Direct Magazine - May 2018

CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — THE HEART OF THE SOUTH VALLEY | MAY 2018

M A G A Z I N E

VIRTUAL VALLEY

GARDENING

WARREN REPORTS

Podcasting and Vlogging

Plant Winter Squash Now

Quiet Progress

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

Are You Searching for a

DENTAL MIRACLE? HOPE IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY Our fear reduction program includes. Big time TLC, relaxing nitrous oxide gas, emphasis on painless, gentle shots and very numb teeth, IV sedation for those needing extra fear reduction.

IV sedation dentistry available. Have all your dental work done in 1 or 2 appointments while totally relaxed with little or no memory of your appointment.

Our patient friendly toothache relief. Keep your teeth instead of pulling them, pre-treating abscesses with 3 different medicines to fight infections and inflammation. Comfortable, calm abscess treatment with an emphasis on numbing anesthesia, post-op painkillers, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for comfort.

Beautiful smiles created using state-of-the-art dentistry backed by 39 years of experience.

Suffering with missing teeth or poor fitting dentures?

Dental implants can restore your self-confidence and appearance.

We place and restore our own implants.

No need to visit an outside specialist. Our extensive postgraduate education and experience allows us to complete virtually all phases of your dental treatment under one roof i.e. Implants, Invisalign, Veneers, Oral Surgery and Root Canals. All with IV sedation when necessary for your comfort.

Insurance accepted. We work with and accept almost all dental insurance plans.

Financing available. We understand that money is always a concern.

We provide several methods so your dental care can fit your budget. (OAC)

NO DENTAL INSURANCE? LOST COVERAGE?

Williams Family Dental can help SAVE OVER 20% ON YOUR DENTAL TREATMENT CALL FOR INFORMATION

Gently eliminating years of failing, frustrating and unattractive dentistry; leaving our patients with smiles and confidence they never imagined possible, guaranteed!

Preferred Provider

ACT NOW

Call now and mention this ad to reserve your appointment for an exam, x-rays and smile consultation for only $49.00 ($214.00 value)

2744 W. Main St.,Visalia | (559) 734-6492 | www.VisaliaSmiles.com DIRECT MAGAZINE

1

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

INSIDE MAY 2018 PU B LIS H E D BY

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

Executive Editor KAREN TELLALIAN Operations Manager MARIA GASTON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

C. S. WYATT HARON PLEIN IMAGINEU JASON SALAZAR JONATHAN WALTMIRE KELINA ALVES KELLEY PETTY LEE LITTLEWOOD LYDIA HOUSE MISSY YAVASILE PENNEY R. SICK RYAN STILLWATER STEFFANI RICH SUE BURNS TODD OTO WARREN GUBLER

COVER STORY

4 VISALIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

F E AT U R E S

7 Meet A Local

DEPARTMENTS 8

Craft Corner

12

The Recipe Box

14

College Prep

15

Character Counts!

20 Kids' Library

Sarah Ramirez: FoodLink Tulare County, Senior

24 Money Matters

Director for Health and Wellness

25 Valley Oak SPCA

10 Virtual Valley

26 Visalia Chamber

27 Tulare Chamber

Be Heard and Seen: Podcasting and Vlogging

16 VUSD

29 Crossword

Eligible or Ready?

30 Goings-On

19 Community Safety

32 Warren Reports

National Peace Officers Memorial Day

28 Gardening

Plant Winter Squash Now

for Fall Harvest

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

FRANK MIRAMONTES ADVERTISING SALES

ads@dmiagency.com 559.739.1747 SALES OFFICE

801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • fax 559.738.0909 email: direct@dmiagency.com B U S I N E S S M A N AG E M E N T

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 ©2018 DMI Agency

Main Cover Photo: ©Times-Delta Media Group, reprinted with permission

2

DIRECT MAGAZINE

E-Mail Direct@DMIAgency.com WEBSITE www.VisaliaDirect.online View The Mag Online Issuu.com/DirectMagazine facebook.com/VisaliaDirect Instagram: visalia_direct

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

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW INTEREST RATES NOW!

In-House Processing, Underwriting & Funding WE OFFER: • Purchase & Refinance • FHA • Conventional Investor Loans • FHA 203k • VA • First-Time Home Buyer Programs

A Local Lender You Can Trust!

NANCY MOTA CASTILLO

Branch Manager / Sr. Loan Officer

(559) 713-1064 ext. 31 3700 W. Mineral King Ave. Visalia CA, 93291 ncastillo@kingsmortgage.com Hablo Español

Why should you choose Kari?

Top Agent Year Over Year 2013-2016 Gold Award Winner Over 13 Years Experience KELLER WILLIAMS #1 AGENCY IN TULARE COUNTY

Kari Acosta Realtor® CalBRE#01479110

NMLS #284902

Equal Housing Lender. Licensed by CA Department of Coporations-Residential Mortgage Lending Act. #264441

559-359-5983 listwithkari@gmail.com

Your Real Estate Matters…

Uplifting|Hopeful|Fun Your support changes lives, strengthens families, and makes a difference in our community!

Join the cause at SPIRIT889.COM DIRECT MAGAZINE

3

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

VUSD - 'WE CREATE FUTURES'

©Times-Delta Media Group, reprinted with permission

STUDENTS TODAY, LEADERS TOMORROW EXPANDED LEARNING … AND ACHIEVEMENT Sports, robotics, agriculture, computer science, fitness, nutrition and more – that’s what Visalia Unified School District students enjoy after school each day. VUSD provides programs to the middle schools, while partner ProYouth delivers programs for the elementary and high schools.

These after-school programs extend what teachers can do during the normal school day.

The result is improved school attendance and better behavior.

Students learn communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and civic-mindedness so that they can achieve academically.

OPENING DOORS AND DREAMS All it took for Jose Guerrero was a 4

DIRECT MAGAZINE

presentation in middle school on the new Engineering and Architecture Academy. He knew that this was “exactly what I wanted.”

Jose, now a junior at Redwood High School, says the academy opened the door to a paid summer internship with

Mangini Associates Inc., an architectural firm. “I like taking on a challenge, and every moment, there is something new to learn,” Jose says. “I am very grateful for what the academy is doing for me.”

INVESTING IN SUCCESS All Visalia kindergartners now benefit from a full day of instruction as part of VUSD’s focus on creating bright futures.

Studies have shown that full-day kindergarten academically enriches and benefits children and reduces differences in academic readiness. The extended day for more than 2,500 Visalia kindergartners gives teachers additional time for English language arts, math, technology and more.

This investment in staff and facilities is an investment in our students’ future success.

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

‘I GET TO HELP CHANGE LIVES’ Over the past 30 years, teacher and principal Cheri LaVerne (top left) has seen dramatic changes in education, including the enhanced role that a principal can play in a child’s success.

“It’s so important that we build relationships with kids. I encourage, but hold them accountable for their choices, and give unconditional love. They need to know we care.

“As a principal, I get to hear them say ‘Thank you for listening to me’ and I know I made a difference to that child. I help prepare students for an awesome future with all kinds of possibilities. I get to help change lives.”

‘HEY, I KNOW THIS STUFF!’ “I had amazing teachers at Redwood,” says Jenna Miller, (top right) a senior in the kinesiology program at the Smittcamp Family Honors College at Fresno State University. “I remember thinking, ‘Hey, I know this stuff!’ during my chemistry and stats classes, and I

realized that I was very well prepared.

Extracurricular activities like band and tennis helped me learn about myself.

They taught me about leadership and how to handle myself with groups of people … real-life situations.”

Today, Pam is majoring in business management at College of the Sequoias and plans to transfer to Fresno State University.

‘I WANTED SOMETHING MORE … I WANTED AN EDUCATION’ Pam Heath (right) married young and became a stay-at-home mom. Many years later, she found herself and her son in a domestic violence shelter and she was in need of a job.

“I needed a GED so I could support myself and my son, so I went to Visalia Adult School. It was scary for me to be back in school, but everyone was so encouraging. They made me realize I can do this – I can achieve my goals.”

Visalia Adult School offers a traditional diploma and a general education diploma (GED), along with welding, nurse assistant training/CNA, basic math, basic language arts and more.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

5

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

BEFORE

AFTER

A MEASURE OF SUCCESS Measure E, passed by Visalia Unified School District voters in 2012, made possible the construction of Ridgeview Middle School and the two-story academic building at Redwood High School.

These were the two most significant new construction projects funded by support of Measure E, but the bond also made possible a range of upgrades and improvements to schools throughout the district.

Today, Visalia’s schools have more accessible playgrounds, new instructional technology, enhanced security, remodeled offices, upgraded landscaping and more. Golden West High School has a remodeled music building, and solar panels throughout the district are saving more than $1 million in energy costs each year.

By all measures, E was a success. Visalia’s students and teachers thank you for investing in the community!

MEASURE E: STILL AT WORK A key piece of Measure E is matching funds from the state of California. VUSD is at the front of the line to receive these funds once they are released by the state, and much work has gone into ensuring that the district is ready to quickly put the funds to work.

Projects to be funded include a nearly $19 million investment in Golden West High School to replace aging heating and air-conditioning systems, updated restrooms, instructional monitors, new flooring and more.

Several elementary schools will see improved accessibility, new instructional technology, classroom furniture, flooring and paint. Redwood High School will receive much-needed improvements to science labs and replacement of aging heating and air-conditioning systems.

