April 2013

HOME TOUR

ECLECTICISM AND SYMMETRY

Cohesive Concepts of an Ever-Changing Home HISTORY

REFLECTIONS OF MAIN STREET

Remembering the Days of the Handshake Lease CULINARY

MOTHER’S DAY MENU

Grilled Stuffed Mediterranean Chicken April 2013

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24 HOME TOUR Eclecticism and Symmetry

CULINARY

Mother’s Day Menu Grilled Stuffed Mediterranean Chicken

8

Letter from the Executive Editor

10 Business Cents: I Don’t Need an Estate

Plan … Do I? 12 Word Play 14 Local Adventure: Waterfalls 16 Literary Arts: Gloria Getman

and Suzanne Clevenger

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18 Soirée: Golden Gala to Remember 22 Charity: Chocolate Romance

HISTORY

34 Holiday: Happy Mother’s Day

Reflections of Main Street

48 Fashion

Remembering the Days of the Handshake Lease

50 Performances 52 Chamber: Visalia 54 Chamber: Exeter 56 Chamber: Tulare

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58 Happenings

RAWHIDE

If You Build It… They Will Come

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L I F E S T Y L E | A P R I L 2 013

ABOVE: High ceilings and ornamental pineapples are found throughout the west Visalia home, as evident even in the kitchen. The pineapple theme serves as a symbol of hospitality for the homeowners.

APRIL 2013 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY EDITORIAL Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor KYNDAL KENNEDY Staff Photographer TAYLOR VAUGHN Calendar Ciara norton Copy Editor DARA FISK-EKANGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHAFIC DADA CHERYL LEVITAN COREY RALSTON Diane Slocum DONALD DeJONGE JORDAN VENEMA MAJOR ROGERS MARSHA PELTZER RANDY MORENO SHARON MOSLEY TERRY L. OMMEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JEFFREY Malkasian EA

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 Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Golf Course Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Red Carpet Car Wash 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.

Operations Manager Maria Gaston ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Bridget Elmore Account Executive BRYCE McDONALD 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 © 2013 DMI Agency

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LEFT: Eclectic pieces often discovered on trips and at local retailers, fill every room of this west Visalia home.

COVER: While not hunters themselves, the homeowners enjoy the design elements of antlers and hunting “trophies” throughout their home. This rustic mule-deer antler chandelier serves as captivating décor and lighting in the kitchen’s nook.

E EDITOR NOTE

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

One doesn’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the efforts of the forward-thinking leaders of Visalia’s past. Today, most of us enjoy Visalia’s vibrant downtown and have spent many hours dining, shopping or taking in the entertainment on or near Main Street. As I’m strolling down the sidewalk it’s pretty easy to take it all for granted, without giving much thought to the foresight and hard work local businessmen, like Ken Schelling, did to preserve the integrity of Downtown Visalia.

Local historian and Lifestyle contributing writer Terry L. Ommen talked with Ken, learning about some of the challenges downtown merchants faced with the expansion of new shopping centers on Mooney Blvd. The determination of Ken, and other like-minds of the time, kept Visalia on a concentric growth pattern resulting in a thriving downtown. For more of “Reflections of Main Street” please turn to page 40.

And while we’re talking about visionary leaders, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the recent 50th Anniversary of Kaweah Delta Health Care District. What started as a humble 36-bed hospital has grown into a regional district with 600 beds and 3,600 employees. Fifty years is a long time to take care of a community, and the sold-out event was a testament of heartfelt appreciation. Lifestyle contributing writer Cheryl Levitan shares highlights in “A Golden Gala to Remember” on page 18.

If you recall, we recently featured local businessman Anees Akhund – not for his long-standing success as an insurance agent, but rather for what would seem an unlikely artistic talent. It’s not often a mid-career professional delves head-first into the shallow end of a pool and floats to the top. If the story “New Artist/Old Soul” left you wanting to see more, you’re in for a treat at the Living: Color exhibition of paintings by Anees and fellow artist R.W. Goetting at the Arts Visalia Gallery May 1–31.

Check out our Happenings Section on page 58 for information about the show and reception.

As we approach the month of May, I’m thinking good thoughts about Mother’s Day. Although I lost my own mother more than 20 years ago, I still wish she were here for me to share the day with. For months now I’ve thought about calling her best friend to see how she was doing. I feel terrible it’s been so long, and how I let my daily tasks get in the way of doing what’s really important – staying connected with people I care about.

Today, I put my guilt aside long enough to call her and was relieved she answered the phone. She was so excited for the call. She’s not my mother, but she is a mother, and she loved my mother like a sister. I’m thankful she’s healthy and doing well and hope everyone has an opportunity to share a special moment with a special person on Mother’s Day – even if you are the one to reach out. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

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

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B BUSINESS CENTS

I Don’t Need an Estate Plan ... Do I? Text by Donald DeJonge, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual

E

state planning is the process of deciding what should happen to your assets if you should die or become incapacitated, and taking the steps to ensure your decisions will be carried out the way you want them to. Not just for the wealthy any more, having an estate plan is an essential part of responsible financial planning for anyone who wants to meet financial goals and provide for loved ones.

Your trusted advisors (financial advisor, CPA and estate planning attorney) can help you design a plan that works for your circumstances. Here are some of the key steps involved that you should consider: 1. Create an inventory of what you own and what you owe.

There are many good reasons to compile a comprehensive list of your assets and debts, including account numbers and contact information, as well as names and contact information for your important advisers. Hint: You might already have a similar type of list you provide to your bank quarterly or annually. Prepare and keep the summary in a secure central location – along with original copies of important documents – and provide a copy of the summary for the executor of your will.

2. Develop a contingency plan. An estate plan allows you to control what would happen to your property and assets if you or your spouse passed away today. It also puts a documented plan in place so that if you became incapacitated, your family could carry on your affairs without having to go through court, keeping things out of the public eye. This includes a strategy for providing income if you were to become disabled and covering potential expenses for caregiving that may be needed at some point.

3. Provide for children and dependents. A primary goal for many estate plans is to protect and provide for loved ones and their future needs. Your estate plan should include provisions for any children, including naming a guardian for children under age 18 and providing for those from a previous marriage that might not be specifically addressed by leaving assets to a current spouse. It also would specifically address the care and income of children or relatives with special needs that must be planned carefully to avoid jeopardizing eligibility for government benefits.

4. Protect your assets. A key component of estate planning involves protecting your assets for heirs and your charitable legacy by minimizing expenses and covering estate taxes while still meeting your goals. If necessary, your estate plan would include specific strategies for transferring or disposing of unique assets such as family-owned business, real estate or investment property, or stock in a closely held business. Many people use permanent life insurance and trusts to protect assets while ensuring future goals can be met.

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5. Document your wishes. If you want your assets distributed in

a certain way to meet financial or personal goals, you need to have legal documentation to ensure those wishes are followed if you die or become incapacitated. This includes designating beneficiaries for your life insurance policies, retirement accounts and other assets that are in line with your goals and ensuring that the titles of material assets, such as automobiles and property, are named properly. All too often people forget to update beneficiaries on assets that pass by contract and end up leaving assets to an unintended person. Work with an attorney to be sure you have an updated will disposing of your assets, a living will reflecting your end-of-life wishes, as well as powers of attorney for health care and financial matters.

Contact your financial advisor to make sure you have updated your beneficiaries on life insurance, annuities and investment accounts to mirror your estate plan.

6. Appoint fiduciaries. To execute your estate plan you must designate someone to act on your behalf if you are unable to do so – as executor of your will, trustee for your assets, legal guardian for your dependents and/or personal representative or power of attorney if you became incapacitated. You need to be sure your fiduciaries are aware of and agree to their appointments, and that they know where to find your original estate planning documents. Fiduciaries can be family members, personal friends or hired professionals such as attorneys or corporate trustees.

Whether you are just starting out or have accumulated wealth over a lifetime, an up-to-date estate plan helps you minimize the impact of unexpected events on you and your family by preserving, protecting and managing your assets. Your trusted advisors can help you create a financial security plan to meet your goals, and provide tools and resources to build an estate plan that will make an impact well into the future.

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W WORD PLAY

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

W

ith its blossoms, warm sun and cool breezes, mountains still capped with snow while green covers Valley fields, April is a beautiful time to be alive. Susan Spencer-Wendel would perhaps argue that anytime to live is beautiful. The author of Until I Say Good-By: My Year of Living with Joy (Harper, March 2013) writes of how she spent what she expects to be her last year after she is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The 44-year-old Palm Beach Post journalist determined that she would fill the year with incredible experiences and good memories for her family. When her typing fingers failed her, she entered one letter at a time on her iPhone with one thumb. Bret Witter was the co-author on this inspirational account.

Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective by Pat Head Summitt and Sally Jenkins (Crown Archetype, March 2013). Summitt coached winning women’s basketball for 38 years. Even after her diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2011, her team went on to win the SEC championship for the sixteenth time.

A book that may be inspiring to some and controversial to others is Rob Bell’s What We Talk About When We Talk About God (HarperOne, March 2013). Bell’s three words which are the focus of his discussion concerning God are “with,” “for” and “ahead,” which reveal his belief that God is not only with us and for us, but ahead of us.

Read the Book The Reluctant Fundamentalist: A Novel

by Mohsin Hamid (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007) will be released in May as a movie starring Kate Hudson. In the book, Pakistani immigrant Changez graduates with honors from Princeton and is launched on a successful career which introduces him to Manhattan society and a beautiful girl. Everything changes after September 11, 2001.

