Visalia Lifestyle Magazine, March/April 2020

STYLE, ART, CULTURE, + EVENTS OF THE SOUTH VALLEY MARCH/APRIL 2020

EPICURE

MEXICAN-INSPIRED COMFORT FOOD Page 26

HOME TOUR

THE BOONE RESIDENCE Page 32 TRAVELER’S TREK

THE ALSACE REGION Page 48 ECRWSS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER LOCAL

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32 HOME TOUR

THE BOONE RESIDENCE The Visalia home of Andrea and Michael Boone does not resemble a gallery or museum, although it is full of art that they have collected over the years. Instead, it provides respite from their hectic careers as physicians and is a favorite gathering place for friends and family.

WHAT'S INSIDE 8

From The Editor

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Word Play

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Tech: For Digital Marketing,

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FIRE GRIPPED THE HOLT BLOCK

A HEALTHY HARVEST OF LEADERSHIP

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MEXICAN-INSPIRED COMFORT FOOD

THE ALSACE REGION

REFLECTIONS OF VISALIA

NEXT GEN

Seek Professional Help 18

Gardening: Three Drought-Tolerant Native California Plants

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Art Now: The South Valley Art Tour

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Community: Fox Theatre

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Fashion: Springing into Spring Style

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Visalia Chamber of Commerce

58

Tulare Chamber of Commerce

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Happenings

EPICURE

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TRAVELER'S TREK

Made for more duets

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Published By

Executive Editor Creative Director Art Director Senior Designer Web Designer/Designer Text Editor

DMI Agency 200 E. Center Ave., Suite A Visalia, CA 93291 Karen Tellalian Greg Bitney Marcie Vagnino Frank Miramontes Kaci Hansen Melinda Brown

Contributing Writers

C. Scott Wyatt Cheryl Levitan Diane Slocum Lisa McEwen Major Rogers Nancy Hawkins Nicky French Ryan Rusie Shane Guffogg Sharon Mosley Sue Burns Terry L. Ommen

Operations Manager

Maria Gaston

Advertising Sales Sales Office

E-Mail Website View The Mag Online

Sales@DMIAgency.com 200 E. Center Ave., Suite A Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 Lifestyle@DMIAgency.com www.VisaliaLifestyle.com Issuu.com/LifestyleMagazine Facebook.com/LifestyleMag Instagram: visalialifestyle

RACK LOCATIONS DMI Agency Bistro di Bufala Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare Exeter Chamber of Commerce

International Agri-Center The Lifestyle Center Tulare Chamber of Commerce Tulare County Library

Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Convention Center

COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS 210 Cafe AMCC Armstrong Property Management Arts Visalia Ashoori & Co. Jewelers Anderson Real Estate Group Blend WIne Room Citizen's Bank Comfort Suites Downtown CreekSide Day Spa Skin & Laser Center Downtown Visalia Alliance Exeter Library Four Creeks Coffee Shop

Franey's Design Center Fugazzis (Downtown Visalia) Glick's and Co. Holvik Family Health Center ImagineU Children’s Museum Janeen’s Furniture Gallery Kaweah Delta Hospital Keller Williams Reality Marcela's Home Store Max's Cookies Michael's Custom Jewelry Monet’s, Exeter Pacific Treasures Premier Medical Clinic PRO-PT

Salon 525 Sequoia Dental Sunmed Health & Weight Management The Aesthetic Center The Planing Mill V Medical Spa Vintage Press Visalia Ceramic Tile Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Watson's Veggie Garden Wildflower Café, Exeter Williams, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law

Visalia Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 13,600 homes in the upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods in Visalia. An additional 2,000 copies are distributed at various distribution points around Visalia, Tulare, and Exeter.

Views expressed in columns are those of the columnist and not necessarily those of DMI Agency or its advertisers.

Circulation of this issue: 15,600 © 2020 DMI Agency

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F rom The

EDITOR

I

t is nearly that time of year when I look forward to removing the down comforter from the layers on my bed and turn my thoughts to the sunny days to come. At least I thought it was, but as I take a brisk walk down Main Street during the lunch hour, raindrops are falling on my head. As we go to press, the forecast says rain is likely most of next week, and even though I am a sun worshiper, after a relatively dry winter, I will welcome whatever moisture the good Lord offers.

Despite the rainy forecast, spring is on its way and always ushers in a variety of fun things to do. But the best news of all is that it signals the start of baseball season. If you’re one of those people who just loves baseball, there is good news ahead. Soon, the Visalia Rawhide return to Rawhide Stadium under new ownership. Going to a game is a fun and inexpensive way for the family to enjoy a night out. We are very proud to partner with the Visalia Rawhide and look forward to attending games this season.

In addition to the recreational aspect, there’s a chance you’ll see a future big leaguer on his way to the top. If you’re not up-to-date on some of the big names that have spent time in Visalia, a partial list includes Barry Zito, Eric Chavez, Jeff Francis, Kent Hrbek and the late Kirby Puckett.

With that aside about spring and baseball, back in my office, where I face seven or eight medium-high stacks of paper, it occurs to me how little writing or editing I do. A lot of my day is spent communicating — in meetings, on the phone and with emails. There are social events several times a month, and much of what I actually do is simply to show up and be accessible to those with splendid ideas for stories of interest for our readers.

Thankfully, a good part of an editor’s job is to surround oneself with talented folks. Over the years, I have been more than lucky in that area, and our readers have been the beneficiary of that good fortune. Unarguably, one of our favorites is Lisa McEwen. One of Lifestyle Magazine’s most highly regarded features, our Home Tour, is deftly orchestrated each month by Lisa. Each home is as different as the owners themselves, and it is no small task to get to the heart of each and every one, and to tell their stories in such an interesting way.

Hair by Christina Jordan, CA LOOKS Salon | Makeup by Orlando Molina Gonzales

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT A STORY IDEA, CONTACT ME AT KAREN@DMIAGENCY.COM

As we all adapt to the circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, we must remember the critical role we play in supporting our local community. While sporting events, college classes and community gatherings have been postpone and travel restrictions have been put in place, our economy is at risk. We encourage everyone to follow the recommended health precautions and support the health of our community by taking this time to invest in small businesses and local arts that remain open and operational during this time.

Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in German from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After graduating, she worked as a reporter and editor, and, for the past 18 years, she has worked as a freelance writer. She lives on a citrus ranch in Exeter with her husband, Matt, and their two children. We appreciate Lisa and the fine writing she does for us, and we are happy to share her talents with you.

If you are looking for something to do this month, please check out the Happenings section in this issue of Lifestyle.

As usual, it is filled with charity, performances and other events just waiting for you to attend. Maybe we’ll see you there! L

KAREN TELLALIAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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NEWS ON WRITING, BOOKS + THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING T E X T

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pring can be a windy time of year and this movement of air finds its way into many titles of books, from classics like “Gone with the Wind” to upcoming releases like John Grisham’s “Camino Winds.”

Book 2 in the Camino series will be released April 28 by Doubleday. In this installment, a hurricane strikes the island where Bruce Cable stays through the devastating storm, during which his friend, Nelson, dies under suspicious circumstances that appear not to be storm-related. With the police overwhelmed by the aftermath of the storm, Bruce investigates and finds shocking information hidden in Nelson’s unpublished manuscript.

The Third Edition of “What the Wind Knows” by Amy Harmon was published last March by Lake Union Publishing.

Anne is heartbroken over her grandfather’s death and travels to his Irish home to scatter his ashes. She awakens to find herself transported through time to 1921, on the brink of civil war, where she is mistaken for the missing mother of a young boy.

“Beyond the North Wind: Russia in Recipes and Lore” by Darra Goldstein was published last month by Ten Speed Press and features 100 traditional recipes that are truly Russian, not the usual ones borrowed from France or the basics of the Soviet era, but a revival of heritage ingredients and dishes of the north country. It features recipes for foods such as hand pies stuffed with mushrooms and fish, black currant cheesecake and farmer’s cheese, as well as photos and essays on the culture.

POPULAR BOOKS When a book has been checked out of a library more than 485,000 times, it’s 10 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

rather conclusively a popular book. This is “A Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats, which is the most checked-out book in a study of the history of the New York Public Library. Also topping 400,000 check-outs are Dr. Seuss’ “A Cat in the Hat,” “1984” by George Orwell, Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. These are followed by “Charlotte’s Web”

by E.B. White, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

by J.K. Rowling and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle.

VALLEY WRITER Bonnie Hearn Hill was the winner of The Writer’s 2019 Essay Contest with “What I Wish I’d Known.” Her essay opens with “I wish I’d known a writer can fix anything but a blank page,” and continues with

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insights such as a writer can be a little crazy, most adjectives and adverbs are phony friends, and exclamation marks travel in packs. Her essay is at bonniehhill.com.

She also won first place in the Writer’s Digest Magazine’s 2019 short story contest for “Feliz Navidead,” which was published in the November 2019 issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

She was also one of four recipients of the Harlequin Creator Fund Feel Good Project awards for a novel in progress.

It involves three women in Southern California rock radio in the 1960s-’70s.

Hearn Hill is a Hanford native who now lives near the San Joaquin River bluffs in Fresno, the river referred to in the title of her latest book, “The River Below.”

Best friends Claire and Tessa work for the river conservancy, but Tessa starts to lose her memory and sees a woman on the riverbank who isn’t there, at the same time as Tessa’s husband is defending a woman accused of murder. Then a bloodstained car containing a German Luger is pulled from the river, and Claire knows that she must learn what is happening.