1 student + 1 teacher = 2 lives changed Gluckmann, economics teacher at Golden West, prepared me for what was next – whether it was a "Alex job or the university. He teed us up for the future and got us ready. - Matt Graham, commercial real estate " taught me work ethic and discipline. I particularly admired and respected baseball Coach Art "Sports Shahazade. I patterned my life after him." - Bob Link, Visalia City Council member

6

DIRECT MAGAZINE

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

MEET A LOCAL TEXT BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, SMILE CENTRAL VALLEY

Sarah Ramirez Occupation/Title: Past executive director, FoodLink Tulare County, now senior director for health and wellness.

How did you end up here in Visalia?

David and I moved to Visalia shortly after completing my master's in public health degree from Columbia University.

However, we decided to return to our hometown of Pixley to help with community health and mentoring projects. Our small unincorporated communities have fewer opportunities to meet people who want to build a healthier and safer community.

How did you get your start in this line of work? I had all the signs of an "at-risk kid." I was poor. I was born to a teen mom who was an immigrant and didn't speak the language. I saw the hardship and differences compared to my school friends. I saw how my parents were treated; I saw how I was treated and, mostly, I saw family members and family friends die, become diseased or disabled from preventable conditions.

Originally, I was interested in health, but late during my undergraduate career, I discovered community health as an opportunity to address health education, health access, and the underlying conditions that produce disease and death. The focus on food grew slowly as I began to move around the country pursuing my graduate training. It was at that time that I realized I was a spoiled California girl who loved fresh produce and no other state compared! .

Why are you passionate about your work? The motivations are from a

sincere place grounded in my own experiences. Simply put, I believe that "food is medicine" and "we find health through movement," that everyone is worthy of love and belonging, that small acts of love ripple to create waves of changes, and that we are all bound by a common desire to be free from suffering, I want to see communities with improved access to the tools, knowledge and resources that can help us reach our full potential and become the healthy, THRIVING human beings we were meant to be.

What is the most challenging thing about your job? Some of the biggest challenges have been the numerous myths that exist about food banks.

Many people believe that food banks are fully funded by the government, that a food bank should only "give away" canned foods or that some people really don't need food. In the case of FoodLink, 25 percent of the budget comes through county, state and federal governments; the remaining funds have to be raised through fundraisers, direct appeals, grants and more. Cuts to government safety net programs mean more people have to rely on food banks and that places more pressure on food banks to meet the needs of a growing number of people. We need to address the root causes of hunger, partner with healthcare organizations that want to see health outcomes improve, and educate those who want to see healthcare spending costs drop. We want people to have an opportunity to grow, cook, preserve and access healthy food with dignity. If we look at Tulare County, we know that more than 25 percent of our population is living in poverty, utilizing food stamps, or needing to access free and reducedpriced meal programs. We're seeing greater numbers of college students experiencing food insecurity, more temporary job statuses that do not provide a wage that covers the cost of living, and fewer programs to support retired and disabled seniors.

Tell us about a single moment when you realized this was the right occupation for you: The moment was

when I connected with several young high school students and teens who shared their lives with me. In one case, the story was about food scarcity. In another, the story was about cultural traditions that arose out of the experiences of not having enough to eat, but romanticizing crumbs or burnt rice as a wonderful food tradition.

If you had to choose another career, what would it be? I'd follow my nerdy bookworm and data-loving instinct while being a research scientist!

Tell us a little about life outside of work (hobbies, family, travel): In this job, there hasn't been much time for outside hobbies. I don't know if that's the nature of the job or just the way that I've done the job. I grew up poor and that has really framed my thoughts about my life, so anything I do has to be free or nearly free. I love cooking, but I especially love cooking with friends. I love spending time in the garden. I relax by listening to music and finding new music to work out to. I like to play with my friends' children. I also attend mindfulness, self-compassion and meditation workshops as a way to relax.

However, I think my favorite hobby is volunteering in service projects.

What is something most people don’t know about you? I teach a mind-body holistic movement practice called the Nia technique. I was fortunate to be introduced to the practice when I became a graduate student in 1998 at ASU. Two years later, I became a teacher and have been trained through my black belt level. I haven't taught much since I experienced a severe car accident and fractured my cervical spine, but I continue to dance, attend trainings, and enjoy the practice and the creativity it inspires for me.

What about Visalia makes this a great community to live and work in? It has allowed me to meet caring friends and allies who also aspire to creating a healthy community. A lot of us grew up, went away to school and returned because we see so much potential for making this the BEST place to live, raise a family and grow old.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

7

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

CRAFT CORNER TEXT BY IMAGINEU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Origami Flowers

W

hat a wonderful way to say “I LOVE YOU, MOM” with a bouquet of beautiful flowers that will last forever. These origami flowers are fun to make and will brighten Mom’s day!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: • Paper clip (to hold paper while glue dries) • Double-sided tape or white glue • 5 sheets of paper (6x6) DIRECTIONS: 1. Place a 6x6-inch square, color side down, on the table. Make sure that one corner is pointing toward you.

2. Fold the paper in half to make a triangle by folding the bottom corner that’s facing you up to meet the top corner. Crease it well.

3. Fold the left corner to the top. Crease well.

4. Fold the right corner to the top. Crease well.

5. Unfold the folds from Steps 3 and 4.

6. Fold the bottom left edge to meet the fold made in Step 3.

7. Fold the bottom right edge to meet the fold made in Step 4.

8. Flip paper over.

9. Fold down the two flaps. Crease well and unfold.

10. Flip paper over again. Tape or glue the two folds made in Steps 6 and 7.

11. Now you’ve completed one petal for the flower. You can use a paper clip to hold it while it dries.

12. Repeat Steps 1-10 three more times so that you have four petals. Now you can join the petals together.

13. Continue gluing the petals together.

14. To make a stem, lay a sheet of green (6x6-inch) on the table. Roll one corner to the opposite corner. Tape or glue the opposite corner to hold in place.

15. Tape or glue the stem to the flower.

Happy Mother's Day!

ImagineU Museum’s upcoming events: Summer camps June 11-Aug. 3; Robotics are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-5 p.m.; Yoga & Art is May 16; Music & Motion is May 17; Night at the Museum is May 25. Please call the museum for information and upcoming events at (559) 733-5975, or visit our website at www.imagineumuseum.org.

8

DIRECT MAGAZINE

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

MAY  H

OME GAMES IN RED AND GOLD

Photo by Aaron Provencio

WWW.RAWHIDEBASEBALL.COM 559.732.4433 DIRECT MAGAZINE

9

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

VIRTUAL VALLEY Be Heard and Seen: Podcasting and Vlogging

W

ebsites are so 2000. Today, if you want to build an audience online, you need to be heard and seen. Podcasting and vlogging have displaced blogging over the last three years.

To remain connected with customers and their communities, businesses and organizations need to adapt to the new multimedia realities of online marketing.

Audio and video content improve branding and develop customer loyalty.

Media content allow you to demonstrate expertise on products and services. They also allow you to highlight success stories. A mechanic might post a guide to car problems. A garden shop might post a video on pruning roses.

Traditional ads should mention your online media, reinforcing brand loyalty.

The media are always available for people to hear and see.

Merging iPod with broadcast gave us the term “podcast.” Although smartphones and tablets displaced the iPod and other music players, the name podcast became a generic description for any audio program distributed online.

The origin of “vlogging” could be video logging or video blogging.

Blogging itself comes from Web logging, the practice of publishing a public online journal.

Before deciding to invest in podcasting or vlogging, a business or organization needs a series concept that justifies short weekly programs. Popular examples include product reviews and tests, interviews with experts and profiles of community members.

Organizations can focus on community building for podcasts and vlogs. Interviews of people benefiting from an organization’s services lead audiences to share the programs and reinforce a good reputation.

Some organizations mistakenly

10

DIRECT MAGAZINE

assume podcasting and vlogging are free or cheap. Yes, you can record and post from a smartphone, but audiences expect quality productions. There are free and low-cost tools for preparing media content. However, even a free tool requires an investment of time to master and produce each episode.

Podcasting, more than vlogging, requires weekly dedication to producing content.

Popular podcasts feature a series of programs, usually once a week and sometimes several times a week. Among the most popular podcasts are scripted shows, including a dozen National Public Radio productions. The series “This American Life” and “Serial” reach millions of listeners weekly.

Some podcasts are radio dramas, resembling programs from the Golden Age of Radio. My favorite podcast is “The Way I Heard It” with Mike Rowe.

Based on the format of “The Rest of the Story” by broadcast legend Paul Harvey, Rowe teaches history through the unexpected twist of a good story.

The episode on Walt Disney’s father inspiring the creation of Disneyland remains a personal favorite that I share with students.

Listeners locate podcasts using services including iTunes, TuneIn, Overcast, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud and Spotify. Apple includes a Podcast app with iOS that works well, but many people prefer the extra features of TuneIn or Overcast on the iPhone.

Android users favor the unusually named DoggCatcher and CastBox. Google Play also offers podcasts.

Creating a podcast starts with capturing quality audio. I recommend a digital recorder with support for XLR microphone cables. Eventually, a good podcast production needs good microphones for the hosts and guests.

I own Zoom digital recorders and have also used Tascam recorders. These are common within the independent film community if you decide to produce video content later.

You can record directly into a computer, but I prefer the mobility of a digital recorder. Carrying as little gear as possible allows me to go on-site for interviews and be ready in minutes. For speedy interviews, I carry a bag with two lavalier microphones (these are what news anchors wear), a Zoom H4n recorder and mid-range headphones.

