August 2012

August 2012 ECRWSS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER LOCAL

Presort Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Visalia, CA Permit No. 100 ECRWSS

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24 HOME TOUR The Morrison Home

CHARITY

4th Annual Guest Chef Series Paris, je t’aime. Visalia, bon appétit.

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Letter from the Executive Editor

10 Business Cents 12 Word Play 14 Local Adventure: Historic Visalia

Walking Trail 16 Literary Arts: Shirley Skufca Hickman

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50 Spirits: Green Flash Brewing

Company's “Saison Diego” 52 Fashion

CULINARY

August Avocados

54 Performances 56 Happenings

Simple additions to your favorite foods.

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34 TRAVEL

The Behemoth of the Seas

Dr. Dean and Cheryl Levitan discover new adoration for large cruise ships.

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LIFEST YLE | AUGUST 2012

ABOVE: A koi pond rests in the middle of Milt and Marie Morrison's Zen-like backyard sanctuary.

AUGUST 2012 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 EDITORIAL Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Copy Editor DARA FISK-EKANGER Content Editor Kyndal Kennedy ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHERYL LEVITAN Diane Slocum ELAINE DAKESSIAN JORDAN VENEMA KENNY HILDEBRAND KYNDAL KENNEDY MARSHA PELTZER MARK AVEDIAN Sharon Mosley BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JEFFREY Malkasian EA Operations Manager Maria Gaston

RACK LOCATIONS

DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare Tazzaria Coffee & Tea Tulare County Library The Lifestyle Center Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Convention Center COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS

210 Cafe Advanced Body & Laser Center Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Golf Course Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Red Carpet Car Wash Sequoia Laser Aesthetics Smiles by Sullivan Tiffany’s Luxury Medispa Tulare Chamber of Commerce V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Community Bank (Downtown) Visalia Eye Center Visalia Imaging & Open MRI Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Wildflower Cafe-Exeter Dr. Keith Williams Williams, Jordan, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Bridget Elmore SALES OFFICE 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@dmiagency.com VIEW THE MAG ONLINE! issuu.com/lifestylemagazine

Facebook.com/LifestyleMag

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: 15,000 © 2012 DMI Agency

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COVER: Called a Wish Keeper, this teal Raku ceramic vessel holds the wishes of Milt and Marie Morrison. The vessel was a birthday surprise from Milt, who purchased it after hearing Marie comment on how much she liked it during a trip to Hawaii a couple of years ago.

LEFT: Trinkets and collectibles of Asian influence decorate many spaces in the Morrison home in Visalia.

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VISALIA N O CONVENTEIR CENT 8, 1 OCTOBE1R2 20

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BENEFICIARIES BENEFICI BLIND BABIES F O U N D AT I O N CASA OF TULARE COUNT Y VISALIA POLICE AC T I V I T I E S L E A G U E W I S H U P O N A S TA R We honor Skip Nugent for turning great loss into a great passion for the lives of children. Skip’s daughter Heather passed away after a tragic car accident just days before her 18th birthday. Her final days were spent at Children’s Hospital Central California. Out of appreciation for all that the staff did for Heather and his family, Skip has become a passionate fundraiser for CHCC. He also supports many other organizations benefiting the Central Valley. It’s our privilege to recognize his great efforts that help so many.

The Ruiz 4 Kids Fiesta is a unique opportunity to invest in restoring children’s hopes and making dreams come true.

For RSVP information, visit www.ruiz4kids.org or call 559.591.5510 x2118

E EDITOR NOTE

Photo by Becca Chavez | Hair and Make-up provided by Velvet Sky

It’s no secret – everyone at Lifestyle is a foodie. A couple of us even plan entire vacations around what restaurants there are in a particular area. I am not sure the exact moment it happened, but my love affair with avocados started years ago. There’s just something heavenly about their nutty taste and creamy texture. Considering them one of my “guilty indulgences,” I was almost disappointed to discover they might actually be good for me.

If you’re with me on this, or even if you’re not (today might be a good time to try them again), you are going to love this month’s culinary feature.

If you thought avocados were only for guacamole, be sure to check out Chef Elaine Dakessian’s favorite recipes starting on page 34, including her Spicy Corn Guacamole.

This summer we’ve been so busy with Lifestyle content that we’ve not had time to take a vacation; at least not in the traditional sense. But, after viewing photos of the home of Milt and Marie Morrison, this month’s Home Tour feature, we might be tempted to vacation in their backyard.

Milt, a retired English professor, and Marie, retired from the airline industry, are world traveled and their home reflects some of their many journeys to the East. As we ready this issue for print, the temperatures are in the triple digits, but just looking at the Morrisons' Zen-like space and lush gardens is sure to make you feel several degrees cooler. For photos and more of their story, please turn to page 24.

Some of us, however, actually do find time to vacation away from home.

Such is the life of veteran travelers Dr. Dean and Cheryl Levitan. Starting on page 42, read how Cheryl’s initial reaction to a Caribbean cruise transformed from “It’s only a week” into her longing to return.

Whether you have exotic summer vacations planned or stay-at-home days of respite in the works, we hope each of you enjoys the last days of summer.

Yes, it’s hot out there, but along with the heat comes a bounty of summer fruits and vegetables, and for all of us foodies, that’s reason enough to celebrate the dog days of summer.

Karen Tellalian, EXECUTIVE EDITOR For more information or to submit a story idea email Karen@dmiagency.com or call (559) 739-1747 or fax (559) 738-0909.

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B BUSINESS CENTS

Real Estate Update Text by Mark Avedian, Vice President of Tul are County Association of Realtors and Brokers/Owner of Avedian Properties

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he first half of 2012 has seen the market change for Tulare County real estate and most of the state of California. Inventory is the lowest it has been in seven years. Prices are slowly rising and interest rates are at historic lows. All of these factors equate to a great time to purchase a home.

What does this mean to a buyer or a seller? If the property is priced correctly, which an experienced Realtor can do for you, it will sell. The key words are “priced correctly.” What does that mean? It may not mean that it's priced at what you paid for it, or for what you want for it. It will be at, or slightly higher, than comparable properties in a close proximity that have recently sold. An appraiser may use three “sold” comparables, “pending sale” comparables, and listings of homes for sale, if they can locate them. Then, after the appraiser finishes the appraisal, it will probably go through a review process to check for mistakes.

Unfortunately, in the current situation, where buyers are willing to pay a little more, it is hard to get the property appraised for

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the higher value. The definition of what a home is worth – what a qualified buyer is willing and able to pay – is no longer being used. It is a safeguard and also an instrument that is holding back the current prices from going higher.

As a seller, you need to work with a Realtor to make sure you are protected from paying too much and that you will be properly prepared to purchase a home. “For sale by owner” is increasingly risky and challenging. Do they (or you) know all of the current laws in regards to selling a home, or all of the required forms and/ or disclosures? Probably not. They change quite often.

Basically, there is a requirement that a buyer must perform "due diligence" when purchasing a home, as the seller may or may not know every aspect of the home. In the same regard, a seller is obligated to disclose what they know, to the best of their ability. What items should they disclose? A Realtor can answer those questions.

In the end, the buyer is the one who has to make all of the correct decisions, as there are risks, but a Realtor may be able to help with the process. The same goes for selling. The use of a trained professional can be the answer to most, if not all of these questions. It is not a guarantee, but it is certainly helpful and gives both the buyer and/or the seller better odds for a successful transaction.

W WORD PLAY

NEWS ON WRITING, BOOKS AND THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING Text by Diane Slocum

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raditionally, September was the month for backto-school, but now most area schools are already in session. Readers might want to brush up on some of their own favorite subjects.

The Complete Guide to Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Reptiles by Chris McNab (Chartwell Books, Inc., August 31) includes more than 250 illustrations along with detailed information on each species, including where they lived, how they fought, what they ate, and more.

The Star Book: How to Understand Astronomy by Peter Gregg (David & Charles, August 31), editor of Popular Astronomy, references the major stars and constellations. It includes star and finder charts, star images, and drawings.

Must Read: Rediscovering American Bestsellers: From Charlotte Temple to The Da Vinci Code (Continuum, August 2) by Sarah Churchwell and Thomas Ruys Smith explores what it is that makes a book a best seller. The authors analyze American print culture from the 1700s to the present and investigate why some books that captured the nation fade into obscurity while others remain popular. Churchwell and Smith teach American literature in Britain.

