December 2014

HOME TOUR

THE NEWKIRK HOME

A Cozy Countryside Christmas

TRAVEL

CALIFORNIA

The Lights of the Season

CULINARY

HOLIDAY DINNER PARTY

Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Duxelle and Spinach ECRWSS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER LOCAL

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24 HOME TOUR The Newkirk Home

CULINARY

8

Letter from the Executive Editor

Holiday Dinner Party

10 Word Play

Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Duxelle and Spinach

12 History: Elias Jacob – The Man and

His Building 16 Culture Quest: The Way of the Magi 20 Charity: Celebrating Triumph

Through Justice

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52 Arts: An Evening at the Savoy 58 Happenings

SPIRITS

Festive Winter Cocktails

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40 T R AV E L

The Lights of the Season California

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L I FE S T Y L E | D E CE M B E R 2014

ON THE COVER: The front door and entrance to the Newkirk home is very inviting, with scents of cinnamon and freshly baked cookies escaping from the home.

PICTURED: A “Merry Christmas” décor piece sits upon the mantle in the living room.

DECEMBER 2014 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY Graphic Designer KACI HANSEN EDITORIAL Executive Editor KAREN TELLALIAN Editorial Coordinator KATIE PRESSER Editorial Staff KELLY LAPADULA Marketing Manager KIM BATTY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ALBERT PADILLA ANTHONY DETORIA CHERYL LEVITAN DIANE SLOCUM KYRAN WILEY TERRY L. OMMEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT MALKASIAN ACCOUNTANCY LLP GARY MALKASIAN CPA JEFFREY MALKASIAN EA Operations Manager MARIA GASTON

RACK LOCATIONS

Bravo Farms Smokehouse DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare TAZZARIA Coffee & Tea The Lifestyle Center Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Convention Center COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS

Café 225 California Fitness Academy Creekside Day Spa, Skin & Laser Center Courtyard Aesthetics Exeter Chamber of Commerce Fast Frame Hobbs-Potts Associates Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Keller Williams Reality Pacifi c Treasures Smiles by Sullivan Smile Visalia Suncrest Bank V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Business Bank (Downtown) Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Wildfl ower Café, Exeter Williams, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

ADVERTISING SALES LEAH PEREZ leah@dmiagency.com SALES OFFICE 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@dmiagency.com VIEW THE MAG ONLINE! issuu.com/lifestylemagazine

Facebook.com/LifestyleMag www.VisaliaLifestyle.com

Visalia Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 13,000 homes in the upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods in Visalia and Exeter. An additional 2,000 copies are distributed at various distribution points around both communities. Views expressed in columns are those of the columnist and not necessarily those of DMI Agency or its advertisers.

Circulation of this issue: 15,000 © 2014 DMI Agency

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PICTURED: A “Ho, Ho, Ho” sign is featured in the backyard of the Newkirk home.

RECLAIM THE

holiday spirit

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Photo by Taylor Johnson

T

hinking back to my younger days, I cannot remember a time when I refused a gift, especially at Christmas.

But as an adult trying to help raise five children, I realized that I had already received one of the greatest gifts of all: the gift of parenthood.

Every year when my children asked the question, “Dad, what do you want for Christmas?” I always responded the same way that my own father did: “Nothing but healthy, happy children… and world peace.”

I had become hesitant to accept gifts. Now, I realize that in my hesitation, I prevented the blessing the gift-bearer receives through the act of giving. Humbly accepting gifts is now something that I vow to become better at doing.

As a grown-up (a relative term), I have diligently tried to perfect the art of giving to the editor of this magazine, my wife Karen, with some success and with failure. According to one of my sisters, the number one rule for giving gifts is, “nothing that plugs in.” It took me a few years to fully grasp that concept for Karen, who immediately adopted the rule for herself. This year, Karen was at first pretty hesitant in accepting my gift to her, which was taking over the editor’s letter. Her gift in return was allowing me to do it.

In the spirit of giving and receiving, the December issue of Lifestyle features a historical perspective from Pastor Albert Padilla about who the Magi (the Three Wise Men) really were and how they played a role in the giving and receiving of gifts in the Christian faith.

As an infant, Jesus was not capable of refusing the gifts that were presented to Him. If He were, that would eliminate the entire basis for our annual exchanging of gifts. The act of receiving was perfected by the Child as an important component that is all too often forgotten; the receiving is what makes the giving possible and the giving is where the blessing comes from.

As you scurry about shopping this season, keep a few things in mind: a gift from the depth of your heart, that does not plug in, that cannot be returned, may rival the gifts the Magi brought to baby Jesus. In return, accepting a gift from the bottom of your heart, regardless of its size or color, could be the best gift you give all season. May each of you be blessed with good health and prosperity as we head into the New Year.

RANDY TELLALIAN, BUSINESS MANAGER For more information or to submit a story idea email Karen@dmiagency.com or www.VisaliaLifestyle.com www.facebook.com/LifestyleMag call (559) 739-1747 or fax (559) 738-0909.

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L I FE S T Y L E | D E CE M B E R 2014

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W WORD PLAY

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

W

ith several faiths celebrating holy days this month, it might be a good time to gain some understanding of what each faith is about.

Alan Brill offers new ways of looking at other religions in his Judaism and Other Religions: Models of Understanding (publishes Dec. 17, by Palgrave Mcmillan).

While written from the angle of helping Jewish believers understand others, it also deepens the understanding of Christians, Muslims, and others for each other. Brill is a rabbi, active in interfaith work and a professor of Jewish-Christian studies.

Writing from the Christian perspective, Adam Hamilton wrestles with questions people ask in Christianity and World Religions (Abingdon Press, 2005). He gives brief descriptions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism, and discusses questions such as: "Why are there so many different religions?" Hamilton is the pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.

In Teaching Spirits: Understanding Native American Religious Traditions (Oxford University Press, 2010), Joseph Epes Brown demonstrates common themes found in many Native American cultures and how they can lead to rethinking modern materialistic values. Brown was a professor of religious studies at the University of Montana and one of the founders of Native American studies.

Valley Writers Fresno author, artist, and chef, Larry Hill, has a new book of short stories. Rose Capital of the World is published by Mark Arax’s West of West Publishing. Hill’s stories feature what he calls the forgotten California; stories of Valley people trying to make their way. His lead story is the award-winning “Cocido,” inspired by a stop in Wasco. Wasco is known as the rose capital because the surrounding areas grow more than half of all roses grown in the U.S. (despite Tyler, Texas’ claim to the same name for merely processing rose bushes).

Wasco hosts a Festival of Roses the first Saturday after Labor Day every year. Hill also has a story on The Fresno Bee website about the time he met Andy Warhol.

Also published by Arax’s press is Betsy 10

L I FE S T Y L E | D E CE M B E R 2014

Lumbye’s Beyond Luck: The Improbable Rise of the Berry Fortune Across a Western Century. Her book is the story of Clarence Berry who started out digging irrigation ditches in the Valley, found gold in the Yukon, and then struck oil back in the Valley. Lumbye originally set out to write a book about one of Berry’s heirs, Peter Bennett, a 92-year-old Fresno philanthropist, but Bennett set her on the trail of his great uncle. Lumbye is a former executive editor of The Fresno Bee. Arax’s press is planning to publish a book on the Lyles family next (the namesake for the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CSU Fresno) and to continue writing the stories of prominent valley families. Hill’s and Lumbye’s books were both featured at the launch of Arax’s new nonprofit, West of West Center, last month.

