Lifestyle Magazine - May 2018

STYLE, ART, CULTURE, + EVENTS OF THE SOUTH VALLEY MAY 2018

Home Tour THE WHITE ESTATE

Page 28

TRAVELER’S TREK

THE OTHER YOSEMITE AND BEYOND Page 32 EPICURE

AN ABUNDANCE OF SPRING Page 42

Relax. Renew. Refresh.

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REFLECTIONS OF VISALIA

BIG EARTHQUAKE MOVES VISALIA

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Visalia wasn’t left out when the massive 1906 earthquake rocked San Francisco.

Fortunately, the three distinct shocks left no damage locally. Visalians were quick to offer to help the people of San Francisco, offering food, clothing and money.

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FEATURED HOME

THE WHITE ESTATE The Lemon Cove home of Jessica and Mike White has literally risen from the ashes after a devastating fire destroyed the structure built in the 1980s. Working with the original adobe walls, the layout was redesigned, a second level was added and the home’s style was changed to incorporate a Mediterranean-Tuscan feel.

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BEYOND YOSEMITE VALLEY

10 Local Adventure: Young Eagles Take Flight

Visitors who venture beyond Yosemite Valley are rewarded with captivating sights and compelling history. A trip through Tioga Pass leads to Mono Lake, Lee Vining and the ghost town of Bodie. Other destinations include Glacier Point, the Mariposa Grove and Sugar Pine Railroad.

Letter from the Executive Editor

38 Word Play 45 Art of Design: Making Your Home Unique 46 Charity: Kaweah Oaks Preserve fundraiser 50 Lively Living: FoodLink Cooking Class 54 Fashion: Address the Dress 56 Kudos: AAUW Book Sale / Farm Bureau Gala 58 Happenings

EPICURE

AN ABUNDANCE OF FLAVORS

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Steak au Poivre with Green Peppercorns is one of four offerings presented by David Vartanian, manager at Visalia’s The Vintage Press.

COVER: The exterior of the Whites’ rebuilt stone-walled home now has a Tuscan feel instead of the original Spanish-Western style. The doors below the deck lead to a wine cellar and a private tasting room.

TOP: The wrap-around deck of the White home offers free-flowing entertainment space. The deck offers views of rolling hills, lush olive groves and canopying trees on the property.

Published By

DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291

Karen Tellalian

Executive Editor

Creative Director

Art Director

Senior Designer Web Designer/Designer

Greg Bitney Marcie Vagnino Frank Miramontes Kaci Hansen

Contributing Writers

Cheryl Levitan David Vartanian Diane Aden Hayes Diane Slocum Joseph Pubillones Kelly Lapadula Major Rogers Sharon Mosley Sue Burns Terry L. Ommen

Business Management Malkasian Accountancy LLP

Gary Malkasian CPA

Jeffrey Malkasian EA

Operations Manager Maria Gaston

Advertising Sales

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Sales@DMIAgency.com 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909

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RACK LOCATIONS DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare

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COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS 210 Cafe AMCC Ashoori & Co. Jewelers Blend WIne Room Chad Clark Hair Salon Charcuterie Chelsea Street Boutique Citizen's Bank Comfort Suites Downtown CreekSide Day Spa Skin & Laser Center Downtown Visalia Alliance Ed Dena Auto Center, Visalia Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Library Franey's Design Center

Glick's and Co. Holvik Family Health Center ImagineU Children’s Museum Janeen’s Furniture Gallery Kaweah Delta Hospital Keller Williams Reality Max's Cookies Michael's Custom Jewelry Monét’s, Exeter Pacific Treasures Premier Medical Clinic PRO-PT Renaissance Salon Salon 525 Sherman & Associates

Sunmed Health & Weight Management The Aesthetic Center The Smoke House, Visalia Tulare County Library Visalia Ceramic Tile Visalia First Assembly Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Watson's Wildflower Café, Exeter Williams, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc. Wyndham Hotel

Visalia Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 13,600 homes in the upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods in Visalia. An additional 2,000 copies are distributed at various distribution points around Visalia, Tulare, and Exeter.

Views expressed in columns are those of the columnist and not necessarily those of DMI Agency or its advertisers.

Circulation of this issue: 15,600 © 2018 DMI Agency

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FR O M TH E

EDITOR

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Every May, a collection of pilots from Woodlake and the surrounding towns assemble at the airport to give free plane rides to youth ages 8 to 17. Through the generosity of these pilots, kids are given the opportunity to experience aviation and hopefully inspire them to become pilots themselves one day. This year, the 15th for the Young Eagles program, garnered a letter of recognition from state Sen. Andy Vidak and the State Senate. For photos and more of the story, be sure and turn to page 10.

As we bring this issue to a close, we are looking forward to the weekend and

o you ever have one of those moments when you’re driving around town, see a beautiful home and think to yourself, “I could live there?”

It happens to me … a lot. If you can relate, we have a special treat for you, and you won’t even have to get in the car. Just turn to page 28 and take a look at the home of Jessica and Mike White, owners of a simply spectacular home just up the hill in Lemon Cove. However, it’s the story behind this home that is so special, a story of the phoenix rising from the ashes after the Whites lost their home, the home that Mike had built with his own hands, to a

I imagine it is much the same for other working mothers. If so, I feel for you and hope that this Mother’s Day you were surrounded by those closest to you and that you took a few hours for yourself, celebrating everything positive in your life.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT A STORY IDEA, CONTACT ME AT KAREN@DMIAGENCY.COM

devastating fire. The new home is truly stunning (I could live there), but it’s their story of loss, recovery and appreciation that you do not want to miss.

Not too far from the Whites is another gem, the rural Woodlake Airport. Many of you have probably driven, or perhaps even flown in, to dine at the infamous Runway Café. The airport serves the local agricultural community as many ranchers and farmers own and fly their own planes.

CAL FIRE utilizes the entire runway and surrounding grounds as a strategic launching point during the dreadful fire season in the Sierras, all what one would expect. What one might not expect from such a quaint little airport is the Woodlake Young Eagles program.

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Mother’s Day on Sunday. It’s a busy weekend for me, between at least two charity fundraising events, the Woodlake Rodeo and, of course, it’s also the height of campaign season. I’ve always struggled with finding the right balance between work and family. I feel such a sense of responsibility to employees and clients and, in terms of campaigns, the candidates and most certainly to their donors, that it seems like entire months go by before I realize that I haven’t had much time with family or friends. I imagine it is much the same for other working mothers. If so, I feel for you and hope that this Mother’s Day you were surrounded by those closest to you and that you took a few hours for yourself, celebrating everything positive in your life.

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LOCAL ADVENTURE

YOUNG EAGLES TAKE FLIGHT

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child wants to be an artist; you sign them up for art class. A youngster wants to be an auto mechanic; they start with auto shop. Or agriculture inspires; join Future Farmers of America.

What’s a kid to do who wants to fly? At a small gem of an airport in Woodlake, a group of pilots donate their time and money to take to the sky in hopes of musing young minds into future pilots.

The Woodlake Flying Tigers is a charter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), a global organization of flying enthusiasts 200,000 strong.

Through the Tigers, the Woodlake group offers the Young Eagles program. Here, once a year, a collection of pilots descend on the Woodlake Airport from neighboring towns and offer free plane rides for any youth between 8 and 17 years of age.

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Terry Baker is an active member of the Tigers. He is celebrating his 50th year of flying this year. His two brothers fly as well, one for Delta; the other is a charter pilot. Terry flies for fun. He was raised around the original family-owned

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Woodlake landing strip, just northwest a couple of miles from the present location. He was fascinated watching the planes land and take off daily. Once he started school at Fresno State, he took a job at the airport in Fresno pumping gas because he wanted to be close to his passion and start his journey of flight.

“Not many places offer something different like this,” Terry says of the experience that the Fighting Tigers give the Young Eagles participants. “We take up kids and hopefully a couple take an interest in flying.” The experience comes from the six to 10 volunteer pilots who come from neighboring towns in planes that fit anywhere from two to four passengers. Parents sign a waiver and send their children off into the blue.

“It’s fun to watch the kids’ expressions when they get up into the air; they think it’s something else,” Terry says of the ride.

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Composite photo shows flight path.

LOCAL ADVENTURE

“I haven’t had a kid not grinning from ear to ear when they get off the plane.”

This year’s event May 5 kicked off with the National Anthem and a biplane flyover, complete with a trail of skywriting smoke. The sheriff’s eye-inthe-sky crime-fighting plane made an appearance, and buzzed the grounds in an exciting maneuver before climbing and disappearing as several dozen wide-eyed participants watched.

Spectators were also surprised by the Lemoore area Naval Search and Rescue helicopter when the crew landed in a nearby field.

Throughout the six-hour event, Young Eagles were strapped into their seats, given their headphones and cleared for departure. The 15- to 20-minute ride takes passengers, who in some

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circumstances are momentarily allowed to steer the plane, over area orchards and foothills. The final part of the flight takes them over Lake Kaweah and gives all a bird’s-eye view of the dam before touchdown back in Woodlake.

The Woodlake Airport offers its own opportunities for the area. Not only are corporate jets from area industry able to land there, but carriers such as FedEx utilize the runway when the Visalia or Fresno airports are fogged in. The landing strip also provides a strategic launching point for CAL FIRE and its wildland firefighting efforts from the sky in the nearby Sierras. All these serve to display the need for pilots and flight industry services.

Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza came out for the event with his son, Sebastian.

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“I’m a supporter of EAA and its work within the community,” he says of the yearly event. “I’m the mayor and parent of Sebastian,” he said of why he supports the family-friendly event.

The mayor wasn’t the only political supporter of the day. Paula Vinzant was on hand from state Sen. Andy Vidak’s office. “We are here to honor the 15th

year of the Young Eagles program,” she said of her office’s motivation to be active at the event. All participants receive a letter of recognition from the State Senate.