Valley Writers Gerald Haslam, who grew up in Oildale, has always been a big proponent of the Central Valley in his works. His latest book, co-authored by his wife, Janice, takes on a different subject. In Thought and Action: The Enigmatic Life of S.I. Hayakawa delves into the life of the scholar, teacher and senator.

Hayakawa’s life was a mixture of contradictions – a Republican senator who supported the 1960s’ women’s movement, for example – and the Haslams use interviews with those who knew him as well as Hayakawa’s papers to try to clarify the picture of who the man was.

Fowler native Juan Felipe Herrera has been an active poet laureate for California since appointed last year. See his website at www.juanfelipepoet.com and his project “The Most Incredible & Biggest Poem on Unity in The World” at www.facebook. com/TheMostIncredibleBiggestPoemOnUnityInTheWorld. For this project, he is asking people to contribute a poem on unity.

Another project is called “Show Me Your Papers” and involves paper constructions with poetry or words that involve the notion of showing papers. Another project asks the question “How do you, in your real-life world, answer cancer?” People are asked to write poetry about what they went through, how they are growing and more.

Writing Contests The 30th Annual Colorado Gold Writing Contest 2013 is for unpublished writers of commercial novel-length fiction. The contest is open April 1 – June 1. Entry fee is $30 or $55 with a critique. Submit the first twenty pages plus a 3-4 page synopsis in categories of Romance, Mystery, Mainstream, Action/ Thriller, Speculative Fiction or Young Adult. Finalists will be judged by an agent or editor who attends the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s conference in September. Winners receive $100, finalists, $30. Details at: www.rmfw.org/contest.

The 82nd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition early bird deadline is May 6. Categories include Inspirational, Memoirs, Mainstream/Literary, Rhyming or Non-rhyming Poetry, and Scripts. The top winner’s prizes include $3,000, a paid trip to the conference in New York, and the personal attention of four editors or agents. Category winners receive $1,000 for first place. Early Bird fees start at $27. Details at: www.writersdigest.com.

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Writing Conferences and Workshops The Children’s Summer Institute will be held July 26–28 at Simmons College in Boston with a theme of “Love Letters.”

Registration is $500 and limited to earliest applicants. Students in the program have the opportunity to meet with authors, illustrators and editors of children’s literature. Past lecturers have included Maurice Sendak, Avi and other Caldecott and Newberry Medal winners. Details at: www.simmons.edu/ institutes/childrens-lit/index.php.

The New York Pitch Conference features editors from houses such as Henry Holt, Penguin and Random House. The workshop focuses on the pitch for the novel and uses that as a means to prepare a better story. Those wishing to attend must apply before registering. Registration is $595 until June 10.

Details at: http://newyorkpitchconference.com.

The Last Word “Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” — Joseph Campbell (1904–1987)

L LOCAL ADVENTURE

Waterfalls in All Their Glory

W

ith spring officially here, there is no better place to be than outside. And, for fortunate Central Valley natives, there are beautiful places like Yosemite National Park just a quick drive away. Instead of visiting Yosemite National Park to go fishing, hiking or backpacking, this month’s local adventure focuses on marveling at the glorious waterfalls.

Nestled just northeast of Fresno County is the first waterfall, and possibly the most recognizable for locals; Yosemite Falls. At 2,425 feet high, Yosemite Falls is one of the word’s tallest waterfalls. It can be seen from numerous places around Yosemite Valley but is definitely worth an up-close-and-personal viewing. This threesectioned waterfall flows from November to July, but the best time to catch a glimpse is in May – just around the corner.

Yosemite National Park is also home to many more waterfalls, some a light trickle and others a thunderous fall. To be even more amazed, check out the 2,000-foot Sentinel Falls, Horsetail Fall, Ribbon Fall and Nevada Fall. You can visit these waterfalls year-round, but the best time to see what they can really do is in May. A short drive south of Yosemite, you’ll find Kings Canyon National Park, home to the American Black Bear, Mount Whitney – the highest point in 48 states – and the General Sherman tree, one of the largest trees on Earth. Roaring River Falls, located just off of Highway 180, is yet another marvelous bit of nature rushing forth during the spring. Roaring River Falls is exactly what its name implies. Dropping 40 feet with rushing waters cascading off its narrow ledge, this waterfall will shock you with its unexpected strength and splendor.

If you continue just east, at road’s end there is yet another impressive cascade. Mist Falls drops sparkling water from the Kings River 100 feet over a rocky granite incline. If you get the chance, visit both Kings Canyon waterfalls for a mesmerizing experience.

Located just south of and contiguous with Kings Canyon National Park sits our neighbor to the east, Sequoia National Park. Home of the famous Giant Sequoia trees, other features of this area are often overlooked. But, not this month! Grizzly Falls is a dazzling waterfall that drops only 75 feet from the road.

With water that close, it’s not a bad idea to consider bringing an umbrella. This waterfall is easy to visit and April just happens to be the best month to check it out.

With so many options, it can be hard to choose which waterfalls to visit. So, grab your whole family (and those umbrellas) and make this a day trip that everyone will be sure to enjoy!

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L LITERARY ARTS

A NEW BREED OF

T

wenty or 30 years ago, selfpublishing a book was pretty much reserved for the rich or desperate. Someone with enough time, talent and money could do all the work of designing his own book and hire someone to print it for him. Or, he could go with a vanity publisher and maybe learn the hard way, like John-Boy Walton, that a bill came with those shiny new books. You paid the publisher, they didn’t pay you.

Then, either way, the writer was responsible for selling books he had already paid for and hoping he didn’t end up with an empty bank account and a closet full of dusty volumes.

Fast-forward to now. A new generation of writers are finding that self-publishing using print-on-demand, electronic publication and Internet marketing can be a rewarding way to go. Costs are affordable. Sales can be satisfying, if maybe not spectacular.

Sometimes, it can even be a route to finding a publisher who will buy the book, or future works.

Sharon Lathan of Hanford started writing her Jane Austen fan-fiction just for fun.

Her online readers urged her to publish, so she attempted to go the traditional route of attracting an agent and a publisher. In her naiveté about the glacial speed of the publishing world, she soon decided she had waited long enough and took the selfpublishing route through Lulu.com. For her, that proved to be auspicious. One day short of a month after her first book, Two Shall Become One: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy came out on Lulu, she attracted the attention of independent publisher Sourcebook, Inc. which bought that one and continues to publish her novels. Her seventh book in the series, The Passions of Dr. Darcy, was released this month.

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Sylvia Ross of Exeter chose CreateSpace when she decided to self-publish. Ross had already had considerable success selling her stories, artwork and poems, primarily to Heyday’s magazine, anthologies and children’s line. Even though Heyday was interested in her Acts of Kindness, Acts of Contrition as a memoir, she chose to write it as a novel because she felt her writing would be more honest using a fictional approach.

This left her without a publisher and she didn’t have time to waste looking for one.

She wanted her ill sister and an ill friend who inspired an important character in the book to be able to read their story in published format and knew they might never see it with traditional publishing.

She also could not afford to go with a private printer as another friend did, paying thousands of dollars to get published.

Amazon’s CreateSpace seemed to fill her need with its print-on-demand and good royalty package. Her initial investment was only $39 for a wide distribution option and $69 for a Kindle conversion. She made back her investment in her first month of sales. She chose the same method for her second novel, East of the Great Valley: The Story of Merab McCreary, which came out in October.

Gloria Getman of Exeter and Suzanne Clevenger of Visalia are two more area writers who have joined in travelling the CreateSpace route. Getman’s novel, Lottie’s Legacy, was released in June last year and Clevenger’s Pastures of Hope: Walking with the Shepherd in Difficult Times just came out in November.

Getman’s first exposure to working with CreateSpace came with the publication of Leaves from the Valley Oak in February last year. Getman belongs to writing groups in Exeter and Visalia and the members had produced a number of short stories that

LITERARY ARTS L

SELF-PUBLISHERS seemed worthy of publication. Getman and another member, Mary Benton, chose stories from about 10 of the writers to include in the edition. Ross and Clevenger were two of them.

Getman said the publication process on the first book took her about three months.

After that experience, the second one went faster. The first step is to set up the document in Microsoft Word, then open an account in CreateSpace.

“Then follow their steps,” she said, “because they have a step-by-step process that works quite well.”

These include changing the document into a PDF and uploading it onto the site where it will be checked for compatible fonts, size and other aspects. This can be a somewhat lengthy process, she said, while what the writer wants is worked out with what can be done.

The cover is another opportunity for the writer to be creative. For Leaves, Getman photographed Valley oaks from several different angles. Ross took two of these photos and combined them using Adobe Photoshop.Getman also took the photos for Lottie’s Legacy, placing props that are important to the story on a cloth on her dining room table. Ross again joined in the process as the two of them emailed the photos back and forth developing a cover design.

Once this procedure is finished, the author orders a proof copy to correct errors. After all the corrections have been made, the manuscript is uploaded again. At least, at this point, the authors hope the errors have been corrected.

“Even after I had Lottie’s Legacy out and was selling it, I got an email from my cousin,” Getman said. “She sent me a whole bunch of page numbers where I should look up the errors. I corrected them and resubmitted it to CreateSpace. So the more recent copies don’t have as many errors.”

Text By Diane Slocum

Getman has been happy with her sales, especially through The Book Garden in Exeter. A Library Week book signing could also help.

When Clevenger decided to use CreateSpace for her book as well, she had the advantage of following in Getman’s footsteps.

“It was a challenge,” she said. “But bless Gloria’s heart; she was wonderful in helping me with the formatting and that detail work that has to be done. It’s an adventure. I figured I was on a new journey. I did not plan to do it myself, but the publishing world is so leery of unknown writers.”

