March 2011

L I F E S T Y L E | M A RMarch C H 2 0 12011 1 1

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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24 The Scrimshire Home: Feng Shui in the Central Valley

ARTIS T PROFILE Shelley Venema Honoring a Sister’s Memory Through Art

8. Letter from the Executive Editor 10. Business Cents: The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010

12. Word Play 14. Local Adventure: Horse Corral

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16

Pack Station

40. Performing Arts: Broadway on Main: CHARITY Visalia Miracle League Annual Event Comes Back Home

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An Evening with Betsy Wolfe

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Charity: Exeter Starlight Ball Travel: Coronado, California Next Gen: Ira Zermeno Symphony: The Mighty Russians Fashion: Pink Blossoms for Spring Faces & Places: Habitat for Humanity Valentine’s Day Wine Pairing

60. Happenings CULINARY Pepper Steak-Style Swordfish

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

ON THE COVER: An Indonesian doorway is pressed into service as a headboard in Denise Scrimshire’s Visalia area home. Feng shui principles also reflect the homeowner’s interest in Eastern aesthetics.

ABOVE: Eastern thought finds expression throughout the Scrimshire home, arranged according to feng shui principles.

MARCH 2011 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT MALkASIAN ACCOUNTANCY LLP GARY MALkASIAN CPA JEFFREY MALkASIAN EA Bookkeeper MARILYN HARRIS Office Administrator MARIA GASTON EDITORIAL Executive Editor kAREN TELLALIAN Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Copy Editor DARA FISk-EkANGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AARON COLLINS CRYSTAL R.R. EDWARDS LISA MCEWEN MARSHA PELTZER PENNEY SICk DIANE SLOCUM RANDY TELLALIAN DAVID VARTANIAN ART & PRODUCTION Creative Director DAVID JONES Senior Graphic Designer kURT BAkER ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director BRIDGET ELMORE SALES OFFICE 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@dmiagency.com

RACK LOCATIONS

Borders Books Music & Cafè DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare Party City Tazzaria Coffee & Tea The Lifestyle Center Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Coffee Company Visalia Convention Center COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS

210 Cafe Advanced Laser Clinics Bravo Farms Cheese Factory Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Golf Course Holiday Inn kaweah Delta Hospital Red Carpet Car Wash Sequoia Laser Aesthetics Smiles by Sullivan Tiffany’s Luxury Medispa Tulare Chamber of Commerce Tulare County Library V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Community Bank-Downtown Visalia Eye Center Visalia Imaging & Open MRI Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Wildflower Cafe-Exeter Dr. keith Williams Williams, Jordan, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

See us online at VisaliaLifestyle.com

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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 Direct Media, Inc. or its advertisers.

Circulation of this issue: 15,000 © 2011 DMI Agency

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

LEFT: The dining room of the Visalia area Scrimshire home.

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LIFEST YLE | OC TOBER 2010

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EDITOR NOTE

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Photo by Becca Chavez | Hair and Make-up provided by Velvet Sky

iracles. We toss the word around like an everyday occurrence, and perhaps it is the little things that add up to create a result for which there is no other explanation than the miraculous. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more expectant of miracles … or maybe I just find myself more dependent on them.

Everyday miracles aside, it’s nice to think that we all know of at least one extraordinary situation that has touched our lives or made a difference in the life of someone else. While some of us are miracle recipients, there are some who are miracle workers; some, such as local businessman Gary Geiger. For the past eight years, Gary and his wife, Jennifer, have been spearheading the growth of the Visalia Miracle League, a local, non-profit baseball organization that benefits the physically and developmentally disabled youth in our community.

For all of these special people, doing something as simple as running around the bases is nothing short of an absolute miracle. Thanks to the dedicated fundraising efforts of the Geigers, Visalia First Assembly of God (where the fields are located), and the generous support of many donors and volunteers, when VML participants hear, “Play ball!” they get to do just that.

Lifestyle Magazine was privileged to attend this year’s annual fundraising event, which included sports celebrities Dick Butkus (Chicago Bears) and Andre Dawson (Chicago Cubs.) For the story and photos about truly making a difference in someone’s life, please be sure to read starting on page 20.

It seems this is the month for heart-warming stories, and for me personally, artist profile “Shelley Venema” holds a special place in mine.

Sisters Shelley Wilder Venema and Laurel Wilder, and I grew up in Modesto; Shelley and I were friends and classmates. Many years and a couple of miracles later, Shelley and I both found ourselves relocated to Visalia. The story of how her artistic journey began is found on page 16.

But before we send the March issue to press, my final thought is to thank you for helping provide our community with an award-winning publication (most recently the recipient of four gold and two silver ADDYs). From our writers who paint pictures with their words, to our photographers who tell stories with their pictures; to our advertisers and readers who look forward to the future with excitement; to our staff who keeps things moving; and the espresso machine that keeps our staff moving – it is because of you all that we are able to uphold such creative excellence. Proof that it is the totality of the little things that together add up to create life’s treasured miracles.

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kAREN TELLALIAN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR For more information or to submit a story idea email Karen@dmiagency.com or call (559) 739-1747 or fax (559) 738-0909.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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LIFEST YLE | OC TOBER 2010

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B BUSINESS CENTS

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 Text by Penney Sick, Vice President/Investments at Stifel, Nicol aus & Company, Incorporated

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n December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (“Tax Act of 2010”). In addition to extending the Bushera income tax cuts, the Tax Act of 2010 introduces changes to estate and gift tax laws and extends a provision allowing certain IRA holders the opportunity to donate assets in their IRA to qualified charitable organizations. The following is a summary of a few of the provisions of the Tax Act of 2010 that may impact you.

Estate Tax, Gift Tax, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Exemptions and Rates On January 1, 2011, the federal estate tax, gift tax, and generationskipping transfer tax (GSTT) became unified so that the exemption for all three is now $5 million ($10 million for married couples) and the top rate is 35 percent. The exemption amount and tax rate will remain in place for two years, through 2012, and the exemption amount will be indexed for inflation beginning in 2012.

On January 1, 2013, the current law is set to expire, and the old estate tax laws, with a $1,000,000 total unified credit, will again take effect. The chart below shows the scheduled changes to the unified credit and the estate and gift tax rates. Because these laws are complicated, and will likely undergo rapid and significant changes in the next few years, it is extremely important to contact your estate planning attorney to ensure that your plan remains updated.

Highest and Gift Calendar Estate Tax Rates (and Year GST Tax Rate) 2009

Amount Exempt From Estate & GST Tax

45%

$3.5 million

Lifetime Gift Tax Exemption $1 million

2010

0 – no tax assessed

Unlimited - Taxes Repealed (Gift Tax Only)

$1 million

2011

35%

$5 million

$5 million

Retroactive Estate Tax for 2010 Under the provisions of the Economic Growth Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA), federal estate tax and GSTT were repealed in 2010. In addition, the full step up in cost basis enjoyed by heirs in the past was replaced with modified carryover cost basis. As a result, heirs of decedents who died in 2010 did not have to pay any federal estate tax or GSTT, but they did not receive the benefit of traditional stepped-up cost basis.

The Tax Act of 2010 provides the heirs of decedents who died in 2010 the option to take advantage of the new $5 million federal estate tax exemption and the 35 percent rate as well as to apply stepped-up cost basis to their inheritance. If heirs do not elect to apply the new rules, they will not have to pay federal estate tax for 2010, but they will be subject to modified carryover cost basis.

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

Portability of Estate Tax Exemption Between Married Couples Due to the fact that every taxpayer will have a $5 million federal estate tax exemption under the Tax Act of 2010, married couples will have a combined $10 million exemption starting in 2011. Prior to the Tax Act of 2010, married couples often took advantage of their combined exemptions by incorporating A/B Trusts in their estate plan.

