Lifestyle Magazine - November 2016

STYLE, ART, CULTURE, + EVENTS OF THE SOUTH VALLEY NOVEMBER 2016

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ART NOW

HOME TOUR

LINDSAY DRAWS A RUSCHA

THE MENDES HOME Log Cabin Luxury in the Hills

Yes, an Ed Ruscha.

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The remote town of Lindsay is home to yet another contemporary art show, featuring well-known artists such as Ed Ruscha.

10 Wordplay

EPICURE

A BISTRO INSPIRED HOLIDAY Public House Downstairs (PHD)

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8 Letter from the Executive Editor

The chefs at PHD and Tazzaria present a warm and unique alternative for your holiday feast.

12 Refl ections of Visalia: Palace Hotel – A Building for the Ages 16 Community: 12 Days of Christmas – Your South Valley Holiday Bucket List 48 Charity: Help that Helps – Celebrating Visalia Rescue Mission’s 35th Anniversary With a New Perspective 52 An Evening on the Red Carpet – Supporting Visalia Emergency Aid Food Pantry in Style

TRAVELER’S TREK

54 Happenings

VIENNA CHRISTMAS MARKETS Redefining Holiday Spirit

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Lori Rice takes us on a journey through some of Vienna’s most magical Christmas Markets.

COVER: From front to back, the Mendes’ Springville log cabin shows off its splendor.

ABOVE: The unique square dining room table was purchased during the family’s travels through Park City, UT.

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Visalia Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 13,000 homes in the upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods in Visalia and Exeter.

An additional 2,500 copies are distributed at various distribution points around both communities. Views expressed in columns are those of the columnist and not necessarily those of DMI Agency or its advertisers.

Circulation of this issue: 15,500 © 2016 DMI Agency

A warm and inviting fireplace provides the ideal atmosphere for watching the sunset off the back deck.

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FR O M TH E

EDITOR

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his month, and every month, we have so much to be thankful for.

This year in particular, many of us are thankful the 2016 election process is over.

Locally, we have one new City Councilmember, Phil Cox, taking Amy Shuklian’s place as she vacates her seat in order to begin her role as Tulare County Supervisor, where ironically she is replacing Phil Cox after her upset victory in June. Incumbent, Bob

home tour, a log cabin in the hills. This vacation home of Victor and Vivian Mendes, accessed only by a long and steep road, was custom built to fit the property with a gorgeous view of the valley below. Please turn to “Log Cabin Luxury in the Hills” on page 26.

November is the month the nation takes time to recognize and appreciate our veterans, making it a great time to check out Lifestyle’s Word Play article. Contributing writer, Diane

We never take for granted what a privilege it is to be welcomed into your homes and businesses.

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Link, continues another four years in his position as City Councilmember, District 2. At the time of publication, the Tulare County Supervisor, District 1 seat was too close to call. Measure N, Visalia’s one-half cent sales tax measure also passed, so now we look forward to the City’s investment in more public safety. We should also be thankful for one of the best voter turnouts in Tulare County as more than 40 percent voted, and many, many people stood in line at the polls, waiting nearly two hours to exercise their right to vote. We are thankful for their determination and for not getting discouraged by the long wait.

We are also thankful for this month’s

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Slocum, does an excellent job keeping us abreast of popular reads and other happenings in the literary world.

November’s Word Play, on page 10, features several books that give thanks for veterans, and also make great holiday gifts for the veterans in your life.

Whether it’s November or any other month, the DMI Agency staff, publishers of Lifestyle Magazine, always appreciates you. We never take for granted what a privilege it is to be welcomed into your homes and businesses. Our readers make our world go round, and we appreciate you all so much. Thank you, and we hope you have a wonderful month.

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DECEMBER 15TH

T- F 1 0 A - 5 : 3 0 P S AT. 1 0 A - 4 : 3 0 P

M I C H A E L S C U S T O M J E W E L R Y. C O M

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WO R D PLAY News on writing, books + the world of publishing

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ot only Thanksgiving, but also Veteran’s Day falls in November.

Here are some books that give thanks for veterans.

The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans (Calkins, Creek, 2012) was written by Barbara Walsh and illustrated by Layne Johnson.

Michael taught at the University of Georgia in 1917 when many of her students went off to fight in World War I. The book tells of her efforts to support veterans, including establishing the tradition of wearing red poppies to honor fallen soldiers. The book is aimed at children in second to fourth grades.

David Crisinger brought together 20 freshmen at the University of Wisconsin who had served in the military. Their essays are compiled in See Me for Who I Am: Student Veterans’ Stories of War and Coming Home (Hudson Whitman/ Excelsior College Press, 2016).

The stories attempt to break down stereotypes of combat veterans and bridge the gap between those who served and those who have not.

Author, journalist, historian, and veteran Shelby Foote was born 100 years ago on Nov. 17. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to Ken Burns’ The Civil War. Foote spent 20 years crafting his own major work, a three-volume set titled The Civil War: A Narrative. He also wrote six novels, including Shiloh and Jordan County.

company, or are soon to be released, are L.R. Johnson, Chase Burch, and Pattie Goddfrey-Sadler. Burch’s own book was released prior to the launch. Several titles have been released recently and should be appearing on the website.

Burch describes her company as a boutique publisher. She is looking for inspirational stories. She said her staff works closely with authors on edits, cover art, and other aspects of production to be sure the finished product matches their expectations.

The company is founded and operated

NEW VISALIA PUBLISHER

WRITING CONTESTS

HAWAII (Health And Wealth And Inspired Ideas) Way publishing launched in Visalia in September with the intention of helping authors achieve their dream of publishing high quality books. The founder, Season Burch, began honing her editing skills working on her father’s screenplays when she was 16.

Also on staff are other editors, cover artists, and publicists. Local authors who have books published with the

Entries will be accepted until Dec. 22 for the Poetry Society of America’s Chapbook Fellowship and Chapbook Fellowship 30 and Under. Guidelines for the two contests are the same except that entrants for the latter must be 30 years old or younger. Entrants may not have published a full-length poetry collection. Length is 20-30 pages of poetry. Entries must be mailed. Details at: poetrysociety.org/psa/awards/

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chapbook_fellowship/guidelines.

The Poetry Society also accepts poems for seven different awards with prizes ranging from $250 to $2,500. For example, The Writer Magazine/Emily Dickinson Award is given to a poem inspired by Dickinson. Other awards offer prizes for poems that are philosophical or epistemological, lyrical, humanitarian, or take a stand against oppression. Deadline is Dec. 22. Details at: poetrysociety.org/ psa/awards/annual/ind_awards.

The Passaic County Community College Paterson Fiction Prize offers an award of $1,000 from the Poetry Center for a novel or collection of short fiction published in 2016. Deadline is Feb 1. Details at: poetrycenterpccc.com/awards.

BOOK FESTIVAL

by women and is associated with the National Association for Professional Women. For more information, go to the HAWAII Way website at hawaiiwaypublishing.com.

The 10th Anniversary Savannah Book Festival will be held Feb. 16-19. Opening address will be

by James Patterson, keynote address by Colson Whitehead, and closing address by Christina Baker Kline. More than 35 authors are scheduled for the Festival Saturday to talk about their books. This event is free to the public. The event will take place in various locations in Savannah’s Landmark Historic District. Details: savannahbookfestival.org.

