November 2011

November 2011

ENSURING THAT YOUR FAMILY HAS A LIFETIME OF HEALTHY SMILES. The Williams family Dental Comprehensive Dental Plan is designed to provide affordability and greater access to quality dental care.

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This Family Plan includes children who are enrolled full-time in college until age 23, or children who are not enrolled full-time in college until age 18.

This plan is only honored at Williams Family Dental. This dental plan is not an insurance plan that can be used at any other dental office. Visit VisaliaSmiles.com for savings on comprehensive coverage.

Family Dental Practice Keith E. Williams DDS Inc.

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LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

2744 West Main, Visalia, CA 93291

559-667-4304

Visaliasmiles.com

LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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PAGE

30 THE HELLWIG HOME

CULINARY ARTS

Bon Appétit

A New Tradition of French Cuisine

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Letter from the Executive Editor

10 Business Cents 12 Word Play 14 Local Adventure 16 Visalia Visual Chronicle 18 Exeter Turns 100

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40 Charity: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas 48 Fashion

CELEBRITY

50 Performances: Tulare County Symphony

Soma Norodom

54 Kudos

California Girl to Cambodian Princess

52 Faces & Places: CASA Las Vegas 56 Happenings

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28 FIRST PERSON

Up Close Interview

Exeter Mayor, Ted Macaulay

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LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

COVER PHOTO: Box-beam coffered ceilings bring true bungalow character to the Hellwig’s 1908 Arts & Crafts-style home in Exeter.

TOP: While the Hellwig bungalow appears modest in scale from the front elevation, the grounds beyond reveal a much larger footprint. The back patio and pool area show the great care that has gone into preserving this historic home.

NOVEMBER 2011 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 EDITORIAL Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Copy Editor DARA FISK-EKANGER Content Editor Kyndal Kennedy ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Senior Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Aaron Collins Diane Slocum Marsha Peltzer Sharon Mosley ANDRE GOODARD LISA MCEWEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JEFFREY Malkasian EA Operations Manager Maria Gaston 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 VIEW THE MAG ONLINE! issuu.com/lifestylemagazine

Facebook.com/LifestyleMag

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 © 2011 DMI Agency

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RACK LOCATIONS

DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare Tazzaria Coffee & Tea Tulare County Library The Lifestyle Center Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Convention Center COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS

210 Cafe Advanced Body & Laser Center 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 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.

LEFT: The Hellwig girls Melanie, Kris, and Libby are represented by plaques featuring their names alongside that of their late sister Joanna. The ring below belonged to Joanna, a memento that was a gift to her from her parents.

Let’s face it, there’s nothing like the sparkle and shine of a brand new home!

LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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EDITOR NOTE

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

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rowing up, Thanksgiving always meant oven-roasted turkey, my mother’s mashed potatoes, and a slice of her homemade pumpkin pie that was the best in the world. The menu didn’t change much from year-to-year but that didn’t stop us from gathering around the table and eating until we couldn’t move. It wasn’t until my mother had been gone for several years that I was able to look back and see how simple those feasts really were. It really wasn’t about what came out of the oven, but instead what came out of the heart.

Maybe your traditions were different from mine … maybe your meals were more elaborate. But traditional or not, there’s always a time to break away from the norm and try something different – like something French.

This issue, Monet's in Exeter provides an escape from the ordinary Thanksgiving fare, with French Onion Soup, Croque Monsieur, and Crêpe Suzette recipes on page 20.

With Thanksgiving and the holidays fast approaching, we appreciate the many organizations that are getting ready to help feed and clothe the thousands in our community who need extra help, especially this time of year. For most of us, it doesn’t take much to make a difference in the life of a child or family that is struggling. But, some find it difficult deciding which worthy charity to support. We want to … we just need a little kickstart to take action.

If you’re one of those types, there’s no better place than the Visalia Chamber’s 31st Annual Christmas Tree Auction to jump-start the holidays and provide the perfect scene for supporting one of the dozens of charities represented. The format has changed this year, so to know what’s new and exciting be sure to read “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” starting on page 40. Buy a ticket, get dressed up, and bid on one of hundreds of auction items. You’ll take home a wonderful item for yourself and provide much-needed support for the community.

We’d also like to congratulate the City of Exeter as they celebrate their Centennial year. In recognition of that milestone, this month’s Home Tour features the 100-year-old Arts & Crafts-style home of Exeter residents Mark and Rosemary Hellwig. You can read about this remarkable home and the mementos found there starting on page 30.

Also joining this issue is Exeter Mayor, Ted Macaulay, where he shares his thoughts on what makes Exeter special, starting on page 44.

Last but never least, the staff at DMI Agency and Lifestyle Magazine would like to thank all of you who have been such a support for us. From those who advertise, to those who call with tips, to those who send emails, to those who read each and every page, we thank you and want you to know that your contributions are recognized and appreciated.

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.

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B BUSINESS CENTS

Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Asset Allocation Text by Andre Goddard, Wells Fargo Advisors

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sset allocation is a time-tested strategy that can help take the guesswork out of choosing investments for your portfolio. Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, you spread your eggs (dollars) among a variety of baskets (stocks, bonds and cash). The baskets can be further divided within each type of investment.

Although many investors understand that they should invest in a variety of securities, they often stumble when it’s time to choose an asset allocation that’s right for them. The allocation that you choose should be based on how much risk you are willing to assume, why you are investing, and when you will need to tap your investments.

In some cases, however, once investors choose their allocation, many are afraid to change it. As you experience changes in your life, it can be appropriate to redistribute your assets.

So, when should you change your asset allocation? It is important to maintain balance in your portfolio. Accordingly, you should reevaluate your allocation strategy at least once a year or when you experience a major life change such as marriage or the birth of a child. It is not always necessary to make a fundamental change to the allocation, but you need to make that evaluation on a regular basis.

Sometimes your portfolio might just need a tweak to rebalance assets that have either increased or decreased in value. For example, a booming stock market may mean that the value of the stock portion of your portfolio exceeds your original allocation. If that occurs, you may want to consider selling some stocks to bring your portfolio back into line with your initial allocation. Rebalancing is a strategy that every investor should take advantage of as a way to ensure their portfolio reflects their current

investing goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk.

Further changes to your allocation also may be appropriate depending on your particular investing style.

Strategic investing. Most investors take a strategic approach to asset allocation, meaning they have at least 10 years before they anticipate needing the money they are investing. Strategic investors look at the long-term and typically do not make frequent changes to their allocation model. A strategic investor would change the way his or her money is invested if there was a fundamental shift in the economy (recession) or if inflation began to outpace the earnings that his or her investments were generating.

Cyclical investing. Because the economy is cyclical, meaning it moves in stages of prosperity and recession, some investors change the way they allocate their assets based on the cycle of the economy.

This is called cyclical investing and it typically means that an investor will reallocate his or her funds every three months to three years. A cyclical investor might invest heavily in stocks when the economy experiences growth and, conversely, would invest more dollars in bonds when the economy experiences a period of contraction.

Tactical investing. The third type of investor looks at the short-term – a period of one year or less. The tactical investor changes his or her portfolio based on trends in the market.