As of January 1, 2011, married couples will be able to add any unused portion of the estate tax exemption of the first spouse to die to the surviving spouse’s estate tax exemption.

For example, if a spouse dies after January 1, 2011 and only uses $3 million of his or her $5 million federal estate tax exemption, the surviving spouse may take advantage of the unused $2 million. As a result, the surviving spouse will automatically have a $7 million federal estate tax exemption.

Nine-Month Extension for Filing Estate and Gift Tax Returns The heirs of decedents who died after December 31, 2009 and before the enactment of the Tax Act of 2010 have been given a ninemonth extension of time from the date of enactment to file and pay estate and gift taxes. This applies to estates electing to pay the retroactive estate tax described above.

What Remains the Same While the Tax Act of 2010 makes the new federal estate tax exemption and rate retroactive to January 1, 2010, the generationskipping transfer tax remains at a zero percent rate for the estates of decedents who died in 2010. In essence, the GSTT remains repealed for 2010, but returns in 2011, as outlined above.

The annual gift tax exclusion is also unaffected by the Tax Act of 2010. Individuals are allowed to make tax-free gifts up to $13,000 per year ($26,000 for married couples) to as many individuals as they wish.

This exclusion is indexed for inflation and will remain at $13,000 for 2011. Only gifts made in excess of the annual exclusion amount will be held against a taxpayer’s lifetime gift tax exemption. For example, if a donor makes a gift of $100,000 to another individual, the first $13,000 of the gift passes gift tax-free under the annual exclusion.

The remaining $87,000 is also gift tax-free, but will reduce the donor’s lifetime gift tax exemption dollar-for-dollar and must be reported on a gift tax return.

It is important to note that these provisions will expire, or sunset, on December 31, 2012, and revert to the pre-2001 rules unless additional legislation is passed.

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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WORD PLAY

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

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arch has a reputation for being somewhat of a blowhard. While windy days in the Valley may rarely compete with those in mountain passes and the desert, publishers still give us a chance to enjoy the wind with their spring publications.

Michael Caduto’s latest book, Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids (Storey Publishing, April 2011), is designed for children 8-12 years old and includes activities ranging from pie-plate wind-makers to pedal-powered batteries.

If you are interested in parodies and sequels of classic novels, such as the continuing story of the Bennet sisters of Pride and Prejudice fame written by local author Sharon Lathan (see below), you might want to try The Wind is Never Gone: Sequels, Parodies and Rewriting of Gone with the Wind by M. Carmen Gomez-Galisteo (McFarland & Co., March 2011).

Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds by Regina Krahl, edited by John Guy, Julian Raby and J. Keith Wilson, describes an Arabian ship that sank in the Java Sea more than a century ago with a fabulous cargo of silver, gold and ceramic jars, spices and more.

The book explores all aspects of the find – from ship-building to metal working.

Local Authors When we last visited with Sharon Lathan in June 2010 she had three published novels in her series based on Jane Austen’s characters.

Her list of publications will soon double from what it was then. A Darcy Christmas, a novella with three separate tales written by Lathan, Amanda Grange and Carolyn Eberhart, came out last October. In the Arms of Mr. Darcy became Lathan’s fourth novel that same month. Her fifth sequel, The Trouble with Mr. Darcy (Sourcebooks Landmark) will be released this April.

Remembering the California Missions (Linden Publishing, 2010), written by Janice Stevens and illustrated by Pat Hunter, is the latest pictorial history published by the Fresno duo. For their fourth architectural journey into the past, Stevens and Hunter travel El Camino Real providing glimpses of the missions and the era that spawned them.

Events Central California’s branch of the Jane Austen Society of North America will hold its Jane Fest on April 9 and 10 at the St. Paul Newman Center in Fresno. This year’s theme will be “Jane’s Legacy: 200 Years of Sense & Sensibility.” One of the featured speakers will be Sharon Lathan, joining with Karen Wasylowski, to present “Jane Austen’s Legacy: 100 years of Fan Fiction.” Keynote speaker will be Dr. Amy Elizabeth Smith. Other lecturers are Diana Birchall, Kristen Akina, Abigail Reynolds, C. Allyn Pierson and Jennifer Rosbruch. The event includes a Craft Faire, a Regency Ball, a formal Regency Dinner, workshops and speakers, and book signings. Get more information at www.jasnacenvalcal.com.

Springville author Marilyn Meredith will be participating in the craft fair portion of the Austen event selling her crime and mystery novels. Meredith will also be appearing at the Turlock Reading Club at 2 p.m. on April 12.

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

Tulare County Library Cutler residents can now borrow their library books from a vending machine.

The new automated library offers hundreds of titles available at the swipe of a library card, any time of day or night.

The Earlimart and Ivanhoe branches will close until April 28 while renovations funded through USDA grants are completed. The Bookmobile will serve these communities during the construction. See http://tclnews.blogspot.com/2011/02/earlimart-and-ivanhoe-branchesclosed.html for schedules.

The Visalia Branch has close to a dozen new Western novels, from Charles West’s Storm in Paradise Valley to Rattler by Barry Andrew Chambers. Rattler takes a slightly skewed look at the West, with the addition of surprises and humor – which includes a horse with a will of its own – yet it doesn’t shirk in intrigue and excitement.

Visiting Authors Greg Trine and Mary Ann Fraser will be visiting Visalia schools this month. Trine is the author of the Marvin Beederman, Super Hero series for children age seven and up. The first books of the series are The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich and The Revenge of the McNasty Brothers. Trine’s eighth and latest is Invasion from Planet Dork. The books are illustrated

by Rhode Montijo.

Author and illustrator Fraser’s latest books for young readers are Hey Diddle Diddle, Pet Shop Follies and Pet Shop Lullaby. She is the illustrator for the Bob and Og series, authored by Ian Fraser. Trine will visit Elbow Creek and Fraser will be at St. Paul’s, Royal Oak, and Washington schools.

The Last Word “A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.”—John Muir (1838-1914)

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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L LOCAL ADVENTURE

Horse Corral

Pack Station Not all of the Sequoia National Forest’s tranquil scenery is meant to be experienced on just two legs – some trails are better suited for four. The Horse Corral Pack Station (HCPS), located within the park just east of the Big Meadows campground, marks the starting point for an adventure that will have you riding up steep, dusty trails, splashing through streams, and rambling through wide-open meadows – all while taking in the majestic views from five feet above your normal vantage point.

Horseback riding in the Sequoias is an exciting alternative to a standard trail hike, and HCPS has a variety of “saddle up” options depending on the experience, or confidence, of the rider.

Long Rides: For the bold or the experienced rider, HCPS’s Spot Pack Trip Service gets you deep into the backcountry and fends for you when you’re ready. HCPS’s Extended Pack Trip provides riders with horses, mules and guide; riders are to furnish their own food, cooking gear and do the cooking ... which can’t taste any better than it does in the high-country! And for riders who want a carefree, deluxe way of seeing the high country, HCPS offers an all-inclusive trip that provides riders with everything (even a personal chef) except personal items and sleeping bags.

Short Rides: For those who are looking for a shorter trip through the woods, HCPS offers by-the-hour riding options for anyone who wants to connect with nature but doesn’t want to devote an extended amount of time atop the furry, four-legged transport.

The adventure offered by HCPS is a great way for the entire family to experience the peacefulness of the great outdoors. Children as young as seven are welcome on the rides. Owner Charley Mills calls it a “family fun adventure!”

With the gorgeous weather that unfolds come spring, now is the perfect time to plan your trip to the High Sierras. Horse Corral Pack Station begins its summer season in May and continues until October.