Writing Contests Entries for the Highlights Fiction Contest will be accepted January 1- 31. The category for this year is Mystery Stories. Three prizes of $1,000 each or tuition to any Highlights Foundation Founders Workshops will be awarded. Entrants must be at least 16-yearsold. Maximum length is 750 words. Details at: www.highlights.com.

Writers’ Conferences The 10th Annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival will be held February 11–15, in San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico, at the Hotel Real de Minas.

Speakers include Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, and more than 50 others. Also included are 60 daily workshop options, 13 Saturday intensives, practice agent pitch training, one-on-one pitch sessions with literary agents, and individual consultations.

Ed Metzger will perform his one-man show, “Hemingway on the Edge.” Also offered are San Miguel excursions, open mic readings, book club boot camp, and a Monarch Butterfly Reserve tour. Details at: sanmiguelwritersconference.org.

The Arizona State University Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing will host the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference on February 19–21.

Included in the schedule will be a discussion of Nordic Noir crime drama by visiting

faculty from Norway. Presenters include Vegard Steiro Amundsen, Jabari Asim, Mark Athitakis, and many others. Early registrations advised. Details at: www.piper. asu.edu/2015-conference/.

Awards The winner of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award is D.M. Pulley for her mystery and thriller, The Dead Key. Two heroines separated by 20 years discover something is amiss in the First Bank of Cleveland. A gruesome discovery ups the ante. The book will publish March 1, 2015.

The other finalists are A Pledge of Silence

by Flora J. Solomon – General Fiction (publishes February 24th), The Bluestocking and the Rake by Norma Darcy – Romance (publishes February 17th) and The Gemini Effect by Chuck Grossart – Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror (publishes April 1).

The Last Word “Even if a unity of faith is not possible, a unity of love is.” - Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905 – 1988)

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H HISTORY

ELIAS JACOB—THE MAN AND HIS BUILDING

Reflections OF VISALIA Text by Terry L. Ommen

E

ven though Elias Jacob conducted business throughout the San Joaquin Valley, he is most closely identified with Visalia. But the life of this well-known businessman was more than just one of acquiring personal wealth; his was a life of service and promoting the town he loved. This community leader has been gone for over a century now, but the German-born immigrant left us a sturdy brick building as a reminder of his commitment to our town.

Jacob was born in Gnesen, Germany in 1841, and came to the United States in 1853, settling with relatives in Stockton, California.

His father was a merchant in the old country, so not surprisingly, Jacob began clerking in a store. By 1856, he moved to Millerton, the first county seat of newly created Fresno County. Three years later, he came to Visalia, where his sister lived with her husband, Hyman Mitchell. When Hyman died unexpectedly, Jacob helped his sister manage the family mercantile business.

PICTURED: Elias Jacob building, circa 1950.

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H HISTORY

TOP: Elias Jacob building, circa 2014.

BOTTOM: Portrait of Elias Jacob.

Jacob's sister remarried, so in 1860, the 19-year-old opened his own general merchandise store. He quickly endeared himself to the community. By 1861, the Visalia Weekly Delta newspaper called him "one of the most enterprising of our citizens," when it announced the completion of his two-story brick building.

For the next 16 years, this energetic businessman made his mark on commerce in Visalia, but at the same time, he dabbled in the mercantile business in other communities like Fresno, Kingston, and Centerville, frequently taking on partners.

But Jacob's contributions went far beyond his personal commercial interests. In 1866, when Kern County was being created from the southern portion of Tulare County, he was appointed by the California State Legislature to help determine the split of the revenue between the two counties. In 1872, he was one of the Visalia delegates chosen to meet with railroad officials in Sacramento to make one last ditch effort to try to get Visalia included on the main line. The delegation was not successful, but his involvement solidified his leadership standing in the community.

After the railroad bypassed Visalia, he was one of the few men in 1874 to organize the Visalia Railroad Co. as a way to link Visalia with the main Southern Pacific Railroad line in Goshen. Two years later, as an active Visalia Mason, Jacob was recognized as "orator of the day" at the cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Tulare County courthouse.

In 1876, health problems forced his retirement from the mercantile business, but he kept his Visalia real estate. He added to his holdings, eventually owning 45,000 acres of Tulare County farmland. He even purchased a George Stockton Berry harvester to help with his 30,000 acres of wheat. At one time, he owned 15,000 sheep, 100 horses, 200 head of cattle, 1,500 Angora goats, and 1,200 hogs.

One of the Visalia buildings that Jacob 14

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owned was a two-story structure on the southwest corner of Church and Main Streets.

Part of his building housed the Marino brothers' saloon called the Casino. In the early morning hours of January 27, 1894, a fire broke out in the kitchen, and despite its proximity to the firehouse, the entire building was lost.

Immediately, Jacob began planning for a

new building on the site. Visalia architect, Arthur E. Saunders, drew plans and Jacob put the job out to bid. In April, Los Angeles contractor C.S. Hogan, was selected to do the $14,995 construction project. Work on the building moved quickly.

Six months later, Hogan finished Jacob's new building. The two-story structure was 48 by 116 feet with the shorter dimension fronting Main Street. The main access to the ground floor was through a corner entry, and there was a side entrance on Church Street as well. The entrance to the second floor was a

staircase accessed at the Church Street door.

All of the brick used in construction was provided by local brick maker, T. B. Craycroft, and the granite trim was quarried at the Rocky Point Granite Works in the foothills just east of Exeter. Huge granite slabs were incorporated into the building, and decorative blocks were mounted over the windows. At the very top of the building on both the Main and Church sides, Jacob's name was placed along with year 1894.

The interior was heavily tiled and the woodwork was "grained to appear like oak."

Fire hoses were mounted in several places.

Rooms had electric lights and a good number of windows. The interior rooms had additional light through a skylight.

On October 19th, the Delta gave its endorsement of the building. They reported, "Mr. Hogan did his work well and the building is finished in a splendid manner," and added, "The building and its construction reflect great credit on the architect and the contractor, and will stand as a monument to their architectural skill and workmanship."

On October 1, 1902, Elias Jacob passed away in San Francisco, where he had gone for medical treatment. His body was returned to Visalia and he is interred in the Visalia Cemetery.

Elias Jacob never married. In his will, he left money and assets to his relatives and to the Pacific Hebrew Orphans Asylum & Hebrew Home in San Francisco, the Visalia Masonic Lodge, and to the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home.

Today, the 120-year-old Jacob building continues to stand at Church and Main Streets. Even though the historic old timer has undergone a number of exterior and interior changes, the sturdy old structure serves as a tribute to a man with a steadfast faith in Visalia.Â

C CULTURE QUEST

THE WAY OF THE MAGI Text by Albert Padilla, Pastor, Epic Church of Visalia

M

any are familiar with the saying from the Bible, "There came wise men from the East." But who were these men? We don't know their names or anything much more from Scripture. But from what we can piece together, we can see a very fascinating history.