WRITERS’ STUDIO The UCLA Extension is billed as the largest open-enrollment creative writing and screenwriting program in the nation.

The Writers Studio will be held Feb. 9-12.

It is an immersive, four-day program that includes workshops on creative writing and screenwriting. Details at: writers. uclaextension.edu/programs-services/ writers-studio.

THE LAST WORD “When the peace treaty is signed, the war isn’t over for the veterans, or the family. It’s just starting.” – Karl Marlantes (1944 - )

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PALACE HOTEL

A BUILDING FOR THE AGES

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or the last 140 years, the Palace Hotel building has been exposed to harsh elements. Floods, fires, earthquakes, and endless remodels and tinkering by man have taken a toll on this old timer. But it has survived and holds the distinction of being the oldest commercial building still in use in Visalia and probably the southern San Joaquin Valley. Structural endurance and longevity like this doesn’t happen by accident, but rather is the result of many factors blended together including vision, architectural design, quality of construction and, of course, the care of its many owners. October 2016 marked

the 140th anniversary of this grand old Visalia building, and it seems fitting to reflect on its history.

The idea for this large hotel came from Solomon Sweet, an early Visalia pioneer and businessman. He had the vision to see the need for a big hotel, probably influenced by the “silver rush” taking place in Mineral King in the Sierra to the east. Sweet hired San Francisco architects Kenitzer & Raun, and contractor Albert Washburn of Stockton, the same builder that would construct the famous Wawona Hotel in Yosemite.

By early 1876, there was a flurry T EXT

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of activity at the building site on the northeast corner of Court and Main streets. Lumber, brought in by rail, and 800,000 bricks were on the ground.

Leon Guggenhime had fired up his lime kiln ready to make the necessary mortar for the bricks. The town was buzzing with anticipation.

But the new hotel was not the only excitement happening in town. A fancy new courthouse was in the works, Elias Jacob was constructing a building, and the Good Templars had one in process, too. And several homes were in various stages of construction. The Tulare Times was bubbling with joy over

O MME N

1939 view of the Palace Hotel.

all the activity, commenting that 1876, the nation’s centennial year, could be a turning point in making “our city what it should be.”

In January 1876, J.S. Carter, foreman for the contractor of the hotel, gave an interview to the Times providing Visalians with an advanced description of the new hotel that would be called the Palace. He said it would be a two-story brick structure with 86-feet of frontage on Main and about 115 feet on Court, with the main entrance on Court Street.

The ground floor on both streets would be designated for retail spaces and a hotel restaurant. The second floor would have 45 regular hotel rooms and seven

N. Harter, clearly demonstrated he was determined to make Visalia’s Palace as elegant as the newly constructed Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

The local newspaper was obviously pleased with the new hotel and its management, and reported, “Mr. Harter has our best wishes for unlimited success in establishing a first-class hotel (an institution much needed in our midst) where [all] the comforts and conveniences can be secured that is afforded by large cities.”

But after just a short time, Harter was gone and a new hotel proprietor had taken over. Business was good and in 1878 the new proprietor commented

second floor of the annex by a wooded bridge over the alley. Now the Palace Hotel and the annex building occupied Court Street from Main to Center.

Building ownership, proprietor changes, and remodels continued.

Gradually, the once fancy hotel began to show its age and was obviously suffering. Probably in the 1960s, the second floor guest rooms were closed.

The annex structure stood until 1965 when a carelessly thrown cigarette caught the building on fire, damaging it beyond repair. It was demolished and a parking lot is on the site now.

Today, Danny Freitas owns the old building, and the ground floor continues

large suites. Off of the alley would be an open area allowing the rooms access to additional light and ventilation. Small balconies would be on the second floor and awnings would cover the windows.

Work began quickly, and by the end of May it was nearly finished. But one important detail remained. Sweet needed to find a suitable proprietor for the hotel. He owned the building, but needed someone to run the hotel.

By October 1876, the building was finished. The rooms had beautiful furnishings and a proprietor for the hotel was in place. Grand opening festivities were set for Thursday, Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.

At the gala event, more than 100 guests were escorted into the elegant dining hall including special guest, California Governor William Irwin. In the dining room were eight large tables “loaded with all the substantials and luxuries imaginable.” The hotel proprietor, Ike

that if the rush continues, he would have to go to Europe to recuperate.

By 1879, the Palace had “been completely reconstructed intently and extensively.” Why the necessity for extensive changes after only three years remains a mystery, but according to the newspaper, the reconstructed hotel had been “fixed up in the most approved style in all departments and is much more convenient than it had been formerly.”

In 1886, there was more evidence showing the hotel’s popularity. An extension or annex building was built north of the hotel providing more guest rooms and retail space. Made of wood, this two-story structure stretched along the east side of Court Street between the alley and Center Street. The second floor had lodging rooms and the ground floor had retail shops. The second floor of the main hotel was connected to the

to be used as desirable retail space.

The second floor hotel portion remains vacant. Now, just like in the past, the building is going through more changes.

Danny has painted it and is putting in new windows and awnings. Will the upstairs ever welcome guests again?

Time will tell.

The City of Visalia’s Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, thanks to a generous donation by the Kaweah Kollectors, placed a bronze plaque on the building in October 2011.

It was the first to receive a plaque in the Historic Recognition Program.

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LEFT: Wooden bridge between the hotel and the hotel annex, circa 1963.

CENTER: Palace Hotel invitation for Thanksgiving dinner, circa 1905.

RIGHT: A coach stuck in the muddy street with the Palace Hotel in the background, circa 1890.

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He quickly made his way to the hospital where he underwent an urgent triple bypass surgery.

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Everyone – my surgeon, the nurses, everyone – was wonderful. If you have to have a heart attack, Visalia is a good place to have one!”

COMMUNITY

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DAYS

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C H R I S T M A S

YOUR SOUTH VALLEY HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST T 1

his holiday season, if you find yourself thinking there’s nothing to do in the South Valley, think again. From Christmas parades and light displays to downtown shopping and nature exploring, the valley has plenty of Christmas spirit to help you form special memories with your loved ones.

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HIT THE ANNUAL TURKEY TROT

Start the holidays off by giving back…and possibly losing a few pounds in the process. With more than 5,000 participants, the “Race Against Hunger” in downtown Visalia supports the Visalia Emergency Aid Council’s efforts to alleviate hunger in Tulare County. Whether you’re young or old, a seasoned runner or certified slow walker, gather the whole family to start your Thanksgiving morning the right way.

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GO TREE HUNTING

Whether you decorate for Christmas the moment the Thanksgiving dishes are put away or wait until the week of Christmas, there are plenty of places in and around Tulare County to pick out a tree. If you don’t mind taking a little drive, head to Hillcrest Tree Farm in Reedley to pick out or cut down your own Christmas tree. If you’re staying local, Visalia has multiple tree lots scattered throughout the town, and The Gardens in Tulare offers a variety of quality trees in a festive atmosphere.

