January 2010 by Lifestyle Magazine

on tHE CoVEr: the recently remodeled Visalia home of richard and Beth rumery features a number of works by local artists, including Varian Mace, Marjorie Brandon, and a number of other area notables. Photo by Forrest C avale, Third Element Studios

Ho ME t o u r 20. The Rumery Home Fine Art and Friends

JANUARY 2010 P U BL I S H E D B Y Direct Media, Inc. 208 W. Main St., Ste. 1A Visalia, CA 93291

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C u lInA ry A rt S 32. Home Chef Culinary Finesse

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E DI T O R I A L

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C H A rIt y E VE nt 50. Makings of a Magical Christmas Tree the Story Behind the Story

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letter from the Executive Editor Culture Quest: Ethiopia Seasonal: resolutions Business Cents Word Play Performances Happenings Wine Country literary Arts: Franz Weinschenk Fashion

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SALES OFFICE 208 W. Main St., Ste. 1A Visalia, CA 93291 559.738.0907 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@advertisewithdirect.com

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

EDITOR NOTE

Hair and Make-up provided by Velvet Sky

ot a minute too soon – the end of what a lot of people are calling the worst year of their lifetimes … a bad economy, job losses, home foreclosures and the obvious bad moods (mine included) of almost everyone. It’s somewhat frightening. Wait, this sounds hauntingly familiar. And it should, as it’s the same lament I wrote this time last year – January 2009. So, after what I thought had to be the passing of the worst year possible, I realize what started out as one bad year just turned into two. But, as I drove to work this morning I realized that it’s a new day, a new year, a new decade. So, if not the first day of a new decade, then what better time to begin to put one foot in front of the other – stepping out with less concern and more conviction? It’s a bit like standing at the bottom of a mountain, and having no idea what obstacles you’ll encounter along the journey to the top. But, if you’re ever going to reach the top you must take that first step. So, Direct Media, Inc., publishers of Lifestyle Magazine, stepped out and made some changes to the way we publish. You’ll notice that we’ve removed some pages from our book in order to streamline costs without sacrificing quality or content. But, we couldn’t do that and not give something in return, so with the December issue we made Lifestyle available online. As an added benefit to our advertisers, we’re offering a click-through option – so when viewing an advertisement for a product or service you like, simply clicking on that page will redirect you to that company’s home page. Please be sure and check us out at dmiagency.com. We will also be adding a new feature – professional profiles – giving some of the area’s most successful individuals an opportunity to reach their intended audience. This issue also includes a twist to our regular culinary section in that it features an accomplished home chef, Richard Lawson. We’ve added more photos of local events and happenings – as all of us enjoy the frequent celebrations in our community. It’s a new year, a new decade, and a time for new growth. If I’ve learned nothing else over the past two years, it’s that there are just some things one cannot control. There are people smarter than I who cannot create world peace, solve the healthcare crisis, or repair our fledging economy. As gloomy as that might sound, in some ways it’s comforting to know that we are not in control of the whole world. Ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves, our decisions, our actions. We cannot sit back and expect others to do it for us. As we stand at the bottom of life’s mountain, we have no idea what treasures await us at the top. But, we cannot expect others to make the trek for us. We all need to keep walking; to show up and live one day at a time. Welcome, 2010. You couldn’t have come at a better time. This year we will take charge, if only to show up … with more faith, and less fear.

kArEn tEllAlIAn, EXECutIVE EDItor For more information or to submit a story idea email Karen@advertisewithdirect.com or call (559) 739-1747 or fax (559) 738-0909.

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BELOW: Traditional hut near the top of Mount Entoto.

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Tex t and Photos by Cheryl L. Dieter

e are just skimming the top of the clouds. The crystal waters of the Greek Coast twinkle like a starry midnight eve. I feel like a voyeur at 35,000 feet. As I look down on tiny, whitewashed villages I imagine sharing a shot of ouzo with the locals at an outside café. I have always wanted to visit Greece but it’s not on the agenda this time. Instead, I am heading to Africa. Ethiopia to be precise. It’s a land rich in both history and legends. It is here that King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba resided. Ethiopia is also where Christianity was born and the rise of Islam began. I have been up for 24 hours and just as my eyelids begin to droop I take one more glance down. It’s then that I realize we have left Europe and are traveling over the Mediterranean Sea. And then into view comes the most incredible site I have ever seen. It’s the continent of Africa looming ahead. The emerald blue of the water against the stark, barren land is a study in contrasts. It appears as if a huge rake has scratched across the scorched earth creating swirling, flowing patterns of sand as far as the eye can see. Amazing. I am entranced. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will soon be landing in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum.” The 10 women I am traveling with are stunned. This stop is not listed on our ticket. All we know of Sudan is unending war and the horrors of genocide that accompany it. Surprise! Soon I am shooting pictures of the city with my new camera. From 5,000 feet, Khartoum appears locked in a dull grimy-brown film. Mosques are everywhere, surrounded by architecture from the colonial period. A huge stadium stands alone. Then into view come the White Nile and Blue Nile Rivers which converge to become the great River Nile that flows upward into Egypt. As we descend, the stewardess addresses us in a terse manner. “Everyone is to stay in their seats. The bathrooms will not be operatable. Pictures are not allowed.” I turn to my seatmate, Laurie, exclaiming, “This camera is so new I don’t even know how to delete the pictures.” I imagine that a jail cell here would be pretty bleak. I put the evidence away. As we taxi into the airport the tarmac is lined with UN planes. Everyone in sight carries A-K 47s. Big guns line the runway. For the next half hour the plane is as quiet as a morgue. The stewards appear nervous and stiff. When it’s time to depart the tension literally drains from their bodies. It’s night before we finally land at Bole Airport in Addis Ababa. Ranging from 6,800 feet at the valley floor to 9,840 at the top of Entoto Mountain; Addis is the third highest capital city in the world. As we exit the airport we notice that the streets are fairly dark with haphazardly placed streetlights shining on nothingness. Lightening is flashing, illuminating the mountains that surround the city. My first impressions are of open-air markets serving tall regal women, laughter coming from the hidden dens which line the streets, terribly bumpy roads and street children – children who should be home in their beds at this late hour yet have nowhere to go. LIFEST YLE | JANUARY 2010

Finally, we arrive at the Dagim Millennium Hotel and are pleasantly surprised to find that we have large rooms each with their own bathrooms and hot showers. This was a luxury we were not expecting. My roommate, Hannah, and I fall into our beds and are sleeping in 2.1 seconds. The next morning comes early as the telephone blares us to consciousness. It seems that two of our group, Laurie and Natalie, are locked in their room and cannot get out. Thus begins an eight-day saga of stuck elevators, no electricity, and broken-down cars. After a breakfast buffet of eggs, rolls and very strong Ethiopian coffee, I head out for a walk.

BELOW: The wonderful ladies who do the never-ending laundry at Layla House Orphanage.

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I am completely bowled over by the many kinds of garb I see on the streets. Traditional, long tunics for the men are in stark colors of muted white, saffron and brown. Women wear bright beautiful caftans or jeans and some are clad head to toe in blue or black burkas. It is the veiled women that hold my interest. Their incredibly beautiful shoes and meticulously manicured toes reflect their own personal style and individuality under the veil. Goat herders and their livestock are everywhere; each goat with a different color on its back to identify the owner. As I continue walking it dawns on me that our hotel is located on Embassy Row; the Iranian Embassy being adjacent to the hotel. These embassy buildings are new, very large and elegant, a stark contrast to what I see as I enter a nearby alley. Here I find the people carrying pails and jugs to fetch water from a community spigot. The women laugh deep, throaty laughs as they talk amongst themselves, their children pulling at their limbs. Calls to worship from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths flow through on a current of air, wrapping around the faithful as they are pulled into their houses of worship. Back at the hotel we load into a van where we head off to Layla House orphanage (see www.adoptionadvocates.org) where we will be working. Outside the gates a little boy and his sister stand with their mother nearby. Their clothing is in tatters and the boy is afflicted with a fungal skin condition, pus and sores breaking his skin. This is in stark contrast to the children within the orphanage walls. They are happy, their health is good and they are obviously well cared for. There are so many gorgeous, intelligent kids all needing families. One boy in particular sucks me in with his all-knowing eyes. We play silly games together and I feel my heart falling into his. It could become love at first sight so I decide it’s time for me to hightail it out of there. I know there must be a cure for this infatuation … work … so I join the women who are washing clothes outside surrounded by piles of laundry and three sinks in which to clean all of it. They look at me like I am crazy when I ask to help but hand over the requisite plastic apron. The water is cold as our hands swish and bang the clothes up and down in a primal rhythm. The youngest of the women, Jerusalem, asks me, “You have a washing machine at home?” “Yes,” I reply. “So why are you doing this?” “Because it needs to be done.” Jerusalem shakes her head and laughs. It is backbreaking work but we talk (Jerusalem and I in English, the others in Amharic) and as we do we find we have more in common than not.) Jerusalem asks every five minutes or so, “Are you tired? Stop now.” But long ago I had decided that I would rather die than stop and let these sweet women know I am a wimp. So I continue on for another two long hours. Swish, scrub, ring, rinse and repeat over and over again.