Drawing the Map of Life: Inside the Human Genome Project (paperback by Basic Books, July 31) by Victor K. McElheny recounts the motivations and intellectual origins of the project. It also profiles the genetic explorers such as David Botstein and Francis Collins, whose work has helped to change medical techniques.

Valley Writers Del Rey writer and farmer David Mas Masumoto has been named to the National Council on the Arts. Members of the council are appointed to six-year terms by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate. Council members advise the National Endowment of the Arts on grants, budgets, and policies, and recommend to the presidential candidates for the National Medal of the Arts.

Springville author Marilyn Meredith’s latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Raging Water, comes out at the end of this month. The story is set wholly in the fictional town of Bear Creek with its many similarities to Springville. A horrendous storm causes the river to flood and a mud slide to close the road, stranding the residents with a murderer in their midst. Meredith said, “Something unusual about the story is one of the biggest fans of the series asked to be a character in one of my books.

She is in there with a different name, but I definitely used her personality, her two dogs, and her house – though I moved it to a different location.”

Clovis native Chris Colfer has published his first book, for ages eight and up – which includes adults. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (Little, Brown, July 17) is a tale of 12-year-old twins who fall into a fairy tale world and have to go on a scavenger hunt to wish their way home. Colfer is better known for his role on television’s Glee.

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Mary Benton will read “The Grape Fields” on Valley Writers Read on Valley Public Radio on August 22.

David Borofka will follow with “A Tale Told

by Rube Goldberg Begins and Ends with Dogs” on August 29. September episodes will be “Inner Beauty”

by Susan Norman (September 5), “Mayday! Mayday!” by Jim Ashford (September 12), and “Racing California” by Visalia’s Janet Nicholls Lynch (September 19).

Writing Conferences The 2012 Central Ohio Fiction Writers Annual Conference will be held September 28-29 in Columbus. The keynote speaker will be Simone Elkeles, author of more than seven teen romance novels. Kristan Higgins, a contemporary romance novelist, will be the Awards luncheon speaker and Joanna Bourne is the featured craft speaker. Agents from the Nelson Literary Agency, The Jane Rotrosen Agency, and L. Perkins Agency will be seeking clients.

Registration before September 1 is $140 for non-members, and is $10 more after. Details: http://www.cofw.org/conference.html.

The Hampton Roads Writers 4th Annual Conference will be held September 20-22 at the Doubletree Hotel in Virginia Beach, VA. Keynote speakers are Patricia Hermes, author of nearly 50 young adult books, including The Starving Time, and Rick Mofina, award-winning author of 13 thrillers, the latest of which is The Burning Edge. Agents from Folio Literary Management, Talcott Notch Literary Services, and FinePrint Literary Management will meet with attendees. The conference offers nine break-out sessions with a choice of three workshops at each.

Non-member registration is $190, less for students. Details: http:// www.hamptonroadswriters.org/2012conference.php Writing Contests The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest offers a first prize of $3,000. Additional cash prizes for second through fourth, humorous verse, and six more awards. Winners will also be published online. Any style or theme accepted. Fee is $8 per each 25 lines of one or multiple poems. Deadline is September 30.

Gordon Preston of Modesto won fourth prize earlier this year for “Camp Four Jeffrey, Inyo County, CA.” Details at: http://www. winningwriters.com/contests/tompoetry/tp_guidelines.php.

The Last Word “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm Forbes (1917-1990)

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L LOCAL ADVENTURE

VISALIA 1852

HISTORIC VISALIA

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s the kids go back to school this month, they begin to learn about a new range of subjects … subjects like history.

For a history lesson outside of the classroom, and one parents can enjoy as well, how about a lesson about our very own city, coupled with an adventure on foot.

Whether you were born and raised in Visalia, or are brand new to town, the Historic Visalia Walking Trail through the Downtown area is sure to teach you a few new things and get your imagination going.

In 45 minutes, you will be taken back to as early as 1852 and through time; discover where the first church was built, find where the Butterfield Stage Station originated, and learn more about all nine stops on the trail. Complete with a helpful map and description of each historic place, the Walking Trail map (see left) offers an up close and personal look at Visalia and its colorful history.

First Church – The Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized when the settlers arrived in 1852. In 1857, a small brick church was constructed until it was flooded and condemned in the 1860s.

Early Hotel – The Visalia House was built in 1859, with a dining room on the first floor, and a large open sleeping space on the second floor. Eventually, individual rooms were provided on the second floor, one housing a guest who later was ordered to vacate to subdue possible violence.

Butterfield Stage Station – Believed to be housed in a hotel known as both the Exchange House and Overland Hotel, this was the location for a visit from a special correspondent of the New York Herald passing by from St. Louis to San Francisco.

First Newspaper & Courthouse – The newspaper was located in the office-front basement of the courthouse. Its first issue was June 25, 1859, and cost 25 cents an issue. The courthouse was built in 1857 with the upper story serving as a courtroom and community center, while the lower floor contained six jail cells and a gallows.

First House – In 1853, the first log residence was built outside the Fort Visalia stockade. This house was rebuilt and remodeled several times and became a mansion and social center.

Little White Schoolhouse – Visalia’s first school was constructed in 1857. In 1872, a new two-story schoolhouse was built and dedicated, and children walking home from this dedication saw something they surely would never forget.

Fort Visalia – A group of pioneers built a stockade in 1852 on the north bank of Mill Creek. This served as the establishment of civilization, as a few individuals lived behind its oak walls and entertained themselves with a dance floor and an old fiddle.

First Grist Mill – The mill was built by the Mathews brothers who used water diverted from Mill Creek to provide power to the mill. Corn or wheat was ground for meal or flour, and rolled oats and bran were produced for cattle and poultry feed.

First Store – The first store was built by Nathan Baker across Mill Creek from Fort Visalia. This store served all of Tulare County which comprised of most of the lower San Joaquin Valley then. The building later housed a saloon with a shady history.

Also on this adventure through history is a fun and surprising scavenger hunt. Identified on the map, look for the Horse Rings around Downtown. They are harder to find than you may think; keep those eyes peeled to the ground. In fact, you may trip over one if you aren't careful!

To print out your own Walking Trail map go to http://www.visitvisalia.org/itineraries/ and click the link beneath “Historical Walking Tour.”

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L LITERARY ARTS

SHIRLEY SKUFCA HICKMAN:

Keeping Writers Focused for Forty Years and Counting Text by Diane Slocum

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hirley Skufca came home sobbing from her very first day of school in Crested Butte, Colorado. Her mother couldn’t imagine what had happened to the little girl who had set off for first grade that morning with such eager anticipation.

Had the teacher yelled at her or done someone hurt her? At last, Shirley choked out, “You lied to me. You told me when I went to school I’d learn to read. I was there all day and I still don’t know how.”

The young scholar soon learned to have a bit more patience as she went on not only to become a reader, but a writer and an educator.

The incident of her disappointed younger self became one of the stories in Don’t Be Give Up, a memoir of her early years in the Colorado coal mining town during World War II. The title of the book comes from her immigrant grandmother’s way of telling her to keep trying.

Both of Hickman’s parents loved school but had to leave early to help support their families. Her mother graduated from eighth grade in six years, but she was the oldest of nine children.

Hickman’s father was six feet tall in seventh grade and his father said since he looked like a man, he had to work like one and sent him into the coal mine.

The next generation of Skufcas faced their own situation that could have derailed their schooling. Shirley’s father, the coal miner, died when she was 16. She and her two older sisters sat around the table with their mother, each offering her own reason why she should be the one to sacrifice her education to help support the family. Mrs. Skufca would have none of that. “No one’s quitting school,” she told the girls. Instead, a bachelor uncle came to live with them and help them financially.

Hickman did complete her education and obtained a teaching credential. She left Colorado for California because she wanted 16

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to go somewhere warm. She found such a place at Tulare Union High School. Over the course of several years, she also taught at Porterville High School, Cal Poly University, and Reedley College before settling down for 25 years at Porterville’s Monache High School. Since her retirement, she has continued teaching as a private tutor. This marks her 53rd year of teaching.

Parents of her tutored students would often ask what they could do to help their children learn. Hickman looked through the resources available and found nothing with practical, easily accessible ideas, so she wrote a book of her own: School Success – 500 Ways Busy Parents Can Help Their Children Succeed in School.

