November 2014

HOME TOUR

THE BLACKBURN HOME Spanish-Style Home Meets Old-World Charm

TRAVEL

GREECE Kos Town

CULINARY

A WARM, WINTER CLASSIC Porter Braised Beef Stroganoff November 2014

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24 HOME TOUR The Blackburn Home

HUMANITARIAN

8

Letter from the Executive Editor

Living Water World Missions

10 Word Play

Hope and Life Through Clean Water

12 History: Former Slave Charms Visalia 16 Seasonal: Gratitude 52 Music: Times Are Changing 54 Local Adventure: Terra Bella Wineries

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56 Happenings

CULINARY

A Warm, Winter Classic Porter Braised Beef Stroganoff

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38 T R AV E L

Greece Kos Town

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L I FE S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2014

ON THE COVER: The grand front door stands at nine feet tall, allowing guests to see all the way to the backyard from the entrance.

PICTURED: The front of the Blackburn home showcases the Spanish-style design.

NOVEMBER 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 CHERYL L. DIETER DIANE SLOCUM JAMES JESSEN RYAN LUCAS IRENE MORSE TERRY L. OMMEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT MALKASIAN ACCOUNTANCY LLP GARY MALKASIAN CPA JEFFREY MALKASIAN EA Operations Manager MARIA GASTON ADVERTISING SALES LEAH PEREZ leah@dmiagency.com

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 Franey’s Design Center Hobbs-Potts Associates Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Keller Williams Reality Pacifi c Treasures Pita Kabob Smiles by Sullivan Smile Visalia Suncrest Bank V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Business Bank (Downtown) Visalia Imaging & Open MRI Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Wildfl ower Café, Exeter Williams, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

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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T

his might be a tough topic for some of you right now, but the San Francisco Giants just won the World Series for the third time in five years. At times it was difficult to come to work during the week of the Series, as a few of us would have preferred to close up the shop a little early in time to catch the first pitch. It seems we’re always a little too busy to make that happen, but we’re not complaining. If working well into the evening of Game 7 had anything to do with them clinching the title, so be it. Baseball is superstitious that way, so we can expect the same late night routine if the Giants make it to Game 7 again in the future.

If there was ever a good reason to miss a few innings, this month’s home feature photo shoot was it. I first happened upon this home by chance while attending a bridal shower. In 11 plus years of publishing Lifestyle, we’ve had the privilege of touring some of the area’s most beautiful homes, and we’ve loved something unqiue about every single one of them. Sometimes it’s the kitchen, while other times it might be the master bath, but I personally have never experienced a home quite like this one. It’s spectacular from any viewpoint, so we extended the layout in order to do it even the slightest bit of justice. We are simply thrilled to share it with you, so trust me and turn to “Spanish Style meets Old-World Charm,” on page 24.

The weather has been absolutely beautiful so far this fall, and that includes the nice little storm we recently had that brought such desperately needed rain and snow. Though it wasn’t enough rain to call an end to our drought, it was enough to leave me cautiously optimistic. Many of us have wished and hoped and prayed for some sign that this winter will be better than the last. Maybe this was it?

We’re still conserving and being thoughtful about our water usage, but if the early storm was any indication of what’s to come, then maybe, just maybe, some of our farmers can breathe a little easier. This is not a permanent solution, but I think all of us would welcome even some temporary relief. So let’s keep wishing and hoping and praying for rain, rain, and more rain.

Before we sign off for the month, please be on the lookout for our newly established “Lifestyle Insider.” Plans are underway for subscribers (don’t worry, it’s free) to receive news about happenings and events, as well as exclusive promotions and offers available only to our “insiders.” There might even be a few giveaways along the way.

Head on over to our website, www.visalialifestyle.com to sign-up.

We hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving, filled with love and laughter and so much rain that everyone must stay indoors. For that my friends, I would be sincerely thankful.

KAREN TELLALIAN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR 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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W WORD PLAY

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

N

ovember is Aviation History Month, which celebrates anything from mechanical flight to kites to space craft.

Books touching on this topic include, of course, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, now available in a 10th anniversary paperback version. This is the story of a wealthy boy in Afghanistan and his friendship with a servant’s son.

Due out in January is Exploring Science: What is Flight?: Birds, Planes, Kites, Balloons; with 18 Easy-to-Do Experiments and 240 Exciting Pictures by Peter Mellett and John Rostron. The book is aimed at kindergarten to sixth graders to help them understand flight through experimentation.

Captured Eagles: Secrets of the Luftwaffe (Osprey Publishing, October 2014) by Frederick A. Johnson tells of the attempt by the United States to understand the technology that gave the German Luftwaffe an advantage over Allied aircraft before and during World War II. Even after the war, the U.S. continued to mine information from German jets and missiles to gain superiority in the Cold War and race for space.

Infinite Worlds: The People and Places of Space Exploration by Michael Soluri was published this month. The photos and essays in the book go behind the scenes at NASA for a look at the astronauts, engineers, ground crews and others during the rescue of the Hubble Telescope.

Valley Writers Fresno artist, author and chef, Larry Hill, published his first novel, Streak Hitter, through Black Opal Press in 2012.

It is the story of Navo LeJeune, a San Francisco Giants player who came from the Fresno Grizzlies, and Melanie Blake, a bar artist about to go international. Navo finds himself in a hitting streak that may challenge Joe DiMaggio’s 56 consecutive games in 1941. Dark family secrets, sacrifices for dreams, betrayal and strife complicate the characters’ lives.

Read the Book Andrew Hodge’s Alan Turing: The Enigma, The Centenary Edition (Princeton University Press, 2012) brings back the biography of the intellectual mathematical 10

L I FE S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2014

giant who cracked the German’s Enigma machine code in Britain’s secret cryptography unit, Bletchley Park, during World War II. Turing also devised a way to quantify mechanical thinking and questioned the ability of a computer to imitate a human. His question led to the Turing test 65 years ago. Under specific conditions, a computer has to convince questioners that they are interrogating a human. This year, a Russian-made program in a computer called Eugene finally did pass the Turing test, (for a fictionalized version of attempting to pass the Turing test, read A Working Theory of Love by Scott Hutchins.)

Hodge has the mathematical understanding to present Turing’s intellectual side, while also revealing his humanity.

The movie, “The Imitation Game,” based on Hodge’s book, is scheduled for release this month and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.

Saroyan Prize The Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation honors Saroyan’s life and legacy every two years by giving two awards. The 2014 winner for non-fiction is Margalit Fox for The Riddle of the Labyrinth. Her book recounts the story of Alice Kober, a classics professor at Brooklyn College, who spent 20 years deciphering the clay tablets found in the Palace of Knossos in Crete in 1900. The ciphers bore no resemblance to any known alphabet.