Some of the pieces are from the Old Testament, such as the book of Daniel where the Magi or wise men appear in several different texts, as well as other books of the Bible, like the writings of Herodotus and a number of historians.

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The Magi came from a very ancient population called the Medes. Many historians trace the origin of the Medes to the time when Abraham was called out of “Ur of the Chaldees” (Gen 12). The people from the Medo-Persian Empire that existed throughout the Greek Empire were still in existence in the days of the Roman Empire when Christ is born. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the days of Herod the king, we are told, “behold there came Magi,” which we learn were members of a priestly lineage from among the Medes.

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C CULTURE QUEST

Astronomy, astrology, and the study of the stars became of interest to the Magi, and in those days, they didn't make much of a separation between the superstition and the science.

They always appeared with great political power and were monotheistic, so they believed in one God, which united this belief with Israel.

We first read of the oriental kings beginning with King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel:2), yet they existed long before this first Biblical reference. The Medes had already elevated this priestly group to being the official advisors of the king.

When Daniel came along, these Magi couldn't give the king any answers, though they were his advisors (Daniel 5:11).

Daniel was described as, "a man in thy kingdom, in whom lives the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him. Whom the king Nebuchadnezzar, the king I say, thy father made master of the Magi." Daniel was so adept at interpreting the dreams of the king that the king made Daniel the master of the Magi, the chief over this priestly group.

This put Daniel in the unique position of being able to dispense to these Magi all of his information about the Old Testament, which without a shadow of a doubt is precisely what Daniel did. And they continued to maintain a position in the court of the king within the great power of the Medo-Persian Empire.

In the sixth century B.C., there was a great king of Persia by the name of Darius, still during the reign of the Medo-Persian Empire while Daniel held a position in the king’s court of advisors. Darius declared, "I am going to establish a national religion.” He picked Zoroastrianism, thus planting the seed for the separation of kingdoms and the events to come.

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God was setting up the situation for a great Hebrew prophet (Daniel) to rule a group called the Magi. One day when a baby was born in Bethlehem, some of those Magi would find their way to the house where the baby was. The hybrid religion of the Magi (Zoroastrianism) was very much like Judaism; monotheistic and hereditary priesthood, blood sacrifice, believing in supernatural revelation and prophesy; common things, which made Judaism an easier religion for them to accept.

The stage was set politically as Rome became scared of the eastern Empire of the Medes. At that time, the Roman Empire covered most of what we know today as Europe. And technically, it swept to the east. Across the Mediterranean, through the blazing desert in the east, there was certain isolation, which caused Rome a lot of anxiety. Rome was always fearful of the Parthian Empire, the eastern empire made up of the Medes and the Persians and the old Babylonian territory.

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Rome had stretched its tentacles out thin in an attempt to rule the entire world, but they never felt secure about the prospects of taking over the Parthian Empire, leading them to become violent enemies. They fought in 55 B.C. and in 40 B.C., right along the coast of the Mediterranean in Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. Israel remained a “no-man's land” between the east and the powers to the west.

In Matthew 2 we read, "When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled.” When he heard that Magi, (the Oriental and Parthian king makers) had arrived in Jerusalem, he was greatly rattled and on edge.

Now at the time of Christ, in the eastern empire, there was a ruling body called the Megastonne, much like the United States Senate. This ruling house governed in the Parthian- Persian Empire at this time, composed of Magi whose duty it was to have absolute choice for the selection of a king. They were the kingmakers who had problems with the one they chose and needed a change. They wanted to wage war against Rome to conquer them, but had a loser for a king, Friedas IV, who had been deposed. The Magi were looking for a new king for their eastern empire, who would stand and fight against Rome. When they arrived in Jerusalem, Herod knew what was going on. They were the king makers, wandering around town saying, “Where is this new king of the Jews?”

“Herod was troubled!” When suddenly these Persian king makers appeared in Jerusalem, traveling in full force with all their oriental pomp, conical hats with points on the top, and glittering beads clear down to the bottom of their chin, riding in on Persian steeds, not camels. When they arrived, they were not alone; the estimates of history are that they came with the force of the Persian cavalry. What made it worse for Herod was that his army was out of the country on a mission.

“Herod was troubled!” You see, Herod had the title “King of the Jews,” received from Caesar Augustus. Yes, Herod had already been crowned “king of the Jews.” The massive coteries of Persians arrived in the city to find the new King of the Jews, which would strip the title and power from the troubled Herod.

When the Magi got to Bethlehem, the Bible says they worshipped Him. They saw more than just a king, believing they saw the Messiah they had heard about from the days of Daniel. The first people in the world to recognize the arrival of the King were Persians, before all others would see who He really was.

The Gospel according to Matthew is telling the world that Jesus Christ is King. God the Father had the most famous king makers in the world come and bow down at Jesus’ feet and present Him with gifts, befitting for not just any king, but the new “King of the Jews.”

C CHARITY

celebrating triumph through

JUSTICE T

riumph means something different to everyone. To some, it means claiming victory over an obstacle. To others, it might involve accomplishing a life-long goal and gaining recognition. To Amy Terrible, president and founder of Crime Victim Advocacy Center of Tulare County, it means bravery; bravery to face your biggest fears head-on in order to seek out justice and become a survivor.

Friday, November 7 was an exciting evening for, not only Amy, but crime victims across the Central Valley who have achieved this bravery with the help of CVAC. This nonprofit law firm held their second annual Taste of Triumph fundraising event to celebrate the successes of the past year, and to look ahead to the future of CVAC. This organization is dedicated entirely to providing no cost, holistic representation to crime victims. It is the only law firm of its kind that exists in California, and there is only one other known law firm like it in the U.S. As CVAC’s president, CEO, founder, owner, and sole attorney (for now), Amy has been working for free for the past few years, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t work hard; if anything, she works harder because of that reason. Her labor and commitment to the victims who come through her door is a direct reflection of her compassionate heart for those in need.

Amy began CVAC back in October 2012 after several years of working for the District Attorney’s office. She spent some time in civil litigation, family law, and prosecuted as a Deputy District Attorney assigned to the mental health unit, but she felt as though something were missing.

“I don’t know if it’s like this for every prosecutor, but I just

Photos by Beckie Nava

felt like there was a disconnect from the victims because I was representing the people of the state of California as a whole, verses the actual victim,” said Amy. “I was fighting for the victim in my mind, I felt, but I didn’t represent them.”

A few years back, Amy’s world was turned upside down when she was working on a sexually violent predator trial where a child victim had never had the opportunity to testify in court.

As Amy was looking into this case, she discovered that the child victim (now a man) was serving a life-long prison sentence of his own. She traveled four hours to meet with him to give him the opportunity to testify about what had happened when he was a child.

When Amy presented this opportunity to the man, years after the events occurred, “it was like he morphed into a little boy,” explained Amy. “He was crying, I was crying…it was just a ‘goosebump’ moment.”