“One of my friends bought a copy for every single school in Porterville,” she said.

About 1970, Hickman taught an evening class in creative writing at Porterville College. The class turned out to be too popular for its own good.

“People kept coming up to take the class over and over again,” she said. “The college decided maybe they shouldn’t be doing that.”

Her solution was to start the Porterville Writer’s Workshop, which continues to inspire writers to this day. One of the students who transitioned from the class to the workshop was Willma Willis Gore. Gore was well-known in the Valley for her magazine articles, including stories in farm magazines. She now lives in Arizona, and continues to publish and mentor other writers. According to notfreepress.com, her published works include over 2,000 articles in more than 70 periodicals, 19 children’s books, two novels, and one how-to book. Gore turned 90 in June and has been publishing for 70 years.

Springville author Marilyn Meredith joined the workshop in 1981 and is still a member. She is the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. As F.M. Meredith, she writes the

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L LITERARY ARTS

Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series. She also writes Christian horror stories such as The Choice, and contributes to newspapers, magazines, and other publications.

Though not as well-known, most of the others who have been members of the group have also published, Hickman said.

When the group started, meetings were announced in the paper and anyone could come. As the years went by, it became obvious that not all who came were serious writers.

“There were a lot of people who wanted to talk about their writing, but never wrote,” she said. “One guy came in just to hit on the young girls.”

Hickman stresses three rules for those who want to publish: You have to write, not just talk.

There is no magic. It takes time and discipline.

You need to be open to criticism and willing to revise.

So, for a while, Hickman, Gore, and Meredith met separately.

This developed into a small group, currently with six members, where everybody writes. Almost every meeting, they each have a chapter in a book to read. Keeping the group small allows enough time for thorough consideration of each piece. However, they do open the first meeting of the month to anyone who is interested.

If the visitor is serious about writing, and gels with the group after multiple visits, she can become a permanent member.

For the health of the group, good critiquing is as important as good writing. The writer often cannot see the flaws – big or little – in her own writing. No one is exempt.

“Marilyn is a published writer,” Hickman said. “Every time she comes, we go over her story and make all sorts of changes,” Hickman also recently re-wrote a chapter in her own book after a group member told her she liked a character who had been left out of scenes during earlier re-writes.

“Now it’s exactly what was missing and I didn’t see that,” she said.

“This is very, very important to me to have this critique group.”

She is looking for an agent for Fall in Love with an Orange Tree or a Book. The story concerns a Hispanic high school girl and her younger siblings who are left behind when their parents are deported. Hickman is hoping the book will help put light on very bright Hispanic honor students who are mostly overlooked in fiction. The girl is patterned after one of Hickman’s former students who had a passion for learning and now has a doctorate from Stanford.

In addition to this book, which she just finished, Hickman has a romance novel which was accepted by Oak Tree Press and should be released this year. Sara Darlin’ takes place during the gold rush era in San Francisco, and concerns a young woman raised by an Irish couple. She falls in love with an English aristocrat which causes conflict. A well-hidden family secret also comes into play.

Without pausing to take a breath between books, Hickman is now working on the sequel to her early childhood memoir; this one titled Is Everybody Happy Now?. The incident about the family surviving after her father’s death is one of the stories.

“So there’s one that’s with the publishers, one that I’m trying to get published, and one I’m writing,” she said. “And I love it.”

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C CHARITY

4TH ANNUAL GUEST CHEF SERIES

Paris, je t’a ime. Visalia, bon appétit.

Text by Kyndal Kennedy | Photos by Aimee Sa, Aimee Sa Photography

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ancan dancers? Parisian fare? Fabric aerialist?

Community-minded fundraiser? Check. Check.

Check. And Check.

The 4th Annual Guest Chef Series this summer was all of this and more. As the years prior have proven, a little entertainment and a lot of food goes a long way. Guest Chef, Andre Averseng, CEC, brought a little bit of his homeland to the Gupta and Kumar estate in Tulare while Family Services, Inc. brought the party.

Family Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization, funded primarily by private donations and grants. Its mission is to help children, adults, and families throughout Tulare County to heal from violence and thrive in healthy relationships. “We hope to accomplish our mission by providing counseling, safe housing, and supportive services to individuals and families,” explained Theresa LoBue, FSTC board member and Guest Chef Series chair.

The 200 guests who attended the Parisian night helped provide nearly $40,000, which LoBue said was overwhelming.

The monies raised totaled from ticket sales, table sponsorships, and corporate sponsorships. This event is unique in that there were no live or silent auctions, raffles, or any other drawings.

“It is an all-inclusive event. The guests leave sated and able to prepare the demonstrated dishes in the comfort of their own homes,” said LoBue. The money will go toward new transitional housing in Goshen and its daily operations. The families that go to the battered women's shelter, now called Karen's House (in honor of Karen Cooper, Family Services, Inc.’s former executive director), will eventually be transferred to transitional housing.

Currently, the focus of the organization is to improve their transitional housing facilities.

“We are now currently providing transitional and permanent housing to more than 125 individuals in Visalia, Tulare, and Porterville. It's an exciting time of expansion at Family Services!” said LoBue. This excitement out in the community was paralleled as the evening unfolded. The theme of Paris was selected this year, as Chef Andre is from France, and the idea of the colors and textures of the Moulin Rouge proved to be very enticing. The chairperson of the decorating committee, Kim Lebo, shopped from San Diego to San Francisco for antique frames and Moulin Rogue posters to decorate the tables. Crystal beads added sparkle and ostrich feathers of red and black added softness throughout the décor, while the black and red linens provided the drama.

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CHARITY C

TOP MIDDLE: Chef Andre Averseng

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C CHARITY

But the real drama was in the entertainment. As guests arrived, they were greeted by an accordionist playing Parisian cafe style melodies, while tasting French Champagne and other fine French wines. As they moved to the dining area, the guests were entertained vertically by a fabric aerialist.

“A what? you might ask,” said LoBue, who continued with, “Imagine a red swath of fabric hanging 30 feet from a massive oak tree allowing an amazing, talented, and athletic young lady to slink up and down the fabric, seemingly effortlessly, and to the amazement and delight of all the guests.”

There was also a caricaturist who volunteered her time, capturing the faces of some of the many guests. Just before dinner, guests were treated to a performance of the Cancan, which had everyone clapping and cheering. Once dinner was served, a soloist entertained the audience with several French songs.

Bringing the Parisian climate from the surroundings to the tables, Chef Andre Averseng prepared Salad Nicoise with fresh seared Ahi tuna, stuffed crepes with fromage (cheese) and jambon (ham), and ratatouille in a crisp cup.

Chef Andre also suggested wine pairings with his tasting menu. Each guest had a tasting of specifically chosen wines for each element of their dishes. As if the sampling of these dishes weren’t enough, Chef David Vartanian of the Vintage Press prepared Coq au Vin with parsley and lemon gremolad, roasted potatoes, haricot verts, and chocolat crème brulee for dinner and dessert.

Evenings such as this are special to the guests who partake in the delightful atmosphere and gourmet food, to the staff and volunteers at Family Services, Inc., and especially to the families who benefit and find hope through their services.

LoBue and Family Services, Inc. can't fully express their gratitude to those who are involved with the Guest Chef Series – be it the entertainment, guests and sponsors, and Anil Kumar for his graciousness and attention to detail.

“It takes many hands to accomplish such an event, and I appreciate every single one of them,” expressed LoBue. If you are interested in volunteering or contributing to Family Services, Inc. please contact Executive Director Caity Meader at 559-741-7310 x 18 or at caity.meader@fstc.net and interested volunteers may contact Volunteer Coordinator, Navie Hurtado at 559-732-7371 or navie.hurtado@fstc.net.

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H HOME TOUR

THE MORRISON HOME

FP O

Pieces of

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AS

Text by Jordan Venema | Photos by Forrest Cavale, Third Element Studios

HOME TOUR H

FP O

SIA PICTURED: The entryway of the Morrison home in Visalia connects to a living and dining room, essentially creating one large space. The rooms are decorated with Asian-inspired items — a consistent theme throughout their home.

