CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — THE HEART OF THE SOUTH VALLEY
MAGAZINE
17th Annual
LifeWALK April 14
Well, THAT WAS FUN
The Life Fantastic
VIRTUAL VALLEY The Publishing Revolution:
Create Your Own E-Book MARCH
ECRWSS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER LOCAL
PRESRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ONTARIO, CA PERMIT #1
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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 post-graduate education and experience allows us to complete virtually all phases of your dental treatment under one roof ie. 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)
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
LOSE UP TO 20 LBS IN 30 DAYS For Men & Women! 2 PROGRAMS TO CHOOSE FROM HCG WEIGHT MANAGEMENT RAPID LEANING PROGRAM
TAKE OFF
One Month Weight-loss before
after
WHAT DIETING WON’T (4 weeks post SmartLipo procedure. Actual Patient of Dr. André Edmonds) The FDA approved this laser-assisted liposis procedure for eliminating areas of unwanted fat while tightening and increasing elasticity.
4037 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, California
Tiffany Smith-Edmonds, CEO, Spa Director Dr. André P. Edmonds, BSc, MD, CM, FRCS(C), FICS, FACS, FAAOS, Medical Director The spa and salon are open Monday, 9a.m. - 6p.m. Tuesday–Friday, 9a.m. – 7p.m. Saturday, 9a.m. – 5p.m.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
INSIDE MARCH 2012 PU BLI S H E D BY
DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ADMINI ST RAT I ON & E DI TO RI AL
Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Operations Manager MARIA GASTON Marketing Specialist Kyndal Kennedy
6 17th Annual
LifeWALK Proceeds Benefit
Tulare-Kings Right to Life Programs
ART DI RECTO R
10 Virtual Valley
The Publishing Revolution: Create Your Own E-Book
ROSS YUKAWA
13 Excursion
S EN IO R G RAPH I C DE S I G NE R
Bicycle Trails & Paths
CHRIS BLY ADVERT I S I NG SALE S
Advertising Director Bridget Elmore 559.739.1747 SALES O FF I C E
801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • fax 559.738.0909 email: direct@dmiagency.com BUS INE S S M ANAG E M E N T
Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JeffREy Malkasian EA
14 Culinary Dessert Calzone
16 Well, THAT Was Fun The Life Fantastic
18 Yom HaShoah The Courage To Remember
24 Thriving Under Thirty Rosalinda Verde
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 © 2012 DMI Agency
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21 Focus on Fitness 22 VUSD 26 Fashion 28 Education 30 Goings-On 32 Warren Reports
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Andy Salazar CRAIG WHEATON CRYSTAL R. R. EDWARDS C. S. WYATT ELAINE DAKESSIAN KYNDAL KENNEDY SHARON MOSLEY WARREN GUBLER
12 Pet of the Month
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
GET RID OF YOUR
“TURKEY NECK” “1 Hour Neck Lift” “1 Hour Mid-Face Lift” All services are performed in a luxury, medispa setting, and require only: Local anesthesia Very little social downtime The procedures provide long-lasting results at a fraction of the cost of traditional procedures.
after
before
Other Services
1 week post operation. Actual patient of Dr. André Edmonds
Lateral Brow Lift Botox® Juvederm® Laser Hair Removal
Smart Lipo® Endermology Teeth Whitening Acne Treatments
Laser Vein Therapy Weight-loss Injections Mole Removal Pearl® & Pearl® Fractional
4037 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, California
Tiffany Smith-Edmonds, CEO, Spa Director Dr. André P. Edmonds, BSc, MD, CM, FRCS(C), FICS, FACS, FAAOS, Medical Director The spa and salon are open Monday, 9a.m - 6p.m. Tuesday–Friday, 9a.m. – 7p.m. Saturday, 9a.m. – 5p.m.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
17th Annual LifeWALK Tex t and Photos by Tul are-Kings Right to Life
It’s easy! It’s fun! And anyone can do it!
Get your friends, relatives and neighbors to support you with a single gift, and we’ll take care of everything else, including collecting your pledges. Raise $150 in sponsor pledges and receive a FREE LifeWALK T-shirt. Raise the most in pledges and earn a 7-Day Mexican Riviera Cruise for Two! This 2-mile walk should take less than 90 minutes of your time, but its effect could literally last a lifetime. TO PARTICIPATE Pick up a Sponsor Pledge Form at your church, download one at www.tkrl.org, call 732-5000, or register online and get your feet walking for life! CORPORATE SPONSORS: Byron Fox Farming • Tiemersma Dairy • Cardoza Co. Machado Hay Co. • Roche Oil • Moonlight Maintenance Service Redi-Rooter Plumbing, Inc. • The Cruise Experts Agency Cal Bennetts Office Furnishing Planning & Design 6
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
LifeWALK proceeds benefit Tulare-Kings Right to Life programs For many years, the Board of Tulare-Kings Right to Life had realized a need for a pro-life outreach in the local Latino community. Their vision became a reality when Executive Director April Kesterson hired Maricela Lupercio to head Latinos4Life in February of 2006. Since then, Maricela has worked tirelessly to promote life and end abortions within her community, helping to promote family values while discussing such issues as teen pregnancy, STD's, abortion and prenatal development. “The inspiration came mostly from my personal experience growing up in a small town and being part of a traditional Hispanic household. I was raised by strict religious parents and although I had a great family, our lack of communication about topics such as sex, drugs and alcohol certainly played a part in my ‘straying’ all those years in high school. “At the age of 14 I began making poor and uniformed choices that quickly ruined my high school experience. The loss of my innocence, stress and drama played the lead role in
the destruction of my grades and family life. I look back on those years as one of the most difficult times in my life, yet I feel blessed to now be able to share my hard-learned lessons and hopefully can save many teens and families from dealing with the same issues,” Lupercio said. She actively does presentations at community events, classrooms and churches. Because the topic of sex is taboo in many Hispanic families, she believes she is providing an invaluable service to those in her community that really need it. “Some parents do not feel equipped and may feel uncomfortable and embarrassed to talk to their children about these issues. In my presentations, simple and basic facts about the physical and emotional consequences of sex are given, honestly, and with no reservations,” she said. “The main goal is to inspire young people to go against the raging current and turn back to their familial roots of faith and family.” DIRECT MAGAZINE
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
17th Annual LifeWALK
While Lupercio’s heart is invested in the Pro-Life topic as a whole, she works primarily with Latinos because she says being bilingual makes her more accessible. “My heart and passion, though, lies with young people in the Hispanic community, mostly because they can relate almost exactly to my experience,” Lupercio said. Since Latinos4Life’s inception there have been many success stories that validate the group’s mission. Numerous teenage girls have taken vows of chastity before marriage after hearing the presentation. A young man from Farmersville was able to finally speak out over the grief he had in not being able to have a say in the termination of his girlfriend’s pregnancy. A grandmother saved the life of her great-grandchild by simply giving reading material to her granddaughter who was contemplating abortion.