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CANDY CANE LANE PARADE

It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving, so you know what that means – get out your lawn chairs and head to downtown Visalia for the 71st Annual Candy Cane Lane Parade on Nov. 28. This long-standing Visalia tradition is a must for families as it kicksoff the holiday season, and this year’s Storybook Christmas theme is more nostalgic than ever. Grab a warm blanket and get ready for some serious holiday cheer.

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HOLIDAYS AT THE GARDENS

Every holiday season, The Gardens in Tulare holds a variety of workshops and events to help you celebrate this special time of year. They will also have a Christmas Open House on Nov. 26. At this “Raindrops & Roses” event, you can shop and pick out a Christmas tree while your kids decorate cookies and enjoy the kid’s cottage.

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EXPLORE A CHRISTMAS VILLAGE AT TCOE

For kids (and even adults), there’s nothing like spending hours letting your imagination run wild as you gaze at a Christmas village. This year, Tulare County Office of Education will be displaying a spectacular exhibit of handpainted porcelain buildings, figures, plazas, parks, and landscaping, all arranged in holiday cityscape spanning 55-feet. This free exhibit opens on Dec. 5 at the Tulare County Office of Education Administration Building lobby on Mooney Blvd.

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SHOP AT THE DOWNTOWN VISALIA HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Did someone say shopping? Yes, yes we did. Thursdays in December are the new Fridays, as businesses stay open later for your shopping pleasure.

Shop, dine, and enjoy holiday tunes from local high school bands. And if that’s not jolly enough for you, perhaps a ride on the horse drawn carriage will satisfy all your holiday longings.

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VISIT THE VISALIA GRINCH

Despite what his name might imply, the Visalia Grinch is not vile and resembles nothing of a seasick crocodile. Every December, the Visalia Grinch decorates his home in hundreds of lights set to holiday music and entertains visitors nightly with his electric guitar. He even partners with local charities by collecting food donations from visitors. Whether or not you have kids, a visit (or two) to the Visalia Grinch is a must at Christmas time.

THE VISALIA CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION

You know that fancy dress in the back of your closet that’s collecting dust? It’s time to break it out for the 36th Annual Christmas Tree Auction, hosted by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 9. Enjoy this year’s White Christmas theme while sampling food from local restaurants, drinking wine, and dancing the night away. It truly is Visalia’s biggest event of the year, and one you don’t want to miss.

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Lights, lights, and more lights!

The Global Winter Wonderland is coming back to the Tulare County Fairgrounds on Nov. 25. This holiday festival is a multi-cultural celebration featuring illuminated landscapes, live entertainment, a carnival, international cuisine, and shopping.

EXETER HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

What’s better than a home decorated beautifully for Christmas? Four homes decorated beautifully for Christmas. Before you hit the Christmas Tree Auction on December 9, join the Exeter Woman’s Club to tour four homes decked for the holidays. And don’t forget to stop at the clubhouse beforehand for sweets and snacks.

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HOLIDAY MADNESS WITH THE TULARE COUNTY SYMPHONY

For many of us, Christmas music is one of the most significant aspects of the holiday season; it not only gets us in the holiday spirit, it often connects us to another place and time. As one of the Central Valley’s most popular Christmas traditions, Holiday Madness, on Dec. 10, brings together more than 300 performers and launches the season of celebration with a spirit of song.

Come and share in the joy with others in your community to experience holiday favorites, old and new.

COMMUNITY

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EXPLORE THE GLOBAL WINTER WONDERLAND

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TREK TO SEE THE “NATION'S CHRISTMAS TREE”

Take advantage of your proximity to the Sierras, and make a day trip up to see Jack Frost. Every December, the Sanger Chamber of Commerce hosts a 91-year-old tradition of making a trek to see the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park. Dubbed as the “Nation’s Christmas Tree” by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926, this trek is made every year on the second Sunday of December.

ART NOW

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Self Portrait; Paul Ruscha; acrylic on acetate (1981).

LINDSAY DRAWS A RUSCHA. YES, AN ED RUSCHA. T E X T

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Portrait of My Brother as Cave Dweller; Paul Ruscha.

C O L L I N S

t’s probably too soon to claim some sort of art world invasion is occurring in the San Joaquin Valley, or the permanent piercing of the seemingly impermeable cultural barrier that encases it. But with two developments – the recent Joan Quinn portraiture exhibition at Fresno Art Museum, and now the even less likely venue of Lindsay Art Museum hosting a similarly quirky and personal portraiture show of nationally and internationally-known contemporary artists – the relatively trend-resistant region is threatening once again to join the 21st Century art world proper.

For art aficionados, the Lindsay show represents two worlds colliding: the broader blue chip art world that trades in talent as well as fame and prestige,

and a most unlikely little town where little of that former world computes.

(Regular readers might recall our feature on Shane Guffogg, Lindsay’s most notable artist and art world citizen; Lifestyle Magazine, January 2016).

It is Lindsay’s “local boy made good” who is to be credited with the birth of this unicorn. Guffogg is the explanation as to how the humble Lindsay Art Museum bagged a group show that includes one of the most notable artists of the 20th Century. And for sheer art world heft and luster, this little engine that could, located in the erstwhile Olive Capital, appears to be poised to attract some rare-for-the-valley art world cred, thanks to Guffogg’s determination to connect his hometown with his

longstanding connections throughout the L.A. and international art scenes.

Curated by Guffogg, this exhibition has a little of everything, including a delightfully unlikely number of connections to the culture high and low: A Beatles connection; blue chip notoriety in the form of Ed Ruscha; the work of a successful actor who moonlights as a painter; a variety of art-making impulses spanning a four-decade period; and of course, Shane Guffogg himself, whose work he included as well, a gambit that is perhaps itself a very L.A. thing.

There is a nearly four-year span of art featured in this show, and Guffogg feels that “they all add up to what I think of as a snapshot that is being driven

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by a need to understand and reflect about what it means to be human in the beginning of the 21st century.”

But in some respects, this show constitutes just as much a snapshot of the curator’s own life in art as it does a presumable survey of contemporary portraiture. Reconstituted from an earlier show entitled Portrait held in 2006 at Pharmaka, the former gallery that served as catalyst for the once-vibrant Downtown L.A. gallery scene, Guffogg’s friends, mentors, and luminary acquaintances populate this endeavor and render a kind of visual diary of halcyon days at the confluence of so many creative flows within the Southern California scene.

“Portraiture is much more than capturing a likeness of someone. It goes deep into our past like an underground river, resurfacing as our future. The artists I have chosen for the portrait exhibition adds to a larger picture that is both a vision of our reality and a psychological reflection of what that reality is,” said Guffogg. “I admire what these artists are doing – making images – which is a tradition and form of communication that is as old as humanity itself.”

Consider the inclusion of the renowned text-based Pop Artist Ed Ruscha, whose work currently tops revenues for the international behemoth Gagosian Gallery to the tune of $50 million in annual sales. And whose work appears in nearly every notable museum collection.

As a former studio assistant to Ruscha, Guffogg was uniquely situated to include his mentor and former employer in the show. The work is owned by Guffogg, a silhouette portrait of Shane with his wife and son, so Ruscha’s presence is perhaps roundabout, at most. But Guffogg says the venerated artist is fully aware and supportive of the Lindsay show.