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he exterior of the Morrison home doesn’t exactly draw attention to itself, but then one should never judge a book by its cover. Milt and Marie Morrison designed and built the single-story, three-bedroom home 22 years ago when they moved to Visalia. The home, its lawn, driveway, and architectural consistency with the surrounding neighborhood suggests that everything is in its right place: a suburb that could have been the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting. But then there’s the Japanese maple in the front yard, the sound of water flowing from a fountain, and flanking the Morrisons’ front door, two Fu Dogs grin and hint that they guard something inside that might not commonly be found in the average suburban home.

Neither Milt nor Marie grew up in California. Milt grew up in Michigan, and Marie in Louisiana, though both later moved to Los Angeles, at different times and for different reasons. There the couple met, but not before the city had already become home – and remained home for some 30 years, where Milt taught English at two Los Angeles City Colleges, and Marie worked as a Service Agent for Transworld Airlines. Those professions probably influenced the Morrisons to travel; one travels through the pages of a book as much as with an airline. And the couple, using the culturally diverse city of Los Angeles as a platform, maybe even inspiration, began taking off together: China, Egypt, England, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Italy, Panama, Spain, Morocco, to name a few of their destinations.

In 1989, the College of the Sequoias recruited Milt to teach English. Marie admitted, laughing, that her first reaction was, “No way!” They had lived where museums, sports venues, theaters and—perhaps most importantly—international airports are as numerous as dairy farms are in Tulare County. Accustomed to living in metropolitan Los Angeles, the Morrisons had some reservations about moving to a smaller, agriculture-centered community. But like true world-travelers, always finding adventure and opportunity in new places, the Morrisons embraced Visalia.

Milt accepted the position. The two moved into the home they had built, bringing with them a few items collected over the years – objects from around the world that would make their new house feel a little more like home.

It all began with a vase Marie got just out of high school. She liked the colors, and there began a lifelong fascination with oriental art. After years of collecting, at antique stores from Hanford to Hong Kong, the inside of the Morrisons’ home has become a modest museum of Asian—predominantly Chinese—art and antiques. If the Morrisons couldn’t live near a museum, they would live in one. Every nook, table center, shelf space and wall space is occupied by some contemporary or ancient piece: ornate vases and carved chairs, paintings and prints, dragons, and figurines. If the interior of the house naturally transformed its exterior, their home would be a pagoda.

Milt designed the front entryway to have three columns, ABOVE: A walk to the front door of Milt and Marie Morrison's home in Visalia is only a small taste of the Asian theme that continues inside the home, and into their Zen-like backyard.

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not a single wall, separating the door from the main sitting room.

There’s some loss of space, but the home gains the effect of a grander entranceway, a division of space preserving feng shui. The wall is painted bold red, a color that in Chinese culture symbolizes joy, good fortune, and happiness. Milt matched the color of the wall from the fabric of pillowcases sewn by Marie’s sister. A large painting by Chinese artist Jian Tiefeng hangs above a dining table, a metal dragon perches above the sitting room, figurines carved from red coral rest on a shelf. Every individual item has its story and has traveled through time and over land to find its place in the Morrisons’ home, which Marie admits she keeps in pristine condition.

Each room is similarly consistent with the oriental theme. The guest bedroom is decorated with gold and yellow colors, symbolic for good luck, freedom from worldly cares, and considered the most beautiful color. A carved chair is imprinted with the Chinese symbol for longevity, a framed Chinese calendar hangs on the wall, and an intricately designed partition makes the bed’s headrest. The master bedroom is likewise decorated: a kimono sewn by Marie’s sisters, oriental prints hang on the wall, the bed’s headrest printed with a two-dimensional oriental landscape.

Only Milt’s study, which he describes as “just a little hovel,” is preserved from the oriental persuasion, emphasizing, “this study gets used.” The décor of the study is diverse: Ernie Barnes prints, African statuettes, various figures of elephants, books lining shelves, a desk stamped with scrawled post-it-notes, and a large

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model airplane atop a shelf. “I can’t do anything and it kills me,” Marie referred to the study with a laugh.

What Marie hasn’t been able to do with Milt’s study, she has made up for in the backyard. The landscaping is fit enough for any botanical garden. A 12x12 foot “teahouse”—built by the Morissons and inspired by the enclosed teahouses in China—rises above the garden, overlooking two small ponds separated by an ornamental red bridge. A waterfall pours into the pond, and calico colored Koi swim in the deeper of the two ponds. Surrounding the fence are various trees, planted by the Morrisons: cypress, redwood, birch, and a fledgling Japanese maple. Juniper trees, pruned in the Bonsai style, bubble around the yard, and jade plants grow like green coral. Ornate benches, a birdhouse, model terracotta soldiers, and small stone pagodas decorate the yard.

How did Marie, who designed much of the yard, so perfectly emulate the oriental aesthetic? By looking through gardening magazines, or studying feng shui? An inspiration from any of their four visits to China? For Marie it was simple: she just “wanted the Asian look,” she said, “and I can look at something and know it’s going to look good there.” Simply, Marie has a green thumb. As a child, she wanted to be a nun, and gardening was her serenity.

Now the garden and teahouse provide a kind of serenity … a place where the Morrisons can sit and read while overlooking the pond, while listening to the wind chimes clang like amplified, harmonized drops of water.

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Milt admits they experienced “slight culture shock” when they moved from Los Angeles, but coming to Visalia, “everybody treated us nice, so nice,” said Marie. Welcomed as they were, they wasted no time involving themselves in the Visalia community, Milt as a professor of English, and Marie as the sales manager at the Visalia Convention Center. Milt, a current member of the Visalia Breakfast Rotary, also served as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club and was elected to the Visalia Unified School District Board of Education. Milt retired in 2004, though he continued as an adjunct through 2008. But ever a teacher, Milt still tutors children. In June, Milt played Reverend Sykes in the Visalia Players’ performance of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Marie keeps equally busy. She retired four years ago, but returned working part-time for the Convention Center. She currently serves on The Creative Center Foundation Board, and is an Ambassador to the Chamber of Commerce. She has been involved with many other groups: the Boys and Girls Club, KDHCD Foundation, Pro-Youth/HEART Visalia, and Abel Industries. In 2007, Marie was named Volunteer of the Year by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce. Both she and Milt were invited in 1992 to volunteer for the Kids for Christmas Program, providing 350 needy children with food and toys – ten years later, they were still involved with the program.

ABOVE: The master bedroom and bath of the Morrison home is simple, and continues to display the Asian flare found throughout the rest of the home.

The bed linens of the master bedroom were handmade with the help of Marie's sisters.

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While the Morrisons’ home may look like a museum, they’ve never expected others to whisper or tread lightly in their home. On the contrary, the Morrisons annually transform their place of Zen into a party fit for a Chicago jazz club. “Once a year,” Milt explained, “we pay back our friends for being nice to us.” For 15 years, the Morrisons have hosted nearly 100 guests—never mind the antique vases— serving Louisiana hot sausages, tri-tip, chicken, salads, and whatever they can drink, all to the backdrop of a live jazz band. “If it were a show, it would be called a hot ticket,” laughed Milt. “We have a grand old time,” added Marie,

though she admits each year may be the last.

Many friends had asked the Morrisons if they’d retire to Los Angeles, but “surprising our answer was, ‘never.’ We love Visalia, ” said Milt. The Morrisons and their collection of art and antiques, well traveled as they are, have found their place. “For all the traveling that we do,” said Marie, “I must say there’s no place like home.” So they’re here to stay … maybe even to host one more party, their way of saying thanks to their friends, family and others who have helped make Visalia home.

PICTURED: The Morrisons transformed their backyard into a Zen-like sanctuary, complete with the tranquil sounds of trickling fountain water, lush plant life, Asian stone figurines, and koi pond. Adjacent to the pond is a covered sitting area, where Milt and Marie spend time relaxing and reading.

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Avoca

Recipes by Elaine Dakessian | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

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ados W

hen looking to add something special to an omelet, taco, or salad, many reach for an avocado. And why not?

Avocados add that rich, gourmet taste and creamy texture with little effort, and they are full of nutrients your body needs. But why stop there? Avocados can be prepared in a number of different ways to complement more than just your favorite omelet. Keep reading to uncover tasty combinations your mouth will thank you for.