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“During a presentation at a church in Cutler, a mother told the class that she had been pressuring her 15-year-old son and his girlfriend to have an abortion. She was in tears by the end of my presentation and said she had no clue what this would do to all three of them. She was eternally grateful for having heard the information at the right time,” Lupercio said. The success of the organization can only go so far without more volunteers. They have a need for people with passion and moral conviction to get trained and start giving presentations and assisting in outreach events. Help can also be given by simply spreading the word of what Latinos4Life does. Since the group is non-profit, all of the materials and presentations are given free of charge. Community financial contributions would also greatly help them continue this service. “In the six years I’ve been at Tulare-Kings Right to Life,
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about the effects pre-marital sex and abortions have on young people and families today. I have met many men and women of various ages who have been greatly impacted by these experiences.” she said. Lupercio has also seen growth in her own personal life through her husband and three children. She says the knowledge they have gained and the people they have met have given them a love for her work. Through helping they have learned, firsthand, that human life is precious. “I have gained a sense of peace and contentment in the midst of a chaotic world, knowing that no effort to reach a young person or family with the message of life and love will ever be in vain,” she said.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
VIRTUAL VALLEY The Publishing Revolution:
Create Your Own E-Book Publish your book this year! Only a few years ago, “vanity presses” used such pitches to appeal to aspiring writers. For a fee, the vanity publishers would convert your manuscript into a reasonably nice book. Vanity publishers are nothing more than print brokers. Using a vanity publisher was expensive, but for some aspiring writers it was their last option. Many writers ended up with boxes of books in their garages and attics. Yet, I am writing this column to tell you that it is time to publish your book. Forget the vanity publishers and the small publishers that pass along many of the costs to writers. Publish your book as an e-book. It will cost you little (or nothing) and if you discover the book is popular, then you can consider an oldfashioned paper and ink book. Even writers with proven track records are leaving the traditional New York publishing houses behind to self-publish e-book editions of short stories and other works that the large publishers would rather skip. Publishing an e-book involves the following steps: • Writing the book; • Editing the book; • Designing cover art; • Compiling an ePub file; and • Uploading the book to a website. I encourage writers to use Microsoft Word for composing manuscripts because it is the industry standard. Most professional editors rely on Microsoft Word and its revision tools. I know many writers don’t believe they need an editor, but I am convinced we always benefit from an outside reader. My wife and I provide editing and consulting services, but I never edit my own writing. When you have written something, you tend to overlook minor mistakes. Before creating an ePub document, you should be aware of the limitations of e-books and e-readers. Do not waste time specifying fonts or sizes when preparing an ePub for online bookstores. Most e-readers, including the Barnes and Noble
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Nook and the Amazon Kindle, have only a few typefaces. The fonts on each reader differ, too. Focus your time and energy on the writing and editing of your book. The way e-readers work, the user selects a typeface and size. When the user changes a font, the page count and layout change. Designers hate this, but remember that every device has a different screen size and resolution. Many devices don’t even support color. There are several word processing and design programs that can export or “save as” ePub. Adobe InDesign, Apple Pages, QuarkXPress, and Scrivener directly support the ePub 2.0 standard. These programs can import Word files, making it easy to move your edited manuscript into these applications. Personally, I discourage the use of InDesign and QuarkXPress because these applications create huge ePub files that often fail to work on all devices. These applications were meant to help create print publications and near-perfect PDF layouts. What looks great on a full-size computer screen is often unreadable on an e-reader or similar device. Some people assume the new Apple iBooks Author application supports the ePub 2.0 standard, which would permit the creation of e-books for non-Apple bookstores. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While based on the ePub 3 standard, iBooks format includes many Apple-only features. You should consider Apple iBooks Author only if you are creating a book specifically for the iPad and not other e-readers, such as the Nook or Kindle. I am using iBooks Author to create custom textbooks with illustrations for some clients. It is not the best tool for a text-based novel. The Apple Pages application works better for text-centric books. If you do not own one of the commercial ePub creators, you can download the free open source ePub editor Sigil. A “sigil” is a personal or magical symbol, often used on wax seals. The Sigil application is a complete ePub editor. I recommend Sigil to everyone interested in ePub creation and editing. After creating any ePub, I open it in Sigil to test the document. You can use Sigil to write, edit and generate ePub files. Also, you can open any properly formatted ePub file in Sigil. If Sigil fails to open a file, the file is likely not properly formatted and fails the ePub 2.0 validation check. Many people use nothing but Sigil, from start to finish, to create ePub files. Your edited book now needs a cover. I encourage authors to hire a good artist for cover design. Again, there are limitations. The images should be in JPEG format, highly compressed. The images must also be smaller than 500 pixels wide by 600 pixels tall. Remember, e-reader
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Tex t by C. S. Wyat t
screens are small. Another complication: the earliest Kindle models, which are still popular, only support four shades of gray. If the art doesn’t look good in both color and monochrome versions, the book might not sell. Once you have cover art, place it at the beginning of your ePub document. Save the document and it is almost ready to upload to bookstores. You only need one ePub document because it is an international standard. Thankfully, even Amazon allows you to upload an ePub, though Amazon does convert the file to a Kindle-only format. Before you can upload a book to an online bookstore, you will need to create an account. There is a list of links at the end of this column. Read each bookstore’s policies and procedures. After creating your account with a bookstore, it might take a few days to activate. When I created my Barnes and Nobel account, it took more than a week to receive an e-mail indicating the account was ready. Amazon took four days to create my publishing account.
Once the booksellers notified me that my account was active, I uploaded an ePub to each store. Within two days, my book was listed right alongside the books of better-known authors. I’m still pleasantly surprised by how many copies are sold daily. My self-published books won’t make me rich, but they do buy a nice dinner or two each month. The website for the Sigil ePub editor: http://code.google.com/p/sigil/ E-Book Publishing Options Amazon Kindle Direct: https://kdp.amazon.com/ Apple iBooks Author: http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/ Barnes and Noble PubIt! Direct: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/ Smashwords Author Program: http://www.smashwords.com/
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
PET MONTH of the
Meet Rolly: A 2-year-old male Shepherd mix. Rolly is a sweet gentle giant, loves people and loves to play. People who play with their dog, stay with their dog. When people and their dogs do things together it is good news all around. Activities provide the structure that helps owners learn to better communicate with their dogs. The dogs have a better opportunity to learn good manners, which makes them easier to live with and less likely to be given up/surrendered to shelters. A wonderful benefit is that these activities can be a positive mental boost for humans and dogs alike. Candy and Rolly are examples of breeds that love walking and activities. Daylight Savings time begins this month, allowing more time to enjoy the outdoors. Get out and play – you and your dog will be glad you did! Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 21, at Plaza Park in Visalia for Walk-A-Dog-A-Thon. The walk is fun for all ages and one of Valley Oak SPCA’s major fundraising events. This event features a 3-mile walk, vendors, doggie contests, raffle drawing, and awards for the top fundraisers in the Youth, Teen, Adult and Team categories. Put together a team and get creative with your fundraising. Join us as we WALK this year because together we can save lives!
Valley Oak SPCA 29016 Highway 99 Visalia, CA 93277 Monday-Saturday, 9a - 5p General Info: (559) 651-1111 Lost Pet Hotline: (559) 713-4700 Valley Oak SPCA is a nonprofit organization, Tax ID #94-2770238. We do not receive donations through ASPCA or HSUS. To view profiles of our adoptable animals and help us save more lives, visit us online at: www.vospca.org www.petfinder.com www.facebook.com/ValleyOakSPCA
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Meet Candy: A 1-year-old spayed female, Shepherd/Terrier mix. Candy was adopted and recently returned/surrendered by her owner who claimed they did not have time for her. She loves children; is playful and very friendly.