The fiction prize went to Kiese Laymon for Long Division. Laymon’s debut novel takes place during the Freedom Summer of 1964 and the present day with teens from each era that travel in time. Set in the Mississippi woods of Laymon’s youth, the story deals with serious topics of race, violence, gender and sexuality, but balances the tragedies encountered with heavy doses of humor.

Entry is open for the 2016 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing.

Works published during 2014 and 2015 are eligible. Since the competition is designed for new or emerging writers, usually authors with four or more books are not considered.

The deadline is January 29, 2016. Details at https://library.stanford.edu/projects.

Caveat Scriptor Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America offers advice to writers on avoiding agents, contests and others who are out to make a quick buck at their expense. The website’s “Writer Beware” page (www. sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors.) links to warnings about copyrights, vanity anthologies, scams and others. They also offer advice on what to do if you have been victimized.

Winning Writers also carries a “Scam Busting” page in its resources section (https://winningwriters.com/resources.)

The listings include an article on problems with the group called Poetry.com (a.k.a.

International Library of Poetry and International Society of Poets). “Professor Roy’s Amazingly Bad Poetry Journal” takes poems that are displayed on Poetry. com and comments on how bad they really are. “Wocky Jivvy: Poems of Shame” gives examples of intentionally bad poems that were accepted on Poetry.com.

The Last Word “It’s only when you’re flying above it that you realize how incredible the Earth really is.” – Philippe Perrin (1963 - )

H HISTORY

F O R M ER S L AV E C H A R M S V I SA L I A

Reflections OF VISALIA Text by Terry L. Ommen

V

isalia has hosted interesting visitors throughout its history, many with recognizable names like John C. Fremont, Susan B. Anthony, Walt Disney, and Richard M. Nixon. There was one, however, not nearly as well-known, who came here and captivated the town like no other. Nearly 120 years ago, a former slave, both blind and autistic, sometimes called the “eighth wonder of the world,” thrilled a Visalia audience and gave them what could only be described as a “musical feast.”

PICTURED: Armory Hall was located on the north east corner of Acequia and Court Street. This picture was taken circa 1900.

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H HISTORY

So who was this remarkable man who left his unforgettable mark on our town? Blind since birth, Thomas Wiggins was born in 1849 in Columbus, Georgia to an enslaved couple named Charity and Domingo Wiggins. The family lived on the Jones Plantation until 1850, when infant Tom and his family were sold to prominent Columbus lawyer, General James Bethune. They remained his property until slavery has abolished after the Civil War. As a young boy in a family that eventually numbered 20 children, Tom’s blindness and mental condition kept him from doing many physical chores, so he was allowed to roam the Bethune plantation.

One story says that when he was about three-years-old, the toddler wandered into the master’s parlor during a dinner party and heard guests playing the piano. After they went to the dinner table, Tom sat at the keyboard and played songs he had just heard, and did this having never played a piano before. General Bethune and his guests were amazed.

The Bethune family explored Tom’s unique gift, and soon discovered that he had the remarkable ability to repeat sounds occurring around him, even though he was barely able to express in words his personal needs, using “grunts and gestures” to communicate.

By age six, he was on stage entertaining audiences.

John Bethune, General Bethune’s son, became the young pianist’s manager and guardian. For decades, Blind Tom, as he became known, toured the country giving concerts. Reportedly, at one time in his career, he had memorized and could play 7,000 pieces including Mozart, Gottschalk, Verdi and many other musical greats. He even played at the White House for President James Buchannan and entertained Mark Twain numerous times. Twain said of Tom, “he lorded it over the emotions of his audience like an autocrat.

He swept them like a storm, with his battle-pieces; he lulled them to rest again with melodies as tender as those we hear in dreams; he gladdened them with others that rippled through the charmed air as happily and cheerily as the riot linnets make in California woods…”

Physically, Tom was a big man described as a “burly giant,” but ironically, he had the mind of a five-year-old child, complete with occasional temper tantrums.

In 1894, Blind Tom brought his show to Visalia. The 45-year-old man was a seasoned performer by this time, and Visalians snapped up the $0.75 tickets for the December 12 performance at Armory Hall.

Tickets went on sale on December 6, and sold quickly. The Daily Morning Delta boosted ticket sales, warning readers, “it may be the

last time our people will ever hear this musical genius and no one should let this opportunity pass.”

On the evening of the performance, a large audience packed the hall and even the Visalia City Council cancelled their meeting in order to attend. Blind Tom’s introduction took the audience by surprise. His previous stage manager had died, but Tom had memorized his manager’s words of introduction - word for word, emphasis, inflections and all, and Tom used his manager’s exact words to introduce himself in the third person.

He played selection after selection, including music from the classic composers. He played one of Liszt’s rhapsodies, a serenade

by Gottschalk, and his own rendition of the lively Phi Gamma Epsilon “March by Pease.” But the most popular of the evening was his rendition of a music box. He further amazed the audience with music he had composed himself like “The Rainstorm,” “The Train,” and “The Battle of Manassas,” clearly displaying his ability to imitate different sounds on the piano.

“The Battle of Manassas” was Tom’s most famous composition. He created it based on an eyewitness account of the famous Civil War battle, complete with notes to imitate cannon fire, troop train whistles, and other battle sounds.

During the show, one member of the audience played an original, locally composed concert waltz, a selection Tom had never heard before. To the delight of the audience, he repeated it exactly.

For nearly two hours, Blind Tom held the audience’s attention. However, there was one selection, according to a newspaper reporter in attendance, that the audience was less interested in. The reporter wrote, “Blind Tom played a number of classical numbers, chief of which was the first movement of the Pastoral Sonata, in F Minor, by Beethoven, Opus 15.” Even though the audience did not care for that type of music, the reporter wrote, “it showed the genius of the blind artist.”

Overall, the evening was a delight and the reporter concluded that the audience had never enjoyed anything so much. Tom was a hit and responded to several enthusiastic encores.

Tom’s hectic touring schedule eventually slowed and finally ended in 1904. His last days were spent in private, playing his beloved piano and holding imaginary concerts. This autistic, musical savant played the piano for the last time in 1908 and died at age 59 in Hoboken, New Jersey.

You can hear Blind Tom’s music and learn more about his life on several websites, including www.blindtom.org. His musical compositions are even available on CD.

PICTURED: Blind Tom, circa 1880.

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S SEASONAL

GRATITUDE Text by Irene Morse

T

he cornucopia is a universal symbol for Thanksgiving. This “horn of plenty,” is typically filled to the brim with delicious-looking food, but there’s no reason it can’t be stuffed with reasons to be thankful. This time of year, people traditionally set aside life’s concerns and take a moment to be thankful for what they have. Here in America, there is plenty to fill up our cornucopias, both physically and figuratively, and for most of us, whether by accident of birth or by design, living in America might be one treasure in this collection.