The true beauty of the event is that it’s all done from the heart. Maybe a young mind or two will be sparked into a new or budding passion for flight. Or maybe the event gives area families an opportunity

LOCAL ADVENTURE

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for some to fly for the first time, possibly being the only one in the family to take wing. That’s a powerful position for a kid to hold and that’s how self-esteem is built.

The event brings out the public; the event brings out the public servants, ultimately bringing our area community closer together, which is always a good thing for all involved. L

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Big Earthquake Moves Visalia

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A San Francisco street scene shows rubble and smoke. Photo courtesy Library of Congress 16

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n the early morning of April 18, 1906, Visalia was jolted by three distinct shocks. Buildings shook and nerves were rattled, but the town escaped damage or injuries.

However, San Francisco, the epicenter of the magnitude 7.9 earthquake, wasn’t as lucky. There, the shaking and resulting fires left much of the town a wasteland and, when the final tally was made, nearly 30,000 buildings were destroyed and more than 3,000 lives were lost.

Even though Visalia was spared much of the anguish, the monster quake left its mark on the town.

The massive San Francisco earthquake began its deadly visit at 5:12 a.m. The ground shook violently for 45-60 seconds as the San Andreas Fault ruptured. It was felt from southern Oregon to Los Angeles and east to central Nevada.

Buildings collapsed and gas lines broke.

With gas spewing everywhere, fires followed the escaping vapor. Those lucky enough to survive the early jolt watched in disbelief as rubble piled up and the flames leaped from building to building.

News of the calamity traveled quickly.

The day after the earthquake, the Visalia Daily Times newspaper minced no words in delivering the bad news. Local reporting was filled with ominous phrases like “everybody is fleeing San Francisco,” “dead are lying in the streets” and “San Francisco is a mass of ruins.”

Even though Visalia suffered no damage, the big earthquake did have some effects. When the quake hit, rocking chairs rocked, books and pictures fell to the floor, water sloshed in the animal troughs and even the town clock mounted in the tower of the Bank of Visalia stopped running. But clearly the biggest impact on Visalians was the heartfelt sorrow felt for the people of San Francisco. Feelings of compassion and sympathy were widespread, so when San Francisco Mayor Eugene Schmitz appealed for help, Visalians were quick to take action.

Within a day of the quake, a train loaded with canned goods, boiled ham, crackers and other food was on its way. The town quickly formed a relief committee and Visalia Mayor Samuel H. Henderson called for a mass meeting on April 20 at Armory Hall to solicit more donations. In the first 20 minutes of the meeting, more than

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The Bank of Visalia tower is visible at the center left. The clock stopped when the earthquake hit. The bank was located at Main and Church streets.

The clock was salvaged and is at the Tulare County Museum at Mooney Grove. Circa 1910

$3,500 was raised.

Other community relief efforts were organized. Merchants, students and fraternal organizations jumped into action.

Visalia churches were especially touched by the devastation. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church organized a relief campaign, and the church became a 24-hour collection point for food and clothing. Episcopal Church leadership also asked members to donate “one-fifth of their household expenses in goods or money.” In addition, members were asked to open up their homes to the homeless who came to Visalia from San Francisco.

By April 21, the Visalia community had collected nearly $10,000 in relief supplies and cash. All were sent north and 18 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

Henderson received a telegram in response through Mayor Schmitz. The short message said, “Your donation of $10,000 sincerely appreciated by San Francisco citizens. We want bread, potatoes, beets and vegetables. Also cots, blankets, etc.”

But supplies and money were not the only needs of the people of San Francisco.

Lootings became a serious problem, and the police were overwhelmed. The city was placed under martial law, with the military taking charge. On April 20, Visalia’s National Guard Company “E” left for the Bay Area under the leadership of Capt. Raymond H. Deming, a citizen soldier who was also a practicing dentist.

The company set up camp in San

Francisco’s Jefferson Park, and the relief the unit provided was appreciated by the exhausted soldiers and police.

The collapsed and fire-damaged buildings made many San Francisco residents homeless. Parks and other open spaces quickly became tent camps. But other victims wanted to leave the city.

Railroads, including the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe, offered free transportation out, an option that became a good one for many.

On April 23, word came to Visalia that a large Santa Fe train packed full of refugees had left Point Richmond, with a stop scheduled for Visalia.

Visalia’s relief committee sprang into action. A tent camp to house them was

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Visalia’s Santa Fe Railroad depot at Main and Santa Fe streets is where refugees arrived and were welcomed. Circa 1906

quickly set up near the Central California Cannery, and other lodging arrangements were made with families. Sanitation, medical, employment and commissary services were also put into place.

The Visalia Daily Times was pleased with what was seen. The newspaper cheered on the preparations and editorialized, “In this emergency we all have a duty to perform. Let us so act that in after years we can say that we did our very best to comfort as many of the homeless and distressed San Francisco people as our means would permit.”

The refugees train arrived in Visalia at

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about 8:20 a.m. April 24. It was made up of two baggage cars, two mail cars and 11 coaches filled with passengers, mostly women. As the train pulled up to the depot, relief workers were there to greet it. But to everyone’s surprise, none of the refugees got off. It seems the passengers were all heading for Los Angeles and points east to stay with relatives.

But that did not deter the Visalia relief workers. They were prepared. They quickly boarded the train with baskets of sandwiches and drinks and, within a short time, 1,000 sandwiches, 40 gallons of coffee, 20 gallons of milk and countless

oranges had been distributed. The hungry and grateful passengers gave their Visalia hosts a huge thank you cheer. More train cars of refugees came through Visalia heading south and each was shown Visalia hospitality.

San Francisco and its residents recovered as much as they could from the devastation of “one of the most significant earthquakes of all time.” The resiliency of the city by the bay was amazing and so was the generosity and hospitality shown by the people of Visalia. L

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THE OTHER

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osemite is one of our country’s most popular national parks and attracts more than 4 million tourists annually. People travel from around the world to visit, but usually leave after having seen just 1 percent of the park that comprises Yosemite Valley. With the valley’s magnificent summits of Half Dome and El Capitan, cascading waters of Yosemite Falls (the highest waterfall in North America) and abundance of visitor facilities, the other 1,200 square miles just get overlooked. Those who venture beyond this crowded spot, however, are rewarded with captivating sights and compelling history.

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With summer fast approaching, the time is perfect to plan a drive on the Tioga Road through Tioga Pass to Mono Lake, the town of Lee Vining and the ghost town of Bodie. Adding a visit to Glacier Point (inaccessible during winter), the historic Wawona Hotel (now The Big Trees Lodge), the Mariposa Grove (reopening June 15 after a four-year restoration) and the Sugar Pine Railroad round out an experience completely outside Yosemite Valley.

Having spent many an overnight at Curry Village (now Half Dome Village), Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Ahwahnee (whose new name, The

AND BEYOND AND BEYOND

Majestic Yosemite Hotel, sounds more like the three-quel in a film series with “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel”), this time we chose to stay just outside the south park entrance at the Tenaya Lodge. Less central to the Village, it’s a more upscale destination resort experience than the lodging within the park. Having myriad activities and six dining venues all onsite is the trade-off for being more than an hour’s drive from Yosemite Village. Since we were focusing our time outside that area, however, the hotel’s location was actually closer to the sites to the south and added just 30 minutes each way to

the Tioga Road drive.

Day One was a leisurely drive up the 41 with lunch in the Oakhurst area.

Changing it up once again, we nongamblers stopped at Chukchansi Casino to eat. The buffet’s Mongolian barbecue was a hit, but watching people in trance-like states tethered by club cards to huge, complex slot machines was rather unsettling. Were they simply feeding credit into those machines or receiving some sort of sustenance or communication back?

We have passed the Sugar Pine Railroad in Fish Camp countless times, but last fall’s Railroad Fire (named for its

proximity to the business) persuaded us to stop. What a gem we had overlooked!

We spoke with the general manager, Shane Blackwell, about the speed in which a puff of smoke across the highway turned into an inferno. Twelve employees fought the blowing embers for 24 hours until professional firefighters arrived. Thanks to them all, visitors can still experience an original steam locomotive journey along the Sugar Pine Railroad. The narrated ride and museum bring back a time when lumberjacks felled timber here and sent it by flume to Madera. The railroad is open mid-March through late October; make reservations

Tenaya Lake is an alpine lake in Yosemite National Park, located between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows.

The surface of Tenaya Lake has an elevation of 8,150 feet. The lake basin was formed by glacial action, which left a backdrop of light granite rocks. Today, Tenaya Lake is easily accessible

by State Route 120 and is a popular site for water activities.

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TRAVELER’S

for the dinners, melodramas, gold prospecting and train rides at YMSPRR.com.

That evening, we drove 15 minutes north to the historic white clapboard Wawona Hotel for dinner. Built in 1876, it’s an original mountain resort hotel. It is authentically Victorian without internet, air conditioning, TV or telephones in the rooms (only half with private baths); the dining room was lovely with a well-rounded menu of excellent (and modern!) food.

Day Two’s drive along the Tioga Road (Highway 120) through the pass began early in order to squeeze everything into one day. Our timing couldn’t have been better just a day after the route reopened following an early autumn snowfall. The landscape was truly magical – icicles and lightly snow-clad vistas with occasional patches of wildflowers and vibrant blue skies.

Depending on the capriciousness of Mother Nature, this road (which begins at Tuolumne Grove east of Crane Flat and ends at the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite Park) closes from November to late May-early June once the ice, fallen trees, rockslides and winter road damage are cleared.

