Lifestyle Magazine - October 2015

STYLE, ART, CULTURE, + EVENTS OF THE SOUTH VALLEY OCTOBER 2015

HOME TOUR

CULINARY

LIVELY LIVING

THE EASTES HOME

COMFORT CUISINE

A WALK ACROSS AMERICA

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LIVELY LIVING

A WALK ACROSS AMERICA Mitchell Sodersten’s 3,163-Mile Journey on Foot

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25-year-old Mitchell Sodersten walks across America to raise awareness about brain injuries.

HOME TOUR

THE EASTES HOME What Stays, What Goes: The Joys and Dilemmas of Downsizing 8 Letter from the Executive Editor 10 Wordplay 12 History: Visalia’s Dream Come True

CULINARY

MEAT LOAF

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24 20 Community: Bounty of the County – Loving the Local

Gettin’ Cozy with Comfort Cuisine

46 Business Profile: Pacific Treasures –

This Italian twist on a fall classic is sure to keep you warm this fall.

50 Charity: An Evening Under the Oaks –

A Local Gem

At the Corner of Haight and Ashbury 54 The Art of Interior: Bringing Your Living Room to Life 56 Happenings

TRAVELER’S TREK

A ROAD TRIP From Mexico to the Tip of Baja California

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Major Rogers shares the safest way to take a solo road trip from the border down to Cabo San Lucas.

COVER: The Eastes home isn’t defined by the house itself, but by the unique furniture and sentimental art pieces found throughout the home.

TOP: Rick and Mary Jo Eastes say they enjoy having more wall space in their new home to hang their collection of art.

PUBLISHED BY

EXECUTIVE EDITOR EDITORIAL COORDINATOR EDITORIAL STAFF ART DIRECTOR DESIGNER DESIGNER

DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 Karen Tellalian Kelly Lapadula Katie Presser Ross Yukawa Chris Bly Kaci Hansen

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Aaron Collins Cheryl Levitan Diane Slocum Elaine Dakessian Major Rogers Terry L. Ommen

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA Jeffrey Malkasian EA

OPERATIONS MANAGER ADVERTISING SALES

SALES OFFICE

E-MAIL WEBSITE VIEW THE MAG ONLINE

Maria Gaston Leah Perez Leah@DMIAgency.com 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 Lifestyle@DMIAgency.com www.VisaliaLifestyle.com Issuu.com/LifestyleMagazine Facebook.com/LifestyleMag Instagram: visalialifestyle

RACK LOCATIONS DMI Agency

Tazzaria Coffee & Tea

Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare

The Lifestyle Center

Glick's Old Fashion Meats & Deli

Visalia Chamber of Commerce

Visalia Convention Center

COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS 210 Cafe Arts Consortium Ashoori & Co. Jewelers Avedian Properties Bravo Farms Smokehouse Café 225 California Fitness Academy Chicago Title CreekSide Day Spa Skin & Laser Center Courtyard Aesthetics Dale Bruder Law Offices Envie Boutique Exeter Chamber of Commerce Flow Studios Franey's Design Center

Fugazzis Hobbs-Potts Associates Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Keller Williams Reality Lewis & Associates Michaels Jewelry Monet's, Exeter Pacific Treasures Pro-PT Renaissance Salon Sequoia Prompt Care Sherman & Associates Smiles by Sullivan, Tulare Smile Visalia Suncrest Bank

V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Airport Visalia Business Bank (Downtown) Visalia Ceramic Tile Visalia First Assembly Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Watsons Wildflower Café, Exeter Williams, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

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

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

Circulation of this issue: 15,500 © 2015 DMI Agency

LEFT: Lit candles in the Eastes’ drought-tolerant backyard add an ethereal element to their landscape.

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FR O M TH E

EDITOR

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ilestones. We love to celebrate them, and this month marks Lifestyle Magazine’s 12th year of publishing. Can we get a “woo-hoo”? Each issue has been painstakingly produced because we never presume we’re good enough; we’re always thinking about ways to be better. In fact, this year we unveiled a new look and feel for Lifestyle, and we are over-the-moon ecstatic by your acceptance of the updated design.

we are soon reminded what a short amount of time that is, compared to a place like Franeys Carpet One and Design Center who's celebrating its 60th anniversary this month. That is a long time by anyone’s standards, and we congratulate the Franey family on their rich history and success in the Visalia community.

While we have our attention turned to staying power, we must also point out another long-time Visalia business, Pacific Treasures. Owner

Whether reader, advertiser, photographer, or contributing writer, each play a significant role in our existence. Thank you.

E X E C U T I V E

E D I T O R

K A R E N

T E L L A L I A N

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

If you have not dropped by our office during production time, you cannot fully appreciate the publishing circus environment in which we live. Imagine sitting around a table with an entire army of right brainers, and a couple of left brainers, trying to come to a consensus about publishing only the most relevant and beautiful aspects of our community. Often, this diverse team has opposing beliefs about what will make the final cut and onto the printed pages. We pin our options to a huge corkboard wall, and stand in front of them looking for the golden nugget that makes a certain photo or editorial spread special.

When we start to pat ourselves on the back for 12 successful years,

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Michelle Wiebe opened the popular downtown shop some 24 years ago, and it truly has become a favorite for unique kitchen and home decorating items. Lifestyle staff recently sat down with Michelle, where she talked about her commitment to keeping her store as special as the people who shop there. For the story of how Pacific Treasures came to be, please turn to page 46.

As we head into our 13th year, we look forward to the homes, recipes, and community events we will be sure to feature, but mostly, we look forward to the great people we will meet along the way. Whether reader, advertiser, photographer, or contributing writer, each play a significant role in our existence.

Thank you.

Ou r

Go is rgeo ou us rG G if t if t to Wr yo app u! in g

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

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ctober is Crime Prevention Month. Bull Mountain is a place desperately in need of some crime prevention in Brian Panowich’s debut novel Bull Mountain (Putnam’s Sons, July 2015). Each generation of the Burroughs family goes deeper into depravity as they deal in moonshine, then marijuana, then methamphetamine. Then one grandson goes rogue and becomes the county sheriff. He still lets his family be up on their mountain, until a federal agent of questionable motives shows up with a plan.

In Black River (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, January 2015), the debut novel by S. M. Hulse, a crime is committed by a vicious assailant, Bobby Williams, who is already in prison. When the prisoners riot, guard Wes Carver is held and tortured for hours. The worst thing is that his hands are destroyed and he loses his greatest gift and joy in life - playing music. Years later, as Williams is now being paroled as a converted Christian, Wes must decide whether to kill him in revenge or forgive him.

The Enchanted (Harper First Edition, 2014), a debut novel

by Rene Denfeld, uses magical realism to tell a story of death row inmates in a crumbling prison.

Corrupt guards, violent boss prisoners, the fallen priest, and the lady are all seen through the eyes of a mute inmate whose thoughts carry him out of his cell and into all that is going on in and around this enchanted place. Denfeld is a death penalty investigator as is her character, the lady, and brings much of her work to this story.

VALLEY WRITERS Visalia native Jane Porter continues to produce novels almost faster than we can keep up with them. Her latest modern lit story is It’s You, a story about a doctor who is foundering from a tragedy when she has to go to Napa to care for her ailing father, where she finds strength 10 L I F E S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

in community.

Porter's newest classical romance is The Taming of the Bachelor, the fourth in the “Taming of the Sheenans” series.

Dillon Sheenan plans to leave the family’s Montana ranch, until he meets single mom, Paige Joffe.

The Good Wife is the third installment in the “Brennan Sisters” series. Sarah, the beauty of the family, is married to a professional baseball player, away from home with temptations always before him. Whether their marriage can survive is Sarah’s dilemma.

when a child’s serious illness sets laborers against their bosses. A mediator is called in, violence erupts, and memorable characters show how love can endure.

WRITING CONTESTS The Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize is open to writers with three published books of fiction. Short story collections, novellas, and novels are accepted. No length requirement. Stories may have been published in magazines, but not book form. Deadline is Nov. 1. The prize includes $15,000 and publication by the University of Alabama Press.

Submission fee is $25. For details: fc2.org/prizes.

The Slipstream Annual Poetry Contest deadline is Dec. 1. The prize is $1, 000 plus 50 copies of your book. Up to 40 pages may be submitted for $20.

All entrants receive a copy of the winning chapbook and an issue of Slipstream Magazine.

Last year’s winner was Nicole Antonio of Oakland. For details: slipstreampress.org/contest.

WRITER’S CONFERENCES

Porter was in Visalia last month at the College of the Sequoias to speak about the latest of her 50 published novels.

Her message to other writers is to keep writing. It took her 15 tries during 16 years before her first novel was published.

ABOUT THE VALLEY AND THE HILLS It’s not only writers from the valley who write about the valley and nearby hills.