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
EXCURSION Bicycle Trails & Paths The weather has been so nice lately; being outdoors has been a lot easier to brave this winter than winters past. For this reason, getting out in the fresh air, doing something we all learned to do when we were young is the perfect activity for this month’s local adventure. Taking a ride on a bicycle is a great way to experience our city and its surrounding views from the vantage point of a window-free bicycle seat. Why not bring out the old beach cruiser, road bike or mountain bike and go for a ride! Instead of running some of your errands by car, map out a route for you and a friend to take by bike and spend the day getting things done, exercising and doing a fun activity all at once. If many of your errands are in the Downtown area of Visalia, spending a couple hours shopping, eating, drinking, and biking to and from makes for a great weekend afternoon. Don’t just stop there; make a trip around town if you have the time. There are many bike paths throughout Visalia to explore. In fact, Visalia Parks and Recreation has created a Bicycle Map* indicating where each path is located. The map also designates the paths with different demarcations such as “bike paths,” “bike routes,” “shared use paths,” “shared use sidewalks,” and “bike rider recommended” routes. Each one of these has the capability of taking the rider to the very north, south, east and west of the city. Many of these also take the rider through the numerous parks in town. Stopping off at one of the parks with a sack lunch, and perhaps a baseball and glove, can make for another memorable day. Simply fill up a backpack, grab a helmet and hit the road. Another way to spend time on two wheels is by following a bike trail. Tulare is home to the Santa Fe Trail.** The 4.5-mile trail extends east to west across the central portion of Tulare, connecting residential areas at each end with the downtown commercial area. The Tulare Santa Fe Trail occupies a wide corridor, with newly planted trees and landscaping, separate biking and equestrian components, trail lighting in the central business area, distance markings each mile, and multiple rest stops featuring benches and drinking fountains – making it many bike riders’ ideal place to get in exercise and enjoy the outdoors safely.
So, next time you are sitting at home, wondering what to do for the day, take a cue from your childhood and get back up on your bike for an adventure you make for yourself – pedal by pedal. * Visalia’s Bicycle Map: www.ci.visalia.ca.us/depts/parks_n_recreation/waterways_n_trails_/ ** Tulare Santa Fe Trail: www.tulareparksandrec.com
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
CULINARY Recipe by Elaine Dakessian
Dessert Calzone Dough Ingredients: 1 1/2 C warm water, 100 to 110 degrees F, plus extra as needed 1 (1/4-oz) packet active dry yeast 5 C all-purpose flour, plus extra as needed 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt Olive oil, for drizzling Dough Directions: Put the water in a small bowl. Add the yeast and stir until dissolved. In a large bowl, whisk the flour and salt together. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add a little extra water, one tablespoon at a time. If the dough is too sticky, add extra flour, one tablespoon at a time. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface. With floured hands, knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drizzle the inside of a clean bowl with olive oil. Put the dough in the bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Set the bowl in a warm, draft-free place, until the dough has doubled in size, about two hours. Using a fist, deflate the dough in the center and cut it into three equal-sized pieces. Form the dough pieces into three balls and put into three oiled bowls. Cover each bowl loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let rest for one hour. Remove the dough and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for up to one day. Filling Ingredients: 3/4 C whole milk ricotta cheese 1/4 C mascarpone cheese 1 large egg yolk 2 T powdered sugar, plus more for dusting 8 oz fresh raspberries 2 T sugar 2/3 C chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella), at room temperature 3 T whipping cream, at room temperature 6 (2-oz) pieces homemade or purchased pizza dough, cold 1 large egg, beaten to blend
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Filling Directions: Blend the ricotta, mascarpone, egg yolk, and powdered sugar in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Transfer the ricotta mixture to a small bowl, then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, blend the raspberries and one tablespoon of sugar in a clean food processor until smooth. Transfer the raspberry sauce to a small bowl and set aside. Whisk the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a medium bowl to blend. Position the oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out each piece of pizza dough into a seven-inchdiameter round. Spoon the ricotta mixture atop the center of the lower half of each pizza dough. Spoon the chocolate-hazelnut mixture atop the cheese mixture. Brush the lower edges of the dough with egg wash. Fold the plain dough halves over the filling, forming half circles. Pinch the edges of dough firmly together to seal. Using a pastry wheel, trim the edges. Transfer the calzones to the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Brush the tops of the calzones with more egg wash. Bake until the calzones puff and become golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack and cool for 15 minutes. Transfer the calzones to plates and dust with the powdered sugar. Drizzle the raspberry sauce around the calzones and serve.
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
VISALIA FIRST ASSEMBLY When is Easter? Easter doesn’t fall on the same date every year like some other holidays. We know that every year December 25 is going to be Christmas, regardless of the day it falls on; Veteran’s Day is November 11, and Independence Day is July 4. But Easter ... it changes from year to year. It may be late March one year, and early or late April the following year, and then the next year it changes again! Change … that is kind of like our lives, isn’t it? One year you may be having a banner year and everything is coming up roses, and the next you’re wondering how you’re going to make your mortgage payment. Easter is a great time of year to evaluate where you’re at on this journey called LIFE. As the spring flowers start to push up through the ground, there is a
"A Church for the Community"
newness, a rebirthing that takes place in nature. Our lives can also go through a renewing process as well. Mike and Karen Robertson, lead pastors at Visalia First Assembly, issue a challenge to people all the time: Give us a year of your life and you can expect your life to change! “We have had people write us who have accepted the challenge!” Pastor Karen stated. One man wrote, “When Pastor Mike challenged me in his sermon to expect my life to change in a year, I was very skeptical, but I decided I’d see for myself. It didn’t even take one year! I rededicated my life to God, got into a men’s Bible study, and went to church on the weekends. It’s hard to put into words how much God has blessed my family and me. I feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life!”
“This year, Easter weekend is April 7-8,” Pastor Mike stated, “We’re going to have a wonderful time celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the grave so that we can experience eternal life, and we hope that people will join us at one of our five special Easter services: Saturday at 5 p.m., or Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. You, too, can expect your life to change!” Visalia First Assembly SW Corner/Akers @ Caldwell Current Weekend Experiences: Saturdays • 5 p.m. Sundays • 8, 9:45 & 11:30 a.m. Spanish Service • 12:30 p.m. (Walnut Campus | Walnut & Demaree) (559) 733-9070 | v1ag.com
New Look. Same Red Cross. March is Red Cross Month, and this year the Central Valley Region celebrates 95 years of providing hope and relief to our friends, families and neighbors. Join us. You can make all the difference. It’s easy to get involved. Ask. Volunteer. Prepare. Partner. Give. 505 W Main Street, Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 732-6436 American Red Cross Central Valley Region
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Well, THAT WAS FUN The Life Fantastic I roll over and slap at my alarm clock, the third time I’ve hit snooze since 5:45. Donald rolls over and grunts. The cat, dislodged by the objectionable maneuverings of the humans, stands and arches her back, then begins to knead my hip. Another day has arrived. Another day to struggle through. I push the cat aside and sit up. Dovhai Amhran awoke before the dawning sun broke through the morning clouds. In all her years, the sun had yet to beat her in the race to begin the day. Her long elven ears caught the morning song of the birds who wheeled and flitted between the uppermost branches of the ancient fir trees. She wanted to stay and listen and greet the new day with them, joining in their song, but she had to break camp and leave. She had a message to deliver. The future of the realm was at stake. I shuffle out to the coffee pot and dump yesterday’s grounds into the compost bin. As the empty carafe slowly fills under my low-pressure faucet, I walk to the pantry and get out a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, three bowls, three spoons, and the milk. I hear the children overhead, thumping and grousing in their rooms as they struggle to get dressed. I call up to them to let them know breakfast is ready. They collide on the top step, creating an argument that carries them down to the dining room table. The dog whines to go out. Dovhai gave a light, low whistle, summoning her horse out of the surrounding mist. His white form detached from the fog as he stepped quietly toward her. She lifted her pack and he lowered his head, waiting patiently for her to drape it over his back. She had no need of a saddle, nor reins. She deftly jumped atop his strong back and whispered a single word. His head lifted and he whickered. She leaned forward, urging him ever-faster down the long, narrow trail that twisted through the giant firs. Donald appears from the bedroom, showered and dressed. I try to smooth my hair down, hoping he won’t notice I forgot to brush it. He drops a kiss on each child’s head, giving a benediction of sorts and cautions to do their best today. He kisses me with a loud smack, then swats my bottom. We all tumble out the front door, surprisingly on time. The kids fling themselves into the van, arguing over who gets to sit in the captain’s chairs. I start the car and reach over to turn on the music player. The sound of Kidz Bop 21 fills the vehicle. We’re on our way to school. The leather satchel Dovhai wore across her body slapped her hip in counterpoint to the tattoo of hoof beats. The message it contained was life and death, victory and failure, glory and 16