A tactical approach to asset allocation isn’t for everyone as it typically requires an investor to trade rather actively and sometimes trade with greater risk.

Each investor has unique goals for their money and a distinctive investment style. It is best to talk with your financial consultant about what kind of asset allocation would be right for you and how often you should redistribute your assets. Bear in mind that although asset allocations diversifies your assets, it does not protect against fluctuating markets and uncertain returns.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Andre Goddard, Vice President – Investments in Visalia, CA, at 559-636-8590.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDICINSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

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Protect

heart

YOUR

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Kusai S. Aziz, MD, FACC Interventional Cardiologist and Nuclear Cardiologist

FOUR BOARD CERTIFICATIONS: Interventional Cardiology General Cardiology Nuclear Cardiology and Internal Medicine

Visalia Cardiovascular and Medical Center, Inc 101 E Noble Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 735-0500

W WORD PLAY

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

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ovember celebrates much more than Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving. National Author’s Day and National Family Literacy Day occur this month, as do National Candy Day and National Cake Day. How the two latter days fit in with National Nutrition Month is a mystery.

In honor of Author’s Day, let’s consider some writers who are celebrating the day for the first time as novelists. Among the debut novels this fall are: We The Animals by Justin Torres, You Deserve Nothing by Alexander Maksik, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, The Funny Man by John Warner, Busy Monsters by William Giraldi, and Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron.

Torres tells the story of growing up in a family of three brothers, a white mother and a Puerto Rican father. Maksik writes about a teacher in a private school in Paris that caters to children of dictators and the like and how temptations can be hard to ignore.

A super-talented college short stop is the central figure in Harbach’s story, which hits home with a theme a lot broader than baseball.

Warner’s story tells of a second-rate comic who comes up with a shtick that sends him to the big time and to big problems. Giraldi’s picaresque hero encounters the bizarre from Big Foot to a Filipino would-be space alien as he travels on his quest to regain his true love. Benaron’s novel centers on a Rwandan youth whose dream of becoming his country’s first Olympic medalist is sidetracked by the horrendous violence erupting in his homeland.

Writers Groups Meetup.com features two Valley writers groups – in Fresno and Clovis – at www.meetup.com/Fresno-Writers-Group or writers. meetup.com/cities/us/ca/clovis/. The Clovis group started last December and the Fresno group this September. As of publication, there were 11 members in the Fresno group and the Clovis group boasts 22 members. The Pepper Tree Gallery Art + Poetry Fusion Night of Fresno also advertises its gatherings on meetup.com.

The Fresno SciFi & Fantasy Writers website is at fsfw.net/ forum/fsfw.charter.php. The group discusses stories that have been submitted in advance. New writers just listen their first night.

The Central Valley Writers’ Workshop meets every Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in the Madera County Library. Visitors are welcome.

Membership is $25.

Valley Writers Christopher Allan Poe cut his writing teeth in Bonnie Hearn Hill’s Fresno workshop. He is now the successful author of the chilling paranormal thriller The Portal, released this fall by Black Opal Books. In Poe’s story, Cody is only four years old but he sees things other people don’t – things no one should see. His mother has successfully kept him in hiding in the San Bernardino Mountains until one night when he fills her with terror by announcing “Daddy’s home.” Thus begins the tale of an odyssey by a mother determined to protect her child at all costs penned by a 12

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young author worthy of his surname.

For a scary taste of what is in store for readers of the book, watch Poe’s preview on YouTube. Poe also produced the YouTube teaser for Hearn Hill’s Ghost Island with similar ominous overtones.

Writer’s Conference Keeping on the same theme, Chris Poe and Bonnie Hearn Hill will be among the authors at the 2012 Central California Writers’ Conference. Hill will lead a workshop and Poe will take part in a panel discussion. Another author participating will be Springville’s Marilyn Meredith who will lead a writing workshop. Perhaps best known for her Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries, Meredith also enters the realms of darkness with her Christian horror novels, The Choice, Deeds of Darkness and Cup of Demons. The conference will be on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 8 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, at the Sierra Sky Ranch near Yosemite.

Registration is $249 and limited to 100 registrants. Details at http:// californiawritersconference.com/2012-writers-conference-nearyosemite-national-park.html.

Writing Contests The deadline for the WRITERS’ Journal poetry contest is December 30. (Subsequent deadlines are April 30 and August 30 next year.) Maximum poem length is 25 lines. Reading fee is $3.

First prize is $50. Prize winners will be published by the journal.

Details at www.writersjournal.com/PoetryContest.htm.

The 2012 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing will be given for works first published in 2010-11. The deadline is January 31. Judges will be looking for literary works that honor the Saroyan legacy. Details at http://library.stanford.edu/saroyan/faq.html Free Press Questions of freedom of the press arise when journalists are arrested along with participants in the story they are covering.

WNET’s John Farley, New York Times freelancer, Natasha Lennard, and Alternet freelancer Kristen Gwynne were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct while interviewing protesters during Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

The Last Word “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.”—David Frost (1939–)

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L LOCAL ADVENTURE

exeter F

or an adventure that will leave you with an appreciation for local history, anticipation of the future, and a subtle longing for the “good old days,” head a few miles east to Exeter, and spend an afternoon on the Mural Trail.

It all started back in 1996 when artist Colleen Mitchell-Veyna took to a large brick wall with color and creativity; turning a 150-foot-long, 40-foot-high wall into a seemingly endless landscape of orange trees, foothills and beautiful skies. MitchellVeyna began a tradition with the first mural, “Orange Harvest,” and the tour has grown to 29 beautifully artistic, historical and cherished murals throughout Exeter.

Each mural speaks of the town’s history and each artist has their own unique way of reflecting it; whether depicting the agribusiness that has greatly supported the way of life here in the Valley, paying homage to our veterans, capturing the beauty of our surroundings, honoring the lifestyles of the Yokut Indians, or commemorating historic events, these murals hold a place in time and in our hearts.

Taking this trail will open your mind to the adventures of the past and inspire curiosity for what the future holds. Making your way through the scenic streets of Downtown Exeter, uncovering scenes from the past, you are reminded of how each mural conveys its own adventure in its time. Consider mural #4: “Cattle Drive Down Rocky Hill” depicting Adolph Gill of the Gill Cattle Company of Exeter, which was once the largest cattle ranching business in the U.S., or mural #23: “Exeter Road Race Circa 1916,” which depicts race cars preparing for a race through Downtown Exeter.

Another highlight of the Mural Trail is hunting down all of the secret objects hidden in many of the murals. Keep an eye out for Mickey Mouse in mural #12, “Our Town, Circa 1925,” or a camouflaged child reading a book in mural #9, “Leta & Hawtoy,” or “Star Trek” entities in mural #27, “Freedom Fighters.” There are many more so look closely and enjoy a friendly competition with friends and family to see who can find the most.

If you don’t want to trek up a trail in the mountains this chilly November, take a thermos of hot chocolate and stroll along the Mural Trail instead.