Hearn Hill has published 16 suspense novels. Among them are the three Kit Doyle novels, “If Anything Should Happen,” “Goodbye Forever” and “I Wish You Missed Me.” The fi rst begins when Kit’s mother tells her that Kit should read a secret letter “if anything should happen.” Soon after, her mother dies and Kit learns that seeking the truth is dangerous. In the other books, Kit searches for missing persons.

THE LAST WORD “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” — Charles Dickens (1812-1870) L

The white building in the center with the cupola is the Holt building that was located on the northwest corner of Court and Main streets. It was destroyed in the 1933 fire. Circa 1930

Fire Gripped the Holt Block T E X T

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hen Café 225 and its neighboring businesses burned to the ground in December 2018, I started thinking about other fires in Visalia’s past and, like most old towns, we had many. Although blazes occurred all over town, there was one particular area that seemed to be especially vulnerable — at least to the bigger ones. That area today is in the heart of downtown, specifically on the north side of Main Street between Court and Locust streets.

In the mid-1880s, Fred S. Holt — a man who was part of the well-known Stockton family that developed the Caterpillar Tractor — built an impressive commercial structure on the northwest corner of Court and Main streets. It stretched west along Main and covered all the space north to the alley. The building so dominated the area that both the building and the block became known as the Holt Block. For decades, the name stuck.

Construction began on his grand building in about 1885, and it became 12 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

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the first structure of any consequence west of Court on Main. It was a milestone project and the Tulare County Times, obviously pleased, reported, “The business of Main Street is rapidly extending westward. The Holt Block … has proved such an excellent addition to our town and is one of the finest structures in Southern California.”

Even though Holt’s building was solid and well-built, it was not immune to vicious attacks by fire. The first big one struck on Monday, June 26, 1893, when at about 2:30 a.m., nightwatchman Byrd was alerted to flames coming from the second floor. He ran to the firehouse at Church Street and Acequia Avenue and notified the firemen. In just a few minutes, firefighters were racing to the scene, and people were gathering to watch all the excitement.

Within seven minutes, they were on the scene shooting “four streams of water” on the blaze. In less than an hour, the flames were extinguished and the crowd

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gave the firemen “a yell of triumph … that could be heard for blocks.”

Thanks to the valiant effort of firefighters, the Holt building was saved and no lives were lost. However, the contents of many of the offices and businesses inside didn’t fare as well. A number suffered heavy losses. C.A. Myers, photographer, was hit the hardest. The fire had started in his second-floor studio and his entire gallery was destroyed, including all of his negatives. Except for one box of instruments, architect N.P. Rogers lost everything, including his accumulation of architectural plans. Other businesses lost equipment and supplies, but flames weren’t the only destructive weapon.

Many items not damaged by heat were destroyed by smoke or water.

An initial estimate of damage to Holt’s building was set at $3,500, all of which was covered by insurance. But his tenants were not as lucky. Some had no insurance, while others had inadequate coverage.

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But despite the town’s loss, the community was thankful. The quick response by the fire department and the effective suppression efforts were credited with containing the damage. The Tulare Valley Citizen newspaper reported what the thankful people felt: “The Visalia Company, by their prompt and efficient work at the fire in the Holt Block, saved the city from great disaster.”

The Visalia Daily Morning Delta also heaped praise on the department: “It is safe to say that there is not a fi re department in the state … that could have done better work than our little, but effective, department. Visalians are proud of them; they have shown their value time and time again.”

Fred Holt surveyed the damage to his building and started making plans for repairs. The grateful man made a generous $50 donation to the fire department “in testimony of his appreciation of their services.”

Forty years later, another big fire would visit, and this time the Holt building

would not be as lucky. While making his rounds early Sunday morning on Sept.

24, 1933, Visalia Police Officer Bob Williams noticed fl ames coming from the structure. He turned in an alarm, then he and fellow officer Paul Finley alerted residents who were living in the second-floor apartments.

The fire had been burning for quite some time before the fire department was notified, so when firefighters arrived, the two-story building with eight stores, 10 offices and apartments was engulfed in flames. Firefighters attacked the blaze with their two pumpers with some success, then the oldest one — the department’s first motorized fire vehicle purchased in 1913 — “broke down” under the strain.

Flames began to take over the building again. Fearful of the stubborn blaze, they requested help from the Fresno Fire Department. They dispatched one of their pumpers, but as it got to Selma, it “threw a rod through the cylinder head.” The rig was out of commission, so Fresno sent another.

Clockwise from above: It was from this city hall/fire department located at Church Street and Acequia Avenue that the department responded in 1933 to the Holt fire. Circa 1930 The 1913 Gorham firetruck, the first gasoline-powered firetruck purchased by Visalia, is shown on the left. It broke down during the Holt Block fire in 1933.

Circa 1945 This was the fire department building located at Church Street and Acequia Avenue that nightwatchman Byrd ran to and sounded the alarm for the 1893 fire at the Holt Block. Circa 1900

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By the time the Fresno rig and crew arrived, there wasn’t much that could be done to save the building, so efforts were concentrated on containment.

They contained the fi re, but the Holt building was destroyed. The second story was totally burned, and the ground floor was littered with charred debris and damaged beyond repair by water and smoke.

No one died in the three-hour battle, but there were injuries. Earl Evatt wrenched his shoulder when he jumped out of his second-floor apartment window to escape the flames, and Rupert Hunter, George Keck and Dudley Hadley, all Visalia volunteer fi remen, suffered minor injuries.

Soon after the fire, Grace Holt Enquist, the building owner, came to town to survey the damage. She met with the eight merchant tenants and discussed with them their future business needs.

City records don’t confirm what happened after that, but eventually the structure that now stands on the block was built. L

T E C H

FOR DIGITAL MARKETING, SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP T E X T

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IY embodies a great philosophy when you want to learn a skill or save money.

It isn’t the best approach when you want and need the absolute best result.

I love do-it-yourself projects around the house. If it isn’t perfect, I can always try again. My wife and I watch HGTV, Food Network and their various spin-off channels. We’ve done a lot of work on our homes and we love to cook for fun.

DIY is not how to approach business.

When you have legal questions in business, contact a lawyer. For payroll and tax questions, hire an accountant or use a dedicated service.

For digital marketing, work with professionals.

Online digital marketing requires special skills. You can perform the basics of digital marketing yourself even if you’re not an expert, but the results won’t be ideal. In business, time is money. Minor mistakes have lasting effects on client perceptions, too. You need online marketing strategies executed flawlessly the first time for a rapidly changing online world.

First, you should work with professional website designers.

Creating a website has never been easier.

Free tools exist for visual layout designs, and many services promise quick-start sites for small businesses.

Those easy-to-use website tools lack search engine optimization (SEO) and rarely result in high search engine result page (SERP) placement. Yes, you’ll have a business web address to list on business cards and social media pages, but only existing customers are likely to find you online.

Good website designers are SEO experts.

They follow the latest news on Google and Bing algorithms. They understand how to structure the hidden content of metadata and the visible website content to maximize search results. A great16 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

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looking page doesn’t matter if potential customers cannot locate it using search.

results seldom match what professional photographers or videographers create.

Next, optimize your social media strategy with a social marketing expert.

That’s not to say that behind-the-scenes and spontaneous media cannot be effective. You should definitely post frequently to social media, and followers value authenticity. I encourage business owners and managers to use their smartphone cameras as marketing tools.

Again, you can create Facebook pages and Twitter accounts easily, but they won’t be optimized to be among the top results in searches without some specialized knowledge.

Social media experts understand the complex design guidelines for social media. Your website and your social media accounts need to seamlessly complement each other behind the scenes.

Those connections between the various social media platforms and your website require careful planning. Plus, many of the services don’t communicate easily between each other.

Each social media platform has different image size requirements. They all have different standards for post lengths and typography. You should never use the same image and text on Facebook and Twitter, for example, because they crop images to different widths. I’ve seen Twitter posts featuring “headless” business owners thanks to these differences.

Facebook, Pinterest and other platforms use the Open Graph metadata standard to index information. Your website and social media accounts must include matching metadata for best results.

Merely getting things right isn’t enough because search engines and social media platforms constantly change their rules, too! That’s another reason you need an expert to help keep your digital marketing strategy on track.

Finally, a digital marketing campaign needs excellent photos, images, audio and video content.

Don’t resort to stock photos and clipart images if you can avoid them. You want your brand to stand out, so budget for some unique visual branding. We might all be able to take photos and record video with our smartphones, but the

However, for branding content, you’ll want professional production values.

The same camera in the hands of a hobbyist and a professional photographer produces strikingly different results. A photographer or videographer knows composition theories. The professional understands framing a shot, lighting a scene and other aspects of creating effective imagery. From depthof-field tricks to three-point lighting techniques, the camera professional enhances your brand’s visual identity.

I’ve been encouraging business leaders to create audio, too. Consult with an expert before recording audio using a phone or cheap computer microphone. The popularity of podcasts offers a great opportunity for business influencers.

The podcast audio should reflect professionalism, not something created on the cheap.

Did you realize that multimedia content should also have metadata content?

It should in most cases, and your digital marketing team should be able to help you with “tagging” media files. Audio and video content need these informational metadata. Such little touches make a difference for digital marketing campaigns.

Business owners and managers should concentrate on serving customers, not managing advertising or branding campaigns. Large corporations now hire digital marketing experts. An entire career path exists for SEO experts, too.