There was an election this month. Vast numbers of Americans sit out these midterms, mostly because they’re sick of the sleazy, unsavory side of politics. Sometimes we forget what good fortune it is to be born in a country where voting is a bother rather than a life-threatening event. It is likely that most people don’t think about their gender, their economic status or their education level when they give up part of their workday lunch-hour to go to the polls. It’s important to remember the sacrifices of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony or, more recently, James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner when we think about voting. We can all be thankful for that dearly-purchased right to vote and, after that, the privilege to complain about the outcome without fear of reprisal.

The San Joaquin Valley is another goodie in our horn of plenty. It has been called “the food basket of the world,” and yet food insecurity is higher here than anywhere else in the state. Most of us can be thankful that we are able to buy the products that are grown here, and to provide our families with healthy meals. For those who cannot, there are a myriad of nonprofit organizations, religious groups and individuals who constantly labor to feed those in need. It’s good to live among

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kind and generous people.

The cornucopia also contains a jewel of a city that is rich with cultural opportunities. There are live theater venues, an opera company, a symphony orchestra and a plethora of art galleries. There are museums, concerts and opportunities for children and adults to learn from others in the art world.

There are so many ways to enrich our lives through the arts.

And of course, there are parks and green spaces in our city, and a beautiful, vibrant downtown area. The business districts are thriving. Our city boasts some of the finest dining establishments in the entire Central Valley, with everything from family-friendly to white table-cloth restaurants.

We plant trees and flowers in our town, and most of us say a quiet “thanks” on those clear days when we turn toward the east and see the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains gracing our horizon. This beauty nourishes us, too.

We have access to some great friends stuffed into our cornucopia. These are the folks who stick with us no matter what. They make us laugh and hold us when we weep. They sustain us.

Probably the most prized item is our family. It’s true that not everyone has a Norman Rockwell family; most of us have that troublesome aunt or quirky cousin, and some families have come unraveled. Still, this is a good place to build families, the kind you’re born into, the kind you blend, or the kind you adopt into your life. There are churches, organizations, and many caring individuals to help with the construction.

As we enter the season for giving thanks, now is a good time to take inventory in our personal cornucopia. Each one likely contains many gifts not mentioned here, and more reasons to be thankful than we realize.

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H HUMANITARIAN LIVI N G WAT E R WO R LD M I S S I O N S:

Hope and Life through CLEAN WATER Photos by Karl Schafer

T

hink of a resource more valuable than diamonds, more coveted than foreign oil, more vital to our livelihood than any crop on earth. Here in America, and even in the South Valley where wells are running dry and fields are thirsting to be fed, we don’t often give clean water a second thought. We turn on our faucets, our hoses, our showers and out it comes, ready to be consumed and ready to wash away dirt from a day’s work.

But imagine if you turned your shower on and were greeted with mud, insects, sticks or worse. And imagine being forced to give your family that water because you had no other choice. Many countries face this problem every day, and there’s usually nothing they can do about it until organizations like Visalia-based Living Water World Missions come along and help them become equipped for producing their own clean water.

Once every month, a group of 10-20 people from around the Valley, many from local churches, give up a week of their time and head out to Guatemala, or one of the other six countries that Living Water World Missions serves, to help install water filtration systems.

But as their name implies, the project’s mission reaches far beyond providing clean water. LWWM seeks to transform people’s lives by providing them with clean water, healthier bodies and fellowship with God’s people. Clean water, while important and certainly at the foundation of their mission, serves as a vehicle to these ends.

As stated by Mark Vanciel, the CEO and Founder of Living Water World Missions, it “exists to share the love of Jesus Christ in the context of providing clean drinking water systems to communities where they are needed.”

PICTURED: Students in San Pedro, Guatemala, meet together to become educated on how healthy, clean water is essential. Here, you see them celebrate their clear, clean water samples.

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H HUMANITARIAN

Mark Vanciel, a member of First Presbyterian in Visalia, began this water project after several years of participating in mission trips to Guatemala, where he fell in love with the people and the culture. It didn’t take long for him to notice the poor water quality and how difficult it was for, not only the people, but even some resident missionaries to gain access to clean water. Mark and several members of his church decided they should do something about it as part of their mission.

After conducting some research, Mark discovered a nonprofit organization in Mississippi had developed a relatively easy-touse system that produced clean water. First Presbyterian Church in Visalia sponsored Mark and a team of five to travel down to Mississippi for training on the treatment program. Just one month later, they installed their first water filtration system at a camp in Guatemala.

During dedication service for the water system, several pastors observed the water treatment system and told Mark and his team that they should start installing these systems in their churches because children were dying from a lack of clean water.

“You know, that was kind of a hard request to turn down,” said Mark. “So that’s what we started to do and over the next few years, we went down about twice a year and we were able to install several systems in the churches that owned the camp property.”

Once Mark retired from his job at the county about three years ago, he decided to make this more of a full-time endeavor. He formed the nonprofit, Living Water World Missions, made up of several representatives from different churches in Visalia. With the development of this nonprofit, trips began to occur as often as once a month, rather than once or twice a year.

Congregational Care Pastor John Walker, from Visalia First Assembly, has been on this trip four times, and he plans to go again next year. He will never forget the moment he saw a group of children in Guatemala use a drinking fountain for the first time. While here in America, there’s almost something “taboo” about drinking water from a public fountain, for these kids, it brought them so much contagious joy.

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LEFT: CEO and Founder of LWWM, Mark Vanciel.

BOTTOM: LWWM volunteer, Jim Pitkin, helps a child with their handprint that will go on a canvas to be sent to churches in Visalia.

H HUMANITARIAN

As Walker recounts, “we were at a private school for Guatemalan children and as a side treat, we built a water fountain and these kids had no idea what it was or how to use it. But to watch them turn it on and get water in their ears or in their face…their mouths didn’t even know how to drink water from a fountain. Scores of children lined up, one at a time, and they would try to put their whole mouth over the faucet. They were so full of joy! All they wanted to do was try that water fountain.”

Installing the water filtrations systems isn’t the only aspect of this mission; it is two-fold. While one group shows the community, church or school members how to use, install and maintain the system, a separate group focuses on educating the people about clean water.

For three days of the trip, educators like Melody Downie-Dack who is a board member of LWWM, work directly with the local schoolteachers and the children to train them on how to properly use this filtered water, while applying biblical stories about water to each lesson.

“We do some activities about both hand-washing and how not to use the water unnecessarily,” said Melody. “We do everything from making germs out of play-dough to learning songs for handwashing and the proper use of the water.”

At the end of each week when the system is set up and the community is informed about using clean water, they organize a dedication ceremony where the members of the church or school drink the filtered water together, sing and present awards to celebrate.

