Direct Magazine - April 2017 by Direct Magazine

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE HEART OF THE SOUTH VALLEY | APRIL 2017

M A G A Z I N E

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SATURDAY 5P | SUNDAY 9A, 10:45A, 12:30P

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MEET A LOCAL

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Small Office and Home Network-Attached Storage

Warren Gubler, Mayor of Visalia

My 3 Best Diet Secrets

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INSIDE APRIL 2017

PU B LIS H E D BY

4 VISALIA FIRST

11 PRO-PT

12 Visalia Chamber

DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ADMINISTRATION & EDITORIAL

Executive Editor KAREN TELLALIAN Editorial Coordinator KELLY LAPADULA Operations Manager MARIA GASTON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ANDY SALAZAR C. S. WYATT GREG CULTRA IMAGINEU KELLEY PETTY LYDIA HOUSE MARY HUNT MISSY YAVASILE RYAN STILLWATER SARA JANSMA SHARON MOSLEY SHARON PLEIN SUE BURNS TODD OTO VALLEY OAK SPCA WARREN GUBLER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA Jeffrey Malkasian EA Direct Magazine is published twelve times a year and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 33,000 homes in Visalia. An additional 2,000 magazines are circulated at distribution points around Visalia and Tulare. Views expressed in columns are those expressed by the columnist and not necessarily those of Direct Magazine. We are dedicated to serving the community. Please call us for questions, comments, article suggestions or for information about local events at 739-1747. Fax us at 738-0909 or email us: direct@dmiagency.com. Online Issue at: www.issuu.com/dmiagency © 2017 DMI Agency

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COVER STORY

A HOLY SATURDAY

DEPARTMENTS

13 Tulare Chamber

F E AT U R E S

8 Virtual Valley

Small Office and Home Network-Attached Storage

10 Meet A Local

16 The Recipe Box 17 Valley Oak SPCA 18 Seen Around Town 18 People on the Move 19 Fitness

Warren Gubler, Mayor of Visalia, Partner with Gubler & Abbott LLP, attorneys at law

20 Fashion

14 Fan Fest

22 Visalia Rescue Mission

The Great Western Fan Festival is Coming!

21 Craft Corner

21 Ask M.J.

23 College Prep 24 Character Counts!

Spring Flowers

27 Auto Shop

25 Gardening

28 Money Matters

Garden Fun with Carrots!

29 Crossword

26 VUSD

30 Goings-On

It Happens Every Spring

32 Warren Reports

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VISALIA FIRST TEXT BY SARA JANSMA, HEAD COORDINATOR OF VISALIA FIRST 2017 MISSION TRIP TO DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

A Holy Saturday

n a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” John 16:16 Jesus delivered these sobering words to His closest friends. For three years His disciples watched Him comfort the brokenhearted, heal sick bodies, and bring hope to the people around Him. How confusing and disheartening Jesus’ statement must have seemed! His friends heard His words but didn’t know the full weight of sorrow they carried. Not yet. Less than a day later Jesus was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death on a cross. Those closest to Him - those whom He had told He was leaving - saw Him die through eyes filled with horror, shock, and despair. It was a Friday.

A HEARTBROKEN & HOLY SATURDAY “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” John 16:20 The day after Jesus died was the Jewish Sabbath - a day marked for peace and rest. But for Jesus’ friends, it was a heartbroken and Holy Saturday. The Bible leaves most of Holy Saturday a mystery to us. We don’t know what the disciples were thinking, we don’t know how they mourned, and we aren’t given ear to their tearful discourse. But this we know: they walked through Holy Saturday - the darkest and most hopeless of days watching, waiting, and resting. WATCH “And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.” Luke 23:48-49 4

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As the disciples watched the death of Jesus, their biggest question must have been: “Where is God?” We’ve all been there. We’ve watched as our home was taken away because we couldn’t pay the mortgage. We’ve helplessly looked on as our child suffered from a disease we couldn’t control. We’ve muddled through the waters of a depression we couldn’t medicate or pray away. In desperation we have asked, “Where are you, God?” Staying right where they were, the disciples asked this question in the looming darkness of Holy Saturday. In the midst of their deepest pain, they didn’t run. They didn’t hide. They watched. In our greatest moments of weakness, when there is absolutely nothing we can do, watching takes courage. It is a choice to hold onto the promise, “...you will see Me again.” WAIT “Then they went home and prepared spices and ointment to anoint his body. But by the time they had finished the Sabbath had begun...” Luke 23:56a Holy Saturday arrived before Jesus’ friends could properly honor His lifeless body with the spices they’d prepared, so they put them aside for when Sabbath ended. What is there to do when facing a new day after so great a tragedy - when we’ve experienced gut - wrenching disappointment and nothing is certain? As a community, we know what it means to confront uncertainty. For years those of us living in the Central Valley have waited for rain that didn’t come. We saw fields once green with growth and produce turn to brown with drought and decay. We knew rain must come again – but how? When? We waited. As the disciples waited they must have remembered Jesus’ promise to return - and they must have clung to the hope that He would bring new life with Him.

REST “...so they rested as required by the law.” Luke 23:56b Resting is often the most unnatural thing to do when we’re surrounded by chaos. Whether they meant to or not, Jesus’ friends demonstrated ultimate faith by resting the day after His death. Their obedient response in light of such heartache shows us that rest is a form of Holy submission. When we choose rest during the perceived absence of God, we begin to understand the reality of who Jesus is, and the need for Him in our lives. “...‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!’ ” Luke 24:5-6 The darkness of Holy Saturday passed, and a bright new Sunday began. Jesus’ friends went to the place where He was buried with every intention of honoring His remains with the spices they had prepared. How shocked and astonished they must have been when, instead of finding Jesus’ lifeless body, they were greeted by angels who told them, “Your Jesus is alive!” Luke 24:4-6 The disciples had watched, waited, rested. They made it to the other side of Holy Saturday realizing the full, glorious weight of Jesus’ greatest miracle: His Resurrection! This Easter may we watch in the midst of pain, wait as we trust Jesus with our uncertain future, and rest knowing that God does some of His best work in hopeless situations. The clouds roll in, the rain falls down, and the thirsty land comes back to life. Celebrate Easter with Visalia First Saturday, April 15 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 16 at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

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presents

Easter Islands On he T

The Easter Story Hawaiian Crafts Fun Music 12,000 e aster E ggs

Plus Meet

Moana After EaCh Service Kids Services Sat 5:00 Sun 9:00 | 10:45 | 12:30 Visalia First Assembly of God 3737 S Akers St Visalia, CA 93277 DIRECT MAGAZINE (559) 733-9070 kids@visaliaﬁrst.com

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VISALIA FIRST TEXT BY PASTOR GREG CULTRA | DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES

Easter at Visalia First

ringing up the name “Jesus” automatically evokes conflicting opinions. Maybe you think He was a great teacher or a prophet. Maybe you think He's a made up fairytale. Whatever you believe, we can probably agree that the impact Jesus had can still be seen today. He made some bold claims like actually being God. This upset the religious leaders of His day so much that they killed Him. Why should

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something that happened more than 2,000 years ago matter now? How does who Jesus is have any affect on your life now in your job, relationships, paying your bills, or just trying to get by another week?

It’s as simple doing the things that God says gets between you and His love, declaring you want to follow Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is.

God has created you for a purpose! He loves you and wants to help you because He is a good Father. You don’t have to measure up to some impossible religious standard to know Him. You don't have to be perfect. There are no hoops to jump through or formulas to earn His love. The cross shows how much you're loved. The empty tomb proves you're free. If you believe that and commit to following Him, your life will never be the same.

Join us for incredible worship, a challenging message, and the opportunity to find out more about Jesus. Kids will be doing a HUGE Easter Egg hunt and get the chance to take their picture with Moana! This is an Easter service you do not want to miss. We look forward to having you and your families join us this Easter Sunday!

Easter at Visalia First is all about the Beautiful Name of Jesus!