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BELOW: A orphan street boy on Churchill Street in Addis Ababa.

Then it’s time to hold and feed the babies. Big babies, scrawny ones, congested ones and hungry ones. I feed and burp one and then another. Their personalities shine as the milk dribbles from the corners of their pink-tinged lips. Sunny smiles and coos emerge from these beautiful, curly-blackhaired children. But spit-up and sunshine are soon replaced by machete-like-knives as three eight-year-old girls and I chop onions to be used for dinner. It occurs to me that these girls all need a mother to nag them to stop swinging the knives around. The next day I’m off to the Joy Center – the only center for autism in the country; it’s a cause close to my heart as two of my children also have autism. The center’s founder and director, Zemi Yenus, turns out to be one of the most courageous women I have ever met. She shows me around the compound that schools 60 children and has a waiting list of over 400. She shows me pictures of children whose arms are literally chained behind their backs and whose families get thrown off the bus because in this part of the world people believe that children with autism are possessed by the devil. It’s a place where the disabled are scorned and their mothers left without resources. It’s a place where children with autism die. I do some public relations work for the center and soon it is lunchtime and we head down the street to a coffee shop for some strong Ethiopian beans. A goat herder is in the process of slaughtering a goat on the street corner for his waiting customer, and a foosball table is set up on an adjacent corner for betting. It will remain there for several days and then it will be moved to a different location. Zemi agrees to pick me up the next day and take me to a client’s home. 14

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Later that day Laurie, Natalie, Joey and I head over to Little A Hope and Big A Hope – orphanages for children with AIDS. Although they are doing their best to provide for the kids, cracked tiles and crumbling cement walls greet us. The children look remarkably healthy considering and engage us in small talk and reading stories. Tuesday arrives and we head off to the Opportunity House – an orphanage for kids with severe disabilities. The building is worn and cracked but the staff is excited about an anticipated move to cleaner and bigger quarters. Several months later I find out that the move did not happen as no one will rent to an organization which serves disabled kids. Several autistic children live here along with children suffering from continuous seizures. Had this child been in the States his seizures would have most likely been controlled by medication that is not available here. We spend the morning playing with the children and training the workers in ABA therapy. They invite us to share their meal consisting of injara; a traditional Ethiopian dish consisting of a spelt pita that is used to scoop up bits of meat and potatoes using your fingers. Hannah and I wolf down the meal, a decision that haunts us later. By evening Hannah is clinging to the porcelain god as she retches for hours. We miss the dinner at Yo Abysinnia, a restaurant that serves traditional food on a platter that is eaten with the fingers. Our fellow travelers are giddy upon their return as they relate the incredible evening’s events to us. According to them this is THE place to go if you want a genuine Ethiopian experience of good food and traditional dance. Experience the rest of the journey in next month’s Lifestyle.

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Text by Crystal R. R. Edwards

or years, I have been fascinated by the “top New Year resolutions” list published by the United States government. While I wonder at times why they started tracking resolutions in the first place, I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn that I’m not the only US citizen who holds grand delusions. My own relationship with New Year resolutions has been fraught with anxiety, low self-esteem, and something akin to pain. In other words, it’s the last boyfriend I had before Donald came into my life. When January 3 rolls around and I’ve given the whole thing up for a bad job, I feel the same sense of relief as that final breakup, and my first reaction is a yearning to dye my hair a radical color and devour an entire tub of Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby while watching Beaches. Yet here I am, looking at the most recently published list and contemplating each one in some hopeful search for change and self-affirmation. Instead, I’m finding my ability to make excuses has almost caught up with my ability to know an impossible goal when I see it.

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Lose weight/exercise more. I recently signed up for kung fu with my husband. I’m a chubby woman who eats healthily, eats small portions, and is addicted to hiking and outdoor life; despite these good habits my extra weight doesn’t seem to go anywhere but upand-down like Jell-O. I thought perhaps martial arts would be a good way to gain physical flexibility and drop some pounds. So far all I’ve acquired are white pajamas and a constant ache in my right calf. Go back to school. I can’t possibly see how this is going to help me. I’m already doing kindergarten and third grade homework with my girls. What more does life require of me? I suffer from test anxiety to the point of paralysis; I get the sweats just thinking about having my car’s emissions checked. Re-enrolling in school is like asking for a stroke.

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Quit drinking. Eh. Eh-heh-heh. Heh-heh-HEH-HA-HA-HAHA-HA. I have three young kids and I’m married to the Nutty Professor. This is a joke, right? Spend more time with family. I go to bed listening to the cats argue about whose fault it is that the cat door leading to the garage and litter box is locked. I sleep listening to Donald snoring for America. I wake up with my three-year-old’s cold Pull-Up pressed into the small of my back. I have my first coffee with my kindergartener telling me how much smarter her teacher is than I am. I spend the rest of the day trying to convince my eight-yearold that I had a life once, long ago, and that I do too know the words to pop songs, and yes, you need to wear a jacket, and no, I wasn’t married before Daddy, and holy cats! you’d better finish that homework before dinner. I’m familied out. I have less than three hours every day where I am not consoling, encouraging, listening or fixing things for family members. I’d rather spend more time with silence.

Take a trip. To … where? And more importantly, why? My idea of a vacation is not having to worry that everyone’s had their daily recommended servings of green vegetables. We go to Ohio every year to visit my parents. I have to pack clothes, snacks, and movies for the SUV DVD player. I have to arrange passenger seating so that we finish the 1,700-mile trip with three living children. I have to select a playlist of music that will keep my husband awake and in a good mood while simultaneously not making me jump out of the car window before getting to Little Rock. I have to budget gas, lodging and meals on the road. I have to find a cat sitter, a fish feeder, and someone to make sure the HOA doesn’t burn my lawn down from the proscribed grass height. I cannot imagine what planning a real, honest-to-golly vacation would do to me. There aren’t enough Xanax in the world ... Volunteer. I regularly volunteer my husband to do the laundry. Does that count? Get organized. This is one of those brass rings my friends (many of whom also freelance) espouse throughout the entire year. “You’ll work so much more efficiently!” they crow. “I doubled my word count by moving a Sharpie from the desk to a drawer!” What I want to know is how they can work at all. I depend on those Sharpies. I sniff them for inspiration and entertainment.

Improve time management. If there’s a way to keep from lurching from task to project to elementary school to grocery store without feeling like my Hanes-for-Her are on fire, I’d do it. The plain truth is there is no way to manage time when you have three small children, a work-at-home career, and you live in a small town over 30-miles away from the nearest mall, pediatrician and mental hospital. I spend hours every day playing “Hurry Up and Wait” in the car. I get caught in traffic jams because a Try something new. “New” is overrated. “Different” isn’t much tractor is navigating the low-hanging wires on Main Street. I’m better. Every time I try to do something new or different, I at the mercy of my children’s teachers who, although they live end up having to pay a deductible. I’m not sure this is a way to in this same small town, seem to think it’s no problem for me to improve my life, or to help me with the next resolution. find two albino pygmy goats, a sous chef from the Amazon River basin, and a Gutenberg Bible autographed by Elvis for a lastPay off debt. We are, essentially, debt-free already. We only minute class project tomorrow. Simply put, my time is not my maintain school loans for majors I don’t use in my professional own; everything I have control over has to be squeezed in between life, mortgage for a huge house currently overrun by munchkins the other stuff. I will forever be that wild-eyed woman skidding who call me “Mom,” and a car payment for the behemoth SUV to a stop in front of the Post Office, jumping like an Olympic that only travels six square blocks twice a day during school drop- hurdler over old women’s boxes of knitting for soldiers and off and pick-up. I thought by paying off all our other debt I’d be, throwing myself halfway across the postal employee’s counter with oh, happy or skinny or able to wean myself off my favorite drug a badly packaged overnight envelope and gasping, “This. Boston. (referred to in the vernacular as “Deadliest Catch”). It didn’t help DidImakepickupintime?” before sliding unconscious to the floor. a bit. I’m still stressed and I still feel like I’m only just a half-step ahead of debtor’s prison. Resolutions are for people who want to have control over their lives. Resolutions are for people who are hopeful, optimistic and Reduce stress. Babycakes, I’ve been trying. I think I have a better open-minded. Resolutions are for people-not-me. chance of inventing the space elevator. 18

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on tHE SPrEAD: the Visalia home of richard and Beth rumery underwent a recent remodel to enhance their options for entertaining and housing their art collection. the pool in the irregularly shaped backyard was situated with interior and exterior views in mind.