For sit-down panel interviews, I have a mixer with eight inputs. The mixer plugs into my computer, recording directly into Apple Logic Pro. Each speaker records to a track, allowing me to adjust the volume and tone of any guest.

Remote interviews require a little more effort for good audio quality. I use the Zencastr service to record remote guests. If you have used Skype, Facetime

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

TEXT BY C. S. WYATT

or Google Hangouts, the Zencastr experience is similar. Like a physical mixer with multiple inputs, each guest speaking during the Zencastr session is recorded to an individual track. If someone doesn’t have a great computer microphone, I can increase the volume (gain) and filter out any humming sounds.

Podcasting also requires a dedicated server. These range from the free SoundCloud to podcasting specialists such as Liberated Syndication (libsyn. com). Expect a weekly, 10-minute show to consume about 80 megabytes of storage per month. If you archive shows, you need more and more space on the server.

More companies and organizations are familiar with video content than podcasts. YouTube is as familiar as Google or Facebook. As a result, companies often want to produce videos instead of audio shows.

The problem with rushing to create

videos is that most creators don’t try to capture quality video or sound. The audio matters, especially if people watch videos while wearing headphones.

For one-person shows, I suggest buying a Marantz Turret video station.

The Turret features the company’s famous audio quality and a highdefinition video camera. Unlike cheaper solutions, especially other webcams, the Turret includes an LED light with filters.

Video recorded with the Marantz Turret can rival professional videography.

My suggestion for vlogging is to invest in a good digital camera from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic or Sony that can be used for still photography and video work. An example solution is a Panasonic GH5 with a Rode wireless microphone kit. Expect to spend at least $3,000 on video-related equipment.

Producing a video series requires more time and money than podcasting.

YouTube is free when you post a video,

but the software and hardware to create videos requires significant investment.

Editing a half-hour show takes 16 hours in my experience. I can edit and publish a podcast in two hours.

Video takes longer because you need various camera shots. Watching two people talking without any cuts or edits seems strange. We have been trained to expect close-ups and cut-away shots while watching a video. Viewers also expect text and effects within videos.

You have a story to tell, which podcasting and vlogging can share with the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Visalia native Scott Wyatt recently completed his Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Technology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Scott has several additional graduate degrees and was a visiting professor of business communication at Carnegie Mellon University.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

11

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

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

A Delightful Dinner for Mom Show mom how much she means to you with this delicious pasta dish. Light and creamy lemony sauce is a perfect complement to shrimp sautéed in garlic and shallots. Finish the dish with fresh herbs and shaved Parmesan for a splendid Mother’s Day repast!

Cooking tip: Mis en place is French for “put in place,” an essential piece of advice for cooking in general and especially for this recipe. Prepping ingredients in advance so that they are ready to use lets you move from step to step with ease!

Lemon Linguine With Shrimp For the shrimp: 1 pound uncooked shrimp, washed, shelled and deveined (you can purchase them already prepared fresh or frozen) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large shallot, minced 2 large garlic cloves, minced For the pasta: 1 pound linguine (or other pasta, if you prefer) ~ fresh pasta from the refrigerated section is best 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1 cup plain yogurt (the healthier option), sour cream or crème fraîche Zest and juice of 1 large lemon 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives Handful of fresh parsley leaves, washed and chopped Wedge of Parmesan cheese Make the shrimp: In a large pan, melt the butter and add the olive oil.

When they are sizzling, add the shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring, until they start to become translucent.

Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring – take care not to burn it.

Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes, until they are starting to brown around the edges.

Flip the shrimp over and cook another minute or so until opaque and lightly golden on the second side.

If you have lots of bits sticking to the bottom of the pan, use a little fresh

lemon juice or white wine to deglaze – you want all that flavor with your shrimp!

Remove from the pan to a plate, cover and set aside.

Make the pasta and sauce: In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce: In a large pan (big enough to add the cooked pasta to) over medium heat, melt the butter.

Stir in the yogurt/sour cream/crème fraîche.

Add the lemon zest and juice, and stir.

Stir in the kosher salt, pepper, and most

of the chives and parsley (reserve a bit for garnish).

Keep stirring occasionally until the sauce is heated through, but do not boil; reduce the heat if necessary.

When the sauce is heated through, turn off the heat and taste for seasoning – add more salt or pepper if desired.

When the pasta is cooked, drain and add it to the sauce, toss gently but thoroughly.

Use tongs to plate the pasta and set some shrimp around it.

Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese and remaining parsley and chives.

For more of Sue’s tips and tricks, visit www.itsokaytoeatthecupcake.com 12

DIRECT MAGAZINE

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

PRO-PT

STEFFANI RICH, MPT, OCS, CPI

Rotator Cuff Tears: Management Without Surgery

O

ne of the most common causes of shoulder pain and stiffness is a rotator cuff tear. Studies show that 20 to 30 percent of people between the ages of 60 and 80 have a tear, and more than 60 percent of people over the age of 60 will have a tear that has no pain symptoms. Those numbers are astounding! Most people will seek surgery as treatment; about 250,000 rotator cuff repairs are performed each year in the U.S.

patients with rotator cuff tears. Recent studies indicate that 72 to 75 percent of people that chose conservative management, including physical therapy, instead of surgery, were able to resolve pain and continue activities of daily living without difficulty. That’s great news!

Recovery from surgery is not easy and can be very painful. Patients can expect a four- to six-month recovery period that involves physical therapy to restore normal range of motion and a return to activities. Often, patients in the work force will need to plan time off from work duties immediately following surgery. So what other treatments are available for a rotator cuff tear?

Physical therapy has been shown to reduce pain and restore function in

So what can a person expect from physical therapy to treat a rotator cuff tear? First, let’s look at the function of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is made up of four small muscles that surround the shoulder and help move the arm. Without the help of these muscles, the shoulder joint does not move correctly and can damage the tissues in the joint. This damage creates pain, inflammation, loss of motion and muscle weakness. Physical therapy creates a program aimed at alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and restoring the motion and strength needed for daily activities. All programs include a prescribed exercise program specific to each patient’s weaknesses and mobility loss, and patient education on managing symptoms at home. Other treatments such as manual techniques or ice/heat may also be needed to help achieve the goal of resuming all activities without difficulty.

PRO-PT was amazing, the staff was very friendly and supportive. My therapist is very involved and knowledgeable about the recovery of my injury. My progress while at PRO-PT has been immense. Thank you!

- Melissa Leyva

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

www.pro~pt.net

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

HANFORD 323 N. 11th Ave. Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 772-8304

www.facebook.com/proptphysicaltherapy

KINGSBURG 329 Sierra St. Kingsburg, CA 93631 (559) 896-4736

LEMOORE 755 N. Lemoore Ave. Suite C Lemoore, CA 93245 (559) 817-5808

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

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

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

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

proptphysicaltherapy

DIRECT MAGAZINE

13

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

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

Making the Most of Your College Visit

T

here are many steps in choosing which college to attend. There is a lot of research to do when making the college list, and it can play an important role in making the final decision. The college visit gives students a chance to determine whether they will fit into that college’s environment. Remember that you will be spending the next four (maybe more) years of your life at the college you choose, so be sure you are sure!

The best time to visit is when the college is in session so you get a realistic view of "college life." Clearly, this is not the best time for you since you, too, are in session and missing a day or two of your AP Physics class could be problematic. So you just have to go visit when you are able to and make the most of it. A campus visit is usually half a day with an information session and a campus tour. However, if you want to make a day of it, you can also arrange to meet with a specific department or professor, attend a class or club meeting, and meet with an admissions or financial aid officer. You can arrange your visit by calling the school or going to its website and searching for "Campus Tours." Always give your name when calling since some colleges will keep track of your "demonstrated interest" in them.

Before you go on your visit, you should thoroughly research the college website and list any questions that you may have. If you have a specific major in mind, read up on it so that you aren't starting from scratch when you visit. Be sure that the questions you ask are not easy to find on the website or with a Google search. "Follow" or "Like" the college on Twitter or Facebook.

Here are a few questions for you to think about asking pertaining to academics: • How often do TAs teach classes?

• How accessible are my professors?

• Do you accept AP tests for credit?

• Do you have a limit?

• How many students are in a freshman class? How about upper-level classes?

• Is your approach more lecture-based, discussion-based or hands-on?

• Do you have an honors college?

• Do you have research opportunities for underclassmen?

• How many students participate in an internship program?

While you are on campus, also try to ask a student what he/she likes and does not like about the school. Check out brochures and be sure to pick up a copy of the campus newspaper. It will give you a great picture of what is

happening on campus. Visit campus facilities that interest you (science and computer labs, recreation center, etc.), and be sure to check out the dorms and the food (eat it)! Also, take pictures of the campus and keep notes. You will be surprised how quickly you will forget if you do not keep track.

When you have completed your visit, write down the pros and cons from your perspective. Give the college a grade so that you can compare when you are making your final decision.

Can't make a visit? Try a virtual tour.

The College Board provides a great campus visit checklist. Check it out here: https://bigfuture.collegeboard. org/find-colleges/campus-visit-guide/ campus-visit-checklist Have fun! You are about to begin an important new chapter of your life!