For more information on this local adventure visit: www.hcpackers.com

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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A ARTIST PROFILE

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

ARTIST PROFILE A

Shelley HONORING A SISTER’S MEMORY THROUGH ART

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Tex t by Lisa McEwen | Photos by Taylor Vaughn & Becca Chavez

helley Wilder Venema doesn’t consider herself an artist, but one look around her Visalia studio makes a visitor believe otherwise. Lined with paintbrushes, prototypes and sturdy work surfaces, it seems likely that plenty of creativity happens there. A children’s easel in one corner also reveals a title that Venema treasures most: grandmother. She often welcomes her three grandchildren to doodle while she works. After all, this is a studio where art is welcomed and honored, because that’s how Laurel wanted it.

Laurel, a sister just 14 months Venema’s junior, was the creative force behind the decoupage plates and art glass pieces that are now sold throughout the country in upscale boutiques, major department stores and jewelry stores under the name Laurel A. Wilder.

Decoupage is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects such as gold leaf.

Each layer is sealed with multiple coats of varnish until the “stuck on” appearance disappears and the result looks like painting or inlay work.

The traditional technique uses 30-40 layers of varnish, which are then sanded to a polished finish. This was known in 18th-century England as “The Art of Japanning,” after its presumed origins.

Laurel perfected the concept and as Venema describes her, was the typical artist: left-brain dominant, not keen on the business side of art, slow to rise in the mornings but productive late in the day.

The sisters grew up together on a grape and cattle ranch in Modesto, and with two younger sisters, found they were rarely bored. “We had to learn to occupy ourselves,” she said. “We were raised to be independent.”

As the sisters grew up, Laurel pursued various media, and Shelley became a registered nurse. Both had two children of their own.

Noting that it can be difficult to make a living solely as an artist, Venema said she wanted to help guide Laurel to a more stable life by

helping her run the business side of her art, which had expanded into the decoupage plates. As a single mother of two sons, Laurel needed consistent income. And so they formed a partnership in 1997, opening up a whole new side of their relationship.

“At first I resisted,” she said. “I didn’t want to be anyone else’s partner.

I didn’t feel like I had those artistic capabilities. But we complemented each other and learned from each other. Laurel taught me a lot. And we agreed that the most important thing was that we would never allow the business to ruin our relationship, because relationships are so much more important.”

The venture came at a good time for Venema, too, who at around the age of 40, was itching to do something creative. She noted her stress level seemed lower as she helped design and craft their creations. They traveled to New York, San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas to attend gift shows, promoting their product. As sisters often do, they always found a way to have fun together, whether it was in the studio or flying across the country.

Soon, an opportunity arose for Venema’s husband, Jon, to serve as pastor at Grace Community Church. With Laurel and her sons staying in Modesto, the Venemas moved their family to Visalia in 2000.

Still, the business survived.

Meeting halfway between Visalia and Modesto to swap pieces and talk business, the trip was soon deemed “the drug run,” Venema said with a laugh. “It was a fun family business.”

Finally, Laurel decided she would move to Visalia and they would open a studio in town. “We were in the process of moving Laurel here when she was diagnosed with colon cancer,” Venema said. “We brought her home for hospice care and she died within 20 days of her diagnosis.”

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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A ARTIST PROFILE

Her eyes welling with tears, Venema said she decided to continue the business at the urging of her customers, though demurring again her artistic talents.

Many local residents remember The Pauline Collection, a gift boutique which operated for 23 years at the corner of Court and Main streets in downtown Visalia. Elizabeth McClelland stocked Laurel A. Wilder plates for the six years she owned the store. “I sold them as wedding, housewarming and girlfriend gifts. You name it, it would sell. They are gifts for every occasion,” she said. Many customers appreciated the fact that the pieces are American made, down to the Pennsylvania glass Venema paints on.

Working together over the years, the women became friends, too. “I think so highly of Shelley,” McClelland said.

“She is a beautiful person.”

That sentiment is echoed by Visalian Wava Clark, who has started a collection of Laurel A. Wilder plates, and jokes that they are her husband John’s “go-to” gift.

“I don’t think she makes a plate that I don’t like,” said Clark, who has 21 such plates scattered throughout her home and office. “They are works of art, and I don’t think I could ever have too many. Shelley is a warm, welcoming, friendly person who has a fabulous eye. I admire her greatly.”

Venema is proud to say that Laurel A. Wilder has always been profitable, no small feat for an artist, particularly during a recession.

Today, Venema’s life is filled with the blessings of family, including a marriage spanning 36 years. In addition to enjoying her grandchildren, Venema enjoys watching Laurel’s spirit in her offspring: her two sons, Simeon and Judah Tanner, and their children.” Laurel has four grandchildren, and I love to spend time with them. They call me Grandma Shelley.”

Her daughter, Suzy, has begun working part-time with her. In December they completed an order of nearly 400 plates for a local company. The duo creates, markets, packs and ships their products all from their petite Visalia studio, where each piece takes about a week to complete.

But just like those early days of the business, Venema has stayed true to the sisters’ founding principle: life’s relationships are more important than any business venture. “I miss the collaboration of working with Laurel,” she said. “But now, I’m content to balance all the parts of my life and take things one day at a time.”

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

TOP: Though Shelley Venema spends many hours in the studio making beautiful decoupage plates, she’s quick to say that the hours spent with family are much more important to her; Shelley with her husband, Jon, and daughter, Suzy -- their son, Jordan (not pictured), resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

ABOVE: From childhood to adulthood, from this life to the next, nothing can break the bonds of love and friendship between Shelley and her late sister, Laurel.

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LIFESTYLE | DECEMBER 2010

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C CHARITY

RIGHT: Gary Geiger, founder of the Visalia Miracle League, opens the evening with warm appreciation for those who were in attendance, followed by a slideshow video of years past.

BELOW LEFT: Tulare Union varsity basketball team (left to right): Austin Fernandes, keonta Vernon, Coach Danny Green, David Love, William Stallworth, Dalton Tigner, Jaydon Brown, Xavier Stephens, Matthew Story.

BELOW CENTER: A few of the Visalia Miracle League players made an on-stage appearance at the organization’s annual fundraising event this year: Brett Cross, Sarah Hovannisian and Jori kitchen.

BELOW FAR RIGHT: Special guest and former Chicago Cub, Andre Dawson.

Text by Randy Tellalian | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

CHARITY C

ANNUAL EVENT COMES BACK HOME

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n Saturday, January 29, the eighth annual sports event benefiting the Visalia Miracle League came back home to Visalia, after moving to Las Vegas last year, and brought with it the local flavor of former professional athletes from the Visalia area. With headliners Dick Butkus (Chicago Bears) and Andre Dawson (Chicago Cubs, among a few other teams) the main theme was the city of Chicago, but with the local talent, it really was a night about Visalia.

Even in the current economic environment, generous donors helped raise close to $100,000, exceeding all other years. While most of the money came from sponsorships, the demand for tickets to the premier sports event in Tulare County also helped to propel silent and live auction proceeds.

The driving force behind the Visalia Miracle League is Gary and Jennifer Geiger, local business owners who dedicated themselves to establishing the baseball facilities that allow the developmentally and physically disabled to participate in our nation’s favorite pastime on specially designed surfaces. With their expansive ties to current and former professional athletes, they have succeeded again in bringing top names to Visalia to help raise support, money and enthusiasm for VML. LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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C CHARITY

Over 600 attendees at the Visalia Convention Center browsed the scores of sports memorabilia available through the silent auction. Once the program was about to begin, former major leaguer Rance Mulliniks (Monache High School, in Porterville) chauffeured the main speakers into the exhibit hall in a vintage auto, complete with machine gun, and a look that was reminiscent of the “old” days of Chicago during Prohibition.

During the live auction, former professional athletes from the Visalia area were introduced. In addition to Mulliniks, there were Jim Wolhford, Brad Mills and Lupe Sanchez – adding the distinct pride Visalia holds for its own to the event. Visalia Rawhide president Tom Seidler was also in attendance providing resources for the event as well making donations to both the silent and live auctions.