Seeking professional digital media help will free you to do what you do best … and expand your business. L

G A R D E N I N G

THREE DROUGHT-TOLERANT NATIVE CALIFORNIA PLANTS T E X T

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H A W K I N S ,

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t the UCCE Master Gardener Program of Tulare/Kings Counties’ demo garden at Hurley School, small-scale waterwise front and back yards display “Gardening Central Valley” style, three of which are California native plants: Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) and sulfur flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum).

used more and more by homeowners in their gardens.

Cleveland sage, the fragrant sage, is a perennial plant that is native to Southern California and northern Baja California, growing below 2,500 feet in elevation in chaparral habitat. The plant was named in 1874 by Asa Gray, honoring plant collector Daniel Cleveland.

Sulfur flower buckwheat is one of the lowest growing of the perennial buckwheats at 3 1/2 inches tall and 3 feet wide. Its showy, yellow, tubular flowers fade to orange or red. These plants make loose mats of leaves, often green above and gray-wooly beneath, creating an

Sulfur flower buckwheat is a species of wild buckwheat, also called sulfur flower.

It is native to western North America from California to Colorado to central Canada, where it grows abundantly and is found in many habitats. Native American groups utilized parts of this plant for a number of medicinal uses.

Cleveland sage grows 4 feet tall and wide, but can easily expand to 8 feet.

The shrubs provide good hiding places for birds. It has fragrant gray foliage and blue flowers between May and August. Cleveland sage grows so abundantly that you might be tempted to grow it so you can bring in armloads of flowers. But, beware, this plant has such signifi cant fragrance that some find that just one flower stem can be overwhelming. This fragrance does help in keeping away many garden pests.

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Finding California native plants locally can be difficult, although they are becoming more abundant. Local nurseries might order them upon request. Ordering through a native plant website is also an option. Planting native plants, or any plant, should be delayed until cooler weather, October or November, in our area. You can also plant in early spring, but will have to be more vigilant during the hot summer months to assure that these low-water-needs plants get enough — but not too much — water to become established and grow their roots deep.

In the meantime, visit the Master Gardener Demo Garden at Hurley School or some of our local city parks and trails to see what has been planted and how these plants are surviving our hot, dry summer.

You might find something that will work in your yard.

The UCCE Master Gardener Program of Tulare/Kings Counties is a researchbased program designed to provide information to the home gardening public. The program provides information on sustainable landscape practices, focusing on “Gardening Central Valley Style,” environmental quality and resource conservation (water, soil, air and waste), and integrated pest management and invasive species awareness. L

The UCCE Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions at the following venues in March and April:

This drought-tolerant shrub needs full sun and prefers well-drained soil. Pruning is optional as spent brown flower pods will be covered by new growth and blend in with a natural setting. It is found in abundance along many of Visalia’s trails and bike paths.

Apricot mallow is a perennial shrub native to parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. This fuzzy, grayish, often-sprawling plant bears large bright orange-red to apricot flowers, resembling a poppy, in clusters on many erect, slender branches. These flowers are great for bouquets. It blooms from February to November. It grows to 2 feet, needs sun, good air flow and can tolerate many soil types. Like the Cleveland sage, it is drought-tolerant and is being

excellent ground cover. It grows best in well-drained soil, in part shade to sun, with little or no water after established.

It is drought- and cold weather-tolerant.

Visalia Farmers' Market: Every Saturday morning (8-11 a.m.), Sears parking lot, Mooney Boulevard at Caldwell Avenue March 28, Sequoia Garden Club Tour. April 4, 10 a.m.

-1 p.m., Tulare Garden Festival, Tulare Public Library, 475 North M St., Tulare.

Cleveland sage is also known as California Blue Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

For answers to your home gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners in Tulare County at (559) 684-3325, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., or Kings County at (559) 852-2736, Thursday only, 9:30-11:30 a.m; or visit our website to search past articles, find links to UC gardening information, or to email us with your questions: ucanr.edu/sites/ UC_Master_Gardeners/ Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/ mgtularekings14/

presented by

2020

SUPPORTING THE VISALIA COUNT Y CENTER ROTARY COMMUNIT Y SUPPORT ASSOCIATION

A FUNDRAISING EVENT A T T H E VISALIA COUNTRY CLUB 625 N. Ranch Street | April 18, 2020 @ 5:30PM

Come join us for this popular, top-notch food and wine tasting experience. Spread over Visalia Country Club’s spacious Club House and lawns, guests socialize and wander among the delicious food and over 15 wineries. Enjoy views of the lush golf course, stately oak trees, water fountains, and swans effortlessly drifting in the pond that fronts the 16th green while bidding on exciting auction items.

For more information or to get your tickets, please visit:

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THE SOUTH VALLEY ART TOUR T E X T B Y S H A N E G U F F O G G | P H O T O S B Y J A M E S S TA R K , C AT H E R I N E S I M S , A N D A M P E L I O M E J I A

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nderstanding art can sometimes be a challenge, even for those who are versed in art history. On the other hand, being able to appreciate art can be akin to seeing the most beautiful sunset — it is a moment that stays with us and adds to how we view the world.

The best way to achieve this deeper understanding of art is by having some insight into who the artist is and where their inspirations are drawn from. When this connection happens, a new and more profound understanding illuminates our thoughts and links us to the objective of the artist.

As an example, it is easy for us now to look at Monet’s waterlily paintings and marvel at their beauty. But even for Monet, when he was first making

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what are now considered masterpieces, he was confused and troubled because the paintings didn't have a horizon line somewhere in the picture. In the beginning, he was so full of doubt that he destroyed more than 40 of these paintings, delaying his exhibition in Paris from 1904 to 1906.

That shift of painting the sky and trees as a reflection on the water versus a direct observation upended art history and opened the doors for abstract painting. What Monet did was make a painting about light and color, albeit through his observations of his waterlily pond. Little did he know what impact his paintings would have on the world and knowing about his studio practice of painting eight hours a day (standing the

entire time), and his need to capture an impression of a fleeting moment, gives us a deeper understanding of what the artist was trying to share through paint.

We know this because the art history books say so. But what if we could visit the artists’ studios and see the environment they work in? What if we had a chance to chat with the artists and ask questions like, “What is your main source of inspiration?” or “What kind of music do you listen to while you work?” “Where did you study or are you self-taught?” These tidbits of information help the viewer to have a fuller understanding of the artistic pursuit. And to add one more very important detail, the audience is a necessary part of fulfilling the artist’s vision because without viewers,

it brings up the philosophical question: If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody around to hear it, does it make a sound? In other words, the audience’s acknowledgment is important for the completion of the work. Well, as fate and luck would have it, there is a solution to this conundrum: the Tulare County Arts Consortium studio tours, featuring 28 artists and organized by Ampelio Mejia Perez, project director, in what is called the South Valley Art Tour (or SVAT).

types of art materials used span the spectrum from the granite stone carvings of Mark Robinson, whose images are his own personal iconography that is inspired by the details of nature, to the lagenaria gourd sculptures of Sam McKinney, Toni Best and Cecile Garrison, of which Cecile has been using the natural shapes as the starting point to create lyrical abstractions for more 30 years. Toni’s and Sam’s sculptures are infused with the imprint of the native Indian basket-weaving designs are blended with their own imagination, creating mysterious objects of beauty.

The Arts Consortium was originally formed in 1993 by Helen Stanton, who wanted to tap into the talents of Visalia and create a platform for the arts to be shared with the public. Since then, the Arts Consortium has grown and now represents all of the arts for Tulare County. Its mission statement sums it up best: “As the arts council for Tulare County and the local arts partner for the California Arts Council, our mission is to bring together artists, organizations and art enthusiasts to advocate, promote and provide opportunities to create and celebrate the arts for all Tulare County residents and visitors.”

The Central Valley is best known for its agriculture, but the human spirit is known for creative expression, which can take many forms through music, dance, theater and the visual arts. Now with this being the sixth Art Tour, the role of the artist is being recognized and championed in Tulare County.

The studio tours will span two days and feature artists in Visalia, Exeter, Woodlake and Three Rivers. The genres of art that will be on display range from realist paintings, such as the intimate life-snapshots of Glen Hill, who worked for 24 years as a Disney animator and now makes his home in Three Rivers, to ceramicist Louise Fisher, whose pieces are inspired in part by her childhood memories of growing up on the family farm in Strathmore.

Other artists, such as Nadi Spencer, Linda Hengst, Lavone Sterling, Nonnie Rhoades and Stevi Daniels, are inspired by nature and the beautiful surroundings of the Sierra foothills. There are also artists who make work informed by science fiction, popular culture and its place in the San Joaquin Valley, such as Rob Lopez and Francisco Alonso. The different

There is another lens artists see our world through and that is photography. The photographs of international photographer Gary Greeny, known for his African wildlife images and who has been photographing Tulare County for the past two years, will be on view. Don't be surprised when after seeing these photos, we will all be looking at our everyday surroundings with a new appreciation.

"Our mission is to bring together artists, organizations and art enthusiasts to advocate, promote and provide opportunities to create and celebrate the arts for all Tulare County residents and visitors.”

— Arts Consortium

Pottery and ceramics are also a part of the tour, ranging from the geometric clock designs of Joan Bayes to the handcrafted and nature-inspired works of Christine Sell-Porter. And there is also the River Water Pottery shop that overlooks the south fork of the Kaweah River.

And if a musical instrument and lessons are on the menu for the home, then Grace Note Music Studio in Visalia is the answer.