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spicy corn GUACAMOLE Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients: 1 red chili pepper, seeded and finely diced 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced 2 Haas avocados, pit removed, peeled and diced 1 C roasted corn (you can use canned but fresh is preferred – see below) 2 T diced red onion ¼ C cilantro, coarsely chopped 1 fresh lemon, juiced 1 fresh lime, juiced 3 T sour cream Directions: Mix all ingredients in medium mixing bowl and toss to just mix. (You want to keep this a bit chunky.)

Season with salt and pepper.

Use with store bought tortilla chips or see below for homemade chips.

Roasted Corn Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Each cob yields about 1 cup of corn. Cut off the tip so the cob lies flat on your cutting board. Press downward with a sharp knife and cut all the way around the cob. Place corn on a baking sheet and roast in a 375 degree oven for about 8 to 10 minutes.

The less corn on the sheet, the quicker it will roast so keep an eye on it. Remove and let cool.

SHRIMP

Purchase a shrimp to top each tortilla chip (precooked shrimp also works). I have also used scallops, lobster, roasted chicken, sliced steak, and shredded pork – the possibilities are many.

Grill the shrimp, rubbed with a little olive oil. For scallops, pan-sear in 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil, about 2 minutes on each side.

Place guacamole on top of chip. Place shrimp (or meat of choice) on top of guacamole and serve.

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homemade TORTILLA CHIPS

Homemade chips are so easy and much better than the bag.

Ingredients: Tortillas (flour or corn) Peanut oil for frying Salt Directions: Pile a few tortillas, one on top of the other.

Cut in half, then quarters, etc., to your desired size.

Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat the oil to 360 degrees. Put in a few tortillas at a time so you do not crowd the pan. Fry the chips to golden brown, remove with a slotted spoon or spider, then place on paper towels to drain and salt.

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catalan SALMON This is a traditional Spanish dish, usually made with anchovies. Here, we've altered tradition, adding avocado and brushing the salmon with reduced orange juice.

Ingredients: 4 6-oz pieces salmon fillet 16 oz orange juice Salt and coarse ground pepper 2-3 T olive oil Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place orange juice in saucepan over medium-high heat and boil for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until it is reduced by half and is a syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool.

Season salmon with salt and pepper. Heat sautĂŠ pan with olive oil. Place salmon, flesh side down and sear for about 2 minutes.

Remove from pan and place, skin side down, on baking sheet. Brush each piece liberally with the reduced orange syrup and bake in a 400 degree oven until the internal temperature is 145 degrees, about 8 to 10 minutes depending on thickness. You can do this on a grill if you prefer.

VINAIGRETTE Ingredients: 1 C extra virgin olive oil 1 orange, juiced and zested (save the zest for garnish) Âź C orange juice Âź C sherry vinegar 3 T capers, drained and rinsed Salt and pepper to taste 1 avocado, sliced in half, pitt removed and sliced Sliced almonds, toasted in a 350 degree oven for 4-5 minutes Directions: Plate the salmon and drizzle the vinaigrette over the top. Garnish with almonds and sliced avocado, and serve.

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BLT CLUB with avocado and arugula aioli Ingredients: 3 slices sourdough bread 2 pieces turkey cutlets (You can buy sliced lunch meat but cutlets make a nice dinner in the hot weather, so splurge a bit.)

4 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon (ours is peppered), cooked to your preferred doneness 1 large, ripe tomato, thick sliced 5 oz baby arugula 1 avocado, thick sliced Directions: Sear turkey cutlets on grill or grill pan. Dry sear the sourdough slices on grill or grill pan.

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Arugula AIOLI Ingredients: 1 C good quality mayonnaise 1 C arugula 1 lemon Directions: In food processor, place the mayonnaise and arugula.

Zest the lemon before slicing in half. Squeeze half the lemon into the food processor and the put in the zest.

Pulse until the arugula is completely incorporated.

Smear the spread onto the first slice of bread. Lay two pieces of turkey cutlet and two slices of tomato. Smear center slice of sourdough and lay onto the tomatoes.

Smear the top as well so both sides have the aioli.

Place the bacon down and top with the avocado slices.

Place a handful of fresh arugula on top of the avocado.

Smear the top piece of sourdough with aioli and place atop the arugula. Secure with picks. Cut in half or in three pieces (and bite into with vigor ‌ it is tasty!).

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TRUE

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T TRAVEL

THE BEHEMOTH OF THE SEAS Text and Photos by Cheryl Levitan

ABOVE LEFT: The interior view of the ship's open walkway, cabins above, and adult pool at the top.

ABOVE RIGHT: Dr. Dean Levitan standing in front of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas cruise ship.

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Text by Marsha Roberts

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t’s only a week.

Those words kept repeating in my head as we got our first glimpse of the ship where we’d spend the next week. I felt a little like Dorothy in Oz, clicking my heels wanting to go home.

The trip proposal started innocently enough after watching a documentary illuminating the enormous task of turning over 6,300 passengers in mere hours each and every week on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. My husband (for whom the book, How Things Work was written) was fascinated, and I was, too. But the reality of our decision – made eight months prior – seemed questionable as we looked at what could only be described as the ugliest floating rectangle we had ever seen. The brochures always

showed the ship at an angle … just like skinny mirrors in the dressing room.

The largest ships afloat, both the Oasis of the Sea and its sister ship, Allure of the Seas, sail roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale in the Caribbean every seven days, alternating the same three ports in either the Eastern or Western Caribbean each week. I am more accustomed to small ships, and the thought of raising anchor with 6,298 other people suddenly seemed daunting. The saving grace was my husband’s generous decision (translation: when the wife isn’t happy, no one’s happy) to upgrade us to a large suite. We hoped the larger cabin and nearby concierge lounge would create our own oasis if the sheer number of people became overwhelming.

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TOP: Fine dining at the 150 Central Park Restaurant with chairs in the middle Cheryl called "Disney chairs" as they look straight out of a ride at Disneyland.

BOTTOM: Behind the Scenes Tour of the bakery.

Caribbean made calm out of chaos – a theme repeated all week.

Energized by the ease of checking in and arriving at our suite, we set off to explore with map in hand. (Flashback to being lost everyday on the Queen Mary 2, with half as many passengers). Lo and behold, there were large touch screen maps at each elevator; with color-coded cabin numbers also designating aft (back) and bow (front), you would have had to try to get lost – amazing for a ship the length of three football fields. Its sheer size made crowding much of a non-issue, and also acted to defy the motion of the ocean. For the first time on a cruise, I put away my trusty sea sickness medication. We had no sense that we were moving unless we looked out an ocean-facing window.

There are hundreds of windows that face inward, overlooking themed “neighborhoods”. Our favorite of these neighborhoods was Central Park, where we completely forgot we were on a ship. With tree-lined paths and park benches, its open skies and restaurants to either side transported us to New York’s Central Park. Large valet umbrellas were waiting at each park entrance and restaurant doorway when it rained, just like fine hotels and restaurants in NYC. Our favorite specialty restaurants – Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, and the Park Café – were in Central Park. The Café was the overall winner for best lunch. Set up like a gourmet market, it offered salads made to your specifications (every woman’s dream) as well as sandwiches on salted caraway rolls. By the end of the week, the daily salt consumption made my rings impossible to remove (a small price to pay!). Our least favorite restaurant, 150 Central Park, was in the same vicinity; with an $80 surcharge/person, minuscule portions, seating on long benches (just try to get out of the middle), or high domed Disney-like chairs that cupped around your head, it was better missed. With 25 total dining venues, the main dining 44

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room, offering traditional set seatings as well as reservations, still had excellent food and service that equaled or surpassed any we have had.

Attention to detail and food weren’t the only notables. The Spa and Fitness Center offered everything imaginable: acupuncture, Botox, and Restylene injections. Forget the redness or swelling in those vacation photos … return home looking rested. The fitness area had an entire room devoted to Pilates equipment.

It looked disturbingly like torture devices, but people were signing up furiously. At home we are regulars at the gym, but on vacation, we usually burn our calories on the dance floor instead.

There were opportunities to listen to music and dance all over the ship. We took advantage of every one, figuring the large number of passengers gave us the anonymity to dance as if no one was watching.

