Bitwise Industries, www.downtownfresno.org 700 Van Ness Ave., 7pm, November 2-4 www.downtownfresno.org • 13th Annual Fresno Fall Home Improvement November 17 Show and Tiny House Expo, Fresno • Fresno Jewish Film Series, Temple Beth Israel, Fairgrounds, 1121 South Chance Ave., 6622 North Maroa Ave., 6pm, 10am-5pm, www.fresnoshows.com www.playfresno.org November 3, 10, 17, 24 November 23 • Vineyard Farmers Market, 20 West Shaw Ave., • Fulton Live, 845 Fulton St., 7pm, 7am-noon, www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com www.playfresno.org November 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 • Cherry Avenue Auction Swap Meet, November 2 4640 S. Cherry Ave., 6:30am-3:30pm, (559) 266-9856, www.cherryavenueauction.com • Hanford Dia de los Muertos, Hanford Civic Auditorium, 400 North Douty St., November 6, 13, 20, 27 www.hanfordchamber.com • River Park Farmers Market, 220 East Paseo Del November 3, 4, 17, 18 Centro, 5-9pm, www.playfresno.org • Toe Tappin’ Tuesdays, California Arts Academy, • Boxcar - El Vagon Stageplay, Kings Art Center, 605 North Douty St., 5pm and 8pm, 4750 North Blackstone Ave., 7:15-9:30pm, www.hanfordMTC.com (559) 224-0640, www.facebook.com/ November 13 fresnoswingdance • Art in the Heart Art Hop, The Soaking Tub, • Martin Park Craft Day, Martin Park, 345 N. 227 North Irwin St., 6-8pm, Glenn Ave., 4pm, (559) 554-4319, www.facebook.com/heartofhanford www.downtownfresno.org November 15 • One Enchanted Evening, Pollasky Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets, 5-8pm, www.oldtownclovis.org

dinuba

fresno

hanford

kingsburg

November 1 • A Mardi Gras Ladies Night Out, Downtown Draper St., 5:30pm, www.kingsburgchamber.com November 24 • Kingsburg Swedish “Julgranfest” tree lighting, Downtown Swedish Village, starts at Memorial Park, 6pm, www.kingsburgchamber.com

lindsay

November 2, 9 • Friday Night Market, Sweet Briar Plaza, 5-10pm, www.thelindsaychamber.com

porterville

November 2 • Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead Celebration, CHMA Community & Conference Center, 466 East Putnam Ave., 6pm, www.portervillechamber.org November 3 • Harvest Moon Roundup, Porterville Fairgrounds, 2700 West Teapot Dome Ave., 6-11pm, (559) 781-6582, www.portervillefair.com • 1920s Silent Movie Night featuring theater organist Dave Moreno, First Congregational Church, 165 East Mill Ave., 7pm, www.portervillechamber.org November 12 • Veterans Day Parade, downtown Porterville Main Street, 9:30am, www.ci.porterville.ca.us November 17 • Nasty Habitz Car and Bike Show Toy Fundraiser, Veterans Park, 1501 West Henderson Ave., 9am-4pm, www.portervillechamber.org November 29 • Children’s Christmas Parade “A Starlight Christmas,” Main Street from Morton south to Olive, 7pm, www.portervillechamber.org

reedley

November 1 • Heart of California Quilt Guild Show, Mennonite Quilt Center, 1012 G St., 9-3pm, (559) 638-3560, www.mennonitequiltcenter.org November 24 • Christmas Tree Lighting, downtown Reedley, 1713 11th St., 5:30pm, www.reedleydowntown.com three rivers November 3 • First Saturday in Three Rivers, pick up map at Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Drive, 11am-5pm, www.1stsaturdaytr.com

visalia

November 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 • Robotics, ImagineU Children’s Interactive Museum, 210 North Tipton St., 2-5pm November 2 • First Friday, Visalia Arts Consortium, 300 East Oak St., 5-8pm, www.artsconsortium.org • Earth, Moon and Sun, Planetarium & Science Center, 11535 Avenue 264, 6pm, www.tcoe.org/planetarium/publicshows • Farmworker Women’s Conference, Visalia Convention Center, 303 East Acequia Ave., 7:30am-3:30pm, www.visalia.city/depts/ convention_center/events_calendar November 3 • An Evening with Terra Bella, Visalia Convention Center, 303 East Acequia Ave., 5pm, www.visaliarotaryevents.org • A Taste of Hollywood, Visalia Convention Center, 303 East Acequia Ave., 10am-5pm, www.visalia.city/depts/convention_center/ events_calendar November 10-11 • Holiday Marketplace Boutique, Visalia Convention Center, 303 East Acequia Ave., 10am-5pm, www.visalia.city/depts/convention_center/ events_calendar November 8 • 13th Annual Cynthia Lockhart Mummery Conference, Visalia Convention Center, 303 East Acequia Ave., 8am-4:30pm, www.visalia.city/depts/convention_center/ events_calendar November 15 • Holiday Boutique, ImagineU Children’s Interactive Museum, 210 North Tipton St., 6-8pm, www.visitvisalia.org November 22 • 14th Annual Race Against Hunger, Garden Street Plaza, 300 East Main St., 7am, www.visaliachamber.com November 26 • Candy Cane Lane Parade, Main Street Visalia, 7pm, www.downtownvisalia.com November 29 • Holiday Open House, Downtown Visalia, 5pm, www.downtownvisalia.com November 30 • Dawn of the Space Age, Planetarium and Science Center, 11535 Avenue 264, 6pm, www.tcoe.org/planetarium/publicshows

