April 2011

April 2011

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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24 The Kinosian Home:

Architecture as Souvenir: Memories of Diverse Travel Experiences Shape Kinosian Residence

CHARITY Mardi Gras The Creative Center Foundation brings African jungle safari to Visalia

8. Letter from the Executive Editor 10. Business Cents: How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need?

12. Word Play 14. Local Adventure: Squaw Valley Herb Gardens

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16. Literary Arts: Juan Felipe Herrera 46. Wine: Almesa Winery: Paso Robles

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Soil Holds Visalia Roots

CULINARY Mother’s Day Citrus & White Wine Salmon

52. Next Gen: Lauren Billys 54. Happenings 58. First Person: Chief of Police, Colleen Mestas

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34 HUMANITARIAN Visalia Rescue Mission Community Garden Fruits of Their Labor: Garden to Reap Food for the Body, Soul and Spirit

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

ON THE COVER: Todd Kinosian’s Stan Canby-designed residence in northwest Visalia derives from the owner’s travel experiences in Mexico and points beyond, with Modernist notes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Scottsdale thrown in for good measure.

ABOVE: The pool house and swimming pool reflect a considered composition and functional elegance that integrate seamlessly with the main dwelling of Todd Kinosian’s residence.

APRIL 2011 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JEFFREY Malkasian EA Bookkeeper Marilyn Harris Office Administrator Maria Gaston EDITORIAL Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Copy Editor DARA FISK-EKANGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Aaron Collins ELAINE DEKASSIAN Crystal R. R. Edwards Lisa McEwen Diane Slocum Mark Rowe ART & PRODUCTION Creative Director DAVID JONES ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Bridget Elmore SALES OFFICE 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@dmiagency.com

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Borders Books Music & Cafè DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare Party City Tazzaria Coffee & Tea The Lifestyle Center Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Coffee Company Visalia Convention Center COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS

210 Cafe Advanced Laser Clinics Bravo Farms Cheese Factory Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Golf Course Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Red Carpet Car Wash Sequoia Laser Aesthetics Smiles by Sullivan Tiffany’s Luxury Medispa Tulare Chamber of Commerce Tulare County Library 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.

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Visalia Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 13,000 homes in the upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods in Visalia and Exeter. An additional 2,000 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 © 2011 DMI Agency

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

LEFT: Maximal marble meets Minimalist form in the spacious, spa-like master bathroom of the Todd Kinosian home, completed in 2009.

LIFEST YLE | OC TOBER 2010

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EDITOR NOTE

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

ome of you might recall that several years ago (2005) Lifestyle Magazine’s Home Tour featured the home-away-from-home of Aram and Joyanne Kinosian, perched on the most scenic street in the country, 17-Mile-Drive in Pebble Beach, California. During our visit we met son Todd, a Visalia resident who also had a vacation getaway tucked into the hillsides along the famous drive. Fast forward to April 2011 as Lifestyle Magazine features Todd’s new home in Visalia. Selfdescribed as “Southwest contemporary with a bit of an edge,” the story and photos starting on page 24 will practically transport you to someplace far away as it resembles more of a luxury resort travel feature than home tour.

If you believe the old cliché, “Youth is wasted on the young,” you just might be surprised at what many of our local, bright, talented “next generations” in our community are doing. We’ve visited with a number of these up and comers and are excited to bring you their stories, such as this month’s feature on Lauren Billys. Lauren, a double-major (chemistry and enology) at Fresno State, finds the time to study and train at least three hours a day with her horse, preparing to compete in the equestrian equivalent of a triathlon. Turn to page 52 to read about Lauren’s quest for a spot in the Pan American Games.

This must be the month for clichés because as I read the inspirational story on page 40 about the efforts of Eric Limas and John Schaap, the saying “Feed a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” has never felt more true. Their efforts in bringing a Community Garden to full bloom as a way to feed the hungry who rely on the efforts of the Visalia Rescue Mission is inspiring to us all. Filling hungry stomachs while nurturing souls is a way to bridge the gap between the needy and the needed, and we applaud Eric and John and the many volunteers who contribute to this effort.

Even with a full-time job, for years I’ve resisted the long-waits and crowded dining adventures of Mother’s Day. It helps that I love being in the kitchen, and if I were to do anything else that required as many hours behind the scenes, it would have to be as a chef. Or fry-cook. It wouldn’t matter as long as I was able to create meals that others enjoyed. So, if the garden article also inspires you to dine-in this Mother’s Day, Elaine Dekassian’s Citrus and White Wine Salmon found on page 34 will surely be a family-pleasing recipe.

You already know this working mom as “Chief,” but we recently sat down with Visalia Chief of Police Colleen Mestas and talked with her about those subjects close to her heart – her daughter, her family, and her quest to blend her Southern Baptist upbringing with her husband’s Catholic background.

And finally, if like mine, your mother is no longer on this earth, please find the time to seek out someone and wish her a happy Mother’s Day. Those words never fall on deaf ears and might just be the very thing someone needs to hear on that day, at that very moment.

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

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

LIFEST YLE | OC TOBER 2010

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B BUSINESS CENTS

How Much Life Insurance

Do You REALLY Need?

Text by Mark Rowe, Lewis & Associates Insurance

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ne of the most common questions from new clients is, “How much life insurance do I need?” This is a tough question to answer as there are quite a few variables that affect the amount of insurance needed. Let’s focus only on term insurance. For most people, that’s the only type of insurance to consider. Cash Value life insurance (such as whole or universal life) is not a bad idea, and for some folks, it absolutely makes sense. But for most people, term insurance is usually the best option. Also, many insurance companies are now offering non-cash-value type policies with lifetime premium guarantees instead of just the normal 10- and 20-year term policies.

Begin by considering what kind of lifestyle you want your family to have if you pass away. How much financial impact will your death cause to your family? Do you want them to be filthy rich if you die?

Do you want your spouse to continue to work? Do you want them to be debt free? Is it important that they keep the same house? Will they be fine without any insurance?

Let’s look at two general situations:

Situation one: You want enough insurance to cover a specific use and don’t need any insurance to provide future income for your spouse.

This might be the situation where both spouses are working, making decent money and have no kids. In that case, they might decide to get just enough insurance to pay off their debts. This calculation is pretty easy. Just add the amounts of your debts and whatever other costs you want covered, and that’s how much insurance you need.

Example: Mary and Fred both have good jobs and will continue to work if one spouse dies. They’ve decided that they’d like to have enough insurance to cover their mortgage of $300,000 so they decide to get $200,000 of insurance for 10 years and $100,000 insurance for 20 years. The idea is that they will have paid down the mortgage enough in 10 years that they don’t need the original $300,000 amount anymore.

Situation two: You want insurance which will provide future income for your spouse and/or kids.

This is a bit more complicated. Regardless, for this situation an incorrect amount of insurance is a heck of a lot better than no insurance at all. Start with your debts and assume you need enough insurance to cover that amount. That’s the first part of your insurance needs. The second part will provide an investment portfolio large enough to provide the desired annual income. The amount of

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

insurance you buy will be the sum of these two numbers.

Example: John and Sue are in their 30s, have two kids under five, a mortgage of $300,000, and other debts equaling $40,000. Sue is a stay-at-home mom who might return to work one day. They’ve decided that if John dies they want to have enough money so that Sue doesn’t have to work again if she doesn’t want to, but she won’t be filthy rich. They’re assuming that $40,000 of income per year will accomplish this goal.

Step one: Add up the debts = $340,000 insurance needed.

Step two: Calculate the portfolio size necessary to provide $40,000 per year. Using a four percent withdrawal factor: $40,000/0.04 = $1,000,000. Therefore the total insurance needed is $1,340,000.

Other facts to consider when looking at future income: Retirement accounts and savings. If a couple have savings or a good retirement portfolio built up then the survivor might only need income until they reach 65, at which point they can live off the retirement savings.

Pensions. This is probably more applicable to older people, but if Social Security and/or other private pensions are in the not-too-distant future, then they should be factored in as well.