The Oasis has more things to do than time to do them. Of course it has a casino, but there’s also a 3-D theater, comedy club, two rock climbing walls, a zip-line (suspended nine stories), a large ice rinK for shows and skating, and two Flowrider waves for surfing and wake boarding. The Hairspray production we saw on board was broadcast by satellite from the ship and aired at this year’s Tony Awards. The ship had an 18-foot deep saltwater pool with custom-built lifts, allowing it to be a pool for swimming and scuba lessons, but also a site for 65-foot high fountain shows synchronized to music and lights, as well as shows with highdivers, acrobats, and synchronized swimmers. Even something as mundane as a basketball court and ping pong tables have been amped up with acrylic enclosures to ensure no go overboard.

Tournaments routinely brought out the young (and not-so-young) ready for battle. The sheer level of sweating and competition was

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a bit scary; we braved passing by to reach the soft serve ice cream machine. There were also DreamWorks characters running around the ship. I was so excited to see King Julian from Madagascar that I made my husband go up to the room and get my camera. (I know Julian is just a person in a furry suit, but I love that lemur!)

Veterans of Caribbean trips, the ports and tours were less interesting than the “resort.” In fact, our finest tour was a complete behind-the-scenes tour of the ship. Not the typical galley and bridge tour, this tour included the helipad, laundry, storerooms, engineering room, water filtration and sanitation, the crew’s galley and nightclub, and the inner workings of the aqua theater. My husband thought he had died and gone to heaven.

Our itinerary first docked us at Nassau, Bahamas, home to the huge Atlantis Resort. Early morning tours went to “archeological digs” in mythical Atlantis, interactive dolphin swims, and the water park. We had recently seen Atlantis in Dubai, and chose to sleep in that day. We heard that it was quite crowded. With over 10,000 cruise passengers docked that day, it’s no wonder. Imagine being an unsuspecting guest at Atlantis having thousands of cruise passengers invading daily. In my quest for something different, I found a tour offering submersible underwater motorbikes (SUB) with attached scuba helmets. (Asking my husband what he thought prompted the look. You know ladies, the “she's lost her mind or an alien invaded her body” look? He then listed each of my past not-so-seaworthy adventures that ended poorly.)

Nix the SUB.

TOP: The Aqua Theatre was the site of comedy water shows, high diving, acrobatics, and water shows synchronized to music and lights.

BOTTOM: Central Park themed neighborhood on bottom, cabins above, topped by the adult pools.

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T TRAVEL The next day we docked at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

A popular cruise stop, five ships were in port, totaling 17,000 passengers and 6,000-7,000 crew. There are only 18,500 residents in the entire town! Clearly outnumbered, the residents were secure in the knowledge that the 400 shops on Main Street alone would lull us into submission. Just the mention of St. Thomas causes my husband’s eyes to glaze over. I could have convinced him to allow me to buy anything that day if he just didn’t have to go with me.

But the reality of battling the hordes in 95 degree weather (and equal humidity), convinced even me to sleep in.

Our last port was Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. Another familiar port, the island has both a Dutch and French side. Dismissing another SUB tour, being crew on an America’s Cup sailboat, or kayaking on a lagoon (deciding all three could too easily lead to grounds for divorce), I came upon a large zip-line at Loterie Farms.

Research unearthed that it was more obstacle course than zip-line.

We aren’t warriors, especially in heat and humidity. But wait, seaside tours on Segways were offered – just our speed! We loved it and even considered buying one once home, but realized there was no place to ride it without people seeing us. It's just as well … the photos remind us how dorky we looked.

We plan to go back…we loved it that much. I need another Café sandwich. And King Julian, the fury DreamWorks lemur, is there waiting to take more pictures with me.

If you plan a cruise on the Oasis or Allure, here are some helpful hints: • Book Winter through late Spring. Temperatures are cooler and tropical storms and hurricanes are unlikely.

• Don’t eat at the Seafood Shack…all breading, no seafood.

• Every cabin exists and every price range. For $749/person/week, you get 150-square feet with no window, and many free dining choices. Have 14 people? There’s a 1142-square foot cabin to fit the group.

• U.S. dollars and credit cards are accepted anywhere, and your domestic phone plan covers St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Unless you purchase a plan for calls and text and turn off your roaming and data collection features on the ship and other ports, you’ll have a huge bill waiting at home.

• Don’t bother buying Internet time – the satellite connection is so slow, most people give up.

• Forget the formal clothes unless you want a special photo. Most passengers dress in semi-formal or casual attire, even on the two formal nights.

• Leave the sea sickness paraphernalia at home – you won’t need it.

• Sign up early online for specialty restaurants, shows, tours, and spa appointments. You only have a week, you don’t want to spend it in line, and everything fills quickly.

• Forgo the 10-15 percent specialty restaurant savings packages, only allowing certain restaurants on certain nights. Most people can’t use the entire package.

• Forgo the water and soda packages as well. The insulated bottles are bulky, and are either lost or moldy by the end of the week.

Buy inexpensive water and soda in ports which can be brought back to the ship if unopened.

TOP: Surfer rejected by Flowrider® ride, one of the many on-board activities.

MIDDLE: Cheryl with King Julian from the movie Madagascar.

BOTTOM: One of many themed parades at the Royal Promenade themed neighborhood.

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S spirits

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SPIRTS S

Farmhouse Ale:

Green Flash Brewing Company's “Saison Diego” Text by Kenny Hildebrand | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

S

ummer is in full swing here in the Valley; fresh fruit is being harvested daily and shipped all over the world. While the heat bears down on Valley farmers, the way to refresh is with a farmhouse or saison ale.

Originated in Wallonia, the French-speaking southern half of Belgium, farmhouse or saisons ales get their name from just that: the farmhouse during fruit-picking season. Farmers would bring the seasonal fruit in to the farmhouse and ferment it. It was traditionally brewed for the fall season to refresh farm workers during the harvest; each worker was allowed an allotment everyday to keep hydrated, and happy. (The traditional saison ales were very low in alcohol content, somewhere around three percent alcohol by volume.)

Because of saisons were made of seasonal fruits, they were very complex in styles. Every region and every farmhouse would create a different style of ale due to the natural fruit, if any was added, and the natural yeast that may be floating through the nightly air.

Many are very fruity in the aroma and flavor.

Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Spices with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having a touch of sweetness. This ale was around way before refrigeration, so hops would be added to help preserve it but not overpower it.

Today, the U.S. craft brew houses have found that this beer is fun to experiment with, and has resurrected it from the graves.

However, nowadays it is not fermented out in the barn, but using Belgium yeast contributes to the mild to wild flavors. The U.S.

Styles, or the new versions, tend to be higher in alcohol ranging, from 4 to 8 percent abv. They would seem to be much more hoppy, as we have many more hop varieties to experiment with. The addition of fruits may include anything from strawberry to mango.

But don’t forget the spices, lemon grass, coriander or rye.

This simple seasonal ale has taken on its own life in the craft beer community. Southern California is home to some of the world's best breweries. Green Flash Brewing Company in San Diego is relatively new, but has already undergone two major expansions.

They have created their own take on a saison ale, and call it “Siason Diego.” Poured into a snifter type glass, presents a hazy, golden yellow body, and a nice white foamy head quickly gives way to the nice thin lacing. It has a slight smell of lemon and coriander, and a very light trace of the farmhouse musty hay. Flavors of malt sweetness hit first as the bready, doughy, and grainy-sweet taste seems light. The fruity and spicy balance provides a zesty taste of lemons, grapes, oranges, and pears, with spicy ginger, dried orange peel, grains of paradise, some clove, and white pepper. The mild earthiness and dryness finishes this beer nicely. Saison Diego is a really well-rounded beer that is not overpowered by one flavor or the other. Go search out a Saison at your local watering hole and remember: enjoy a craft beer that is made in small batches, and drink for quality, not quantity.

Not so long ago, it was close to being an endangered style, but over recent years, there has been a massive insurgence – especially in the U.S.

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F FASHION

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FASHION F

Savvy Shopping TIPS FOR FALL Text by Sharon Mosley

W

hether you're shopping for your kids who are going back to school or just scoping out the new fall fashion trends for yourself, chances are you'll be scouring the stores and the Internet looking for a few bargains to get off to a stylish start this season. Here are some shopping tips to keep in mind:

It pays to make a list. It really does keep you focused.

There are always items we need to replace, such as the jeans that don't fit anymore. Tell yourself they've just been through the wash one too many times.

Set a budget. It's a tough thing to do, but if you think about what you can comfortably spend, even if it's just for the day, then you will be not as likely to suffer that dreaded buyer's remorse when the credit card bill arrives.