Despite this man serving a life sentence in jail for his own crimes, Amy could not help but respect him for owning up to what he did to deserve jail for life and thought to herself, “Maybe he wouldn’t be here had somebody done something to help him when he was five, six, seven, eight-years-old. If anywhere in those eight years had someone stepped in, would he be here today?”

On the four-hour drive back to Tulare County after visiting with this man, Amy could not get him off her mind or shake the feeling that something wasn’t right with “the system.” Within two weeks, Amy left her job at the DA’s office and hasn’t made a dime since; she’s worked for free, representing victims of crime directly at this nonprofit she formed from the ground up with the help of an excellent advisory board.

MIDDLE: Nick and Becky Falcone; Amy and Joe Terrible; Jennifer and Tyler Colburn. Nick, Joe, and Tyler own Alpha Dairy Consulting and were Platinum Sponsors for the Taste of Triumph event.

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C CHARITY

TOP: VPD Officer, Gerrit DeJong, with his wife Kim and their family. Officer DeJong was the recipient of the Virtue Award.

MIDDLE: The Marriott Hotel catered the food for the Taste of Triumph dinner.

BOTTOM: Amy Terrible, CVAC founder and president, with Michael (Triumph Award recipient) and Karla Morfin, CVAC Secretary.

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While victims have many rights under the law, a lot of victims don’t know what these rights are, or they aren’t heard because they don’t have the proper representation. That’s where Amy comes in and why she formed this law firm that doesn’t charge for its services. Starting this nonprofit hasn’t been easy, but the successes Amy has seen so far are what keeps it going and what will bring CVAC into the future.

“It’s a long process,” said Amy. “And honestly, if I had any idea of what I was doing, I don’t know that I would have followed through with it. I had no idea this road was so long, but it’s so rewarding too.”

On top of juggling her clients and working on these cases for free, Amy is learning how to run a nonprofit and how to raise funds to support CVAC. With each year, she is seeing great improvements in funding and in community involvement.

In 2013, during CVAC’s first Taste of Triumph event, they raised around $10,000 after putting the event together in just six short weeks. This year’s event raised over $40,000, and Amy’s goals are even bigger for next year.

More than 300 people filled the Visalia Convention Center on November 7 to celebrate and support CVAC with a night of wine tasting and tapas. The event was catered by the Marriot Hotel, while every drop of wine at the event was donated by a variety of wineries and generous individuals. The adorable pumpkin centerpieces that decorated each table were provided

by JJ Blooms, while the room was lined with donated gift baskets for the silent auction, which added to the funds raised.

During a special opening ceremony, the CSP-Corcoran and the Visalia Police Department Honor Guards presented a Posting of Colors. A variety of speakers addressed the audience throughout the evening, including Assemblywoman Connie Conway, Sherriff Mike Boudreaux, District Attorney Tim Ward, and Harriet Salarno, Crime Victims United of California Chair. CVAC also presented awards to four individuals for their commitment to helping those in need and to carrying out justice in the community. The night also included dancing and live entertainment from the popular local country-rock band gone national, Leaving Austin.

One of the “tear-jerker” moments of the night was when Amy presented a special triumph award to a six-year-old boy for his unwavering bravery. This young boy, Michael, a victim who Amy represented in court, was brave enough to appear during his trial and sit across from his offender to testify against him. Michael, who at one point could hardly bare to hear his offender’s name, mustered up the courage to sit in the same room as him and see for himself that justice was being served.

Events like this, where a community can come together and support a worthy cause, are one of the many reasons why Amy can keep moving forward with this dream. The most rewarding aspect of her work that she didn’t necessarily expect, is the inside-out transformation that her clients go through during the course of working on their case.

“You almost see a physical transformation of people when you start this process,” said Amy. “These people come in as victims. Their world is torn apart because somebody took their power from them, their control, their safety…by having them participate in the process, they are gaining that control back in their life and it is actually a physical transformation that you can see. They go from victim to survivor.”

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COUNTRYSIDE

HRISTMAS Photos by Taylor Johnson

PICTURED: Featured in the family room is the nativity scene, along with a “O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord” wooden piece, handmade by Paul and Donise.

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or Donise and Paul Newkirk, Christmas starts the second the first raindrop of the season falls from the sky; the Christmas music goes on, decorations go up, and friends and family (sometimes even strangers) come over.

Thankfully this year, the rain came at just the right time to break out the décor.

“It was really nice this year because we needed rain so badly, and the first rain came at the perfect time,” said Donise. “Now our kids even think about it and will call me up to ask if I put the Christmas music on. They know that it’s starting.”

The Newkirk home has always been a gathering place for every occasion – birthdays, holidays, Bible studies, outdoor BBQs, and even a wedding of a few hundred guests. When they say that everyone is welcome into their home, they really mean it. This 1500 sq. ft. house may not be huge, but the hearts of its occupants make it feel larger than life.

“We’ve always had people come over, and sometimes a lot of people,” said Donise. “It’s been such a regular part of our life…It’s our joy.”

The Newkirk's children are all grown, out of the house and living in other cities, but there’s never a shortage of people taking up residence on the Newkirk’s couch. They regularly hold Bible studies of 25 people or more and often have young people over after church on Sundays. Throughout the years, Donise has also played host to fundraising events, luncheons, May Day teas complete with a decorated Maypole, and even after parties following the annual Orange Blossom Parade.

PICTURED: Just off the kitchen is a breakfast nook, decorated with all sorts of Christmas cheer.

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“For several years after the Orange Blossom Parade in Lindsay, we would always open up our house and people would bring a dish to share, so we’d have maybe 150 people; but we never knew how many were coming,” said Donise. “Each year was different.”

Part of Donise’s love for throwing parties and designing elaborate displays for her guests comes from her background as a florist and a decorator. She has worked at several flower shops throughout her career and started her own shop from her home in 2000. Slowly but surely, Paul started to notice his workshop space was getting smaller, while Donise’s flowers were taking the place of his tools. Ever since then, Donise has been decorating for weddings, putting together party sets, and even building rustic furniture alongside her husband.

“I feel blessed because in my flowers, in my design work, in putting décor together, I get to see it for the first time when my clients get to see it,” said Donise. “It’s a gift. It’s not something I do or create; it’s a gift He gives me.”

Donise also gets her love for decorating from her parents, who were clearly near and dear to her heart. With a twinkle in her eye, Donise described her mom, who recently passed away, as an amazing artist, while her dad was one of those rare gems who could do just about anything he put his mind to.

“I get it from my mom and my dad,” said Donise. “My dad was very creative and could fix anything. He was great at welding and he was very detailed when it came to things he wanted to do.”

While Donise adopted many of her parents’ artistic traits, some of her most treasured Christmas decorations also come from

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her parents and grandparents. Her grandmother passed down original Annalee elf dolls that now hang on the Newkirk’s brick mantel above their fireplace, and Donise now uses the same red candy dish that she remembers taking candy from as a kid.

Their family room is decked to the halls with twinkling lights, pops of red and green, wreaths and garland, but everything in the room seems to point to a sign hanging above a nativity scene. The words “O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord” greet each guest as they walk into the home; it’s a perfect representation of the Newkirk’s faith being at the center of their lives.