Paul Ruscha, Ed’s younger brother, also features in the show with Portrait of My Brother as Cave Dweller, a portrait of his big brother that speaks perhaps both to the solitary requirements of art making as well as the defensive nature of fame as luminous as the elder Ruscha’s.

Don Bachardy might not be as

familiar a name as Ed Ruscha in cultural circles, but like Ruscha, his works are included in some of the best museums. At 82 years of age, Bachardy, who was the life partner of the late author Christopher Isherwood, has works permanently included in not only important California institutional collections like the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum of Art in San Francisco and The Huntington in San Marino, but in the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University; the Smithsonian Institution; and the National Portrait Gallery, London. With that resume, who needs fame?

Xander Berkeley’s face might be familiar from his day job in film and TV series work from M*A*S*H to Law & Order to the X-Files and Terminator 2, among many others. His laborious technique involves a subtractive process that renders painting as sculpture, an archaeological dig backwards through layered paint to reveal his portrait subject, such as in Surfmom the Seer (oil on wood, 201316). This surfmom evinces a thousandmile stare that perhaps reveals the inner states of mothers of kids everywhere who fall in love with dangerous pastimes.

Jeff Britton’s earlier work recalls the Bay Area Figurative Art of Elmer Bischoff and Richard Diebenkorn, an ascendant style in the late 1940s and ‘50s. His self-portrait was actually a likeness painted in 1996, well after the style had its cultural moment but well before “selfie” was a word.

Vonn Sumner is one of the standouts in the show with his meticulous and unsettling monochromatic oil paintings that keep viewers guessing as to the possible narrative behind the scenes of subjects in curious headgear. Sumner uses subdued palettes and pictorial veracity to good effect in selling his brand of plausible surrealism.

And about that Beatles connection we mentioned: Michael Lindsay-Hogg, whose father turned out to be Orson Welles, shot a little documentary film in 1969 called Let It Be, putting him Zelig-like in the middle of one of the most notable pop cultural implosions of the 20th Century. The film only hints

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Cabal; Vonn Sumner, oil on linen.

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ART NOW

LEFT: Angel at Crossroads; Laura Hipke.

CENTER: Toupee; Laura Hipke.

RIGHT: White Orchid, Laura Hipke.

LEFT: Surfmom the Seer; Xander Berkeley.

CENTER: Self Portrait; Jeff Britton, oil on canvas.

RIGHT: The Couple; Michael Lindsay-Hogg, oil on canvas.

at what would become clear later that year as the Beatles disintegrated.

His pieces in paint and colored pencil suggest stills from a movie, little dramas that play as behindthe-scenes glimpses into an extraordinary life.

His mother was actress Geraldine Fitzgerald, whose friend Gloria Vanderbilt confirmed that Welles was actually his father – not Sir Edward Lindsay-Hogg.

Seeing his paintings in Lindsay should only enhance the various absurdities of the life of Michael, now known with the honorific Sir Michael.

“I paint people, people who are sometimes confused, who don't know where they are or what they're doing. Sometimes they're okay and sometimes not sure where they are or what to do with each 24 L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

other. I like to think I paint versions of people who are like versions of us, other people,” he said. Of LindsayHogg’s work, Guffogg said, “They are just the strangest paintings, like a Fellini film gone awry!”

This exhibition examines both contemporary portraiture threads and how they connect to the long history of the form, and the diversity in how artists choose to see their subjects.

This show depicts not a moribund, staid art form circumscribed by academic concerns, but a genre that is still vibrant and alive with contemporary possibilities for social examination.

Works by Guffogg, Laura Hipke, and Doro Hoffman round out this rare (for Tulare County) show on view through November at Lindsay Museum & Gallery, 147 N. Gale Hill Ave.

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THE MENDES HOME

LOG CABIN IN The three bedroom, three-and-a-half bath luxury cabin shows off its pine logs as it welcomes guests for fall.

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LUXURY THE HILLS P

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HOME TOUR

The kitchen’s knotty alder wood cabinets and earth-tone granite countertops complement the cabin’s rustic appeal.

W

hen we pulled up to the Mendes’ personally branded iron gate, we found ourselves at what appeared to be the foothills of a mountain; maybe not Mt. Whitney status, but seemingly tall enough to be classified as more than a mere “hill.” Not quite sure what we were getting ourselves into, we left our compact SUV behind in the dust and hopped into Victor Mendes’ Ford Raptor. And up we went.

As we made our climb up the narrow, winding road, the trees politely shaded us from the views both above and below, making what was to greet us at the top even more mysterious. With every subsequent turn, it seemed outlandish that anyone would have a reason to build such a steep and curvy road. But once we got to the top, the “reason” became quite clear.

After what seemed like miles, another iron gate welcomed us to the top of the hill, and the log cabin’s own magnificent peak presented itself. Characteristic of many log cabins, the vaulted front windows gave a hint of the home’s splendor, while the large double doors 28 L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

shielded us from the true luxury within.

While Victor Mendes always knew he wanted to build a log cabin, he never really imagined it would become what it is today. His own life has unfolded similarly. Born in Brazil, Victor came to America with his father when he was 15

years old. Instead of going to school, Victor started working on a dairy in Nevada. Though he knew nothing about cows, he became passionate about the industry after asking his employer if he could raise one of the unfit calves

himself, rather than kill it like he was instructed to do. That one calf is what started it all for Victor.

“When we moved to California, I started raising three or four calves in the backyard,” said Victor. “I sold them and made a little money, and then I invested it back. It just progressed from there.”

Four calves soon became eight calves, and eight calves became 16. Now, Victor has close to 50,000 calves on ranches in Tipton and Pixley. He also has two local dairies and cattle in Imperial Valley and in Texas.

Victor’s wife, Vivian Mendes, said, “It’s a true American success story. He actually lived in an ice cream truck with no running water at one point. He knows what it’s like to come from absolutely nothing.”

The luxury log cabin, located in Springville, is certainly an upgrade from an ice cream truck. Twelve years ago, when Victor purchased the 400-acre property, he dreamed of putting a cabin somewhere on the land. But both the difficulty of the task and an economic downturn ensured it would be another

INSET: The front porch provides ample space for relaxation.

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eight years or so before that would become a reality.

“I saw this beautiful spot here, but I knew it was going to be challenging to get up here,” said Victor.

Challenging was an understatement. Since there was no road leading to the top of the hill, they would need to build one from scratch. It turns out that constructing the nearly two-mile road would be one of the easier tasks ahead.

Victor would also need to get power up to the top somehow, and after deciding against a generator or solar, he did it the old-fashioned way with telephone poles.

“I just wanted to come in and

the trucks and cement up here,” said Victor. “I have pictures of trailers with all the logs on the top, and we’re pulling around four or five trailers at a time up that mountain. It took a while to get here.”

When Victor was first looking for someone to build the cabin, he approached Meeker Builders, a custom log cabin company located in Exeter. Meeker came up with the original home design, and as they started building, Victor and Vivian implemented several changes to the interior layout, some of which was inspired by their travels.

For example, the grand

The back deck is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the coastal mountains.

flip the switch,” said Victor.