You can find an extensive list of questions here: www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/campus-visits/articles/campus-visit-tips/essential-campus-visit-question-list/

14

DIRECT MAGAZINE

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

CHARACTER COUNTS! TEXT BY KELLEY PETTY, CHARACTER COUNTS! COORDINATOR, TULARE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

A Selfless Duo

M

any students can’t wait for the school bell to ring at the end of the day so that they can go home. But at Visalia Technical Early College High School (VTEC), when classes are over, the work continues.

This is where juniors Emilee Flaming and Emma Fleetwood have devoted many of their 6,000 combined volunteer hours.

Learning Director Shari Williams

Emilee Flaming

says, “Emi and Emma’s leadership skills shined from day one. They took the lead during group activities and assisted other students, and worked tirelessly giving farm tours and planning school dances and activities.

With our dual enrollment with College of the Sequoias, they have both earned many college credits. With all they have going on, these two still find time to help out whenever needed.

Emilee’s older brother attended VTEC and she liked coming to his campus. “I have always liked the animals at the fair and wanted to show animals one day. I just took a leap of faith and tried VTEC because I liked what I saw.” Emilee quickly realized that VTEC provided a unique opportunity that fit her interests. “Classes are not what you would think around here. Our teachers will hold class in a building or a pasture, depending on what we are doing that day. It is not unusual to start class sitting at a desk and, if the veterinarian arrives at the pig barn during class, the entire class is now part of the vet procedures and learning

hands-on care for our animals.”

VTEC has offered Emma a high school experience where her passion for animals could be incorporated into her school day and beyond. As an 8-year-old, Emma was already working with animals and serving others. Alongside her grandfather, Emma volunteered at Access Adventure, a ranch with therapeutic horse carriage driving events for people living with mobility challenges, special needs, injuries and other limitations in life.

have to understand the student’s reasons for attending VTEC. It means a lot to know that we have teachers that understand and support a non-traditional approach to learning. For example, during lambing season, we may have a ewe giving birth at 11 at night. We have teachers like Miss Thompson coming back at night to include us in the birthing process and tending to the needs of the newborns.”

“I draw my passion for animals and helping others from my Grandpa,” she says.

“When I volunteer, I look to give back where people and animals need it the most.”

Emma Fleetwood

I am extremely proud of Emma and Emi and their selflessness in helping others.”

Emilee and Emma credit the way they were raised as the reason for volunteering with many organizations in the county. They both agree: “It doesn’t have anything to do with the number of volunteer hours, certificates or ribbons. It’s more about what we can give to make a situation better.”

Emma has discovered that the teachers at VTEC have similarities to her childhood role model. “To be a teacher here, you really

Whether students are in math, Spanish or history class, teachers align lessons with the hands-on school vision supporting the college and technical career pathways that the students are interested in pursuing after high school.

“My future plans are to be a CAL FIRE firefighter,” Emilee says. “Since I was 5 years old, I have always wanted to help people. I prefer active, hard work and being outdoors.

I can see myself traveling the state of California and serving in one of the many branches of CAL FIRE.”

Emma will complete her associate’s degree early, thanks to the college courses available while at VTEC. Upon high school graduation, family and the four seasons of weather guide Emma’s decision to move to Kentucky, where she hopes to become a high school agriculture teacher and have her own herd of sheep one day.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

15

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

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

Eligible or Ready?

P

rior to development of the California School Dashboard, our focus was primarily on getting kids to graduation, ensuring that those who wanted to go to college met all the entrance criteria for the school of their choice, and helping all other students have some chance of landing a job.

Typically, this meant meeting all the local graduation requirements plus some additional coursework and activities that would round out a college application or provide some marketable technical skill.

But, as many other things have changed in education within the past few years, this focus has expanded: Schools are expected to graduate students who are college and career ready. This is defined as ready for entry to college without remediation and also ready to enter the work force in a position that offers the opportunity for advancement. There are two key elements in play here: First, graduates are expected to be college and career ready – not one or the other. Gone are the days when some kids were expected to go to college and others to work with their hands as a default. Second, graduates are expected to be college and career ready – not just eligible.

There is a great difference between being eligible and being ready for something. Being eligible means that all requisite criteria have been met and there is nothing that prevents someone from proceeding, while being ready means having all criteria met and also the ability to be successful in a particular endeavor. This is a critical distinction that expands the focus of our work from academic achievement alone to a much broader approach – an approach that reflects many of the 16

DIRECT MAGAZINE

things evolving in the field of education.

With regard to academics, it is not only important that students be able to find the correct solution, but also important that they be able to understand and explain why that answer is correct.

Teachers must be flexible in allowing students to come to a solution from many perspectives, for very often there is more than one way to get to the correct answer. Knowing the correct answer is evidence that one is eligible; having the ability to adapt knowledge to a new situation is evidence that one is ready.

Our desire to help students be ready expands our approach to academic learning. It means that a student must be taught to work cooperatively with others, communicate effectively, engage in critical thinking, address problems creatively and have a sense for his or her

membership in the community. These qualities are also enhanced by our deeper approach to social and emotional skill development. Teaching kids how to approach challenges and failure in a positive way is important.

Teaching kids how to set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy, establish and maintain relationships, make good decisions, and understand and manage emotions is also important in that these skills help them work through the challenges of life beyond public school.

Our mission is to provide our students with an education that affords them limitless opportunity for the future. This is how we say college and career ready in Visalia Unified, and we are working hard to make sure that each of our graduates is not just eligible but ready to meet those challenges as they take their first steps into adult life.

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

YOUR HEALTH, YOUR TIME, OUR PRIORITY

Your Primary Care Practice

Say Hello to Spring, and Goodbye to Allergies!

Come see us so we can help you enjoy the great outdoors.

No appointment necessary.

WALK-IN CLINIC OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 7PM WEEKDAYS

PROVIDERS H.James Princeton, M.D. Charles Newton, M.D. Rochelle Wileman, PA-C Debbie Jo Bird, FNP/PA

(559) 733-4505 4025 W. Caldwell Ave, Suite A Visalia, CA 93277

Dr. Wheaton’s 39 years of experience includes positions as high school counselor, community college instructor, high school coach, teacher, student adviser, assistant principal, elementary school principal, district curriculum director, and superintendent. He has been with Tulare County Office of Education since February 2016 serving as Deputy Superintendent.

Paid for by Wheaton for Superintendent of Schools 2018 • FPPC Number: 1401451 www.WheatonForSuperintendent.com • Craig@WheatonForSuperintendent.com DIRECT MAGAZINE

17

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

VISALIA RESCUE MISSION TEXT BY RYAN STILLWATER, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, VISALIA RESCUE MISSION

You Want to Risk

O

n my walk to work this morning, air crisp and clear after an overnight rainstorm, I walk past a man sitting on the street corner. I immediately recognize him as a former resident in our Life Change Academy, who left early on in the program. I nicknamed him Logan, due to his striking resemblance to one of my favorite X-Men comic book characters — with his muscular frame and prominent dark sideburns and stubble. This morning, he is angry and making loud threats against a man (not present) who had very personally wronged him. “Are you OK?” I ask. “No!” he screams, eyes fixed on an invisible enemy. I am standing with Wolverine — the enraged persona of the gentle man I had known.

In his book, “You Lost Me,” author David Kinnaman unveils his company’s research into why the church is losing its young adults. In a 2011 survey of 18- to 29-year-olds, 59 percent had dropped out of regular church attendance and 57 percent reported being less active overall compared to when they were 15 years of age.

While the results are wide, Kinnaman addresses one contributing factor caused by the older generations: Overprotection. But the tool young adults are wanting to learn: Discernment.

"Overprotectiveness discourages risk-taking and uses fear to “protect” the next generation."

"Discernment guides young people to trust God fearlessly and follow Christ in the power of the Spirit, even at the risk of their lives, reputations and worldly success."

I became a Christian at the age of 15. I quickly joined the 18

DIRECT MAGAZINE

I stood there for just a moment with a decision to make. I could respond with a gracious, yet shallow apology for his troubles and wish him luck. Or, I could engage. I chose the latter and sat down next to him. I discerned the need to tread carefully — to listen and choose my words carefully. It turns out his 18-monthold daughter had been removed from his custody three months ago. Suddenly, I had a window of opportunity to connect and encourage. “I would hate for you to make a decision that further separates I’m pretty sure that my father hated you from your daughter’s life.” He tears these trips — not because I was helping up. “She is young enough not to others, but because he loved me and remember this situation, which means wanted me to be safe. Also, he once told you have an opportunity to get your life me, “There are plenty of people you can together … to become whole and be in help here in Visalia.” He was right, which her whole life.” brings me back to Wolverine.

What started as a scary interaction in which I feared for my own safety turned into two grown men (and near strangers) hugging each other on a street corner at 8 o’clock in the morning. I don’t think he hugged me and cried because of my advice, but because I felt God led me to say, “Logan, I believe in you.”

Driving the ministry of Visalia Rescue Mission, while providing the community I know how easy it is to toss with reliable transportation at a great price. a dollar in an open hand or a “God bless you” toward someone you don’t know how Life Change Academy Graduate, to help. But … as you and I Visalia Rescue Mission Employee, & the owner of a 1999 Mercedes pause in these moments to discern what God is up to behind the scenes, more Wolverines may remember that they have a different name, potential and purpose.