Clevenger’s Pastures of Hope tells the story of 12 women who dealt with difficult issues with courage and hope: breast cancer, a son lost in a horrific plane crash on his sixteenth birthday, the aftermath of an abortion, a husband’s addiction to pornography, an innocent-passerby husband who was killed in a gang shootout, and more. She learned these stories as the director of women’s ministries at her church.

As Clevenger tried to get her book out, she would become discouraged and quit for a month or more at a time. Her husband’s encouragement would get her going again, but the clincher came near Easter last year when one of her subjects passed away.

“I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to finish this,’” she said. “Eve never read it. I cannot do this to anybody else. So I sat down and got serious about it.”

Self-publishing helped her achieve this goal, and she has been satisfied with the results. Her subjects had agreed to tell their stories if they could benefit someone else. Now, with the book out, people are telling her how much it does mean to them, something that would likely not be happening if she had continued to look for a traditional publisher.

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S SOIREE

ABOVE: Lee Mirviss and Lynn Havard-Mirviss, Herb and Eleanor Hawkins, Joann and Norman Black, Louise and Don Ford, and Faye Zeeb.

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soiree S

Text by Cheryl Levitan

O

n March 23 Kaweah Delta Health Care District (KDHCD) celebrated its 50th Anniversary … and a golden gala it was! Co-chair Dru Quesnoy, KDHCD marketing director, served as the decorating visionary, and Co-chair Judy Cotta, compliance and privacy officer, functioned as “foreman.” With their combined skills the Visalia Convention Center was transformed into a glittering array of glowing columns draped in white linen with golden sashes and the tables into works of art with jeweled centerpieces. The construction “crew” consisted of hospital employees, spouses, and assorted family members who volunteered countless hours of labor. Their efforts created a spectacular backdrop for an unbelievably well-attended evening.

“We originally expected about 400 people … but dreamed of reaching 600,” said Cotta. As early as a week before the gala, every nook and cranny of the exhibit hall was spoken for as 940 tickets were sold and requests were being turned away.

“We have always been very proud of the community support the District has received in every endeavor and grateful that so many people wanted to join in this celebration of what we have accomplished together,” said Lindsay Mann, CEO of KDHCD. That sentiment was echoed by Carl Anderson, president of KDHCD’s Board of Directors, “It takes much more than visionary planning to accomplish what Kaweah Delta has in the last 50 years. Our medical, nursing and support staff, the Executive Committee, Foundation Board, Board of Directors, and Guild are all essential components, but it is the support from the community that has allowed the District to come this far and also ensures that a bright future lies ahead as well.”

The evening included a meal by The Vintage Press that was outstanding. It was preceded by tray after tray of hors d’oeuvres passed by formally dressed wait staff so numerous that you never had to look for something to eat or someone to take an empty glass. And the multiple dessert buffet stations? Plentiful, varied, delicious … the only negative was that we ate too many!

TOP: CEO Lindsay Mann with his wife Lesa.

BOTTOM: Co-chair and Marketing Director Dru Quesnoy with her husband Gene.

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Fortunately the band, Run4Cover (fantastic as always), kept everyone dancing and burning those calories.

From its humble 36-bed beginning in 1936, and its name change from Visalia Municipal to Kaweah Delta District Hospital in 1963, to its familiar hexagonal structure that debuted in 1969, KDHCD has grown into an entity with a $454 million budget and an array of services far superior and more diverse than any rural population of 120,000 could reasonably expect. Alan Ishida, of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, illustrated this point well as he related a story of his great surprise when visiting a friend many years ago hospitalized at the newly opened District Hospital, “I was so impressed … my friend was in a private room.

Every other hospital only offered semi-private rooms back then, but Kaweah Delta was on the cutting edge and has continued to surpass expectations ever since.”

Ed Vollmer, mayor in 1969 when the new District Hospital opened, added, “With all I have done in my life, I have always taken a great deal of pride in both the community and the city council, past and present, for the commitment and leadership that overcame the challenges to growth back then and that continues to this day.”

There were many more stories related during the evening. Some regaled the audience with highlights and additions of the past 50 years.

Others talked of developments soon to come.

The helipad will debut within the next couple of months and serve to enhance trauma services. A residency program will begin this summer and marks an important new chapter for Kaweah Delta as a teaching hospital, encouraging young

doctors to join our community and begin their practices here after their training rather than in the cities they might have previously imagined.

But the most impressive stories told were very simple personal ones that were shared quietly – and probably said more about KDHCD than any timeline or chart ever could. Those were accounts of employees and entire families volunteering in the weeks and months before the event as well as throughout the evening … including finding community sponsors to help defray the costs of food and entertainment in order to offer a “caviar” evening at a more reasonable ticket price.

The most moving anecdotes were the personal stories about employees who had quietly offered both financial and wardrobe help to co-workers so that they could attend the evening’s celebration as well. Those stories, along with the fact that an unheard of 60 percent of staff contribute regularly to the Foundation’s development projects, confirms that the staff of KDHCD is just as supportive of its own members as it is of the mission for the community in which they live.

Mann said, “We have always been here for the individuals within our community. It’s what drives our planning and development. It’s been that way for the last 50 years, and while we are taking this moment to look back at our past success, we will never stop striving to meet the needs of an ever-growing community.”

Clearly that same belief has been embraced by the staff as well. That’s the quality of people we want providing care for us and our families.

Kaweah Delta Health Care District really does have much to be proud of.

ABOVE: Harry Tow, Visalia city planner when Kaweah Delta District Hospital was established.

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C CHARITY

CHOC

Photo by Corey Ralston

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Photo by Corey Ralston

OLATE

CHARITY C

Text by Corey Ralston

T

o say there was a chocolate overload in Exeter on March 23 would be a vast understatement.

Even the greatest of chocolate connoisseurs would be overwhelmed by the assortment of chocolate dishes that were on hand for the Sixth Annual Chocolate Romance event put on by the Optimist Club of Exeter.

Over 150 people came to support youth and indulge in the tasty concoctions while listening to live music and perusing the large number of items available in the silent auction.

Four local restaurants did their best to win the top prize in the entrée and dessert competition. Hometown Emporium served up a white chocolate shrimp scampi and various chocolate desserts, including a chocolate mousse on cookie wafer. Monet’s offered Ancho chili pulled pork on a chocolate chip brioche roll with a chipotle chocolate brownie for dessert. Cappella Coffee House made a pork tenderloin on risotto dish with a chocolate citrus sauce and chocolate espresso gelato in a cold chocolate shell. Finally, for its sweet offering, Wildflower Café delivered an Asian-fusion salad in a cabbage bowl topped with balsamic reduction dressing that had hints of chocolate and raspberry currant and assorted truffles.

Three celebrity judges crowned Wildflower Café the Restaurateur of the Year and Hometown Emporium Chocolatier of the Year. Guests of the evening also were able to vote on the People’s Choice Award, which went to Monet’s for the entrée and Hometown

Emporium for dessert.

The 2011 Woman of the Year, Judy Davenport, was led to the event by her love of chocolate. “We have never attended before and thought it would be a fun evening. My husband and I both love chocolate,” Davenport said. “I really liked the Peanut Butter Truffle from Wildflower.”

President of the Optimist Club Roger Wagner couldn’t be happier with the success of the event. “We had a record crowd who seemed to enjoy themselves throughout the evening. This was our best Chocolate Romance in terms of attendance and finances,” Wagner said.

The Optimist Club, whose mission is to invest in the youth of the community, put on the event to raise money for the students of Kaweah High School in Exeter and Deep Creek Academy in Farmersville.

“The money raised during Chocolate Romance goes entirely to scholarships for the students at both Kaweah and Deep Creek Academy High Schools. We provide $1,000 scholarships for each student who carries a full class load and $500 for those carrying a part-time class load. If after their first year of college they wish to continue we will automatically provide another scholarship for qualifying students. We will also help the students with trade schools if that is their desire,” Wagner said.

Last year the Club was able to donate $1,500 to Deep Creek Academy for yearbooks, school trips, sports uniforms and other projects. It also donated $1,500 to Kaweah High School for their Senior Trip. There is also a Student of the Month program in which the Club invites a

student, recommended by a teacher, to Cappella Coffee House where they buy the student and his or her family lunch, and honor the student with a Certificate of Achievement.

“One of my favorite events is going to both schools and providing them with a Thanksgiving dinner. We get to serve and eat with the students, allowing us to get to know them,” he said.

During Chocolate Romance there was a Tree Of Love set up among the 42 Silent Auction items donated by local businesses. This tree allowed people to make donations of any denomination and hang them in an envelope. The money hanging from the branches will go to provide unique scholarships to local students.

The scholarships could go to the funding of college credits, vocational training, apprenticeship programs, beauty school and other trade/technical certificate programs.

Local sixth grade teacher Teresa Langdon came not only for the chocolate but to help in the noble endeavor to raise money for students in need.

“It is so nice to see organizations like the Optimist Club do so much for local children. Investing in these kids makes a huge impact on our society and promotes positive behavior by the kids,” Langdon said.

Roger Wagner echoed those sentiments.

“Exeter is an amazing community in regards to supporting organizations like ours. We can’t thank them enough for the way they have given so generously to our students,” he said.

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H HOME TOUR

PICTURED: The living room of this west Visalia home is dominated by floor to ceiling windows, which complement the large and eclectic decorative items within as well as features the homeowners favorite place – the backyard.

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HOME TOUR H

Eclecticism and Symmetry:

Cohesive Concepts of an Ever-Changing Home Text By Jordan Venema | Photos By Forrest Cavale, Third Element Studios

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2013

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H HOME TOUR

A

dream home can encapsulate many entities. It can be dependent upon the location, how many rooms, the size of the kitchen, or the yard. For some their dream home is accustom to a mansion, others a simple cottage, but for many, just a place to call home, where their family can be found is perfect.