Lessons in piano, guitar, violin, voice, banjo, bass, drums and flute are offered.

The drive to Three Rivers from Visalia or Exeter is one of pristine beauty with the citrus groves, rolling hills and valley oaks giving creative souls the necessary ingredients to create. Artists each have their own reasons for creating and their own means of expressing through the medium of their choice, be it paint, pottery, photography, sculpture, weaving or music. The arts, throughout recorded history, are a part of a global language that springs forth from a need to share the human experience. These artists (of which I listed only a few) who call Tulare County their home are a part of that history of artistic expression. Enjoy the South Valley Art Tour on March 28-29!

For tickets and information about the South Valley Art Tour, visit artsconsortium.org/events/acsvat. L M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0 | L I F E S T Y L E

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A HEALTHY HARVEST OF LEADERSHIP Ag Foundation Program Cultivates Catalysts for a Vibrant Agricultural Community T E X T

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here are leadership programs that teach the basics. Then there are leadership programs that go far beyond, coaching individuals to look deep inside themselves to gain a broader view of their community and how they can impact it.

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation’s Agricultural Leadership Program does just that. The intensive developmental experience for up-andcoming agricultural leaders counts among its more than 1,300 alumni Rep. Devin Nunes; Paul Wenger, former California Farm Bureau Federation president; Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and other prominent members of California’s agricultural community who are making impact both in the United States and abroad.

At the 49th class commencement ceremony Feb. 8, foundation President Barry Bedwell said the curriculum developed by Shelli Hendricks, director of education, and professors at four

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partner universities — Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and UC Davis — offers world-class leadership information. With a mission of growing leaders who make a difference by being catalysts for a vibrant agricultural community, the learning focus goes beyond standard management fare. Major importance is placed on emotional intelligence, self-realization, empathy, motivation and social skills; participants then integrate those qualities into their individual leadership styles to benefit their communities. As fellows and alumni representing California agriculture throughout the state and beyond, this is of the utmost importance.

During the 17-month program, fellows attend 12 unique seminars providing valuable lessons that include classroom, team building and trust activities, with real-time exposure to real-life challenges, including homelessness, people trying to rise above gang affiliations, children with disabilities and California’s criminal justice system. A visit to Homeboy Industries

in Los Angeles and interacting with the homeless in Sacramento as they handed out socks on a cold December day were two of the many opportunities to hear and empathize with people’s stories.

In addition to activities throughout California, the class participated in national and international seminars, traveling to Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Russia and Lithuania.

Jared Plummer and his fellows appreciated the experiences they enjoyed, which very few people have. While in the nation’s capital, they toured the Russian Embassy in preparation for their international trip, received an after-dark tour of the Capitol Building and sat in the front row in the Supreme Court chamber.

In Russia and Lithuania, fellows learned about the Holocaust and Soviet oppression of the Baltic states. Along with the requisite photos in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square, they also met and interacted with farmers and business owners, visited a bakery and participated in a traditional Russian dance.

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Finishing with their last session on power and privilege, the class worked together to reinforce their understanding of how the circumstances people are born into and their life experiences create their stories and way of interacting with the world. Each new experience served to strengthen recognition of similarities and differences, and respect for both, creating a class culture of encouragement and challenge. Through it all, said fellow Brean Bettencourt, they became a family that will stay connected.

Throughout the ceremony on the Fresno State campus, each of the 24 fellows had an opportunity to share how the leadership lessons have helped them to discover, as new alumna Laura Pires said, “who we are and who we have the potential to be.”

With a pronounced emphasis on telling their own stories and learning how emotions affect them as individuals, the education team and staff play a crucial role beyond providing seminars. They travel with the class and work one-onone with them on personal development.

Dr. Peggy Perry (professor emeritus, Cal Poly Pomona) is especially involved in coaching, which, although it has been a part of the program for eight years, has become increasingly important to the fellows as a valuable tool in their journey.

Perry actually visited fellows on their home turf, throughout the state.

Luis Calderon said that “being the first generation in the U.S., …what difference can I make?” He confided that coming from a culture where showing emotion is not encouraged, being vulnerable as the program requires, was a great challenge. Pushing himself to overcome it has helped him understand that everyone has distinct backgrounds, personal trials and motives that drive them. The time away from family and work made him realize how much he loves both.

Betty Lindeman shared her personal hurdles and reiterated that everyone has a story. She encouraged those present to “be our own best servant leaders ... in our businesses, our homes and communities.”

Fellows Cherie France and Adam Martinez expressed their gratitude to the families for holding down respective forts during their approximately 50 nights away from home. They thanked employers who looked beyond the short-term inconvenience of brief absences to the long-term benefits of the investment.

The goal of the program is learning and leveraging strengths and improving weaknesses to be change makers and servant leaders in their communities, so that each class creates a service project at its culmination makes perfect sense.

Alyssa Houtby told of the fellows’ desire to “be a ladder of opportunity for every-

one” when considering their options.

Seeing the ever-growing challenges of food insecurity among school-aged children, fellows reached out to the Central Valley Food Bank and raised more than $30,000 in six months to establish a food pantry at Malaga Elementary School in Fresno as part of the food bank’s School Pantry Program.

Since they exceeded their goal of the $12,000 necessary to fund and stock the food pantry for a year, they were also able to donate $2,500 to the Evergreen School District’s Food Pantry in Cottonwood in Shasta County, where more than 30 percent of the population lives in poverty. They are also helping refurbish a Little League baseball diamond and soccer field in Greenfield, a small farmworker community in Monterey County. The fellows have taken to heart the advice of Jeff Elder, foundation board chair and Class 35 alumnus to “pay it forward in time, talent and treasure.”

Bedwell advised the graduates: “This program continues to evolve … providing excellence in guidance for our mission.

This is not the end of your 17 months.

We want to see more of you as alumni, using the skills and tools gained through the program to proactively and effectively be involved in and benefit California agriculture, be it on public or private platforms.” L

Dr. Joseph Castro, the first Fresno State president born and raised in the Central Valley, commended the graduates, honored their service and sacrifices, and thanked the families. He spoke of importance of diverse leaders who can “communicate effectively and navigate the social, economic and policy issues of the day.”

Throughout the morning’s program, personal stories wove a tapestry of different backgrounds, challenges and emotions.

Steven Filter said he learned confidence and the importance of sharing his story; appreciation of the journey to his goals (“I must turn around and enjoy the view from the mountain rather than racing to the top”); of the imperfections of life, of strengths and weaknesses, convinced that “I know I’m meant to be a leader and I know I’m meant to make a difference.”

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Cherie France and Adam Martinez at their commencement. Photography by Vannesa Wright Photography.

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LAMB BARBACOA MARINADE INGREDIENTS

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pril, the month of unpredictable weather. Whether you welcome warmer days or hang on to the last of cool and crisp, this month’s menu is sure to give you warm, fuzzy feelings. Ol’ Buckaroo, a farm-to-table restaurant in Three Rivers, and chef Ryan Rusie give some spice to spring with this Mexican-inspired menu.

2 large dried ancho chilies (make sure they are soft and pliable) 1 chipotle en adobo, plus 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon agave Juice from 1 lime 2 cups good quality beef broth 3 garlic cloves, skin removed 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon ground clove 1 tablespoon ground pasilla pepper 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano leaves 2 teaspoons kosher salt DIRECTIONS Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high until all ingredients are well broken down. Reserve for later use.

LAMB BARBACOA INGREDIENTS 5 pound bone in leg of lamb (boneless will work as well) 1 large brown onion, sliced 1 large orange, sliced 5 garlic cloves, skin removed 3 dried avocado leaves (bay leaves will work as well) 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt Banana leaves Barbacoa marinade 2 tablespoons canola oil DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 325 F. With a sharp knife, thoroughly inspect the leg of lamb and make sure that there are no shards of bone that might have been left from the butcher.

In a large Dutch oven or cast-iron pot, layer enough banana leaf to cover the bottom and the sides.

Arrange the sliced onion, garlic and avocado or bay leaves on the banana leaf.

Blanket the sliced orange on top of the first layer.

Place the seared lamb on top of the orange.

Pour the reserved marinade over the lamb, making sure to cover all sides of the lamb.

Wrap the lamb with more banana leaf, cover with tight-fitting lid and place in preheated oven.

Roast for 3 1/2-4 hours or until the lamb easily pulls apart with a fork.

Score the fat of the lamb and season with the salt.

Pull apart the lamb and discard any unwanted fat.

Sear all sides of lamb in a cast-iron skillet with canola oil until meat is caramelized.

Place pulled meat in an oven-proof dish or leave in pot it was cooked in.

Remove from heat and place on a plate.

Pour braising liquid over lamb and adjust seasoning as needed.

Warm banana leaves slightly over an open flame (this will bring some of the natural oils out).

Set aside.

Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve with blue corn tortillas, salsa, pickled onion, cilantro and avocado slices.

Salsa and pickled onion recipes online at www.visalialifestyle.com M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0 | L I F E S T Y L E

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STREET CORN AND CHAYOTE SALAD INGREDIENTS 8 medium ears of sweet white corn (the smaller the kernel, the sweeter the corn) 2 cups julienned chayote squash 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons fine diced red onion 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese 1 teaspoon kosher salt

DIRECTIONS Clean corn.

Cut corn kernels from stalks, being careful to not cut into the cob. (The easiest way to remove the corn is to put the tip of the stalk into a bundt pan. This helps hold it in place and the kernels will fall into the pan.) Set aside when finished.

Heat a nonstick pan on high heat; add oil.