20 20

LLIIFFEESSTT YYLLEE || JJAANNUUAARRYY 22001100

Tex t by A aron Collins | Photos by Forrest Cavale, Third Element Studios

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ABoVE: the living area of the richard and Beth rumery home in Visalia features a variety of works by local artists. the recently remodeled home features vivid color but in limited volume, leaving the spotlight for the couple’s colorful art collection. BEloW lEFt: the couple’s art collection follows an esthetic through-line that runs to the bold, whimsical or graphic style, as seen here.

ne might expect a true contemporary art lover’s home to be awash in bold color, blanketing the scene’s every inch like the latest animated fantasy blockbuster. Certainly artists themselves have been known to overdose on the stuff; bohemian artists’ enclaves all over California announce the presence of the muse on quirky neon-hued house façades from the Bay Area to San Diego, and many points in between. (Local artist Nadi Spencer’s vibrant Three Rivers locale springs to mind.) But the Visalia home of Bay Area native Richard Rumery and San Diego native Beth Rumery reveals a more typical mark of seasoned art appreciators: an interior marked mostly by a restrained and predominantly neutral backdrop for the art, a supporting role in service to the dazzling star that puts the beloved art center stage. Even so, visceral zaps and intense zings still dot the scene at the Rumery home, leaving a dramatic and memorable impression in which color inhabits more mind space than actual surface area. For the Rumerys, “less is more” is axiomatic. “We love waking up in the morning and seeing the rich colors and vibrant feeling. We feel great every time we’re at home,” Beth said. “When people visit, they comment on the warmth and openness, and on how well the kitchen and living room accommodate ‘hanging out.’”

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If restraint is the better part of valor, as the saying goes, it can make a noble showing for designers’ palettes, too. A solid but single wall of intense fire engine red commands the main living space without engulfing it, an effective strategy for making amends in spaces that don’t feature a lot of architectural detail or obvious focal points. If a little red can generally get out of hand quickly in interior design, here it is held in check as it recurs in concentrated hits throughout the premises, including the backyard. Its presence there extends the scheme from inside out, which makes sense for the seasonal exterior dwellers. “We live outside from April through October,” Richard said, pointing out that the pool and cascades were placed in such a way as to be seen from all the rooms across the rear of the structure. “The design of the pool is unique, especially for a very long, narrow backyard. The angles and curves were deliberately designed to offset its linear shape,” he explained. The living space’s simple volumes leave ample room for the interplay of complex abstract and graphic, whimsical styles of contemporary art favored by the Rumerys. With a finely honed eye, they mix original works of art that mingle well with more humble reproductions of 20th-century masters like Miro. Some artworks were acquired on their travels, among the numerous pieces seen throughout the house. “We love seeing them in every room we enter,” Beth said. “We try to collect original art, but there are some pieces like Miro and Brito that aren’t in our price range.” But that just makes for a little fun, she thinks, by conflating art of high and low origin into one collection. ABoVE lEFt: A redo of the 90s-era kitchen readied it for the second decade of the 2000s. out: granite. In: Quartz, a recycled material that homeowner Beth rumery says gives more predictable color control than granite offers. ABoVE rIGHt: Can you spot the fake? no need, say the rumerys. their friends know they’re not in the authentic Miro collectors’ league. But they enjoy mixing up mass-market reproductions with original works by local artists, who are the real stars of the show at the Visalia home.

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“We get a kick out of the fact that we have $25 posters in more expensive frames,” said Beth, noting that their friends all know they’re not in the same league as collectors of original Miros when it comes to collecting art. (And with so many Miro forgeries undermining the market for the famed Modernist’s work, it may be smarter money to stick with the obviously reproduced; one San Francisco gallery was recently shut down by the FBI for selling fake Miro prints, among others – allegedly having done so for untold years at its prominent Union Square location.) Local artists in the Rumery collection include works by noted Visalia painter Varian Mace, John Sundstrom and Jeri Burzin, among others. While the kitchen is one of the few rooms without much in the way of art display walls, its snappy warm black lacquer cabinetry, quartz countertops and stainless fixtures are artfully combined in their own right. Although the granite fetish may have peaked – a declining trend in kitchen interiors as homeowners seek differentiation from a trend started in the ’80s that hit its stride in the now-waning ’90s – the Rumerys preferred quartz. “We preferred quartz to the more fashionable granite because it is a recycled material and there is more control over the color than with granite,” Beth said. The custom millwork is a dark stained alder, creating contrast with the stainless appliances and adding some drama, especially for an interior that started out all white. The original builder was Mike Johnstone of Johnstone Construction, who met the couple’s request for a design similar to one they had seen in Visalia’s Gold Creek subdivision. “Mike was ideal to work with,” the couple said of the project begun in September that had happy occupants moved in just after Christmas. “He works on one project at a time so he was able to devote most of his attention to our project, which is why it was built in such a short period.”

ABoVE lEFt: An indeterminate line between indoor and outdoor space was a deliberate point behind the recent remodel of the richard and Beth rumery home in Visalia. the couple entertains frequently and “lives outside, April through october,” say the rumerys.

ABoVE rIGHt: the richard and Beth rumery home in Visalia reflects a love of fine art collecting and entertaining friends, but also suggests the couple still likes each other as well, if the arrangement of this his-and-hers seating is any indication.

In 2008 they began remodeling with Andy Anderson of Paul Anderson Construction (the house was originally constructed in 1996), the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathrooms all got an updating. Why a redo on such a recently constructed home, relatively speaking? Better situated entertaining was the big reason. “Knocking out the walls between the kitchen and living room made it a more open floor plan. It is more conducive to our lifestyle, and now we can accommodate more people inside,” Beth said. The Rumerys offered high praise for Anderson. “He has done work for us often in the past both at home and at Richard’s office. He does beautiful carpentry and design work, and is known for always being on site himself and for his meticulous attention to detail and great taste. He was a total pleasure to work with,” said Beth. A value-added feature, Beth pointed out, was that Anderson’s wife, Dani, does upholstery, so some of the custom pieces were handcrafted by her for the project. Among other notable new features is a new all-glass sunroom, formerly part of the back porch, whose enclosure, the Rumerys said, brought the backyard inside. It also offers new and better views of the interior and the art collection during their summer backyard get-togethers. Banished were vestiges of yesteryear including the former market taste for brick, so a fireplace surround was added using more up-to-date limestone. They also added a bar between the two adjoined rooms to improve socializing, said Beth, who has a master’s degree in organizational management and now works as Human Resources Director for the 250-employee Pro-Youth/ HEART, a local nonprofit that is known for its after-school program in 24 Tulare County schools.

Aside from their dogs Cadiz and Cairo, the couple does not have children so were free to transform the space with only their own and guests’ desires in mind. That same freedom has also offered them the luxury of frequent travels, which are often focused on islands, they say. Most recently their excursions took them on a South American voyage from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Falkland Islands and points beyond Cape Horn, including the coastal city of Valparaiso, Chile, the city where that country’s most famed poet and countryman, Pablo Neruda, once lived. But the couple recalled Moorea, the island off Tahiti, as being the closest they’ve come to paradise on earth. “The people were as beautiful as the geography. We swam with sharks and stingrays and snorkeled off the back of our deep water bungalow,” they fondly recalled of their time in the South Pacific. Next up: Israel and Jordan. During spare time not trying cases or traveling, Richard is a 12-year Rotarian and past president of CASA of Tulare County. Beth is a longtime member of Soroptimist International of Visalia, and has served on a variety of boards and committees over the past 20 years. From the looks of things, the results of their careers are a long way from Richard’s upbringing in what he describes as poorer sections of San Francisco. “I grew up in a family that was not wealthy,” Richard said. “In part, we lived in poor areas such as government housing projects, which were low-cost housing units built for veterans of World War II.” For a boy who dropped out of school in eighth grade – later returning and eventually completing his law degree to become a frequent winner of court cases – life is much better now.