Lawrence Coates hails from the California coastal area, where most of his books are set, but a novella, Camp Olvidio, is set in the Central Valley. The book will be published by Miami University Press on October 27. The story involves a migrant labor camp in 1932 and what happens

The Seaside Writers Conference will be held May 7 -14 in Seaside, Florida. Award-winning authors of poetry, fiction, and screenplays will offer intensive writing workshops and seminars. Editors and literary agents will consult one-on-one. The fee is $675.

The conference will accept submissions for scholarships, fellowships, and aid from Nov. 1 through Jan. 10. Details at: seasidewritersconference.weebly.com.

THE LAST WORD “It's been proven by quite a few studies that plants are good for our psychological development. If you green an area, the rate of crime goes down.

Torture victims begin to recover when they spend time outside in a garden with flowers. So we need them, in some deep psychological sense, which I don't suppose anybody really understands yet.”

– Jane Goodall (1934 - )

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738-7572 All procedures and follow-ups are performed personally by Dr. Lechtman.

Theatre Visalia at the corner of Acequia and Court Streets shortly after it was remodeled.

Visalia’s Dream Come True

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o some, the opening of the just-finished Theatre Visalia marked the beginning of a “new social epoch in the city's history.” The elegant playhouse represented one of the finest entertainment venues in the valley. It came about, not as a typical business venture, but as the result of three civic-minded community leaders giving generously of their money and expecting nothing in return.

To be accurate, the theater building wasn’t new, but a remodel. All of the equipment, fixtures, and interior construction were brand new, but the exterior walls were the existing ones of

the old armory building.

The armory was built in 1889 on the northeast corner of Acequia and Court streets. For its first 25 years of life, it served as the National Guard Armory, a community hall, and then was converted into an opera house. It became a popular entertainment center used regularly for local productions, touring vaudeville acts, and political rallies.

By 1914, the building was showing serious signs of age and neglect. It had gone through so many modifications and repairs, it no longer possessed the luster it once had. Community pride in T EXT

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the old building was slipping badly.

Many saw the decline, but William R. Spalding, prominent lumberman, Susman Mitchell, well-known banker, and Adolph Levis, successful merchant, did more than complain—they decided to act. They committed $25,000 of their own money to make the old opera house into a first rate playhouse, and they made it clear they didn't expect any return on their investment.

They hired Schwartz, Hotchkin, & Schwartz, a Fresno architectural firm to design the interior and in August 1914, work quickly began on the aging opera house. The first order of business was

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to totally gut the building all the way to the bare walls, which included removal of the stage, balcony, and floor.

By the end of August, workers had removed everything and had installed a new “bowl-shaped” floor.

This new style ensured that all floor seating would have an unobstructed view of the stage. New 20 inchwide leather seats were installed throughout, and a boiler was placed in the basement for heating. But the dramatic turning point was the construction of the balcony, 10 large dressing rooms, two retiring rooms (bathrooms), four box seats, and a huge stage with 50 flies, 48 feet high.

It now looked like a theater.

Thick green carpet was laid and numerous silk and velvet curtains and drapes were hung throughout as decorations. A colorful curtain painted by Flagg Studios was hung in front of the stage and was made of the latest fireproof asbestos material.

Other fire related features like fire escapes and the latest door latches were included, allowing for easier exit in case of an emergency. But what seemed to capture the most attention was the large outside electric Theatre Visalia sign mounted over the entrance. It was bright and beautiful, giving Visalia a metropolitan look.

By December, the massive remodel was completed and Visalia was ready to show it off. Well in advance, arrangements had been made for the big gala grand opening show, scheduled for the evening of December 17, 1914. No effort was spared as final arrangements were confirmed for Joseph Santley and the cast of 50 for the stage musical production “When Dreams Come True.” Everyone marveled about the appropriateness of the name of the show and how it matched the sentiment of the community.

When the big evening arrived, the

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town was in a festive mood. Theater parties were going on everywhere and Visalia restaurants were overflowing.

Congratulatory flower arrangements flooded the theater and were displayed in the lobby.

By show time, all 795 seats were filled and hundreds of disappointed people had been turned away at the box office.

Spalding, Mitchell, and Levis and their wives proudly sat in one of the box seat

sections next to the stage and shared the space with Dr. and Mrs. Maupin of Fresno, and the mother of Joseph Santley, the show's star.

The production was delightful and the cast, especially Santley, did not disappoint. A Visalia Morning Delta reporter wrote, “Easily Joseph Santley, the actor-dancer, carried the show on his shoulders and won the rounds of merited applause given him, but he was more than supported by the cast of stars.” He added, “Mr. Santley is a

dancer of rare merit and not once was he allowed to leave the stage without several encores.”

Santley was equally impressed with Visalia's new theater and was especially complimentary of the theater's dressing rooms. “Usually in a new house the dressing rooms are forgotten and we actors have to suffer…,” he said. He added that they were large and nicely furnished, and that actors feel like doing their best “when we are taken care of as well as we have been here…”

The evening was a big hit and a great start for the new showplace.

It continued to host many fine stage performances and also served as a great place for silent movies.

By 1925 movies seemed to be dominating many theaters, and in that year, Theatre Visalia was sold to the conglomerate Golden States Theaters, Inc. Three years later the West Coast Theater chain, controlled

by William Fox, bought the house and began making plans for a new theater for Visalia—a theater that became the Fox that opened its doors in February, 1930. After the Fox opening, the old Theatre Visalia shut its doors and it sat vacant until 1936, when the half-century old structure was demolished.

For some old timers, the razing was a sad occasion as it had been such an important part of the town. Silent movies like the “Phantom of the Opera” had appeared on its screen and its stage had hosted scores of famous actors, entertainers, and musicians including humorist Bill Nye, poet James Whitcomb Riley, violinist Fritz Kreisler, and the author of Ben Hur, General Lew Wallace.

Today the site of “Visalia's dream come true” gives no clue as to its past glory days. It's a parking lot now and few realize as they park their cars how interesting and important Theatre Visalia was in our town’s history.

TOP: Joseph Santley, the star of the musical "When Dreams Come True."

CENTER: Theatre Visalia program A playbill cover.

LIVELY LIVING

A WALK ACROSS AMERICA MITCHELL SODERSTEN’S 3,163-MILE JOURNEY ON FOOT

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hey say the greatest accomplishments in life are made when one of two things happen; crisis or divine intervention. Life took a serious curve ball for 25-year-old Visalia native, Mitchell Sodersten, to motivate his 3,163-mile trek across the United States.

Mitchell Sodersten was never the spectator in his own life and devoted more than 15 years to what is to him, the best game in the world: baseball. Mitch’s baseball career was the only thing he ever wanted to do, before it prematurely came to a halt at Concordia University Irvine, after three concussions and postconcussion syndrome. “I felt a lack of accomplishment in my life and had lost the feeling of invincibility I always had,” said Mitch. The once very confident baseball player found his emotions taking hold of him.

After college, Mitch spent a year in Austin, Texas with his brother and some time in North Hollywood before returning home, where the wild idea of walking across America wandered through Mitch’s mind. But, what really

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turned his natural can-do attitude into a reality, was reading Life on Foot, by Nate Damm.

For Mitch, this would be a second chance to find pride in his accomplishment, something he lacked since he stopped playing baseball. “I needed to stop living like my story had already been told,” said Mitch. “I felt as if I completely lost my self-confidence, something that I never lacked before.”

He was ready to take on something that would allow him to feel alive again and distance himself from his comfort zone; 3,163 miles out of his comfort zone.

Mitch also wanted his journey to stand for something greater than himself. He decided to build awareness for brain injuries and raise money for research in order to honor Derek Sheely, who died at the young age of 22 due to a tragic brain injury playing football for Frostburg State University.

The Derek Sheely Foundation leads the way toward informing young athletes, parents, and coaches about the signs, symptoms, dangers, and preventions of concussions.

A quote used on Mitch’s blog perfectly describes his outlook on the journey he was about to embark on: “Adventure means you don’t know what is going to happen once you start, outrageous means there’s a chance you won’t be the same when it’s over.” With just enough preparation, research, and a little rearranging of his route, Mitch began his journey in March from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Within the first few hours of his walk, as cars were driving past and surely looking at him like he was crazy, all he could think was, “well, this is it. I’m walking along the road, and this is what it’s going to be like the whole way.”

It was only his first night when the unexpected began to take hold; two strangers offered him a place to stay.

Surprisingly, these men opened up to Mitch about their lives and hardships in ways he never imagined. From the start, Mitch had hoped the journey would teach him how to relate to people better as he walked from town to town, but never did he think people would be so open to share their own

A collection of photos throughout Mitch’s journey mark important milestones along the way, including the moment he finished his trek in San Francisco Bay.

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LIVELY LIVING

stories with him.

After just seven days of walking, Mitch already crossed 163 miles and was pleased with his pace. He encountered friendly people along the way, including someone at a campground who washed his clothes and cooked him spaghetti for dinner. There were even those who stopped Mitch along the road, familiar with his story having followed him at the start of his journey. Once, a state trooper stopped to tell him he would be safer in the median and handed him a reflective vest, which Mitch wore the entire walk.