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horror. The King was dying. The nobles were scrambling to position themselves and gain as much power as possible before the kingdom came crashing down. As a result, civil war was looming just as the King’s enemies in neighboring lands were gathering their armies at the borders. I return home and settle in to work. I become so engrossed in what I am doing that I fail to remember that Birdie Sue’s school is holding an award ceremony today at 11:30. Sure, it’s only to reward the kids for math or music or outstanding pencil sharpening, but I had promised to be there. My phone beeps with an appointment reminder, and I panic. 11:20. I jump up from my desk, snag my purse, and run for the front door. Not enough time. The Princess Ralira needed help to calm the kingdom and ensure its survival. Everything required for government stability and the nation’s safety was written on a folded square of parchment, carried in Dovhai’s leather satchel, but it was useless if it didn’t reach the Princess in time. The lords had called for a meeting today in the great hall of the King’s fortress at Strochel. The message had to reach Princess Ralira before then. I need more time, Dovhai thought. Her head dipped in exhaustion, and she rested her brow against the heaving neck of her mount. She had been riding for three days, with only a few hours’ pause to make camp and sleep lightly. The midday sun sliced down. Not enough time. The school is only two blocks away, but parking there is horrible and the lot appears to be full. I glance at the
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Tex t by Crystal R. R. Edwards
dashboard clock. 11:26. At that point, my only option is to park out on the street then run across the campus to the cafeteria doors. This might work, except I have a long-held policy against running in public. I come to the end of the last parking aisle and swear. I wrench the steering wheel around and point the nose of the van to the vacant sports fields. I send up a small prayer that my old softball coach isn’t watching from Heaven. I take a deep breath, then push on the gas pedal. The van’s body creaks as the tires inch up over the concrete then sink down onto the soft, rain-soaked grass on the other side. I complete the parking maneuver, grab my purse, and launch myself out of the door with one last glance at the dash. 11:29. Personal policies be darned. I run. The courtyard of the Fortress of Strochel was packed, crowded with horses and carriages. It was too late, too late. The nobles were here, probably demanding answers and insisting Ralira stand aside. Dovhai turned her exhausted horse toward the castle’s forbidding entranceway. “I’m sorry,” she breathed to her horse. “We need to go a little further, then you can rest.” The horse coughed and tossed its head, angrily lifting its forelegs as if to rear and dump its rider. Dovhai’s heels kicked its heaving sides. The horse started running, past the carriages and across the space before the dark stone steps climbing up to the castle’s iron-banded doors that led into the great hall. I reach the metal double doors and, panting, slide inside to stand at the back of the assembled parents and grandparents. Birdie Sue’s class is seated up front, on the floor. All of the children are facing forward. I’m too late, too late, I think. She’s looked for me and missed me. A small, bright face turns to look at the back of the room. Dovhai’s horse clattered into the great hall, scattering robed and jeweled men out of its way. Ralira, standing on the dais and pressed in by three frowning men, turned to look at the loud intrusion with worried eyes. Dovhai’s hand dropped to her side
and felt around in the satchel. She raised her arm defiantly, the message grasped in her gloved fist so Ralira could see it over the crowd. “I am here with a message,” Dovhai said in a loud strong voice. I stretch my arm over my head in a determined wave. I am here, I think. I made it. Birdie Sue meets my eyes with a steady look, and then smiles. Her small hand rises from between the wiggling bodies of classmates to wave back. The principal turns the microphone on and taps it. Sound crackles from the poor speakers in the cafeteria. “Well, let’s get started,” he drawls. He unfolds a piece of paper and begins to read aloud from it. Ralira’s face melted into a smile as she gracefully stretched a hand out to receive the letter. The men near her turned and walked down the dais steps to rejoin their colleagues and rivals in the center of the hall. Ralira unfolded the paper and began to read silently. She then folded the paper over once more and looked across the heads of the most powerful men in the kingdom, across all of the lords and leaders of great families whose help she would need. She looked directly into Dovhai’s eyes, then took a deep breath. “My lords,” she said. Her voice was young, small, but steady. Silence fell across the hall as every man, old and young, looked up at her. “My lords,” she repeated as she walked toward the throne. “Let us begin.” That night, lying beside Donald, I wonder how other mothers manage to do this, day after day. I’m so bad at it, so very, very bad. The cat flops down across my legs, pinning me under the blankets. Donald snores himself awake, then rolls over and drifts off again. After a few restless moments, I review the entire day in my mind. I lie in the dark, exulting over a kingdom saved and the smile of one bright, shining princess.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Yom HaShoah Text by Kyndal Kennedy | Photos by Taylor Vaughn
Yom HaShoah:
The Courage To Remember There is a well-known anecdote about a boiling frog: a frog placed in hot water will jump out; but a frog placed in cold water will not recognize the danger of water heating slowly – resulting in its boiling to death. “Nazi Germany, 1933. We were in the pot of water and for the next 11 years, they slowly turned up the heat,” said Rabbi Larry Friedman. Known in Jewish culture as Shoah, the Holocaust was a systematic genocide at the hands of Hitler and Nazi Germany that took the lives of six million Jews over a decade throughout Europe. No one would be to blame for trying to forget the agony of 1933 to 1945, but instead, it is intentionally remembered by those connected to its grim memory. This year, Congregation Beit Shalom in Visalia observed Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on January 22, 18
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2012. Although Yom HaShoah is one day set aside (usually in April) for observance, Beit Shalom Treasurer Tom Simonian explained that remembering the events of the Holocaust is a year-round practice. “It’s not something that we can put in a box and take out one day a year. That’s because it’s part of our fabric; it’s part of our DNA; it’s a part of our living and breathing Judaism.” Rabbi Friedman went on to educate the small audience with a brief timeline of events that unfolded from 1933 to 1945. Events such as: Adolf Hitler coming to power, the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht, WWII beginning with the invasion of Poland, German occupation throughout Europe, construction of the Lodz and Warsaw Ghettos, the opening of Auschwitz, the Wannsee Conference, the “Final Solution,” mass executions, liberation of camps, and the Nuremberg Trial. Yom HaShoah is not merely a history lesson about the events of the Holocaust and WWII – it is more important ABOVE: (Left to right) Cynthia Fischer, Henry Epstein, Rabbi Larry Friedman, and Tom Simonian
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
that throughout the world and in every community, the event is remembered; to remember the six million Jews that were innocently executed. There is a prayer said during Yom HaShoah that transcends all religions: “I have taken an oath: to remember it all, to remember, not once to forget … an oath, lest from this we learned nothing.” A priceless gift is hearing the story of a Holocaust survivor in their own voice. Two survivors were in attendance this day at Beit Shalom. “These are the people we need to listen to. These are the people whose words you need to share with the people who say it never happened, because it did happen,” said Rabbi Friedman. It happened; many died, but some lucky few lived to tell about it. There’s power in a single story, for it echoes the voice of the millions who will never tell theirs. One voice out of the silenced millions is Henry Epstein, 86 – a man who exuded a youthful demeanor and wore a contagious smile, despite the circumstances of his younger years. Henry began his story by first giving guests a glimpse of what it was like growing up in Bresslau, Germany, where no one was making very much money. “Hitler blamed the Jews for making Germany as poor as it was when he took power,” said Henry. He remembered a very important and early catalyst for what was to come: Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass,” when Nazis went throughout Jewish businesses