woodlake

November 10 • Fall Festival, Crown Valley Youth Ranch, 19880 Avenue 376, 11am-3pm, www.crownvalleyyouthranch.org

bakersfield fox theatre

www.thebakersfieldfox.com November 3 • “Get Naked!,” 7pm November 5 • “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” 7pm November 8 • Aaron Lewis, 8pm November 9 • “Thunder from Down Under,” 8pm November 10 • Alfredo Olivas, 7:30pm November 11 • Travis Tritt, 7pm November 14 • Children’s Dance Education and Outreach Event, 4:30pm November 16 • “The Insult,” 7:30pm November 17 • Queen Nation, 7:30pm November 18 • Franco Escamilla, 8pm November 19 • “Duck Soup,” 7pm November 30 • An Irish Christmas, 7:30pm

barn theater

www.portervillebarntheater. com

November 30 • “Mary Poppins Jr.,” 7pm

fresno city college

www.fresnocitycollege.edu November 1 • 41st Annual Fall High School Choral Festival, Old Administration Building Auditorium, 9:30am-3pm • Fall Community College Choral Festival, Old Administration Building Auditorium, 6pm November 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 • “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” Studio 105 Theatre, 7:30pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday November 7 • Student Recital, Old Administration Building Auditorium, 7:30pm November 9, 10, 11 • City Dance Fall Concert, Fresno City College Theatre, 7:30pm November 16 • Voice Recital, Old Administration Building Auditorium, 7:30pm November 28 • Intramural Speech Competition, Music Speech Building, noon-4pm November 29 • Rams Jams, Old Administration Building Auditorium, 7:30pm

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

November 30 • Student Recital, Recital Hall, noon • Patience Opera, Fresno City College Theatre, 7:30pm • Commercial Music Showcase, Recital Hall, 7:30pm

fresno convention and entertainment center

www.fresnoconventioncenter. com

November 4 • “Best of the West!,” Saroyan Theatre, 5pm November 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25 • Fresno Monsters, Selland Arena, 7:30pm November 23 • “The Nutcracker,” Saroyan Theatre, 1pm and 6pm www.foxhanford.com November 17 • Throwback Films: “The Wizard of Oz,” 2pm November 23 • Throwback Films: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” 2pm

hanford fox theatre

icehouse theatre

www.v isaliaplayers.org November 16-18, 23-25, 30 • “Escanaba In Da Moonlight,” 7:30pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday

rabobank arena

www.rabobankarena.com November 2 • Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch, Arena, 7:30pm November 3 • Condors vs. Texas, Arena, 7pm November 4 • Condors vs. San Antonio, Arena, 5pm November 8-11 • “Disney on Ice,” Arena, 7pm ThursdaySaturday, 3pm Saturday, 1pm and 5pm Sunday November 10 • BSO: Romantic Classics, Theater, 7:30pm November 13 • “Chicago The Musical,”Theater, 7:30pm November 17 • Condors vs. Colorado, Arena, 7pm November 19 • Cirque Musica Holiday presents “Wonderland,” Arena, 7pm November 20 • Condors vs. Colorado, Arena, 6:30pm November 24 • Condors vs. Tucson, Arena, 7pm November 29 • Condors vs. Ontario, Arena, 10:30am

www.EnjoySouthValley.com NOVEMBER 2018

roger rocka’s dinner theater

www.rogerrockas.com November 1-4, 8-11 • “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” 5:30pm Thursday-Saturday, 11am Sunday November 15-18, 23-25, 29-30 • “Footloose,” 5:30pm Thursday-Saturday, 11am Sunday

save mart center - fresno

www.savemartcenter.com November 1 • Fresno State women’s volleyball vs. Boise State, 7pm November 3 • Fresno State women’s volleyball vs. Utah State, 7pm November 4 • Ozuna, 8pm November 9 • Los Tigres Del Norte & Alejandro Frenandez, 8pm November 12 • Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin, 6pm November 15 • Fresno State women’s volleyball vs. San Jose State, 7pm November 17 • Fresno State women’s volleyball vs. Nevada, 1pm November 19 • Fresno State women’s volleyball vs. Air Force, 6pm November 29 • Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” 7:30pm www.bmtstars.com November 2-17 • Smokey Joe’s Café, 1931 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, 6:30pm dinner, 7:30pm show Thursday-Saturday, 1pm lunch, 2pm show Sunday. • “The Savannah Sipping Society,” 2756 Mosasco St. Bakersfield, 7:30pm November 30 • “An Amy Adams Christmas,” 1931 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, 6:30pm Dinner 7:30pm Show