In summary, ignore all rules of thumb and insurance salespeople and sit down to figure out how much insurance you need/want. Think about what it would be like financially if you or your spouse died and there was no insurance. Think about what you would like things to be like financially, and calculate how much insurance is necessary to fill the gap.

Another approach is to pick specific insurance amounts and then apply those amounts to your situation. For instance, if you had $500,000 of insurance and you died tomorrow, what would your spouse do with the money and what would their financial life be like?

Don’t get hung up on details. It doesn’t matter how accurate your estimate is because things will change over time and then you’ll be either over-insured or under-insured. While it might seem easy to just get a large amount of insurance (just to be safe), the reality is that if you are over-insured you’re just paying a lot of extra money to insurance companies. Plus, you don’t want to give your beneficiaries any extra incentive to bump you off!

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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WORD PLAY

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

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hristmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter – all holidays that encourage us to indulge in chocolate. Or we can indulge in a calorie-free version of the creamy treat by reading books about it.

Chocolate Chocolate: The True Story of Two Sisters, Tons of Treats, and the Little Shop That Could, by Frances and Ginger Park tells of the sisters’ determination to keep their shop going even when they were eating more of their chocolate than they were selling. Published by Thomas Dunne Books, the story about the nationally celebrated shop in Washington, D.C., will be released on May 10.

Chocolate plays a prominent role when Princess Spaghetti tries to rescue her father, King Cupcake, from alien abductors in You Can’t Eat a Princess, written by Gillian Rogerson and illustrated by Sarah McIntyre. The children’s book for ages 4 to 8 was published by Price Stern Sloan this month.

Then, of course, there is always Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The latest Puffin edition of Roald Dahl’s classic, illustrated by Quentin Blake, came out last month. Good and true Charlie wins a visit to Willie Wonka’s famous chocolate factory, accompanied by a set of far less-deserving children.

Valley Writers George Takata and Marci Thiessen turned Fresno State’s 2008 baseball championship into a children’s book. Writer Takata is a television sportscaster in Fresno, and illustrator Thiessen is a student at Fresno State. TimeOut’s Great Baseball Adventure looks at the championship game at the College World Series through the eyes of team mascot, TimeOut. Fresno author Victor Martinez passed away recently from lung cancer at 56 years of age. He won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 1996 for his novel Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida.

Though fictional, the book is descriptive of Martinez’ boyhood in the barrios of Fresno. He also wrote poems, short stories and essays.

Writers Conferences The Santa Barbara Writers Conference will be held June 18-23 at the Hotel Mar Monte. Guest speakers on Saturday night are Ray Bradbury and Clive Cussler. Guests on other nights are Eric Puchner, Drusilla Campbell and T.C. Boyle. Staff includes Dale Griffiths Stamos, Perie Longo and Matthew Pallamary. Details: www.sbwriters.com/ conference/schedule.html.

Manhattanville College Annual Writers Week will be June 27July 1. Registrants attend workshops with published authors in the mornings. Faculty includes Michael Thomas, Gregory Orr, Nancy Willard and Jennifer Egan. The program can be taken as credit toward a master’s degree. Ten-page writing sample and application due by June 1.

Details: http://writing.shawguides.com/writingworkshop.

The Mendocino Coast Writers Conference will be held July 28-30 at the Mendocino Campus of the College of the Redwoods in Ft. Bragg. Faculty includes Kathleen Alcala, John Dufresne and Camille Dungy. Agents April Eberhardt and Jill Marr will participate.

Registration is limited to 100 participants. Details: www.mcwc.org.

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

Writing Contests The next deadline for the Glimmer Train Fiction Open contest is June 30. This contest will also accept entries in September and December. This contest is open to all writers with all themes, except children’s stories. Length 2,000 to 20,000 words. Novel excerpts okay. Details: www.glimmertrain.com/writguid1.html.

Camping Writing Contest will accept 100 entries on camping tips for online publication. First prize is a $100 gift card. Details: http://writingcontest.camptrip.com.

FanStory is holding a Flash Fiction contest on the topic “the white picket fence.” Deadline is May 3. Top prize is $100. Contests on nonfiction, quatrain poetry, haiku and horror also have deadlines in May. Details: www.fanstory.com/contests.jsp.

Online Storywrite is an online service that invites writers to share their stories with their friends. It also has tabs for contests, groups, classes, forums and its store. Stories tend to be short, recently ranging from 100 to around 2,000 words. Many are written casually. Critiquing is invited. Contests are not for cash prizes. Groups include future authors, proofreaders and inspiration. Classes offered include novels, short stories, poetry and screenplays. Find it at http://storywrite.com.

Bestsellers Bestsellers vary from list to list. Recently, Wise Man’s Fear (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2) by Patrick Rothfuss topped the Indie Booksellers list for hardcover fiction while it didn’t even make it on the New York Times list, which gave top billing to Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb.

The Indie list put Patti Smith’s Just Kids at the top of the trade paper nonfiction, while it was number eight on New York Times’. The Times top paperback nonfiction was Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. The Indie list puts Margaret Wise Brown’s old favorite Goodnight Moon as the top picture book, while the Times has Silverlicious by Victoria Kann. The lists do agree on hardcover nonfiction Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and children’s chapter book I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

The Last Word “Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces.” — Judith Viorst (1931)

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STYLE | APRIL 2011

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L LOCAL ADVENTURE

Squaw Valley

Herb Gardens

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ith its rolling farmlands, local produce, and beautiful surrounding mountains, Visalia is nestled among some of the finest holistic and environmental highlights that California has to offer. For generations, the San Joaquin Valley has been a leader in agriculture, and recent years have seen individuals re-work the industrial aspect of farming and gardening into their own personal and local adventures.

The Squaw Valley Herb Gardens (located in the foothills just 30 miles northeast of Visalia) is one of the area’s best examples of how valuable a good garden can be. At this locale, hundreds of herbs and a hillside of lavender are just a few of the things that are creatively grown at this homestead of two California artists. Rosemary Nightingale and Tim Friesen own and operate the site, established in 1984, and are happy to share the beauty of their land with others from all over the Valley.

Visitors can enjoy demonstrations, workshops, private tours, and delicious tastings with recipes and remedies that provide a fascinating way to use historical agriculture for a healthy today. Naturally grown and harvested herbs can be found in the farm-direct gift shop, and organic herb plants are featured and sold in the garden’s seasonal nursery.

Squaw Valley Herb Gardens is a tour-based facility, so visitors should be sure to book their reservations in advance. There are several tours which focus on the different pleasures the gardens have to offer, including lavender harvesting, gift-making, and even a peaceful interlude at a nearby monastery. A children’s tour is also offered focusing on California plant history. This educational tour allows children and students the opportunity to smell, feel, taste, hear, and see their subjects, creating hands-on activities in one of the state’s most serene outdoor classrooms.

In addition to the tours, artist and proprietor Rosemary (or “Mrs. Rose”) uses her talent for storytelling and passion for sustainable living to educate and enchant visitors. In the Garden Theatre, featuring a stunning view of the Sierras, Mrs. Rose weaves historical stories together with demonstrations and tastings that explain how to use herbs and spices in culinary, household and medicinal recipes and remedies. The gardens are not only a feast for the eyes, but the taste buds and body as well.

If you are looking for an educational and entertaining place to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of spring, Squaw Valley Herb Gardens has the tour for you!

For more information on activities you can uncover at Squaw Valley Herb Gardens, visit www.squawvalleyherbgardens.com.

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

L I F ELSI FT EY SL TE Y|L O E C| TAOPBREI RL 2 0 1 1 0

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L LITERARY ARTS

Love of the Arts Spurs

Juan Felipe Herrera to Do It All

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hat Juan Felipe Herrera doesn’t do might be easier to chronicle than what he does. The Fowler native writes poetry, short stories, children’s picture books and young adult novels. He’s written a musical that played in New York City and ensemble performance pieces featuring jazz, percussion, spoken word and more.