and smashed in all the glass of their window fronts. “I can tell you myself that even today I can remember that time. The whole sidewalk was completely spread out with glass, broken glass. Windows were broken, businesses were destroyed, and all that glass was on the sidewalks. Also, the synagogues were burned. The synagogue that was in my hometown had that same fate,” said Henry. Soon after this night, Henry and his father were arrested in their own home and shipped by train to labor camps. Fortunately for Henry, his age rendered him useless to the Nazis at the time he arrived at the camp; he was not fit to do the labor they would have needed from him. “I was about 14 or 15 years old,” said Henry. “If this would have happened five years later, for example, they would have simply killed me because I was useless for them. But in those early days they simply sent me home.” Eventually, his father was able to leave the camp as well; Henry’s grandmother had passed away, and at this early time of Nazi control, his father was allowed to go home to say his goodbyes. For whatever reason, Henry’s father never had to return to the camp. Soon after, the Epsteins realized it ABOVE LEFT: A close-up look at Henry Epstein's German passport. ABOVE RIGHT: Holocaust survivor, Henry Epstein, shows his passport to guests as he takes them through his journey as a young boy captive in Nazi Germany.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Yom HaShoah was urgent to leave Germany in order to salvage some kind of life and future. Henry and his brother were desperate to learn something, anything, they could make a life out of. The circumstances made it almost impossible to live, let alone learn. Daily and nightly air-raids meant all windows had to be blacked out so no light could reach the outside and disclose their location. In 1940, with help from an uncle who was working in Shanghai, China, the Epsteins (Henry, his father, mother and brother) were able to purchase a train ticket from Berlin, Germany, to Shanghai, China. They were four of the 20,000 Jewish refugees that escaped at this time. Though the likelihood of their survival was more promising as every passing town took them further away from Nazi-occupied territory, conditions on the train were still detrimental to their health. “There was no eating or dining, or anything like that. No bedrooms. We had rough wooden benches,” recalled Henry. “The people that came to the train station were mostly Jewish people themselves and knew about these refugees that came through. They brought bread and sausage and stuff like that which was more-or-less the cheapest you could find at the time, and we ate that. Now I can tell you, without that, we would all [have] starved to death, that’s sure.” Henry stayed in Shanghai for eight years until he was lucky enough to receive his papers to leave for America. But even that posed a problem – the trip would cost $250 – money Henry, a Jewish refugee, did not have. Fortunately, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), a large welfare group in San Francisco, was helping refugees make their way to the United States. From them, Henry received a loan of $250 dollars. He arrived in America “rich” with $20 in his pocket, he joked. He found an old Jewish friend whom he had met in Germany and was given a place to sleep and food to eat. Henry proceeded to attend school, work, and has since lived throughout California, now calling Stockton home. Not all Holocaust survivors are as emotionally free as Henry has become to tell their story. Myriam Farris was the other Holocaust survivor in attendance on this day. She stood facing the crowd and began to share her experience, which ended after just a few minutes. Myriam was five years old living in Nazi-occupied Bordeaux, France. She had to hide during the day; she could not be outside on the streets for fear of being picked up by the Gestapo (the secret Nazi police). Finally, the time had come for her and her family to flee for their lives. “My mother had my little brother, he was only 10 days old, when we escaped 20
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on foot. We had to walk several miles and stop at each farm, wherever we could, so we could have little water until we got to where we were stationed,” said Myriam. They were fleeing to North Africa to board a boat that would take them away from the turmoil in their beloved France. One night after leaving Bordeaux, Myriam, her grandmother, uncle and other small children, were transported under a tarp in the back of a truck, while her mother and little brother sat in the front seat with the driver. “[The driver] said to my mother, ‘If the Germans stop us, you say that you are my wife.’” With that overwhelming memory, tears formed in her eyes and she couldn’t continue telling her story. She apologetically sat back down and quietly uttered, “I’m a survivor.” That she is. Henry and Myriam, like the few other survivors still living, pass on their stories in hopes the world will never forget the tragic events of the Holocaust. Others like Rabbi Friedman, who is the son of a survivor, make it their mission to pass on the stories of their relatives who no longer can. Rabbi Friedman’s father left Europe in 1938 and came as a stowaway to the United States, leaving behind a wife and four children. He found work in New York and was able to send money to his family to keep them fed and safe as long as possible. Unfortunately, like the fate of many, his family was captured by Nazis and taken to a concentration camp. “A cousin, saw her and the four children go into Auschwitz, into the gas chamber. So we know that they did not survive the war,” said Friedman. Forever in their hearts and minds – forever remembered. It is the hope of Yom HaShoah that those who hear these stories and firsthand facts about the Holocaust will not soon forgetlest we learned nothing. ABOVE: Holocaust survivor, Myriam Farris
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
focus fitness ON
Text by Andy & Eryn Salazar of Empower Fitness Training
Quick Workouts Are Still Worth It:
Have Only 30 Minutes? If you can only spare 1530 minutes to get in a quick workout, is it worth the effort? Will a fast workout deliver results? There are three reasons why taking advantage of getting in quick, efficient workouts in 15-30 minutes, three to four days a week is worth it. You can burn a lot of calories and build lean muscle mass and strength with fast resistance training workouts. All that you need to perform these quick workouts are a set of dumbbells, your own body weight, and an open space. The three workout styles that will burn the optimal amount of calories and help you build a lean body are multi-set training, timed circuit training, and interval training. Multi-set training is moving from one exercise to the next with minimal breaks, using muscle groups that complement one another and working them until full muscular failure. Timed circuit training is a workout that involves constant movement from one exercise to the next (usually 8-10 exercises) and cycles through every 30-45 seconds. Participants perform as many repetitions as possible in the allotted time with 5-10 seconds of
transition time between exercises. Interval training with weights and cardiovascular training is rotating from a high intensity cardiovascular exercise (like jumping rope), then doing a circuit of resistance training, then returning to jump rope. Each of these types of exercise is important because they keep your heart rate elevated, allowing you to burn the optimal amount of calories in minimal time. Here is a quick 15-30 minute multi-set training workout (each circuit is broken down into three to four exercises and each one will be performed for three to four sets): Circuit #1: Back, Biceps, Abdominals Exercise 1: Alternating Dumbbell Biceps Curls, 12 repetitions Exercise 2: Double Arm Dumbbell Bent Over Rows, 15 repetitions Exercise 3: Russian Twists, 20 repetitions Circuit #2: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps Exercise 1: Pushups, 15-20 repetitions Exercise 2: Dumbbell Military Press, 12-15 repetitions Exercise 3: Dumbbell Single Arm Triceps Kick Backs, 12-15 repetitions This is a quick workout that can be done in the comfort of your own home. Everyone has 15-30 minutes to spare to get in a workout. With these quick workout systems you can be consistent, love your body, and get great results – whether that is to lose weight, lose inches or gain muscle. Anyone can achieve the body they desire with a little commitment and determination and high-quality workouts that get results. If you need help putting together a workout routine or seeing proper form of the exercises, set up an appointment to visit one of your local fitness professionals for assistance, or visit www.fitproworkouts.com or www.bodybuilding.com for video examples.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
VUSD Text by Craig Wheaton, Ed.D. Superintendent
Visalia Unified School District:
A Vision for the Future There are seven elected members of the Visalia Unified School Board who together set the direction, establish the structure, and ensure accountability for the school district. Individually and as a group they keep student learning and achievement as the district’s primary focus. The board has a long tradition of being thorough and deliberate in setting policy, direction and planning for future years. The district has supported a well-rounded, challenging and interesting curriculum for all students. The commitment to a full and rich program that includes extra and co-curricular activities, visual and performing arts, and career and technical education has continued in VUSD. The entire community and all of its organizations and agencies play a vital role in the success of students in school. The schools, parents and community share in the responsibility of education and provide a social environment that enhances each student’s ability to achieve a high level of academic success and physical and emotional well-being. We believe that we can organize our school district in a way that will increase learning for every student. In Visalia Unified, every student can get smarter every year! The School Board is currently working on two very specific goals that will help the district focus on student achievement and continue a 22
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commitment to a full and balanced curriculum: Goal One: Every student will increase one performance band on the California Standards Test (CST) every year. This is a simple goal. It is clear for students, parents, teachers and administrators. It is easy to set individual student goals based on last year’s performance, and we can easily measure progress and celebrate success. Goal Two: Every English Learner will increase one proficiency level on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) each year. Our goal is for students to become proficient in English as soon as possible. Over the next few months, these and other goals will be further refined through a process of discussion with teachers, principals and community and parent advisory groups. The School Board will adopt specific goals and objectives that will influence all of our actions over the next year. It is important to remember that we control the quality of education in Visalia Unified School District. Our actions as parents, as teachers, as administrators and as community leaders have a tremendous impact on the students in our community. Together we can provide a high quality education for every student in our school system!