Mulliniks (currently a color commentator for the Toronto Blue Jays) set himself in between Butkus and Dawson and facilitated a Q&A session that gave attendees the opportunity to hear what they wanted to hear: stories, passions, post-retirement activities and especially the guests’ thoughts on being elected to their respective Halls of Fame.

Funds raised during the annual event help pay for scholarships, uniforms, maintenance of the facilities and hopefully enough to continue the expansion plans as the demand for teams grows. VML is completely self-sufficient, meaning that no governmental agencies support the organization financially. The fee for each player is not quite enough to cover all of the operating expenses which include uniforms, trophies, awards party, and the ongoing revolving replacement of equipment.

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LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

CHARITY C

The first field was constructed with a special rubber surface that allows the participants who are less mobile to navigate all over the field safely. This rubber surface is now in its eighth year, and the surface lasts for only about 10 years, depending on the amount of play. The cost to re-surface is something that has been on Gary and Jennifer Geiger’s radar since the League was first formed, not an afterthought which would have put them behind in the financial planning.

An equipment building – which would eliminate the unheralded ritual of hauling each team’s equipment in and out of car trunks or pickup beds for each practice or game – is high on the wish list for coaches and league volunteers alike. Top of the wish list for family and friends of the participants is a shade structure for the bleachers to protect them during the hot spring/summer league months.

One last use of the funds is for an occasional scholarship … not for the players but for the buddies who are most often from the local high schools’ various “buddy” programs. While the buddies volunteer for the love of the athletes and the program, a little extra reward for those moving on to college can only help to strengthen their tie to such a great organization and hopefully encourage them to stay connected in some way, whether it’s today or 20 years from now.

That’s the long-term thinking behind the Geigers and VML Board of Directors; continuing to build up the organization through annual fundraising and, even more importantly, continuing to grow awareness of how special the players are and how deserving they are of enjoying the benefits of The Visalia Miracle League.

FAR LEFT: An abundance of sports memorabilia lined the silent auction tables at the Visalia Miracle League’s annual fundraising event held at the Visalia Convention Center on January 29, 2011.

TOP: Former Chicago Cub, Andre Dawson, is greeted by Visalia’s Basil Perch.

ABOVE CENTER: Fred and Mitzie Ruiz of Ruiz Foods, Inc. were in attendance at the Visalia Miracle League fundraiser this year, along with Tom and kim Beck.

ABOVE: Former Oakland Raider, Cliff Branch, and Susan Manuel, executive director of Ruiz4kids.

CENTER: Rance Mulliniks, sandwiched between Andre Dawson (left) and Dick Butkus (right), as they answer questions from an eager audience of fans.

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H HOME TOUR

feng shui T H E S C R I M S H I R E H O M E:

in the Central Valley

Text By Aaron Collins | Photos by Forrest Cavale of Third Element Studios

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HOME TOUR H

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H HOME TOUR

W

hen Chairman Mao Tse-tung and his Cultural Revolution cohorts tried to stamp out feng shui in the mid-20th century, he seemed to have ignored yin yang and ended up accomplishing quite the opposite. The Chairman failed to realize that within a generation, his oppression would result in the popularization of various practices such as feng shui – not just in China, but around the globe. Americans have been especially warm to this Eastern system of aesthetics, an art of placement whose aim is to enhance the auspiciousness in one’s life by improving ch’i, the “life-force.”

Visalia area resident Denise Scrimshire puts the discipline to use in her home in a variety of ways. Feng shui (literally, “windwater”) principles were used in the new additions to the home, including an indoor poolroom and master bath.

“I’ve studied or followed feng shui for several years. A friend of mine got me interested in it,” Scrimshire said. In her indoor poolroom, feng shui is primarily represented by a water feature that symbolizes release and renewal, which is in turn balanced by the fire from the candles, representing expansion and transformation. The plants represent wood, the material that embodies personal growth, while the artwork, which incorporates metal, represents the material of life and vitality.

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ON THE SPREAD: The master bedroom and bath feature an open plan arranged around a central, two-way fireplace.

ABOVE: Views draw the eye out to surrounding acreage at Denise Scrimshire’s home east of Visalia.

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H HOME TOUR

Feng shui masters use what is known as a Bagua diagram (a map derived from astronomical events dated back to 6000 BC) to help determine preferred locations for certain functions in the home.

“The poolroom, according to the Bagua map, in my house is in the health and abundance area. The color of the wall represents earth, meaning grounding or sense of security and protection,” Scrimshire said. “In feng shui you incorporate colors, elements, patterns, materials, direction of furniture and mirrors to manipulate ch’i. And there are four skylights in the room to keep energy moving.” The home’s great room follows the same concept: keep ch’i moving evenly.

While channeling the auspicious flow of ch’i by day, some nights find the roller girl flowing evenly around the track with the V-Town Derby Dames. Peace and tranquility at home give way to bruises, hematoma and “rink rash” at Visalia’s Roller Towne, in which Scrimshire has an ownership stake.

“Roller derby in different forms has been around for over 100 years, but there has been a resurgence in the last decade,” Scrimshire said, “starting on the East Coast and slowly working its way to the West. Roller Towne saw the trend coming and decided to get a local team of dedicated, tough, athletic derby girls together. We have grown from 10 to up to 40 women, with THIS PAGE: An indoor pool is functional, but also brings the element of water indoors according to the principles of feng shui, as seen in the Scrimshire home near Visalia.

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ages ranging from 18 to mid-40s. There are no limits if you are dedicated and ready to skate. I have to admit they are a tough group of women, taking on injuries ranging from fractures to the typical rink rash. The hits and falls they take are real and painful.”

Scrimshire said they keep EMS [Emergency Medical Services] on hand for each bout because of the potential for injury. “I have an RN degree, with 21 years experience in emergency medicine and trauma, as well as laser aesthetics work,” she said. So perhaps her skills as an aesthetics nurse might come in handy with her roller derby teammates.

“I love to help people look good and feel better about themselves. I get great satisfaction from that,” she said.

On the track, the Dames wear protective gear but the falls are hard and the pace is fast. “Kitten Deville, as in Cruella Deville, is my derby name. I’m one of six local derby referees who donate time to keep the sport going. The derby fans are a special group, and they love their girls.

Some players have a following; fans will follow them to bouts to watch and cheer for them. They wear team colors and war paint, and make and display signs for each individual skater they fancy,” Scrimshire said of her unlikely pastime.

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H HOME TOUR

Back at home, peace returns – if a house with two hockey playing teenagers can be said to be peaceful (sons Vance and Elijah both participate in ice and roller hockey). The 2.5-acre grounds are designed in a park-like setting. Numerous oak trees, lush greenery, a creek and lots of flowers greet those who enter. “The home is very open and inviting, casual and peaceful,” Scrimshire said.

Several Buddha images and water features are incorporated throughout the home. The dining room features a wall heavily textured and painted a rich warm tone, several large hand-carved bookcases anchor the adjacent room that holds a coffee table made from a Moroccan door with distinctive textures, colors, images and symbols. Her master bath has granite counters, travertine flooring and walls, and zebra print carpet. Her headboard is made from a nine-by-five foot Indonesian door.

Some additional accent pieces also conjure the east: a large copper coffee urn, copper platters and various area rugs.

Perhaps Scrimshire derives her eclecticism from being raised by a mother who was herself raised in Saudi Arabia. “I tend to favor the eclectic, Asian or East Indian styles,” Scrimshire said, no surprise considering her interest in feng shui. She adds, “I used lots of natural textures in the home: natural tumbled stacked stones for the den fireplace, polished natural travertine for the master bath floors and fireplace walls.” Scrimshire designed the layout, with Steve Sparschott serving as draftsman to the remodel.

“Steve guided me on making the best choices for the goal I was striving for,” she said.