Variations to this drive are dependent on the sites you choose and whether you add a day. You can easily reach Lee Vining in under three hours if you drive with few stops. If traveling on a Saturday or Sunday, that allows time for lunch in the town of Lee Vining before a 60-minute naturalist-led tour of the bizarre limestone formations (tufa) in the South Tufa area of Mono Lake (begins 1 p.m. at the South Tufa kiosk). If touring on your own, first visit the Mono Basin Visitor Center in Lee Vining to understand the lake ecology and science of tufa formations. Then drive the 4 miles (South 395 to 120 East) to the dirt road and parking by the kiosk and walk the 0.7-mile trail loop past the tufas. Bodie is 45 minutes away (395N to 270E), requires an hour to tour and 3 1/2 hours to return to Tenaya Lodge for dinner. You could opt to spend more time in Lee Vining and Mono Lake the first day, with dinner and overnight stay (lodging options on TripAdvisor) and tour Bodie the following day, followed by lunch in Lee Vining and a leisurely drive back for the overnight stay at the Tenaya Lodge.

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Sites along the drive: • Tuolumne Meadows, Visitor Center and Tuolumne Meadows Grill: Largest high-elevation meadow in the Sierra Nevada (8,600 feet), it is surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and carved domes. The Visitor Center explains how a huge Ice Age glacier (2,000 feet thick and 60 miles long) created those granite features.

With simple, made-to-order breakfasts (8-11 a.m.) and lunches (11:15 a.m.-6 p.m.), the grill’s food was much better than the spotty reviews online.

Tuolumne Meadow Visitor Center with icicles has educational displays explaining effects of Ice Age glacier on rock faces along the Tioga Road.

• Olmstead Point: Offers high panoramic views from a very different perspective than the valley.

Bring binoculars to see ant-like climbers negotiating the cables at the top of Half Dome. “Erratic” boulders (dropped precariously on granite slopes as glacial ice melted), glazed rock (smooth, glistening rock polished by the weight and sliding of debris-laden glaciers) and deep grooves cut in rock faces from glacial debris make this area fascinating.

• Tenaya Lake: Largest lake in Yosemite.

• Tioga Pass: The highest point (9,945 feet) on the highest road crossing the Sierras (9,945 feet), it’s the eastern entrance for Yosemite National Park.

The Tioga Pass is the highest point of the Tioga Road which crosses the Sierras and the Eastern entrance and exit to Yosemite.

• Lee Vining: A small community of hardy souls who promote and protect the future of Mono Lake Basin. It was begun as a mining town; one of the early prospectors (Leroy Vining) found little ore but amassed a fortune selling timber to surrounding mining towns.

The sign at the junction of Tioga Road (120) and the 395, suggests turn left for Lee Vining and right for Mono Lake.

• Mono Lake and the South Tufa Grove: A curious 65-square-mile expanse of water 6,400 feet above sea level, Mono Lake exists from runoff from the eastern Sierras. Islands in the center were formed by the same volcanic forces that created local craters and the uplift of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. With no outlet, evaporation creates water three times saltier than the ocean. It’s hostile to fish; life thrives in Mono Lake on a smaller scale. Diminutive brine shrimp and alkali flies flourish, bringing migratory birds in the millions. Tufa towers are formed when calcium-rich underwater springs bubble up into the alkaline waters, creating limestone deposits that form otherworldly towers up to 30 feet high. Formed underwater, the 200- to 900-year-old tufas are now visible because of receding lake waters.

Mono Lake tufas.

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Bodie Wild West Ghost Town Lighter granite at Olmstead Point was glazed or polished by glaciers, glacial debris cut deep grooves in the rock.

The Sugar Pine Railroad serves dinner before a ride along the railroad. Passenger cars in the background and the locomotive is in the barn.

The back side of Half Dome as seen from Olmstead Point. Binoculars allow you to see people climbing the cables on the upper level.

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The Awahnee Hotel now, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel in Yosemite Village, as seen from high above at Glacier Point.

• Bodie: One of the best preserved ghost towns in the United States, its buildings are kept in a state of “arrested decay.”

Gold discovered here in 1859 swelled the population to 10,000 by 1879. This heyday was short-lived as ore depleted in 1881, miners left and mining companies closed. By 1886, the population dwindled to 1,500. A 1892 fire crippled the town, but a newly discovered cyanide process for low-grade ore partially revived it until a 1932 fire destroyed 90 percent of the town. Having once produced $35 million in gold and silver, Bodie faded into obscurity until 1962, when it became a State Historic Park. Today, its museum, homes and businesses provide a snapshot of the past with their exteriors and interiors preserved just as they were left, still furnished and stocked with goods. Summer is the time to visit; its 8,379-foot elevation and dry air make it very cold otherwise.

Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May through October; restrooms and water are the only services offered. Daily tours of the Bodie Standard Mill show an intact stamp mill where gold was extracted and formed into bullion bars. For information, call (760) 647-6445.

Day 3 began with a morning drive to Glacier Point (41N to Glacier Point Road).

Our last visit to this 7,214-foot elevation was after a grueling 3 1/2-hour hike.

Imagine our shock when we crested the hill — hot, sweaty and gasping for air — to be “greeted” by a profusion of buses and tourists. The ice cream at the snack bar, however, was more than welcoming. The panoramic views (arguably the best in Yosemite) include Yosemite Valley from high above, Half Dome and three waterfalls (Nevada, Vernal and Yosemite Falls).

Stop at the Mariposa Grove before leaving the park. It contains the largest and most impressive grove of sequoias in Yosemite; some of its approximately 500 sequoias are thousands of years old. The Fallen Monarch toppled centuries ago but is still preserved because of its natural tannic acids. The Grizzly Giant is one of the largest with limbs larger than any nonsequoia tree in the grove. The tunnel tree (cut out for horse-drawn carriages) is a survivor of a promotion to publicize the grove, which successfully led to its inclusion in Yosemite National Park in 1906. L

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T H E W H I T E E STAT E

REBUILDING A HILLTOP HIDEAWAY

T E X T BY K E L LY L A PA D U L A | P H O T O G R A P H Y BY DA N N Y K L O R M A N

28 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

After a devastating 2009 fire, the Whites rebuilt their Lemon Cove home, keeping the original 18-inch-thick adobe walls and adding from there.

The original walls were refurbished and a second story was added.

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 29

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HOME TOUR

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Top, the Whites can enjoy a relaxing time on their deck, which wraps around the rebuilt home. Below, the now-6,000-square-foot residence has ample space for a large dining room table.

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

here comes a point in our lives when we find ourselves identifying with that ancient analogy of the phoenix rising from the ashes. Maybe we’ve encountered success after years of failure or experienced healing after a debilitating illness. Few, however, can relate to this mythological tale more literally than the White family, who lost their Lemon Cove home in a devastating fire.

In 2009, Jessica and Mike White received a phone call that no one ever wants to receive: Their beautiful home that Mike built with his own hands was on fire. When the Whites arrived on the scene, they saw that their home was still standing and felt an initial sense of relief, but no one could have prepared them for what they were about to walk into.

The fire, which ignited from a dishwasher short in the kitchen, completely incinerated everything inside their kitchen and caused irreversible smoke damage to the rest of the house.

“By the light of the next day, we saw that the entire house was black,” Jessica said. “Clothes in our closet were completely black, even with the closet door closed and clothes in drawers. You see house fires on the news, but you don’t realize the devastation from even things that don’t burn and just get smoke damage. We really lost the entire contents of our house and had very few things we could salvage.”

In the 1980s, Mike constructed the home’s structure with 18-inch-thick adobe walls, which ultimately saved the house from complete ruin. However, the thick walls made the house into a giant furnace during the fire, causing the contents of their kitchen and laundry room to turn to ash.

“It was very eerie in here,” Jessica said. “The granite counter turned back into sand because so many hours went by before anyone even realized there was a fire. No one saw the smoke until it busted through a skylight in the laundry room.”

Once the fire was quenched and the crew gone, the Whites suddenly found themselves virtually homeless, devastated and unsure of what to do next. Even though Mike and Jessica were grateful that no one was injured, the reality of losing the place they called home for so many years hit them hard.

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HOME TOUR

Above, the recessed entry leads to a wine cellar, top.

Below, a casual seating area is part of the outdoor deck.

32 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

For Jessica – who had just opened her clothing boutique, A La Mode, in Exeter – the hardest part was closing the shop at the end of the day, knowing that she wouldn’t be heading home to that familiar place of comfort. The greatest sense of loss for Mike came from the emotional attachment he developed after spending eight years of his life designing and building his dream home from the ground up.

“Most of the stuff, no, we don’t miss it,” Mike said. “It’s just stuff, and I’m not a ‘stuff guy’ anyway. My loss was the structure, and that’s much of the reason why we kept most of the structure intact because I had so much of my personal effort in the building of this house.”

While the Whites could have demolished the home and started from scratch, they decided to keep the original adobe structure, refurbish the damaged walls and build onto the house.

The lengthy process from start to finish took three years, in which time the Whites worked with local architect Stan Canby to redesign the layout, add a second level and swap out the home’s Spanish-Western style for a more authentic Tuscan aesthetic.

“After the fire, we went on a trip to Italy and I fell in love with the Mediterranean style – we love the food, the architecture, everything,” Jessica said. “So when we had to rebuild, we went with more of a MediterraneanTuscan feel. It was really good because it was a change; it wasn’t like we were trying to rebuild the same house, which would have been a reminder of what happened. We were able to start fresh,

while still preserving the structure Mike built.”

During the rebuild, Canby encouraged the Whites to add several pop-outs around the home and implement larger windows to take advantage of the Lemon Cove scenery. They also flipped the layout of the kitchen and added a large window on the south side, overlooking the rolling hills. With an emerald green backdrop, lush olive groves and canopying trees scattered around the property, it’s easy to forget that you’re in the Central Valley and not in the midst of the Tuscan countryside.