“So we had to bring the power straight up these hills about 3,500 ft. We got an excavator, my friend Danny Freitas ordered all the telephone poles and drilled them into the ground, and I hired treeclimbers to run cable all the way up. It was an extremely hard process to get electricity here.”

Another challenge was transporting the materials and equipment up the hill to build the cabin itself. Just imagine trying to navigate logs, cement, trailers, and trucks up a steep road that seems to have a sharp curve every few feet.

“It was pretty hard getting

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staircase was originally designed to line up along the wall, but they pulled it out, adding in custom wood steps from Minnesota along with the iron handrails made by Chiapa Welding in Porterville.

Other alterations made to the floor plan included changing the original Jack and Jill bathroom downstairs to separate bathrooms in each bedroom. They also installed an additional powder room downstairs for guests. When all was said and done, their cabin was a total of 3,000 sq. ft. with three bedrooms and threeand-a-half bathrooms.

Victor and Vivian’s travels not only inspired the cabin’s

The open floor plan allows plenty of space for family and friends to gather during the holidays.

The rustic master bedroom furniture was purchased while Victor and Vivian were on a road trip through Park City, UT.

HOME TOUR

The unique wet bar features an Onyx counter top and saddle stool chairs, inspired by the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, WY. L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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HOME TOUR

The lodge pole pine rafters in the vaulted ceiling add another element of luxury to the cabin’s interior.

layout, but its décor as well; nearly all of the cabin’s furniture was purchased while on a motorhome trip in Park City, Utah, when they happened upon a store filled with rustic-style furniture.

Everything from the bedroom sets to the dining room table and family room furniture came from Park City. The owner of the store even drove out from Utah to deliver all of the furniture.

“He and his friend showed up at our house in Tipton, and I said, ‘that trailer is not going to make it up the hill.’ So we transferred everything to my trailer and pretty much unloaded all of it ourselves.

We actually might have scared him off because we picked out more stuff to order, but never heard from him again,” chuckled Victor.

Other decor pieces inspired by their travels include the saddle chairs in their bar, modeled after stools at Jackson Hole’s Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and the large chandelier that hangs above their entryway, which they saw in Park City.

“We got a lot of ideas through our travels,” said Vivian. “It’s been a special process to do this together. We have some great memories here.”

While Victor and Vivian made many decisions together, it was Vivian’s eye 32 L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

for design that shined brightest when it came to picking out materials for the kitchen, the bedrooms, and the bathrooms. The kitchen’s earth tone granite is the perfect complement to the knotty alder wood cabinets and the unique stove hood, crafted from wood but designed to look like copper. They

also implemented a beautiful piece of Onyx as the bar-top that lights up with the flip of a switch.

“I don’t have a vision like my wife does,” said Victor. “So pretty much I have to give her credit. We went together and agreed and disagreed on certain things, but at the end of the day, you can see it turned out really nice.

She’s got a good vision and she knows how to put things together.”

When it comes to the design of the cabin itself, Chris Schultz of Meeker Builders knows the home backwards and forwards. When Chris first saw the property years ago, he and Victor made a rough trek up the hill before there was even a road. Once up top, Chris measured the footprint of the home and worked alongside Victor to create a custom design.

“The home was strictly custom, made to fit the property, so we had to think outside of the box,” said Chris. “And along the way, Victor made changes and added bathrooms and other features. It’s just a really neat process to see people go from bare land to what you walk through now.”

The Mendes’ cabin really comes alive with the variety of beautiful wood showcased throughout. They used pine logs for the walls; knotty alder wood for the entryway doors, interior doors, and cabinets; lodge pole pine for the ceiling rafters; clear pine for the patio doors and windows; Brazilian wood for the back deck; and aluminum cladding for the exterior windows.

“We never thought we were going to do really nice windows and doors

INSET: Each bedroom has double doors that open up to the back deck with views of the valley below.

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and everything, but we got together and said, you know if we're going to do this thing, let’s do it right,” said Victor.

“And we just started getting some nice quality stuff.”

The interior of the home certainly is beautiful with its massive vaulted ceilings and wood varieties, but there’s nothing as breathtaking as stepping onto the back deck and gazing over the expansive valley below. With an inviting fireplace seating area, an out door kitchen, and a Jacuzzi, it’s no wonder Victor and Vivian enjoy spending most of their time out doors. And since each of the three bedrooms have glass doors leading on

HOME TOUR

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to the deck, no matter where guests wake up, they have westward views as far as the eye can see.

“On a really clear day you can see the coastal mountains,” said Vivian. “You can see the whole valley – it’s just gorgeous up here when it’s clear.”

After years of planning, a lot of hard work, and even more creativity, Victor and Vivian can finally sit back with their family and enjoy the view.

With 11 grandchildren between the two of them and countless relatives, they have plenty of family to help fill their log home with special memories for years to come.

The back deck showcases the cabin’s beauty as it overlooks the San Joaquin Valley below.

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LIDAY EPICURE

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BRINED PORK RACK ROAST INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

6 lb center-cut pork rib roast, 6-8 bones, French trimmed

Combine water, and all remaining brine ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar and salt dissolve.

Pour brine into wide pot or container large enough to hold pork (three to four gallon capacity). Let stand until brine is cool to touch, about one-hour. Add ice, then pork.

Leave pork in brine overnight in refrigerator.

Separately, crush all spices and oil with mortar and pestle.

BRINE 1 gal. cold water 2 C ice ½ C sugar 1 C kosher salt 3 fresh thyme sprigs 3-4 fresh bay leaves 4 juniper berries 2 T whole black peppercorns

SPICE RUB 1 T coarse kosher salt 1 T smoked paprika 2 T whole black peppercorns 1 T red pepper flake 3 T extra virgin olive oil

Remove pork from brine and discard brine.

Rinse pork under cold running water for five minutes to reduce saltiness. Pat dry with paper towels. Place pork on rack set over sheet of foil and let stand at room temperature for one hour. Brush with spice oil mixture.

Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F. Place pork on rack in large roasting pan. Roast until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 138-140°F, about one hour. Remove roast from oven and let pork rest for 20 minutes, allowing the internal temperature to rise seven or eight degrees. Meat should be faintly pink and juicy.

BOURBON CARAMEL SAUCE INGREDIENTS 1 C sugar ¼ C water ½ C heavy cream 1 T bourbon Pinch of salt (optional) DIRECTIONS

BROWN BUTTER AND SAGE APPLE CHUTNEY INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

2 T butter 2 sage leaves ¼ C dried cranberry ¼ C dried golden raisins 1 medium apple (Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Granny Smith) ½ C brandy

Soak raisins and cranberries in the brandy for half an hour. Dice apple into thin oneinch pieces. Add butter to pan, heat until butter starts to foam. Add sage leaves and cook until butter starts to brown. Remove sage leaves and add apples. Sauté two minutes and then add cranberries, raisins, and brandy. Tilt pan away from you and ignite, cook until brandy absorbs. Top pork roast with chutney.

PILE O’ BREAD PUDDING BITES Pair your meal with a Pile O’ Bread Pudding Bites. Simply cut your favorite bread pudding into small squares and deep fry. Then drizzle with the bourbon caramel sauce.