When cooked, remove corn from pan and cool down in refrigerator.

While cooling, make the dressing and refrigerate.

When corn is cooled, add other salad ingredients, dressing and mix well.

Refrigerate until further use.

When the oil begins to smoke, add the corn and 1 teaspoon kosher salt and cook until the corn begins to get a golden color.

(Do not overcook as you want to retain the corn's natural sweet juice; 4-5 minutes should do it.)

Salad will keep for three days.

DRESSING INGREDIENTS

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

DIRECTIONS

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon pasilla chili powder

1/3 cup crema oaxaquena or any other

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Mexican crema

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate until further use. Dressing will keep for one week.

Juice from 1/2 lime

Couple cracks of black peppercorns

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GRAPEFRUIT CURD TART WITH CHAMOMILE AND FENNEL POLLEN CREAM Recipe by Nicky French CRUST INGREDIENTS 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup coconut flakes FILLING INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons cornstarch 3/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice 3 large organic egg yolks 6 tablespoons butter, cut in cubes CREAM INSTRUCTIONS 1/2 cup whip cream 3 bags chamomile tea 1 tablespoon fennel pollen PREPARATION TIME: 1 hour COOK TIME: 45 minutes TOTAL TIME: 5 hours 45 minutes DIRECTIONS Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease a 9-inch-round tart pan.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt in the bowl of food processor and pulse.

Drizzle melted butter over the mixture until wet like sand.

Transfer — mix in coconut.

Press to the bottom of the tart pan.

Bake the crust until set, 8-10 minutes (we like it toasty colored).

Let cool.

In a medium saucepan at medium heat, combine the sugar with cornstarch and add grapefruit juice.

Cook, stirring, until thickened and bubbly.

Gradually whisk in half of the hot mixture into the egg yolk, to temper.

Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 2-3 minutes.

Remove from heat and add in the butter pieces.

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Stir in until melted.

Infuse the heavy cream with the

Pour the mixture into the cooled crust and smooth out the top.

chamomile tea bags, simmer on the stove,

Cover with plastic wrap against the top of the tart.

Let chill at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

transfer to refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Add the fennel pollen, whip.

Serve over the chilled tart and added chopped pistachios if you like.

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THE BOONE RESIDENCE MUSEUM-WORTHY ART COLLECTION FILLS VISALIA HOME THAT WARMLY WELCOMES FRIENDS AND FAMILY T E X T

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ollecting art is a hobby that Visalia physicians Michael and Andrea Boone began as newlyweds and, 28 years later, their collection has grown along with their family of three daughters.

Their north Visalia home is an ideal space for their plein air collection, full of natural light, lots of wall space and family members who value the story behind each piece. By regularly acquiring paintings over the years, the couple has been able to combine several of their joys: travel, time with family and each other, and furthering the legacy of Andrea’s father.

Their house does not resemble a gallery or museum, but rather a home that provides respite from their hectic careers, Michael as an ophthalmologist and Andrea as a gynecologist. It is also a favorite gathering place for their daughters’ friends, a popular stop for prom photographs and sleepovers.

The five-bedroom home was built in 1994

by Richard and Jane Allen as a family residence. The Boones purchased it in 2015, knowing at first glance that it would not only house their artwork, but be a home that could see them through the next phases of life as empty nesters and, hopefully someday, grandparents.

Following a six-month renovation led by contractor Brandon Ford, the residence was updated with new flooring, countertops, paint and light fixtures. Forest green had been the dominant color, both inside and out.

“The neighborhood knew it as the brick and green house, and I think they were slightly sad when we changed it,” Andrea said with a laugh. Michael added, “The bones of the house were perfect.” Today, the green has been replaced with a dark brown accent color, which complements the stately brick facade, dormers, shutters and doors.

As guests park on the circular driveway that abuts the elegant two-story and approach the front door, a glimpse of interior beauty is revealed through side light windows. Stepping over the threshold and after a greeting by two friendly Shih-Tzus, guests immediately see artwork in the wood-paneled library on their left and the formal dining room on the right.

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Plein air, which translated roughly from French means “outdoors,” is a style of painting that is created by the artist outside, on location, and especially observant of natural light. Thus, landscapes from throughout California fill the Boone home and focus on the period between the early 1900s to present day.

The couple met as medical students at the University of Southern California during an anatomy lab. They married in 1992 and shortly thereafter began collecting art.

Influenced by Andrea’s parents, the couple explained that they would tag along on weekend trips to visit galleries and see art shows. Before their daughters were born, they also enjoyed traveling to Europe to look at and collect art with her parents, Yvonne and Edward Boseker of North

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Tustin. “Those were really fun trips,” Andrea said. “We would take one once a year.”

home. Some of the scenes are especially historic as they were painted before development occurred.

After completing their residencies in St. Louis, the couple decided to settle in Mike’s hometown of Visalia to be near family. Mike’s parents, Dick and Cathy Boone, are longtime Visalia residents who now live in Exeter. Two of Mike’s three brothers, as well as several aunts and uncles, also live in the area.

When Andrea’s father passed away 12 years ago, the family decided to honor his legacy by giving an award in his name to an artist in the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (lpapa.org) each year. This year’s winner is Aaron Schuerr of Livingston, Mont. According to the LPAPA’s website, the organization was founded in 1996 “with a mission to preserve the history of the plein air movement of 19th century California, to support the tradition as it exists today, and to foster a network among plein air painters nationwide.” The organization is considered the steward of Laguna’s plein air legacy, which established the town as an artists’ colony in 1903.

As their own family began to grow, so did their art collection. They decided to focus on pieces created by living artists, making their collection more contemporary than that of Andrea’s parents. Coastal scenes recognizable to many fill the home, including locations in Pebble Beach, Carmel, Laguna Beach and Cayucos, where the Boones also have another

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Some of the more well-known names in the Boone collection include William Keith (1839-1911), known as the “Dean of California Painters” who created their favorite painting, “Carmel Bay,” located in the great room.

Another favorite of Andrea’s is by Maurice Logan (1886-1977), who painted “Stanford Quad” in 1928 depicting the iconic location on Stanford University’s campus before bricks were installed.

Andrea completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford.

“Often, we loan our historical pieces to museums for exhibitions,” Michael said, and at the time of this interview, one piece was on loan to the Crocker Museum in Sacramento.

But the Boones agree that three paintings in their home are most precious — commissioned pieces of their daughters in various stages of childhood, playing on the shoreline of their favorite beaches.

Their plan is to give one painting to each daughter when the time is right.

The open layout of the home lends itself to large family gatherings, which the Boones cherish and look forward to, especially now that two of their daughters are in college. Their oldest daughter, Kaitlin, is working toward a master’s at Santa Clara University, while Megan is pursuing a bachelor’s in nursing at Dominican University in San Rafael.

The youngest daughter, Natalie, is a junior at Central Valley Christian.

Preparing dinner in the kitchen while one or more daughters tackles homework at the table in the great room is one of their favorite times of the day. “This is the central hub, where all the activity is,” Michael said. In the mornings, the family likes to gather in the breakfast nook, overlooking the water and listening to the fountain in their neighborhood, The Lakes.

Outside, entertaining is key, and their backyard and pool area are ready for guests to arrive. Several sets of tables and chairs, a large expanse of grass and an outdoor barbecue area herald the return of warmer temperatures and summer evenings on the patio. Tasteful wroughtiron fencing allows the Boones to close off areas to keep children and pets safe from both the pool and lake water.

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“The neighborhood knew it as the brick and green house, and I think they were slightly sad when we changed it,” Andrea said with a laugh.

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A large downstairs basement is another hub of activity, especially when high schoolers come over. Outfitted with a Ms. Pacman video game console, pool table and plenty of couches for lounging, the space gives kids room to mingle and socialize out of earshot of adults, but still in a safe place. “We wanted the home where all the friends gather,” Andrea said. Alternately, it is a fun hangout for adults, too.

An office in the basement also allows the two doctors to work from home when necessary. In an homage to the 1990s-era forest green hue that used to inundate the home, the Boones kept

the office countertop as a throwback to the home’s original look.

Upstairs, spacious bedrooms allow for privacy while keeping the family on the same floor in the evenings. Each daughter’s bedroom reflects her personality and inclination toward the arts, as well. The benefit of surrounding their children with gorgeous artwork has been seeing their own confidence in both the visual and performing arts take hold.

Of special note is the furniture in Kaitlin’s bedroom, made by Andrea’s grandfather, a woodshop teacher. The furniture was used by Yvonne as a child, then Andrea, and now Kaitlin.

Looking to the future, the Boones are hopeful that their daughters will return home for visits with their families.

"Someday when our kids have their families, we can all be gathered comfortably here,” Michael said. “That’s what we’ve experienced with Andrea’s parents. All the siblings gather together with their children. It will be a place where our guests are comfortable. We all pack in at Andrea’s parents’ home, but there’s still room for everyone. It makes for good family time.”

Additional artwork lines the upstairs hallways and leads guests back downstairs toward the front door. The Boones

said some guests in their home inquire about the art collection while others don’t seem to notice. Either way, they encourage homeowners to fill their walls and shelves with whatever brings them joy.

But for this couple, original art offers more than meets the eye.