The kitchen’s travertine floor tile and backsplash, rustic granite countertops, contrasting ivory and dark wood cabinets, and a brick ceiling with wood beams create a true, Old World Italian

paradise. The inspiration for part of the kitchen’s design actually came from a cabinet that the Whites found at a flea market in South Carolina. In fact, most of their home décor and furniture came from places like the Rose Bowl Flea Market, where they found several historical and custom-made pieces.

“I’m the type of person where I’ll see something I love and will figure out a way to fit it in,” Jessica said. “For example, we were struggling with what to do with that hood above the stove, and our painter said he could re-create the design from the cabinet we got at the flea market. Little things like that helped make the home feel custom and like it has been here for a while.”

But the Whites didn’t stop there when it came to custom embellishments for

The inspiration for the part of the rebuilt kitchen’s design, which features a brick ceiling with wood beams and travertine floor tile, came from a cabinet found at a flea market. Below, the outdoor seating area flows into an interior table and chairs.

the home. As a slightly obsessive “DIY-er,” Jessica has taken on a few projects of her own (while enlisting Mike’s handy help, of course). On the second floor, which was an add-on after the fire, Jessica created a faux antiqued glass backdrop on the wall behind the entertainment center. They also decorated the upstairs powder room walls with paper from a vintage stamp book and installed vinyl floor tiles on the ceiling.

Although Mike did not design or build the house himself the second time around, he was very involved in the renovation process and added his own touches throughout. One special addition he made is the brick feature that lines the wall as guests ascend the staircase.

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 33

HOME TOUR

Bricks line the wall as the stairway ascends to the second floor, top. The new closet, below left, features a large vanity and sink, a comfortable seating area and leopard print carpet. A separate closet, below right, is dedicated to shoes.

“He was still really involved, but having someone else build the house took the pressure off of him to have to do everything,” Jessica said. “It was nice because he still contributed a lot to the remodel.”

Downstairs in the master suite, the Whites have created a comfortable and elegant living space, which features a reading nook with a fireplace, a living room area and a large master bath.

Several walls throughout the suite are adorned with red, black and white stripes, reminiscent of the medieval era.

The closet, however, steals the show away from the rest of the room.

As a fashionista with her own clothing 34 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

boutique, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Jessica has a fabulous closet. But “fabulous” doesn’t even begin to describe the space that is dedicated to her fashion pursuits. After the fire, the Whites took the renovation as an opportunity to design a dream closet, complete with a large built-in vanity and sink, leopard print carpet, a separate closet dedicated solely to shoes and a comfortable seating area.

“I love my girly space, so that’s why I did the animal print carpet and made it kind of a funky look,” Jessica said. “Mike says I’m a hoarder, but he says I’m an organized hoarder.”

With the addition of the new closet, a

second level, several pop-outs throughout the house and closing in the original U-shaped courtyard, the Whites’ Italian villa now stands at 6,000 square feet. Although it is larger than the original home, the layout and functionality are a better fit for the Whites’ empty-nester lifestyle. With two bedrooms, a laundry and craft room, a large office and a workout room, the Whites’ space was tailored-made for their semi-retired lifestyle.

“I built a comfortable, livable home before,” Mike said. “I think with this home being more square footage and having someone else build it, my challenge was making sure it had the

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559-651-6689 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 35

The layout and functionality of the rebuilt home is a better fit for the Whites’ semi-retired lifestyle.

same comfort level, making it a livable home, not just a big house, but something that I can kick back and be comfortable in.”

The home’s segmented layout, rustic furniture and warm color palette can be credited for its relaxed atmosphere, but there’s no denying its obvious element of romance. From the travertine and wooden floors to the stone walls and clay roof tiles, the White residence is a true Tuscan-inspired masterpiece.

HOME TOUR

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L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

It’s no wonder why people are always asking the Whites if they welcome weddings on their property. While they aren’t a public venue (yet), they have hosted a number of beautiful weddings overlooking the expansive countryside.

With a large wrap-around deck, cascading stone staircase and views for miles, the White estate’s landscape seems as though it was constructed with weddings in mind.

“The deck goes all the way around the house, so we’re able to have a lot of free-flowing entertaining space,” Jessica

said. “When we’re outdoors, we’re usually out here on the back deck. It’s so private and quiet out here.”

At the time of the fire, Mike and Jessica never quite imagined that one day they would get to enjoy the feeling of coming home to the same level of peace and comfort that their home provided. With careers in farming, real estate and retail, the Whites are grateful for a place where they can kick their feet up at the end of the day, surrounded by something they built with hard work and perseverance.

* * * IMPORTANT: THIS IS NOT A PRESS PROOF * * *

COLORS ARE APPROXIMATE. DO NOT USE FOR COLOR MATCHING.

“You could literally drive away one morning and come back to nothing,” Jessica said. “Don’t get me wrong; I love my things, but I now know that everything can change in an instant. This experience changed my mindset going forward. You can enjoy your things, but you should enjoy each day with each other because those things can be gone at any moment.” L

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 37

T E X T

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S L O C U M

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

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esides giving us May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, May offers the opportunity to celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.

Just published last month by Lexington Books is Joel S. Franks’ “Asians and Pacific Islanders in American Football: Historical and Contemporary Experiences.” Franks, a professor at San Jose State University, explores what is to many a surprising presence of those some consider “outsiders” in a mainstream American sport and how this has helped them maintain a sense of community while facing racial exclusion, labor exploitation and colonialism.

The paperback reprint edition of “We Were the Lucky Ones” (Penguin Books) by Georgia Hunter came out this January. Through painstaking research, Hunter uncovered the heritage of her family of Holocaust survivors who were scattered at the beginning of World War II, but determined to survive and reunite. Her novel is based on that research.

“Under Rose-Tainted Skies” (Clarion Books, 2017) by Louise Gornall tells the story of agoraphobic 17-year-old Norah, who cannot leave her house even to fetch her groceries off the front porch. Caught in the act of trying to fish them in with a pole, she meets sweet and funny Luke.

This novel for ages 12 and up is based on Gornall’s own struggle with mental illness.

VALLEY WRITERS El Diamonte’s Janet Nichols Lynch has written at least a dozen books. Her latest is “Wheel of Fire,” a young adult novel that centers on Kori, who attempts to free another young girl from a doomsday 38 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

cult. She is sucked into the cult herself by the charismatic leader, Promus. She becomes what may be the only hope the other young cult members have to break free.

In addition to her novels for youth and adults, Lynch has published “Where Words Leave Off and Music Begins,” a

collection of stories, mostly featuring musicians, previously released in publications such as “The New Yorker,” “The Baltimore Review,” “Fiction Network” and “San Joaquin Review.”

She also has two books of biographies of musicians, “American Music Makers” and “Women Music Makers.” Among the musicians featured are Ives, Gershwin, Seeger, Schumann, Price and Anderson.

One of her earliest books is for ages 9 and up. “Casey Wooster’s Pet Care Service” doesn’t succeed too well as far as her animal clients go, but it does bring the 11-year-old closer to her younger stepbrother, who is her partner in the venture and helps her get from Sacramento to Hollywood to visit her mother.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO 1918 was a difficult year for British literati, not so much related to their

writing. Popular novelist Marie Corelli was convicted of hoarding food. Poet Basil Bunting was imprisoned for being a conscientious objector. Novelist Alec Waugh, monologist Milton Hayes and journalist Hugh Kingsmill were prisoners of war in Mainz Citadel. Young Wilfred Owens, just 25, with only five of his poems published, was killed in battle Nov. 4. One week later, on Armistice Day, his parents received the news of his death.

LOUD MOUTH POETRY JAM The Last Chance Slam for the Individual World Poetry Slam in June will be held on May 26 at Howie & Sons Pizza Parlor, 2430 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia. This will also be the first chance to begin qualifying for the 2019 world event. A twoslam minimum is required to qualify. Popular slam guest artists such as Raggedy Andey have given performances. Loud Mouth Poetry Jam was founded in July 2012 to support Visalia’s growing slam poetry community. Check the group’s Facebook page or contact michaelajasso@gmail.com for information.

AWARDS The 2018 Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner is Renee Watson for “Piecing Me Together” (Bloomsbury Children’s Books). In Watson’s story, Jade is a creative teen with a love of the Spanish language.

The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent went to David Barclay Moore for “The Stars Beneath Our Feet” (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing).

Moore uses language, culture, stereotypes and reality to tell his story of urban survival.

THE LAST WORD “Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart.”

(Billy Graham 1918-2018) L

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L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 39

EPICURE

40 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

An

Abundance

of Flavors

R E C I P E S

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P H O T O S

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M I R A M O N T E S

HALIBUT WITH PEPPERED MANGO SALSA AND CRISPY LEEKS MANGO SALSA INGREDIENTS 1 mango, peeled, seeded and diced 1 medium tomato, diced 1 small red bell pepper, diced 1 jalapeĂąo, seeded and diced 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 1/4 cup olive oil Juice of one lemon 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper Salt to taste Combine the mango, bell pepper, tomato and jalapeĂąo in a bowl and toss. Add the cilantro, olive oil and lemon juice. Add the black pepper. Season with salt; mix well.

HALIBUT INGREDIENTS 6 6-ounce halibut fillets Salt and pepper 1 ounce melted butter Season the halibut with salt and pepper. Brush with melted butter.

Grill or broil the halibut, being careful to not overcook it.

To serve: Place the halibut on warm plates. Serve the Mango Salsa on top of the fish. Garnish with crispy leeks.

CRISPY LEEKS INGREDIENTS 1 leek (white part only), julienne cut, into thin matchsticks Hot oil for frying Salt Fry the leeks in the hot oil until golden brown. Season with salt.