“On the first trip I went on, during the dedication ceremony, one of the older women in the church was almost in tears when discussing the importance of the clean water,” said Melody. “She talked about one of her children who had passed away years ago from what she believed was an illness that was waterborne. She was very moved by us being there and just knew the significance of having that clean water available.”

Living Water World Missions has received back reports of tremendous increases in school and church attendance. Children

and parents aren’t getting sick as often, which means more kids are getting the most of their education and parents are able to go to work everyday. The water systems are truly making a difference in the lives of Guatemalans.

But the Guatemalans aren’t the only people who have been positively impacted; those who go on these mission trips are impacted in a way that changes their entire perception of life and their outlook on the material things of this world.

Board member Mike Grassel has been with Mark from the very beginning of this project, so he has had the opportunity to develop close relationships with many Guatemalans and has grown to admire their way of life. “The Guatemalans I have met and worked with enjoy life to the fullest, even though they are poor by our standards. It has definitely made me reflect my own standards; what is ‘worldly’? what is ‘poor’?”

Living Water World Missions is continuing to grow as they are embarking on an exciting, new venture. Over the summer, they began a covenant with Compassion International, a nonprofit charity that forms partnerships with impoverished churches all over the world in order to provide children with food and programs to help them rise above their circumstances. LWWM's covenant with Compassion International will allow them to install water filtration systems in 73 of their sites across Guatemala.

With the start of these new projects, LWWM is looking for more people and churches to join them in their mission to provide Guatemalans with this vital resource.

“I really enjoy having folks from North America go down and experience what our friends in South America and Latin America are experiencing,” said Mark. “They come back pretty enthused and invigorated by what they are able to do, see and experience down there and the relationships that we build are unbelievable.

These trips shorten the distance between us and make the world a smaller place.”

For more information on how to become involved in Living Water World Missions, visit their website at www.livingwaterworldmissions.org or call (559) 732-8334.

LEFT: A local filling up clean drinking water from a newly installed drinking fountain.

RIGHT: Guatemalan native, Josue Yax, is educating the teachers at the local school about the new water installation system.

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H HOME TOUR

THE BLACKBURN HOME

SPANISH-STYLE HOME MEETS OLD-WORLD CHARM Photos by Taylor Johnson

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PICTURED: As you enter the home, you see the comfortable living room, equipped with a custom light feature.

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he home of Julie and Ross Blackburn resembles that of a Mexican escape right here in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. With many of the structural pieces coming directly from Mexico and hand-picked by the homeowners themselves, the effort put into the home’s design is palpable.

Julie Blackburn, the mastermind behind the home’s design, has a love for things south-of-the-border that translates directly into her love for having a great living space that is comfortable, functional and inviting for family and friends.

“We love Mexico, and I wanted to feel like I am on vacation here in my own home,” said Julie. “We have actually duplicated designs from houses where we have stayed…our home feels like a tropical retreat.”

The Spanish-style exterior of the home, complete with adobe-inspired lookouts in the walls, hides the true detail that lies within its doors. Once through the arched walkway, Moroccan-style lanterns emit ethereal dots of light onto a spiraled staircase made of Spanish tiles and red brick, leading up to the front porch and eventually the inside entrance.

PICTURED: The circular dining room holds a 12-person round table, custom ceiling décor and medieval infl uenced pieces.

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H HOME TOUR

The enormous, arched front door steals the show from anything that might be surrounding it, including a fireplace seating area, adorned with colorful pillows, displaying only the slightest hint of what’s to come.

Many unique features of the Blackburn home give it that authentic Spanish feel, but maybe none as much as the doors.

Every single door throughout the house is different and curved at the top. Standing at an impressive nine feet tall, the front door mimics the entrance of a castle. The entire door, spanning six feet across, hangs on a single center hinge, inviting guests inward as it swings open in a grand fashion. It seems all that’s missing is a moat and a palace guard.

“I researched many styles of doors and took pictures during my trips down there,” said Julie. “We found a door manufacturer in Tijuana and gave them pictures of what we wanted. The front door is something I saw during my research. Once I saw it, I knew I wanted a front door that opened like that. It was definitely a

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challenge, though, trying to figure out how to make a hinged, curved door open properly.”

Once guests step through the front entrance, all eyes immediately look up to the double-height ceiling. Stone walls lead up to a perfectly decorated dome, made of red bricks, warm colored Spanish tiles and wooden beams. Every detail points to the centerpiece of the room: an old-world influenced wrought iron chandelier, each layer ornamented with lights that look more like candles from a different century. The chandelier lights the way up the grand, wrought iron staircase, lined with the most colorful Spanish tiles of white, blue, red and yellow. Whether planned or by happenstance, the entrance accomplishes the appearances of both Spanish-style, as well as medieval charm.

This look is complemented by a large, wooden round table that sits in a dining room just to the right of the front door. The table, like the rest of the wooden furniture in the home, was made especially for the Blackburn family in Guadalajara, Mexico.

HOME TOUR H

PICTURED: Sitting to the right of the living room, the expansive kitchen features a brick style roof along with copper sinks and counter top.

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Guests who have the pleasure of sharing a meal in this dining room might feel as though they’ve gone back in time to the days of the Knights of the Round Table.

“I have always preferred a round dining table over square or rectangular. I feel that it is easier for everyone to be in one large group discussion with a circular table during holidays and on movie nights,” said Julie.

As if touring a famous mansion, one can’t help but look up and notice that no two ceilings are alike. While one room might feature a Latia stick ceiling that gives it a tropical feel, others have authentic wood beams, and others are made of bamboo. Perhaps the most unique use of ceiling material is that of roof tiles. Not many people would think of using roof tiles to line ceilings inside a house, but in this home, it works and it’s absolutely stunning.

The living spaces in the Blackburn home are the true definition of an “open floor plan” as each space flows from one room to the next. Perfect for Julie’s passion for entertaining, the kitchen, the great room, the game room, and the outdoor living room all seem to share the same space, while somehow being distinctly separate areas, each with their own function and purpose.

In somewhat of a juxtaposition, walking into the living space is

an instant outdoor experience. It’s difficult to tell where the house begins and ends, as the nano doors open up from the great room right into the outdoor living space, displaying the blue waters in the pool.

“The idea of two nano doors was once again a feeling of being on a lanai in Mexico or Hawaii, where the outdoor and indoor space flows from one to the other,” said Julie. “You can’t always tell if you’re inside or outside, and I love that!”

In the backyard, which is one of Julie’s favorite spots, there are numerous seating areas throughout; a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen complete with a brick pizza oven, a swim-up bar, a water slide, and an additional bar in the home that opens up to serve thirsty guests on the patio. The colors throughout the outdoor area give it that feeling of a Puerto Vallarta vacation. A deep ocean blue paints the walls that conceal a secluded seating area, decorated with colorful pillows, while little alcoves in the wall hide candles perfect for romantic summer evenings. It’s these elements that demonstrate the thought and attention to detail that went into the design and architecture of this home.