No matter what you believe or how good a person you are, we can’t protect ourselves or our loved ones enough to Rebecca bought a Mission Motors vehicle! avoid the everyday tragedies of life. So let’s risk a bit more and believe God to do what he does best and chooses to do 429-8777 • missionmotors.org through us. youth worship team and then the youth leadership team a couple of years later. I was baptized in the Pacific Ocean at 16 with blue-dyed hair and a head full of ambition to do great things for God. In the years that followed, I would travel to Vancouver, San Francisco and what is now South Sudan. I saw remarkable (and terrible) things — hopeless drug addicts, prostitutes of all ages and a desperate mother holding a sick infant miles from medical aid.

DONATE A VEHICLE

Ryan Stillwater Contact by e-mail: ryan@vrmhope.org.

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

COMMUNITY SAFETY TEXT BY VISALIA POLICE CHIEF JASON SALAZAR

National Peace Officers Memorial Day

T

he month of May is a significant one for our nation’s law enforcement agencies. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. National Police Week recognizes and honors those in the law enforcement profession who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Thousands of officers, friends and families will converge at our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., to honor our fallen brothers and sisters. In California, cities and counties will also honor law enforcement during this time by participating in memorial ceremonies, both locally and at our state capital in Sacramento.

Since its establishment in 1923, the

Visalia Police Department has experienced two line-of-duty deaths: Sgt. Charles “Hugh” Garrison in 1946 and Officer James Rapozo in 1998. As I write this article, a total of 37 officers have died in the line of duty in 2018, three of them from the state of California. As we do annually, the Visalia Police Department will participate in both the Tulare County Peace Officers Memorial, as well as the California Peace Officers Memorial in Sacramento, to honor and remember our fallen officers. Furthermore, VPD staff members who wear a badge will also display a black band across their badges and a blue ribbon on their patrol vehicles, while our professional staff members will be wearing a memorial pin during this time.

Although this time of year can be a somber one, it also serves as a poignant reminder of the devotion of those across the nation who have taken an oath to protect and serve their communities.

Day after day, officers honor that commitment despite the challenges and risks that may arise. The job can be a challenging and difficult one, yet every day, thousands wear their uniforms with pride knowing that they serve something greater than themselves.

In closing, please join me and others across the nation in commemorating the service and sacrifice of officers locally and nationally during this time.

On behalf of the men and women of the Visalia Police Department, thank you, Visalia, for your continuous support of our agency and profession.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

19

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

KIDS' LIBRARY TEXY BY LEE LITTLEWOOD

Put a Little Spring in Your Step -­ and Your Books

A

fter a cold, snowy, wet winter, it's time to open the windows, breathe deep and inhale some springtime with these new picture books.

"Spectacular Spring" by Bruce Goldstone; Henry Holt and Co., 48 pages.

This book is a refreshing introduction to all that spring offers. Bruce Goldstone prepares young readers with vivid photographs, lively explanations and creative craft ideas. First, he explains how days get longer and nights get shorter, and why. Next up, "days begin to get warmer," which shows the transition from sweaters and gloves to raincoats and umbrellas. He explains with clear, close-up photos how umbrellas work, why we see rainbows, how so many colorful flowers start growing, and the miracle of new baby animals and hatching birds.

Each page spread features numerous pictures and sparse large text. Spring holidays are introduced, as are special activities and crafts like hand lamps and seed jars.

As an all-encompassing journey from the cold of winter to the outdoor joys of springtime, "Spectacular Spring" feels like a healthy reawakening.

"I'm a Duck" by Eve Bunting; illustrated by Will Hillenbrand; Candlewick Press; 32 pages.

With gentle, muted colors and friendly rhyming refrains, Eve Bunting's sweet tale of a timid duckling afraid to go in the pond will resonate with young children. The duckling thinks, "I cannot swim, and that is bad. A landlocked duck is very sad." But a wise owl tries to cheer him up – "Too-wit, too-woo! Think about what you can do. You're a duck. Use common sense and try to get some confidence."

Duckling summons the courage to practice in puddles and, with the verbal help of his mother and a frog, finally takes the plunge, realizing, "I was wrong to ever think a well-made duck like me could sink."

20

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Charming as can be, "I'm a Duck" should win a place on every preschooler's bookshelf.

"Splish, Splash, Ducky!" by Lucy Cousins; Candlewick Press; 28 pages.

Another ode to ducks, this one from iconic "Maisy" creator Lucy Cousins, stars a loud, quacking duckling amidst Cousins' signature bold, colorful, childlike illustrations. Tots will have a silly blast reciting the rhyming text and the "Quack, quack, quack!" on every page spread. A real joyfest, the hilarity and zesty romp of bright birds and butterflies and flowers throughout is almost a psychedelic burst of springtime energy.

"A Peaceful Garden" by Lucy London; pictures by Christa Pierce; HarperCollins; 32 pages.

Any book starring cats is A-OK by me. This sweet tale introduces two lovely little cats that grow a peaceful garden and work together to make it kind and healthy. First, they start by choosing seeds, saying, "Lasy peasy peas? They'll need a wee pea fence," and asking, "Bees love daisies. So do butterflies. Would you like to invite some blackbirds?" The cats offer cool garden tips, saying: "You could also fill up a little saucer for the bees," "A few rocks will help them to not fall in" and "Don't forget what is where! Small signs are good."

With basic child-friendly gardening tips, fresh and sunny art; friendly cats and bunnies, and an emphasis on the joy of growth, "A Peaceful Garden" is truly precious.

"When Spring Comes" by Kevin Henkes; illustrated by Laura Dronzek; Greenwillow Books; 34 pages.

The board book edition of Kevin Henkes' joyful spring tale emphasizes the joy of patience and waiting for all that springtime offers, from puddles and umbrellas to new kittens and "buds and bees and boots and bubbles." Simple but joyous and mellow at the same time, "When Spring Comes" is a luscious ode to season appreciation.

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

GARDEN WORLD

Wi-Fi Controlled Grill

temperature. For Android, the app will monitor the profiles’ progress and alert you as each step is started and completed. Alerts will be available for iOS users in the next major iOS release.

We’ve also included multiple tools such as a timer, stopwatch and flashlight.

We’ve been hard at work revamping the app from the ground up. Android users are already able to see the results of this in versions 1.5+, and the feedback has been very positive. We think that our iOS users will be extremely pleased when the major update is released as well. We’re excited about the possibilities going forward as we continue to release updates and gather feedback from users.

W

e’ve integrated a wireless card on our Green Mountain Grills that works hand-inhand with the original controller. This allows the grill to accept commands and reply to them on the wireless network using standard TCP and UDP protocols.

It also allows the grill to communicate with our server over the Internet.

The most obvious feature is that you can manually control the grill, letting you directly set the temperature you want. The biggest new feature is the food profiles, which let you program a series of steps for your grill. Each step cooks at a specific temperature for a certain amount of time or until the food probe hits the specified internal

There are a few ways that we feel the app helps you cook better. For instance, food profiles let users cook consistently and refine their steps over time until it is absolutely perfect. You can even monitor the grill while you’re doing other things.

KNOCHTIRE ALIGNMENTS

49.95

$

We have a number of excellent features slated to come out over the next few months. The next major update will be the ability to connect your grill to your local Wi-Fi at all times, alerts for iOS users and using push notifications, which wasn’t possible until we had Internet access on the grill.

David Scott is the director of product at Fyresite, a Phoenix app development agency. For more information about these Green Mountain Grills, contact Garden World at (559) 651-3388 or visit TheGardenWorld.com.

IN GRILLING, TASTE RULES

please call for an appointment

Most vehicles included. Must present coupon at time of service. Discount does not apply to other offers.

FREE

ROTATION & BRAKE INSPECTION

Most vehicles included. Must present coupon at time of service. Discount does not apply to other offers.

Address: 936 N Ben Maddox Way, Visalia, CA 93292 Hours: Open today · 8AM–5PM Phone: (559) 732-4775

Control Your Grill Via 651-3388 Smart Phone 6837 W Pershing Custom Programmable (Shirk & Pershing) Cooking Instructions Monitor Food Temp M-F 7-5 Sat 9-1| www.TheGardenWorld.com

DIRECT MAGAZINE

21

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

VISALIA FIRST TEXT BY KELINA ALVES

Recollections From a Grateful Mother

A

s I was thinking about Mother’s Day approaching this month, I got to thinking about Mother’s Day of last year. I remember it vividly.

My husband works as a firefighter and was on the schedule that day, so off I went to work in the morning dragging my 2-year-old and 5-month-old along with me.

After work, my sister-in-law had made plans to go to dinner with both our parents at a teppanyaki place.

Taking my two young kids to a fancy restaurant? All I could think about was how stressful that sounded. But it was Mother’s Day, and I really wanted to spend time with my mom as well. So, after work, I picked up my two littles from the nursery (who had apparently not napped at all the entire day) and made my way to the restaurant. Of course, both kids fell asleep on the short drive, exhausted from playing too hard, I’m sure.

The restaurant was nice, and I loved seeing my family, but as I had anticipated, I had two overly tired and extremely crabby kids. Soon, I asked the waitress to pack up my food and I left the restaurant in tears, feeling extremely defeated. I cried all the way home thinking about the whole day.

Like my kids, I think I was a little exhausted, too. Why was Mother’s Day making me cry? Wasn’t I supposed to be full of grateful and happy feelings on Mother’s Day? When we arrived home, I gave my sweet girls baths, and my 2-year-old asked me if we could watch a movie in my bed. So, I got them in their little jammies and we crawled in bed. They were both out by the time the movie even started. As they slept peacefully next to me, I was reminded how incredibly blessed I am to have these amazing littles in my life. This reminder caused me to see the bigger picture

22

DIRECT MAGAZINE

and reevaluate my day, and I thanked God for choosing me to be their mother.