Since moving in 2001, numerous additions and projects have been undertaken, including a large shop, pergola and outdoor fireplace, a tiki BBQ hut, and go cart track. The kitchen was remodeled in 2006, adding wood floors, cabinets and appliances.

A 2009 renovation enlarged an extra bedroom, added the den and fireplace, and completed a remodel of the master bed and bath in a more modern, contemporary style. “I designed the master bathroom mimicking a spa setting, my own private escape to the spa,” she said of the 1,500-square-foot expansion.

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ABOVE: By day, Denise Scrimshire finds peace in her feng shui-arranged Visalia home. But evenings find her on the roller derby track as a member of the V-Town Derby Dames.

FOLLOWING SPREAD: The kitchen of the Scrimshire home employs an open plan that unites it with adjoining living areas. Daytime finds the space flooded with natural light from the skylights above.

H HOME TOUR

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HOME TOUR H

“I was attracted to the home by the acreage and park-like setting, and the indoor pool was the bonus for me,” Scrimshire said of the site near the St. Johns River. “My kids and I go rafting during the summer and we catch frogs. Watchumna Creek runs right next to the residence. It harbors small fish and thousands of frogs. Each summer, the croaking and singing of frogs fills the evening air. It’s so amazing,” she said. “The area is very private, quiet and beautiful. Oak trees, green grass and lots of jasmine flowers make summer smell so sweet,” she said, adding a little yin to balance her roller girl yang.

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C CULINARY ARTS

Sword Pepper Steak-Style

Recipes by David Var tanian of the Vintage Press Photos by Taylor Vaughn

Grilled, broiled, baked or poached, swordfish is a

favorite of both first-time seafood initiates and enlightened connoisseurs. Swordfish meat is firm, with a steak-like texture, mild in flavor and low in fat – making it a popular choice for many. Though it is most often grilled, this pan-seared alternative, complete with the full flavor of a red pepper puree, is sure to please every palate.

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CULINARY ARTS C

dfish LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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C CULINARY ARTS

Pepper Steak-Style Swordfish in a Red Pepper Puree Swordfish Ingredients: 6 Swordfish steaks, 6 oz. each 2 T Dijon mustard Salt & coarse pepper 2 T peanut oil Red Pepper Sauce Ingredients: 4 red bell peppers 3 T olive oil 1 small onion, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 C chicken stock 1 lemon, juiced Salt and pepper Swordfish Directions: Season the fish with salt. Rub with the mustard and coat with cracked pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy pan and sear the swordfish on both sides for two to three minutes.

Keep warm.

Red Pepper Sauce Directions: Roast the peppers over a medium flame. Remove peel and seeds. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sautĂŠ the onion for two to three minutes. Add the garlic and peppers. Continue cooking for two to three minutes.

Then add chicken stock. Allow to simmer for five minutes. Puree in food processor or blender. Return to saucepan and season with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Spoon the sauce onto warm plates. Place the Swordfish on top of the sauce and serve.

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CULINARY ARTS C

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C CULINARY ARTS

Wild Mushrooms in Puff Pastry Mushrooms Ingredients: 1/2 lb. mushrooms (Oyster, Chanterelles, Shiitake or Portabella) 2 T light oil 2 shallots, chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 C Cognac 1 C heavy cream 1 T sweet butter, softened 1 T fresh chives, tarragon or basil 6 4”-squares baked puff pastry Puff Pastry Ingredients: 1 lb. flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 lb. sweet butter 1 C cold water Mushrooms Directions: Sauté the mushrooms in the oil with the chopped shallots until soft. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the cognac and reduce slightly. Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil until the cream thickens slightly. Stir in the soft butter. Add the lemon juice to taste. Add the fresh herbs, and season the sauce with salt and pepper.

Serve the mushrooms between layers of warm puff pastry.

Puff Pastry Directions: In a food processor, combine the flour, salt and four ounces of the butter. Process until the mixture resembles fine meal. With the machine running, pour the water into the bowl until a ball forms. Turn out onto a work surface and roll the dough into a rectangle with a rolling pin. Put the remaining butter in the middle of the dough and wrap the dough around the butter like a package. Roll the dough and butter out into a rectangle, about 12 inches by 18 inches.

Starting with the 12-inch side, fold the dough into thirds. Turn the dough so that the seam is on your right and roll the dough again into a rectangle.

Sprinkle the work surface with flour as necessary, to prevent sticking. Brush excess flour off the dough before and after folding. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes and roll out again. Repeat the procedure four more times for a total of six turns. Refrigerate the dough overnight.

Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and let it soften slightly before rolling. At this point, cut the pastry into desired shape and bake in a 475-degree oven for five minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake an additional 30 minutes or until the pastry shapes are crisp and cooked throughout.

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With Spring near… come in to

See Clear.

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P PERFORMING ARTS

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PERFORMING ARTS P

AN EVENING WITH BETSY WOLFE & HER BROADWAY FRIENDS Photos by Peter Amend

T

he dimly lit theater was abuzz with chatter as the audience anxiously awaited the appearance of much-adored hometown starlet Betsy Wolfe, who returned to Visalia to showcase her big-city talent and small-town charm for “Broadway on Main”, a benefit concert for Hands in the Community.

Wolfe is one of Golden West High School’s most illustrious graduates, who has gone on to distinguish herself in the world of musical theater. Performing in numerous productions across the U.S. and internationally, she has been seen most recently in Broadway’s critically acclaimed Everyday Rapture with Sherie Renee Scott.

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P PERFORMING ARTS

On January 31, Wolfe brought some of her New York friends with her to the Visalia Fox Theater: Music Director of Wicked, Bryan Perri; and Everyday Rapture’s Lindsay Mendez – both of whose Broadway and off-Broadway credits seem endless.

Her performance was interspersed with appearances

by El Diamante, Golden West, Mt. Whitney, Redwood and Central Valley Christian high school students; the COS Theater Department; the TCOE Theater Company and its Music Director, Charlotte Garcia. For hours, the room echoed with Broadway tunes and quirky improvised anecdotes that created waves of laughter. And as if Wolfe’s bubbly stage presence wasn’t enough to leave the audience satisfied, she left fans hopeful for another trip home as she said, “I enjoy these return performances. I am so grateful for the enthusiastic support of my hometown!”

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HUMANITARIAN H

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C CHARITY

LEFT: Leon Ooley, chairman of the Exeter Centennial Committee.

CENTENNIAL

RIGHT: Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias Board Chairman, Harroll Wiley.

TOP CENTER: Dr. Ali and Valerie Agahi

an Elegant Start to Exeter’s 100th Birthday

T

uxedos, gowns and celebratory cupcakes helped usher in Exeter’s centennial, kicked off Feb. 12 at the 11th annual Starlight Ball.

The gala, which drew about 150 people including local and state dignitaries, served two purposes: to initiate a year’s worth of centennial events and to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias.

“After an event, you always sit back and think, ‘What could we have done differently?’” said co-chair Patty Spott. “I was very pleased that we accomplished our goals. We helped kick off the centennial, and it was a very elegant evening.”

Exeter’s centennial will be celebrated throughout the year with parades, concerts and a new mural.

The Starlight Ball began in 2000 as an urgent way to help the club – then with just one location – keep its doors open. Now, the club has community centers in Porterville, Farmersville, Ivanhoe and Exeter. Unification with the Tulare County Boys & Girls Club is pending, which will expand the reach of the organization to Visalia and Tulare.

Emcee Valerie Agahi said her favorite part of the evening was introducing the many table sponsors, who pay up to $1,000. “These individuals deserve recognition for their charitable contribution, and many of them, for their ongoing and long lasting efforts 44

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BOTTOM CENTER: Exeter residents, Randy and kay Cox, were the creators of the Starlight Ball, which began 11 years ago

Text by Lisa McEwen | Photos by Chuck Stevens

benefiting the Boys & Girls Club. This is always my favorite part, even though we always have great entertainment!”