On day 11, Mitch crossed into Georgia and realized he was finally letting go and stepping outside of his comfort zone. The simplicity of life started to help him think more clearly at this point. “Seeing states at a much slower pace makes me almost feel as if I’m part of the town,” Mitch said on his blog.

Making his way into Alabama, he noticed he had lost a significant amount of weight.

As he continued in a constant downpour of rain unable to stop and sleep, Mitch’s first unsettling feeling of fatigue and unfamiliarity began to set in.

He remembers one night distinctively when he curled up on top of his backpack to keep dry. “All I did to keep positive was think of three things that were going right. I decided that from that point forward I would no longer be frustrated or angry at the situation, and believe me, I was.

This anger just made things harder for me. I know how it feels to only focus on the negative things in your life. It does no good and I needed to focus on everything positive.”

As his beard grew and skin became beaten down by the sun, he often wondered what other people saw in him. He realized he no longer cared as much as he did weeks ago. His mind had other aspirations.

After passing through Mississippi and Tennessee, walking alongside the

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freeway began to feel natural to him, and he was ready for more excitement ahead.

In May, much earlier than expected, Mitch made it to his 500-miles unofficial halfway mark in Kansas City, Missouri, where he stayed with family members for a few days. Mitch got to relax, catch up with family, enjoyed a BBQ, and spent time with them at a Royals game.

Seeing family was a nice break from the daily unfamiliarity, and he was grateful for the hospitality, but Mitch was ready to get back to his journey to finish what he set out to do, find himself, and achieve something great.

Before reaching Colorado, Mitch celebrated his 25th birthday with a dinner of nachos and Mountain Dew. He remembered a year earlier, telling his dad that he needed to accomplish something he cared about again. It made him proud that he was doing just that.

As Mitch traveled through Wyoming, more than 2,060 miles into his journey, the physical and mental exhaustion was starting to settle in. This was the closest he would get to a breaking point.

Delirious, and with his mind drifting, his body had no energy and he knew he had to get to a hospital. Severely dehydrated, Mitch needed several bags of fluid and three days of rest in the

hospital. It was then that Mitch began to feel further away from California than at the start of his journey, more than 2,000 miles ago.

Upon recovering, Mitch continued through Wyoming and into Utah with his torn shoes and worn out soles, where pebbles and even glass started to make their way under his feet. His “old friend, the rain” returned, and his trip was becoming nearly unbearable because of stubborn mosquitos that no amount of bug spray could repel. Yet again, an overwhelming amount of generosity from strangers swept over Mitch as a man whom he had met earlier in the day, handed him two bags of supplies and new shoes. “It is so amazing how my view of people has changed,” said Mitch.

As a quick hiatus from his journey, Mitch took a Greyhound bus from Utah to Sacramento to meet his family and spend some time in South Lake Tahoe, before heading back to Utah to walk the rest of his journey. During his time in Tahoe, Mitch experienced pancreatitis and spent two days in the hospital with his parents by his side. Though he was excited to see his parents, he missed walking through the open spaces of America, and looked forward to spending the next three to four weeks on the road, continuing through Nevada to make his way to San Francisco.

After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and traveling 3,163 miles, Mitch finally reached the west coast; he made it. The great walk across America was over, and as he dove into the ocean, the battle he had been fighting with himself for four years was washed away.

“The memories of the last 174 days shot through my head; the thoughts of how I accomplished more than I knew was possible. I would miss this life. I dove head-first into the Pacific. Submerged in the freezing water. There was now silence. I had found peace,” said Mitch.

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Seven Sycamores Ranch was the perfect backdrop for the Bounty of the County, where hundreds of guests sampled food and wine from Tulare County producers.

COMMUNITY

BOUNTY OF THE COUNTY

LOVING THE LOCAL P H O T O S

A

s one of the largest agricultural epicenters in the nation, there’s no better way for Tulare County to celebrate and showcase its success than with an event like the Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Bounty of the County. On the evening of September 11, dozens of local producers, wineries, restaurants, and farmers gathered together at Seven Sycamores Ranch to show off their products to the community.

From All Fired Up! Pizza to Wente Winery, Bounty of the County displayed delicious eats from every corner of Tulare County and beyond. While most of the exhibitors were Tulare County grown, Firestone Walker Brewery made

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the trip from Paso Robles, and Herman Porter Family BBQ came up from Bakersfield to show off their BBQ ribs.

The idea for this event came about six years ago when the board members of the Farm Bureau realized the community at large might not be aware of the extent of bounty that comes from local producers.

“They wanted to have an event that brought in the non-traditional Farm Bureau member – the Tulare County resident – that might not be a farmer and doesn’t realize the reach that the products grown here has; how the products come from the farm on to their table at a restaurant in Visalia or

at a winery up in Modesto,” said Carrie Crane, program coordinator for the Tulare County Farm Bureau.

Throughout the years, Bounty of the County has even helped kick-start the success for several family-owned businesses. Alan London, owner of All Fired Up! Pizza in Woodlake, is one of these business owners whose company has grown because of Bounty of the County.

“He told us that Bounty of the County really helped jump start his business,” said Carrie. “We’ve even had multiple referrals come into our office asking who owned the pizza company because they wanted him for catering. To be

able to be that avenue to push local product beyond Bounty of the County, that’s what the event is all about and what the board wanted to do; to showcase local chefs, local farmers, local restaurants, and their products.”

During the event, guests moved from booth to booth to sample items from local restaurants like Quesadilla Gorilla, Fugazzi’s, Brewbakers, and Sue Sa’s Creative Catering. One of the new exhibitors this year was Tulare Meat Locker & Sausage Co., serving a variety of their flavored sausages that they are just bringing to market. More than 13 wineries and breweries were represented at the event, including

and Top O’ The Morn Farms won best fresh product for their new farmstead butter.

Established almost 100 years ago, in 1917, the Tulare County Farm Bureau was organized by local farmers looking to come together to voice their needs and concerns as farmers in the political world and in the community. Currently, the Farm Bureau represents about 2,000 local farmers and ranchers.

“The Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization,” said Carrie. “When a farmer is a member in Tulare County, they get representation from us locally at the county level, representation from the California Farm Bureau, and representation

That’s really what Bounty of the

Amy Shuklian with Bob McKellar of McKellar Farms, sister company to Seven Sycamores Ranch.

Dave and Tiffany Nielsen stand with Jayme and Josh Champagne.

COMMUNITY

County is all about, to have a place for a farmer stepping out into that direct market. It’s great for us to have a venue to help give face to their product and help sell it.

C A R R I E

the San Joaquin Wine Growers Association, ensuring guests would have plenty to keep their glasses full. A number of brave guests even hit the dance floor as Kevin Willard and The Cadillac Cowboys played their cowboy country.

For the past several years, Bounty of the County has mixed in a little friendly competition to award some of the exhibitors for the quality of their products. This year’s 300 guests voted on their favorite products from the 30 exhibitors in three separate categories. Rosa Brother’s Milk Company took home the best sweet treat award for their ice cream, newcomers Herman Porter Family BBQ were awarded best savory dish for their BBQ ribs,

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C R A N E

Husband and wife, Miguel and Mikayla Reyes, are owners of Quesadilla Gorilla in Downtown Visalia.

from the American Farm Bureau.

Our mission is to voice these farmers and ranchers concerns and needs and to promote and enhance the viability of Tulare County agriculture.”

For some of the exhibitors, this event is a rare opportunity for them to witness Tulare County residents of all backgrounds enjoying the products they dedicate their lives to making.

“That’s really what Bounty of the County is all about, to have a place for a farmer stepping out into that direct market,” said Carrie. “It’s great for us to have a venue to help give face to their product and help sell it.”

Bari Olive Oil Company hosted a tasting station with half a dozen varieties of their specialty olive oil.

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EASTES HOME TOUR

WHAT STAYS,

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T E X T BY A A R O N CO L L I N S | P H O T O S BY TAY L O R J O H N S O N P H O T O G R A P H Y

WHAT GOES THE JOYS AND DILEMMAS OF DOWNSIZING

Rick and Mary Jo Eastes renovated parts of their new home, adding in granite countertops, fresh paint, and lighting fixtures.

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HOME TOUR

Rick Eastes sketched out the ideas for the large painting in the hallway, which was finished

by Colorado-based artist Stephen Morath.

W

hen Lifestyle Magazine readers were treated to a peek into Rick and Mary Jo Eastes’ expansive Visalia home and lavish grounds nearly a decade ago (“Living with Art: Eastes Devote Green Acres Home to Short List of Artists;” March 2006), a few things didn’t show up: the slavish dedication required to maintain it. The repair headaches. The need for more remodeling. The bills and worries associated with an executive home situated on an acre of forested urban land.

“It was almost like having our own Golden Gate Bridge,” said Rick. “Start at one end painting and fixing and – when you get to the end – well, it is time to start again.”

Fast-forward 10 years and past the international chastening of the 2007-08 economic crash, and new sensibilities prevail. Rick and Mary Jo are much freer birds, as our current Home Tour reveals.