Service times are Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

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YOUR HEALTH, YOUR TIME, OUR PRIORITY

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Small Office and Home NetworkAttached Storage

acking up data should be automatic, requiring nothing more than having your computer turned on and connected to either a network or backup device. Like many people, my primary

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computer is a laptop. Only essential applications and some personal data, such as email, remain on my MacBook Pro. I regularly move data from teaching and my creative projects from the laptop to external drives. With a laptop, I recommend a fault-tolerant backup approach. The easiest approach is to use more than an external hard drive and the backup utilities included with an operating system. Windows and macOS include system utilities for making incremental backups to external drives. For Windows 10, use the oddly named File History application. Apple users should try Time Machine. I use these tools and have recovered data using both. Before using these tools you need an external drive, ideally with twice the

capacity of your computer drive. Hourly, daily, and weekly updates consume a fair amount of space. Remember, every time you change data on your computer, a backup copy will be made. Another important thing to remember: drives last three to five years with regular use. I replace external drives every three years, storing old drives for another few years. Windows users can locate File History within the system setting “Update and Security” features. Select “Backup” from the left-hand list of security features. It is usually the third or fourth option down, depending on the Windows system. Click “Add a Drive” to select the external drive that will hold your backups. Always start with a full backup of your data. Find “Back up Now” under the “More

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TEXT BY C. S. WYATT

Options” choice. Set backups to store until more space is needed, which automatically deletes the oldest versions of files once a drive is filled. Apple’s Time Machine application works well if you have a single computer and want to maintain incremental backups to a dedicated hard drive. I use Time Machine and two external hard drives, connected via a USB hub. Any time I work in my home office, I plug in a single USB cable and know my MacBook Pro’s data are copied to these two drives. Time Machine is within the System Preferences in macOS. You can also locate Time Machine using a Spotlight search. Add a drive and Time Machine automatically makes an initial full backup of your computer’s primary drive. If an external drive fills, Time Machine deletes the oldest backups to free space.

Expandable systems are even better. The major vendors of NAS solutions for home and small office use are Synology, QNAP, Drobo, Netgear, and Western Digital. My personal favorite, based on experience, are NAS systems from Synology. Friends in the film industry have had good experiences with Drobo, too. All good four-drive or larger systems are similar in functionality. What I value is how easy it is to replace a drive when one does fail. The Synology systems feature easy disk drive swapping and the DiskStation Manager software is excellent.

There is a better solution to stacks and stacks of external drives created with File History or Time Machine: network-attached storage (NAS). An NAS is a simple computer with multiple hard drives or solid-state drives. The NAS can be thought of as a file-server and storage unit. With lowpower CPUs and limited memory, NAS solutions avoid creating unnecessary heat; these are boxes designed to last for years of continuous use. NAS solutions provide terabytes of storage on a local area network (LAN). Though there are single- and dual-drive NAS solutions, I recommend four-drive NAS hardware at a minimum.

For my needs, the Synology DS1515+ is an ideal solution. The DS1515+ can be paired with expansion units to enable up to 150 terabytes of faulttolerant storage. The DS1515+ with five 6-terabyte drives retails for $1900 online. The 30 terabytes of disk space provides 18 to 24 terabytes of actual storage, since data are duplicated in a RAID pattern. For a simple home office solution, the Synology DS416 models offer good protection for an affordable price. Loaded four 4-terabyte drives, the DS416 provides 12 terabytes of fault-tolerant storage space for under $1,000. Unlike the DS1515, you cannot add expansion units to the DS416, but you can upgrade the individual drives.

Two external drives are relatively inexpensive insurance against disaster, and a good approach for a single laptop or desktop computer with a single drive. If you have more than one computer, especially in a home or small office, you probably don’t want to have two hard drives for every computer. Depending on your profession or other needs, you might want data to be stored for more than two or three years, too.

and technology, I create movies and animations. Working on a single short film can fill a terabyte drive. When a project is completed, sometimes I want to keep the unused video, music, and effects files. For films, there are behindthe-scenes footage and other elements worth storing.

A good NAS is more than just a bunch of disk drives (JBOD). If that were the case, the failure of any drive could result in data loss. Instead, a well-configured NAS is a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). All data are written to two or more drives in the NAS system, along with errorrecovery data. If one drive fails, it can be replaced without losing any data. The best NAS systems feature RAID 6, a standard that prevents data loss even if two drives fail at the same time. For the best fault tolerance, therefore, you want an NAS that accommodates four or more drives. I have some rather extreme data storage needs. As a professor, student, and artist, I create a lot of data. For the courses I teach, I prepare multimedia presentations and audio lectures. As a graduate student in film

Once the NAS is attached to your network, install the software included with the NAS of your choice on any computer. Backups are performed as with Time Machine and File History, without interrupting your work. You might consider a NAS expensive and unnecessary, but once you’ve had to recover from a major drive failure you appreciate the time and worry saved. Also, it’s a lot more expensive to recover data from a crashed system than to copy files back from the network.

About the Author: Visalia native Scott Wyatt is currently completing his Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Technology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Scott has several additional graduate degrees and was a visiting professor of business communication at Carnegie Mellon University.

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MEET A LOCAL city, I ran the first time to see if I could get elected, and the second time to see if I could get re-elected! Why are you passionate about your work? As both a lawyer and as the mayor, I have a unique opportunity to help other people and affect their lives. My job as an attorney allows me time to spend with my family, church, and community.

Warren Gubler Mayor of Visalia, Partner with Gubler & Abbott LLP, attorneys at law How did you end up in Visalia? I was born in Exeter, raised in Woodlake and Porterville, and moved to Visalia after law school. I considered Visalia to be the “big city” and was thankful to get my first job as an attorney with Hurlbutt, Clevenger, Long & Vortmann. How did you get your start in this line of work? As a freshman in high school, I was assigned to research three careers in a career development class. One of those careers involved the law, and I determined at that time to become a lawyer. As to the city council, my college undergraduate degree was in political science. When my children were teenagers, they encouraged me to run for the city council because I was hanging around the house too much! Besides wanting to volunteer my time and having certain goals for the 10

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What is the most challenging thing about your job? The most challenging thing is coordinating my schedule between family, law, and the city. I'm a very organized individual, but on occasion I do feel like I'm performing a juggling act! Tell us about a single moment when you realized this was the right occupation for you. When I arrived in Visalia 35 years ago as a newlywed to take my first legal job, I wondered if I would last a month! As a young attorney, I didn't know what area of the law I wanted to practice. I was handed a small case for around $3,000 and was able to collect all the money that my business client was owed. The client praised me, telling me that I was the first attorney who had ever collected more for him than what the attorney had charged him! From there, my business grew by word of mouth; I've never had to advertise. If you had to choose another career, what would it be? If I wasn't a lawyer, I'd choose to be mayor. If I wasn't the mayor, I'd choose to be a lawyer. I come from a family of schoolteachers and would have been a great teacher. I taught some political science classes at COS years ago. Tell us a little about life outside of work: Hobbies include gardening, travel, local history, and racquet sports. I've been a boy scout leader for 35 years. Alisa and I are the proud parents of five terrific kids, four of whom are currently in college, and grandparents of two. As each of our children studied a foreign language in high school, I took them to a country that spoke that particular language, and

enjoyed seeing the world that way. What is something most people don't know about you? I grew up in a large family that had lots of love but not much money; I was number six out of seven kids; I've had more jobs than I can count (paperboy, field laborer, gardener, bus driver, grocery store clerk, golf course maintenance, etc.) by which I paid my own way through college; the TV shows I watch are “Survivor” and “Dancing With the Stars” (although I haven't been selected for either yet!); I'm an aspiring writer, and speak Japanese from living in Okinawa and Japan for two years as a young missionary.

What about Visalia makes this a great community to live and work in? Our children were all born and raised in Visalia and attended Visalia public schools. It is a family-oriented community with friendly people and neighbors. Visalia had 57,000 people when we first arrived here in 1983, and our family and business have grown with it. Just for fun, if you were stranded on an island, what three objects would you take with you? 1. My wife Alisa, she is the "object" of my affection. 2. A sharp knife. I spent a month living in the desert for a college survival course and learned that if you take nothing else, take a knife. 3. A cell phone, so I could call for help!

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TEXT BY WILL SHERRILL, PT, DPT, PAUL BEEGHLY, PT, DPT, PRO-PT PHYSICAL THERAPY, TULARE

Physical Therapy Treatment of Headaches

ne of the most common causes of disability in the United States is neck pain which can result in a wide variety of symptoms such as arm pain, back pain, and headaches. Headaches that arise from a cervical origin are frequently severe and debilitating and can result in difficulty concentrating and irritability. Many people incorrectly believe that their “cervicogenic” headaches are due to migraines and that they can never be changed. The reality is these headaches can be treated successfully by a physical therapist.

Headaches can be caused by a number of different injuries or pathologies; chronic posture impairments, automobile accidents, or neck strains from any number of daily activities. People who suffer neck pain following an automobile accident often need physical therapy to reduce the inflammation throughout the injured muscles, as well as restore motion to allow them to have a better quality of life. Headaches can also be caused from neck pain or neck-related issues, which is where MDT can come into play. Using repeated movements and specific exercises for the neck, pain can be reduced quickly and restore function, allowing the patient to return to their usual activities. One very successful method for treating neck pain is Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy technique, known as MDT. This treatment plan has been shown to be highly successful with neck impairments in patients. One study shows following MDT treatment,

77 percent of patients experienced improvement regarding short term improvements, while 93 percent had experienced long term improvements. PRO-PT ensures it’s clinicians are well versed in this technique; each physical therapist has been through the rigorous MDT training process and follows the MDT guidelines to ensure our patients receive the greatest benefits. Additionally, we provide patients with the means to treat themselves at home so they can be independent in their own management of their symptoms. This allows them to quickly restore their quality of life and get back to any activities they desire. Whatever the cause of your headache pain, contact your local PROPT Physical Therapy office to treat your pain today.