Photography, sketching and cartooning are other forms of his expression. His list of awards ranges from a Hungry Mind of Distinction to a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Herrera taught at California State University, Fresno, and currently holds the Tomas Rivera Endowed Chair in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of California at Riverside. He conducts workshops for teachers and parents, visits classrooms to encourage student literacy, and works to help migrant and indigenous communities.

“I have to learn to say no,” he said. “It’s turning into a tidal wave. It burns all my writing time, family time. I was Johnny Hurricane. Now I’m slowing down my tempo.”

This dynamo of creativity spent his early years moving from town to town, ranch to ranch in the San Joaquin Valley as the only child of migrant farm workers. The family relocated to Southern California towns – Escondido, Ramona, San Diego – by the time young Juan began school. At first, classes were difficult for him because he only understood Spanish and that was not acceptable in the early 1950s.

“It was a rough start in the beginning,” he said. “It was kind of a painful start, because back in the ’50s you got kind of slapped, hit, spanked. It was a tough way to begin class.”

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

Text By Diane Slocum

What followed after that, though, was a series of wonderful teachers he still remembers by name and by the special gift they each bestowed on him. His third grade teacher had him sing “Three Blind Mice” and told him he had a beautiful voice. Before that, he didn’t want to perform and getting praise for anything was a rare experience. That moment marked the beginning of his life of artistic expression.

But there was more to come. When he was a sixth grader in San Francisco, his teacher told him to write and direct a theatrical act for the class, thus initiating his interest in theater and teaching him that even when he didn’t know what a thing was about, he could conquer it. Seventh grade brought his attention to the fun of playing in the school band and eighth to singing in the choir. In tenth grade, art and sculpture amazed him and he fell in love with visual expression. Eleventh or twelfth grade introduced him to the great writers of English literature.

“Once I saw the options, I went for the positive,” he said. “I went for the singing and the writing. I had to do that. ‘You don’t have to be so afraid,’ I told myself. ‘Why don’t you try that, instead of cringing?’ Since the third grade when I heard the words ‘voice and beautiful,’ I’ve been writing and expressing myself, and painting and performing.”

He gives his high school counselors credit for pointing him toward a four-year scholarship to UCLA. He borrowed a suitcase, took a cardboard box tied with string, and jumped into the car with two friends who were going there also – leaving behind the life he had known and his 4’11” mom waving from the porch.

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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L LITERARY ARTS

His activism that began in high school carried into college.

The world was on fire while he was at UCLA. The civil rights movement and multicultural issues were gaining momentum.

“I was very aware I came from a working class family.

That was kind of the grounds for my involvement,” he said.

“The other thing was the excitement and community of it all.

Everyone came together being a larger whole. Then I liked the open air aspect of it – dancing and speaking, performing, playing guitar, writing songs. I liked that part a lot. So I had all the things that I loved. I travelled and spoke. I felt I was part of something that was for the best for the larger community. I spoke with children, parents. I’ve never really stopped.”

His first book, Rebozos of Love, was published in 1974. Exiles of Desire, Facegames and more volumes of poetry and short stories followed. His first children’s book, Calling the Doves/El canto de las palomas, came out in 1995.

“I want to do it all,” he said. “I love theater and I love writing. A lot of people inspired me. They said, ‘Why don’t you try this? Did you ever write a children’s book?’ I go, ‘No, I wouldn’t know how to do it.’ They would say, ‘Show me your poems and we’ll go from there.’ That’s how Calling the Doves began.”

From there, he started writing novels in poetry. He enjoyed being able to write in a non-traditional way. His latest book, released in February, follows this format. SkateFate from Harper Collins is a young adult story about a skateboarder who lived on the edge but an accident changed everything.

Short stories, essays, performances and comedies flow from his creativity.

“I see other people doing that and I want to do that, too,” he said. “Sometimes I fall on my nose and sometimes I manage to keep on standing. But that’s okay, because that’s part of it.”

He does wonder, though, about a lack of focus. “I tried everything but I didn’t give any one of them their due time.

That’s the other side of the picture.”

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Yet, jumping from one means of expression to another doesn’t seem to diminish the quality of Herrera’s work, judging from his numerous awards. The Ezra Jack Keats Award for Calling the Doves is one of the most meaningful to him because it is his story of growing up and it honors his parents who would never have imagined their lives shared with children throughout the country. When he sees children reading this book, they are learning about the farm workers’ truck, picking the grapes, living in a tent, his mother cooking eggs outside their home. They draw pictures of the loaf-of-bread-shaped trailer his family lived in.

“It’s a beautiful thing to write for kids,” he said.

Older children are the audience for Downtown Boy, which draws on his years living in downtown San Diego and San Francisco’s Mission District, although his character’s San Diego is not quite the “fabulous playground” Herrera said he enjoyed as a boy.

His latest project involves his family, too, but this time he steps back a generation to his mother’s brother who started a music and comedy show on the radio in Juarez in the 1930s.

“It was a flourishing decade of the arts in Juarez,” he said. “It’s a fabulous moment and story.”

Herrera found two sisters who were part of his uncle’s shows who are now ladies in their nineties. “They are still singers,” he said “Full of zest and energy. I’m really excited about continuing the interviews.”

He is developing an inspiring story and weaving it into a musical play. This project is bigger than most of those he has tackled, but with his own typical zest and energy he said he is looking forward to the challenge.

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LIFESTYLE | DECEMBER 2010

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C CHARITY

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

CHARITY C

The Creative Center Foundation brings African jungle safari to Visalia P h o t o s b y Tay l o r Va u g h n

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t was like stepping into a tropical jungle – huge palm leaves and native artifacts lined the entrance; African drumbeats flowed from somewhere in the distance. Amidst hanging vines, playful monkeys, peering giraffes and timid zebras, guests found themselves entranced by a looming volcano oozing bright red lava, and surrounded by massive pillars and tombs of the ancient world. The deep, dark, wild jungles of Africa were recreated in the middle of the Visalia Convention Center.

The intricate designs were the work of many hands of The Creative Center Foundation for its 13th Annual Mardi Gras Grand Ball. Co-chairs Cheryl Levitan and Deanna Saldana spearheaded this year’s theme: Jungle Safari. With the help of over 55 volunteers, the jungle safari was complete with a Jeep and floor-to-ceiling backdrops that covered the walls with lush greenery and wildlife.

The Creative Center Foundation exists to raise money and awareness for The Creative Center: a community arts center for developmentally disabled adults with classes in visual arts, performing arts and life skills. Currently, 99 students attend the Center; some having spent over 29 years there learning and experiencing different aspects of art and life. Students focus on individual interests and choose the classes they want to take.

“Because it is a lifetime program, instructors are challenged with the task of coming up with new courses and subjects, something that can be difficult and also exciting,” says Foundation Executive Director Kathleen Remillard. Fortunately, The Creative Center is staffed with dedicated volunteers ready to help.

In the fine arts arena, students have the opportunity to work in a number of mediums, such as stained glass, oil paint, ceramics, weaving, lithograph and photography. Jeanette Steck, department head of Visual Arts, makes it her goal to help students find what medium works for them. “We focus on what they can do, not what they can’t … so that they may adapt and build upon their own ideas.” She gave the example of one student who would only color with crayons, but Steck’s experienced eye saw that the student could create much more by incorporating glass into her work. Much more beneficial than just handing out assignments, the students are encouraged to explore their own creativity and, thanks to the teachers and materials at the Center, they have the means to do so.

Art created at the Center is presented in the student gallery on display for the public. Part of the proceeds from works purchased during the Mardi Gras Grand Ball goes back to the students. The prices of the objects are determined by the cost of the materials used and the standard rate for each medium, among other criteria.

Whatever is left after covering the cost of the materials is awarded to the artist in a check at the end of the month – tangible proof that what they’re doing is really impacting the lives of others.