“Unlike decorative art or prints, original art often has a story behind it,” Michael said. “Our contemporary paintings remind us of where and why we chose the painting and often of meeting the artist. Our historical pieces tell their own story of California before the landscapes were developed. We are blessed to be surrounded by our original art every day.” L

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Photo by Historic Theatre Photos

FOX THEATRE A VISALIA LOVE STORY TEXT BY MAJOR ROGERS

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n the evening of Feb. 27, 1930, something big was about to happen. Not “town of Visalia”

big. What Visalia was getting was something larger than its population of slightly more than 7,000. What Visalia was getting was Valley big.

It was built, and they did come by the thousands, from all over, to see something grand. The lucky hundreds who had secured tickets for the evening show felt like Hollywood red-carpet royalty as they entered the lavish lobby. The evening's showing of "The Lone Star Ranger" was part of the emerging cinematic advancement of sound added to film.

What they came to see was the opening of Visalia's downtown Fox Theatre, a mission-style building that stood majestically on the westernmost part of

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downtown’s business district along Main Street. The theatre was designed to transfer customers to a different place and time, and those who entered were not disappointed.

The state-of-the-art complex was part of a larger nationwide trend, as Twentieth Century Fox theatres and the new “talkie” films spread across the nation. Each Fox was decorated as an atmospheric theater.

Some were designed with Egyptian motifs, others as Mayan temples or Moorish palaces.

The Visalia Fox was designed to appear as a Spanish mission-style building.

Its prominent feature was the towering lighted clock tower, which was fitted on three sides with large timepieces, visible for blocks around. The inside was decorated with an eastern Indian deco appearance. Two replica palaces flank the stage, with painted gardens on the walls that create a peaceful atmosphere. A grand genie face sits above the stage, overlooking it all.

In the lobby, 154 single-file elephants are painted on the sides of the ornate ceiling cross beams high above the plush carpet. The ceiling was painted blue,

with actual twinkling electric stars in it. The $225,000 building was well ahead of its time, and Visalia was getting something special.

Right away, theatre management went to work breathing life into the theatre experience. There were various promotions offered in the opening decade, all designed to attract the community to be part of it all. Along with the movie screen that could be retracted, a full performing stage was present.

Management searched for wild ways to draw crowds. In June 1930, as a promotion of the theatre world, the famed Leo the Lion was brought to Visalia and displayed to the public. Leo was the MGM mascot, his famous roar seen at the start of MGM's movies. Acts like Zaro the Famous Astrologist entertained by giving advice on various aspects of life, while including feats of magic. The “Mechanical Man,” who was vaudeville and circus famous, performed outside, offering $100 to anyone who could make him “laugh, smile or talk” while he was locked in a pose.

In 1933, the theatre offered to produce

a full-scale wedding on stage. All of the decorations and wedding atmosphere items, along with a honeymoon trip to San Francisco, were provided by the theatre. Local merchants donated items, taking advantage of the notoriety, giving the lucky couple a handsome proverbial dowry reported worth several hundreds of dollars. The only catch: The wedding was done publicly. The theatre picked a young couple who were given much more of a wedding than they were going to be able to provide for themselves.

Other wild and bizarre acts were intelligent animal circuses that promised a “complete circus on stage.” One act was headlined: “Featuring Ginger the Comedy Mule.” The Fox also became the place to see vaudeville shows of both local and traveling comedic, dramatic or dancing troupes performing on stage.

Children-oriented acts and Saturday morning “kiddie performances” were routine on stage. Soon after the birth of this trend, the theatre was dubbed “Vaud-Fox-Ville” because of the opportunity to routinely see shows.

Along with onstage presentations, management looked for ways to draw in a constant flow of movie customers.

It was still before home television, but

in 1930, the nation was fresh into the Depression. Movie attendance started to rise again, but still needed an added push to get the crowds. On traditionally slow nights, attendance was boosted through promotions like Cash Night Wednesdays. Here, a random name from the phone book was chosen. If the person was in attendance, they would win a cash prize. If they weren't, the cash rolled over to the next week until the prize was claimed.

the theatre became a multi-usage facility.

Thus came the opportunity to promote the sale of war bonds and stamps, with visuals on screen stressing the importance of the patriotic move. The theatre, as well as the other Fox theatres across the country, paired with the March of Dimes, the nonprofit that provides medical well-being for mothers and babies. The community was able to enjoy an escape into the movies, while helping benefit realities within our country.

In 1938, there was the Million Dollar Legs contest and later the Rage of Paris leg contest. These were promotions created using the same name of the movies playing that evening. Contestants would show up and walk across the stage; the curtain was drawn waist level so the participants stayed anonymous to the cheering audience. The most reaction won a cash prize for the evening. Other promotions were “Ham-n-Bacon Night,” where the theatre drew the names of lucky attendees who literally took home the bacon.

As wartime rolled on, the Fox lost some staff members, including management, when the boys went overseas to defend the nation. The theatre became in many ways more important than ever. In a time of great fear, the Fox provided the community therapeutic escape for a few hours in a day. Visalia’s Mayor J. Pierce Gannon recognized this and proclaimed, “It is at the theater, for a few hours, where relaxation may be done in order that the all-out war effort may be carried ahead, hard the next day.”

In 1940, the Fox hosted a Bob Hope film called “Ghost Breakers.” On opening night, the first 25 patrons to wear a ghost costume were admitted free. Soon after, as the United States entered World War II,

As the ’50s arrived, wartime had begun its journey into history, and locally Visalia's population boomed, from roughly 12,000 in 1950 to 75,000 in 1990. These decades all presented their challenges to the theatre. In 1950, management presented

C O M M U N I T Y

the latest craze in movies. The 3-D experience featured movies that typically dealt with action or horror. Moviegoers wore disposable glasses with special plastic filmed lenses that brought more “life" to the screen. Along with this, the Fox made a programming change that would end the days of full stage productions. This came with installation of the CinemaScope screen, which was larger and wider. The experience proved to bring moviegoers away from the trending television sets and back to the theatre. However, with the opening of the Visalia Theatre on Main and Garden streets and construction of two drive-in movie theatres in town, the Fox continued to struggle.

In November 1976, after a six-week hiatus, the theatre, which now belonged to Mann Theatres, was refitted as a triplex theatre.

Over the next couple of decades, the theatre started to show its age. Slow upkeep and failing utilities ran down the spirit of the place. Pieces of the old theatre were broken off and sold. Lavish historical paintings were taken off the walls and sold. A grand pipe organ that had been part of the theatre for much of its history, played before stage shows or during intermission, was dismantled and sold, as management didn't want to pay tax on an instrument that “wasn't being used.”

The Fox, worn-down and beaten, almost forgotten by the community where it once stood as a symbol of prominence, showed its last movie on Nov. 7, 1996.

Fittingly, the movie title was “A Long Kiss Goodnight,” shown to roughly a dozen attendees. And then the theatre's lights were turned out and it closed its doors.

Almost immediately, a concerned coalition of community members formed. This was the grassroots effort that led to formation of Friends of the Fox, a volunteer group still active in preservation of the theatre, a nonprofit created to return the tired theatre to its former glory days. The group persuaded the Los Angeles owner to donate the theatre to the town. Ultimately, more than $1 million in donations were spent on refurbishing, painting and polishing the theatre. The end result sought by the Friends was to make the property once again the crown jewel of Visalia. And on 44 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

Nov. 20, 1999, three years after the initial closing, the dream came to life.

The history of the Fox Theatre reads like a beautiful love story. In its time of youth, the theatre seemed to be something that would live forever. Eventually, growth and progress took away much of the former attention and affection for the building as Visalia took the property for granted. It just took a moment for visionary community members to realize what we were about to lose, while we still had it, and the love story of our beloved theatre was born anew. L

*Much of the historical information within this article was found thanks to the Visalia Branch Library archive center, which contains historical clips from the Visalia Times Delta, as well as the marvelous book "Visalia's Fabulous Fox," which is available at the library.

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F A S H I O N

SPRINGING INTO SPRING STYLE T E X T

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M O S L E Y

ou've checked out the straw handbags, the floral midiskirts, the cropped culottes and the flatform shoes — just a few of the latest fashion trends this spring that you can't wait to wear to chase away the winter chills. But where do you start? And how do you pull it all together? It's never too early to dream of sunny days ahead.

Here are some tips for styling your wardrobe this spring.

Slip into a pair of platform sneakers to give them a hip street-chic look or a pair of heels for work.

Start with a trendy pattern. Polka dots are running circles around the fashion crowd. Buy a polka-dot bow blouse, a polka-dot dress or a polka-dot blazer.

Dress them up or down with what you already have in your closet. Instant update!

Mix your prints and patterns. This may be one of the hardest styling tricks to master. The eclectic look is, however, one of the best ways to freshen up.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you are experimenting with this trend.

Address the dress, and add to it. Wear your dress like a tunic top over skinny pants. The best dresses this season are soft slip lingerie-like dresses that easily slide over T-shirts and leggings or jeans.

The satin dress layered over pants or worn solo is one of the season's biggest trends. Add some sleek sandals and you've got spring at its best. Throw on a denim jacket for chilly days.

And if skinny pants aren't your thing, you can always get comfortable in a pair of fl owing wide-leg pants or athleticinspired track pants. Pants that are a little on the slouchy side can even be worn to the office. Just dress them up with a classic trench and white shirt.

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The high-low mix can also be a fun way to put some unique personality into your wardrobe. Team lightweight cardigans with playful pleated midiskirts, or toss on a leather motorcycle jacket instead of a blazer over a tube top (yes, tube tops are making a comeback!) paired with your favorite jeans.

Keep in mind that bigger prints do make you look bigger. It's just a fashion fact of life. Smaller patterns are much more flattering, especially if you are combining several of them in one outfit. Stick to colors that are low contrast.