I avoided surgery by going to

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I was referred to PRO-PT for pain resulting from a herniated disc in my neck. I am pain free for the first time in years, have regained movement and mobility in my neck and my quality of life has improved greatly! - Doug Pitkin

LEMOORE HANFORD 755 N. Lemoore Ave., Ste. C 323 N. 11th Ave. Lemoore, CA 93245 Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 817-5808 (559) 772-8304 www.pro~pt.net

EXETER 134 South E. St. Exeter, CA 93221 (559) 592-9000

TULARE 1132 E. Leland Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 684-0611

VISALIA 1870 S. Central St. Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 636-1200 ext.1

PORTERVILLE 1150 W. Morton Ave. Porterville, CA 92357 (559) 782-1501

LINDSAY 860 Sequoia St., Ste. A Lindsay, CA 93247 (559) 562-9040

DINUBA 1401 W. El Monte Way, Ste. 107 Dinuba, CA 93618 (559) 315-5203

www.facebook.com/proptphysicaltherapy

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VISALIA CHAMBER

he Visalia Chamber of Commerce serves as the local “voice of business” as they advocate for businesses throughout Visalia. Each month, the Chamber facilitates a variety of events to support and further the success of the community.

1. The Visalia Chamber hosted its first 12@12 luncheon with local Insurance companies. The goal is to learn about the successes and concerns for different business industries in our community to help facilitate a dialogue and learn how to better serve the business community. 2. Park Visalia hosted the February Business After Hours networking mixer with a Mardi Gras theme. Pictured is Matt Case, Central Valley Business Forms; Rita Crandall, Valley PBS; Carrie Margosian, CASA of Tulare County; Kathleen Remillard, Mission Care Group; Melissa Neely, California Business Machines. 3. The Visalia Chamber hosted a free allday QuickBooks Workshop, which was open to the public. Lance Wilkins from M. Green and Company presented the workshop to a full class of more than 25 people who were able to learn the basics of how to use QuickBooks. 4. The Visalia Chamber, in cooperation with The Visalia Convention Center, Fresno Pacific University, and Tucoemas Federal Credit Union, hosted the first ever Visalia SOUP event where local entrepreneurs came to pitch their ideas to a crowd of Visalia citizens. Everyone got a chance to vote for their favorite idea and the winner took home a pot of money as well as new community connections to make their vision a reality.

3 4

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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE VISALIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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TULARE CHAMBER

2 PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE TULARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

he Tulare Chamber of Commerce exists to serve its members and citizens by advocating for, and engaging in, efforts to encourage economic opportunity and business prosperity. The Tulare Chamber supports businesses by building partnerships, providing educational opportunities, and advocating for its members and community.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER 1. TF Tire and ECO-T Tire & Retreading hosted the Chamber’s March Business After Hours Networking Mixer. In addition to refreshments, business connecting, and prizes, members were treated to interesting tours of this stateof-the-art facility, one of the first of its kind in the United States. GRANDMA’S HOUSE RIBBON CUTTING 2. Chamber representatives and community leaders joined Grandma’s House for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the facility’s new preschool. Director Flora Johnson, and her Board of Directors, had a vision to create a tutoring center initially and then the preschool in order to provide needed services to area youth. Coming next will be a math learning academy. Grandma’s House is project funded through grants and the generosity of many entities and individuals in Tulare.

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FAN FEST “The Great Western Fan Festival” Is Coming!

ll The Gold In California” (gospel gold, that is), will be deposited for three glorious days, May 4-6, in the Visalia Convention Center. Everyone who comes will get their own personal stash of “pure gospel gold dust,” courtesy of the finest artists in the nation. Gospel fans from across the U.S. and Canada, as well as several foreign countries, will soon be making their way by plane, boat, car, camper, and tour bus to Visalia for this annual “Gospelpalooza Gathering” called “The Great Western Fan Festival.”

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More than 8,000 music lovers have come to adore this extraordinary event, designed especially for those who enjoy first-class gospel music. Several award-winning artists will be present with their special brand of excellence, which promises to make these days a celebration of endless praise. With such internationally known groups as The Hoppers, Greater Vision, Triumphant Quartet, Legacy Five, Liberty, Mark Trammell Quartet, Karen Peck, and New River and a touch of bluegrass from Southern Raised, as well as the finest groups from the West Coast, this event will be an historic musical gala in every way! It all begins on Wednesday morning May 3 at 11 a.m., with a fun-filled day of golf at the Valley Oaks Golf Course. Then on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, the air will be filled with several hours of jubilant gospel singing. During the daytime on Friday and Saturday, the excellence will continue as we present “The Best Of The West” (California's finest groups).

“Blazing Pianos”—a showcase featuring the superbly gifted keyboard artists, and Gerald Wolfe’s “All-American Gospel Sing” (the songs you love and remember). There will also be some “person-to-person” moments with selected artists that will make the daytime showcases a time of musical amazement. Visalia has always been a “red carpet city” for this event, and this year will be no exception. Because this is the only event of its kind on the West Coast, it has proven to be the perfect blend of “classic” gospel music combined with familiar “toe-tappin” melodies that fills everyone’s heart with joy and happiness. It is a musical feast fit for a king and its tasty delights will last long after the weekend is over. So, get your tickets while there’s still time. Call 1-800-965-9324 or visit fanfestivals.com for more information. The Great Western Fan Festival… It’s As Good As Gold!

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THE RECIPE BOX RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY SUE BURNS, IT’S OKAY TO EAT THE CUPCAKE

“Eggstraordinary” Brunch Quiches

pril is here, with warm days coaxing our gardens – and all of us – out of hibernation. Celebrate spring with a lovely brunch; this simple and delicious recipe for Cheesy Egg Quiches is the perfect menu headliner. One of my favorite recipes, this quiche has adorned my family’s brunch and holiday tables for years. I’ve adapted it many times with different meats, cheeses, vegetables, and herbs. For this version I’ve made individual quiches using my jumbo muffin tins – they are so pretty and easy to serve. The recipe can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning, allowing you more time with your guests. Leftovers (if you have any!) reheat beautifully. The quiches can also be wrapped individually and frozen, then reheated in the microwave for a delicious breakfast or lunch on-the-go.

Cheesy Egg Quiches Makes 12 INGREDIENTS 10 Eggs ½ C flour (for gluten free, substitute rice flour or gf flour) 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. Kosher salt ½ tsp. ground black pepper 16 oz. container small curd cottage cheese 1 lb. shredded Mexican cheese blend ½ C butter, melted and cooled slightly 12 oz. pork chorizo 1 4 oz. can diced chiles DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 6-cup jumbo muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray. Heat a non-stick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Remove the chorizo from the casing and sauté, stirring often, until the meat is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Cool.

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In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Whisk in the butter, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and cottage cheese. Fold in the shredded cheese, chorizo, and chiles. Place ½ cup of the egg mixture into each muffin tin and bake 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven to a cooling rack. Carefully run a butter knife or an offset spatula around the edges of each quiche, cool for 10 minutes, and remove from the tins. Serve with fresh salsa or pico de gallo, sliced avocado, and Mexican Crema (or sour cream). Note: The quiche can also be baked in a 9” x 13” baking dish; spray with cooking spray, pour the egg mixture in and bake 35-40 minutes. For smaller individual quiches, use two standard 12-cup muffin tins and bake 25-30 minutes, testing for doneness as directed above. For the printable recipe, Sue’s flavor variations, and step-by-step tips, visit: www.itsokaytoeatthecupcake. com

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VALLEY OAK SPCA TEXT BY LYDIA HOUSE, VALLEY OAK SPCA, OPERATIONS MANAGER