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1. Shawn Rodriguez, Joey Valtierra, Kassia Rodriguez, Duane Rodriguez, Tina & Tony Aguilar 2. Kathleen & Rick Remillard 3. Wayne Wundram 4. Front: Randy & Karen Tellalian, Claudia Sproles; Back: Tiffany Smith-Edmonds, Dr. Andre Edmonds, Nonnette Silva LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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C CHARITY

For those students less inclined to visual art, The Creative Center offers dance and music curricula, too. Performing Arts is one way disabled students enjoy the spotlight. Featured at the Grand Ball, The Creative Center Players performed their own original song, which they wrote and recorded together on campus.

In addition to the impressive art studios, a dance studio and fully equipped music-recording studio is provided for student use.

The Creative Center students are also devoted to helping each other. Remillard explained that at one point they had a deaf student join them and the other students decided amongst themselves that they wanted to learn sign language so they could communicate with their new friend – and they did. The Life Skills department now offers a sign language class. The department also teaches students money management, reading, writing, math and cooking so they can be as independent as they want to be.

Small group outings (such as to Plaza Park to feed the ducks and to The Lifestyles Center) encourage active lives. Both excursions, new teacher Misty Nevarez explains, “get students used to being out and about, learning simple aspects like not cutting in line, which translate into valuable lessons.”

Students also have the opportunity to maintain positions of authority in the organization People First. People First focuses on the ultimate agenda that disabled people “want to be seen as a person first, not for just their disability,” Remillard explains.

President Isella Solis, student at the Center, will maintain her position for the duration of a year and says she most enjoys running the lunch meetings. People First meets bi-monthly to discuss paintings, coordinate Special Olympics teams, and most importantly, to learn and remind themselves of their rights as human beings. They also raise money to give back to those who support them most. In the past, People First has given money to one of their instructors, who has a disabled child at home, so that he could take his wife out to dinner. The love and admiration the students have for the volunteers at The Creative Center is unparalleled, except possibly in the sentiments the volunteers have for the students.

When it comes down to it, The Creative Center students and staff alike share in joy and success because of the support found in our community. “We couldn’t do it without the community and volunteers. Without their time, donated items, and monetary donations, we simply could not do it,” says Remillard. Visalians’ generous support of the Mardi Gras Grand Ball is sure to provide another year of opportunities for the The Creative Center.

1. Karolina & Mark Perry 2. Kellie Franco, Cheryl Levitan, Deanna Saldana 3. Marlene Coelho, Morgan Phillips, Malissa Robles, Lacy Meneses, Mike Overacker 4. Students of The Creative Center performed an original song titled, “Together We’re Better.”

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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H HOME TOUR

THE KINOSIAN HOME

ARCHITECTURE as SOUVENIR

Text By Aaron Collins Photos by Forrest Cavale of Third Element Studios

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Memories of Diverse Travel Experiences Shape Kinosian Residence

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ome people bring home souvenirs from their travels, or create photo albums of their favorite travel memories. Todd Kinosian created a home from his. Inspiration for the home, completed in 2009, was derived from Kinosian’s travels to locales from Arizona to Tuscany to Los Cabos, Mexico, with notes of Frank Lloyd Wright and a glimpse of ancient adobes. So the resulting residence is a kind of collage, a hybrid product of daydreams and fond memories, design motifs encountered on golf trips to Scottsdale, and the feeling recaptured of good times in faraway places. This was all brought home to be experienced every day by Kinosian, a third-generation Armenian-Irish-American grape grower, produce sales professional and father of two children.

“I designed my home with the intent of taking bits and pieces of my travels and favorite vacation places, forming a perfect combination of the two,” said Kinosian. “The exterior followed a favorite destination of mine at Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico. A home situated in the rocks of Arizona gave me ideas in the open feeling I was looking for in designing my home,” which he accomplished with the able assistance of a variety of design professionals, including noted Visalia-based architect Stan Canby.

“It was great working with Todd,” Canby said. “During our initial interview he felt confident we were reading from the same sheet of music and commissioned my firm to provide the design. During the programming process it was apparent the design solution for Todd’s home was going to be exciting,” Canby said, adding that Kinosian achieved the distinctive results by purposely distancing his project requirements from the norm for this area.

One way that is expressed is its placement among the predominantly Tuscan structures of Bella Sera, a gated neighborhood. “The exterior design of the home was a challenge,” said Canby. “Todd’s program included radical flat-roofed contemporary designs with Carmel, Southwest contemporary influences – something you might experience in Scottsdale. The challenge was to develop a contemporary design and interpret the Tuscany subdivision style through the use of natural materials.”

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ON THE SPREAD: The hard materials of nature, like wood and stone, combine to give a warm effect in Todd Kinosian’s Visalia home, providing a foil to the linear austerities of Modernism.

BELOW: The front elevation of the Kinosian home seamlessly unites Modernist volumes with ancient surfaces, including a clay tile roof and plaster finish that changes character with the elements and presence of moisture.

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“Choosing a location for your residence is such a big decision. Items I took into consideration were that I wanted to be in this area of town. I also wanted a quaint, gated neighborhood,” said Kinosian, the current homeowners association president, who knows well the issues of design standards.

With so many varied influences evident, including some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Arizona projects, how does one sum it up? “I would describe my home as Scottsdale contemporary, with a bit of an edge,” Kinosian said.

Among the many remarkable design elements is its entry. Visitors approach under a spacious main floating roof section akin to a palapa entrance seen at one of Todd’s favorite resorts in Mexico. The simple courtyard beyond offers privacy and a mood shift thanks to a contemporary water feature that anchors the intermediate space and brings a soothing element of sound to the experience.

Small flat-roof areas were integrated into the design to frame the contemporary palapa and screen a complete roofmounted solar system. The exterior features the use of real natural stone, smooth plaster and the roof is authentic twopiece barrel clay tile consistent with subdivision standards – a key way in which the Southwest style is brought to heel among its neighboring Tuscan littermates.

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“Upon entering the home you instantly feel the openness and clean lines with art throughout,” Canby said. A 10-foot high sliding glass wall system provides panoramic views to the rear terrace pool area, which Canby describes as having the ambiance of a day room. “There are too many features to mention; you have to experience the open flow, art and clean details to really appreciate this type of architecture,” Canby said.

Windows Plus built the cabinetry for the house. Sub-Zero, Wolf and Bosch were appliance badges chosen for the kitchen.

“The kitchen really is a main focus of our home,” Kinosian said. “The space has two large islands perfect for entertaining, but is also a place where the kids can do homework while I am making dinner.”

Other remarkable features “would have to include the infinity water feature in the court yard and the infinity pool and spa,” Kinosian said. “When you enter the house you can see through the living room into the backyard and this gives the house that open feeling that I was looking for. Living in this great climate, we are able to enjoy our outdoor living area most of the year, from barbeques in the spring and summer to football games in the fall.”

Kinosian says that one of his favorite aspects of the project was choosing all the materials in the home. “Glass tile is used throughout the house and can really give an artistic flair to a room. I am a person of detail and this really brought that out.

I also chose to use a two-piece clay tile for the roof. The plaster exterior finish gave me the clean lines I was looking for,” he said.

He also enjoys guest quarters that offer visitors complete privacy and autonomy, as well as delineated kid areas, which give them their own areas to cut loose and just be kids.

Todd Griffin was the builder of the Kinosian home in northwest Visalia. Corey Reeder with Genesis Pools designed the pool and spa and had a hand in influencing the design in the backyard. Charles Gruwell with Gruwell Design collaborated with design and color palette. Michael Kreiss and Tricia Wilson styled the living areas, while John Townsend with LinkUs installed the Creston audio and video along with a Lutron lighting system.

PAGE 28: The Kinosian dining room and its views of the entry courtyward provide a study in rectilinear geometries, all softened by tactile upholstery fabrics and the more organic forms of the artwork.

TOP LEFT: A sliding glass wall opens onto a lanai along the pool in the Kinosian home’s rear garden.