While the Newkirks have many holiday traditions, like building massive gingerbread candy houses on Thanksgiving, or watching the sunrise from their front porch on Easter Sunday, they never lose sight of all of the aspects that make these holidays meaningful.

“What is special about it, is not what we are getting, but the anticipation,” said Donise. “To us, Christmas is the whole package. It’s not just church, it’s not just the decorations, it’s not just the music; it’s everything. I think beauty in décor or art is an extension of your worship to Him. It’s who He is, and He’s an amazing creator. So we get to celebrate His creation.”

Donise has always found joy in the little things, and her inspiration for decorating her home comes from her love for the simple joys.

“I like things that make you smile,” said Donise with, of course, a smile. “I’ve often heard that your home should be the thing that makes you smile when you come home. And you know, it doesn’t have to be anything great or fancy. Regardless of how little we’ve had, I’ve always tried to keep our home happy.”

When they first moved in to their home in 1973, it was just two bedrooms. Their home originally belonged to Paul’s grandmother in the late 1960s, back when it was 900 sq. ft. and had orange trees rubbing up against the back of the house. Over the years, they have added on to the home, making it about 1500 sq. ft. today. With several remodels and additions, this house has always been an on-going project for the Newkirks, but it has never felt small to them, and no matter its’ size, it has always been home.

“I recently asked my son if he ever felt like the house was as small as it is,” said Donise. “And you know, he said ‘no, I never thought of it as a small house.’ I’ve always liked the coziness. You know what your kids are doing, you feel involved, and even when they had sleepovers, we would build tents or let them sleep outside.”

PICTURED: The kitchen is a central place for the family. The island was handmade by Paul, featuring concrete countertops and a farm-style sink.

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TOP: The master bedroom is decorated with an alternative holiday color scheme, full of light blues, silvers, and grays.

BOTTOM: Decorating a sofa table located in the master bedroom are two mini trees equipped with silver and green accents.

The Newkirks have always been involved when it comes to their home. Paul built several of the furniture pieces, including a beautiful teal-green kitchen island, made with concrete countertops and turquoise stones.

“Paul made all of the concrete counter tops,” said Donise. “He’s a great builder and I love to use color. The thing that has been fun about this house is that it’s just a regular track home…there’s nothing all that special about it, so I figured, why not try anything we want to do, within our means, and just fix it the way we want to? If we don’t like the color of the wall, we can change it. Our projects have never been ‘because we can’t do it.’ If you can think of it, you can do it.”

Their home has a lot of these fun pops of color that seem 30

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to work with any holiday. The laundry room has candy apple red painted cabinets and a quote painted on the ceiling that encapsulates Donise’s style perfectly: “Think outside the box… it makes life more fun.” And that’s exactly how the Newkirks live their life too.

Each room in their home has a bit of a different Christmas flare about it. The family room is more of a traditional “red and green” Christmas, while one of the guest rooms has a rustic, shabby-chic appearance of white, silver, and grey textures. Even the light teal walls in the master bedroom play along with the Christmas theme, as they are surrounded by pops of silver and turquoise-green.

“I like so many different styles that I become eclectic just by the nature of liking a lot of different things,” said Donise.

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Perhaps one of the “craziest” aspects of their Christmas décor might be the black chandelier that hangs above the island. It’s adorned from top to bottom with the happiest Christmas ornaments imaginable, while below it on the counter top sits a pewter dessert stand filled with red-hot cinnamon imperials that bring back memories of decorating cookies with grandma.

Little treasures like this hide all throughout the home. Jolly Santa Clauses sit on shelves, while pudgy snowmen smile at guests as they walk by. Candy dishes hold chocolate that are sure to be gobbled up by little visitors before Christmas even arrives. Around every corner and in every nook sits something to smile about.

These small details are what makes this home feel so warm and welcoming; The Newkirks have made each room special, not only for themselves, but for the guests who come to visit. They design and decorate with others in mind, not to impress, but so that when people walk through the door, they can’t help but smile and say, “ah, this is home.”

TOP: The Newkirks yellow lab, Gabby, is very friendly and loves playing fetch.

LEFT: The front of the Newkirk home features a stone walkway to the front door, lined with Poinsettias and festive holiday décor.

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C CULINARY

Recipes by Kyran Wiley, Trés Bien Tailored Cuisine

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our annual dinner party is coming up, and you’re looking for a great meal to serve to your guests. Lifestyle Magazine has you covered with this three-course meal of pork tenderloin, a citrus kale salad, and individual apples pies. Follow the recipes below, provided by Très Bien Tailored Cuisine, and there will be no place like your home for the holidays.

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PORK TENDERLOIN STUFFED with DUXELLE and SPINACH SERVES 2

PORK TENDERLOIN Ingredients 1 lbs. pork tenderloin 2 T olive oil 2 T butter Salt and pepper Directions Trim the pork tenderloin of fat and silverskin. Lay flat on cutting board and butterfly the pork. (Be sure not to cut all the way through the pork). Once butterflied, lay a piece of parchment over the pork and lightly pound with a mallet.

The pork should be flat, ¼-inch thick, and rectangular in shape. Season the flattened pork with salt and pepper.

DUXELLE Ingredients 2 T butter, unsalted 8 oz. mushrooms, chopped 1 large shallot, peeled and chopped ½ C manufacturing cream 2 T thyme leaves Salt and pepper, to taste Directions Melt butter in pan, add mushrooms and shallots, and cook until all the moisture has evaporated from mushrooms. Add cream and reduce until mixture has combined and mixed. Add thyme leaves and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.

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SPINACH

RED WINE SAUCE

Ingredients 2 T olive oil 6 oz. baby spinach 2 T garlic, chopped Salt and pepper

Ingredients ¼ C shallots, chopped 1 C red wine 3 C beef stock 2 T balsamic vinegar 2 T manufacturing cream 2 T butter Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions Heat oil in pan until smoking point, add spinach, and stir vigorously until wilted. Add garlic and stir another minute. Place spinach in strainer to drain the water and let cool.

Directions Using drippings from searing your pork, add shallots to medium heat pan and sauté until translucent. Add red wine and reduce until thick, add beef stock and reduce again. Add vinegar and cream and cook sauce until thickened. Take off heat and stir in butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble & cook After seasoning the flattened pork with salt and pepper, lay the finished duxelle in a even layer over the pork. Then lay the strained spinach over the duxelle evenly. Starting on one side of the layered pork, begin rolling the pork being sure to keep the filling inside and not rolling too tight. Once in a log, tie each side with twine. To sear pork, place 2 T olive oil and 2 T butter in a hot pan until butter begins to brown. Sear each side evenly and place in a preheated 350°F oven until internal temperature reaches 145°F, set aside and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice pork, pour red wine sauce over the top and serve.

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C CULINARY

KALE SALAD SERVES 4-6

Ingredients 5 oz. baby kale 1 avocado, cubed 1 small head radicchio, thinly sliced ½ C pine nuts ½ C feta cheese ½ C dates, sliced For dressing 2 lemons, zested first and then juiced 6 T quality olive oil 1 T honey Directions: Whisk honey and lemon juice together; slowly drizzle oil in, whisking continuously to emulsify.