Why should I vaccinate my cat against Feline Leukemia (FeLV)? are several testing methods available to you through your veterinarian. It is recommended that all kittens be vaccinated against FeLV as feline leukemia is almost entirely preventable with two kitten vaccines and a booster one year later. Cats that go outdoors and may have contact with other cats should be vaccinated. Adult cats can be tested prior to vaccination but vaccinating a positive cat will not change the progression of disease nor make it less likely for it to infect other cats. Vaccination is recommended for multi-cat households where new cats are frequently introduced and in households with a FeLV positive cat. New cats should be tested prior to introduction to a FeLV negative cat. VALLEY OAK SPCA LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC 9405 West Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291

eline leukemia is caused by feline leukemia virus, but depending on the sub-type of virus present, it can cause diseases other than leukemia, such as tumors, lymphoma (the most common FeLV associated cancer), and other abnormal growths and least commonly, anemia. The virus suppresses the immune system and as a result, infected cats may show variable clinical signs such as recurring or persistent infections, abscesses, inflammation of the gums and other tissues of the mouth, fever, and lethargy. Kittens are most susceptible to the virus when exposed, but by six to eight months of age the immune system matures and it becomes “harder” to become infected. The virus is transmitted through saliva and blood, therefore grooming, nose-tonose contact, shared food and water

bowls, and bites are common modes of transmission. An infected queen can infect kittens through the placenta, via milk, or saliva. In the early stages of infection the virus enters the tonsils, then lymph nodes, and enters the circulation. This process takes about a month until cats will have detectable virus in the blood stream. Therefore, if you suspect your cat has been exposed, you have to wait about one month before testing. Later the virus moves into bone marrow cells and this takes 6-8 weeks after the initial infection. There is a latent form of infection in which cats are healthy, but the virus can reactivate at any point in its lifetime. Then, of course, there are cats that always have virus in an active stage and over 50 percent of these cats will succumb to related diseases within two to three years after infection. There

For clinic information and appointments, please call (559) 741-1121 or (559) 741-0492

PET OF THE MONTH

Hi, my name is Kali and I’m a tiny, three-month-old cutie patootie/love bug mix looking for my forever home! I love toys, cuddles, people, and playing. Could I be your perfect match? Pick me or one of my friends.

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SEEN AROUND TOWN R. Mitchell Elementary, Visalia), Ed Flynn (Three Rivers Elementary), Tom Nevarez (Kings River Elementary), and Felipe Martinez (Roosevelt Elementary, Dinuba) gave of their time to read to children and ignite their fire to read.

READ ACROSS TULARE COUNTY WITH UNITED WAY United Way of Tulare County participated in Read Across America by pulling together a couple dozen volunteers to “Read Across Tulare County.” From Three Rivers to Tulare, Porterville to Dinuba, volunteers gave their time to read to K-3 students, including a team of five CHP Officers. Officers Steven Beal (Goshen Elementary), Felipe Ibarra (Annie

CASA DE SCIACCA – DOWNTOWN VISALIA APARTMENTS The Sciacca family is ready to open the doors of their downtown apartments to residents. The Sciaccas have spent the past several years planning and restoring the upstairs space above downtown retail shops and restaurants, in order to create six units. With several residents already moved in, they are ready to welcome tenants into their high-end, luxury apartments. There will be an open house on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and $5 tickets can be purchased at Chelsea Street Boutique. Proceeds from ticket sales go toward Alzheimer’s research.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

CENTER FOR INTEGRATED MEDICINE – RELOCATION Center for Integrated Medicine, cofounded and owned by Dr. K. Kwong, has recently relocated to 816 W. Oak Ave., Visalia. The center is the largest independent, full service Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice in the South Valley. The center offers a complete TCM healthcare system for those seeking natural, holistic,

complementary, and/or alternative therapies to their conventional treatments. Dr. Kwong has practiced medicine since 1994, and has been engaged in TCM even longer.

VISALIA RESCUE MISSION VISITS D.C. Ryan Stillwater, director of development, and Lindsay Baldwin, asst. director of development, spent three days in D.C. with the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions to learn about changes in D.C. and how they 18

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affect organizations like VRM. They discussed housing, potential changes to charitable donation tax changes, mental health at HHS, and more. The photo shows VRM staff with other mission colleagues from L.A., San Diego, and Bakersfield — this was after their meeting with Senator Feinstein's (in photo) office. They also met with Devin Nunes and Kamala Harris’ office to discuss VRM’s position on issues, as well as the inside perspective of what we do and why we do it.

SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT If you witnessed something great that took place in Visalia or Tulare County, submit a short blurb and a photo for Seen Around Town or People on the Move to direct@dmiagency.com.

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FOCUS FITNESS ON

ANDY & ERYN SALAZAR, EMPOWER FITNESS TEXT BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, SMILE CENTRAL VALLEYTRAINING

My 3 Best Diet Secrets

ummer is right around the corner, and now is the time when most of us want to start getting back into shape. The weather is heating up and it’s time to shed the baggy sweaters and pants for shorts and tank tops. If you want to drop a size or two before swimsuit weather, I’m going to lay out my three best dieting secrets and show you how you can make it possible. If you incorporate my diet secrets into your daily routine, you will naturally boost your metabolism, automatically lower your daily calories consumed, and you’ll stay motivated and going strong so that your results will take care of themselves. Weigh In Weekly. If your main goal is to lose weight, then I recommend tracking your weight on a weekly basis. This is a simple way to stay on track and drop pounds. The reason this works so well is because the scale is holding you accountable. This one act of stepping on the scale and tracking your results helps you understand how what you do in the form of exercise and diet translates into weight gained or lost. For example, if you eat a salty carbfilled meal for dinner, then you’ll visibly see the number go up when you step onto the scale the next morning. This will help you dial in your nutrition and exercise choices to help you get the

results you want. If you don’t like what the scale is showing, then it’s time to make some changes. Don’t let the scale derail your progress if you are eating right and exercising; your results will take care of themselves. Stay focused on making the positive changes to your lifestyle day-in and day-out.

Switch to Green Tea or Unsweetened Tea. Cutting out the extra calories from sugary drinks is the easiest way to eliminate excess sugar from your diet and unnecessary calories. It is also one of the fastest ways to drop a few pounds. If you are currently drinking sodas and highcalorie, high-sugar coffee drinks and you want to shape up for summer, then I recommend drinking only unsweetened tea and water. Even if you are drinking diet sodas, I recommend making the switch if you want to get results. Diet sodas have been shown to trigger major sugar cravings that tend to cause you to over-consume. If you want a drink with benefits, then stick with unsweetened green tea; it is calorie-free and contains

catechins that have been shown to help increase metabolism, which is a good thing if you are trying to drop some pounds. If green tea is not an option, then stick with water. Water helps your body work more efficiently and also helps you drop excess water your body may be carrying. Cut Out Unnecessary Carbohydrates. If you want to get serious results by summertime, then cut out all unnecessary carbohydrates, especially simple sugars like processed food, baked goods, and sweets. Here is how to cut out the rest of your carbohydrates—swap out tortillas or bread for large lettuce leaves and traditional noodles for noodles made from vegetables. It won’t be easy, but you will see quick results. I recommend that you stick to real foods like lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Don’t forget to exercise. The quickest way to reshape your body is with a combination of exercise and smart eating. Exercise is a guaranteed way to help you burn more calories, and the goal of a weight loss plan is to burn more calories than you consume. You should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of activity a day and shoot for at least 10,000 steps a day. There you have it, my top diet secrets that will have you looking and feeling your best by summertime. If you apply these secrets, I know you will reach your goals. Remember: Time + Consistency = Results! You can do this; now go make it happen.

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FASHION TEXT BY SHARON MOSLEY

Fashion by the Decade

verything old is new again. What goes around comes around... and when it comes to fashion trends this year, the wheel seems to just go round faster and faster. Fashion designers have long borrowed from the past, but this year, there is something from every decade. Pick your favorite or wear them all. Look back at some of the throwback trends we will be once again channeling this spring: The 1920s and 1930s. Pajamas were all the "cat's meow," and not just for sleeping. The relaxed look was a hit on the resort scene, and once again, fashion designers are playing the pajama game. Expect to see lots of robes on a beach near you. Waist less flapper dresses are also making a comeback this year. Get inspired by watching the Oscar winning costumes in J.K. Rowling's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." The 1950s. The decade when glamour girls were captured in pin-up posters sporting sweetheart swimsuits, cropped tops, and shorts. Gingham was the freshest of prints and it is once again. French actress Brigitte Bardot even wore a gingham dress when she got married in 1959. "High Society" mavens swirled in their chiffon circle skirts and silk blouses with blouson sleeves. The sheath and belted shirtdress were the working girls' go-to uniform. Girdles were a cinch in this decade, and today we are still trying to suck it all in. Thank goodness for Spanx. The 1960s. The model Twiggy was the darling of this decade and her pixie hair cut is making a big comeback. 20

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Ditto for Vidal Sassoon's geometric styles as well as big bouffants teased and tousled. Flips were fab and Jackie Kennedy's wardrobe set the chic standard. Ralph Lauren channeled her Camelot wardrobe for Melania Trump's inauguration suit. But in the '60s there was also fashion rebellion in the air with everything from thigh-grazing miniskirts to sweeping maxi dresses, flower power prints, and mod graphics.

disco fashion hit an all-time high a la "Saturday Night Fever" and "Flashdance." Think asymmetrical hems, off the shoulder tops, bell sleeves, exaggerated platform heels, wideleg jeans, chokers, and fringed suede saddlebags. Gratefully there's one trend that's not on this comeback list: pastel polyester leisure suits for men. The 1980s. The polished power suits of the Dynasty crowd took center stage in this decade with shapely jackets and padded shoulders but the future also was in the spotlight with spaceage architectural silhouettes that are once again resurfacing. Rock stars ruled with glammed up shiny lame jackets, ruffled shirts, satin pants, major hardware, and glittery sequins. And Madonna desperately sought Susan in some leather and tulle topped off with some serious bling. The 1990s. Fashion becomes more and more fun as designers juxtapose "downtown with uptown" style taking their cues from streetwear. It's all about the high-low mix. Punks rule with colorful hair, distressed denim, leather jackets, baby doll dresses, and combat boots. On the opposite of the style spectrum was minimalist fashion with tailored workwear, mix and match separates, and sleek bodysuits.