The best way to discover all of the 29 murals and their individual histories is with the help of a guide. You can find guides at the Mural Gallery and Gift Shop located at 204 E. Pine Street as well as the Exeter Chamber of Commerce website. Of course, you can build your own tour with the help of Mural #7, the “Mural Map” found at 119 S. E Street.

For more information, visit the Exeter Chamber of Commerce website at www.exeterchamber.com.

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LOCAL ADVENTURE L

mural TRAIL LEFT: “Orange Harvest” by Colleen Mitchell-Veyna (Visalia, CA) and Morgan McCall (Farmersville, CA) TOP: "Exeter Centennial 1911-2011" by Steven Ball (Springville, CA) MIDDLE: “Cattle Drive Down Rocky Hill” by Nadi Spencer (Three Rivers, CA) BOTTOM: "Protect and Serve Circa 1940's" by Tom Booth (Visalia, CA) LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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V VISUAL CHRONICLE

Documentary in Nature:

The art of James Stark Text by Aaron Collins

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f an artist’s work is shaped by biography to a large extent, former New Yorker and Bay Area expat James Stark’s work shows how an artist’s gambit is shaped by an urban backstory and what results when it is adapted to life and work in a rural area like Tulare County, California.

Artist and subcultural chronicler James Stark honed his approach to photography while living in the Big Apple in the late 1960s. Later, as a noted documentarian of the punk rock scene in 1970s San Francisco (his book Punk ’77 is well-known among scenesters), Stark shot images that helped define and preserve that fleeting Bay Area cultural moment. By the late ‘80s, he had turned his eye toward urban industrial landscapes.

Having relocated in recent years to Tulare County, this pioneering artist and photographer has brought along his same predilection for gritty, occasionally tough-to-bear subject matter to his adopted home in Sultana. As a result of his vision as it pertains to land use, two of his photographic works were chosen as 2011 candidates for permanent inclusion in the Visalia Visual Chronicle, the city’s first publicly-owned, privately-funded fine art collection featuring all things Visalia.

His visual record of distressed landscapes in transition from agriculture to urban uses and their conflicted beauty made his candidacy for the Visual Chronicle an easy choice for program organizers. While much public art in a collection of this nature exudes a feel-good vibe, Stark’s works were chosen more for their conceptual heft in capturing the effects of human intervention in the landscape and socioeconomic realities – all subjects of contemporary concern that reflect the same intensity and grit that he once siphoned through his lens for more urban subjects.

Stark renders the corners of our world where all is not quite right, calling to mind precedent artists including early Van Gogh and his humble Millet-influenced figurative works, to ‘80s outré photographer Nan Goldin’s portrayals of transgressive, edgy

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urbanite glamour. Stark does not shy from pointed matters yet manages to avoid succumbing to the limitations of the kind of didacticism that saddles much overtly political art.

In Stark’s eye, gnarled, uprooted trees arise to mythic status, burn piles transmute into discarded victims subjected to forces too great to withstand, ominous harbingers of ill fortune displaced where once the earth’s fecundity was both adequate and majestic.

California’s history of water-related political tangles and the urban/ agricultural divide are poetically reflected in his slightly jaundiced colorized black and white landscapes.

“Art expands the ways a person experiences the world around them, broadens the horizon so to speak. In our daily lives we are inundated with images most of which do little more than numb the brain. Looking and engaging with visuals which are different exercise the visual muscle, the brain,” Stark said in a statement.

If sponsors step up to underwrite inclusion of his nuanced, complex work for the Chronicle, future generations will be unable to say that Visalians shied from a broad, inclusive art collecting approach that encouraged a diverse array of artistic visions.

Stark’s work suggests that an artist with a cold eye turned toward complicated matters need not sacrifice the demands of beauty and poetry, while at the same time remaining effectively cautionary in tone and documentary in nature.

Co-founding sponsor DMI Agency, and Jeff and Sandy Carl of Visalia are among the early, visionary supporters of this effort. Prospective sponsors can contact Visalia Visual Chronicle organizer Aaron Collins (559) 359-1305, or visit the Visalia Visual Chronicle page on Facebook to view the full roster of 2011 candidate artworks.

ABOVE: Red Dot (2009); colorized photograph, candidate for the Visalia Visual Chronicle, a permanent art collection for the City of Visalia, courtesy of the artist; ©2009 James Stark

E EXETER

1911-2011: City of Exeter Celebrates 100 Years!

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ocated at the base of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is the charming historic City of Exeter. Incorporated in 1911, the City celebrates its Centennial milestone this year. The celebration kicked off with the burial of a time capsule, and a Centennial Festival in March, and continued on with old traditions like the Garden Party and Fall Festival, and new traditions like Sequoia Foodie Fest and the KJUG Free Summer Concert Series. Though 100 years have passed, Exeter has preserved much of its history and remains known for its visual beauty, turn-of-the-century homes, and outdoor murals. Most importantly, the City is known for its residents who give of themselves to serve the community they love, a few of whom were recognized at this year's Chamber Annual Awards Banquet.

To see more of Exeter's history over the last 100 years, visit the Exeter Historical Museum at the corner of Pine and B Streets.

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Photo by: Mo Montgomery

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Photo by: Mo Montgomery

Photo by: Reggie Ellis

EXETER E

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Photo by: Paul Breski

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Barbara Sally, Woman of the Year Sunkist orange display at Sequoia Foodie Fest 2011 Dave & Phyllis Turner, Centennial Award Exeter's Fall Festival Parade KJUG Free Summer Concert Series Jennifer Davis (owner of Monet's), Beautification Award

Photo by: Mo Montgomery

7. Sepp Becker, Man of the Year 8. Leon Ooley, Heritage Award 9. Chef George Quilty, Luci Long, Doug Long (Orange Blossom Junction), Business of the Year 10. Kayla Clark, Miss Exeter 2011 11. Vicki Maier, Heritage Award LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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C CULINARY ARTS

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bon

appétit!

CULINARY ARTS C

Recipes by Jennifer Davis, Monet's | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

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f you feel like taking a break from the usual turkey and mashed potatoes this holiday season, explore the possibilities of mouthwatering authentic French cuisine.

French food doesn’t have to be complicated; enjoy the simplicity of these traditional recipes found on nearly every menu in Paris. A relative of the American grilled-cheese, the rich ingredients in the Croque Monsieur conjure up images of corner cafés alive with Parisians people-watching from their chairs, as they enjoy this French staple. Breakfast or dessert, the Crêpe Suzette recipe will melt your taste buds and warm your stomach – or maybe that’s the cognac. And of course, in the chilly November weather, what better way to warm up than with a steamy bowl of French Onion soup? Bon appétit!

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C CULINARY ARTS

french onion soup 4-6 servings

Ingredients 2 oz. butter 1 lb. 10 oz. white/yellow onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 C flour 8 C beef stock 1 C Sherry wine 1 bay leaf 12 slices stale baguette 1 C shredded Swiss Cheese salt, black pepper, to taste

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Directions Melt butter in a heavy saucepan and add onion. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 25 minutes, or until the onion is deep golden brown in color and begins to caramelize. Add garlic and flour and stir continually for two minutes. Gradually blend in the stock and wine, stirring all the time and bring to a boil. Season. Cover the pan and simmer for 25 minutes. Preheat the broiler.