Shop alone, if possible. If you're buying back-to-school clothes, then of course you will have to take the kids along to try on clothes. But if you have younger kids and you know their sizes, it may pay to plan a trip by yourself and fill in the blanks later. If you're shopping for yourself, then you won't feel rushed to make decisions with someone pacing the floor outside the dressing room.

Set priorities. It may be tempting to browse for a new pair of leather ankle boots, but if you really need to shop for kids' clothes, then remember you can always set aside some time after school starts to shop for yourself at your own pace. You may even want to spend some of your beach getaway time searching the Internet for inspiration. Go to your favorite sites and fill your online shopping cart with ideas. You can also check out the spreads in fall fashion magazines for ideas on ways to put looks together.

Do watch for sales. This is a great time of year to catch sales on fall fashion favorites. The shopping season is in full swing, and retailers want your business early. You'll also get the best selection now, and sales are always a good excuse to indulge a little and splurge. You may not want to wear that fabulous quilted leather jacket right now, but it may be on sale, and in a few months you'll have a classic new piece that will probably be worn for years to come.

Focus on the essentials. First things first. If you have a statement-making coat, handbag, and shoes, you will not have to worry so much about what goes underneath. Let's face it, when it comes to fall and winter weather, it's what's on top that counts. Your coat, handbag, and shoes are what people see day after day, so spend the bulk of your money on these items. If the item is on sale, that's even better.

Coordinate with color. Shopping can be a lot easier when you know what color clothes you want to buy. First, pick a color that will coordinate with what you already have in your wardrobe. Start with neutrals. If you already have a lot of black in your closet, then think about adding a fresh touch with a rich brown or a silvery charcoal. Then focus on adding some more colorful hues, such as cobalt blue, ultramarine green, tangerine, or even a bright chartreuse.

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P PERFORMANCES Text By Marsha Peltzer

A Spanish American Affair | October 13, 2012

The Season opener will feature Robert Belinic, who will play one of the most beloved guitar concertos of all, Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez.” Also included are Copland’s rip-roaring dance hall music “El Salon Mexico” and Grofe’s charming “Grand Canyon Suite.”

New and Old World Mash-Up | November 14, 2012

Guest pianist Andrew Tyson will open the concert with Rachmaninoff’s best known “Piano Concerto #2.” The concert concludes with Antonin Dvorak’s musical tribute to America, “From the New World.”

Bon Vivant | January 19, 2013

One of the Symphony’s favorite performers, Tracy Harris, returns to share the passionate and colorful music from Carmen in Borne’s “Fantasie Brilliante on Themes of Carmen.” Also on the program is Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival Overture,” as well as two showpieces: Dukas’ “Sorcerers Apprentice” and Ravel’s “Bolero.”

Surround Sound

As Tulare County Symphony audiences have come to expect, Music Director Bruce Keisling has promised another exciting new season. Timeless favorites, new and innovative programming, and talented guest artists fill the bill.

The ever popular “Pops in the Park” will kick off the Symphony’s 53rd season on September 8 at Tulare’s Zumwalt Park. Broadway and film soundtracks, traditional Americana favorites, as well as a few surprises promise to delight. So bring along picnic fare and enjoy the evening. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m.

Masterworks Series

All Masterworks concerts are at 7:30 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theatre. Don’t miss Maestro Kiesling’s informal previews before each concert at 6:45 p.m.

Great Movies, Great Music | February 9, 2013

The Seattle and San Francisco Symphony orchestras have nothing on our own Tulare County Symphony. Continuing Keisling’s tradition of including movie music programs, the iconic film Psycho will be shown, and the sound track will be replaced by the live performance of Bernard Herrmann’s film score. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Hitchcock classic, the Seattle Symphony played the score during the showing of the film in 2009, and San Francisco followed suit in 2010. This is a must-see event.

Musical Stories | March 11, 2013

Great stories are the theme of this concert and will include Grieg’s legendary “Peer Gynt Suite” and Khatchaturian’s “Spartacus Suite 2.” Lindsay Deutsch joins the Symphony for a special presentation of “Rhapsody in Blue,” arranged for violin solo and orchestra.

Mahler: The Most! | April 20, 2013

The season’s final concert will begin with Smetana’s lyrical, expressive “The Moldau.” This famous tone poem moves from a softly flowing brook to a dramatic rushing river. Concluding this landmark season is the Symphony’s first ever performance of Mahler’s powerful “Symphony No.1.” The massive orchestra will fill the Fox Theatre with wonderful, melodious “surround sound.”

Save the Date: The Annual Holiday Concert is December 14, 2012.

ABOVE: Tulare County Symphony Music Director, Bruce Keisling.

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For tickets and more information, call the Tulare County Symphony Office (559) 732-8600.

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Save the Date

Bounty of the County Celebrating Tulare County Agriculture ENJOY LOCAL | FOOD | WINE | BEER | MUSIC SUPPORT LOCAL | FARMERS | RESTAURANTS | WINERIES | FAMILIES

September 22, 2012 5:00p - 8:00p Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch 32985 Road 164, Ivanhoe

For information and tickets call:

Tulare County Farm Bureau (559) 732-8301 www.tulcofb.org

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52nd Annual Greek Fest Once again, the Fresno Greek Fest is offering a staggering array of Family Friendly Activities to help all aspiring Greeks to better enjoy the Festival! For the first time, they are sponsoring the “Kids’ Olympics”! For those not into competitive games, they are offering such time-honored activities such as: Guitar Hero, movies, water slides, gold panning, treasure hunting, bounce houses, and much, much more! $5 (Sat. and Sun. from 11a-6p, free entrance with a canned food donation); Free for seniors and children under 12.

When: Aug. 24 – 26 Where: St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2219 N. Orchard, Fresno Contact: 233-0397

Theater & Performances

AUG 17

Britain's Finest: BEATLES Tribute Band The “Beatles” return to the Valley for an end of summer show. Be transported back in time and through the span of the Beatles career with their hit songs accompanied by costume and character impersonations! 21+ and $10 cover.

When: Aug. 17, 9p Where: The Cellar Door, 101 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 636-9463 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee The Visalia Players presents this fun-filled musical about young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, who learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Written by Rebecca Feldman, music & lyrics by William Finn, directed by Corey Ralston.

When: Aug. 17 – Sept. 2 Where: The Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3900

SEP 15

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Always…Patsy Cline Visalia Players celebrates 55 years of live theatre at this special fundraiser performance at the Fox. Written and originally directed by Ted Swindley and based on a true story, enjoy an evening full of wonderful music, and an intimate and uplifting look at the life of the beloved country singer.

When: Sept. 15, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

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SEP 19

Merle Haggard Merle Haggard was the most important country artist to emerge in the 1960s. Haggard became one of the leading figures of the Bakersfield country scene in the '60s. Throughout his career, Haggard has been a champion of the workingman, largely due to his rough and tumble history. Tickets $50-$80.

When: Sept. 19, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

Art Exhibits Three Lindsay Ladies A three-artist show, featuring Wanda Wollenman, Pastels; Sam McKinney, Gourds, and Ginny Wilson, Photography.

When: Jun. 30 – Sept. 30, 10a-4p Where: Exeter Courthouse Gallery, 125 S. “B” St., Exeter Contact: 280-8547 Young At Art 2012 Arts Visalia features artworks created by each and every student who participates in its summer program. The Young At Art exhibit is one of the year’s most enjoyable exhibitions. Students, along with their families and friends, have the opportunity to see their artistic creations presented in a professional gallery setting.

When: Aug. 1 – 31; Reception: Aug. 3, 6-8p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

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Celebrating 55 Years of Live Theater A Special Fundraiser Performance at the Fox

Written and Originally Directed By Ted Swindley Based on a true story

September 15, 2012 7:30 pm at the Fox Theatre Visalia, California RESERVATIONS: 559-625-1FOX www.foxvisalia.org

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Main Seating: $25 VIP Section: $50 VIP Includes: pre-show and post-show celebrations

Bringing business banking solutions to your community Come in today and let us get to know you so we can provide your business with the financial resources and tools to help you reach your business goals.