Color exploded in neon rainbows. Psychedelic paisleys and tie-dyes were hip just like they are again today. The 1970s. Bohemian style carried right over from the '60s. Annie Hall was the funky fashion icon with her full trousers with paper bag waists, menswear vests, fedoras and bowtie blouses. Jumpsuits were popping, leopard prints roaring, and hot pants rising. Matching pantsuits officially took on the office dress code. Then

2000+. Activewear hits the streets and the cocktail circuit. Puffer jackets are layered over party dresses; turtlenecks are worn with ball-gown skirts, motorcycle jackets top off chiffon bow blouses. Fashion becomes much more "democratic." There is indeed something for everyone and a price-point to match. Comfort clothes continue to be reinterpreted and updated every year. There are no more fashion "rules," and individual expression is what modern fashion is all about. And that's a trend that hopefully is here to stay.

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CRAFT CORNER TEXT BY IMAGINEU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Spring Flowers

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: • Empty water bottles • Scissors • Acrylic or tempura paint (any colors) • Paint brushes • Popsicle sticks • Chenille stems (pipe cleaners) • Yellow and white paper (optional) • Pompoms • Nontoxic glue • Paper plate • Fine point marker DIRECTIONS: • Cut the bottom off the water bottle. Cut the seams to the center but not all the way through. This forms the petals of the flower. Paint the flower petals. • Cut the top of a water bottle at the place where the bottle curves (two to three inches from the cap). With the marker, draw petals around the cap. Cut the

ASK M.J. M.J. is a single mom living in Visalia, adjusting to her only child getting ready to graduate from high school and go off to college. She has a Master of Science degree in Psychology, Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology, and has a certification in Life Strategies Coaching. Dear M.J.: I’m a single mother of a teenage boy, and I know I need to have ‘the talk’ with him soon. What’s the best way to go about this so that it isn’t awkward? Or should I have a close male friend talk to him? HELP. – Sincerely, Not Ready Yet Dear ‘Not Ready Yet:’ Unfortunately there is absolutely no way to make ‘the talk’ conversation not awkward, but that is okay. You need to have this

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petals you just drew and flatten them out. Paint the flower petals. Paint a popsicle stick green for each flower stem Paint the back side of the paper plate green or brown Glue a pompom to the center of the flower Glue the flower to a popsicle stick Cut a slit in the paper plate and stick the popsicle stick through the back of the plate. To stabilize the popsicle stick, glue it on the underside of the plate. Cut the bee’s body out of the yellow paper and the wings out of the white paper. Use your marker to draw the stripes, eyes, and mouth on the bee’s body. Glue the wings to the body and glue the bee to the chenille stem. Make a hole in the paper plate and stick the chenille stem in the hole.

ADVICE COLUMN conversation with your teenager now, in all of its awkward glory, because you want to build a foundation of trust with him. Start by acknowledging how incredibly awkward this conversation is and let him know that it is okay to talk about these awkward, uncomfortable, weird conversations at anytime necessary. It is important to have such conversations because he needs to know that you will be there for him in the future when he has questions, concerns, or finds himself in a situation that you wish was only just awkward. As the mother of a teenager, I can tell you that your child most likely knows more than you would ever feel comfortable admitting and some of the information he ‘knows’ is most likely incorrect. Start by assessing where he

is in his understanding of all things ‘the talk’ and follow that by explaining the important things he needs to know. End the conversation by letting him know that no matter what kind of questions he may have in the future, he can come to you. Think of ‘the talk’ as more of a way to raise a healthy, respectfulof-others-and-himself, responsible, good man. There are consequences to actions and not just physical ones, but emotional ones as well. Let this be the start of many, many conversations to come. And remember: You’ve got this. Send your questions to direct@dmiagency.com with the subject line “Ask M.J.” All questions will be published anonymously.

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VISALIA RESCUE MISSION has a building! On Friday, May 5, we’re hosting the 9th Annual Dance Away Hunger Donation Drive here at our Community Center. Rossie’s passion for connecting people and forming a tribe for personal growth is contagious, and this event has become a community favorite. For almost a decade, people from all walks of life, political parties, churches, and social groups have come together to support a ministry with the tagline: Hope and Restoration through Jesus Christ. This is good company and we’re going to keep it.

house side, and toured the gallery area of the House of Representatives floor, where political parties sit on opposite sides of the room. As an elected official, the primary company you keep may well be dictated by one thing: a single letter at the end of your name.

The Company We Keep

t’s been anonymously said that an individual can be summed up just by looking at the company they keep. This is a double-edged sword to be sure. For many of our Life Change Academy residents, their friendship circles included drug dealers and other drug addicts — a truth stained with the old adage: “Misery loves company.” Relationships with better friends and concerned family members easily get pushed away. Ironically, Jesus’ reputation suffered in relation to the disreputable company he kept — as seen in Matthew 9 when His disciples were asked, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” The religious community just didn’t understand why he would surround himself so. In two very different sets of circumstances, the company we keep says a lot about who we are. A colleague and I recently returned from a trip to our nation’s capitol. We joined representatives from various rescue missions across the country to discuss changes in D.C. and the effect they may have on our ministries and services we offer. We also met with our elected officials on both the senate and

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During our time, I thought much about the short history of our nation and stared intently at the face of Abraham Lincoln at his memorial, with the words from his second inauguration etched into the stone: “Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.”

Ryan Stillwater is the Director of Development for Visalia Rescue Mission. Contact him by e-mail: ryan@vrmhope.org.

While our country has progressed in many areas, it’s no secret “both parties” are once again divided in many ways. As we navigate these times and trials, the best foot forward may be to pick company like Jesus did. How did he do it? In 1 Samuel 16, we learn, “The 9TH ANNUAL Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” For the past eight years, Rossie Ballard has danced away hunger with a 90-minute Zumba® class. She has jumped in with both feet, yearafter-year, to raise support for VRM and spread the good word about the life change that happens here. She recently opened her own fitness studio here in Visalia — FIT Tribe Academy. This dream of hers now

NUTE 90 MI SS! CLA

DANCE AWAY HUNGER

DONATION DRIVE

FRIDAY, MAY 5

DOORS @ 5:30PM • ZUMBA @ 6PM VRM COMMUNITY CENTER • 741 N. SANTA FE

TICKET

NTS

E .ORG/EV E P O H VRM

BENEFITTING

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COLLEGE PREP TEXT BY MISSY YAVASILE, INDEPENDENT COLLEGE CONSULTANT, SOAR COLLEGE PLANNING AND CONSULTING

Let's Talk About AP Tests

am often asked by students whether or not they should send their AP scores to the colleges to which they will apply. As with most of my answers, this one follows along with the "it depends" response. For the sake of this discussion, I will give the answer that applies most often, with the disclaimer that some colleges may have a slightly different answer (i.e. test optional schools, top tier elite schools ,etc.). So for our purposes, here is the answer: Most colleges do not ask you to send an official AP score report. However, applications may ask you to self-report your scores. In this case, it is best that you only report the higher scores. For the most part, your AP

scores do not carry a lot of weight in the admissions process. Generally speaking, high scores, especially 5s may be a positive factor, while low scores (1s and 2s) may be a red flag to selective institutions. So with this said, you can see that reporting 5s is a good idea while reporting 1s and 2s may not be a good idea. Check with your counselor to see if AP scores are reported on your transcript. If so, you really need to strive for scores no lower than 3. So why bother to take an AP course if the scores do not matter that much? Well, there are lots of reasons why taking AP classes is a good thing: • It will show up on your transcript. Colleges want students to challenge themselves and taking AP classes is a way to do that. They will look to see that you have taken the most demanding courses offered by your high school. • You may be able to get college credit and skip prerequisite classes. This is usually a good thing, but sometimes there may be a class you would like

to take but you can't because you already got credit through AP. • Taking AP courses can help prepare a student for the rigor they will face in college. This is always a good thing! • If you score high enough on multiple AP exams, you may earn the title of AP Scholar. And while there is no money or scholarship attached, it is nice to report on your application/ resume to show that you did well on several AP exams. So the bottom line is this: Take as many AP courses as you can handle. Colleges like to see that a student is challenging him/herself academically. Get good grades in the AP classes. Remember that your transcript, standardized test scores, and GPA matter most. Aim to score no less than a 3 on each test. Self-report your best scores (especially 5s) and pass on the 1s and 2s, unless the college specifically asks for all scores. Be sure you know the college policy on AP credit. And then don't sweat it!