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B BUSINESS CENTS

DON’T REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY INSURANCE COVERAGE TO REFLECT LOWER HOME VALUES Tex t by Mark J. Rowe, CLU, ChFC, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc.

he current economic downturn has certainly opened many eyes to our personal and business spending habits and with every economic cycle, there are new ways to save money, just as every economic upturn brings us more new ways to make money. One area that is often overlooked is one’s homeowners insurance policy. There are a number of steps every homeowner should take to lower the cost of property insurance. But reducing the amount of coverage to match today’s lower values is probably not one of them. Because it costs more to rebuild than it does to start from scratch, the market value of a house is not a reliable indicator of the amount of insurance you need. Too little coverage and your policy may not assume the cost to return your place to its original condition if needed. While there has been a lot of noise lately about declining market values, the cost to rebuild and your home’s market value are two totally different things. Lowering your policy limits could leave you underinsured. Despite the downward spiral in housing prices, home repair costs still increased nearly 4% nationally and it can cost as much as 30% more to rebuild a house as opposed to building a new one. Reconstruction costs are greater because the process usually involves the demolition and removal of damaged property. Also, on-site mobility often is limited by the need to work around existing landscaping, power lines and other buildings and there are no economies of scale like there are when building row upon row of new houses. Then there’s the issue of newer, often more rigid building codes that might have to be met.

Market value, on the other hand, is often influenced by factors that have absolutely nothing to do with the cost to rebuild – the quality of nearby schools, for example, the local tax base or the proximity to rapid transit. Value also is affected by the cost of the land on which the house sits, and that is something you should factor in when considering how much coverage to carry. Typically, the building lot accounts for 25% of a home’s value. But you can get a better reading from your tax bill, which usually separates the value of the land from the value of the house. You shouldn’t use the property’s assessed value to determine how much coverage you need, but you can use the percentage ratio of the lot to the total to at least get an idea of what’s needed. Still, it’s probably not a good idea to arbitrarily make these kinds of decisions without first sitting down with your agent and discussing your needs. The wrong choice could prove to be an expensive one. Home insurance limits are in place to financially protect your family should something go wrong. If there’s a fire or a significant weather event, you want to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild your home in its entirety. Here are a few important tips to help make sure your home is adequately protected: • Make absolutely sure that your policy has sufficient extended replacement cost coverage. This is a critical endorsement, as it provides a cushion in the event your home is underinsured. • Have adequate inflation guard coverage on your policy that parallels the rising cost of materials and labor and increases your coverage annually. • Ask your agent to perform periodic replacement cost estimations on your home to be sure your coverage is adequate.

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B BUSINESS CENTS

Here are some other simple steps you can take to save money while still protecting what may be your most valuable asset. • Check your credit records. For years, insurers based their rates mainly on the location and age of the property and its distance from the nearest firehouse. Now, like mortgage lenders and other credit issuers, they “score” policyholders based on information in their credit histories. It’s a controversial practice, but insurers maintain that insurance scores are highly predictive of risk. Whether you agree with the practice or not, it is important to pay your bills on time and make sure that there are no errors in your credit records. • Raise your deductible. A deductible is the amount you pay toward a loss before your coverage kicks in. Generally, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. In some cases, bumping the deductible from $250 to $500 could cut your costs 12%. You could save as much as 25% by jumping to a $1,000 deductible, and up to 30% by going to $2,500. But since you will be self-insuring, be careful. Don’t go so high that you don’t have the cash reserves to cover your share of the loss.

• Avoid nuisance claims. The more claims you file, the more you are going to be charged, even if the claims are legitimate. So use your coverage for its intended purpose -- to protect against losses from which you cannot recover on your own – and take care of the minor incidents yourself. • Shop around. Prices vary from company to company. You won’t be able to negotiate rates, but you may be able to lower your costs by comparison shopping. Premiums can vary substantially from one insurer to the next. • Look for other discounts. It may be possible to lower your costs by buying all your insurance from the same company. Some insurers will cut their premiums up to 15% if you buy two or more policies from them. Other discounts abound. You may get a break of up to 10% if you’re a longtime policyholder. If you are over 55 and retired, you may qualify for a senior discount. You usually can obtain a premium reduction ranging from 5% to 25% if you have protective devices such as burglar alarms or even deadbolt locks. If the recent economic downturn has taught us anything at all, it certainly has taught us to be extra cautious with every dollar we spend. If we keep looking hard enough, we can always find more ways to benefit from recessions and should always be on the look-out for more ways to save. Mark J. Rowe, CLU, ChFC, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Adviser. Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. are not affiliated entities.

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Recipes by Home Chef Richard L awson | Photos by Forrest C avale, Third Element Studios

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Mediterranean Halibut 4 servings 4 halibut filets, 4 oz. each 4 cloves of garlic, minced 1 onion, chopped 2 T extra virgin olive oil 2 lbs. Roma tomatoes chopped and seeded 1/4 C red wine 1 1/2 T tomato paste 1/2 tsp. crushed red peppers 1/4 C pitted kalamata olives 2 T capers, rinsed 2 T chopped fresh basil 1/2 tsp. sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper 1 T lemon juice

Rinse halibut filets and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper and then set aside. SautĂŠ onions and garlic in olive oil until tender. Add red pepper, cooking additional one to two minutes. Add tomatoes and wine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer eight minutes. Add olives, capers, sugar and basil; continue cooking for three minutes. Add tomato paste to thicken as needed. Place halibut steaks on top of tomato mixture. Cover and cook over medium heat for five minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 7-12 minutes or until halibut easily flakes. Serve over quinoa with lemon and basil garnish. Suggested wine: 2008 Sterling Pinot Noir

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Quinoa 4 servings

Italian Squash 4 servings

1 T shallots, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 T olive oil, extra virgin 1 C quinoa 1 1/2 C chicken broth 1/2 tsp. fresh oregano 1 bay leaf Sea salt Fresh ground pepper

1-2 T roasted garlic olive oil 2 zucchini squash 2 yellow squash 1/8 C sliced red onion 2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano

Sauté shallots and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in quinoa and brown slightly, about three to five minutes. Stir in broth, oregano and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer about 20 minutes or until tender. Discard bay leaf, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spicy Bruschetta Mushrooms

Sauté squash in olive oil for one minute, add onion and sauté for an additional one minute. Add oregano, then salt and pepper to taste.

20-25 medium mushrooms, cleaned with stems removed and hollowed out 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped and seeded 4 cloves of garlic, minced 2 T onion, finely chopped 2 T chopped basil 1 T extra virgin roasted garlic olive oil 1 T chili garlic sauce 1 1/2 C freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish In a bowl, mix tomatoes, garlic, chili sauce, onion, basil and olive oil. Let sit for one hour. Add parmesan cheese. Fill mushrooms. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese and bake at 375 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

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CHARITY EVENT W WORD PLAY

Tex t by Diane Slocum

n the cold days of January, some hot new releases might be just what the doctor ordered. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (Amulet Books, October) warms you up, not only because it is the fourth in the popular Wimpy Kids series, but because it brings back memories of summer vacation. Greg is an indoor kid but his mom wants him enjoying outdoor activities and family time. Jeff Kinney develops online games in addition to writing this bestselling series. While Andre Agassi is famous for outdoor activity – championship tennis – that doesn’t mean he enjoyed it, either. Open: An Autobiography, ghostwritten by Pulitzer-prize winning J.R. Moehringer, reveals Agassi’s regimented childhood that turned him into a tennis machine and robbed him of much of his humanity. Published by Knopf in November. While Agassi’s family considered education in anything other than tennis a distraction, humanitarian Greg Mortenson sees education as the key to peace. Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Viking Adult, December) follows Mortenson’s successful Three Cups of Tea . In the new book, he shares the stories of people his 20-year odyssey has touched. Awards Fresno author Larry Hill won first place in the 2010 Goldenberg Prize for Fiction for his story “Cocido,” which centers on a wounded Iraq vet returning to his Valley hometown to find the family restaurant closed, his mother in a care facility and his sister losing control of her life. Final judge Gail Godwin wrote: “‘Cocido’ has resonance on so many levels … It is such an American story for these times.” The story won $1,000 and publication in the spring issue of Bellevue Literary Review of New York University. Rewards Thoughts of fame and fortune may sparkle in a writer’s imagination when he thinks about his future after a publisher accepts his book. On other occasions, how his work touches peoples’ lives can be what makes an author feel his efforts are abundantly rewarded. At an Arizona book signing, Exeter author Ron Hughart (The Place Beyond the Dustbowl) picked up a 90-something year-old fan who later wrote that he enjoyed the book so much he made it “required reading” for his 22 “unappreciative grandkids.” Hughart wrote: “That and many other notes I received greatly humble me. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would affect folks in that kind of a way.” Watch for more of Hughart’s book signings in our area this month or next. 38