A downsizing last year made the difference. No more pool or jacuzzi to

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attend to, no more leaf-blowing the 7,000 sq. ft. roof, covered with dropping leaves almost year-round. Rick says the downsizing is a blessing for Mary Jo and him both. Nearly every tree – some as tall as 100 ft. – required annual professional pruning to keep up with the ‘slow leaf drop’ and to hedge against windstorms.

According to Mary Jo, “Moving made us go through closets, boxes, nooks and crannies, and take a hard look at what we had. We promised each other if it did not fit in the house, it would need to go. We donated much to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Goodwill, and Rescued Treasures. I got to know the pickup guys quite well. When I look around, I see things that still could be passed on, but I feel good about the start of the cleansing!”

For a busy Sunkist executive, “Downsizing has freed up 10 to 15 hours a week for me, likely more for Mary Jo. Personally, I use my found time to play golf, read, and workout. It has given

Mary Jo far more time for her civic activities, and her new exercise love, pickleball, three to five times a week,” said Rick.

Among Mary Jo’s many civic involvements are the annual Waiters’ Race, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and board service to Arts Visalia, the local community arts nonprofit for which she recently conceived and organized the upcoming Artscapes Yard Tour in conjunction with Sequoia Riverlands Trust. The event is an innovative Visalia garden tour that will showcase local artists’ outdoor artworks as paired with homes that have converted to droughttolerant and native plant landscaping in response to the drought. Mary Jo’s inspiration for these endeavors are “because of my meeting two great community personalities: G.A. Gindick and John Vartanian. They shared with me the idea of giving back to the community you live in and doing good where and when you can.”

Mary Jo says the best reasons for

attending will be having a wonderful day getting inspiration from five different homes with five different approaches to being waterwise in the current drought.

“We will meet local artists at each home (we have 15 artists) and be able to have a conversation with them about their work. We will also be able to talk to professionals from all aspects of the Artscapes Tour.”

The new Eastes home will be featured, as the couple has become committed to water conservation, amid the persistent 500-year drought. “After looking after 1.25 acres of garden and full-

can have fruit trees, color, texture, and interest with our new landscaping plan. We both really like what we have done.”

The Eastes are no longer in a panic if they decide to take a long trip, wondering what might go wrong or need immediate attention with so many things to think about and anticipate before heading out. “We moved into this home one year ago and have done more traveling in this year. We can call our wonderful pet sitter and head off. We do not worry when we get home if a tree limb has broken off in the wind, if a tree has fallen over the creek,

grown trees, and maintaining an elaborate irrigation system, the first thought was simplicity—whatever you have, ‘don’t let it die.’ With water at a social premium for the foreseeable future, our idea, next, was to be good citizens,” said Rick. “It just so happens that we both love succulents. There are so many species and many water efficient ones. And so many different forms, colors, and shapes, that we decided to go with the variety.” Mary Jo echoes his thoughts. “It took us 10 months to get rid of the lawn and the Redwoods and start thinking about how we

barely missing a neighbor’s pool, that our pool has the right chemical balance in the heat of summer and has not turned grim green. We now worry about where our next vacation will be and for how long. Freedom!”

Another perhaps invisible feature in the original Home Tour: The isolation brought by such a large, rambling home.

“What I now realize was that it was a long way to go anywhere in the house, even from the master bedroom to answer the front door. Mary Jo and I could lose each other on the property,” said Rick.

The couple is now close by

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LEFT: This pencil drawing was made by artist Gary Wiethorn from a Polaroid picture of Lynden Eastes, Rick’s father, taken in 1966 in a lettuce field in Hatch, NM. In the image is Rick’s father, his harvest foreman, and the military produce buyer.

RIGHT: The Eastes’ eclectic mix of furniture show that the couple is not afraid of using bold color and unique design throughout their home.

HOME TOUR

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HOME TOUR

These three pieces in the Eastes’ entry way are pencil drawings by artist Gary Wiethorn.

most of the time with their Pembroke Corgi, Starbuck, under foot.

Even so, Rick finds himself occasionally missing the change in privacy. “With 140 yards of Mill Creek as the back property line, and the massive trees and shrubs, we literally could not see any neighbors’ lights at night—and we were in the middle of the city,” he said.

But despite the relocation a couple of miles northwest of the old place on Mill Creek, some things didn’t change. With

Nearly everything in the Eastes’ home has sentimental value, including this quilt that was made by Rick’s mother, Irene, around 70 years ago.

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a fraction of the former space in the new home, some things had to give, but not the art.

The couple’s extensive art collection made the journey, with exception to one large piece of artwork, which went to the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where Mary Jo attended her first two years of college in her hometown. Rick said, “Surprisingly, the new smaller house has more walls than the former address, which had a lot of glass. So virtually all of the remaining important-

to-us pieces of art actually fit.” Mary Jo said the couple “collected art that spoke to us, and we did happen to be on the same page for most of our purchases.”

“Our home is our personal gallery, and when we go room-to-room, there are memories and emotions filling our life. It is full of color and it just makes us happy. Color and texture are the things in art that we feel and live. I would have a very difficult time in a home where everything matched, but that is just me. I know our art collection would not be for

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everyone, and that is a good thing. We all are different and must listen to our inner self and do the things that make us happy,” said Mary Jo. Also surviving the relocation process were some of the unique furniture pieces that made the former home so special. The couple added several original works of art by local artists such as Ernie Weerasinghe, Paul Buxman, Mark Ahlstrand, and others. “It is easy to support the arts in this valley, we have such a vast variety of talented people,” said Mary Jo. “I guess I count myself lucky to be aware of their work and able to display their work in our home.”

Mary Jo’s advice for adding budding art collectors: “Buy art that talks to you. Every time you look at a piece that you have purchased, you should get lost in it or feel the passion the artist did when creating the piece. Art is very personal, and what you like does not have to be pleasing to anyone else – maybe even your spouse.”

“I had a sweatshirt once that said ‘Good art will not match your sofa,’” said Rick.

“If someone develops an interest in art – whatever they perceive that to be – you need to study and

immerse yourself in the subject matter. Learn about technique and begin to understand what it requires to create individual effects.

View lots of art, and look carefully at methods the artist has employed. I get within inches of paintings, for example, to see individual brush strokes, layering, texturing elements, and the overall composition to give me a feel for what the artist was experiencing, most often spontaneously as they worked.”

Another essential feature that made the move: Rick’s beloved outdoor shower just off the master bedroom was reincarnated from the old address for the new residence, as were the ingenious closets prized by the Easteses, both admitted clothes horses. Even so, “we likely reduced our wardrobes by 40 percent and reduced many of our household items,” said Rick.

“The low maintenance of our new property has given us time back into our day and week to think about more than the next project on the other property. The to-do list has been shortened to almost nonexistent. The freedom of a much smaller property has been amazing,” said Mary Jo.

ARTSCAPE YARD TOUR The Eastes home is one of five Visalia properties to be featured in Visalia’s first ever Artscape: New Garden Visions for a Waterwise Visalia, a yard tour, hosted by Arts Visalia and Sequoia Riverlands Trust. The tour will be November 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will showcase 16 local artists’ work, alongside examples of water-wise landscaping to change the way we think about our yards. Professionals will be on hand to answer any drought related questions. To purchase your $20 ticket to the Artscape Home Tour, contact Arts Visalia at 559-739-0905.

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Rick and Mary Jo removed all of the grass and Redwood trees in their backyard to install a drought-tolerant garden with a variety of succulents and hardscape.

HOME TOUR

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GETTIN’ COZY WITH

COMFORT CUISINE I

f you are a family of tradition, it’s likely you have a favorite meatloaf recipe in your collection that was passed down from your own mother or grandmother. Every fall or winter, your family begs you to whip it out and you oblige. This year, start a new fall tradition by bringing a little bit of Italy to a classic homemade favorite. This recipe is one that your family will want to pass down for years to come.

R E C I P E S

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E L A I N E

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D A K E S S I A N ,

T R É S

B I E N

T A I L O R E D

C U I S I N E

P H O T O S

B Y

T A Y L O R

J O H N S O N

P H O T O G R A P H Y

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ITALIAN STUFFED MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS 3 lbs. ground beef 2 small shallots, diced 1 T dried oregano 2 tsp. garlic, minced 2 T olive oil 2 eggs, whisked ½ C panko breadcrumbs 1 C tomato juice or V-8 6 slices prosciutto, black forest ham, or mortadella (your choice) 6 thin slices of provolone 1 C mozzarella, shredded 2 C spinach leaves Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350°F. Tear off a large piece of foil to pat the meat onto. Cover sheet pan with cooking spray. Place ground beef in a medium bowl. Heat olive oil over mediumhigh heat in a small sauté pan. Add shallots and sauté for 1 minute, add garlic and dried oregano, heat for an additional 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned. Add mixture to the bowl with the ground beef. Add in the eggs, breadcrumbs, and tomato juice. Mix thoroughly with your hands. Take the meat out and place it onto the foil. Pat it out to form a rectangle or oval. Place the slices of meat onto the ground beef, overlapping it. Do the same with the provolone and then the mozzarella. Top with the spinach. Using the foil to help form a log, take an end and begin to roll up the meat. Tuck in the sides at that point. Take the other side and bring it over to enclose the loaf completely.