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CHARACTER COUNTS! TEXT BY KELLEY PETTY, CHARACTER COUNTS! COORDINATOR, TCOE

YADIRA BARAJAS COS Community Based Instruction Class From the moment Yadira Barajas boards the school bus with a smile on her face, she shares her infectious warmth to brighten her classmates’ morning. Teacher Mrs. Wendt describes Yadira as a beautiful young lady with a caring heart for all those around her. While attending the COS Community Based Instruction Class for the last three years, Yadira has not only learned what each Pillar of Character means, but has become a living example of each. Mrs. Wendt adds, “If you observe Yadira on any given day, you see her treating her classmates with respect, just as she would like to be treated.” One day a classmate was struggling to operate the school’s vacuum. Without prompting, Yadira offered her assistance in a gentle and supportive way. Yadira said, “He needed help, so I asked if I could help him. He said ‘yes,’ so I did.” On another occasion when the class was eating at a restaurant while on a field trip, she overheard students at the next table arguing over whose trash was on the ground and who should pick it up. Without comment, Yadira quietly picked up the trash, threw it away, and sat back down. Yadira credits her parents for her caring and respectful behavior. She says, “They have shown me how to help others and be willing to do so because it is the right thing to do.” Beyond Yadira’s family influence, she has watched others in her life model good character and understands that quality character is not a one-time effort; she has learned to develop habits of good character over time. From learning in the classroom to working in the school cafeteria, Yadira is known for her honesty, reliability, and kindness to all that she meets. Classmates like Sierra, Sebaschian, M.E., and Jonathan have certainly benefited from their friendship with Yadira and her habits of good character. 24

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ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ Pleasant View Elementary School Rosa Parks stated, “Each person must live their life as a model for others.” This maxim truly epitomizes kindergartener Adrian Rodriguez. Visitors entering Room 3 at Pleasant View Elementary School in Porterville are greeted by a roomful of Adrian’s peers, each one eager to talk about all the good deeds Adrian does to make their classroom a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Adrian’s compassion for his peers has a special way of lighting up the room. Adrian’s teacher, Ms. Irving, states, “Adrian is an academically strong student who is well-behaved and full of personality, but he also carries an enlarged heart of gold.” Although Adrian is only six years old, he truly emulates the actions of a young man who remembers the importance of inclusiveness. Adrian is a special friend to one student in particular. Adrian helps him by lending a hand when needed, assisting in the completion of assignments, and helping his classmate to stay focused and on task. Adrian’s actions are often viewed as a mentor and coach by this student. He consistently encourages and supports him while affirming positive growth with a silent hand on the shoulder, known as a “nice buddy hug” in Room 3. The buddy system for Adrian is intuitive, a virtuous trait taught to him and his older siblings by their mother. Adrian has become a natural at mentoring those who struggle for success in the classroom. Adrian is known as the go-to person for students who need help tying a shoe or are struggling with math or spelling assignments. Adrian steps in and takes on the identity of a best friend in several ways. He is not afraid to step out and be the much-needed support for other students. In doing so, he reminds Ms. Irving that it is critical for educators to create a safe environment for every student in the classroom, regardless of their academic level, economic level, social skills, gender, or race.

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GARDENING TEXT BY PEGGY DOWNS AND SUSAN SCHIEFERLE, MASTER GARDENERS OF TULARE-KINGS COUNTIES

Garden Fun with Carrots!

aster is this month and spring is finally here, which means it’s a great time to plant carrots in your garden. Besides tasting good, carrots are packed with nutrients. Carrots contain a pigment called carotene that converts to vitamin A when you digest it. This vitamin helps us to see in low light and at night, so start growing carrots to help you “see” better! There are so many varieties of carrots. Little Fingers are 3½-inch long, sweet, and petite. Most carrots in the supermarkets are six to seven inches long. Another varietal are Round carrots. These are fun to grow and sweet to eat. There are also varieties that are purple, yellow, and red. How fun would these be for a child to grow? When planting carrots in your garden, be sure to read the back of the carrot package to see how to space the seeds. Be sure your garden soil is loosely dug to allow the root to grow downward into the soil easily. At the same time that you plant outdoors, have children plant carrot seeds inside in a see-through container. They will be able to delight at the formation of the root, which is the edible part of carrots! Carrots are a root plant, which means you can only see the tops of the carrots until you harvest them. To better understand how a carrot grows, have your children do this fun experiment. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED: 1. Clear plastic 2-liter bottle or clear cup for each child with hole(s) punched in bottom 2. Scissors to cut top of bottle 3. Pre-moistened potting soil 4. Spray bottle 5. Sunny, warm spot for carrots to grow

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Have an adult cut the top off plastic bottle, leaving the top slightly attached, if desired. 2. Fill the bottle about half-way up with pre-moistened potting soil. 3. Around the edges of the bottle, drop a couple (very tiny) carrot seeds every 2-3 inches. Be sure that the seeds are on the very edge of the bottle so children will see the growth. 4. Cover with ¼-inch of soil. 5. Moisten with spray bottle. It is important to not overwater the seeds, so we recommend a spray bottle. 6. Check moisture daily. 7. Place near a sunny window or outside in the sun during the day. 8. Germination will occur in 10-20 days. Be patient! Have your child make a daily chart to see the progress.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 1. Planting in a clear container will let you see the roots/carrots growing and see how the roots differ from the green tops. 2. Different kinds of seeds could be used to see different germination rates, root growth, seedling appearance, etc. 3. Some seeds could be grown in the room and others set outside during the day. Seeds started in warmer weather will grow faster. 4. Seeds need water. Keep the soil moist, not soggy. Using a spray bottle helps prevent overwatering. 5. Seedlings will turn to the sun as they grow.

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VUSD TEXT BY TODD OTO, ED. D, VUSD SUPERINTENDENT

It Happens Every Spring

ope – this isn’t a piece on baseball! It’s about another spring activity in school districts: goal setting. Every year at about this time, the Visalia Unified Board of Trustees sets goals for the upcoming school year. This February, the Board engaged once more in the goalsetting process for our District and came away with an approach that is very familiar, but more strategic: The goals for the present year were confirmed and extended for the next five years.

This is hugely important for us, for it allows us a strategic perspective that helps us in two ways: First, it allows us to take the “long-view” on making progress. This is important in that it helps us focus on systems and processes instead of shorter-term results. In the early years of school accountability, the system inadvertently encouraged the focusing of activity on some subgroups of students so that annual numeric targets could be met. School efforts could fall, then, into focusing on meeting the demand to increase scores within the accountability system instead of focusing on meeting the needs of kids and increasing achievement. Clearly, this was an unintended consequence of a policy aimed at helping ensure that kids had equitable access to learning. Second, it allows our staff the knowledge that we will persist in our existing work to support students and learning. Many veteran teachers can share the experience of facing something new every school year. Typically, this felt like a change in the focus of staff development and approaches to teaching and curriculum where we tossed out what we did last year and tried something new every fall. While that was never the intent, it was all too often true for it was tempting 26

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to chase the newest and best way to improve our scores. Our mission remains the same: We exist to provide students with an education that affords them limitless opportunities for the future. To attain that mission, we extend the five goals set for Visalia Unified into 2022: 1. Engage students in a challenging curriculum and provide them the support to be successful. This goal establishes that students will have equitable and systematic access to instruction that supports learning at high levels for all. It includes also the need to ensure that each student has a path through our school system that is relevant to his or her plans for adult life. 2. Support a district-wide collaborative culture for students and adults focused on learning and results. This goal establishes that kids learn how to collaborate as a part of our instructional program, and also that adults in our organization work together to teach, support, and serve our kids better. Further, it expects that we communicate and work as partners with parents in the education of their children. 3. Maintain a caring and encouraging learning environment for students and adults. This goal focuses on the way that kids and adults interact with and among each other. The way that school feels to students impacts their learning greatly, and we are

committed to making school feel welcoming, positive, and supportive. We have the same expectation for the work environment for adults, for we want our staff in all departments to feel that they can work in a positive and productive environment. 4. Recruit, hire, and retain highly qualified, talented, and productive staff. This goal establishes the importance of having the best possible people in our organization. We are a people organization. It takes people to teach, support, and serve our kids. And having skilled and committed people is the key to helping kids achieve at the highest levels possible. 5. Align resources to support District goals, student achievement, and school sites. In the simplest possible terms, this goal says that we will use all of our fiscal resources as efficiently as we can to support our mission and our goals. In the local control era, this means engaging the community in assessing our performance and in establishing priorities for our work. I am excited to continue the work that we have started in Visalia Unified. These are good goals that speak to us clearly and that command our attention, resources, and best efforts in the service of the kids of our community. Although this particular set of goals is relatively new, it is important to know that our target has remained the same for many years: helping kids get an education that allows them to take a strong first step into adult life.