The Wyndfall Trio delivered on cue for the gala. The trio is an Exeter-based ensemble featuring flutist Tracy Harris, pianist Svetlana Rudikova-Harris and harpist Wendy Harris-LeBlanc. Endorsed

by Yamaha and known throughout the music world, Harris kept the audience in stitches with her tongue-in-cheek commentary.

“It was an eight-minute drive to get here and we didn’t even have to get on a plane!” she said in between a “Winter Romance” program that featured everything from an Irish march to what Harris affectionately refers to as “flash trash” – familiar tunes audiences immediately recognize that are rewritten for the trio’s performances.

The evening also featured a live auction for a diamond pendant, won by Art Zschau of Bank of the Sierra (and placed around wife Pam’s neck) and a chef’s table for eight at Orange Blossom Junction, won by Lemon Cove’s Jim Gorden.

Visalia’s cover band, Run 4 Cover, capped the evening with dancing past midnight to cover songs ranging from artists such as ABBA to Pink.

Spott estimated that at least $10,000 was raised for the club’s Working On Our Future (WOOF) program, which prepares high school students for life after graduation through academic success, job readiness, and life skills development.

CHARITY C

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TRAVEL

CORONADO: A MAGICAL ‘ISLAND’ PARADISE Text by Sharon Whitley L arsen

ABOVE: Hotel del Coronado In Coronado Beach, California

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R

ecently, as much of the country was blanketed by snow and freezing temperatures, I sat on my beachfront balcony at the historic Hotel del Coronado on a sunny late afternoon. As the dramatic pink-and-orange sunset gradually filled the sky, I sipped a glass of wine while watching graceful, giggling ice-skaters below. As music played and colorful lights twinkled, they swirled around a temporary man-made skating rink surrounded by palm trees near the glimmering ocean – a true Winter Wonderland paradise.

It’s hard to imagine that this tiny, seaside land was once sagebrush, dunes and marshland in the middle of nowhere. If

it hadn’t been for a few wealthy visionaries more than a century ago, Coronado would not be the popular tourist destination it is today. As it turned out, for decades this small gem has charmed fortunate tourists – including celebrities – from all over the world.

Often referred to as an island, affluent Coronado, with a population of some 25,000, is actually an 8-square-mile peninsula. Ideally situated just south of San Diego between the San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it is accessed from the north via the landmark San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, or ferry or from the south via “The Strand” – State Route 75.

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TRAVEL

Coronado has the feel of a charming Midwestern town plunked down by a gorgeous beach, and no wonder: It was developed by Midwesterners who flocked here in the late 19th century along with people from the East Coast seeking a healthy, sunny climate.

(As a 1918 ad in the Coronado Journal boasted: “Coronado – the ideal place to live: population 3,500, sun shines average 356 days a year, no smoke, no factories, no saloons, no jails, no dust in summer, no mud in winter.”)

Today it continues to be a popular year-round getaway for anyone who wants a relaxing, magical escape.

Throughout the past century, Coronado – home to Naval Air Station North Island, which celebrates the Centennial of Naval Aviation this year – has been the playground for royalty, presidents and movie stars. Many of them have stayed at “Hotel Del” – Coronado’s famous landmark that opened in 1888.

“Probably no other small town in America has hosted so many VIPs,” wrote the late Katherine Eitzen Carlin, a resident since 1928, in her book (with Ray Brandes), Coronado: The Enchanted Island.

Named for the nearby (15 miles south) Coronado Islands, Coronado means “the crowned one” in Spanish. The crown-shaped chandeliers in Hotel Del’s famed Crown Room were designed by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and other Oz books. He wintered here for several years at 1101 Star Park Circle, a charming yellow house on the route of the Coronado Walking Tour.

“Coronado was his Emerald City,” noted Nancy Cobb, who co-founded the walking tour in 1980 with another longtime Coronado resident, Gerry MacCartee.

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The tour is a well-spent, entertaining 90 minutes. On a recent weekday morning our small group met in the lobby of the Glorietta Bay Inn (the former Spreckels Mansion, across the street from Hotel Del). Cobb regaled us with humorous anecdotes and history tidbits before we began our leisurely tour.

We learned that this little beach paradise had once been a desolate area full of jackrabbits. It was because of the jackrabbits and quail that two well-heeled Midwestern gentlemen, Elisha Babcock, Jr. and Hampton Story, came to Coronado in the late 19th century on a hunting expedition. Realizing the potential of this great location with perfect climate and gorgeous views, in 1885 these visionaries and others bought the peninsula for $110,000.

As Babcock noted then, “This is the finest watering spot on the whole Pacific Coast.” They auctioned off lots and planned to build “the most luxurious hotel west of the Mississippi,” which would attract visitors from all over the world.

In 1886 the developing duo hired Reid Bros. Architects from the Midwest to construct the luxury hotel they envisioned.

“I want you to build me an American castle,” Babcock told them – hence the turrets and cupolas seen today on the Queen Anne-style hotel. Hotel Del broke ground in early 1887 with lumber brought down the coast and delivered across the bay by barge.

Then a financial bust hit, and many investors left town. Sugar magnate and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels, a 34-year-old multimillionaire hailing from San Francisco, came to the rescue. He not only took over the Hotel Del project, but he also built the local streetcar system and the San Diego and Arizona Eastern railway, published two San Diego newspapers, and owned the water and electric rights as well as the ferry system.

Serving the Central Valley for 14 years.

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TRAVEL

ABOVE: The view of San Diego from Coronado.

BELOW: The ice rink located outside Hotel Del.

For the Hotel Del, he had china imported from Paris, linen from Scotland, glassware from Belgium, even toilet seats from England. The hotel cost $1 million, (including furnishings) and with round-the-clock workers, took only 11 months to complete.

Since then it has hosted several historic banquets, including one in 1920 for Britain’s Prince of Wales (later the Duke of Windsor), who would cause a major scandal. As the uncrowned King Edward VIII, he gave up the throne in 1936 to marry twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. She had lived in Coronado from 1918 to 1921 with her first husband, Earl Spencer, the first commanding officer of North Island. One of their former Coronado residences, known as the Duchess of Windsor Cottage, has been relocated on the hotel grounds.

In 1958 Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, was filmed at the Del. The hotel (which, of course, has a resident ghost named Kate Morgan) was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. Much local history, including photos and newspaper clips, can be viewed at the nearby Coronado Historical Association’s Museum of History and Art. Hardly any homes on this ocean paradise are priced under $1 million, but visitors can sample the magical life. There are unusual shops to explore and pampering hotel spa treatments to enjoy, as well as high-quality productions to see at the renowned Lamb’s Players Theater. There’s also dining, swimming, sunbathing, bicycling – even a romantic gondola ride on the bay at Loews Coronado Bay Resort.

A visit to Coronado wouldn’t be complete without having a fabulous burger (organic beef, turkey or veggie) at Burger Lounge (a local chain) and sampling a gourmet French dinner at the romantic Chez Loma, housed in an intimate, historic 1889 property just steps from the Del.

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WHEN YOU GO • For general information: Coronado Visitor Center: www.coronadovisitorcenter.com or San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.sandiego.org.

• Coronado Walking Tours are available Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m., Glorietta Bay Inn lobby. For reservations: www.coronadowalkingtour.com.

• Hotel del Coronado: www.hoteldel.com.

• Glorietta Bay Inn: www.gloriettabayinn.com.

• Loews Coronado Bay Resort: www.loewshotels.com.

• The Gondola Co.: www.gondolacompany.com.

• Chez Loma: www.chezloma.com.

• Lamb’s Players Theater: www.lambsplayers.org.

• Coronado Historical Association Museum of History and Art: www.coronadohistsory.org.