The soft floral pastels and wallpaper prints of this season are perfect for mixing and matching spring's more relaxed separates. Animal prints always look great and make solid pieces pop.

This spring, animal prints in vivid colors are prowling the streets.

Add newness to your spring wardrobe by wearing leather and suede. As technology in fabric production advances,

so does innovative clothing in featherweight designs. A lightweight material in a sherbet pastel color is perfect for warmer days. A tangerine leather jacket or a cool suede raspberry tank will give your wardrobe a breath of fresh air.

The all-white pantsuit is another way to put some serious style into your spring and summer wardrobe. The white jean has become a staple in warm weather, so why not the pantsuit? And if you're really daring, check out the new "shorts suits" heading into the season ahead.

Team them with white boots for even more white-hot style.

And don't forget about accessories. They can transform an outfit that you've worn for years. This is where you can instantly update your closet for a new season.

It can be a trendy new lace-up gladiator sandal, a tie-dyed tote, a chunky chain necklace or a pair of dangling geometric earrings.

Belts are probably the biggest trending accessory, however, cinching in waists on everything from dresses to jackets to jeans. Scarves are also good bets.

Whether you wear a colorful printed scarf wrapped around a ponytail, tied around your forehead or just hanging around your neck, a new scarf or belt will wrap up any outfit this spring with a pop of polished style. Time to start planning your spring break! L

T R A V E L E R ' S

T R E K

The Alsace Region P H O T O S

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Many of Colmar's colorful and quaint original half-timbered buildings have clearly settled, making one question how anyone can live safely inside.

T R A V E L E R ' S

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A REAL-LIFE FAIRY TALE DESTINATION

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estled between Germany and Switzerland, the hilly Alsace region of eastern France lies in the Rhine River plain and foothills between the west bank of the Rhine and the Vosges Mountains. Renowned for its vineyards, the area’s quaint cobblestoned villages with their steep-roofed, medieval half-timbered buildings, numerous castles and profusion of flowers is truly the stuff of fairy tales. If the region’s physical attributes weren’t enough to create a land where visitors could envision magical and imaginary beings, the combination of storks on the rooftops and witches hanging at doorways and windows seal the deal!

More than 70 towns and villages line the famed Alsace Wine Route, which spans just over 100 miles beginning below the northern capital of Strasbourg and ending south of Colmar. Passed back and forth from German to French governance for the last two centuries, the Alsatian heritage and culture are an interesting blend of both countries, as is the wine.

The area is best known for its whites (such as riesling and Gewürztraminer).

Visitors are often surprised to fi nd that a glass here bears little resemblance to characteristics typically attributed to a particular varietal (think dry rather than sweet). Requiring that 100% of the grape variety labeled be used in its making (unlike the U.S., where the stipulation is 75%), the wines here are generally described as fresh and aromatic.

The food is a meshing of cultures as well.

Beer is a favorite drink (Kronenbourg or Meteor), and heavier German meats, potatoes and warm sauerkraut (choucroute in French) are commonly eaten (but often served with sauces more reminiscent of French dishes). The traditional favorite dish of Flammekueche (Tarte Flambée in French) looks similar to an oval or rectangular thin-crust pizza (minus the tomatoes) covered in melted cheese, crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions and bacon. As a lover of paté, I jumped at the chance to attend a tasting. My taste buds were ready for rich, smooth duck or goose 50 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

Hunawihr's pastoral charm, with its narrow cobblestone walkways and lovely half-timbered buildings, has earned it a spot on the coveted list of Most Beautiful Villages of France.

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liver mousse, but the triangles of oily pressed meat and fish were a disappointment. I was equally surprised by the food considered a symbol of Alsace, the bretzel.

I expected it to taste just like it looked — a thick German-style pretzel — but it was much closer to a tasty brioche roll sprinkled with salt.

And about those storks. If you imagined that they were something decorative, think again. These white birds with their red beaks and long red legs are quite real, standing 4-5 feet in height and weighing up to 20 pounds. Their nests, often reused for many years, consist of solidly built stick structures over 6 feet in diameter and 10 feet in depth. Most sit on strong man-made platforms atop rooflines placed by local governments to help in the conservation of this threatened species. These sturdy bases encourage safe nesting choices rather than atop power poles or chimneys where their habitation is more precarious and can cause damage. Considered a symbol of good luck, both adult and young storks return to where they were born year after year. Their broad wingspan allows them to soar, where they are an aerodynamic sight to behold.

But the idea that anyone would want his bird flying with a swaddled baby dangling from its sharp beak is downright bizarre.

Most agree that the concept of this infant “delivery service” probably began in medieval northern Europe. The practice at the time was for couples to wed during the summer solstice, coinciding with the storks’ annual nine-month migration from Europe to Africa. When the storks returned to welcome their chicks in the spring, many couples were then having their first children. This coincidence had many seeing this bird as the herald of new life. The legend gained further traction with publication of Hans Christian Andersen’s story in the 19th century in which storks plucked babies from ponds and lakes and delivered them to deserving families.

Thankfully, the witches are only decorative, but they are in fact yet another local symbol of good luck. Although their elongated noses and warty chins wouldn’t seem to be the embodiment of good fortune, the 17th-century legend behind their use puts a better face on the practice. Folklore has it that Marie Wolf 52 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

lost her fiancé in battle while defending their city against intruders. Full of grief, she shut herself away with her black cat and she soon was declared a witch by village gossips. Her uncontrolled sobbing while wandering the besieged city’s ramparts terrorized intruders, causing them to flee. Transformed overnight into a guardian of the people, these witches (symbolizing Marie) are hung near windows and doors to protect the family within and drive away evil.

Despite the area’s pastoral splendor and quaintness, it would be redundant to attempt to visit all of the towns and villages along the Alsace Wine Route.

Here are the ones most “stop-worthy”: Colmar: With its population of 70,000, this town is referred to as Little Venice for its many canals. Of all the towns and villages, it has the best-preserved historic city center and is absolutely charming.

It sits at the southern end of the 100-mile wine route, and its many restaurants, shops, small hotels and bed-and-breakfast options make it an excellent home base while visiting the region.

Strasbourg: At the northern end is the region’s capital, a city of 275,000. With many of the same pastoral qualities as the smaller towns, it offers the museums and modern features found in a city.

Top: The Strasbourg astronomical clock is believed to be the oldest one in the world with mechanical figures.

Above: The Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine, makes an island of the city's beautiful historic center with its medieval bridges and towers.

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Strasbourg is referred to as the Christmas City. Its Christkindelsmärik (the Alsatian dialect’s origins of the term “Christmas Market”) is the oldest and largest in Europe. First held in 1570, the market runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 31 each year.

Filling the central squares and surrounding the city’s magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame, the market has a vast array of handmade items, exhibitions by local craftsmen, mulled wine and local goodies.

The city’s cathedral, founded in 1015, is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world. It is considered a symbol of the enduring spirit of the Alsatian people. Its astronomical clock is believed to be the oldest example of automata. Originally from the 1300s, it’s had two ambitious rebuilds.

The current Renaissance-era masterpiece is a result of the combined work of clockmakers, sculptors, painters and automaton designers. It boasts a

working mechanical model of the solar system, a perpetual clock and multiple characters parading past while a life-sized rooster beats its wings and crows.

Riquewihr: This fortified town in the heart of the vineyards is 30 minutes northwest of Colmar and one hour from Strasbourg.

Dating back to the Roman Empire, its pedestrian-only town center is filled with examples of the town’s rich architectural and historic heritage. It has two castles: the Reichenstein just outside town and the Castle of Count MontbeliardWürttemberg within the city walls. No visit here would be complete without trying the local specialty — green sauerkraut with herbed cream sauce.

Ribeauvillé: This lovely little village 2 1/2 miles from Riquewihr literally blossoms with quaintness; its exceptional spring and summer floral displays have earned it a coveted four-star Village Fleuri

Below: Ribeauvill� has a remarkable backdrop — a castle on the hillside overlooking the town, a mixture of German and French culture. At right: German-looking food with sauerkraut, sausages on rolls and pretzels, but the pretzels taste like salted brioche and the sausages are on French baguettes. One of the traditional foods of the Alsace Region is the Tarte Flambee, like a thin crust pizza without tomatoes. The melted cheese and bacon were tasty but the addition of sour cream was a little unusual.

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A stork stands on a pathway at the Hunawihr Stork Reintroduction Center. Past injuries keep it from flying so it is a permanent resident at the center.

(or flowering village) ranking.

Hunawihr: Just 2 miles from Ribeauvillé,

During the Middle Ages, Ribeauvillé was ruled by the count of Ribeaupierre, known as the “king” of the region's traveling musicians, who paid dues to the count for protection and gathered in the village each year for the Fiddlers' Festival (still held the first Sunday in September).

Seemingly a center for unusual cultural events, the Kougelhopf Festival is held in May (devoted to this cake made with raisins and almonds) along with the Festival of Ancient Music in October.

the pastoral charm of this village has

An important symbol of the Alsatian heritage, the majestic Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg (high royal castle) is 20 minutes outside town on a rocky promontory 2,300 feet high. This 12thcentury castle was strategically situated to provide defense from invaders.

Besieged and pillaged in 1633, it was abandoned for 200 years until fully restored in the early 1900s.

earned it a place on the coveted list of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.” It has two unique attractions: the Butterfly Garden (with exotic butterflies in greenhouses replicating their natural habitats) and the Stork Reintroduction Center (which reintroduces abandoned and injured storks into the wild).