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Broker/Owner NMLS #252789
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
THRIVING UNDER THIRTY Text by Crystal R. R. Edwards | Photo by Becca Chavez
Rosalinda Verde The great film and opera director Franco Zeffirelli said, “I have always believed that opera is a planet where the muses work together, join hands and celebrate all the arts.” Now Visalians have a glimpse into that other world, brought to them in the lovely form of Rosalinda Verde. Verde, a 26-year-old graduate of Redwood High School, 24
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now sits on the founding committee of the newly established Visalia Opera Company, along with Lim and Chavaleh Forgey, and Edna Garabedian. Verde grew up singing in choirs and theater as a child, and she often performed at county fairs and other festivals. “I asked my mom to put me on stage when I was three. My family was supportive of me, and I began basic voice lessons in elementary school. More serious lessons came later when I was in high school. My thing was jazz,” she laughed. “I also wanted to be Selena or Shakira.” When she enrolled in college at San Diego’s Point Loma Nazarene University, she was introduced to classical vocal performance. Suddenly, her life changed. “I had some professors who opened up to me a brand new world. I fell in love with it.” During her classical training there, Verde sang with the San Diego Opera Company. “I was star-struck by the opera divas, the whole culture,” she recalled. She then joined the Fresno Opera Company, but her thoughts kept returning to Visalia. “There was so much talent all over. I thought, ‘Why not move home to Visalia? We have people who enjoy the arts here. We have the talent.’” There seemed to be no good reason, in her mind, why Visalia could not gather its resources together and provide the city with its own opera company. She moved home and joined the Visalia Arts Consortium, which provides support to the arts community as a whole, and advocates on behalf of both the visual and performing arts. She also began singing with a group called 3s A Crowd, performing at festivals and venues including Visalia’s Taste the Arts shows. “I really focused on putting my roots down here in the Valley and expanding what I want to do in the arts here. I enjoy this area. I enjoy being a part of its arts community. It’s very tight-knit, and even in San Diego I didn’t have the good fortune to have this close of a community. Visalia has a very strong arts pulse. It’s not what people would think, being a socalled `farm town´. But we have people here working wonders and I felt very supported coming in. When we began talking
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
about the Visalia Opera Company, the Arts Consortium was welcoming. If I need anything, they go above and beyond what’s required to find answers, or in some cases even help me themselves.” The Visalia Opera Company will present fully staged opera productions. Its current home is the Enchanted Playhouse and the first opera, Hansel & Gretel, will debut in September during the 2012 Taste the Arts season. Performing artists for the lead roles will be recruited locally, and the smaller roles and ensemble will be filled through an audition process. The musicians for the Company will be recruited from the Tulare County Symphony. As if starting Visalia’s first opera company doesn’t keep her busy enough, Verde is also the activities director at Hanford Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. When asked if she sees opera as a full-time career, she replied, “Oh, what a dream that would be!” She recounted a point in her early classical training, however, when this did not seem as likely. “There’s so much
pressure on the art form that it becomes scheduled work instead of something you love and a way to express yourself. I remember at one time thinking that I didn’t want to do this anymore. The training was taking away the passion. My vocal coach told me to take two days off. And by ‘off,’ she meant I wasn’t to sing at all. No singing in the shower. No singing in the car. Nothing at all.” Her voice fell as she described what those two days were like. It is obvious this break had an impact. “It took away the essence of who I am. On top of anything else that I’ve done in my life, being a singer is my identity. When that was taken away, you cannot imagine what it felt like. You have these struggles during training, but because we love this art form so much we always return to it. It’s part of who we are, so it’s what we do.” For more information on the Visalia Opera Company, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rosalinda Verde at rosalinda@visaliaopera.com.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
FASHION Text by Sharon Mosely
Smooth Sales and Spring Shopping Tips Sale, sale, sale. Everywhere there’s a sale now. It’s out with the wintry wardrobes and in with the latest springtime trends. At this time of year, discounted merchandise is ripe for the picking ... but there are some precautions to take before you fill up your shopping cart and whip out the credit card. “If you can get the right items on sale, great,” say fashion experts Jill Martin and Dana Ravich, co-authors of I Have Nothing To Wear! “Sometimes even the classic basics go on sale. Stores are always receiving new merchandise and need to make room, so sometimes you can find exactly what you need on the sale rack.” But the two fashionistas also know a sale can mean trouble. “A sale price is not, repeat not, a reason to buy something,” they add. “Don’t kid yourself. Just because you are getting a great deal doesn’t mean you are going to wear it.” Instead, you may end up with a closet stuffed full of clothes with tags still on them. So what do Martin and Ravich suggest you spend your money on? Here are a few of their tips to get you started on your shopping list for a new season. Invest wisely in classic pieces for your wardrobe. From dark denim jeans to black blazers, skirts and dresses to white buttondown shirts and pashmina wraps, the authors suggest buying high quality. “We cannot stress enough that it is worth it to spend a little bit more on these pieces,” they say. “That doesn’t mean you have to go beyond your clothing budget, but you get what you pay for. For the must-have pieces, it is worth paying a little more.” And if you do find that perfect pair of jeans or classic trench coat on sale, go for it. 26
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Spend less on fashion trends. While Martin and Ravich advocate spending more on quality classic basics, they also suggest spending less on trendier clothes and accessories. “Don’t spend as much on the fun piece of costume jewelry or the ‘in’ summer sandal,” they say. “In fact, spend a lot less. You’ll probably wear trendy items for a season and then chuck them. That’s what makes them so much fun. You feel and look current, on trend, and in step with everyone else. But since trends are fleeting, to invest heavily in these pieces is totally unnecessary.” Check out designer collections at mass-market chains. One of the newest trends in retailing is exploding with possibilities – high-end designers producing stylish collections at affordable prices. Jason Wu, a favorite of first lady Michelle Obama, debuted his chic collection at Target on Feb. 5. The Missoni collection at Target last fall was so popular it crashed their website. Other retailers are following suit.