Reserve lemon zest. In a bowl add kale and radicchio. Toss with dressing and top with pine nuts, feta, avocado, dates, and finish with lemon zest.

APPLE DUMPLING SERVES 4

Ingredients 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored 1 lemon 4 T brown sugar 4 T unsalted butter, cut into pieces 4 T walnuts, chopped 2 sheets store bought pie crust 2 eggs, lightly beaten Directions After peeling and coring the apples, store in ice water with juice of one lemon until ready to use. Combine the brown sugar, butter, and walnuts. Dry off each apple and fill the core, stuffed to the brim.

Roll out the sheets and cut in half. Each piecrust sheet will cover two apples. Place apple in the center of the pastry sheet, wet the edges with water so the crust can seal, bring up each corner, and wrap the apple. If you have cookie cut outs, you can decorate the top of the apple with something seasonal. We used autumn leaves. Brush the apple with the egg wash, place the cut out on top, and brush it as well. Place on baking sheet covered with parchment and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

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S SPIRITS

FESTIVE WINTER COCKTAILS Recipes by Anthony DeTroia, Crawdaddy’s 2nd Floor | Photos by Taylor Johnson

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our Christmas or New Years party won’t be complete without one of these fabulous winter cocktails.

Get cozy with family and friends throughout the holidays by mixing up a few of these sweet and spicy concoctions.

CANDY CANE LANE INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Vanilla vodka 1 oz. White Creme de Cacao 0.5 oz. Peppermint schnapps A splash of cranberry juice Mini candy canes DIRECTIONS

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Prepare the martini glass by dipping the rim in a shallow bowl of liquid of choice. Then, transfer to an alternate shallow dish of crushed candy canes, and gently spin until coated. Next, combine the liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, strain into martini glass, garnish with a whole candy cane, and serve.

SPIRITS S

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THE CORDIAL

BERRY

INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz. Stolichnaya Chocolate Razberi vodka 0.5 oz. Baileys Chocolate Cherry liqueur 0.5 oz. Creme Chocolate syrup Cherries

DIRECTIONS Prepare the martini glass by drizzling chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass.

Next, combine the liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, strain into a martini glass, garnish with two cherries, and serve.

BUTTER

SHOTZ XO INGREDIENTS 1 oz. Patr贸n XO Cafe liqueur 0.5 oz. Butterscotch schnapps 6 oz. Fresh coffee Whipped cream Cocoa powder

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DIRECTIONS Pour freshly brewed coffee into a tall coffee mug. Next, add in cafe liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps.

Then, garnish with whipped cream, cocoa powder, and serve.

SPIRITS S

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S SPIRITS

HOLIDAY SPICE INGREDIENTS 1 oz. Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie vodka 0.5 oz. Kahlua Cinnamon Spice liqueur 6 oz. Fresh coffee 1 oz. Cream DIRECTIONS Whipped cream Once brewed, pour hot coffee into a tall Cinnamon powder coffee mug. Next, add in pumpkin pie vodka and cinnamon spice liqueur, cream, and stir. Garnish with whipped cream, powdered cinnamon, and serve.

JACKS

HOTTY TOTTY INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey whiskey Splash of Crème de Menthe 6 oz. Hot water Honey Orange Lemon twist DIRECTIONS In a tall coffee mug, pour honey and swirl to coat the insides of the mug. Next, add in the whiskey, hot water, and the fresh orange squeeze. Put a splash of Crème de Menthe, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve.

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SPIRITS S

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THE LIGHTS OF THE SEASON Text and Photos by Cheryl Levitan

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t’s upon us once again –the music, the aroma of spices and special treats, the beautifully wrapped packages under the exquisite tree, and the lights! Yes, those magical twinkling lights whose radiance lights up the faces of children and sets off a glow in the scrooge-iest of hearts. Seeing those young eyes alight with wonder transports us back to our own childhoods, swelling our hearts and placing a gleam of unshed tears in our eyes as we remember Christmases past.

OK-let’s get real. For most of us, that mushy, happy stuff happens AFTER those darn lights are up and before you have to think about taking them down. Every year it’s the same tug of war. The kids want more lights; you (the unlucky putter-upper) keep trying to explain that less IS more. Those fond memories of childhood that brought a tear to your eye are long forgotten when real tears are shed as you trip over wayward boxes, miss a rung climbing up the ladder, hunt for non-existent extension cords, and untangle strings of lights you know you put away perfectly.

Hours later, with Advil and Bengay easing the sore muscles and a

well deserved cup of hot chocolate (laced heavily with Frangelico or Kahlúa) under your belt, you go out to see your masterpiece shining in the night, only to find an entire section of lights has died. Great Grinches and Griswold’s! Who started this whole thing anyway?

Before you start cursing poor Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison, be aware that holiday lights on indoor and outdoor trees and buildings dates back well before the advent of electricity. As early as the 1700s, lit candles were attached to trees with pins or wax to brighten the season. One certainly has to question the practice of mixing fire with drying-out trees, but it was surely a boon for any cottage industry supplying buckets of water and sand. Bolstered by the invention of clip-on candleholders with hot wax receptacles, the use of candles on Christmas trees remained a common practice until the early 1900s. Although Thomas Edison did develop the incandescent bulb in the late 1800s, he never envisioned the use of these bulbs on trees. It was Edward Johnson, the vice president of Edison’s electrical company, who first PICTURED: The entrance to the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA features a wall that is a replica of a California mission, complete with a collection of historic bells.

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TRAVEL T Lic. #0797015

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LEFT: The rotunda inside the Mission Inn features a wrought iron staircase designed with decorative motifs, and garnished with Christmas décor.

BOTTOM: Mariachi band plays near the hotel's Mexican restaurant.

placed specially made holiday lights onto a tree. This alternative lighting was cost prohibitive, however, since it required a generator and a professional to wire the branches. It was actually a large and tragic Christmas fire caused by tree candles that sparked an entrepreneurial idea. Only 15-years-old at the time of this NYC fire, Albert Sadacca thought to repurpose the white novelty lights produced by his family by adding multi-colored bulbs and making them safe for use in the home. In 1925, Sadacca joined with competing light companies and founded the NOMA Electric Company. Once holiday lighting became affordable and readily available, demand from an eager public for “bigger and better” set in motion the idea of outdoor light displays.

The first public open-air electric Christmas display occurred in Altadena, California in 1920 when Frederick Nash turned Santa Rosa Avenue into Christmas Tree Lane. A few years later, 48

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President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree on the White House lawn with 3,000 lights. And we were off and running! Americans continued to embrace their competitive spirit by attempting to outdo their neighbors. Nothing illustrates that better than the hilarious 1989 movie National Lampoon’s "Christmas Vacation" and the ever-entertaining 2004 website, www.tackylighttour.com.