This month’s home tour – a Benart custom home, designed by Fresno architect Loye Stone – fits the description of the later, and yet still embodies the grandiose of a mansion. The “Ashville” home is a model of European architecture; the pyramid and hip roofs rise and culminate and gather like peaks in a mountain chain, while the floor-to-ceiling windows that surround the house appear to buttress and hold the structure up.

There is a kind of provincial charm to the house, completed by the quaint,

enclosed courtyard and the high, grand entrance. The homeowners loved the location of the house because while it rests in town it also borders the farms and fields that “feel like they are just across the way.”

Thanks to the home’s European influenced exterior, and with the use of a little imagination, the home feels like it could border a more distant countryside, Alsace or Lorraine.

The interior of the home is a slightly less traditional, more eclectic reflection of the homeowners’ tastes. The home, which “is perfect for tall people,” because of its rising high ceilings and an open, showcase interior, is full of space for any collection of tastes and styles, however eclectic. The main living room is flooded with natural light, which almost seems to have tanned the interior’s golden hue. When walking into the living room, the sense is almost like walking outside. There is a kind of

jungle aesthetic, rustic and Asiatic at the same time. Floral and animal print patterns pop out against the mellow earth tones of the room, while delicate and colored vases, one of which is full of dried bamboo shoots, give a more antiquated touch to the otherwise organically designed room.

Framed prints of tropical birds – an homage to the lovebirds the homeowner used to keep – look as though they could fly out and perch on the fronds of the potted Kentia palm and Fiddle Leaf fig.

The homeowners even laid a kind of “natural” carpeting throughout the home: wall-to-wall sea grass carpeting, with interwoven fibers that provide a texture that’s pleasing both to look at and to walk on.

While each of the five bedrooms is distinct, there is consistency between the homeowners’ design, both in its color

ABOVE: The home’s kitchen, like the rest of the house, is seemingly made for a large family – and a tall one at that – as each piece of furniture and décor is on the grand scale.

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H HOME TOUR and choice of accessories. The sea grass carpeting and grass cloth wall covering run throughout most rooms, creating a “retro look,” according to the homeowner, that is decidedly making a comeback.

Zebra and cowhide rugs are laid out in certain rooms, and the antlers of some indistinct Saharan gazelle or antelope are mounted on walls in bedrooms. While these accessories appear to be trophies from a hunt, the homeowners aren’t big game hunters; they just appreciate the style. “If you find something that you love, it can work in any home.” Their eclectic style is a testament to that.

One of the interesting nuances to the home is the number of octagonal nooks spread throughout the house. These small nooks are naturally well lit because of the portrait windows stretching upward from custom wainscoting. Detailed molding and trim run throughout the house, but in these angled nooks, the crown molding runs along the ceiling like the icing of an ornamented cake. There is a curtained nook adjacent to the master bedroom, looking onto the backyard and situated with comfortable love seats. A second nook, also looking out onto the backyard, and adjacent to the kitchen, is a perfect fit for a round wooden table. An ornate and rustic mule-deerantler chandelier hangs over the table, and creates the kind of atmosphere expected to be found at a rugged resort in Wyoming.

The homeowners’ favorite space isn’t actually in the home. Most of their time is spent relaxing under the covered patio in the backyard, where there is a vantage of the rectangular saltwater pool and adjoined raised spa. A raised and tiled wall runs along the length of the pool’s east side, over which waterfalls flow into the water beneath it. Rosemary bushes also hang over the wall’s edge, its leaves nearly touching the water’s surface. The homeowners, who have done much of the landscaping and gardening themselves, have added a variety of succulents and Queen and Sago palms.

TOP: The master bedroom en suite is complete with his-and-her sinks and vanities and mirrors along the walls, making a large space even bigger.

CENTER: The back patio of this west Visalia home also includes 16-foot tall drapes that help to keep the interior of the home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, while also allowing for added privacy to their outdoor gatherings.

BOTTOM: The master bedroom carries the theme of symettry as well as the organic carpet found throughout the house.

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H HOME TOUR

Bougainvillea grows along the walls of a small guesthouse and garage, which the family uses as a workout space and game room for the children. During the winter, heavy 16-foot drapes are pulled together to enclose the patio, and with the use of a heater, the patio becomes a comfortable outdoor space, despite the cold.

In many ways, the five-bedroom, fourbathroom home is a typical house, used for work as well as comfort. The office is the only house in the room not painted a brown or gold, as if to somehow separate the purpose of the office from the purpose

of the rest of the home. Regardless, the homeowners say that the vibrant red color in the office is meant to bring out the faces of those who stand in the room.

Throughout the house, hidden almost like Easter eggs, are small and large ornamental pineapples. The fruit makes its appearance in the form of patterns, light fixtures, the doorbell plate, small statuettes, and even among the homeowner’s collection of Limoges. For this family, the pineapple makes sense since it is a symbol of hospitality.

A friend of the homeowners described

the house as a “blessed house,” a place where they often met for Bible studies or to have a barbecue while their children swam in the pool. It is a blessed home, but what makes a home blessed isn’t its style or its structure, its size or its simplicity. A home is an ever-changing thing, whenever furniture is added or an accessory removed. These homeowners whose home was built on the lot of an unfinished home, are keenly aware that a house is never really finished, never truly complete.

ABOVE: The dining room at the front of the house opens up to the enclosed courtyard through floor to ceiling windows and doors.

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HOME TOUR H

figaro’s VOTED BEST SALAD IN TULARE COUNTY

CHICKEN MANGO SALAD

At Figaro's we blend together only the finest ingredients to create our mix of great Mexican Southwestern flavors. Our open kitchen allows you to see our cocineros preparing your fiesta dish. Figaro's is owned and operated by the Figueroa family.

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H HOME TOUR

“I don’t think your home is ever done. There’s always something you want to change, or do, or add, or subtract,” said the homeowner.

But what has truly made this home a blessing, both to the homeowners and their friends, these homeowners carry within themselves.cWherever they go, with their eclectic style and collection of pineapples, the blessing, hopefully, will go with them.

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HOME TOUR H

PICTURED: The exterior of the home is where the homeowners and their family spend most of their time relaxing, gathering and enjoying each others company.

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2013

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H HOLIDAY

Happy

MOTHER’S DAY I

t’s time to celebrate that one person who always cleaned up after you, made the best comfort food when you needed it most, and seemingly still knows how to make all your worries disappear. It’s time to take a step back and celebrate mom.

Even though moms have been around since … well, forever, they weren’t always celebrated by a dedicated “Mother’s Day.” In fact, the first recorded Mother’s Day celebration took place in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia, when Anna Jarvis decided to hold a memorial for her mother. Jarvis wanted to thank her mom for all that she had done and she hoped that others would do the same. Little did she know that because of her constant support for Mother’s Day to become a holiday, and thanks to President Woodrow Wilson who made the day official, 100 years later Mother’s Day would be an

Quotes

We Love

“A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”

— Tenneva Jordan

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internationally celebrated holiday for moms everywhere.

Eventually, Jarvis began to oppose the very holiday that she had once celebrated. Nine years after the very first official Mother’s Day, Jarvis realized that the commercialization of the day had spun out of control and she ended up spending the rest of her life fighting against the holiday. Today, the commercialization of Mother’s Day has only gotten bigger. According to the National Retail Federation, “in the United States alone, Mother’s Day 2012 spending reached $18.6 billion – with the average adult spending $152.52 on gifts.”

Jarvis believed in the simple fact of honoring moms for all that they do. So, this Mother’s Day, celebrate your mom, thank her sincerely for all that she has done and value her.

“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. I attribute all my success in my life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.”

— George Washington

“My mother had a slender, small body, but a large heart – a heart so large that everybody’s joys found welcome in it, and hospitable accommodation.”

— Mark Twain

Just in case you are wondering what exactly to thank her for, look at some of these facts. Being a mom isn’t an easy job, but it does come with some perks! 

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Currently, the average age of first-time moms is 25. In 1970 it was 21.

By the time a child turns two years old, the mother will have changed 7,300 diapers.

Moms spend on average 2.2 hours every day on chores while dads spend only 1.3 hours.

The oldest woman to give birth was 63 years old in 1994.

Seventy-two percent of moms with children over one-year-old are working moms.

The heaviest baby ever born was in 1955, weighing in at 22 pounds and 8 ounces.

The average cost of raising one child up to age 18 is $242,070.

66 percent of Americans celebrating Mother’s Day will treat their moms to flowers.

Mother’s Day is the most popular day to eat out. Last year, some 75 million U.S. adults dined out to celebrate mom.

HOLIDAY H

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C CULINARY

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Mother’s Day

Menu

CULINARY C

Recipes by Chafic Dada and Randy Moreno, Pita Kabob & Grill | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

T

reat mom this Mother’s Day to a gourmet menu that everyone can enjoy. Whether you are celebrating your own mother or the mother of your children, these recipes are simple enough for the whole family to partake in.

After all, Mother’s Day is about spending time with that special woman, so, aprons on and taste-testers to the kitchen!

Phoenician Shrimp Ceviche Ingredients ½ lb. shrimp, de-shelled and de-veined ½ red onion 4 radish, diced 1 C tomato, diced 1 C cilantro, chopped 1 C cucumbers, diced 1 C Clamato 4 C lemon juice 1/3 C olive oil 2 T minced garlic Salt to taste

Directions Peel and remove veins from shrimp. Cut into small pieces. Place shrimp in 2 cups of lemon juice, reserving the other 2 cups.