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Clovis author Ed DeFranco enjoyed joining four other writers of Italian descent at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village as part of the Columbus Day celebration that is a big deal in New York. DeFranco read his story “Breathing Easy” which was published in Voices of Italian Americans last June. His writing was described as riveting and subtle. “It was exciting that someone wanted me to share my writing,” DeFranco said. More Rotten Days Alpaugh native Hazel Dixon-Cooper has hit the charts again. The latest in her “Rotten Day” series came out in hardcover in November. Work on a Rotten Day: Astrological Advice for Outwitting Conniving Coworkers, Slacker Staff, and the Boss from Hell (GPP Life) uses sound astrological knowledge as a basis for broad humor to help readers escape the frustrations of laboring with those co-workers described in the title and more. In addition, Simon & Schuster released in December the eBook versions of Dixon-Cooper’s earlier books, Born on a Rotten Day and Love on a Rotten Day. Contests The Bellingham Review is offering three contests for 2010. All provide a $1,000 first prize. The 49th Parallel Award for Poetry final judge is Allison Joseph. The Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction will be judged by Rebecca McClanahan, and Jess Walter will judge the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction. Winners will also be published in the Bellingham Review. Others who place may be considered for publication. Fee for first entries is $18, with a $10 charge for each additional entry. Unpublished entries only. Deadline is March 15. Details at: www.wwu.edu/ bhreview/contests.shtml. Publishing While newspaper circulations are down pretty much across the board, circulation at The New York Post is down more than most. The Post lost almost 30 percent in 2.5 years, though circulation is still above where it was in 2000. The Post’s wild rise and fall is just one of the many reversals it has had in its more than 200-year history. The longest-running American daily was founded in 1801 by Alexander Hamilton. It became an outlet for liberalism for decades under Dorothy Schiff and then reverted to conservatism after its purchase by Rupert Murdoch in 1976 The Last Word “Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare, and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit.”—Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

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PERFORMANCES

souvenir shirt might list “London, Paris, Rome, Visalia,” but at the Visalia Fox on Saturday, January 23, 7:30 p.m., the Tulare County Symphony concert will change that line-up to “Salzburg, Vienna, Berlin, Detroit, Visalia.” Salzburg and Vienna A young child, dressed elaborately in satin and lace, entertained European aristocracy with his small violin. Then, seated at the clavier, too short to reach the floor, he charmed assembled royalty with his precocious keyboard skills. Since toddlerhood, he had mimicked and then surpassed his sister Nannerl. Their father, Leopold Mozart, exploited his son when he “paraded him all over Europe as a young wunderkind. Later Mozart struggled greatly to be accepted as a legitimate, adult composer,” said Dr. Bruce Kiesling, Symphony Music Director. Born in 1756 in Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy. His creative ideas flowed so rapidly from imagination to manuscript, the ink was barely dry for rehearsal. In Vienna in 1783, only three days after his wedding, he completed Symphony No. 35 in D Major, named “Haffner” after friends. Tragically, he died very young, at age 35. Berlin A thin boy, barely into his teens, listened with quiet pleasure as a private orchestra played his latest composition for close friends. Running his fingers through his curly hair, he smiled at his older sister. They were close, often playing music together. Their wealthy father had hired the orchestra to encourage Felix in his career aspirations, but had told Fanny that her compositions could be an accomplishment, but not a career. Prodigy Felix Mendelssohn composed numerous artistically mature works between the ages of 11 and 15; among them Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra in D minor. Born in 1809, just 18 years after Mozart’s death, Mendelssohn would be 200 if he were alive today. However, tragically, he also died very young, at age 38. Detroit Ninety-eight years after Mendelssohn’s death, another gifted boy, born in 1945, grew up in a musical family in Detroit. His dad sang professionally in the Detroit Symphony radio chorus, frequently listened to Mozart on the radio, and dreamed his son could be a composer like Beethoven. The son, Russell Peck, began composing in grade school. Detroit was alive with Motown sounds, so his musical surroundings included both Mozart and Motown. He earned a doctorate in composition, eventually writing many symphonic works, including Signs of Life II. 40

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Audiences Love It Kiesling has programmed two movements of Signs of Life II. “Written for only strings, the work takes full advantage of a wide variety of string techniques. Combined with Russell’s great gift for imaginative and fun rhythmic interplay, this is sure to be an audience pleaser,” said Kiesling. Peck was both a friend and one of Kiesling’s favorite composers. “Russell’s music has been performed thousands of times on every continent except Antarctica. One of the things audiences love about his music is that he combined elements of classical music with popular American musical idioms. Russell’s music is instantly accessible, and he had a real flair for orchestration.” Back by Popular Demand Two brilliant young soloists will collaborate during the Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Orchestra. Violinist Haik Kazazyan and pianist Raffi Bessalyan have soloed individually, earning great acclaim. Together they will create huge excitement. Bessalyan, concert pianist and assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, explains that Mendelssohn composed the concerto at age 14. “It is very appealing for its youthful energy, fiery passion and virtuosity, and for its simple yet sweet and melancholic melodies. Mendelssohn often used counterpoint, influenced by Baroque style.” The first movement “is a duel between the violin and the piano. It is in Sonata Allegro form, full of virtuosic runs and arpeggios in both parts. It climaxes in the final fugue-like cadenza for two soloists. The Adagio is in three sections. The violin and the piano are in complete harmony. Its tender and intimate lyricism is quite heartwarming.” During the third movement, “the heat of the first movement comes back. It is a brilliant rondo that has scherzo elements.” Anticipating Magical Mozart Dr. Kiesling counts Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 among his favorites, especially the finale which he calls “a barnburner that keeps everyone on their toes with excitement.” Unlike the other two works on the program which use strings only, Mozart’s Haffner Symphony includes the traditional classical complement of wind players. On stage, you’ll see strings plus a perfectly sized group of wind players. If you aren’t already a fan of classical music, you will be as you exit, humming the tunes. Allow these words to entice you to the Visalia Fox, Saturday, January 23, 2010, 7:30 p.m. When the Tulare County Symphony showcases music by prodigies, Prodigies Abound! Catch Dr. Kiesling’s informal talk at 6:45 p.m., and enjoy post-concert goodies at the Vintage Press. For tickets, call 732-8600, go to www.gorillatix.com , or visit the box office, open at 5:30 p.m. that evening.

Dinner dance to benefit the Boys & Girls Club & local charities, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. Exeter Memorial Building. Call (559) 592-2919. THE ATE RPERFORMANCES

African Children’s Choir. Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. $12/person. Visalia Fox Theatre. 877-548-3237 or 625-1369.

Tulare County Symphony. Haik Kazazyan, Violin, and Raffi Besalyan, Piano. Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Visalia Fox Theatre. 625-1369.

JAN

Seussical the Musical. Based on the beloved characters and stories of Dr. Seuss, Redwood High School proudly presents this musical incorporating elements from at least 15 Dr. Seuss books. A perfect family night out. Jan. 28-30, 7 p.m.; matinee Jan. 30, 2 p.m. $10/each; $35/4-pack at the door or reserved. LJ Williams Theatre. 730-7735 or e-mailing rhsdramavisalia@yahoo.com.

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THEATERPERFORMANCES

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Hot Flashes. A hit musical about a five-woman band that stays together for four decades. The hilarious songs deal with everything from cellulite to ex-husbands and, of course, the ever-present menopause and its hot flashes, to boot. This happy, adult musical will make you tap your toes and keep a smile on your face all night long. Jan. 29-31, Feb. 5-7, 11-13. Ice House Theatre. Race Avenue & Santa Fe Street, Visalia. www.visaliaplayers. org or 734-3900.

JAN

F E B In the Mood. A 1940s musical. Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. Visalia Fox Theatre. 625-1369. F E B Charlotte’s Web. Enchanted Playhouse Theatre. A Pig named Wilbur, a rat named Templeton and a spider named Charlotte are just a few of the fantastic characters in this classic tale by E.B. White. Feb. 12-14, 19- 21, 26-27. Evening performances at 7 p.m. Matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets available at www. enchantedplayhouse.org.

CHARITABLEEVENTS

Tulare Emergency Aid Council. Donate your gently used items to the new Thrift Store, volunteer your time or donate food. TEAC has been providing emergency services for working families with minor children since 1954. Visit them at 424 N “N” St., Tulare. (559) 686-3693. Care and Share FoodLink Food Drive. The community is encouraged to donate food that will be distributed to low-income families of Tulare County. Foodlink, 7427 W. Sunnyview Ave., Visalia. 651-3663.

TO OUR SPONSORS

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People and Places Close to My Heart

Muralist Colleen Mitchell Veyna’s artwork will be on display with Creative Center student artwork through April 16. Michell Veyna is well known for “Orange Harvest” mural in Exeter. Creative Center’s Jon Ginsburg Gallery. (559) 733-9329. AR TEXHIBITS Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor. This duality of deadly weapon and artistic beauty is the focus of the fall exhibition. On view will be more than 60 objects from different Californian collections, featuring superb suits of armor, helmets, face masks, sword fittings, and weapons like exquisite short and long swords, daggers, and matchlock rifles. A part of the exhibition presents examples of how these weapons were recycled after the disbanding of the samurai. Exhibits free to the public. The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture. Through January 30, 2010. 582-4915.