Pat the loaf to close the edges and sides. Using the foil to help lift, put the meatloaf on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Place in the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes to an hour, or until your meat thermometer reads 155-160°F. Let rest before cutting.

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OVEN ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH ANCHOVY SAUCE (Recipe adapted from Tyler Florence) INGREDIENTS 2 heads cauliflower, broken into florets 4 T olive oil 5-6 garlic cloves, sliced 2-3 T anchovy paste 2 T capers 1 C heavy cream ½ C Parmesan, grated Thyme leaves, a few sprigs Parmigiano Reggiano shavings Salt and freshly grated pepper DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 400°F. Break cauliflower into florets, drizzle with olive oil, and toss. Heat in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. To make the sauce, first fry the garlic slivers and set aside.

Warm the oil and squeeze the paste (2-3 squeezes) into the sauté pan, along with the thyme and capers.

Swirl around in the oil for a minute.

Add the heavy cream and reduce until thickened. Add the grated cheese, salt, and freshly grated pepper. Toss the roasted cauliflower with the sauce, place in serving dish, and garnish with Parmigiano shavings. This is easily done by using a vegetable peeler on the cheese block. Garnish with more thyme leaves and garlic slivers.

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chef elaine dakessian 559.936.1260 elaine_ds@hotmail.com elainestresbien.com

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TRAVELER'S

TREK

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THINKSTOCK IMAGES

FROM MEXICO TO THE TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA

I

know what you’re thinking; not a trip to Mexico, it's far too dangerous.

You might get lost, kidnapped, or tricked into buying a fake silver necklace. Let me tell you, Baja California isn't the “boogieman” we've made it out to be in the past few years. The majority of violent crime is border town gang-on-gang crime or in parts of mainland Mexico. Baja California is different.

As soon as you cross over into Tijuana, you easily and immediately hop on the only road you'll ever need heading south: The Mexico 1.

From Tijuana through Ensenada, the 1 is a broad, and well-maintained toll highway. Patrolled by Federal police, or "Federales," it’s as safe a road as one can travel. Criminals don't bother people on these roads for this very reason. The Mexico 1 is also patrolled by the Angeles Verdes (The Green Angels), Mexico's free answer to AAA roadside assistance.

There are, however, a few things you will need to buy to ensure a safe trip. You will need a supplemental car insurance policy before you enter if you don't want your car impounded in the case of a minor fender bender or speeding ticket.

One last thing you will need, along with your passport, is a tourist Visa for extended travel into Mexico.

As you pull through the border, you can't help but feel as if you are about to be engulfed in an adventure. Maybe it’s

T E X T

akin to Alice's rabbit hole? During my research of the drive, I learned there is not a lot to worry about during travel in Baja. Though safety is never a guarantee as there are always concerns when traveling abroad anywhere.

Minutes after crossing the border, I soon found myself driving along the Pacific, passing somewhat familiar towns like Rosarito Beach and Ensenada. The Mexico 1 takes you through the heart of Ensenada, where traffic can get very congested. Let me quickly give you a little more road travel advice to make your trip run smoothly: Surprisingly, there was more phone reception in Mexico than I would have guessed. That being said, out of the total 20 hours it took to drive down to Cabo, I had reception 25 percent of the way. This comes in handy if you make a wrong turn in one of the larger towns like Ensenada or La Paz. You can turn on your navigation setting to guide you

&

P H O T O S

TOP: Rocks jut from the ocean off the coast of Cabo San Lucas.

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directly through. If you’d rather play it communication safe to ensure cell phone access the entire way, rent a satellite phone and purchase prepaid minutes.

For me, the money was best saved for beer. However, it is a responsible move to consider. There are moments on the drive when you are hours away from anything but cactus and buzzards.

After about five hours of driving, you will reach San Quentin, which marks your last pass along the Pacific.

Here, you will want to fill up on gas.

Remember that with Baja travel, half a tank of gas is an empty tank, so fill up whenever you’re given the chance.

Roughly three hours inland from San Quentin, you’ll come across a no-name rancho town. There is an opportunity to purchase water, soda, or food, if you dare. You can also buy gas, but instead of a station, you’ll deal with a roadside dealer sitting at a card table under a beach umbrella. He will sell you gas cans and a funnel at four times the amount you pay anywhere else. If you filled up in San Quentin, your tank will be at about halfway at this point, which will be enough to get you another couple hours to Guerrero Negro, a decent place to stay the night. There is a clean roadside hotel and restaurant here, and it’s the half-way mark to Cabo. The road is remarkably smooth, however, the trade

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off comes with extremely narrow roads. In America, you can afford to veer slightly off the road as you reach for your Starbucks in the cup holder. Here, there is a white line, and immediately a 4-inch pavement drop-off. Between that and the semi trucks that pass you going in the other direction, you are forced to pay close attention.

You will also come across military checkpoints between Ensenada and Cabo. Here, uniformed military personnel, usually young men, will ask you a couple questions and possibly inspect your car. I had no problems here since all I had was an ice chest where I kept bottled water and Red Bull. I offered one to the service members, and they gratefully accepted.

I happened to break the one cardinal

rule when driving through Mexico, which is highlighted on every travel website that talks about the drive: do not drive the 1 at night. I didn’t stop in Guerrero Negro because I wanted to try to make it to the Sea of Cortez, on the other side of the peninsula, by nightfall. I ended up trapped, driving for two hours after sunset. The upside was that Baja at sunset is enchanting. The desert in the afternoon sun can be uninviting, but she lets her hair down in the coolness of dusk. The landscape seems to soften under the purples and blues of twilight.

There is magic in the air, and it's a good time to turn off the radio and roll your windows down. Then you can listen to the hum of your tires glide down the road, while wind swirls in your cab and the scent of perfumed sand heightens the senses.

I was an hour into my night drive when something jolted my heart in a way the Red Bull didn’t. I rounded a bend and a white donkey and her colt were standing roadside. Had they been crossing, it would have been curtains. I noticed up ahead there was a semi truck going in my same direction. I gave a little gas to catch up, then rode his tailwinds, realizing I could stop before he could stop, and if he can't stop, he would clear the road of any obstacles.

It was fairly dark when I rolled into Santa Rosalia, a town I knew nothing about. But as I got into it, I saw the town square, park, and more streetlights, though they burned a little dimmer than average streetlights. People walked around casually, enjoying the evening air.

The Sea of Cortez shimmered like a sea of oil with specks of light dancing

I was an hour into my night drive when something jolted my heart in a way the Red Bull didn’t. I rounded a bend and a white donkey and her colt were standing roadside. Had they been crossing, it would have been curtains.

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The sunset off the coast of Santa Rosalia.

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R O G E R S

Major Rogers crossed over into Mexico with a 20-hour drive ahead of him.

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Cabo San Lucas at twilight.

Sea of Cortez.

Major had a few run-ins with Mexico’s wildlife, including this cow along the Mexico 1.

The sea was bluer than I would have thought, and it only became more beautiful as I traveled south. Multiple Islands jutted dramatically from the water a mile out, looking like teeth from the mouth of a crocodile.

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on it. There was a beautiful quaintness to the town. It appeared to be a town enjoyed by its locals, and the buildings around the square were charming. I did some research and discovered it was actually founded and designed by a French mining company in 1884.

I quickly fell in love with this seaside village, where women were doing an aerobics class in the town square, and another group of young people were holding a street fair to benefit and bring attention to the local animal shelter.

There was progression in this town. I also enjoyed a two-lobster tail dinner with a few beers and tequila shots for $24.

The next morning, I was on the road early. I had a beautiful eight-hour drive ahead of me to reach Cabo. The sea was bluer than I would have thought, and it only became more beautiful as I 44 L I F E S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

R O G E R S

traveled south. Multiple Islands jutted dramatically from the water a mile out, looking like teeth from the mouth of a crocodile. This part of the drive is arguably the most beautiful, with areas of lush greens and palm forests, staged in front of a backdrop of dark, jagged rock mountains. You pass towns like Loreto, a fishing Mecca for tourists, and further down, La Paz, where the Sea of Cortez turns multiple shades of frosted emerald and blue as it meets the Pacific.

Here, you know you are just a few hours from Cabo.

I was guided into Cabo with an impressive lightning storm above the nearby Sierra de la Laguna Mountains.

Moments later, the clouds passed, as they often do in tropical environments, and the Pacific appeared once more to my right. A few minutes later, I

pulled into my seaside hotel, where I would stay for a couple days before my return trip home. I looked down at my odometer: 1,053.3 miles. I felt a sense of accomplishment and motivation to enjoy the next two days.