Cook shrimp in lemon juice for about 10 minutes.

When shrimp is done cooking, drain and discard the juice.

In a large bowl combine all ingredients including the reserved 2 cups of lemon juice. Season with salt to taste. If craving more spice add 2 tablespoons of minced Serrano peppers.

Let ingredients sit in a covered bowl in the refrigerator over night or at least 8 hours.

Plantain Chips Ingredients 3 large green plantains Vegetable oil, for deep-frying Kosher salt, for seasoning.

Directions In a heavy based pot heat vegetable oil over medium heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Peel plantains.

Using a sharp knife, finely slice plantains lengthwise into ribbons. Fry the plantains in small batches until crisp and golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer plantains to a plate with paper towel and let them cool. Salt to taste.

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C CULINARY

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CULINARY C

Grilled Stuffed Mediterranean Chicken Breast Ingredients 2 large chicken breasts with skin (could be boneless or with bone) 1-3 C feta cheese ½ C spinach (chiffon cut) 2 T red onion, minced 8 sprigs of thyme (remove stems), minced 6 sprigs of mint leaves, minced 8 sprigs sage leaves, minced 1 C crushed pistachio kernels 2 tsp. kosher salt ½ C olive oil Directions Gently remove skin from breast (reserving the skin). Place chicken on cutting board and cover with food wrap. Gently pound chicken with meat mallet until flattened. Remove food wrap.

Sprinkle with kosher salt In medium bowl mix, feta, spinach, red onion, pistachios, and herbs. Set half the herbs on the side to use for the skin.

Place mixture in a diagonal line in the center of flattened chicken breast and roll tightly into a cylinder. Lay out chicken skin as flat and stretched out as possible. Place remaining herbs evenly on chicken skin.

Place cylinder of chicken in the middle of chicken skin and roll and stretch skin completely around cylinder. Use toothpicks on the end to ensure skin stays intact.

Lightly brush skin with olive oil and place on grill, rotating occasionally. Cook chicken until golden brown.

Set oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and after removing chicken from the grill, place on cooking sheet in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from oven and let stand for 5-8 minutes. Remove toothpicks and cut into ½-inch medallions.

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H history

Remembering the Days of the Handshake Lease

I

Text by Terry L. Ommen

Reflec

n 1929 Leo Schelling came to Visalia and set up Schelling’s clothing store on Main Street. Ken, his son, eventually took over and in 2000 he retired and closed the 70-year-old shop, ending Visalia’s oldest apparel establishment.

PICTURED: Hotel Johnson circa 1955.

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history H

lections of Main Street

Ken, now an 88-year-old man with a gracious demeanor and infectious smile, alongside his wife, Marla, the love of his life for more than 40 years, looks back on these early days with a phenomenal memory and a story to tell.

Born in Exeter on November 24, 1924, Ken moved to Visalia as a young boy with his family. The town’s population at the time was just under 10,000 and Main Street looked much different than it does today. A few planked boardwalks were present and Visalia Granite and Marble Works displayed its carved headstones prominently along the 200 block of west Main Street.

Ken attended Jefferson and Conyer schools, then Visalia High where he graduated in 1942. After a short time at Visalia Junior College he enlisted in the United States Navy. Identified early as naval officer material, Ken was selected to attend the University of Oklahoma to study engineering. He earned a civil engineering degree and then went on to

graduate from Midshipman’s school. In the fall of 1946 he left regular navy service.

When he returned to Visalia he was hired by the County of Tulare in the planning department where he worked for about five years. In the early 1950s his father asked him to help in the clothing store, so Ken joined the family business.

They worked alongside each other until the early 1970s when his father left for medical reasons.

Ken described the business climate downtown in the 1950s, as “a great time for everyone. The merchants did very well, including the small ‘mom and pop’ businesses.” He added that Visalia’s downtown was the regional shopping area and as a result it had a wide draw.

He also remembered the wonderful cooperation between the big chain stores like Sears & Roebuck, J. C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, F. W. Woolworth, and J. J. Newberry, and the small shops like Bonny’s Jewelry, Ralston’s and Links Men’s Wear. “Everyone helped each other,” he

said. “It was a different era.”

In 1957 he met with Burrel Hyde, his landlord at 207 W. Main Street and the two negotiated a lease for the clothing shop location. Once they came to terms, they shook hands and it was done. There was no written lease agreement and no paperwork.

Years later, Ken and David Hyde, Burrel’s son, chuckled about the “handshake lease” that stayed in force until the shop closed in 2000.

The good times of the 1950s did get a wakeup call as the 1960s arrived. The shopping mall idea was spreading, and the thought of one on Mooney Boulevard was sending shock waves through Downtown.

The business owners knew that if a mall were built, big chain stores would leave Downtown and so would many shoppers.

The merchants scrambled to create a plan to meet the mall challenge. Ken was one of the merchant leaders. They knew they needed city government support for their effort and the merchants found allies in Harry Tow, Randy Zeeb and others.

PICTURED: Main Street looking east circa 1963.

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H history

“They were godsends for Downtown,” Ken said. Shopping malls offered a large variety of merchandise under one roof in a controlled temperature environment and provided plenty of free parking. So, the downtown merchants took action.

They pushed to get parking meters removed, more on and off street parking, and better traffic flow on Downtown streets.

More importantly, the merchants realized that with a mall located away from Downtown, the Chamber of Commerce would have to promote all shopping areas in Visalia and not just Downtown. They decided to form a Downtown association calling it “Visalians, Inc.” The new group was incorporated July 23, 1963, and Ken was one of the signers of the incorporation papers.

On May 11, 1964, the City of Visalia issued a $1.3 million building permit for the 200,000-square-foot Visalia Fair Shopping Center for Mooney Boulevard.

Many of the Downtown businesses suffered economically after the center opened, but thanks to the efforts of the merchants and city officials, devastation

of Downtown was averted.

Included Downtown was Visalia’s five-story Hotel Johnson – a hotel that at one time was called “The Queen Hotel of the Valley.” Built in 1917, it was in the heart of Downtown on the northeast corner of Main and Church streets, where Bank of America is now. It had a popular hotel coffee shop and an elegant dining room called the “Mirror Room” where many service clubs met regularly.

The Towne Club was also part of the hotel. “It was one of the best bars in Downtown,” Ken said and added, “Otto, the bartender lived in the hotel and he knew the preferred drinks for all his regular customers.” The Hotel Johnson had a devastating fire in 1968 and was demolished.

Ken also remembered open gambling Downtown. Several establishments offered it legally including the Wunder Bar and The Stag. Both served food and had card rooms in the back. Later the two combined to become the Wunder Stag Café, located near where Colima Mexican restaurant is today.

Service stations were common Downtown as well. Bartell Todd had his

Texaco station at 309 W. Main Street across from the Fox Theatre. Eventually it was removed to make way for the building that became Sears & Roebuck.

Restaurants were part of the Downtown business scene in the 1950s, including places like Motley’s at Church and Main, Sequoia Coffee Shop at 123 W. Main, and Estrada’s Spanish Kitchen at 414 W. Main. But there were few compared to the number of restaurants today. “Downtown has become a place where people come to enjoy dining,” Ken said.

It’s clear, this modest man had his finger on the pulse of Downtown history.

Ken called Downtown Visalia in the 1950s a center for shopping and now it has become much more. It continues to offer people a great shopping experience, but now it has expanded into an entertainment center as well – a place where people go to stroll the streets, mingle with friends, see a show, and have a nice meal.

More challenges lie ahead for Visalia’s Downtown, but Ken Schelling is confident the business district will continue to do well.

TOP: The area in and around 207 W. Main Street, where Schelling’s was located when it closed in 2000.

INSET: The sign that hung inside Schelling’s clothing store.

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history H

Martindale - Hubbell Per Review Rating:

“BV® Distinguished™” Rating for 16 Years!

Very High Rating in both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards

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r rawhide

if you build it

THEY WILL COME Text by Major Rogers

O

ver the last four seasons, Visalia’s own professional baseball club, the Visalia Rawhide, Single-A Advanced affiliates of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have flourished in their new digs, which came in the form of a multi-million dollar refurbishment of the city-owned baseball complex. More than a flourishing organization, a thriving community has blossomed as a result of the improvements, complete with executive offices, expanded comfortable seating, and a Hall-of-Fame Club that allows spectators a big league baseball experience right here in our own Downtown.

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rawhide R It all started in 1946 with wooden grandstands and signboard walls when the City of Visalia built the stadium for the new California League Franchise to call home. However, after an absence of baseball from 1963-1967 things took a change for the better and the ballpark was upgraded to attract a new team. With this “upgrade” came the concrete mound-like structure still present today along with metal benches and eventually red box seats.

Again in 2002 the stadium was reworked to include 880 individual green fold-down chairs, doing away with the metal grandstand benches, but adding two bleacher sections down the right-field line.

The next big change occurred after the completion of the 2006 season with the construction of the Fan Dugout and the Toyota Terrace along with a few upgrades to allow for a more comfortable experience and thus the Rawhide saw a 35 percent attendance increase in the 2007 season.

Phase One was complete, but still that wasn’t enough.

In the midst of a countrywide economic meltdown, the cast was formed and built.

In March of 2008, Phase Two of the renovation began, and brick by brick the former Oaks stadium began to transform.

The small-town ballpark that housed only a handful of loyalists in the stands year after year broke from its cocoon, and morphed into a cultural center of attraction, where everyone from kids to the who’s who of Visalia can find something to enjoy.

“The entire project was funded in cash.

No bonds, no taxes were collected,” said Donny Baarns, director of Broadcasting.