UPPER LEFT: Avoidance of clutter creates the feel of a contemporary art gallery in the Kinosian home, where a variety of paintings do much of the decorative work.

LOWER LEFT: The master suite consists of a spa-like bathroom, a well-concealed home gym with a full free weight set and other fitness equipment, and the main quarters with a view to the rear garden and swimming pool.

BOTTOM LEFT: The entry courtyard was modeled on a Mexican resort Todd Kinosian has visited. The gated space shields the public from private quarters, but also unites access to the residence, guest quarters, and Kinosian’s home office.

FOLLOWING SPREAD: Clean lines in the Kinosian kitchen reflect resistance to clutter and a desire to keep space clear for multiple uses; the two Kinosian children are likely to be found doing homework here while dad prepares meals.

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Central C e Valley

McMillin Homes Central C e Valley

McMillin Homes Central C e Valley

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“It was important to me to have lights, audio and video function efficiently,” Kinosian said. “I would truly call this a ‘smart home’ with the ability to run the house from my cell phone, iPad or touch screens,” which are placed strategically throughout the premises. Hogi Selling with Valley Unique Electric installed the solar system, which has rendered the Kinosian home neutral on the electrical grid.

Kinosian worked with a Los Angeles art dealer to hone his fairly tightly defined taste as evidenced in his collection of paintings from artists whose work he tends to collect in depth, rather than breadth. Kinosian chooses to focus on a few artists with multiple inclusions, all with a very unified aesthetic that might suggest a single artist, maybe two, as author.

Before the 1993 graduate of USC joined the family business, Sundale Vineyards and Sundale Sales, he spent a year in Beverly Hills real estate before boomeranging to his homeland in the San Joaquin Valley. Now, when he isn’t busy at work, he enjoys time visiting with family and friends at his second home in Pebble Beach, or traveling to New York or Tuscany (the real one) or Hawaii, a favorite of the kids. He enjoys golf weekly at the Visalia Country Club, and contributes to CASA and the Miracle League, which are among his favored causes.

And if work demands that he stick around Visalia, well the Kinosians can just imagine they’re in Carmel or Cabo, or Florence or Scottsdale, with a little Santa Fe thrown in for good measure.

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Bibb Wedge Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Serves four Bibb Wedge Salad Ingredients:

1 head Bibb lettuce, cut in half and then quartered 1/2 lb. bay shrimp, rinsed and drained 4 spears hearts of palm, sliced 1 avocado, peeled and sliced 1/2 C sliced almonds, toasted (place in small, dry skillet on top of stove and toast slightly, moving them about...this will happen quickly, 2-3 minutes, so stick around.)

Fresh chives, chopped for garnish

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Dressing Ingredients: 2 T lemon juice 2 T lime juice 2 T honey 2 tsp. minced shallots 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 2 tsp. chopped tarragon 3/4 C olive oil 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions: To make dressing, place lemon juice, lime juice, honey, shallots, mustard, and tarragon in a food processor or blender and blend. Slowly pour the olive oil in to emulsify. Add salt and pepper, and pulse to incorporate.

Place wedge on plate, garnish with shrimp and hearts of palm slices; fan avocado and drizzle dressing over salads. Put a tablespoon in a little bowl and toss the shrimp in the dressing before putting on the plate.

Garnish with chives and toasted almonds.

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CABER DIAMOND ROSE

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C CULINARY ARTS Citrus and White Wine Salmon in Parchment Serves four (pictured on page 34 & 35)

Ingredients: 4 parchment paper circles, cut from a roll, approximately 12 inches in diameter 4 baby red potatoes, thinly sliced 4 (6-8) ounce salmon filets 4 T butter (1 T for each packet) 8 ounces shitake mushrooms (or anything you like but choose smaller mushrooms), sliced or chopped depending on the size 1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced 2 lemons, zested first and then juiced 4 thyme sprigs 4 T fresh basil, cut into a chiffonade (stack 4 or 5 leaves, roll into a tight roll like a cigar and then thinly slice) 1 C dry white wine (1/4 C for each packet) Salt and pepper 12 thin asparagus spears, sliced into 2-inch pieces on the bias (diagonal cut) Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Fold the parchment in half. Lay the potatoes flat, placing them in the center just above the crease. Lay the fish on top of the potatoes. Lay tablespoon butter on top of fish. Divide the seasoned vegetables between the 4 papers, placing them in the center just above the crease.

Top with lemon zest, thyme sprigs, basil and wine. Fold the paper over the fish. Working from one end of the parchment to the other, fold the bottom of the paper over the top to crease and seal the packets. The closure needs to be very secure so the steam will not escape during the cooking process. Bake in the preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Espresso and Grand Marnier Pots de Crème Serves four to six

Ingredients: 3 C heavy cream 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 T Grand Marnier 1/4 C whole coffee beans 1/4 C chocolate chips (optional if you want chocolate espresso) 6 egg yolks 1/2 C sugar 3 T brewed espresso, cold (I have used instant powdered espresso and it worked well) 1 orange, zested Directions: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Pour the heavy cream, vanilla, Grand Marnier and coffee beans into a saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Bring to a brief simmer and do not boil. Remove from the heat and strain to remove the beans.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar until the color turns light yellow, about 2-3 minutes. Temper the yolks by gradually whisking the hot cream into the yolk and sugar mixture. (Do not add too quickly or you will risk cooking the eggs.)

Stir in the brewed coffee.

Pour the egg-cream mixture into 4-6 (6-8 ounce ramekins), filling them three-quarters full with the mixture. Fill a large shallow baking pan with 1/2-inch hot water. Carefully place the ramekins in the water bath and bake for about 30-35 minutes. When done, the center should jiggle slightly.

Remove from the oven and let the ramekins cools about 20 minutes before refrigerating. Place in fridge to chill for at least two hours or overnight. Garnish with orange zest.

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GARDEN TO REAP FOOD FOR THE BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT Text by Lisa McEwen | Photos by Peter Amend

On a side of Visalia that has its share of blight and despair, a bright spot is growing. Literally.

The Visalia Rescue Mission’s community garden is slowly taking shape, and with the arrival of spring, warmer temperatures and sunshine, the garden is on its way to fulfilling its own mission: to help feed the homeless and needy, nourish the souls of those who tend it, and provide locally grown produce to residents.

Dubbed “Feed the Hungry Garden,” the project is transforming a vacant 1.4 acres of land at the corner of Santa Fe and Race streets in northeast Visalia into a green field of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, lettuce, leeks, cantaloupe and watermelon. The idea for the garden sprouted in the fall of 2009 when the Mission moved into new administrative offices and staff members wanted to make use of the land surrounding the building.

Like the fertile fields that encircle the city, the minds of local residents were busy nurturing ideas to bring the garden closer to reality. With the help of many local volunteers, the garden has a good foundation.

For Eric Limas and John Schaap, their involvement in the garden began last June, born out of a desire to give back to their community.

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Both are graduates of Class 39 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. As part of their training to become leaders in both agriculture and the community, Limas and Schaap took part in seminars, traveled to Washington D.C., Boston, and Peru to learn about food production and politics, and to participate in various service projects.

Schaap heard about the garden project and the nearby members of the class wanted to help, putting their newly acquired knowledge to work. The group learned that fresh produce is often missing from food boxes in assistance programs such as the Visalia Rescue Mission’s, an ironic fact considering that California is an agricultural powerhouse.

“I think that it would be great for people in need to be able to get all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden,” said Schaap, an engineer at Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group in Visalia.

“Being in California, we can grow just about anything we want.”

But Schaap also believes that gardening is good for the soul, too.

“I believe that work is therapeutic,” he said. “There are benefits for anybody to get involved with the garden, to work hard, and to see and enjoy the fruits of their labors. The garden can provide something for people to do that don’t have jobs; it can help to build work ethic and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment; and it can be a place for people to get involved, congregate, socialize and work together. It can also be a place of beauty.”