Toast the bread. In broiler safe bowls, divide soup into individual servings. Place toasted bread on top of soup, cover with cheese, broil until cheese melts and turns light golden brown. Serve immediately.

ART XPOSED A

Affordable Luxury

Visit us and register to win your very own piece of Rebecca jewelry!

C CULINARY ARTS

crêpe suzette

6 large crêpes or 12 small Crêpe Ingredients 2 C all-purpose flour pinch of salt 1 tsp. sugar 2 eggs lightly beaten

1 2/3 C milk 1/2 C water 1 T melted butter 2 T orange zest and 1 T lemon zest butter or oil for frying

Crêpe Directions Sift flour, salt and sugar into a bowl and make a well in the center. Mix the eggs, milk and water together and pour slowly into the well, whisking all the time to incorporate the flour until you have a smooth batter. Stir in orange and lemon zest and melted butter. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Heat a crêpe pan or a deep non-stick frying pan with a little butter or oil. Pour in enough batter to thinly coat the bottom of the pan. Swirl around slowly and pour out any excess that you might have. Cook over medium heat for about a minute or until golden and crêpe pulls away from the edge. Turn crêpe over and cook completely. Fold into quarters.

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Suzette Ingredients 1/2 C caster or superfine sugar 2 oz. butter, diced 1 C orange juice 1 T orange zest 2 T brandy or cognac 2 T grand marnier or triple sec

Suzette Directions Melt butter and sugar in a large frying pan until golden brown. Then add orange juice and zest and boil for two minutes. Add the brandy and grand marnier and flambé by lighting your pan with a gas flame or a match standing as far away as possible. (Caution!

Flames can be tall.) Spoon over crêpes and serve immediately. Crêpes can be made a day ahead and reheated in the microwave or stored in the fridge for up to three days.

C CULINARY ARTS

croque monsieur

6 servings  Ingredients 3 oz. unsalted butter 1 T flour 3/4 C cream 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 egg yolk salt, white pepper, nutmeg to taste 12 slices sourdough bread 6 slices black forest ham 1 C shredded Swiss cheese Directions Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour, stir over low heat for three minutes, slowly add cream and mustard continually whisking.

Leave to simmer until the mixture has thickened and reduced by about a third. Remove from heat and stir in egg yolk. Season, then leave to cool completely.

Place half the bread slices on a baking tray. Top each slice with a piece of ham, followed by the sauce, then the cheese and finally another piece of bread. Melt remaining butter in a large frying pan and fry sandwiches until golden brown on either side. Add more butter if needed. Cut each sandwich in half and serve. Add tomato for a little extra color.

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C CELEBRITY

California Girl to

Cambodian Princess

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rincess Soma Norodom took time out of her short visit back to America recently to spend time in Visalia with her long time friend, Claudia. Soma, a princess of Cambodia has been living in Cambodia for the last year and a half, a move she made in order to take care of her ailing father, Prince Vatvani Norodom.

Soma actually grew up in Long Beach, CA and attended college at Fresno State. Her family was exiled from their country for their protection when she was only five years old. From 1975, when she arrived in America to 2009, Soma kept her identity secret. She recalled just wanting to fit in with the other kids at school and later in life, to succeed on her own. It wasn't until she decided to move to Cambodia and take her place beside her father 28

LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

(who moved to his homeland in 2009 to spend the duration of his life) that she let her royal status known.

She plans to become Ambassador to the UK and a prominent business leader, not just a princess. She continues to keep her alma mater close to heart and will be hosting International Business students from Fresno State as part of an internship in Cambodia and will also have a Scholarship in her name at Fresno State.

Soma was happy to visit California again, something she hopes to do once a year, calling herself a true “California Girl.�

On her flight back she has suitcases packed with 15 pounds of M&M candies, Q-tips, MAC makeup and many other things she can't find in Cambodia.

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H HOME TOUR

The Hellwig Home

Touchstones Exeter home as journal of family, local history

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Text by Aaron Collins | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

HOME TOUR H

PICTURED: Contemporary furnishings are right at home in this sitting area in the family room of the 1908 Arts & Crafts bungalow that has been in owner Rosemary Hellwig’s family since 1950.

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H HOME TOUR

ABOVE: The entry of the Mark and Rosemary (Miller) Hellwig home in Exeter features a bay window and this vintage walnut finish Chickering baby grand piano adorned with family photos, including Rosemary’s father, U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Lieutenant James E. Miller, Jr., and Mark’s father, Don Hellwig, a U.S. Army Sergeant.

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ark and Rosemary Hellwig’s historic Exeter Arts & Crafts-style home is a kind of makeshift time capsule. Here, family heirlooms adorn a hundredyear-old abode, silent but ready to regale visitors with ancestors’ stories, imbuing lifetimes in each inanimate object.

And indeed, the building evinces a voice from the past. A few years before Exeter’s incorporation, a construction worker autographed the house’s rafters upon completion and dated his handiwork “1908” – a kind of message in a bottle.

Important passages in life are sometimes commemorated in such offhanded poetry, or more deliberately versed as keepsakes, touchstones that embody moments of achievement, or items to help parse the unspeakably random, such as when Mark and Rosemary tragically lost their teenage daughter, Joanna, in a car accident in 2001.

Following Joanna’s death, a friend of hers, Teale Walheim (a close friend since kindergarten) was a conduit between the Hellwigs and her uncle Rex – who just happens to be NASA astronaut Rex Walheim. Mission Specialist Walheim offered to take something of Joanna’s with him into space on a shuttle mission. The chosen memento was a special gift Joanna’s parents had given her two years before: a ring inside which they had engraved a secret and timeless exhortation of their own: “True love waits.”

The memento was carried aboard the shuttle Atlantis by Walheim (whose brother Lance lives in Exeter). For those who knew Joanna, the act was a tacit word of love and deed of longing 32

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spoken across strata, across ages, carried literally into the heavens and back to Exeter, returning once again to her childhood home under sheltering sycamores. The work and tools of a hand-hewing craftsman circa 1908 may differ greatly from a high-tech astronaut of the 2000s. But both exhibited a knack for creating evanescent moments of poetry generously offered to audiences neither will ever know. Some important work just doesn’t go on a resume.

An older home encases numerous profound moments.

Rosemary (nee Miller), one of 10 children, has lived in the house since she was born, give or take a few years when she flew the nest in her youth. She and Mark raised their four daughters in the house (in addition to Joanna, daughters Melanie, Kris and Libby knew it as their childhood home, too). Thirty members of the third generation return like migratory birds to home ground for family holidays, bringing in tow 15 great-grandchildren back to the family touchstone … and so it goes.

Given the Hellwig/Miller home’s location in one of Exeter’s earlier-built and most historic established neighborhoods, it’s also fitting that it will be featured during Exeter’s Centennial year on the Exeter Woman’s Club Holiday Home Tour this December.

Along with a few other historic homes in the neighborhood, the event will offer a glimpse of Exeter both now and then, looking not so different from 1911, the year of Exeter’s incorporation.