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e get a lot of calls everyday. I would say the majority of calls are related to getting an estimate or price quote. Some things are pretty straightforward. For example, if you want to know about an oil change and filter, tire rotation, coolant flush, or other routine maintenance, we can easily quote you a price. We can also give a price range on other services like a timing belt, spark plug change, fuel filter, and a few others. The hardest question to answer is, “How much is a diagnostic?” Most of the time, this is related to a “Check Engine” light. In that case, we need to see the car in order to give you a fair answer. Yes, it will take some time to pinpoint the problem, but then and only then can anyone give you an answer. One person called up recently and asked me about setting the timing on his car. I asked him what makes him think the timing is off? He said, “Because it will not start.” So I asked how long it has been like that. He said, “It hasn’t run since my friend put the engine back together!” I will just leave you with that this time. Update on my grandson Joel and daughter Katie: Katie is driving again and Joel will be starting kindergarten. On another note, please keep my niece Gina in your prayers; she was just operated on for a brain tumor at UCSF. Thank God for UCSF and Dr. Berger who is amazing. He was able to remove 95-98 percent of the tumor. Gina, we are with you! Until next time, treasure your friends and family.

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MONEY MATTERS TEXT BY MARY HUNT

8 Ways to Build a Cash Stash

aving money is a curious term with two meanings: to spend less, as in "I buy things on sale to save money," and to physically place money where it is safe from being spent. That's fine, but here's the problem: It's easy to trick yourself into thinking that the meanings are the same. They are not, unless of course you stop by the bank to deposit into your savings the difference between what you would have spent had an item not been on sale. That would be a clever way to boost your cash stash this year and at the same time adjust your mindset on what it really means to save money.

HERE ARE EIGHT MORE: Tax Yourself. Decide right now that you will tax yourself each time you make an ATM withdrawal. It might be $5 or $10. You decide. Whatever the amount, make sure you become a tough tax collector. No slacking, and no IOUs.

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Impose a Moratorium. Select a specific denomination of currency, like the $1 or $5 bill, that you will no longer spend and will instead save. Forbid yourself from spending it. Get very strict. Why not go with the $5 bill? Your stash will grow so much faster if you absolutely refuse to spend any Abe Lincolns. Hoard Coupon Savings. Starting today, here's the plan: When you shop for groceries, ask the clerk to total your order. Then, pay the full amount. Then, hand over the coupons and watch your total plummet. Since you've already paid, the clerk should hand back the cash equal to your coupon savings. If there's a bank branch in the supermarket, open a savings account. It's easy to stop and make a savings deposit on your way out. Even if it's small, it all adds up. Rack up Rebates. They're coming back in a big way, as retailers want to make their products appear cheaper without actually reducing the price. They offer a rebate knowing full well that only a small percentage of consumers who buy the item will ever carry through. No matter how small the rebate or how complicated the process, promise you will not be among the lazy bunch. Apply for a rebate; follow up; and then stash those rebates as they arrive!

Drink Water. Pay yourself a bonus, like a dollar or two, each time you eat out and opt for water instead of a pricey beverage. Don't slack on your obligation to pay up. And remember, no IOUs allowed. Make a Switch. Opt to exercise outdoors instead of paying for a gym membership. Identify a name brand you will leave on the shelf this year in favor of its store-brand equivalent. Stash what you would have spent. Give It Up. Pick one thing that you will sacrifice for a specific period of time, such as the coming year. Just cut it out. Stash the amount that you would have spent on the thing – regular manicures, French fries, gourmet coffee, cigarettes – into your savings container or account. You could always do your own manicures, swear off junk food, or brew your own coffee. As for that smoking habit, just imagine all the dough you could put in your stash if you were to give it up. Trick Yourself. Whenever you write a check or make a withdrawal from the ATM, record the amount in your checkbook registry, but round up the number to, say, the next dollar. Then, deduct that amount from the balance. At the end of the month, reconcile and stash the "Oops!" overage.

C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y

CROSSWORD 7 Yellow or Red 8 Souvenirs 9 Disable 10 Western U.S. Native Americans 11 Ill will 12 Harasser 16 Castor’s mother 18 Busybody 22 Dernier cri 24 Tarnished 26 Soft drink 27 Armadillo 28 Social insect 29 Ropers 32 Belgian port 34 Consequently 35 Ireland 36 Highways: abbr. 39 Letter 42 Intrinsic nature 46 Snuggle 48 Vouchsafes 49 Young woman 50 Garden pest 51 Express beliefs

Personas

53 Metric measure 55 Desideratum

ACROSS

30 Wife of Saturn

59 Luster

1 Find fault

31 Carol

60 ___ of: observes

5 Firmly fixed

33 Pacific island

62 Inasmuch as

9 Scourge

37 New Guinea port

63 Shakespearean role

13 James ___

38 Ineffectual

64 Jog

14 Bread spread

40 Wallop

65 Fait accompli

15 Dismay

41 Zealous

17 Insignificant one

43 Noun suffixes

66 This: Sp.

19 Indian corn

44 Before

20 Agony

45 Views

DOWN

21 Chose

47 Monsters

1 Nav. officer

23 Region of Greece

49 Asian land

2 Exchange premium

24 Snow, in Scotland

52 Man’s name, for short

3 Subdued

25 Olympian

53 Withered

4 Mortar’s partner

26 Boxed

54 Tacks on

5 Petits ___: cakes

28 Stir

56 Bombards

6 In shelter

LOOK FOR YOUR ANSWERS IN THE NEXT ISSUE

56 Card game 57 English college 58 Hardens 61 Roman money TOURIST SPOTS - MAR. ISSUE

67 Lawmakers: abbr.

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GOINGS-ON INAUGURAL ROCKIN’ RUN FOR HOPE Bank of the Sierra’s Rockin’ Resolution Run and Visalia Rescue Mission’s Run for Hope become one, as they proudly present the inaugural Rockin’ Run for Hope. After working up an appetite, participants will be able to enjoy food and dessert from Quesadilla Gorilla’s food truck, Bite Me Donuts, and Cool Cow Scoops ice cream. Musical guest, Run River North, a sextet from Los Angeles, will take the stage to wrap up one rockin’ evening. When: April 1, 4:30 p.m. Where: Cutler Park next to St. John’s River Contact: vrmhope.org SEQUOIA CYCLING CLASSIC Come out to downtown Visalia for the annual Sequoia Cycling Classic race. There will be exciting thrills and spills of road racing throughout the streets of downtown, including a kids race, food booths, fixie race, and a beer garden. This race has been around since 1987 and continues to be a fun event for the community. When: April 2, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: sequoiaclassic.com DOWNTOWN VISALIA WINE WALK Join the Downtown Visalians for their annual Wine Walk featuring California wines, artisan cheeses, Bari’s infused olive oil, and Stafford Chocolates. There will be live music while you stroll from store-to-store, tasting delicious wine from all over the valley. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at downtownvisalia.com When: April 6, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: downtownvisalia.com or 732-7737

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK Every month, the Arts Consortium presents First Fridays to explore the Visalia Art District. During the walk, you’ll experience a diverse range of local art in the downtown Visalia area. Check out the website for more information. When: April 7, 5–8 p.m. Where: Arts Consortium, 400 N. Church St., Visalia Contact: artsconsortium.org SECOND SATURDAY CRAFT FAIR AT THE LOOKING GLASS From now through October, The Looking Glass in Visalia will be hosting a “Second Saturday” artisan and crafters fair. Come out and enjoy a day of shopping from local crafters. When: April 8, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Where: The Looking Glass, Court and Caldwell in Visalia Contact: thelookingglassvisalia.com BARKS & BOURBON Join us for our 3rd annual dinner evening to raise funds for Friends of Tulare Animal Services. There will be live and silent auctions, bourbon tasting, cigar bar, wine grab, and much more. Come help us raise money for Friends of Tulare Animal Services that is used to directly save the lives of animals at the shelter. Tickets are $50. When: April 8, 5:30 p.m. Where: International Agri-Center Social Hall, 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare Contact: 303-6930