As comforting as it may be to know there have been decades of this practice, it doesn’t offer a tangible solution to opt out gracefully. As neighbor after neighbor lights up, the tension at home grows daily as your family impatiently waits for you to submit to the pressure. So what is the solution? You could write a check to a local company and have them design a magnificent display of lighting (while trying to ignore the buzz of your electrical meter as it tallies up the wattage). Or you could put

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L I FE S T Y L E | D E CE M B E R 2014

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T TRAVEL up a modest display (to appease the family) and travel to light displays done by people who actually look forward to the process. One of the most elaborate is right here in southwest Visalia.

Beginning the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas, the annual “Light O Rama” at 2331 South Jacques Street is the brainchild of Van Crawford, a.k.a. The Visalia Grinch. Increasing in size yearly to include his neighbors’ homes, this light and music extravaganza collects money and canned goods for needy nonprofits.

Christmas Tree Lane, sponsored by the Fig Garden Homeowners Association, decorates about 150 homes on Van Ness Boulevard between Shields and Shaw Avenues in Fresno. One of the longest running holiday display events in the country, it has nights designated for both driving your own car as well as walking the route with shuttle buses to return to your car. Open seven days a week, you can get more information at www.christmastreelane.com. If you want to find other elaborate displays around Visalia, elsewhere in California, or to get more information about the ones mentioned in this article, go to www.CaliforniaChristmasLights.com.

If you are traveling to southern California, there are two holiday light presentations that are a “must-see.” The first is the Mission Inn Festival of Lights in Riverside. One of the premier Christmas light events in the state, this famous old hotel decorates with over 4 million lights from November 28 through January 6. With moving figures, music, appearances by Santa, and lighted horse-drawn carriages, it is spectacular. Viewing the lights outside and in the lobby is free of charge.

An inexpensive docent-led tour of the hotel takes you to some other magnificent displays and tells the history behind this one-of-a-kind destination (www.missioninn.com/festival-of-lights).

The holiday presentation definitely worth seeing is the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

The longest running lighted holiday boat parade in the nation, 100 vessels from kayak to yacht are adorned with lights, music, and moving displays.

Held nightly from December 17-21, it can be viewed free of charge (along with fireworks) from almost anywhere on the shore. (www. visitnewportbeach.com/christmas-boat-parade) Finally, if you happen to be one of the lucky (?) ones to have an elaborate light show next door, invest in black out curtains and tell your children to bask in the reflected light. You can always claim you have no lights of your own because you were concerned they would detract from your neighbor’s hard work.

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TOP: The trees surrounding the pool are colorfully decorated with white, red, and green lights of the Mission Inn. LEFT: The lobby of the Mission Inn is decorated with an abundance of lights, garland, and Poinsettias.

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A ARTS

ARTS VISALIA

AN EVENING AT THE SAVOY

E

ntering the Savoy Room at the Vintage Press on the evening of November 13 was much like walking into a dinner party in another era; an era when elegance was valued, when traditional music and fine arts were appreciated, and when enjoying a meal with others was more about the company than the meal itself.

An intimate group of 74 sat around candle-lit tables to support and celebrate Arts Visalia, a nonprofit organization established to encourage and showcase local artists and promote community education in the arts.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed

endless cocktails and wine, as well as a four-course dinner featuring New York pepper steak, mini stuffed pumpkins, and scalloped potatoes. The delicious dinner provided and funded by the Vintage Press was the first of many treats to come.

As the plates began to empty and lights turned dim, Kevin Bowman, gallery director at the Arts Visalia Visual Arts Center, introduced the main entertainment for the night. Without delay, a crisp, smooth, baritone voice filled the room and Jon Stemkoski, the founder and director of Celebrant Singers, walked in through the doors, enchanting guests with his act.

PICTURED: Stemkoski and band charms the crowd with songs from "The American Songbook."

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Jon performed a variety of songs from the Rat Pack era, including favorites like Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me,” “New York, New York,” and “For Once in My Life.” His band, comprised of musicians playing the piano, bass, trumpet, saxophone, and drums, gave the show that extra touch to bring the crowd back to a more sophisticated time.

“As I looked around the room throughout the night, especially once the music started, I could just see people's faces lighting up with each song,” said Kevin.

Jon, who has spent many years traveling around the world, directing and leading the Celebrant Singers, admitted that he hasn’t presented an evening like this in 40 years, and never to a Visalia audience. His experience with singing “The American Songbook” came from a few years he spent after college, singing at a private supper club in Tulsa. He was honored, however, to revisit that special time in his life and present an intimate show for a worthy organization. Despite all his travels and the many experiences he’s had on a grand scale, Jon was quoted saying, “What a great opportunity to enjoy a beautiful evening together and raise some much-needed funds for such a quality organization like Arts Visalia.”

Halfway through the show, former Visalia resident turned famous Las Vegas lounge act, Judy Bell, appeared with a contagious smile sparkling almost as bright as her elegant gown. After a bit of witty banter between Jon and Judy, they broke out into the popular, hilarious duet, “Anything You Can Do.” Whether or not Jon allowed it to happen, Judy stole the show and possibly even “did it

better” as she belted notes that could have broken the wine glasses on the tables.

Judy and Jon go back 50 years, so getting together again to perform was as much of a delight for them as it was for the audience. Judy’s history in Visalia “show biz” started back in the 1960s when she performed weekly at “The Flame” at Visalia’s LampLiter Motel. It’s said that the LampLiter was the place to be, and anybody who was somebody was in Judy’s audience, dressed in their best. After years of performing around the country, Judy made her way to Las Vegas starring in her very own act, “The Judy Bell Show,” at hotels like the MGM, The Flamingo, Harrah’s, and more. She was voted “Best Lounge Show” in Las Vegas five times and has had many successful performances since then.

Together, Judy and Jon charmed their way into each heart present in the Savoy Room. The setting was small and the crowd was cozy, but they performed as if they were in front of an audience of hundreds; the fact that they knew half the people attending and included them in their act made it that much more special.

The night continued with a ”goose-bump generating” violin performance by Rudolfina Sjostrand, a member of Celebrant Singers from Slovenia. During the course of her performance, gasps were heard throughout the audience as she hit notes so beautiful, that one could almost feel the music.

Even Jon’s own daughter participated in the event as a cameo guest. Shannon Stemkoski-Moulton played the piano and sang “I’ll Come Running” to her father in a touching performance. Jon then sang a song dedicated to his wife Mimi, who accompanied him PICTURED: Rudolfina Sjostrand, violinist and member of the Celebrant Singers, played a beautiful piece for the Arts Visalia event.

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on the piano, adding to the nearly tangible warmth that enveloped the room.

The evening ended with Judy reappearing to sing “God Bless America.” As she began the last verse, the whole crowd rose to their feet and sang along, creating a moment that was rare and indescribably extraordinary. At that moment, in this intimate space in a small corner of the world, stood this group of like-minded people singing their hearts out to celebrate this community and an amazing organization.

It was the perfect bookend to what could be described as a truly “magical” event.

“I think it was a magnificent night, especially compared to what we, as a small organization generally shoot for as a fundraising event,” said Kevin. “The food was excellent, as is always the case at the Vintage Press, and the performances were over the top. Jon Stemkoski and Judy Bell really knocked it out of the park, and Rudolfina Sjostrand's performance on the violin was beautiful…I particularly enjoyed Jon’s medley of Sinatra songs, as well as his personal stories behind them.”