This phase included removing the bleachers down the right field line and construction of new box seating, the Hall-of-Fame Club, administrative and ticketing offices, the grass pasture area, and concessions.

Since this bold move of expansion

took place, no one has looked back as attendance records have increased by 91 percent since 2006, and the organization has set franchise attendance and revenue records for the fourth consecutive season.

This has done more than create revenue for our city; it’s created a place for the community to enjoy the summer weather and spirit of the season with friends and family.

Even still, plans are in motion to bring more enhancements to our “small-town” stadium. Plans include a new state-of-theart grandstand, complete with expanded seating, indoor luxury box seating, a new press box, and a shade canopy that will bring more comfort to fans in the hot summer months. It’s clear by the renovations continuously being made that this is a park for the community.

The Rawhide organization was recently named the California League Organization of the Year, beating out 10 other minor league teams for the honor, “which is pretty cool considering where we were just five years ago,” said Baarns. Where “we were” refers to the fact that Visalia’s interest in the team before the stadium expansion left us with a program that was on the verge of moving away more than once in the past couple decades.

And though much of the talent is on the field, the program also boasts of such administrative accomplishments as Team President Tom Seidler being named Cal League Executive of the Year. “Rawhide staff have done an outstanding job with increasingly more community outreach, terrific promotions for the fans at Rawhide games, and a whole bunch of new events at the ballpark, making Recreation Ballpark the vibrant, year-round community gathering place for Visalia,” said Seidler.

Seidler has brought stability to this organization not only through its ever-

increasing attendance records, but also by the new four-year affiliation extension with the Arizona Diamondbacks – the first in their history. Another notable recognition came with Rawhide broadcaster Donny Baarns being named Minor League Broadcaster of the Year.

Beyond our beloved baseball team and grandstand experience, the Rawhide organization truly excels at community involvement. “As a staff, we have the goal of making the ballpark the community gathering place of the Valley, a place where anyone can come and have a good time,” said Jennifer Pendergraft, who has been with the organization for seven years and was recently promoted to general manager.

And how does Rawhide staff plan on doing this? With a myriad of activities such as Visalia’s Breakfast Lions IrishFest, which celebrates the shamrock time of year with food, beer, music and other activities offered to ticket purchasers. Attendance at the successful event was up 70 percent from its first celebration the previous year.

There are several other events such as Oktoberfest, TNA Professional Wrestling, East vs. West High School All-Star game, wedding receptions, and more, which allow the community at large to gather and celebrate throughout the year. The park facilities also serve as a base for non-profits to hold events like poker tournaments or dinner receptions in the trendy Hall-ofFame Club.

The Rawhide has also found ways to give back to the community directly. One such way is through Home Runs 4 HEART, which benefits Pro-youth/HEART, an afterschool program for at-risk youth.

Money is collected through fundraising efforts where community members pledge to donate every time a Rawhide homerun is executed. In the last two seasons $80,000 has been raised and kept within our own

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community, benefiting the youth that most desperately need it.

Aside from this, well over $100,000 a year is given to other community activities and countless hours of volunteer work that come through the players themselves taking time to visit schools, hospitals, and put on baseball clinics for community kids. Tipper, the team bovine mascot, has his own Tipper’s Reading Club. This club has a membership of over 20,000 school kids from Tulare and Kings Counties, who are rewarded with Family-4-Pack tickets for meeting their reading goals. All of this proves an invaluable addition to our community, with effects stretching longer than any homerun ball could.

Community business leader Stan Simpson, a Rawhide loyalist and former chairman of the Mayors Committee on Professional Baseball with the Visalia Oaks, understands the importance of the baseball organization and stadium. “I have always been of the opinion that a city in the United States is very fortunate to have one of the recognized professional minor league teams as a part of the city and as an advertising tool for potential new industries to locate or relocate there – in this case Visalia,” he said, explaining that a positive investment by a town can in turn pay that town back in droves, and on multiple levels, improving the quality of life across the board.

As it stands, we have built a stadium in our town that has proven its worth. It houses more than just quality baseball displays, but an opportunity for a community to be social, charitable and simply out in the sunshine throughout the year. It’s a setting with something for everyone.

If you haven’t experienced Rawhide baseball yet, it’s time to discover this gem. If you have experienced our stadium, then you know what I’m talking about. See you at the ballpark!

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2013

rawhide R

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Sold on real experience

ing

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1836 Augusta Court. This showcase home

825 Sol Road 5946 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 5.75 bath 4.86 acres with pecan trees Listing price $815,000

will take your breath away the minute you walk in and look up at soaring 16-foot ceilings. Move through the home and experience floor-toceiling windows, custom-designed wall-to-wall sea grass carpets and custom millwood. The gourmet kitchen features glass tile backsplash, granite and stainless steel appliances. This masterpiece offers 4,990 square feet, with 5 bedrooms and 4 baths on a half-acre lot, and a 500-square-foot guesthouse.

For Sale: $1.375 million

Nola Sherman

ld So

559-625-2934

Proven expertise in luxury homes and unparalleled customer service.

5630 West Grove Court 4600 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bath Half-acre lot in Quail Run Listing price: $899,000

Nola is proud to be serving her third generation of clients.

nola@nolasherman.com

www.nolasherman.com

Luxury Home Listing: 5033 W Firenze Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 Located in Da Vinci

Offered By: Wendy Little Properties, Inc wjslittle@aol.com Phone 559.733.7135 License # 01734267

Locally and Internationally SPECIALIZING IN FINDING YOU THE PERFECT HOME OR INVESTMENT Wendy Little Properties supports: 210 Cafe and the Visalia Rescue Mission

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F FASHION

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Spring Top 10 Fashion Essentials Text by Sharon Mosley

I

t always helps to have a plan. Even if you’re not a diehard follower of fashion trends, it helps to occasionally refresh your wardrobe of basics with a few new pieces. Buying at least one new stylish “must-have” each season can stretch your choices and give you new options. Here is a quick shopping checklist of the top 10 essentials to consider adding to your closet this year:

A Menswear Jacket. This one piece can transform both your casual clothes as well as your professional wardrobe. The best menswear-inspired jackets and blazers this spring take their cues from the tuxedo look. Wear these updated classics over striped jeans or shorts for casual occasions: over skirts or dresses for work or more dressed up events.

A Floral Dress. The flowers are blooming in profusion this spring and summer and popping up on dresses everywhere. The sheath dress is still a big favorite, but strapless sundresses are another way to get this warm-weather look – a perfect choice for graduations and summer weddings.

A Pencil Skirt. Think Betty Draper of TV’s Mad Men and wiggle into one of these hiphuggers that have been a fashion basic for a long time. This season, try a graphic color-blocked print to give your jackets and blouses a mod ‘60s flair.

A Pair of Printed Pants. Now that many of us are used to wearing colorful bottoms, it’s time to go the second step and put some pattern into those pants. From pastel watercolors to sophisticated animal prints to digitalized graphics, it will only take one pair of these to instantly project your solid basics into the future.

A Ruffle Blouse. It’s all about combining the feminine with the masculine this year and adding a frilly blouse to your wardrobe will give those menswear-inspired separates a romantic twist.

Designers provide a variety of versions of this blouse – from ruffed collars to poet cuffs. Worn under suit jackets or on their own, these are great for updating a new look for the office.

A Slouchy Suit. And speaking of office attire, there is more good news. The skinny pants may still be a fashion favorite, but this spring and summer, it’s time to loosen up. “Slouchy” (Remember, this does not mean sloppy.) jackets and trousers are making their way back into the style spotlight.

Boxier blazers paired with roomy pants give us all an alternative to the slim side of the fashion equation.

A Leather Piece. The perfect transition piece from winter to spring is leather – whether it’s a fun motorcycle jacket or a flared skirt or pair of lace-look pants.

You will even find leather dresses available this spring. In lightweight leathers – the more colorful the better – you can layer these pieces with novelty sweaters and denim for weekend getaways or team with more structured jackets for the office.

A Colorful Handbag. If there is only one thing you buy this spring, this is it – even if you are a fan of a simple black and white wardrobe, this bold accessory will give you an instant hit of “with-it-ness.” And you can pick your favorite hue and style – from emerald green totes to pastel floral clutches.

A Pair of Chunky Heels. The heel’s the thing this year in footwear trends, and even better news – the flats are back, too.

The clear Lucite heels are really stepping out in a big way, but there are plenty of other statementmaking heels to choose from – in all heights. These are another instant hit for your wardrobe.

A Metal Choker. The long rope chains and bib necklaces may be on their way out according to the style experts, but there’s one jewelry silhouette that is taking over the neckline this spring.

Watch for “cage-like” and floral designs in metal chokers to give you a sophisticated finish to a casual T-shirt or silk dress.

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P PERFORMANCES

Text By Marsha Peltzer

Next Season - AT A GLANCE

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fter last month’s very successful season finale concert, the Symphony will soon be sending out season ticket renewal letters and programming for next year’s season. Music Director Bruce Kiesling has set the program with the aid of the Artistic Advisory Committee and it promises to be another season of exciting, exceptional music.

Next Season At A Glance – Celebrating 54 Years September 7: “Concert in the Park” Continuing the tradition of a pops concert at Zumwalt Park in Tulare – the Symphony’s founding city.

October 19: “Triumphant Tchaikovsky!”

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Mozart’s Piano Concerto, and Daugherty’s Route 66 and Le Tombeau de Liberace as a tribute to one of the most intriguing American icons.

November 23: “Celebrate the Harvest” Aaron Copland’s Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes, and a festival of American folk songs with combined church choirs.

December 14: “Holiday Pops” Season favorites.