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 41

EPICURE

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH FRESH MORELS (SERVES 4) INGREDIENTS 4 ounces fresh morels, cleaned 1 ounce butter 1 shallot, minced 1 ounce brandy Salt and pepper

24 medium asparagus spears Salted, boiling water, for blanching Salt and pepper 4 ounces shaved Reggiano or other hard cheese

MAKE THE MORELS:

CHIVE BUERRE BLANC

Heat the butter in a sautĂŠ pan.

Add the shallot and morels.

Season with the salt and pepper.

Add the brandy.

SautĂŠ until tender.

INGREDIENTS

MAKE THE ASPARAGUS: Blanch the asparagus in the boiling water for about one minute.

Remove them from the water and place them on a hot grill.

Grill for about one minute, turning them so that they do not burn.

Brush the spears with the olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.

Toss the blanched peas in some of the Chive Buerre Blanc (see right).

Place six asparagus spears on each of four plates.

Place the morels at the base of the asparagus and garnish with a spoonful of the peas.

Put the shaved cheese on top of the asparagus.

42 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

2 cups chardonnay 1/4 cup Champagne vinegar 2 shallots, diced 1/2 cup whipping cream 1/2 pound unsalted butter

2 ounces extra-virgin olive oil 2 ounces fresh English peas, blanched in hot water and seasoned with salt and pepper

Juice of one lemon 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Salt Fresh ground white pepper 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped

In a saucepan, combine the shallots, chardonnay and vinegar. Reduce by half over medium heat. Add the whipping cream, bring to a boil and reduce until the sauce thickens slightly. Reduce the heat and slowly whisk in the butter a little at a time until all is incorporated. Season the sauce with the lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper. Add the chives.

STEAK AU POIVRE WITH GREEN PEPPERCORNS INGREDIENTS 6 6-ounce beef tenderloin medallions Salt and fresh ground pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 shallots, diced 1/4 cup brandy

1/4 cup crushed green peppercorns 8 ounces heavy cream 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Juice of one lemon 1 ounce cold butter 1 teaspoon chopped chives

DIRECTIONS Season the medallions with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in heavy sautĂŠ pan and sautĂŠ the medallions for 3-4 minutes.

Turn meat and cook another 3-4 minutes or until desired doneness.

Remove meat from pan and keep warm.

Discard rendered fat from pan, add chopped shallot and deglaze with brandy.

Add the green peppercorns, then add the cream.

Cook, stirring, until reduced by half, or until the sauce is slightly thickened.

Stir in the mustard and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Stir in the cold butter and herbs.

Place two beef medallions on each warm plate. Serve sauce atop the beef.

EPICURE

SPRING FLING Recipe by Tate Darwin Bartender, Vintage Press INGREDIENTS 1 ounce bourbon 1 1/2 ounce orange juice 1 ounce lemon juice 1/2 ounce orgeat 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1/2 ounce sparkling wine DIRECTIONS Place first five ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain over fresh ice. Top off with sparkling wine and garnish with rosemary sprig.

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 43

EPICURE

STRAWBERRY NAPOLEON SERVES 8 INGREDIENTS 1 recipe puff pastry (below), baked into 24 serving shapes, 3 layers per serving 2 cups sliced berries 5 teaspoons granulated sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons sugar VANILLA PASTRY CREAM 2 cups milk 1/2 vanilla bean 6 egg yolks 2/3 cup sugar 4 tablespoons flour 1 lump butter

Toss the fresh, sliced berries with 5 teaspoons of sugar and keep chilled.

Whip the heavy cream slightly.

Add vanilla and lightly sweeten with 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Whip until the cream holds soft peaks; set aside and keep chilled.

Place the milk and vanilla bean in saucepan and bring it to a boil; cover and keep hot.

In a bowl, whisk the sugar and egg yolks together until mixture forms a ribbon consistency.

Stir the flour into the egg mixture.

Remove the vanilla bean and slowly pour the hot milk into the egg and sugar mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not scramble.

Continue whisking the mixture and return it to the saucepan.

PUFF PASTRY INGREDIENTS 1 pound flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup cold water 1 pound sweet butter DIRECTIONS In a food processor or mixer: Combine the flour, salt and 4 ounces of the butter.

Process until the mixture resembles fine meal.

With the machine running, pour the water into the bowl until a ball forms.

Turn out onto a work surface and, with a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle.

Flatten the remaining butter in the middle of the dough and 44 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

Bring to a boil again, stirring constantly with whisk to keep the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Boil for 1 minute, whisking vigorously, then pour into a bowl and lightly glide a lump of butter on top to avoid a skin from forming as it cools.

Place one piece of pastry on each serving dish.

Evenly spread a layer of the pastry cream onto each pastry.

Top each with about 2-3 tablespoons of the berries, then add a layer of the whipped cream. Top with a second layer of pastry and repeat: pastry cream, berries, whipped cream and a third layer of pastry.

Top with a dollop of whipped cream, place some decorative whole berries on top and dust with powdered sugar.

wrap the dough around the butter like a package.

Roll the dough and butter out into a rectangle, about 12 inches by 18 inches.

Starting with the 12-inch side, fold the dough into thirds.

Turn the dough so that the seam is on your right and roll the dough again into a rectangle. Sprinkle the work surface with flour, as necessary, to prevent sticking.

Brush excess flour off the dough before and after folding.

Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes and roll out again.

Repeat the procedure four more times for a total of six turns.

Refrigerate the dough overnight.

Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and let it soften slightly before rolling.

Cut the pastry into desired shape and bake in a 475-degree oven for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the pastry shapes are crisp and cooked throughout.

MAKING YOUR HOME UNIQUE TEXT BY JOSEPH PUBILLONES

T

he biggest fear that many homeowners have when decorating their home is to get it wrong and/or end up with an interior that looks like a stage set, a furniture store or, worse yet, like the Joneses.

No matter how much you might like someone else's interior design, everyone wants a look of their own. Usually, your home is your largest investment and source of pride. The bottom line is that most people want their homes to reflect their own point of view. Your home should and does reveal who you are.

Any space can become cozy and inviting when you create intimate seating arrangements. Depending on the size of your room, you can create more than one arrangement. It can be any combination of sofas, chairs, stools and benches, ideally anchored with a table, ottoman or side table. Adding a daybed in an unexpected room can help give a dash of personality to an otherwise generic room – and may be a great place to take a nap.

Rooms with matching furniture sets look contrived and uncreative. Break away from the showroom look by mixing something new with something old and combining different styles and periods.

Also, don't be afraid to mix textures.

Mixing rough with smooth or shiny with matte makes each piece seem a little more unique. You'll end up with a look that is interesting and exciting that showcases your creativity.

Let color express your mood. The power of color can certainly affect the look and mood of a space. For example, yellow is perceived as sunlight, so it's a great choice for creating a cheerful and bright environment. Red, on the other hand, creates a sultry, warm mood, while green has a calming effect.

So before you choose that color swatch, think about the atmosphere you want to impart. And don't be afraid of color. Pale and cream-color rooms look great in magazines, but a room with some color usually creates a more interesting and comfortable place to really live.

Be unique – use antiques! Break free from mass-produced catalog furniture and throw in an antique piece for instant character and depth. Many antiques can be purchased at costs well below that of new furniture, and they have the added bonus of holding their value over time.

Did I mention that they are eco-friendly, too? That's because no new resources

are used to produce them, which is another great reason to incorporate your Aunt Sally's Victorian lamps.

Escaping cookie-cutter interiors can be done in any room. Looking for a bit of the unusual is part of the game. Why not install a bar in your living room or a book-filled étagère in your dining room in place of a china cabinet or hutch?

After all, it's home show to show off the collection of antique fans you are so proud of – or a chance to display inherited china by hanging all the plates on a wall. While you are at it, break some rules to give your home the edge.

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ART OF DESIGN

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CHARITY EVENT

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF PRESERVATION T E X T

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ay plays host to many events, thanks to its clear blue skies and warm but not hot temperatures.

Winter’s rains have ended, but the green they bring to the landscape has yet to be replaced by tan and brown. This is when the Central Valley is at its best, perhaps.

On a warm May day back in 1983, it was that potential for finding green and keeping it that way that brought people together to celebrate the creation of a new piece of preserved land. The 322-acre parcel, just east of Visalia, would be named for its many oak trees – Kaweah Oaks Preserve.

Thirty-five years later, on a warmbordering-on-hot May Sunday, another group would gather to remember this anniversary while honoring one of the people who played such an instrumental role in creating this special site. The Picnic for the Preserve served as both a happy birthday celebration for Kaweah Oaks Preserve (lovingly referred to as KOP by its current owners) and also a fundraiser for those owners, the not-forprofit Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT).

And perhaps best of all, the event served as an opportunity to honor College of the Sequoias Professor Rob Hansen for his work protecting, preserving and passing on his knowledge about KOP for 46 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

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these past 35 years.

Today, notes Sopac McCarthy Mulholland, SRT’s president and CEO, KOP is a “petri dish” used by staff to figure out how best to use open space so that we can pass it along to future generations. That means not just trails for visitors, but cattle grazing, forest management and even “parking” water for the local water district during rainy periods.

But back in 1983, KOP was just a chunk of land waiting for something to be done to it. Despite the growth the area was seeing, the land remained nearly pristine.

But a nearby family of cattle ranchers wanted to do something with it.

Eventually, the family’s daughter, Myrtle Davis Franklin, inherited the land.

According to Hansen, Myrtle was an artist at heart who wanted to make art on the coast.

But Myrtle’s farm blood also ran deep, so she consulted with a local farm adviser, Alan George, about making an orchard out of the land. George came out to visit the site and quickly realized that the land was suitable only for high-maintenance crops, not for trees.

He suggested preserving the land, recognizing that it was one of the last intact valley oak woodlands in the area.

Myrtle declined. But eventually her artist’s soul must have won out and she changed her mind. George contacted friends who were involved in the Nature Conservancy and the race began to raise the money needed to purchase the land — just over $1 million.