Solo road trips are unlike any other travel. They might not be for everyone, but they are great for those who don’t mind their own company and getting into their own mind. While you keep an eye on the road, you can allow thoughts to flow. It’s a good time to figure out life’s problems. Maybe it’s a time to heal, or a time to look for answers. Driving through villages, you see people who have very little, but they do not seem poor. For any with the means to make such a road trip, it’s a good lesson in humility and appreciation for all you have. Salud!

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PACIFIC TREASURES A LOCAL GEM A lot of people who work downtown come in while they’re on a break just to unwind and get lost for a little while.

M I C H E L L E

A

walk down Main Street Visalia during the holidays is never complete without a stop inside Pacific Treasures, a place that can’t be defined simply by the items found on its walls.

Few stores successfully achieve that nostalgic “shop around the corner” quality, where warmth can be felt from the inside out; Pacific Treasures is one of these rare gems, and Visalia is proud to be its home.

Michelle Wiebe is the owner of Pacific Treasures and the inspiration behind the shop’s “warmth.” Whether it’s because of the subtle smell of cinnamon, the bowl full of jelly beans that hasn’t run out in 24 years, or the collage of personal photos on the wall behind the counter, shopping inside Pacific Treasures is not just shopping, it’s an experience.

What started out as a retail kitchen shop back in May of 1991 has evolved into a place where you can find just 46 L I F E S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

W I E B E

about anything you’re looking for, whether it’s a holiday gift basket for a friend, a funky kitchen gadget, that perfect winter candle, a decorative sign for your new home, or a baby gift for your next shower. One could say Pacific Treasures is a gift shop on steroids.

In the late 1980s, Michelle owned an interior design store, but felt the need to be around people and customers more. One day her mom’s best friend walked into her store and told her that Visalia needed a kitchen shop. It was the perfect opportunity for Michelle to make a change, so just one week later, she rented out a place and started Pacific Treasures.

“It was all kitchen and gourmet foods when it first started,” said Michelle.

“From there, I branched out with new product lines that included a garden section, candles, bath products, pets,

and then we did a baby section once we got to our current location.”

Coming from a long line of business owners, it felt very natural for her to open up her own shop. As a young girl, Michelle practically grew up at her dad’s car dealership in Downtown Visalia, charming customers and helping sell cars. “My joke is that I was raised by car salesmen, but it’s very natural for me to do this,” said Michelle. “My whole family has been retailers. It’s in our blood.”

Pacific Treasures has a very loyal group of customers, whether it’s the people who stop in weekly just to say ‘hi,’ or the customers who come back every holiday season to do their gift shopping. Michelle says it has even become a sort of gathering place, where old friends run into each other and new friends are made.

“People come in and they see friends

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they haven’t seen in a long time,” said Michelle. “I get really amused because there will be a customer waiting for me to wrap a gift, and somebody will walk in and I’ll hear these two voices go, ‘Hi, oh my goodness I haven’t seen you in forever.’ I just think that’s so cool and it happens in here a lot.”

In some ways, Pacific Treasures itself has become a tradition for an entire generation of Visalians.

Michelle remembers years ago when little hands would grab Jelly Belly jelly beans from the bowl on the counter, and now those same hands are helping their own kids get jellybeans.

“We’ve been down here for 24 years, so those children that were the first ones in here grabbing their Jelly Bellies are adults in their 20s now and they have kids,” said Michelle. “It’s the second generation and they

made things in here as I can, and in a big box store, they really can’t do that,” said Michelle. “I buy from a lot of smaller mom and pop companies that are in the U.S. Sometimes I joke about people coming to shop in their living room, because I kind of feel like this is everybody’s living room.”

One of Pacific Treasure’s firsttime customers, Rosie O’ Dell, couldn’t believe all that Pacific Treasures had to offer. “I’ve been downtown thousands of times, but I’ve never been in the little stores before. This store feels like something in Cambria! We buy this stuff at the coast all the time, but I need to tell my family, it’s right here in Visalia.”

With Michelle’s entire year revolving around shopping, buying, and wrapping new products for Christmas,

We literally have something for everyone, and my goal is for customers to come in here and feel like they can buy a gift for anyone they know.

M I C H E L L E

always remember the jelly beans.”

The ladies who work at Pacific Treasures love it for the same reason Michelle enjoys owning the business: interacting with the customers. “I love the social part,” said Kathy Howerton, who has been working at Pacific Treasures for seven years as part of her retirement. “Michelle asked me to come to work and greet customers for Christmas after I retired, and I never left because I really enjoy the social part. I grew up in Visalia and I see all kinds of people I know, so it’s fun for me.”

While some people come for the friendly atmosphere, many come back because they can depend on the product and merchandise, no matter what occasion they might need a gift for.

“I try to keep as much USA 48 L I F E S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

W I E B E

shoppers can expect a lot of great merchandise this holiday season, including a new men’s gift section.

After 24 years in business, it’s exciting for Michelle to see it become a staple in the Visalia community. When she opened Pacific Treasures for the first time at the age of 28, she decided to take the business day-by-day and has watched it evolve into something she can be proud of.

“Some of my customers call it their happy place,” said Michelle.

“A lot of people who work downtown come in while they’re on a break just to unwind and get lost for a little while. We literally have something for everyone, and my goal is for customers to come in here and feel like they can buy a gift for anyone they know.”

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CHARITY

AN EVENING UNDER THE OAKS

AT THE CORNER OF HAIGHT AND ASHBURY

Visalia City Council Member and former Mayor Greg Collins, who is Chair of the SRT Board of Directors, acknowledged some of SRT’s most prominent corporate sponsors.

S

an Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury District might have seemed a million miles away from conservative, rural Tulare County in the late 1960s. Perhaps that same chasm persists even today. But on a recent October date, the Bay Area’s internationally-renowned hippie enclave briefly crept just a bit closer in time, if only briefly.

“An Evening Under the Oaks,” Sequoia Riverlands Trust’s annual fundraiser held at its Kaweah Oaks Preserve, drew more than 150 of the region’s most prominent community members, ardent fans of the outdoors, and the donors who support the places that make Central California so special.

The event, honoring the key contributors who are “Strengthening California Heartland” (SRT’s tagline), featured KMPH FOX 26 news anchor, Rich Rodriguez, the evening’s emcee,

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who introduced Visalia Community Players performers in groovy, flowing ‘60s regalia. The Players mingled among the guests before taking to stage to sing some of the most notable hits of the bygone era, from The Age of Aquarius to Beatles hits and more.

“We thought it would be fun to play with stereotypes of the ‘60s era’s environmental awareness and its impact on the culture, especially given the occasional misconception that conservationists are treehugging hippies, a humorous label we’re sometimes erroneously branded with,” said Aaron Collins, SRT director of communications and community relations. “Reality is that conservationists have become quite mainstream in the current era. So the stereotype couldn’t be farther from the truth, given how closely we work with our region’s farmers and ranchers,

scientists and biologists to keep our environment strong and productive both economically and ecologically speaking.”

The night’s top-billed honoree ranks among those California Heartland farmers. Hanford rancher, Bill Clark, a walnut grower and founder of Worldwide Sires, is one of the San Joaquin Valley’s most notable ag industry players, due also in part to his founding of the Clark Institute for Japanese Art & Culture.

Clark was bestowed SRT’s most prestigious annual honor, the Alan George Conservation Award, for his commitment to the conservation cause.

George was in attendance, having received the eponymous award himself the prior year, created in 2014 due to his instrumental role in the founding of Kaweah Oaks Preserve, which is now permanently protected land open daily

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for the public to enjoy.

Clark was awarded in CHARITY absentia via wife Libby Clark and son Stu, due to Clark’s ongoing illness. As chance would have it, the October 2, event coincided with Clark’s 85th birthday, which was celebrated with gusto by the crowd as they sang “Happy Birthday,” led by SRT Executive Director Soapy Mulholland.

Two additional honorees were feted prominently by Rodriguez, an Exeter native seen on area newscasts for more than 30 years. The evening proved especially poignant for the emcee due to the recognition given to SRT major donor, Hayley Tashjian, whose father was a best friend of Rodriguez from Exeter days. “I’ve known Hayley since

SRT honoree Bill Clark’s wife and son, Libby and Stu Clark, accepted the SRT award on his behalf.

she was a baby, so I’m especially proud to see her being honored by SRT,” said Rodriguez to attendees from the stage.

The younger Tashjian was celebrated for the trail naming rights she gained at Kaweah Oaks in exchange for a major contribution. She named the trail in honor of her late father, an Exeter area citrus and real estate agri-businessman, Tim Tashjian, who died in 2012 at age 56.

Now known as the Timothy Blaine Tashjian Deep Creek Fitness Trail, the feature was dedicated with numerous Tashjian family and friends prior to the evening’s start. “I think Tim would have been so proud of Hayley for doing this,” said his mother, Patty Tashjian of Exeter, whose expressions of love for her granddaughter and late son left the

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ceremony’s attendees with more than a few damp eyes.

The Tashjian Fitness Trail and its numerous outdoor workout stations are being designed by Visalia architect Thom Black to be situated around a water feature. SRT plans to begin construction sometime in the coming year, Collins said, if all goes according to plan.