Back inside the house, copper accents appear all throughout the home. The fireplace in the living room, the sinks in the kitchen, PICTURED: The alternate living room is equipped with a pool table, fireplace and big screen TV, ideal for enjoying the “Sunday Fun-day” Julie mentions.

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H HOME TOUR and the bar cabinets on the island and the hood above the stove all have copper touches, providing interest to the rooms.

The warm colors and comfortable atmosphere in the grand room give the home a feeling of togetherness. It’s not hard to imagine the holidays at the Blackburn house, with an ornately decorated Christmas tree twinkling next to the fireplace, while relatives laugh with eggnog and apple cider in hand. And maybe in the next room, the uncles are all playing pool, while the kids take turns going down the slide. The evening ends with a showing of an old Christmas film down in the basement movie theater.

The Blackburn home may be huge, but it doesn’t lack the warmth brought by family and friends.

While the home features many obvious remarkable design elements, there are countless small, rich with meaning details that at first might go unnoticed. The house is filled with nooks and crannies, unique wall lighting, mosaic designs in the floors and personal family touches. It’s clear as you go throughout the home that the Blackburns wanted to create a space that captures not only their love for Mexico, but also their two boys youthfulness.

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When the Blackburns moved in a little over two-years-ago, their sons were 12 and 10-years-old and full of energy, as are most pre-teens. Julie wanted the home to have some features that could double as memories, including a stained glass window painted by her sons.

“I wanted touches of my boys in the house that captured their precious age of when we were building,” said Julie. “I love my stained glass window in my office and their handprints around my fireplace in the kitchen seating space. I have memories of making both of these.”

While these features serve as treasured memories, the Blackburn home has a few “who would have thought of this?” tricks up its sleeve. On the third floor in the boy’s study, there lies a bookshelf.

But this is no ordinary bookshelf. It just so happens to be a secret door, and behind that door sits a closed-in yellow slide that descends all the way down to the first floor. And for those moments when they don’t feel like taking the slide or the stairs, there’s an elevator waiting to take them to

HOME TOUR H

PICTURED: With pops of yellow, green and blue, the backyard features the same Spanish-style infl uence as the inside of the home. Here, you can see the openness of the home, with views from the backyard to the front of the home.

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LEFT: On the bottom floor, the family has a locker room for all their sports, fitness and weekend related equipment.

RIGHT: One of the guest bathrooms downstairs features the same Spanish tile used throughout the house, full of vibrant colors and dark cabinets.

any of the three floors. Regardless of whichever methods the boys utilize to get from place-to-place, don’t be fooled, the slide isn’t just for them.

“Ironically, we adults find it to be as much of a novelty as our kids do,” said Julie. “Most adults who have come to our home have been down the slide a time or two.”

But the slide isn’t the only over-the-top fun in this home. In each of the boys’ rooms lie a secret loft, and half the fun is getting there. Each of the boys had some input when it came to designing the features in their rooms. Blake, the older son, chose to have a rock-climbing wall installed as the means to get into the secret loft. Beaux, a die-hard Vikings football fan, has turf for carpet and a ladder resembling goal posts leading into his loft. It’s not hard to guess where all the neighborhood kids spend their free time.

Aside from all the fun and beautiful features, what really makes the home exceptional is that it was truly a family effort.

Julie’s father, Bill Benneyan, and business partner, Les Normart, of Benart Homes, were the builders behind this architect masterpiece. In collaboration with architecture Stan Canby and interior designer Linda Zoerb, they made this house a home, uniquely for the Blackburn family.

For Bill Benneyan, the most difficult aspect of building this four bedroom, eight-bathroom home was not that he had his daughter to answer to.

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“The most challenging part was that each room was a separate design and has different ceilings,” said Benneyan. “It took a lot of time, planning and coordination.”

The Bernart building team had to engineer this project as if they were constructing a commercial building. From the inception of the idea, to groundbreaking through completion, the whole process took about three years and an estimate of 175 men and women to bring this magnificent home to life. But guests will be surprised at how warm and welcoming the home feels, despite its size and grandeur. This comfortable atmosphere is a direct result of the many hours of planning and brainstorming that went on between Julie and her designer.

Julie admits that she had a difficult time deciding which genre and styles to use as inspiration for her home’s design because she loves so many different styles. And that’s where Linda’s expertise and keen decorative eye came in.

“Basically, I have a hard time making decisions,” said Julie. “I had a lot of designs I had seen over the years and couldn’t choose just one style. Linda was able to help me accomplish this. I would describe a vision or show her pictures I liked, and she would be able to sketch something for me using my ideas.”

While it might seem like a stretch of the imagination to picture old-world elegance blending with coastal and Spanish influenced architecture and décor, the Blackburns pull it off, and they pull it off very well. They have managed to create a rare Mexican

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H HOME TOUR

escape with medieval flare that is completely functional and inviting to friends and family who come over to watch weekly Sunday football or play games, while creating memories more meaningful than the home itself.

“Our ‘Sunday Fun-days’ are my favorite days of the week,” said Julie. “We watch football all day long and friends feel free to stop by anytime. It’s fun and relaxing. We eat and drink to our hearts' content, and usually end up playing games with the group…. but I must admit, the few moments that I get to

BOTTOM: The hallway leading into the master bedroom highlights custom brickwork and one-of-a-kind handcrafted doors.

RIGHT: Blake, the older son, designed his room to feature a rock wall that led up to a loft.

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spend with the four of us (Ross, Blake and Beaux) are my most cherished.”

This one-of-a-kind project began with Julie and Ross needing more garage space and the perfect “Super Bowl Sunday” party spot, but it soon transformed into so much more. With the help of a great building team, a detail-oriented designer, a creative architect, and countless others, the Blackburn’s dream Spanishstyle home came to life in the best possible way. If this all sounds too crazy to be true, you may just have to “see it to believe it.”

C CULINARY

Colder weather calls for warm comfort dishes. This month, the chefs at Tazzaria have put the ultimate twist on this winter classic. No disappointments here! Give this one-of-a-kind dish a try and it is sure to bring family and friends together.

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Recipes by James Jessen and Ryan Lucas, Tazzaria | Photos by Taylor Johnson

A WARM WINTER CLASSIC

C CULINARY

PORTER BRAISED BEEF STROGANOFF Serves 4-6

PORTER BRAISED BEEF RIBS (Part 1) INGREDIENTS:

2-3 lbs. bone-in short ribs, chilled 2 T unsalted butter, room temperature 1 ½ C porter ale ¾ C beef stock Coarse sea salt Ground black pepper DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oven to 350˚F. Cut the chilled short ribs into 2-inch cubes and season with salt and pepper. Brown in an oven safe pan with butter, presentation-side down for about 2 minutes. Then, flip the meat, transfer to the oven and heat for about 10 minutes. Once all sides of the short ribs have been browned, take out of the oven and add your Porter beer and beef stock. Cover and transfer back to the oven, and roast for about an hour, or until the meat on the short ribs is tender.