stars theatre restaurant

tachi palace - lemoore

www.tachipalace.com November 2 • Trace Adkins, 7:30pm

tower theatre - fresno

www.towertheatrefresno.com November 6 • Travis Tritt, 7pm November 8 • The Daniel Castro Band, 7pm November 9 • “A Man and his Prostate,” starring Ed Asner, 6:30pm November 16 • Caravanserai and special guest Tony Lindsay, 6:30pm

visalia fox theatre

www.foxvisalia.org November 8 • “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” 5:30pm November 10 • Carlos Mencia, 8pm November 17 • Sequoia Symphony Orchestra “Classical Goes Hollywood,” 7:30pm November 28 • “High Noon,” 6:30pm November 29 • “An Evening with Lyle Lovett & Robert Earl Keen,” 8pm November 30 • “A Merry-achi Christmas with Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez,” 7:30pm

HOW TO GET YOUR EVENT ON THIS CALENDAR If you’d like your event to be listed in this section of Enjoy magazine, please post it on our website, www.enjoymagazine.net, by the 1st of the month—one month prior to the next magazine issue. For example, a December event will need to posted by November 1. Thank you.

GIVING BACK | BY EMILY MIRANDA

f i n d a way sim p le “ n o p ress u re ” ways t o give b ac k Giving back to the community can be a bit overwhelming – an extra add-in to an already busy schedule. And yet, there are always those folks who somehow, despite their hectic schedule of balancing career and family, still find the extra time and money to volunteer and give. But giving back doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Every act of kindness doesn’t need to resemble some grand gesture of giving. Here are five “no-pressure” ways to give back to the community.

to pet-sit next time they go on a vacation. If they have children, schedule a play-date with your own little ones, or offer to babysit so they can have a date night. For an even easier way to get involved, join the neighborhood watch program, and if your street doesn’t have one, volunteer to set one up. Knowing your neighbors builds a sense of trust and security within the community, giving you connection to those around you. 4. HOST A CHARITY YARD SALE. Now that you know your neighbors, collaborate on a neighborhood yard sale for the community, dedicating the proceeds to a local charity or family in need. Every household has items that can be donated to the yard sale. Offer to host the sale in your yard, or see if there are enough items to have a neighborhood-wide street sale. You never know, it may become an annual neighborhood event.

1. START WITH FAMILY. Some may picture needy strangers in connection to volunteering. But, before considering community outreach as an act of service, consider the needs of your family first. Showing the people who are most important to you just how important they are speaks volumes. If you notice your spouse overwhelmed with the 5. GIVE WHAT YOU pressures of work and home life, ALREADY KNOW. Tutor a offer to help out where you can: student in your favorite subject volunteer to help with dishes, or hobby. Students come in all drive the kids to school, mow the ages. Seniors are especially in lawn. Maybe you have an elderly need of learning computer, family member struggling with — Winston S. Churchill smartphone app and Internet loneliness or mobility. Offer to skills. The younger generations stop by once a week to drop off need of general life skills, such as cooking, sewing, groceries and give them company. You may be surprised gardening and car mechanics. Try mentoring someone how these simple acts of kindness can uplift the human you know and encourage them to pass on the knowledge. spirit for the both of you. You could also teach literacy to adults. Not only are you expanding their outlook on life, but these skills can 2. HELP OUT AT SCHOOL. Educators, , coaches, be life changing, opening up more opportunities for school librarians and other staff members often need their future. help. Children need to be surrounded by role models who show a caring interest in their lives, and who better Put simply, giving back is valuing people. It shouldn’t than their parents? Whether you chaperone field trips, have to be overwhelming or intimidating. When you help coach a sports team, teach an elective or monitor give your time to help someone, you’re making a recess activities, your efforts won’t go unrecognized. difference. When you make time for the people in your You’re not just helping out the school; you are investing community, not only does it make them feel important, in your child’s future, as well as being present in their life but they also see you as important, in turn. • and the lives around them.

“We make a living by what we get.

We make a life by what we give.”

3. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. Do you know your neighbors? If not, the first step is an introduction (perhaps bring over a plate of cookies). Invite your neighbors over for dinner or a friendly barbecue to get better acquainted. Look for common interests. Do they have pets? Invite them on morning dog walks, or offer

Emily J. Miranda is a freelance writer, designer, and self taught artist. She is a graduate of Simpson University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis on business and marketing. In her free time she enjoys writing, painting, sewing, and any projects involving creative insight.

NOVEMBER 2018 www.EnjoySouthValley.com

Christmas

IMAGINE M O R E :

DECEMBER 15 & 16 , 6pm AT V I S A L I A F I R S T // 3 7 3 7 S. A K E R S S T R E E T T I C K E T S : W W W.V I S A L I A F I R S T.C O M