“As if to prove the adage that ‘one good deed leads to another,’” Rodriguez told the crowd that after news of Hayley’s support for SRT hit the pages of several local publications, the Pescosolido family behind Exeter’s Sequoia Orange, were also inspired to step up to support Kaweah Oaks in a big way.

“Pam and Linda Pescosolido wanted

so-named for the native California rose species found along the trail at Kaweah Oaks.

“Again on behalf of SRT, Pam and Linda, please accept our gratitude for your unmatched generosity and support for Kaweah Oaks Preserve,” Rodriguez said. “You are among the best examples in our community of what it means to steward both the land and the memory of those whom we all hold most dear, those who came before us, and whose names will remain well-known in years to come.”

Visalia City Council Member and former Mayor Greg Collins, who is chair of the SRT Board of Directors, acknowledged Southern California Edison, PG&E, and Alcoa/Kawneer, among the nonprofit land trust’s most

Honoree Hayley Tashjian (L) was celebrated for her major contribution, which allowed her to name a trail after her late father, Tim Tashjian.

Rich Rodriguez, Exeter native and KMPH FOX 26 reporter, was the emcee for the Evening Under the Oaks.

to honor their late father and husband, Skip, with a special memorial that would outlast us all,” Collins said. “The beauty of nature and Pam’s love of Kaweah Oaks led the Visalia residents to offer one of the most generous gifts to SRT in its history in exchange for the naming rights. We are not a government-funded park, but a private nature preserve that relies largely upon individual philanthropists for its continuation.

So we are extremely grateful to the Pescosolidos.”

From now on, the preserve’s Wild Rose Trail will be known as the Skip Pescosolido Wild Rose Trail, in honor of the late citrus industry advocate and grower who died in 1992 at age 55 in an automobile accident. The trail is

prominent corporate supporters.

“One of our goals for this special event was to strengthen our ties with the Exeter community. Ironically, the majority of SRT’s financial support comes from Visalia, Three Rivers, and other locations around the state, but less so historically from Exeter,” said Aaron Collins, an Exeter native. “Our hope is that An Evening Under the Oaks will continue to draw supporters from beyond Exeter, while demonstrating to the Exeter community what Kaweah Oaks brings in the form of tourism and hospitality industry revenues. Kaweah Oaks, which was once home to our Native American Wukchumne tribe, is an important community asset connected to the history of my hometown.”

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DESIGN

THE ART OF INTERIOR

BRINGING YOUR LIVING ROOM TO LIFE

I

t used to be that living rooms or living areas were spaces relegated solely to formal occasions, such as holidays and prom photos, and the occasional scolding when teens would disobey curfews.

However, today, with space being at a premium in most homes, they are used in different ways by all members of the extended family.

Floor plans today tend to be open, making the living room virtually an extension of your kitchen and dining room. Because of this shift in how we use our homes, it is important to reflect this change in our furnishings, room layout, and decor. In many homes, the living room is the hub of socializing, eating, watching TV, and even working.

To keep the traffic flow open, pull the furniture away from the walls and into the center of the room.

With more and more people working from home, living areas have to be multifunctional. Therefore, integrating work areas as part of the space and furnishings is a must. In homes where the living room has a relationship with

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the kitchen and other adjacent areas, the seating areas should be organized to encourage and promote interaction between the cooks and the guests.

In living rooms that have east- or north-facing windows, the walls and decor should be warm colors – for example, apricot, beiges, yellows, and even reds. Rooms that have west- and south-facing windows can have cooler color schemes – e.g., blues, greens, grays, and whites. Rooms such as these should be painted and decorated in pale, softer shades rather than dark, bold colors. These lighter colors are soothing and have lasting power, meaning you won't get tired of them quickly.

The best decor for this multipurpose room is a mix of modern and traditional.

You can mix old and new, formal and casual, neutral and bold to make an inviting and comfortable space; it's something to appeal to everyone and also visually interesting and timeless.

This approach to decorating also offers a highly personalized decor.

B Y

J O S E P H

For durability in high-use areas such as a living room, finishes on furniture should be distressed for carefree living. Slipcovers that can be washed are recommended for all upholstered goods. Fabrics with small stripes and small prints are good to use because they conceal dirt well and extend time between washes. Flooring should be able to take a beating; distressed woods, patterned tile, and area rugs can be used.

Identify a wall that is appropriate for a television and audio equipment. This will help anchor your living area. If you're doing a built-in for the entertainment, it might be a wise idea to incorporate a work surface to the built-in unit.

Finally, another idea to make your living room come to life is to create a gallery wall. Staggered, with neat pairings, with a row, with a geometric shape or even haphazard, art walls rock.

Framed works of art, alongside framed pictures of your friend Art, can make for an elegant or quirky statement.

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HAPPENINGS

T H E AT R E & M U S I C

THE NUTCRACKER BY THE THEATER ARTS ALLIANCE

THE VISALIA OPERA COMPANY PRESENTS “CARMEN” You’re invited to watch an inspiring performance of Bizet’s “Carmen,” presented by the Visalia Opera Company and the Visalia Arts Consortium. There will be four opportunities to see the show at Cafe 210 in Downtown Visalia. Tickets can be purchased online at the link below or at the Arts Consortium office.

It's been over 10 years since Visalia has had a Nutcracker event locally, and the Theater Arts Alliance hopes to make this a new family tradition for the community. TAA was established in the Central Valley to combine worldly expertise and passion for theater to help local artists move into the next level of professional work, while enriching the community with the art of theater.

Tickets are $25.

When: Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Nov. 1, 2 p.m., Nov. 6, 7 p.m., Nov. 8, 2 p.m.

Where: Café 210, 210 W. Center Ave, Visalia Contact: www.voccarmen. brownpapertickets.com or 802-3266

When: Nov. 27, 7 p.m. & Nov. 28, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Where: LJ Williams Theater, 1001 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 800-838-3006 or www.theaterartsalliance.com.

TULARE COUNTY SYMPHONY PRESENTS FIRE AND ICE The Tulare County Symphony orchestra is proud to present the music of Sibelius on the occasion of his centennial. Also on the program, TCSO continues their Beethoven series, with the brilliantly exciting 4th Symphony. Not to be missed, it is an old favorite for some and a new favorite for the newbies. Danielle Belen will return with her violin to play the 20th century’s best violin concerto.

Tickets range from $30 to $39.50 and can be purchased at FoxVisalia.org.

When: Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Where: The Visalia Fox Theater, 300 Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org

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ART EXHIBITS A PEDDLER’S MARKET At this shopper’s paradise, you will find booths of handmade art, crafts, and gifts, antiques, high-end re-treasures, and more. Mobile food vendors will be on-site to make your shopping experience a one-stop-shop. Free guest admission.

When: Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Where: Visalia Elk’s Lodge, 3100 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: CraftsByGlenda@gmail.com

FIRST FRIDAY Explore the multi-sensory art events featured throughout the downtown Visalia area. Stroll Main Street and see, hear, taste, and smell the art while spending the evening outdoors, engrossed in the cultivating arts scene here in Visalia.

When: Nov. 6, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: www.firstfridayvisalia.com

FIRST SATURDAY Food, fun, and fabulous art. Every first Saturday of the month, the artists, restaurants, and merchants of Three Rivers open their doors and invite you to join in a town-wide celebration. You can pick up a map and schedule at Anne Lang’s Emporium or the Historical Museum for art, locations, and times for special events.

When: Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or www.1stSaturdayTR. com

CRAFT BOUTIQUE Thirty independent crafters present a one-day craft boutique event you will not want to miss. This is a great way to begin your holiday season to find unique items to use in your own home over the holiday season or to purchase gifts for those on your list. Invite a few friends to join you as you browse and enjoy a great day of shopping and fellowship.

When: Nov. 7, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: 5718 W. Laura Ct., Visalia Contact: 635-2531

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HAPPENINGS DIVERSIONS & EXCU R S I O N S VOSSLER FARMS CORN MAZE AND PUMPKIN PATCH There are so many fun things to do at Vossler Farms Cornmaze and Pumpkin Patch. Each year, the 10-acre corn maze has a unique design. This year’s maze is “Landmarks,” a maze full of interesting landmarks covering the map of the USA. This year, Vossler Farms will be also be expanding their Haunted Trail due to popular demand. It’s a good oldfashioned family scare, without the gore.

When: Oct. 2–Oct. 31, check online for hours of operation Where: Vossler Farms, 26773 South Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: www.vosslerfarms.com

HARVEST FESTIVAL BENEFITTING THE VISALIA RESCUE MISSION

TASTEMAKERS FESTIVAL With an expected draw approaching 3,000 people, the Tastemakers Festival is primed to become a signature music event in the Valley and the driver behind one of Visalia’s most driven nonprofit organizations, Sound N Vision Foundation. This music festival will feature bands like WAND, The Gospel Whiskey Runners, Strange Vine, and more.

When: Oct. 17, 6–11 p.m.