HAPPY AND KOSHER PASSOVER 2017 You are invited to join congregation Beit Shalom to hear traditional stories with blessings, songs, and music. Dinner includes Kosher chicken and other traditional foods. The event is $25 for adults, $10 for children ages five-17, and free for children four and under. When: April 14, 7 p.m. Where: 115 E. Paseo Ave., Visalia Contact: 308-1333

VISALIA NAZ 25TH ANNUAL EGGSTRAVAGANZA You are invited to Visalia Naz’s 25th annual Eggstravaganza. There will be a petting zoo, train rides, pony rides, egg hunts, and a food court. This event is free and open to the public (food court is not free). When: April 15, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Visalia Nazarene Church, 3333 W. Caldwell Ave. Contact: visalianaz.org BARK ‘N’ BID BENEFIT Join the Central Valley Rescue Railroad for their 5th annual fundraiser, where it’s all about the dogs! There will be a no-host beer and wine bar, dinner, music, dancing, a raffle, and a silent and live auction. All proceeds benefit Central Valley Rescue Railroad, a volunteer-run non-profit, no-kill dog rescue. Tickets are $50 per person. When: April 22, 5-10 p.m. Where: Whitney Barn, 30162 Road 192, Exeter Contact: Hayley, 731-0757

If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Goings-On” section, please email your submission to direct@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, attention Goings-On. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions must be received six (6) weeks before publication. 30

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PEOPLE & PETS BETTE AND HER DIVINE DIVAS Where can you see Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross and Bette Midler on one stage? Only at Bette & Her Divine Divas. Sherie Rae Parker is back! In her incomparable tribute to Bette Midler, Sherie has performed on TV, radio and movies. Direct from Legends in Concert, the longest running show in Las Vegas, and Stars in Concert in Berlin, Sherie joins her talented Divas for an unforgettable evening. When: April 22, 7 p.m. Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: foxvisalia.org

IMAGINEU DREAMBUILDER’S BASH Step right up to the biggest event of the year – the fifth annual ImagineU Children’s Museum Dreambuilder’s Bash. A vintage circus comes to town for one night only under the big top at ImagineU in Visalia. Bring your friends to enjoy cocktails, dinner by The Vintage Press, and exciting auctions, all to benefit the museum’s expansion projects. When: April 22, 6 p.m. Where: ImagineU Children’s Museum, 210 N. Tipton St., Visalia Contact: Imagineumuseum.org “THE HAPPIEST CONCERT ON EARTH” Join The Mighty Oaks Chorus for their annual show, “The Happiest Concert on Earth.” There will be both a matinee and evening show, so get your tickets now. When: April 29, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Where: Central Valley Christian High School Auditorium, 5600 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia Contact: 901-4615

WORLDTOUCH BOWL-A-THON Celebrant Singers WorldTouch BowlA-Thon is an annual fundraiser to help send Celebrant teams on their international outreaches. All funds raised during the WorldTouch Bowl-AThon will be used for Celebrant Singers summer ministry outreaches. There will be door prizes and a grand prize trip on a Mexico cruise for four. When: April 30, 2 p.m. Where: AMF Visalia Lanes, 1740 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia Contact: celebrants.org/bowlathon KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY FOR FOODLINK OF TULARE COUNTY Join FoodLink of Tulare County for their annual “party with a purpose,” featuring big hats and southern hospitality. Place bets on horse races, sip mint juleps, and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, all while supporting FoodLink. When: May 6, 1 p.m. Where: Visalia Country Club, 625 N. Ranch St., Visalia Contact: foodlinktc.org POWER OF THE PURSE FOR UNITED WAY OF TULARE COUNTY Join United Way of Tulare County for their second annual Power of the Purse breakfast. Enjoy breakfast and mimosas while gorgeous guys raffle off dozens of designer handbags. The keynote speaker will be Matt Emerzian, a Senior VP of a major music marketing company. Proceeds support The Literacy Project of UWTC, which provides K-3 teachers with funds to purchase books for Tulare County classrooms. When: May 12, 7 a.m. Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: unitedwaytc.org

et owners understand that furry friends are family. At Direct, we love to see your local pets, whether they’re dressed up for a holiday, playing with friends, or just enjoying life. If you submit a photo of your pet(s), we just might feature them in the next issue of Direct!

Featured Pet BAILEY ROSE My name is Bailey Rose Doss. I am an AKC purebred Golden Retriever. One of my favorite things to do is to meet new friends at the Plaza Dog Park in Visalia. I enjoy running, playing, and learning new tricks. I hope you enjoyed St. Patty’s Day as much as I did! Owner, Natalie Doss

SUBMIT A PHOTO: If you’d like your furry friend to be featured in Direct Magazine, submit a photo and a blurb about your pet to direct@dmiagency.com and title the email subject line “People and Pets.”

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WARREN REPORTS TEXT BY WARREN GUBLER, MAYOR

Downtown's Decorative Lighting

f you've been downtown at night lately, you've probably observed that decorative lighting has been added to the trees. This was particularly noticeable at Christmas time when Visalia also had its Candy Cane Lane lighting on display. This new lighting has lent a festive look to our historic downtown and I have received many positive comments regarding the same. You might be interested in knowing about all the work and effort that went into making this possible. I credit downtown businessman Myron Sheklian for providing me with most of the following information. The downtown Christmas lights upgrade began in the fall of 2011. Some of the wiring on the decorations was frayed and a safety hazard. The cost to completely replace the decorations with state-of-the-art LED lighting would have been in excess of $100,000! The Downtown Visalia Property Owners Association (POA) instead donated more than $9,000 to remove and replace the old wiring and replace the lights with LED lighting in order to reuse the existing decorations. Labor parties of POA members, downtown merchants, service clubs, and church members were organized to replace the lighting on all of the decorations. Because the new lighting could not be plugged into the fluctuating antiquated streetlight power, local merchants allowed the Christmas lights to be plugged into their business locations along the parade route and paid for the additional electrical use. The following year, the POA spearheaded a project to power one side of Main Street, Court, and Locust with permanent wiring strung from the light posts, and the next year the electrical upgrade included powering the other side of the streets. The total cost for the parts and labor for this two-year electrical upgrade project was $48,852.35. In 2016, the POA operations

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committee was given permission to install decorative tree lighting to remain for up to three years at a time. Tree pruning was coordinated prior to installing the new lighting on the trees. A survey of trees on Main Street was conducted to determine which trees were appropriately sized and near enough to power sources. There were roughly 100 trees that were considered and the POA decided to illuminate 48 of these trees based on cost. The trees selected were evenly balanced out on both sides of Main Street. A professional holiday lighting company was contracted

to do the actual installation of the lights. Volunteers such as Mr. Sheklian and Mike Fistolera and their employees ran power to each of the selected trees to greatly reduce the charges by the professional company. The cost for the electrical cords, additional lights, and the installation came to $24,614.55. The tree lighting project could not have happened had the POA not installed the electrical wiring upgrade in previous years. The total cost to refurbish the Candy Cane Lane light decorations, to purchase replacement bulbs and strings as needed for maintenance, to install electrical upgrades, and

to light the trees was well in excess of $80,000, with the entire amount being contributed by the POA. At our February 21, 2017 city council meeting, a Resolution of Commendation was presented by the city council relating to these lighting projects. So the next time you're walking down Main Street enjoying the new twinkle lights, remember the time, effort, and money that went into making it all possible. To conclude this article, let me share a recent letter received by the city from Rachel Mano, a Visalia resident since 2001: "My husband and I would like to let you know that Main Street is our favorite weekend hang out. So much to choose from (dining). I'd like to congratulate whoever is responsible for the decisions and dedication that goes into keeping Main Street a safe and thriving atmosphere. I hope you can pass on this credit where credit is due. Anyway, I wanted to comment on the "tree lights" that have been lit up since Christmas; what a wonderful idea. Love, love, love, love, them. It reminds me of being in a different city (i.e., SLO, Cambria, etc.). It's warm and welcoming. I hope they stay up forever! Everyone we talk to feels the same way. I have noticed more and more people walking down Main Street and commenting about the lights. Please thank those responsible for the idea and the effort of the business owners." Let me add my thanks and appreciation to the many individuals, merchants, the POA, City of Visalia employees, and all those who made these lighting projects possible so that the rest of us can enjoy them now on a year-round basis. If you have questions or topics regarding the city that you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at warren. gubler@visalia.city. For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.

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