The Hellwig home stands near the other historic homes on the tour, all just a stone’s throw from where mega-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded and built one of the hundreds of public

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Carnegie Libraries throughout the U.S. in the early 20th century (now the Exeter Senior Center).

Rosemary has quite a history of her own with this house.

When she was born in Exeter Memorial Hospital in the 1950s, the house was the first place she called home. Her parents, Dr. James and Mrs. Loretta Miller, had purchased the home in 1950 after arriving in Exeter in the late ’40s.

Mark and Rosemary later bought the property from her widowed mother, a prominent and active Exeter community member (who passed away in 2009).

PICTURED: Architect John Slaven of Exeter, known for adapting historic architectural styles, was the creative force behind a sensitive remodel that updated the kitchen of the Hellwig’s 1908 bungalow while maintaining the integrity of the Arts & Crafts structure.

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HOME TOUR H

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H H HOME TOUR

How would the Hellwigs describe their home’s style? In a word, “Old!” said Rosemary. Of course “old” isn’t a style, but in local terms? It’s old. Mark and Rosemary know this because when the Millers had the house re-roofed in the 1970s, they discovered beneath the shingles that construction workers had proudly autographed the Craftsmen home upon completion, dating it for posterity to discover.

But of course, it’s not just old-style; the home – most recently remodeled in its own centennial, 2008 – is a picture-perfect specimen of the Arts & Crafts bungalow prevalent during that period and enjoying a resurgence in popularity a century later. “We wanted to stay with the Craftsman style,” Rosemary said of their goal for stylistic integrity. “We pushed out the south wall six feet.

Everything is new in the kitchen, except the sub-floor.

To ensure their goal, they hired Exeter architect John Slaven, noted for being conversant in a variety of historical styles to redesign the kitchen. Monty Clifton served as general contractor on the project. Quartz countertops and oak hardwood flooring updated the look but stayed compatible with the Craftsman feel and ethos.

“Our home is a never-ending project,” Rosemary said, adding that they’re always coming up with one more thing to do. “People have said to us that our home is warm and welcoming and we love to hear that. And we love having our home as a gathering place,” which it often is, considering the nostalgia factor that the whole Miller clan once lived under this roof.

“We usually serve about 40+ for a Sunday-before-Christmas dinner. The house isn’t big enough to handle us all, so we usually spill out into the garage, the front porch and back yard. Mark is a wonderful cook and all look forward to his meals: ribs, ham, smoked turkey or deep-fried turkey. I think the best part about the 36

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day is that those that are here love to be here,” Rosemary said.

Perhaps the best feature of a vintage bungalow is the front porch. The Hellwigs removed a former owner’s conversion to a bedroom to restore what is now among their favorite places in the house. “I love to go out there early mornings to read, and it’s a favorite place to decompress for both Mark and me. I enjoy it when people stop when walking by, or just wave,” Rosemary said. The disappearance of this social space is something that architects and New Urbanists are rethinking in recent decades, with a resurgence of porches in some newer construction.

TOP: A sign designating “Mark’s Man Cave” clusters on a wall full of hunting trophies – a mix of those Mark Hellwig bagged in the wild and some bagged in the wilds of eBay. Unsurprisingly, the remodeled space in the garage is one of his favorite places at the historic Exeter Hellwig Home.

BOTTOM: If the Hellwig Man Cave is easily identifiable by animal parts, the room in pink, carved from the attic, suggests this might be the Hellwig Girl Cave (daughter Libby’s room).

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Mark, who is president of Hellwig Products Company, agrees that the porch is a favorite place. But the bay window by the grand piano and his “man cave” in the new garage they added are also high on his list. Added when they remodeled the kitchen, the garage houses all his “favorite” things.

“He loves to work on his motorcycles, and his love of hunting is hanging on the wall,” Rosemary said. “Mark did a lot of the remodeling of the house and his tools are there too, of course. Mark amazes me in that he can just fix or make anything. He is truly a natural engineer.”

Despite purchasing acreage on which to build a dream home PICTURED: Bold patterns and muted solids commingle in the living room of the Hellwig home, a 1908 bungalow set amid the tree-lined streets of one of Exeter’s most historic neighborhoods.

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several years ago, the Hellwigs decided that they had found one already – the one they were in, the place where the past masses and murmurs beneath the roof’s aged trusses, absorbs like a sponge into the walls’ plaster in a hundred-year stand. But just give a little squeeze, and decades of poignant memories flow freely. With the house having been part of the family longer than they’ve been around, the builder from 1908 might forgive Mark and Rosemary if they scratched an autograph of their own in some secret location, hidden somewhere out of view among six decades of memories, offering a secret touchstone for a future generation to discover.

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C CHARITY

'Twas the Night Before

Christmas Text by Lisa McEwen | Photos by Peter Amend (2010)

31st annual tree auction will feature a new format, fun for all as holiday season begins

B

arbara Mayeda knows how important it is to keep Visalia’s premier holiday social event fresh and fun.

The 31st Annual Christmas Tree Auction promises just that with a variety of changes to the longstanding, get-your-best-dress-on gala, set for Friday, Dec. 2, at the Visalia Convention Center. Mayeda, who has been involved with the event for 27 years and serves this year as chairman, is thrilled about the changes that guests will experience.

“The changes are really exciting,” she said, noting that the auction attracts a wide variety of community members, from the elderly to a younger party crowd, and everyone in between.

“We’re hoping to meet the needs of everyone. We are constantly looking to better the event. After 30 years, you would think we have done it all.” Not so.

The changes – including a formal, sit-down dinner for those who purchase a VIP ticket – come following surveys issued by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, host of the Christmas Tree Auction. Chamber CEO Glenn Morris said the chamber sent out 2,100 surveys to past attendees and chamber members.

“Our goal was, after 30 years, to determine what people really valued about the event, see if there were any elements they would change, and try to gather some data and ideas that would help us improve the quality of the event and the quantity of attendees,” Morris said. After all, the goal of the auction is to celebrate the generosity of the community and a little tweaking means more funds for deserving nonprofit organizations in the area.

With the approximately 100 responses, the committee decided to drop ticket prices and revamp the evening.

A sit-down dinner at 5:30 p.m., prepared by Sue Sa’s Creative Catering, is part of the VIP experience for $125 per person. This will include the spirited live auction of 17 beautifully adorned Christmas trees, emceed by Kopi Sotiropulos of KMPH and Visalia City Councilwoman Amy Shuklian. “This way, there will

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be a more captive audience for the tree auction, because in the past, people have said in between the mingling and socializing, the auction was half-over before they realized it,” Mayeda said. “I’m excited that this change will help the charities benefit even more.”

And who doesn’t concentrate better on a full stomach?

For those who use the evening as a girls' night out, date night or an avenue to socialize after hours with colleagues, general admission is 8-11:30 p.m. for $60 per person, with the full range of hors d’ouevres, desserts and wine offered just as before. While waiting to enter the convention center to view the trees, these ticket holders will be treated to gorgeous holiday and wintry music pieces performed by the Wyndfall Trio, an Exeterbased ensemble featuring flutist Tracy Harris, pianist Svetlana Rudikova-Harris and harpist Wendy Harris-LeBlanc.