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Simmer sugar and ¼ cup water on medium heat. Swirl pan (do not stir) for about 15 minutes or until a deep amber color is reached. Watch closely as not to let it burn. Turn off burner, remove from heat, and slowly add cream while stirring. Add a pinch of salt and bourbon and place back on stillwarm burner for another minute while stirring. Transfer to a heat-safe dish or bottle and let cool. Cover and store in the refrigerator. To serve, bring to room temperature or microwave the jar for 30 seconds before each use.

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

3 lb potatoes 1 C pumpkin purée 2 eggs ½ C Parmesan ½ T cinnamon 2 T salt ½ tsp allspice Pinch white pepper 3-4 C flour

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel potatoes and add to pot.

Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, and mash with a fork or potato masher. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and allspice together. Mix the eggs, pumpkin purée, and potatoes together and combine with dry ingredients. Add three cups flour and knead until dough ball forms.

Add additional flour only as needed to help form dough ball. On a floured surface, shape small portions of the dough into long dowels. Cut dowels into half-inch pieces. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in gnocchi and cook for three to five minutes or until the gnocchi rise to the top; drain and serve.

BAKED BRIE PINOT NOIR CRANBERRY GALETTE INGREDIENTS 1 block brie cheese 1 puff pastry sheet ½ C cranberries ¼ C pinot noir ¼ C sugar 1 T egg wash 1 T cold unsalted butter

DIRECTIONS Combine pinot noir, cranberries, and sugar in a saucepan on medium-high heat until wine reduces, about three minutes.

Set aside to cool. Trim puff pastry sheet to fit to wrap the block of brie. Set brie in the puff pastry, spoon the cranberry sauce onto the brie, and pull the pastry over the brie. Brush with egg wash. Bake at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Top with butter.

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Christmas Market on Stephansplatz near St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

V I E N N A

C H R I S T M A S

M A R K E T S

REDEFINING HOLIDAY SPIRIT T

he first time I visited a Christmas Market in Europe, it wasn’t the lights, the decorations, or even the food that caught my attention; it was the people. As I observed the socializing, eating, and drinking, there was a casualness to what I was witnessing that was unfamiliar to my holiday experiences back home in America.

A few days before the Christmas holiday, there seemed to be no stress about shopping, wrapping gifts, or preparing perfect meals. Bundled up, but not bothered by the crisp winter air, with a warm drink in hand, every person I encountered seemed full of holiday spirit and happy to spend the evening enjoying the company of others. I thought to myself, this is Christmas.

Christmas Markets are a traditional part of the European holiday culture with some cities dating back to the mid 16th century.

While Germany is probably the most well-known for these holiday events, all it took was one visit to the markets in Vienna, Austria to make these markets my favorite.

There are as many as twelve markets around the city, a number that varies from year-to-year. Large markets have upwards of 150 booths and stay open mid-November through December.

Others are open only a few days right T E X T

around the holiday. The markets are filled with authentic gifts, traditional foods, and warm winter drinks, yet each one has a unique flare whether due to its location or the vendors and their holiday offerings.

I’ve been to Vienna during the summer several times when farmers markets and outdoor beer gardens are hard to pass up, but a visit during December had been high on my list for years. So my husband and I grabbed our cold-weather gear and headed off to A N D

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Each market has its own unique mug, this one being from Stephansplatz.

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Vienna for four days, which allowed us to see six of the markets open during the third week of December.

To say that planning a strategy for market visits is overwhelming to visitors is an understatement. Guides in English are easily found online, but navigating the opening and closing dates can quickly turn fun travel research into a headache. Despite our checklists and spreadsheets, we learned that the best approach is to simply pick a few markets you know you want to visit, grab your coat and an appetite, and be prepared to wander.

It’s something that is easy to do in Vienna with the city’s public transportation system and pedestrianfriendly attitude.

I tend to travel for food culture, so experiencing traditional foods such as piping hot spätzle (small dumplings), lebkuchen (gingerbread), and maroni (roasted chestnuts) were priorities. Snacking on these classics while surrounded by happy people, twinkling lights, and a crisp air that sent steam drifting from my warm bowl of dumplings, filled me with a festive spirit unlike any other experience.

The warm mulled wine, called glühwein, is a familiar holiday beverage.

Many cultures have their own version and it’s a favorite at Christmas Markets around the world. What sets Vienna apart is the punsch (punch). It’s a warm R I C E L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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Bundled up, but not bothered by the crisp winter air, with a warm drink in hand, every person I encountered seemed full of holiday spirit and happy to spend the evening enjoying the company of others. I thought to myself, this is Christmas.

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spiked drink, most often containing rum. I counted more than 30 varieties on the menus of the markets we visited.

Apple, orange, amaretto, ginger, cherry, chocolate, and vanilla barely scratch the surface. There was also plenty of Kinder Punsch (a non-alcoholic version) for the kids.

At the markets, purchasing a warm drink requires a small deposit for the mug. Each market has a unique mug with an artistic recreation of the space, the name, and location. If you return the mug, you’ll receive a refund for your deposit. Visitors, and mug enthusiasts like me, have the option of forgoing that deposit and taking the mug home as 44 L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

R I C E

a souvenir.

It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite market in a city with so many holiday offerings, but there are three markets that stood out to me. At these markets I found the spectacular views, foods, and artisan crafts that made the most memorable impact as a traveler new to celebrating the holidays in Europe.

VIENNA CHRISTMAS MARKET AT THE RATHAUSPLATZ Vienna’s Rathaus (city hall) is an impressive Neo-Gothic structure that towers over an inviting park. It is a sight to see any time of year, but when set behind glowing holiday lights, it is

breathtaking. Visit during the day, but be sure to return at night. This is where I found most of my favorite classic foods including that käsespätzl (dumplings with cheese), pretzels, and apple strudel.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE ON MARIATHERESIEN-PLATZ A short walk from the Rathaus, the market at Maria Theresa Square is one we stumbled upon by accident. Once there, it is difficult to miss as it was the most crowded of the markets we visited. That aside, it deserves a stroll at dusk when the dark wooden booths light up with twinkling stars against the backdrop of historic art museums. This Vienna Christmas Market at the Rathausplatz.

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Vienna’s Christmas Markets are rooted in the past with no signs of going anywhere in the future. Lucky us, because when I am in need of a true dose of Christmas spirit, it is comforting to know that they are there waiting for me and for anyone who wants to celebrate the L O R I R I C E beauty and camaraderie of the season.

is the market where I felt the strongest presence of artisan crafts from ceramics to dried citrus and spices arranged into festive holiday decorations. You will also find some more indulgent beverages from punch with chocolate and whipped cream to other versions with apple and whiskey.

CULTURAL AND CHRISTMAS MARKET & NEW YEAR’S MARKET AT SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE Schönbrunn Palace sits among a dramatic landscape of fountains, sculptures, and stunning gardens.

Named a UNESCO World Cultural Site in 1996, it served as an imperial summer home for royalty. I didn’t believe that a visit in the winter could hold a candle to the vibrant colors seen here in the summer, but the warmth and comfort of the market booths scattered around the

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TOP: The Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace.

front entrance proved me wrong.

Here, I discovered some of the most beautiful, intricately decorated gingerbread of any market I’ve visited.