I used to wonder if I was making the right choices when it came to being a mom and working. There are so many mixed assumptions and stereotypes surrounding a working mom and, sadly, I used to struggle with those. There is the guilt, the missing your kids and the too-tired-to-play days. But as time has gone by, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that I’m not selfish for wanting to work and that my kids are going to be just fine. They continue to thrive, and I see it every day when I pick them up from day care after work. They will always know who I am, and they will still love me. I’ve learned to give myself grace, to be patient and to make those moments really count when I’m with them, even if we are just watching movies on the couch together.

Whether you have to work to provide for your family or just like to

work as a mom, it’s okay! God has called me to love people and lift them up, beyond just my family. It’s a joy to love what you do for work, and that doesn’t make you any less of a mom. Be confident in who you are and let God guide you through the times when you don’t think you can manage it all. Let him breathe life into you when you don’t think you can make it another day.

Always remember that no matter what you choose, whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, you are enough! Be there to love and encourage other moms and lift them up at their weakest and darkest times in life. You are strong, and you are worthy to have the confidence to say, “I’m the best mom that I can be.”

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you fearfully and wonderfully made women!

“For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

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

TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY TEXT BY JONATHAN WALTMIRE, LIBRARIAN III, ANNIE MITCHELL HISTORY ROOM, VISALIA

Summer Reading Programs at Your Local Tulare County Library

E

very summer when school ends, throngs of children start their summer vacations. The question is what to do now, especially for parents and caregivers. For some students, a phenomenon known as the “summer slide” happens if they are not engaged in reading and learning over the summer.

Students can easily lose two months of reading and learning skills. It can take up to two months for students to get back on track after school resumes. Luckily, the Tulare County Library and others across the nation offer Summer Reading.

The Tulare County Library has offered Summer Reading programs for decades. The programs first focused on children and then eventually expanded to include readers of all ages. So now each year, participants read to earn prizes and attend events for the whole family.

Last summer, more than 2,600 Tulare County children, tweens, teens and adults signed up for Summer Reading.

The Tulare County Library serves all of the residents of Tulare County with locations in 17 communities, four book machines and online at:

www.tularecountylibrary.org

Children attended our popular programs, including the fantastic E & M’s Reptiles. Teens attended a writer’s workshop with author Anna-Marie McLemore, Dungeons & Dragons programs, and art workshops. Adults enjoyed origami for beginners, how to draw manga and a special event on basket weaving by the Handweavers of the Central Valley. In total, more than 4,000 attended special events throughout the Tulare County Library branches. All programs and some prizes were provided through the generosity of the Friends of the Tulare County Library.

When school is out, find something exciting to do by checking out your local Tulare County Branch Library to see what is happening. Summer Reading this year begins June 12 and runs through July 2. All are welcome to participate in these free programs. For more information about Summer Reading, contact the Tulare County Library at (559) 713-2700 or online at www.tularecountylibrary.org.

@TulareCountyLib

/tularecountylibrary

DIRECT MAGAZINE

23

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

MONEY MATTERS CONTRIBUTED BY PENNEY R. SICK, RAYMOND JAMES

IRS Releases Updated Form W-4 and Withholding Calculator

T

he IRS has released a new version of Form W-4 and a revised Withholding Calculator on irs.gov (IR-2018-36). These updated tools can help you check your 2018 tax withholding to determine if it's still appropriate following passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. The IRS urges taxpayers to use these tools to make sure they have the right amount of tax withheld from their paychecks, taking into account significant changes to the tax law for 2018.

Getting It Right If you have too much tax withheld, you will receive a refund when you file your tax return, but it might make more sense to reduce your withholding and receive more in your paycheck. If you have too little tax withheld, you will owe tax when you file your tax return, and you might owe a penalty. You can use a number of worksheets for the Form W-4 or the IRS Withholding Calculator to help you plan your tax withholding strategy.

The IRS notes that the following groups, in particular, should make an extra effort to check their withholding: • Two-income families.

• People with more than one job at the same time.

• People who work only for part of the year.

• People with children who claim credits, such as the child tax credit.

• People who itemized deductions in 2017.

• People with high incomes and more complex returns.

The revised Form W-4 and Withholding Calculator can be used to update your withholding in response to the new tax law provisions or if you

start a new job or have other changes in your personal circumstances.

Form W-4 If changes reduce the number of allowances you are allowed to claim or your marital status changes from married to single, you must give your employer a new Form W-4 within 10 days. You can generally submit a new Form W-4 whenever you wish to change your withholding allowances for any other reason. See IRS Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax (a new version is expected to be available in early spring).

Your employer will withhold tax from your paycheck based on the information you provide on Form W-4 and the IRS withholding tables. On the W-4, you provide your withholding tax filing status, the number of withholding allowances you're claiming, any additional tax you want withheld from each paycheck and whether you claim exemption from withholding.

There are three withholding tax filing statuses: single, married or married with tax withheld at single rate. If your regular tax filing status is married filing separately, you must use married with tax withheld at single rate as your

withholding tax filing status.

In general, you can claim various withholding allowances based on your tax filing status and the tax credits, itemized deductions (or any additional standard deduction for age or blindness) and adjustments to income that you expect to claim. You might increase the tax withheld or claim fewer allowances if you have a large amount of nonwage income. (If you have a significant amount of nonwage income, you might also consider making estimated tax payments using IRS Form 1040-ES.) The amount withheld can also be adjusted to reflect that you have more than one job at a time and whether you and your spouse both work.

You can claim exemption from withholding for the current year if: 1) for the prior year, you were entitled to a refund of all federal income tax withheld because you had no tax liability, and 2) for the current year, you expect a refund of all federal income tax withheld because you expect to have no tax liability.

After your Form W-4 takes effect, you can also use the IRS Withholding Calculator to check how the amount of tax being withheld compares to your projected tax.

Prepared by Broadridge Investor communication solutions Inc. Copyright 2018 Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Penney Sick, Registered Principal, 303 E. Caldwell Ave Visalia Ca 93277 24

DIRECT MAGAZINE

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

VALLEY OAK SPCA TEXT BY DR. LYDIA HOUSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Surrendering Your Animal How We Can Help

C

aring for pets can be the most rewarding, yet challenging, endeavor. The love and trust we receive from our furry friends is unparalleled. One of the hardest decisions that a pet parent can be faced with is what to do if circumstances prove too difficult for us to continue to care for, or keep, our pet.

Valley Oak SPCA accepts animals that are being surrendered from anywhere in the state, by appointment only.

Our first goal is to help families resolve issues with their pets. We can provide a list of reputable dog behaviorists, breed-specific rescues, and information on house training, crate training and correction of destructive behaviors. We can also help with spay and neuter and, in some cases, we can offer help with medical conditions.

If you find yourself in the predicament of needing to re-home your pet, here are some important facts to know: • Honesty is your pet’s best policy. By being honest about their behavioral

issues, health issues and vaccination history, you enable us to place them in a home that matches their needs.

PET OF THE MONTH

• An animal that is spayed/neutered and has current vaccinations is more likely to be adopted quickly. Having current vaccinations can prevent dogs and cats from contracting illnesses in a shelter environment.

If you have questions about surrendering your pet or would like to make a surrender appointment, please call Valley Oak SPCA’s adoption center at (559) 651-1111.

Valley Oak SPCA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, no-kill rescue that operates solely on donations and contributions from our local community. To make an online donation or submit a volunteer application, please visit our website: www.vospca.org. Our adoption center is at 9800 Camp Drive (blue building behind Visalia BMW off Plaza Drive).

Open Thursday through Monday from noon to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Valley Oak SPCA Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic, 9405 W. Goshen Ave, Visalia 93291 For clinic information and appointments, call (559) 741-1121 or (559) 741-0492

Meet Lolly: Hi! My name is Lolly and I’m a 2-yearold Boston Terrier looking for my forever home. I'm an entertaining little gal who loves all humans, but does not like cats at all (sorry, feline friends!). If I will have doggie roommates, let's have a meet and greet to ensure that we are a great match. I may be hearing-impaired, so my foster mom has taught me a few sign language commands. I enjoy walks, exploring and just being near my human friends. Let’s schedule a meet and greet?

If interested, contact Valley Oak SPCA at (559) 651-1111.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

25

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

VISALIA CHAMBER

T

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

1

2

3

4 26

DIRECT MAGAZINE

1. Ambassador Breakfast: The Visalia Chamber Ambassadors met March 29 for the monthly networking meeting. After a delightful breakfast provided by Visalia First Assembly, more than 40 chamber ambassadors met to talk about upcoming community events and programs going on in Visalia. Pictured, from left, representatives from the Visalia Rescue Mission, Visalia First Assembly Church, CSET, Innovation Commercial Flooring and AAA Services/Potters Porta Potties.

2. Ambassador of the Month: Lori Butcher from Visalia First Assembly was honored at the Ambassador Breakfast on March 29 as the Visalia Chamber Ambassador of the Month for her continued support of the Ambassador program. Thank you Lori for all of your work on behalf of the community, and thank you for helping to coordinate the monthly Ambassador breakfasts.