As part of their fundraising efforts with the California Agricultural Leadership Program, the group had raised about $2,000 to put toward the project of their choice. They spent about $1,600 on supplies and installed an automated irrigation system March 19. “We thought this project was right up our alley,” said Limas, who works at the Lower Tule River Irrigation District. “You can’t grow anything without water.”

Limas and Schaap both agree the group was inspired by another successful program in Sacramento, called Loaves and Fishes, which works to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless.

“While we were there, we visited with the people and ate lunch with them,” Limas said. “You take it to heart.”

Growing up in Tipton, Limas said he was unaware of homelessness in Tulare County. “I had never heard of the Visalia Rescue Mission, nor had I been aware as I should have been,” he recalled. “The program really opened my eyes to the needs of our community.”

For Visalian Megan Svensson the garden will create new bridges between people. Svensson discovered the nationwide trend of community gardens while living in Brooklyn, NY, and is working to nurture the garden with several others, many of whom are members of Visalia-based Radiant Church.

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H HUMANITARIAN “We are not just growing food. It is really cool to see people coming together while they’re gardening, to be out in the earth, talking and working together,” she said. “I am excited to have other people involved. Anybody can come and spend the day with us.”

Svensson also envisions residents picking their own food and cooking it at home, a therapeutic endeavor on two fronts. “I’ve seen the way people are so divided because of socio-economic levels,” she explained.

“With the garden, everyone from mothers to workers have a common bond that crosses many boundaries. I believe this is God’s doing.”

Ron Colburn saw an article on the start-up of the garden and came in to see how he could help. “I’m in the vegetable seed and transplant industry,” said Colburn, “and I believe strongly in business giving back to the community. The VRM is doing a fantastic job at helping people turn their lives around through a Christ-centered approach. I’m doing a small part by helping here at the garden. The possibilities are endless!”

Jessica Van Ginkel, community development director at the Mission, said, “Ron is a faithful worker in the garden. He brings tractors to till and supplies plants and seeds, and tools that enable the garden volunteers to nourish what he has provided.”

The group hopes that the garden will develop into a mini “retreat” for the surrounding community to enjoy. They envision flourishing plants, trees, a gazebo and walking paths.

“Our desire is to utilize all that we are provided with to the best of our ability and to serve anyone who has a need,” Van Ginkel said. “The possibilities are endless and we’re excited to see what the Lord has in store for this plot of land and its volunteers.”

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A

n escape to the rolling hills of Paso Robles vineyards is a treat that many local residents wish they could manage more often.

Just a few hours west of Visalia, on Highway 46, wine grapes that will become prized bottles in private collections grow in neat rows under a full sun, put to bed each night with a cool coastal breeze.

For Visalian John Hovannisian, such an escape happens at least twice a week. But rather than sipping in a tasting room, he hops on a tractor to plow weeds on his own 17-acre vineyard.

He’s tending to the vines that produce Syrah vintages under the

Almesa Winery label, which are quickly becoming noticed in the wide world of wines.

Tending to the vineyard is not a far cry from his roots, however, as John was raised in Tulare on his family’s raisingrape ranch and graduated from Tulare Union High School.

But becoming a farmer wasn’t part of his plan after high school.

He attended Fresno State University and then transferred to University of California at Irvine to earn a master’s degree in theater. After seven years as a stage actor in Los Angeles, and with a new bride, John decided to move to Visalia to work in the family’s property management business.

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“Everything runs its course, and at the time, the life of an actor was great,” the jovial Hovannisian said. “I guess you could say it was a natural progression from acting into wine. Your roots come back to you. I thought I’d never be a farmer, and then here I am. I do enjoy it.”

Perhaps that is because business, like art, requires intense creativity and devotion, not to mention a leap of faith.

Fourteen years ago, during a family trip with their three children to the Central Coast, John and his wife, Karen, noticed a small parcel for sale, next to Hunter Ranch golf course on Highway 46.

They had been looking for land to try their farming skills at wine grapes. “It had been an alfalfa field that had always been dryfarmed, and we thought, ‘This will be quite the adventure. Let’s do it!’”

And in 1996, the adventure began. Development of the land included installing trellises and planting the vines, all aligned with an overall goal of creating a sustainable vineyard.

“We started with the philosophy that if we ever wanted to live on the land, we could live there without being hurt,” Hovannisian said. “The vineyard is safe for me and the kids and those who work on it. We don’t use any pesticides, and we don’t put anything on the land that wasn’t already there. We use a tractor for mowing and disking, and it’s like a little natural habitat. I’ve got an owl house to deal with the gophers.”

Hovannisian said the ranch’s size works in his favor for such farming practices. “We can do a lot of things by hand, but that wouldn’t be possible if we were as large as other growers.”

To stay on top of his farm chores, Hovannisian makes at least two trips a week to the vineyard. “If I had another one, it would kill me!” he said with a laugh. “There is always something to do.”

In 1999 the vineyard produced its first harvest and since then, success has come in measured steps.

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John and Karen hired San Luis Obispo architect Kim Hatch to help them design a home in Cayucos. Through the process, Hovannisian and Hatch discovered that they both enjoyed not only drinking wine, but making it. Hatch, a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, employed the university’s motto of “learn by doing” in his winemaking. With fellow garage wine-making enthusiasts, he honed his skills and palette. The duo formed a partnership and made their first vintages of Syrah garage wine from the Hovannisian vineyard in 2005 and 2006; and in 2007, they created Almesa Winery. The name is derived from the first two letters of each of John and Karen’s children: Alex, Megan and Sara.

Hatch explained that the winery’s grapes are harvested and then processed at Paso Robles Wine Services, a 350,000-square-foot facility used by a variety of winemakers in the area. The facility provides the manpower and equipment to make wine – under his direction, of course.

There the juice is fermented and then placed in barrels to age.

In 2008 Hatch culled some of the Syrah juice to create a rosé.

The other vintages were aged for 22 months in either French or Bulgarian oak barrels.

A favorite vintage of Hatch’s is the 2008 Barrel Select, which was aged in the Bulgarian oak and produced just 48 cases.

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Visalians John and Karen Hovannisian inspect the newly budding crop of their small vineyard in Paso Robles, just off Highway 46.

ABOVE: Friends and other curious wine lovers gathered at the Vintage Press for the Hovannisian’s first winemaker’s dinner in January of this year.

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Both Hovannisian and Hatch said that with such a small operation, they are not only the farmer, manager and winemaker, but also the marketing team.

“Right now we are concentrating on sales,” Hatch said from his San Luis Obispo office. “For us, it’s all a new frontier in marketing and sales. We are in the process of learning a lot.”

With no tasting room at the vineyard, Hovannisian and Hatch are working hard to spread the news about their product. One way that is done is by holding private tastings at the vineyard for up to eight people, complete with cheese, crackers and a front-row seat with the owners.

The wine is available at select stores along the Central Coast and is offered at the Vintage Press Restaurant in Visalia.

Chef David Vartanian encouraged the Hovannisian’s to host a winemaker’s dinner, and so they did in January.

“Finally, I had enough wines to do the courses,” Hovannisian said. “We had 85 people there, and it was the second largest winemaker’s dinner held at the Vintage Press.

We were so excited and flabbergasted.”

Almesa Wines are offered on the restaurant’s wine list, and Vartanian, who has known Hovannisian for 25 years, said it sells because of its quality and local connection.

“The dinner was a success because of the local people involved and their friends,” Vartanian said. “They’re going to do well.”

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Stifel Nicolas 1012.pdf

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Jim Wohlford – Branch Manager & Senior Vice President/Investments Lupe Sanchez – Vice President/Investments David Sharp – Vice President/Investments Penney Sick – Vice President/Investments Amy Gunn – Client Service Associate Monica Peterson – Office Coordinator Sherri Rigney – Wire Operator

(559) 622-1040 • (866) 950-5516 217 East Caldwell • Visalia, California 93277 Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC and NYSE

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B I L LY S Tex t by Crystal R. R. Edwards | Photos by Aspec t Photography

“E

venting” is the equestrian equivalent of the triathlon.