With the false expectation that a flawless lace pattern of icing over a cookie must be done by a machine, I quickly learned that this form of art is all handmade.

Vienna’s Christmas Markets are rooted in the past with no signs of going anywhere in the future. Lucky us, because when I am in need of a true dose of Christmas spirit, it is comforting to know that they are there waiting for me and for anyone who wants to celebrate the beauty and camaraderie of the season.

You can learn more about the Christmas Markets and schedules each year by visiting: www.wien.info/en.

LEFT: Vienna Christmas Market at the Rathausplatz.

Call today for a FREE In Home Estimate

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CHARITY

Hitting rock bottom is key.

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CELEBRATING VISALIA RESCUE MISSION’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE

R

ock bottom” seemed to be an underlying theme of the Visalia Rescue Mission’s 35th Anniversary

banquet. During the banquet, each of the five Life Change Academy graduates who spoke showed through their testimonials how they hit rock bottom before they realized they needed to change. Whether the issue was drugs, theft, homelessness, gang violence, or all of the above, “Rock Bottom Road” was the path that led them to the Visalia Rescue Mission; to true life change and redemption.

While the Visalia Rescue Mission has been celebrating 35 years of God’s faithfulness to its mission, the nonprofit has also been undergoing some changes of its own – changes in their philosophy, in programs and services, and in their approach to issues like homelessness in

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the community.

Change itself may be a gradual process, but there is often a single moment when the light bulb goes on, igniting a new mindset. For Ryan Stillwater, that moment occurred at a conference, when his colleague, Lindsay Baldwin — who was VRM’s Volunteer Coordinator at the time — asked, “Is it a good thing we serve three meals a day?”

“It felt like an incredible light bulb not only went on, but exploded,” said Ryan. “In my mind, that’s when a lot of the changes kind of kicked off. We asked ourselves, ‘Is what we do helpful, is what we do harmful, is it a step up, is it enabling, what is it?’”

It was around that same time when Al Oliver, current executive director of VRM, first came to the mission. With new eyes, new questions, and new

perspectives, change was inevitably on its way.

In April 2015, VRM transitioned from serving three meals a day to just breakfast and dinner, and in January 2016, they limited the number of consecutive nights guests could stay at their shelter to 30. They’ve been simultaneously highlighting efforts on expanding the yearlong Life Change Academy program, which aims to improve the health of men and women struggling with life issues and chemical dependencies. More recently, VRM launched a “Help that Helps” campaign to teach people in the community how to effectively respond to homelessness in a way that helps rather than enables.

Together, all of these initiatives aim to inspire change that not only impacts homeless and hurting individuals, but

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the community as a whole.

During the banquet, VRM premiered their “Help that Helps” commercial, which drives home the point that handouts in the form of money and meals allow the homeless to “stay homeless” longer than necessary. A well-intentioned handout can quickly turn into hundreds of dollars, equaling more than a minimum wage worker might earn in a week. According to VRM, it can often be more convenient for homeless individuals to continue in a broken cycle of living, rather than utilize available resources.

VRM is clear to state that homelessness isn’t a one-size-fits-all issue and each individual’s struggles are different, but no matter the situation, there are more helpful ways to respond than handing over a quick dollar or sack lunch. Those responses might be a temporary fix to their hunger, but they aren’t a long-term solution that leads to true life change, and often provides the means for a drug addict’s next fix.

“Coming here, getting clean, giving us a year to give you the means to live life on life’s terms, that is crucial,” said Ryan. “If someone continues to have the means to live life on their own terms, but at your expense, it’s not really helpful or healthy for them, and it’s not really healthy for the community as a whole.”

Last year, the VRM had 36 graduates who made it through the Life Change Academy; that’s 36 people who are now sober, off the streets, reunited with their families, working full-time jobs, or going to school. But many of those graduates might have never come to the rescue mission if it weren’t for hitting rock 50 L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

bottom.

Because homelessness is a growing issue in our community with evidence of it lining the streets of Visalia, it’s easy to believe that there aren’t services to help these individuals. The rescue mission would disagree. Their “Help that Helps” video lists off additional local nonprofits that seek to serve

CHARITY

this community, including Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Family Services of Tulare County, Visalia Emergency Aid Council, Bethlehem Center, FoodLink, The Salvation Army, Hands in the Community, and Love, INC. “If there were no services in Visalia, by all means, open your wallet and give, and give generously,” said Ryan.

“But there are services…People are not

starving on the streets of Visalia.”

So what can you do? Start by watching Visalia Rescue Mission’s “Help that Helps” video (helpthathelps.org) to learn more about what’s healthy and what’s harmful when it comes to assisting the homeless.

“I think with issues like homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse and how those three interact with a lot of our guests and residents – its going to take a community to really make a change,” said Ryan. “I think ‘Help that Helps’ is the most ambitious campaign we’ve done in a while, and what we’re saying is that we can’t do it alone.”

The next time you find yourself faceto-face with someone asking for your change, VRM asks you to instead give of your time, talent, and treasure to service organizations that have the means to offer life change to that person – to give help that actually helps while guiding them to a place like the rescue mission.

Your gift will help VRM grow, giving it the means to extend their reach even further to the homeless and hurting of Visalia. One way they hope to make a larger impact is through their capital campaign, “All Things Made New.” Through this campaign, they will be able to expand and finish the second story of their Community Center, which opened in 2012. It will include a new learning center so they can better serve their guests and residents, which will in-turn benefit the entire community.

“Donate to organizations like us and volunteer with organizations like us,” said Ryan. “It doesn’t have to be us, but just give within a healthy context, not necessarily the immediate one.”

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AN EVENING ON THE RED CARPET Supporting Visalia Emergency Aid Food Pantry in Style

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isalia Emergency Aid Food Pantry hosted its first annual “Evening on the Red Carpet” on Oct. 15 at JD’s Auto Outlet to raise funds for holiday food baskets. Guests were treated to fine food, dancing, a live auction, and the opportunity to walk the “Red Carpet” with local celebrities, celebrity entrepreneurs, and friends as the “paparazzi” cameras flashed! The inaugural event was a big success for VEAC, and plans to expand the event for a larger audience next October are underway. Proceeds from the evening will be used to provide more than 700 Thanksgiving and 800 Christmas baskets to families in our community. VEAC provides supplemental groceries to more than 1,000 families each month.

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HAPPENINGS

A MERRY-ACHI CHRISTMAS

T H E AT R E & A R T S REDWOOD BAND AND COLOR GUARD HOLIDAY HOME TOUR Enjoy seasonal music and hospitality during this special holiday home tour, hosted by the Redwood Band and Color Guard. Listen to holiday music while touring beautifully decorated locations throughout Visalia. Tickets are available from Redwood Band and Color Guard students, White's Music, Quail Park, and Chelsea Street Boutique. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of event.

When: Dec. 3, 12-5 p.m.

Where: Quail Park, 4520 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia Contact: redwoodrangerband.org or 920-5950

This December Mariachi Sol de Mexico, with the blazing sounds of its 13-piece ensemble, brings to life a festive, joyous holiday celebration. Enjoy a fusion of the traditional holiday spirit with the color, and the traditions, of Mexican and American Christmas songs and carols.