From left to right: Gil Lara 437-3163, Tom Andersen 437-3147, Brian Donovan 437-7628, Frank Gallegos 437-7600 Š 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (703563_03923)

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1/9/12 10:18 AM

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Big Bones Battle of the Bands 2012 If your teenager and their friends are up-and-coming rockstars, be sure to sign them up for this year's Battle of the Bands. This event benefits Jackie Ives, motocross racer and native of Exeter. Winners earn a cash prize so be sure to sign up early and save your spot!

Tickets to attend the event are $12.

When: Sept. 1, 12-6p Where: Twilight Park, 1099 W. Ropes Ave., Woodlake Contact: Laurie, 361-9263 or Twilight Park, 1-800-GO TWILIGHT

Near and Far: Landscapes by Japanese Artists; Rotation 1: Imagination of Nature This rotation focuses on works by Japanese painters that feature fictitious landscapes. It introduces to the visitor not only the principles of landscape painting in Japan, but also the concept of creating an ideal landscape and its role within the art of painting.

When: Sept. 2 – Dec. 22 Where: The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, 15770 Tenth Ave., Hanford Contact: 582-4915 That Extra Dimension 2012: Invitational Sculpture Exhibition That Extra Dimension is an annual invitational exhibition featuring sculptural works by artists from throughout Central California. The exhibition serves as a well-rounded survey of the quality and diversity of work being made by sculptors from throughout California's San Joaquin Valley and the surrounding region.

When: Sept. 5 – 29; Reception: Sept. 7, 6-8p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

Diversions & Excursions Summer Unplugged - Kids Bowl FREE all Summer!

At AMF, kids 15 and under can bowl for free all summer. Simply register and you'll get a weekly voucher for two free games per child per day through September 3. Shoe rental is not included.

Free bowling available until 8p, 7 days a week.

When: May 12 – Sept. 3 Where: AMF Bowling, 1740 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia Contact: www.freebowling.amf.com

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AUG 24

Back to School Bowling Night Tulare County Office of Education brings students together for this annual bowling night as a way to kick off the new school year, and to celebrate young people making good, healthy choices to stay alcohol, tobacco, drug, and gang free.

When: Aug. 24, 6-9p Where: AMF Visalia Lanes, 1740 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia Contact: Adam Valenceia, avalencia@tcoe.org or 651-0155 ext. 3611 Downtown Visalians’ Annual Summer Sale Enjoy this end of summer sidewalk sale with discounts as high as 75 percent off. Fun and entertainment includes a dunk-tank sponsored by the COS football team, face painting, balloon artists, a bounce house at Garden Plaza, Rawhide mascot Tipper and A&W root beer.

When: Sept. 6 – 8 Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: 732-7737

SEP 7

Blues, Brews & BBQ Join in on live music from Andrew J. Magnuson Band, delicious barbeque and refreshing beverages at this fun downtown event.

When: Sept. 7, 6-10p Where: Garden Street Plaza, Visalia Contact: 732-7737 or visit www.bluesbrewsandbbq.net

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JJ Blooms FLORAL DESIGN & EVENT PLANNING

floral designer Jessie Casas|(p) 559.287.3678 jjbloomswholesale@sbcglobal.net office located at the Visalia Marriott

Broker/Owner NMLS #252789

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Wedding Style Bridal Show Come and connect with the wedding professionals you need to help you create your perfect day. This bridal show gives you an opportunity to meet dozens of great wedding vendors, see (and taste!) their work, sign up for great prizes and discounts, and enjoy a bridal salon fashion show.

When: Sept. 9, 12-4p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 635-0874

SEP 7

Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope See how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

Weather permitting, there will be a telescope observation site near the Planetarium after the show provided by the www.tulareastro.org/"Tulare Astronomical Association.

When: Sept. 7, 7p Where: Peña Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia Contact: 737-6334 Just Between Friends Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale Just Between Friends is the largest and leading children's and maternity consignment sales event bringing over 100,000 items from over 550 local families together so participants can shop, sell and save! Consignors bring their new and gently-used kids' items to the sale location, tagged and ready to sell using our user-friendly, free bar-coding website.

Unsold items may be picked up or donated to one of our charity partners at the end of the sale.

When: Sept. 9 – 15, 11a-7p Where: International Agri-Center, 4450 S. Laspina Ave., Tulare Contact: http://tinyurl.com/7tbx3a5

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SEP 11

College Night Hosted by TCOE, hundreds of high school students throughout Tulare County attend to meet representatives from over 90 universities and colleges from around the country. Representatives from national trade, art, and specialty institutions also attend. A variety of informational seminars on topics ranging from the application process and financial aid to foreign exchange and transferring credits will take place as well.

When: Sept. 11, 6-6:30p (Juniors & Seniors early access); 6:30-8:30p (General admission, info sessions) Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: Kim Rice, krice@ers.tcoe.org or 651-3031 Tulare County Fair It's that time of year again! Come down to the fair and enjoy food, fun, games, music and farm animal exhibits.

When: Sept. 12 – 16 Where: Tulare County Fairgrounds, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Tulare Contact: 686-4707

SEP 21

Wildest Weather in the Solar System Join us on a spectacular journey to witness the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system. From a storm the size of a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb to a 400-year-old hurricane to a dust tempest that could engulf entire planets, you'll be glad you live on Earth! Weather permitting, there will be a telescope observation site near the Planetarium after the show provided by the HYPERLINK "http://www.tulareastro. org/"Tulare Astronomical Association.

When: Sept. 21, 7p Where: Peña Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia Contact: 737-6334

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Visalia Home EXPO The South Valley's largest fall home show has experts in remodeling, decorating and technology. It's the largest home show in the South Valley, so come check out all the new styles in home décor this fall, and much more!

When: Sept. 22 & 23, 10a-6p and 10a-5p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-4000

Visalia Farmers’ Market – Harvest of the Valley Weekly event open to the public featuring free live music, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations and local, fresh produce available for purchase.

When: Thursdays - Downtown Visalia, 5-8p/ Saturdays - Sequoia Mall, Sears parking lot 8-11:30a Where: Church & Main/ Sears parking lot at Mooney and Caldwell, Visalia Contact: 967-6722 or www.visaliafarmersmarket.com

Charitable Events

AUG 24

Home Plate Dinner Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County and the Visalia Rawhide are having a special fundraiser at the Ballpark! Join them during the game for a family dinner then stay after the game for the fireworks display. Ticket deals and features vary and are priced from $30-$12.50.

When: Aug. 24 Where: Recreation Ballpark, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: Habitat, 734-4040; Ballpark, 732-4433

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TKRL Making a Difference for Life Banquet This year's Making a Difference for Life banquet will be different from prior years. Entitled The Great Turnaround, it will be a fastpaced multi-media event that focuses on the biblical basis for the prolife movement. Featuring guest speaker Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.

When: Sept. 6, 6:30p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 732-5000 or www.tkrl.org

AUG 25 SEP 1 SEP 15

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Summer Jubilee The Roaring 20s come alive at Tulare Hospital Foundation's fundraiser featuring food and beverage sampling, followed by casino gaming and dancing. Tickets: $50. Sponsor and vendor opportunities available, call now and sign up.

When: Aug. 25, 7-11p Where: 1028 N. Oaks Ave., Tulare Contact: 685-3448 or www.TulareRegional.org/summerjubilee Kaweah Delta - Previously Adorned Jewelry Sale Come check out the great jewelry for sale. All profits purchase patient care equipment for KDHCD. When: Sept. 1, 8a-4p Where: Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Mineral King Lobby, 400 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia Contact: Donna, 734-3109 VOSPCA Wines & Wags Join the Valley Oak SPCA for this spectacular evening of wine and food tasting, live and silent auction and entertainment under the stars. All proceeds from this event support Valley Oak SPCA's efforts to raise funds for the new Adoption and Education Center. When: Sept. 15, 6:30p Where: TBD, Call for information.

Contact: 713-4694

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SEP 22

Bounty of the County Enjoy local food, wine, beer and music while you support local farmers, restaurants, wineries, and families.

When: Sept. 22, 5-8p Where: Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch, 32985 Road 164, Ivanhoe Contact: Tulare County Farm Bureau, 732-8301 or www.tulcofb.org

Writers & Readers Tulare County Library First Tuesday Book Club (Sept. 4, 6:30p) Socrates Cafe (Sept. 11, 6:30p) Mystery Readers (Sept. 19, 6:30p) Where: Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or www.tularecountylibrary.org