• Naval Air Station North Island and the Naval Aviation Centennial 2011: www.navalaviation100.org, www.public.navy. mil/airfor/centennial/pages/welcome.aspx, www.coronado.ca.us/ library (click on “Programs and Exhibits”).

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N NEXT GEN

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NEXT GEN N

IRA ZERMENO Text by Crystal R. R. Edwards | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

B

razilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ): a modern martial art, derived from Japanese Jiu Jitsu, that focuses on grappling and fighting on the ground instead of standing up and using strikes or kicks against an opponent. A larger opponent is generally not an obstacle to winning a match because BJJ teaches techniques like choke holds and arm bars, techniques which affirm a smaller, weaker person’s success on the mat is just as likely.

Meet 28-year-old Visalia native Ira Zermeno. An accomplished biker, swimmer and runner, Ira has discovered a new passion in martial arts.

So why did this young outdoor enthusiast move his attention from the vistas he rode and ran through to the inside of the Manuel Hernandez Center in Visalia and the confines of a floor mat? “It’s more challenging to me than any other sport,” he said. “It’s so dynamic, and it requires having a mental game, like a chess match.

You have so many options on how to control your opponent. You don’t have to punch or kick or do damage to him, you just control him and dominate him,” he explained. “It’s one-on-one contact with somebody else ... and I can’t just quit. When you have to defend yourself, you cannot quit.”

Achieving excellence in BJJ doesn’t come quickly. The average timeline for gaining a black belt in BJJ is 10 years of six hours of practice per week. “It’s a commitment,” Ira agreed. “It’s not like other martial arts, where you can get your black belt in four years.

It’s a whole different caliber. When they reach [black belt] level, they are masters of the art.”

Ira finds himself training on the mat seven hours a week, and fills his spare time with watching videos of the art and attending tournaments all over California. His local trainers, Mark and Kayti Quesada, both purple belts, represent and teach for the larger Marcelo Cavalcanti Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school in Carson, CA. Ira credits them with teaching him two very different approaches to BJJ – one of strength and one of agility.

Ira explains one personal challenge he has overcome was learning how his body is supposed to move. Controlling his body became a natural process. With that came a defining moment for him: “I discovered the ability to have self-control; to put away my frustrations and control them and turn them into a positive energy.

I solve an issue instead of just crushing it. I learned to be calm and really look at my options.”

Beyond his body, BJJ has changed Ira’s outlook on life in other ways that seem to bemuse him. “Before jiu jitsu,” he said, “I was kind of an impatient person. I was like ‘Now! Now! Now!’ and ‘Let’s go do this!’ and ‘I can’t wait for that!’ But jiu jitsu has forced me to sit back, be patient, figure it out, and go from there.”

Ira advises anyone interested in learning the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to enter into it with an open mind. “It is something that’s going to change your life – for the rest of your life. Whether mentally or physically, it’s something you’re going to retain and you’re going to use it in many different situations. It really is a martial art for everybody.”

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S SYMPHONY

The Mighty Russians Text By Marsha Peltzer

T

he Tulare County Symphony will close the 20102011 season on April 16 with the most important works of two very famous composers – both of whom are Russian.

Arguably the best and most loved of all violin concertos, Tchaikovsky’s has two of the greatest melodies in any concerto.

It is perhaps the best known in the entire repertoire. Music Director Bruce Keisling said, “No violinist makes the rounds as an orchestral soloist without having the Tchaikovsky ready to go at almost any time. It’s an audience favorite and rarely fails to bring the crowd to its feet after its thrilling finale.”

The orchestra pairs this concerto with Scheherazade, RimskyKorsakov’s tour de force representing the mythic storyteller of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

With only two works slated for the April concert, you can assume that both are very special and fully deserve half of the program.

The soloist for this program is new to Visalia and the Tulare County Symphony. Stefani Collins is a mere 21 years old but already has the Tchaikovsky concerto (and several others) under her belt as she has achieved an increasingly national profile as a soloist. No doubt her thrilling and passionate performance will bring out the drama and beauty of this exciting concerto.

The first half of the program will feature Ms. Collins as soloist for the Tchaikovsky Concerto and she will return as Concert Master for the second half when she will cleverly spin Scheherazade’s stories of “Sinbad the Sailor,” “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” and “Alladin and His Magic Lamp.” Arranged in four movements, the same number of stories are told, using the full power and variety of the orchestra to delightfully demonstrate the various settings, characters and scenarios.

While Tchaikovsky was extremely prolific, RimskyKorsakov’s repertoire is slim by comparison. But as far as stories go, it’s hard to top Scheherazade. Composed in 1888, it is a treasure trove about one of history’s greatest storytellers and the tales she wove.

Scheherazade is a young bride of the Sultan. After one of his wives cheats on him, he decides to take a new wife every day and have her executed the next morning. But it all stops with Scheherazade. She marries the Sultan in order to save all future young women from this fate. She tells the Sultan fascinating stories, leaving him in such suspense each night that he can’t execute her the next morning for fear of not hearing the end of the story. After 1,001 of these well-told tales, the Sultan relents.

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In an NPR Weekend Edition program, Conductor Martin Alsop said, “The main love story in Scheherazade is found in the third movement, called ‘The Young Prince and the Young Princess.’ The trick here is not to overdo the sentimentality and detract from the innocence of this beautiful story; keep the sound simple yet intimate and never overwrought. When the final statement arrives, complete with cymbal crash, there is room to really go over the top.”

The storyteller shows her true genius in the final movement beginning with an impatient Sultan hurriedly coaxing Scheherazade to finish the story. He can barely contain himself by this point, in his excitement to hear what happens next.

Each morning when the executioner arrives at his door, the Sultan sends him away, saying “Come back tomorrow,” so that the tale can continue. As she continues to spin her tales of wonder, gradually bringing in every theme from the previous movements, she deftly ties everything together. We hear the Sultan’s low voice at the end, finally subdued and tamed by Scheherazade.

Featuring something for every listener of orchestral music, this is truly a spectacular season finale capping off a banner year! For more tickets or more information, call the Symphony Office at (559) 732-8600.

ABOVE: Stefani Collins

SYMPHONY S

More Than A Trusted Advisor

Front L-to-R: Monica Peterson, Amy Gunn, Penney Sick, Jim Wohlford Back L-to-R: Sherri Rigney, David Sharp, Lupe Sanchez

Jim Wohlford – Branch Manager & Senior Vice President/Investments Lupe Sanchez – Vice President/Investments David Sharp – Vice President/Investments Penney Sick – Vice President/Investments Amy Gunn – Client Service Associate Monica Peterson – Office Coordinator Sherri Rigney – Wire Operator

(559) 622-1040 • (866) 950-5516 217 East Caldwell • Visalia, California 93277 Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC and NYSE

COMPLETE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE

Flaherty Footcare with Dr. Loreen Flaherty and Dr. Paul Mayo.

Diabetic Wound Care | Complete Surgical Reconstruction | Heel Pain | Sports Medicine | General Podiatric Care for Seniors

handling all your podiatric needs V I SA L I A O F F I C E

2914 W. Main Street | 559.627.2849 | 559.627.9772 fax | www.flahertyfootcare.com LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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FASHION

Pink

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FASHION F

for Spring Text by Sharon Mosley

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t’s time to break out of winter’s chill and open up your closet to a colorful warm-up. Wake up to hot pink. Chill out to cool coral. Fire up with ravishing red. These are the colors of a new season.

“The colors designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

“By cleverly combining complementary colors – those that are opposites on the color wheel – they have created a striking intensity in the palette. These unique color combinations make it possible for consumers to pair existing pieces in colors traditionally associated with fall with new favorites to punch up springtime wardrobes.”

Eiseman notes that designers have taken their color cues for spring from exotic destinations like Africa, India, Peru and Turkey to satisfy a consumer’s need to escape everyday challenges with intriguing color combinations that transport them to foreign lands.