Hansen worked for the Nature Conservancy at the time and made his first trip to KOP once the fundraising began. He was amazed at what he saw; it was truly the stuff that dreams are made of. “When I saw this place, it reminded me of a dream I had when I was a student at Fresno State,” Rob said. “It was so spectacular here on a spring day.”

The beauty of KOP, plus the hard work of Alan George and Rob Hansen, led to the community quickly coming up with the needed funds, and on May 15, 1983, hundreds came out on a Sunday afternoon to note this joyous event. A few years later, KOP would be turned over to a local precursor organization of Sequoia Riverlands Trust, ensuring that this community gem is protected and cared for by the people who love it most.

KOP is now SRT’s flagship nature preserve, one of six the organization owns in Tulare County.

Four years ago, SRT decided to create an award for conservation excellence; it

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seemed clear that the first one should go to Alan George, and thereafter bear his name. This year, with KOP’s anniversary foremost on the SRT staff’s mind, they decided that year’s Alan George Conservation Award winner should be the other person most associated with KOP, Rob Hansen (who is also a former SRT board member).

Hansen was already starting his career teaching at COS when he first came to KOP, and so he made the preserve his outdoor classroom. Over the years, he has brought some 275 field trips to KOP and more than 8,400 students. His family, too, got into the act, with his daughters doing Easter egg hunts each spring at KOP. “I look forward to it even to this day,” Hansen said during the award presentation. In fact, he visited KOP the night before the Picnic for the Preserve, and at 6:30 the morning of the event — a visit that produced the sighting of a bird species never before seen at KOP, the MacGillivray’s warbler.

That’s species number 151 for those keeping count.

Most of the almost 70 people who came to the Picnic for the Preserve had been to KOP numerous times, too, although perhaps not quite as often as Hansen. But they, like the 10,000 or so visitors to KOP a year, know that the preserve is a place of beauty so close to the bustle of the city, yet far enough away that it seems like you’ve almost gone back in time. As Greg Collins, SRT Board of Directors member and Visalia city councilman, noted, “It’s a wonderful example of early riparian valley forest mixed with prairie. It’s a place where you can see what the area looked like before the white man got here — minus the grizzly bears and the elk.”

Hansen concurred, saying that KOP “is the kind of place every child needs to go.” With SRT’s help, that happens a lot, with more than 1,000 students going on field trips, guided hikes or volunteer events each year at KOP. Many have recently helped SRT staff plant nearly 200 trees at the site.

Yes, plant trees. True, there are already thousands at KOP, but changes in climate

have affected the site and make the future uncertain. So SRT plants more trees, most recently working with international organization Land Life, which creates “cocoons” for trees that hold 25 liters of water, making irrigation unnecessary, and protecting young trees from weeds or others that might steal water in the ground.

So SRT rolls with the changes, knowing that change is the only constant. As SRT’s Education Coordinator Sam Weiser puts it, “KOP changes every year. Like a child, it will be a little different every year for the next 10 years.” And the 10 after that, and after that.

Rob Hansen, too, is an “eternal optimist.” He notes that young trees are growing and thriving, even as older ones die from lack of water. He admits that no one knows what this forest will look like in five years, or 10 years, or beyond. But as long as there are stewards caring for the land and doing research about what can be done, the forest of Kaweah Oaks will be there. L

Rob Hansen, below left, tells of his experiences with the Kaweah Oaks Preserve and Sierra Riverlands Trust. Below right, the Springville band Alt Jam, featuring SRT’s Ben Munger, left, performs at Picnic for the Preserve. Bottom left, Todd Slinde, SRT vice president for operations, speaks at the event. A young girl, bottom right, plays on a tree stump.

CHARITY EVENT

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Family medicine doctor joins VMC Family medicine physician Roy Chan, MD, is seeing patients at the VMC Tulare office.

Dr. Chan had been with the Tulare VA Community-Based Outreach Center since 2012. He is BoardRoy Chan, MD certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

His office is located at 938 N. Cherry, Tulare.

To make an appointment call 686-3481.

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www.vmchealth.com L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 49

LIVELY LIVING

ON THE CUTTING EDGE

COMMUNITY COOKS SHARPEN THEIR SKILLS A T

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ooking is a great skill for so many reasons. First and foremost, we all need to eat, so it’s a necessary skill to have.

Those of us who really love to be in the kitchen appreciate cooking’s creative and therapeutic value, and treasure the art of bringing family and friends together around a table of delicious dishes. Best of all, cooking is ever-evolving, which means that there’s always something new to learn, no matter how long one has been at it. This was evident at the recent Knife Skills Class held at FoodLink for Tulare County.

Since moving to its new facility in Exeter, the local food distribution agency has also become a cooking and nutrition education resource for the community.

Making great use of its onsite kitchen 50 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

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classroom, a variety of topics are offered, with specific and measurable outcomes designed for every one. Creating a sense of community and an accessible nutrition resource for everyone, not just those who need food, are the primary aims of the program.

Former Executive Director Sarah Ramirez shared a story about a teen and an older woman who met at a diabetes cooking class and became friends; now they cook together often. In addition to new knowledge, this is exactly the kind of relationship that FoodLink hopes participants will also gain from the classes.

Staff Nutrition Educator Sara Arellano leads the charge, teaching hands-on healthy nutrition education, diabetes classes and summer kids’ cooking classes.

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Other staff members and volunteers – most of whom are or have been FoodLink supporters – have offered a tamalemaking session, meal-prep classes, homemade Salvadoran Pupusas and vegan meal prep. “Quesadilla Labs” are held at FoodLink during nutrition on the go, and utilize the garden produce and veggies that are being distributed. As part of the Global Table Series offered the second Saturday of the month, guests learned to make Indian Egg Curry and Spinach Paneer.

Gathering to polish their knife skills on a sunny Saturday morning in April, eight foodies represented a range of experience and age. Eight-year-old Annabelle, who loves baking chocolate chip cookies, joined seven … let’s call them very wise … men and women in

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FoodLink’s kitchen for a two-hour, hands-on session with Chef Erin Tyler. As she introduced herself, participants learned that Chef Erin’s culinary path began when she was very young.

A graduate of the first bachelor’s degree class at New York’s Culinary Institute of America, Chef Erin was born with cooking in her DNA. Her mother and grandmother were both gourmet cooks, and she loved going to the market with them, taking great care unloading the food and organizing the refrigerator when they got home. Erin started cooking in earnest when she was 8, when one day her father (an insurance salesman) called home to say that he was bringing clients for dinner. Seeing her mother in a panic to straighten the house on short notice, Erin volunteered and was readily elected to cook dinner from a menu that she’d admired in Ladies Home Journal. The main dish was Cornish game hens, a lofty first dinner party endeavor for a new cook at any age. Her success was evident at the end of the evening when her guests’ plates were brought to the kitchen all but licked clean with just the bones left. Erin’s fate was sealed.

She graduated from the CIA and started a catering business, which gave her the flexibility to care for her mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s.

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Eventually seeking more meaning in her career, Erin found the Academy of the Sierras, a camp for overweight children.

She joined the staff as an instructor, teaching the students basic cooking skills that would help them to make necessary lifestyle changes to improve their health.

The camp evolved into Wellspring Academy, a full-time private high school, and Erin continued to teach there for three years. Currently, she shares her expertise by donating her time to organizations like FoodLink; she has also authored a book and a curriculum for a healthy kids culinary program.

At the FoodLink class, Chef Erin began by going over some basic knife information. While she listed several different types of knives, she shared her personal opinion that you don’t need to possess a huge array. Her most-used include a good 10- to 15-inch chef knife; a Japanese Santuko for chopping, slicing and mincing; a boning knife (a must-have for fish and meats); a good serrated bread knife (also essential), and a paring knife (mostly for peeling). Her best advice on the subject of variety? “What you’re comfortable with is the knife you should use.” Chef Erin told of a Japanese chef she knew who did everything with his butcher knife – including intricate butter sculptures!

In reviewing knife safety, we learned about keeping our knives sharp – did you know that a dull knife could be more dangerous? Chef Erin demonstrated how to hold a knife properly, and how to use the other hand as a guide, curling her fingers under and holding the food with her fingertips. To safely walk while holding a knife, she instructed us to grip the handle as if cutting, holding it down at our side. More sage advice: “If you slip or fall, let go of the knife. If it falls off your counter, don’t catch it!”

Using Annabelle as her assistant, Chef Erin demonstrated proper hand-off from one person to another: Hold the knife on the non-slicing side of the blade and hand the handle to the other person. Ask if they have it before you let go. (Or, as we learned to do with jackknives in Girl Scouts, don’t let go of the knife until the recipient says “thank you!”)

Handouts were provided that encompassed all the class material, including how to hold a knife for “maximum comfort, control and safety, while minimizing fatigue.” After watching Chef Erin demonstrate several cuts on fruits and vegetables, we returned to our individual stations. Using carrots, celery and potatoes, we practiced several cuts.

The coarse chop, mince and cube cuts (also known as a Regular Brunoise) were

familiar to most of the class as was the Rondelle – round cut – for cylindrical vegetables. The oblique cut was new to everyone. Also used on cylindrical vegetables, a cut on the diagonal, then a half turn of the vegetable, and another diagonal cut, produces an interesting shape that adds surface area to each piece and dimension to a platter or dish. Although everyone was familiar with “matchstick” cuts (long, rectangular cuts of varying widths), we concurred that their proper names – julienne and batonnet – are much more fun to say!

Chef Erin also talked about herbs and spices as she showed the technique for a ribbon cut, or chiffonade, best for leafy herbs and vegetables. Finally, she demonstrated one of the most feared kitchen tasks – how to break down (also known as fabricate) a whole chicken. She shared several tips for quickly separating the parts and deboning. This is not a process that everyone wants to do, however, it is the most economical way to purchase poultry.