January 18: “Locals’ Night” Soloists from the Tulare County Symphony (Susan Doering and Dieter Wolforst, Valerie Walden, Elisha Wilson and Svetlana Harris) perform select pieces of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.

February 8: “American Brilliance” Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Brubeck’s Teddy Roosevelt In Cowboy Land.

March 15: “Casablanca: Live with the Orchestra” Classic Movie Night.

April 12: “Fantastique!”

Ellisor’s Blackberry Winter (with guest soloist Stephen Seifert on the dulcimer) and Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique.

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Valley Singer’s Challenge The first round of the Valley Singer’s Challenge, sponsored by the Symphony, was held on February 28 at the Visalia Fox Theatre and attended by an enthusiastic audience. The semi-final and final rounds will be held on Saturday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre. Chairman Florence Kabot has encouraged singers from all over the Valley to enter this contest. The winner will be performing with the Symphony at a future date to be announced “An Evening In Tuscany” As mentioned last month, the Symphony Association will hold its gala event, honoring long-time League member and generous patron Jeanne Hoey, on May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Visalia Country Club. The evening will include wine, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and entertainment. Opera singers May Lynn and Travis Lewis, who regularly entertain in Las Vegas, will feature opera, light opera and love songs.

Symphony Association Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the Tulare County Symphony Association will be held on Wednesday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theatre. All season tickets holders are invited to attend. There will be a reception following the meeting.

Symphony League Membership Drive After a very successful Membership Luncheon held in March, the Symphony League, in existence since the Symphony was established in 1960, is welcoming new members. The meetings, “previews,” are held on the Fridays before each concert. Music Director Bruce Kiesling introduces the guest artists and gives lively descriptions of the music featured in each concert. For membership information please call Carole Jordan at 733-3782.

For information regarding the upcoming Symphony performance and/ or the Gala in May please contact the Symphony Office at 732-8600.

JUST LISTED CHARDONNAY

$620,000

PERFORMANCES P

V I S A L I A’ S T O P P R O D U C I N G L U X U R Y S P E C I A L I S T

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C CHAMBER

IN THE COMMUNITY

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AT THE LEADERSHIP VISALIA GOLF TOURNAMENT AT VALLEY OAKS GOLF COURSE 1. 3rd place winners, Visalia Vandals Team.

2. Jeff Todd and Joanna Miller.

3. Family Healthcare Network Team.

4. Paul Heidenreich, Quality Jewelers.

5. Mike Cox, Trinidad Garza, Eugene Harding and Ryan Purkiss.

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The mission of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce is to preserve, model and advance business vitality and prosperity for our members and the community.

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CHAMBER C

Residential & Commercial | New Construction | Remodels | Additions

Custom Services Kitchens Bathrooms Family Rooms Outdoor Living Trim & Molding Hardwood Floors Cement

(559) 636-2033 Free Estimates Lic. #868128 Licensed & Insured

Are you traveling this Holiday Season

Branson or San Antonio

SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION APRIL 17TH 12:00 – 1:00 AT THE CHAMBER OFFICE

Branson Musical Holiday Double $1,849

DEC. 5-9, 2013

San Antonio Holiday Double $1,099

DEC. 5-9, 2013

FOR PRICING OR REGISTRATION DETAILS, CALL THE VISALIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT 559-734-5876

BOOK BY JUNE 5TH TO GUARANTEE RATES

Collette CST#2006766-20

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C CHAMBER

IN THE COMMUNITY

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2

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1. Connie Roche, owner of Maid to Order Agency at her Ribbon Cutting and 20year anniversary celebration.

2. Garrett German-Valley Financial Group, Jason Lombard-Anagram Design Werks and William Stimpel-Simple Plumbing and Visalia Remodeling at the Simple Plumbing/Visalia Remodeling Ribbon Cutting.

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3. Exeter TCB Tanning Ribbon Cutting, owners Mike & Jill Smythe with TCB Tanning employee, Danielle Penic – happy to be displaying their new Exeter Chamber of Commerce membership plaque.

4. Simple Plumbing and Visalia Remodeling owners William and Jennifer Stimpel with their daughter at their Ribbon Cutting event.

5. Sunset Waste Systems’ John Mohoff, Sol Nunes and Jim Vagim announcing the Sunset Waste 2012 Recycler of the Year, Gene Espinola, director of maintenance for Exeter Public Schools with his mother, Mary Espinola (third and fourth from the left).

Our mission is to promote, support, and enable Exeter to prosper.

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CHAMBER C

ATTENTION TULARE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHERS Raise Magazine is looking for cover photo submissions

make the move to protect the ones you love Auto Home Life Health Commercial Specialty Programs For Large Corporations We pride ourselves on outstanding customer service.

Partnered with the biggest insurance companies, we ensure our customers are always getting the best price.

1317 W. Center, Visalia Ca 93291 559-713-6000 CA Lic #0G66555

What kind of photos?

Vertical format Children (ages 5-15), or children with pet No group, sibling or family photos

Please submit high-quality, electronic files only.

Photos are free to submit, but submission does not guarantee placement.

Email photos to raise@dmiagency.com

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C CHAMBER

IN THE COMMUNITY

The Tulare Leadership class had their annual trip to the State Capitol in Sacramento in March. Assemblywoman Connie Conway rolled out the red carpet for our class and brought them to the senate floor. Her staff also arranged for them to meet with other elected officials and the California Chamber of Commerce brought in their lobbyist to share with them some of the issues that the Chambers address daily in defense for business. They also went to the California Great Center. This is the one of the highlights for the Leadership class to see first-hand our elected officials in action. Pictured Left to right Manuel Ortiz Jr., Bryce Gowin, Jarod Boatman, Ruth Medlin, Brandon Ormonde, Donna Marie Sonnichsen, Debbie Thrasher, Assemblywoman Connie Conway, Luis Nevarez, Ashley Vanderpoel, Julie Christianson , Patty Rocha, Tammy Weyker, Charlene Dawson, and Art Clark.

The Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Inc. exists to serve its members and the citizens of the Tulare area and surrounding rural areas of Tulare County.

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CHAMBER C

COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICES Janitorial Service For dependable commercial cleaning service ServiceMaster Clean can help. daily, weekly, or monthly janitorial service Medical & professional office cleaning

Office system cleaning

Aggregated floor cleaning

Nearly any other cleaning you want

Tile & grout cleaning

Window washing

Carpet cleaning using various processes

ServiceMaster by Hellstern

Ron Hellstern owner 559.738.8927 Serving the Visalia area | Locally owned and operated for over 25 years

JESSIE CASAS designer (p) 559.287.3678 jjbloomswholesale@sbcglobal.net

FLORAL DESIGN & EVENT PLANNING

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h happenings

Visalia Craft Beer Festival Sample beers from craft breweries near and far, listen to live music and enjoy some delicious snacks from food vendors at this 21 and older event. Tickets are $30, $10 for designated drivers.

When: May 11; 1-5p Where: Mooney Grove Park, Visalia Contact: www.visaliabeerfest.com

Theater & Performances

APR 20

The Cat is Back

The Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company present the world of Dr. Seuss and the beloved Cat in the Hat to Visalians of all ages.

Come out and enjoy the show directed by Debbie Metzler.

When: April 26 – 28, May 3, 4, 10 – 12; Evenings, 7:30p; Matinee, 2p Where: Main Street Theatre, 307 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: 739-4600

Tulare County Symphony Presents Mahler: The Most

Concluding this landmark season is the first ever performance of the powerful Mahler Symphony No. 1. Look forward to the massive orchestra blowing the doors off the Fox Theater.

When: April 20; 7:30p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 or www.foxvisalia.org

The Visalia Players Present Force of Nature

Freely adapted from Goethe’s Elective Affinities, this play is a lush, eloquent drama about the consequences of desire and the power of destiny.

When: May 3 – 5, 10 – 12, 17 – 19; Evenings, 7:30p; Matinee, 2p Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3900

Great Western Fan Festival

Presented by the City of Visalia, the Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Visalia Convention Center, this event will consist of amazing southern gospel music, powerful devotionals from artists and speakers as well as a meet and greet with the artists.

When: April 25 – 27 Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 334-0141 or visit www.fanfestivals. com

Julius Caesar

This musical, presented by the College of the Sequoia’s theatre department, will be a powerful performance you don’t want to miss.

General tickets are $12, $10 for students and $8 for seniors.

When: April 26 – 27, May 2 – 4; 7:30p Where: COS Theatre, 915 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: 730-3907 or www.costheatre.org

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MAY 8

Scooby-Doo Live Musicals Mysteries

This live theater show brings everyone’s favorite show to life! Filled with crazy new characters and all the old ones you love, this all-ages event will even include classic musical numbers such as “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” and “Round Every Corner.”

Tickets start at $15.

When: May 8, 7p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 or www.foxvisalia.org

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MAY 18

Diversions & Excursions

Best of The Big Bad Armo Show

With consecutive sold-out shows in Los Angeles, the popular Big Bad Armo Show is making its way to Visalia. Featuring the best sketches from the last five shows. You’re not going to want to miss this comedy about Armenians.

When: May 18; 6:30p Where: Main Street Theatre, 307 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: 799-3949 or www.itsmyseat.com

California Antique Farm Equipment Show The Annual California Antique Farm Equipment Show is a celebration of California’s rich agricultural heritage, with antique equipment collectors from all over California and the US showcasing their prized possessions for the public to see. $10 general admission, children 12 and under get in for free.

When: Apr. 19 – 21, 8a Where: International Agri-Center, 4450 S. Laspina St., Tulare Contact: 688-1751

Art Exhibits Recent Transitions, A Solo Exhibition

Come and check out the amazing work of Betty Berk over the last three years. Betty Berk is an Expressionist painter who uses delicate brushwork to create landscapes, figures and still life’s.