Dancing to the tunes of a deejay will begin about 9 p.m., leaving plenty of time in the evening for women to break in a new pair of heels and for guys to shed the tie and try out those new dance moves.

The Christmas Tree Auction has become a legacy in Visalia, as local nonprofits have used this black-tie event to further their mission through the donations they receive from the event. More than $4 million has been raised in the past 30 years.

For those who want even more proceeds to go to their favorite charity, Mayeda is encouraging them to buy their tickets directly from the organization and the charity will receive 10 percent of the ticket price.

With all the makings of a great party, this year’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” auction is sure to evoke the holiday generosity for which Visalians are known.

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2011 charity participants: Assistance League of Visalia Battered Women’s Shelter Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias CLIPArts Christ Lutheran Academy for the Performing Arts Court Appointed Special Advocates of Tulare County El Diamante High School Enchanted Evening Friendship House Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County Hospice of Tulare County Foundation Jeff Barnes Brain Injury Foundation Kaweah Delta Foundation Lifeline Kaweah Delta Breast Center Love In the Name of Christ LOVE, Inc. – Daughters of Hope NAMI Tulare County Redwood High School ASB Redwood High School Cheer Program St. Paul’s School The Samaritan Center United Way of Tulare County Victory Outreach Women’s Recovery Home Visalia Education Foundation Visalia Rescue Mission Visalia Rescue Mission – House of Hope Visalia Rotary Community Foundation Visalia YMCA Younglives of Tulare County Limited special sponsorship opportunities are available for interested businesses. Call the Chamber for details. Reserve your tickets now at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce (734-5876, 220 N. Santa Fe St.) or online at www.visaliachamber.org.

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F FIRST PERSON

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FIRST PERSON F

EXETER MAYOR

Ted Macaulay Exeter is closing in on a year-long celebration of its centennial. Lifestyle Magazine took the opportunity to sit down with two-term Mayor Ted Macaulay for his thoughts on the city’s 100th birthday.

LM: Did you realize when you took your term as mayor that you would be presiding during the centennial year?

TM: I knew the centennial was coming up in 2011, but when I took my term as mayor I don’t think it dawned on me that I would be mayor during the centennial. It’s a big celebration for the city, of course. One hundred years is pretty neat.

LM: Have you had the opportunity to do anything special as mayor for the centennial celebrations?

TM: I got to preside over the time capsule on March 3, 2011 [the official centennial date], and the proclamation [issued by the city council] declaring the city’s centennial.

people come forward. I can think of an incident involving three youth with possibly some type of gun over on the south side of town, and the residents came forward and told the police exactly what they saw and which house the youth went into. So, automatically the police know that there are three people they’re looking for and that there could be weapons involved. We are fortunate that we don’t have a lot of crime and so people do feel comfortable coming forward. It just goes back to the people. I also like the fact that our officers take their police cruisers home. That is another deterrent.

LM: Do you ever wonder what Exeter’s first mayor, businessman and entrepreneur George E. Waddell, LM: There have been many events to mark the centennial would think about Exeter today? this year, including a parade in March and the TM: I would hope that he would be proud of the city. The dedication of a new mural. Any favorites? city has grown and changed dramatically in 100 years, TM: I always enjoy the Fall Festival, that’s just a really neat but the people still care about each other. We’re not a city event. It was neat having the centennial celebration huge metropolis, we keep the streets nice to the credit of in March, also. It’s always fun to have a parade in Exeter. the city workers, and (laughing) thankfully they’re not dirt anymore. I think for the last 100 years we’ve done a LM: Several Valley towns have celebrated their 100th year, pretty good job keeping a community that people would and others will shortly. What sets Exeter apart? want to live in.

TM: Absolutely, it’s the people. The people of Exeter are what make Exeter as special as it is. They’re very community LM: What is Exeter’s growth rate? oriented. It always gets tossed around, the “Mayberry” TM: Approximately 2 to 3 percent, which is not very many reference, but people know about each other and care people when you’re talking about a population of 10,000. about each other. When I was doing the interviews for And actually it’s been zero for the last few years. We are the Fall Festival Queen candidates, almost to a “T” they fortunate that we didn’t have a bunch of new homes that all said they love Exeter because they know people are were vacant or homes that people bought and got in way watching out for them. I think that is the thing that is over their heads. There are some foreclosures in the city really different about Exeter. but not any huge areas that are vacant.

LM: Exeter was recently named as the safest city in Tulare County by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

What is your reaction to that?

TM: Well, I’m extremely proud of that. And again I think it comes down to the people. I’ve been to some seminars where city crime rates are discussed and have learned that the way to keep a handle on crime is by having

LM: Anything you would like to see happen during the centennial year?

TM: The community pride is there year in and year out. The Chamber of Commerce does a good job year in and year out promoting the city, making sure there are nice things going on in the community. I really liked burying the time capsule, and of course, I’ll never hear about it LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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because I’ll be gone when it’s opened in 100 years, (laughing) but I wish they had done one before to see what it was like in Exeter 100 years ago.

LM: What direction do you think the city will go in the next 100 years?

TM: I think the people who are in the city right now will try to keep things as they are. In the last 10 years I haven’t really seen anyone wanting to change things very much. I will say my biggest concern is if Yokohl Valley is developed. I think that will be detrimental to the city of Exeter. I think they’ll come in and use the services, and I would hate to see that Valley developed. But I think the city residents are comfortable going to Visalia for major shopping trips to Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, places like that. I don’t think there are a lot of people saying we need those types of stores in Exeter. I think that right now residents try to support local businesses as much as they can, and that’s the reason why we’ve been able to do what we do. We do try to buy local and stay local, because most of [the owners] are our friends. We see them at the grocery store, church, and at different functions.

Going forward it will be pretty much whatever the people want. People will come to Exeter for what it offers right now, and if they’re coming here for what Exeter represents they’ll want to keep it like it is.

LM: What are some areas the city can improve in?

TM: Maybe a little more variety in styles of food. We’ve got great Mexican restaurants and pizza parlors; it would be nice to have a few more choices. We don’t have any men’s clothing stores. But we’ve got a good, vibrant downtown. It would be great to have more options for our youth, too. We do have good parks; we have the pool at the high school as well as the Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias.

LM: What are some of your favorite aspects of Exeter?

TM: As a cyclist, absolutely the greatest thing is that we’ve got Rocky Hill and Yokohl Valley, and there are a lot places to cycle here. We are right outside the national parks, near Lake Kaweah, and yet, we can always get over to the coast. Tulare County is a great area because we can get anywhere pretty quickly.

The city of Exeter will wrap up its centennial celebration with a downtown New Year’s Eve Doo-Dah parade and party on Saturday, Dec. 31.

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F FASHION

Party the

Text by Sharon Mosley

W

ith holiday festivities right around the corner, it’s time to party. But when an invitation to dress up arrives, it can often cause a fashion panic attack. Now is the time to start shopping. It pays to be prepared to party, and that means early intervention. You don’t want to find yourself at the mall the afternoon before a big event with nothing to wear.