SPECIALEVENTS

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2nd Annual Live Guitar Solo Competition. Community is invited to see top eight finalists compete in this final event. Januay 30. Box office opens at 6:30 p.m. $5 in advance; $7 at door. COS Theater. 730-3907.

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F E B 17TH AnnuAL VISALIA SprInGFEST. Over 350 Home, Patio and Landscaping exhibits. February 12, 13, and 14, Visalia Convention Center

Fri, Feb 12: Noon – 7 p.m. Sat, Feb 13: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sun, Feb 14: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit www.VisaliaHomeShows.com for a discount ticket.

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CLAS S E S W ORKSHOPS

DIVERSIONSEXCURSIONS

WRITERSREADERS

Happy Trails riding Academy. Volunteer orientations will be Sat., Jan. 16 or Jan. 23 at Happy Trails Riding Academy, Tulare 1-5 p.m. Volunteer roles, safety rules and class schedule will be discussed. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. The Academy is a non-profit program that enriches the lives of children and adults with disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship. For more info, Lisa Cotta-Meek at 559-688-8685.

Agventures at Heritage Complex. Agricultural Learning Center and Farm Equipment Museum with nearly 15 professionally designed interactive displays. International Agribusiness Center. Tulare. M-F, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (559) 688-1751.

Tulare City Library used Book Sale. $3 per regular bag, $4 for oversized bag. Saturdays, 11 a.m., until move to new library. (605) 685-2341.

CASA volunteer orientations. Held Mondays at 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays, noon-1 p.m. at the CASA office, 1146 N. Chinowth, Visalia. Sid Loveless at 625-4007. Boys & Girls Club of Tulare County. Offering a variety of youth development activities and classes, Monday-Friday, 12-8 p.m. 215 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia. $10 per year. 625-4422 or www.bgclubtc.org.

Harvest of the Valley. Free weekly event open to the public featuring live music, kids activities, cooking demonstrations and local, fresh produce available for purchase. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Sequoia Mall, Sears parking lot.

Book Sale. At the Tulare County Library the first Saturday of the month in the courtyard, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Imagineu Children’s Museum Story Time. Parents are invited to bring their children for the museum’s weekly interactive story time. Fridays at 10 a.m. 708 E. Main St. 733-5975. preschool Story Time. At the Tulare County Library every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Call the children’s desk at 733-6954 ex. 209.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias. Offering classes for children of Exeter and Farmersville ages 6-18. Development and training in computer technology, life skills, sports, art, music and homework assistance. Annual fee $15. Exeter Club located at 360 East Pine. Farmersville Club located at 623 N. Avery; Freedom Extension site at 575 East Citrus. 592-2711.

If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Happenings” section, please email your submission to lifestyle@advertisewithdirect.com or fax to 738-0909, Attention Happenings. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions for the February 2010 issue must be received by January 20.

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Text by Robert Whitley

egend has it that Sir Winston Churchill drank a bottle of Port a day. The average American most likely consumes less than that in a lifetime, despite the widely held perception that Port is one of the great wines of the world. That raises a good question. Why is Port not on par in America with the storied wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, or even Barolo and the Brunello of Montalcino? The answer, I’m afraid, is an utter breakdown in communication. American wine enthusiasts are aware of the greatness of Port, sort of, but they’re not quite sure why. They seldom drink the stuff, and the promiscuous use of the term “port” has confused even those who’ve been paying attention. Port, with a small “p,” is produced the world over. It’s used every day (despite recent trade agreements that are attempting to protect the term “Port” for Portuguese use only) to describe just about any fortified red dessert wine, much as “sherry” is used to describe most any fortified white dessert wine. The Port of every serious wine collector’s dreams, however, is only produced in the rural quintas of the Douro Valley of Portugal and matured in the lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, near the city of Porto. Yet, once a wine lover has mastered that nuance, there’s just a bit more to learn, for Port is a wine of multiple personalities and manifestations. There are simple ruby and tawny Ports that are inexpensive and not much different from the imitations widely produced from Australia to the United States. Then there are the wood-aged ruby Ports classified as “Vintage Character” and “Late Bottled Vintage.” It should be noted that “tawny” Ports are so-called because they’ve had extended aging in wooden barrels and have lost their bright “ruby” color, turning to amber and caramel. Tawny Ports taste different, too, losing the primary dark-fruit aromas of ruby Port and taking on aromas of dried fruits, nuts and sweet spices.

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Finer tawnies have an “age statement” on the bottle – usually 10, 20, 30 or 40 years. The older the tawny, the more it will cost. While aged tawny Ports are considered precious and can be expensive, ranging in price from $35 to more than $100 a bottle, the most prized Ports are Vintage Ports. The best of those can easily age a century or more and are genuine collectibles. There is a subdivision in the Vintage Port category that allows for “single-quinta” vintage Ports. A quinta is merely a wine estate and most large producers, such as Taylor-Fladgate, Fonseca or Graham’s, own several quintas and blend their finest grapes from each into their Vintage Ports. Vintages are not declared every year, but the best estates are often bottled as single-quinta vintage Ports, even when the company has declined to declare. Those Ports are unique and special in their own way, but seldom fetch the lofty prices of a declared vintage. Vintage Ports are aged two years in barrel before bottling, and age to maturity over many years in the bottle. It is best to not serve a Vintage Port until it is at least 10 years old, so most collectors are only now beginning to enjoy their wines from the great 1997 and 2000 vintages. Vintage Character (sometimes called “reserve” Ports) and Late Bottled Vintage (aged up to four years in barrel) are meant to be ready to drink upon release. For consistency and availability, my own collection of Ports is focused on such producers as Taylor-Fladgate (the same as Taylor’s in the rest of the world), Fonseca and Graham’s. When I can find them, I enjoy the Vintage Ports of Dow’s, Smith-Woodhouse and the single quintas of Quinta do Vesuvio and Vargellas. The most widely available Vintage Character Port is Fonseca Bin 27, which is a good value at about $17. For an experience that is closer to Vintage Port, however, Graham’s Six Grapes is the finest Vintage Character Port on the market, but you will pay a little more for that pleasure. Contrary to urban legend, Port is not best served with a fine cigar. That is one way to enjoy a glass of Port, but it truly is best with food. Tawny Ports complement sweets, especially cakes and custards, nicely. Vintage Ports and other ruby Ports are exceptional with savory cheeses.

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Wines are rated on a 100-point scale. Wines are chosen for review because they represent outstanding quality or value. Vigna Dogarina Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Italy ($16) – This multi-vintage prosecco exhibits a floral perfume on the nose and a gentle toastiness that is very attractive. On the palate the flavors are precise and persistent, showing notes of green apple and citrus/lime. The Vigna Dogarina is refreshing and intense, with good intensity and length, leaving the impression it might be a more expensive wine than it is. Perfect as an aperitif or party sparkler through the holidays and beyond. Rating: 89.

ROAR 2007 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands ($55) – Gary and Rosella Franscioni are the dynamic couple behind ROAR. Given the fact that they are probably the most respected grape growers in Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands, it should come as no surprise that their own wines are somewhat sensational. The ’07 ROAR Pisoni is a stunning example of the power, complexity and finesse that makes wines from this vineyard collectible. Despite impressive layers of black fruit, this silky pinot weighs easily on the palate, offering uncommon elegance, complex nuances of black currant, black cherry and forest floor, with a heady floral note as well. A California pinot noir for the ages or right now. Rating: 96.

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Text by Lisa Lieberman | Photos by Peter Amend

hen most people think of buying Christmas trees for their family, they probably go out to their local Christmas tree farms, choose one to take home, and spend two or three hours hanging lights and store-bought ornaments. It’s a whole different story, however, when it comes to trees for the Visalia Chamber’s annual Christmas Tree Auction. “Most people think that we get there the night of the auction and throw a bunch of ornaments on a tree, but it’s not like that,” said Wendy Little, who helped design the Visalia Rescue Mission’s tree this year, which won the award for “Best Expression of a Mission Statement”.

To start with, the flame retardant trees usually cost $500-$600 apiece. Add in the cost of decorations, and some organizations invest $2,000 or more into their trees. Then, there’s all the time that goes into designing and decorating the trees, which can easily reach 100 or 200 hours. That time may or may not include the racing back and forth down to Los Angeles, up to San Francisco, and all around the Valley to find the perfect materials to make the most original ornaments. And then – a significant part of the equation – is figuring out where to stash the six-to-eight-foot-tall tree for up to six months while the decorating team works on it.