This fundraiser for Arts Visalia was made possible by John, David, and Greg Vartanian, owners of the Vintage Press Restaurant, as well as the Arts Visalia Board Members involved in putting together this event.

As the night went on, it became evident how committed this particular group of people were in supporting the mission of Arts Visalia, and the funds raised proved it that much more; once all was said and done, $13,000 was raised amongst this group of 74 people, which accounts for about 10 percent of Arts Visalia’s annual average income. All in all, it was a success.

“I am reminded, once again, of the closeness of this community and the general spirit of generosity,” said Kevin. “I say in reflection of the Vartanian family's generosity as hosts, of the guests who purchased tickets willingly, and, finally, in view of the contributions of Jon Stemkoski and friends, who made the event the success that it was…all of this in support of just one of Visalia's many deserving charitable organizations. As a Midwesterner who has made a home here in Visalia, I can speak from experience that there is something special about this town, the way people value, and, most importantly, support the arts.”

TOP: Singer Judy Bell shares a hug with an audience member.

BOTTOM: Todd Netland accompained Jon on the piano, and played throughout the evening.

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HOLIDAY POPS Join the Tulare County Symphony at their annual holiday show, featuring works from a variety of composers. Tickets are $20-$39.

When: Dec. 20, 3p & 7:30p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

THEATER & PERFORMANCES

DEC 11

THE 39 STEPS

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps; a fastpaced whodunit for anyone who loves theater. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of four), an on-stage plane crash, missing fingers, and some good old-fashioned romance.

When: Jan. 9-11, 16-18, 23-25; Fri. & Sat. at 7:30p, Sun. at 2p Where: Ice House Theater, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3375

LEE GREENWOOD & CRYSTAL GAYLE Best know for his signature song, “God Bless the U.S.A,” Lee Greewood will be joined by Crystal Gayle for a Christmas show. Light up your holiday season with this pair of shining country stars. Enjoy the blend of voices at this great concert.

Tickets are $40-$100.

When: Dec. 11, 6p Where: Tachi Palace, 17225 Jersey Ave., Lemoore Contact: 924-7751

WILLIAM CLOSE & THE EARTH HARP COLLECTIVE

"America’s Got Talent," William Close, will be preforming live at Visalia First Assembly for the holiday season. For two amazing nights, see William Close and the Earth Harp Collective play pieces from their recently released album, “Holiday.”

Tickets are $10.

When: Dec. 13, 5p; Dec. 14, 6p Where: Visalia First Assembly, 3737 S. Akers St., Visalia Contact: 733-9070

DEC 18

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HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT

Tulare Community Band will perform their annual holiday concert. Musicians throughout Tulare County, under the direction of Bill Ingram, will perform holiday music, marches, and traditional concert band music. This event is free for the public.

When: Dec. 18, 7:30p Where: Tulare Community Auditorium, 755 E. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: 686-4761

L I FE S T Y L E | D E CE M B E R 2014

JAN 10 JAN 11

THE RUSSIA HOUSE

The Tulare County Symphony presents a night of beautiful music. Audience favorite, Steven Lin, will return for a solo on piano performing Shostakovitch.

When: Jan. 10, 6:30p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

MUSIC AT THE MAIN

This event features a select group of musicians from the prestigious Colburn Conservatory. Featured is cellist David Requiro, winner of the Naumberg Prize in 2008 and described as the finest cellist of his generation.

When: Jan. 11, 3p Where: Main Street Theatre, 307 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: 561-1100

HAPPENINGS H

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CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY Holiday performances, children activities, classic renditions of favorite Christmas songs, photo booth with Mr. & Mrs. Claus, what more could you ask for?

Celebrate the holiday season with the family at this fun event for all ages. All donations go to the Visalia Rescue Mission. Admission is free.

When: Dec. 21, 9a, 11a & 6p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-4040

CAMELOT

Camelot tells the story of the leged of King Arthur who rules his kingdom with new ideals, bringing peace to a troubled land. But when his beautiful new Queen Guenevere and the dashing Sir Lancelot, his most trusted knight, give in to their passion for one another, one of the most fabled love triangles of all time ensues.

When Mordred, King Arthur’s illegitimate son, catches on and sees a kingdom in chaos, he attempts to destroy all that is Camelot.

When: Jan. 13-14, 7:30p Where: Saroyan Theater, 700 M. St., Fresno Contact: 445-8200

JAN 3

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Downtown Visalia will be booming every Thursday before Christmas with holiday music, horse drawn carriages for $5 and photos with Santa Claus for $5. Bring the family, checkout the best snowmen and be a part of the holiday fun this year.

When: Dec. 11 & 18, 5-8p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: 732-7737

FOUR LENSES, FOUR VISIONS

DEC 28

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ELEMENTS

Acrylic artist Anees Akhund, sculptor Christy Cole, and photographers Hye Jung Kim and John C. Radar, will all be showcasing their works of art at this exhibit.

When: Through Dec. 28 Where: Exeter Art Gallery. 125 B. St., Exeter Contact: 592-9695

L I FE S T Y L E | D E CE M B E R 2014

Food, fun, and fabulous art. Every 1st Saturday of the month, the artists, restaurants, and merchants of Three Rivers open their doors and invite you to join in a town-wide celebration. You can pick up a map and schedule at Anne Lang’s Emporium or the Historical Museum – the flier shows all participating venues and times for special events.

When: Jan. 3, 10a-5p Where: Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or www.1stSaturdayTR.com

DIVERSIONS & EXCURSIONS

ART EXHIBITS Four photographers, Ralph Chojnacki, John Greening, Greg Halliwill and Jerry Smith, will all be displaying their photographs at Arts Visalia. Picturesque landscapes and photos of our Central Valley will be on display.

When: Through Dec. 20 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

FIRST SATURDAY

JAN 4

PREMIER BRIDAL SHOWPLACE

Come find valuable information to help with all of your wedding planning. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy an elegant fashion show featuring bridal gowns and meet some of the finest wedding professionals in the Fresno area. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

When: Jan 4, 10a Where: Fresno Convention Center, 848 M St., Fresno Contact: 445-8200

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CHARITABLE EVENTS

DEC 12

34TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION

The Visalia Chamber of Commerce presents the Christmas Tree Auction- this year’s theme is Babes in Toyland. This event is sure to put you in the holiday spirit, as donations will benefit more than 30 charities. Come enjoy the beautifully decorated trees (or bid on one), participate in live and silent auctions, enjoy a sit-down dinner (VIP only), wine and entertainment. VIP tickets: $130; general admission: $65.

When: Dec. 12, 5:30-11:30p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-5876 or www.visaliachamber.org

JAN 1

RESOLUTION RUN

Bank of the Sierra's annual Resolution Run is here to promote good health as well as giving back to the community.

Distances include 5k, and a kids 1-mile run. All proceeds from the Resolution Run will benefit the Visalia Rescue Mission.

Register by December 12 to get the early bird price.

When: Jan. 1; 9a Where: Bank of the Sierra, 128 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.valleyresolutionrun.com

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