Armed with our new knowledge and new friends, we savored an herb and cream cheese dip with our freshly cut vegetables as we celebrated our freshly honed skills. L

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FASHION

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Address the Dress T E X T

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ometimes it only takes one dress – but just the right one – to make the occasion. And spring is full of those special occasions, from graduations to weddings to fundraisers. Having one goto dress is always a good idea.

Here are some of the best ways to dress the part this year so that when those invitations arrive, you'll be ready – because you never want to wait till the last minute to find the perfect thing to wear to that big event.

• Address color. It's the fastest way to update your dress wardrobe this year. Although those little black dresses are always in style and always great to have hanging out in your closet, you never want to underestimate the power of color.

This spring and summer, that color may be the brightest yellow or the palest lilac. Pick your palette, but do consider wearing a new hue to the party. You'll feel like a whole new you.

• Address hemlines. There's a dress length for everyone this season, from short minis to long maxis. Of course, the occasion may determine

what hemline you choose; a micro miniskirt might not be the most appropriate way to impress your boyfriend's parents at his college graduation. But you'll also want to consider what style of dress is most flattering to your own body shape. If a floor-sweeping maxi overwhelms your petite frame, then consider sticking to more of a ruffled tea dress with a midi hemline or a body-conscious fringed shift dress that hits right below the knee.

• Address prints. The flower power is fierce this year – and these are not just any itsy-bitsy-ditsy floral prints.

The new floral prints are statementmaking prints reminiscent of artistic designs mixed and matched in a fresh way, giving them a modern twist. Daisies are one of the most popular fashion bloomers this spring, but polka dots are also vying for attention. Look for prints in vintage-inspired silhouettes, such as fit-and-flare '50s dresses or '90s slip dresses • Address shine. If you really want to step up your dress game, then you'll

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love the new way to sparkle in a dress. Sequins are shimmering for day and night. There's a little disco diva that's dancing into fashion this year, and it's time to have some fun.

In gold, silver or even pastels, sequins shine. The newest way to do a cool party look: a denim jacket over a sequin slip dress. So don't be afraid to glimmer and glow as that stylish wedding guest. Just be careful not to outshine the bride.

• Address the non-dress. Yes, if you're not a dress person – and some of us aren't – there are plenty of other options for special occasions. The jumpsuit is a great alternative and a major trend this year. The trouser suit is another way to up the glam factor; in white, it's a warm-weather winner.

And a flowing pleated skirt or silky palazzo pants paired with an elegant blouse are always appropriate. The best way to address the dress – during any time of the year – is to wear what you feel the most comfortable in. That's always the way to dress for success. L

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TCFB Hosts Education and Scholarship Fundraiser

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early 200 guests joined the Tulare County Farm Bureau for its 31st annual fundraising gala in April, helping to support the organization’s Education and Scholarship trust.

Guests laughed the night away during a comedy show from William Lee Martin after enjoying steak and lobster dinner from Sue Sa’s Creative Catering.

During the evening, guests also entered the chance to win a stunning necklace donated by Brown’s Custom Jewelry valued at more than $9,000.

TCFB’s school garden grants, Youth Leadership program, Blue Jacket Bonanza awards, the countywide Calendar Art Contest, AgVentures! Day and numerous scholarships are made possible by generous donors and funds raised at the gala.

KUDOS

AAUW BOOK SALE

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he American Association of University Women’s VisaliaSequoia branch recently competed its April Used Book Sale at Sequoia Mall and would like to give a big “thumbs up” to the community for its continued support of the AAUW sales. The semi-annual book sales allow AAUW to support the community in many ways. These include “Expanding Your Horizons,” a hands-on science day at College of the Sequoias for girls in fourth through sixth grades and “Tech Trek,” a week-long STEM conference at Fresno State for seventh- and eighthgrade girls. AAUW also provides $15,000 in scholarship monies for COS students transferring to four-year universities. Thank you, Tulare County! L

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HAPPENINGS

WAG Artist Society Exhibition Arts Visalia presents the first showing of the watercolor and mixed-media artists of Arts Visalia’s Wednesday Art Group that’s part of the Open Studio Workshops. This event is free.

When: May 19, runs until May 25 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: artsvisalia.org, (559) 739-0905 Girls Night at Visalia Rawhide Come on down to the Visalia Rawhide Stadium for Girls Night. The ballpark will be jam-packed with booths that you can visit to get your passport stamped and you'll be entered to win a grand prize.

Tickets start at $7.

When: May 19, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Rawhide, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: Jill@RawhideBaseball.com, www.rawhidebaseball.com Visalia Breakfast Lions 30th Car Show Join us at the 30th annual Downtown Visalia Car Show. Main Street will be lined with hot rod cars, trucks, motorcycles and some very fancy rides, and buzzing with music, food and a variety of entertainment. If you have a vehicle you would like to enter, visit our website for info and registration instructions at www.VisaliaBreakfastLions.org.Cost: $30 per car.

When: May 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Main Street between Willis and Johnson streets Contact: www.VisaliaBreakfastLions.org 58 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

Walk for Wellness Anyone who likes to walk or run with a purpose will enjoy participating in the "Walk for Wellness" 5K. This event will feature educational booths providing insight on both the journey to recovery and support services available to family members coping with mental illness. Tulare County Mental Health will be joining us to provide additional information on services offered to the community. Admission is free.

When: May 19, 7:45-11 a.m.

Where: Kaweah Delta Dialysis Center grass area, 5040 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia Contact: Kaweah Delta Dialysis Center, (559) 624-3300.

Moana Movie Night Under the Stars Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with singing, adventure and fun!

Grab your comfy chair or blanket and sit back and enjoy the movie “Moana” on our giant inflatable outdoor screen.

Admission is free.

When: May 19, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Riverway Sports Park, 3611 N. Dinuba Blvd., Visalia Contact: (559) 713-4365, recreation@visalia.city Button Society Show Browse through thousands of antique, vintage, studio and craft buttons, and buy from the 18th century to the modern era at the California State Button Society show “Farming for Buttons.” Admission is free.

When: May 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Wyndham Hotel, 9000 W. Airport Drive, Visalia Contact: www.cabutton.org/2018-csbsshow-information.html, www.cabutton.org.

VITRI Race California Fitness Academy brings you the 11th annual VITRI. This event is a great local triathlon, perfect for the firsttimer and veteran athlete. Come out and have some fun. Swim takes place at El Diamante High School pool. Run takes place on the city streets surrounding El Diamante.

When: May 19, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: 5100 W. Whitendale Ave., Visalia Contact: www.vi-tri.com

Soil Carbon Celebration Students from six local schools will take part in the Soil Carbon Celebration, where they'll demonstrate all they learned from taking part in the Soil Carbon Challenge this year.

When: May 19, 9 a.m.-noon Where: Kaweah Oaks Preserve, 29979 Road 182, Exeter Contact: Bud Darwin, bud@ sequoiariverlands.org, (559) 738-0211, www.sequoiariverlands.org Temblor Brewery Tour Temblor Brewing Company will host one-hour tours of the brewery. You will learn about the brewing process, stateof-the-art packaging equipment, barrel aging program, a bit about Temblor history and how we came to be, and what sets us apart from other breweries.

At the end, you will get to try a beer right out of the fermenter! Must be 21+ When: May 19, 1-2 p.m.

Where: Temblor Brewing Company, 3200 Buck Owens Blvd. #200, Bakersfield Contact: Temblor Brewing Company, (661) 489-4855 Diamond Dig Join us after our 2 p.m. game for the annual Quality Jewelers Diamond Dig. All ladies will be invited onto the field to dig in search of several jewelry boxes buried beneath the dirt, each representing fabulous prizes donated by Quality Jewelers.

When: May 20, 2 p.m.

Where: Rawhide Visalia, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: www.rawhidebaseball.com

The Adoration Conference The Adoration Conference is a one-day conference for junior and senior high school girls who have been looking for a place to find answers to difficult questions regarding integrity, social media, shame, respect, courage, faith, mental and spiritual health, as well as personal growth before entering senior year and leaving for college. Tickets: $50.

When: May 20, 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Where: Bakersfield Country Club, 4200 Country Club Drive, Bakersfield Contact: Bakersfield Country Club, (661) 871-4000 Concert in the Park Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy this free public event featuring a concert.

When: May 23, 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: Zumwalt Park, 400 E. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: Tulare City Council, (559) 685-2300 Sequoia Shuttle Opening Day Get ready to visit the giant sequoias at Sequoia National Park. For just $15 round-trip, the shuttle will take you from Visalia into Sequoia National Park and drop you off at the Giant Forest Museum, plus unlimited shuttle service inside the park. You must have a reservation to ride the Sequoia Shuttle.

When: Starting May 24 visit sequoiashuttle.com/planning-your-trip/ for pick-up times and locations.

Contact: Sequoia National Park, (559) 565-3341. Make your reservations at www.sequoiashuttle.com or call 877-BUS-HIKE (877-287-4453).

‘Star Wars’ Night at HAPPENINGS Rawhide Come celebrate “Star Wars” with the Rawhide.

Dress up as your favorite Star Wars character and get a free Pasture ticket courtesy of Party City. And, like every Thursday home game, enjoy $1 beers from 6-8 p.m. as part of Thirsty Thursdays. May the Force be with you!

When: May 24, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Rawhide Ballpark, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: www.rawhidebaseball.com Family Night at Adventure Park Purchase your Family Fun Night wristbands for $18 each. Wristbands give you unlimited access to go karts, bumper boats, mini golf, batting cages and laser tag. Plus you can sing karaoke as often as you can get a turn at the microphone. Kritter Karts will be closed.