When: Dec. 4, 5 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: foxvisalia.org

HOLIDAY MADNESS WITH THE TULARE COUNTY SYMPHONY One of the Central Valley’s most popular holiday traditions, this concert features more than 300 performers and launches the season of celebration with a spirit of song. Come and share the joy—join the community in experiencing all our holiday favorites, old and new!

When: Dec. 10, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia, Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 732-8600

ARTS VISALIA HOLIDAY GIFT SALE Every year, Arts Visalia hosts their annual Holiday Gift Sale, where they expand their gift gallery with a wide selection of unique gift cards, wood works, ceramics, fibers arts, paintings, prints, photographs, and other handcrafted items. Works are created by local and regional artists.

When: Now – Dec. 17 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

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HAPPENINGS

FAME: THE MUSICAL In spring 1980, more than 4,000 young hopefuls auditioned for NYC’s High School of Performing Arts. Only 97 students were admitted. This musical relives their journey: struggles, fears, and triumphs navigating the world of dance, music, and theatre. Conceived from the unforgettable Academy Award-winning film and subsequent Emmy Award-winning TV series, then transformed into this riveting musical theatre masterpiece.

DIVERSIONS & EXCU R S I O N S TURKEY TROT FOR VISALIA EMERGENCY AID COUNCIL Go the distance this Thanksgiving with Visalia Emergency Aid Council during their 12th Annual "Race Against Hunger” Turkey Trot. This race provides the capital needed to keep their food pantry open throughout the year. There will be an adult and child 5k, a two-mile walk, and a kid’s fun run. Price ranges between $15 and $25. Register

by Nov. 20.

When: Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

When: Nov. 24, 8 a.m.

Where: E. Main St. & N. Garden St., Visalia Contact: runsignup.com/Race/CA/ Visalia/TurkeyTrotVisalia

GLOBAL WINTER WONDERLAND The Global Winter Wonderland is coming back to the Tulare County Fairgrounds for the second year. This holiday festival is a multi-cultural celebration featuring illuminated landscapes, live entertainment, a carnival, international cuisine, and shopping.

When: Opens Nov. 25, 5-11 p.m. (times may vary) Where: Tulare County Fairgrounds, 620 S. K St., Tulare Contact: globalwonderland.com

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RAINDROPS & ROSES CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AT THE GARDENS Join The Gardens in Tulare for their annual Christmas Festival, where you can shop for gifts, décor, cards, and a Christmas tree while your kids decorate cookies and play in the Kids Cottage.

Enjoy live music while indulging in hot cocoa and BBQ favorites.

When: Nov. 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Where: The Gardens, 950 North J St., Tulare Contact: 688-2084

HAPPENINGS

ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE AT VISALIA NAZ CHURCH

CANDY CANE LANE PARADE – A STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS Visalia’s Candy Cane Lane Parade will celebrate its 71st year bringing holiday spirit to the streets of Downtown Visalia.

Come with the family to enjoy watching floats, listening to holiday music, and eating yummy treats. It’s a great time to get together with family and start the Christmas season off right. Please remember – do not rope your chairs together to save curbside space.

Get in your Christmas and home shopping at Visalia Naz's 13th Annual Holiday Marketplace. This one-of-akind event is expecting more than 60 unique vendors from around the valley.

Don't miss your opportunity to buy your loved ones the perfect gift or give your home a welcoming holiday atmosphere.

Admission is free. See you there!

When: Dec. 3, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Where: Visalia Naz, 3333 W. Caldwell, Visalia Contact: visalianaz.org

When: Nov. 28, 7 p.m.

Where: Main Street, Visalia Contact: downtownvisalia.com

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LISA RITCHIE, Hyde Residential lisa@hyderesidential.com 559.679.6889

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Interior plantscaping and some simple design elements can make your place of business or home more warm and inviting.

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LIVE PLANT RENTAL AND LEASING L I F E S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE You’re invited to kick off the Christmas season the old fashioned way with blacksmithing, weaving, woodworking, butter churning, and cider pressing.

Patty Torrey and Friends will be providing music while the back country cookers serve up specialty foods and refreshments. Admission is free.

When: Dec. 4, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Springville Historical Museum, 34902 Hwy. 190, Springville Contact: 539-6314

HAPPENINGS

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE AT TCOE You are invited to visit a spectacular exhibition of hand-painted porcelain buildings, figures, plazas, and parks depicting a delightful holiday cityscape of the past. The exhibition, entitled A Holiday in the City, will be held in the lobby of TCOE’s new Administration Building and Conference Center. Dozens of illuminated homes, civic buildings, businesses, churches, and restaurants will be featured in the 55-foot long display.

EXETER WOMAN’S CLUB HOLIDAY HOME TOUR There’s no time like the holidays, especially during the Exeter Woman’s Club Holiday Home Tour. Get in the Christmas spirit by walking through four beautifully decorated homes. Before the tour, start out at the “hospitality stop” for tickets, sweets, and savories.

Tickets are $20 per person. Head to exeterwomansclub.com for more information.

When: Dec. 9, 4-8 p.m.

Where: Exeter Woman’s Clubhouse, 201 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter Contact: Rosemary Hellwig, 799-3641

When: Dec. 5–29, weekdays, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (dates and times may vary; call front desk to confirm) Where: TCOE Administration and Conference Center, 6200 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: 733-6300

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This pharmacy is independently owned and operated under a license from Health Mart Systems, Inc.

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5th Annual Canned Food Drive

Certified Financial Planner Board or Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner ™ and CFP® in the U.S. ©2016 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James ® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™ and federally registered in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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FIRST CAPITAL GROUP 119 E Main St, Visalia, CA 93291 • (559) 697-5322 • www.firstcg.com First Capital Group is a division of Right Start Mortgage, Inc. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; RMLA#4131234.

Corporate NMLS #35960 | Branch NMLS #1207011

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HAPPENINGS

“THE OLATE DOGS” SANTA PAWS HOLIDAY SHOW The Olate Dogs are the winning participants from season seven of “America's Got Talent,” scooping up the $1 million prize and headlining The Palazzo in Las Vegas. Now The Olate Dogs Santa Paws Holiday Show will appear in Visalia. This family-fun show features a high-energy, fast-paced canine theatrical act filled with amazing dog tricks, human acrobatics, and humor.

When: Dec. 11, 2 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: visaliatix.com

TOYS FOR TOTS JINGLE BELL RUN Support Toys for Tots by running or walking this two-mile course on Main Street. There will be awards in each age division. All participants will receive an event design sweatshirt and Jingle Bells.

If you bring a new, unwrapped toy, you will receive a Santa Hat. There is a $30 race fee.

C H A R I TA B L E EVENTS 36TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION The Christmas Tree Auction has become a legacy in Visalia as non-profits use this black tie celebration to advance their mission through donations they receive and awareness they generate.

Come dressed in your best to celebrate a “White Christmas” while you support local non-profits. Tickets are $70 for general admission, $130 for the VIP dinner.

When: Dec. 11, 9 a.m.

Where: Downtown Visalia, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: runsignup.com/Race/CA/ Visalia/VisaliaJingleBellRun

When: Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: visaliachamber.org

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CANDIES