“Why spend a ton on something that you don’t need to last more than one season?” asks Martin and Ravich. “Like the sale items, buy the cheap and trendy items only if you are actually going to wear them. Cheap, trendy and you is OK. Not you? Not OK. Just like the classics, trendy items, inexpensive though they may be, must be a 10. If they don’t fit, flatter and otherwise make you look and feel great, they don’t make the cut.” Old clothes out, new clothes in. “You don’t need a ton of clothes to always have something to wear,” add the fashion experts. “You just need the right clothes. As you add new things, keep ditching old stuff. Your closet is a work in progress. It needs constant care and monitoring” – and a few new things found on sale!
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COLLEGE
Shreena Changela
Shreena Changela was determined to make a better life for her 2-monthold son, Ved, when she enrolled in San Joaquin Valley College’s Dental Hygiene (DH) program 16 months ago. She thought, “It’s now or never,” when she considered the difficulties of leaving her young son for four days each week, commuting 226 miles each way from Los Angeles and giving up her work as a Registered Dental Assistant to go back to school. But, SJVC’s accelerated Dental Hygiene program was too perfect to pass up. Shreena would leave at 4 a.m. each Monday morning to make her 7:30 a.m. class and return home Thursday evening. Each trip took her 3-4 hours – and a little closer to her goal of becoming a Registered Dental 28
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Hygienist. “I couldn’t have done it without my mom’s support,” she said. “The DH program is fast-paced and I knew I had to mentally prepare for something that would take my fulltime attention. Mom and I knew we were ready to take this journey together, and it helped that she sometimes brought my son to Visalia and stayed a week or so.” Shreena shared an apartment in Visalia with a fellow Dental Hygiene student who was making a similar commute from Seattle, WA. “We both pushed ourselves, and it was good to have a study partner throughout the program,” Shreena said. Their shared sacrifice paid off. Shreena just completed the program and has already accepted a position as a Dental Hygienist near her home in L.A. “I feel ready to go out and start working,” she said and credits the SJVC Dental Hygiene program’s depth of education and training for her confidence. The 16-month Dental Hygiene program uses dental industry equipment and technologies, such as radiography and intraoral photography for initial exams, and computerized office and clinical management software for appointment scheduling and recordkeeping. “We pride ourselves on meeting the needs of the dental community and strive to teach our students within the professional environment of our on-site clinic,” said Brenda Serpa, Dental Hygiene Program Director. SJVC’s Dental Hygiene program provides students with the academic and clinical education and training necessary to secure licensure and enjoy a lucrative future in this professional arena.
Visalia Campus Dental Hygiene student commutes from L.A.
Classroom studies include: • Oral biology and radiology • Head and neck anatomy • Dental health education • Pharmacology • Pathology and periodontology • Dental practice management Graduates earn an Associates of Science degree and are eligible to take the National Board written exam and a State and/or Regional Board exam for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist. For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed this program, and other important information, please visit consumerinfo. sjvc.edu. San Joaquin Valley College’s Dental Hygiene program attracts applicants from great distances who have heard about the merits and high standards of this program. “Our greatest asset is our experienced and devoted faculty,” said Serpa. “They truly care about the future of our students and our profession and make certain that our students are ready for a smooth transition from school to the work force when they graduate.” The next Dental Hygiene class starts soon. Email questions may be directed to Aubrey Priest, Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Advisor, at Aubrey.Priest@sjvc.edu, or call her at (559) 651-2500, ext. 148. If you are interested in any other SJVC medical, business or technical program, please call (866) 391-3804 for more information or to arrange a tour of the Visalia campus, located on Mineral King.
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
GOINGS-ON Alliance of California Artists: 2011 Open Juried Competition Each year, Arts Visalia plays host to the Alliance of California Artists Open Juried Competition, a juried exhibition that draws some of the Central Valley’s most talented artists to submit their latest creations for consideration by independent jurors. Awards are presented in categories including Oils & Acrylics, Watercolor, Pastel, Mixed Media, and Sculpture. When: Feb. 29–March 30; Reception: March 2, 6-8p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905 First Fridays Art Tour An interactive, progressive art show organized by the Arts Council of Tulare County, this art-infused event is fueled by local artists and venues and takes place the first Friday of each month. Art lovers and enthusiasts fill Downtown Visalia to meet and greet with the artists and enjoy the reception and music. Restaurants, studios, galleries and other venues don their blue lanterns and open exhibitions to the public for this free event. When: March 2, 5:30-8:30p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: downtown@artsTC.org Tulare County Symphony’s Up, Up and Away This concert will be a feast for the imagination. Holst drew on his knowledge of astrology and mythology as well as the Greek idea of Music of the Spheres when writing about the seven planets. The piece was the inspiration for
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“Star Wars.” The concert also features Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” a powerful image-making piece. When: March 3, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 George Thorogood & The Destroyers A blues-rock guitarist who draws his inspiration from Elmore James, Hound Dog Taylor, and Chuck Berry, George Thorogood never earned much respect from blues purists, but he became a popular favorite in the early ’80s through repeated exposure on FM radio and the arena rock circuit. When: March 7, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 Digital Photography Seminar Photographer Brent Russell Paull will conduct a seminar on digital photography. Learn basic concepts through advanced techniques. Paull will explain camera use, lenses, tripods, light and exposure, composition, techniques and more. Reservations and payment requested in advance. Cost: $20. When: March 8, 6p Where: Tulare Historical Museum, 444 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: 686-2074. Tulare Rotary Club Crab Feed Tulare Rotary Club’s all-you-can-eat crab feed will feature a silent auction with tons of sports memorabilia, a raffle, dinner, followed by a live auction featuring upscale items and vacation destinations.