When: May 25, 9 to 12:30 a.m. May 26 Where: Visalia Adventure Park, 5600 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia Contact: (559) 635-7275 The Outpour The Outpour is a free community event for the young and old of Tulare County featuring cool music, Hollywood celebrities and the entertainment industry. Access to the Outpour stadium event is only possible with previous online registration at Eventbrite, which needs to be shown at the entrance.

When: May 25, 1-8 p.m.

Where: Porterville College, 100 E. College Ave., Porterville Contact: (559) 791-8232

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 59

HAPPENINGS

ShineFest 2018 ShineFest is a multi-day festival with camping, art and music from all around California. All proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Tickets: $18.

When: May 25, 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

Where: The Wakehouse, 850 Kings River Road, Suite 106, Reedley Contact: The Wakehouse, (559) 637-9000 PRIDE Visalia 2018 Come celebrate at PRIDE Visalia. There will be entertainment, food, drinks, kids zone, LGBT-friendly businesses and organizations, and most of all community. Admission is $5.

When: May 26, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Arts Consortium, 300 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: The Source LGBT+ Center, (559) 429-4277 NerdLink at FoodLink Nerds of Tulare County unite! Support FoodLink's work at this family-friendly event with an evening of video games, board games, D & D, food, prizes and more!

General play: Includes other video and board games. $10 for ages 10 and up, $5 for kids under 10 with an adult.

When: May 27, 5-8 p.m.

Where: FoodLink for Tulare County Inc., 611 Second St., Exeter Contact: FoodLink for Tulare County Inc., (559) 651-3663 60 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

Official Menudo Cook-Off After Party Join us for some menudo and a night of fun featuring entertainment with Velorio and DJ Editt. 21+. General admission: $10, w/stamp or ticket stub $5. $4 16-ounce Bud Light, XX's Lager, Tecate Light and Margaritas on the Rocks.

When: May 27, 6 p.m.-1 a.m.

Where: Elements Venue & Banquet Centre, 3401 Chester Ave., Suite H, Bakersfield Contact: Party Reservations, (661) 301-4681 Scribblescapes Artist Reception The Creative Center welcomes guest artist Kirk Cruz to the Jon Ginsburg Gallery. The Scribblescapes exhibition features his most recent work in marker.

Join us for a night of artist talks, poetry and a make-your-own-art session.

When: June 1, 5-8 p.m.

Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: stevid@thecreativecentervisalia.org, hwww.thecreativecentervisalia.org, (559) 734-3900

Tree to Table: A Dinner in the Groves You're invited to join McKellar Family Farms for its inaugural "Tree to Table" fundraising dinner. Meet under the vine arbor for an elegant "farm-to-table" dining experience prepared by Chef David Vartanian of The Vintage Press. $75. All proceeds from this event will benefit McKellar Family Farms.

Tickets: treetotable.eventbrite.com or mckellarfamilyfarms.com When: June 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch, 32988 Road 164, Ivanhoe Contact: McKellar Family Farms, (559) 731-7925, info@mckellarfarms.com Bounty of the County at Visalia Rawhide It's a weekend of Ag! Help the Rawhide celebrate the local agriculture industry during the Bounty of the County weekend! The Rawhide will wear special jerseys each night, and fans will get to participate in day-specific games on the field. Tickets start at $7.

When: June 1-2, 7-10 p.m.; June 3, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Visalia Rawhide, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: www.rawhidebaseball.com

HAPPENINGS

3rd annual Bakersfield Wing Festival It’s the hottest, spiciest and most flavorful event to hit Kern County! The vision is to bring hungry wing fans together to sample flavors from classic BBQ to a level of spice, not for the faint of heart. Whether it’s smoked, fried, grilled, sauced, spiced or imaginative, this festival will attract wing fanatics and wing nuts of all ages. Best of all, they will be treated to the best wings in town.

General tickets: $35. VIP tickets: $75.

When: June 2, 3-7 p.m.

Where: Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St., Bakersfield Contact: www.bakersfieldwingfest.com/ Summer Pull-Up 2018 with Nef the Pharaoh Tonee Hayes, better known by his stage name Nef the Pharaoh, is an American rapper from Vallejo. He recently signed to E-40's Sick Wid' It Records. Tickets: $40-$68.

When: June 2, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour Ian Anderson presents Jethro Tull’s 50th anniversary tour! Initially playing blues rock with an experimental flavor, the band has incorporated elements of classical, folk and ethnic music, jazz and art rock, marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead flute work of front man Ian Anderson. Tickets: $55-$100.

When: June 5, 7:30-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org

PJ Masks Live!

PJ Masks Live: Time to Be a Hero is a super-heroic, brand-new live show featuring the heroic trio from your favorite series: The PJ Masks! You’ve NEVER seen them live like this before. Complete with your favorite music and new songs. Don’t sleep through it – watch the PJ Masks save the day, live on stage! Tickets: $29, $39, $49, $59, $110.

When: June 6, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org Power of the Purse Power of the Purse is a signature fundraising event of United Way Women's Leadership Councils nationwide.

Individual tickets: $75. The Power of the Purse event will fund the Literacy Project of the United Way of Tulare County.

When: June 8, 7-9 a.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: Power of the Purse-Tulare County, www.facebook.com/PowerPurseTC/.

Mariachi Los Camperos J Guzman Entertainment presents Tradición, Arte y Pasión with Mariachi Los Camperos.

Two-time Grammy Award-winner Mariachi Los Camperos, one of the most popular mariachi ensembles in the world, is noted for innovative shows and distinction as a concert ensemble. The group has performed for more than 55 years on stage and television. Tickets: $25-$49.

When: June 9, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org

Chill-n-Grill Cook-Off On the Spot Adds presents Chill-n-Grill Cook-Off. Come sample and purchase some of Bako's Top Grillers BBQ. 21+.

Entertainment provided by DJ's Editt & Manuel G. $10 in advance, $15 at the gate.

VIP in advance $30, $40 at the gate.

When: June 9, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Stramler Park [Metro Area], 3805 Chester Ave., Bakersfield Contact: Chris Anthony, (661) 472-1953 Brian Regan Brian Regan has distinguished himself as the perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality. He fills theaters nationwide with fervent fans who span generations. Tickets: $45-$55.

When: June 10, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.com ’80s Night at Visalia Rawhide Come enjoy $1 beers from 6-8 p.m. along with live pregame music from TBG & The Ritz! Wear your best ’80s attire and receive a free Pasture ticket thanks to Party City.

When: June 14, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Rawhide, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: www.rawhidebaseball.com

L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8 61

Murder Mystery Dinner The Visalia Host Lions Club is bringing a Murder Mystery Dinner that will feature a three-course meal catered by Sue Sa's Creative Catering and entertainment with The Murder Mystery Company of Los Angeles. Attendees will become participants in solving the mystery and interact with cast members to solve a fictitious murder scene. Mardi Gras masks, evening wear and ball gowns are encouraged. Tickets $75 per person.

When: June 15, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: Robin Yeager, (559) 836-0682, allfamilytransport@gmail.com

Acoustic Evening with LeAnn Rimes LeAnn Rimes is an internationally multiplatinum-selling acclaimed singer and ASCAP award-winning songwriter. She has sold more than 44 million units, won two Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, two World Music Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, one Country Music Association Award and one Dove Award. Tickets: $30-$60.

When: June 22, 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org Downtown Bakersfield Craft Beer Festival

Pismo Beach Beer Fest Enjoy your favorite brews in Pismo!

Tickets: $25 and include free tasters of beer, the logo taster glass and access to all of the great music. Delicious food will also be available to purchase. Nondrinkers are $10 at the door cash only.

21+ for beer tasting.

When: June 16, 4-8 p.m.

Where: Pismo Beach Veterans’ Memorial Hall, 780 Bello St., Pismo Beach Contact: www.pismobeerfest.com Kings Brewfest 2018 Kick off summer with us again this year!

Tickets are $40 and include unlimited tasting of more than 35 different brews and food served by many of our best local restaurants. Food is included with the price of admission. The Valley Cats will perform live on stage playing the hottest tunes to dance the night away!

When: June 16, 5-9 p.m.

Where: Kings Lions Complex, 652 S. 19th Ave., Visalia Contact: Joe Arruda, arruda-j@kcusd. com, (559) 707-3283, www.e-clubhouse. org/sites/kings_ca/index.php Have You Seen Tipper?

We heard he’s hiding in some of our downtown stores and we need your help finding him. Visit Downtown Visalia to see if you can find one of Tipper’s hiding places. If you spot him, you will be entered to win a special package from the Visalia Rawhide baseball team.

When: June 18-July 7, when stores are open Where: Downtown Visalia, Contact: www.downtownvisalia.com, (559) 732-7737 62 L I F E S T Y L E | M AY 2 0 1 8

Calling all craft beer drinkers! This year, the Bakersfield Craft Beer Festival is being moved to beautiful downtown Bakersfield for an evening of good food, fun games, great music and, most importantly, amazing craft beer! Tickets: $68.

When: June 23, 6-10:30 p.m.

Where: 20th and G streets, downtown Bakersfield Contact: www.DowntownCraftBeer.com Visalia Convention Center Indoor Yard Sale The traditional yard sale has come indoors! Come and find some great bargains with many booths of used and new items. $3 per person or $5 for two at the door.

When: July 7, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: Kathy Fraga, kathy.fraga@ visalia.city Elements Gathering 2018 At Elements, you meet strangers and become a village. Your instincts awaken and part of you remembers what it feels like to live openly and honestly, connected to nature and truly embraced by your community. Your village is calling. Tickets: $15-$1,000.

When: July 12, 12 p.m. -July 18, 12 p.m.

Where: Mountain Home State Forest, Springville Contact: info@elementsgathering.com, Rachel Natland, (562) 331-8899, Chris Morasky, (310) 375-1671

HAPPENINGS

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