When: March 1 – April 30; 10a-4p Where: Su Sa’s Club House and Deli, 699 W. Center, Visalia Contact: www.bettyberk.com

APR 20

Art in the Alley

Check out this on-going seasonal event to display art pieces, listen to music and provide hands-on fun activities for children and the whole family.

When: April – June, every 3rd Thursday; 5-8p Where: Garden Street Plaza, Visalia Contact: 625-1520

AMALGAMATION: Sculptural Works in Glass by Joe Morel

Presented by Sequoia Riverlands Trust and Sole to Soul, this event will be fun for the whole family as well as benefit the earth. Participants will run through a beautiful natural terrain course, receive a commemorative 5K Earth Day shirt, a tree or a plant seedling, after race snacks and refreshments and awards for the overall male and female winners.

After the race there will be a Heritage Festival celebrating the rich history and culture of the Central Valley. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children under age 13.

When: April 20; 8:30 a.m.

Where: Kaweah Oaks Preserve, 29979 Road 182, Exeter Contact: 738-0211 or www.sequoiariverlands.org

Springville Sierra Rodeo

An exhibition of glass sculptures created by artist and Fresno State lecturer Joe Morel. This exhibition also includes works by his current and former students. Admission is free and open to the public.

When: April 3 – 26 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905 or www.artsvisalia.org

Enjoy the 65th Annual P.R.C.A. Rodeo in the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada mountains along with wonderful entertainment, fantastic food, and the thrills and spills of world class rodeo action.

When: April 26 – 28 Where: Springville Sierra Rodeo grounds, 34754 Highway 190, Springville Contact: 1-866-RODEO49

Living: Color

Come out and enjoy this exhibition of paintings by Anees Akhund and R.W. Goetting. For more information visit website or call studio.

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

Earth Day 5K Trail Run and Heritage Festival

MAY 2

Visalia Prayer Breakfast

This community event will include worship, a catered breakfast, delicious treats and the wonderful speaker, Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham. Hosted by the Visalia Rescue Mission, this event will be an amazing opportunity for the community to come together. Tickets are $25 per person.

When: May 2; 7-9a Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: www.vrmhope.org L I F E S T Y L E | A P R I L 2 013

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Exeter Garden Walk Bring the whole family outside as you enjoy the 10th annual Full Bloom Garden Walk where you will get to enjoy the sights and scents of flowers in bloom. Enjoy refreshments and get all your gardening questions answered as you discover downtown Exeter and all it has to offer. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at By the Water Tower Antiques, 141 South B, or the Exeter Chamber of Commerce at 101 West Pine Street in Exeter.

When: May 11; 9a-2p Where: Downtown Exeter Contact: 592-2919 or www.exeterchamber.com

MAY 4

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 – art to see, locations and times for special events.

When: May 4; 10a-5p Where: Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or www.1stSaturdayTR.com

MAY 5

MAY 17

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Blues, Brews and BBQ

Beat the summer heat by attending this event where you can purchase soft drinks, brews, delicious BBQ and other summertime favorites. This family-oriented free music event will benefit the Visalia Emergency Aid Council.

Music by Bad Luck and Trouble.

When: May 17; 6-10p Where: Garden Street Plaza, Visalia Contact: 732-7737

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A fashion, food, and music event featuring popular band, Run4Cover! Plus a merchant showcase, raffle prizes and much more! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to benefit Breast Cancer Research.

When: May 5; 5-11p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: 732-7737

Visalia Farmer’s Market

Weekly event open to the public featuring free live music, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations and local, fresh produce available for purchase. The market also accepts EBT and WIC. 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

Woodlake Lions Rodeo

With hats a flyin’ and bulls a buck’n, the 60th Annual Woodlake Lions Rodeo is sure to be a good old-fashioned time. Amidst the beautiful backgrounds of the Sierra Nevada’s, cowboys and cowgirls compete for money in rodeo events while spectators get to enjoy the show, food and fun at this all-time favorite event.

When: May 11 – 12 Where: 19400 Avenue 398, Woodlake Contact: 564-8555 or www. woodlakelionsrodeo.org

Visalia Downtown EXPO

Charitable Events

APR 27

Annual Spring Fashion Show

Presented by Kaweah Delta Health Care District Guild, this annual event will feature a fashion show with clothing provided by JC Penney’s, Chelsea Street Boutique and Tux N Tails. There will also be a social hour, lunch and a bountiful of drawings and prizes to be won! Tickets are $30 for this all ages event. The deadline to reserve your spot is April 20. All proceeds will go towards purchasing patient care equipment for Kaweah Delta Hospital.

When: April 27; 11a.m.

Where: Lamp Liter Inn, 3300 W. Mineral King, Visalia Contact: 635-9225

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Tropics by design

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

Call 559.734.4920 to see what we can do for your interior.

Staging | Design and Installation | Live Plant Rental and Leasing

F O O D L I N K F O R TU L A R E C O U N T Y

Saturday, May 4 1:30pm - 4:30pm Visalia Country Club

– Presented by – Lagomarsino Group • Sence Foundation • Times Delta Media Group – Sponsored by – J. C. Lansdowne, Inc. • Pine, Pedroncelli & Aguilar, Inc

View the Kentucky Derby on large screens, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, no-host bar, live music and loads of fun.

Call FoodLink at 651-3663 to purchase tickets or on Facebook at Visalia’s Kentucky Derby Party

ENTER THE FANCY HAT CONTEST

$40per person Must be at least 21 years old to attend

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h happenings

Dance Out Loud

Presented by the El Diamante High School theatre, this annual spring production event will be fun for everyone. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance at the El Diamante High School Finance Center and online at the EDHS Web Store. Proceeds from this event will help to support the Dance Program and EDHS. When: May 2 - 3; 7p Where: L.J. Williams Theatre, 1001 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 735-3522

MAY 3 MAY 4

MAY 10

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MAY 11

Kentucky Derby

Come out and experience the excitement of the Kentucky Derby live on large screens.

Enjoy appetizers, sparkling beverages, auctions, fancy hat contests, music and more! Tickets are $40 for this 21 and older event. All proceeds from this event will benefit food and nutrition programs provided by FoodLink, the food bank for all of Tulare County.

When: May 4; 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia County Club, 625 N. Ranch St., Visalia Contact: 651-3663

Sequoia Foodie Fest

Foodie Fest presents Forks, Corks & Kegs – an incredible “Foodie” event featuring the most delicious tastes of Central California’s rich agricultural produce and products. Decadent tastes and samples will be offered up for sipping, dipping and swirling! Fine cuisine, wines and crafted beers along with spirits of many flavors will be available at the event for your tasting enjoyment. Proceeds from the Foodie Fest benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias When: May 10 Where: Rawhide Ballpark, 300 N. Giddings, Visalia Contact: 697-3319

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Presented by CASA of Tulare County, this 10th annual event will consist of a delicious dinner and a live auction.

When: May 11; 6:30p Where: Visalia Holiday Inn, 9000 W. Airport Dr., Visalia Contact: 625-4007

MAY 18

Boots and Heels

MAY 20

Adventure Park FUNdraiser

Enchanted Birdhouse Auction

Hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County, this event will include wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, custom made birdhouses, and special live and silent auctions. Tickets are $75.

When: May 3; 6:30-10:30p Where: Visalia Holiday Inn, 9000 W. Airport Dr., Visalia Contact: 734-4040 or www.hfhtc.org

Once Upon a Dream Gala

This 21 and older benefit is presented by the Tulare Leadership Class of 2013 and will consist of food and wine tasting, live music and reverse drawing. Tickets are $50 per person.

When: May 18; 6-10 p.m.

Where: Happy Trails Riding Academy, 2773 E. Oakdale, Tulare Contact: 805-6731

Join the Visalia Sunset Rotary at this annual fundraising event that will help support youthoriented and non-profit groups. Tickets are $20 and include an all-you-can-eat buffet, miniature golf, bumper boats, laser tag and game tokens! There will also be large and small raffle prizes at this family, fun-filled event.

When: May 20; 5-9 p.m.

Where: Adventure Park, 5600 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia Contact: www.visaliasunsetrotary.org

Writers & Readers Tulare County Library

First Tuesday Book Club (May 7, 6:30p) Mystery Readers (May 15, 6:30p) Where: Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or www.tularecountylibrary.org

Event Listings If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Happenings” section, please email your submission to lifestyle@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, Attention Happenings. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission.

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Our People & Philosophy Set Us Apart.

Just ask any of our patients & research our reviews on the web. We encourage our potential patients to do their research 1st, then come see us with the utmost confidence in our practices & results.

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E-MatrixTM| XeominR| Laser Hair Removal | Laser Skin Rejuvenation | VelashapeTM| BOTOX R Cosmetic | JUVEDERM R XC | GloMinerals Makeup | Hydrafacial | RefirmeTM Skin Tightening | Matrix Wrinkle Reduction R R Clarisonic Professional Skin Care Brush | Skin Medica Skin Care Products | Professional Makeup Consultation | VIVITER Skin Products | Skin Peels | Radiesse | Belotero Balance R TM

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Dr. Stan H. Feil, Full-time On-Site Medical Director Advanced Trained & CertiďŹ ed Registered Nurses *40% Off laser packages applies to a minimum of 3 treatments for skin rejuvenation, skin tightening or e-Matrix treatments & minimum package of 6 Laser hair removal or Velashape treatments. 40% off laser packages offer deducted from full price treatments and expires May 15, 2013. 25-45% off other treatment offers expire May 31, 2013. Specials & discounts may not be combined with any other coupon or specials.

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