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“You have to have a really big place to store the tree,” Little said. “A lot of these trees are eight feet tall, including the tree toppers, so they can’t go through a regular door.” This year, Little stored the Mission’s Christmas tree in an airplane hangar belonging to one of the members on the decorating committee. “Last year we did it in someone’s warehouse. One year we did it in my garage. If you’re not careful, it takes over your whole house,” Little said. Although the scene in the Convention Center is festive, it’s a little bit like the last half hour of TLC’s “Trading Spaces.” Ribbons are floating, ornaments are rolling, and glitter is flying as everyone rushes full steam ahead to get every single detail on the tree in place before the clock says stop. “And then once you have everything on the tree, you have to wire every single ornament in place, so they don’t fall off when they get delivered to the people who buy them,” Little said. Sarah Ashoori, co-owner of Ashoori & Company Jewelry in Visalia, was the winner of the Visalia Rescue Mission’s tree this year. Ashoori, who has served on the Christmas Tree Auction committee for years, said this was the first time she actually bought a tree from the auction. “My husband was on one side of the room and I was on the other side, and all of a sudden I see him bidding on the tree. I had no idea he was going to bid on it, but I guess he just fell in love with it,” Ashoori said. One of the things Ashoori liked best about the tree was the cross on top, which had a dove in it. “The tree also had all these helping hands attached to it along with baby shoes and baby bottles. And that’s what the mission is all about – helping people who need it,” Ashoori said. The idea for the helping hands, which were made out of white magicians’ gloves stuffed with cotton, came out of the Visalia Rescue Mission’s desire to pay tribute to the 200-plus volunteers they get every week at the mission.

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“Whether our volunteers are sorting clothes in the thrift store or serving meals, we depend on every one of their helping hands,” Little said. “So when the theme ‘Magical Christmas’ came up, our idea was to make magicians’ hands.” To make the tree even more magical, Little and the decorating crew added rabbit ears, a magic wand, and created a six-inch rim around the edge of the table that held the tree to make it look like the tree was growing out of a big black magician’s hat. Not to be outdone, the Tulare-Kings Right to Life tree, which won “Best in Show,” was also a sight to see. Peggy Lambert, who did the decorating, said she was having a hard time coming up with a design idea for the tree until her 15-year-old daughter, Olivia, looked at her one day and said, “Mom, how about if they lived happily ever after?” The idea of Cinderella living happily ever after seemed to fit perfectly with Right to Life’s mission as well as the overall theme of a “Magical Christmas.” So, back in August when temperatures were in the triple digits, Lambert set off on her mission to look for some faux pumpkins. The pumpkins she found weren’t quite what she was looking for, as they were a bright Halloween orange. So, Lambert glazed the pumpkins with different gold glazes, then carved into them to create small carriages with windows and doors and little velvet cushion seats for the miniature coachmen who were to drive Cinderella to the magic ball. The tree itself was covered with a purple/gold-like netting, topped with a magic wand, and electrified from top to bottom. “We wanted to make it look like magic was pouring out of the wand at the top and falling down onto Cinderella and the pumpkins below,” Lambert said. The hardest part of putting the tree together was setting up the over six-foot-tall tree in the living room of Lambert’s small house.

LEFT to RIGHT: Visalia Fire Captain Mike Cromer, Tom Seidler, Jeremy and Michele Engle.

“It was especially hard living with all that glitter in our house. It got over everything – into the carpet, into our hair, into our food. It was a very happy moment when the tree was moved out of our house and we were able to vacuum up all the glitter,” Lambert said. For Allie Yada, who helped design and decorate the Young Life YoungLives Tulare County tree, the hardest part was finding enough silk flowers in the Central Valley to cover her French Christmas tree that was themed, “A Jardin de Noel.” “I knew I wanted to do something with colors because I like to paint and I love colors. I like the idea that you can cover the full spectrum of color with flowers,” Yada said. Yada’s idea was to cover the entire tree with strategically placed flowers so that not a single needle of the tree was showing. “I wanted it to be bold and stand out and be elegant,” said Yada who covered the tree with 400 to 500 flowers. “I got my inspiration from peacocks; I’ve always been fascinated by them so I chose greens, purples, browns and blues,” Yada explained. It was especially challenging presenting the colors so that the different gradients would fade into each other and not just appear to be striped. “One flower can throw the whole look off. So, it’s a constant process of trial and error, of editing, perfecting, misplacing and then replacing the flowers,” Yada said. It came as both a relief and a surprise to Yada when YoungLives won the award for the Most Creative Tree. “YoungLives had won it the last two years in a row, and so I really wanted to come up with something good,” Yada said with relief. “I’m really honored to be able to carry on the tradition.” In total, there were 22 trees sold at the Christmas Tree Auction this year, which raised $307,000 for charities in our community. “This was the same amount as last year which, given the economy, is really good,” said Barbara Mayeda, chairperson for the Christmas Tree Auction committee. “It was an awesome event overall. There were a lot of women there wearing fabulous gowns and people really enjoyed getting dressed up. And we had so many local restaurants and wineries go all out with fantastic foods and wines this year.”

The theme for next year’s Christmas Tree Auction, which will mark the 30th year of the event, will be a “Royal Christmas” with the theme colors of purple and gold. Mayeda said, “We’ve already let our charities know what the theme will be and some people are already getting started for next year.”

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Text by Diane Slocum

ometimes a writer’s gift is not confined to putting his own words on paper. It can express itself in helping other writers share their works with the community. Sixteen years ago Franz Weinschenk approached KVPR’s President and General Manager Mariam Stepanian with an idea for a radio program consisting of Valley writers reading their stories on the air. He had taped one of his own stories as an example and she embraced the concept. “At first, I had a hard time getting writers,” he said. “They were shy. They didn’t want to read.” With the help of Fresno State professor and author Steve Yarbrough, Weinschenk managed to put together six writers, including himself and Yarbrough, for that first season of “Valley Writers Read.” By last year, the number of writers had grown to well over 70. David Borofka, one of those original six readers, wrote, “Franz is a model for anyone who aspires to be involved with one’s community and with the arts, but maybe more importantly, he’s a model for those who seek to live energetically and well.” Weinschenk has had a long career as a teacher and administrator at Fresno City College and his roots go back to Germany between the World Wars. He was a young boy when his Jewish family escaped from the burgeoning threat of Nazi domination. Unlike many of their contemporaries who emigrated to Austria and the like because they were afraid to go to a country where they couldn’t speak German, his family had the foresight to cut their ties with the homeland completely and flee to France. 54

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They arrived in the United States in 1936, living in Brooklyn before making yet another long journey to California to settle on a farm near Madera. Weinschenk writes semi-autobiographically of this last leg of his family’s migration in his story “Madera,” half of which is included in the anthology, Highway 99: A Literary Journey through California’s Great Central Valley. Weinschenk didn’t always aspire to be a writer. As a student at Madera High School, he imagined himself discovering something wonderful as a great physicist or mathematician. When he was able to go on to Fresno State after saving up enough money working on farms, his first semester there included courses in physics and speech. He soon realized he liked the speech class a lot better than the physics. Toward the end of his college years, he decided he would go into teaching and received his Masters degree in speech and English. Beginning in 1948, he taught these subjects at Edison High School before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War. When he returned, he resumed teaching at what was then Fresno Junior College and went on to become its first Dean of Humanities in 1968. He retired in 1986, but has continued to teach classes there ever since. Although he always had an interest in writing, it sat on the back burner until he was around 40 years old when he decided to start working on some ideas he had been carrying around. One of his early projects developed out of his career at Edison. During his four years there, he was the home room teacher for the same set of students all through their high school years.