Show jumping, dressage (sometimes referred to as “horse ballet”), and cross-country are judged during the competition over two or three days.

There are three constants in life: death, taxes and horse-crazy little girls. What happens when the equine obsession turns into a possible career?

Meet Lauren Billys of Visalia. Billys, a 22-year-old student at Fresno State, rides her Irish sport horse Ballingowan Ginger in the equestrian sport referred to as three-day eventing (3DE). “I started riding when I was eight years old,” she said. “I was obsessed with horses, which was strange because no one else in my family rode.”

Her obsession led to lessons, then summer camp at Mountain View Corrals in Woodlake. At that point, she was hooked. “That was the first time I ever jumped,” she recalled. Mountain View Corrals did all three-day eventing, and before she knew it, Billys had a horse and was invited to a 3DE competition when she was 13. “There was no way I was ever going to do anything but eventing at that point,” she said.

Billys currently rides out of Eden Ranch, in Sanger, and visits her coaches Bea and Derek DiGrazia at Stillwater Farm in Carmel Valley every other weekend. “We watch movies at night, and we ride during the daytime,” she said. “I get a lot of help from them and I’m constantly in contact with Bea or Derek during the rest of the time to discuss everything that’s going on with my training.” She also works with Loris Henry in Fresno on a weekly basis. “She’s one of the top dressage judges in the world for eventing,” Billys said. “She’s been a huge help in my riding career.”

Billys is a double-major in chemistry and enology (wine making).

She also teaches riding and trains rider-horse pairs in what little spare time she has left, and is hoping that eventing will become a career.

“I’m hoping that I can get a lot of exposure and ride in big-time international competitions.”

How big-time are we talking? “The Pan American Games,” she said with a chuckle. “All the countries in the Western Hemisphere compete.

I’m of Puerto Rican nationality, and I’ll be competing on behalf of Puerto Rico.” She explained that this is the first year Puerto Rico will come out with an eventing squad. “We don’t have an official coach yet,” she said. “Those who are qualifying for the Pan American games are all based in the United States.”

Billys trains at least three hours a day, six days a week on her 16.3-hand-tall horse. The seventh day of the week, she’s still at the barn, working with other horses. “It’s a big commitment, and it’s taught me a lot of responsibility.” She described how she was handed the keys to the truck and a horse trailer when she was 16 and given a cheerful farewell by her parents before one weekend event.

“My advice to anyone interested in eventing, or the equestrian sport in general, is to enjoy the process, not just the final product.

Things can change in a day. If your horse blows a tendon, you may not be going to that competition. The end product is not always a given, but I enjoy what I’m doing every day with the horse.”

To keep updated with Billys and Ballingowan Ginger’s upcoming Pan American status, visit her blog: http://laurenbillys.blogspot.com.

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Annual COS Student Art Show April 12 - May 13

Showcasing student art work, the COS Art Gallery seeks to inspire community awareness and appreciation for the arts. This event is open and free to the public and is a great way to support our local artists.

When: April 12 - May 13, 11-3p Where: College of the Sequoias, 915 S. Mooney Boulevard, Visalia Contact: Matthew, 737-4861

Theater & Performances The Enchanted Play House presents: A Walk in the Woods Directed by Debbie Metler and Kay Whistler. A simple walk through a forest results in a multiplicity of wacky encounters with familiar and wellloved storybook characters, both good and evil.

When: A pril 29 & 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14. Evening performances at 7p, Matinee at 2p.

Where: The Enchanted Play House Theatre, 307 E. Main Street, Visalia Contact: 635-1761 M A Y Wyndfall Chamber Music Series presents: Flute Fantastique An exciting program filled with alltime favorite works such as Debussy’s “Arabeque,” Faure’s “Pavane” and many more!

When: May 14, 7p Where: The Spiritual Awareness Center, 117 S. Locust Street, Visalia Contact: 625-2441

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ART EXHIBITS Tulare Palette Club’s Spring Art Show The Tulare Palette Club, in existence for over 50 years, invites you to their annual art show held at the Tulare Historical Museum. The event promotes art and culture in the city of Tulare and is free to the public!

When: April 2-30 Where: Main Street Theater, 307 W. Main Street, Visalia Contact: call: 635-1761

M A Y First Saturday in Three Rivers Celebrate art, music, dance, storytelling, food and drink as you browse the art galleries, studios and gift shops of downtown Three Rivers.

For discounts and participants visit website.

When: May 7, 10a-5p Where: Maps at Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or visit http:// www.1stSaturdayTR.com

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HAPPENINGS H

Mozart’s

Requiem

(k.626)

Thursday, May ,   P.M. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Visalia Admission $10 students and seniors, $15 general .

Call (559) 732-1851 or 733-2687 Charlotte Garcia Da Rosa-Soprano Wendy Culbreth-Mezzo Jeff Seaward-Tenor Limuel Forgey-Bass Guest Orchestra Charles Culbreth, Conductor

Mozart Requiems (k.626)  Voice Choir with Full Orchestra Featuring the Visalia Community Chorus St. Mary’s Catholic Church Choir Christ Lutheran Church Choir

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Independent Film Night

April 21 & May 19 Independent Film Night by Tulare County Library shows exclusive cultural films free to the public. April’s film, titled Nurse.Fighter.Boy is an award-winning urban love story about the soul of a mother, the heart of a fighter, and the faith of a child. Visit the website for more information on upcoming viewings.

When: April 21 & May 19, 6:30-8p Where: Tulare County Library, Visalia Branch Blue Room, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or http://www.tularecountylibrary.org

DIVERSIONS & EXCURSIONS

Charitable EVENTS

58th Annual Woodlake Lions Rodeo With hats a flyin’ and bulls a buck’n, the 58th 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 7 & 8 Where: Woodlake Lions Rodeo grounds, Woodlake Contact: 280-6153 or visit http://www.woodlakelionsrodeo.com

63rd Annual Springville Sierra PRCA Rodeo Kick up your heels at this annual rodeo in the foothills of the SierraNevada Mountains. Enjoy wonderful entertainment, fantastic food, and the thrills and spills of world-class rodeo action.

When: A pril 22-24 Where: Sequoia Ranch, 34754 Highway 190, Springville Contact: Dianne Shew at 539-3908, or Kassi Corzine at 359-5358 A P R I L 5K Earth Day Trail Run/Walk The second annual celebration of outdoor fitness and nature is sure to bring out the spring in you! This event is a great way to encourage a healthy lifestyle as well as enjoy the unique scenery of our very own Kaweah Oaks Preserve.

When: A pril 23. Race starts at 8a; Preserve opens at 6:45a for registration.

Where: Kaweah Oaks Preserve, Rd. 182, just north of Hwy. 198 Contact: Richard, 741-6004

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

When: Every first Friday starting in May 6, 6 -10p Where: Garden Street Plaza, Visalia Contact: Call: 732-7737 or visit www. bluesbrewsandbbq.net

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Exeter Garden Walk M A Y Stroll the beautiful gardens of Exeter on this garden tour hosted by the Exeter Chamber of Commerce. Tea and refreshments will be held at By the Water Tower Antiques, which will serve as a starting location.

When: M ay 14, 9a-2p.

Where: By the Water Tower Antiques, 141 S. B Street, Exeter Contact: 592-2919

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CASA of Tulare County’s 17th M A Y Annual “Once Upon A Dream” Gala You are invited to this year’s “Once Upon A Dream” dinner and auction.

Auction items include vacations, art work, home decor, and much more!

Call today to reserve your spot.

When: May 7, 6:40p Where: Holiday Inn, 9000 W. Airport Drive, Visalia Contact: 625-4007

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Habitat for Humanity 6th Annual M A Y Birdhouse Auction Benefiting Habitat for Humanity, the 6th Annual Birdhouse Auction will again be located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. Auction items include resort and spa getaways as well as wine-tasting tours and much more.