The possibilities for finding the perfect cocktail dress this season are unlimited. So don’t settle for the same little black dress you’ve worn for the last five years. Step out and make an entrance. Here are a few tips for putting power dressing back in the cocktail hour: Don’t settle for black. Yes, the little black dress may be a classic, but it can be oh-so boring. Make this a year to do something a little bit out of the black box. Colorful cocktail dresses abound; red is a favorite, so is emerald green, but there are also plenty of other elegant options. Why not go for shimmering silver or icy white?

Look for standout details. Simple can be chic, but party dresses that have sophisticated details like subtle embroidery, lace trim or feathery hems can make a festive impact. Subtlety is the key here; too much of a good thing and you will find yourself wearing your new dress on rare occasions.

Go for classic silhouettes. When you’re looking for a party dress, you don’t want to invest in a dress that will become outdated as soon as New Year’s Eve. You do want to look for a dress that will take you through several holiday seasons. A slim, sheath dress that you can dress up or down with accessories is your best bet. The classic dresses this holiday season pay homage to the ’50s and ’60s, when the martini lounges were in full swing.

Buy one long dress. If you find a long dress that you love, snatch it up. Chances are, at some point, you will receive an invitation to an event that requires this formal length, and

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since this is one kind of dress that is hardest to find, it pays to have one lovingly stowed away in your closet. Think dramatic, but simply styled. If you never attend black tie or white tie events, then stick to shorter dresses. But it never hurts to have one long dress just in case your date arrives in a tuxedo to pick you up!

Kick it up a notch. If you do want to recycle that party frock from years ago that has languished in your closet, then have fun with accessories. And no, you don’t have to do the diamond thing to sparkle. There are plenty of gorgeous ways to shine – from colorful cocktail rings and dripping chandelier rhinestone earrings, to statement choker necklaces and jeweled evening clutches. Show-stopping stilettos can also give your dress new life.

Wrap up in style. There are other ways to add some festive touches to a party dress – especially in cooler weather.

It’s often what you top off your dress with that makes an impression. Think beaded scarves, jeweled cardigans, fur vests or cashmere shawls. A satin trench coat is another great way to chase away chills. And my all-time favorite party cover-up? A feather boa. Feathers always add high drama!

Take the alternate route. And if dresses just aren’t your style, then think about an alternative to the cocktail circuit with separates. The menswear look is a big trend this year, and tuxedo-inspired pieces are a classic way to strut your stuff.

A fabulous blouse and short skirt or tailored trousers can also do the trick. Add a few feminine touches with dazzling accessories and you have the “other” dress for party success.

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52nd Season Text By Marsha Peltzer

Holiday Concert

A New Tradition Continues

T

he second annual Holiday Pops, presented by the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra, promises to ring in the holidays on Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Visalia Fox Theatre. This special concert is not included in the season package unless specified in your season ticket order. If you do not have tickets, please contact the Symphony office early (732-8600) as the concert is likely to be a sell out!

The music will celebrate all the joys of December. A favorite program of Maestro Kiesling, the concert will feature many winter specialties performed by great local vocalists, an assortment of choirs performing favorites such as “Sleigh Ride,” selections from the Nutcracker, and a piece from the film Home Alone for children’s choir and orchestra. The children’s choir will be selected from 4th through 6th graders from the Visalia Unified schools. Kiesling has also invited the Porterville College Choir to close the concert with Handel’s “Halleluiah Chorus.” Come prepared for a possible singalong and a step into the holiday scene for children and adults alike!

SPOTLIGHT ON THE MUSICIANS The Tulare County Symphony has recently made some changes in the make-up of the orchestra, bringing on some very talented young musicians, most of whom have been involved with the Youth Symphony and have been the recipients of the Symphony League’s scholarship music lessons for many years. It is quite refreshing to hear these younger musicians play in ensembles at different events throughout the community. Several of them entertained at the latest League event “Garage de Elegance.” Most impressive!

CONCERT MASTER DR. SUSAN DOERING Other newcomers have also enhanced the quality of the performances last season and again this new season, which began with a sell-out concert entitled “Beethoven and Beyond.”

Recently appointed concertmaster of the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Susan Doering has such a diverse

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and lengthy list of credits it is hard to know just where to begin.

Doering has performed throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East as a soloist, recitalist, and orchestral and chamber musician. Her many television and public radio broadcasts include featured performances on NPR’s Performance Today and satellite broadcasts from China. She has recorded numerous CDs on various labels including a Harmonia Mundi CD which was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2009.

Doering holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan and her Doctorate degree from the University of Maryland.

As a member of the Emerald Duo with fellow TCS musician Dieter Wolfhorst (violin/violoncello), Doering has toured Germany four times. One review spoke of the “fascinating playing of the highly talented American Violinist,” her “security in style” and her “overwhelming musicality.”

Doering also plays in the Fresno Philharmonic, the Monterey Symphony, the San Juan Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony.

She has been a member of the Santa Fe Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, is the former concertmaster of the Springfield, Missouri, Regional Opera and has performed with many other impressive orchestras and chamber groups.

Doering has been teaching violin and viola at Fresno Pacific University since 2001. She is also a board certified music therapist and maintains a private violin/viola studio and Music Therapy practice in Central California. For those who are stringed instrument “aficionados” Doering plays a 1995 copy of a 1742 Guarnerius del Gesu, made for her by Robert Clemens in St. Louis, Missouri.

ABOVE: Dr. Susan Doering

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CASA Las Vegas took place on Saturday, October 15, 2011. The Las Vegas-themed evening was filled with attendees flooding blackjack, roulette, and craps tables, while the tunes of Borrowed Time filled the air.

The second annual fundraising event raised money to support volunteer advocacy for the abused and neglected children of Tulare County.

Photos by Becca Chavez

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a tip of the hat to...

October 15, 2011, marked the grand opening of California Fitness Academy's expansion into their new, larger location.

Also celebrating their 5-year anniversary, CFA was able to share the evening's good fortune with other local businesses— such as Sole2Soul Sports, Sierra Bicycle Werks, and others— allowing them to showcase and sell their merchandise. Owner Justin Levine says, "CFA is all about joining teams with local businesses in an effort to connect with the community. We are very excited for the future and look forward to helping people live healthy lifestyles."

Visalia Breakfast Rotary's 12th Annual Golf Tournament and Crab Feed took place October 21, 2011. Held at Valley Oaks Golf Course and Holiday Inn in Visalia, the event raised money to purchase Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Units. Realizing ten minutes can make all the difference to someone in cardiac arrest, the Units are placed throughout the community for public use, should someone need immediate attention before an ambulance arrives.

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LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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November 2011 THEATER & PERFORMANCES MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET Presnted by the Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company, this holiday play is perfect for the whole family. A small girl’s belief in Santa and magic of the holiday is at stake in this timehonored tale of Christmas and the miracles that can happen if one only belieives.

When: Dec. 1-4; 9-11, Evening shows, 7p; Matinee, 2p Where: Main Street Theatre, 307 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: 739-4600 EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told – plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical popculture, and every carol ever sung. A madcap romp through the holiday season! By Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. Directed by Sylvia Tejerian Garoian and Gary Benjamin.