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“It was like breakfast with your family,” he said. He often wondered what had become of the students he had known so well and began a search for them. Eventually, he compiled the stories of 20 students into a book called Home Room which was published by the Southern Poverty Law Center. After retirement, he returned to CSUF to polish his writing skills. “In the early 1990s, we were both in one of Steve Yarbrough’s fiction workshops at Fresno State,” Borofka wrote. “He [Weinschenk] was taking advantage of newly discovered time to start writing the stories he’d been collecting over the course of a 40-year professional career. And then, because he’s interested and engaged and curious, he thought that a public radio program featuring local writers might be a nice thing to do, so he made that happen as well.” Bonnie Hearn Hill, another of the first six writers – and the only woman – wrote, “Many stations have attempted similar series, but Franz made it work.” Although Hearn Hill had published stories in literary presses before her first appearance on Valley Writers Read, “It was an emotional boost to know that the stories I was writing about this place might be heard by others who were living here.” Hearn Hill invites the students in her workshops to share this validation of their writing. Fifteen or so of them, from Gary Hill in Bakersfield to Bob and Carol O’Hanneson in Modesto, have participated. Hearn Hill’s own story, “Black Moon Lilith,” will be one of the presentations in the new season. Hearn Hill’s husband, Larry Hill, will also be featured with “Breakage,” read by Pat Smith. Weinschenk predicts a strong season for Valley Writers Read. “The quality has improved every year,” he said. Selecting the stories from among all the submissions can be a challenge. The ones that are outstanding are easy to pick out, as are those that don’t measure up. In between, are a lot of good stories which may or may not be just right. Some writers have turned in consistently good work over the years. Paul Hernandez was one of the original six writers and continues to submit strong stories. Last year, he read “Fishing” and “The Enemy Downstream” on the program.

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Visalia writers Janet Nicholls Lynch and Ernest J. Finney are also among the contributors. An O. Henry Award winner, Finney was another of the six original readers and also shares a story in Highway 99. Lynch reads on Valley Writers Read almost every season. Her last year’s entry was “Hugging Girl.” Mary Benton of Visalia read “The Head Gate” in December. Sharon Patterson of Porterville and Valerie Schultz of Tehachapi read often. Schultz is a reporter for the Bakersfield Californian. “Valerie comes up with a better story every year,” Weinschenk said. Deb Everson Borofka, Jim Ashford and Howard Hendrix are other frequent contributors. “Howard has probably published more and had more awards than anyone,” Weinschenk said. Technology and the skills of Production Manager Don Weaver have upped the quality of the program and made the recording process easier for readers. The reel-to-reel equipment they used at the start was hard to edit and intimidating. Now Weaver takes pains to add appropriate music and produce a polished, finished piece, complete with flawless editing, Hearn Hill said. Weinschenk is a volunteer at KVPR. His compensation for his devotion to the program he originated, his time and effort over all the years, has been the satisfaction he gets from helping writers and listeners share the literature of their Valley. “Franz is one of the most genuinely good people I’ve had the pleasure to know,” Borofka wrote. Hearn Hill echoes, “I’m glad Franz is getting the credit he deserves. This has been a labor of love for him, for Don, for Mariam and for the station.” Valley Writers Read can be heard on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on KVPR-FM89.3 (KPRX 89.1 Bakersfield) Archives are online at www.kvpr.org/audio_archive.php?show_id=2.

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SPECIAL

Text by Dara Fisk-Ekanger | Photos by Becca Chavez

tHAnk you to our DonorS AnD SPonSorS: Ashoori & Co Jewelers Bravo Farms Central Valley Business Forms Darren owsley and Company Details Party rentals Fugazzis Metropolis Salon & Body Spa Ray Duenez, Owner raisin’ Dough Sequoia Beverage tiffany’s luxury Medispa Velvet Sky Jennifer Jannak, Makeup Artist and Jill Coats, Owner & Stylist Visalia Fox theater Visalia rawhide 1 Party goers were all smiles at the lifestyle Magazine’s December launch party. 2 Donna and Gary Amon. 3 A hit for any party? A delicious and elegant buffet. 4 l to r: Direct Media, Inc. staff: Mark Fleming, renee Dayton, karen tellalian, taylor Vaughn, Janeen lawson, Darlene Mayfield, and Maria Gaston. 5 Sharon and Don kaplan. 6 Claudia Sproles and Al Zaninovich. 7 Bringing perfect harmony to the evening, musicians Darren owsley and larry Allen.

abulous food, great music and fun people – all combined to create the perfect party scene for the launching of Lifestyle Magazine’s online presence. Pouring rain and several other parties that night couldn’t keep nearly 100 people away from the Rawhide Stadium’s new Hall of Fame room – where Direct Media, Inc., publishers of Lifestyle, Direct and Wedding Style Magazines announced and showcased the December publication of Lifestyle, the first online issue. “It’s been in the talking stages for years,” said Karen Tellalian, president of DMI, “but we’ve been so busy taking care of our clients’ needs, we’ve gotten behind with our own.” But ultimately, the needs of the company, its advertisers and readers converged, and Lifestyle readers – no longer limited by geographical distance – now have access to the magazine from anywhere in the world. “In this economic climate, we felt it important to do something extra for our advertisers – giving them more value and a greater reach to their demographic,” said Tellalian. Intrinsic to the values of the Lifestyle team is bringing the community together; so what better place to launch the new forum for connecting readers, advertisers and clients than the new Hall of Fame Room at Rawhide Stadium? “Since opening in 2009, many people have not had the opportunity to see what a beautiful venue the new Stadium is,” said Taylor Vaughn, assistant editor at Lifestyle. “Tom Siedler and the rest of the staff were so accommodating to work with, and everything pulled together beautifully to make this happen for us.” Attendees enjoyed a buffet of coconut shrimp, steak bites and pasta provided by Fugazzis, and volunteers from the Fox Theater kept the wine flowing. Guests were treated to the sounds of flamingo guitarist Darren Owlsey and frequently broke out in appreciative applause. In between sets, everyone enjoyed the raffle prize drawings. The grand prize was a beautiful watch donated by Ashoori and Co. Jewelers, gratefully won by Galen Quenzer of the Boys and Girls Club. All in all it was a memorable and fun-filled evening. As guests exited into the rainy night, many asked when the next event would be, as they wanted to make sure it was on their calendars; proof that no matter how busy people are, they will always make time for a great party. LIFEST YLE | JANUARY 2010

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FASHION F lEFt: the classic leather jacket, like this bomber style from Banana republic, is the perfect foundation of a winter getaway wardrobe.

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hether you’re headed for a few days of lounging on a tropical beach or skiing down the mountain slopes, looking good when you arrive at your destination is a fine art, says Andy Paige, style expert and author of Style on a Shoestring (McGraw Hill, $16.95, 2009). “Packing your bag is just like building your wardrobe,” said Paige, who is also the star of TLC’s “Ten Years Younger.” She suggests starting with your wardrobe basics, and then adding tops and accessories that will do double duty when combined with your key pieces. Here are some of Paige’s style tips on packing for a three-day getaway for fun in the sun: Choose a color story, such as white/khaki, black/red, turquoise/ brown or gray/yellow, for all of your garments, so everything will coordinate and you can pack fewer shoes and accessories. Every garment packed should serve a dual purpose or be able to be dressed up and dressed down. For example, a flirty skirt should function as a casual skirt with a tank and flip-flops for souvenir shopping as well as a dressier dinner option with heels and a sexy top. A colorful wrap should serve as a sarong for your bathing suit, a nighttime wrap for sun-kissed shoulders and a blankie on the plane. Bermuda shorts should be worn with walking shoes and tanks for sightseeing, then later with strappy heels and a flirty top for a night out.

For a winter getaway, Paige has the following style tips: A fitted leather jacket is the foundation of this wardrobe. Choose a feminine style that is sexy, tough, fashionable and functional. Choose a solid-color heavy wrap that looks great on top of your jacket. This will add another layer of warmth, and you can also use it on the plane. Committing to a color story is a great timesaver. Winter scarves are a good place to start when choosing your getaway wardrobe colors, because they are the perfect fashion topper for all of your weekend looks. Choose lightweight layering tops, as opposed to a sack of bulky sweaters. Body-hugging, long-sleeved tees with scoop necklines and thin body-loving turtlenecks offer more warmth and femininity when layered rather than one big sweater. Sophisticated jeans play a big part in a wintertime getaway. Choose a dark boot-cut jean that can be dressed up with highheeled boots and tucked into casual boots for day. A button-up cardigan, hoodie or versatile sweater jacket that zips is essential. These pieces are much better for layering than a pullover sweater.

Allow yourself three pairs of shoes max. You should travel in a modern feminine walking shoe; pack a strappy heel for night and a sophisticated non-rubber flip-flop for relaxing daytime activities.

A slinky, matte jersey dress that falls above the knee is the perfect choice for a wrinkle-free evening out when added to opaque tights, sexy knee-high boots and long, layered necklaces. The shorter length then makes the dress a fun, fashionable statement when worn over a paper-thin turtleneck with heavy leggings and casual boots for day.

Pack hair accessories, such as a modern headband and/or scarf, to maintain an easy, stylish look that will limit primp time and optimize playtime.

Don’t forget the lace! A lace cami with warm leggings gives you something nice and cozy to sleep in, allowing you to layer under your nighttime looks.

Choose strategic accessories like a statement watch, hoop earrings, sunglasses and a coordinating tote bag that will dictate the mood of your outfit. LIFEST YLE | JANUARY 2010

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