When: M ay 13, 6:30p-10:30p Where: Tulare County Fairgrounds, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Tulare Contact: 734-4040

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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.

Submissions are due 6 weeks prior to publication.

HAPPENINGS H

Broker/Owner NMLS #252789

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F FIRST PERSON

Colleen Mestas 58

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

CHIEF

It is rare to find women in the

law enforcement field; even more rare to find one in leadership.

Visalia is fortunate to have a truly remarkable female on board with over 20 years of law

F

FIRST PERSON F

Lifestyle Magazine sat down with Chief of Police, Colleen Mestas, to talk about women in law enforcement, encouraging children to consider careers in the field, and law enforcement issues that

POLICE enforcement experience.

affect all Visalia residents.

Te x t by K aren Tel l al ian | Pho t os by Tayl or Vaughn

LLM: Chief, let’s start off with why you think there are so few women in the law enforcement field?

LM: What would you like to see more of in the way of community programs?

CM: It’s a statistic statewide that women are not getting into this business right now. Although a lot of women like investigations and they’re really good at things like that, you can’t get to those spots without having to stop and patrol. You have shift work and the weird days off. So, there’s just not a lot of attraction for women to this business right now.

CM: I wish we had more drug rehabilitation programs with parenting and life skills for women. Women commit crimes like males do, but if you look at their stories, there always seems to be common denominators: a substance abuse problem, an abusive relationship, poor choices, dysfunctional families. I know it’s costly, but the more you can get people off of drugs, the more productive these people will be in society. I don’t know that shoving people into prison, whose only crime is drug use, makes them better. They often come out worse.

LM: It could be difficult also, when trying to raise a family.

CM: Right. And everyone here knows that I won’t promote or hire anybody … unless they’re qualified. I know there’s a push [to hire more female officers]. We have a push here, too, that we would like to have more Spanish-speaking officers, but it’s a big struggle to recruit Spanish-speaking folks. There’s a whole book written on hiring and recruiting women and minorities. So we work on that, but at the same time, I think we are very well reflective of our community.

LM: I f it’s a challenge recruiting people in some of these specific areas, how can the community help?

CM: We always need to look at kids. We partner with schools, colleges and other curricular activities. When we see interest from kids, I like to get them in the Explorer Program*, because I started in Explorer. Back when I was 14, somebody at the Clovis Police Department encouraged me...and here I am, the police chief.

LM: More hardened, more cynical?

CM: I’m talking about drug abusers that are non-violent. In order to keep that drug habit going, they become criminals. So, it’s a vicious cycle and there’s not enough money to deal with these people. And it’s every walk of life. Look at the cases out there right now, the known stars. Heck, they’re everywhere.

LM: What happened to our D.A.R.E. program here?

CM: Unfortunately, it’s costly to put an officer in to teach at schools, and the reality is that the school system can’t support those time frames because of state mandates to improve their marks. So, we’ve lost some of that, and here in Visalia we’re more focused on the gang issue. We do partner with a lot of gang intervention and prevention programs with the schools and we have a combined task force that works on that.

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F FIRST PERSON

LM: Are we making any headway with the gang issue?

CM: We are making a big difference in the gang problem here in Visalia. In February 2010, the [City] Council decided that one of their top five priorities would be gang suppression. They gave us some additional resources, which was not easy to do in light of the budget; but we partnered with the State of California, Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, and were able to conduct a three-month detail where we worked on the upper echelon of the Nuestra Familia gang. We were very successful. But we have to remember prevention – to hopefully stop the bleeding at the beginning with school kids – so we don’t have the intervention to worry about. We’re very lucky that all the non-profits and law enforcement agencies here get along so well with each other and with the school district.

LM: H ave the reasons that kids get into gangs changed at all? We used to think that it was because they were looking for a family structure that they didn’t have.

CM: Absolutely. Well, it’s turf, too. If you’re an unfortunate child from a home where everybody was a gang member, your chances are slim to ever crawl out of that. A reality here in the Valley is it’s northern controlled, and they don’t like the southern gangs from Los Angeles coming up here. Visalia is a hotbed because there are southerners, northerners, Asian, and African American gangs; there’s a whole myriad of gangs all living around each other. It’s [often about] territory.

LM: L et’s talk a little bit about your daughter. She’s been raised as an only child, two parents in law enforcement. What’s that been like for her?

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

CM: Not easy. I am the disciplinarian in the home. I have become my mother. Growing up, you tell your mother, “I’ll never be like you,” and you mean it. And then you get older and reality checks in and you say, “Wow! I’ve become my mother.” So, I’m pretty strict with her. I trust her. She’s a great kid. I think she has a 3.8 GPA. She’s involved in church. But at the same time, my job is not to be her friend. I will be her friend someday, but God didn’t give me to her to be her friend. I know she’s going off to college, but I hope I’ve given her the foundation to live her life right. I’m sure some day she’ll be on some talk show and say that she was totally skewed because of [having two police chiefs for parents], but I think she’ll be okay.

LM: As one of only 17 female chief’s in California, who do you credit for helping you get where you are today?

CM: I just thank God that Sheriff Richard Pierce believed in me.

He put me as the Lieutenant in charge of a metropolitan area in Fresno; it was the busiest area that we had. I think assignments like those gave me the skills that I have today to be chief. There were other people that believed in me: my grandfather, my parents, and currently I am just really blessed with the best staff here. Captain Rick Haskell and I ran this place for almost 18 months when other folks retired. We just recently got some administrative staff back, but have the most loyal staff and the best people here at Visalia PD. They are just exceptional. My goal is that whenever I leave here – whatever day and time that is – that I have prepared a group of people that can compete for my job. The talent’s here. I feel good about it and I think Visalia is in good hands.

FIRST PERSON F

Bring Your Garden Into The Party

Garden Art with a Purpose!

A handcrafted wrought iron table that easily attaches to pots, urns and even wine barrels.

For information on how to order, contact info@ilovetheledge.com or call 559-294-3344

www.ilovetheledge.com

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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F FIRST PERSON LM: Any final thoughts about the Visalia community?

CM: I love the downtown. I love Crawdaddy’s. My husband and I, that’s our favorite place. I think we’ve got a safe community overall. We have the ability to really grow and I work with the best group of department heads. They’re just good people. There are a lot of faith-based people in Visalia, which I appreciate, and that’s a lot of who I am.

LM: Have you found a church here?

CM: I haven’t yet. You know, I’m Southern Baptist, married to a Catholic. So, find me a church.

LM: We have a lot of great churches here.

CM: We do, and I’ll know which one’s for me when I go. So, I’m looking forward to doing that.

LM: And, if you could do anything over in your life...?

DID YOU KNOW? Magazine reach begins accumulating audience before the actual on-sale date. The average monthly accumulates approximately 60% of its audience within the first month. The average weekly magazine accumulates 80% of its audience within the first two weeks.

Because consumers control their media experience with magazines, magazines provide “on-demand” audience accumulation.

Immediacy of Reading A Typical Issue by percent Same day I receive it 44% Within 2-3 days 34% Within 1 week 14% Withing 2 weeks 5% Two weeks or longer 3%

CM: We always wish we had spent more time with family. That’s probably the first and foremost thing. I used to worry about a lot of stuff that I can’t control and I regret wasting time doing that.

But, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had a great career. I’ve worked with a lot of great people and I really do believe that God sent me here. * Law Enforcement Career Exploring is open to young men and women ages 14 (and completed the 8th grade) through 21 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of Law Enforcement. Exploring combines some classroom training with ride-alongs in police vehicles, pistol shooting, community policing and much more. For more information, contact 713-4086.

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Dr. Didya Know-April Tip *Base: All magazines – 210,000 Issue-Specific Readers Source: Affinity VISTA January– December 2009 www.magazine.org/handbook

LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011

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ExpEriEncE You can TrusT...

BankErs You can counT on.

Marv Hansen Vice President Business Banking Officer

Mary T. Hill Vice President Business Banking Officer

Your success is our Business

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LIFESTYLE | APRIL 2011