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C CULINARY

PAPPARDELLE PASTA WITH WILD MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE (Part 2) INGREDIENTS:

1 package Pappardelle pasta 1 lbs. cremini mushrooms, cleaned 3 T unsalted butter ⅔ C onion, chopped 3 C heavy cream 4 oz. soft goat cheese 1 bundle of bay leaves 3 thyme sprigs 10 peppercorns ⅓ C créme fraîche Kosher salt Ground black pepper Flat leaf parsley, finely chopped for garnish DIRECTIONS:

Process the mushrooms for the sauce in a food processor until finely chopped. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the mushrooms, increase the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated, about 10-15 minutes.

While the mushrooms are cooking, combine the bay leaves, thyme and peppercorn in sachet and tie closed with butcher string.

Pour in the cream, add the sachet, keeping the butcher string out of the sauce for easy removal, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a medium-low and simmer until the cream is reduced by about one-third, about 35 minutes.

When the cream has thickened, discard the sachet and strain the mushroom bits. Heat the sauce on medium-low heat and stir in goat cheese and créme fraîche. Keep the sauce warm over very low heat. It will be very thick.

Bring a giant pot of salted water to boil.

Cook the pappardelle according to package directions; reserve a cup of the cooking water and drain. Toss the pasta with butter and sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add some cooking water to thin.

Arrange the tossed pasta on a platter and top with browned short ribs, flat leaf parsley and salt. Use the extra sauce on top if needed.

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We would like to give a special shout-out to Ryan Lucas, chef at Tazzaria, for his constant creativity and meticulous style that is portrayed through his recipes every other month. Have you seen the culinary features in the May, July and September issues of Lifestyle? You may want to go back and check out this culinary artist. We sure do get excited for what he is concocting each month.

CULINARY C

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GREECE - KOS TOWN

Text by Cheryl L. Dieter

I

’m not a big fan of cinema and admittedly, my tastes for the art is myopic and often kind of cheesy. Only two movies have impacted my life. The first, “A Walk In The Clouds,” prompted the planting of a vineyard and building of a tasting room in Iowa. The second, “Mamma Mia,” brought me to Greece. It was the middle of summer as I was staring with parched eyes at the descendant of one of the most famous trees in the world, trying to capture a small slice of the shade it offered.

Thinking back to the movie, I kept asking myself, “Why isn’t Merle Streep sweating profusely in the movie?” I was on the island of Kos, Greece, where 2,400-years-ago, Hippocrates sat at the very same spot, teaching the art of modern medicine to his pupils.

Today, tourists crowd Kos Town just for a glimpse of the infamous plane tree. While Dionysus and Athena can send a shiver of excitement down my spine, make no mistake about it; Hippocrates still rules the island where he was born.

When we arrived, we collected our rental car and found our small, friendly family owned hotel in Psalidi (Andromeda Hotel

Apartments), run by brother and sister duo Gregory and Marietta.

They suggested the Akrogialo Taverna, a family-run restaurant, for dinner. Akrogiali literally means “on the edge of the seashore” and with tables nestled five feet from the lapping water, ship lanterns from the marina twinkling through the dark and a billowy Mediterranean breeze, it was the perfect place to begin to discover Greece. We watched as Momma Koula and numerous uncles cooked traditional Greek favorites such as mousaka, calamari, dolmas and stifado, while peppering the air with their robust laughter.

The next morning we made our way towards Kos Town to explore the cobblestone streets, and stumbled upon ancient ruins of Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Byzantine civilizations. In fact, Kos itself is a living museum. With very few roped off areas on the island, it’s a place where you can walk amongst the ruins, sit on the mammoth building columns that litter the ground and touch the old mosaics that lie at your feet. The city is so old that it is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad.

PICTURED: The Basilica of Agios Stefanos in the foreground, situated on the coast in Kefalos, Greece.

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Photo by Cheryl Dieter

Kos is divided into three archaeological zones: the Western, the Eastern and the Central zones. Our first stop was the Western zone and the Roman Odeon of Kos. Built between the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. it is an open-air amphitheatre once used for musical competions and readings. Although it has been restored after the devastating earthquake of 1933, you can still see the original nine rows of marble seats that were designated for the important citizens of their time, while the ordinary people used the granite rows that follow. Underneath the cavea lie a series of workrooms and tunnels. The Odeon is still used today as a venue for cultural events including the Hippocratia festival, which lasts the entire summer.

Located opposite the Odeon lies the Western Excavations.

This part of the ancient city consists of many bathhouses with their splendid mosaics, the Stadium, and the Hellenistic Gymnasium known as the Xystos. We arrived early before the masses, and the place was somewhat eerie. As the kids scrambled over walls and strolled the stone paved road of Cardo, the silence of this once bustling area was overwhelming.

Yet, as the early morning stirrings of Kos reached us, we began to imagine the ancient sounds of wagon wheels, water flowing through the aqueduct and ovens being lit to heat the baths.

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Photo by Cheryl Dieter

PICTURED: Where these ancient ruins now stand in Agora was once used as the town market place.

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Photo by Cheryl Dieter

T TRAVEL As the sun rose higher in the sky, we headed off to find a place to beat the heat. Tiny white washed churches with their azure roofs dotted the landscape and after visiting several, we soon realized they usually have the best scenic views to be found on the island.

Had we been without children, we probably would have spent the entire day seeking out these quaint and somewhat mystical places of worship.

We finally ended up at the Fish Taverna that sits high on the hill, overlooking Markos Beach. There we filled our bellies with the best pasta, complete with a wonderful Yia-Yia, who did the cooking in traditional Greek garb. This place was a little slice of gastronomic heaven.

Next, we headed down to the Aegean Sea. Markos Beach is an organized beach, meaning there were umbrellas, loungers and changing huts available for five euros. The beach itself consist of fine powdered sand and water at the perfect temperature. We spent the afternoon swimming and watching the paragliders hang in the breeze. But, the most memorable event of the afternoon: the expression on our 12-year-old son’s face when he didn’t know where to put his eyes when a lone topless bathing beauty walked by. Priceless.

The next morning, we began our journey within the confines of the Central Zone at the marina. We crossed over the Avenue of the Palms via the Phoinikon Bridge and entered Neratzia Castle. Situated at the entrance to Kos Harbor, its construction began by the Knights of St. John around 1436 in an effort to protect the city from Ottoman attack. Consisting of inner and outer keeps, it is believed that the materials used were taken from ancient archeological sites throughout the island.