Sélestat: Located about 20 minutes from Ribeauvillé, Sélestat is recognized as a city of art and history. It has two unique attractions: a library founded in 1452, with thousands of valuable manuscripts dating from the 7th to 16th centuries, and a museum with working bakery dedicated to the art and techniques of Alsatian baking. Visitors can watch bakers create and then sample local specialties such as bretzels, kougelhopf, brioche, bredele (cookies) and a variety of breads.

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Sign your child up today!

559-732-4433 ext. 101 Joanna@rawhidebaseball.com M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0 | L I F E S T Y L E

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V I S A L I A

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

D

riving an opportunity economy, the Visalia Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst, convener and champion of local businesses. Each month, the chamber facilitates a variety of events to support and further the success of the community.

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his year brings new beginnings for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce: programs, staff, members and more. In the past year, we welcomed staff members Amanda Arreola, events and marketing coordinator; Charlie Sapanara, director of partnership development, and Jena Rodriguez, Impressions coordinator, to strengthen the chamber’s mission to be a catalyst, convener and champion of local businesses.

We have welcomed many new members, including Dani Blain Real Estate, which hosted a ribbon cutting in February to celebrate its grand opening. Many more events are scheduled in the coming months, and we invite the community to come out to celebrate and support our members and business community.

As the legislative climate is ever-changing, your Visalia chamber is the voice of business.

We are particularly vocal about preventing senseless state mandates. Recently, your chamber opposed SB 850, SB 873 and AB 648. These bills would have killed local jobs and driven businesses to close. We are also working to fix AB 5, which is affecting a number of local businesses.

• AB 648: Oppose. This bill imposes stringent requirements on already federally regulated wellness programs and creates employer criminal and civil liability for violations of those requirements, which will discourage and likely eliminate the potential for voluntary workplace wellness programs 56 L I F E S T Y L E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0

that benefit employees and contribute to a healthy workforce.

• AB 5. The impacts of AB 5 and the Dynamex court decision have been felt across the state as Californians have lost contracts, lost work and are limited on new work opportunities. We have also seen the impacts to nonprofits that have been forced to limit or shut down programs, as well as our local arts programs closing down productions.

• SB 873: Oppose. Exposes businesses to costly litigation for a consumer’s assertion that any price difference on “substantially similar” goods, even a nominal amount, is based on gender and therefore the consumer is entitled to a minimum of $4,000.

• SB 850: Oppose. Eliminates worker flexibility and exposes employers to costly penalties, litigation and government enforcement by mandating employers in the retail, grocery or restaurant industries, including employers that have hybrid operations that include a retail or restaurant section, to provide a 21-day work schedule and face penalties and litigation if the employer changes the schedule with less than seven days notice.

We understand the need of a strong workforce and continue our educational partnerships.

The chamber was excited to host two local students from the Golden West Business Finance Academy for their job shadow day. They spent the day learning what the chamber is, the role it plays in the community and how they can take an active role. L

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C H A M B E R

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C O M M E R C E

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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.

B

uilding a strong local economy is the top priority of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce. The chamber works to attain this by being a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for a thriving community, while representing the interests of business with government, promoting Tulare, and partnering to create economic opportunities.

Providing business engagement opportunities is at the core of the chamber. In February, Encore Theatre Company and the Rotary Club of Tulare co-hosted the Business After Hours Networking Mixer. Encore presents multiple live productions each year and has additional programs for youth.

The Rotary Club serves Tulare diligently and assists other organizations within the community and internationally.

Visit encoretulare.org to learn about the theatre, and call (559) 686-1547 for information on Rotary.

At the World Ag Expo, the chamber was able to promote Tulare and the region on an international level at the International Business Center. Rotary

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and the U.S. Commercial Service partnered with the chamber to provide hospitality, business connections and language translation. IBC team members met with people from around the globe, including Italy, Nigeria, India, Romania, Germany, Portugal and Russia, to name a few.

Important connections were made.

Evidence of a strengthened local economy was recently celebrated during two ribboncutting ceremonies. Recently opened in Tulare, Charis Cleaning Service provides regular cleaning services, cleans up foreclosed and bank-owned properties, removes debris from newly constructed homes, performs one-time cleaning services and does minor repairs. The company can be reached at (559) 759-0881.

Additionally, Tulare County opened a new housing community for individuals with a mental health diagnosis at 252 S. Sacramento St. The complex includes two-bedroom apartments, and services will be provided on-site. It is anticipated that some of the current homeless population will find housing there. L

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H A P P E N I N G S

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mid travel restrictions and increasing health warnings, the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has led to cancellation or postponement of many events. Please verify with event sponsors to confirm the details of each event and take recommended health precautions during this time.

APRIL 1

Baskets and Gourds ‘Containers of Our Culture 2020’

88th Annual Lindsay Orange Blossom Festival

When: April 1-24, noon-5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; First Friday, April 3, 6-8 p.m.; Artist Talk, April 4, 2 p.m.; reception, April 24

When: April 4, pancake breakfast, 7-9 a.m.; parade, 10 a.m.; corn hole tournament, skate competition, horseshoe tournament, 11 a.m.; live entertainment, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; carnival, noon-11 p.m.

Where: Arts Visalia Visual Art Center, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia

Where: City Park, 850 N. Elmwood Ave., Lindsay; breakfast, Lindsay Fire Department, 185. N. Gale Hill Ave.; parade, Elmwood Avenue ending at City Park

Contact: artsvisalia.org, (559) 739-0905 Cost: free

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Contact: lindsayobf@gmail.com, (559) 333-1020 Cost: $5 breakfast; parade, entertainment and skating free; corn hole tournament $10 singles/doubles $20; horseshoes $50/team; carnival tickets required

8th Annual ImagineU Children’s Museum Gala ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ When: April 3, cocktails 5:30 p.m.; dinner and live auction, 7 p.m.; Rat Pack Tribute, 8 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia

Day of Overland Mail Coaches; talk on the Butterfield Stage Mail Route

Contact: imagineumuseum.org/gala, (559) 733-5975

When: April 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; talk, 11 a.m.; lunch, noon

Cost: $135

Where: Springville Historical Museum, 34902 Hwy. 190, Springville

15th Annual Birdhouse Auction

Contact: (559) 539-6314, Tule River Historical Society

When: April 3, 6 p.m.

Cost: free, $5 lunch

Where: Wyndham Hotel, 9000 W. Airport Drive, Visalia Contact: Habitat for Humanity Tulare/Kings Counties, hthtkc.org/birdhouse-auction/, (559) 734-4040

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‘The French Connection’ (1971) When: April 8, doors 5:30 p.m., show 6:30 p.m.

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

Cost: $100

Cost: $5

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Lindsay Orange Blossom Crush It! 5K Fun Run/2K Walk When: April 4, 6-6:30 a.m. check-in, 7 a.m. race Where: Lindsay Wellness Center, 860 N. Sequoia Ave., Lindsay

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Physical Therapy & You Seminar: The Knee When: April 16, 7 p.m.

Contact: lat3six.org/run

Where: Kaweah Delta Exeter Therapy Specialists, 1131 W. Visalia Road, Exeter

Cost: $30

Contact: (559) 592-7342 Cost: Free

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H A P P E N I N G S

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Sequoia Symphony Orchestra The Creation When: April 18, doors 6:30 p.m., show 7:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: (559) 625-1369 Cost: $33-$45

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Celebrant Singers WorldTouch Bowl-A-Thon When: April 19, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Bowlero, 1740 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia Contact: celebrants.org/bowlathon or (559) 740-4000; registration celebrants.org/bowlathon-register Cost: $100-$400

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Foreigner Concert When: April 20, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: Visalia Convention Center, (559) 713-4000 Cost: $47.50-$99.50

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‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ (1987) When: April 23, doors 5:30 p.m., show 6:30 p.m.

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: (559) 625-1369 Cost: $5

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‘Honky Tonk Cabaret — A Cabaret in the Lobby’ When: Fridays-Saturdays April 24-25, May 1-2, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays April 26, May 3, 4 p.m.

Where: Icehouse Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: visaliaplayers.org, (559) 734-3900 Cost: $16-$22

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Biennial Baskets and Gourds Show, Workshop When: April 25-26 Where: Elks Lodge Mill Creek Conference Center, 3100 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: Tulare-Sequoia Gourd Patch and the California Gourd Society, (559) 627-5430

Best Honeymoon Safari Ever

with First Cabin

Since 1989, First Cabin Travel has sent travelers on custom luxury safaris to Africa with the mainstay of bookings from repeat clientele and their enthusiastic referrals.

Allow yourself to feel the excitement of the hunt, the thrill of the pursuit, and the shooting by photograph or memory of animals in the wild. It is here on safari that you will forever capture the feeling and spirit of this exciting continent.

These luxurious tented camps astound visitors with the amenities made available for one’s comfort. At sunset, indulge in the camp’s sybaritic atmosphere ~ ice cold cocktails, piping hot showers, haute cuisine and fine wines.

Finally, after a congenial campfire yarn about the day’s safari, enjoy a well-earned rest in your comfortable luxury-styled accommodation.

firstcabin.com / robert@firstcabin.com / 858.395.1076 / CA Reg: 2016168-40

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559.738.7572

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MD, FACS Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Sweet Drinks Eat Teeth!

Drink Water Instead. http://tchhsa.org/lohp • (559) 624-8480