When: Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, Evening shows, 7:30p; Sunday matinee, 2p Where: The Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3900 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S THE TEMPEST Performed by the Fresno State Theatre Arts Department and directed by Kathleen McKinley, this play is thought to be the last Shakespeare wrote alone.

When: Dec. 2-10, 8p; Sunday matinee, 2p Where: John Wright Theatre, Fresno Contact: Box Office, 278-2216

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LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

DEC 3

WYNDFALL CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES ‘‘A GOLDEN CHRISTMAS’’ Guest Artist Dr. Bruce Kiesling, Piano/Conductor and Tracy Harris with the incredible Wyndfall Flute Orchestra perform a fabulous night of popular Christmas favorites! Call for ticket information.

When: Dec. 3, 7p Where: The Spiritual Awareness Center, 117 S. Locust St., Visalia Contact: 592-9592

DEC 10

TULARE COUNTY SYMPHONY 2ND ANNUAL HOLIDAY POPS Ring in the holidays with friends and family at this special concert celebrating the joys of December. A favorite of Maestro Kiesling, the concert features many winter favorites performed by great local vocalists and a community choir – plus selections from the “Nutcracker” and other cherished holiday classics!

When: Dec. 10, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

Art Exhibits CHEERS! MIXED MEDIA PAINTINGS BY KATHLEEN MATTOX Mattox specializes in watercolor as well as mixed media paintings. Each new painting is a thrill in itself as well as a jumping off point for the next step in the creative process.

When: Nov. 3 - Jan. 7 Where: Tulare Historical Museum, Heritage Room, 444 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: 686-2074

HAPPENINGS H

THE CHINESE BRUSH – WORKS BY JOY HARVEY & STUDENTS Joy Harvey has studied the history and philosophy of Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy for over 30 years.

Works by her and her students will be on display for the public to view.

When: Nov. 30-Dec. 23 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

DEC 3

1ST SATURDAY IN THREE RIVERS Celebrate art, music, dance, storytelling, food and drink as you browse the art galleries, studios and gift shops of Downtown Three Rivers. For discounts and participants visit website.

When: Dec. 3, 10a-5p Where: Maps at Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or visit www.1stSaturdayTR.com

Diversions & Excursions

NOV 24

RACE AGAINST HUNGER “GO THE DISTANCE” with Visalia Emergency Aid Council in their 6th annual “Race Against Hunger” event. VEAC is the largest food bank in Tulare County providing emergency services for over 14,000 families with children. $20 for walkers and runners ($25 on race day); $10 for children 12 and under ($15 on race day) When: Nov. 24, Pre-registration and registration: 6a-7:45a; Race start time: 8a Where: Garden Plaza, Corner of Main and Garden St., Visalia Contact: 732-0101

NOV 28

CANDY CANE LANE PARADE Visalia’s Candy Cane Lane Parade will celebrate its 66th continuous year bringing holiday spirit to the streets of Downtown Visalia.

This year’s parade theme is “Family Traditions.”

When: Nov. 28, 7p Where: Main Street, Downtown Visalia Contact: www.downtownvisalia.com

DEC 3

7TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOME TOUR Presented by the Redwood High School Ranger Band and Color Guard. Five of Visalia’s most elegant homes, dressed in their holiday finest, will open their doors for an afternoon of sightseeing, live music, refreshments and holiday cheer. Chamber music will be provided by select members of the RHS band.

The day will begin with the traditional Tricky Tray auction at Quail Park Retirement Village where you will pick up your map. Tickets: $15 (advance); $20 (day of). For more ticket information call or visit website.

When: Dec. 3, 12-5p Where: Quail Park, 4520 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia Contact: Kelli, 289-6793 or www. redwoodrangerband.org HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Every Thursday in December. Explore the magic of Downtown Visalia for the holidays.

Each Thursday night, guests will enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa Claus, caroling and strolling musicians. There is always exceptional service as you shop and take a break to savor the cuisine and specialty beverages at one of our more than 50 restaurants.

When: Thursdays, 5-8p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: www.DowntownVisalia.com VISALIA FARMERS’ MARKET – HARVEST OF THE VALLEY Weekly event open to the public featuring free live music, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations and local, fresh produce available for purchase.

When: Saturdays, Sequoia Mall - Sears parking lot, 8-11:30a Where: Sears parking lot at Mooney and Caldwell, Visalia Contact: 967-6722 or www. visaliafarmersmarket.com

LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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VISALIA SMOOTH DANCERS CHRISTMAS BALL Brought to you by the Visalia Smooth Dancers, established 26 years ago, come celebrate the holiday's with ballroom dancing, dinner and entertainment!

When: Dec. 3, 6:30 pm Where: Sons of Italy Hall, 4211 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia Contact: David Bixler, dgbixler@yahoo.com or 688-0302

Charitable Events

DEC 2

DEC 3

31ST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION This year's Christmas Tree Auction is sure to bring out your Holiday spirit as donations benefit the numerous charities in our community.

The VIP celebration includes a catered dinner, and KMPH’s Kopi Sotiropulos will host a live tree auction. VIP tickets: $125. The general admission celebration (as well as VIP celebration) includes hors d'oeuvres, dancing, wine tasting and dessert. GA tickets: $60.

When: Dec. 2, VIP celebration 5:30-11:30p; GA celebration 8p-11:30p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-5876 SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS The Exeter Kiwanis Club will kick off the holiday fundraising season with its annual “Spirit of the Holidays” wine tasting. This semiformal sell-out event will feature the opportunity to sip wines from more than 20 vintners, nosh on delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared by local restaurants and bid during a live auction of six stunningly decorated Christmas trees. Tickets are $50 and available by calling the Chamber.

When: Dec. 3, 4-7p Where: Exeter Veterans Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter Contact: Exeter Chamber of Commerce, 592-2919

DEC 8

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR Exeter Woman’s Club presents a “Holiday Tour of Homes.” Tour four wonderfully decorated homes near Exeter City Park, enjoy live music at each house, hot cocoa, appetizers, and complimentary carriage rides. Donations: $15 per person. Tickets available at Exeter Chamber of Commerce or any Woman’s Club member. Call for group discount info.

When: Dec. 8, 4:30 - 8:30p Where: Exeter City Park, Chestnut and E Streets, Exeter Contact: 799-3641 “BAG CITY” LEATHER SALE AT KAWEAH DELTA Bag City will be on site to help the Kaweah Delta Guild raise money for patient care equipment. Sale items will include: leather jackets, wallets, purses, organizers, briefcases and travel bags. All at great prices.

When: Dec. 8, 6a; 9, 4p Where: Kaweah Delta Hospital - Main lobby, 400 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3109

Writers & Readers TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY First Tuesday Book Club (Dec. 6, 6:30p) Mystery Readers (Dec. 21, 6:30p) Where: Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or www.tularecountylibrary.org

Event Listings 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 six weeks prior to publication.

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LIFESTYLE | NOVEMBER 2011

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