3. Business After Hours: Prestige Assisted Living hosted the March Business After Hours Networking Mixer on March 29. More than 50 chamber members attended the event. The networking event included appetizers, drinks and, most importantly, guided tours of the facility. We loved learning about the services that Prestige offers to seniors in Visalia. We would like to thank Prestige for hosting this event and for all of the great door prizes.

4. TV advertising: Kopi and KMPH Fox 26 came to Visalia to educate small business owners on the power of television advertising. Kopi is a strong supporter of local business and wants to be able to help support business in Visalia. The chamber attended this workshop and hopes to help connect our local members to KMPH/Kopi. Pictured is Kopi and chamber staff member Nicola Wissler with the Visalia Chamber Flat Stanley who came along for the experience.

5. Woman of the Year: Sharon Allison-Crook, the Visalia chamber co-chair of the Ambassador program, was recently recognized as Woman of the Year for Assembly District 26. We are proud of Sharon and all the work that she does in Tulare County on behalf of our veterans. She is a true servant whose actions speak as loud as her words. Congratulations, Sharon, on this award.

5 PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE VISALIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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

TULARE CHAMBER

T

he Tulare Chamber of Commerce exists to serve its members and residents 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.

1. The newest salon in Tulare, Glitz Salon, commemorated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The trendy salon is in downtown Tulare and offers services for nails, hair, waxing, facials and lashes. For more information, visit the salon’s Facebook page. Call (559) 329-5181 to book an appointment.

Glitz Salon is at 242 N. L St. 2. Oxi Fresh Central Valley celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting. It offers residential and commercial services for cleaning carpet, throw rugs, upholstery, tile and grout, and floors. For a free quote, call (559) 471-0900 or visit www.oxifresh.com.

3. St. Rita’s Catholic Church hosted the chamber’s Business After Hours Networking Mixer in April. Attendees learned about the new church building that St. Rita’s is planning at Morrison Street and Bardsley Avenue. When all phases are complete, the church will be 23,500 square feet and seat more than 1,500 people. To learn more about the project and how you can help, call (559) 686-3847 or visit www.stritacatholicchurch.com.

4. The Chamber’s Ambassador Team is a dedicated group of individuals who represent their businesses while serving as the extended marketing team for the Tulare Chamber and its members. This win-win program serves both the interests of the chamber and the represented businesses as they collaborate to build a stronger business climate and community.

5. Chavez Web Design partnered with the chamber to present an Internet Marketing Workshop to train attendees in the latest strategies on search engine optimization and how to get more leads from social media postings. Follow the Tulare Chamber on Facebook to learn about upcoming workshops for business.

1

2

3

4 PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE TULARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

5 DIRECT MAGAZINE

27

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

GARDENING HARON PLEIN, UCCE MASTER GARDENER

Plant Winter Squash Now for Fall Harvest Spring planting season is here!

Y

ou and your children are probably eager to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and other vegetables for summer eating. Winter squash may not immediately come to mind when you prepare your garden beds, but it is relatively easy to grow and it is one of the healthiest vegetables you can plant. Winter squash differs from the summer varieties because it has a hard shell and ripens late in the season.

There are many varieties of winter squash, but the butternut squash is one that you should choose for several reasons: • It is rich in vitamins A and C. • It is high in antioxidant carotenoids and potassium.

• It is high in fiber.

• The mature fruit has a hard shell that keeps for months when properly stored.

• It can be prepared many ways and has a delicious flavor that kids will like.

Here is what you will need to get started: • A garden plot that provides at least 6 hours of sunlight.

• A shovel, rake and spade.

• Amendment or compost to add to the soil.

• A package of butternut squash seeds, available at any nursery or hardware store.

• A ruler or tape to measure planting areas for the seeds.

ard H a p py g

ening!

First, cultivate your garden plot and work amendment into the soil. This is great exercise for everyone. Turn the soil with the shovel and rake the soil for a level planting area. You will need a 3-foot square for planting with plenty of room for the squash vines to spread.

Next, sow two or three of the seeds in each planting square and cover with

1 inch of fine soil. Keep the soil evenly moist. The seedlings will emerge in 10 to 14 days.

As the vines begin to spread and set fruit, you will want to carefully move them out of the way of walkways and lawn areas when being mowed. Kids will be amazed to observe how quickly the vines spread. In fact, measuring and charting the vine’s growth is a great family math activity.

Butternut squash matures in approximately 85 days. If you plant the seeds in early May, squash may be ready to harvest in early August. The vines will continue to produce until late in the fall.

When butternut squash are ready to be picked, they will turn a creamy beige color. If the skin has any trace of green, it is not ripe enough. The ripened squash skin will be thick and tough enough that pressure from your fingernails will not break it. Leave a short piece of the stem on the squash when you pick it. Your squash can be used then or stored for months in a cool dry place.

Cutting and peeling the squash can be a challenge because of its dense flesh and tough skin. Be sure to leave this task to an adult. Your family is sure to enjoy a delicious and nutritious vegetable from your OWN family garden.

You won’t regret saving garden space for butternut squash!

Find more information, on the Master Gardener website, http://ucanr.edu/sites/UC_Master_Gardeners/ 28

DIRECT MAGAZINE

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 4 Australian river 5 Levy 6 Corday’s victim 7 Whale’s tidbit 8 ___ Heldenleben 9 Bad poetry 10 White spectral type 11 Academic interruption 12 Preadult 13 ABA member 18 Evoke 22 Rave’s relative 23 Evolved 24 Entertainer 25 Boss Bruce 26 Perches 27 Coat part 29 Irrigate 31 Ventilate 32 Worsted 34 19th cent. French painter 37 Treacle 38 Sicilian province 40 Dawdle 44 Sighting device 45 Tam-tam 47 Takes on 48 Platonic dialogue 49 Grad. school degrees

Spring Into Action

5 0 Woody’s son 51 Gin 54 Mideast gp.

55 Sailor

ACROSS 1 Cord or Reo 5 Enclose 10 Nick and Nora’s pet 14 African village 15 Governor Cuomo 16 Small barracuda 17 Acrobatic feat 19 Waste allowance 2 0 Perfectly 21 Like some enlargements 23 Bull fiddler 27 Realize 28 Royal realm 29 Counsel

30 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 48

A kind of gift Laconic Early French king Hugh Social gathering Sale sign Roadside stop Is wrong Boys no more In mushroom Adroit Unit of work Swan genus Paternal kinsman Young hog Hid

LOOK FOR YOUR ANSWERS IN THE NEXT ISSUE

49 Morning prayer 51 Triplet 52 Rabbit or Fox 53 Youth

56 Dockworker’s org.

57 Car-floor covering 58 Important period TIMELY THEME - APR. ISSUE

59 Toward shelter 60 Jubilate 61 Controversial pesticide 62 ___ and Lovers Lawrence 63 Profound sleep 64 Polynesian chestnut DOWN 1 Ski wood 2 Ms. Hagen 3 Whip DIRECT MAGAZINE

29

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

GOINGS-ON State of the City Luncheon The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is preparing for the State of the City Luncheon. There will be an update from Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones, State of the County address by Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, and State of the State addresses by Assemblyman Devon Mathis and state Sen. Jean Fuller.

When: Friday, May 11, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Where: Edison Energy Education Center, 4175 S. Laspina Ave., Tulare Contact: Tickets available at www.tularechamber.org or by calling (559) 686-1547

CASA of Tulare County presents Once Upon a Dream Join us for a semi-formal fundraising event to support volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children of Tulare County. No-host bar, and silent and live auctions. $175 per person; $1,500 for reserved table of eight.

When: May 11, 5:45 p.m.-1 a.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: CASA of Tulare County, (559) 625-4007, JoAnn Bol, (559) 288-6911, joann@casatulareco.org

30

DIRECT MAGAZINE

41st annual Armenian Mother’s Day Tea Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate our moms. Come enjoy the food, music, friends and fellowship. Finger sandwiches, scones and tea will be served. Entertainment will be provided

by Linda Dunn on the harp and the Grace Lutheran Choir. Espi’s Kids will host a children’s fashion show. Tickets $15 per person and can be purchased at Grace Lutheran Church office, 1111 S. Conyer St., Visalia.

When: May 12, 1-3 p.m.

Where: Grace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1111 S. Conyer St., Visalia Contact: Carole Sell, (559) 623-9588, delaine6255@sbcglobal.net Redbud Arts and Crafts Festival The Arts Alliance of Three Rivers is continuing this great Three Rivers tradition, showcasing some of the best regional artists and crafters as well as artisans who travel from all over for the show. This year, there will be a variety of musical entertainment and makeand-take projects for kids of all ages.

The Redbud Arts and Crafts Festival offers everyone an opportunity to enjoy the arts in Three Rivers’ unique and beautiful setting. Proceeds go to scholarships for local art students and to support art-related events in Three Rivers.

When: May 12-13 Where: Three Rivers Memorial Building, 43490 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers Contact: redbudfestival@gmail.com, (559) 799-1473

Kids Cook Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet Kids always love to cook for mom on Mother’s Day, so let’s give them the time and place to do it where mom doesn’t have to clean. This is a great chance for dads to cook with their little ones. All ingredients will be provided and Mom is welcome to join at 10:30 a.m., when the food is done.

When: May 13, 8:30-10 a.m.

Where: FoodLink Tulare County, 611 Second St., Exeter Contact: FoodLink Tulare County, (559) 651-3663 ‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941) CHOICES presents “The Maltese Falcon.”