With interior moats, guardhouses and storerooms, it is an excellent place to spend several hours exploring.

After arranging for a day trip to Bodrum, Turkey via the ferry, we walked to the Agora. Consisting of ruins and massive intricately carved pillars, this used to be the main town market where people socialized and shopped. It was also where we found the double sanctuary of Aphrodite and the sanctuary of Hercules.

Needless to say, my husband, the civil engineer, was amazed at the feats of construction that were managed in an age devoid of modern machinery.

In the late evening when we arrived back at the hotel, Marietta pulled me aside. “Tonight is the perfect night,” she said with a sly smile. “You absolutely must go.” I was immediately curious. Marietta handed me a map and pointed to a spot that read “Empros Thermi.”

She explained that while packed with tourists during the day, at night it is quiet, and the most relaxing place on the island.

Top: A church bell sits a top of a Greek church in the town of Kos. Bottom: Mosque Defderdar in Eleftheria Square representative of the Ottoman empire in Kos.

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L I FE S T Y L E | N OV E M B E R 2014

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T TRAVEL

LEFT: A typical side street you will find, strolling around Kos, Greece.

RIGHT: Sunbeds and beach umbrellas serve as a relaxing location on Markos Beach in Kos.

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that were believed to carry the healing powers of the spirits from the earth. Situated on the slopes of Mount Dikeos, legend has it that the three levels of the Asklepion represent the body, the mind and the soul. The first terrace houses the hospital, medical school and lecture halls. On the second stand the temples of Apollo and Asclepius (son of Apollo, the Greek god of medicine and healing) as well as the priests rooms and baths. On the third level are the teaching rooms and the impressive remains of the temple. While the ruins are impressive, the views from this place are magnificent.

Much too soon it was time for us to return to Belgium, and as our plane sped down the runway for takeoff, I realized there were so many things on our list we didn’t see or do. We missed the nearby volcanic island of Nisyros as well as the island Kalymnos, which is famous for the harvesting of sea sponges.

Somehow, we couldn’t find the ancient Roman House known as Casa Romana, the fortress known as Antimachia Castle, nor did we see the hilltop town of Zia. Yet, as I looked out the window watching Kos recede, I knew that someday I would be back to this alluring part of the world, only next time it wouldn’t be during the fiery days of summer.

Photo by Cheryl Dieter

Photo by Cheryl Dieter

It was dusk as we headed out. A huge moon shone brightly while its silvery rays skipped across the tranquil sea. We parked behind a small tavern and began a long, steep descent towards the coast. As it turned out, the Thermi is a natural volcanic hot spring that emanates from deep within the sea bed. Surrounded by a circular outcropping of rocks that protects the springs from the Agean, we slowly made our way into the water. Sure it was a little smelly, but that was a minor inconvenience as we felt the alternating currents of hot, warm and cold water envelop us while languages from every part of the world whispered into the moonlit night. I floated there with my daughter, staring at the stars and recognized this for what it was; one of those sweet, once-in-a-lifetime moments and I declared, “You will remember this evening for the rest of your life and you will tell your children and your grandchildren about the magic you felt tonight.” That is how special it was.

The next morning, we decided to visit the main archaeological attraction where Hippocrates and earlier healers forever changed how medicine was practiced. We journeyed 3 km. outside Kos Town to the Asklepion. Tradition holds that the temples of Asklepios are always built by and associated with natural springs

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M MUSIC

T I M E S

A R E

C H A N G I N G

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n a beautiful evening in October, hundreds of Visalia community members gathered in Oval Park to take part in a free worship concert put on by John Mark McMillan. Visalians arrived long before the concert to mark their spots with blankets, chairs, and even picnic baskets. They enjoyed the evening, mingling with both familiar and new faces alike.

After reflecting on Peter Frampton’s Guitar Circus cancellation at Oval Park in August, McMillan, along with opener Justin Jarvis, shed their talents and some light on the community with lyrically driven songs. What started off as a night of apprehension for some, turned into a heart-felt evening for most, leaving attendees moved by the impact this made on the Oval Park community.

McMillan began his music career over a decade ago with his debut album, “Hope Anthology, Volume 1.” Since then, he has released four studio albums, including his latest “Borderland.” McMillan’s music speaks to a variety of topics.

His website, johnmarkmcmillan.com, states, “A singersongwriter as interested in musical exploration as lyrical exploration, McMillan carved his own path from the outset - with an ear for melody with a poet’s eye for metaphor - no

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topic was off-limits: death and love; isolation and exultation; restlessness and silence.”

And this concert was nothing short of this. McMillan interacted with the crowd, danced with concertgoers and created a lasting connection with the audience. His music brought some to their knees, some to tears and gave most of us a sense of belonging at Oval Park.

No event planned or progress achieved would have been capable without the constant effort of the Visalia Rescue Mission and Ryan Stillwater. Their commitment to the reputation of Oval Park and the perspective of the Visalia community makes these concerts possible. As the hashtag goes, #timesarechanging at Oval Park.

Look forward to more events at Oval Park, like the 25th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting event on Sunday, November 30. This is a free family affair, as children will have a chance to meet Santa Claus and share their holiday wish just in time for the month of December. Brighten the night sky in the North Visalia community with friends, family and your local law enforcement officials at the Visalia PAL (Police Activities League) who are making this event possible. For more information, visit www.ovalpark.org.

MUSIC M

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GP11-01075P-N07/11 7177431 SEG001 10/12

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TERRA BELLA WINERIES

J

ust south of Porterville, in the town of Terra Bella, are two boutique wineries that feature handcrafted wines sourced mainly from California-grown grapes: La Belle and Las Flores. A mere 45-minute drive from Visalia, a trip to these two wineries is a perfect afternoon adventure.

If you have extra time to take the road less traveled, turn off of Highway 65 at Highway 198 in Porterville and take the scenic route. The road that follows along the foothills will take you through orange groves, wine crops and horse ranches.

La Belle Winery, located on Road 264, is designed to blend into the landscape, nestled amongst orange groves. Don’t be fooled by the location, however; this bonded winery produces high-quality, handcrafted wines that are perfect for those who enjoy a fullbodied wine. La Belle selects small lots of different grape varieties, resulting in wines that are not widely produced. La Belle does have a great tasting menu full of all your favorites – Cabernet, Syrah, Chardonnay, etc. – but while you’re there, try something new, like the Nebbiolo, which is perfect for pairing with rich foods.

Las Flores is just a short distance away on Road 234, about a five-minute drive. With its expansive lawn, wisteria-covered patio, arbors and, of course, grape vines, Las Flores perfectly showcases 54

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the beauty of Terra Bella. Sourced exclusively from local grapes, the wine at this family-run winery is unique and flavorful. Although all the wines on the tasting menu are delicious, be sure to try a glass from the unique variety of sparkling wines and the “One Night Stand” blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Both of these wineries have wine clubs for local enthusiasts and throw fun pick-up parties for the members. They also have various events throughout the year, such as live music, movie nights, exclusive tastings and more. You can find a list of events on their respective websites at www.lasfloreswinery.com and www.labellewinery.com.