Tickets: $50. When: March 9, 6p Where: Heritage Complex, 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare Contact: Paul Daley, 686-1761 x106 or Renee Soto, 331-2017 California Fitness Academy's Charity Bootcamp Donation (minimum of $10) and all proceeds with benefit the Visalia Rescue Mission. There will be a live DJ, raffle prizes, vendor boots, high energy workout and plenty of motivation! Don't miss this fun, charitable, and healthy event! When: Mar. 10, 9-10:30a Where: California Fitness Academy, 6910 W. Pershing Ct., Visalia Contact: 334-8990 Healthy Visalia Walking Series Every Saturday come join others and promote health and wellness in Visalia. Wellness starts with you. There’s no better way to enjoy the spring than to get out and walk at one of the beautiful parks or trails. When: March 10, 8a Where: St. John’s River Trail, Lover’s Lane Trailhead Contact: www.healthyvisalia.com In the Mood: A 1940’s Musical This 1940’s Big Band Musical Revue is a celebration of America’s Greatest Generation through the music of The Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, The Dorsey Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and other Big Band greats with costumes, arrangements and swing dance routines that are as authentic as it gets. With a 13-piece
Big Band orchestra and six singers and dancers (including a high energy swing dance couple), IN THE MOOD revisits the music that moved a nation’s spirit and helped win a war. This era was the last time when all of America was listening and dancing to the same kind of music. When: March 10, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 Visalia Elks Lodge 8th Annual Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting In addition to wine, food, music and dancing there will be a silent auction. This event benefits Elks Children’s Charities and CASA of Tulare County. Tickets available at Visalia Elks Lodge. When: March 10, 6p Where: Visalia Elks Lodge, 3100 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 734-6762 or 936-0489 Dead Man’s Cell Phone An incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet café. A stranger at the next table who has had enough. And a dead man– with a lot of loose ends. So begins Dead Man’s Cell Phone, a wildly imaginative new comedy about how we memorialize the dead–and how that remembering changes us. By Sarah Ruhl. Directed by Ryan Pullen. When: March 16–18, 23–25, 30–April 1, Evening: 7:30; Matinee 2p Where: The Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3900
CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
Colin Quinn From Socrates to Snooki, Quinn is at his satirical best, taking on the attitudes, appetites and bad habits that toppled the world’s most powerful nations. Long Story Short proves that throughout human history, the joke has always been on us. When: March 16, 8p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Hosted by the Events Visalia Foundation, the parade will come alongside many other fun activities in Downtown Visalia. When: March 17 Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: www.eventsvisalia.org or info@eventsvisalia.org Irish Fest The Rawhide and the Visalia Breakfast Lions are hosting the inaugural Irish Fest. Featuring unlimited local beer and wine tasting with an authentic Irish meal. Local bands, High Grade Pats, Poor Man's Poison and Mehrten Drive will perform. Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 on event day. Must be 21 years old or older. When: Mar. 17, 2-6p Where: Recreation Ballpark, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: Laura, 732-4433 x825 or laura@rawhidebaseball.com
Music at the Main – Jeffrey Myers Music at the Main series continues with a concert featuring Jeffrey Myers on violin. One of a handful of young virtuoso violinists to emerge onto the world stage from the stratospheric studio of master teacher Robert Lipsett, Jeff brings dazzling technique to some of the most challenging and entertaining showpieces ever written and makes them seem easy. His tone doesn’t remind you of emotions, it re-creates them. When: March 18, 3-5p Where: The Main Street Theatre, 340 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.musicatthemain.org Tulare County Science & Engineering Fair Traditionally, over 230 science fair projects from grades 3-12 representing schools throughout the county are on display for public view. These projects recognize the outstanding effort and scientific achievement of Tulare County students. Science experts from a wide variety of fields involving both the private and public sectors judge the projects. When: March 19–23 Where: Sequoia Mall, 3303 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: Jonathan Janzen, 651-3043 Three Rivers Artists’ Biennial Studio Tour The Three Rivers Artists’ Biennial Studio Tour is an experiential, lively conversation about all aspects of creativity, art-making,
and living in a small community close to nature. Visitors use a guidebook and map to make their own itinerary for visiting the studios. Artists are on hand to share stories about how they have integrated art-making into their everyday lives. When: March 23–25, 10a-5p Where: Starts at the Three Rivers Historical Museum and Visitor Center, 42268 Sierra Dr., Three Rivers Contact: 561-4671 Replay: A Decade of Dance El Diamante High School presents its spring dance production, Replay: A Decade of Dance for its 10th Annual Spring Dance Concert. Join the students as they revisit the past and replay a decade of dance! Tickets: $8. When: March 28 & 29, 7p Where: L.J. Williams Theatre, 1001 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 735-3522
Tulare County Library First Tuesday Book Club (March 6, 6:30p) Mystery Readers (March 21, 6:30p) Where: Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or www. tularecountylibrary.org Visalia Farmers’ Market Harvest of the Valley Weekly event open to the public featuring free live music, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations and local, fresh produce available for purchase. Downtown Farmers Market Begins March 15! When: Thursdays – Downtown Visalia, 5-8p/ Saturdays – Sequoia Mall, Sears parking lot 8-11:30a Where: Church & Main/ Sears parking lot at Mooney and Caldwell, Visalia Contact: 967-6722 or www. visaliafarmersmarket.com
Vi-Tri This event includes two courses to choose from, short or full-length. From those looking to get into triathlons or those who are experienced, this event is perfect for all interested. Registration closes March 27 so be sure to sign up early and get ready to swim, bike, run! When: March 31, 7:30a Where: El Diamante High School, 5100 W. Whitendale Ave., Visalia Contact: www.onyourmarkevents.com
If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Goings-On” section, please email your submission to direct@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, Attention Goings-On. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions must be received six (6) weeks before publication.
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CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — T h e H e a r t O f T h e S o u t h V a l l e y
warren reports Text by Warren Gubler, Visalia City Councilmember
Sustainability:
Going Green in Visalia In December of each year, I spend weekends and evenings pruning my dormant fruit trees and grape vines. While time consuming, I find it therapeutic and an opportunity to contemplate the wonders of nature. I time my annual pruning project to take advantage of the Visalia Solid Waste Department’s annual Fall Yard Waste Recycling event. Between approximately Thanksgiving and New Year’s, the city invites Visalia residents to recycle yard trimmings, leaves, branches, and such by dropping off their yard waste at the Tulare County Biomass location on south Lover’s Lane, or at Wood Industries on the southwest corner of Highways 198 and 99. The city recycles these items by grinding them into compost/mulch. Visalia residents can in return receive compost to use in their garden area. Did I mention that all of this is free to Visalia residents? When it comes to “going green,” Visalia is progressive and ahead of the curve. In addition to fall and spring yard waste recycling events, the city also accepts Christmas trees after the holidays which it likewise will recycle. Much of the resulting compost and bark is used by the city for landscaping in medians and parks. Additionally, the city holds quarterly free “Dump On Us” events. These events are held at the Visalia City Yard located at 335 N. Cain Street. You can dispose of your household hazardous waste there as well. Another Visalia green project which I’m excited about is the recent renovation of the irrigation system at the Valley Oaks City Golf Course. This new irrigation system has not only improved the looks of the entire golf course, but will conserve water. Last summer, I took a tour of the golf course with the course manager, Aaron Hensley, to inspect the results. I’m not a golfer, but based upon my gardening background, I observed the fresh, lush look of the grassy fairways, tees and greens. To make this irrigation system even better, the city’s wastewater treatment plant will soon connect into the golf course’s irrigation system, such that it will then use treated recycled water for irrigation purposes. The more we can recycle and conserve our water resources in this arid valley, the better. The city is also working with a local irrigation district to trade treated water from the city’s wastewater treatment plant on the west side of town for farming purposes, in exchange for fresh water coming into Visalia from the east side, which can then be used for groundwater recharge. For more information on these 32
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and other great conservation projects that the city is involved in, visit www.gogreenvisalia.com. One other tip to help Visalians save money and conserve energy: Through June 2012, the Home Energy Tune-Up Program provides free in-home energy assessments for homeowners. This includes up to $4,000 of incentives from the Energy Upgrade California program. To arrange for your home inspection, visit www.TulareHomeTuneUp.com. Elections Update: The Visalia City Council appointed an elections task force comprised of 13 local citizens. After meeting a number of times, reviewing data and statistics, and much back-and-forth discussion, the task force recommended to the City Council that Visalia change its charter to go from at-large elections for City Council to by-district elections. I attended these task force meetings as an observer. While I don’t agree with the claims of a few that there has historically been “racially polarized” voting in Visalia, I do agree with task force members Harry Wood and Bob Aguilar, former Mayor Jesus Gamboa and others, that minorities have been under-represented on the City Council in its 160-year history. Visalia has grown to over 125,000 and pursuant to population projections, will reach over 200,000 in the next 20 years. The larger Visalia becomes, the more the argument can be made that district elections will better reflect our diverse population. Why not proceed in that direction now? I recently spoke with incumbent Donna Martin of the Visalia School Board, who ran in her first by-district election this past November (the School Board decided last year to go to by-district elections). She indicated that it was much less expensive for her to run, that she was able to more efficiently direct her time and resources to those in her district in order to earn their vote, and that it was a good experience for her. The City Council will grapple with this elections issue in upcoming council meetings and will likely put it on the 2012 ballot for Visalia citizens to have the final say. Congratulations: Best wishes to St. Paul’s Church and Father James, who recently celebrated their parish’s 125th anniversary in Visalia, dating back to 1887! If you have questions or topics regarding the city that you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us, or call (559) 713-4400 x3313. For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.