Where: The Rawhide Ball Park, 300 N. Giddings, Visalia Contact: www.tastemakersfestival.com

The International Agri-Center, in partnership with the Visalia Rescue Mission, presents the 2015 Harvest Festival. Located at the International Agri-Center, prepare for food, family, and fun at this community-wide event.

Harvest Festival activities include a hayride, a kids’ area, carnival booths, food trucks, boutique shopping, beer, and more. Admission is $5 or three cans of food, and children under six years old and children in costume get in free.

When: Oct. 24, 3–9 p.m.

Where: International Agri-Center Contact: www.Internationalagricenter. com/harvestfestival

TRUNK OR TREAT SPRINGVILLE APPLE FESTIVAL The 35th annual Springville Apple Festival packs everything there is to love about small town life into one single event. From a number of “all things apple” booths to over 200 craft, gift, and food vendors, this 2-day festival is a slice of Mayberry right in your own backyard. For the more athletic attendees, kick-off Saturday morning with the Apple Run, or start Sunday with the Fat Tire Classic Mountain Bike Race.

When: Oct. 17–18 Where: Downtown Springville Contact: 202-6904 or springvilleapplefestival@gmail.com

Visalia Nazarene Church invites you to their annual Trunk or Treat 2015. There will be a “Cars” hay ride, a full-size semi-truck with candy, a food court, rock wall, indoor bounce houses, a kids carnival, and much more. There will be fun, decorated trunks for trick or treat.

This will be a safe but sweet alternative to Halloween.

When: Oct. 31, 6–9 p.m.

Where: Visalia Nazarene Church, 3333 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia Contact: www.visalianaz.org

ARTSCAPE YARD TOUR BOOK SALE BY KAWEAH DELTA HOSPITAL GUILD The Kaweah Delta Hospital Guild will be holding a new book sale by Books are Fun. The sale will be one day only at Kaweah Delta Medical Center Lobby, 400 W. Mineral King. The profits from this sale will be used to purchase patient care equipment for Kaweah Delta Health Care District.

When: Nov. 23, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Where: Kaweah Delta Medical Center, 400 W. Mineral King, Visalia Contact: 734-3109

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You’re invited to Visalia’s first ever Artscape: New Garden Visions for a Waterwise Visalia, a Yard Tour, hosted

by Arts Visalia and Sequoia Riverlands Trust. This event will showcase 16 local artists’ work alongside examples of water-wise landscaping to change the way we think about our yards.

Professionals will be on hand to answer any draught related questions.

When: Nov. 14, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Where: Homes throughout Visalia Contact: 739-0905 or email: artsvisalia@sbcglobal.net.

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Join the Chamber for a slideshow presentation October 28th at 12:00 p.m. at the Chamber office 7 days, 9 meals, round trip airfare from Fresno, professional tour guide

For pricing or registration details call the Visalia Chamber of Commerce at 559-734-5876 or visit www.visaliachamber.org VISALIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 222 N. Garden St. Suite 300, Visalia

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HAPPENINGS TRAILS FOR TAILS Friends of Tulare Animal Services is holding a fundraising dog walk in Tulare at Live Oak Park and Santa Fe Trail on November 7. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. At the end, there will be food and product vendors. We will also have a K-9 demonstration, a Best Dog Trick contest, and much more. Please come join us! Tickets are $15 for a bandana and $20 for a T-Shirt.

25TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Stop by Pacific Treasures before the hectic holiday season begins for their annual holiday open house. Grab your friends and wander through the store and sample a variety of food products they sell, while finding all the gifts you need for your family and loved ones this year.

When: Nov. 14, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Where: Pacific Treasures, 219 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 733-0213

C H A R I TA B L E EVENTS WINE, CHEESE & JAZZ FUNDRAISER FOR THE CREATIVE CENTER FOUNDATION Join The Creative Center at the Jon Ginsburg Gallery for a night of sipping wine, enjoying cheese, and listening to Jazz while surrounded by art from The Creative Center students and community artists. Tickets are available at The Creative Center Foundation website below for $25 each.

When: Oct. 22, 6-9 p.m.

Where: The Jon Ginsburg Gallery, 606 N. Bridge St., Visalia Contact: www.thecreativecenterfoundation.org

FOOD DAY WITH FOOD LINK Come join Food Link of Tulare County to celebrate National Food Day. This event highlights a united vision for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food that is produced with care. There will be live cooking demonstrations, delicious food samples, gardening workshops, and more! To enjoy a Cumbia ride at 9:30 a.m., bring a bike and a helmet.

When: Oct. 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: 611 2nd St., Exeter Contact: www.foodlinktc.org

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When: Nov. 7, 9 a.m.

Where: Live Oak Park and Santa Fe Trail, Tulare Contact: 303-6930 or loansbycindee@yahoo.com

HARVESTING THE BLESSINGS FOR HANDS IN THE COMMUNITY You're invited to the upcoming dinner and silent auction at the Visalia Convention Center Ballroom. This year’s event celebrates the communities’ service to Tulare/Kings counties by helping over 1,000 families and completing 151 projects. They will again be auctioning off a 1-week stay in Palm Springs, a Disneyland hopper pass, wine, jewelry, and much more. Consider joining other sponsors in supporting their special celebration and good work in the communities we serve.

When: Oct. 30, 7 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 300 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 625-3822

7TH ANNUAL ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR CRAB FEED Benefitting the Visalia Rescue Mission and We Hear You! Foundation, Enterprise Rent-A-Car will be holding their 7th annual crab feed dinner. Enjoy cocktails, dinner, and a raffle at Clovis Veterans Memorial Hall all for a great cause. For sponsorship opportunities or to purchase $65 tickets, go to www.vrmhope.org/sponsor.

When: Nov. 6, 5:30 p.m.

Where: 808 4th St., Clovis Contact: www.vrmhope.org/events or call 352-1365

HOLIDAYS AT THE GALLERY Join the Exeter Courthouse Gallery of the Arts and Museum Association for a Holidays at the Gallery fundraiser event. There will be an art auction, silent auction, fine food, specialty wines, and entertainment. This fundraiser will help with the continuing operation of the nonprofit art gallery. Tickets can be purchased in locations throughout Exeter, including the Exeter Chamber, A La Mode, Exeter Hobbies, and more.

There will be a $40 door donation.

When: Nov. 14, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Exeter Courthouse Gallery, 125 S. B St., Exeter Contact: 679-2474

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HAPPENINGS A FESTIVAL OF TREES

BREAKING BREAD GALA: AN EVENING IN PARIS The Bethlehem Center is hosting An Evening in Paris fundraiser, to help raise money for their services, food, clothes, and other necessities for the homeless and needy. The event will be held at the Visalia Country Club with a live auction and entertainment, a no-host cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., and dinner at 7 p.m.

St. Anthony’s Retreat and Santa Teresita Youth Conference Center present A Festival of Trees. Enjoy hors d’ oeuvres, wine tasting, a no-host cocktail bar, a live auction of more than 20 decorated trees from local nonprofits, and a silent auction. There will also be a free preview showing of the trees from 3 – 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 each, and can be purchased by calling the number below.

When: Nov. 19, 6 p.m.

Where: St. Anthony's Retreat Center, 43816 Sierra Dr., Three Rivers Contact: 561-4595

When: Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Country Club, 625 N. Ranch St., Visalia Contact: 972-6090

Join the Bethlehem Center for an Evening in Paris on Nov. 14 at the Visalia Country Club.

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35TH ANNUAL VISALIA CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION It’s not too early to get your tickets or to start thinking about how to decorate your tree for the annual Christmas Tree Auction. The auction is “The formal event of the season” in Visalia, and this year takes it a step further with a “Champagne Jubilee” theme. There will be plenty of hors d’oeuvres, dessert, wine, beer, and dancing to keep guests entertained while they bid on beautifully decorated Christmas trees in the live auction, or on silent auction items. All proceeds benefit local charities and non-profits in Tulare County.

When: Dec. 11 Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: www.visaliachamber.org

Local nonprofits will decorate elaborate Christmas trees for the 35th Annual Visalia Christmas Tree Auction

Local Team Local businesses know the value of a local bank. Suncrest is proud to be locally owned and operated, offering a full range of business and personal deposit products and loans.

Visalia Branch 400 West Center Avenue (559) 802-1000 Porterville Branch 65 West Olive Avenue (559) 306-1300 Kingsburg Branch 1580 Draper Street (559) 802-1070 suncrestbank.com

Rated Five-Stars by Bauerfinancial.com

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Before forming 4Creeks, a full service engineering company, the company’s principals learned the ropes in a top 500 engineering firm, but never forgot their Visalia roots. Today 4Creeks is 19-people strong, taking a team approach to local projects with smart, innovative, sustainable solutions. When their big bank lacked the local knowledge to meet their needs 4Creeks moved to Suncrest.

“They know the community,” says principal David DeGroot. “Responsive, friendly, you just can’t beat local.”

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Randy Wasnick, David DeGroot, Matthew Ainley and Craig Hartman 4Creeks, Visalia, CA