When planning a trip, note that these wineries are only open on Saturdays, though both do offer private appointments on other days. The good news is that with each winery being open for a limited period of time, you’re almost guaranteed to run into the owners behind the bar – a perfect and unique opportunity to pick their brains and find out more about their wines.

The next time you’re in the mood for some great wine but don’t feel up to the long drive over to Paso Robles, check out these Terra Bella wineries. After all, shopping local, even for wine tasting, is always good for the community.

LOCAL ADVENTURE L

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SIDE BY SIDE The sophistication, wit, insight, heart and genius of Broadway’s most innovative and influential artist is at the center of this tribute, composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

He is best known for his songs from “Company,” “West Side Story,” “Gypsy,” and many more. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students.

When: Nov. 21-23, 28-30; Fri. & Sat. at 7:30p, Sun. at 2p Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3900

THEATRE & PERFORMANCES BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

This eye-popping, musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers, including “Be Our Guest” as the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Tickets are $33-$58 When: Dec. 2-3, 7:30p Where: Saroyan Theatre, 700 M St., Fresno Contact: 445-8200

PEDRO, THE ANGEL OF OLVERA STREET

Based on the book by Fresno native, Leo Politi, Pedro is the story of a young boy with an angelic voice and a heart for Christmas traditions. Pedro faces down community leaders to keep the “Las Posadas” festival on Olvera St. from disappearing. Tickets are $8 for Friday & Saturday, $5 for Sunday.

When: Dec. 5-7, 12-14; Fri. & Sat at 7p, Sun. at 2 Where: The Enchanted Playhouse, 307 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: 739-4600

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DEC 13

SONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN

The family trio composted of brothers Joe and Jack Hannah, and Joe’s son, Lon, will take the stage and perform their western songs that celebrate the life, work and geographical setting of the American cowboy. Tickets are $19-$23.

When: Dec. 13, 3p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

NUTCRACKER

Central California Ballet’s “The Nutracker” has been recognized for its resurrection of the vengeful character, Mouse Queen, from the original E.T.A. Hoffman’s “Nutcracker” fairy tale, which carries the story of battling magicians through both acts of ballet. The whole family will enjoy the festive Party Scene, the Battle of the Nutcracker General and Mouse King, and the lovely Waltzing Flowers.

Tickets are $45-$70.

When: Dec. 13, 2p & 7:30p; Dec. 14, 2p Where: Saroyan Theatre, 700 M St., Fresno Contact: 445-8200

HAPPENINGS H

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H HAPPENINGS

FIRST SATURDAY 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: Dec. 6, 10a-5p Where: Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or www.1stSaturdayTR.com

DEC 20

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

DEC 13

ART EXHIBITS

FOUR LENSES, FOUR VISIONS

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. They are holding a reception on December 5 at 6p When: Through Dec. 20, Wed.-Sat., 12-5p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

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Courthouse Gallery of the Arts will be hosting their annual Christmas at the Gallery. Come enjoy the art auction and show, with fine foods, specialty wines and champagne. There will also be a silent auction and entertainment.

When: Dec. 13, 4:30-7:30p Where: Courthouse Gallery of the Arts, 125 S. “B” St., Exeter Contact: 592-5900

DIVERSIONS & EXCURSIONS

FARMAS

Arts Visalia presents FARMAS: New Work

by Rogelio Gutierrez. The works in this exhibition are a culmination of images and objects that connect people culturally, despite their physical and political separations. Through a series of photographic prints and sculptural works representing iconographic symbols from his life, Gutierrez explores the idea that one’s culture is not solely defined by their nationality.

When: Through Nov. 28 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

CHRISTMAS AT THE GALLERY

NOV 30

25TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

Join the Visalia PAL in lighting the tree at Oval Park. Bring the kids and let them meet with Santa and receive a small gift.

Admission is free.

When: Nov. 30, 6p Where: Oval Park, 808 N. Court St., Visalia Contact: 627-OVAL

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 apart of the holiday fun this year.

When: Dec. 4, 11, 18, 5-8p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: 732-7737

HAPPENINGS H

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H HAPPENINGS

CANDY CANE LANE PARADE “Christmas in Toyland” with Grand Marshall Mrs. Marilyn Barr. Kick-off Christmas in downtown Visalia with the 69th annual Candy Cane Lane parade. The ½-mile route heads down Main Street, so grab your blankets, hot chocolate, and get a seat on the sidewalk!

When: Dec. 1, 7p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: www.DowntownVisalia.com

DEC 5

CHRISTMAS PARADE

DEC 6

TINSEL TOY RUN

Join the Exeter community at “A Magical Wonderland in Lights,” their annual Christmas parade. Spend a night this holiday season enjoying some hot chocolate with family and friends while watching a great parade.

When: Dec. 5, 6:30p Where: C St. & F St., Exeter Contact: 592-5262 Grab family or friends and get running this holiday season. There will be a 1-mile run/walk along with a 5K run. Participants are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Salvation Army Tulare/Cross Country Programs. Pre-registration is $25.

When: Dec. 6, 8a Where: Tulare Outlet Center, 1407 Retherford St., Tulare Contact: www.visaliarunners.org

DEC 11

EXETER WOMAN’S CLUB CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR Join them in Exeter to tour four beautifully decorated homes, live music throughout the evening, hot cocoa and snacks.

Maps & booklets are available at the clubhouse, or feel free to start at any of the tour homes listed on the website.

When: Dec. 11, 4-8p Where: Exeter Woman’s Club, 201 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter Contact: 592-6738 or www.exeterwomansclub.com

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HAPPENINGS H

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Call 559.734.4920 to see what we can do for your interior.

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H HAPPENINGS

CHARITABLE EVENTS

NOV 22

SOCIAL SWIRL GALA & GOLF

NOV 27

RACE AGAINST HUNGER

Join the Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias at their pair of fundraisers. On Friday, the golf classic will begin, where lunch and prizes will be awarded. On Saturday, enjoy an evening gala of exquisite food and fine dining provided by executive chef David Vartanian and his Vintage Press Team. There will also be a live and silent auction.

When: Golf Classic- Nov. 21, 10a, Gala- Nov. 22, 6p Where: Visalia Country Club, 625 N. Ranch St., Visalia Contact: 592-4074

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

The 5K run/2-mile walk offers a challenge to businesses, organizations, families, friends and co-workers to form a team, dress for the event and join together on Thanksgiving morning. The race will also feature a kids’ race.

When: Nov. 27, 6:30a (Registration Begins) Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: veac.org

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