Some examples include “the exotic locales of Marrakech and Morocco that inspired the bohemian influences of Yves Saint Laurent in the ’70s,” said Ken Downing, fashion director of Neiman Marcus. “Hot corals and deep pinks punctuated with brilliant blues ignite the carefree spirit of the coming season.”

And what is THE color of the new year? Pantone has named it “Honeysuckle.”

“Flirtatious Honeysuckle is a feel-good hue that brings a festive sense of playfulness to this season’s palette,” said Eiseman.

“This vibrant pinkish-red for both apparel and cosmetics makes consumers feel alive, and it’s a post-winter pick-me-up.”

“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits,” she added. “Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the winter blues.” The “new” color goes beyond the traditional pastel pink.

“Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color, red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

The trendy color derives its name from the reddish pink blossoms of the honeysuckle flower. “Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer,” added Eiseman.

And you can expect to see this hot pink showing up not only in eye-catching apparel for men and women but also accessories. How about a new pink tie for your “honey” or a new pashmina scarf for yourself? Consider making the intense color part of your wedding plans. You can find “Honeysuckle” wedding attendant apparel and accessories at Dessy, a manufacturer of bridesmaid, social occasion and flower girl dresses.

You’ll even see the striking color in home accessories – patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. And if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your living spaces, why not use the energetic color to brighten up a wall in your kitchen or hallway? This spring, it’s time to smell the honeysuckle and think pink!

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F FACES & PLACES

Valentine’s Day Wine Pairing

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n February 14, 2011, Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County and friends joined at the Visalia Marriott for an intimate evening to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a special way. Over 30 attendees enjoyed a variety of wines from Napa, Paso Robles, Washington, Italy, and Australia, which were paired with a five-course meal. The evening raised $2500 and will help Habitat build, renovate and repair homes for low incomefamilies in Tulare County.

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Doug Berg, Dirk Holkeboer Lana Brouwer, Geri DeJong, Wilma Rouwenhorst Pierre Freeman, Bill Cole Billie & Chris Lange Marty Zeeb Leanne & Brian Malison Elizabeth & Matt Spindler, Deanna Saldana Tom DeJong, Case Brouwer

FACES & PLACES F

DID YOU KNOW?

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Consumers Feel Positive About Magazine Advertising Consumers, including younger consumers, consider magazine advertising: • useful in providing information • less inconvenient • credible • less repetitive

Dr. Didya Know-March Tip *magazine.org/handbook

Broker/Owner NMLS #252789

LIFESTYLE | MARCH 2011

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Celtic Crossroads at the Fox April 1

Celtic Crossroads is a performance experience consisting of traditional Irish music, bluegrass, gypsy and jazz partnered with the rhythms of exciting Irish dance percussion. Spontaneous mid-show ovations are the norm at these electrifying performances, which are alive with the spirit of Ireland.

When: Friday, April 1, 7:30p Where: Fox Theater, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 or www.foxvisalia.com

TheaTer & PERFORMANCES Phantom of the Opera The College of Sequoias Department of Theater is proud to bring this haunting classic to Visalia. Come and get swept away by its epic story and iconic songs.

When: March 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26 at 7:30p; March 20 at 2:00p Where: COS Theater, 915 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: COS Theatre Box Office at 730-3907 M A R . Tulare County Symphony presents: Love Stories and Legends The Symphony continues its festival of favorites with a concert that includes ever-popular selections from “Carmen”, Rachmanioff’s romantic “Paganini Variations”, and Stravinsky’s most cinematic ballet suite, “The Firebird”.

When: March 19, 7:30p Where: Fox Theater, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 732-8600 or visit www. tcsymphony.org

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arT EXHIBITS

A P R I L . Music at the Main – The Chamber Music Series: The Best of Colburn One of the world’s most renowned performing arts academies, The Colburn School produces some of today’s most talented young musicians. This last concert of the season will feature “The Best of Colburn”, an ensemble of Colburn’s best students, many of whom have already played with symphonies around the world.

When: April 1, 7p Where: Main Street Theater, 307 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: call: 635-1761

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A P R I L. Alliance of California Artists: 2011 Open Juried Competition Hosted by Arts Visalia, this exhibition invites some of the Central Valley’s most talented artists to submit their latest creations for consideration by independent jurors. Come browse our local talent’s work and pick your favorites.

When: March 3-April 29. Reception: Friday, April 1, 6-8p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 East Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

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A P R I L. Art in the Alley at the Farmers Market In collaboration with the Farmers Market, local talent will display their art work at this fun and engaging downtown event. In addition to the exhibition, live music and children’s activities will also be included in this celebration of Tulare County’s talented art community.

When: April 15, 5-8p Where: Alley between Church Street and Garden Street Plaza, Garden Street Plaza, Visalia Contact: David Castro, 625-1520

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HAPPENINGS H

An evening of cocktails, live & silent auction, dinner and comedy.

April 2, 2011 at 5:30pm

Ventriloquist: Michael Harrison

Heritage Complex, Tulare

www.bgclubtc.org/comix2011 or Call 625.4422

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63rd Annual Springville Sierra PRCA Rodeo April 22-24

Kick up your heels at this annual rodeo in the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada mountains. Enjoy wonderful entertainment, fantastic food, and the thrills and spills of world-class rodeo action. This year will also feature a contest to determine who will be this year’s Rodeo Princess and Rodeo Queen. Entries are judged on a variety of skills, and stand to win many fabulous prizes. Entry forms, rules and more information can be found online at www. rodeo49.com.

When: April 22-24 Where: Sequoia Ranch, 34754 Highway 190, Springville Contact: Dianne Shew at 539-3908, or Kassi Corzine at 359-5358

CharITaBLe EVENTS

CLaSSeS & WORKSHOPS

WrITerS & READERS

APRIL. Tulare County Symphony League “Appraisal Affaire” If you have any antiques, collectibles, or treasures you would like appraised by a staff of specialty appraisers The Tulare County Symphony League invites you to this event benefiting the Youth String Scholarship program.

Entries must be received by March 28.

When: April 2, 10a-2p Where: Holiday Inn, 9000 W. Airport Drive, Visalia Contact: Meriel Heinsohn, 627-1533

African Drumming Classes Taught by Master drummer Wadaba or world percussionist Keio Ogawa.

Come and learn from masters of their art and explore the musical traditions of another culture.

Beginners and observers welcome.

Drums are available, please call ahead. Price per class: $18.

When: March 22 & 29, 7:30p Where: Sierra Performing Arts Center, 114 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: Venue phone, 627-8277

Borders Book Clubs Borders hosts the Young Adult Book Club every other Monday. Contact Borders Visalia for information on current member-selected title.

Invitation is open to the public. All are welcome!

When: Thursday, February 24, 4p Where: Purple Room, Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: Venue phone, 733-2525

Rescued Treasures Operated by the Visalia Rescue Mission, Rescued Treasures is always accepting donations of clothing, furniture, household objects, and more! They also offer free pick up of donations from your home. All thrift store proceeds go directly into the operating of the Rescue Mission.

When: Mon-Sat, 9a-8p Where: Rescued Treasures Super Store, 2523 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: 733-3180

M A R . Creating a Well-Being Mandala Artist Judy Shintani will conduct a workshop that uses art therapy, healing mediation, and the theme of the mandala (the sacred symbol of the circle) to create a theme of story and wellness through art. A variety of materials will be provided for participants to create their installations. Cost: $65 for Arts Alliance members, $95 for non-members who sign up before March 5.

When: Saturday, March 26, 10a-4p Where: Three Rivers Arts Center,198 & N Fork Drive, Three Rivers Contact: Elsah Cort, 561-4671

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If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Happenings” section, please email your submission to lifestyle@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, Attention Happenings.

Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission.

Submissions are due 6 weeks prior to publication.

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