In this 1941 noir classic, detective Sam Spade gets more than he bargained for when he takes a case brought to him by a beautiful but secretive woman. As soon as Miss Wonderly shows up, Sam’s partner is murdered and Sam is accosted by a man demanding that he locate a valuable statuette. Sam soon realizes he must find the one thing they all seem to want: the bejeweled Maltese falcon. Tickets: $5.

When: May 16, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St, Visalia Contact: (559) 625-1369, foxvisalia.org Food Festival Join us for lunch and/or dinner to enjoy a taste of Armenia. You can choose to dine in, take out or drivethru. The menu includes a choice of lulu or chicken kebab, pilaf, salad, peda bread and bourma. The price is $15 and tickets can be purchased at the event. Also available will be a variety of pastries and grape-leaf sarma. Proceeds support the St. Mary Armenian Church of Yettem.

When: May 17, lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., dinner: 5-8 p.m.

Where: The Visalia Elks Lodge, 3100 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: (559) 733-8741

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

Downtown Car Show The event is sponsored by the Visalia Breakfast Lions Club. Cars can be viewed on Main Street between Willis and Bridge streets. Free to the public.

Boy Scout Troop 310 will have a pancake breakfast on Main from 7:30-10 a.m.

When: May 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: VisaliaBreakfastLions.org

Old Time Jubilee The Friends of Allensworth provide a family festival atmosphere with entertainment featuring gospel, jazz and drama, and activities for children.

In addition to the free self-paced tours of the historic buildings, you can talk to some of the original pioneers and their heirs, shop at the open-air arts and crafts market and a variety of ethnic foods.

When: May 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Allensworth Contact: Friends of Allensworth, (877) 245-6232, info@friendsofallensworth.org Concert in the Park Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy this free public event.

When: May 23, 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: Zumwalt Park, 400 E. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: Tulare City Council, (559) 685-2300

Walk for Wellness Anyone who likes to walk or run with a purpose will enjoy participating in the Walk for Wellness 5K. This event features educational booths outlining Kaweah Delta Mental Health’s hospital services and providing insight on both the journey to recovery and support services available to family members coping with mental illness.

When: May 19, 7:45-11 a.m.

Where: Kaweah Delta Dialysis Center grass area, 5040 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia Contact: Kaweah Delta Dialysis Center, (559) 624-3600.

Kaweah Delta Hospital Guild Scrub and Shoe Sale Scrub and Shoe Sale is presented by Scrubs and Beyond.

When: May 23, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 24, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Medical Center Blue Room (basement), 400 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia Contact: www.kaweahdelta.org/calendar Imperial Dove Court de Fresno presents Coronation XLV Come out and dress in Super Marioinspired costumes, dresses and suits to celebrate the end of Emperor XLIV Agent O’s reign and the crowning of the newest monarchs to the Imperial Dove Court de Fresno. Tickets: $15-$500.

When: May 25-27 Where: Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, 17225 Jersey Ave., Lemoore Contact: Imperial Dove Court de Fresno, (559) 473-9546

Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour Formed in 1968, Jethro Tull has released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies worldwide. In its 50-year history, the band has performed more than 3,000 concerts in more than 50 countries. Tickets: $55-$100. Get tickets by searching "Jethro Tull" at ticketfly.com When: June 5, 7:30-p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: (559) 625-1369, foxvisalia.org Power of the Purse The Power of the Purse is a signature fundraising event of United Way Women’s Leadership Councils nationwide.

Individual tickets: $75.The Power of the Purse will fund the Literacy Project of United Way of Tulare County.

When: June 8, 7-9 a.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: Power of the Purse-Tulare County, https://www.facebook.com/ PowerPurseTC/.

Mariachi Los Camperos at the Visalia Fox J Guzman Entertainment and Mariachi Sun Foundation present two-time Grammy Award winner Mariachi Los Camperos, which has performed for more than 55 years on stage and television.

The ensemble has recorded more than 16 albums. Tickets: $25-$49.

When: June 9, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: (559) 625-1369

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. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions must be received six (6) weeks before publication.

DIRECT MAGAZINE

31

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

WARREN REPORTS TEXT BY WARREN GUBLER, VISALIA MAYOR

Quiet Progress

volunteers and the Parks and Recreation Department for making this event a repeat success.

D

uring the first few months of 2018, the city of Visalia has been involved in a number of substantial matters that don't always appear in the local press. That is why I write this monthly article to keep you informed. While other towns and governing boards seem to be filling the printed page lately, Visalia and our City Council continue to quietly make progress and serve our residents. The following are a number of recent items that you might find interesting: Visalia Senior Games The third annual Visalia Senior Games were again a success. We had 520 participants, with 111 coming from Visalia, 287 from our region (Madera County to Kern County), and others from various parts of California, together with four competitors from Texas, Oregon, Washington and Arizona.

Local retired businessman Don Overstreet, a golfer, gets the award for being the oldest participant this year at age 91. I enjoyed shedding about 10 pounds in training for the games, and did well in the shot put and triple jump events. City Councilman Greg Collins competed in various swimming events.

The largest competition was again in pickleball, which had a record 136 participants, with 100 participants in softball, 54 in track and field, and 38 in swimming.

A special thanks goes to Jostens, which again donated the cost of our printed program.

Other senior games will be hosted from April through September 2018 in the Bay Area, Pasadena, the Sonoma wine country, San Diego and the Inland Empire.

If you didn't join with us this year, make 2019 the year that you get off the couch, turn off the TV and get back into shape. Thanks also to our community 32

DIRECT MAGAZINE

Convention and Visitors Bureau We recently received a report from our CVB. In 2017, the actualized economic impact of tourism in Visalia was $7.1 million relating to Convention Center conferences. Attendees at these events average 3.1 nights of hotel stay here. Additionally, this resulted in 8,621 hotel/motel room nights, up 46.8 percent from 2016.

The types of organizations that book our Convention Center include religious (e.g., Great Western Fan Fest, Time Out for Women), sports (high school girls wrestling state finals) and fraternal (Order of the Eastern Star).

The Convention Center’s 2018 calendar is quickly filling up. New groups for 2018 include a YMCA conference, the California Superintendents Association, the Diocese of Fresno and the Department of Corrections.

The transient occupancy tax collected by these hotel stays has increased from $1.8 million in 2011 to $2.6 million in 2017.

For those of you who have attended conventions in big cities, you know how frenzied and rushed those can feel, particularly when dealing with rush-hour traffic, crowds and just getting around town for various events. I believe that more and more small and mid-sized conventions are looking for communities such as Visalia, which has a beautiful Convention Center and wonderful amenities, without losing that small-town feel.

Financial Report Update Soon the City Council will start crunching numbers and reviewing programs to come up with a new

two-year budget beginning July 1, 2018.

The City Council recently reviewed our progress for budget year 2017-18. If projections hold true, it is anticipated that at the end of this fiscal year, we will have a $4,407,965.00 budget surplus!

This surplus is the result of revenues being up from what we budgeted by $2.8 million and expenditures being less than we anticipated by $2.2 million.

Sales taxes revenues were up 2.5 percent and property tax revenues by the same amount. Our emergency reserves will increase to $14.9 million by the end of this budget cycle, which equals 25 percent of operating expenditures.

The City Council adopted a policy that all surpluses are first to be deposited into reserves to maintain our emergency reserves at 25 percent of operating expenditures. Any remaining surplus then will be deposited into the Civic Center Reserve Fund for future purposes.

However, not everything in the report was rosy. There are some signs of an economic slowdown, in that building permits are down over prior years, and that houses are remaining on the market longer. Additionally, the city's contribution to our employees' retirement system will increase annually by about $1 million over the next several years. Depending on whether there is an economic downturn, it may be much more difficult for future city councils to balance the budget.

St. Paddy’s Day Parade Kudos to our local Breakfast Lions Club for putting on the biggest and best Visalia St. Paddy's Day Parade yet! This year, there were 66 entries. My wife and I were in the parade again this year, and it was obvious to us that the crowds were the largest that we've seen.

My next MEET THE MAYOR office hours will be May 10. Call (559) 713-4535 for an appointment.

If you have questions or topics regarding the city that you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email me at warren.gubler@ visalia.city. For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR HIT A HOME RUN WITH OUR BREAST AUGMENTATION SPECIAL

4500

$

LIMITED TIME OFFER

All surgeries are performed by a BOARD-CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON, in an ACCREDITED SURGICAL CENTER and with the support of CERTIFIED ANESTHESIA PROVIDERS.

model

Face + Neck Lifts

| Liposuction | Tummy Tucks | Breast Lift | Nose | Eyelids MICHAEL B. STEVENS MD, PhD, FACS BOARD CERTIFIED PL ASTIC SURGEON P R I VAT E A C C R E D I T E D S U R G E R Y C E N T E R LOC ATIONS IN VISALIA + BE VERLY HILL S

5 5 9. 6 2 5 . 8 6 3 6 F ac ebook.c om / Mic h aelB S teven s MD

Know your surgeon, know your procedure. Dr. Stevens personally performs your entire surgical procedure.

Mother’s Day with Sheri Rose Shepherd

ALL WEEKEND SERVICES May 12 5pm // May 13 9am 10:45am 12:30pm

May 14 7pm

Cost: $15

Tickets: www.visaliafirst.com/events

3737 S. AKERS ST.

VISALIA, CA

WWW.VISALIAFIRST.COM

93277